Fort Lupton

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  “What’s going on?” Tanesha asked.

  “Someone needed some publicity,” He-Man said.

  “Annette,” Tanesha said under her breath.

  “We hide the misdeeds of man with salacious misdirection,” He-Man said.

  “Churchill?” Tanesha asked.

  “My uncle Chet,” He-Man grinned. “He was a magician.”

  The cab pulled to a stop by the door.

  “This is the best I can do,” the cab driver said. “My sister’s waiting just inside.”

  He-Man paid the driver and got out of the cab. He helped Yvonne and Tanesha out of the cab and covered them with his enormous jacket. Tucked under He-Man’s arms, they scurried past the yelling reporters and through the employee entrance of the hospital. The cab driver’s sister let them inside.

  “You Miss T?” the cab driver’s sister asked.

  “Tanesha,” she said. “This is my mother, Yvonne.”

  Tanesha looked at the bodyguard.

  “This is He-Man,” Tanesha said. The large man laughed. “He’s with us.”

  “Good,” the woman said. “I’m Kareen. I’m Jabari’s nurse.”

  “You are?” Yvonne asked. “What a lucky coincidence.”

  Tanesha gave Yvonne a strong look. She had the sneaking suspicion that Yvonne had made all of this happen. But Yvonne just gave her a sweet smile.

  “How is the child?” Yvonne asked.

  “Did you bring the custody papers?” the nurse asked.

  “I have them,” Tanesha said. “The last orders from the judge in Denver, but I thought . . .”

  “They look legal to me,” Kareen said. “Come on. Your boy is waiting for you.”

  With that, Kareen turned in place and went to an employee elevator. They took the elevator up to the tenth floor and got off. From the elevator landing, they could hear people talking all at once.

  “Shit,” Kareen said. “Stay here.”

  Kareen went to the nurses’ station and called hospital security. While they watched two men in black uniforms arrived. In a few minutes, they escorted the camera crew off the floor. When the camera crew got close to them, He-Man told them to turn away. The camera crew didn’t notice them. When they turned back, they saw Annette screaming at Kareen at the nurses’ desk.

  “This way,” He-Man said.

  He put one arm around Yvonne’s shoulder and the other around Tanesha.

  “How . . .?” Tanesha asked.

  “I’ve been here with the boy since he got here,” He-Man said. “You don’t think Trece’d leave him here all alone, do you?”

  “But . . .” Tanesha started.

  “We have a soft spot for little sick kids,” He-Man said.

  “Of course you do,” Yvonne said.

  He-Man directed them down a hallway. They reached a door with a glass window in it.

  “They don’t usually keep kids in these rooms,” He-Man said. “But they didn’t want him exposed to the cameras.”

  He-Man pressed the door open. Tanesha blinked. For a split second, she could have sworn that she saw a giant elephant dancing around the room with a pink rider on its back. Jabari was laughing and cheering. When she blinked, Jabari was quietly sitting in his bed. Tanesha squinted to see if she could find Abi, who had to be here.

  “Mommy?” Jabari asked.

  Tanesha’s heart melted. All thoughts of finding Abi, and figuring out what was going on, fled her mind. She rushed to the bed. He threw his arms around her neck and Tanesha pulled Jabari onto her lap.

  “I just love it when things work out,” Yvonne said. “Don’t you, He-Man?”

  “I do, Miss Yvonne,” He-Man said. “I really do.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Tuesday afternoon — 3:17 p.m. MT

  Denver, Colorado

  “How is Mr. Chesterfield?” Blane asked after Heather finished catching him up.

  She was standing with Akeem, Jill, and Sandy on the other side of the glass. Jill was still wearing her twin sandwich. Blane was sitting in a vinyl-covered chair.

  “He’s lost an eye,” Heather said. “Broke some ribs and . . .”

  Rather than finish, Heather gave a grim nod.

  “How awful,” Blane said.

  “It’s pretty awful,” Heather said.

  “And there was nothing . . .” Blane gestured to Jill. Jill shook her head.

  “We can only help him heal now,” Jill said.

  “But they think he will heal?” Blane asked.

