Part 391: Whose Truth?

The drive was shorter than what they expected. The Hanso Foundation was located in uptown Los Angeles; business district. It took a good 40 stories, towering over most of the buildings in the area. Detective Day stopped his vehicle at the entrance to the parking lot. The rest of the female officer got out, as he had the only car that could carry them all. The group began walking up the side walk toward the entrance. The group continued their little walk, until passing through the revolving doors into the lobby. There was a massive area; mostly make of oak. Business men and women were making their through the lobby back and forth. To the left of the lobby was a cafeteria type area. Ana-Lucia walked up to the main receptionist and began speaking with her. They wanted to speak to the CEO and according to the internet, that was Penelope Widmore.

After the receptionist cleared it with the other secretary to Widmore, they were allowed to take the elevator up to the 39th floor. The group followed the security personnel to the elevator and allowed him to escort them in. Before they entered, Maxine grabbed a nearby pamplet of the foundation on a nearby end table to a lounge area. As they started to begin their ascent, the police officer reviewed the flyer. She then leaned it closer to her face to take another look. “Ana, check it out.” She said, holding her the flyer.

The Latina looked at it and it showed various pictures of the senior staff; including Penelope Widmore. “Hmm,” the detective muttered, “She’s younger than I thought she’d be.”

“No, Ana . . .HER HAIR.” Max whispered.

Ana-Lucia looked again and as the other officer heard their friend mentioning their main lead, they all turned around and looked at the flyer. The picture was indeed Widmore and her hair was a soft amber color. Jenny looked up to her friends and then looked to Max. “You don’t think-“ she tried to say.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged her shoulders, “I am just pointing out.”

“A wise man once told me . . .don’t mistake fate for coincidence,” Ana-Lucia whispered, “Somehow . . .I don’t think this is coincidence.”

“Well, let’s talk with her and see if we can find out more,” Day mentioned.

The elevator rose up to the 39th floor and signaled it’s arrival with a ding. The security man walked out and led the way down the red carpeted hallway. The group continued walking and as they did, they noticed a large room with a thin vertical class panel in the doorway. It showed that there was board meeting in progress or some time of meeting. At the head of the table was Penelope Widmore; addressing her staff. The group continued to follow the security man until they arrived at a large receptionist desk. The Indian woman then stood up and walked up to greet them. “Hello, my name is Nadia,” she said, shaking Detective Day’s hand, “I am Ms. Widmore’s executive secretary. She has asked that you wait in her office while the board meeting is finished.”

“Thank you, “ Ana-Lucia said.

The Middle Easterner woman opened the doors to lavish officer. There were statues of Caesar and another one of Shakespeare. Comfortable chairs and a couch were on the other side of the room, next to the door that seemed to lead to a bathroom. A large desk was by the window and adorned with a globe, plus various picture frames. “Can I get anyone some coffee?” Nadia asked.

“No, thank you,” Day said politely.

The woman then closed the doors, leaving the officers alone. Ana-Lucia looked around the officer, noticing the big pictures on each wall. One said, Alvar Hanso; which showed a regal looking man with white hair. The other one picture said Charles Widmore and showed a man who looked like he was born mean. Jenny strolled over to the desk area and looked at the contents on top. It was filled with various papers and other things you’d expect to find at a desk. The blonde officer looked at the pictures. It showed Widmore with another man, hugging amid cold weather; obvious from their cold weather clothing. Kellye looked over her friend’s shoulder at the picture. “Husband?” she asked.

“Boyfriend more likely,” the young cop sighed, “The secretary referred to her as MISS Widmore.”

The doors then swung open and the CEO walked in. She had a smile about her face and a walk that oozed confidence and a slight bit of arrogance. She had a certain look about her that could tell the officers she was living the high life but something else felt empty. Her smile was both real and fake at the same time. “My apologizes for keeping you waiting, “She said, in a slight British accent, “I’m afraid some share holders don’t have the patience they should have.”

“Thank you for seeing us anyway, Ms. Widmore.” Day replied.

