by Alexie Aaron
“Salvatore just warned us that he is the sanest of the bunch,” Blue Daniel said.
“Ask him if we can see the artisan with their work so we can admire it and ask questions,” Jesse asked.
Salvatore listened. He seemed in deep thought. He warned, “Pericolosi.” Then he relented, “Mezzogiorno.”
“He warns us that it is dangerous, but tomorrow at noon would be best,” Cid said.
“Grazie,” Jesse said.
Salvatore disappeared.
“I think you should leave,” Jon said, looking at the shadows around them. “They have heard you and understand that tomorrow at noon they will get to show their work to you and the other builders.”
Cid and Jesse turn to leave. Jesse turned back around and teased, “Faye, don’t stay out too late.”
“Oh you!”
~
Kiki was having trouble sleeping. Each time she closed her eyes, she saw something she couldn’t explain. Being a practical woman, she tried to reason it away, and soon she could close her eyes without the horror, but she could not get her brain to shut off. She slid out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweats and eased herself out of the hotel room. She walked down and entered the abandoned business suite. Kiki pulled out her phone and dialed.
“Hello?” answered a very sleepy Cid.
“It’s Kiki.”
“That’s what the phone says. Are you okay?”
“Cid, is it possible to retain the memories of the entity who possessed you?”
“Honestly, I don’t know? I’ll be speaking with Father Santos in the morning. I’ll ask him. Why?”
“I’m seeing snatches of a ceremony when I close my eyes. The floor is the same as the one we’re converting into a media room, but I know it’s not in Walnut Grove House. The light coming in the windows is all wrong, and the furnishings aren’t the same era. A lot of horsehair.”
“It does seem you’ve retained some of the elemental’s memories. It brings into question, could the negative elemental be August and not Arnold?”
“I didn’t know that it could be either,” Kiki said.
“It’s a new theory I’ve been working on. Let me tell you about the account one of the ghosts wrote after the fact.” Cid went on to tell Kiki about Daniel’s story and also about communicating with the Italian workman hours before.
“I think it’s time we had a three-way with Father Santos.”
“I beg your pardon?” Cid squeaked. “You are talking about a conference call.”
“Yes. Oh!” Kiki giggled. “What does Mia say, oh yes, embarrassment factor twelve!”
“I want to communicate with more of the workmen before I feel that I can make more of an educated guess. Let’s try to set up a conference call for three in the afternoon.”
“Sounds good to me. Alan and I are finished here, but I’m going to go back to Chicago with him. We should be there in his office by then.”
“You’re very wise to stay away. Also, it would be a good idea to have Father Santos look you over. Ask him to show you how to close the door in your mind so something else doesn’t wander in, in the meantime.”
“Great, now I’m going to have nightmares,” Kiki complained.
“Glad to be of service,” Cid said wryly. “Goodbye.”
Kiki walked back to her room and entered to find a half-dressed, very upset Alan.
“Where were you?”
“I made a phone call. I went down to the business suite. I didn’t want to wake you up. I’m sorry, I should have left a note.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Alan said, walking over and picking her up in his arms. “I probably wouldn’t have seen the note. I’m a big goof.”
“You’re my big goof. Where did you think I was?”
“On your way to let the negative elemental out of the safe to challenge it to a fight.”
“You have a spectacular imagination. My skill set isn’t up for a demon/damsel duel. Unless it’s caulking guns at ten feet.”
Alan nuzzled her neck. “I’m going to make sure I put my caulk out of harm’s reach.”
“C A U L K?” Kiki confirmed.
“Why yes, what were you thinking?” Alan asked slyly.
“I’m not the best for word usage tonight. Instead of requesting a conference call, I asked Cid for a three-way with Father Santos.”
Alan’s eyes opened wide. “I’m going to Hell for the picture that just flashed into my mind.”
Kiki gave him a little dirty laugh. “Cid was rather surprised.”
