Callie's Secret Revelations

by T. Jones

  Professor Henry James, with strength belying his size, and the element of surprise on his side, pushed away from his guard suddenly and leapt forward. He collided with the Bailiff, who stumbled backward over the steps leading up to the bench. They both went down in a pile, with the Professor on top. He came up a moment later, eyes wild, looking confused and demented, holding the Bailiff's service revolver in his handcuffed fists. He waved the gun wildly around for a second, then started to level it in the direction of the courtroom. Officer Cummings, a professional with twenty-six years on the force, and a known marksman, put two bullets through his chest before Professor James could pull the trigger.

  Bedlam erupted in the courtroom as Bess calmly opened her eyes, smiling grimly. The enormity of what she had just done was starting to occur to her, but she pushed it aside. Justice had been served. If Fate or God had planned to let Professor Henry James off the hook, she would just have to face the consequences.

  Chapter Two

  Callie Fisher sat in her room, trying to sort out what to do. Teresa wanted her abilities in the group, she had made that clear. Danielle had ruined Travis's chance of being an engineer, just to try to interfere with Callie's relationship with Jenny. It seemed unlikely she would do that on her own, more than likely it was Teresa's doing. Danielle had claimed the Sisters had seen Travis and Jenny together, but any information that came to her through Teresa was suspect. Teresa lied as much as she told the truth, and the Sisters' visions didn't seem very reliable. But going back meant a chance to nail Ozzy Marsh and somehow make him pay for Natalie Clark's death.

  Callie's dreams had stopped. For the first time, she wished she would 'see' something in her dreams. If she was going to avenge Natalie's death, she needed information about Oswald Marsh, some way to get back at the bastard. Painting didn't seem to help. Her mind was particularly quiet. Was it possible she was just too damn happy to be bothered by the likes of Ozzy appearing in her dreams? Maybe Teresa had foreseen this, realized that if she was perfectly content at home, she would be unwilling to engage in the nasty business of helping the Sisters. That might have been true, if Natalie had not been killed. Now Ozzy Marsh had to pay, and Teresa Blackburn was on the list too. The Sisters seemed innocent of subterfuge, it was Teresa that had not acted on what they knew. Danielle said that she didn't know until after the fact, and Callie believed her. But she had implied that Teresa knew about Eliot and had done nothing, hoping for Ozzy's death. If getting Ozzy was Teresa's plan, then they shared a goal and Callie could use that.

  She was aware that the Sisters had been trying to slip into her mind, and that Teresa had tried as well. It had become routine for her to keep them out, simple really. Things she had thought impossible weeks before, were now instinctual. She was aware that she could tell what Jenny was feeling if she wished, but she had promised herself not to cross that line. Usually, where Jenny was concerned, psychic abilities were unnecessary. Her thoughts and feelings were evident on her face, or she was sharing them verbally. But peering into the minds of the Sisters, that was another matter. Callie was well aware that she could tear into their thoughts and find out what she needed, but not without consequence, and not without them being aware of it. Teresa and the other Elders were too strong, and they had no more intent of sharing their thoughts than she did. She needed to go back, stimulate the dreams, maybe even see Ozzy Marsh. First, she needed to talk to Danielle. She sent her a text.

  'Free to have lunch soon? We need to talk, and I want you to meet Jenny.' Her reply was almost instantaneous.

  'Anytime, you say. But is having Jenny there a good idea?' Callie frowned.

  'Package deal. I won't come without her.'

  'Okay, are you coming to the campus?'

  'I'll let you know, have to talk to her about it more. She knows about the Sisters, and about us. We have a lot to talk about, but just the three of us. I can talk to Teresa later.' Callie threw her phone on her bed. Letting Danielle meet Jenny was one thing, but she didn't want Teresa anywhere near the redhead.

