by Shaw, J. D.
“Look out.” Someone screamed and pointed to the stage area. “It’s going to fall.” Another audience member shrieked. Vivienne, Joshua, and Kathy barely had time to turn around to face the stage when they heard a crashing sound as one of the spot lights barely missed hitting the choir. They scattered away from the risers, some tumbling to the floor as the horrible sound grew in intensity.
The scene played out as if in slow motion. The main scaffolding above Seamus Kilpatrick’s head tilted sharply to the right and then pulled down a tangle of electric cords. Frozen in place, Seamus stared upwards as the entire structure began to buckle and bend directly toward him like two giant fists.
Moving with speed that seemed inhuman, the tall man suddenly appeared on stage next to Seamus. He tackled him and brought him down to the stage floor, just as the overhead structure lost complete integrity.
It dropped down with horrific speed, smashing against the illuminated cross. The top half of the cross exploded in a bright flash as the entire rig tumbled down and landed on top of them both with a sickening crash. A spectacular eruption of twisted metal, exploding glass, and blinding sparks were followed by the stage supports giving way and the floor buckling awkwardly to the ground with a groan. The power went out, plunging everyone in the tent into horrific darkness. A few seconds later, the screams began.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Your brother?” Vivienne asked as she sat in the waiting room of Cayuga Memorial Hospital. The small television mounted in the upper corner of the room was running a crime procedural drama, but the sound was muted.
“His name is Hunter.” Joshua spoke softly as he caressed her right hand in his grip.
Kathy stepped into the waiting room with three paper cups balanced in her hands. “I know it’s late, but the cafeteria is closed and that left the vending machines.” She carefully set them down on a long table covered with magazines. “I doubt it’s very strong, anyway.”
“Thank you.” Vivienne reached down and claimed one of the cups. She gingerly took a sip and smiled. “Not bad for a vending machine.”
Kathy sat down next to Vivienne. “So did I hear you mention someone’s brother?”
“That would be my younger brother, Hunter.” Joshua repeated. “I don’t know why he’s here in town.”
“Whatever the reason,” Vivienne interrupted him, “he may have saved Seamus Kilpatrick’s life.” She sipped her coffee. “So, that would make him quite the hero.”
“I didn’t know that you had a brother.” Kathy poured a packet of sugar in her coffee and swirled the little plastic stirrer around, creating a miniature whirlpool in the hot liquid. “Older or younger?”
“Younger.” Joshua answered.
“Why would he come to town and not say a word to you?” Vivienne asked.
Joshua took a long breath before answering. “Hunter and I don’t exactly see eye to eye on things. We have a very complicated relationship.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Vivienne pressed. “Did you two have a falling out?”
“Not exactly.” Joshua shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He reached down and grabbed his cup of coffee.
“Is he your only sibling?” Kathy asked.
“No.” He took a sip and looked up at the television, as if he were suddenly interested in the unfolding plot on screen.
Vivienne stared at him for a moment. “Joshua, these are not unusual questions for someone to ask.”
“I know that.” He shook his head. “I’m just worried about him.”
“The doctor seemed pretty optimistic.” Kathy offered. “He said that there was no major internal organ damage which is pretty amazing given the circumstances.”
Vivienne nodded. “If he’s anything like you, his stay here in the hospital will be super short.”
“Of course.” Kathy agreed. “Back in December, I thought you’d be here for weeks recovering.”
“Good genes in the family.” Vivienne smiled as she sipped some more coffee.
“He’s strong.” Joshua finally spoke up. “I just want to hear that from the doctor.”
“Honey, it’s only been twenty minutes since they took him in.” Vivienne tried to assure him. “I’m sure we’ll be getting an update soon.”
Joshua looked down at his watch and nodded. “You’re right.”
“As far as we know, no one was killed tonight and that is the real miracle.” Vivienne grimaced. “Sorry. Poor word choice.”
“So, you were saying that you have other siblings?” Kathy asked.