“I bet he was,” Alan said. “Before I get caulk-blocked by further speculation, I’m going to make you forget a three-way was ever mentioned.”
“Ooh la la.”
Chapter Nineteen
Just after ten, Sally walked into the dining hall. She had just finished with her physical and was hungry. Sally was assured that if they weren’t serving a meal, there would be snacks or sandwiches available. She approached the serving counter and found fruit and a selection of healthy-looking cookies. Also, there was a small cooler with wrapped sandwiches inside. The sandwiches weren’t labeled. Sally couldn’t tell if they were tuna fish or chicken salad.
“What’s holding up the line?” a very large, scrubs-wearing man asked.
Sally looked behind the man and asked, “What line?”
He turned around. “Gee, I must have lost my entourage. I’m Tub. I have a name, but we’ll have to save that for our second date.”
“Contemplating sniffing wrapped sandwiches does not constitute a date,” Sally said. “I’m Sally Wright, and I’m in a serious relationship.”
“All the good ones are,” Tub complained.
“Plus, I’m a patient.”
Tub raised his hands and backed away.
Sally couldn’t help laughing.
“Tub, are you hitting on the new girl?” a deep voice asked.
Sally turned to see a mountain of a man with an eyepatch set down his book from the corner table, where he had been enjoying the peace and quiet of the previously empty room.
“Charlie, I’m surprised you haven’t carried her off to your bell tower,” Tub teased.
“She’s Cid Garrett’s girlfriend.”
“Saint Cid?” Tub asked. “Nah, he’s dating Ted.”
“He’s dating me and Ted,” Sally said, lifting an eyebrow. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, ma’am… Miss… Ms,” Tub stammered.
“About the sandwiches, are these tuna or chicken salad?”
“Chicken salad on all days but Friday,” Tub said.
“Good. I’m not fond of tuna,” Sally said. “I will eat tuna, but it will be under protest.” Sally collected her food and walked over to where Charlie was sitting and asked, “Mind if I sit with you?”
“How can you eat looking at me?” Charlie asked.
Sally set her tray down and lifted her shirt to show him her stomach. “I believe we belong to the same club.”
Charlie looked at the burn scars and asked, “How?”
“Exploding hut, you?”
“I was protecting a school for girls when the bomb went off. Fortunately, the girls had been delayed at the check point. Otherwise…”
“Cid’s not going to be pleased you already have his girl’s shirt half off, Staff Sergeant,” Tub said, putting his tray down.
“Well then, I better introduce myself. “I’m Charlie West. The rude staff call me half-baked Charlie.”
“Sally Wright. I’m here to try to get my PTSD back to manageable.”
“Dr. Myer will help you with that, and then you’ll be inducted into her infamous group called Battalion Babes.”
“Charlie, you know we’re not supposed to call them that,” Tub warned.
“You’re not, you’re staff.”
“You may as well be staff. You’re here all the time,” Tub said sitting down.
Sally adjusted the food on
her tray.
Tub took his food off his tray and then took off Sally’s and set the trays on the table next to them. “Here, we dine in style. Real tableware and no trays.”
Sally blushed.
“Don’t be a bully,” Charlie said. “Sally, ignore him. He’s just mad Cid saw you first. How long have you been together?”
“Not long, but it’s serious.”
“Have you met the other man yet?” Tub asked.
“No. I think the Martins are out of town.”
“That’s right, Lazar said he and the family were going to be in Alsace, France for a while,” Tub said. “So you haven’t met Mrs. Martin yet?”
“No,” Sally said. She bit into her sandwich to avoid saying something stupid.
“Have you ever seen the Ice Queen poster?”
Sally nodded.
“That’s her.”
Sally swallowed hard.
“But’s she’s not an ice queen,” Charlie said, putting his uninjured hand on her arm. “She is a compassionate woman who can look beyond my half-roasted carcass and see me.”
