Seven Wakings Page 21

  In the chaos I actually forgot about that. “I honestly don’t know. Let’s go find out together.”

  We enter the dining hall as dessert plates are being cleared, and head back to my table I’m stopped short by a late arrival at our table.

  It’s Mike.

  I can’t imagine how confused he must be. One minute he was laying down for a massage and the next he was waking up in the hospital with a bullet wound in his leg. And what did he do for pants, if he left the hospital in the only clothes he had on?

  Mike glances at Archer and stands as I approach the table. He buttons his suit jacket. “Happy Birthday Mr. Gilchrist. I’m honored to be here.” He says honored like ah-ned.

  “I’m glad you could make it.” I gesture for him to be seated. “Especially under the circumstances.”

  He cocks his head sideway. “Sir?”

  Richard wouldn’t know about his bullet wound. “I just meant that it must be hard to get away from your job.” I massage my jaw. It doesn’t feel as broken as my nether region.

  A waiter brings an extra chair to the table; I tell him to put it between Mike and me.

  Chief Lewis whispers something to Vanessa, who then says, “Daddy, do you really think it’s a good idea to have Archer here? You know he can’t be trusted.”

  I try to think on my feet. “Mike, you keep an eye on him. If he so much as looks in the wrong direction, you have my full permission to kill him.”

  Archer glances at me. He knows Mike won’t do anything to him.

  “I don’t know, Daddy. I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “Your feelings aren’t my problem.” I look around the table. “Tell me… which one of you killed Emma James?”

  Mike leans forward.

  “She was going to ruin everything, Daddy.” Kim looks at me. “I did it for you.”

  It was Kim?! “You did it?” I didn’t think she could kill a gnat.

  “I had to, she was on to us the minute she walked into the police department.”

  Mike clenches his jaw. He looks pissed as hell. He really was concerned for me? That’s why he kept telling me to, “keep my mouth shut,” in the briefing. He knew it was dangerous; he was trying to protect me. And Kim was in the hallway when I said I was going back to High’s.

  I’m struck silent.

  “Enough of this yammering.” Vanessa pulls a compact out of a clutch and powders her nose. “Let’s get to your gifts; I’m sure they’ll improve the mood.” She excuses herself from the table and walks on stage. House lights dim.

  Vanessa takes a microphone out of a stand. “We’re all here tonight to honor my father and celebrate his unique point-of-view. To that end, Kim and I have a very special surprise.” She puffs up with pride. “Our gifts should be satisfying for many years to come.”

  If my thoughts weren’t spinning, I’d be completely revolted by her choice of words.

  “As most of you can attest, Daddy appreciates pure, unadulterated flesh.”

  The crowd stirs.

  I notice Mike is watching the waiters as they serve a shot glass of something to each guest. Suddenly I know they’re not just waiters; they’re I.A. And while I’m glad they’re here for the kids. I can’t let them put Richard in prison.

  “Before we bring out— what I lovingly call ‘the variety pack,’ I’d like to propose a final toast.” She looks around the stage. “I seem to have forgotten my drink.” She waves it off and pretends to hoist an imaginary glass. “Here’s to you, Daddy. May you enjoy health, wealth, and happiness for many years to come. Everybody drink up.”

  The room drinks in unison— except for Mike, Archer, and Vanessa. The drinks are laced with something. I know it with all of me.

  My phone vibrates. It’s Kate. She writes: “Lynette’s here. What should we do?”

  The voices of the girls echo in the hallway next to the stage.

  Mike looks at his phone. “If you’ll excuse me. I gotta take a leak.” He yanks Archer up by the back of his shirt. “Anywhere I go, you go, kid.”

  The two of them head for the bathroom next to the stage. I know they’re going to get the girls out. But what about Carlos?

  I hear a thud at the table next to me. A woman is face down in her key lime pie.

  Everyone is going to pass out soon. I have to get out of here.

  Shooting out of my seat, I get too much attention. “I… uh… thank you Vanessa. Now if you’ll excuse me…nature calls.” I hold my stomach, and rush out of the room.

