Seven Wakings Read online

“We need to access to her private life, now.” Something hits me. I look to Lynnette. “Get Joe.”

  She nods and grabs her keys. “Kids… do you want to ride along?”

  “They’ll stay with me,” I say, the possessiveness evident in my voice.

  Lynette, caught off guard, pulls her purse tight on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to... I’m sorry.” Her words trail off, float with her out the door.

  Kate sneezes again. “I think I’m allergic to cats.”

  “How could we not know this?” I wonder what else they’ll discover about themselves after I’m gone: a latent talent, a fondness for travel, a fear of dolphins.

  “I guess I’ve never hung out with anybody who had cats,” she adds.

  While Lynette is gone, I ask the kids to sit by me. It’s time for a talk. I tell them: How much I love them, how sorry I am that all of this is happening, what I hope for their futures, how they will need to choose the people in their lives carefully— because they will become them, that they should live by a code of conduct that lives in their core, that I pray that they will stay as closely connected in adulthood as they are now, and finally, that we will always be together even if the veil between heaven and earth masks the truth of that.

  But nothing I can say will make any of this easier.

  There’s thumping on the stairs.

  Lynette and Joe knock, then enter.

  Joe looks at me, then back to Lynette. “Joe Montgomery. You are?” He crosses the room to shake my hand.

  God, he looks dashing in a suit. “I’m Emma. Emma James.”

  Joe laughs, looks to Lynette, then back to me. “I seem to remember you differently.”

  I smell his cologne— Jean Paul Gaultier— it arouses yesterday’s dalliances. “Yes. Well…things change.”

  “I’m sorry… why am I here, exactly?” He fiddles with a cufflink.

  “Emma will clarify everything for you.” Lynette puts her hand on his shoulder. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

  I address the kids. “Would you guys mind leaving us alone? I need to speak to Joe in private for a minute.” I try to gather my thoughts.

  Mac walks up to Joe, squints, and says, “You don’t look like a Greek God to me.”

  “Mac!” Kate sneezes, and yanks him toward the door.

  What? Mac trips on the threshold.

  Lynette follows them out and pulls the door closed.

  Normally I would be mortified by Mac’s comments, but there’s so much more to be concerned with. I wriggle in bed. “Joe, I have some disconcerting information about your wife.”

  “My wife?”

  “She’s involved in something… criminal.”

  He sits down. “How could you know anything about Vanessa?”

  “Do you remember when I… I mean, Vanessa was called out to the driveway yesterday?”

  He nods.

  “The men from the church had a folder with them. It had the pictures, names, and addresses of three children inside. The men were looking for approval from your wife to abduct one of them.”

  He stands up, turns away. “Vanessa has some problems but…”

  “I wouldn’t normally be so direct, but five girls with similar make-ups are already missing. We believe that they want six girls for a ceremony that’s taking place on the 23rd. Does that date mean anything to you?”

  He looks dumbfounded. “That’s Richard’s sixtieth birthday.”

  They’re a gift for him. I look at Joe. “Do you know that Mr. Gilchrist likes young girls?”

  “No. I mean… I don’t really know him.” He seems to search his mind.

  My stomach growls. “What’s his relationship like with Vanessa? Are they close?”

  He puts his hands on his head like he’s trying to push in this information. “I don’t really know how to answer that. I’ve never seen them together. But, she was removed from his last will.”

  The girls are her ticket back in.

  “I understand how overwhelming this must be, but the only thing that matters is the safety of the children. Imagine what they— and their families— are going through.”

  “Yes… of course.” He seems shell-shocked.

  “Do you have any idea where she could be keeping these kids?”

  “They have too many properties to count.” Joe is far away, seemingly lost in how he could have missed this.

  “The place we’re looking for is probably within twenty-five miles of the city. Even if the kids were drugged, I don’t think they’d go much further. Otherwise, they’d just take kids from a different town.”

  The kids and Lynette burst in. “A cop is here!”

  “What? Who?” I wave them over to help me sit up again; my weight has me submerged in pillows.

