The Separation

by Thomas Duffy

  “Leonardo doesn't have to know he's my son. I just want to see him.”

  “What would you say to him? What would you say to explain the reason why you're holding my son in front of you with a knife pressed against his throat.”

  “I haven't thought about that, yet. Just get Leonardo here. He's two hours away. Start the procedure and start it now. Or else.”

  “Or else, what?”

  “Or else, I'll cut your precious son then turn the knife on myself.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  In a very large mansion about a half hour down the road, a cell phone rang. Perhaps the second wealthiest man alive, 58-year old, Elliot Spencer, answered the phone which belonged to him.

  “Hello. Joe, is this you? Is Finn hung yet?”

  “It's me, Elliott. Finn is holding a knife to my son's throat.”

  “I'll send a helicopter over there now. They'll take care of it.”

  “That's not what I want from you.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I want to bring Finn's son here to see him before Finn dies.”

  “That's preposterous. How would we explain this insanity to a kid? They'd both die. Is that what Finn wants?”

  “I don't think Finn has fully thought this one out.”

  “We underestimated, Finn. I knew hanging him on the cross was easier said than done.”

  “That was a sick idea anyway, Elliott. We need this guy's son here and we need him here now.”

  “I don't know if we can do that. I'm sending a helicopter. I'm sending two of them.”

  “Elliott, listen to me, you're not sending choppers. You are sending this God forsaken kid, Leonardo. Have a chopper go pick him up. Make it fast. The faster you send him, the faster this nightmare will be over.”

  “Can I talk to Elliott?”

  “Finn wants to talk to you.”

  “Put him on.”

  “Put the phone on speaker so I can hear him.”

  “OK.”

  “My name is Finn, Elliott. I have a son. A son named Leonardo.”

  “We know this, Finn. Just give up. We can do things to you far worse than hang you like we were going to do. We were letting you off easy. We could torture you for all eternity, if we really wanted to. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? You have no idea what we can do to you.”

  “I don't care what you want to threaten. I want to see my son. Send him or Joe, Jr. dies. Plain and simple. Do like I tell you. Do like I tell you right now!”

  “I'll call his school and talk to the headmasters. Then, we'll see if we can fly him over,” Elliott said.

  “Please. And while we're waiting the two hours for him to arrive, let's figure out what we're going to tell him.”

  “You selfish bastard. You don't really care if Leonardo dies, do you?”

  “You wouldn't kill a kid. Would you? Are you people really that heartless?

  “Finn, many kids far more intelligent than Leonardo have met fates I won't speak of.”

  “Fates like what?”

  “Kids who didn't have self-control. They had to be taught lessons and by lessons, I mean lessons that have nothing to do with trigonometry or reading or writing. Catch my drift.”

  “But, my son is not guilty of anything. Why would you even think about doing something harmful to him. He hasn't hurt anyone.”

  “But, you, Finn. You are hurting so many people by being irrational.”

  “Elliott, I'm having Joe, Sr. hang up the phone. Go call who you need to call to get my son here in two hours’ time or Joe, Jr. is going to get it.”

  “OK, Finn. Don't hurt him. He's going to be OK. Promise me that.”

  “You bring me Leonardo, Joe, Jr. will be fine. I promise.”

  “Understood. Let me make some phone calls.”

  “Make those phone calls fast. I'm growing impatient. Until I see Leonardo, this knife will be right up against Joe, Jr.'s neck. Catch my drift?”

  “OK.”

  When Joe, Sr. went to go talk to Elliott, he discovered that there was nobody on the other line. Joe, Sr. wondered what Elliott was going to do.

  “Listen to me, Joe, Sr. I believe my time has come. I want to see my son. That's the simple but delicate core of the matter.”

  “We understand your needs, Finn. Those needs give you no right to hold a knife to my son's throat. Look at how uncomfortable he is, Finn.”

  “He's uncomfortable? I was going to be hung on a cross for crying out loud.”

  “Elliott will do the right thing. He will bring your son. You need to figure out what you're going to tell your son or else you'll risk the life of your own flesh and blood. I know that's not your intention.”

  “I want to sit with him for a few minutes. I want to know what he's learning in school. I want him to see me. He may never know who I was but I want to have that closure for myself.”

  “So, it's not about Leonardo. It's about you.”

  “Shut up.”

  Joe, Jr. raised his hand up in the air. He wanted to speak to Finn. Finn put his hand back down and moved the knife closer to the skin of his throat.

  “Listen to me, Joe, tell your son he isn't going to speak. He's spoken enough.”

  “Do you understand what Finn is saying, son?”

  Joe, Jr nodded his head up and down to imply the answer of “yes.” Finn was growing weary and became sweaty. He was extremely uncomfortable. He knew he couldn't fall asleep anymore. For if he did, he would most likely by killed. He had to fight to stay awake to see Leonardo one last time.

  About twenty minutes later, Elliott showed up outside the home. He had come alone. Elliott called Joe, Sr.'s phone number to announce his presence outside.

  “There's a key in the backyard under the floor mat. Please go around and get it,” Joe, Sr. said.

  “That guy, Elliott. He's coming inside?”

  “Yes, he is, Finn.”

  Finn grabbed Joe, Jr., pulled him closer and brought the knife as close to his throat as possible without actually cutting into his skin.

  Finn heard Elliott coming towards them and, finally, saw him in front of him. Finn was concerned as to who Elliott had called.

  “When is my son coming?”

  “He'll be here shortly. I'm sorry you had to do this. I can't promise Leonardo will have the life he deserves after this stunt you've decided to pull.”

