“Just a second.” Nathan pulled on the thick terry robe provided by the hotel. When he opened the door to his suite, he peered at the man, looking for any trace of Jason. What was to stop him from stealing a body himself to confront and snag Nathan? But, opening the door, he found nothing except, perhaps, his own guilty conscience. He chuckled as he signed the bill and showed the guy out.
He ate at the small dining table leisurely savoring each morsel of the Eggs Benedict. Then he opened the drapes, and kicked back with his coffee. The corner suite offered him a grand view of both Lake Erie and the river it helped feed. Freighters cut the surface of the lake between the diamonds of light sparkling off the tips of waves. Following the wake of a smaller one, he found the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, where fleets of boats scurried up and down a flowing body of water.
Returning his gaze to the lake, Nathan watched the birds. Their bodies held aloft on invisible waves, they floated and turned in long, wide arcs in search of food, and he allowed them to mesmerize him into a deep slumber.
The canopy of silver maple and dogwood spread their new leaves providing thicker cover over the cabins that ringed the glen at the compound. A group of children played a game of tag in the less-used portion running through the white blanket of Queen Anne’s Lace. A corner of his mind found that odd. There were no kids living there. With Zach, Sarah, and another woman at his side, Nathan watched them, and laughed until he caught sight of the old man standing at the head of a worn path leading to the holler where the creek wended its way through the vast holdings of land. Nathan froze. Fear crept up quivering legs and filled the pit of his stomach.
“We gon’ meet agin. You jes wait and see if I ain’t right.”
“Go on about your own business, old man. Go away.” His words didn’t interrupt the delighted screams of the kids or the obvious enjoyment of the adults following their antics.
Jason turned his sights onto one particular giggling toddler, who sat in the middle of the hubbub, and nodded at him.
Anger boiled, causing Nathan’s hands to ball into fists, as he ran toward the child, and scooped him to the safety of his arms. “You leave him alone!”
An old finger pointed at Nathan. “Maybe one day you ain’t gon’ have on no coat of protection.”
Nathan trembled and mumbled in his sleep.
Chapter 32
Jenna and Marvin sat in their usual booth the Sunday morning after the new year, while Tommy and Mike scurried about the diner. Not a single seat was empty. Gazing around Epstein’s, Jenna sighed. “Gosh, I miss Colleen. That old woman was such a life raft.”
Marvin slathered a schmear onto his bagel. “I’m glad she was around to help you.”
“Oh, yeah. Right. Like you wanted me to get over your death and move on in life,” Jenna joked.
“Hey, I eventually came around.”
As Tommy moved past to set plates in front of a group of deadheads he tossed a comment Marvin’s way. “Dude, you came around all right. Right after Jason put the fear of eternal hell into you.”
“Can it, hippie. Nobody asked you.” Marvin parried his knife loaded with cream cheese in the air.
“My, aren’t we snappy this morning,” Mike said sidling between tables to deliver plates of food. “You’ve been cranky all week again. What happened, Jenna, didn’t you get him anything for Christmas?”
“I gave him something. A swift kick in the rear end.” Jenna poked an elbow into Marvin’s side.
“Oh, do you need a hug from your Uncle Tommy, is that what you need?”
Marvin grinned. “I need a hug from you like I need to jump off a cliff.”
“Well, look at it this way, Marvin. Jumping off a cliff won’t kill you.” Tommy laughed and ran to serve the last guests.
Jenna pushed her empty plate to the middle of the table. “Speaking of missing people, I sure thought Nathan would’ve been around for the holidays. Have you seen him?”
Mike set two plates of food down on the table and called over the din of phantom voices. “Come on, Tommy. Sit. Eat.” He scooted into the booth. “Haven’t seen him in a long while now.”
“Seen who?” Tommy asked and took his place across from Jenna.
Marvin lifted his coffee cup in Jenna’s direction. “She was asking about Nathan.”
“Oh. He was in a while back. It was the week before Thanksgiving. He was here one morning before we even opened, but left when Tina unlocked the doors. I’m sure he’s around somewhere.”
