by S A Jacobs
“What else do we have to work with, though?” David asked.
We sat there going through pictures of the necklace, throwing different theories out. I noticed Kat was becoming distant, staring off into space. Just as I made a mental note of it, she stood up.
“David, I need to talk to Jim privately for a minute. We’ll go upstairs. If you need another beer, they’re in the fridge.”
Now, I had never been married but knew from TV and movies that her needing to talk to me in private was not going to be a good thing. I nodded and swallowed hard as I followed her out of the room. I felt as if I was being led to the gallows.
“Jim, sit down,” she said. “I just need to say this and if I don’t do it right now, I don’t know when I will have the courage to again,”
I sat down on a chair in her room and looked at her. She paced back and forth as she spoke.
“I think I know who is after us,” she said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Just listen. Remember that day at the lawyer's office?”
“Yeah of course.”
“That lawyer Lutz had been calling my mom constantly in the weeks before. This was like his graduation day. Then, my mom got sick… really sick.”
I could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
“That first night in the hospital, my mom was just lying there with machines beeping and the door opened. These two guys walked in. I stood up thinking they were in the wrong room or something. They approached me and told me to sit down. They knew my name and my mom’s name. They basically sat there and told me that my mom was in the hospital because of them and if she wanted any hope of her recovering, I would do what they asked.
“Initially, I told them to fuck off and threatened to call the police. Then, one took out a syringe and was going to inject it in my mom’s IV, telling me it would kill her instantly. So, I listened to them.
“They told me about the meeting with the lawyer. They told me that I needed to go into that meeting for my mom and try to find out what you were going to do. They wanted me to get close to you. I didn’t know you. I just knew my mom was in danger. Then, once I was talking to you, they raised the stakes. They told me about the room and the safe. They wanted me to go in and get the necklace for them. I refused. This was when we went to meet David. There was another key to the Parlor Edgar had left. I gave them the key and told them you would be out of town and that was the most I could do. They need that necklace, and they will not stop without it, Jim. They will kill us all to get to it.”
She was now sitting on the edge of the bed sobbing. I didn’t know what to think. My head hadn’t gotten past the first part about the lawyer's office. That was where the first knife dug into me. It felt like all the air was sucked out of the room. The only thing I could keep thinking in my head was that this was all a set up from the first meeting. She was never interested in me.
“Jim, I love you,” she pleaded. “I tried to stop it all, I really did.”
“Or are you just saying that because you were told to?” I shot back.
“Fuck Jim! I’m serious! I’m telling you this because you are more important to me than any of this.”
“You want the necklace, fucking take it and good luck! You know, you could have just had it if you asked for it.” I didn’t know if that was true, but right then it felt as though it was.
“I’m sorry!” she cried. “I never wanted this!”
“And I did? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure you created it, not me!” I pointed a finger at her. “Oh wait, you can’t just take the necklace. David was right. You still fucking need me!”
I turned and looked out the window. I was unable to look at her any longer.
“And that was you that night. While I was fucking dying at the house, you were there, not looking for me, you were there helping them. You were making deals with my stuff while I was bleeding out on the lawn! You did a great job of trying to convince me I made it up, but I fucking heard you!” I was livid.
“I was there. You’re right. But I was there for you. I was in the house looking for you because I was worried.” She took a deep breath and covered her face with her hands. “They called me while I was there.”
“Yeah, and I know they have been to the house every night. In that room, trying to get to the safe, and I know they got in with a key.”
“How did you know that?” she asked.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were the only one allowed to keep secrets here,” I spat in response. “Oh wait a second. I get it now. This is perfect.”
“Jim, what are you saying?” she asked.
“You tell me all this. You tell me about the bogeymen who are going to kill your mom. Conveniently, you bring this up just after you get a message from the mirror, which no one else can hear. Well played.” I clapped my hands with maniacal satisfaction.
“No Jim! It isn’t like that. I am telling you the truth!”
“You know what, I have had enough of your brand of truth. I am better off on my own.” I walked towards the door. “Oh, by the way, I take back my offer. You want that necklace? The only way you are getting it is prying it out of my dead fingers. So, good luck with that!”
I hurried down the stairs to see David in the family room. He stood up, setting the book down.
“Jim, look I think I found something. You have to see this!” He looked at me and immediately could see in my face that it wasn’t the time. “Ah well, of course, we can just talk about it later or something.”
“Look, I’m leaving. If you’re smart, you’ll get out of this house too. I’ll drive you to the hotel.”
“Yeah, um, great idea,” David replied awkwardly. “It is getting late anyway… um, I should be getting some sleep,”
“If I am driving you, do me a favor and for once just shut the fuck up!”
24
The next day could only be compared to a massive hangover. I spent the day in my apartment, an emotional wreck. I was all over the place. One minute I was angry, then sad and crying. There were even brief moments where that little voice in my head tried to get me to look at it all logically. I kinda understood it all. I probably would have done the same thing Kat did. But that was the moment in thinking where the thought of her just playing me took over and brought on a rage unlike any I’d ever felt.