Joshua swallowed a large gulp of his coffee. “There are five of us.” He continued. “Lily is the oldest, she lives in Santa Fe and runs a pottery shop.”
“She’s an artist?” Vivienne asked.
“Yes, she’s the free-spirit of the family. Left home when she was eighteen, married her high school sweetheart, and usually visits once a year for Thanksgiving.”
“How old is she?” Kathy wondered.
Joshua’s stared upward at the ceiling as he paused in thought for a moment. “She’s forty-three, but you’d never guess it. She still looks like she’s in her late twenties.”
Vivienne set her coffee down on the table. “Do they have children?”
“No. They’re happy with just the two of them.”
“What about the other siblings?” Vivienne pressed on, fascinated to finally hear some information about his family.
“Scarlet is forty, lives in Phoenix with her heart surgeon husband. Their son, my nephew Wyatt, is graduating high school this year.” Joshua let out a sigh. “Which makes me feel a hell of a lot older now.”
“You don’t look it.” Kathy reassured him. “Youthful genes must run in your family too.” She took a sip of coffee and frowned. “Some people have all the luck.”
“My older brother Logan is thirty-eight and lives in Maine where he works as a ranger for the Acadia National Park. He’s divorced, but has twin sons Lucas and Levi who are sixteen, I think.” He scratched his beard. “It’s been a few years since I’ve seen them but I think they’re both big into sports.”
Vivienne leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. “So that leaves you and Hunter, the baby of the family.”
“Yeah.” Joshua finished. “He’s thirty and still lives in Indian Lake near my parents.” He shrugged his shoulders. “At least he used to, last I knew of.”
“Married?” Kathy perked up.
Joshua shook his head. “No, he’s a loner. Never really wanted to be with anyone.”
“Oh really?” Kathy finished her coffee. “I think everyone needs someone special to care about in their lives.”
Vivienne raised an eyebrow at Kathy’s remark. “This is Kathy Saunders, my best friend sitting next to me, correct?”
Kathy shrugged. “I know. I really need to steer clear from the self-help section at Hearthside Books. You walk away with more issues than you came in with.”
“Actually,” Vivienne gave a little smile, “I kind of like this version of you.”
“Even Wonder Woman needs to let down her hair every now and then. Enjoying a glass of merlot with someone special at a fancy bar that still believes in the power of age-flattering candlelight.” Kathy winked. “She may be able to keep crime in check, but she can’t stop her biological clock from ticking.”
Vivienne chuckled. “I suppose that’s true. Still, she has a golden tiara and all that fabulous jewelry to console herself with in the meantime.”
Kathy grimaced. “And if she had to throw a party like I did to sell the damn stuff in her boutique on Main Street, she’d probably end up in the Justice League’s loony ward with the Wonder Twins as bunkmates.”
Joshua spoke up. “Funny that you both brought up justice, as my little brother happens to be a bounty hunter.”
Vivienne pulled her head off his shoulder. “That’s an unusual profession.”
“Well, he was in the training program to become a police officer, but he just wasn’t cut out for
all the rules and regulations that come with it.” Joshua confessed to them. “He and I never saw eye to eye on things like that. I guess that’s why we aren’t that close.”
“But you worry about him.” Vivienne thought back to the shocking moment last December when she had learned that Joshua’s emergency contact was his brother, Hunter. “Those strong feelings mean you still have a relationship with him, even if you don’t keep in contact all the time.” She had just assumed he had chosen him because they had a special bond. But now, she was starting to think it had simply been a matter of physical distance. They obviously had some wounds to heal in the future, but she hoped they would find a way to do that sooner rather than later. She had known far too many families who had let petty differences tear them apart until the moment it was simply too late to fix it. That type of grief she witnessed at funerals, was something she hoped she would never have to experience.
“He’s family.” Joshua agreed. “For better or for worse.”
“Since he wasn’t in Cayuga Cove to visit you, why do you think he was here?” Kathy asked.
“That’s a good question.” Joshua wondered aloud. “I hope we get a chance to ask him.”