  “It’s the Chief,” Mac says. He crawls behind me again, and braces his feet on my back. Lynette and Kate grab my arms; pull me forward. Mac runs to get firmer cushions off the loveseat. They prop me up as best they can. Joe is struck silent.

  “Did he see you come up here?” I straighten my bedding.

  “No. He’s downstairs talking to the store-owner.” Lynette says.

  Suddenly there’s thumping on the stairs.

  “You all need to disappear, fast and quiet.” I click off the fan so they’ll be able to overhear my conversation.

  They look around.

  “Get in the bathtub and don’t move a muscle,” I say to the four of them. There’s a beat when none of them move. “Now!!!”

  The kids grab Joe and rush to the bathroom. They all squat in the tub and mask themselves with a tabby-cat shower curtain.

  There’s a knock at the door.

  “Ms. Nelson, this is the Baltimore Police. I’d like to ask you a few questions.” Chief Lewis’ voice booms through the door.

  “Come in,” I say as loud as this voice can. “And shut the door behind you.” I don’t want Sharon’s cats to escape.

  He makes his way into the room, looks around.

  “What do you want?” I say, deciding to act cantankerous— assume that’s what Sharon’s personality would be. That’s what I would be if I had to live this life.

  “We’re investigating the murder of a fellow comrade.” He opens a notepad. “One Miss Emma James. You’re aware that she was killed right outside this location?”

  “So I’ve been told.” I blot my forehead and neck. “Aren’t you a little late? That happened over a week ago.”

  “I’m double-checking officer Dupree’s initial report. The victim was also a friend of mine.” Chief Lewis clicks on a pen. “Is it true that you didn’t witness her murder?”

  He just called my shooting a murder. The chief doesn’t use that term unless he has evidence that it wasn’t random. I wonder what he’s found. I give a nebulous response. “Does it look like I give a damn about what goes on outside these walls?” I grab the Ho-Ho I’ve been craving and shove the whole thing in my mouth.

  A thud comes from the bathroom. The Chief notices.

  I make up a lame excuse. “We get rats the size of groundhogs,” I say with my mouth full. “Drives my cats crazy.” I turn on the TV, blast CNN.

  He looks around, starts to scratch his neck. “But in a message your attendant left, she said that she witnessed the shooting at this address. I assume she was with you at the time.”

  “She was outside, on the stairs.”

  “So you didn’t actually see anything?” He writes something on a pad.

  “Nothing I can think of right now.” I peel the wrapper off a Twinkie. My cells are completely addicted to sugar. If I could shoot the food into my veins, I would.

  “If you come up with anything, give me a call.” Chief Lewis hands me a card. The phone number and e-mail address are his personal numbers. He never gives them out. I feel honored that he cared enough about me to let my case invade his personal life.

  I can’t help myself. “Why would someone want her dead?”

  “Even if I knew, I’m not
able to share that information.”

  “C’mon, who am I going to tell?”

  He puts his hand on my shoulder. “If you’re worried for your safety, don’t be. I’m sure Ms. James was a target.” He turns to leave.

  “Why would she be a target?”

  Without looking back he says, “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

  After he leaves, I stare at the TV, momentarily captivated by how the world will go on— change— after me. I feel like my existence doesn’t matter.

  Turning off the TV, I’m hijacked by the silence. Makes me feel completely alone. The isolation of this life is all consuming. I wonder how Sharon got this way; how the people that surrounded her let her go.

  The shower curtain slides on the rod. Lynette, Joe, and the kids appear.

  “Nice uptake with the rat comment,” Mac says.

  “What happened in there?” I ask, and rip open a pack of cinnamon rolls with my teeth; making no apologies for starving.

  “Charlie horse,” Lynette says, massaging her calf.

  I address Joe, “That was the Police Chief at the station where I consult.” I pause. “Consulted.”

  The past tense of the word hangs in the air, a deadly silence.

  He laughs “Yes. I know who he is.”

  He’s probably seen him in the paper.

  Lynette’s phone rings.