“Forgive him, he’s got a crush,” Tub said.
“Whew! I’m starting to get worried. What if she doesn’t like me?”
“She’ll like you because Cid does. She’s probably worried that you won’t like her,” Charlie said.
“Tell us how you met Saint Cid,” Tub said, changing the subject.
“He works with my foster brother Carl.”
“Is Carl a ghost hunter?” Charlie asked.
“No, from Cid’s finishing contractor job. My foster brother is a contractor for the same renovation company. I was their onsite cook until I started having attacks. One after another. I decided that my existing meds weren’t helping.”
“This place can work miracles or Mia can…” Charlie said, his voice trailing off.
“Don’t mind him, he’s a fan. Speaking of fans, do you follow any sports?”
“Sorry, I spend my extra time reading,” Sally said. “I’m pretty boring.”
A bouncy redhead entered the dining hall. Tub got up and left the table.
“There he goes. I swear he hits on every pretty woman he sees.”
“He’s playing the odds,” Sally said. “If you talk to two people, your odds on connecting is considerably less than if you talk to a hundred people.”
Tub brought the woman over to the table. “Sally, she’s here to see you.”
“Me?”
“Sally, I’m Audrey Stavros. I work with Cid and Kiki…”
“Oh! You’re the researcher. Please have a seat. This is Charlie West, and Tub you’ve met.”
“Why are all the beautiful women taken?” Tub asked.
Audrey giggled. “You’re refreshing. This morning I was worried that I was becoming matronly.”
Sally finished her meal listening to Tub shower compliments on Audrey who continued to giggle. It was interesting to see this side of the woman Sally assumed was a serious asset of Cid’s.
Audrey had declined Tub’s offer of coffee. “Actually, I’d like to have some one-on-one time with you, Sally, if your schedule allows.”
“I’m free for an hour, and then I have the rest of the day off after two-thirty.”
Audrey stood up. “Mrs. Leighton said we could use one of the empty offices.”
Sally excused herself, cleared her space, picked up her and Tub’s tray, and left them in the return rack as she and Audrey left the dining room.
Audrey guided Sally to the office and closed the door after them. Audrey didn’t sit at the desk. She opted for one of the two chairs and set down her briefcase beside her.
Sally sat down.
Audrey noticed that Sally’s hands shook. Cid had warned her that Sally wasn’t to be pressed. Mrs. Leighton too had cautioned Audrey not to make sudden moves or outbursts.
“Sally, Cid and I have been working together for years with PEEPs. He committed to working with the team about the same time I did. We fight over who’s the redshirt.”
“Did he ask you to check on me?”
“Oh no. I’ve come to get your perspective on the possessed Kiki Pickles. Her boyfriend Alan is bringing her back to Chicago today to see Father Santos. He specializes in possessions.”
“But she’s not possessed now.”
“No, but we may have a rare opportunity. You see, according to Kiki, the ghost left memories we may be able to use.”
Sally nodded.
“I’d like you to tell me your observations of Kiki, but if you feel at any time pressured or uncomfortable, we’ll stop. You come first.”
Sally related all she could, and as the two women worked through Sally’s observations, Sally became calmer and decided she liked Audrey Stavros.
Audrey finished writing down a few notes and then smiled. “Now the business is finished, do you have any questions? I mean any questions, personal, professional, personal…”
“Aha! I knew you were checking me out.”
“But of course. I’m so happy that I’m the first PEEP to meet you.”
“You’re not. Stephen Murphy came to see me last night.”
“That dog!”
“He was very sweet but scared the crap out of me.”
“I don’t think he knew that by scaring you he could give you an attack.”
“He didn’t though… Oh, he frightened me at first, and then he opened up and I felt as if I’ve known him all my life.”
“He’s a prankster, a hero, and besotted. I’m not going to say anything more. My husband - who is Mia’s grandfather by the way - would scold me that I’ve said this much.”
