Tanesha dialed Heather. While they talked, Jill turned to Sandy.
“Seth’s in the hospital,” Jill said. “I don’t know if he’s going to be all right. Ava’s with him. Delphie is going to tell you when she gets here. If we leave now, we’ll miss them.”
“What happened to Seth?” Sandy asked.
“Some toxin something,” Jill said. “His only chance is if Ava finds an antidote. But she doesn’t know what she’s doing. I saw her in a lab and… that’s all.”
“Oh God,” Sandy said. “Saint Jude did this?”
Jill nodded.
“Heather’s going to meet us at the Salon. She won’t go in until she sees the three of us and Katy,” Tanesha said. “But she said she got a call from Sandy asking her to bring Mack and meet her at the Salon.”
“Crap,” Sandy said.
“Mommy?” Katy asked. “Is it time to go?”
Jill pulled a fleece sweater over her head.
“We’re taking the dogs,” Jill said.
“Buster is with the kids at the Salon,” Sandy said. “Where’s Jake’s lab?”
“Sarah’s in the kitchen guarding the door,” Jill said. “We’ll get her on the way out.”
Jill lifted Katy from the bed. She grabbed her purse and Katy’s jacket. She was halfway across the loft when she realized Sandy and Tanesha weren’t with her. She could hear them talking in her bedroom.
“Are you coming?” Jill asked. “I can’t kill this guy on my own.”
Sandy and Tanesha jogged to her. Scooter jumped off the bed and met Jill and Katy at the door. Sarah, Jake’s Labrador, was waiting on the other side of the door. Without saying another word, the women, child, and dogs left for Sandy’s salon.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday night — 8:35 P.M.
“It doesn’t look like anyone’s here yet,” Honey said.
The women peered out of Valerie’s car into the salon and looked at each other.
“I bet downtown is a nightmare,” Valerie said. “We heard on the radio that there was an explosion.”
“You’re right,” Honey said. “They’re probably caught in traffic.”
“Let’s go inside and wait for them,” Valerie said. “Colfax has improved but it’s still…”
“Creepy,” Honey said.
Valerie went to the trunk to retrieve Honey’s wheelchair. She set it next to the car and Honey worked her way into the chair. The women went toward the salon. Valerie used the key to open the salon. Honey rolled inside to turn the alarm off.
“Should we leave the door unlocked?” Valerie asked.
“MJ would kill me if he found out I was behind an unlocked door on Colfax,” Honey said.
“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you stay here and let people in? I’ll go start some coffee and… maybe some hot chocolate.”
“I bet they’re cold,” Honey said.
“That’s what I was thinking!” Valerie smiled at Honey.
Honey beamed back at Valerie. Valerie gave her a little wave and went toward the back of the salon. As she passed, Valerie flipped on the studio’s stereo.
“We may as well dance while we wait,” Valerie said.
Laughing, Honey went to the door and relocked it. She set the alarm to standby in case someone tried to force their way in. She smiled at her logic. Feeling safe behind the bullet proof glass that made up the store front, she practiced some wheelchair dancing in the salon mirrors.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY
Up to us
Tuesday night — 8:40 P.M.
“There she is,” Dale said.
Because Seth was gravely ill, the ICU would only let Lizzie, his daughter, see him. Maresol hugged Lizzie close and lead her back to where she, Ava and Dale were sitting.
“How is he?” Ava’s voice was a deep whisper.
“They won’t tell me.” Tears dropped from Lizzie’s eyes. “They say his vitals are good and he’s in great health but that’s all. That’s all! It’s like no one knows anything. That Max guy is hovering from bed to bed but nothing’s going on.”
“How does he look?” Maresol asked.
“Dead,” Lizzie said. “He looks dead.”
Lizzie cried into her hands. Maresol put her arm around the girl. They fell silent while Lizzie cried.
“I just got my Daddy back,” Lizzie said. “And now he’s…”
Maresol hugged her tight.
“Why aren’t you out there making an antitoxin?” Maresol asked Ava. Her voice was harsh and accusing. “Isn’t that what you do?”
