Tearing The Shroud

by JM Bray

The lawyer shook his hand, his mouth working silently. Finally, he asked, ‘Mr Wood?’

  ‘In the flesh.’ Justus chuckled.

  Andrew blinked rapidly then turned to a second man. ‘This is Jose Herrera, Vice President of JCorp.’

  Jose shifted his shock into a smile as he offered his hand. ‘It’s a pleasure, Mr Wood.’

  ‘Jose.’ Justus held his eyes. ‘Vice President. The President is whom?’

  ‘Stanley Johnson. Unfortunately he was, ah, previously engaged today.’

  ‘I see. He’s engaged with...?’

  ‘Golf,’ Jose said quietly. ‘He has a standing golf game every Thursday.’

  ‘Golf?’ Justus searched his memory. Hitting a little ball with clubs.

  Jose cleared his throat. ‘Yes, Mr Wood.’

  ‘It’s unfortunate he couldn’t be here.’ Justus nodded. ‘It isn’t every day a man experiences being removed from employment.’

  ‘Removed?’ Jose asked.

  Justus shrugged. ‘Since golf is so important to him, we should give him more time to play.’

  ‘You can just fire him?’ Jose blinked.

  ‘There are many things I can do, but let’s inquire. Andrew, can I just fire him?’

  The lawyer paled. ‘The terms of the Trust are specific, and I correctly verified your ownership of Bill Wilson’s holdings. You need to sign a few documents, but essentially, you own seventy-five percent of JCorp. You may terminate who you wish, sir.’

  ‘Terminate, such a lovely word.’ Justus grinned. ‘JCorp is without a president. Andrew, what are we to do?’

  ‘I suppose you could fill the position.’

  Justus waved his hand. ‘I own the company; why would I wish that on myself?’

  ‘Mr Wood, I believe I’m the man you need,’ Jose said.

  Justus looked at him for a long moment and nodded. ‘Yes, I believe you are.’ He offered his hand. ‘The position is yours with a ten percent increase over Stanley’s salary. Now, let’s see to those papers and a renewal of the trust.’

  ‘Of course, Mr Wood, easily done,’ Andrew said.

  ‘Grand. Afterward, I have some shopping to do. Any suggestions where I might obtain new clothing? Though I do enjoy this ensemble, I could use business attire.’

  ‘Yes, sir. I know just the place,’ Jose said.

  Chapter 34

  Friday

  Vinni drank his orange juice while sitting at the kitchen counter. The dim light of dawn created a chiaroscuro around the appliances as the night became day. Jule touched his arm. ‘So, nothing?’

  He turned to his friends. ‘Not since last night.’

  ‘You’re sure it was the Tearer and not something else?’ Knife asked again.

  ‘The Matriarch told me I’d know when power is used here, that I’d feel it. That had to be what happened; it was violently unmistakable.’ He rested his hand on Jule’s.

  Between worry, anticipation, and his desire to start tracking the target, none of them had slept much. Classes would have to wait. Today, resting was paramount. Vinni hoped the next time wouldn’t be as dramatic but didn’t want to take the chance that he might start screaming in the middle of a History class.

  The phone rang and Flea answered it.

  ‘Hello? — Hi, Mr Brown. — No, nothing since it happened. — Okay, we’ll be sure. Yep, you too. — Okay.’ He hung up the line. ‘Mr Brown. Wondering how things stood.’

  Knife shook his head. ‘I always thought he was just an eccentric shopkeeper.’

  ‘I know huh,’ Flea said. ‘Who’da thought?’

  Knife stared at the window. ‘Maybe I should have gone to school in Seattle.’

  Jule sighed. ‘I’m scared too.’

  ‘That isn’t what I meant. Well, yeah, I am more frightened than I’ve ever been. I was talking about this weather.’

  ‘And I thought Lompoc fog was bad.’ Flea shook his head.

  ‘Is that where you’re from?’ Jule asked.

  He nodded. ‘Where the sludge meets the surf, under the fog.’

  ‘That bad?’ Jule asked

  ‘No, not really. I wouldn’t mind being there now.’ Flea scratched his jaw.

  ‘Maybe we can all go once...’ Vinni said. His throat closed off and no amount of trying would open it.

  Jule put her hand on his back and the little group fell silent.

