by J. R. Bowles
“Uh, what do you want? Kosher?”
“Don't matter. I don't practice. I'll have whatever you're having.”
“I'm having steak. How do you want your's cooked?”
“Well done. I'm not to much on eating blood.”
“Yes room service, I would like to order two steaks. One well done and the other one rare. Oh, and do you have a good sharp steak knives sometimes rare steaks can be pretty tough.” Thomas paused. “Good, thank you.” He paused again and placed his hand over the receiver. “Broccoli and bake potato, okay?”
Bernie nodded.
“Broccoli and baked potato for both.” He said into the phone and then to Bernie “What do you want to drink?”
Bernie shrugged. “Coffee and strong. I think I'll need it.”
“A pot of extra strong coffee. Thank you.”
CHAPTER 44
Zolar had been awaken earlier by ambulance sirens. He leaned back in the chair and thought about what he had seen from the window. The corner suite made it difficult for him to get a good view of what had happened but he had seen Jackie, she had been talking with a group of people he didn’t recognize.
He was pretty sure his speculation that these people she was with were either, other centers or connected in someway.
There had been one man who was the focal point of all their attention. He must be the Avatar, he told himself. The man had leaned over someone lying on the sidewalk but the crowd was so dense he hadn’t been able to tell what was happening.
He had ran down to the front of the building half dressed to try and reach Jackie but when he got there he hadn’t been able to find her.
Bernie was becoming frightened, he could tell from the sound of his voice on the phone. He couldn’t much blame Bernie, he was having his own doubts. The thing that bothered him the most was the feeling he got that Bernie no longer trusted him. Well, he couldn’t blame him for that either.
What should he do? He was tired of just sitting and waiting but since Jackie had been in front of the hotel and she hadn't contacted them, maybe it meant that the others were staying at the hotel too.
Maybe he should go down to the front desk and ask a few questions. Hey why not, he certainly wasn't accomplishing anything by sitting here and in just a few more hours the next center would open.
He wasn't sure but he thought it was going to be Bernie and Bernie must have realized it. That was why he had acted the way he had. Why was Bernie going to be the Heart Center, he thought.
“Hi,” Zolar said as he approached the front desk.
“Good evening sir, what can I do for you?”
I'm in luck, Zolar thought, he's the one that checked us in, hope he remembers us. Probably will but after the hard time we gave him he might not be so amicable as to provide any information.
“Well I hope so.” Zolar began. “I checked in several days ago with a man and a woman, uh, I was wondering if you remember us?”
“Certainly sir,” Rudy answered tightening his lips to a thin line.
Oh shit, Zolar thought, he's going to be closed mouthed. Maybe a different approach and read his name tag.
“Rudy,” Zolar smiled, “I thought you only worked during the day? Are they trying to work you to death?”
“Sometimes I feel like it,” Rudy said letting down his guard. “The incident with the car, you saw that didn't you?” Rudy paused as Zolar nodded. “Well wouldn't you just know it, I mean if I don't have all the bad luck, but my relief was one of the people hit by the car. He was coming in to pick up his pay check and they ask me to work a double shift. Tiring but then again I don't mind too much, I'll get eight hours of over time in and the money is always handy.” He paused and smiled brightly towards Zolar's apparent friendly overture. “Of course all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Uh oh, Zolar thought, I better not be to friendly but if he's been here all day then he's probably seen everybody that's come in or gone out.
“I heard that,” Zolar grinned at him. “Everybody's got to play now and then.”
“That's right, that's why we work so hard. You got to pay to play.” Rudy felt pleased with his own little pun.
“I haven't played all day.” Zolar insinuated cryptically by stressing the word played. “My friends just took off and left me all by myself.”
“Pauvre choice,” Rudy said in french and added “poor thing.”
“Mais Oui,” Zolar retorted. “It's hard to tell who they are running around with.”
“You're right,” Rudy's hands became animated, “I hope you weren't to serious with them, I mean,” and swished his hands in the air, “he was with that cute little preacher number.”
Preacher? Zolar thought, he had been worried about Jackie. Why was Bernie with a preacher?
“Is that right, well that little bitch.” Zolar said placing his hand on his hip. “I ought to scratch his eyes out. “
”I know what you mean. Seems like nobody's faithful these days.” Rudy said and then decided to pry. “It's none of my business but what about the girl, I mean, did you have a manage-a-tois going?”
Zolar just raised his eyebrows and tightened his lips and shrugged as if to tell Rudy he had hit the nail on the head.
“Speaking of her, have you seen Jackie?” Zolar asked trying to sound casual and not letting his inner turmoil show.
“I sure did, and honey you're probably better off without that tramp. I think she's moved into the big time.”
“The big time?”
“Well I mean she's running around with a big group, two black guys, three white guys and two women. I think one of the women is an Indian or something, I'm not too sure. But let me say, they're in to something that's either so weird you don't want to know or it's the kinkiest thing I've ever seen.”