  “They’re pretty sure,” Jill said.

  “And Jabari?” Blane asked.

  Heather, Jill, and Sandy looked at each other. Akeem looked at the ground.

  “What?” Blane asked.

  “Just a lot of drama,” Sandy said. “The doctor told Yvonne that Jabari is doing really well. He’s in good spirits, especially now that Yvonne and Tanesha are with him.”

  “Annette’s being an asshole?” Blane asked.

  They nodded. Blane looked so ill that they’d agreed not to burden him with the awful details of Annette’s behavior.

  “So today’s the day!” Jill said. “We wanted to be here to help you celebrate.”

  “And Akeem?” Blane asked.

  “Yeah, I know, right?” Akeem asked. “They’re teaching me how to be a lover.”

  Blane raised his eyebrows and laughed. Akeem gave a cocky grin.

  “He wants to learn how to heal things,” Heather said.

  “I bet.” Blane smiled.

  “You think this stuff works?” Akeem asked.

  “It’s the only reason I’m alive,” Blane said.

  “Fair enough.” Akeem nodded.

  They waited in an awkward silence for a moment. The nurse and doctor came in behind them. They helped Heather dress in scrubs and asked everyone else to step back. Heather went into the room with the doctor and nurse while Jill, Sandy, and Akeem waited outside. They had just closed the door when Tanner, the twin on Jill’s back, woke up. Sandy picked him up out of the holder and Akeem helped Jill get Bladen. With a little soothing the babies settled into being held.

  Inside the room, Blane was back in bed, and the nurse hooked up the cord blood to Blane’s IV. The doctor was talking a mile a minute, but they couldn’t hear what he was saying. Heather was holding Blane’s hand. They both looked overwhelmed.

  Jacob and Sam came into the room. They waved to Blane. Sandy greeted Jacob with Tanner, who he took from her. Jacob kissed Jill’s cheek and stood behind her.

  “We’re ready to start,” the doctor said over the speaker so they could hear. “Are you ready?”

  “I’m ready,” Blane said.

  “Okay,” Jill said in a low tone. “We want to focus our love on the blood going into Blane.”

  “Heather, this is it,” the doctor said. “Are you ready?”

  “I’m ready,” Heather said.

  “Nurse?” the doctor asked.

  The nurse turned the valve. They watched the red blood flow through Blane’s IV and into his arm. Jill felt like she held her breath through the entire infusion.

  “Taste garlic?” the doctor asked.

  “I do,” Blane said. He glanced at Heather.

  “I have to ask everyone to leave now,” the doctor said. “You need to sleep. The most important thing is for you to rest.”

  Sam held open the door. Akeem and Sandy left.

  “We’ll meet you out here,” said Sam before he followed Akeem out of the room.

  Jill didn’t dare take her eyes off Blane. She felt more than saw her twins doing the same thing. Jacob put his arm around her and guided her from the room. They met at the elevator landing.

  “We want to imagine that the cells are going into Blane’s bones,” Jill said. “They are growing and dividing. Can you see them?”

  Akeem and Sandy nodded their heads.

  “Good,” Jill said. “Me too.”

  A few minutes later, Heather joined them. She looked worried and exhausted.

  “Come on,�
�� Jacob said. “We have dinner waiting for us at the Castle.”

  They stepped onto the elevator together.

  “I think Delphie made a casserole,” Jacob said.

  Everyone groaned and he laughed.

  “Mike’s running the grill,” Jacob said.

  When they reached the ground floor, no one wanted to get off the elevator. Sam put his arm around Heather and guided her from the elevator. Sandy and Akeem followed. Jill stood on the elevator.

  “You think he’s going to be all right?” Jill asked Jacob.

  “I don’t know,” Jacob said.

  With a nod, Jill and Bladen left the elevator. Tanner made a sound at his mother and brother’s departure.

  “I hear you, son,” Jacob said.

  They left the hospital in a worried silence.

  Chapter Three hundred and six

  Clear my head

  Tuesday night — 9:22 p.m.

  “Thanks for staying, Charlie,” Sophia said.

  “It’s a good shift for me,” Charlie said.