“Anything for Los Angeles’s finest,” she said, sitting at her desk, “Now how can I help you?”

Day shook his head to Ana-Lucia and the Latina got up from the soft recliner. She pulled out a manila envelope and then pulled out the pictures of the murdered victims of Jack of All Shades. “Ms. Widmore, are you familiar with these people?” she asked.

“Yes,” she sighed, “I was there at two of the retirement parties. They had been with the Hanso Foundation long before me.”

“Can you tell me what they did for this place?”

“They were all scientists. Specializing in research mostly.”

“What type of scientists?” asked Day.

“Genetic.”

Jenny raised an eyebrow. She was very familiar with genetic research; it’s what turned someone important into her into a freak of nature. He fought against that nature and stood with them against the Liberation. Being there at the Hanso Foundation only made her miss Raven even more. “What type of Genetic research?” Jenny asked.

“The type that is no longer applied by law,” Widmore smiled, “We have found other jobs for them in acquiring other forms of science in regards to animals.”

“Are you saying they experimented on humans?” Jenny immediately asked.

“Excuse me?” she scoffed, “No one in the Hanso Foundations would do anything like that. I was just saying they were finding forms of science specific to animals, as they had done before.”

“What animals?” the blonde officer asked.

“Jenny, where are you taking this?” asked Day.

“Typical animals that are licensed for experimentation. Monkeys, Orangutans-“

“Ravens?” the young officer said, getting slightly mad.

“Jenny, that is enough,” Ana-Lucia barked at her.

“I don’t . .understand this line of questioning.” Widmore said, genuinely confused.

Ana-Lucia then pulled up another envelope and pulled out a sketch drawing of the Killer. She gently handed it to the CEO and the business woman looked at it. “Does that picture remind you of anyone?” the Latina asked.

Widmore looked at it and the one who noticed her change in her facial expression was Kellye. The brunette stepped closer as the corporate woman stared at the photo and then proceeded to shake her head. “Is . . .is this sketch recent?” she asked.

“Two days ago,” Max answered.

“This . . .this almost looks like someone I once knew a long time ago but I haven’t seen him since I was a teenager . . .so . .this might be his son?”

“I suppose that is entirely possible,” Day then pulled out his notebook, “Can you tell me who you THINK it is?”

“His name was Stephan Ortega,” she said, giving the sketch back to Ana-Lucia, “ He was my father’s bodyguard. They had an unfortunate falling out and Ortega was fired.”

“What was the falling out about?” the black detective asked.

Widmore took a sniff and scratched her nose. She gently crossed her legs and tucked her arms into the chair toward her right. “Ortega had fallen in love with me.” She sighed, “I was just 16 and he was 28. My father was wholly against it and I too admit I was young and naïve.”

“Where is this Ortega now?”

“I don’t have any clue. The last I seen of him was in Japan where my father had fired him.”

“Why fire him in Japan?” asked Jenny.

“I don’t know. Maybe it was the appropriate time or maybe it was so he couldn’t get passage back to America. I do remember my father made him give him his passport.” The CEO sighed, “So strange though.”

“What was?” asked Ana-Lucia.

“Well, . . .the one thing I remember about Ortega was that he had incredible strength. I remember a time when someone attacked my father; I think as it was a result of oil drilling in the Asian coast. Stephan . . . .just grabbed the man and shoved him a good five feet away. Stephan was not afraid of anybody. Yet, he was deathly afraid of my father.”

“Where is your father?” asked Jenny.

“He passed away last May.” She replied.

“I’m sorry,” Ana-Lucia said, “ I wish we could discuss more but I must go get legal permission. Let me ask you this, Ms. Widmore; how good is your security personnel?”

“They are very good. I have two bodyguards at all times, per company policy,” she said, confused, “Do you believe my life is in danger?”

“It might be, madam,” Day said, dropping off his card, “If anything unusual happens or if Ortega should show his face, please contact us immediately.”

“I will,” she said, taking the card.