My phone had gone dead, and I was in no hurry to charge it. There was a constant barrage of texts and calls from both Kat and David. I had no desire to hear from either of them. I just wanted solitude. I decided I needed at least one friend with me through this. So, I found my old buddy Jim Beam to hang out with. That was probably not my best decision.
Half a bottle later, the emotional swings had reached a completely new level. The sadness became abysmal. The rage became overwhelming. Thankfully, it was at that time I finally fell asleep.
I woke up early and took a shower. I actually felt a bit more normal. I wasn’t about to go calling Kat up or anything, but I felt as though I could at least play the role of a normal everyday person. I plugged my phone in and kinda went on with a normal morning. Then, while emptying the pockets of my dirty jeans I found my FOID card, along with my receipt. I made the realization that my waiting period was over. Today, I could pick up my new gun.
As I drove to the shooting range, I chuckled about how the purpose of a waiting period for buying a gun was to keep them out of the hands of emotionally destroyed people like me. Fortunately for myself I bought this before I learned about Kat. Soon I was standing in a gun range, inserting the clip into my new Glock .22. No matter what was going through my head, standing in that range and firing off clip after clip of ammo was exhilarating.
The gun was much easier to handle than I’d anticipated. After a few clips, I was able to at least hit the target with not too much effort. I was far from a sharpshooter, but in a pinch, if I had to defend myself, I felt I could. That was really my original intent with this whole purchase anyway.
On
ce I got back to my apartment, I started looking at my phone again. I couldn’t bring myself to look at the texts from Kat. I started weeding through the texts from David. Even that proved to be more than I was ready to handle. Typical BS friend stuff. “I know it isn’t my place but…”
“You’re right David, it isn’t your place,” I said to myself. “You should have listened last night when I told you to just shut up,”
Frustrated with the texts, I tossed my phone aside and took a nap on the couch. As I closed my eyes, I drifted off and saw her. I was at the house, standing on the bluff overlooking the lake. Ida was there next to me with her hand on top of mine.
“It is your time, James,” she said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Samuel… I couldn’t stop him then, and now I can only do so much to keep you safe from him. You need to make your stand and put things right again.”
“You mean the necklace?” I asked.
“That gaudy thing? I should think not. I never did like it, even when he gave it to me. I have no concern for it, but it is still there because it did give me one thing,” She gestured toward the house.
“What was that?” I asked.
“Control, my dear son. There was something about that piece. Samuel needed it more than anything I could remember. As long as I had it, he let me have the space I needed. It was through that piece I was able to protect this home and protect you for as long as I had. It was my bargaining chip.” She giggled. “I always found it funny that the one thing he needed above all was the one thing he actually gifted to me.”
“So that is what he wants now, then?” I asked.
“I should think not! He certainly needs the necklace, but he is still here for one purpose only and will not stop until he gets it. He is here to ensure that he finishes what he started years ago.”
“What is it then?” I asked.
“James, a mother should never have to say such things. You stand between him and the restoration of his bloodline. He knows you are the only one capable of stopping him, and he will not rest until you are gone.”
I looked her in the eyes for the first time. Despite the tears now forming, they were bright and full of love. Looking at her, I felt at ease.
She let go of my hand and waved towards the lake. The water looked brilliant. The sun was setting behind us, and the sky turned a majestic orange. The orange glow blanketed everything.
“Look, James. Your time is coming. The sun will soon set. It is time for you to make your stand. I have faith in you.”
I looked back over the waves crashing on the shore. Everything blurred out and turned black for a moment. When I opened my eyes, I was back on my couch in the apartment.
I felt at ease for the first time in days. I could see out the window that night was coming. I sat up and looked at my phone. There was a new text from David.
“Listen, bro, no matter what you feel about her right now, we need to finish this. We are all in danger.”
My fingers tightened on the phone to the point I almost crushed it. I didn’t care what David was saying. All I could think about was Kat’s betrayal. At that moment, the rage boiling inside me took over. The voice in the back of my head was gone. Peace was gone. My ability to just push aside those feelings had slipped away.
I grabbed my gun and inserted the holster into my waistband. I put the second clip in my pocket and headed towards the door.
“You’re right Ida. It’s time to make my stand.” I walked out the door.
My truck roared as I pressed the accelerator down. The stereo was turned up to the max. The windows were open, the cold wind chilling me to the bone. I was running on adrenaline. By the time I got to the driveway of the house, the sun had started to fall. Darkness was imminent. I drove up to the front of the house and slammed on the brakes.
I hopped out of the truck and started to make my way to the pond. The walk was quick. Soon, I was making my way through the overgrown shrubs and staring across the decrepit pond. I casually started walking to the far end where the bench was.
