Azaleas Don't Bloom Here

by Frank Klus

  “No, I don’t believe you. You’re lying. You’re the biggest liar. You’ve always been that way. I ought to just finish you off right now.”

  “Look at the last page of those documents. It’s your discharge from ‘Treatment’—Hell House. Look at the signatures at the bottom. Look at the patient. That’s you!” Dennis was horrified. “Look at the nurse. It’s Teresa Herrera. That is your wife’s maiden name isn’t it?”

  Dennis nodded.

  “She was attracted to you. She had a pretty crappy life and wanted you. She convinced Dr. Frankenstein—Eugene’s name for him—to plant in you a memory of you falling in love with her, and marrying her. A judge, bought and paid for, married the two of you right there in Hell House. He put into your memory the story of how you met. It isn’t real, Dennis. You have a real wife. Teresa was always deathly afraid you’d start remembering her, and remembering your real life. She reported every dream you had to Jaydan Casimir.” Dennis began sobbing.

  “Do you remember Anna? She’s your real wife.”

  “Anna? I heard about a woman named Anna that was killed in a road rage incident. I know that Casimir was having an affair with her.”

  “That’s your wife. Casimir tried to do the same thing to her as he did to Catherine, but whereas Catherine killed herself to escape from Casimir and protect Eugene, Anna tried to escape to the new country. She wouldn’t have made it. Casimir got wind of the plot and sent some men to kill her. They wanted to make it look like road rage, but I beat them to the punch. I killed them, then staged the road rage incident and let Anna leave.”

  “I had dreams of a woman. We seemed close, but you’re telling me that that woman was my wife?”

  “Is your wife. She’s waiting for you in New America. She figured that you’d wake up and realize who you really were, then you’d come home to her. She’s waiting for you in the New World, waiting for you to come home.”

  “But why would Casimir think she’s dead? There wouldn’t have been any body.”

  “That’s true. There was no body, but Casimir only cared that she was taken care of. Judy did that.”

  “What about Judy?”

  “Judy was our spy. Casimir told her a lot, and what he didn’t tell her, Judy found out because she monitored his phone calls. Then she reported to me. When I was sure Anna was safe I called Judy. She knew what was going on. She would have given Jaydan some bullshit story of how they made sure she was dead and local police took care of it.”

  “Judy is a spy? That bitch.”

  “You recruited her, bro,” Ray said, nonchalantly.

  “How do you know all this? Communications with New America are closed down. I know you have a special phone. I listened in on your conversations. You never talked to any Anna.”

  “So that’s how you knew so much,” Ray said, still smiling. “I used my own encrypted phone. Even Cass didn’t know about it. I used it sparingly and late at night only.”

  Dennis, who had continued to aim at Ray, finally lowered his weapon, and began sobbing. “I don’t know anything anymore.”

  “You will, Denny. Give it time. Search your dreams. Remember them. When Sandy did, she remembered more. She investigated and learned still more. Eugene will help you, and so will Chad Armstrong.”

  “Armstrong? Was I his leader?”

  “More than that, Den. Do you know that when you’re a Legionnaire, even when inactive, but in trouble, any legionnaire will come to your assistance? When you and I formed the Blues you needed their help. Armstrong was your buddy. He came to help. So did Bones, Foote, and Wrenn. They’re all Legionnaires. They’re your friends. They’re here because of you, not me. They charge me for their services, but not you.”

  “I can’t believe this. I was this hero? They put me in Hell House? Oh my God! The dreams were coming more frequent. I stopped telling Teresa about each one because I didn’t want to scare her.”

  “She knew they were becoming more frequent. She kept calling Casimir up and reporting your moods.”

  “But what about Teresa and Jerrell? I love them,” he said, still weeping.

  “It’s a false memory. You were coerced into marrying her. She lied to you every day you’ve been together. New America won’t recognize that coerced marriage. Your real wife is there. You have a son and a daughter too. The boy is about fifteen now, and the girl is about eight. They’re waiting for you. They just think you’re here, bringing down the government or something. They don’t know about you now. Anna didn’t want to tell them. They weren’t ready for Hell House. No one is.”

  Dennis continued to stare at the documents and sobbed.

