I Bought The Sun For A Dollar

by Gary Starta

  Timothy watched the women, a cat fight brewing. He hoped Lori wouldn’t go for the jugular. They were here to surreptitiously elicit information from Lou Ann, not brow beat her. At least that’s the game plan he agreed upon.

  Lori said in a sullen voice. “It’s nice to see you, too.”

  Timothy clasped his hands together. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Lou Ann. Lori said she does karaoke and that’s how I learned of this fine…” Timothy paused to stare at the odd décor on the walls featuring pictures of wild animals, motorcycles and dead actors. “…establishment.”

  “Well, is she going to kick our asses or what?” Lou Ann drawled and twirled a strand of hair.

  “I sing from the soul. Not to compete with anyone. I think singing can reveal a window into the soul.” Lori said her words in a measured, even tone.

  “I don’t care what new age hooey you lay on me, I’m still shooting to kick your ass.” Lou Ann winked. “See, you can’t psyche me out.”

  A voice within Timothy groaned. If Lou Ann was really Kate it wouldn’t be easy to trick her into revealing her true nature. Moreover, he would also feel terrible that he had been duped for the past few weeks if she did.

  “I guess the only thing to decide is who goes first.” Timothy rested his hands on hips.

  “We sign up with the scraggly looking gent over there.” Lori pointed to a man standing next to a speaker. “He has a list.” Timothy noticed how Lori accentuated the word ‘list’ and how her eyes almost bored holes in the suspected spy.

  “I’ll sign up for you, Lou Ann. Why don’t you get us some drinks?” Timothy patted her on the shoulder. A smile formed slowly on Lou Ann’s lips. “Just remember, the drunker you get me, the better singer I become.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Timothy all but scooted out of her sight, grabbing Lori’s arm as he walked. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to break her.” Lori answered.

  Timothy turned his head to make sure Lou Ann had fell into the background.

  “You’re coming across way too hostile. It’s as if you’re advertising it. I would recommend chilling a bit. Let her fall into the spider web on her own accord.”

  “I think you don’t want the truth and I can understand that. Don’t worry. I’ll try to be more tactful.”

  Timothy spoke absently in an attempt to alter the heavy mood. “What kind of place is this? I thought it would be more feminine with a name like Cherry’s.”

  The organizer overhead Timothy and commented. “Don’t let the pictures on the wall fool you. We do get some bikers but they’re the most reserved, polite kind of people you’ll ever hope to meet. Oh, and by the way, the place used to be called Cherry Bomb.”

  The scraggly bearded man stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Jimmy. And I bet you’re the next singing sensation.” Timothy couldn’t resist smiling when the man winked at him.

  “But you’ve got some stiff competition. Little Lori here usually cleans house.”

  “I can believe it. I think she has led us here under false pretences.” Timothy answered.

  Jimmy chuckled. “Oh, and who’s the tall gal with you?” Before Timothy could answer, Jimmy said. “I bet she’s another newbie looking to take the crown.” Jimmy smiled with eyes glazed, practically leering at Lou Ann.

  “Yes, she is really is a newcomer. She’s from Kentucky.”

  Jimmy nodded. “I see then. Well, we better watch out then. Those southern gals can really belt it out.”

  “Time will tell.” Lori answered in the same measured tone, arms folded across her chest.

  Timothy returned to the table where Lou Ann waited with a round of beers.

  “I thought I’d take it easy on you guys at first. Later, I’ll be hitting the hard stuff.” Lou Ann raised her bottle to clink it with Timothy’s.

  Lori wasted no time and began the interrogation to Timothy’s chagrin. “So what did you do for enjoyment in Kentucky, Lou Ann, besides singing?”

  “Oh, there’s some beautiful land out there. I sometimes rode horses.”

  “What kind?” Lori asked.

  “Those beautiful Arabians, they’re tall, dark and handsome.” Lou Ann cackled. “They’re so gentle if you know how to talk to them.”

  “I bet.” Lori’s posture stiffened.

  Timothy knew he had better jump into the conversation before it got ugly.

  “What’s the capital of Kentucky?” he asked Lou Ann.

  “Oh, Frankfort, I believe.”

