No sooner than she was out of sight another head stuck itself timidly in the door.
“Young Justyn?” David Turner stood in the doorway leaning heavily on his ivory cane.
“Mr. Turner.” Ian smiled. “Please, please come in.”
“Are you sure it’s alright?”
“We are not at the office, so today I give the orders, get your old butt in here and sit it down.” He smiled.
Turner smiled back, having a little trouble getting to the chair by Ian’s bed and having a seat. He nodded his head a moment, but refused to look in Ian’s eyes.
“Mr. Turner?” Ian was concerned. “Is everything alright?”
The old man nodded again. “I’m sorry…”
“Sorry for what?”
David Turner looked at Ian. “Sorry that I haven’t been here. I wasn’t sure that…Young Justyn, I just wanted to say…”
“Mr. Turner…” Ian tried to help him out. “I’m glad you are here…Dave. Words aren’t important. I just needed to see you right there in that chair. That means everything.”
“Ian…my boy…” David Turner could barely get the words out when a tear demanded to fall. He cleared his throat and put up his finger a moment before he spoke, not ashamed of the tears that trickled down his withered cheeks. He finally took a deep breath. “You scared me. Don’t do it again.”
“I hadn’t been in the headlines for a couple of days. I figured what the heck and went for it. How’d I do? Too much?”
Turner threw back his head and laughed. “I’m not sure whether to hug you or tan your hide with my cane. You look like you are uncomfortable enough, so I’ll let it slide for now.”
“Thank you.” Ian hoped David Turner understood exactly what he meant.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“As long as I don’t move or breathe deep and the Percidan keeps dripping I can handle it. How about you?”
“Better now.” Turner nodded. “I’ve been feeling a little lost, but I’m 94. I’m lucky I can still remember my address.”
“And that would be?”
“Ask my driver.”
“Thought so. So tell me, what’s going on at the office?” Ian said.
Turner started to tell him, but stopped. “You know, let’s talk about business another time. Let’s just be friends today.”
“Mr. Turner, as I’m concerned we’re already friends, every day.”
The man nodded his head and looked at the floor again. They fell silent, not the uncomfortable kind, but the kind where it feels right just to have someone else in the room that you care about.
“Family.” Ian heard the old man say almost to himself. It made Ian smile, warmly inside.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Turner said looking up quickly.
“Forgot?”
“Yes.” He said. “I wanted to get you a gift, something special.”
“Mr. Turner, a gift is not warranted.”
“I know, but I wanted to get you something.” Turner said. “Something you’d like.”
“If you insist…unhook me and get me out of here.” Ian suggested.
“You seriously think that huge man outside would let us both just walk out and hit the elevator button?”
“You think he’d notice?”
David Turner laughed. “How could he not notice the two of us trying to make our escape to the elevator? I have no balance and you, well Young Justyn you’re just a mess.”
“I bet we could make it as far as the elevator.” Ian prodded. “I dare ya…com’mon if we fall down and break something, we’re in a hospital.”
“You stop it now, you’ll get me into trouble.” Turner grinned.
“What d’ya say old man? One last cheap thrill?”
“You are one evil child. Preying on a senior citizen, now stop.” He shook his finger at him. “I should have gone with my first choice.”
“First choice of what?”
“The gift. My first thought was to get you a cat.” Turner grinned.
“A cat?” Ian grimaced. “I have one, thank you. Why do you want to get rid of yours?”
“Actually, Patches and I are doing just fine.” David smiled.
“Patches? You named it…oh you got the little white one that looks like someone wiped paint brushes all over it.”
“Exactly!” Turner said. “I couldn’t put my finger on it but that’s exactly what she looks like. You’ve seen her?”
“Just once. Ronnie showed them to Reese and I in the barn.” Ian didn’t want to go further. The look on David Turner’s face read clearly that he understood.
“Well, I didn’t get you a cat.”
“Good. I have to admit, that Rodie and I are going to have a little different relationship if I can ever dig my way out of Stalag 17 here, but that doesn’t mean I like cats. I’ll just do my best to tolerate the one we have…a little bit more…as long as it keeps its distance.”
“I did get you something though.”
“Mr. Turner, I don’t…”
“Something I know you need, but I can’t bring it to you myself. I needed a little help.”
“Please, this isn’t necessary…”
“Yes.” Turner stood determined. “Yes, I think it is.”
Turner stepped back from the bed and looked toward the door. “Mr. Ripley, would you mind…?”
“Of course, sir.” Ian heard from outside the room.
Ronnie appeared in the doorway holding a little brightly wrapped package. “Papa?”
Ian burst into tears as his son ran to his bedside and covered him with kisses.
“See?” Turner fought the emotion again. “I knew that was exactly what you needed.”
Showing posts with label Present. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Present. Show all posts
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Vignette #146: Swatting Gnats
Wella and Ian both turned around to see Jessica Greginsky leaning on the door frame, Ripley blocking her entrance.
“Mrs. Greginsky? I’m honored…Ripley it’s okay…please come in….” Ian managed to get out. “I’d shake your hand ma’am, but I’m a little tied up at the moment.”
Wella pulled a chair from under the window as close to Ian’s bed as she could. “Here Mrs. Greginsky, have a seat…” she pulled a comfortable seat from the window closer to the bed.
“Thank you, Wella. Young Justyn…”
“Ian, Mrs. Gregisnky, please just Ian…”
“Fine, Ian. I prefer Jessica myself, but I’m filthy rich and people seem to feel the need to feign respect with the whole Mrs. Greginsky deal…and even that was two or three husbands ago.”
“Well, I have to admit, I am a still little uncomfortable with Jessica, so may I continue to disrespectfully call you Mrs. Gerginsky, for now?”
She laughed jovially. “I love your sense of humor…I was coming to tell you that I was going to miss it and see if I could talk you out of leaving us.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t have any intention of leaving.”
“In fact, Mrs. Greginsky, Ian and I were just discussing conference calls for our daily power meetings and seeing how much the hospital would allow of work related visits.”
“Are you sure you are strong enough for that, son?”
“I am dying here of pure boredom and we have a lot of work to do…”
She frowned a bit and shifted her weight on the back of the chair.
“Is there something wrong, ma’am?” Ian asked.
“I’m just a little confused. Simon Kent just spent the better part of the morning relaying to your wishes to myself and the board…”
“How would Simon Kent know what my wishes were?”
“You didn’t have a heart to heart with him yesterday afternoon?”
“With all due respect, yesterday afternoon I was still unconscious.”
“I can verify that Tippy Shores called me at 7 PM last night to tell me Ian was finally awake and already screaming to go home.” Wella backed him up.
“Tippy Shores? She was here? Kent says there has been no one to visit you, that when not at work he’s been keeping a vigil by your bedside.”
“I’ve been sleeping, too damn…sorry…much, but as you’ve noticed there is a guard posted outside my door with a list of who’s come and who’s gone, and I can assure you that not only is Simon Kent’s name not on that list, Ripley’s got a shoot to kill order.”
Ian looked at the Board Member’s confused face. “My relationship with Simon Kent has strictly been business, even that has been limited to a few terse exchanges in the office. Outside of the office we have no relationship at all. I have no idea where Mr. Kent gets his information about my wishes.”
“I got no problem, calling a spade a spade.” Wella spoke right up. “That ass has done nothing but try and make trouble for Ian from moment one.”
“How may I ask?”
“I cannot prove or even say that he has deliberately tried to sabotage any effort Ian has made, but I was in his office delivering mail when Kent was informed that Ian would be arriving. His exact words were, “That little hayseed won’t be around long, I’ll see to that personally.”
“He would say something like that in front of you?”
“No disrespect Mrs. Gregisnky, but hell yeah. As far as Kent and many others are concerned if you push a mail cart or answer a phone, you don’t exist. You’d be surprised what I know, what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen in ten years of pushing that thing around.”
“Wella is almost solely responsible for helping me understand how things work at the network, especially how to get things done quickly and efficiently. I wouldn’t have survived without her.”
Jessica Greginsky nodded her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised. One day you and I will have a very long talk young man. I’m just grateful that the one I had planned to have with you turned out to be a needless waste of energy.”
“Well, thank you for taking time out to come and see me. Won’t you stay a while and chat?” Ian said.
She stood. “No, Ian, I think I’d better head back. I’ve got a number of phone calls to make to correct some misinformation.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Wella offered.
“No, Wella. You continue to run things in Ian’s behalf. I have utmost confidence that you will keep things quid pro quo. In the meantime I think it’s best I head this off at the pass before it becomes a stampede.”
“Mrs. Gresinsky, has Simon Kent by any chance managed to…” Ian was cut off in mid-sentence.”
She walked over and gently took his hand. “You get well. I’ll handle Kent.”
“But…”
“I personally assure you that the board will not and would not make any assumptions based on the word of Simon Kent. However, I do want to make sure that everyone is aware of my personal chat with you before the press conference tomorrow. No sense in feeding any rumors Kent has tried to start with misinformation he himself has given as fact.”
Jessica Greginsky smiled and turned to Wella. “Wella, dear, I know I’ve said this before but I am very serious. Let’s you and I get together for a girl’s night. We women have been invisible in this business for much too long. It’s time we strong, single gals still in our prime went out and made some waves.”
“Why Jessica Greginsky,” Wella smiled. “You have got yourself a date.”
“You keep this one in line.” She pointed at Ian. “Get him healthy and get him back to work. I’m going to go swat a big gnat that should have been zapped a long time ago.”
She turned back to Ian. “Once I’ve batted him out of the air, do you want to pull his wings off yourself or may I have the honors?”
“Don’t be mean now.” Ian smiled. “Just pull one wing off.”
“I like you, my boy.” Jessica tossed her bag over her shoulder and laughed. “I really, really like you. Wella, dear, I’ll drop by tomorrow and we’ll make plans.”
She whisked off with a wave.
“Mrs. Greginsky? I’m honored…Ripley it’s okay…please come in….” Ian managed to get out. “I’d shake your hand ma’am, but I’m a little tied up at the moment.”
Wella pulled a chair from under the window as close to Ian’s bed as she could. “Here Mrs. Greginsky, have a seat…” she pulled a comfortable seat from the window closer to the bed.
“Thank you, Wella. Young Justyn…”
“Ian, Mrs. Gregisnky, please just Ian…”
“Fine, Ian. I prefer Jessica myself, but I’m filthy rich and people seem to feel the need to feign respect with the whole Mrs. Greginsky deal…and even that was two or three husbands ago.”
“Well, I have to admit, I am a still little uncomfortable with Jessica, so may I continue to disrespectfully call you Mrs. Gerginsky, for now?”
She laughed jovially. “I love your sense of humor…I was coming to tell you that I was going to miss it and see if I could talk you out of leaving us.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t have any intention of leaving.”
“In fact, Mrs. Greginsky, Ian and I were just discussing conference calls for our daily power meetings and seeing how much the hospital would allow of work related visits.”
“Are you sure you are strong enough for that, son?”
“I am dying here of pure boredom and we have a lot of work to do…”
She frowned a bit and shifted her weight on the back of the chair.
“Is there something wrong, ma’am?” Ian asked.
“I’m just a little confused. Simon Kent just spent the better part of the morning relaying to your wishes to myself and the board…”
“How would Simon Kent know what my wishes were?”
“You didn’t have a heart to heart with him yesterday afternoon?”
“With all due respect, yesterday afternoon I was still unconscious.”
“I can verify that Tippy Shores called me at 7 PM last night to tell me Ian was finally awake and already screaming to go home.” Wella backed him up.
“Tippy Shores? She was here? Kent says there has been no one to visit you, that when not at work he’s been keeping a vigil by your bedside.”
“I’ve been sleeping, too damn…sorry…much, but as you’ve noticed there is a guard posted outside my door with a list of who’s come and who’s gone, and I can assure you that not only is Simon Kent’s name not on that list, Ripley’s got a shoot to kill order.”
Ian looked at the Board Member’s confused face. “My relationship with Simon Kent has strictly been business, even that has been limited to a few terse exchanges in the office. Outside of the office we have no relationship at all. I have no idea where Mr. Kent gets his information about my wishes.”
“I got no problem, calling a spade a spade.” Wella spoke right up. “That ass has done nothing but try and make trouble for Ian from moment one.”
“How may I ask?”
“I cannot prove or even say that he has deliberately tried to sabotage any effort Ian has made, but I was in his office delivering mail when Kent was informed that Ian would be arriving. His exact words were, “That little hayseed won’t be around long, I’ll see to that personally.”
“He would say something like that in front of you?”
“No disrespect Mrs. Gregisnky, but hell yeah. As far as Kent and many others are concerned if you push a mail cart or answer a phone, you don’t exist. You’d be surprised what I know, what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen in ten years of pushing that thing around.”
“Wella is almost solely responsible for helping me understand how things work at the network, especially how to get things done quickly and efficiently. I wouldn’t have survived without her.”
Jessica Greginsky nodded her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised. One day you and I will have a very long talk young man. I’m just grateful that the one I had planned to have with you turned out to be a needless waste of energy.”
“Well, thank you for taking time out to come and see me. Won’t you stay a while and chat?” Ian said.
She stood. “No, Ian, I think I’d better head back. I’ve got a number of phone calls to make to correct some misinformation.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Wella offered.
“No, Wella. You continue to run things in Ian’s behalf. I have utmost confidence that you will keep things quid pro quo. In the meantime I think it’s best I head this off at the pass before it becomes a stampede.”
“Mrs. Gresinsky, has Simon Kent by any chance managed to…” Ian was cut off in mid-sentence.”
She walked over and gently took his hand. “You get well. I’ll handle Kent.”
“But…”
“I personally assure you that the board will not and would not make any assumptions based on the word of Simon Kent. However, I do want to make sure that everyone is aware of my personal chat with you before the press conference tomorrow. No sense in feeding any rumors Kent has tried to start with misinformation he himself has given as fact.”
Jessica Greginsky smiled and turned to Wella. “Wella, dear, I know I’ve said this before but I am very serious. Let’s you and I get together for a girl’s night. We women have been invisible in this business for much too long. It’s time we strong, single gals still in our prime went out and made some waves.”
“Why Jessica Greginsky,” Wella smiled. “You have got yourself a date.”
“You keep this one in line.” She pointed at Ian. “Get him healthy and get him back to work. I’m going to go swat a big gnat that should have been zapped a long time ago.”
She turned back to Ian. “Once I’ve batted him out of the air, do you want to pull his wings off yourself or may I have the honors?”
“Don’t be mean now.” Ian smiled. “Just pull one wing off.”
“I like you, my boy.” Jessica tossed her bag over her shoulder and laughed. “I really, really like you. Wella, dear, I’ll drop by tomorrow and we’ll make plans.”
She whisked off with a wave.
Vignette #144: Little Conversations
Everyone filed outside, except for Billy, who was in the bed next to Ian. The doctor pulled the curtain between and pulled back the small blue blanket that was covering Ian.
“Mr. Justyn, tell me if this hurts…” The doctor stuck a pin in his right knee.
“Shit…oh damn yes it hurts…wouldn’t it hurt if I stuck a pin in your knee?”
The doctor laughed. He squeezed his thigh. Ian could see that it was swollen twice its normal size and looked like a really ugly calico swatch. The doctor lifted the hospital gown and put both hands in a vee and pushed slightly just below where Ian’s leg connected to his torso. “Can you feel this pressure?”
“Yes.”
“What about here?” He moved his hands to various places on his torso and groin, repeating the pressure and repeating the question. “Any sharp pains at all?”
“No. Is there going to be a problem?”
“I doubt it. But remember you had two people slam down on top of you from quite a distance. You cushioned their falls, but your body took three blows, one from the back and two from the front. Everything inside you got jostled around and bruised. Don’t panic if some normal functions are painful for a while or maybe don’t work as they normally would for a while…”
“I’m as comfortable as I can be, I guess. Can we let the bed down a little?”
“Actually no.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve had major rotator cuff repair. We need to keep pressure off, so the bed cannot go back any further than it is. Understand? No actual laying down flat for a while…”
“Sleep sitting up?”
“That’s right.” He turned to Billy as he pulled the curtain back. “And as for you Mr. Jarvis, I’ll be signing your release papers tomorrow morning. I’ll want to examine you again in a day or two before I release you to go back home.”
“Great!” Billy grinned.
“I’ll give you all the paperwork you need to get your physical therapy when you return.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The doctor turned back to Ian. “And you! Stay put!”
“How can I move? I’m stapled in place!”
The doctor laughed as he headed out the door. “You’re too funny!”
“Looks like just as I regain consciousness, I’m losing a roommate.”
“I’d volunteer to stay, buddy, but….uh…screw you!” They both chuckled.
“Billy, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“This visit wasn’t exactly what you expected…”
“Are you kidding? I met a bunch of real live movie stars. I got laid and got in a fight…with guns! I’m in inbred heaven!”
“I guess you’ll have the house all to yourself.”
“Actually, the police still haven’t let anyone near the house yet. I think they told Kellen this afternoon maybe. We’ll probably all go over and clean up and put some plywood where the windows used to be…”
“Why do they still have it coordinated off, if they’ve closed the case?”
“I don’t know. I guess just in case they forgot to take a picture of a blade of grass or something.”
“I guess you’ll stay with Reese anyway.”
Billy blushed a little, “Yeah, we’ve got some unfinished business.”
“I’m glad…not that you didn’t get to finish…er…uh…”
He laughed at Ian. “I know…I feel kinda weird about the whole thing, between me and Reese. I think we could have something really special, but in a few days he’ll be here and I’ll be back in Virginia.”
“You could just stay, Billy…”
He nodded his head, “I could…but I have to go home and face my family. I refuse to let them think I ran away because I couldn’t face the truth. I have to go home and tell them that I’m gay and stay long enough for them to know that I am not ashamed of it.”
“I love you so, Billy.”
“Love you, too, buddy.”
“Mr. Justyn, tell me if this hurts…” The doctor stuck a pin in his right knee.
“Shit…oh damn yes it hurts…wouldn’t it hurt if I stuck a pin in your knee?”
The doctor laughed. He squeezed his thigh. Ian could see that it was swollen twice its normal size and looked like a really ugly calico swatch. The doctor lifted the hospital gown and put both hands in a vee and pushed slightly just below where Ian’s leg connected to his torso. “Can you feel this pressure?”
“Yes.”
“What about here?” He moved his hands to various places on his torso and groin, repeating the pressure and repeating the question. “Any sharp pains at all?”
“No. Is there going to be a problem?”
“I doubt it. But remember you had two people slam down on top of you from quite a distance. You cushioned their falls, but your body took three blows, one from the back and two from the front. Everything inside you got jostled around and bruised. Don’t panic if some normal functions are painful for a while or maybe don’t work as they normally would for a while…”
“I’m as comfortable as I can be, I guess. Can we let the bed down a little?”
“Actually no.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve had major rotator cuff repair. We need to keep pressure off, so the bed cannot go back any further than it is. Understand? No actual laying down flat for a while…”
“Sleep sitting up?”
“That’s right.” He turned to Billy as he pulled the curtain back. “And as for you Mr. Jarvis, I’ll be signing your release papers tomorrow morning. I’ll want to examine you again in a day or two before I release you to go back home.”
“Great!” Billy grinned.
“I’ll give you all the paperwork you need to get your physical therapy when you return.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The doctor turned back to Ian. “And you! Stay put!”
“How can I move? I’m stapled in place!”
The doctor laughed as he headed out the door. “You’re too funny!”
“Looks like just as I regain consciousness, I’m losing a roommate.”
“I’d volunteer to stay, buddy, but….uh…screw you!” They both chuckled.
“Billy, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“This visit wasn’t exactly what you expected…”
“Are you kidding? I met a bunch of real live movie stars. I got laid and got in a fight…with guns! I’m in inbred heaven!”
“I guess you’ll have the house all to yourself.”
“Actually, the police still haven’t let anyone near the house yet. I think they told Kellen this afternoon maybe. We’ll probably all go over and clean up and put some plywood where the windows used to be…”
“Why do they still have it coordinated off, if they’ve closed the case?”
“I don’t know. I guess just in case they forgot to take a picture of a blade of grass or something.”
“I guess you’ll stay with Reese anyway.”
Billy blushed a little, “Yeah, we’ve got some unfinished business.”
“I’m glad…not that you didn’t get to finish…er…uh…”
He laughed at Ian. “I know…I feel kinda weird about the whole thing, between me and Reese. I think we could have something really special, but in a few days he’ll be here and I’ll be back in Virginia.”
“You could just stay, Billy…”
He nodded his head, “I could…but I have to go home and face my family. I refuse to let them think I ran away because I couldn’t face the truth. I have to go home and tell them that I’m gay and stay long enough for them to know that I am not ashamed of it.”
“I love you so, Billy.”
“Love you, too, buddy.”
Vignette #143: Little Pains
“So how do you feel?” The doctor was making notes on a clipboard he’d retrieved from the end of Ian’s bed.
“Like a football player landed on me…hard.”
“He’s just fine”, Tippy smiled broadly.
“How’s the pain?” the doctor continued to make notes as he poked here and prodded there.
Ian responded with appropriate amounts of “Ouch”, “Ahhhh” and “Not until you poked me”. He had been disoriented for a few minutes, but everything had come back to him with a vengeance. He remembered every sordid detail, whether he wanted to or not.
He was anxious for the doctor to get out of the room so he could get to a phone. It was now Wednesday morning. He had slept for far too long and he needed to get in touch with the team at work and let them know that everything was fine.
The whole event had left him feeling odd and uncomfortable, physically as well as mentally. Bits and pieces of the past kept swirling through his mind, in no particular order, and Ian was determined to get some grounding back in as much reality as he could as quickly as possible.
He was relieved that Billy was fine, to be released tomorrow morning. His wonderfully rowdy little entourage informed him little of what had been determined had transpired—or as much as they knew. Kellen was off getting the details on that. Ian was still in shock over the whole ordeal.
“So when can I get out of here? I have a lot to do…” Ian asked the doctor.
“Just relax and get comfortable Mr. Justyn. You’ll be with us a while yet.”
“Unacceptable. I need to be home by this afternoon. Just prescribe something and I’ll get out of your hair…”
“Excuse me?” Tippy’s ire reared its ugly head.
“I said just give me…”
“I heard what you said, young man.” She put her hands on her hips and planted her feet firmly on the floor. “And that is what is not acceptable. You will stay in that bed as long as it takes and you will give these people all the time they need to get you healthy again!”
“I have a son to look after…”
“Quiet! This is not a conversation, I will talk and you will listen!” The doctor threw up his hands and stepped out of the line of fire.
“This is serious, Baby Doll. You almost died on us. You will not be yanking your jeans on and going on your merry way today. And Ronnie’s just fine. He’s with us. Jesse and Reese are spoiling him rotten, so I want no blame from the peanut gallery.” She moved close to Ian, close enough to take his hand gently in hers, her voice became soothing, still firm, but soothing.
“You punctured both lungs, honey. You got some broken bones and that cup thingy…”
“Rotator cuff…” the doctor kind of coughed out.