  I text Kate as I rush to the elevator: “Girls coming out now. G go to basement for Mac.”

  As the doors open in the basement, I see Carlos face up unconscious on the floor. Mac is handcuffed to his cot.

  “We have to get you out of here before Vanessa realizes what’s going on.” I look around for keys. Find none. Shit, Shit, Shit!

  Mac sits up. “Are the girls going to be okay?”

  “I think Paul and Mike had a plan to get them out of here. Archer’s with them too and the place is crawling with I.A., so it’s not them I’m worried about.” As I head toward Carlos I hear a pounding sound. It’s coming from the cellar door.

  Mac looks toward the door. “Who’s that?”

  “I don’t know. But, I can’t let them in.” The pounding continues. My phone buzzes.

  It reads: “We’re knocking. Where are you?” It’s from Kate.

  Shit. I head to the door at the foot of Mac’s bed and take off a shoe to prop it open.

  Mac says, “Where are you going?”

  “Kate and Lynette are outside.” I dash up the stairs and push open the door. Once they’re inside, I bring them to the basement. “You shouldn’t have come here. It’s dangerous.”

  Lynette looks confused. “You said we should, ‘Go to the basement for Mac’.”

  “I said I was going to the basement for Mac.” I look at my phone. Damn. “Typo.”

  Kate’s already on the other side of the room, hugging Mac like I’ve never seen before. “Are you okay?” She asks.

  He nods and bear hugs her back.

  Lynette goes to his cot, kneels down, and puts her arms around both of them.

  A flood of emotion cuts through me: love, jealously, fear, rage. Without warning, I begin to sob. I haven’t cried like this since Cal died. Bloated tears roll down my face, as I look for the meaning in all of this. Lynette notices first. Without words, she gets up and embraces me. Gently, she leads me to Mac’s cot, where I sit between him and Kate.

  “This must be terrifying for each of you. I know it is for me.” She kneels and sits back on her heels, like she’s addressing three toddlers. “Try to remember that this hurts so much because we love so much. I know it’s hard to understand, but if you felt nothing you’d be in much worse shape.”

  I try to talk, but find my breath shuddering from crying so hard.

  Mac puts his free arm around me. “As weird as this all is, I’m glad you came back.”

  Kate says, “Me too. You’re the only person I know who’s strong enough to cheat death.”

  I laugh through tears. “I’m so lucky you guys were… are in my life.” I pull out Richards handkerchief and blow my nose. “I just wish there were words to capture…”

  The elevator opens. Vanessa steps out. She looks at us, then Carlos. “What in the hell is going on here? And who in the hell are they?”

  “I uh… they’re um…” I look to Lynette.

  She stands up. “We’re friends. Richard invited us over for…”

  “My father doesn’t have friends that I don’t know about.” Vanessa walks to Carlos, bends down and takes a gun out of the holster on his chest. She looks at Kate, then Mac. “Let me guess.” She points at Mac with the gun. “This is your baby brother. And Mom and Big Sis came here to be heroes. Wait… how did you know he was here?”

  Mac says, “I came out here willingly, remember? Of course my family would know where I was going.”

  I remember that night. “Why was Joe tas
ered if he knows all about this?”

  She doesn’t seem to wonder how I know about that. “I didn’t want him ruining the girls before you got to them. He’s done that so many times before.”

  Lynette starts to move.

  Vanessa cocks the gun. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Unless you want to watch your precious little boy die right...”

  Lynette cuts her off. “He’s not my son. Both of these children belong to…” she gestures to me. “Her-m.”

  Vanessa laughs. “That’s what you are? A fortune hunter… who likes to drug my guests.”

  Lynette stammers. “No, I…”

  “How much did she ask you for, Daddy? Seven or eight figures?”

  I hear something; a sound I’ve never heard before. It’s like we’re inside a washing machine.

  Vanessa cocks her head.

  Somebody bursts in through the door at the foot of Mac’s cot. It’s Joe. “Do you hear that?”

  Vanessa puts her hand on her hip. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you’d be playing with your new ‘toy’.”

  Joe looks panicked. “Helicopters are circling the place. We need to get out of here.”