Jenna turned to gaze out the window. “I still can’t seem to find him, and I need to talk to him.”
“He said he wanted to check out some of the sights and things we suggested. He’s probably off running some unsuspecting person around the city,” Tommy offered with a shrug. “You know, I still think he was in that guy that morning. Remember, the one who was here for breakfast that day, and then stumbled out of the park in a stupor?”
“And, that,” Jenna pointed a finger at Tommy, “is precisely why I want to talk to him.”
“He’s not in any trouble, is he?” Mike chomped his way along a strip of bacon until it disappeared.
“He really shouldn’t keep doing that.”
“Why? We all slide in once in a while. What’s wrong with having a little harmless fun.”
“A little harmless fun would be fine, Marvin. If that’s all he did,” Jenna pointed out.
Tommy’s forkful of Eggs Benedict halted halfway to his mouth, and then went back to the plate. “So, okay, I don’t get it. You didn’t say a word when I did it. You and your entire group do it. I mean, we all know everything is a bit diminished for us. What’s so terrible about him sliding into someone to experience something more intensely?”
“Wait a minute,” Mike said. “A month ago you thought anyone who did that should be held accountable.”
“I’m only asking for clarification, Mike. That’s all. I mean, Nathan seems like a nice guy. I don’t want to see him go where…well, you know.”
Jenna leaned back in her chair and studied the three men who’d been such a large part of her life since she’d crossed over. Tommy, ordinarily a goofball, rarely put forth such serious discussions. “Well, it’s tough to answer. My group does it strictly to help the living, you know that. What you did, Tommy, was commendable because not only did you help Moe when he needed someone to run the place, but the homeless man you took over got a lot in return. There’s a good reason to believe that Nathan—and others like him—reside in the living for lifetimes. For what? To satisfy their own wants and needs and desires, and nothing else. If they did some honest good, maybe Jason and Nancy would allow them to get away with it.”
Mike swallowed a sip of coffee. “But, that’s not really what the Watchers do, right? I mean, Jason’s Keepers manage those of us on this plane, Teresa’s sect accepts those ready to move on, and yours protects the living from the living. So, how does this Nathan guy figure in with you?”
Jenna gave him a gentle smile. “We have a situation brewing. If I’m right, if my hunch plays out, Nathan might be able to help us. That is—”
“Wait a minute. This schmuck can help but I can’t?” Marvin interrupted with a bite of bagel held in the side of his mouth.
“Marvin, look, let me get this figured out. Then we can talk.”
“It’s always later with you, isn’t it? Later on the wedding, later on—”
Jenna stuck a finger at him. “Don’t start with me.”
“I’ll start anything, anytime I please.”
Marvin’s “Ow!” prior to Tommy’s, “Dude, would you let her finish, please?” indicated an unseen kick somewhere.
Marvin scowled and turned away. “Fine.”
“And stop talking with your mouth full. I know your mother taught you better than that.” Jenna jabbed an elbow into Marvin. “So, what I need to do is get to him before Jason does. Remember when Nathan spied on us in Eastwood Park? I think the only reason Jason didn’t grab him was because he’s too tired. He
told Nancy he’s very close to needing to disburse his burden.”
Marvin put his coffee on the table. “I’m not surprised. The things he maintains…”
Jenna’s brow creased at the sight of a close-to-violent shudder that ran through Marvin’s body. She’d forgotten about his experience within Jason. The reminder kicked some wheels into gear in her mind. Maybe Marvin could help. Maybe he could talk to Nathan and get him to understand what horrors awaited if he didn’t stop. But, her focus shifted to the more important, more immediate issue. “Well, before I worry about Nathan, I need to find this young woman Diane has been trying to chase down. I need to get to her, too, before Jason does.”
Tommy put a generous dose of salt and pepper on his hash browns. “What did she do?”
“Killed a man who had been attempting to abduct a little girl.”
“You killed a guy, and Jason let you go,” Mike said.