  “Huh. I thought it would have been Louisville.” Lori raised her beer. “I can see you’re probably pretty good in Trivial Pursuit as well.”

  Timothy caught Lori’s inference. Lou Ann had named the correct capital city but it rolled off her tongue as if it were scripted. She could have been coached. What was more interesting was that a true Kentuckian might not even be able to answer the question correctly. Timothy felt a surge of heat in his stomach.

  Lori continued, staring straight ahead at Lou Ann, almost ignoring him. “Weren’t you sad about leaving such a beautiful state?”

  “No. I mean, at first. I was.” Lou Ann gushed. “But then I found Timothy.” She stroked her finger under Timothy’s chin cat-like.

  “What about the sun?” Lori asked. “Isn’t it glorious? It’s changing so many lives. I mean, don’t you feel changed by it?”

  “I do. No doubt. That’s another thing I can thank Timothy for.” She paused and stared at her beer. “But life is change. It’s why I moved. I just hope everyone isn’t in for a big let-down when change happens again.”

  Timothy realized Lori hadn’t been all that ‘changed’ by the sun herself. Lou Ann’s reaction to it really wasn’t a good barometer to judge if she was lying or not. He interrupted Lori who was poised to respond.

  “I think things do go in cycles. But even if that feeling changes, it can come back again.” Timothy sipped his beer, staring straight ahead, not waiting for a comment.

  Silence ensued until Jimmy hollered out a welcome to the less than packed bar.

  “Folks, we have some fresh talent. I want to start with a singer who has come all the way from Kentucky. Please give Lou Ann a warm welcome.”

  Timothy observed every facial muscle on Lou Ann. She appeared to turn a shade whiter but her face was relaxed. She smiled at him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Okay, baby. Watch me knock ‘em dead.”

  *

  Kate felt the sting of the overhead lights and sweat dribbled down her back. She hoped it wouldn’t betray her confidence. After all, she had made Lou Ann’s character sassy and fiery. There was no room for mousiness in appearance or attitude. She had the look and the will to pull this off. She should be able to keep Timothy’s eyes glazed over for months if she had to. But this little bitch Lori was throwing a kink into the plan. She surmised the best thing she could do was play along and pretend to be more interested in a singing competition than hiding her identity.

  It was a good thing Jimmy had ‘Stand by Your Man’ on hand. It was a song she had sung before but never in Kentucky or in the south for that matter. She practically knew the words by heart.

  As she approached the second chorus, she attempted to flash a smile at Timothy but it disappeared just as quickly when she realized she wasn’t singing with a southern drawl. She attempted to compensate and hit a note too sharp. Her focus turned to Lori who held her hands up to her ears and winced. That little bitch!

  She couldn’t allow anger to get the best of her. Her mission was clear, ruin Timothy Ray’s good name and denounce his sun worshipping as a con game. But what could she use to ruin him with? Maybe she should reveal that Timothy was dealing with a felon. Hayes had made a bad judgment when he allowed Lori to become a wildcard. Instead of pursuing another means to rob Timothy she had seemed to have become his ally. She was working against her. But she could see why she was. She supposed Lori had a romantic interest in Timothy as well. Oops. There she admitted it. She was hooked on Timothy despite her missio
n. Ironically, as she sang the words ‘stand by your man’ she was doing nothing to stand by Timothy Ray. In fact, she was poised to crumble his world despite her feelings.

  *

  Lori jabbed Timothy’s arm. “See. She isn’t singing with that drawl anymore. I’m telling you she’s a fake.”

  “This is all conjecture. We haven’t got a smoking gun.”

  “We can. Just wait. After we sing our first round of songs, I’m going to take a little trip into the ladies’ room with her. I’ll get you the evidence you need.”

  Timothy rubbed a hand against his chin. He stopped, suddenly realizing this gesture wasn’t appropriate. He was supposed to be enjoying his lady’s performance. He clapped at an inappropriate time inviting stares from the barflies.

  “Yes! She really tore it up!” Jimmy hollered. “Let’s whoop it up for her. But I can see she’s going to have some stiff competition.”

  Jimmy invited Lori to sing next, an Elton John song from the 70’s.