“Why what happened?” Zolar's interest was to the point that he wanted to quit this charade and find out what Rudy knew but he decided he had better play it cool. “That sounds like something Jackie would get her self mixed up in. What's the down and dirty details?” He leaned over the counter and patted the back of Rudy's hand as it rested on the desk. He allowed himself to enter Rudy's space, the scared space that people keep around themselves.
Rudy smiled and left his hand there. “Well there was this one guy and I sort of liked him and I had this feeling that he was havable, if you know what I mean.” Zolar nodded.
“Well I followed him yesterday, so I could sort just accidentally run into him, you know, like, surprise meeting you here, type of thing. So I followed him and we ended up down in Battery Park. Well, he had been following this black guy and then this other guy showed up and this other guy tried to stab him, stab the white guy that is. Suddenly I felt like I had taken acid or something and I had this really bizarre experience, like an acid trip or something.
Rudy paused for a gulp of air and glanced around to make sure that nobody had entered the lobby and then continued.
“Well like I was saying, when I came out of it, it only lasted about a minute, but when I came out of it everybody was herded together and brought back here to the hotel. I think everyone of them are staying at the hotel. Well ....”
Zolar didn't want to hear any graphic details but didn't let Rudy know that. He nodded. “Well?”
Rudy grinned. “Nothing happened. Well not quite nothing. He took me back to his room and started to question me. It was like some kind of interrogation or something. Like who I was, and how long I had known any of the others and that type of thing. He stripped down to his briefs and paraded around in front of me just teasing me. He's the real strong forceful type, if you know what I mean. He run around in his underwear and teased me and kept asking me what I knew and what I had seen. It felt like the Grand Inquisition or something. I mean I wouldn't have told him anything, it’s against hotel policy to talk about the guests, but he kept flaunting that big thing practically in front of my nose. I just couldn't help telling him everything he wanted to know. He's so masterful.”
/> He paused, leaned over the counter, took a deep gulp of air and began to whisper. “When this guy Michael checked in he was a bum, I mean a real bum. Stunk, dirty, the whole nine yards and then he cleaned himself up. Cleaned up real nice I might add. Well then I started checking, hey you never know with some of these types, who knows where he got the money, might have killed somebody or something, I was just trying to protect the hotel.”
He again stopped for air and leaned back as if to pop his spine back into place from too many long hours of standing.
“I mean he was a bum. Then suddenly he started paying with credit cards and bank vouchers. Well I just had to check into it. Can't be to careful. The guy is loaded. I mean more than just his pants, with money too. The guy must be worth millions and here he had been running around like some bum or something.”
“Millions!” Zolar said imitating Rudy's enthusiasm.
“Yeah, millions. Well anyway I couldn't really tell him much about the other people. I mean, I didn't know much. Uh, I did tell him about the three of you. Hope you don't mind. I didn't tell him you were all involved just that you were all together.”
“That's okay, no problem. How about Bernie? You said he was with a preacher?
“Yeah they went up earlier to the preacher's room earlier this evening. Your friend Bernie stopped to ask me about the incident outside and the preacher just waited for him over there.” He pointed toward the elevator. “They went up and I haven't seen them since and I've been here all evening without a break.”
“How about Jackie, our girl friend, have you seen her?”
“I would say so. Her and their entourage came back about an hour ago. She was still with them. You haven't seen her today?”
“No.”
“Well, they all came in, didn't even look my way. Bunch of snobs if you ask me. Uh, uh, I mean, I don't mean to imply that your friend is a snob. I just meant ... .”
“That's okay, I understand. By the way what time do you get off work.”
Rudy smiled his most famous smile “Oh, at eleven, that is if I get relieved on time.”
“Would you like to come up for a drink or something?” Zolar returned his smile.
“Well, we're not suppose to but I would love it. Let's see, you're in the suite on the second floor, am I correct?”
“Yes, I am. You have a great little memory to.” Zolar flattered and glanced at his watch. “I'm going to go grab a shower and order us some drinks see you in about an hour?”
“Sounds lovely.”
“What do you drink.”
“Any thing as long as it's sweet.”
“Daiquiri?”
“I would like that. Bye-bye, see you in a while.”
“Bye.” Zolar said and headed back to the elevator.
So he had been right, they were staying in the hotel, Zolar thought. He wondered who this preacher was that Billy had hooked up with.
He got off the elevator and went to their suite. He hated to lead Rudy on like that but he needed to find out what was going on. He just hoped Rudy knew the room numbers to where the preacher was staying. He had been in the room next to the Avatar so there was no question to that. It would be nice if he had a pass key to all of the rooms. It might just come in handy.
CHAPTER 45
Michael sat listening to music. It was getting close to eleven and he had stayed in all day.
He wished he had a drink but he didn't want to impair his mind. He needed to think clearly.
He had learned from Rudy that the girl Jackie had been staying with two guys here in the hotel. Rudy had said one of them was a mixed oriental so it must be Zolar. His detectives had kept up with them. It had taken several days to read the reports they had kept even while he had amnesia. Michael had paid the detective firm well in advance and often went for years without contacting them. He had always called them for information and they held it until they heard from him.