The group then turned to walk out. Jenny looked at them, wanting to ask more questions. Ana-Lucia then grabbed he by the arm and then proceeded to walk out. Kellye then stopped and turned back toward the CEO. “Ms. Widmore, one more question.” She asked.

“Yes?” she replied.

“This group of genetic scientists. Did they perhaps work on a project together?”

“Yes, they did actually.”

“Was that perhaps called the Dharma Initiative?”

Widmore then paused and stared at Kellye. The woman almost seemed like she was trying to figure her out. Jenny was expecting a confused look but the CEO didn’t look confused; more like interested. “It might have been,” she whispered, “I wasn’t with the company during that time. I’ll have to look it up.”

“Please do that, Ms. Widmore, because we will be speaking with you again.” Ana-Lucia said, pulling Kellye with her out into the reception area.


As they rode the elevator down, Jenny felt like her head was going to explode. To her all the pieces were fitting into place, but no one else would believe her story. She calmly pulled Kellye to her and whispered in her ear. “She knows what the Dharma Initiative was.” She grunted.

“I know that too, Jenny but we got no proof.” Kellye whispered back.

“If Ortega gets to her before we can help her, then we’ll never catch this bastard.”

“We don’t know it’s Ortega. It could be his son like she said,” Kellye countered.

“Well, what about Jack of All Shades?” she hissed, “It all makes sense now, how he survived the fall from that building. And that he’s killing everybody that was associated with that Dharma crap!”

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s a Jaeger Unit!” Jenny whispered.

Day, Maxine and Meg didn’t catch that; so they immediately turned around to hear what Jenny said. Ana-Lucia then shoved them forward to the door as it finally opened. The group continued on their way toward the exit. The Latina then motioned for the three cops to head on without them. Day was a little confused but Ana-Lucia gave him a look that said TRUST ME. The black detective then tapped Meg and Maxine on the shoulders; motioning them to follow him to the car. Meg paused for a second then followed Maxine. After they left the building, Ana-Lucia turned and looked to Jenny. “You need to stow that crap, Baker,” she grunted, “You can’t be spouting off stuff that those three are not going to understand, not to mention, PROVE.”

“Ana, look at all the clues,” Jenny pleaded, “Jack having to hide his face. Leaping off buildings. Acting mysterious. The reason for all these things is because he is a freak of science, just like Raven. This guy is a Jaeger Unit and probably so is Ortega!”

“Jenny, you are forgetting one thing. Raven flipped the switch that killed off all the Units. They were finally dead and Raven died with them.”

“Raven was also reborn. Watchman did it, Ana; you know this!”

“I don’t claim to understand any of this crap and no matter how badly you want Raven to come here, it ain’t gonna happen!”

Jenny’s eyebrows slowly bent inward. “This isn’t about that, Ana.” She hissed.

“It better not be.” Ana-Lucia sighed, “Because I am not sure how we’re going to explain to the Captain that Ford’s killer came from the same Island we crashed on.”

Ana-Lucia finally left the lobby. Kellye gave Jenny a sympathedic look and then followed her ranking officer. The young blonde officer grunted and then followed her friends. She was certain she was right; whoever turned Raven into a superbeing had done the same thing to Jack of All Shades, possibly even the mysterious Amber Angel Killer. However, Ana-Lucia was right. She needed proof. Without getting a court order to talk to Widmore about the Dharma Initiative, she had only one person to talk to about Jaeger Units.


Jenny finally found their phone number. She quickly dialed it and waited for the ring tone. After three rings, someone did answer. “Hullo?” a soft voice answered.

“Hello, Mia?” Jenny asked confused.

“No, my name is Shelley. Who’s dis?”

Jenny giggled, completely forgetting about Mia and John’s daughter. “Shelley, it’s Jenny, you remember me?” she smiled, “I gave you the Teddy Bear last Christmas.”

“Which one?” the girl asked innocently.

Jenny just shook her head in amusement. All the children in their little group of survivors were all spoiled. Shelley probably received more than one teddy bear. “Never mind, sweetie, can I speak to your mom, please?” Jenny asked.

