▌Chapter 9 ─ Effective Immediately ▌

━━━━━ IRIS STOOD WITH Marta, they were in the small building that wasn't far from Harlan's house. Iris looked around seeing that she had never really been in there before.

"Fifty years ago, I worked this estate. You know, security back then was such that you had to make the rounds with a 94 and keep your ears open." Mr. Proofroc said with a chuckle. "Now you've got all this modern technology."

He proceeded to walk away from the other's moving around where the video tech was located, while the others followed behind him.

"Now, that's the video there. I saved the tape from last night. Normally, I erase 'em with a magnetic degausser, but in this case, I thought I'd just save it, you know?"

Both Marta and Iris looked at the video feed, however a panicked look seemed to cross Marta's face.

"All right, well, can we see the actual tape?" Elliott asked him.

"Well, of course you can." Mr. Proofroc said, picking the tape up in his hands. "I recorded it on SSLP. There's eight hours in that tape. 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m."

He handed the tape over to Marta who accepted it. She leaned down, opening the VCR and placing the tape inside and closing it. She then pressed play so they could watch the footage.

"Looks like a Japanese horror movie." Wagner said.

Benoit leaned forward towards Marta, while Iris stared at him. "You think we could scan forward on that?" He asked her.

"Are we all gonna die in seven days?"

"How can we scan forward?" Marta asked Mr. Proofroc who placed his eyes on her.

"Oh, yeah, just hold the play button down and press FF until you hear it grind."

Marta did as told, placing her eyes back on the screen. Iris had her eyes glued to it, even though she didn't think that they would actually see anything.

"All right. Should be coming up now to the time when the party ended." Wagner informed them.

Iris placed her eyes on Marta. Marta had her eyes on the screen, just as it popped up which in return caused her and everyone else to look at the tape. At that moment Iris knew that Marta had forgotten to drive past the elephant which meant that she was on the tape.

"What happened?" Marta asked.

"You gotta keep holding it down or else it'll eject. That thing eats tapes like popcorn."

Benoit turned to talk to Elliott and Wagner about the tape while Marta pulled, back grabbing the tape out of the VCR.

"I got it." Marta told them.

Iris walked with Marta through the woods, they were close to each other and wanted to hold hands but they decided it was best not to. Benoit and the other's were behind them and Wagner was talking about the statues that were in the woods.

"You know, all these statues that you see around here? They're all straight out of the series, The Menagerie Tragedy Trilogy." Wagner explained, clearly excited to see the animal statues. "Pretty cool."

"Awesome." Elliott replied.

"Yeah."

"Benny, it's beautiful out here, but do you really think someone broke into the house and murdered Harlan? Is that why we're out here?" Elliott questioned Benoit changing the subject.

"Oh, it is unlikely, but if they did, there will be traces." Benoit answered.

"Uh, I can hang on to that." Wagner said, coming up next to Marta and Iris.

"Yeah."

Marta handed the tape over to Wagner who took it in his hands. Iris stayed with Marta as they made their way back to the house. Elliott was talking to Wagner about her brother and her fiancé who wouldn't be her fiancé for much longer.

Iris stopped in her tracks while Marta walked on. The mention of Fred caused her to remember the argument they had the night of her grandfather's party. Benoit placed his eyes on Iris as she seemingly stared into space.

Harlan sat at his desk, while Iris paced back and forth, not ready to confront Fred about what he had done. They were still waiting for him to actually show up to the party, because until Iris called off the engagement he was still a part of the family.

"I don't know if I can do this." Iris breathed out, still pacing around.

"Yes, you can." Harlan said, causing his granddaughter to stop in her tracks.

"But what if I can't?"

"Would you like Marta in here?"

"What?"

"I know what's going on between you two. Would you feel less anxious if she was in here?"

"I don't know. I just want this to be over."

Iris took a deep breath, soon she exhaled and as she did Fred walked into the room. The brunette looked at the person that she would soon be breaking up with. Iris closed her palms and began pressing into her skin.

"You wanted to see me?" Fred asked, closing the door behind him.

"Yeah, I did." Iris said, making Fred look over at her.

"Is something wrong?"

Fred moved away from the door, walking over to Iris while Harlan watched the exchange making sure that everything would go as planned.

"I can't marry you." Iris started off, even though that wasn't what she wanted to talk about first.

"What? Why?" He questioned her, clearly confused by her words.

"Because I love someone else, I don't love you anymore. I don't think I ever loved you."

Iris could see how hurt Fred was upon hearing those words. But he quickly changed his expression's and became more serious.

"Who is it?"

"I'm not discussing that with you."

"Why not?" Fred proceeded to ask her.

"Because after tonight I don't think I want to see you again. And I don't want to see you at my business anymore either." Iris told him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'm firing you, effective immediately."

"But why?"

"Because Fred. For the past several years that we have been together I was dumb enough to allow you access to my money that I earned and you have been taking it from me. I worked so hard to build my company up and you come in and act like you own everything including the money." Iris said, getting angry with his questions.

"You can't do that to me!" Fred replied, raising his voice slightly causing her to react just a little.

"Yes I can. I am the founder and CEO of my company therefore I can decide on who I fire, and why. I don't want to see you again. I expect your stuff out of the apartment at the end of the week. Until then I will be sleeping at my office."

Iris paused, letting go of her hands she looked down to see that her nails had made some indents in them causing them to bleed just a little. She picked her head back up and stood tall.

"If you so much as step foot on my property I will make sure that security escorts you out very publicly." She added.

"You can't do this. You won't survive without my smarts." Fred said, walking back towards the door.

"I survived long enough without your smarts. I think I can survive until the end of my days without you. Now get out of my grandfather's house."

Fred opened the door, he turned slightly looking at her and then over at Harlan who was waving him goodbye.

"Screw you. Screw you both."

With those words he walked towards the front door opening it and then slamming the door shut. Iris turned towards her grandfather, smiling brightly at him.

"How does it feel?" Harlan asked her.

"It feels good." She breathed out.

Harlan stood up from his chair, he then walked over to him and grabbed a hold of her hands. He looked down at them seeing the blood that was still coming out of her pierce skinned. He lifted his head looking at her.

"Promise me you'll start using the putty that your therapist gave you."

"I will, I promise." Harlan pulled his granddaughter into a tight hug. She of course hugged him back. Iris looked over at the door seeing Marta staring at them with a smile on her face. And she of course couldn't help but smile back at her.