by Alexie Aaron
Ted slowly raised the back. “Mia, um, take off the coat.”
She rolled her eyes, gritted her teeth and unsnapped the coat and shrugged out of it.
Ted’s hands worked quickly and picked out some tiny shards of glass. “I think I have it all. Let me, um, wash the area.”
“Where’s Emma?” Mia questioned as Ted lathered her back. “Damn that stings.”
“She’s got her head down and working on our sample. She wants to go home. She’s had enough of spooky lab for a while. Who were you talking to in here?”
“Dr. Tan, I think he’s moved on. Was I that loud?”
“No, I had my ear to the door. I didn’t want to catch you on the john.”
“Smart man.”
He took a couple of wet paper towels and blotted away the soap and carefully dried her back. He reached down and helped Mia put on the white coat. “Mia, those bruises?”
“Monster biker number two.”
“The ones on your thighs?”
“Monster biker number one. I jumped off the beam and landed on his shoulders. He fell. I fell. You know the rest.”
“Okay, just checking. You look like you were…”
Mia put her finger to his lips to stop him. “Shush, I haven’t, and I’m fine,” she assured him.
“Okay, but if you were mine, I’d lock you in a convent, surround you with nuns and… By the way, you’ll never guess what happened to Burt,” Ted said and his eyes lit up.
“Do tell,” Mia encouraged.
Ted related Burt’s adventure, culminating with the rescue by the nuns while Mia did her best to make her hair presentable.
“Nuns, a lost monastery, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Mia asked him.
“Three moves ahead of you. I called Beth, and she is going to do a search. She jumped the queue and has been in contact with Homely Homer already, so she will add this info to his homely-do list.”
“She’s a dynamo.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Why?”
“She just did a barrel roll over your turf, dudette,” Ted pointed out.
“Ted, you and I know that’s her turf. And if you’re expecting a cat fight, you’ll have to find two other girls.”
Ted blushed.
“Although, if we keep meeting up in bathrooms with me naked, she will claw my eyes out,” Mia warned.
“You know,” Ted said opening the door, “Mike’s the only PEEPs member that hasn’t seen you naked. Who would have thunk it?”
“Shut the ef up, Ted,” Mia warned.
“I’ve seen you twice.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” Mia smacked him on the behind.
“Careful, I could consider that foreplay,” Ted teased.
Mia burst out laughing, which would have wounded another man, but Ted’s ego was intact.
Bernard motioned for them to come to the other end of the lab. Mia smiled and followed Ted over there.
“While Emma is completing your analysis, let’s go up to my office. We need to regroup.”
Mia nodded, and Ted took her arm protectively as they moved through the back halls and stairs of the museum.
“I’ve had a pot of coffee and a platter of sandwiches sent up. Mary is out buying you some clothes so I will have to be around to answer my own phone.”
“Mary doesn’t like me, Bernard. I will end up with itchy stuff,” Mia whined.
“Now, Mia, she is my assistant and very capable. Plus, she wants to impress the eminent Theodore Martin. Mary’s a nerd groupie,” he explained to Ted.
“Better watch it, Teddy bear, Mary is also a cougar,” Mia said, patting his backside with her hand.
Ted smiled and whispered, “I sense a catfight is in my future.”
Chapter Fifteen
Mia sat pondering the question Bernard just asked her. Ted had curled up on the couch in the corner. His eyes were closed, but she knew he was still listening.
“You could call Father Santos’s group in. But honestly I’m not sure what good it would do at this point. We still need to get the name of the bi… ah… entity and some background before we can even try to extract her from the glass.”
A groggy Ted said, “Glass is always moving. She is using the electricity to help her make the jumps from pane to pane as it were. I don’t know why she can’t escape the molten sand, but there you go.”
Bernard looked amused as Ted rolled over and buried his face in the back of the couch and started snoring. “Our oracle has spoken.”
Mia put her hands on her mouth to stifle the guffaw that wanted to burst out.