  ***

  Danielle Ogren threw her phone down on the exercise mat and sat back down on the weight bench. She did six reps, six times, bumped the weight to two hundred, then did four more sets. Then she lay resting, thinking about Callie Fisher. She was glad things had worked out with her girlfriend, since it was obvious she was in love. It appeared that Teresa had lied about the outcome the Sisters had seen, which wasn't surprising, but it didn't please Danielle. It was possible that ultimately, Callie's girlfriend and Travis Weaver might end up together, but it didn't sound like that would happen soon, if ever. It was a good thing. Had the blonde been single and living under the same roof, the temptation to try and get her into bed would have been too great. Danielle didn't like to admit it, but she was lonely.

  Lonely seemed like a way of life for her, but it had been that way for a lot of her twenty-eight years. Growing up in Jamaica had been difficult. The streets of Kingston were a dangerous place for a young girl without a father. The businessman Danielle's mother hoped would rescue her from poverty, returned to New York and to his wife, before Danielle was born. Danielle's mother hated her grandparents for reasons unknown, and refused to let her meet them. It was just the two of them, and her earliest memories were of her mother always working, always gone. She learned to fend for herself. She spent most of her childhood stealing food from the outdoor markets, picking pockets, and fighting with the boys in the local street gang. When the biggest of them grabbed her twelve-year old ass, she knocked him down and kicked him in the balls. There was no chivalry in the streets of Kingston, and when he got up, the fight was on. She took a beating, but gave nearly as good as she got. He never touched her again, and treated her like a sister after that. She was off limits to the other boys, but whenever a brawl with a rival gang erupted, she was always right in the middle of it. The locals all knew that trying anything with the pretty young girl probably meant a blade in the ribs, and left her alone.

  Danielle's mother worked the streets, selling herself to support her drug habit and keep a roof over their heads. Most nights Danielle didn't see her, and most days she slept away her misery. Danielle never learned why the woman hated her parents' so much. She died one night, strangled by a John, and Danielle's life changed forever.

  The local constable knew the street urchin well, and knew her mother. He stepped in, and Danielle's grandparents were notified. How they were located she never knew, but they lived in a faraway place called Minnesota, and they were willing to take her in, eager in fact. She fought them all, the law, the welfare system, and her grandparents. But in the end, they took her from the streets of Kingston and gave her a real home and a new life. Funny thing, she had been dreaming about snow for as long as she could remember.

  ***

  "Is that her?" Jenny's eyes grew big and she slapped Callie on the arm. "She is absolutely gorgeous, Callie. Now I am jealous, and you're not getting out of my sight."

  "Jenny, relax. I never should have told you about that. It was just the one time. I was kind of drunk, and she saved me from a mugging."

  "Well I would have jumped on her too. Wow, she is gorgeous!" Danielle approached the table and reached out a hand, towering over the other two girls.

  "Jennifer, it's really nice to meet you. I can see why Callie kept wanting to run home to spend time with you, you're all she could talk about. I'm glad things worked out."

  "Me too, no thanks to you and the Sisters." Jenny's smile belied her words as she took Danielle's hand. "I guess you were just doing your job, but I don't give a shit about what you all think my fate is, I get to decide that." Callie snickered as Danielle continued to shake Jenny's hand, smiling.

  "Callie said you would be direct. Just so you know, I have no designs on Callie. I can promise you I will never try to undermine your relationship again. Like you said, it was Sisters' business. Callie made it clear that her personal life is off limits if we want her in the group."

  "Thanks." Jenny s
aid, breaking into her usual grin. "I'm glad we understand each other. You are so pretty, and so strong looking!" Callie laughed.

  "I told you Jen. She's the Enforcer for the group." Jennifer frowned a bit.

  "Why do you need one of those? Do you get involved in those bombings and shootings a lot? Am I going to have to worry about you being safe all the time, Callie?"

  "Sometimes situations come up, people resist our corrections, and I make sure it happens. Usually we find ways to improve things without getting physical. If I'd been a second faster I could have stopped Eliot Nucci, and Natalie would be alive."

  "And if Teresa had shared all of her information, the whole thing might have been avoided. Eliot had a history, he was suspected of killing his brother. It never should have gotten to the point it did, he could have been dealt with earlier." Callie said angrily.

  "You're not making me feel any better." Jenny rested her hand on Callie's arm. "The less you have to do with people like that, the better. Why do you have to be involved at all?"