His little buddy Rudy had been more help that he had realized. He had actually enjoyed teasing the little fellow. He almost laughed out loud remembering how Rudy's eyes had widened when he paraded around in his underwear. Teased him and watched his mouth water and then cut him cold. He had enjoyed that immensely.
He sighed. Just over an hour until the next opening. He would go over and see John about eleven thirty. “Just sort of stopped by to see how you are John,” he would say. “After last night I was worried. Would have checked earlier today but he had some business to take care of that just couldn't be put off.”
Well that wasn't a lie. He had been on the phone most of the day. He had arranged reservations for all of them at the Hotel Roanoke and booked plane reservations for the morning of June thirtieth. By then they would be ready to go. They needed to be in Roanoke for the last center's opening. They had to get back to the source of energy.
No doubt about it they had to be there but he would be ready. He would watch John to see how John would choose and if he didn't choose correctly then he would have no choice but to kill him. He hoped he didn't have to kill his long time friend but if he had to he wouldn’t have any choice. If John made the wrong choice then he would have to die.
He had arranged that today also. He would be ready and if John chose wrong, then and there he would kill him. It was going to be difficult and he himself may very well die.
Yes, he nodded to himself, he had the weapon. It was the only one that would kill John after the center opened.
CHAPTER 46
The Reverend Thomas Lamb paced around the couch staring down at Bernie's sleeping body.
Thank God, he thought, Bernie had ordered the coffee and took the stuff with cream and sugar. That had just what Thomas had needed to put the ground up sleeping pills in.
He certainly didn't want to do this but he didn't know what else he could do.
He stare at the steak knife still lying on the table where they had eaten. He had hid it when Bernie had went to the bathroom. That was the same time he had added the pills to the coffee. He put the pills in the entire pot so he had nothing to drink but what was a little thirst when you were doing the Lords work.
“Lord help me”, he prayed aloud. Could he really cut Bernie's heart out. “If thy eye offend thee cut it out.” He recited.
Bernie had been asleep for over an hour now and he kept putting it off. He glanced at his watch it was almost eleven. He had to do it before twelve.
His stomach growled and he patted it. Another small sacrifice for the Lord, he told himself. After he had hid the knife he didn't want to ask Bernie to use his knife so he had pretended that he had lost his appetite and just ate the potato and broccoli.
“Take this cup from me, oh Lord.” He prayed. “Thou shall not kill,” he whispered.
“Is it not better to enter the kingdom of heaven with out an eye, or heart,” he added, “than to not enter at all.” Surely God would have mercy on their souls. Bernie for being the sacrificial lamb. Sacrificed to stop the Beast. And surely he would have mercy on him for this murder he was about to commit.
He kept pacing around, and around Bernie. Watching him sleep so innocent so unknowing of what would happen.
He picked up the knife and felt the blade. It wasn't all that sturdy but it was sharp. If he stabbed him before he cut his heart out would Bernie wake up before he died. He didn't know if he could stand to see Bernie's eyes as he did the deed. What if he cut his throat first would he still wake up?
With knife in hand he continued his mental turmoil and paced around and around.
CHAPTER 47
“OH CALCUTTA.” Jackie exclaimed.
“You got it.” Billy answered. “Your turn.”
They had been playing charades for several hours trying to pass the time and relieve some of the anxiety they had been feeling.
They were still together, Jamal, Mindy, Azid, Jackie, Billy, Morgan and John but they hadn't talked about what had happened in front of the hotel.
It was like an unspoken vow they had taken.
Mindy had asked if they minded if she smoked and surprisingly none had objected. They had ordered some drinks and were pretending to have a nice little social get together but each one was just waiting in anticipation.
There was a knock at the door and they almost all glanced at their watch as if they had been waiting for this. Like the archangel of death coming for one of them but those that were aware assumed it was the next center. They had been wondering who the next center was to be and how they would meet the center.
All but Jackie. She figured that with only three centers left chances were pretty good that it would be Bernie or Zolar.
“I'll get it.” Billy volunteered.
“Hi,” Michael smiled as Billy opened the door. “Private party or can any one join?”
“Sure, come on in.” Billy sighed. He knew the center wasn't Michael.
Jackie, Morgan and Jamal all physically relaxed. They were all aware Michael had been a substitute. Jamal was still not very good with the sending of mental messages but he was able to receive them easily. The telepathy was like speech in children the more it was used the easier it became.
Michael sauntered in and said, “Hi, John, thought I would just see how everybody was doing.”
“Fine Michael. We're just sitting around having a few drinks and playing charades. Have a drink? Vodka, tonic and lime is all we have.” John smiled at Billy. “Seems to have become the drink of the season.”
Michael eyed the bottle as his mouth became cottony. He started to say no but as he opened his mouth he said, “sure, just a light one. I've got a lot to do tomorrow and I don't need any cobwebs clinging around.”
“I'll get it.” Billy offered. “Pull up some carpet and take the load off fanny.”
Michael sat down on the floor near Mindy and started to chat. Jamal sat on the other side of Mindy and Azid was beside him. Michael was aware that everyone was avoiding last nights incident but wasn't aware of the run away car.