  “Look, Denny….” He winced from the pain. “I don’t have much time left. You must cross the border. Don’t look back, and, for heaven’s sake, don’t go back. They’re going to know about your encounter with me. They already know you’re starting to remember. You want to know the truth about Alt House? It wasn’t set up for Eugene. If they catch him they’ll probably just throw him back into Joliet, and then execute him. Alt House was built for you. Once you go back, they’ll stick you back in there. Let me die in peace, Denny. Promise me you’ll go there; go back to your real wife and kids.”

  Dennis, as tears now streamed down his cheeks, put his gun away. “I’m sorry I shot you, Ray. I didn’t know.”

  Ray was smiling through the pain. “Go now, while you can.”

  But Dennis reached down and grabbed his brother.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m taking you with me. I’m not leaving you here to die alone.”

  “I can’t leave Cassandra.”

  “I’ll come back for her.”

  “No, Den….” It was the last words he would ever speak.

  Eugene and Sandy heard shots all around them, one whizzed by Eugene’s left ear. Sandy gave a holler, but once again she only stumbled. The two were running faster now since their brief rest.

  “Okay, to the road.”

  “I’m scared,” yelled Sandy.

  “If we’re near the border gate, we can get help from them.”

  “Where are Chad and the others?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sandy feared the worst.

  More gunfire, but now it was to their left. Maybe they don’t know we’ve changed direction, Eugene thought. One thing I know is I want to make it. I want to live. I want this New World.

  Sandy gave a holler. Gene feared the worst, but it was a holler of joy. They had reached the road, and they were only about twenty yards from the border. Eugene turned around and didn’t see anyone. It looked like they’d make it for sure. A militiaman at the gate motioned for them to run; then he yelled “GET DOWN!”

  They both dropped to the pavement. Gunshots rang out from behind them, then gunshots from the border guard.

  A man yelled, “COME! QUICKLY! RUN! FASTER!”

  They were about ten yards away from freedom, then, just as suddenly, “GET DOWN! QUICKLY! ALL THE WAY DOWN!” More gunfire from both sides.

  The gunfire stopped, but no one told them to get up. Suddenly, a different voice said, “Get up!”

  Eugene and Sandy looked up, and Gene’s mouth opened. “Stu!”

  “Hello, Eugene.” Stuart Everson stood on the other side of the border with a dead militiaman at his feet. Everson held a small handgun at his side, barrel pointing at Eugene.

  Eugene and Sandy got up slowly; Eugene looking at Stu, quizzically. “Stu, what’s this about?”

  “Who is he?” Sandra asked.

  “My boss and my friend.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Casimir.”

  Sandy was confused. “Since when does a friend hold a gun on a friend?”

  “We are friends, right, Stu?” Eugene said, a bit unsure of things.

  “Come over here, Mrs. Casimir. Your husband is very worried.”

  “No. I’m not going back. He coerced me into marrying him and killed my husband. I’m not going back! I’m never going back!” Sandy’s face wa
s red and stained with tears.

  “What’s this about, Stu?”

  “What do you think it’s about, Eugene? You shouldn’t have gotten involved with those two. You had a good life here. Maybe you still can.”

  “You mean Hell House, don’t you? Were you responsible?” Stu just stood nonchalantly in front of them. His gun was still pointing at Eugene. Then Stu cleared his throat.

  “I suppose I owe you an explanation. I work for Alberto Martinez. Do you know who he is?”

  Eugene frowned and breathed as hard as when he was running. He just nodded affirmatively. “He’s the head of NOGOV,” said Eugene.

  “He’s the most powerful man on earth,” Stu said. “He’s more powerful than the President, Congress; oh, hell he is the government. He’s the government, the courts, the media. He’s everything. He’s God on earth.”

  Sandra’s mouth was agape. Eugene felt defeated. “I just don’t understand, Stu,” Eugene said. He was desponded, defeated, and teary-eyed. “You were my friend.” His voice was broken, but he continued through the sobs. “You were so kind to me when Catherine died. You offered me a promotion. We ate at your house. Why? I don’t understand.”