  Vinni sat in a chair in the main room, with his back to the window. The swirling gray outside them had started making him feel dizzy. He’d finished his Psych reading and picked up his notebook. Flipping to a blank page he drew a line that became the jaw of an oval face with a slightly pointed chin. A beautiful woman started to emerge from the paper. Feelings of love warmed him against an aching loneliness blowing on his heart’s door.

  She had a thin nose and sleepy eyes that sparkled with mischief. Her generous mouth held a secret smile, while her eyebrows arched knowingly. A widow’s peak shaped the long, dark hair that tumbled around her graceful neck.

  He finished by smudging highlights in her hair then sat back.

  ‘I didn’t know you could draw,’ Jule said from his shoulder. ‘Wait, I know her.’

  ‘I don’t know how to draw,’ Vinni said. ‘Coleman does. This is his love, Jolie.’ Vincent quietly experienced Coleman’s longing, respect, and love for the women firsthand.

  ‘She held you when you came to us.’

  ‘Yes.’ He couldn’t take his eyes from the drawing.

  Jule hugged him gently, her cheek near his. ‘You’ll see her again. We’ll make sure of it.’

  ‘You think so?’

  ‘I know so.’

  Vinni set the pad down and stiffened. ‘The Tearer is using power.’

  Chapter 35

  Friday Afternoon

  Justus entered the immaculately clean home he had left twelve years before; nothing had changed. The driver carried in the boxes of clothes Justus had purchased. Upon seeing his size, Justus queried him about his past during their drive. Sebastian had played college football but lost a chance at a professional career due to a knee injury. Not that he cared, the man was just another servant, but servants were something he lacked at the moment so he feigned interest.

  ‘Put those on the couch.’ Justus waved his hand.

  ‘Yes, sir. Will that be all, Mr Wood?’ he asked after arranging the packages. ‘Sir, would you like my card in case you need me again?’

  Justus raised an eyebrow at the huge dark-skinned man. ‘No, Sebastian, I want you, now.’

  ‘You...want me, sir?’

  ‘Precisely. I’d like you to be my footman.’

  ‘Footman, sir?’

  ‘Yes, one who attends to my safety and needs while out and about — a footman.’

  ‘A bodyguard then. Not a butler?’

  ‘No, though I will need one.’

  Sebastian waited quietly.

  ‘A bodyguard, yes; I like the sound of that.’ He nodded. ‘Are you available?’

  ‘When would you like me, sir?’

  ‘Permanently, of course.’

  ‘Full time might be expensive, sir.’

  ‘Money means nothing, especially when it comes to personal care, Sebastian. You are on a stipend currently?’

  ‘I’m paid by the hour, sir.’ Sebastian nodded his head once.

  ‘What’s your rate?’

  ‘Ten dollars an hour, sir.’

  ‘Let’s make that thirty.’ He did the math quickly. ‘That makes five thousand and forty dollars a week.’

  ‘Five thousand dollars? You want me to work all the time?’ Sebastian’s deep voice raised.

  ‘Of course not. I want you available when I need you. When I don’t, the time is yours to use as you wish.’ He gestured at the five thousand square foot ranch home. ‘This house isn’t large enough for us both; we’ll find suitable lodgings for you nearby.’

  ‘I, I don’t...know what to say, sir.’

  ‘And I don’t like to be kept waiting.’ He shook a finger at h
im.

  ‘Yes. Yes, sir. I’d like the job.’

  ‘Grand. You start today. Park your automobile in the garage.’

  ‘Sir, the limo belongs to the company I work for.’

  Justus waved his hand and walked down the hallway. ‘Arrange for them to pick it up, and obtain something suitable. Use your best judgment.’

  ‘Sir?’ Sebastian called, and Justus turned around. ‘Where do I get the money, and what’s your budget?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Give me a few moments, and I’ll retrieve the funds. As to how much, what did I tell you earlier?’

  ‘Nothing is too costly when it comes to personal care?’

  There was hope yet. ‘That’s a good man.’ Justus wound his way through the large house, finally coming to the end of the hall near the master suite. He raised his arms, recalling the pattern of wards he’d placed. Had they held? Justus spoke the sibilant words in a breathy stream, ‘Fudthasstoos lingastaan.’ He moved his hands in an arc, opening the portal to the storeroom, and stepped down the stairs.

