by Alexie Aaron
A directed light momentarily blinded both men.
“I suggest you men leave this area. It’s private property. You are breaking the law,” Deputy Leidecker said with a very authoritative voice. “Leave now or I’ll have to arrest you.”
The man held the bottle and lit the cloth on top.
Faye pulled the cloth out of the bottle. The rag ignited but did little but scorch the mossy ground it fell upon.
The two separated. One ran towards the shed, the other the trailers. Both planning to circle around after the deputy left his post to chase one of them.
Instead, Deputy Leidecker picked up the radio. “String cheese, two assailants carrying incendiary devices on motel property.” He next called it in to the Sheriff’s Department dispatch. Deputy Leidecker drew the cellar doors closed, chained them shut, and locked the chain. He didn’t leave his post.
Jesse approached the deputy, calling out, “String cheese. Jesse Holden here to assist you. May I approach?”
“Yes, sir.”
They both heard the pounding of footsteps. “Cid Garrett heading into Cabin 4! The door’s standing open!” Cid shouted. “Watch your back.”
The explosion of Cabin 4 deafened Jesse and Deputy Leidecker. The heavy log construction of the back wall protected them from the heat of the fire that was blazing inside.
Cid found himself outside, laying on his back, with Luminosa hovering over him. “Put out the fire. Evidence in the cellar,” he told her.
Luminosa moved into what was left of the cabin. She pushed herself outwards until she filled the space, pushing out the air, becoming a cold solid sponge. The flames no longer had any oxygen to feed them and sputtered out. A sheen of ice cooled the timbers, quenching the heat within them. Luminosa moved back to the fallen man. She watched as he struggled to rise but fell back in frustration.
“Stop, be still, others are coming,” she said and disappeared.
Jesse got to his feet.
The deputy was already standing, shining his light around. Both of them witnessed the orange light of the blaze inside simply go out as if someone had turned off a switch.
“Well, that’s different,” Jesse said. Then he remembered that Cid was headed inside when the place blew. “Cid!” he said and started to move towards the front of the cabin. He stopped and shouted, because if he couldn’t hear, he doubted that the Deputy could, “Are you alright?”
“Go!” Leidecker shouted back.
Jesse ran and found Cid on his back, staring up at the night sky.
“Please don’t be dead!” Jesse said, kneeling down.
“Will you stop shouting,” Cid said. “You’re giving me a headache.”
“What happened?” Jesse asked.
“I ran into the cabin. It exploded, and I ended up out here. Luminosa put out the fire - don’t ask me how. I think I broke a rib when I landed.”
Wayne arrived with the EMTs. A few firemen jogged over and were surprised that the explosion hadn’t produced a fire. They left to continue to contain the blaze of the fully-engulfed storage shed.
“How’s Amy?” Jesse asked.
“She’ll live. What happened to Superman?” Wayne asked.
“He was in there when it exploded!” Jesse continued to talk loudly. “Deputy Leidecker and I were protected by those mega timbers, but he and I can’t hear very well, so you’re going to have to shout.”
“Where is he?” Wayne asked.
“Still there. Refuses to leave his post. If you go back there, use the code word or you’re a dead man,” Jesse exaggerated.
Sheriff Grady walked over and nodded to his entourage, “Relieve Leidecker, and make sure he gets checked out by the EMTs.”
“String cheese!” Jesse shouted. “Too late. I hope they don’t kill each other.”
“What’s he talking about?” Grady asked Wayne.
“It’s a code word that security set up. It’s so they would know friend from foe even in their transmissions.”
“Where can I find the security team?” Grady asked.
“Amy is on her way to the hospital. Jesse saved her from falling to her death after she was knocked on the head and pushed off the cliff over by the trailers. The other two were fighting the fire at the storage shed when this explosion happened.”
Grady walked up to the cabin and flashed his light inside. “Some of the floor over the crawl space is gone. Most of the ceiling is covering the floor over the cellar, so I wouldn’t go in there. And it’s icy cold in there. What the hell did they use? Antimatter?”
Cid wanted to explain the principles of antimatter and how it would have been impossible to use, but at the moment, a first responder was moving his jaw to see if it was broken.