“Thanks, Sweetums…rotator cuff was torn to shreds. They had to go ahead and repair it while they fixed your lungs and put the puzzle pieces of your ribs back together. We’re just lucky there was no damage to that big ol’ heart of yours or your spine. Be a good boy and just do whatever the doctor tells you. Let your family take care of everything else.” She kissed Ian’s forehead.
“Or I’ll beat the living tar out of you myself.” She smiled at the doctor and returned to her chair by the window. “He’s all yours now, Sweetums.”
The doctor cleared his throat. “I think that just about wraps it up. You’ll need physical therapy. I’ve already assigned someone. He’ll help me to determine what we need to do about the knee. Nothing was broken there, but most of the ligaments were torn away. It may be up to you whether or not you want surgery to repair it.”
“So I just lay here wired up like a Muppet and wait?”
“Pretty much. It’s what you need to do to let your body heal. If you’re a good boy…” He smiled, “You will be out of here and home—not work—but home shortly.”
“Look, my job isn’t physical, it’s just…”
“…Stressful…I know what you do Mr. Justyn, everybody in and out of this hospital knows what you do. You are all over the news…”
Ian tried to put his head in his hands, but one was immobilized and the other hurt like hell so he just hung his head. Even that hurt. “Great, I’m Paris Hilton with a hairy chest…”
“You are much better off right now where you are…” The doctor scratched some more on the clipboard and hung it back. “I’m going to have some sedatives brought to you...”
“Sedatives? Please don’t make me sleep more...please!”
“Mr. Justyn, you need as much rest as possible…”
“I’ve slept for three days. I’m all caught up, I promise!” he begged.
“I’ll make you a deal. If you stay quiet…” he turned to the rest of the ménage, “...and that goes for you, too, and eat a nice lunch, I’ll hold off on the first sedatives until this afternoon. One peep and I’ll sock you so full of Percidan you’ll float until Christmas. Got it?”
“Got it…” Ian wasn’t happy.
“Now if everyone will step outside, I need to do a more in depth examination…”
“Like a football player landed on me…hard.”
“He’s just fine”, Tippy smiled broadly.
“How’s the pain?” the doctor continued to make notes as he poked here and prodded there.
Ian responded with appropriate amounts of “Ouch”, “Ahhhh” and “Not until you poked me”. He had been disoriented for a few minutes, but everything had come back to him with a vengeance. He remembered every sordid detail, whether he wanted to or not.
He was anxious for the doctor to get out of the room so he could get to a phone. It was now Wednesday morning. He had slept for far too long and he needed to get in touch with the team at work and let them know that everything was fine.
The whole event had left him feeling odd and uncomfortable, physically as well as mentally. Bits and pieces of the past kept swirling through his mind, in no particular order, and Ian was determined to get some grounding back in as much reality as he could as quickly as possible.
He was relieved that Billy was fine, to be released tomorrow morning. His wonderfully rowdy little entourage informed him little of what had been determined had transpired—or as much as they knew. Kellen was off getting the details on that. Ian was still in shock over the whole ordeal.
“So when can I get out of here? I have a lot to do…” Ian asked the doctor.
“Just relax and get comfortable Mr. Justyn. You’ll be with us a while yet.”
“Unacceptable. I need to be home by this afternoon. Just prescribe something and I’ll get out of your hair…”
“Excuse me?” Tippy’s ire reared its ugly head.
“I said just give me…”
“I heard what you said, young man.” She put her hands on her hips and planted her feet firmly on the floor. “And that is what is not acceptable. You will stay in that bed as long as it takes and you will give these people all the time they need to get you healthy again!”
“I have a son to look after…”
“Quiet! This is not a conversation, I will talk and you will listen!” The doctor threw up his hands and stepped out of the line of fire.
“This is serious, Baby Doll. You almost died on us. You will not be yanking your jeans on and going on your merry way today. And Ronnie’s just fine. He’s with us. Jesse and Reese are spoiling him rotten, so I want no blame from the peanut gallery.” She moved close to Ian, close enough to take his hand gently in hers, her voice became soothing, still firm, but soothing.
“You punctured both lungs, honey. You got some broken bones and that cup thingy…”
“Rotator cuff…” the doctor kind of coughed out.
“Thanks, Sweetums…rotator cuff was torn to shreds. They had to go ahead and repair it while they fixed your lungs and put the puzzle pieces of your ribs back together. We’re just lucky there was no damage to that big ol’ heart of yours or your spine. Be a good boy and just do whatever the doctor tells you. Let your family take care of everything else.” She kissed Ian’s forehead.
“Or I’ll beat the living tar out of you myself.” She smiled at the doctor and returned to her chair by the window. “He’s all yours now, Sweetums.”
The doctor cleared his throat. “I think that just about wraps it up. You’ll need physical therapy. I’ve already assigned someone. He’ll help me to determine what we need to do about the knee. Nothing was broken there, but most of the ligaments were torn away. It may be up to you whether or not you want surgery to repair it.”
“So I just lay here wired up like a Muppet and wait?”
“Pretty much. It’s what you need to do to let your body heal. If you’re a good boy…” He smiled, “You will be out of here and home—not work—but home shortly.”
“Look, my job isn’t physical, it’s just…”
“…Stressful…I know what you do Mr. Justyn, everybody in and out of this hospital knows what you do. You are all over the news…”
Ian tried to put his head in his hands, but one was immobilized and the other hurt like hell so he just hung his head. Even that hurt. “Great, I’m Paris Hilton with a hairy chest…”
“You are much better off right now where you are…” The doctor scratched some more on the clipboard and hung it back. “I’m going to have some sedatives brought to you...”
“Sedatives? Please don’t make me sleep more...please!”
“Mr. Justyn, you need as much rest as possible…”
“I’ve slept for three days. I’m all caught up, I promise!” he begged.
“I’ll make you a deal. If you stay quiet…” he turned to the rest of the ménage, “...and that goes for you, too, and eat a nice lunch, I’ll hold off on the first sedatives until this afternoon. One peep and I’ll sock you so full of Percidan you’ll float until Christmas. Got it?”
“Got it…” Ian wasn’t happy.
“Now if everyone will step outside, I need to do a more in depth examination…”
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Chapter #30: Just Humans
“So how do you feel?” The doctor was making notes on a clipboard he’d retrieved from the end of Ian’s bed.
“Like a football player landed on me…hard.”
“He’s just fine”, Tippy smiled broadly.
“How’s the pain?” the doctor continued to make notes as he poked here and prodded there.
Ian responded with appropriate amounts of “Ouch”, “Ahhhh” and “Not until you poked me”. He had been disoriented for a few minutes, but everything had come back to him with a vengeance. He remembered every sordid detail, whether he wanted to or not.
He was anxious for the doctor to get out of the room so he could get to a phone. It was now Wednesday morning. He had slept for far too long and he needed to get in touch with the team at work and let them know that everything was fine.
The whole event had left him feeling odd and uncomfortable, physically as well as mentally. Bits and pieces of the past kept swirling through his mind, in no particular order, and Ian was determined to get some grounding back in as much reality as he could as quickly as possible.
He was relieved that Billy was fine, to be released tomorrow morning. His wonderfully rowdy little entourage informed him little of what had been determined had transpired—or as much as they knew. Kellen was off getting the details on that. Ian was still in shock over the whole ordeal.
“So when can I get out of here? I have a lot to do…” Ian asked the doctor.
“Just relax and get comfortable Mr. Justyn. You’ll be with us a while yet.”
“Unacceptable. I need to be home by this afternoon. Just prescribe something and I’ll get out of your hair…”
“Excuse me?” Tippy’s ire reared its ugly head.
“I said just give me…”
“I heard what you said, young man.” She put her hands on her hips and planted her feet firmly on the floor. “And that is what is not acceptable. You will stay in that bed as long as it takes and you will give these people all the time they need to get you healthy again!”
“I have a son to look after…”
“Quiet! This is not a conversation, I will talk and you will listen!” The doctor threw up his hands and stepped out of the line of fire.
“This is serious, Baby Doll. You almost died on us. You will not be yanking your jeans on and going on your merry way today. And Ronnie’s just fine. He’s with us. Jesse and Reese are spoiling him rotten, so I want no blame from the peanut gallery.” She moved close to Ian, close enough to take his hand gently in hers, her voice became soothing, still firm, but soothing.
“You punctured both lungs, honey. You got some broken bones and that cup thingy…”
“Rotator cuff…” the doctor kind of coughed out.
“Thanks, Sweetums…rotator cuff was torn to shreds. They had to go ahead and repair it while they fixed your lungs and put the puzzle pieces of your ribs back together. We’re just lucky there was no damage to that big ol’ heart of yours or your spine. Be a good boy and just do whatever the doctor tells you. Let your family take care of everything else.” She kissed Ian’s forehead.
“Or I’ll beat the living tar out of you myself.” She smiled at the doctor and returned to her chair by the window. “He’s all yours now, Sweetums.”
The doctor cleared his throat. “I think that just about wraps it up. You’ll need physical therapy. I’ve already assigned someone. He’ll help me to determine what we need to do about the knee. Nothing was broken there, but most of the ligaments were torn away. It may be up to you whether or not you want surgery to repair it.”
“So I just lay here wired up like a Muppet and wait?”
“Pretty much. It’s what you need to do to let your body heal. If you’re a good boy…” He smiled, “You will be out of here and home—not work—but home shortly.”
“Look, my job isn’t physical, it’s just…”
“…Stressful…I know what you do Mr. Justyn, everybody in and out of this hospital knows what you do. You are all over the news…”
Ian tried to put his head in his hands, but one was immobilized and the other hurt like hell so he just hung his head. Even that hurt. “Great, I’m Paris Hilton with a hairy chest…”
“You are much better off right now where you are…” The doctor scratched some more on the clipboard and hung it back. “I’m going to have some sedatives brought to you...”
“Sedatives? Please don’t make me sleep more...please!”
“Mr. Justyn, you need as much rest as possible…”
“I’ve slept for three days. I’m all caught up, I promise!” he begged.
“I’ll make you a deal. If you stay quiet…” he turned to the rest of the ménage, “...and that goes for you, too, and eat a nice lunch, I’ll hold off on the first sedatives until this afternoon. One peep and I’ll sock you so full of Percidan you’ll float until Christmas. Got it?”
“Got it…” Ian wasn’t happy.
“Now if everyone will step outside, I need to do a more in depth examination…”
Everyone filed outside, except for Billy, who was in the bed next to Ian. The doctor pulled the curtain between and pulled back the small blue blanket that was covering Ian.
“Mr. Justyn, tell me if this hurts…” The doctor stuck a pin in his right knee.
“Shit…oh damn yes it hurts…wouldn’t it hurt if I stuck a pin in your knee?”
The doctor laughed. He squeezed his thigh. Ian could see that it was swollen twice its normal size and looked like a really ugly calico swatch. The doctor lifted the hospital gown and put both hands in a vee and pushed slightly just below where Ian’s leg connected to his torso. “Can you feel this pressure?”
“Yes.”
“What about here?” He moved his hands to various places on his torso and groin, repeating the pressure and repeating the question. “Any sharp pains at all?”
“No. Is there going to be a problem?”
“I doubt it. But remember you had two people slam down on top of you from quite a distance. You cushioned their falls, but your body took three blows, one from the back and two from the front. Everything inside you got jostled around and bruised. Don’t panic if some normal functions are painful for a while or maybe don’t work as they normally would for a while…”
“I’m as comfortable as I can be, I guess. Can we let the bed down a little?”
“Actually no.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve had major rotator cuff repair. We need to keep pressure off, so the bed cannot go back any further than it is. Understand? No actual laying down flat for a while…”
“Sleep sitting up?”
“That’s right.” He turned to Billy as he pulled the curtain back. “And as for you Mr. Jarvis, I’ll be signing your release papers tomorrow morning. I’ll want to examine you again in a day or two before I release you to go back home.”
“Great!” Billy grinned.
“I’ll give you all the paperwork you need to get your physical therapy when you return.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The doctor turned back to Ian. “And you! Stay put!”
“How can I move? I’m stapled in place!”
The doctor laughed as he headed out the door. “You’re too funny!”
“Looks like just as I regain consciousness, I’m losing a roommate.”
“I’d volunteer to stay, buddy, but….uh…screw you!” They both chuckled.
“Billy, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“This visit wasn’t exactly what you expected…”
“Are you kidding? I met a bunch of real live movie stars. I got laid and got in a fight…with guns! I’m in inbred heaven!”
“I guess you’ll have the house all to yourself.”
“Actually, the police still haven’t let anyone near the house yet. I think they told Kellen this afternoon maybe. We’ll probably all go over and clean up and put some plywood where the windows used to be…”
“Why do they still have it coordinated off, if they’ve closed the case?”
“I don’t know. I guess just in case they forgot to take a picture of a blade of grass or something.”
“I guess you’ll stay with Reese anyway.”
Billy blushed a little, “Yeah, we’ve got some unfinished business.”
“I’m glad…not that you didn’t get to finish…er…uh…”
He laughed at Ian. “I know…I feel kinda weird about the whole thing, between me and Reese. I think we could have something really special, but in a few days he’ll be here and I’ll be back in Virginia.”
“You could just stay, Billy…”
He nodded his head, “I could…but I have to go home and face my family. I refuse to let them think I ran away because I couldn’t face the truth. I have to go home and tell them that I’m gay and stay long enough for them to know that I am not ashamed of it.”
“I love you so, Billy.”
“Love you, too, buddy.”
And in washed the hoo hah of entourages. Much ado was made about Billy getting to go home and before he knew it Ian was alone. He tried to move a little in the bed, but he was pretty much pinned down.
His one good hand had a needle attached to a drip bag in addition to the clip that was attached to the monitor. He decided to see how far he could stretch that hand. It would only move just under a foot in any direction before he could feel the pin rake inside his flesh. He wouldn’t be doing that too often.
He decided to see about his legs. The left was encased in a brace. The other seemed to be fine. He wondered if he was flexible enough to stick a cigarette between his toes and get it to his mouth. He laughed at himself.
“Glad to see you are keeping yourself entertained...”
“Wella!” Ian wanted to leap out of the bed and give her a big hug and a kiss. He didn’t have to; she rushed right over and gave him a very huge bear hug and kiss. She wouldn’t let go. He could feel her start to shake with tears. “I’m fine, Wella, I’m just fine…”
She pushed him back, and quickly turned to compose herself before turning back to him with a big wet smile. “We have all been so worried…”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Not your fault. You remember that, you skinny white boy, this was all some pervert’s fault. You had nothing to do with this….”
“I would have been just fine, but a couple of guys decided to use me as a trampoline…”
“They told us everything was gonna be okay, but I couldn’t rest until I saw for myself. I am so relieved…”
“You’re just thrilled your Greek god of a hunk is posted outside my door…”
“Ian, honey, that is just really hot sexy icing on the cake…” She just smiled, “Now, what can I do, do you need anything…?”
“Yes, kidnap me and get me the hell outta here….”
“Nothing doing, we have everything sort of under control…”
“Sort of?”
“Kent’s being a pain, but nothing we can’t handle.”
“Kent? What’s he doing?’
“Not sure, but he’s appointed himself your temporary replacement. Showed up Monday morning, and broke up the morning power chat, telling everyone this was a place of business, not a coffee klatch. Started ordering everyone around and then shut himself in your office.”
“My office?”
“Called me in and demanded the key to your desk drawer.”
Ian laughed. “Did you give it to him?”
“Hell, no, said I didn’t have one. Trish says he spent the rest of the morning with a letter opener trying to get it open. Blake says he almost pooped in his pants when he walked in and told him that thing always sticks, pounded it with his fist and slid it right open for him…”
“Tell Blake I owe him a kiss…”
“When Kent got a look he slammed the drawer shut and stomped off…”
“Doesn’t he like potato chips?”
“Trish said he mumbled something about redneck junk food addict as he practically beat the button to the elevator in.”
“Redneck? It was full of Cajun Spice chips, not barbeque pork rinds.”
“He had me making coffee and Blake shredding papers…”
“Shredding…what’s he up, too?”
“Not quite sure. He goes in your office and shuts the door; occasionally he’ll pop out and bark an order. But we know for sure he is up to something. Trish came out of the office and motioned Blake and me over to her desk. Said for a guy that thinks he’s so smart he’s sure an idiot. She had pressed the intercom button down…”
“But I keep that thing unplugged…I kinda broke it and Blake has been waiting for someone to come and fix it.”
“He plugged it back up, and we listened to almost every conversation he had yesterday. He’s real ticked off, started when legal brought Pierce Warner’s contract down, already signed, just waiting for your signature. He immediately called somebody and demanded to know what the contract was all about.”
“Pierce signed his contract?”
“Came in and said you wanted it done first thing Monday morning and regardless he wanted it done, too. We snuck straight up to legal and pounded it all out. Your boy, Jenson…?”
“Jenson Michaels?”
“Yeah, he called as well, worried about you. I told him we were all just carrying on as though nothing had happened. You’d want us to keep things going so he met Blake at lunch and gave him another satchel full of some scripts.”
“Why so clandestine?”
“None of us trust Kent. He keeps barking at people and ordering us to do anything but work on what we are supposed to, and then complaining to any suit that walks by that he’s got to keep an eye on us or we won’t do any work.”
“He shouldn’t even be there…”
“Oh believe me anytime, Mr. Turner walks in…”
“David Turner’s been down?”
“Two or three times. Kent says he’s just down making sure that everything is being carried on the way you told him you wanted it.”
“I told him?”
“Claims the moment he heard about the accident he’s been sitting by your lonely bedside. Let me see if I get the quote right, “Poor boy, had nobody, and I didn’t want him to think that no one cared. We’re close you know….”
Ian wanted to gag. “What’s that bastard up to?”
“All we know for sure, is that when Turner caught him the last time, Sean said he heard him tell him say that you had told him you wouldn’t be returning, something about you and Ronnie going off and milking cows. You’d had enough and he was going to speak with the board about releasing you from your contract…best thing to do for everyone involved….”
“He wants me fired?”
“Oh no, not fired, released at your request. Problem is the idiot never bothered to see if any of us had been in contact with you or had been by your poor lonely bedside.”
“He’s up to something…”
“Of course. He’s determined that America Alive expand an hour and Sebastian Manor get canned ASAP.”
“That’s all been decided and there’s nothing he can do about it.”
“That’s not what he claims…”
“Wella, he thinks I am too naïve or stupid to figure it out, or just far out of reach enough to not be able to stop him. As of tomorrow, we power meet via conference call, although I want as many of you here as much as possible during the work day as the hospital will let us get away with. If I’m lucky they’ll just throw me out and I can get back to work full time….”
“That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but close….”
Wella and Ian both turned around to see Jessica Greginsky leaning on the doorframe, Ripley blocking her entrance.
“Mrs. Greginsky? I’m honored…Ripley it’s okay…please come in….” Ian managed to get out. “I’d shake your hand ma’am, but I’m a little tied up at the moment.”
Wella pulled a chair from under the window as close to Ian’s bed as she could. “Here Mrs. Greginsky, have a seat…” she pulled a comfortable seat from the window closer to the bed.
“Thank you, Wella. Young Justyn…”
“Ian, Mrs. Gregisnky, please just Ian…”
“Fine, Ian. I prefer Jessica myself, but I’m filthy rich and people seem to feel the need to feign respect with the whole Mrs. Greginsky deal…and even that was two or three husbands ago.”
“Well, I have to admit, I am a still little uncomfortable with Jessica, so may I continue to disrespectfully call you Mrs. Gerginsky, for now?”
She laughed jovially. “I love your sense of humor…I was coming to tell you that I was going to miss it and see if I could talk you out of leaving us.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t have any intention of leaving.”
“In fact, Mrs. Greginsky, Ian and I were just discussing conference calls for our daily power meetings and seeing how much the hospital would allow of work related visits.”
“Are you sure you are strong enough for that, son?”
“I am dying here of pure boredom and we have a lot of work to do…”
She frowned a bit and shifted her weight on the back of the chair.
“Is there something wrong, ma’am?” Ian asked.
“I’m just a little confused. Simon Kent just spent the better part of the morning relaying to your wishes to myself and the board…”
“How would Simon Kent know what my wishes were?”
“You didn’t have a heart to heart with him yesterday afternoon?”
“With all due respect, yesterday afternoon I was still unconscious.”
“I can verify that Tippy Shores called me at 7 PM last night to tell me Ian was finally awake and already screaming to go home.” Wella backed him up.
“Tippy Shores? She was here? Kent says there has been no one to visit you, that when not at work he’s been keeping a vigil by your bedside.”
“I’ve been sleeping, too damn…sorry…much, but as you’ve noticed there is a guard posted outside my door with a list of who’s come and who’s gone, and I can assure you that not only is Simon Kent’s name not on that list, Ripley’s got a shoot to kill order.”
Ian looked at the Board Member’s confused face. “My relationship with Simon Kent has strictly been business, even that has been limited to a few terse exchanges in the office. Outside of the office we have no relationship at all. I have no idea where Mr. Kent gets his information about my wishes.”
“I got no problem, calling a spade a spade.” Wella spoke right up. “That ass has done nothing but try and make trouble for Ian from moment one.”
“How may I ask?”
“I cannot prove or even say that he has deliberately tried to sabotage any effort Ian has made, but I was in his office delivering mail when Kent was informed that Ian would be arriving. His exact words were, “That little hayseed won’t be around long, I’ll see to that personally.”
“He would say something like that in front of you?”
“No disrespect Mrs. Gregisnky, but hell yeah. As far as Kent and many others are concerned if you push a mail cart or answer a phone, you don’t exist. You’d be surprised what I know, what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen in ten years of pushing that thing around.”
“Wella is almost solely responsible for helping me understand how things work at the network, especially how to get things done quickly and efficiently. I wouldn’t have survived without her.”
Jessica Greginsky nodded her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised. One day you and I will have a very long talk young man. I’m just grateful that the one I had planned to have with you turned out to be a needless waste of energy.”
“Well, thank you for taking time out to come and see me. Won’t you stay a while and chat?” Ian said.
She stood. “No, Ian, I think I’d better head back. I’ve got a number of phone calls to make to correct some misinformation.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Wella offered.
“No, Wella. You continue to run things in Ian’s behalf. I have utmost confidence that you will keep things quid pro quo. In the meantime I think it’s best I head this off at the pass before it becomes a stampede.”
“Mrs. Gresinsky, has Simon Kent by any chance managed to…” Ian was cut off in mid-sentence.”
She walked over and gently took his hand. “You get well. I’ll handle Kent.”
“But…”
“I personally assure you that the board will not and would not make any assumptions based on the word of Simon Kent. However, I do want to make sure that everyone is aware of my personal chat with you before the press conference tomorrow. No sense in feeding any rumors Kent has tried to start with misinformation he himself has given as fact.”
Jessica Greginsky smiled and turned to Wella. “Wella, dear, I know I’ve said this before but I am very serious. Let’s you and I get together for a girl’s night. We women have been invisible in this business for much too long. It’s time we strong, single gals still in our prime went out and made some waves.”
“Why Jessica Greginsky,” Wella smiled. “You have got yourself a date.”
