by Alexie Aaron
“Yours as I’ve had way too many beers,” he admitted.
“Okay, wait till I tell you what is going on at the Field Museum.”
“If it will keep my mind off your naked body then I’m all for it,” Ted said dreamily.
“Yes, Ted, I think it will.” Mia walked him over to the truck. She waited for him to get in before she said, “I’ll only give you the naked truth.”
Ted groaned and pulled his hat down over his eyes.
“The body of the conversation was…”
Another groan escaped Ted.
“Okay, here’s the story.” Mia put the car in gear once she was sure Murphy had made it aboard. “Where are we going anyway?”
“Mexico.”
“A bit far for dinner, don’t cha think?”
“I mean we are eating Mexican food, some place called… Llama Desnuda.”
It took Mia a minute for her high school Spanish to kick in. “Naked Flame? You have to be kidding?”
Ted pushed back his hat and said, “Gotcha.”
Mia sent her arm through a surprised Murphy and smacked Ted.
Ted roared with laughter.
Mia could see that she wasn’t going to get anything sensible out of Ted for a while, so she sped up behind Mike so she wouldn’t get lost. She followed them to a steakhouse. The hostess at the door was surprised to see Mia escorted by three good-looking men. Mia didn’t need to read her mind to know that she thought Mia was a slut. It caused Mia to giggle to herself. She wondered if Beth went through this every time the PEEPs crew went out to eat. The hostess sat them at a corner table and informed them of the specials before leaving them to the mercy of a cross-eyed waiter named Sam.
~
“You’re sure I have a couple of days?” Ralph all but sang into the phone. Bernard told him about the favor that would keep Mia busy for a while. He hated lying to his partner, but sometimes with Ralph a lie was easier than the truth. Bernard didn’t do this often, but he was getting good at it. Ralph didn’t have a clue. “I have that nice young man Whitney coming over to help.”
“Now, no matchmaking, he broke Mia’s heart. She hasn’t forgiven him…”
“Yet. She hasn’t forgiven him, yet,” Ralph filled in.
“Please listen to me. Do not push Whitney on Mia.”
“I won’t, but they would make beautiful babies. His and her fair looks…” Ralph could hear Bernard try to suppress a laugh on the other end.
“Okay, just don’t be obvious.”
“When am I ever obvious? I’m the most secretive of men.”
“You keep telling yourself that,” Bernard said. “Ralph, I’ve got to go. I have the police here. They want to see the security tapes.”
“Why?”
“Seems that the amount of electricity that went through Tan’s body was astronomical. It was as if lightning struck him.”
“Oh my, well, I’ll talk to you later.” Ralph hung up and puzzled over what Bernard just told him. Could lightning strike indoors? Mia’s house phone rang and Ralph picked it up. “Cooper residence, Ralph speaking.”
“Open the gate, I have your delivery,” Whit’s voice said impatiently.
Ralph hung up and walked out of the house and over to the garage where he opened the door for the deputy. Whit had borrowed Tom’s 4 by 4 to pick up the new couch Mia was going to love, according to Ralph. Whit had to admit the one he had spent a lot of time on was ugly, but it was comfortable. He wasn’t sure about the one Ralph had purchased. Seemed a bit large for the tiny woman. He envisioned her sitting on it. Her feet wouldn’t touch the ground. She would look like a china doll sitting there with her legs… Whoa, the vision turned naughty, and he needed to squelch the hard on he was building before her godfather got to the car. He thought about fishing, fishing reels, fishing boats and… all was well.
“Hello, Whitney, a penny for your thoughts?” Ralph said as he opened the door of the truck and got in. “I think we can pull around the house and move this baby in from the back deck.”
“What about the sewer line?” Whit asked.
“I checked. It’s on the far side of the house. Come on, daylight’s a wasting.”
Whit did as he was told. They first moved the old sofa to the deck edge before bringing in the new one. Whit had to admit for a feminine fella, Ralph had some muscles on him.