  His riches were intact. Nodding with satisfaction, he ran his finger casually across one of the cash boxes, magically splitting the seals. He took six stacks of bills, slipping one in his pocket, retrieved a .45 semiautomatic pistol, checked to see that it was loaded, and exited the room. He resealed the door and went back to Sebastian, who waited patiently.

  ‘Sebastian, I demand the utmost loyalty, discretion, and obedience from my staff. Some of my activities might not appear particularly legal, but when I require something done, do it without question. One hesitation on your part will result in...termination. Are we clear?’ He looked into the man’s dark eyes.

  ‘Yes, sir, we’re clear. I grew up rough; I know how to take care of business.’ He didn’t flinch from Justus’ unnerving stare.

  ‘Good then I assume you know how to use this?’ He handed him the gun.

  Sebastian nodded and slipped it in the waist of his pants.

  ‘Here is fifty thousand dollars for the car. If that isn’t enough, make it a deposit, and see me for the rest. If you need references, call Mr Ross.’

  ‘Yes, sir, I have his card.’

  ‘I know you do. I saw you ask for it, which is partially why we are having this conversation. I will need transportation this evening.’

  ‘Yes, sir. I’ll take the limo to the dealership and leave it there for them.’

  Justus nodded. ‘Initiative, that’s the spirit.’

  A Search

  Vinni stood up and looked eastward beyond the walls of the room. The power being used pounded like a large machine at some far off construction site, dull but solid, then it simply stopped.

  ‘Are they still doing it?’ Jule asked.

  ‘They’re...no, it’s gone,’ Vinni said.

  Knife stood, quietly watching him.

  He pointed to the east. ‘It’s out that direction, less than ten miles. And I have no idea how I know that.’

  ‘They started again?’ Knife asked.

  ‘I can still feel it, like an afterimage from a flash. But no power bei — wait.’ He pointed again. ‘There, in the same spot, just a little blip.’ He started toward the bedrooms. ‘There’s a second afterimage. I bet I could drive to the exact spot!’

  ‘Now? Right now?’ Jule asked, following him, Knife on her heels.

  Vinni didn’t slow, turning down the stairs. ‘Yes, right now,’ he said calmly.

  ‘But aren’t you rushing into this? What if it’s a trap?’

  Flea came to his door. ‘Hey, what’s up?’

  Knife said as he passed, ‘Vinni feels the Tearer and is going after him; Jule’s panicked.’

  ‘I’m not panicked.’ Her voice rang down the hall. ‘I’m being cautious.’

  ‘Make that cautious.’ Knife said.

  Flea rushed after them into Vinni’s room as he took his shirt off and tossed it on the bed. ‘What are you doing?’ Jule asked. ‘Can’t — ’

  ‘I’m changing; the pants go next.’ He unbuttoned his jeans.

  ‘Gahhh.’ Jule turned around and crossed her arms. ‘Listen for a second. You can’t just run in, swinging swords, and hope everything will work out.’

  ‘Jule, they just arrived, and I’ve got a location. Maybe they don’t know about me; now may be our best chance.’

  She walked out and turned left without speaking.

  ‘Jule.’ He leaned out the door. ‘Jule,’ he called as she turned into her room. He shook his head and stalked to his closet, dressing in black cargo pants and a t-shirt from U2’s War tour. Vincent buckled the sheaths around his legs and locked the wakizashi into place. He sat to put on his shoes, and when he looked up, Jule was standing in the doorway. She’d changed clothes and wore a tight black t-shirt and a long peasant skirt. She carried a light jean jacket and had her harness on, knives lined up along her ribs.

  He started to speak, but Coleman stopped him.

  But —

 

  I hate it when you’re right.

 

  ‘Coming along?’ Vinni asked her.

 

  ‘Yes, and you’re not stopping me!’ she said.

  ‘I wasn’t going to. It’ll be good to have you come.’

  She sputtered, the unused argument dying on her lips. ‘Well...okay then.’

  Vinni spoke gently, ‘One thing, though, Jule. This is a mission, not a discussion. If I tell you something, please, just do it. Yes?’

  She nodded, mollified by his understanding. ‘You say run, I’ll run.’

  ‘And if I say, ‘Kill him?’’ he asked.