  For a moment Stu started to lower his weapon and felt the sting of regret; but then he rubbed his face, raised his weapon, and looked stern. “Stop this behavior. It’s indignant. Our so-called friendship was at the insistence of Alberto Martinez. He wanted to win you over; win you away from Zinney. I was the carrot, but now I’ve got the stick,” he said with a smile. Eugene’s head was lowered. Sandra grabbed hold of Eugene and put her head on his shoulder. Stuart continued.

  “I’ve known Al for a long time. He led a group of crime lords. He was involved in drugs, gambling, and prostitution. I was his lieutenant. One day Al comes to me with his brilliant idea. Why not make all this legal? No sneaking around; no hiding from the FBI; no hiding from ATF. Make it all legal, and make more money than ever. There was just one problem. He was small-time to NOGOV. It was run by another Mafia guy who legitimized himself by taking over the banking system. Name was Solariano. Martinez knew him, and got himself in NOGOV as his security chief. When he became President of NOGOV he was in a position to get Congress to change the laws. First he got the business community to see this as a way to start making money again. They would have done anything. Congress passed the law legalizing all this stuff; Martinez financed my little company; he got a kickback; and I’d owe him a favor or two.” Everson stopped to check Eugene’s reaction.

  “Is this the favor he wanted? Bring me back?”

  “That’s only the second favor. The first was to make you my number two. I didn’t like that idea. Rodriguez was a good man. You were a problem. That silly little populist head of yours,” he said with a sneer. “When you frowned at my proposal I was ready to storm right on out of there, but I couldn’t. I promised Al you’d be my second in command. He arranged to finance Raul’s startup in the same business in another city. He had to be replaced. It had to be you. He told me to offer you a house in the fortress if you hesitated at taking the job. It was way more than you deserved.”

  Eugene was mortified. “But the lawyer. You got me a lawyer to protect me. He’s the one who made trouble for Casimir.”

  “I never got you any lawyer. I just told you that so you’d go anywhere I wanted. Then I got a great idea—stick you in Hell House—only I wasn’t supposed to know about that. I had to figure out how to convince Casimir to stick you in there. So I pretended to be the lawyer. Created quite a mess,” he said with a sneer. “Leaked your situation to the part of the press that Martinez didn’t control. It did the rest. Then Casimir figured out what to do before Martinez did.”

  “You bastard!”

  “The truth is, Eugene, I always hated you. You whiney little populist shit.”

  Everson turned toward the woods. “Captain!”

  Kostroma and two of his men came out of the woods, wearing big grins on their faces. Kostroma whipped out his pocket phone and pushed his contact button. “Mr. O’Reilly, Kostroma here.”

  (Pause) “Yes sir, I have them. Mr. Everson was responsible. It went just as you planned. They were only thirty feet from the border. He was our last hope.”

  (Pause) “Well, that is good news sir. I’ll relay that to Mr. Everson. Are you on your way, sir?”

  (Pause) “Great! I’ll have them frisked and ready to be brought back.”

  Kostroma turned to Stuart Everson. “Mr. O’Reilly killed his brother and his wife. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

  “What about those other Blues? Armstrong and his friends?”

  Kostroma just shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “Take them in the woods and frisk them.”

  “Hold your arms up,” said Kostroma to Eugene and Sandy. “March,” he said pointing to the woods.

  They re-entered the woods on the north side. Armstrong, Foote, and Wrenn weren’t coming to the rescue. There were still shots being fired in the distance. It looked bad for the two of them. Eugene was mortified. If Pamela’s exposé on Old America’s future wasn’t enough to convince Eugene of the reality of the world he had longed for, then Everson’s betrayal was the final nail in the coffin for any desire to return. And they were so close. Kostroma disarmed Eugene just as Dennis O’Reilly pulled up in Sandy’s rental.

  Dennis, who was not smiling, got out, and turned to Stuart Everson. “Good job, sir. I can’t thank you enough for your cooperation.”

  “Take them both to Alt House,” Everson said. Dennis looked perplexed and Sandy began crying.

  “But Alt House is closed,” Dennis said.