  Lou Ann joked to Timothy. “See, I’m only getting started.”

  Lori started singing ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.’

  Lou Ann gushed. “I thought she would have sung ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’.”

  When Lori returned, Lou Ann congratulated her. But Timothy could see Lori wasn’t buying her act.

  “That was interesting. You seemed to lose your drawl when singing.” Lori emoted with no emotion, Spock like.

  Lou Ann nodded. “Oh. I did. I didn’t notice. You know there are a lot of English musicians who sing without accent. It’s really not that strange.” Lou Ann called for another round of drinks.

  “Yes, Lori.” Timothy said. “It’s not that unusual.”

  Lori continued with another verbal jab. “I also noticed you went off key.”

  Lou Ann smiled. “Is there any other key to sing drunken karaoke in?”

  Timothy was surprised he wasn’t called to the stage next. “Oh, well. I guess I can consume more liquid courage in the meantime.” He tried to share a smile with Lou Ann but felt he was staring into an abyss and its name was Kate Sizemore.

  Lori motioned toward the ladies’ room. “I already need to make room for more. How about you join me?”

  For a moment, Lou Ann seemed flustered. But she turned her frown upside down just as quickly. “Sure. I wouldn’t be a lady if I allowed another gal to go to the bathroom unaccompanied.”

  Timothy braced himself for the worst. What if Lori outright accused Lou Ann of being a spy? What if he was called to stage and wasn’t buzzed enough? This wasn’t exactly a good night out. In fact, in this instant, he wished he was crouched in his special spot awaiting the return of his glorious light.

  *

  “You can go first, Lou Ann. That way I can watch your bag.”

  Lori pulled lipstick from a case and began applying it. Lou Ann begrudgingly agreed to the deal and complained about the toilet’s cleanliness.

  Lori observed Lou Ann’s feet in the mirror before her. Good, she was sitting down.

  “Just use paper.” Lori mumbled while glossing her lips.

  “I will. You can be sure of it.” Lou Ann began whistling.

  Okay, this is your chance. Lori felt as if she were back in Timothy’s yard, planning the home invasion. No matter how you cut it, fumbling in another woman’s handbag to peruse her private information was wrong; but it was necessary. On her first pass, her hand wafted over Kleenex, keys and a case. Her heart was pinging wildly in her chest. She attempted mind control as Sarah had taught her. She imagined lying on a beach, spending all the money she was about to steal. Only she wasn’t stealing money but information. But in a way, so was the spy Kate Sizemore. It angered her and gave the will to make another pass. This time she hit pay dirt and she thumbed quickly to a call menu.

  As she scrolled, she heard the toilet flush. She had no time to find the call now but she wasn’t about to stash the jewel back into the dark abyss of Kate Sizemore’s handbag.

  She did the only thing she could do. Run.

  *

  Kate spied her purse in disarray on the counter. In that moment of realization, she felt all the blood drain from her face. A moment confirmed the worst.

  She bolted from the bathroom with fire in her eyes and her southern drawl all but dissipated. “Get back here, you bitch! Someone help me. I’ve just been robbed!”

  *

  Timothy stopped singing in midstride. His jaw dropped open and Jimmy approached the stage possibly in an attempt to comfort him.

  “Just a little stage fright that’s all.” Jimmy hollered. He laughed unconvincingly.

  But Lou Ann’s wails were a lot louder than Jimmy’s hollering, even without a microphone.

  Timothy observed his world crumble before him. The dishevelled and angry woman drawing attention just couldn’t be Lou Ann. It just couldn’t.

  *

  There were thousands of hits to the uploaded video which had become public in the past few hours.

  “I’m going to be crucified,” Chao-Zing commented, watching the screen.

  “Yes, by the school board. But not so much by the public,” George said, “See.” He scrolled the screen downward to a comments section. There were varied reactions, but most of them were supportive.

  ‘I never thought a teacher would have the moxy to threaten her own career! Well done!’

  ‘I found nothing incorrect with her assumptions. What’s all the fuss about?’

  ‘The sun has been worshipped for millennia. What the f*** is all the excitement about?’

  ‘She’s a rebel for sure. I’m not certain if she should risk her career over it though.’