“Not without a lot of convincing, and I think it was only because Nancy intervened.”
Marvin chimed in, “She wasn’t the only one who helped, you know.”
Jenna let loose an exasperated sigh. “I didn’t say she was. Dammit, Marvin, stop already.”
He shrugged. “I’m just making the point.”
Jenna’s brow furled. “Point noted, okay? Can we move on now?” She shook her head in disgust. “Now―”
Diane burst through the front doors of the diner. “Jenna, I think we found her. But, I sure could use some help in cornering her.”
Jenna rose from her seat. “Okay, Marvin. You wanted to help? Let’s go.”
Chapter 33
Through Christmas Nathan managed to push the nightmares down deep to the recesses of his mind. It became a little bit easier as time passed, and the holidays breezed by without a single occurrence. Not that he could recall, anyway. The blues of the season never found him like they typically did; missing family. Not that he could’ve visited them in Maryland while facing the need to deal with a new body. More rested, peace of mind settled into his brain.
After exercising in the hotel gym the morning of New Year’s Eve, he stepped from the shower of his suite and tried to pinch at the love handles that had melted off in little more than a month. He smiled at the image, and slapped at the now-flat belly. “Diet and exercise; diet and exercise. As my grandpappy used to say, ya’ll can’t lay around like a sow and expect to look like a racehorse.”
Late that evening, with the nightmares having been tamped down, he smiled broadly at the driver as he climbed into the back seat of the limo. “Dean, see if you can steer me to the hottest nightclub around.”
“Yes, sir. I think we can accomplish that.”
Nathan lowered the privacy window between the driver and passenger portions of the car, turned on the radio and, though they ordinarily bugged him, he hummed along to a carol that should’ve been put away now that Christmas was over. Large cities intrigued him and he found himself peering up at the buildings. He shook his head in disbelief at the sight of century-old classic architecture with modern glass and steel behemoths dropped in like odd nails deliberately driven into the landscape. City structures here were as different as the people who inhabited them; people who always hurried to go somewhere, or do something. They lived their lives as if in constant emergency.
Country folk, his people, took things at a slower pace. Sure, certain times called for quick thinking, and quick action. Like the explosion which took his first life. But, what was life for if not to enjoy, to chew on it for a spell; to soak up and savor every minute?
Thirty minutes later, the car slowed and drove past a block-long line of people. “My, they sure do get all gussied up around these parts, don’t they?”
Dean laughed. “Yes, sir, I guess they do. Especially on a night for partying.” With the car idling curbside of the entrance, he jumped out, ran around and held the door. “Shall I wait, Mr. Crockett?”
“Well, it would save me the wait, and you the drive, later on. Ya’ll could even park and then join me if you want. But, whatever you decide is fine.”
“It’s doubtful I’d have any better luck getting in than she is.” Dean pointed to a woman in a just-below-the-knees sapphire blue dress, being held back by a man at the stanchions.
“Are you kidding? You’re letting my friends in but not me?” The woman heaved a sigh, and Nathan chuckled when she flipped rather short brown hair with a shake of her head. “You know what? That’s bullshit.”
The group she’d evidently been with strode through the doors as one called over her shoulder, “Calm down. Come find us when he decides to let you in.”
She raised her voice, and wrapped her arms around herself against a sudden chilled breeze. “You know what? You guys suck.”
Nathan gestured for Dean to hold in place and approached the doorman. “She’s right you know. It’s bullshit.” He placed a hand on the girl’s forearm as he held a hand out toward the guy blocking the way into the club. “Ya’ll think you might have any private booths left open in there?”
The bouncer glanced from Nathan to the car and back again, nodded, and unclipped the rope while he slipped the money into a side pocket.
“And,” Nathan continued, upping his volume for Dean to hear, “you need to let my man in after he parks the car.”
“No problem.”
“What’s your name, darlin’?” Brown eyes too big for the face stared up at Nathan. “I swear on my mama’s grave, I don’t bite.”
A grin broke over her face. “Shelly, Shelly Platt.”