  “It’s Archer.” She answers and we watch the color drain from her face. “Another girl is missing.”

  Joe looks at me, noticeably conflicted. “I’ll send you the addresses within an hour.”

  “I’m sorry we have to get you involved with this.” I start flashing hot, wonder if it’s the sugar hitting my veins.

  Joe grabs his jacket and heads out the door.

  “I’m going to meet Archer.” Lynette grabs her purse. “I’ll try not to be gone too long.”

  I feel trapped. “And I’m going to stay here… and feel completely useless.”

  “Ah, Ah,” Lynette says. “If you’re forced into confinement, there must be something you can only discover by ‘being still,’ as the Buddhists say.”

  I love, and hate, that she’s probably right. “Oh, I forgot to tell Chief Lewis,” I say to Lynette. “Jennie saw something being tossed into the sewer across the street. Can you tell Archer to take a look around?”

  Lynette nods, reaches for the door. “I’ll get some Claritin while I’m out.”

  Kate pushes a Kleenex into each nostril, and leaves them there. “That would be great.”

  “Look,” Mac says, and holds up a game of chess.

  I watch Lynette leave, then focus on the kids. “Oh Mac, I haven’t played in years. Besides, we should all do something together.”

  “You guys play. I’ll clean out the fridge. It’s obviously driving Lynette crazy. ” Kate says.

  I wink at her, pleased by her compassion. “Alright Mac, you’re going to have to remind me of the rules of chess.”

  He moves the grocery bags to the kitchen then pulls the table forward. Setting up the game he says, “I’ve got an idea.” He rummages through Sharon’s drawers. Not finding what he wants Mac moves around the apartment. He comes back with a Sharpie, tape, and tissue.

  “This ought to be interesting,” I say.

  Mac rips the Kleenex into small pieces, writes something on each one and tapes them to each chess piece. His players are black, mine white. I think he’s going to label each game piece with their chess name: king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, and pawn. Instead, the black ones read: Richard, Vanessa, Kim, Mike, Missionary Guy #1 and #2, Anna, kid-2, kid 3, kid 4, kid 5, and kid 6. The white ones are: Mom, Lynette, Joe, Archer, Chief Lewis, Kate, Mac, and Rico.

  His name is the only one taped to a white pawn.

  “I don’t like where you’re headed with this.”

  “Let’s just play.” He rubs his hands together.

  After he explains the rules, I move pieces forward until I’m forced to move Mac. Quickly he is taken, and I gather several of the black pawns.

  “See,” he says.

  I raise an eyebrow. “I thought this was just a game.”

  We play for over an hour, until I checkmate his king. Even though he lost, Mac looks triumphant. He still thinks the fastest way to find the missing kids is if we use him as a pawn.

  “They’ve already got six kids. Your ‘value’ just decreased significantly.”

  “Let me try.” Kate sits next to the bed. She’s wearing a green knitted cap. One I didn’t buy. I wonder how many new things she’ll get in her lifetime that I’ll never see.

  “Okay. But, I won’t lose intentionally, like I did with Mom.” He smiles at me.

  I watch them play until the tangerine sky turns to black.

  There’s a bark at the door. Kate goes to it, looks through the peephole, and opens the door. Rico bounds in. The cats scatter.

  “Hey!” I reach out my hand.

  Lynette follows him in. “I thought you’d like to see him. I picked up some food, after my meeting with Archer.”

  “What did you find out?” I pet Rico.

  “This last child was reported missing from Woodcrest. Just where you said it would happen. Same make-up.” Lynette unpacks a picnic basket of mixed fruit, gourmet cheeses, French bread, crackers, yogurt, nuts, and salami onto the card table.

  “You brought meat?” I ask.

  “I’m adjusting for your carnivores.” She hands Kate a box of Claritin.

  “What else did Archer say?”

  “The girls don’t seem to be linked in any way. They each attended different schools, were members of different churches, and didn’t play on any of the same sports teams. But, I think we know what’s happening in four days… it’s Richard Gilchrist’s birthday.”