  Although the reactions were mostly positive, Chao-Zing appeared dour to George.

  “What’s with the long face, it looks like you’ve gained supporters?”

  “Have I? Look at the entries. They’re all anonymous with ridiculous screen names.”

  “But you’ve alerted the world about the system. Universities might be forced to change their stance on teaching science if students support a metaphysical curriculum. After all, it’s the students who pay the tuition.”

  Chao-Zing laughed sarcastically. “True to a point but it’s mostly the parents who are paying through the teeth for their child’s education.”

  “Well, you don’t know if you’re done yet, at least officially.”

  “Oh, yes, I do.” Chao-Zing waved a paper. “This letter I printed off an email says I will be suspended. It also recommends I resign before further action is required by the university’s legal team.”

  “Oh, I see.” George pursed his lips.

  “They’re bluffing. I think.” George said a moment later.

  “No. They’re not. I haven’t made them see the light, George.”

  “But at least you didn’t let Sheri or whoever she is ruin you. You called her bluff.”

  “But who was she really working for? I can’t seem to wrap my mind about it. It doesn’t make sense. I was well on my way to burning myself with or without Sheri. Could there be someone else at work?”

  *

  “You’re job isn’t over.” Ron Hayes slammed a folder on the conference desk.

  “In fact, it’s just beginning.”

  Sheri Scott aka Sarah Lemmings winced and then she began to groan in protest. “What do you mean? Professor Zheng is toast. She committed professional suicide today. Weren’t you watching?”

  “We need to adapt. She called our bluff. I didn’t think she would voluntarily commit an action that would terminate her job.”

  “I’m not adapting. Not with you. I’ve done my tour of duty.”

  Hayes pointed a finger. “No. I still have dirt on you Ms. Lemmings. In fact, you’re next assignment ‘is’ mandatory.”

  Sheri waited a long moment, hoping Hayes would change his mind. When he didn’t, she nodded demurely. “Okay, what do I need to do?”

  “Good girl.” Hayes rubbed his hands together. “We need to kee
p track of Zheng’s students. I thought her reach was confined to the classroom but I may be wrong. In fact, she’s a smart cookie. By taking her fight to the Internet, she’ll obviously reach a lot more compassionate, open minded souls.”

  Sheri shuddered. Why was this devil man referring to souls?

  Hayes paced with hands on hips. “I’m afraid even though she will lose her position, she will become a martyr, a poster child for metaphysical thinking. I can’t explain why that’s bad, Ms. Lemmings. But I will tell you it’s a danger and it needs to be squelched, pronto. She’s gained some power. We need to terminate that energy source.”

  “I’ll do everything possible to unplug her cord,” Mr. Hayes. “And when that’s achieved, then may I go back to my pathetic existence?”

  Hayes didn’t answer. He just kept pacing, smacking a balled fist into his hand.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lori scurried through the parking lot, one hand clutched in a death grip on Kate’s phone. She was moving but not really seeing, her mind too enveloped in what she had just done. A voice screamed in her mind. You’re supposed to be distancing yourself from a life of crime! She ran some more, ambling left then right, gaining attention from onlookers who probably just thought she was buzzed from beer. Could she really run anywhere where her conscience didn’t follow?

  She stopped at the edge of the lot, her chest heaving and her hand resting against a SUV. It was big and black and afforded plenty of hiding room. Now would be a good time as any to see if what she done was worth it. Was this woman really Kate Sizemore and had she called the police on Timothy?

  *

  Timothy thumbed at his phone, attempting to place a call but the distractions made even such a simple task daunting. By the time he had leafed through contacts and found Lori, Lou Ann had descended upon him. Her hair was wild and her teeth appeared as if they wanted to leap from her mouth and attack someone. In the background, Jimmy raised his hands and attempted to distract the crowd with small talk.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Her voice was raised an octave but still retained a semblance of a southern accent. Timothy wanted to give the woman the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was truly pissed Lori ran away with her phone. It could be nothing more than rage from being robbed. He had experienced it not too long ago. But he had also changed and was willing to see the good in people and situations. Lou Ann’s display bore no resemblance of a woman changed and pacified by a rising sun.