“Me?” Ava pointed to herself.
“I thought you were a scientist?”
Maresol’s eyes flicked up and down Ava. Maresol raised an eyebrow as if to say Ava was too lazy to do anything. Stunned, Ava blinked at Maresol.
“And you want to marry him?” Maresol asked. “You won’t even help.”
Ava opened her mouth to say something but no sound came.
“Marry?” Lizzie asked. “I didn’t know you guys were getting married. Oh Ava.”
Lizzie threw her arms around Ava’s shoulders. Over Lizzie’s shoulder, Ava saw Maresol’s eyebrows rise in challenge.
“Sure, just sit there,” Maresol said.
Maresol crossed her arms and shifted away from Ava. Ava gaped at the woman’s behavior. Feeling someone near them, Ava let go of Lizzie and turned to the new person. Ava jumped to her feet.
“Any news?” Dale asked.
“I’m sorry,” Max Hargreaves said. “I just got off the phone with the CDC, Interpol and the FBI. He’s been shot with a toxin that has no known antidote. Without it, we just wait and hope.”
“Are they working on it?” Lizzie asked.
“They’re gearing up to start,” Max said.
“What?” Lizzie asked. “Starting? They’re just starting?”
“We’re just collecting information from the previous attacks,” Max said. “The FBI is looking for someone they call ‘Blood Splatter Bob’. He ran a team a few years ago and retired to Denver. No one’s heard from him since. Any of you know him?”
Unable to help herself, Ava jumped from her seat.
“I know who you mean.” Ava’s words came out as one big croak. She swallowed hard and nodded.
“Yeah?” Max’s eyebrows shot up. “Who are you?”
“She’s Amelie Vivian Alvin,” Dale said.
“You go by Ava?” Max asked
Ava nodded.
“They’re looking for you too,” Max said. “Do you have access to a lab?”
Ava nodded.
“Do you know Blood Splatter Bob?” Max asked
Ava nodded.
“Let’s go,” Max said.
Before Ava could say good-bye, Max was escorting her out of the room. Ava turned and raised a hand to Maresol, Dale and Lizzie. Maresol was making shooing motions with her hands.
“How did you know?” Dale asked.
“Delphie told me to light a fire under her butt,” Maresol said. “She says Ava’s our only chance.”
“Delphie?” Dale asked. “Who’s Delphie?”
“You don’t know Delphie?” Lizzie asked.
“She’s a good friend of mine,” Maresol said.
“How did she know?” Dale asked.
“That’s a long story,” Maresol said. “When all this is settled, you’d do well to have a long chat with Delphie.”
Confused, Dale simply nodded.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday night — 8:40 P.M.
“Boy it’s been a while,” Valerie yelled from the back of the salon.
“I wonder if they’re coming,” Honey yelled back.
“We shouldn’t wait.” Valerie came out with two mugs of hot chocolate. “After all, we’re eating for two. Four all together!”
She gave Honey a mug. They blew over the top of their hot cocoa.
“I love cocoa,” Honey said.
“Me too,” Valerie said. “But if People Magazine asks me, I’ll tell them it’s too full o
f sugar. After all, I’m having an…”
“Organic pregnancy,” Honey and Valerie said together and laughed.
“Who comes up with this crap?” Valerie laughed.
“Tabloids are crap manifestors,” Honey said. “Poor Mike. You’re driving Mike crazy with your demands.”
“He was born that way,” Valerie laughed. In a mock Russian accent, Valerie added, “Haf you met his modder?”
Honey laughed. Their focus turned to the warm cocoa. Honey was about to say something when the smoke alarm went off in the back. Valerie spun in place and trotted to the back.
“What are you making?” Honey asked.
“Pizza Rolls,” Valerie said.
“Organic,” Honey and Valerie said together.
Honey heard Valerie laugh.
“Oooh I love that song,” Valerie said. “Turn it up!”
