Knack (Benjamin Brown Book 1)

by Tom Twitchel

  My take for the day was pretty awesome. Good crowds, I was on my game and people were so happy with the weather that I think they threw in extra tips because of it. Wrapping a rubber band around my fat stack of cash, I buried it in my backpack and headed for the bus stop. Everyone was wearing t-shirts and smiles and I couldn’t help feeling happy myself.

  The bus ride, on the other hand, once again headed for crazy town.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  When I got on the bus, the driver was in a hurry so I was just finding my seat as it rumbled away from the curb and the doors hissed shut. Grabbing a pole, I swung into the seat and that’s when I saw Oso sitting in the back of the bus. He was wearing a tan windbreaker. I could see the “13” tattoo peeking out of his collar. My attempt to recover from the jolt of recognition was interrupted by a strong mental contact.

  Don’ look me. Look ahead.

  That was confusing, but while I tried to slow my breathing I looked toward the front of the bus, and saw Miss Hoch holding on to an overhead rail and working her way toward me, a glint of recognition in her eyes. Her light coat fell to her knees, open and revealing a light purple dress underneath. She casually brushed past people as she got closer.

  They had me trapped.

  Her lavender eyes were locked on me and she had a thin smile on her face. I remembered thinking when I had first met her that she was kind of pretty when she smiled, for an older woman. That wasn’t the case at the moment. Her smile looked predatory, threatening and she looked a lot younger; her skin seemed youthful and unlined, and she had lost weight. In fact, if I hadn’t been scared I would have had to admit that Miss Hoch looked kind of hot. When she finally stood next to me, she looked at the open seat next to the window.

  “Would you mind scooting over so I can sit down?” she asked.

  Numb and struggling with what was going on I mumbled a yes and slid into the window seat. How could two of the people who had created serious drama in my life, both be on the same bus on the same day I happened to be on it? It couldn’t be a coincidence. They had to have planned it. And Miss Hoch wasn’t having any trouble remembering who I was this time. Her smile was knowing, threatening.

  “I was hoping I would run into you today. I have great news!” she said, like she was confiding in an old friend. I couldn’t imagine what she was referring to and I was confused by her familiar attitude. How had she connected the dots and now recognized me as someone she knew?

  Her smile widened and showed some teeth, her full lips parted slightly. Heavy makeup wreathed her eyes. “I have my memory back. I remember you. And…I remember why I was looking for you.” She patted my hand that I had been resting on my knee. I snatched it away. What could she be thinking? My mind racing, I thought about screaming.

  As though reading my mind, she said, “Oh, don’t be startled. I have something for you.” I felt a stab in my arm. The pain was immediately followed by a tingling numbness that quickly spread up my arm and over my body. My throat felt tight and I couldn’t sit up straight. My body felt heavy and foreign.

  “That’s right. Just sit tight and I’ll take care of you,” she said in a sweet tone. Anybody overhearing her would think we knew each other and that she was looking out for me. I couldn’t talk or move my limbs much.

  Leaning close to me, still smiling while her chest pressed against me, she whispered, “That’s animal tranquilizer. I’ve used it a lot. You’ll be able to walk off this bus with me, but you’ll be as gentle as a lamb.”

  “I’m still having trouble remembering how I lost my memory, but I’m sure it’ll come eventually. How you managed to hide from me when I visited your mother’s apartment is beyond me. Why, I could practically smell you there! And shame on that little girl! Is she your sister? I might need to pay her a visit. I smelled something on her too. Not much, but enough to be enticing.” The tip of her tongue licked at the corner of her mouth.

  I decided I liked the earlier version of Miss Hoch. This one was scaring the hell out of me. Smell me? Smell Maddy? It was like out of some freaking fairy tale. Why was she coordinating with Oso? I could feel my heart thrumming away like an electric guitar. If I hadn’t been drugged, I might have thrown up all over her.

  The bus squealed to a stop and she slid her arm around my waist and helped me out of my seat.

  “Is he all right?” asked a woman behind us.