“You’re married to Mia’s grandfather?”
“We have two children, Luke and Brede. I met him working with PEEPs. I have my own business. I assess properties that have been donated to charities to see if they can either be used by the charity, for example a halfway house, or should be sold so the charity can build something more suitable. Recently, I’ve taken on a partner, and this has freed up my time. So I’m a business owner, a wife, a mother, and a PEEP.”
“My parents died in a car crash when I was a teen. I was fortunate to be placed in Mama’s Lee’s foster home.” Sally went on to tell Audrey the rest of her story.
“A cookbook?”
Sally grinned.
“I may know a guy who knows a guy who publishes cookbooks,” Audrey said. “When you’re ready, let me know, and I’ll get you an introduction. No guarantee of a book deal, but you’ll at least get to speak to a human.”
“I’d appreciate that, Audrey.”
“Your turn to ask me questions.”
“Ah, gee, any advice you can give me in regard to Cid?”
“His friendship with Ted is very important to him. They are boyhood friends and love to work and play together. Wait… play, like video games. They aren’t…”
“Dating?” Sally helped out.
“Yes. People in this town gossip about the possibility that Mia is the glue that binds them. Mia likes Cid but not in a… dating way,” Audrey finished, proud of herself.
“What if they don’t like me?” Sally worried.
“If Cid likes you, they will like you, and Cid loves you already, so be prepared they will treat you like one of the family. I was family even before I married into the family, and I used to date Mia’s former lover.”
“This is getting juicy,” Sally said.
Audrey grinned. “We’re already on common ground. There are lots of juicy things going on. Most of them are misunderstanding driven, but there are a lot of jaw-dropping moments when it comes to the Martins.”
“Alright, give me some.”
“They have a sixteen-year-old adopted son from Nigeria named Dieter. Mia loves to just show up at parent teacher conferences and let the teacher wonder who the pale-as-snow woman, too young to have given birth to a teenager, is. She’ll introduce herself and tell
the teacher Dieter gets his height from his Dad. Ted drifts in on cue. He’s a tall auburn-haired white guy. They do this for every new teacher.”
“More.”
“When the Martins had their first child, Susan Braverman, the sheriff’s mother, babysat him and used to take Brian everywhere, especially to Chicago Bear family events. There are some people in the town who still think Brian is the sheriff’s kid.”
“He’s not though…”
“One look at his face, adorned with a Ted lookalike nose, will tell you his parentage. Plus, the kid’s a genius. He’s Cid’s godson. Cid shares his godfather duties with Stephen Murphy.”
“Well, there’s spiritual and then there’s spiritual,” Sally said. “Okay, I’m feeling braver. Any old girlfriends I should be aware of?”
“I’ve only known Cid to have one relationship that didn’t fizzle in the first few dates. He’s a very slow mover.” Audrey narrowed her eyes and said, “Although, I bet not with you.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“No. You were blushing.”
“Damn, I have a tell.”
“The one who we thought stood a chance was Rand Templeton. Ted called her and Cid, Rancid.”
“Not a great couple name.”
“She was a very good teacher. Although, her students called her Old Lady Templeton. Cid and Rand had a lot in common, but he was too slow moving for her. She wanted him to commit, and he didn’t. She dumped him and then returned to ask him to move to the east coast with her. He didn’t want to move. She left. She wasn’t the one.”
“I had a near miss too,” Sally said.
“I have had a few myself,” Audrey said. “My first husband physically abused me. It took me a long time to trust anyone after that.”
“Mine let his parents convince him that he didn’t want a mixed-race child.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with Cid. He makes up his own mind.”
“I’ve seen that. He’s stubborn.”
“Yes he is. He’ll correct your grammar without thinking it will piss you off. What is the other thing? Oh yes, he’s a pisser when he’s sick. Mia almost walled him up after three days of nursing him with the other stomach virus victims. Here ends my dish on Cid,” Audrey said.