Honey cranked the stereo. With her back to the door, Honey drank her hot cocoa. She was just setting her mug down when two strong hands grabbed her shoulders. In one swift movement, the hands lifted her from the chair. Honey screamed and her mug shattered on the floor. Incapable of turning her head, she had no idea who held her. She was carried across the salon to the basement door. The basement door flew open with his kick. A second before they went hurling down the stairs, Honey caught a glimpse of herself and the man who carried her.
Saint Jude.
They plunged into the dark basement.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday night — 8:45 P.M.
“Sandy?” Nash whispered into the phone.
“Yes, honey,” Sandy pulled the passenger door to Jill’s Lexus SUV.
“Are you here?”
“No,” Sandy said. “But we’re on our way.”
“Someone’s here. We’d hoped it was you,” Nash said. “We heard someone come in upstairs. Women. Laughing. We heard music then it smelled like burned pizza. And... Wait…”
Nash fell silent.
“Nash?” Sandy asked.
“I think a woman just screamed. The music is pounding upstairs,” Nash said. “What do we do?”
“Nothing,” Sandy said. “We’re on our way.”
“They’re coming…”
The phone went dead. Sandy looked at her phone. Call dropped. She called Nash back.
Nothing.
“What is it?” Jill asked as she turned on Colfax.
“Saint Jude’s there,” Sandy said. “I can feel it in my bones.”
“What did Nash say?” Tanesha asked.
“Someone just screamed. And now I can’t get him,” Sandy said. “Did you see this?”
Jill nodded.
“And?” Sandy asked.
“Hold on,” Jill said as the engine roared.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday night — 8:50 P.M.
“That’s Honey,” Sissy whispered. “I’d know her anywhere.”
They heard a pair of heavy feet pound down the stairs.
“Shh,” Charlie said.
Rachel gave a mewing cry. Charlie leaned down to rock her car seat.
“Honey helps me with my nutrition,” Sissy whispered. “She brings me smoothies and makes sure I eat all of my food and gives me little snacks and… I’d never be doing so well without Honey’s help.”
Honey screamed again.
“I have to help her,” Sissy said.
“No!” Charlie whispered.
“We only open the door for our Mom and Dad or yours,” Pete’s oldest son said. “Period.”
Honey screamed. Sissy glared at Charlie. Before anyone could stop her, she opened the door and ran out into the open basement.
“Leave her alone,” Sissy yelled. “You leave her alone.”
The man turned to look at her. He sneered at Sissy. Nash, Teddy, and Noelle ran into the room followed by Pete’s children. Charlie opened a cabinet and put Rachel inside. Turning to the ugly dog, Buster, he said: “Stand guard.”
If Charlie didn’t know better, he’d have sworn the dog nodded to him. Buster sat down in front of the closed cabinet door. He gave Rachel’s hiding place one last look before he ran out to help.
“Sissy, go back,” Honey said. “Don’t worry. I can handle this.”
Saint Jude threw Honey in the air and turned her. She landed face to face with him. She spit in his face.
“Go on. Sissy please. You kids go back and lock yourself in,” Honey said. “Sissy please.”
Saint Jude gave a low, malevolent laugh. When he turned back to look at Sissy, the head of a slate gray creature with razor sharp teeth poked out of the collar of his white shirt. The creature’s round black eyes with red pinpoint pupils filled what would have been a forehead.
Screaming, Sissy hurled herself at Saint Jude. She battered his back with her fists. He gave her a vicious kick and she flew backward.
“SISSY!” Noelle ran to where Sissy landed in a heap.
Honey bit Saint Jude’s shoulder. He turned his attention to Honey.
“You think you scare me?” Honey yelled at the top of her lungs. “I’ve known you all of my life. I’ve seen your evil deeds and thoughts pollute my family and my world.”
“Yeeesss,” the creature said.
Honey’s white hair and translucent skin glowed like a pillar of light in the dark basement. Saint Jude pulled her face close to the monster. Honey bashed it with her forehead. The creature chuckled at her efforts.
“You think you can do worse to me than has been done?” Honey asked.
“I can heal you,” the creature purred.
“Same old lies. Same old bullshit,” Honey said. “I’ve beaten you my entire life. You think now will be any different?”