“A nitrogen bomb?” Sheriff Grady was still guessing.
“It was one of these.” Deputy Leidecker ran over, handing Grady the dropped bottle.
“No, son, no Molotov cocktail I know of would produce ice crystals.
“Maybe it was an anomaly,” Leidecker insisted.
“Not the explosion, but it could be how the fire stopped?” he asked, looking down at Cid.
“I’d love to illuminate things… but…”
“Illuminate… illuminate… Luminosa,” Grady said.
Cid just closed his eyes and let the EMTs stabilize him.
“I’m going to give you something for the pain. You may fall asleep. Don’t fight it,” the paramedic suggested.
Cid was out seconds after the juice hit the IV.
“Lightweight,” Wayne smirked. “Damn, I better tell Kiki to call Cid’s emergency contact. He’s headed for the hospital. Why don’t you join him, Jesse, and get those ears checked out!”
“What?” Jesse said and followed obediently along with the EMTs as they carried Cid to the ambulance.
Faye watched as they took Cid and Jesse away. From her perspective, things looked under control, but they still hadn’t caught the attackers. She backtracked and followed the path the two took from the Forest Preserve road. Two state police vehicles had an empty SUV blocked in.
After a few hours, there still was no sign of the men who had caused so much damage. Faye figured that they must be lying low or had used the confusion of the fire to simply walk away. They had done their job, but thanks to Luminosa, they hadn’t destroyed the contents of the secret room. But that information was a well-guarded secret.
Chapter Twenty-four
Cid woke up in the orthopedic wing of the hospital. Kiki slept in a chair over by the window, her leg propped up with an ice bag on top of her bad knee. There was a bit of commotion outside his room. He listened and smiled as he heard two familiar voices.
“I’m not going to tell you again. I’m pregnant, but I’m not going to maternity. I’m not having a baby now! Ted, for effing sakes, deal with them.”
“She’s not done yet. Her belly button is still in.”
“Teddy Bear, that’s a butterball,” Mia said.
“Minnie Mouse, are you sure? Seems to me, Brian was early, and that’s why your belly button stayed in.”
“How can you be so smart and so stupid at the same time?” Mia asked.
“It’s a talent. Here’s his room. Now behave yourself,” Ted warned Mia.
Cid watched his two best friends walk through the door. It had only been a few days since he last saw her, but Mia’s belly seemed much larger. No wonder the staff thought she was ready to have her child. She ran over to the bed, took off her gloves, and grasped Cid’s good hand and closed her eyes.
“You’re going to get us kicked out,” Ted warned.
“Shush, I’m concentrating. Two busted ribs, your spleen is bruised, and you really should get those tonsils out,” Mia advised.
“Who’s the chick by the window?” Ted asked.
“My boss.”
Mia opened an eye and cast it in Kiki’s direction. “She’s okay, she’s one of us.”
Kiki opened her eyes to see a spectacle at Cid’s bed. A very tall, thin m
an with curly auburn hair was leaning over, looking at something, the very pregnant petite blonde was pointing out on Cid’s body.
“Does that mole look normal to you?” Mia asked Ted.
“When did either of you become a dermatologist?” Cid asked, although he was feeling much better. He swatted Ted’s hand away. “Get away from me, Doctor Frankenstein.”
“Ted read a book about it, settle down,” Mia said.
“It’s not a mole. It’s a blood blister,” Ted concluded. “Probably from the blast. Or the landing, or both.”
“Quit meddling,” Cid said.
Mia turned around. “Hello, Kiki, do you remember me?” Mia asked sweetly.
“Yes. You fixed me when I fell in the well.”
“See, someone appreciates my meddling. What happened to your knee?”
“I hurt it in the first explosion.”
“First explosion? You mean there has been more than one?” Mia asked, glaring in Cid’s direction. “Why does no one tell me things? I suppose Jake knew. When I get back, I’m going to fry his circuits.”
Kiki cleared her voice to calm Mia down. She spoke up, “Some hotshot operated on it already, but I wouldn’t mind a second opinion.”
Mia took her hand and closed her eyes for a moment. She then opened the brace, and her hand became very warm and then cold and tingly. “He did a good job; I’m just going to speed things along a wee bit.”