“You keep this one in line.” She pointed at Ian. “Get him healthy and get him back to work. I’m going to go swat a big gnat that should have been zapped a long time ago.”
She turned back to Ian. “Once I’ve batted him out of the air, do you want to pull his wings off yourself or may I have the honors?”
“Don’t be mean now.” Ian smiled. “Just pull one wing off.”
“I like you, my boy.” Jessica tossed her bag over her shoulder and laughed. “I really, really like you. Wella, dear, I’ll drop by tomorrow and we’ll make plans.”
She whisked off with a wave.
“Well, looks like Simon Kent may have finally stepped in one pile too big to scrape off on someone else’s shoe.” Wella took Jessica’s seat.
“Is the man just an total idiot?” Ian couldn’t believe him. “Did he honestly think he could get away with something like that?”
“I don’t mean to frighten you, but if he had managed to get that out to the press…”
“I know. If the press believes it, it’s never possible to correct the error even with the truth.” Ian sighed. “I hate this town for that.”
“The press has been very kind to you.” Wella assured him.
“I am well aware of that fact. I just hope I never get on their bad side. Fortunately, Kent and his minions have tried too hard with the wrong facts. I’m sure there’s enough in my past, and future for that matter, to make me Attila the Hun.”
“Rest assured, you are still Mary Poppins,” Wella rubbed his free arm. “Today anyway.”
“Ouch.” Ian winced. “Sorry, Wella, nothing hurts from the neck down if I don’t move it, touch it or remember it’s there.”
“Oh, honey.”
“So exactly what is the press saying…?” Wella looked at him with wide eyes. “Oh come on, Wella. They took the TV out, apparently no one bothered to print a newspaper since Friday night and as usual I have no idea where my phone is.”
“I think maybe your family doesn’t want you worrying yourself about that right now.”
“Wella, Ella’s boyfriend came out of the closet and tried to shoot me. If it weren’t for Ronnie’s cat I’d be dead! To top it all off the last words out of Blue’s mouth were Darla Hutton! I haven’t seen or heard from my son, and I’ve got more needles stuck in me than the original cast of Saturday Night Live. For crying out loud, how can I not be worried about what is going on?”
“Fine.” Wella put up her hands. “Fine. The truth is no one really knows what the truth is but the press is being very kind. They are only reporting what the police assume, which is you walked in on a burglary in progress…”
Ian shook his head. “No, that’s not right. It’s impossible…”
“Stop…stop…” Wella cut him off. “You see? This is upsetting you. Now calm yourself down.”
“Okay.” Ian took a deep breath. “That hurt. Happy?”
“Very.” Wella smiled. “Now as far as the press goes, they are making you out to be a tragic victim, they even broke into regular programming on all the networks to tell the story. The only names released to the press have been yours and Blue Richards. David Turner even did a press conference yesterday morning telling everyone of your progress and delaying the fall schedule announcements until tomorrow.”
“They put it off?”
“Yes, Mr. Hunka Hunka HRT, they put it off until they could announce you were awake and annoying the hell out of everyone.”
“Who’s doing the conference, not Kent or Lance Crockett?”
“Actually Saxon Allen and Mr. Turner.”
“Saxon?” Ian smiled. “She’s really taking this Executive Producing thing seriously, isn’t she?”
“Ian, don’t kid yourself.” Wella scowled at him. “She’s taking you seriously.”
“Next subject.” Ian smirked. “Ella…how’s Ella? Tell her I want to see her. This must be terrible for her.”
Wella tried to touch something that wouldn’t make Ian wince and gave up. “Ian, Ella’s disappeared. She called in Monday morning.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“No one’s been able to get hold of her since. Blake and Daryn have even been to her apartment. She doesn’t seem to be there.” She put up her hand before Ian could say anything. “Don’t worry, she’s probably somewhere between upset and mortified. She’s family, we’ll get her to open that door.”
“Good.”
“And as far as your son goes, he’s been here almost around the clock since they told him. From what I understand the Tyson’s didn’t tell him anything until Sunday night when they brought him home from fishing. He caught a sea bass by the way. Finally Jesse just picked him up, kicking and screaming like his father, and took him back to the Shores. Jesse finally got him to sleep when they told him you were awake.”
Ian put his head back on the inclined bed. “Thanks. Everyone just changed the subject whenever I brought it up. I much prefer knowing what everyone else doesn’t know.”
“Stupidity is always much more comforting when it’s a group thing.” Wella smiled and reached into her purse. “Okay, I didn’t do this.” She handed him a cell phone. “Blake just figured it was gone and got a new one. It’s ready for you to destroy.”
“As soon as I can get my hand to my ear, I’ll try and live up to my electronic expectations.” Ian slipped it under the sheets and looked at the monitor. “I’m surprised that thing hasn’t caught on fire.”
“Or at least begged for mercy.” Wella stood and kissed Ian’s forehead. “Did I find a place that didn’t hurt?” Ian nodded. “I’m gonna let you get some rest…no arguments…I need to run back to the team and let them all know you live to torture us another day.”
“Am I really that awful a boss?”
“Ian, you are driven, demanding and you never, ever let up and that’s only on yourself. The rest of us are just humans trying to keep up. If we don’t, we know we’ll get left behind and miss out on all the fun.” This time she kissed his cheek. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“Bring Sausage and Egg McMuffins!” Ian yelled as she headed to the door.
“With Cheese.” She said over her shoulder and disappeared.
No sooner than she was out of sight another head stuck itself timidly in the door.
“Young Justyn?” David Turner stood in the doorway leaning heavily on his ivory cane.
“Mr. Turner.” Ian smiled. “Please, please come in.”
“Are you sure it’s alright?”
“We are not at the office, so today I give the orders, get your old butt in here and sit it down.” He smiled.
Turner smiled back, having a little trouble getting to the chair by Ian’s bed and having a seat. He nodded his head a moment, but refused to look in Ian’s eyes.
“Mr. Turner?” Ian was concerned. “Is everything alright?”
The old man nodded again. “I’m sorry…”
“Sorry for what?”
David Turner looked at Ian. “Sorry that I haven’t been here. I wasn’t sure that…Young Justyn, I just wanted to say…”
“Mr. Turner…” Ian tried to help him out. “I’m glad you are here…Dave. Words aren’t important. I just needed to see you right there in that chair. That means everything.”
“Ian…my boy…” David Turner could barely get the words out when a tear demanded to fall. He cleared his throat and put up his finger a moment before he spoke, not ashamed of the tears that trickled down his withered cheeks. He finally took a deep breath. “You scared me. Don’t do it again.”
“I hadn’t been in the headlines for a couple of days. I figured what the heck and went for it. How’d I do? Too much?”
Turner threw back his head and laughed. “I’m not sure whether to hug you or tan your hide with my cane. You look like you are uncomfortable enough, so I’ll let it slide for now.”
“Thank you.” Ian hoped David Turner understood exactly what he meant.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“As long as I don’t move or breathe deep and the Percidan keeps dripping I can handle it. How about you?”
“Better now.” Turner nodded. “I’ve been feeling a little lost, but I’m 94. I’m lucky I can still remember my address.”
“And that would be?”
“Ask my driver.”
“Thought so. So tell me, what’s going on at the office?” Ian said.
Turner started to tell him, but stopped. “You know, let’s talk about business another time. Let’s just be friends today.”
“Mr. Turner, as I’m concerned we’re already friends, every day.”
The man nodded his head and looked at the floor again. They fell silent, not the uncomfortable kind, but the kind where it feels right just to have someone else in the room that you care about.
“Family.” Ian heard the old man say almost to himself. It made Ian smile, warmly inside.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Turner said looking up quickly.
“Forgot?”
“Yes.” He said. “I wanted to get you a gift, something special.”
“Mr. Turner, a gift is not warranted.”
“I know, but I wanted to get you something.” Turner said. “Something you’d like.”
“If you insist…unhook me and get me out of here.” Ian suggested.
“You seriously think that huge man outside would let us both just walk out and hit the elevator button?”
“You think he’d notice?”
David Turner laughed. “How could he not notice the two of us trying to make our escape to the elevator? I have no balance and you, well Young Justyn you’re just a mess.”
“I bet we could make it as far as the elevator.” Ian prodded. “I dare ya…com’mon if we fall down and break something, we’re in a hospital.”
“You stop it now, you’ll get me into trouble.” Turner grinned.
“What d’ya say old man? One last cheap thrill?”
“You are one evil child. Preying on a senior citizen, now stop.” He shook his finger at him. “I should have gone with my first choice.”
“First choice of what?”
“The gift. My first thought was to get you a cat.” Turner grinned.
“A cat?” Ian grimaced. “I have one, thank you. Why do you want to get rid of yours?”
“Actually, Patches and I are doing just fine.” David smiled.
“Patches? You named it…oh you got the little white one that looks like someone wiped paint brushes all over it.”
“Exactly!” Turner said. “I couldn’t put my finger on it but that’s exactly what she looks like. You’ve seen her?”
“Just once. Ronnie showed them to Reese and I in the barn.” Ian didn’t want to go further. The look on David Turner’s face read clearly that he understood.
“Well, I didn’t get you a cat.”
“Good. I have to admit, that Rodie and I are going to have a little different relationship if I can ever dig my way out of Stalag 17 here, but that doesn’t mean I like cats. I’ll just do my best to tolerate the one we have…a little bit more…as long as it keeps its distance.”
“I did get you something though.”
“Mr. Turner, I don’t…”
“Something I know you need, but I can’t bring it to you myself. I needed a little help.”
“Please, this isn’t necessary…”
“Yes.” Turner stood determined. “Yes, I think it is.”
Turner stepped back from the bed and looked toward the door. “Mr. Ripley, would you mind…?”
“Of course, sir.” Ian heard from outside the room.
Ronnie appeared in the doorway holding a little brightly wrapped package. “Papa?”
Ian burst into tears as his son ran to his bedside and covered him with kisses.
“See?” Turner fought the emotion again. “I knew that was exactly what you needed.”
“Like a football player landed on me…hard.”
“He’s just fine”, Tippy smiled broadly.
“How’s the pain?” the doctor continued to make notes as he poked here and prodded there.
Ian responded with appropriate amounts of “Ouch”, “Ahhhh” and “Not until you poked me”. He had been disoriented for a few minutes, but everything had come back to him with a vengeance. He remembered every sordid detail, whether he wanted to or not.
He was anxious for the doctor to get out of the room so he could get to a phone. It was now Wednesday morning. He had slept for far too long and he needed to get in touch with the team at work and let them know that everything was fine.
The whole event had left him feeling odd and uncomfortable, physically as well as mentally. Bits and pieces of the past kept swirling through his mind, in no particular order, and Ian was determined to get some grounding back in as much reality as he could as quickly as possible.
He was relieved that Billy was fine, to be released tomorrow morning. His wonderfully rowdy little entourage informed him little of what had been determined had transpired—or as much as they knew. Kellen was off getting the details on that. Ian was still in shock over the whole ordeal.
“So when can I get out of here? I have a lot to do…” Ian asked the doctor.
“Just relax and get comfortable Mr. Justyn. You’ll be with us a while yet.”
“Unacceptable. I need to be home by this afternoon. Just prescribe something and I’ll get out of your hair…”
“Excuse me?” Tippy’s ire reared its ugly head.
“I said just give me…”
“I heard what you said, young man.” She put her hands on her hips and planted her feet firmly on the floor. “And that is what is not acceptable. You will stay in that bed as long as it takes and you will give these people all the time they need to get you healthy again!”
“I have a son to look after…”
“Quiet! This is not a conversation, I will talk and you will listen!” The doctor threw up his hands and stepped out of the line of fire.
“This is serious, Baby Doll. You almost died on us. You will not be yanking your jeans on and going on your merry way today. And Ronnie’s just fine. He’s with us. Jesse and Reese are spoiling him rotten, so I want no blame from the peanut gallery.” She moved close to Ian, close enough to take his hand gently in hers, her voice became soothing, still firm, but soothing.
“You punctured both lungs, honey. You got some broken bones and that cup thingy…”
“Rotator cuff…” the doctor kind of coughed out.
“Thanks, Sweetums…rotator cuff was torn to shreds. They had to go ahead and repair it while they fixed your lungs and put the puzzle pieces of your ribs back together. We’re just lucky there was no damage to that big ol’ heart of yours or your spine. Be a good boy and just do whatever the doctor tells you. Let your family take care of everything else.” She kissed Ian’s forehead.
“Or I’ll beat the living tar out of you myself.” She smiled at the doctor and returned to her chair by the window. “He’s all yours now, Sweetums.”
The doctor cleared his throat. “I think that just about wraps it up. You’ll need physical therapy. I’ve already assigned someone. He’ll help me to determine what we need to do about the knee. Nothing was broken there, but most of the ligaments were torn away. It may be up to you whether or not you want surgery to repair it.”
“So I just lay here wired up like a Muppet and wait?”
“Pretty much. It’s what you need to do to let your body heal. If you’re a good boy…” He smiled, “You will be out of here and home—not work—but home shortly.”
“Look, my job isn’t physical, it’s just…”
“…Stressful…I know what you do Mr. Justyn, everybody in and out of this hospital knows what you do. You are all over the news…”
Ian tried to put his head in his hands, but one was immobilized and the other hurt like hell so he just hung his head. Even that hurt. “Great, I’m Paris Hilton with a hairy chest…”
“You are much better off right now where you are…” The doctor scratched some more on the clipboard and hung it back. “I’m going to have some sedatives brought to you...”
“Sedatives? Please don’t make me sleep more...please!”
“Mr. Justyn, you need as much rest as possible…”
“I’ve slept for three days. I’m all caught up, I promise!” he begged.
“I’ll make you a deal. If you stay quiet…” he turned to the rest of the ménage, “...and that goes for you, too, and eat a nice lunch, I’ll hold off on the first sedatives until this afternoon. One peep and I’ll sock you so full of Percidan you’ll float until Christmas. Got it?”
“Got it…” Ian wasn’t happy.
“Now if everyone will step outside, I need to do a more in depth examination…”
Everyone filed outside, except for Billy, who was in the bed next to Ian. The doctor pulled the curtain between and pulled back the small blue blanket that was covering Ian.
“Mr. Justyn, tell me if this hurts…” The doctor stuck a pin in his right knee.
“Shit…oh damn yes it hurts…wouldn’t it hurt if I stuck a pin in your knee?”
The doctor laughed. He squeezed his thigh. Ian could see that it was swollen twice its normal size and looked like a really ugly calico swatch. The doctor lifted the hospital gown and put both hands in a vee and pushed slightly just below where Ian’s leg connected to his torso. “Can you feel this pressure?”
“Yes.”
“What about here?” He moved his hands to various places on his torso and groin, repeating the pressure and repeating the question. “Any sharp pains at all?”
“No. Is there going to be a problem?”
“I doubt it. But remember you had two people slam down on top of you from quite a distance. You cushioned their falls, but your body took three blows, one from the back and two from the front. Everything inside you got jostled around and bruised. Don’t panic if some normal functions are painful for a while or maybe don’t work as they normally would for a while…”
“I’m as comfortable as I can be, I guess. Can we let the bed down a little?”
“Actually no.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve had major rotator cuff repair. We need to keep pressure off, so the bed cannot go back any further than it is. Understand? No actual laying down flat for a while…”
“Sleep sitting up?”
“That’s right.” He turned to Billy as he pulled the curtain back. “And as for you Mr. Jarvis, I’ll be signing your release papers tomorrow morning. I’ll want to examine you again in a day or two before I release you to go back home.”
“Great!” Billy grinned.
“I’ll give you all the paperwork you need to get your physical therapy when you return.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The doctor turned back to Ian. “And you! Stay put!”
“How can I move? I’m stapled in place!”
The doctor laughed as he headed out the door. “You’re too funny!”
“Looks like just as I regain consciousness, I’m losing a roommate.”
“I’d volunteer to stay, buddy, but….uh…screw you!” They both chuckled.
“Billy, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“This visit wasn’t exactly what you expected…”
“Are you kidding? I met a bunch of real live movie stars. I got laid and got in a fight…with guns! I’m in inbred heaven!”
“I guess you’ll have the house all to yourself.”
“Actually, the police still haven’t let anyone near the house yet. I think they told Kellen this afternoon maybe. We’ll probably all go over and clean up and put some plywood where the windows used to be…”
“Why do they still have it coordinated off, if they’ve closed the case?”
“I don’t know. I guess just in case they forgot to take a picture of a blade of grass or something.”
“I guess you’ll stay with Reese anyway.”
Billy blushed a little, “Yeah, we’ve got some unfinished business.”
“I’m glad…not that you didn’t get to finish…er…uh…”
He laughed at Ian. “I know…I feel kinda weird about the whole thing, between me and Reese. I think we could have something really special, but in a few days he’ll be here and I’ll be back in Virginia.”
“You could just stay, Billy…”
He nodded his head, “I could…but I have to go home and face my family. I refuse to let them think I ran away because I couldn’t face the truth. I have to go home and tell them that I’m gay and stay long enough for them to know that I am not ashamed of it.”
“I love you so, Billy.”
“Love you, too, buddy.”
And in washed the hoo hah of entourages. Much ado was made about Billy getting to go home and before he knew it Ian was alone. He tried to move a little in the bed, but he was pretty much pinned down.
His one good hand had a needle attached to a drip bag in addition to the clip that was attached to the monitor. He decided to see how far he could stretch that hand. It would only move just under a foot in any direction before he could feel the pin rake inside his flesh. He wouldn’t be doing that too often.
He decided to see about his legs. The left was encased in a brace. The other seemed to be fine. He wondered if he was flexible enough to stick a cigarette between his toes and get it to his mouth. He laughed at himself.
“Glad to see you are keeping yourself entertained...”
“Wella!” Ian wanted to leap out of the bed and give her a big hug and a kiss. He didn’t have to; she rushed right over and gave him a very huge bear hug and kiss. She wouldn’t let go. He could feel her start to shake with tears. “I’m fine, Wella, I’m just fine…”
She pushed him back, and quickly turned to compose herself before turning back to him with a big wet smile. “We have all been so worried…”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Not your fault. You remember that, you skinny white boy, this was all some pervert’s fault. You had nothing to do with this….”
“I would have been just fine, but a couple of guys decided to use me as a trampoline…”
“They told us everything was gonna be okay, but I couldn’t rest until I saw for myself. I am so relieved…”
“You’re just thrilled your Greek god of a hunk is posted outside my door…”
“Ian, honey, that is just really hot sexy icing on the cake…” She just smiled, “Now, what can I do, do you need anything…?”
“Yes, kidnap me and get me the hell outta here….”
“Nothing doing, we have everything sort of under control…”
“Sort of?”
“Kent’s being a pain, but nothing we can’t handle.”
“Kent? What’s he doing?’
“Not sure, but he’s appointed himself your temporary replacement. Showed up Monday morning, and broke up the morning power chat, telling everyone this was a place of business, not a coffee klatch. Started ordering everyone around and then shut himself in your office.”
“My office?”
“Called me in and demanded the key to your desk drawer.”
Ian laughed. “Did you give it to him?”
“Hell, no, said I didn’t have one. Trish says he spent the rest of the morning with a letter opener trying to get it open. Blake says he almost pooped in his pants when he walked in and told him that thing always sticks, pounded it with his fist and slid it right open for him…”
“Tell Blake I owe him a kiss…”
“When Kent got a look he slammed the drawer shut and stomped off…”
“Doesn’t he like potato chips?”
“Trish said he mumbled something about redneck junk food addict as he practically beat the button to the elevator in.”
“Redneck? It was full of Cajun Spice chips, not barbeque pork rinds.”
“He had me making coffee and Blake shredding papers…”
“Shredding…what’s he up, too?”
“Not quite sure. He goes in your office and shuts the door; occasionally he’ll pop out and bark an order. But we know for sure he is up to something. Trish came out of the office and motioned Blake and me over to her desk. Said for a guy that thinks he’s so smart he’s sure an idiot. She had pressed the intercom button down…”
“But I keep that thing unplugged…I kinda broke it and Blake has been waiting for someone to come and fix it.”
“He plugged it back up, and we listened to almost every conversation he had yesterday. He’s real ticked off, started when legal brought Pierce Warner’s contract down, already signed, just waiting for your signature. He immediately called somebody and demanded to know what the contract was all about.”
“Pierce signed his contract?”
“Came in and said you wanted it done first thing Monday morning and regardless he wanted it done, too. We snuck straight up to legal and pounded it all out. Your boy, Jenson…?”
“Jenson Michaels?”
“Yeah, he called as well, worried about you. I told him we were all just carrying on as though nothing had happened. You’d want us to keep things going so he met Blake at lunch and gave him another satchel full of some scripts.”
“Why so clandestine?”
“None of us trust Kent. He keeps barking at people and ordering us to do anything but work on what we are supposed to, and then complaining to any suit that walks by that he’s got to keep an eye on us or we won’t do any work.”
“He shouldn’t even be there…”
“Oh believe me anytime, Mr. Turner walks in…”
“David Turner’s been down?”
“Two or three times. Kent says he’s just down making sure that everything is being carried on the way you told him you wanted it.”
“I told him?”
“Claims the moment he heard about the accident he’s been sitting by your lonely bedside. Let me see if I get the quote right, “Poor boy, had nobody, and I didn’t want him to think that no one cared. We’re close you know….”
Ian wanted to gag. “What’s that bastard up to?”
“All we know for sure, is that when Turner caught him the last time, Sean said he heard him tell him say that you had told him you wouldn’t be returning, something about you and Ronnie going off and milking cows. You’d had enough and he was going to speak with the board about releasing you from your contract…best thing to do for everyone involved….”
“He wants me fired?”
“Oh no, not fired, released at your request. Problem is the idiot never bothered to see if any of us had been in contact with you or had been by your poor lonely bedside.”
“He’s up to something…”
“Of course. He’s determined that America Alive expand an hour and Sebastian Manor get canned ASAP.”
“That’s all been decided and there’s nothing he can do about it.”
“That’s not what he claims…”
“Wella, he thinks I am too naïve or stupid to figure it out, or just far out of reach enough to not be able to stop him. As of tomorrow, we power meet via conference call, although I want as many of you here as much as possible during the work day as the hospital will let us get away with. If I’m lucky they’ll just throw me out and I can get back to work full time….”
“That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but close….”
Wella and Ian both turned around to see Jessica Greginsky leaning on the doorframe, Ripley blocking her entrance.
“Mrs. Greginsky? I’m honored…Ripley it’s okay…please come in….” Ian managed to get out. “I’d shake your hand ma’am, but I’m a little tied up at the moment.”
Wella pulled a chair from under the window as close to Ian’s bed as she could. “Here Mrs. Greginsky, have a seat…” she pulled a comfortable seat from the window closer to the bed.
“Thank you, Wella. Young Justyn…”
“Ian, Mrs. Gregisnky, please just Ian…”
“Fine, Ian. I prefer Jessica myself, but I’m filthy rich and people seem to feel the need to feign respect with the whole Mrs. Greginsky deal…and even that was two or three husbands ago.”
