Seated by the countertop with his hands just wet enough so that nothing will stick to them, Jeff picks a portion of the cooked glutinous rice that has been infused with mashed taro, then forms it into a ball that is an inch in diameter. Beside him, doing the same task is , a young woman in her twenties.

"How do you find this house, Parawie?" asked Jeff, placing into a plate a rice ball he has just finished.

"Elegant, Herr Jeff, but slightly smaller than your house in Sisaket," she answered, showing her German descent with the pre-nominal she just used. "If you don't mind, call me Jannine: I prefer that."

"Okay, Jannine," replied Jeff, adhering to the request. "Did you sleep well the other night?"

"Surprisingly, yes. I usually have a hard time getting drowsy if I am in a new house." The other day – a Saturday – she arrived with Tonhorm, Long, and Thunder. The three, however, left on the night of the same day, leaving her with Jeff as his new housemaid.

"How long have you been working for Big Sissy?"

"Three years?" Jannine looks at the wall, tilting her head to the right as she does to try and access her memories. "Yeah – more or less – that long."

"Passable for long. Uhm...Big Sissy already paid your salary in full for this month, right?"

"Yes, Herr Jeff."

"That's great. Come next month, I'll be the one to pay you."

"I see." Jannine is almost done molding into balls the slightly green pile of glutinous rice she is working on – the one flavored with sugar and pandan leaves. In front of them – slightly opened to let the steam out – are six boxes, each with a different dish in it, which Jeff ordered earlier for them and one other who is coming.

Balling another chunk of sticky rice, Jeff looks at the clock on the left wall – 11:17 a.m. "How's our other rice going, Jannine?" he asked, referring to the one that is for the main course and not for dessert.

She looks at the rice cooker, but the indicator lighted is still in the Cooking label. She, then, makes her way to the equipment, which is letting out steam, to check. "It's still not done, Herr Jeff," she said, seeing small bubbles pop as they hit the glass lid.

"I see. I have a guest coming over."

"Don't worry; it is plump now; it will be done shortly," Jannine said, walking back to her spot on the table. "Is that why you ordered these?" she continued, pointing over to the half-open boxes.

"Yes."

"If you had something on your fridge, I could've made us a few dishes," she said, sitting down on her chair and going back into molding.

"Consider this as my treat to you and my guest for having secured a new job."

"Okay, and congratulations on that." She beams over at Jeff to show her appreciation for this early freebie.

"On a segue, how is Big Sissy? I mean, how is she as your boss?" Jeff stops shaping the rice and looks at Jannine.

"Miss Tonhorm? She's okay." Jannine finishes the last of her rice ball and lays it on the plate.

"Okay meaning what?"

"She gives me a day off; pays me on time; invites me to eat on the same table they do; she's that okay."

"No cons at all, Jannine? Is she that perfect of a boss?" Jeff doesn't get an immediate reply as the other is counting the total she has made.

"Not really," said Jannine, looking at Jeff after.

"Does my question make you feel uneasy?"

"A bit."

"Why?"

"You might tell her."

"I'm sorry that I asked. I just want to get some common ground."

"Like meeting in the middle? Is that what you mean, Herr Jeff?"

"More or less - yeah. Don't worry. I won't tell her."

Jannine smiles, getting the assurance she wants that he won't spill it to his sister. "Miss Tonhorm is okay, but she's strict."

"I know. She used to be so when we were still living in our parents' house. We used to call her General back then – me and my parents." Jeff proceeds to work on the remaining rice on his pile.

"General like in the police, Herr Jeff?"

"The police and the army," replied Jeff with emphasis to show certitude. "She's not choking-strict, is she? If you know what I mean."

"Not to that extent – no. She is only such when it comes to Thunder – the schedule for his vitamins, playing time, nap time, and keeping an eye on him."

"Proves an old saying is right: daddies mean play; mommies mean game." Jeff drops the molded rice into the plate.

"Yes. Miss Tonhorm means business – most of the time." She smiles because she says it outrightly without having to tell a lie first just to sugarcoat it.

"Here, Jannine, you need not worry. I'm not like Big Sissy. I'll give you more leeways than she does, and unless you abuse those freedoms, you get to keep them."

"Thank you, Herr Jeff."

"With me, it's more of a two-way highway: you respect me, I do it to you. Likewise, if you don't break my trust, I won't throw away yours."

Minutes after, Jeff finishes his pile of taro-flavored sticky rice, with all of them laid down on the plate – balls arranged in layer of circles and ending with a sole piece on the center. He and his new housemaid proceed in garnishing the dessert with toasted sesame seeds. "Where's the coconut cream, Jannine?" he asked. Although he can smell it, he has no idea where it is.

"It's on the stovetop, Herr Jeff," she answered, pointing to the one – and only – small pan on it that is partly covered. "It's already cooked."

"Great. It will still be warm later for dessert." Jeff is about to scoop another pinch of the garnish when the sound of their doorbell reverberates in the kitchen.

"I'll get it," said Jannine, preparing to stride out.

"I'll do it. Rather, you go and get some plates for us; we'll be having lunch now; my guest is here," countered Jeff, cleaning his hands using a paper towel.

"Okay, Herr Jeff."