  “You didn’t have to stay another hour,” Sophia said.

  Charlie shrugged and held the door open for her.

  “I just want you to know that I appreciate it,” Sophia said.

  Charlie pulled the door closed, and Sophia locked the door to Sam’s No. 3 on 15th Street. Charlie gave it a tug to make sure it was locked. They had closed up the restaurant. The cooks and clean-up crew were still inside. Their job was to clean up the restaurant and make sure the doors were locked. They went to the bar entrance and checked that it was locked. It was supposed to be Sophia’s job, but she always got a little scared being there at night. The manager let Charlie stay so she wouldn’t have to be alone.

  “I feel a little safer having you here,” Sophia said.

  Charlie grinned.

  “I can walk you to your car,” Charlie said.

  “That would be nice,” Sophia said. “Do you want a ride home?”

  “Nah,” Charlie said. “We live in the other direction from you. Plus, I can take the bus.”

  They turned up 15th Street and walked a few blocks to a cheap paid parking lot. Sophia unlocked her car.

  “You sure you don’t want a ride?” Sophia asked. “It’s no problem.”

  “I’m okay,” Charlie said. “It’s nice to walk for a bit after getting off work. Clears my head.”

  “I bet,” Sophia said.

  “Plus, I spent a lot of years on the streets,” Charlie gave her a bright smile. “It’s nice to roam a little before going home.”

  Sophia smiled and got in the car. Like Aden had taught him, Charlie waited for her to start the engine. She waved to him and took off out of the parking lot. Charlie waved and started up 15th Street.

  He walked at an even pace, not too fast, not too slow. The night was cold, but not icy. He zipped up his warm jacket. At the stop light, he opened his backpack and dug around for his hat and gloves. He was so focused on what he was doing that he didn’t notice the young men who came up behind him. When the light turned, they pushed past him to cross the street. Charlie tugged on his hat and started across the street. He pulled his gloves on as he went.

  He continued up 15th Street and past the big Hyatt Regency across from the Convention Center.

  “Heya, Charlie!” one of the bellmen yelled to him.

  Charlie waved and kept walking. The bellman often came into Sam’s on his dinner break. Charlie remembered the bellman from when he’d been a street kid. The bellman wasn’t as nice to him then. Charlie smiled to himself. It was nice to be on the other side now. He had a job. He had a family. He had a warm house, a Castle no less, to go home to. Charlie felt pretty rich.

  Charlie continued up the street. He’d planned on going into the Pavilion to get something nice for Tink, but he’d stayed at work. Everything looked closed. He stopped on the corner of 15th Streetand Glenarm and wondered if he should chance that something might be open. Tink was very upset about Blane. Charlie had wanted to get her something to cheer her up. Charlie bit his lip and looked at his watch. She’d probably rather that he got home before she had to go to bed. Proud of himself for making such a good decision, he promised himself he’d go tomorrow before work.

  He kept walking up 15th Street. He was walking past the darkened entryway to a parking lot when he heard something that sounded like an outbreath. He sensed more than saw movement. He ducked and missed a baseball bat flying toward him. Charlie took off running.

  Five young men followed close behind. Charlie ran as fast as he could. He crossed Colfax and entered Civic Center Park. They caught up with him in the park. One of the men reached out and grabbed him. Charlie and the man fell. Charlie tried to roll to get the man off him, but the young man held on fast.

  “Dis is for my brother,” one young man said.

  He raised the baseball bat and Charlie tucked his knees and head. The blow was hard and hurt like hell. Charlie screamed.

  “For my brother,” another man said before he started kicking Charlie.

  “You neva shoulda told no body ’bout no whores.” Another man kicked Charlie.

  “Dem whores wanted it,” the young man with the baseball bat said.

  The man on the ground with Charlie tried to make him untuck, but Charlie held on fast. Charlie knew how to take his beatings.

  But this was worse than anything he’d ever experienced.

  These guys wanted to kill him.

  These guys were going to kill him.