Bernard motioned her to follow him to the outer office. Mia gently covered Ted with the cashmere throw before joining her godfather.
She declined the offer to sit at Mary’s desk and chose instead one of the chairs against the wall. She looked at Bernard and continued their discussion, “She has to want to move on to the great bikini shop in the sky. Something is holding her back. She seems to be hell bent on escaping but not moving on.”
“Unfinished business?”
“Most likely.”
“I’ve lived an informed and exciting life,” Bernard began. “But I’m damned surprised every day by all the mysteries still out there to be solved.”
“You sound like you think it’s a good thing?”
“Don’t be so jaded. An ordinary life isn’t for the likes of you, me, and, yes, even Ted in there. I wish it wasn’t so exhausting though.”
Mia looked at the worry lines etched into Bernard’s strong face. The gray was coming in strong, perhaps due to stress, mostly likely having a highly-strung partner didn’t help. But she knew he loved Ralph and vice-versa.
“You seem less angry,” he observed.
“Ah, I’m holding it all in.”
“Liar.”
“Okay, I think the past few months I have learned a few tricks. Appreciate that I can do things others can’t. Although the price tag for that is my sanity, and maybe my love life.”
“Ralph and I were surprised when Whitney showed up with you at the opera. What happen with Burt?”
“You know, I’m not too sure. But it happened, and we are trying to move on.”
“Is that young man in the picture?” Bernard indicated Ted with a nod towards his office door.
“Oh no, he’s taken. He doesn’t agree though. Plus I’ve learned my lesson about dipping in the office pool.”
“That’s probably wise. Gerald hasn’t learned that yet, and I think Bev has been leading him on a merry chase.”
Mia smiled at the ease Bernard had in fitting in gossip with the other concerns of his day. Mia, who still had a few things to learn about being a social person, marveled at the balance he maintained between work and fun. “Bev is one of a kind, irritating as hell and bossy, but that runs in the family,” Mia said meaningfully.
“To thine own self be true.”
Mary burst into the office carrying packages. “Any calls?” she asked Bernard.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Mia laughed at the role reversal and gratefully accepted the bags of clothing Mary handed her.
“I took a chance on those shoes. Bernard said your sandals were inadequate for the job at hand.”
Mia looked impressed and excused herself. She quietly opened the door of the office and slipped in.
Bernard thanked Mary and offered her a sandwich.
“No thanks, I’ve eaten. Now what’s to be done?”
“I’m not sure. No one has reported any disturbance, so our lady of the glass may be resting. They are waiting on Emma in geology to report. If you’re up for it, how about a little investigative work?”
Mary’s face brightened, and she picked up her tablet to take notes. When she was ready, she nodded.
“Mia thinks that Tan was killed by a charge of stored electricity from the piece of fulgurite. It’s part of the items we were sent from south Florida. Palm Beach. Now we figure the piece was formed in the sixt
ies during a lightning storm. We suspect that a young woman was killed in the blast. Don’t ask why this is important, but I need to find out who she was. You may have to call in some favors, but it is very important that we track down who that was and what was her story.”
Mary nodded and had already formed a game plan in her mind. “Yes, sir.”
“In the meanwhile, I’ll go make myself useful in security. Forward my calls to Edmund’s desk on the main floor.”
“What about…” Mary nodded her head towards his office.
“Theodore is resting. Mia will be on my computer. I will have some security badges sent up for them. I want Mia to have free access to all floors and rooms. We need her help, so put up with her oddities, please,” Bernard asked softly.
Mary colored at bit. “Yes, I will do my best.”
“Thank you.” Bernard smiled at his assistant before leaving.
Mary looked at the closed door and wondered what mischief was going on inside that room.
