The Lead (part 2)

*Video feed begins.

Surrounded by the blue-green hue of the PRETA Data Center's myriad of consoles, terminals and monitors, Celia sits bolt upright and alert as her eyes dart rapidly from left to right, digesting the feed coming through on the main monitor. Around her lays the debris of used coffee-cups, cigarette packets and food cartons; a pillow and a hairbrush nearby betray the fact she's been sleeping in the Data Center for several nights now.

After several minutes her eyes stop moving, locking into their familiar glazed stare, her jaw clenched.

There is a long silence, broken only by the omnipresent low rumble of the data-core.

Eventually, Celia lights a cigarette and turns to face the camera drone*

She's alive. And on the run.

*exhales in a sigh*

Mother, why couldn't you have just stayed in one place so I could find you? How do you expect me to find a fugitive in a cluster of billions? A prison-break would've been easy compared to this.

*She turns back to the main monitor, bringing up her list of contacts. A dozen unread messages flash urgently for attention but are ignored as Celia begins to create a new entry*

Governor Brond. It appears mother used him as her ticket out. How brilliantly resourceful of her...

*she allows the corner of her mouth to raise in a sly smile of admiration*

He was present when CONCORD first interviewed her. According to the file, he held a private interview with her just days after.

*Celia purses her lips, drumming her black fingernails on the keypad*

He's obviously the next logical lead. I'll have him traced down, although I'm not doing the detective work this time; there are Family members and associates who are better at this than I am. Must remember to ask about interrogation methods too. I'm no sadist, but I might just allow myself to enjoy this.

*She takes a long draw from a cigarette*

Then there is Judge Olar. No need to waste words on this man. Besides, I don't expect to glean anything remotely useful out of him. It's not even worth asking him why he saw it fit to separate a five-year old child from her mother at a time when she really fucking needed her!

*Celia's voice raises to a near shriek as her fingers claw savagely at the keypad, the plastic creaking under the strain. She takes several deep breaths to regain her composure; her expression now grows weary, the long hours of concentration spent at the console beginning to catch up with her*

So tired... I've lost count of how many days I've spent in here... and my eyes...

*Celia rubs her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose, sighing heavily. She grabs her pillow from a nearby unit and hugs it to her chest, resting her head into it and talking softly under her breath*

Where's Milo when I need him? He's been gone for weeks and I miss him. I really miss him.

*Her voice cracks on the last few words as her eyelids become heavier. Within seconds she is asleep, hugging her pillow, her face relaxed and serene. The camera records for another hour before going into auto-standby.

Video feed ends*