“How did you guys know I was here?” Cid asked.
“We’re your emergency contacts,” Ted said, fiddling with the bed’s controls. He set the remote down and got under the bed.
“Please leave the bed alone. It works just fine. Why is it vibrating? Ted! Mia, help,” Cid begged.
Mia waddled over and stuck her head down. “Teddy Bear, whatcha doing?”
“It occurred to me that I could make this bed better.”
“But if you make this one better, then you’ll have to make all the other beds better, and I really don’t have time for you to work on…”
“467 beds,” Ted calculated. “Yes, that could blow the day, and I know you’re hungry.”
“I could eat,” Mia said. “How about you, Kiki?”
“I’m always hungry.”
“Really. Me too,” Mia commiserated. “And it’s not just since Ted impregnated me with the Jolly Green Giant.”
Ted sucked in his gut and pulled his pants away from his waist. “It’s large, but I wouldn’t call it…”
“Ted! For heaven’s sake!” Cid was flustered beyond belief.
“Minnie Mouse, my penis is not green.”
“Ted, I was talking about our child.”
“He’s not going to be green is he?” Ted asked, concerned.
“It was a meta… oh, nevermind. We’re hungry, feed us,” Mia demanded. “Cid, we’ll bring you back something.”
“Kiki, you take your time. We’ll meet you at the main entrance,” Mia said. “Oh, and use the crutches while you’re here, you won’t need them by the time you get home.”
Cid waited until he heard the Martins were safely in the elevator before addressing Kiki. “You called them, didn’t you?”
“They’re your emergency contacts.”
“They are, after my parents. You just wanted to meet Ted.”
Kiki’s face told the truth before she did. “Of course, he’s amazing. If you’ll excuse me, the Martins are waiting. I have so many questions. I hope Ted likes to talk about himself.”
Cid almost choked on his words, “You may have to persuade him.”
“I’m going to do my best. I’ll see you after lunch,” she said, testing out her knee, very pleased with herself. She picked up her crutches and went through the motions as she left the room.
Cid lifted his gown and looked at the spot. “Maybe I should get that looked at.”
~
Calvin walked the lot with the fire inspector. “We have determined that the shed and Cabin 4 are all the result of arson. I’m not exactly sure what they used on the cabin - maybe the walls were treated with something - but they did burn briefly. The floor seems sound enough to clear out the ceiling debris, but I’d have your contractor replace it.”
“I’m thinking of knocking it down. I don’t think we can adequately weatherproof it in time for the big freeze. The logs held, but a lot of the stuff in-between is cracked if it’s not missing.”
“I assume the site is insured.”
“Yes. I believe we have a rider for vandalism. I never in a hundred years believed that someone would do something like this.”
“It’s criminal.”
“It’s bad.”
“No, I mean it’s criminal. If caught, I would suggest to the prosecutor to put attempted murder on the table.”
“All I wanted to do was build a place for art to be created, bringing culture to Stepner.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. I’ll be available at this number,” the inspector said. “I’ll have the report filed within the week. I wish you luck, Mr. Franks.”
Calvin was heading for the construction office when a lightly tooted horn from an approaching car stopped him. He turned around. Macy Eggleston rolled down her window. Mr. Franks, can I have a word?”
“Didn’t my assistant call you to reschedule?”
“Yes, he did. I just wanted a quote regarding the fire and explosion, for the paper.”
“Write that I don’t know why someone is so against bringing culture to the upper Midwest. So against it, that they burned my materials and bombed one of the cabins. It’s beyond repair.”
“Will do. How many were hurt?”
“Amy Dubois would have fallen to her death if it wasn’t for the heroic actions of Jesse Holden and Wayne Shipley. Also, Cid Garrett was injured when the cabin he was trying to save blew up. I understand he is recovering nicely. I credit his health to the care of the first responders of Stepner County. Off the record, he will be available for our rescheduled meeting on Saturday.”
“Thank you, that ought to do it.”
“Miss Eggleston.”
“Yes?”
“Would there be an opportunity for me to visit with your paperboy soon?” Calvin asked.