“Well, I have to admit, I am a still little uncomfortable with Jessica, so may I continue to disrespectfully call you Mrs. Gerginsky, for now?”
She laughed jovially. “I love your sense of humor…I was coming to tell you that I was going to miss it and see if I could talk you out of leaving us.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t have any intention of leaving.”
“In fact, Mrs. Greginsky, Ian and I were just discussing conference calls for our daily power meetings and seeing how much the hospital would allow of work related visits.”
“Are you sure you are strong enough for that, son?”
“I am dying here of pure boredom and we have a lot of work to do…”
She frowned a bit and shifted her weight on the back of the chair.
“Is there something wrong, ma’am?” Ian asked.
“I’m just a little confused. Simon Kent just spent the better part of the morning relaying to your wishes to myself and the board…”
“How would Simon Kent know what my wishes were?”
“You didn’t have a heart to heart with him yesterday afternoon?”
“With all due respect, yesterday afternoon I was still unconscious.”
“I can verify that Tippy Shores called me at 7 PM last night to tell me Ian was finally awake and already screaming to go home.” Wella backed him up.
“Tippy Shores? She was here? Kent says there has been no one to visit you, that when not at work he’s been keeping a vigil by your bedside.”
“I’ve been sleeping, too damn…sorry…much, but as you’ve noticed there is a guard posted outside my door with a list of who’s come and who’s gone, and I can assure you that not only is Simon Kent’s name not on that list, Ripley’s got a shoot to kill order.”
Ian looked at the Board Member’s confused face. “My relationship with Simon Kent has strictly been business, even that has been limited to a few terse exchanges in the office. Outside of the office we have no relationship at all. I have no idea where Mr. Kent gets his information about my wishes.”
“I got no problem, calling a spade a spade.” Wella spoke right up. “That ass has done nothing but try and make trouble for Ian from moment one.”
“How may I ask?”
“I cannot prove or even say that he has deliberately tried to sabotage any effort Ian has made, but I was in his office delivering mail when Kent was informed that Ian would be arriving. His exact words were, “That little hayseed won’t be around long, I’ll see to that personally.”
“He would say something like that in front of you?”
“No disrespect Mrs. Gregisnky, but hell yeah. As far as Kent and many others are concerned if you push a mail cart or answer a phone, you don’t exist. You’d be surprised what I know, what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen in ten years of pushing that thing around.”
“Wella is almost solely responsible for helping me understand how things work at the network, especially how to get things done quickly and efficiently. I wouldn’t have survived without her.”
Jessica Greginsky nodded her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised. One day you and I will have a very long talk young man. I’m just grateful that the one I had planned to have with you turned out to be a needless waste of energy.”
“Well, thank you for taking time out to come and see me. Won’t you stay a while and chat?” Ian said.
She stood. “No, Ian, I think I’d better head back. I’ve got a number of phone calls to make to correct some misinformation.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Wella offered.
“No, Wella. You continue to run things in Ian’s behalf. I have utmost confidence that you will keep things quid pro quo. In the meantime I think it’s best I head this off at the pass before it becomes a stampede.”
“Mrs. Gresinsky, has Simon Kent by any chance managed to…” Ian was cut off in mid-sentence.”
She walked over and gently took his hand. “You get well. I’ll handle Kent.”
“But…”
“I personally assure you that the board will not and would not make any assumptions based on the word of Simon Kent. However, I do want to make sure that everyone is aware of my personal chat with you before the press conference tomorrow. No sense in feeding any rumors Kent has tried to start with misinformation he himself has given as fact.”
Jessica Greginsky smiled and turned to Wella. “Wella, dear, I know I’ve said this before but I am very serious. Let’s you and I get together for a girl’s night. We women have been invisible in this business for much too long. It’s time we strong, single gals still in our prime went out and made some waves.”
“Why Jessica Greginsky,” Wella smiled. “You have got yourself a date.”
“You keep this one in line.” She pointed at Ian. “Get him healthy and get him back to work. I’m going to go swat a big gnat that should have been zapped a long time ago.”
She turned back to Ian. “Once I’ve batted him out of the air, do you want to pull his wings off yourself or may I have the honors?”
“Don’t be mean now.” Ian smiled. “Just pull one wing off.”
“I like you, my boy.” Jessica tossed her bag over her shoulder and laughed. “I really, really like you. Wella, dear, I’ll drop by tomorrow and we’ll make plans.”
She whisked off with a wave.
“Well, looks like Simon Kent may have finally stepped in one pile too big to scrape off on someone else’s shoe.” Wella took Jessica’s seat.
“Is the man just an total idiot?” Ian couldn’t believe him. “Did he honestly think he could get away with something like that?”
“I don’t mean to frighten you, but if he had managed to get that out to the press…”
“I know. If the press believes it, it’s never possible to correct the error even with the truth.” Ian sighed. “I hate this town for that.”
“The press has been very kind to you.” Wella assured him.
“I am well aware of that fact. I just hope I never get on their bad side. Fortunately, Kent and his minions have tried too hard with the wrong facts. I’m sure there’s enough in my past, and future for that matter, to make me Attila the Hun.”
“Rest assured, you are still Mary Poppins,” Wella rubbed his free arm. “Today anyway.”
“Ouch.” Ian winced. “Sorry, Wella, nothing hurts from the neck down if I don’t move it, touch it or remember it’s there.”
“Oh, honey.”
“So exactly what is the press saying…?” Wella looked at him with wide eyes. “Oh come on, Wella. They took the TV out, apparently no one bothered to print a newspaper since Friday night and as usual I have no idea where my phone is.”
“I think maybe your family doesn’t want you worrying yourself about that right now.”
“Wella, Ella’s boyfriend came out of the closet and tried to shoot me. If it weren’t for Ronnie’s cat I’d be dead! To top it all off the last words out of Blue’s mouth were Darla Hutton! I haven’t seen or heard from my son, and I’ve got more needles stuck in me than the original cast of Saturday Night Live. For crying out loud, how can I not be worried about what is going on?”
“Fine.” Wella put up her hands. “Fine. The truth is no one really knows what the truth is but the press is being very kind. They are only reporting what the police assume, which is you walked in on a burglary in progress…”
Ian shook his head. “No, that’s not right. It’s impossible…”
“Stop…stop…” Wella cut him off. “You see? This is upsetting you. Now calm yourself down.”
“Okay.” Ian took a deep breath. “That hurt. Happy?”
“Very.” Wella smiled. “Now as far as the press goes, they are making you out to be a tragic victim, they even broke into regular programming on all the networks to tell the story. The only names released to the press have been yours and Blue Richards. David Turner even did a press conference yesterday morning telling everyone of your progress and delaying the fall schedule announcements until tomorrow.”
“They put it off?”
“Yes, Mr. Hunka Hunka HRT, they put it off until they could announce you were awake and annoying the hell out of everyone.”
“Who’s doing the conference, not Kent or Lance Crockett?”
“Actually Saxon Allen and Mr. Turner.”
“Saxon?” Ian smiled. “She’s really taking this Executive Producing thing seriously, isn’t she?”
“Ian, don’t kid yourself.” Wella scowled at him. “She’s taking you seriously.”
“Next subject.” Ian smirked. “Ella…how’s Ella? Tell her I want to see her. This must be terrible for her.”
Wella tried to touch something that wouldn’t make Ian wince and gave up. “Ian, Ella’s disappeared. She called in Monday morning.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“No one’s been able to get hold of her since. Blake and Daryn have even been to her apartment. She doesn’t seem to be there.” She put up her hand before Ian could say anything. “Don’t worry, she’s probably somewhere between upset and mortified. She’s family, we’ll get her to open that door.”
“Good.”
“And as far as your son goes, he’s been here almost around the clock since they told him. From what I understand the Tyson’s didn’t tell him anything until Sunday night when they brought him home from fishing. He caught a sea bass by the way. Finally Jesse just picked him up, kicking and screaming like his father, and took him back to the Shores. Jesse finally got him to sleep when they told him you were awake.”
Ian put his head back on the inclined bed. “Thanks. Everyone just changed the subject whenever I brought it up. I much prefer knowing what everyone else doesn’t know.”
“Stupidity is always much more comforting when it’s a group thing.” Wella smiled and reached into her purse. “Okay, I didn’t do this.” She handed him a cell phone. “Blake just figured it was gone and got a new one. It’s ready for you to destroy.”
“As soon as I can get my hand to my ear, I’ll try and live up to my electronic expectations.” Ian slipped it under the sheets and looked at the monitor. “I’m surprised that thing hasn’t caught on fire.”
“Or at least begged for mercy.” Wella stood and kissed Ian’s forehead. “Did I find a place that didn’t hurt?” Ian nodded. “I’m gonna let you get some rest…no arguments…I need to run back to the team and let them all know you live to torture us another day.”
“Am I really that awful a boss?”
“Ian, you are driven, demanding and you never, ever let up and that’s only on yourself. The rest of us are just humans trying to keep up. If we don’t, we know we’ll get left behind and miss out on all the fun.” This time she kissed his cheek. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“Bring Sausage and Egg McMuffins!” Ian yelled as she headed to the door.
“With Cheese.” She said over her shoulder and disappeared.
No sooner than she was out of sight another head stuck itself timidly in the door.
“Young Justyn?” David Turner stood in the doorway leaning heavily on his ivory cane.
“Mr. Turner.” Ian smiled. “Please, please come in.”
“Are you sure it’s alright?”
“We are not at the office, so today I give the orders, get your old butt in here and sit it down.” He smiled.
Turner smiled back, having a little trouble getting to the chair by Ian’s bed and having a seat. He nodded his head a moment, but refused to look in Ian’s eyes.
“Mr. Turner?” Ian was concerned. “Is everything alright?”
The old man nodded again. “I’m sorry…”
“Sorry for what?”
David Turner looked at Ian. “Sorry that I haven’t been here. I wasn’t sure that…Young Justyn, I just wanted to say…”
“Mr. Turner…” Ian tried to help him out. “I’m glad you are here…Dave. Words aren’t important. I just needed to see you right there in that chair. That means everything.”
“Ian…my boy…” David Turner could barely get the words out when a tear demanded to fall. He cleared his throat and put up his finger a moment before he spoke, not ashamed of the tears that trickled down his withered cheeks. He finally took a deep breath. “You scared me. Don’t do it again.”
“I hadn’t been in the headlines for a couple of days. I figured what the heck and went for it. How’d I do? Too much?”
Turner threw back his head and laughed. “I’m not sure whether to hug you or tan your hide with my cane. You look like you are uncomfortable enough, so I’ll let it slide for now.”
“Thank you.” Ian hoped David Turner understood exactly what he meant.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“As long as I don’t move or breathe deep and the Percidan keeps dripping I can handle it. How about you?”
“Better now.” Turner nodded. “I’ve been feeling a little lost, but I’m 94. I’m lucky I can still remember my address.”
“And that would be?”
“Ask my driver.”
“Thought so. So tell me, what’s going on at the office?” Ian said.
Turner started to tell him, but stopped. “You know, let’s talk about business another time. Let’s just be friends today.”
“Mr. Turner, as I’m concerned we’re already friends, every day.”
The man nodded his head and looked at the floor again. They fell silent, not the uncomfortable kind, but the kind where it feels right just to have someone else in the room that you care about.
“Family.” Ian heard the old man say almost to himself. It made Ian smile, warmly inside.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Turner said looking up quickly.
“Forgot?”
“Yes.” He said. “I wanted to get you a gift, something special.”
“Mr. Turner, a gift is not warranted.”
“I know, but I wanted to get you something.” Turner said. “Something you’d like.”
“If you insist…unhook me and get me out of here.” Ian suggested.
“You seriously think that huge man outside would let us both just walk out and hit the elevator button?”
“You think he’d notice?”
David Turner laughed. “How could he not notice the two of us trying to make our escape to the elevator? I have no balance and you, well Young Justyn you’re just a mess.”
“I bet we could make it as far as the elevator.” Ian prodded. “I dare ya…com’mon if we fall down and break something, we’re in a hospital.”
“You stop it now, you’ll get me into trouble.” Turner grinned.
“What d’ya say old man? One last cheap thrill?”
“You are one evil child. Preying on a senior citizen, now stop.” He shook his finger at him. “I should have gone with my first choice.”
“First choice of what?”
“The gift. My first thought was to get you a cat.” Turner grinned.
“A cat?” Ian grimaced. “I have one, thank you. Why do you want to get rid of yours?”
“Actually, Patches and I are doing just fine.” David smiled.
“Patches? You named it…oh you got the little white one that looks like someone wiped paint brushes all over it.”
“Exactly!” Turner said. “I couldn’t put my finger on it but that’s exactly what she looks like. You’ve seen her?”
“Just once. Ronnie showed them to Reese and I in the barn.” Ian didn’t want to go further. The look on David Turner’s face read clearly that he understood.
“Well, I didn’t get you a cat.”
“Good. I have to admit, that Rodie and I are going to have a little different relationship if I can ever dig my way out of Stalag 17 here, but that doesn’t mean I like cats. I’ll just do my best to tolerate the one we have…a little bit more…as long as it keeps its distance.”
“I did get you something though.”
“Mr. Turner, I don’t…”
“Something I know you need, but I can’t bring it to you myself. I needed a little help.”
“Please, this isn’t necessary…”
“Yes.” Turner stood determined. “Yes, I think it is.”
Turner stepped back from the bed and looked toward the door. “Mr. Ripley, would you mind…?”
“Of course, sir.” Ian heard from outside the room.
Ronnie appeared in the doorway holding a little brightly wrapped package. “Papa?”
Ian burst into tears as his son ran to his bedside and covered him with kisses.
“See?” Turner fought the emotion again. “I knew that was exactly what you needed.”
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Vignette #145: Simple Complications
“I’m sorry to just leave a message like this, but I guess you heard what happened, and I just don’t think I’ll be in for a few days.” She said into the phone. “He didn’t have any family, so I’ve got to make all the arrangements. Thanks…Bye.”
She hit the end button and bit her lip. “This is a nightmare,” Was all she said out loud. She took a deep breath. She hating piling lies on top of lies, but at this point she had to buy time to save herself.
Looking around her apartment one last time, she threw the duffel bag over her shoulder. She opened her over sized purse and swept the contents of the table in, saving one envelope.
She shook it. “Please, please let this be the right place.” She prayed silently and then stuffed it into her purse with the others.
The police had already been there once. She was shocked to tears but Blue had already warned her. She begged him not to do anything stupid, but he’d gotten himself killed anyway. He was stupid enough not to know he was being used by them and her. How could she be all that surprised he’d gotten himself killed? Too bad, she really, really liked him.
It might take them awhile to make the connection, but they didn’t know for sure that she knew anything. Unfortunately, she knew all they had to do was connect one dot and she’d be next on their list. The second ‘visit’ from the cops would be her last.
Ella turned off the lights in the apartment and peered out the window to the street below. There was only one place she could go. Hopefully she could get there and stay alive long enough to do the work she was hired to do.
They’d all stumbled into this mess blindly, both sides. She was just supposed to be on the sidelines. It got out of hand. Now there were too many directions she could go with what she knew.
One direction could make her a hero. One direction could make her rich. One direction could make her another one of the corpses that seemed to be piling up. Right now, the direction she wanted to go in would avoid that last one.
She quietly slipped out of her apartment and down the hallway. Looking both ways, she tried to look like she was just strolling along just in case some one was watching. She heard the plunk go down the mail shoot.
“One piece down.” She said in her head.
Hopefully, that would go to the right place and be found in enough time for her to get out of this mess. All she had to do is get all the puzzle pieces in one place. She just had to stay alive until she got them all, until then she would look like one of the bad guys.
She wasn’t, but no one knew that. Okay, so she wasn’t an innocent bystander but sometimes it takes a few crunches to get to the gooey chocolate center. Ella was pretty sure she’d gotten to the center, and she was pretty sure that no one else knew what it was.
It was a simple complicated scam. They thought they were going to take the money and run, leaving a couple of idiots behind with dirty fingers. She’d gotten out of the business, but she’d been trained too well. She had kept quiet and watched from the sidelines and this was one of those cases that took someone from the sidelines to put the puzzle together.
Damn but she was the cat, and it looked like curiosity was going to kill her after all. She should have made the phone call earlier. That’s all she would have had to do, but no she wanted to have it all but wrapped up first. Damn her ego and pride.
The cab pulled up. She stepped out of the shadows in the street and slipped in. Handing the cabbie a fifty and a sheet of paper. “There’s another fifty if you take me to that address and say you took me somewhere else, if you have to say anything at all.”
The man smiled. “For a hundred bucks, lady, you’re a drunk dude who stiffed me.” He turned the meter off and pulled away from the curb.
Ella smiled and sat back in the seat, scrunching down to make it hard to see her from the windows. She ran down what she had to get accomplished in her head as they drove. She knew it wasn’t safe for her to be out in the open. She had no desire to end up like Bambi, Max and Blue.
Bambi and Max were clueless. Bambi had no idea she could identify Bruno. Max was just dumb enough to be seen talking to Ian. Poor Blue, he probably would have been around awhile longer, but he was a dumb pretty boy, heavy on the dumb part.
Well, he was dumb enough to fall for her and smart enough to tell her everything. He wasn’t supposed to do that, and they didn’t know he had. Ella wasn’t even sure Blue was smart enough to know she had figured out what was up. She was too good at what she did.
She was also smart enough to know that Bruno and partner weren’t about to leave a loose end. Ella knew that if nothing else, she was a loose end like Bambi, especially now that Blue had gotten himself killed. Maybe the smart thing for her do to was stay put, but she failed Sitting Duck 101.
The cab pulled up to the bus station. Ella slipped out and walked right in. It was practically empty. She told the sleepy surfer dude behind the counter she wanted a ticket for the next bus out of town. She plopped her cash down and slipped the ticket in her pocket.
Immediately walking back out the door, she strolled toward a dark corner. She pulled out her cell phone and checked to make sure there was a signal. She hit a few buttons and paced. She got voice mail.
“It’s Isabella. I’m in deep, buddy, too deep. This is big, bigger than what we thought. If you don’t hear from me in two days, come looking. I can’t say anything else, just get here. Hopefully, even if I’m dead I’ve managed to get most of the pieces piled in the right place. Just get here and help Ian figure it out.”
After powering off the phone, she sat her duffel bag on the ground and pulled out a mirror and scissors. Within minutes her dark hair was short and punky, almost back to it’s natural color. Scissors and mirror went back in her purse, the cut hairs and the bus ticket went in a paper bag she set on fire and dropped to the ground.
While she watched it burn, she stripped off the top layer of clothes and buried them in the trashcan. She stood back until the bag was pretty much ashes, smoking three cigarettes at once to mask the odor. Spreading the remains with her feet she leaned over to see if anyone was around.
She saw the bus go by and looked at her watch. Yup, that was her bus. She waited for it to load and pull away. When it left for whatever city the dude said it was headed for, Ella stepped out of the alley wearing black jeans and a matching tee instead of the khakis and blue blouse she’d arrived wearing.
Ella ran a hand through her now spiky auburn hair, instead of her identifiable black tresses and headed for the one place Blue had stumbled on that even Bruno didn’t know about. As long as she wasn’t caught, she knew she’d be safe right under everyone’s noses.
She hit the end button and bit her lip. “This is a nightmare,” Was all she said out loud. She took a deep breath. She hating piling lies on top of lies, but at this point she had to buy time to save herself.
Looking around her apartment one last time, she threw the duffel bag over her shoulder. She opened her over sized purse and swept the contents of the table in, saving one envelope.
She shook it. “Please, please let this be the right place.” She prayed silently and then stuffed it into her purse with the others.
The police had already been there once. She was shocked to tears but Blue had already warned her. She begged him not to do anything stupid, but he’d gotten himself killed anyway. He was stupid enough not to know he was being used by them and her. How could she be all that surprised he’d gotten himself killed? Too bad, she really, really liked him.
It might take them awhile to make the connection, but they didn’t know for sure that she knew anything. Unfortunately, she knew all they had to do was connect one dot and she’d be next on their list. The second ‘visit’ from the cops would be her last.
Ella turned off the lights in the apartment and peered out the window to the street below. There was only one place she could go. Hopefully she could get there and stay alive long enough to do the work she was hired to do.
They’d all stumbled into this mess blindly, both sides. She was just supposed to be on the sidelines. It got out of hand. Now there were too many directions she could go with what she knew.
One direction could make her a hero. One direction could make her rich. One direction could make her another one of the corpses that seemed to be piling up. Right now, the direction she wanted to go in would avoid that last one.
She quietly slipped out of her apartment and down the hallway. Looking both ways, she tried to look like she was just strolling along just in case some one was watching. She heard the plunk go down the mail shoot.
“One piece down.” She said in her head.
Hopefully, that would go to the right place and be found in enough time for her to get out of this mess. All she had to do is get all the puzzle pieces in one place. She just had to stay alive until she got them all, until then she would look like one of the bad guys.
She wasn’t, but no one knew that. Okay, so she wasn’t an innocent bystander but sometimes it takes a few crunches to get to the gooey chocolate center. Ella was pretty sure she’d gotten to the center, and she was pretty sure that no one else knew what it was.
It was a simple complicated scam. They thought they were going to take the money and run, leaving a couple of idiots behind with dirty fingers. She’d gotten out of the business, but she’d been trained too well. She had kept quiet and watched from the sidelines and this was one of those cases that took someone from the sidelines to put the puzzle together.
Damn but she was the cat, and it looked like curiosity was going to kill her after all. She should have made the phone call earlier. That’s all she would have had to do, but no she wanted to have it all but wrapped up first. Damn her ego and pride.
The cab pulled up. She stepped out of the shadows in the street and slipped in. Handing the cabbie a fifty and a sheet of paper. “There’s another fifty if you take me to that address and say you took me somewhere else, if you have to say anything at all.”
The man smiled. “For a hundred bucks, lady, you’re a drunk dude who stiffed me.” He turned the meter off and pulled away from the curb.
Ella smiled and sat back in the seat, scrunching down to make it hard to see her from the windows. She ran down what she had to get accomplished in her head as they drove. She knew it wasn’t safe for her to be out in the open. She had no desire to end up like Bambi, Max and Blue.
Bambi and Max were clueless. Bambi had no idea she could identify Bruno. Max was just dumb enough to be seen talking to Ian. Poor Blue, he probably would have been around awhile longer, but he was a dumb pretty boy, heavy on the dumb part.
Well, he was dumb enough to fall for her and smart enough to tell her everything. He wasn’t supposed to do that, and they didn’t know he had. Ella wasn’t even sure Blue was smart enough to know she had figured out what was up. She was too good at what she did.
She was also smart enough to know that Bruno and partner weren’t about to leave a loose end. Ella knew that if nothing else, she was a loose end like Bambi, especially now that Blue had gotten himself killed. Maybe the smart thing for her do to was stay put, but she failed Sitting Duck 101.
The cab pulled up to the bus station. Ella slipped out and walked right in. It was practically empty. She told the sleepy surfer dude behind the counter she wanted a ticket for the next bus out of town. She plopped her cash down and slipped the ticket in her pocket.