“You wanted me, Samuel? Here I fucking am!” I heard my voice echo.
As I continued walking, the pond began to transform. The cracks healed themselves. The shrubs became neatly trimmed. And then there was light. Two torches appeared with a massive flame illuminating the entire area with an eerie glow.
“I must say, I am surprised at your persistence. Much like your mother. She never did know when to stop.”
Then I saw him. He was standing behind the bench, dressed in a full suit with a jacket over his shoulders.
“You are early for tonight's presentation I am afraid. You caught me off guard and sadly unprepared.”
“No need for a presentation. We can end this now.”
“Really? You say ‘we’ as if you have control over anything that happens.”
I reached behind my back and my fingers rolled around the handle of my gun. I pulled it out and took quick aim at Samuel.
“A gun?” His laughter echoed. “Apparently, I overestimated your intelligence. I have been dead for a long time. Just what do you think a gunshot will do to me?”
Ashamed at the thought, I lowered the gun and put it back in its holster.
“See James, this is what happens when you take the finer qualities of a woman of your mother’s stature and breed it with a dimwitted servant like Edgar. All the persistence in the world but not a lick of intelligence to back it up. Your father thought he could end this with a gun too. And well, I think you can see for yourself how well that worked out.”
“Enough! You want me dead? Well, here I am!”
“Right you are James, but let’s not jump into anything so quickly. My necklace is still not in the hands of those who need it and you have still come here alone.”
“I won’t get it for you. It is you and me, right now!”
“As I said, you are early, the sky is turning red and my return to power is drawing near. There is nothing you can do to stop me now, and if you choose to wait, you will still die, but in a more agonizing way. Do you know what is even better than feeling the last heartbeat of someone you want dead, James?”
“No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”
“Seeing them suffer. See, death is rewarding, but it is so quick. To look into a person's eyes, as you destroy everything they care about is the true reward. Killing their soul, then their body.” He walked closer to me before continuing. “And you made it so simple James. I can feel it now. Soon, everything will be ready.”
“Let’s just finish this now. I know you want the necklace!”
“Such a shame. You know, I am afraid that little trinket has turned me into a bit of a mockery in the eyes of my brothers. It is time for that to be put back into the proper hands. Of course, after tonight, it doesn’t much matter. With you dead, that little bit of magic your witch of a mother used will be gone, and the necklace will be back where it should be.”
“What is it about the damn necklace anyway?”
As I spoke those words, I felt my phone vibrate. I knew that alert. It was the camera. Someone was in the room. I was trying to get as much understanding as I could before I dealt with them though.
“Secrets are not meant to be shared outside the circle, James. Yet, you have nowhere to run, and there is something terribly enjoyable about seeing you make the connections.” He chuckled. “The necklace is a map. A map my brothers need and will have again tonight. The biggest mistake of my life was entrusting it with your mother. She made a mess of everything. Things would have been so simple if she would have just done as she was told. Like I said though, at this point it doesn’t much matter if you choose to get it or not. Your mother’s power is all but gone. Understand this: by the end of this night, you will be dead and the necklace will be gone. There is simply nothing you can do. Actually, I forgot to mention, your little friend Kat is helping me out with the necklace right now.”
I had controlled myself this lo
ng, but that last sentence put me over the edge. I came here believing I could end this myself. At hearing that Kat was in the room, I realized I had to first stop her. I had learned everything I needed to. It truly was my time. I took the gun from the holster and held it tightly in my hand and raised it. Samuel let out a laugh, and I turned to run. I took off in a sprint back to the house.
“Oh, James you are too much! Be careful dear boy. I wouldn’t want you to do something too stupid and take away my opportunity to kill you myself.” I could hear him laughing in the distance as I ran.
That was the last thing I heard as I reached the shrubs at the far end of the pond. As I jumped through and saw of the house, everything returned to normal. The house was under construction, the shrubs overgrown. I moved quietly with my gun drawn. As I made it around to the front of the house, I stopped and took a deep breath. I holstered my pistol and cursed under my breath.
Kat’s car was sitting there. She was here to finish things for herself. Out of breath, I spat. I bit my lower lip, moving my rage from Samuel to her.
I entered the house and slowly made my way to the staircase. Quickly, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I started climbing the stairs, hesitating with every step so the creak of the aged wood wouldn’t give away my presence. Once at the top, I made my way down the hall. Soon, the parlor was in sight. The door stood open, and I could see light inside. I stopped to catch my breath. I couldn’t hear a sound coming from the room.
With a swift movement, I darted inside. I was anticipating surprising Kat, but what I saw surprised me in a way I will never forget.
Walking into the room, I saw Kat on the couch. She was gagged and her hands and feet were tied. Even before the sight of this registered in my brain, I felt the cold metal of a gun barrel pressed against the back of my head and a hand removing my gun from its holster. The next thing I felt was a shove on my back, throwing my body onto the hard floor.