Macy was surprised by the request but quickly recovered. “Yes. I can’t guarantee his showing up, but it’s not unusual to see him just before the sun sets. I’ll be at the paper this evening if you wish to take a chance.”
“Thank you, I’d like that.”
“Before I forget,” Macy said, “If you’re going to the fourth floor, take the stairs.”
Macy arrived at Cid’s room to find it full of well-wishers. Jesse and Wayne had just brought in a few extra chairs after Jesse charmed the head nurse into letting the party continue.
Kiki greeted her at the door. “Thank God, another woman!”
Cid looked over. “Everyone, this is Macy Eggleston. She’s the managing editor of the Stepner Gazette.”
The room burst into spontaneous applause. Macy turned red. “I’m not sure what that’s for. I inherited the position, pure nepotism.”
“Still, a real, live, profitable paper in this day and age is some feat,” Kiki said.
“Macy, the two entwined people in the corner are my best friends Mia and Ted Martin. Jesse Holden and Wayne Shipley. And you know Kiki,” Cid assumed.
“Actually, no. I met your twin yesterday at the boutique.”
“Then I hope you’ll let me tell my side of every story,” Kiki said.
“I’ll let you do it off the record. How’s that?”
Mia waddled over. “It’s nice to meet you, Macy. I’m headed for the bathroom.”
“Why don’t you use Cid’s bathroom?” Macy asked.
“Because they listen and then clap when I’m finished,” Mia warned her.
The room booed.
“It was funny the first time, but by the fourth and fifth, it got old,” Mia complained and left the room.
“Here, Macy, take my chair,” Ted said.
“I’m more of a leaner anyway.”
“When is your baby due?” she asked Ted.
“Would you believe a month from now?”
“No. Your poor wife,” Macy said. “I’d slug you, but there are too many witnesses.”
Ted smiled and turned to Cid. “I like her. I like her a lot. Can we take her home with us?”
“No, she stays here,” Cid said firmly. “You have other toys at home. Mechanical toys. Not to mention a very talkative son.”
“Oh yeah, what’s his name?”
“His name is Brian,” Mia said, walking back in. “Brian Stephen Cid Martin to be exact. Cid’s one of Brian’s godfathers,” Mia said proudly.
“You said he was talkative?” Kiki asked. “More than Ted?”
“Yup.”
“Oh, you poor woman. Maybe you should stay here with us,” Kiki offered.
Mia smiled at Ted. “See, and you were worried they wouldn’t like me.”
The room booed Ted, much to the amusement of Cid.
“Okay, I have to ask it. Have you guys been drinking?” Macy asked.
Each person answered for themselves. “Nope,” Ted said.
“Can’t,” Mia said, making a sad face.
“Not yet,” Wayne said.
“Soon,” Kiki vowed.
“Aren’t you sorry you asked?” Jesse said, blatantly pulling out a flask.
“I hear you’re a hero,” Macy said. “Care to comment on your rescue of Amy Dubois?”
“In front of these jokers?”
“Well, yes.”
“No.”
“How about you, Mr. Shipley?”
“It was like this: I ran around the trailer just in time to see Jesse dive off the cliff. His body was secured by a rope tied half-assed to a pry bar. I had to pull him up to show him how to properly tie a knot, and who should be connected to this loser, but Amy Dubois.”
Jesse smiled drunkenly. “That sounds familiar.”
Macy jotted down a few notes. “Now if the rest of you would like to hear Amy’s story, here it is:
‘I was patrolling the perimeter of the High Court property when a call came in that we had hostiles to deal with. I alerted the contractors on-site and asked them to stay in the office trailer so that we would not mistake them for the infiltrators. I continued my patrol. It was so dark that my flashlight barely cut into the blackness. I stopped to see if I could get better light out of it when I was hit on the head and tossed off the cliff. As I fell, I twisted around and managed to catch hold of a tree root. I was losing my hold when Jesse Holden risked his life and crawled out and hung upside down to reach me. Wayne Shipley pulled us both up to safety. Wayne took care of my head wound until the first responders reached us. Jesse ran to help the lone deputy on assignment at Cabin 4. I owe my life to Jesse Holden and Wayne Shipley.’”