  ‘I’ll...’ She paled, setting her jaw. ‘I’ll try to do it.’

  ‘That’s all I can ask.’ He walked toward the door and gave her a peck on the cheek.

  ‘We’ll hold down the fort,’ Flea said as he and Knife followed them up the stairs.

  ‘I’ll get the med supplies ready, just in case,’ Knife said.

  ‘Call Mr Brown and tell him what’s up.’ He grabbed the trench coat from the closet and put it on. Jule slipped on her jean jacket, concealing her knives. They looked like a regular young couple going out for the evening.

  ‘You gonna be okay in the skirt?’ he asked.

  She tapped the outside of her legs and he heard the clunk of metal. Vinni vibrated with a tumult of pre-battle emotions and, like anyone heading into danger, resorted to what was comfortable. For this little troop, that was irony and humor.

  He grinned crookedly at her. ‘Armed to the teeth...or thighs, as the case may be.’

  ‘You like my killer thighs, huh?’

  He gestured toward the garage. ‘After you, Bonnie.’

  ‘Thank you, Clyde,’ she said with a smile.

  They made their way to Rosecrans Drive, heading east. As they passed the Naval Training Center, the afterimage shone like a beacon somewhere beyond it. The speed of the car upset Coleman, but he held his panic in check. At Barnett, they made a right and followed it to the Pacific Coast Highway. Vinni sensed the location on the hills above the freeway, so he followed the frontage road to the corner of Washington. They stopped at the light to turn left.

  A man in ragged clothes stood near their car, holding a cardboard sign. Vinni read it and chuckled.

  Who am I kiddin’?

  Need money for beer.

  ‘Jule, grab some coupons from the glove box, please,’ he said while rolling down the window. She handed him gift certificates for a fast food restaurant, and he held them out. Vinni smiled. ‘No good for beer, sorry.’

  The man took them, grinning; his teeth were brilliantly white. ‘Thank you, Son.’

  The light turned, and Vinni said, ‘Take care.’

  As the man watched them speed away, he said, ‘Go in strength, Vinni. May your arms be guided.’ The sign and his rumpled clothing fell softly to the ground as he disappeared.

  East on Washington led them into Mission Hills. ‘W
e’ll have to circle around at the top of the hill. Man, it’s right over there somewhere.’ He pointed to the left.

  ‘We’ll find it, sweetie.’

  The road curved south, so Vinni turned left on Goldfinch then again on Fort Stockton. ‘We’re heading straight at it.’ The street wandered back into the neighborhood until ending at an intersection. The signal grew stronger; then, as quickly as it had come, it disappeared. Vinni was so intent on what had happened that he continued straight ahead.

  ‘Vinni!’ Jule yelled.

  He slammed on the brakes, and they screeched to a stop inches from the curb. ‘It’s okay, calm down.’

  ‘I’m all right. Don’t worry,’ she said.

  He smiled. ‘Sorry, Coleman’s going nuts. You all right?’

  She giggled and nodded. ‘What happened?’

  ‘The afterimage just went away.’ He pointed out the driver’s window. ‘It’s over here, somewhere nearby. Maybe a few blocks.’

  ‘I guess it only lasts for a while. Should we wait?’

  ‘Yeah, let’s cruise around; maybe something will happen again.’

  They made circuits of the area for the next two hours. Darkness fell, and still nothing happened.

  ‘At least we know the area,’ he said finally.

  ‘I have it memorized.’

  Vinni chuckled. ‘Let’s head back. The guys are probably worried.’

  ‘I’m getting a little hungry, too,’ she said. Her stomach growled loudly, making the point. ‘Sorry. Going back sounds good.’

  As they drove along the narrow street, they met a new, black Mercedes 500 SEL coming the opposite way, so Vincent pulled over to let it pass. The driver waved thanks.

  ‘Nice car,’ Jule said as they drove back to the house.

  Chapter 36

  A Meeting

  Someone stepped from a shadowed corner of the study and Justus gasped, clutching his chest. ‘What...I...’

  The Master strolled to the back of the couch. He wore a dark silk suit with a light shirt, his hair pulled into a short ponytail.

  A soft knock sounded at the study door.

  ‘Mr Wood, are you okay?’ Sebastian asked through it.