  "Jen, if things I see can save somebody's life, somebody innocent, don't I have to?"

  "I guess," The redhead nodded soberly, then looked up at Danielle. "But you sure as hell better keep her safe."

  "I'll do my best." Danielle laughed. "So, are you coming back down, Callie? Are you going back to school after the break? You don't want to go back to that dorm, do you?"

  "That's a definite no. I brought my Dad's van and we're moving all my shit out of the room."

  "I told you, I have an extra bedroom. The rent is paid by the group, one of the perks." Danielle glanced at Jenny, who was eyeing her suspiciously. "And, I don't know your situation, but Jenny is welcome too. The place is huge, and I'm hardly ever there. Jenny, I promise you, there's no ulterior motive here. I would love to have roommates, it's just too quiet there. Teresa doesn't even need to know, if you don't want her to." Callie snorted.

  "I'm sure Teresa knows, if she didn't suggest it! I'm sorry Dani, but I'm not going to pretend that I trust you completely all of a sudden. And honestly, I don't know if I want Jenny anywhere near you and Teresa."

  "Callie! Let's just try to get along, okay?" Jenny pleaded, looking between them. "I think it would be cool living down here for a while. I could commute, and you could make sure they don't poke around in my brain. Not much interesting up there, anyway."

  "I'm sure that's not true, Jenny." Danielle smiled. "But I can't poke around in your brain anyway. It takes several members to do that, or someone like Callie."

  "She better not be poking around either. How the hell am I supposed to throw a surprise birthday party for somebody like you?"

  "Jenny, I would never try to know what you're thinking, and I wouldn't need to be psychic, you're horrible at keeping secrets."

  "So, what do you say? Come look at the place at least. It's only ten minutes from here, in a good part of town, and it's big and open. There's an office in the loft, you could paint up there Callie, I've never used it. And remember, rent free to my favorite psychic."

  "Oh my God Callie," Jenny gushed. "It all sounds too good to be true."

  "That's exactly what I'm worried about, Jen."

  ***

  "Is the Fisher girl going to be trouble for us?" The lanky gray-haired woman scowled as the waitress placed her drink on the table and spilled a few drops on the linen table cloth. "You'd think, for as much as we pay for a membership, they could hire decent help." The woman to her left, younger, but with streaks of gray in her hair, smiled over at her.

  "Christ Jane, the poor girl is probably scared shitless after the way you ripped into her Tuesday. She's only been here a week, give her a chance." Jane MacDonald turned her scowl on her friend.

  "You're too easy going for your own good Dee. Wait till she dumps a bowl of soup on you!"

  "Oh bullshit, you backed into her, and she was the one who ended up wearing most of it."

  "Enough you two. We're not here to squabble about the waitress." Teresa waved her spoon at the two other women. They sat making faces at each other, but stopped talking. "And yes Jane, Callie Fisher is a potential problem for us. Let's not forget who her mother is. I'm afraid the girl is even more gifted. We can't overpower her, even all three of us. We can't bend her will, but we can keep her under control. I know things that she wouldn't want getting out. She's madly in love with a little girl from her hometown, and I really would hate to tell Jennifer what I know, I'm afraid the relationship wouldn’t survive."

  "Oh, that's so cute. I hope it doesn't come to that." Dee shook her head, looking concerned. "It would be terrible to split them up."

  "I'll share that with her if need be. But she has to be handled carefully. She has quite a temper, and I'm not sure I'd want to be on the receiving end of it. She has abilities I've never heard of before."

  "And a powerful Mom." Jane mused. "Look, if we can make the deal fly with Marsh, I'm out, it's time to retire. We'll have more damn money than we can spend. We could set up a trust for the group, let Madeline run things for all I care. I'm heading for Rio, or Miami and live like I was always meant to."

  "Well I think you deserve it." Dee raised her glass for a toast. "We've kept the Sisters going for a long time, putting in our own money. I won't be leaving town, not with Terrance in the home, so I can keep an eye on things. But I think it's time for some of the younger girls to step up. Maybe Callie Fisher is just what we need."