  Vanessa looks rattled for the first time. “What?! What are we going to do?”

  “I can get us out of this. I’ve got a car right outside.” He reaches for her.

  “Not so fast.” Vanessa looks at Mac. “I think we need a little ‘insurance’.”

  “Leave them. We’ll be fine.” Joe yanks me up. “C’mon. You’re coming too.”

  Vanessa is taking Carlos’ keys out of his pocket.

  Joe yells, “I said to leave them. We have to go!”

  Vanessa rolls her eyes. “When have I ever listened to you?” She unlocks Mac’s handcuffs, positions him in front of her, and puts the gun to his head. “Just follow him and don’t do anything stupid.”

  As Joe pulls me to the door, I look back at Kate and Lynette. “Don’t worry about Mac. I’ll take care of him.” Going up the stairs, I call down, “I love you more than you could ever possibly know.”

  That’s the last time I’ll see them.

  Vanessa and Mac get in the back; I take the front passenger seat. When Joe gets in, I ask, “Where are we going?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just let me take care of everything.” He speeds out.

  After we turn down a couple of roads, Joe pulls into muddy tree-lined driveway and gets out. “I just need a minute.” He goes to the back of the car and opens the trunk.

  “Can’t it wait?” Vanessa looks disgusted.

  Joe shuts the trunk, opens the back door, and tells Mac to get out.

  Vanessa scoots to Mac’s side of the seat and looks up at Joe. “What the hell are you doing? He’s our ticket out of here.”

  Joe grabs her wrist and yanks the gun out of her hand. “No. He’s a kid who shouldn’t be involved in this.”

  I start to get out.

  Joe looks at me. “You’re just going to make it worse.” He pushes my door closed.

  In a panic, I roll down my window. “What are you going to do to him?”

  “I’m going to make sure he gets out of here in one piece.” He hands Mac his phone and a jacket that looks exactly like the one I gave Mac for his birthday. “In two minutes, call Lynette and tell her where you are. You know how she worries.” He tousle’s Mac’s hair.

  “Why are you doing this? I thought you were a complete asshole.” Mac puts the phone in a pant pocket and puts on the jacket.

  Joe looks at me. “Is he allowed to talk like that?”

  “Uh…” Joe’s behavior makes me wonder if boys are treated with respect in this group.

  “Be good, kid.” Joe walks to the driver’s side of the car and gets in. Looking at me, he says, “Aren’t you going to say ‘the thing’?”

  I furrow my brow. “The thing?”

  “You know… I love you more than…”

  How would he know about that? I look to Mac, and reach for the door handle.

  Joe puts his hand on my arm. “Please don’t get out. Just say ‘the thing’ and we’ll go.”

  Mac looks so young. So innocent. I just want to go back in time; relive every moment with him. “I love you more than you could ever possibly know.”

  Mac looks like he’s going to cry. “Me too, Mom. I’ll miss you.”

  As Joe pulls out, I watch Mac get smaller, and smaller until he disappears from view. My grief implodes and my body goes numb.

  We head down familiar roads, toward the bridge, as helicopters circle above.

  “This is your plan? To take the only road out of here?” Vanessa tidies her hair. “You know there’s going to be a blockade.” She pulls her jacket straight. “This is exactly why I’m divorcing you. You’re a moron. Right Daddy? That’s what you’ve always said.”

  I don’t have time to respond.

  Joe stops the car. “No. My plan is to make you get out of the car, so you can be picked up by federal agents. After that, I’m going to be sure that Richard’s Final Will and Testament leaves you nothing.”

  Any bravado that Vanessa had left drains from her face. I can see the little girl in her. Finally, I realize how victimized she’s been her whole life. She was molded to be the criminal she’s become.

  Joe looks back at her. “I hate to be an ass, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  I don’t know what game Joe’s playing, but I bet that he’s figured out how to take all the Gilchrist money and get away scot-free. He took the box. There’ll be no evidence against him.

  He shows her the gun. “You can either get out on your own accord, or I can…”

  “What? Kill me? You may as well do it. I’d rather be dead than spend the rest of my life in a prison cell.”