Once the truck was loaded up with the old sofa, Whit accepted a cup of coffee and homemade biscotti from Ralph. The two of them sat looking into the living room from the dining table.
“It looks so different in here. It’s light and airy, even with the blinds drawn.”
“Thank you, young man. It’s so difficult to decorate with so much open space and little wall room. I think it’s a shame considering the stash of paintings Mia has.”
“Paintings?” Whit questioned, “Where?”
“In the guest closet. They all have dust jackets on them, but I looked at a few. Although modern isn’t my thing, I can tell they are good ones. Fabulous color and composition,” Ralph said, puzzled by the strained look on Whit’s face.
“Do you mind if I have a look?”
“Go ahead. I can’t imagine Mia would mind.”
Whit got up and walked into the guestroom. He walked over to the closet and opened the door slowly. He hesitated turning on the light, frightened by what he may find there. He wasn’t too sure he wanted to know. He took a deep breath and steeled his spine and turned on the light.
The paintings were how Ralph described them. There were eight of them, covered in expensive, zipped dust jackets, stored carefully in a makeshift wooden frame. He knelt down and extracted one of the paintings. His hands were shaking as he unzipped the cover. Whit swallowed hard and pulled the picture out in one motion. There amongst the colors and passion was his dead wife’s signature. Tears welled up, but anger set in too. He pulled the rest out of the rack and tore open the covers. Each signature was like an assault on his body. Pain filled his skull and he lay down and let the tears flow.
“I was right they are…” Ralph stopped as he saw the tormented man. “My God, whatever is wrong here?” he questioned, getting to his knees and taking the sobbing man in his nurturing arms. “Poor dear. Let it out. Cry, Whit, and then we’ll talk about it.”
“Why the fuck did she save those paintings?” Whit spat. “What right in hell did she have? I destroyed them. I thought I destroyed them all. They killed her. They killed my wife. Her obsession made her ripe for the picking. She died for her art. Left me and then came back and ruined my life!”
Bits and pieces of conversation flowed into Ralph’s head from his memories. He rolled his eyes and winced as he realized what he had caused. Mia had saved Sherry’s paintings for whatever reason, for their beauty, for Whit, both? She must have been waiting for the time to be right to show them to her friend, to help him grieve. And he… Oh, Mia would never forgive him now. Ralph started to cry along with the man he held. Whit lost his wife because of her obsession with her art, and because of Ralph’s blunder, Mia was going to lose Whit forever. There would be no going back from this point. No choices. The hurt was immense.
“Whitney, I can’t speak for Mia, but I know why she couldn’t see these destroyed. They are beautiful. They are full of life. Sherry must have painted them prior to the problems at the hollow. They are memories of good times. I see hope, dreams, and a bit of arrogance, but it is well done. I am sure Mia did not want you to lose this part of Sherry.”
“She had no right,” Whit said sitting up. He started stacking the canvases.
“Perhaps, but her reasons were kind and loving.” Ralph ventured, “Even when you rejected her, she still thought enough of you to save a vital part of your life, something that you may have wanted to revisit. You were grieving so hard and long for your wife. Perhaps she thought you would want these reminders. Again, I can’t speak for her. Please, just don’t hate her without hearing her side,” Ralph pleaded.
“I thought I had destroyed a
ll of them. I guess I didn’t see these. Mia must have looted the house when I was at the MOMA or when I decided to stay with my folks. She stole them.” Whit pushed the stack away and got to his feet.
“She saved them. What did you do when you finally came back?”
“Trashed the interior of the house. Pulled everything out and dumped it.”
“Think of it as recycling. Instead of moldering under mounds of trash the paintings…”
Whit looked at Ralph and lifted an eyebrow.
“Ask her,” Ralph said and started to get to his feet.
Whit reached down and helped him up.
“My legs are asleep, give me a minute,” Ralph asked buying time. “Why don’t you leave them here? I’ll put them back, and you and Mia can talk about them when she gets back,” Ralph suggested.
Whit pulled his hand through his hair. “Seems to me, I owe her the chance to explain herself.”