“Well, Shelly Platt, I’m pleased to meet you. My name’s Nathan—Nate, if you like. Now that we’ve been properly introduced, how about we go in? Then, I want you to do me a favor.”
Shelly pulled her arm from him, a crease formed above the bridge of her nose.
“When we go past your friends, the ones who allowed you to stand out here alone, I want you to conjure the biggest smile you can muster and give ’em a nice little wave. Can ya do that for me?”
To his delight, a rather mischievous smile returned to her. “I’m sure I can handle that.”
Inside the club, music blaring, Nathan leaned in close to the next man to greet them and pointed. “Up there, behind the speakers. I’d like to spare these ears for old age.”
A grin and a nod acknowledged the request, and he led the way. True to her word, Shelly smiled and waved to the group she now abandoned, and Nathan nodded and tipped his non-existent hat with a middle finger. Not exactly gentlemanly, but it felt good to see the reaction of gape-mouthed disbelief cross those faces.
“Now,” Nathan said. “What would you like to drink? Would champagne be all right?”
“I’ve never had that, but sure. Live to experience.”
“I like that thought.” He returned his attention to the waiter. “Let’s start with two bottles. Oh, and my driver will be coming in to join us, so we’ll need three glasses.”
He returned his attention to Shelly, who wasn’t his standard taste in women. “My, but you’re a bitty little thing. It’s a wonder you don’t get blown like a bird’s feather right into Lake Erie.”
Shelly laughed, her front teeth slightly protruded. “I’m not that skinny.”
“Well, still, I’ll ask you to remind me to keep a tight grip on you when we head back outside later on.”
Long past the hour of countdown and obligatory toast, and her friends having stopped to say they were leaving, to which Shelly only replied, “Whatever,” she and Nathan sat in conversation. The longer he spent talking with her, the more his attraction to her mounted. Simple statements of her life came from her in easy conversation. They hadn’t made a single excursion to the dance floor, not that it bothered Nathan. With what seemed a parade of new selves of late, dancing was about as frivolous a thing as all get-out. Heck, maneuvering without noticeable stuttering took enough concentration.
Shelly didn’t make a single request, anyway. He liked that she appeared content to sit and talk. The qua
ntity of drinking over the course of the night didn’t have the slightest effect; no slurred speech, and no weaving or wobbling the few times she excused herself to the ladies’ room. He liked that, too.
A little after 4:00am Nathan noticed the club had quieted considerably. The flashes of dance floor lighting ceased. Background music oozed from overhead speakers, and only a smattering of distant conversations accompanied quick bursts of laughter. He stood and held out a hand. “Well, I expect we should let these fine people close up and go home.”
They found Dean on a stool at the bar, his head resting on his arms, sound asleep. “Have a seat, Shelly. It might be best to let him wake up a tad before he attempts to take us anywhere.” Nathan called to the bartender, “Can we get some coffees?”
As Dean sucked down his coffee, Nathan studied Shelly, drawn to her. It didn’t have much to do with physical allure. She was pretty in a way though, and he sensed the tiniest twinge of temptation in that direction. No, it had more to do with her confidence; the way she held her head, the way she laughed, the way she never avoided eye contact. A genuine sparkle radiated from her even in her inquisitiveness about his life. Regardless of any financial status, it’s what he had wanted in his original incarnation, longed for when he lived.
The mine explosion had taken that away, though his kinfolk badgered that new self to no end about marrying and keeping the family thriving. Well, he kept the name alive, anyway. That was something, wasn’t it? It’s not like he could explain anything at the time. And even though he knew they suspected something odd about him, Nathan hadn’t even dared after his mama and daddy crossed over and kept phantom-like residence in the family home.
Dean tipped his head back to gulp down the last of his coffee, and Nathan took the chance to shake off the thoughts invading his brain. “If ya’ll have pushed the yarn out of your head, we should probably get our girl here to home. What do you say, Dean?”
Sliding the cup to the back of the bar, Dean stood and dug in his pockets for the car keys. “Ready.”
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