"And prep a juice too using the flavored powder in the fridge."

"Got it."

Walking out of the kitchen, Jeff can hear the clanking of the silvers and chinas as Jannine heeds his order and prepares. True enough, when he opens the main door, he sees Folk standing before his gate, wearing a backpack and holding an umbrella to protect his shiny white skin from the rays of the midday sun. He walks with a smile to greet a friend – an old friend.

"Jeez. I don't believe this," said Folk, frozen on the spot from where he is while looking at Jeff, who has just opened the gate.

"Boo," said Jeff with a straight face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"A very handsome ghost at that who..."

"Nip it, Folk."

Folk beams at Jeff, sending over the message that he is partly joking. "It's just a surprise you're already out," he said shortly after.

"Come in. Lunch is ready." Jeff moves aside, tilting his head towards the house to invite his guest in.

Folding his umbrella with a press of a button on its handle, Folk passes through the outer entrance of the house. Once in, he extends a hand to Jeff, who takes it. They, then, give each other a slight shoulder bump while their hands are locked.

"Your bag looks filled," said Jeff, looking at Folk after releasing his hold on him. Soon after, they start walking towards the door.

"Papers from the report I got."

Reaching the main door, they find it already open with Jannine standing on the side to welcome them.

"This is Jannine; she's my new housemaid," introduced Jeff. As a response, she gives a slight bow before looking at their visitor.

"Hello miss," greeted Folk.

They walk to the kitchen area with Jeff and Folk leading the way and Jannine closely behind them. When they get there, Jeff bids the two to get their own plate and start filling them up with the dishes from the open boxes.

"Better get a tray for us, Folk," said Jeff, nodding to the sink where clean trays - eight in total - are stacked up. "What drink do you want? I'll fill a glass for you."

"That juice there." Folk points to a pitcher filled to the brim with a pinkish liquid. "Looks like strawberry but paler in color."

"It's pomelo, Herr Folk," Jannine corrected.

"I see. Thank you, Miss Jannine."

After they are done, she sits by the table to enjoy her meal. The other two, meanwhile, face her, each of them holding a tray.

"We'll eat at the back, Jannine. Just be ready if I should call you," said Jeff.

"Okay, Herr Jeff."

After they get a good distance from her, Folk started, "What did she address you and me with? Here?" Curiosity is running through his head as it is the first time he hears that pre-nominal term.

"It's Herr not Here - silent h, short e, and with emphasis on the r," corrected Jeff. The growl on the r part is subtle, as if he is a native of the same country where Jannine is from.

"What language is that?" Folk almost fumbles with what he is carrying, which nearly costs him his free lunch.

"She's German – half-German that is."

"Oh. That explains some of her hard consonant sounds. When did she start?"

"Yesterday. She's used to work for Big Sissy before."

"I was about to ask that next."

Reaching another door, Jeff turns around slowly, so that his back is facing it. Taking small steps in reverse, he pushes it aside with his butt until he is out and holds it open for Folk. At the backyard, a couple of paces away from where they are stands a table: its base looks like a giant Ionic architectural capital, while atop it sits a glass shaped in a perfect square that is both thick and transparent. Around it are four metal chairs, each as equally ornate as they are rusty.

"By the way, that mini carousel out front, whose is that? Yours?" asked Folk, setting down his tray atop the table.

"It's my nephew's. Care for a spin?" chuckled Jeff, obviously mocking his guest.

"Silly. I just wanted to know, but you will look cute riding the duck though," retorted Folk, winking.

"That is very funny." Jeff sets down his tray and gives the other his glass of juice. "On a serious note, I have a lot to ask you, Folk," continued Jeff, inviting his guest to sit.

"And I to you. Well then, fire away when you are ready. Where do you want to start?" Folk picks up two out of his three cutleries – the spoon and fork duo – to start his meal.

"Is it okay if we eat while we do this?" Jeff sips a bit of juice from his glass.

"I don't mind that. Like what I asked before, where do we start." Folk impales a piece of meat coated with red sauce.

"Okay then. Let's start with 'What are Scylla and Charybdis' for a thousand."

"DING! DING! DING! That's a daily-double there, Jeff."

"Really?" Jeff smirks at Folk's allusion to a jackpot question in a popular quiz show.

"Yeah, and it's a lot of details."

"I'm all ears."

"Jeez, you won't believe what they can do – and have done for a long time now."

"Go on," Jeff doesn't take his eyes off Folk as he reaches for his silverwares.

"I guess – from all the info I gathered – those two systems are being used to move money. And..." Folk fills his spoon with a little of everything from his plate. "...do so without being detected by anyone else from Le Cargaison – except for one, of course."

"Move money? You mean payments? For what?"

"I don't know what, exactly, but the money we are talking about here seems to be a little too big for shipping fees."

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Author's Note

Okay. I think this is where the party starts: Folk is about to spill all the beans he knows about Scylla and Charybdis. Will those info be enough, though, for Jeff to use? And what is this "thing" that "they have done"? What are they both capable of that only one man has control over them?  That is too much power if you ask me.

Another thing is why were they named after two mythological characters? Certainly raises an eyebrow - or two - don't you think? 

Stay tuned for the release of the next chapter - Scylla - in the following days.

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