  “That’s what Joe said.” I feel sick. “The girls are a birthday present for him.”

  “That was Archer’s theory too.” Lynette opens a bag of sesame crackers.

  “He’s like sixty? That’s disgusting.” Kate puts the Claritin on her tongue, swallows it without water.

  I rub my temples. “If he wants innocent girls, nothing will happen to them until his birthday. Vanessa won’t allow it.”

  “Something has already happened to them. Can you imagine how terrified they are?” Lynette says.

  “I didn’t mean to downplay that.” I touch Mac’s hair. “I just meant no physical harm will be done. Also, whoever’s holding them doesn’t want to deal with six terrified children. Most likely, they’re heavily sedated.”

  “Is that what came to you as you were playing chess?” Lynette asks.

  “No. Nothing came to me.” I don’t tell her about the point Mac was trying to make.

  Lynette’s phone rings. “It’s Joe. He wants to talk to you.”

  I put the phone on speaker. “What did you find?”

  Lynette listens intently.

  “The Gilchrists own thirteen properties in Baltimore City and the surrounding metropolitan area: eight commercial and five residential.”

  “I don’t think they’d be held at a commercial property.” I look to Lynette, she agrees. “It’s too public. Too many eyes and ears around.”

  “The residential ones do seem more likely,” Joe says. Reality weighs in his voice.

  He tells us about each of the houses: “One is Richard Gilchrist’s primary residence, one is a vacation/entertainment property, and three are investment properties.”

  Lynette writes down the addresses.

  Once she has everything, I thank Joe. “I appreciate you doing this. We’ll pass the information on to our contact at the police department.”

  After we hang up I look at the clock. Its 9:45 pm. Lynette’s phone rings again.

  “Hi Honey.” She mouths, it’s Lou. “Yes, I know it’s a school night. I know… they shouldn’t miss any more days.”

  The kids rush to my bed.

  “There’s no way we’re going to school tomorrow,” Mac says.

 
; We all look to Lynette.

  “I just don’t think they’re ready for…” She listens to what he has to say. “Yes, I know, sticking with a normal routine is best. We’ll be home soon.” She hangs up, looks at us.

  “No we won’t!” Mac sits at the foot of my bed. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “No kidding! We don’t even know how much longer Mom will be here.” Kate’s eyes are watering. I don’t think it’s allergies. She plops down on a chair and crosses her arms.

  Funny how kids can seem so grown up one minute, and young the next.

  “Let’s not start snapping at each other. We’re all in a difficult situation. ” I take a deep breath, try to figure out what’s best.

  Lynette runs her hands through her hair. “I don’t have any intention of making you guys go to school, but Lou has to do what he thinks is best for you— without knowing everything that’s going on. It is getting late though Em, what should we do?” I can see that she’s at the end of her rope, a rare sight. Every negative thing I’ve thought or said drapes me in guilt. “I think we all need a good night’s sleep.”

  “We don’t even normally go to bed for another hour!” Mac pleads with me.

  “Lou wants to be with you. I don’t think it’s too much for him to ask.” I go quiet. “It’ll be a favor to me. I’ve been in this body too long. I’m ready to wake up as someone who’s more… mobile.”

  Kate smiles. “Now that logic, I understand.” She gets up and gives me a hug. “Say goodnight to Mom, Mac.”

  “Fine, but I’d rather stay here, with you.” He lies down at my feet.

  I laugh. “Can you imagine what Sharon would think if she woke up with you in her bed?”

  Mac smiles. “She’d probably be happy to have company.” He goes to the kitchen.

  Kate follows suit.

  Lynette fills my water glass, drapes a blanket over the foot of my bed, and turns out the lights; except the one next to my bed. She gives my forearm a squeeze. “I hate that this is happening. All of this.”

  “Me too.” I watch as the kids put healthy food in the fridge.

  Lynette sits on the side of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about what your mother said about Nirvana.”

  Only a therapist would continue to analyze a single word. “And?”

  “In Buddhism, if you reject Nirvana, you can be described as a Bodhisattva.”