~
Mia looked at the tasteful pants, blouse and underthings. There was even a lightweight jacket with deep pockets. The shoes were a bit loose, but doubling up on the purchased socks was a good solution for now. Mia took the items into Bernard’s private washroom. She winced and groaned as her body didn’t want to move. She gritted her teeth and clothed herself. The bra was agony. It wasn’t the size, which was one D too small, it was the hooking of it. If she hooked it in the front first she would have to slide it around her bruised ribs. Her sore shoulders wouldn’t allow her to hook it in the back. She abandoned her efforts, put her blouse over it and left the washroom and tiptoed towards the door to get Mary’s help.
“Ahem,” Ted’s voice stopped her. “Sneaking out without saying goodbye. Treating me like a one night stand?”
“Um.” Mia blushed. “I’m having some technical difficulties in dressing myself,” she explained.
“Come to Teddy bear,” he said naughtily. “I’ve seen it all, Mia, twice.”
Mia walked over to the couch. Ted sat up. She lifted the back of her shirt, and he hooked the bra.
“Now that wasn’t too humiliating was it?”
“Enough,” Mia admitted. Remembering her manners she said, “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Ted wisely stopped himself from adding, my pleasure.
Mia sat down on the floor and pulled on two sets of socks. She folded over the second set so that the two colors showed. She thought it looked fashionable that way.
Ted seemed unimpressed.
“Shoes are too big,” she explained.
“Oh. Have we heard from Emma yet?”
“Nope. But I suspect we already know the answer. Proving it would be wise though,” Mia added, tying her shoes. She accepted Ted’s hand and got up. “Man I could use some Vicodin about now.”
Ted observed the preppy-clothed woman, and as he helped her on with her jacket he whispered in her ear. “You look beautiful, Mia.”
Mia smiled and turned around. “Thank you.”
There was a knock at the door, and it opened before either of them could respond. Emma, who pushed past an angry Mary, stomped over and thrust a report into Mia’s hands.
“Short version. Sand and pulverized yellow dolomite. Dolomite, it’s strong stuff. I have no idea how it got in such a state. But there you have it. I’m going home to drink myself into a coma. Nice meeting you and goodbye,” she said, turning on her heel and leaving. Mary stood with her mouth agape.
Mia ignored her outrage, looked at Ted and said, “I bet you a fiver that the shrine Burt’s going to visit is made of yellow dolomite.”
“That’s a sucker’s bet. I’m with you. Let me make a few calls, one to Burt and the other to Beth. I’m working on the theory that when that monastery was pulverized by the tornado, they used its remains in mixing the mortar to put up that building.”
“It would explain the reason the entities can’t cross it. If the building was blessed, maybe the stones and dust thereof are still blessed too.” Mia smiled at Mary still standing at the door. Mia thought, fuck, the cat’s out of the bag, and continued to discuss the project with Ted, “Have Burt get a bucket load and have it couriered here. If it holds those sons of bitches in check, we may be able to use it here to control or contain the glass bitch before she destroys this museum.”
“Are you telling me that the museum is in danger?” Mary’s voice squeaked.
Mia opened the blinds to the office and motioned for Mary to come over. “Look at that skyline, Mary. Look at all that glass. What I’m saying is that the museum is in danger, and so is that city.”
Mary paled and murmured, “Excuse me, I have some research to do.” She left and closed the door after her.
“The whole city?” Ted scoffed.
Mia smiled mischievously. “It could happen. Who’s to say how much wattage that c word has stored up? Anyway, I bet we’ll know the bikini bimbo’s name within the hour.”
“How do you sleep nights?”
“On my side, you?” Mia replied.
Ted shook his head, laughed, and picked up Bernard’s phone and asked for an outside line. He tossed his dead cell to Mia. “Hon, find me a charger.”
Mia saluted him with her middle finger before she left the office. Mary had just hung up the phone with a smile on her face. “I’ve already made some headway.”
“Wonderful. Does anyone have an iPhone or iPod charger I could borrow?”
Mary opened up her drawer and handed Mia the requested item. Surprised, Mia said, “Whoa, you’re good.”
“Thank you,” she said curtly to Mia. The phone rang and she walked over to answer it.