  Miss Hoch smiled and nodded. “Oh, he’s fine. Just a little too much excitement today, poor dear. A hot bath and some cartoons and he’ll be fine.” She winked at the concerned woman who smiled uncertainly.

  “Oh… Oh, I understand.”

  Really, I thought. You understand? What would you be understanding lady? That I’m mentally or physically disabled, and my caregiver here is just helping me totter home? I tried to convey my fear, but my lips and eyes were not responding the way I wanted them too.

  “Mmmgrgh,” I muttered. I could feel drool sliding down my chin.

  The woman actually stepped forward, smiling at me with genuine sympathy and helped Miss Hoch lead me down the stairs to the sidewalk. “My sister has a special needs child. You’re all such a blessing to them,” she said.

  Thanking the woman for her help, Miss Hoch steered me toward an apartment building, but instead of approaching the entrance, she dragged me into the alley.

  “I don’t live here dear. Wouldn’t do to hunt too close to home. What would people say?”

  Unable to do more than just keep myself upright, I shambled along with her help. We skirted a large garbage dumpster and then she roughly wedged me between the dumpster and the wall of the building. The entire scene began to remind me of the night Mike had almost killed me. She grabbed both of my upper arms in her hands and drew her face within inches of mine.

  “How you got away the last time is a mystery to me but this time I’ll take what I want and then I’m going to figure out who’s been helping you.” She spat.

  Her lips were peeled back in a snarl and her eyes shone brightly in the dim light. The tip of her tongue flicked at the edges of her mouth. Behind her eyes, I sensed an overwhelming thirst that chilled me right to the bone.

  She grinned in an ugly way and got very close to me. “This is going to hurt, but when I’m done you won’t feel any pain…anymore. You won’t really care about much at all. Just relax and don’t fight; it’ll just make it harder on you.” Her eyes glowed. As I stared into them, they seemed to expand and brighten. I felt as though I was falling into them. The rest of her face was swallowed up in a lavender pool and I started to feel as though my mind was being stretched and pulled out of my body. Searing pain lanced through my skull.

  I wanted to scream but couldn’t. In the lavender depths, I heard a distant loud hollow thunk, like the noise a cantaloupe makes when you thump it. The illusion of being submerged in a purple haze evaporated and Miss Hoch’s face reappeared, inches from mine. She stiffened. Her eyes snapped open very wide, and then rolled back into her head. She fell sideways, her head banging off the side of the dumpster, sliding to the ground in a heap.

  Wind whipping at his jacket, Oso stood over her, holding a gun at his side.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  I now faced Oso without any hope of protecting myself.

  He stooped and grabbed a handful of Miss Hoch’s coat and dragged her behind the dumpster, out of sight from anyone who might look into the alley. She sprawled on her side, her hair covering her face, her legs bent awkwardly and her dress hiked up exposing pale thighs. Oso rubbed his hands on his jeans and looked at me.

  Can you talk niño? I help you.

  Waves of relief flooded through me.

  Not with my mouth. She drugged me.

  Sí, lo sé. Can you walk by yourself?

  I don’t think so.

  I been watching her for long time. I don’ trust her.

  You helped me. Why? How did you know?

  Sí. The time you got hurt bad. I stop her that time too.

  What!?

  S
í. She kill the man that hurt you. She is strong! She try to…I don’ know…steal your heart? Your special magia?

  My heart? My magic?

  Sí. Like take what is in you. Your magia.

  How could you know that?

  Is my special…thing.… I see what people think.

  Why have you been following me?

  Watching you and the bruja, no vampiro. I hit her that time too, but mucha gente. She scream. I no stay.

  Vampire? What…witch?

  Sí. She tracking you.

  ???

  Okay, no mas preguntas. So, niño, yo tengo uno problema. No good me dragging you. People would no like me. White boy y Chicana, no es bueno.

  My phone is in my pocket. You could call one of my friends.

  Si?

  He fished in the pocket of my hoodie and found my phone. Tapping the screen to wake it up, he looked at the home screen where I had located my favorite contacts.

  Who?

  Goodturn. Mr. G.