Immediately walking back out the door, she strolled toward a dark corner. She pulled out her cell phone and checked to make sure there was a signal. She hit a few buttons and paced. She got voice mail.
“It’s Isabella. I’m in deep, buddy, too deep. This is big, bigger than what we thought. If you don’t hear from me in two days, come looking. I can’t say anything else, just get here. Hopefully, even if I’m dead I’ve managed to get most of the pieces piled in the right place. Just get here and help Ian figure it out.”
After powering off the phone, she sat her duffel bag on the ground and pulled out a mirror and scissors. Within minutes her dark hair was short and punky, almost back to it’s natural color. Scissors and mirror went back in her purse, the cut hairs and the bus ticket went in a paper bag she set on fire and dropped to the ground.
While she watched it burn, she stripped off the top layer of clothes and buried them in the trashcan. She stood back until the bag was pretty much ashes, smoking three cigarettes at once to mask the odor. Spreading the remains with her feet she leaned over to see if anyone was around.
She saw the bus go by and looked at her watch. Yup, that was her bus. She waited for it to load and pull away. When it left for whatever city the dude said it was headed for, Ella stepped out of the alley wearing black jeans and a matching tee instead of the khakis and blue blouse she’d arrived wearing.
Ella ran a hand through her now spiky auburn hair, instead of her identifiable black tresses and headed for the one place Blue had stumbled on that even Bruno didn’t know about. As long as she wasn’t caught, she knew she’d be safe right under everyone’s noses.
Vignette #144: Something Odd
“Can you tell me if anything in the house is missing?” An officer asked.
Colton and Jesse looked at each other. “Maybe, Ian was pretty systematic. We could tell you if something was out of place.” Colton finally said.
“If that’s the best you can do.” The man said.
“Neither of us lived here officer, but we’ve been around enough to know about the basics.” Jesse wanted to deck the guy for his attitude alone.
“Let’s start with the first floor.” Two officers led the father and son on a meticulous search of the house. The first floor looked as always expected, nothing out of place and not a speck of dust. You couldn’t have guessed there was a party earlier that day, let alone an event that had left one dead, so far.
Colton walked past Jesse on the stairway landing. As he past, Jesse touched his father’s shoulder. “Does something look different about this painting to you?”
He stepped to the swirls of color, examining it closely. “No.”
Jesse cocked his head. “Are you sure? Something about it just looks odd to me.” He reached to touch it.
“Don’t touch anything!” The cop standing with them bellowed. Jesse snatched his hand back quickly. “You say there’s something odd about it, other than the fact that it’s ugly?”
The officer was given a dirty look in reply. “It’s not worth a fortune Detective, but its worth more donuts than you’ll eat in a year.” Jesse told him.
“I hate donuts.” The man said.
“Yeah, right.” Jesse started to move on after directing the comment toward the man’s waist.
“Wait, son.” Colton stopped him. “What’s odd about it?”
Jesse shrugged. “I don’t know. Something about the light, it just seems different.”
“Looks the same to me.” His father said.
“Could just be I’ve never noticed it with the bright lights coming from upstairs. Ian usually just has the landing lights on.”
“Now that we’ve discussed the gallery design can we move upstairs, please?” The detective moaned.
“Sorry.” Jesse looked at the man. “What did you say your name was again?”
“Balouche.” The man rolled his eyes and grunted.
“I apologize Detective Balouche, but two good friends and my brother were almost murdered in this house tonight. I thought you wanted to know every detail we could come up with.” Jesse looked him in the eyes.
“You watch too much television kid. I doubt light refraction on a really bad paint by number will tell us why a man was shot to death trying to rip the place off.”
“What if this turns out to be what he was after?” Colton asked.
Balouche looked at him. “Unless he changed the position of a light bulb, it sounds like the painting itself hasn’t been touched.”
“Fine.” Jesse stomped up the remaining stairs, Colton and Balouche closely behind.
Balouche took a step in front of them. “Do not touch anything.” He reminded. “The forensics team is still working. Don’t even step on the broken glass. Try to look around and see if you see anything missing.”
“This is the only room you know for sure the guy was in?” Colton asked.
“According to the statement from Kellen Jackson. He saw the man now identified as Blue Richards step out of the closet over there and fire at Justyn from about here. He said Justyn walked over to the glass and waved at him. He saw the perp step from the closet toward the door there then turn around, aim and fire.”
“Can we look in the closet?” Jesse asked.
The detective shrugged. “Just don’t…”
“…touch anything…got it.” Jesse said taking a precarious step toward the open closet door. He turned to his father. “Dad?”
“Something missing?” Balouche asked, hopefully.
Colton turned his head from the position he had taken behind Jesse. “Not missing, but definitely askew.”
Balouche pushed the men aside and looked in the closet, eyes scanning top to bottom. He saw a walk in closet that looked like it had just been cleaned and straightened. He turned to the men. “Blue Richards cleaned the man’s closet then tried to kill him?”
Jesse smiled. “No but it’s definitely been rifled through.” Colton nodded his head.
“You’re kidding?” Balouche said.
Colton pointed to a bureau drawer. “Detective, open that drawer.”
“Why?”
“Just open it. It will prove a point.”
He shook his head grabbed a pen out of his pocket and slowly pulled a drawer open on the chest. The contents of the drawer were perfect; every sock, every pair of underwear was folded as though still on the store shelf and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Balouche whistled and slid the drawer shut with the pen.
Walking back to the closet, he scanned it again nodding his head. Boxes were piled neatly, but not perfectly. Clothes were hung but not even, and the shoes were matched but looked like they’d just been tossed side by side in a line.
Balouche turned to the men working in the bedroom. “Dust everything in that closet for prints.”
“Especially that.” Jesse pointed.
That got the man’s attention. “What is it?”
“A jewelry box that belonged to Ian’s Aunt.” Colton said.
“Her jewels were in there?” Balouche’s ears perked up.
Colton laughed. “Nothing expensive. She was an old black woman who raised him. She passed away. I don’t know what the man would want in there, but he definitely has gone through it.”
“I’d say it was what he was going through just before he realized Ian was home.” Jesse added.
“Why?” Balouche got out his notebook.
“Look at it.” Jesse said. “There’s stuff sticking out of it, and it’s not anywhere near where Ian kept it.”
“You’re sure?”
“I watched Ian take it down before he went out.” Jesse recalled. “He got something out of it that he wanted to give to Saxon…”
“Saxon Allen?” Balouche clarified.
“Yeah. They went bowling this evening. He told me there was something he wanted her to have.”
“And he got it out of that box?”
“Yes. He took it off the top rack there, put it on the bed, got what he wanted and I put it right back for him.” Jesse pointed to the rack above the suits. “See there’s the place where it fits exactly.”
“Have you boys taken shots of the closet?” Balouche asked one of the men. When the man confirmed. “We take this box out and examine the contents then?”
When the man nodded, Balouche put on some gloves he was handed. He carefully stepped in the closet and lifted the box taking it over to the bed and opening the lid. “Can you tell me if you notice anything missing?”
Jesse peered into the top. “He didn’t open the top. There’s a little compartment to the back. Push the back of it toward the bottom…” He instructed.
Balouche fumbled a minute, but finally a little bottom panel slid open.
“There. Ian got something wrapped in tissue paper from there. He said his Aunt Hil put it there years ago. He remembered just as he was leaving. He was excited it was still there.”
“It’s empty.” Balouche turned to him. “Must have been all that was in there.”
“No.” Jesse was sure. “I personally picked up some envelopes that were in there. I remember the look on his face. He turned to me and smiled, but Saxon was waiting on him downstairs. He went running and I put everything back for him.”
“You’re positive he put them back in this cubby hole?” Balouche asked.
“No Detective, I put the envelopes back. I shut the drawer myself and put the whole box back on the rack where it belongs.” Jesse smirked.
“Any idea what was in the envelopes?”
“No. Just that Ian was excited about finding the little gift for Saxon that was in there. He said it was something he gave to his Aunt for safe keeping years ago.”
Colton looked at his son. “Detective, do you think this could be connected with what happened in Lost Mountain?”
“Lost Mountain?” Balouche said. “What happened in Lost Mountain?”
Colton and Jesse looked at each other. “Maybe, Ian was pretty systematic. We could tell you if something was out of place.” Colton finally said.
“If that’s the best you can do.” The man said.
“Neither of us lived here officer, but we’ve been around enough to know about the basics.” Jesse wanted to deck the guy for his attitude alone.
“Let’s start with the first floor.” Two officers led the father and son on a meticulous search of the house. The first floor looked as always expected, nothing out of place and not a speck of dust. You couldn’t have guessed there was a party earlier that day, let alone an event that had left one dead, so far.
Colton walked past Jesse on the stairway landing. As he past, Jesse touched his father’s shoulder. “Does something look different about this painting to you?”
He stepped to the swirls of color, examining it closely. “No.”
Jesse cocked his head. “Are you sure? Something about it just looks odd to me.” He reached to touch it.
“Don’t touch anything!” The cop standing with them bellowed. Jesse snatched his hand back quickly. “You say there’s something odd about it, other than the fact that it’s ugly?”
The officer was given a dirty look in reply. “It’s not worth a fortune Detective, but its worth more donuts than you’ll eat in a year.” Jesse told him.
“I hate donuts.” The man said.
“Yeah, right.” Jesse started to move on after directing the comment toward the man’s waist.
“Wait, son.” Colton stopped him. “What’s odd about it?”
Jesse shrugged. “I don’t know. Something about the light, it just seems different.”
“Looks the same to me.” His father said.
“Could just be I’ve never noticed it with the bright lights coming from upstairs. Ian usually just has the landing lights on.”
“Now that we’ve discussed the gallery design can we move upstairs, please?” The detective moaned.
“Sorry.” Jesse looked at the man. “What did you say your name was again?”
“Balouche.” The man rolled his eyes and grunted.
“I apologize Detective Balouche, but two good friends and my brother were almost murdered in this house tonight. I thought you wanted to know every detail we could come up with.” Jesse looked him in the eyes.
“You watch too much television kid. I doubt light refraction on a really bad paint by number will tell us why a man was shot to death trying to rip the place off.”
“What if this turns out to be what he was after?” Colton asked.
Balouche looked at him. “Unless he changed the position of a light bulb, it sounds like the painting itself hasn’t been touched.”
“Fine.” Jesse stomped up the remaining stairs, Colton and Balouche closely behind.
Balouche took a step in front of them. “Do not touch anything.” He reminded. “The forensics team is still working. Don’t even step on the broken glass. Try to look around and see if you see anything missing.”
“This is the only room you know for sure the guy was in?” Colton asked.
“According to the statement from Kellen Jackson. He saw the man now identified as Blue Richards step out of the closet over there and fire at Justyn from about here. He said Justyn walked over to the glass and waved at him. He saw the perp step from the closet toward the door there then turn around, aim and fire.”
“Can we look in the closet?” Jesse asked.
The detective shrugged. “Just don’t…”
“…touch anything…got it.” Jesse said taking a precarious step toward the open closet door. He turned to his father. “Dad?”
“Something missing?” Balouche asked, hopefully.
Colton turned his head from the position he had taken behind Jesse. “Not missing, but definitely askew.”
Balouche pushed the men aside and looked in the closet, eyes scanning top to bottom. He saw a walk in closet that looked like it had just been cleaned and straightened. He turned to the men. “Blue Richards cleaned the man’s closet then tried to kill him?”
Jesse smiled. “No but it’s definitely been rifled through.” Colton nodded his head.
“You’re kidding?” Balouche said.
Colton pointed to a bureau drawer. “Detective, open that drawer.”
“Why?”
“Just open it. It will prove a point.”
He shook his head grabbed a pen out of his pocket and slowly pulled a drawer open on the chest. The contents of the drawer were perfect; every sock, every pair of underwear was folded as though still on the store shelf and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Balouche whistled and slid the drawer shut with the pen.
Walking back to the closet, he scanned it again nodding his head. Boxes were piled neatly, but not perfectly. Clothes were hung but not even, and the shoes were matched but looked like they’d just been tossed side by side in a line.
Balouche turned to the men working in the bedroom. “Dust everything in that closet for prints.”
“Especially that.” Jesse pointed.
That got the man’s attention. “What is it?”
“A jewelry box that belonged to Ian’s Aunt.” Colton said.
“Her jewels were in there?” Balouche’s ears perked up.
Colton laughed. “Nothing expensive. She was an old black woman who raised him. She passed away. I don’t know what the man would want in there, but he definitely has gone through it.”
“I’d say it was what he was going through just before he realized Ian was home.” Jesse added.
“Why?” Balouche got out his notebook.
“Look at it.” Jesse said. “There’s stuff sticking out of it, and it’s not anywhere near where Ian kept it.”
“You’re sure?”
“I watched Ian take it down before he went out.” Jesse recalled. “He got something out of it that he wanted to give to Saxon…”
“Saxon Allen?” Balouche clarified.
“Yeah. They went bowling this evening. He told me there was something he wanted her to have.”
“And he got it out of that box?”
“Yes. He took it off the top rack there, put it on the bed, got what he wanted and I put it right back for him.” Jesse pointed to the rack above the suits. “See there’s the place where it fits exactly.”
“Have you boys taken shots of the closet?” Balouche asked one of the men. When the man confirmed. “We take this box out and examine the contents then?”
When the man nodded, Balouche put on some gloves he was handed. He carefully stepped in the closet and lifted the box taking it over to the bed and opening the lid. “Can you tell me if you notice anything missing?”
Jesse peered into the top. “He didn’t open the top. There’s a little compartment to the back. Push the back of it toward the bottom…” He instructed.
Balouche fumbled a minute, but finally a little bottom panel slid open.
“There. Ian got something wrapped in tissue paper from there. He said his Aunt Hil put it there years ago. He remembered just as he was leaving. He was excited it was still there.”
“It’s empty.” Balouche turned to him. “Must have been all that was in there.”
“No.” Jesse was sure. “I personally picked up some envelopes that were in there. I remember the look on his face. He turned to me and smiled, but Saxon was waiting on him downstairs. He went running and I put everything back for him.”
“You’re positive he put them back in this cubby hole?” Balouche asked.
“No Detective, I put the envelopes back. I shut the drawer myself and put the whole box back on the rack where it belongs.” Jesse smirked.
“Any idea what was in the envelopes?”
“No. Just that Ian was excited about finding the little gift for Saxon that was in there. He said it was something he gave to his Aunt for safe keeping years ago.”
Colton looked at his son. “Detective, do you think this could be connected with what happened in Lost Mountain?”
“Lost Mountain?” Balouche said. “What happened in Lost Mountain?”
Vignette #143: Smoking Guns
She wished she had brought the baseball bat after all. No one seemed to recognize her, and no one cared. It had taken her an hour just to get from the parking lot to the Emergency Room entrance.
Fortunately the one person who did recognize her was that bulldozer of a guy from “Open Fields”. He stood in front of her and pushed through to the doors. Cops were lined across the entrance arm in arm to keep the pandemonium from breaking inside.
“No one gets through.” The cop stared down the bulldozer. The bulldozer huffed. “Sorry.”
She peered around him and pulled down the dark glasses, showing off her red, bloodshot eyes. The cop recognized her. It took him a second but he put two and two together. She heard him say clearly but softly. “Let her through.”
A small opening was made. She felt herself being shoved toward it. She grabbed the bulldozer’s hand. “Him, too.”
“Just you ma’am.” The cop said.
“He’s my brother.” She lied. “We’re like his family.”
The cop took a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” They popped through the line of cops and found themselves standing inside in ER.
“You didn’t have to do that, Ms. Allen.” The bulldozer said.
“I’d still be in the parking lot if it weren’t for you.” She said. “I know you…from…”
“Yes, ma’am. Ripley, Ripley Gunther.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Jeremy Tyson.” He said. “He told me what happened.”
“Ronnie.” Saxon blurted out. “Have they told Ronnie?”
Ripley shook his head. “No ma’am. They won’t say anything, sticking with the plan.”
“What plan?”
“At sun up, Mr. Tyson gets the boys on a boat away from everything. As soon as they know something definite they’ll come to shore.”
“He’s been through so much.” Saxon looked around to see if she could get some information.
“They’re worried ma’am. Kellen’s downtown, they asked me to keep Mr. Justyn safe.”
“Safe?”
“Some one tried to kill him, ma’am. I’m to stay as close as possible until we know what happened.”
Saxon nodded her head. A nurse came up to them. “Miss Allen, come this way.” The duo started to follow, but the nurse stopped. “Not him.”
“He’s Ian’s bodyguard.” Saxon insisted.
The nurse looked Ripley up and down. “Not doin’ a very good job so far.”
“I was on a coffee break.” He sneered. “It won’t happen again.”
“Whatever.” She turned and headed into the ER. “Follow me.”
They were ushered through a maze of doors and hallways. Finally Saxon heard her name called.
“Tippy?” She said softly as the women embraced. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, honey, I don’t know.” She dabbed her eyes with Kleenex. “He’s alive or was before they left me alone in the ambulance and took off with him.”
Saxon grabbed Tippy’s hand. “Tippy this is Ripley. Jeremy called him, to keep an eye on things.”
“Oh thanks, honey.” Tippy took Ripley’s hand and squeezed it.
“Mr. Tyson said to tell you the boys are asleep.”
She nodded. “I just talked to Susan. She said Jeremy was trying to get hold of somebody. Glad you came.”
“Mr. Justyn is a nice man.” Ripley smiled. “I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Oh God…” Tippy plopped in a chair. “I don’t even want to think about that. Why would anyone do this?”
“Excuse me…” a man in scrubs holding a clipboard said. “I’m looking for Ian Justyn’s family.”
Tippy stood and grabbed Saxon’s hand. “We’re his family.”
He looked at the paperwork. “Mr. Justyn’s insurance lists a William Jarvis as next of kin.” He looked up at Ripley. “Is that you?”
“No, sir.”
“Billy Jarvis is the other…victim.” Tippy trembled as she said it. “They brought Ian first. Billy should be arriving any moment.”
“Mr. Justyn is critical, ma’am. I need his next of kin’s consent to do surgery.”
“Ian doesn’t have any family, other than a ten year old boy.” Tippy squeaked. “He’s like a son to me, does that count?”
“It has to be a blood relative.”
Ripley stepped forward. “Any of us will take responsibility.”
“That’s not the point.” The doctor said.
“I don’t care what the point is. If Ian needs surgery, do it or you will personally answer to me.” Ripley growled.
“Well, I guess I could…”
“Now!” Ripley snapped.
“Yes, sir.” The doctor stepped back. “We’ll just deal with all the paperwork later.” He was gone in an instant.
“This is an ER, surely all that is taken in to account.” Tippy said.
“It’s also California, Tippy, the sue me capitol of the world.” Saxon put her arm around the woman.
A man in a security guard came over to them “Which one of you is the hired goon?”
“Guess.” Ripley puffed out his chest.
The man jerked his head towards the desk. “Follow me.”
“I’ll be right back.” Ripley told the ladies softly.
“Tippy, what exactly happened?” Saxon had to ask.
“Oh, honey. I’m not really sure. We were sitting by the pool over at our house, having a cup of tea and all of a sudden we heard shots, and glass breaking. We ran over to Ian’s as quick as we could. Billy was floating face down in the pool, Ian was on the ground covered in blood with a dead man laying across him and Kellen was standing there with a smoking gun in his hand.”
“Kellen?” Saxon helped Tippy sit down. “Kellen Jackson did this?”
Tippy shook her head. “No. He said he saw Ian and a man fighting, and then Billy joined in. Somehow they all fell over the balcony and before Kellen could do anything the man shot Billy.”
“He shot Billy?”
“Yes.” Tippy was almost breathless. “And Kellen fired at the man before he could shoot Ian. Kellen says the man was aiming for Ian’s head at almost point blank range.”
“But why?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Billy…is Billy alright?” Saxon asked, ashamed she hadn’t asked before.
“I think he will be.” Tippy said. “Colton and Jesse helped Reese pull him from the pool. They gave him mouth to mouth and Colton said it looked like he took the bullet in the shoulder. There was so much blood…”
Ripley came over and knealed before them. “Ladies, they’ve taken Ian to surgery. Someone will be over in a moment to take you up to a private waiting room on the surgical floor.”
“Do you know how he’s doing?” They both practically asked.
He put up his hand. “All I know is that they’ve rushed him to surgery, something about broken ribs puncturing his organs. Now, Mrs. Shores…”
“Tippy,” she tried to smile. “Call me Tippy, darlin’.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ripley nodded. “I need a list of everyone that you called or might come to the hospital. No one gets in or around either Ian or anyone in the family without my say so.”
“Okay.”
“Now here’s my cell phone number. Let me have yours so we can stay in touch.” Ripley handed her a piece of paper.
“Yes, yes of course.” She gave him the number that he programmed immediately into his phone.
“Do not talk to anyone outside the family, but me.”
“What about the doctors?” Saxon asked.
“Check the I.D. of any medical personnel first.” He pointed to his chest. “They’ll all have little badges. Make a mental note of names and faces.”
Tippy nodded and began to make a list.
Fortunately the one person who did recognize her was that bulldozer of a guy from “Open Fields”. He stood in front of her and pushed through to the doors. Cops were lined across the entrance arm in arm to keep the pandemonium from breaking inside.
“No one gets through.” The cop stared down the bulldozer. The bulldozer huffed. “Sorry.”
She peered around him and pulled down the dark glasses, showing off her red, bloodshot eyes. The cop recognized her. It took him a second but he put two and two together. She heard him say clearly but softly. “Let her through.”
A small opening was made. She felt herself being shoved toward it. She grabbed the bulldozer’s hand. “Him, too.”
“Just you ma’am.” The cop said.
“He’s my brother.” She lied. “We’re like his family.”
The cop took a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” They popped through the line of cops and found themselves standing inside in ER.
“You didn’t have to do that, Ms. Allen.” The bulldozer said.
“I’d still be in the parking lot if it weren’t for you.” She said. “I know you…from…”
“Yes, ma’am. Ripley, Ripley Gunther.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Jeremy Tyson.” He said. “He told me what happened.”
“Ronnie.” Saxon blurted out. “Have they told Ronnie?”
Ripley shook his head. “No ma’am. They won’t say anything, sticking with the plan.”
“What plan?”
“At sun up, Mr. Tyson gets the boys on a boat away from everything. As soon as they know something definite they’ll come to shore.”
“He’s been through so much.” Saxon looked around to see if she could get some information.
“They’re worried ma’am. Kellen’s downtown, they asked me to keep Mr. Justyn safe.”
“Safe?”
“Some one tried to kill him, ma’am. I’m to stay as close as possible until we know what happened.”
Saxon nodded her head. A nurse came up to them. “Miss Allen, come this way.” The duo started to follow, but the nurse stopped. “Not him.”
“He’s Ian’s bodyguard.” Saxon insisted.
The nurse looked Ripley up and down. “Not doin’ a very good job so far.”
“I was on a coffee break.” He sneered. “It won’t happen again.”
“Whatever.” She turned and headed into the ER. “Follow me.”