Saint Jude raised his hand to strike Honey. Before he could plant a blow, Nash launched a Muay Thai kick at his lower back. Saint Jude fell forward. Charlie punched Saint Jude in the face. Teddy followed with a swift karate kick at his waist. Saint Jude wobbled to the side. Distracted by the kids, Saint Jude’s attention on Honey slipped. Honey pulled her handgun from the pocket of her skirt. She pressed it against his heart. She looked up to see Charlie moving the kids out of the way.
“I can’t die,” Saint Jude chuckled.
“I’m willing to chance it.”
Honey pulled the trigger. Saint Jude recoiled.
She fired again.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday night — 8:50 P.M.
Ava pushed open the door to her lab and turned on the lights. Disappointed, she closed her eyes. She’d asked her lab techs to come in. Most of them worked this shift because they had other, more important things in their lives. Fran was the only parent to four of her grandchildren. Nelson was a bodybuilder. He slept, ate, and worked out during the days. Leslie was seven months pregnant and had two children at home. And Bob was remodeling their Park Hill bungalow house.
They weren’t here.
She turned to say something to Max Hargreaves when Fran passed her. Fran held out her hand. Ava put a plastic bag with twenty wooden spikes in it. Without stopping, Fran continued into the lab.
“Papers?” Nelson pointed to Ava. “Where’s your lemon water?”
Ava shrugged.
“I knew you’d forget,” Nelson put a travel mug in her hand. “You’re welcome.”
Ava took a drink of the warm liquid and cleared her throat.
“Max?” Ava asked. “Nelson takes care of all things related to the Internet and also the technical stuff.”
“In this case, I do the technical research,” Nelson said.
“When he’s done, he sets up connections with other labs – FBI, CBI, UN, and Interpol. Do you have information on this being used before?”
“I have some information…” Max held up a folder.
Nelson tugged the folder out of Max’s hand and walked to his station in the lab.
“Sorry I’m late,” Leslie said. “I was cleaning the kitchen floor. Yes, Ava, with a toothbrush.”
“Leslie is nesting,” Ava held up her finger and thu
mb. “Just a bit.”
“Until we have the analysis, there isn’t much we can do,” Max said.
“There might be nothing you can do,” Leslie said. “I, however, can do my job. We’ve trained for an event like this for the last year. We’re ready to get the job done. Do you have the autopsies of the people who died? I also need the medical files for Seth and the other police officers.”
“They’re on the Denver Health server,” Nelson said. “Their union rep just got us access to their medical information. Do you have your log in?”
“Excuse me,” Leslie said to Max. She went to her station.
“They’re faxing the hand written notes,” Nelson said. The fax machine rang. “Right now. Ava, do you think you can still do the press and public health?”
“I’ve got it. She can work the spect,” Bob said.
“I just requested the blood samples from Denver Health,” Nelson said. “And… looks like the CDC is bringing samples from the other events with them when they arrive in… three hours.”
“We’ll be ready for them,” Ava said.
“I understand you were looking for me?” Bob asked.
“You’re Blood Splatter Bob?” Max assessed the man in front of him.
“I’ve been called worse,” Bob said.
“You’re an anti-toxin specialist?”
“I’ve cooked up a few,” Bob said.
“Why…?”
“Son, we don’t really have time for that, do we?” Bob asked. “Why don’t you come with me and leave these guys to do what they do?”
Max nodded. Bob put his arm over Max’s shoulder and led him toward the door. They were almost out of the room when Bob stopped. He turned to Ava and said:
“Devil horns?”
“I think we need to harness the power of the mouse,” Ava said.
Her lab techs began digging around in their stations. One by one they put their Mickey Mouse ears hat on.
“Good choice,” Bob stuck his hat on his head. “Now, Mr. Hargreaves let’s talk about this toxin.”
Ava let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She ran a hand over her bald head then put her on Mickey Mouse ears. One last glance at her lab techs and she turned on the spectrometer.
Black Forest, Denver Cereal Volume 5 Page 33