  He hit the one-touch speed dial, waited for a connection and spoke rapidly into the phone for a few seconds. He paused and stepped back into the alley and walked out of sight. I could hear his shoes scraping along the ground and his voice but I couldn’t make out the words. Stuffed into a corner the way I was, not being able to see anything except Miss Hoch stretched out on the ground, was surreal. If I started to fall, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from falling. I felt scared all over again.

  Footsteps approached and Oso came into view. He put the phone back in my pocket, pulled me away from the dumpster and helped me lean more comfortably against the building.

  Goodturn? Tu Abuelo?

  No. A friend.

  Posiblemente diez minutos.

  He looked at his watch and shook his head. Being caught in the alley with an unconscious woman and an incapacitated boy was dangerous for him. I could feel the worry in him. A little for himself but mostly for me.

  Why? Why help me?

  You…me…the same. I tell you. True hermanos. I know your padre hurt you. Tu madre…she leave you. You have no one.

  No one.

  Sí. Me, I have no one. You comprende why I call mis homies pero? Why my homies say pero?

  It’s like “bro” or “dude.”

  Sí, to them. Not me. I say pero because…my homies they are peros…real peros. I don’ trust. Peros, dogs, they bite. I say pero so I don’ forget. This is me. I don’ change. No change. You are no pero. If I watch for you, maybe God forgives me for being a dog–animal.

  I can tell, right now, that you’re good. You’re not a dog. You don’t like what you and what your gang does. Just leave. Do something else.

  No. No escuela. I no finish. My homies, my boys, is who I am. No cambio. No…change me.

  What are we going to do about her?

  Bruja? No lo sé.

  She’s going to keep looking for me. Maybe for you too.

  Maybe.

  We both heard someone approaching in the alley. Oso tensed, putting his hand on the butt of his gun where he had stuck it into his waistband and moved between me and the alley.

  Mr. Goodturn’s voice called softly in the dark. “Benny?”

  Oso looked at me over his shoulder.

  Goodturn?

  Yes. I recognize his voice.

  “Over here, señor,” Oso whispered.

  Mr. Goodturn, wearing a hat and a long overcoat, stepped around the dumpster and took in the details of our little drama. He looked at me curiously.

  “He don’ talk now. The bruja, she drug him,” Oso said.

  Bending at the waist, Mr. Goodturn pushed Miss Hoch’s shoulder so that she fell onto her back, her hair falling to one side exposing her face. His mouth opened. I sensed surprise and sorrow flow through him. He said something in German that I didn’t understand. Shuffling forward he placed his hand on her forehead and whispered in her ear. Her body jerked and then relaxed, a loud sigh passing through her lips. He stayed bowed over her for a moment and then pulled her dress down over her exposed legs.

  “What you do, old man?” asked Oso.

  Glancing in Oso’s direction and standing up, Mr. Goodturn pulled a handkerchief from inside his coat and wiped at his face.

  “Trying to redo what I did before. It’s harder with someone of her…talents. She won’t remember today at all, and if we’re lucky, she won’t remember Benny or why she wanted him either. Unlikely, but I can hope. She’s an addict.”

  Oso frowned and pulled his jacket close to his body against the wind that was kicking up in the alley. “Yeah? You fix her before?”

  Shaking his head, Mr. Goodturn said, “I did. Her…addiction is very strong. So is her…ability. Their combined power must have undone my work. Or maybe I didn’t do a very good job.”

  “Sí, you did bad job. No Bueno. She been looking for niño. She maybe sent people to look him.”

  “Yes? I’m not aware, although she sent people to try to collect me,” replied Mr. Goodturn.

  The cooler late afternoon air was chilling me. The setting sun and the wind streaming into the dark alley made it feel even colder. My teeth started to chatter. The conversation was hard for me to follow between the cold and the drugs.

  “Can you help me get him to my car?” asked Mr. Goodturn.

  “Sí. Maybe you tell someone I’m helping you,” said Oso. “Maybe niño is your nieto, great son.”

  “Grandson? Yes, we’ve put on that act before, but I suspect that you already know that.”