Ralph nodded.
“Okay, I’m seeing the sense in waiting. I think I better head out. I want to get Tom’s truck back to him tonight.”
“Are you alright to drive?”
Whit smiled weakly, “It’s only a migraine. I’ll be fine.”
Ralph walked him to the truck and waited until he pulled out before filling in the salt where the truck crossed it. Ralph then closed up the garage and walked into the house. He told Bernard he was going to sleep at Mia’s to get a fresh start in the morning. Her house was quiet, too quiet. Ralph wished she had a dog or a cat to keep him company. He turned on the television loud as he fussed with the new sofa. He admitted that it was rather large for a girl Mia’s size, but he had her visitors in mind. She could sit in one of her rather tasteful big cushy chairs.
He walked back into the closet and replaced each painting in its wrapper and set it back in the rack. He wasn’t going to mention this faux pas to Bernard, who was pulling a double shift at the museum. Ralph would have to handle his own problems for a few days. The death of the researcher was listed as questionable, and this did not bode well for the man who let the last person to see Tan alive go home without talking to the police.
No Bernard had his troubles, Ralph had his, and Mia was somewhere down on Route 66 sorting through PEEPs’s troubles, unaware that Ralph had made a mess of her life while she was away.
Chapter Eleven
The dinner was great, the wine a nice touch, and the red meat put iron back into the depleted systems of the PEEPs crew. They ordered an extra dessert to bring along to the hospital for Beth.
“Nothing says we love you like a piece of double chocolate cake!” Ted crowed as he entered Beth’s hospital room. The others staggered in behind him, their condition owing more to exhaustion than the vino.
“Just what I need a bunch of drunks,” Beth said, pretending to be annoyed. “So what did I miss?”
“Steak, sweet potatoes and giant mushrooms,” Mike said, showing her the size of the mushrooms with two hands.
Mia started laughing and winked at Beth. She walked over and pushed Mike’s hands together to the proper size. “Remember when dealing with men and measurements, divide by three.”
Burt snorted and settled into the chair closest to the bed. Mia stayed on her feet, staying mobile. She had an ear out for any mischief Murphy may be up to. Ted leaned against the wall, leaving the other chair to Mike.
Beth started to feel uncomfortable with the four of them staring at her. Mia caught on and started talking, “We decided to have a PEEPs meeting here, if you’re up to it?”
Beth nodded her head. “I don’t have anything to write with. She held up her hands in frustration.
“No fear, digital recorders are here!” Ted produced two from his pocket. Mia added one to the pot, and Burt dug deep and came up with another. The only one out in the cold was Mike.
“It would have spoiled the line of my pants,” he complained.
“That’s what you said when it was your turn to pay for dinner and you didn’t have your wallet,” Burt pointed out.
“Fashion comes in handy,” Ted joked to defuse the situation. “Take my hat for instance…”
Mia walked up and took it. She smiled and held it behind her back for a moment and gave it back.
Beth laughed. “Okay, let’s begin.”
Burt started, “First off, I contacted the owners of the bar and told them it was going to take more time. We are down an investigator, and the place needs to settle down. We, PEEPs, feel that the violence is escalating do to our presence.”
Mia looked at him surprised. “Good call, Mr. Hicks.”
He ignored her. “I want you to take some time and go home and rest. We almost lost you. Mia is going to take her sample of the mortar and stone to Chicago to have a professional look at it.”
Mia looked at Ted and wondered what else the boob told him.
“I was able to connect with a native who is going to do some digging in the local archives for us,” Mia said, dug in her purse and came up with a napkin. “This Mr. Homer mentioned that the landscape has changed quite a bit since the building was erected. I’m hoping that he will be able to give us some insight on what is in the cellar. Is it a stream, artesian well, or run off from the adjacent field? So, we can be prepared before going down there. If you want, I can give him your number when he calls. You’re better at this stuff.”