  Joe smiles. “I’m not going to kill you. Maybe you’ll find your soul in prison.” He points the gun at her. “But I’m not afraid to wound you if it’ll get you out of the car.”

  Vanessa gets out and comes to my open window. “Why are you letting him do this, Daddy? I won’t be with him anymore, just like you told me. The girls will only be for you.”

  Joe pulls away, as Vanessa paws at the car.

  I suddenly realize that’s why she was kicked out of the will; Gilchrist didn’t want to share anything. Not his daughters and not ‘his’ girls. Joe crossed the line on both fronts.

  I glance at Vanessa in the side view mirror and says to Joe: “You’re truly a pig, you know that.”

  He laughs. “I’m well aware of Joe’s character. He’s just as unsalvageable as Gilchrist.”

  I look over at him. “Why are you speaking in the third person?”

  He pulls over and looks deep into me. I get the same feeling I had when we first met. It disgusts me that I feel love for such an awful person.

  As if he can hear my thoughts he says, “I’m not awful. Joe’s awful.”

  A shiver runs down my spine. I wonder if he has multiple personalities.

  “I don’t have a personality disorder.” He smiles at me. “Guess again.”

  Whoa…what the hell’s going on?

  “What’s the matter, Emma? Can’t you see me in here?” He leans in closer.

  My stomach shrinks. “Dad?”

  He laughs. “Emma… we slept together.”

  I look at him and start to cry. “Oh my God.” I cover my mouth. “Cal?”

  “You didn’t think you were the only body jumper in the world did you?” He brushes my tears away. “I’ve missed you, Doll.”

  How could I not recognize his touch? “You must hate me.”

  He laughs again. “Because you slept with Joe? Please. I picked someone irresistible.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “You picked someone with a full head of hair… for yourself.”

  “Can you blame me?” He runs his hands through Joe’s waves. “He’s got super-hero hair.”

  I shake my head and smile. “Wait… you can pick who you want to be, and stay there as
long as you’d like?”

  He touches my cheek. “I know you want to come back for the kids. I do too. But, we can only return if we’re chosen. As in life, our job is to ‘protect and serve’. To serve may be the bigger challenge.”

  I want to ask him who decides my fate. If it’s my mother, I’ll…

  “It’s not your mom. She’s just a messenger— paying a penance of sorts— until you forgive her. Maybe you could try to see her in a new light. Her spirit is great without that brain she was given.”

  My knee jerk response is never. She can stay in limbo forever, for all I care. But, the child in me wants to know her. To love her. And to be loved back.

  I shift in my seat. “Wait…why didn’t you tell the kids who you were?”

  “Without consulting with you?” He smiles at me. “I know better.”

  A siren cries in the distance. I know what has to happen now. “How should we do it?”

  He looks at me. “Kill Richard?”

  I recoil. “When you say it out-loud like that, it sounds wrong. I mean… isn’t killing people some kind of ‘mortal transgression’?”

  “Richard and Joe aren’t people, Emma. They never were.”

  I don’t want to know what he means. Don’t want to think— for the sake of the kids, all kids— that pure evil can reside in people.

  The sirens grow closer. Cal looks across the bridge. “It appears that we may be pressed for time. So… the pills in your pocket are out. That leaves me shooting you or driving us off the bridge.” He winks at me. “Which would you prefer?”

  I look out at the two hundred foot drop to rocks below. “Really… those are my choices?”

  There’s love in his eyes. “It won’t hurt a bit. Trust me.” He takes my hand and revs the engine. “Ready?”

  Wide-eyed, I look at him. “Are you really asking me if I’m ready to drive off of a cliff?”

  He laughs. “You’ve been shot enough. I thought you might like to try something new.”

  I brace myself. “Do what you’ve got to do.” My final thought is: I love you...

  “More than you’ll ever know, Doll.” He grips the steering wheel and gases it.

  After the screams and before fatal impact, there’s a moment of silence. I wonder if this is the end of me.

  I’m pulled out of panic when I hear Dad’s familiar chuckle. “Not until all the bad guys float past the moon and disappear forever.”