Vivienne gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You will. I’m sure of that.”
A bald man dressed in light blue scrubs stepped into the doorway of the waiting room. “Who’s here for Hunter Arkins?” He asked quietly.
“That’s us.” Joshua stood up and towered over the man. “I’m his brother.”
“I’m Doctor Abrams.” He shook Joshua’s hand. “Your brother is a very lucky man. Quite frankly, I’ve never seen such minor damage given the description the paramedics had given when he was brought into the hospital.”
“He’s okay?” Vivienne asked with more than enough hope in her voice for all three.
“He’s resting comfortably right now. Our initial exam and tests discovered no major internal or external damage.” Doctor Abrams smiled warmly. “He had some lacerations along his left upper arm that required some sutures, but other than that he’s a very lucky man.”
“When can I see him?” Joshua asked.
“You can go in now, if you’d like. We’re keeping him overnight for observation due to the loss of consciousness. Barring any unforeseen complications, he should be discharged in the morning.”
“Thank you, Doctor Abrams.” Joshua let out a sigh of relief.
“His actions probably saved the life of Pastor Kilpatrick.” Doctor Abrams smiled back. “That makes him a hero.” He gave Joshua a pat on the shoulder. “But I guess that just runs naturally in your family.”
“So Pastor Kilpatrick is stable too?” Vivienne asked.
Doctor Abrams nodded. “I can’t release any specifics, but your brother acted like a human shield and took the brunt of the damage from the accident. If he hadn’t, I’m almost certain things would have turned out very different tonight.”
“That’s just his nature.” Joshua replied.
“If you’d like to follow me, I’ll take you to see him.”
Vivienne reached out and took his hand in hers for a moment. “You go. Kathy and I will wait here.”
He kissed her on the lips. “I won’t be too long.”
“Take all the time you need.” Vivienne insisted. “After all, he’s your family.”
Joshua followed Doctor Abrams out of the waiting room, leaving Vivienne and Kathy alone.
“It sounds like no one was seriously injured.” Vivienne sat back down in the chair. “That’s a relief.”
“Yet it is.” Kathy picked up a popular entertainment magazine and flipped through it. “But you know what this means.”
“What?”
Kathy stopped on a section devoted to Academy Awards fashion choices. “The mystery surrounding his sudden arrival in town just got that much deeper.”
Vivienne grabbed a home décor magazine off the table. “I’m hoping that he can help to shed some light on things.” She flipped through the pages, barely noticing any of the photographs or articles within.
“That would be a nice change of pace.” Kathy flipped through a few more pages of the magazine, stopping to rub her wrist on a scented perfume ad.
Vivienne glanced up at the television and then gasped and pointed to the screen. “Clara Bunton is on the local news.”
Kathy looked up. “Really?”
Vivienne rushed over to the television and fumbled with the buttons along the side. She finally found the volume button and turned it up so they could hear the newscaster. She took a few steps back.
There was a live remote from the tent accident scene as a local reporter gestured to the yellow tape blocking off the perimeter. “Several people were treated for minor injuries at the scene, but at this time there is no report on the condition of the two men taken to Cayuga Memorial earlier this evening. We will continue to follow this story as the evening progresses, but for now it looks to be a very lucky break for dozens of people. Back to you, Sara.”
Sara, the perky brunette news anchor, looked into the camera and smiled. “On a happier note, one local Cayuga Cove area merchant learned today that a penny for your thoughts, could be worth more than you know. News at Eleven reporter Jonah Reed, has the story.”
The image of Clara Bunton filled the screen, standing behind the counter of her diner. “I didn’t think anything of it until my cook, Harold, noticed it sitting in my ‘leave a penny take a penny’ cup on the register.” She spoke into the reporter’s microphone.
The tenor voice of Jonah Reed narrated over the image of Clara walking orders over to her customers in the diner. “Clara Bunton, owner of Clara’s Diner in Cayuga Cove, may have received the tip of a lifetime. The longtime restaurateur was surprised to discover that hidden among the pennies left by customers, there was something worth much more.”