Beth was upset that Mia went ahead and started to research the problem. She was also mindful at how stunning the woman looked in the barely there sundress. It wasn’t bad enough that she had to compete with a sensitive but a beauty as well. She became aware of the silence and said, “No, but I would like to be in the information loop once you have some.”
“You’re the first person I call.”
“Guys, I hate leaving this one unfinished,” Mike started.
“We’re coming back. Two-three days tops. Think of it as a long weekend,” Burt explained. “I just think that we are battered, bruised and unprepared.”
Mia was surprised again. “I promised Murphy an investigation, and you know how ornery he gets when disappointed.”
“What happened to me that has you all scared shitless?” Beth blurted out. “This isn’t the PEEPs I know. I feel like I’m in Bizarro World.”
Mia looked at Burt and he nodded. Mia walked over and told Beth what happened after she disappeared.
“On the rafters?” Beth shook her head in disbelief.
“Trussed up like a missionary in a Tarzan movie. I’ve got it on film,” Ted said.
Mia waited for this to sink in before she finished her tale of fighting the invisible biker and getting her out of there.
“You risked so much,” Beth said looking from Burt to Mia and back again.
“That’s not all. After the boys left, I tried to talk to the guy. He was resolute about not leaving. Says it’s his turf, wants the others out. Right now, I don’t see us winning this thing. I can’t get Murphy in there to watch our backs. I can’t bilocate into the building to do reconnaissance. The entities can’t get out. I’m going to try to find out why this is, before recommending that the owners blow the sucker up and cut their losses.”
“That bad?” Beth looked at the group, and the four of them nodded. “Okay, but it seems like you’re going to give it another go.”
“Sure, why not. Beth, you, Burt, and Mike need time to heal. Ted and I have some prep work to do.”
“When are you leaving?” Beth asked Mia.
“Very early in the morning. I’m getting better at telling corporal pedestrians from spirits, but I rather drive when there is less chance of me running over a flesh and blood being. I do, however, have to be on the watch for deer. And there are all the stops so Murphy can examine a tree.”
This caused Ted to break into laughter.
“I have to drive into Chicago too. No problem with the expressways, but the city!” Mia threw her hands up. “This will be Murph’s first visit to the big city. I’m going to have my hands full.”
Mia’s
discourse on the problems of having a spirit to mind eased the mood of the room. Even Burt broke a smile at the thought of an axe-wielding farmer in the precious halls of the Field museum.
Mike looked around, wondering if the person being made fun of was in the room. “Mia, I could come with you. Drive you in, and hang around,” he offered.
Mia was careful to not show her aversion to the idea show on her face. “That’s very kind of you Mike, but rest up, I’ll manage.” Mia looked at her watch. “I’ve got to get to the motel and try to get some shut eye. I’ll be in touch, Beth. Is anyone riding back with me, besides Murphy?” Mia questioned the group.
Ted bounced off the wall. “That would be I.” He walked over to Beth and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be here as soon as they release you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, I’ll need that ride to the motel,” Beth said, trying not to blush.
Mia waited in the hall for Ted, and together they walked out to the truck. Murphy was staring at something up in the second story window. Mia turned around and saw a specter of an old woman staring down. She averted her gaze and hoped the soul didn’t figure out that Mia could see her. It wasn’t that Mia was insensitive to the plight of the earthbound spirits. She simply did not have the time to help the thousands of them that roamed the countryside.
They drove by Lucky’s on the way back from the hospital. Mia slowed down and asked Ted, “What do you see in the parking lot?”
“It’s empty, Mia. What do you see?”
“I see a dozen motorbikes, and a likewise amount of coarse-looking riders milling around the front of the building.”
“I’ve got a camera in my pack. Do you think we could stop?” Ted pleaded.
“I’m not sure. We are outnumbered.”
“Nah, we have Murphy,” Ted dismissed her concern.
“Murph, what do you think?”
He pushed his hat back and shrugged.
“He’s ambivalent,” Mia explained to Ted. She pulled over and waited for a car to pass before turning around. “First sign of trouble, we are out of there, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am!” Ted agreed excitedly.