Mia suspected that Mary was pleased with the compliment though, as she had a sing-song to her voice when she answered the ringing phone.
“Yes, Dr. Wesley, she is standing right here,” Mary said, handing Mia the phone.
“Hello,” Mia said.
“We’ve had an incident in the Main Store, the gift shop near the south entrance. Could you come down and take a look around?” Bernard asked.
“I’ll be right down.” She handed the phone back to Mary. “Can I get down to the Main Store without a badge?”
Mary nodded.
Mia smiled and ducked her head in the office and yelled, “Heads up.”
She tossed Ted’s cell phone, cord attached, at him. He caught it with one hand, continuing with his conversation.
Mia left him, rushed out past Mary and headed to the elevator. She tried not to look at the elderly ghost dressed in the smart uniform of days gone by. Why a ghost would want to spend their life in an elevator was beyond Mia’s present understanding. He did remind Mia of Murphy. She pushed the pang of not knowing his whereabouts down before she dashed for the gift shop. Her muscles screamed, but her will was strong. She made it there in record time.
Bernard was standing, comforting a clerk who was pointing to the smashed display case in the corner. Mia stood and took in the room, slowly pivoting, searching for the smoky mist. She looked over at Bernard and shook her head no.
“I was just closing the case after putting the faux Egyptian collar in when a face appeared, right before the glass started cracking. I rushed the customers away, and next thing I knew the glass burst,” she reported to Bernard.
He looked at her name badge and said softly, “Jane, you did the right thing. Now you go and have a coffee or soft drink while we sort out this mess.”
The sniffling older woman smiled gratefully, walked past Mia and out of the shop.
Bernard nodded to the officer who pulled the gate shut behind her. Mia walked over and looked at the glass on the floor. She wanted to make sure there wasn’t any trace of the glass woman.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Mia said, carefully picking up the larger pieces and examining them, “we may have worked out how to contain her.”
“Really?”
“Don’t get too excited. It’s just a theory right now, but it involves ge
tting our hands on blessed yellow dolomite.”
“I don’t care if I have to milk a wild boar. Let’s make this happen, Mia. Let’s get this under control soon.”
“Doing our best. Ted’s got a hold of Burt, and hopefully he will have secured some soon. Until then, can I interest you in a box of salt?”
Bernard put his hand out, and Mia grabbed it as she got up. They walked over to the door, and the guard let them out of the shop and into the museum. Mia took in the open central patio where more than a dozen halls full of glass displays connected.
“We may need more than one box,” he said perceptively.
Chapter Sixteen
Burt accompanied the nuns to the shrine and found a bench to rest on while the ladies prayed. The shrine was surrounded by a boxwood hedge that softened the look of the cyclone fence that kept the riffraff out when the shrine wasn’t open to pilgrims. Anne had parked the car in the gravel lot adjacent to the property. There were brown-robed brothers that collected donations at the gate. They were of the same order, the pamphlet he had in his hand mentioned, as the men who bravely faced the Native Americans and built a place of contemplation and worship.
He closed his eyes and let the dappled sunlight caress his face. A cool breeze blew over the river and brought with it a mixture of fragrances. Perfume from the kneeling nuns added to the floral scents of the plastic-wrapped bouquets left around the shrine.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He ignored it, choosing to take in the peace instead of dealing with a PEEPs concern. It stopped but was replaced by another volley of vibrations indicating he had a text to read. He sighed and pulled the phone out to see if it was an emergency. It was from Ted who wanted to talk. He thumb-typed back to him that he wasn’t in a position to take a call. Ted texted that an email would follow that he should read and respond to. Burt waited only a few minutes before Ted’s email arrived on his phone. He was amazed and concerned about what was happening at the museum. Mia had been attacked but survived with only a few scratches. The news about the yellow dolomite was interesting. He scanned his other email and found that Beth had also sent him an update which included Homley Homers list of deaths occurring on the property they were investigating. He forwarded Ted’s email to Beth and vice-versa.