The image shifted back to Clara talking into the microphone. “Harold pulled it out and told me that he thought it was a rare coin.” She smiled and gestured to him standing beside her. “Thank goodness he collects them as a hobby.”
Jonah’s voice over returned as an image of a penny appeared on screen. “Left in the cup on her register was this coin known to collectors as the 1969-S Lincoln cent with a doubled die obverse. What does all that fancy description mean exactly? Well, that means there is a clear doubling of the entire obverse, or head side of the coin as it is more commonly known, except for the mint mark. A very rare coin that was once confiscated by the Secret Service until the United States Mint admitted that the coins were indeed genuine.”
Clara’s image returned to the screen. “It just looked like an ordinary penny to me. Who knew?”
The voice of Jonah returned as the image of the penny appeared back on the screen. “What she found out when the coin was taken to an expert in Geneva was nothing short of amazing. The lone penny, which just happened to be in exquisite condition, was worth an estimated thirty-five thousand dollars.”
“I was astounded.” The image of Clara speaking to Jonah returned to the screen. “I would never had known that without Harold, so we’re going to sell it and split the money in half.”
“This makes the second windfall to happen in Cayuga Cove, as local residents Nathaniel Schroeder and Tristan Carr won a million dollar multi-state Lotto drawing held earlier this week.” Jonah noted. “Which I don’t need to tell you, adds up to a lot of pennies indeed. Reporting from Cayuga Cove, Jonah Reed, Channel Six news.”
The news anchor returned. “Coming up after the break, a look ahead to a possible late-winter storm that could bring heavy snow to the local area. News at Eleven meteorologist Christina Harper has all the details and the seven day forecast coming right up. Stay with us.”
Vivienne turned the volume down on the television. “What time is it?”
Kathy looked over at the wall clock near the doorway. “Quarter after eleven.”
“We missed the top story.” Vivienne replied with a hint of annoyance. “Do you think they mention
ed anything about the death of Father William?”
“They pack a lot of stories into those first few minutes.” Kathy grimaced. “I wasn’t paying any attention.”
“Nor was I.” Vivienne mentally kicked herself. “Damn.”
Kathy set her magazine down. “Doesn’t it seem odd that we’re having all these things happen in town all of a sudden?”
“Yes, it does.” Vivienne agreed.
“Makes me nervous that with all the good luck floating around, we’re in for a heaping of bad luck to follow.”
“Father William dying was certainly a big dose of bad luck.” Vivienne replied.
“My mother used to say that bad things always happened in threes.” Kathy stood up from the chair and stretched her legs.
“First Suzette Powell’s catering business catches fire, then Father Williams drowns in the baptismal pool at church.” Vivienne counted off.
“The rigging collapse in the tent.” Kathy added.
“No.” Vivienne shook her head. “If anything that was good luck that no one was seriously injured or killed.”
Kathy thought on the logic of her statement and was forced to agree. “I suppose you’re right about that one.” She chuckled a little. “Listen to us, going on like a bunch of superstitious old biddies. Next thing you know, we’ll be reading tea leaves to see who will get married first.”
“Well, can you really blame us for that?” Vivienne so desperately wanted to tell Kathy the truth about what she knew. That their peaceful little town was riddled with magic portals that could be responsible for the series of random events striking. She was certain that given some time, her friend would actually believe that she was a witch who worked the mysterious ways of spells and enchantments. Although Joshua was aware of her true nature, she longed to share her journey with her best friend. Yet, she knew the danger of revealing herself to mortals. Should Kathy slip up, Vivienne and Joshua’s entire existence could be uprooted. It was a gamble that just wasn’t worth taking. For now, she would have to keep her in the dark.
“So, based on our observations, we have at least one bad thing yet to happen.” Kathy reached up and massaged her temples. “I just hope that it doesn’t involve us. I’ve had enough craziness this month.”