“Why don’t you wanna talk to me?” the girl said, almost sounding hurt.

Jenny raised an eyebrow, confused by the reaction of the child. Then the officer heard the familiar voice in the background of her friend, taking the phone away from her daughter. “Hello?” she finally said.

“That girl takes after her father,” Jenny laughed, “She needs attention.”

“Hey, Jenny,” the Lakota girl laughed, “ Yeah, Shelley is a handful. She already told me and John that her life would be considerably less lonely if we were to buy her a baby brother.”

“Buy her one?” Jenny laughed.

“I guess we’ll have to make sure she has a lot of fun with Bridgett then,” the Lakota sighed, “Anyway, what can I do you for, Jenny?”

“Mia, I have an unusual question.” The blonde officer sighed, “Do you remember what you talked about with Watchman back on the Island?”

“I’ve never forget it.” She replied matter-of-factly.

“Did Watchman . . .say anything about the Jaeger Units?”

“Like what?”

“Like . . .did they all really die?”

“Jenny, I don’t understand. You were there with Raven. He threw the reset switch and ended their suffering.”

“I know that part . . but . . .did Watchman say anything else?”

“No, not really. Before he launched into outer space in MOLE’s chasis.”

Jenny sighed. “Okay, thanks,” she whispered.

“Jenny, what is this all about?” Mia asked.

“Nothing, Mia. I have a killer on the loose that is doing fantastic things. Things that Raven could have done. I thought . . .I thought they might be a Jaeger Unit but they all died on the Island.”

“Well . . .maybe.” the Lakota whispered.

Jenny perked up. “What do you mean, maybe?”

“Locke had found a reference to the Jaeger Units in the files Fender had taken. According to the Dharma Initiative, 100 units were made. However, when Watchman was scanning for the units to shut down; he said only 88 were on the Island. Eighty Eight rejects, by the Dharma people. So maybe . . .12 were successful?”

Jenny felt a weird twinge down her spine; almost telling her that she was right. “Mia,” she whispered calmly, “Are you and Locke CERTAIN of that?”

“Of course we are not certain, Jenny. We just drew the conclusion based on what we had with us. You really think this killer is a Jaeger Unit?”

“I don’t know. I got to catch him first. Take care, Mia. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“Take care, Jenny. Say hi to Jack for me.”

“Huh?” she blinked.

“What?”

“What do you mean?” the blonde officer asked.

“Uh . .Jack? Jack Shepard? The doctor who was with us on the Island?”

“OH!!” Jenny laughed, “I’m sorry. I thought you were referring to . . . .never mind, I’ll talk to you later, Mia.”

The officer bid farewell to her friend. Jenny wrote down a few more notes and then bid farewell to her fellow officers as she was able to finally go home. She had to stop by and pick up some supplies for her and her pet.


After finally beating the downtown traffic, she finally arrived home. Jenny secured her vehicle and then walked up to her door, holding her food and Squishface’s food. She calmly opened the door and entered. “Squishie?” she called, “Mommy’s home!”

The dog, however, did not show up. Jenny then paused and looked around. “Squishface?” she called.

Then she heard her dog whimpering. She looked into her living room and saw her pet with his head poking out of the dustcover under the couch. Jenny put her food down and looked at him as he whimpered. “What’s wrong, boy?” she asked.

“I’m terribly sorry,” a deep voice said behind her.

Jenny then turned around and looked toward the entrance to her kitchen. A tall man, wearing an overcoat, fedora and bandages over his face looked at her. She couldn’t see his eyes cause it was covered with goggles. “It appears that I have frightened your dog.” He whispered.

Jenny took a gulp. It had been so many years. Had she truly forgotten his voice? “Raven?” she asked.

The bandaged man tilted his head. “Who is Raven?” he asked.

Jenny’s eyes then flashed. She realized she made a terrible mistake. It wasn’t Raven; it was the Jack of all Shades. She quickly then pulled out her side arm and aimed it at him.

Then in one fluid motion, he pulled out his own pistol and pointed it at her.