  “Not anymore. Martinez’s orders. Apparently they fixed their problem. Well sort of. They’re guessing at the right dosage of some drug. Keeps them from dreaming. You two,” pointing at Eugene and Sandy. “You belong to Martinez now. I just let him know I have you. He’s personally taking charge.”

  Sandy screamed. “No. I’m not going back. I’m not going back to Jaydan ever again. I’d rather die out—”

  “Cut the dramatics girlie. You aren’t going back to your husband. Martinez has other plans for you. Smile now,” Everson said to Sandy. “Just think, you’ll be the wife of the most powerful person on earth.” Sandy screamed in horror. Eugene was hangdogged. Dennis whipped out a pair of cuffs. “Put your hands behind your back,” he demanded.

  Dennis circled around back of them with handcuffs in hand. By this time Everson had put his gun away and Kostroma and his men had lowered their weapons as well. Dennis cuffed the despondent pair and led them towards the car that Sandy recognized as her own.

  Dennis turned to Martinez’s right hand man. “Oh, Mr. Everson, there’s just one more thing.” Everson faced Dennis, confusedly. Dennis raised his Colt and shot Everson dead. Then he fired three more shots at Kostroma and his men before they realized what was going on. Dennis walked over to them, and now, with a wink and a smile said, “Let’s go see that New World.”

  Chapter 29:

  The Beginning

  Dennis, Eugene, and Sandy crossed the border into New America. While Sandy could feel nothing but relief and joy, Eugene was bemused and bewildered. Looking at Dennis, Eugene said, “What the shit is going on?”

  Dennis laughed and told the two the story of his own entrapment and visit to Hell House. As he finished relaying Ray’s dying words to him, a familiar woman emerged from the shadows with the border administrator who was hiding in his office after the guard was killed.

  “Do you still remember me, my husband?”

  “Anna?”

  Anna smiled and ran to Dennis. She hugged him, and Dennis returned the hug, although his memory of her was still a bit fuzzy.

  Sandra smiled but Eugene was still a bit unsettled. Dennis turned toward them with a smile. “I understand everything now.” Memories of her began flooding back into his consciousness. Dreams became reality. The past happily married the present. Dennis was home again. What had become his reality only
minutes ago faded from memory. That time now felt like the dream.

  Sandra smiled. She understood. Her life with Jaydan Casimir now felt like a bad dream. She would have no life with Fernando Menendez, but she knew she would have one with Eugene Sulke. Only one thing could mar the new reality. Where were their friends and protectors?

  As Dennis and Anna reunited, and Sandra and Eugene looked at each other, they heard a noise from behind them. “Well, well, well,” Jack Wrenn said, wearing a broad grin. “I was afraid you two might not make it. Are Ray and Cass here?”

  The two ran over to him. Sandy gave him a great big hug, and then Terry Foote came out, a bit bedraggled, but in one piece. Finally, Chad Armstrong came out. Eugene and Sandy hugged all of them. Then Chad came over to them. “Ray and Cassandra here?”

  Eugene started to answer, but Dennis interrupted him.

  “I can explain,” Dennis said. The three just stared at him. Chad had his hand on his weapon, and then he saw Anna.

  “He’s back boys.”

  “You must be Chad Armstrong,” Dennis said as he extended a hand. Armstrong paused and slowly extended his own. “I recognized you from the photograph of you and from my dreams, though you were a bit fuzzy.”

  Armstrong looked confused until Dennis explained how Ray convinced him of his capture and torture in Hell House. Dennis pulled out the manila envelope and handed it to Chad. He opened it and looked at the documents he was already familiar with. Wrenn and Foote came over and looked at the Legionnaire one. They all began grinning.

  “There’s still a lot he doesn’t remember, but he’s back with us now,” Anna said.

  “Really, Den. It’s really you?” Armstrong said.

  “It was painful to learn that the life I knew was a lie. I can’t describe it. They recreated a whole career—hell—a whole life’s story for me. They took away the person I was. I was convinced I was a failure; a nobody. I got to tell you guys though. I was the one behind all the harassment. I was working for Jaydan Casimir to capture you. Martinez ordered your deaths. I shot my own brother and his wife before I knew the truth. Ray’s like a piece of chiseled granite. It takes him a long time to die.”