They were ushered through a maze of doors and hallways. Finally Saxon heard her name called.
“Tippy?” She said softly as the women embraced. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, honey, I don’t know.” She dabbed her eyes with Kleenex. “He’s alive or was before they left me alone in the ambulance and took off with him.”
Saxon grabbed Tippy’s hand. “Tippy this is Ripley. Jeremy called him, to keep an eye on things.”
“Oh thanks, honey.” Tippy took Ripley’s hand and squeezed it.
“Mr. Tyson said to tell you the boys are asleep.”
She nodded. “I just talked to Susan. She said Jeremy was trying to get hold of somebody. Glad you came.”
“Mr. Justyn is a nice man.” Ripley smiled. “I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Oh God…” Tippy plopped in a chair. “I don’t even want to think about that. Why would anyone do this?”
“Excuse me…” a man in scrubs holding a clipboard said. “I’m looking for Ian Justyn’s family.”
Tippy stood and grabbed Saxon’s hand. “We’re his family.”
He looked at the paperwork. “Mr. Justyn’s insurance lists a William Jarvis as next of kin.” He looked up at Ripley. “Is that you?”
“No, sir.”
“Billy Jarvis is the other…victim.” Tippy trembled as she said it. “They brought Ian first. Billy should be arriving any moment.”
“Mr. Justyn is critical, ma’am. I need his next of kin’s consent to do surgery.”
“Ian doesn’t have any family, other than a ten year old boy.” Tippy squeaked. “He’s like a son to me, does that count?”
“It has to be a blood relative.”
Ripley stepped forward. “Any of us will take responsibility.”
“That’s not the point.” The doctor said.
“I don’t care what the point is. If Ian needs surgery, do it or you will personally answer to me.” Ripley growled.
“Well, I guess I could…”
“Now!” Ripley snapped.
“Yes, sir.” The doctor stepped back. “We’ll just deal with all the paperwork later.” He was gone in an instant.
“This is an ER, surely all that is taken in to account.” Tippy said.
“It’s also California, Tippy, the sue me capitol of the world.” Saxon put her arm around the woman.
A man in a security guard came over to them “Which one of you is the hired goon?”
“Guess.” Ripley puffed out his chest.
The man jerked his head towards the desk. “Follow me.”
“I’ll be right back.” Ripley told the ladies softly.
“Tippy, what exactly happened?” Saxon had to ask.
“Oh, honey. I’m not really sure. We were sitting by the pool over at our house, having a cup of tea and all of a sudden we heard shots, and glass breaking. We ran over to Ian’s as quick as we could. Billy was floating face down in the pool, Ian was on the ground covered in blood with a dead man laying across him and Kellen was standing there with a smoking gun in his hand.”
“Kellen?” Saxon helped Tippy sit down. “Kellen Jackson did this?”
Tippy shook her head. “No. He said he saw Ian and a man fighting, and then Billy joined in. Somehow they all fell over the balcony and before Kellen could do anything the man shot Billy.”
“He shot Billy?”
“Yes.” Tippy was almost breathless. “And Kellen fired at the man before he could shoot Ian. Kellen says the man was aiming for Ian’s head at almost point blank range.”
“But why?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Billy…is Billy alright?” Saxon asked, ashamed she hadn’t asked before.
“I think he will be.” Tippy said. “Colton and Jesse helped Reese pull him from the pool. They gave him mouth to mouth and Colton said it looked like he took the bullet in the shoulder. There was so much blood…”
Ripley came over and knealed before them. “Ladies, they’ve taken Ian to surgery. Someone will be over in a moment to take you up to a private waiting room on the surgical floor.”
“Do you know how he’s doing?” They both practically asked.
He put up his hand. “All I know is that they’ve rushed him to surgery, something about broken ribs puncturing his organs. Now, Mrs. Shores…”
“Tippy,” she tried to smile. “Call me Tippy, darlin’.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ripley nodded. “I need a list of everyone that you called or might come to the hospital. No one gets in or around either Ian or anyone in the family without my say so.”
“Okay.”
“Now here’s my cell phone number. Let me have yours so we can stay in touch.” Ripley handed her a piece of paper.
“Yes, yes of course.” She gave him the number that he programmed immediately into his phone.
“Do not talk to anyone outside the family, but me.”
“What about the doctors?” Saxon asked.
“Check the I.D. of any medical personnel first.” He pointed to his chest. “They’ll all have little badges. Make a mental note of names and faces.”
Tippy nodded and began to make a list.
Vignette #142: Sucker Punch
It had come in a three fisted punch. He knew he was falling and for the first time in his life he didn’t care. It had happened so fast and so unexpectedly that he was still reeling. The speed at which it all took place was the sucker punch he never saw coming.
The cold zip of a body bag drew his attention. He couldn’t help but stiffen as the men picked up the body and placed it on another gurney. He watched it wheeled around the house out of sight. He shook his head. How many more body bags would he have to watch roll out of sight?
Reese Shores put his head in his hands and begged for it all to stop. He sat shivering in the cold night air, dressed in a towel on the steps of the balcony. Ralphie, wet and smelling like a dog sat quietly beside him, watching silently as men dressed in blue, men dressed in green and white and graying figures walked all around them.
It was a nightmare. The blood and the questions. The sirens and the questions. The needles and the wires. The condemning faces and the questions. The reporters trying to cross the police tape, the neighbors shouting what happened, and the questions.
Reese stared into the now pink water of the pool. How could something so wonderful turn so quickly into such a bloody mess? Would everything he touched always have such an unhappy ending?
“Thought you might could use these.” A disembodied hand shoved a bundle of clothes under his nose.
He looked up. “Thanks, Jess.”
His brother nodded as Reese stood and pulled on the sweat pants. He started to pull the tee over his head when he noticed the writing. He held it up for his brother to read, “It’s big and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Sorry, dude. I just grabbed something from the drawer.” He apologized.
“Jerk.” Reese mumbled and put it on anyway. He sat back down beside Ralphie as he pulled on the sneakers. “Where’s Dad?”
“He found the cat, she tried to get in the ambulance with Ian. Dad took it over to the house.”
“Ronnie…oh God.” Reese started to panic. “Some one needs to tell Ronnie. He can’t just see this on the television.”
Jesse put his arm around his brother. “Calm down, we’ve already called Susan and Jeremy. They’re gonna go ahead and take him fishing at the crack of dawn, keep him away from anything and everything until we know something for sure.”
“But what if…” Reese started to ask.
“Don’t go there, Reese.” Jesse warned. “The little guy’s been through enough. Ian will pull through. There is no way God gave his son back to him just in time for…”
“Yeah…” Reese looked at the pool water again. “Mom?”
“Went in the ambulance with Ian. Dad and I will stay here until the police finish up. Are they through with you or do you have to go down to the station, too?”
“I have to go down in the morning and sign a statement.” Reese looked back at his brother. “I don’t understand why they carted Kellen off like that.”
“Dude, he’s a former cop. He fired a gun and killed somebody.”
“It was self defense.” Reese insisted.
“But you didn’t see the shots. The only people that did can’t verify it was self-defense. He’ll be cleared but until they get it all verified they’ll keep him in custody.”
The brothers were silent, watching the spectacle that had once been peace darting all around them.
“Reese,” Jesse finally asked. “What happened?”
Reese shook his head. “All I know is one minute it was heaven and the next bodies were falling out of the sky.”
“Man…”
“Been happening way too much for me.” Reese choked back the burning in his throat. “Afghanistan…Iraq…the funeral and now this.”
“None of that was your fault.”
“I know, bro, but how many times do I have to be in the right place at the wrong time?”
“Look, everything’s gonna work out. This will all be over with soon and things will get back to normal.”
Reese looked his brother in the eye. “Jesse, things are never going to be normal again.”
Jesse punched his brother as hard as he could in the shoulder. “Dammit, Reese, don’t you do that again! Don’t you go pulling yourself into that weird little ball. I swear Reese I will beat the ever living crap outta you.”
A man dressed in white and green came over to stand in front of them. “Which one of you is Reese?”
“I am.” Reece stood up.
The man read his tee shirt and smirked. “Figures.”
“I’m Reese Shores. Why?”
“He’s asking for you. Won’t let us take him to the hospital without you.”
Reece’s ears weren’t sure they heard correctly, “He’s awake?”
“And won’t talk to anyone but you…follow me.”
In a moment Reese was being helped into the back of an ambulance. The man got in behind him, shut the doors and banged on the windows, “Okay, let’s go…”
Reese lost his balance as the ambulance took off, siren beginning to blare. He looked at Billy, whiter than any human being should be, gauze stuffed into a hole in his shoulder, but smiling into his eyes.
“Reese…”
“Shhh…don’t talk. You’re going to be fine. We’re all gonna be fine.” Reese grabbed Billy’s hand.
“What a weekend…” Billy coughed.
“Yeah, this is one to talk about back home.”
“Reese…”
“Shh…be quiet now, just rest…”
“We’ve given him something for the pain. He’ll be out in a second.” An attendant said.
“No, no…” Billy struggled, “I gotta know…?”
“What? Billy, what?”
Billy’s eyes started to flutter, falling into the sedative drip. He slurred but Reese understood him fully, “Who the hell is Darla Hutton?”
The cold zip of a body bag drew his attention. He couldn’t help but stiffen as the men picked up the body and placed it on another gurney. He watched it wheeled around the house out of sight. He shook his head. How many more body bags would he have to watch roll out of sight?
Reese Shores put his head in his hands and begged for it all to stop. He sat shivering in the cold night air, dressed in a towel on the steps of the balcony. Ralphie, wet and smelling like a dog sat quietly beside him, watching silently as men dressed in blue, men dressed in green and white and graying figures walked all around them.
It was a nightmare. The blood and the questions. The sirens and the questions. The needles and the wires. The condemning faces and the questions. The reporters trying to cross the police tape, the neighbors shouting what happened, and the questions.
Reese stared into the now pink water of the pool. How could something so wonderful turn so quickly into such a bloody mess? Would everything he touched always have such an unhappy ending?
“Thought you might could use these.” A disembodied hand shoved a bundle of clothes under his nose.
He looked up. “Thanks, Jess.”
His brother nodded as Reese stood and pulled on the sweat pants. He started to pull the tee over his head when he noticed the writing. He held it up for his brother to read, “It’s big and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Sorry, dude. I just grabbed something from the drawer.” He apologized.
“Jerk.” Reese mumbled and put it on anyway. He sat back down beside Ralphie as he pulled on the sneakers. “Where’s Dad?”
“He found the cat, she tried to get in the ambulance with Ian. Dad took it over to the house.”
“Ronnie…oh God.” Reese started to panic. “Some one needs to tell Ronnie. He can’t just see this on the television.”
Jesse put his arm around his brother. “Calm down, we’ve already called Susan and Jeremy. They’re gonna go ahead and take him fishing at the crack of dawn, keep him away from anything and everything until we know something for sure.”
“But what if…” Reese started to ask.
“Don’t go there, Reese.” Jesse warned. “The little guy’s been through enough. Ian will pull through. There is no way God gave his son back to him just in time for…”
“Yeah…” Reese looked at the pool water again. “Mom?”
“Went in the ambulance with Ian. Dad and I will stay here until the police finish up. Are they through with you or do you have to go down to the station, too?”
“I have to go down in the morning and sign a statement.” Reese looked back at his brother. “I don’t understand why they carted Kellen off like that.”
“Dude, he’s a former cop. He fired a gun and killed somebody.”
“It was self defense.” Reese insisted.
“But you didn’t see the shots. The only people that did can’t verify it was self-defense. He’ll be cleared but until they get it all verified they’ll keep him in custody.”
The brothers were silent, watching the spectacle that had once been peace darting all around them.
“Reese,” Jesse finally asked. “What happened?”
Reese shook his head. “All I know is one minute it was heaven and the next bodies were falling out of the sky.”
“Man…”
“Been happening way too much for me.” Reese choked back the burning in his throat. “Afghanistan…Iraq…the funeral and now this.”
“None of that was your fault.”
“I know, bro, but how many times do I have to be in the right place at the wrong time?”
“Look, everything’s gonna work out. This will all be over with soon and things will get back to normal.”
Reese looked his brother in the eye. “Jesse, things are never going to be normal again.”
Jesse punched his brother as hard as he could in the shoulder. “Dammit, Reese, don’t you do that again! Don’t you go pulling yourself into that weird little ball. I swear Reese I will beat the ever living crap outta you.”
A man dressed in white and green came over to stand in front of them. “Which one of you is Reese?”
“I am.” Reece stood up.
The man read his tee shirt and smirked. “Figures.”
“I’m Reese Shores. Why?”
“He’s asking for you. Won’t let us take him to the hospital without you.”
Reece’s ears weren’t sure they heard correctly, “He’s awake?”
“And won’t talk to anyone but you…follow me.”
In a moment Reese was being helped into the back of an ambulance. The man got in behind him, shut the doors and banged on the windows, “Okay, let’s go…”
Reese lost his balance as the ambulance took off, siren beginning to blare. He looked at Billy, whiter than any human being should be, gauze stuffed into a hole in his shoulder, but smiling into his eyes.
“Reese…”
“Shhh…don’t talk. You’re going to be fine. We’re all gonna be fine.” Reese grabbed Billy’s hand.
“What a weekend…” Billy coughed.
“Yeah, this is one to talk about back home.”
“Reese…”
“Shh…be quiet now, just rest…”
“We’ve given him something for the pain. He’ll be out in a second.” An attendant said.
“No, no…” Billy struggled, “I gotta know…?”
“What? Billy, what?”
Billy’s eyes started to flutter, falling into the sedative drip. He slurred but Reese understood him fully, “Who the hell is Darla Hutton?”
Friday, January 14, 2011
Chapter 27: Body Bags
Book Two: Yesterday Echoes
David Turner sat stunned in his penthouse suite. The cat purred quietly in his lap as he stroked it, closing its eyes in contentment.
The old man stared at the phone. He was torn. Should he go? Should he stay? He wished he could say that it was the first time in his life that his heart had been crushed and he just didn’t know what to do next. He closed his eyes and prayed silently to “Please God let this be the last.”
He remembered sitting in a hospital room once before thinking that it had all come tumbling down. He remembered staring at the body in the bed and being more paralyzed than the man hooked up to all the wires and tubes. It was the end of it all, and he knew it.
But something else happened. Someone else came along with a lifeline. He feared it. He was so ready for it all to be over, no matter what the consequences. What did happen? What was it that spared him the shame and kept the ball rolling?
“Oh yes…yes.” He said out loud.
The room had very little light. It must have been about this same time of night. David was so much younger then, and so much more worried about the consequences. The accident had been bad enough, but this? How did this happen?
He looked at the once handsome man in the bed, the one now with a face stitched back together like an old quilt. They could fix most of it eventually, but he’d never be the same, look the same. They could afford the best. Things had paid off. They had the money, plenty of money. Now they just didn’t have the handsome leading man. They didn't have anything anymore.
The man would live, but they both knew his fate. He didn’t say much; too much pain, too much in mourning for what was lost. The doctors could fix him, but who would to fix them?
He had to tell him. David had no choice. He had to know. The man’s face was gone, and now he had to be told his wife was gone as well.
The patient moaned. It was almost as if he could read his mind. David smiled bitterly. It had always been like that. It’s what had made them the perfect team. If they could just figure out what to do next, maybe they still could be. Without her was it even possible?
David hadn’t heard the other man come in the room. He barely remembered a small light flooding the gray and then going dark again. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Dave?”
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and focus. David hoped the man could see his weak smile in the dark.
“How’s he doing?” He asked.
David just nodded his head.
“Does he know?”
Turner sighed. “About her?” The following silence answered both their questions.
“I almost didn’t find him. You weren’t in your room and I knew good and well he wasn’t using his real name. Then I remembered…Ernie Newcastle.”
“What better way to hide than to use the name nobody remembers or even knows.”
“Lucille knew all the tricks.”
David whipped his head around and stared him down in the dark. “Shhh!”
“You’re right.” David felt the apologetic pat on his shoulder. “Let’s step back to your room, where we can talk without disturbing him.”
David made sure the bedclothes were snug and pulled tight before they left and walked in silence to the nicer end of the hospital.
“They’re releasing me tomorrow.” David said as they shut his door.
“You should have been released a week ago.”
“Without Lucille here to make sure I stayed…”
The man shook his head. “I don’t understand. Why would she do something like this?”
David sighed and thumped down on the bed. “Jamey and I always used to joke about ‘Whose wife is crazier’. I always thought it was mine hands down, turns out it was his.”
“Are you sure that body is Lucille’s?”
“I’d give anything right now if it wasn’t. If it was my wife, I’d know that everything was under control.”
“You have no doubt?”
“There will always be doubt.” David looked up. “They made me identify her. There was no way to tell from the body, but the jewelry. The jewelry was hers, almost all of it.”
“All of it?”
“It was like she snapped, covered her self in every ring and necklace she ever owned, set fire to the house and then hung herself as the place burned down around her.” David looked at the floor. “It was her body, but the actions? That definitely wasn’t Lucille.”
The man sat down beside David on the bed. “And your wife?”
“Haven’t seen or heard from her, not since the phone call. Lucille said she was handling it. She always took care of the messy stuff.” David stood up and walked to the window, staring out into the dark. “Somewhere out there is my lunatic wife and my baby boy.”
“Maybe once she hears about Lucille she’ll come back.”
Turner almost laughed. “Not a chance. She wasn’t nearly as crazy as we thought. She’s gone, and no one’s going to find her.”
“We’ll find her.” He stood and walked over to where he’s friend forlornly gazed out the window. “I promise you David, some day, some how. We’ll find her.”
David turned around to face him. “It’s too late, the game’s over. This is the end. Without Lucille, the jig is up.”
His friend nodded and walked to a chair in the corner. He started to sit, but froze. He put his fingers to his lips and stood up. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” David scoffed. “Lucille knew it was over. She took the chicken’s way out and left Jamey and I holding the bag.”
“Of course she knew, but you know as well as I do that Lucille would never take the easy way out.” He began to pace the room. “She never did anything, anything, unless it was the means to an end.”
“End is right.” David snorted.
“No.” Herman Elysian smiled. “Every end leads to a beginning, my friend. I’ve got an idea…”
It had come in a three fisted punch. He knew he was falling and for the first time in his life he didn’t care. It had happened so fast and so unexpectedly he was still reeling. The speed at which it all took place was the sucker punch he never saw coming.
The cold zip of a body bag drew his attention. He couldn’t help but stiffen up as the men picked up the body and placed it on another gurney. He watched it wheeled around the house out of sight. He shook his head. How many more body bags would he have to watch roll out of sight?
Reese Shores put his head in his hands and begged for it all to stop. He sat shivering in the cold night air, dressed in a towel on the steps of the balcony. Ralphie, wet and smelling like a dog sat quietly beside him, watching silently as men dressed in blue, men dressed in green and white and graying figures walked all around them.
It was a nightmare. The blood and the questions. The sirens and the questions. The needles and the wires. The condemning faces and the questions. The reporters trying to cross the police tape, the neighbors shouting what happened, and the questions.
Reese stared into the now pink water of the pool. How could something so wonderful turn so quickly into such a bloody mess? Would everything he touched always have such an unhappy ending?
“Thought you might could use these.” A disembodied hand shoved a bundle of clothes under his nose.
He looked up. “Thanks, Jess.”
His brother nodded as Reese stood and pulled on the sweat pants. He started to pull the tee over his head when he noticed the writing. He held it up for his brother to read, “It’s big and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Sorry, dude. I just grabbed something from the drawer.” He apologized.
“Jerk.” Reese mumbled and put it on anyway. He sat back down beside Ralphie as he pulled on the sneakers. “Where’s Dad?”
“He found the cat, she tried to get in the ambulance with Ian. Dad took it over to the house.”
“Ronnie…oh God.” Reese started to panic. “Some one needs to tell Ronnie. He can’t just see this on the television.”
Jesse put his arm around his brother. “Calm down, we’ve already called Susan and Jeremy. They’re gonna go ahead and take him fishing at the crack of dawn, keep him away from anything and everything until we know something for sure.”
“But what if…” Reese started to ask.
“Don’t go there, Reese.” Jesse warned. “The little guy’s been through enough. Ian will pull through. There is no way God gave his son back to him just in time for…”
“Yeah…” Reese looked at the pool water again. “Mom?”
“Went in the ambulance with Ian. Dad and I will stay here until the police finish up. Are they through with you or do you have to go down to the station, too?”
“I have to go down in the morning and sign a statement.” Reese looked back at his brother. “I don’t understand why they carted Kellen off like that.”
“Dude, he’s a former cop. He fired a gun and killed somebody.”
“It was self defense.” Reese insisted.
“But you didn’t see the shots. The only one’s that did can’t verify it was self-defense. He’ll be cleared but until they get it all verified they’ll keep him in custody.”
The brothers were silent, watching the spectacle that had once been peace darting all around them.
“Reese?” Jesse finally asked. “What happened?”
Reese shook his head. “All I know is one minute it was heaven and the next bodies were falling out of the sky.”
“Man…”
“Been happening way too much for me.” Reese choked back the burning in his throat. “Afghanistan…Iraq…the funeral and now this.”
“None of that was your fault.”
“I know, bro, but how many times do I have to be in the right place at the wrong time?”
“Look, everything’s gonna work out. This will all be over with soon and things will get back to normal.”
Reese looked his brother in the eye. “Jesse, things are never going to be normal again.”
Jesse punched his brother as hard as he could in the shoulder. “Dammit, Reese, don’t you do that again! Don’t you go pulling yourself into that weird little ball. I swear Reese I will beat the ever living crap outta you.”
A man dressed in white and green came over to stand in front of them. “Which one of you is Reese?”
“I am.” Reese stood up.
The man read his tee shirt and smirked. “Figures.”
“I’m Reese Shores. Why?”
“He’s asking for you. Won’t let us take him to the hospital without you.”
Reece’s ears weren’t sure they heard correctly, “He’s awake?”
“And won’t talk to anyone but you…follow me.”
In a moment Reese was being helped into the back of an ambulance. The man got in behind him,shut the doors and banged on the windows, “Okay, let’s go…”
Reese lost his balance as the ambulance took off, siren beginning to blare. He looked at Billy, whiter than any human being should be, gauze stuffed into a hole in his shoulder, but smiling into his eyes.
“Reese…”
“Shhh…don’t talk. You’re going to be fine. We’re all gonna be fine.” Reese grabbed Billy’s hand.
“What a weekend…” Billy coughed.
“Yeah, this is one to talk about back home.”
“Reese…”
“Shh…be quiet now, just rest…”
“We’ve given him something for the pain. He’ll be out in a second.” An attendant said.
“No, no…” Billy struggled, “I gotta know…?”
“What? Billy, what?”
Billy’s eyes started to flutter, falling into the sedative drip. He slurred but Reese understood him fully, “Who the hell is Darla Hutton?”
She wished she had brought the baseball bat after all. No one seemed to recognize her, and no one cared. It had taken her an hour to just get from the parking lot to the Emergency Room entrance itself.