  "I could go for Miami myself." Teresa said, ignoring Deeann. "First, we have to make sure that little weasel, Ozzy, doesn't bump off his old man. If Marsh's deal goes as planned, and we grab the stock when it hits bottom, we'll be Warren Buffet rich when the new device hits the market. Hell, he might even buy the company from us." Teresa leaned back, tipping up her glass. The thought of all that money was more intoxicating than the Gin. "The good news is that Callie Fisher wants Ozzy as badly as we do. She's still all bent out of shape about the Clark girl. I get that, but sometimes things don't turn out the way we've seen. Just another reason why she would be good as one of the Sisters, Deeann."

  "If she has all the abilities and clarity you say, maybe she should be on the Council." Deeann suggested. Teresa scowled at her.

  "She's a snot nosed kid Dee. I'll be damned if I'm going to let a nineteen-year old girl waltz in here and have the same amount of control as the three of us."

  "Three of us?" Deeann rolled her eyes. "I don't recall you asking me about the thing with Eliot. I never did think our information was good enough."

  "Everybody's sight is always so fucking good after the fact!" Teresa snapped. "If I didn't go ahead and move things forward, nothing would ever happen."

  "Well something sure as hell happened!" Deeann glared back. "An innocent young girl got shot, and I can tell you, nobody is very damn happy about it."

  "Jesus Deeann, I'm not happy either, but changing destiny is a messy God damn business. We get through the next six months, I'll pack my shit and move south. You're welcome to run the whole group for all I care. But I didn't hear you complaining when you thought the Marsh kid was going to be the one killed. But you knew that would put another twenty million in your pocket, right?"

  "We've always said, sometimes Fate has to have its way, but it was never about the money for me. You're the one who never seems to have enough."

  "Jesus, you two!" Jane interrupted. "Just take it down a notch, okay? What happened to the girl was bad, we agree on that. But fighting amongst ourselves isn't going to bring her back. Teresa's right Dee, sometimes the unexpected happens, even when we're pretty sure of the outcome. That's why we need people like Callie Fisher. Once she comes into her own, maybe her prescience will prevent messes like this from happening." Teresa glared at them both.

  "Like I said, she can pay her dues like the rest of us. Her mother was always too cautious, I was glad when she left the group. If Callie is like her, we're never going to get anything done."

  "Well, I always liked Bess." Deeann added, trying for the last word.r />
  "Yeah, you would." Teresa shook her head, finally allowing herself a smile.

  Chapter Three

  Johnathan Marsh looked across the large desk in his office at his son. He frowned. "Were you out partying half the night again? Your eyeballs look like two piss holes in a snowbank. You've ridden this Natalie thing about long enough. We both know you weren't really in love with her. If you had jumped in front of her like a man and taken that bullet, I'd feel sorry for you. I still can't believe what I saw on that security footage. If that had gotten out, you wouldn't be the darling of the papers. Just remember who saved your ass, again."

  "I told you, I don't care what it looked like, you weren't there. Natalie got in the way, she was a great girl, and that nut job took her from me."

  "She was a great girl, I'll give you that. Too bad for her she got mixed up with you."

  "Jesus Dad! Is this about the offer from Spencer? I told you, I'm going to stay with the firm. They're just looking for exposure, because my name's been all over the news."

  "He's looking for a spy, is what he's looking for. He wants to know who's in on my deal, so he can steal it. The whole thing depends on nothing leaking. You already know more than I'm comfortable with, considering how you fold under pressure."

  "It's great, the way you stick up for your own son." Ozzy slumped down in his chair.

  "Like I said, if I hadn't made sure that security tape got misplaced, you wouldn't be getting offers from other firms, and you sure as hell wouldn't be running for congress. Just remember, before you get any big ideas, that tape still exists. The whole world could still see what a fucking hero you are. It looks to me like you're on dope again, and that isn't going to fly. You get your shit together, start acting like a candidate again, or we're going to have some serious problems, you and I. Now get out of my office, you smell like stale beer and cigarettes, you make me sick."