  Oso pulled one of my arms over his shoulder and helped me get fully onto my feet. He was strong and had no trouble half carrying me out of the alley as we followed Mr. Goodturn.

  Mr. Goodturn’s old Ford was sitting at the curb with the engine running. Oso gently got me into the front passenger seat. He patted my chest lightly.

  Be safe niño.

  Wait. What’s your name?

  My nombre? Mis companeros, they call me Oso. Like Bear. Comprende?

  Like the tattoo on your neck?

  Sí.

  My name’s Benjamin.

  Si. yo lo sé. Okay, be safe.

  Thank you, Oso.

  Hasta.

  CHAPTER SIX

  As we drove back, I could feel the tranquilizer start to wear off. It was easier to hold myself upright and my throat and mouth were less numb. I turned my head slowly to look at Mr. Goodturn on his high perch at the edge of the seat. I could feel conflicting emotions buzzing around inside of him.

  “Thanks for coming to get me. I’m sorry…” I started.

  He didn’t take his eyes off the road. “No need to apologize. I’m glad you had him call me. It makes me happy that our last conversation didn’t cause me to lose a friend.”

  “I just feel bad for dragging you away from work to come get me. I was stupid.” The sensation was coming back in my legs and arms and the tingling sensation was painful. I could also feel a headache coming on.

  “Difficult times reveal the true measure of the man. When a friend calls for help, there should only be one answer. And you weren’t stupid. Perhaps not as careful as you should be but…she has been doing this for many years. I’m not sure you could have avoided her.”

  I couldn’t see his face, but the feelings swirling around under the surface were laced with sadness and anger. “You know her? I mean, from before she came into your shop?”

  Sighing heavily, he twitched his shoulders. “Yes, Benny. I’ve known her for a very long time. If you’re up to it after your adventure today, I think I should share some things with you that I’ve been keeping secret.”

  My headache was building and the events of the day were spinning through my head in a jumble. It felt like I should wake up at any moment.

  “I feel a little sick, but I really want to know what’s going on.”

  Nodding his head, he said, “Well then, let’s get you home and taken care of and I’ll tell you a story or two. But not the type of bedtime stories with a happy ending.”


  “Sounds good,” I said, although it didn’t and I sure didn’t feel good.

  Forty minutes later, we were in my apartment. I had changed clothes and taken some ibuprofen. We were seated by the coffee table, me on the couch and Mr. Goodturn sitting on the edge of a recliner. He still wore his coat, but he’d put his hat on the floor next to the chair.

  “Benny, there are many things I haven’t shared with you. Not because I don’t trust you, but there is so much you don’t know that I didn’t want to overwhelm you, or frighten you. Today’s…problem could have been averted, perhaps, if I had told you more.”

  I squirmed a little from the pain, but I was determined to sit through this discussion. The pills were softening my headache and I was feeling slightly more clear-headed.

  “I was getting everything sorted out in my mind, except for Miss Hoch. Now I know what you were talking about, sort of. What is she? Oso called her a witch or a vampire,” I said.

  He shook his head. “Neither is accurate although some might liken her addiction and her knack to vampirism. Oso—I was unaware that you had made friends with someone…like him.”

  I explained how I had first met Oso, and my initial suspicion about his part in Mike’s murder. Then I told him about being cornered on the bus and assuming that Oso was helping Miss Hoch until he knocked her out in the alley.

  “So, I didn’t understand what Oso’s intentions were until tonight. I thought he was just a banger looking to take a share of my tips. He thinks we’re connected because of our knacks and he’s looking for a way to redeem himself. He thinks he’ll be forgiven if he protects me. That it’ll wash away the things that he’s done if he looks out for me. And he’s alone too. He said he didn’t have anyone except his homies, but he doesn’t trust them. He thinks they’ll turn on him if he looks weak.”

  Mr. G cocked his head back and forth, “Homies. Bangers. The world has changed so much, but in other ways, more fundamental ways, it hasn’t changed at all. Hitler started as a gangster. Miss Hoch has changed too from when I knew her in Germany.”