Fortunately the one person who did recognize her was that bulldozer of a guy from “Open Fields”. He stood in front of her and pushed through to the doors. Cops were lined across the entrance arm in arm to keep the pandemonium from breaking inside.
“No one gets through.” The cop stared down the bulldozer. The bulldozer huffed. “Sorry.”
She peered around him and pulled down the dark glasses, showing off her red, bloodshot eyes. The cop recognized her. It took him a second but he put two and two together. She heard him say clearly but softly. “Let her through.”
A small opening was made. She felt herself being shoved toward it. She grabbed the bulldozer’s hand. “Him, too.”
“Just you ma’am.” The cop said.
“He’s my brother.” She lied. “We’re like his family.”
The cop took a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” They popped through the line of cops and found themselves standing inside in ER.
“You didn’t have to do that, Ms. Allen.” The bulldozer said.
“I’d still be in the parking lot if it weren’t for you.” She said. “I know you…from…”
“Yes, ma’am. Ripley, Ripley Gunther.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Jeremy Tyson.” He said. “He told me what happened.”
“Ronnie.” Saxon blurted out. “Have they told Ronnie?”
Ripley shook his head. “No ma’am. They won’t say anything, sticking with the plan.”
“What plan?”
“At sun up, Mr. Tyson gets the boys on a boat away from everything. As soon as they know something definite they’ll come to shore.”
“He’s been through so much.” Saxon looked around to see if she could get some information.
“They’re worried ma’am. Kellen’s downtown, they asked me to keep Mr. Justyn safe.”
“Safe?”
“Some one tried to kill him, ma’am. I’m to stay as close as possible until we know what happened.”
Saxon nodded her head. A nurse came up to them. “Miss Allen, come this way.” The duo started to follow, but the nurse stopped. “Not him.”
“He’s Ian’s bodyguard.” Saxon insisted.
The nurse looked Ripley up and down. “Not doin’ a very good job so far.”
“I was on a coffee break.” He sneared. “It won’t happen again.”
“Whatever.” She turned and headed into the ER. “Follow me.”
They were ushered through a maze of doors and hallways. Finally Saxon heard her name called.
“Tippy?” She said softly as the women embraced. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, honey, I don’t know.” She dabbed her eyes with Kleenex. “He’s alive or was before they left me alone in the ambulance and took off with him.”
Saxon grabbed Tippy’s hand. “Tippy this is Ripley. Jeremy called him, to keep an eye on things.”
“Oh thanks, honey.” Tippy took Ripley’s hand and squeezed it.
“Mr. Tyson said to tell you the boys are asleep.”
She nodded. “I just talked to Susan. She said Jeremy was trying to get hold of somebody. Glad you came.”
“Mr. Justyn is a nice man.” Ripley smiled. “I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Oh God…” Tippy plopped in a chair. “I don’t even want to think about that. Why would anyone do this?”
“Excuse me…” a man in scrubs holding a clipboard said. “I’m looking for Ian Justyn’s family.”
Tippy stood and grabbed Saxon’s hand. “We’re his family.”
He looked at the paperwork. “Mr. Justyn’s insurance lists a William Jarvis as next of kin.” He looked up at Ripley. “Is that you?”
“No, sir.”
“Billy Jarvis is the other…victim.” Tippy trembled as she said it. “They brought Ian first. Billy should be arriving any moment.”
“Mr. Justyn is critical, ma’am. I need his next of kin’s consent to do surgery.”
“Ian doesn’t have any family, other than a ten year old son.” Tippy squeaked. “He’s like a son to me, does that count?”
“It has to be a blood relative.”
Ripley stepped forward. “Any of us will take responsibility.”
“That’s not the point.” The doctor said.
“I don’t care what the point is. If Ian needs surgery, do it or you will personally answer to me.” Ripley growled.
“Well, I guess I could…”
“Now!” Ripley snapped.
“Yes, sir.” The doctor stepped back. “We’ll just deal with all the paperwork later.” He was gone in an instant.
“This is an ER, surely all that is taken in to account.” Tippy said.
“It’s also California, Tippy, the sue me capitol of the world.” Saxon put her arm around the woman.
A man in a security guard came over to them “Which one of you is the hired goon?”
“Guess.” Ripley puffed out his chest.
The man jerked his head towards the desk. “Follow me.”
“I’ll be right back.” Ripley told the ladies softly.
“Tippy, what exactly happened?” Saxon had to ask.
“Oh, honey. I’m not really sure. We were sitting by the pool over at our house, having a cup of tea and all of a sudden we heard shots, and glass breaking. We ran over to Ian’s as quick as we could. Billy was floating face down in the pool, Ian was covered in blood with a dead man laying across him and Kellen was standing there with a gun in his hand.”
“Kellen?” Saxon helped Tippy sit down. “Kellen Jackson did this?”
Tippy shook her head. “No. He said he saw Ian and a man fighting, and then Billy joined in, and somehow they all fell over the balcony and before Kellen could do anything the man shot Billy.”
“He shot Billy?”
“Yes.” Tippy was almost breathless. “And Kellen fired at the man before he could shoot Ian. Kellen says the man was aiming for Ian’s head at almost point blank range.”
“But why?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Billy…is Billy alright?” Saxon asked, ashamed she hadn’t asked before.
“I think he will be.” Tippy said. “Colton and Jesse helped Reese pull him from the pool. They gave him mouth to mouth and Colton said it looked like he took the bullet in the shoulder. There was so much blood…”
Ripley came over and knealed before them. “Ladies, they’ve taken Ian to surgery. Someone will be over in a moment to take you up to a private waiting room on the surgical floor.”
“Do you know how he’s doing?” They both practically asked.
He put up his hand. “All I know is that they’ve rushed him to surgery, something about broken ribs puncturing his organs. Now, Mrs. Shores….”
“Tippy,” she tried to smile. “Call me Tippy, darlin’.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ripley nodded. “I need a list of everyone that you called or might come to the hospital. No one gets in or around either Ian or anyone in the family without my say so.”
“Okay.”
“Now here’s my cell phone number. Let me have yours so we can stay in touch.” Ripley handed her a piece of paper.
“Yes, yes of course.” She gave him the number that he programmed immediately into his phone.
“Do not talk to anyone outside the family, but me.”
“What about the doctors?” Saxon asked.
“Check their I.D. of any medical personnel first.” He pointed to his chest. “They’ll all have little badges. Make a mental note of names and faces.”
Tippy nodded and began to make a list.
“Can you tell me if anything in the house is missing?” An officer asked.
Colton and Jesse looked at each other. “Maybe, Ian was pretty systematic. We could tell you if something was out of place.” Colton finally said.
“If that’s the best you can do.” The man said.
“Neither of us lived here officer, but we’ve been around enough to know about the basics.” Jesse wanted to deck the guy for his attitude alone.
“Let’s start with the first floor.” Two officers led the father and son on a meticulous search of the house. The first floor looked as always expected, nothing out of place and not a speck of dust. You couldn’t have guessed there was a party earlier that day, let alone an event that left one dead so far.
Colton walked past Jesse on the stairway landing. As he past, Jesse touched his father’s shoulder. “Does something look different about this painting to you?”
He stepped to the swirls of color, examining it closely. “No.”
Jesse cocked his head. “Are you sure? Something about it just looks odd to me.” He reached to touch it.
“Don’t touch anything!” The cop standing with them bellowed. Jesse snatched his hand back quickly. “You say there’s something odd about it, other than the fact that it’s ugly?”
The officer was given a dirty look in reply. “It’s not worth a fortune Detective, but its worth more donuts than you’ll eat in a year.” Jesse told him.
“I hate donuts.” The man said.
“Yeah, right.” Jesse started to move on after directing the comment toward the man’s waist.
“Wait, son.” Colton stopped him. “What’s odd about it?”
Jesse shrugged. “I don’t know. Something about the light, it just seems different.”
“Looks the same to me.” His father said.
“Could just be I’ve never noticed it with the bright lights coming from upstairs. Ian usually just has the landing lights on.”
“Now that we’ve discussed the gallery display can we move upstairs, please?” The detective moaned.
“Sorry.” Jesse looked at the man. “What did you say your name was again?”
“Balouche.” The man rolled his eyes and grunted.
“I apologize Detective Balouche, but two good friends and my brother were almost murdered in this house tonight. I thought you wanted to know every detail we could come up with.” Jesse looked him in the eyes.
“You watch too much television kid. I doubt light refraction on a really bad paint by number will tell us why a man was shot to death trying to rip the place off.”
“What if this turns out to be what he was after?” Colton asked.
Balouche looked at him. “Unless he changed the position of a light bulb, it sounds like the painting itself hasn’t been touched.”
“Fine.” Jesse stomped up the remaining stairs, Colton and Balouche closely behind.
Balouche took a step in front of them. “Do not touch anything.” He reminded. “The forensics team is still working. Don’t even step on the broken glass. Try to just look around and see if anything's missing.”
“This is the only room you know for sure the guy was in?” Colton asked.
“According to the statement from Kellen Jackson. He saw the man now identified as Blue Richards step out of the closet over there and fire at Justyn from about here. He said Justyn walked over to the glass and waved at him. He saw the perp step from the closet toward the door there, then turn around aim and fire.”
“Can we look in the closet?” Jesse asked.
The detective shrugged. “Just don’t…”
“…touch anything…got it.” Jesse said taking a precarious step toward the open closet door. He turned to his father. “Dad?”
“Something missing?” Balouche asked, hopefully.
Colton turned his head from the position he had taken behind Jesse. “Not missing, but definitely askew.”
Balouche pushed the men aside and looked in the closet, eyes scanning top to bottom. He saw a walk in closet that looked like it had just been cleaned and straightened. He turned to the men. “Blue Richards cleaned the man’s closet then tried to kill him?”
Jesse smiled. “No but it’s definitely been rifled through.” Colton nodded his head.
“You’re kidding?” Balouche said.
Colton pointed to a bureau drawer. “Detective, open that drawer.”
“Why?”
“Just open it. It will prove a point.”
He shook his head, grabbed a pen out of his pocket and slowly pulled a drawer open in the chest. The contents of the drawer were perfect; every sock, every pair of underwear was folded as though still on the store shelf and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Balouche whistled and slid the drawer shut with the pen.
Walking back to the closet, he scanned it again nodding his head. Boxes were piled neatly, but not perfectly. Clothes were hung but not even, and the shoes were matched but looked like they’d just been tossed side by side in a line.
Balouche turned to the men working in the bedroom. “Dust everything in that closet for prints, and I mean everything.”
“Especially that.” Jesse pointed.
He got the man’s attention. “What is it?”
“A jewelry box that belonged to Ian’s Aunt.” Colton said.
“Her jewels were in there?” Balouche’s ears perked up.
Colton laughed. “Nothing expensive. She was an old black woman who raised him. She passed away. I don’t know what the man would want in there, but he definitely went through it.”
“I’d say it was what he was going through just before he realized Ian was home.” Jesse added.
“Why?” Balouche got out his notebook.
“Look at it.” Jesse said. “There’s stuff sticking out of it, and it’s not anywhere near Ian put it.”
“You’re sure?”
“I watched Ian take it down before he went out.” Jesse recalled. “He got something out of it that he wanted to give to Saxon…”
“Saxon Allen?” Balouche clarified.
“Yeah. They went bowling this evening. He told me there was something he wanted her to have.”
“And he got it out of that box?”
“Yes. He took it off the top rack there, put it on the bed, got what he wanted and I put it back for him.” Jesse pointed to the rack above the suits. “See there’s the place where it fits exactly.”
“Have you boys taken shots of the closet?” Balouche asked one of the men. When the man confirmed. “Can we take this box out and examine the contents then?”
When the man nodded, Balouche put on some gloves he was handed. He carefully stepped in the closet and lifted the box taking it over to the bed and opening the lid. “Can you tell me if you notice anything missing?”
Jesse peered into the top. “He didn’t open the top. There’s a little compartment to the back. Push the back of it toward the bottom…” He instructed.
Balouche fumbled a minute, but finally a little bottom panel slid open.
“There. Ian got something wrapped in tissue paper from there. He said his Aunt Hil put it there years ago. He remembered just as he was leaving. He was excited it was still there.”
“It’s empty.” Balouche turned to him. “Must have been all that was in there.”
“No.” Jesse was sure. “I personally picked up some envelopes that were in there. I remember the look on his face. He turned to me and smiled, but Saxon was waiting on him downstairs. He went running and I put everything back for him.”
“You’re positive he put them back in this cubby hole?” Balouche asked.
“No, detective, I’m positive I put them back and shut the drawer myself. Then I put the whole box back on the rack exactly where it goes.”
“Any idea what was in the envelopes?”
“No. Just that Ian was excited about finding the little gift for Saxon that was in there. He said it was something he gave to his Aunt for safe keeping years ago.”
Colton looked at his son. “Detective, do you think this could be connected with what happened in Lost Mountain?”
“Lost Mountain?” Balouche said. “What happened in Lost Mountain?”
“I’m sorry to just leave a message like this, but I guess you heard what happened, and I just don’t think I’ll be in for a few days.” She said into the phone. “He didn’t have any family, so I’ve got to make all the arrangements. Thanks…Bye.”
She hit the end button and bit her lip. “This is a nightmare,” Was all she said out loud. She took a deep breath. She hating piling lies on top of lies, but at this point she had to buy time to save herself.
Looking around her apartment one last time, she threw the duffle bag over her shoulder. She opened her oversized purse and swept the contents of the table in, saving one envelope.
She shook it. “Please, please let this be the right place.” And then stuffed it into her purse with the others.
The police had already been there once. She was shocked to tears but Blue had already warned her. She begged him not to do anything stupid, but he’d gotten himself killed anyway.
He was stupid enough not to know he was being used by them and her. How could she be all that surprised he’d gotten himself killed? Too bad, she really, really liked him.
It might take them awhile to make the connection, but they didn’t know for sure that she knew anything. Unfortunately, she knew all they had to do was connect one dot and she’d be next on their list. The second ‘visit’ from the cops would be her last.
Ella turned off the lights in the apartment and peered out the window to the street below. There was only one place she could go. Hopefully she could get there and stay alive long enough to do the work she was hired to do.
They’d all stumbled into this mess blindly, both sides. She was just supposed to be on the sidelines. It got out of hand. Now there were too many directions she could go with what she knew.
One direction could make her a hero. One direction could make her rich. One direction could make her another one of the corpses that seemed to be piling up. Right now, the direction she wanted to go in would avoid that last one.
She quietly slipped out of her apartment and down the hallway. Looking both ways, she tried to look like she was only strolling along just in case some one was watching. She heard the plunk go down the mail shoot.
“One piece down.” She said in her head.
Hopefully, that would go to the right place and be found in enough time for her to get out of this mess. All she had to do is get all the puzzle pieces in one place. She just had to stay alive until she got them all, until then she would look like one of the bad guys.
She wasn’t, but no one knew that. Okay, so she wasn’t an innocent bystander but sometimes it takes a few crunches to get to the gooey chocolate center. Ella was pretty sure she’d gotten to the center, and she was pretty sure that no one else knew what it was.
It was a simple complicated scam. They thought they were going to take the money and run, leaving a couple of idiots behind with dirty fingers. She’d gotten out of the business, but she’d been trained too well. She had kept quiet and watched from the sidelines and this was one of those cases that took someone from the sidelines to put the puzzle together.
Damn but she was the cat, and it looked like curiosity was going to kill her after all. She should have made the phone call earlier. That’s all she would have had to do, but no she wanted to have it all but wrapped up first. Damn her ego and pride.
The cab pulled up. She stepped out of the shadows in the street and slipped in. Handing the cabbie a fifty and a sheet of paper. “There’s another fifty if you take me to that address and say you took me somewhere else, if you have to say anything at all.”
The man smiled. “For a hundred bucks, lady, you’re a drunk dude who stiffed me.” He turned the meter off and pulled away from the curb.
Ella smiled and sat back in the seat, scrunching down to make it hard to see her from the windows. She ran down what she had to get accomplished in her head as they drove. She knew it wasn’t safe for her to be out in the open. She had no desire to end up like Bambi, Max and Blue.
Bambi and Max were clueless. Bambi had no idea she could identify Bruno. Max was just dumb enough to be seen talking to Ian. Poor Blue, he probably would have been around awhile longer, but he was a dumb pretty boy, unfortunately heavy on the dumb part.
Well, he was dumb enough to fall for her and smart enough to tell her everything. He wasn’t supposed to do that, and they didn’t know he had. Ella wasn’t even sure Blue was smart enough to know she had figured out what was up. She was too good at what she did.
She was also smart enough to know that Bruno and partner weren’t about to leave a loose end. Ella knew that if nothing else, she was a loose end like Bambi, especially now that Blue had gotten himself killed. Maybe the smart thing for her do to was stay put, but she failed Sitting Duck 101.
The cab pulled up to the bus station. Ella slipped out and walked right in. It was practically empty. She told the sleepy surfer dude behind the counter she wanted a ticket for the next bus out of town. She plopped her cash down and slipped the ticket in her pocket.
Immediately walking back out the door, she strolled toward a dark corner. She pulled out her cell phone and checked to make sure there was a signal. She hit a few buttons and paced. She got voice mail.
“It’s Isabella. I’m in deep, buddy, too deep. This is big, bigger than what we thought. If you don’t hear from me in two days, come looking. I can’t say anything else. Just get here. Hopefully, even if I’m dead I’ve managed to get most of the pieces piled in the right place. Just get here and help Ian figure it out.”
After powering off the phone, she sat her duffel bag on the ground and pulled out a mirror and scissors. Within minutes her dark hair was short and punky, almost back to it’s natural color. Scissors and mirror went back in her purse, the cut hairs and the bus ticket went in a paper bag she set on fire and dropped to the ground.
While she watched it burn, she stripped off the top layer of clothes and buried them in the trashcan. She stood back until the bag was pretty much ashes, smoking three cigarettes at once to mask the odor. Spreading the remains with her feet she leaned over to see if anyone was around.
She saw the bus go by and looked at her watch. Yup, that was her bus. She waited for it to load and pull away. When it left for whatever city the dude said it was headed for, Ella stepped out of the alley wearing black jeans and a matching tee instead of the khakis and blue blouse she’d arrived wearing.
Ella ran a hand through her now spiky auburn hair, instead of her identifiable black tresses and headed for the one place Blue had stumbled on that even Bruno didn’t know about. As long as she wasn’t caught, she knew she’d be safe right under everyone’s nose.
David Turner sat stunned in his penthouse suite. The cat purred quietly in his lap as he stroked it, closing its eyes in contentment.
The old man stared at the phone. He was torn. Should he go? Should he stay? He wished he could say that it was the first time in his life that his heart had been crushed and he just didn’t know what to do next. He closed his eyes and prayed silently to “Please God let this be the last.”
He remembered sitting in a hospital room once before thinking that it had all come tumbling down. He remembered staring at the body in the bed and being more paralyzed than the man hooked up to all the wires and tubes. It was the end of it all, and he knew it.
But something else happened. Someone else came along with a lifeline. He feared it. He was so ready for it all to be over, no matter what the consequences. What did happen? What was it that spared him the shame and kept the ball rolling?
“Oh yes…yes.” He said out loud.
The room had very little light. It must have been about this same time of night. David was so much younger then, and so much more worried about the consequences. The accident had been bad enough, but this? How did this happen?
He looked at the once handsome man in the bed, the one now with a face stitched back together like an old quilt. They could fix most of it eventually, but he’d never be the same, look the same. They could afford the best. Things had paid off. They had the money, plenty of money. Now they just didn’t have the handsome leading man. They didn't have anything anymore.
The man would live, but they both knew his fate. He didn’t say much; too much pain, too much in mourning for what was lost. The doctors could fix him, but who would to fix them?
He had to tell him. David had no choice. He had to know. The man’s face was gone, and now he had to be told his wife was gone as well.
The patient moaned. It was almost as if he could read his mind. David smiled bitterly. It had always been like that. It’s what had made them the perfect team. If they could just figure out what to do next, maybe they still could be. Without her was it even possible?
David hadn’t heard the other man come in the room. He barely remembered a small light flooding the gray and then going dark again. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Dave?”
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and focus. David hoped the man could see his weak smile in the dark.
“How’s he doing?” He asked.
David just nodded his head.
“Does he know?”
Turner sighed. “About her?” The following silence answered both their questions.
“I almost didn’t find him. You weren’t in your room and I knew good and well he wasn’t using his real name. Then I remembered…Ernie Newcastle.”
“What better way to hide than to use the name nobody remembers or even knows.”
“Lucille knew all the tricks.”
David whipped his head around and stared him down in the dark. “Shhh!”
“You’re right.” David felt the apologetic pat on his shoulder. “Let’s step back to your room, where we can talk without disturbing him.”
David made sure the bedclothes were snug and pulled tight before they left and walked in silence to the nicer end of the hospital.
“They’re releasing me tomorrow.” David said as they shut his door.
“You should have been released a week ago.”
“Without Lucille here to make sure I stayed…”
The man shook his head. “I don’t understand. Why would she do something like this?”
David sighed and thumped down on the bed. “Jamey and I always used to joke about ‘Whose wife is crazier’. I always thought it was mine hands down, turns out it was his.”
“Are you sure that body is Lucille’s?”
“I’d give anything right now if it wasn’t. If it was my wife, I’d know that everything was under control.”
“You have no doubt?”
“There will always be doubt.” David looked up. “They made me identify her. There was no way to tell from the body, but the jewelry. The jewelry was hers, almost all of it.”
“All of it?”
“It was like she snapped, covered her self in every ring and necklace she ever owned, set fire to the house and then hung herself as the place burned down around her.” David looked at the floor. “It was her body, but the actions? That definitely wasn’t Lucille.”
The man sat down beside David on the bed. “And your wife?”
“Haven’t seen or heard from her, not since the phone call. Lucille said she was handling it. She always took care of the messy stuff.” David stood up and walked to the window, staring out into the dark. “Somewhere out there is my lunatic wife and my baby boy.”
“Maybe once she hears about Lucille she’ll come back.”
Turner almost laughed. “Not a chance. She wasn’t nearly as crazy as we thought. She’s gone, and no one’s going to find her.”
“We’ll find her.” He stood and walked over to where he’s friend forlornly gazed out the window. “I promise you David, some day, some how. We’ll find her.”
David turned around to face him. “It’s too late, the game’s over. This is the end. Without Lucille, the jig is up.”
His friend nodded and walked to a chair in the corner. He started to sit, but froze. He put his fingers to his lips and stood up. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” David scoffed. “Lucille knew it was over. She took the chicken’s way out and left Jamey and I holding the bag.”
“Of course she knew, but you know as well as I do that Lucille would never take the easy way out.” He began to pace the room. “She never did anything, anything, unless it was the means to an end.”
“End is right.” David snorted.
“No.” Herman Elysian smiled. “Every end leads to a beginning, my friend. I’ve got an idea…”
It had come in a three fisted punch. He knew he was falling and for the first time in his life he didn’t care. It had happened so fast and so unexpectedly he was still reeling. The speed at which it all took place was the sucker punch he never saw coming.