  Charlie kept his head down and the blows rained down. His mind slipped and he was thinking about Tink. She was so beautiful, especially in the morning or late at night. Out of nowhere, he saw Sandy’s face. She was laughing at something he’d done. He felt so loved, so happy. He tried to say something.

  “I love you,” Charlie said.

  “What is it, son?” Aden’s voice came out of nowhere. “Charlie?”

  Charlie opened his eyes. Aden’s hands were bloody and his breath was ragged. His face was swelling from being hit. Charlie’s eyes fixed on Aden’s torn work shirt. They were lit up by the red and blue dancing lights of a police cruiser.

  “Love you,” Charlie said, and passed out.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Tuesday night — 11:43 p.m.

  “So you’re in the hospital again.”

  Charlie wasn’t sure where the voice had come from. Wearing a hospital gown, he got up from his hospital bed and looked outside his room. There was a man standing at the end of the hallway. The man wore torn blue jeans and a faded T-shirt. His hair was deep chestnut. Charlie couldn’t tell how old he was — older than Charlie that’s for sure.

  “I’ve never been in the hospital before,” Charlie said.

  The man grinned.

  “’Cept that one time,” Charlie said. “But that was because of Sandy. She wanted me to . . .”

  The man laughed.

  “Want to take a walk?” the man asked.

  “I think I should stay here,” Charlie said. “My sister will be here soon and . . .”

  “Sandy?” the man asked. “She’s here.”

  The hallway faded away. Charlie was lying on a table. There was a man standing over him shouting orders to a woman who was handing him tools.

  “He’s regaining consciousness,” a woman near his head yelled.

  Charlie felt like his entire body was on fire. He tried to scream but there was a tube down his throat.

  “Put him under,” the man standing over him said. “Now!”

  Charlie was standing in the hallway again.

  “I didn’t see her,” Charlie said.

  The man laughed.

  “Dad,” Charlie said.

  “Yes, son,” Mitch Delgado said.

  “I was just checking to see if it was you,” Charlie said. “Am I dying?”

  “I doubt it,” Mitch said. “But I wouldn’t know.”

  “Where’s Sandy?” Charlie asked.

  “Waiting,” Mitch said. “Crying. O
’Malley’s there. Tiffanie.”

  “Tink?” Charlie asked.

  “Tink?” Mitch asked. “What’s a Tink?”

  “My girlfriend,” Charlie said.

  “Everyone’s there.” Mitch nodded. “The Oracle too. She says she warned you.”

  “Delphie?” Charlie asked. He thought for a moment before he nodded. “She told me that some people were mad at me for testifying.”

  Charlie thought for another moment.

  “Yeah, I guess she did warn me,” Charlie said.

  “You didn’t listen?” Mitch asked.

  “I’m sixteen.” Charlie grinned. “I think I’m invincible.”

  Mitch laughed. The scene changed. They were sitting in City Park under a big tree. A band was playing jazz music. Charlie knew there should be people here, but it was oddly empty. He squinted to look at the band stand. It was empty. He looked at his father.

  “I loved coming here to listen to music,” Mitch said. “Do you mind?”

  “Can I wear something else?” Charlie asked. He gestured to his bare behind. “The grass is chaffing my ass.”

  Mitch laughed. He snapped his fingers and Charlie was wearing jeans and a ragged T-shirt. He realized he looked almost identical to this man, his father. Charlie grinned and Mitch gave him a near identical grin back.

  “I loved you, Charlie,” Mitch said. “Most of all.”

  “What about Sissy?” Charlie asked.

  “I love your sister,” Mitch said. “But a daughter is different from a son. I wanted to see you grow up.”

  “Just me?”

  “Both of you,” Mitch said. “I . . . You can ask O’Malley.”

  “If you loved us?”

  Mitch nodded.

  “I know you loved us,” Charlie said.

  He looked down at the ground and marveled at how real it all felt. A warm summer breeze brought the fetid smell of goose poop to him. Charlie grinned.

  “How? How did you know I loved you?”

  “I remember,” Charlie said. He looked at Mitch. “I remember how much you loved us.”

  “You do?”

  Charlie nodded.

  “You’re mad I’m dead,” Mitch said in a matter-of-fact way.