The cold zip of a body bag drew his attention. He couldn’t help but stiffen up as the men picked up the body and placed it on another gurney. He watched it wheeled around the house out of sight. He shook his head. How many more body bags would he have to watch roll out of sight?
Reese Shores put his head in his hands and begged for it all to stop. He sat shivering in the cold night air, dressed in a towel on the steps of the balcony. Ralphie, wet and smelling like a dog sat quietly beside him, watching silently as men dressed in blue, men dressed in green and white and graying figures walked all around them.
It was a nightmare. The blood and the questions. The sirens and the questions. The needles and the wires. The condemning faces and the questions. The reporters trying to cross the police tape, the neighbors shouting what happened, and the questions.
Reese stared into the now pink water of the pool. How could something so wonderful turn so quickly into such a bloody mess? Would everything he touched always have such an unhappy ending?
“Thought you might could use these.” A disembodied hand shoved a bundle of clothes under his nose.
He looked up. “Thanks, Jess.”
His brother nodded as Reese stood and pulled on the sweat pants. He started to pull the tee over his head when he noticed the writing. He held it up for his brother to read, “It’s big and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Sorry, dude. I just grabbed something from the drawer.” He apologized.
“Jerk.” Reese mumbled and put it on anyway. He sat back down beside Ralphie as he pulled on the sneakers. “Where’s Dad?”
“He found the cat, she tried to get in the ambulance with Ian. Dad took it over to the house.”
“Ronnie…oh God.” Reese started to panic. “Some one needs to tell Ronnie. He can’t just see this on the television.”
Jesse put his arm around his brother. “Calm down, we’ve already called Susan and Jeremy. They’re gonna go ahead and take him fishing at the crack of dawn, keep him away from anything and everything until we know something for sure.”
“But what if…” Reese started to ask.
“Don’t go there, Reese.” Jesse warned. “The little guy’s been through enough. Ian will pull through. There is no way God gave his son back to him just in time for…”
“Yeah…” Reese looked at the pool water again. “Mom?”
“Went in the ambulance with Ian. Dad and I will stay here until the police finish up. Are they through with you or do you have to go down to the station, too?”
“I have to go down in the morning and sign a statement.” Reese looked back at his brother. “I don’t understand why they carted Kellen off like that.”
“Dude, he’s a former cop. He fired a gun and killed somebody.”
“It was self defense.” Reese insisted.
“But you didn’t see the shots. The only one’s that did can’t verify it was self-defense. He’ll be cleared but until they get it all verified they’ll keep him in custody.”
The brothers were silent, watching the spectacle that had once been peace darting all around them.
“Reese?” Jesse finally asked. “What happened?”
Reese shook his head. “All I know is one minute it was heaven and the next bodies were falling out of the sky.”
“Man…”
“Been happening way too much for me.” Reese choked back the burning in his throat. “Afghanistan…Iraq…the funeral and now this.”
“None of that was your fault.”
“I know, bro, but how many times do I have to be in the right place at the wrong time?”
“Look, everything’s gonna work out. This will all be over with soon and things will get back to normal.”
Reese looked his brother in the eye. “Jesse, things are never going to be normal again.”
Jesse punched his brother as hard as he could in the shoulder. “Dammit, Reese, don’t you do that again! Don’t you go pulling yourself into that weird little ball. I swear Reese I will beat the ever living crap outta you.”
A man dressed in white and green came over to stand in front of them. “Which one of you is Reese?”
“I am.” Reese stood up.
The man read his tee shirt and smirked. “Figures.”
“I’m Reese Shores. Why?”
“He’s asking for you. Won’t let us take him to the hospital without you.”
Reece’s ears weren’t sure they heard correctly, “He’s awake?”
“And won’t talk to anyone but you…follow me.”
In a moment Reese was being helped into the back of an ambulance. The man got in behind him,shut the doors and banged on the windows, “Okay, let’s go…”
Reese lost his balance as the ambulance took off, siren beginning to blare. He looked at Billy, whiter than any human being should be, gauze stuffed into a hole in his shoulder, but smiling into his eyes.
“Reese…”
“Shhh…don’t talk. You’re going to be fine. We’re all gonna be fine.” Reese grabbed Billy’s hand.
“What a weekend…” Billy coughed.
“Yeah, this is one to talk about back home.”
“Reese…”
“Shh…be quiet now, just rest…”
“We’ve given him something for the pain. He’ll be out in a second.” An attendant said.
“No, no…” Billy struggled, “I gotta know…?”
“What? Billy, what?”
Billy’s eyes started to flutter, falling into the sedative drip. He slurred but Reese understood him fully, “Who the hell is Darla Hutton?”
She wished she had brought the baseball bat after all. No one seemed to recognize her, and no one cared. It had taken her an hour to just get from the parking lot to the Emergency Room entrance itself.
Fortunately the one person who did recognize her was that bulldozer of a guy from “Open Fields”. He stood in front of her and pushed through to the doors. Cops were lined across the entrance arm in arm to keep the pandemonium from breaking inside.
“No one gets through.” The cop stared down the bulldozer. The bulldozer huffed. “Sorry.”
She peered around him and pulled down the dark glasses, showing off her red, bloodshot eyes. The cop recognized her. It took him a second but he put two and two together. She heard him say clearly but softly. “Let her through.”
A small opening was made. She felt herself being shoved toward it. She grabbed the bulldozer’s hand. “Him, too.”
“Just you ma’am.” The cop said.
“He’s my brother.” She lied. “We’re like his family.”
The cop took a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” They popped through the line of cops and found themselves standing inside in ER.
“You didn’t have to do that, Ms. Allen.” The bulldozer said.
“I’d still be in the parking lot if it weren’t for you.” She said. “I know you…from…”
“Yes, ma’am. Ripley, Ripley Gunther.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Jeremy Tyson.” He said. “He told me what happened.”
“Ronnie.” Saxon blurted out. “Have they told Ronnie?”
Ripley shook his head. “No ma’am. They won’t say anything, sticking with the plan.”
“What plan?”
“At sun up, Mr. Tyson gets the boys on a boat away from everything. As soon as they know something definite they’ll come to shore.”
“He’s been through so much.” Saxon looked around to see if she could get some information.
“They’re worried ma’am. Kellen’s downtown, they asked me to keep Mr. Justyn safe.”
“Safe?”
“Some one tried to kill him, ma’am. I’m to stay as close as possible until we know what happened.”
Saxon nodded her head. A nurse came up to them. “Miss Allen, come this way.” The duo started to follow, but the nurse stopped. “Not him.”
“He’s Ian’s bodyguard.” Saxon insisted.
The nurse looked Ripley up and down. “Not doin’ a very good job so far.”
“I was on a coffee break.” He sneared. “It won’t happen again.”
“Whatever.” She turned and headed into the ER. “Follow me.”
They were ushered through a maze of doors and hallways. Finally Saxon heard her name called.
“Tippy?” She said softly as the women embraced. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, honey, I don’t know.” She dabbed her eyes with Kleenex. “He’s alive or was before they left me alone in the ambulance and took off with him.”
Saxon grabbed Tippy’s hand. “Tippy this is Ripley. Jeremy called him, to keep an eye on things.”
“Oh thanks, honey.” Tippy took Ripley’s hand and squeezed it.
“Mr. Tyson said to tell you the boys are asleep.”
She nodded. “I just talked to Susan. She said Jeremy was trying to get hold of somebody. Glad you came.”
“Mr. Justyn is a nice man.” Ripley smiled. “I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Oh God…” Tippy plopped in a chair. “I don’t even want to think about that. Why would anyone do this?”
“Excuse me…” a man in scrubs holding a clipboard said. “I’m looking for Ian Justyn’s family.”
Tippy stood and grabbed Saxon’s hand. “We’re his family.”
He looked at the paperwork. “Mr. Justyn’s insurance lists a William Jarvis as next of kin.” He looked up at Ripley. “Is that you?”
“No, sir.”
“Billy Jarvis is the other…victim.” Tippy trembled as she said it. “They brought Ian first. Billy should be arriving any moment.”
“Mr. Justyn is critical, ma’am. I need his next of kin’s consent to do surgery.”
“Ian doesn’t have any family, other than a ten year old son.” Tippy squeaked. “He’s like a son to me, does that count?”
“It has to be a blood relative.”
Ripley stepped forward. “Any of us will take responsibility.”
“That’s not the point.” The doctor said.
“I don’t care what the point is. If Ian needs surgery, do it or you will personally answer to me.” Ripley growled.
“Well, I guess I could…”
“Now!” Ripley snapped.
“Yes, sir.” The doctor stepped back. “We’ll just deal with all the paperwork later.” He was gone in an instant.
“This is an ER, surely all that is taken in to account.” Tippy said.
“It’s also California, Tippy, the sue me capitol of the world.” Saxon put her arm around the woman.
A man in a security guard came over to them “Which one of you is the hired goon?”
“Guess.” Ripley puffed out his chest.
The man jerked his head towards the desk. “Follow me.”
“I’ll be right back.” Ripley told the ladies softly.
“Tippy, what exactly happened?” Saxon had to ask.
“Oh, honey. I’m not really sure. We were sitting by the pool over at our house, having a cup of tea and all of a sudden we heard shots, and glass breaking. We ran over to Ian’s as quick as we could. Billy was floating face down in the pool, Ian was covered in blood with a dead man laying across him and Kellen was standing there with a gun in his hand.”
“Kellen?” Saxon helped Tippy sit down. “Kellen Jackson did this?”
Tippy shook her head. “No. He said he saw Ian and a man fighting, and then Billy joined in, and somehow they all fell over the balcony and before Kellen could do anything the man shot Billy.”
“He shot Billy?”
“Yes.” Tippy was almost breathless. “And Kellen fired at the man before he could shoot Ian. Kellen says the man was aiming for Ian’s head at almost point blank range.”
“But why?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Billy…is Billy alright?” Saxon asked, ashamed she hadn’t asked before.
“I think he will be.” Tippy said. “Colton and Jesse helped Reese pull him from the pool. They gave him mouth to mouth and Colton said it looked like he took the bullet in the shoulder. There was so much blood…”
Ripley came over and knealed before them. “Ladies, they’ve taken Ian to surgery. Someone will be over in a moment to take you up to a private waiting room on the surgical floor.”
“Do you know how he’s doing?” They both practically asked.
He put up his hand. “All I know is that they’ve rushed him to surgery, something about broken ribs puncturing his organs. Now, Mrs. Shores….”
“Tippy,” she tried to smile. “Call me Tippy, darlin’.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ripley nodded. “I need a list of everyone that you called or might come to the hospital. No one gets in or around either Ian or anyone in the family without my say so.”
“Okay.”
“Now here’s my cell phone number. Let me have yours so we can stay in touch.” Ripley handed her a piece of paper.
“Yes, yes of course.” She gave him the number that he programmed immediately into his phone.
“Do not talk to anyone outside the family, but me.”
“What about the doctors?” Saxon asked.
“Check their I.D. of any medical personnel first.” He pointed to his chest. “They’ll all have little badges. Make a mental note of names and faces.”
Tippy nodded and began to make a list.
“Can you tell me if anything in the house is missing?” An officer asked.
Colton and Jesse looked at each other. “Maybe, Ian was pretty systematic. We could tell you if something was out of place.” Colton finally said.
“If that’s the best you can do.” The man said.
“Neither of us lived here officer, but we’ve been around enough to know about the basics.” Jesse wanted to deck the guy for his attitude alone.
“Let’s start with the first floor.” Two officers led the father and son on a meticulous search of the house. The first floor looked as always expected, nothing out of place and not a speck of dust. You couldn’t have guessed there was a party earlier that day, let alone an event that left one dead so far.
Colton walked past Jesse on the stairway landing. As he past, Jesse touched his father’s shoulder. “Does something look different about this painting to you?”
He stepped to the swirls of color, examining it closely. “No.”
Jesse cocked his head. “Are you sure? Something about it just looks odd to me.” He reached to touch it.
“Don’t touch anything!” The cop standing with them bellowed. Jesse snatched his hand back quickly. “You say there’s something odd about it, other than the fact that it’s ugly?”
The officer was given a dirty look in reply. “It’s not worth a fortune Detective, but its worth more donuts than you’ll eat in a year.” Jesse told him.
“I hate donuts.” The man said.
“Yeah, right.” Jesse started to move on after directing the comment toward the man’s waist.
“Wait, son.” Colton stopped him. “What’s odd about it?”
Jesse shrugged. “I don’t know. Something about the light, it just seems different.”
“Looks the same to me.” His father said.
“Could just be I’ve never noticed it with the bright lights coming from upstairs. Ian usually just has the landing lights on.”
“Now that we’ve discussed the gallery display can we move upstairs, please?” The detective moaned.
“Sorry.” Jesse looked at the man. “What did you say your name was again?”
“Balouche.” The man rolled his eyes and grunted.
“I apologize Detective Balouche, but two good friends and my brother were almost murdered in this house tonight. I thought you wanted to know every detail we could come up with.” Jesse looked him in the eyes.
“You watch too much television kid. I doubt light refraction on a really bad paint by number will tell us why a man was shot to death trying to rip the place off.”
“What if this turns out to be what he was after?” Colton asked.
Balouche looked at him. “Unless he changed the position of a light bulb, it sounds like the painting itself hasn’t been touched.”
“Fine.” Jesse stomped up the remaining stairs, Colton and Balouche closely behind.
Balouche took a step in front of them. “Do not touch anything.” He reminded. “The forensics team is still working. Don’t even step on the broken glass. Try to just look around and see if anything's missing.”
“This is the only room you know for sure the guy was in?” Colton asked.
“According to the statement from Kellen Jackson. He saw the man now identified as Blue Richards step out of the closet over there and fire at Justyn from about here. He said Justyn walked over to the glass and waved at him. He saw the perp step from the closet toward the door there, then turn around aim and fire.”
“Can we look in the closet?” Jesse asked.
The detective shrugged. “Just don’t…”
“…touch anything…got it.” Jesse said taking a precarious step toward the open closet door. He turned to his father. “Dad?”
“Something missing?” Balouche asked, hopefully.
Colton turned his head from the position he had taken behind Jesse. “Not missing, but definitely askew.”
Balouche pushed the men aside and looked in the closet, eyes scanning top to bottom. He saw a walk in closet that looked like it had just been cleaned and straightened. He turned to the men. “Blue Richards cleaned the man’s closet then tried to kill him?”
Jesse smiled. “No but it’s definitely been rifled through.” Colton nodded his head.
“You’re kidding?” Balouche said.
Colton pointed to a bureau drawer. “Detective, open that drawer.”
“Why?”
“Just open it. It will prove a point.”
He shook his head, grabbed a pen out of his pocket and slowly pulled a drawer open in the chest. The contents of the drawer were perfect; every sock, every pair of underwear was folded as though still on the store shelf and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Balouche whistled and slid the drawer shut with the pen.
Walking back to the closet, he scanned it again nodding his head. Boxes were piled neatly, but not perfectly. Clothes were hung but not even, and the shoes were matched but looked like they’d just been tossed side by side in a line.
Balouche turned to the men working in the bedroom. “Dust everything in that closet for prints, and I mean everything.”
“Especially that.” Jesse pointed.
He got the man’s attention. “What is it?”
“A jewelry box that belonged to Ian’s Aunt.” Colton said.
“Her jewels were in there?” Balouche’s ears perked up.
Colton laughed. “Nothing expensive. She was an old black woman who raised him. She passed away. I don’t know what the man would want in there, but he definitely went through it.”
“I’d say it was what he was going through just before he realized Ian was home.” Jesse added.
“Why?” Balouche got out his notebook.
“Look at it.” Jesse said. “There’s stuff sticking out of it, and it’s not anywhere near Ian put it.”
“You’re sure?”
“I watched Ian take it down before he went out.” Jesse recalled. “He got something out of it that he wanted to give to Saxon…”
“Saxon Allen?” Balouche clarified.
“Yeah. They went bowling this evening. He told me there was something he wanted her to have.”
“And he got it out of that box?”
“Yes. He took it off the top rack there, put it on the bed, got what he wanted and I put it back for him.” Jesse pointed to the rack above the suits. “See there’s the place where it fits exactly.”
“Have you boys taken shots of the closet?” Balouche asked one of the men. When the man confirmed. “Can we take this box out and examine the contents then?”
When the man nodded, Balouche put on some gloves he was handed. He carefully stepped in the closet and lifted the box taking it over to the bed and opening the lid. “Can you tell me if you notice anything missing?”
Jesse peered into the top. “He didn’t open the top. There’s a little compartment to the back. Push the back of it toward the bottom…” He instructed.
Balouche fumbled a minute, but finally a little bottom panel slid open.
“There. Ian got something wrapped in tissue paper from there. He said his Aunt Hil put it there years ago. He remembered just as he was leaving. He was excited it was still there.”
“It’s empty.” Balouche turned to him. “Must have been all that was in there.”
“No.” Jesse was sure. “I personally picked up some envelopes that were in there. I remember the look on his face. He turned to me and smiled, but Saxon was waiting on him downstairs. He went running and I put everything back for him.”
“You’re positive he put them back in this cubby hole?” Balouche asked.
“No, detective, I’m positive I put them back and shut the drawer myself. Then I put the whole box back on the rack exactly where it goes.”
“Any idea what was in the envelopes?”
“No. Just that Ian was excited about finding the little gift for Saxon that was in there. He said it was something he gave to his Aunt for safe keeping years ago.”
Colton looked at his son. “Detective, do you think this could be connected with what happened in Lost Mountain?”
“Lost Mountain?” Balouche said. “What happened in Lost Mountain?”
“I’m sorry to just leave a message like this, but I guess you heard what happened, and I just don’t think I’ll be in for a few days.” She said into the phone. “He didn’t have any family, so I’ve got to make all the arrangements. Thanks…Bye.”
She hit the end button and bit her lip. “This is a nightmare,” Was all she said out loud. She took a deep breath. She hating piling lies on top of lies, but at this point she had to buy time to save herself.
Looking around her apartment one last time, she threw the duffle bag over her shoulder. She opened her oversized purse and swept the contents of the table in, saving one envelope.
She shook it. “Please, please let this be the right place.” And then stuffed it into her purse with the others.
The police had already been there once. She was shocked to tears but Blue had already warned her. She begged him not to do anything stupid, but he’d gotten himself killed anyway.
He was stupid enough not to know he was being used by them and her. How could she be all that surprised he’d gotten himself killed? Too bad, she really, really liked him.
It might take them awhile to make the connection, but they didn’t know for sure that she knew anything. Unfortunately, she knew all they had to do was connect one dot and she’d be next on their list. The second ‘visit’ from the cops would be her last.
Ella turned off the lights in the apartment and peered out the window to the street below. There was only one place she could go. Hopefully she could get there and stay alive long enough to do the work she was hired to do.
They’d all stumbled into this mess blindly, both sides. She was just supposed to be on the sidelines. It got out of hand. Now there were too many directions she could go with what she knew.
One direction could make her a hero. One direction could make her rich. One direction could make her another one of the corpses that seemed to be piling up. Right now, the direction she wanted to go in would avoid that last one.
She quietly slipped out of her apartment and down the hallway. Looking both ways, she tried to look like she was only strolling along just in case some one was watching. She heard the plunk go down the mail shoot.
“One piece down.” She said in her head.
Hopefully, that would go to the right place and be found in enough time for her to get out of this mess. All she had to do is get all the puzzle pieces in one place. She just had to stay alive until she got them all, until then she would look like one of the bad guys.
She wasn’t, but no one knew that. Okay, so she wasn’t an innocent bystander but sometimes it takes a few crunches to get to the gooey chocolate center. Ella was pretty sure she’d gotten to the center, and she was pretty sure that no one else knew what it was.
It was a simple complicated scam. They thought they were going to take the money and run, leaving a couple of idiots behind with dirty fingers. She’d gotten out of the business, but she’d been trained too well. She had kept quiet and watched from the sidelines and this was one of those cases that took someone from the sidelines to put the puzzle together.
Damn but she was the cat, and it looked like curiosity was going to kill her after all. She should have made the phone call earlier. That’s all she would have had to do, but no she wanted to have it all but wrapped up first. Damn her ego and pride.
The cab pulled up. She stepped out of the shadows in the street and slipped in. Handing the cabbie a fifty and a sheet of paper. “There’s another fifty if you take me to that address and say you took me somewhere else, if you have to say anything at all.”
The man smiled. “For a hundred bucks, lady, you’re a drunk dude who stiffed me.” He turned the meter off and pulled away from the curb.
Ella smiled and sat back in the seat, scrunching down to make it hard to see her from the windows. She ran down what she had to get accomplished in her head as they drove. She knew it wasn’t safe for her to be out in the open. She had no desire to end up like Bambi, Max and Blue.
Bambi and Max were clueless. Bambi had no idea she could identify Bruno. Max was just dumb enough to be seen talking to Ian. Poor Blue, he probably would have been around awhile longer, but he was a dumb pretty boy, unfortunately heavy on the dumb part.
Well, he was dumb enough to fall for her and smart enough to tell her everything. He wasn’t supposed to do that, and they didn’t know he had. Ella wasn’t even sure Blue was smart enough to know she had figured out what was up. She was too good at what she did.
She was also smart enough to know that Bruno and partner weren’t about to leave a loose end. Ella knew that if nothing else, she was a loose end like Bambi, especially now that Blue had gotten himself killed. Maybe the smart thing for her do to was stay put, but she failed Sitting Duck 101.
The cab pulled up to the bus station. Ella slipped out and walked right in. It was practically empty. She told the sleepy surfer dude behind the counter she wanted a ticket for the next bus out of town. She plopped her cash down and slipped the ticket in her pocket.
Immediately walking back out the door, she strolled toward a dark corner. She pulled out her cell phone and checked to make sure there was a signal. She hit a few buttons and paced. She got voice mail.
“It’s Isabella. I’m in deep, buddy, too deep. This is big, bigger than what we thought. If you don’t hear from me in two days, come looking. I can’t say anything else. Just get here. Hopefully, even if I’m dead I’ve managed to get most of the pieces piled in the right place. Just get here and help Ian figure it out.”
After powering off the phone, she sat her duffel bag on the ground and pulled out a mirror and scissors. Within minutes her dark hair was short and punky, almost back to it’s natural color. Scissors and mirror went back in her purse, the cut hairs and the bus ticket went in a paper bag she set on fire and dropped to the ground.
While she watched it burn, she stripped off the top layer of clothes and buried them in the trashcan. She stood back until the bag was pretty much ashes, smoking three cigarettes at once to mask the odor. Spreading the remains with her feet she leaned over to see if anyone was around.
She saw the bus go by and looked at her watch. Yup, that was her bus. She waited for it to load and pull away. When it left for whatever city the dude said it was headed for, Ella stepped out of the alley wearing black jeans and a matching tee instead of the khakis and blue blouse she’d arrived wearing.
Ella ran a hand through her now spiky auburn hair, instead of her identifiable black tresses and headed for the one place Blue had stumbled on that even Bruno didn’t know about. As long as she wasn’t caught, she knew she’d be safe right under everyone’s nose.
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