  “Stunt? It's my life. I want to be able to say something good about my life when I'm greeted by God.”

  “There's no God, son. Believe me. And, if there was, you wouldn't be meeting him. You're holding a knife to that poor teenager's throat. What's wrong with you?”

  “I'm fighting for my life. Isn't that what people do? Fight to survive?”

  “I'm sorry, Finn. You've lost me. Whatever we're doing here is beyond ridiculous. Your son, Leonardo, will be here soon as you requested. I've decided that if you keep your mouth shut about the separation laws, we may let him live. However, he will never marry or meet a woman of the opposite sex if you see him today. Do you understand that?”

  “Why not?”

  “Well to know how babies are made. That's something he can never know. He'll wonder who his father is. He won't have a father. You're never going to make it past the moment when Leonardo is taken back on to that plane he is arriving on. Why put a kid through the ordeal of knowing a truth so cruel and unfair as having a father who didn't care about him?”

  “I do care about him. That's why I'm doing this.”

  “Rationalize it any which way you want, Finn. You're ill. Mentally challenged. Who else challenges the facts that the world presents to them?”

  “They're not facts. They're lies.”

  “What are you going to tell your son when he gets here?”

  “I'm going to have him take a seat. I'm going to ask him how he likes school. What he likes about his life. Things like that.”

  “He's going to think you are crazy,” Elliott replied.

  “Why would
he think that?”

  “Who are you going to say you are?”

  “A former teacher. A teacher who has heard how well he is making progress in his school.”

  “I don't know if it will work. I hope for your sake it ends up being worth your life.”

  Chapter Forty-Six

  A few minutes passed. There was mostly silence except for the sound of Joe, Jr. trying to clear his throat. Finn wondered who Elliott had called. He wanted to know who was contacted in regards to bringing Leonardo to the house.

  “Who is bringing Leonardo here if I may ask?”

  “Finn, I've contacted people whose identities, if I revealed them, would have you turn that knife on your own throat,” Elliott responded.

  “They're coming alone with Leonardo, right?”

  “Two men will bring Leonardo here. You will have your time until you feel you're ready to release Joe, Jr. When you release him and Leonardo is gone, you will die. That is certain.”

  “Thanks for putting that all into perspective for me, Elliott. And it will have been worth it for me to see my son again. I will die knowing who I brought into this world and I will die knowing his purpose was not to continue on my legacy in the flesh through procreation but, rather, my legacy, will live in the teachings he will share with the students he will one day educate. And I will die a success. In my own eyes, anyway.”

  “Success is different for everyone, I suppose.”

  Elliott and Joe, Sr. was sitting across from Finn waiting for the agents Elliott enlisted to arrive with Leonardo. Finn was feeling hungry. He had just eaten but, for some reason, felt as if he needed to eat again. He then changed his mind and decided he couldn't eat anymore for he had already eaten his last supper.

  “What's your son going to think of you holding a knife to a young man's throat?”

  “I would like to talk to you about that, Elliott. Could you let me have my moment with my son even if I release Joe, Jr.?”

  “Sure, but of course, Finn. Release him now. You can still see your son.”

  “You're a good liar.”

  “I'm not lying, Finn.”

  “What would be the purpose of letting me see my son if there wasn't a knife by Joe, Jr.'s throat?”

  “We've come to respect you, Finn. We don't agree with a damn thing you've done but we respect you. We would let you see your son before you die.”

  “I don't believe you for some reason, Elliott.”

  “You're a smart man, Finn. But, what you are doing, well, it boggles the mind.”

  “All I know is I want to see my son or this kid is going to get sliced.”

  “Finn, what did Joe, Jr. ever do to you?”

  “Elliott, don't go there. Please. I want to see my son. Expedite him here now!”

  “Calm down. You're irrational,” Elliott said.

  “But, we already know that,” Joe, Sr. stated.

  “I'm the most sane, rational person I've ever been. Right now, I see clearly what I saw out of focus my whole life. I see the purpose of this world and what we're supposed to do with a given life. The purpose is to pass on our unique talents to our children so they can improve upon those abilities and make the world better. A more suitable place to live.”

  “I'm not arguing with you, Finn,” Elliott replied.

  Soon, the phone belonging to Elliott rang. It was quickly learned that Leonardo was but a mere twenty minutes away from the premises. Upon receipt of this news, Finn started to think of what he would say to the young man he helped bring into this world. He only hoped the time Leonardo would spend with him would last a considerable amount of time. Finn wanted the time with his son to leave a lasting impression on him before he released Joe, Jr and would learn the consequences of his actions.

  Those twenty minutes were quite intense for Finn as he found himself dripping sweat all over his body while holding the knife close to Joe, Jr.'s throat. Finn was afraid he would be killed before his son arrived and he didn't want that to happen.

  In the said amount of time, they all heard noise. A helicopter was arriving at the mansion's front entrance. From out the window, Elliott could see Leonardo getting out of it alongside two men in suits who Elliott recognized as important federal agents.

  “Who's with my son?” Is my son there?”

  “Yes, Finn. He's here. He's being brought in by two men. Don't let these men fool you. They may look harmless. Well, you can't see them anyway. Not as you're backed up against the wall.”

  One of the agents let Leonardo in and directed the young man to the room where Finn was holding Joe, Sr. captive.

  “Mr. Finn? I heard you wanted to see me,” stated Leonardo.

  “Yes, young man. Do you remember me?”

  “I remember you from school, yes. You're a teacher. Why do you have a knife to that kid's throat? Let him go.”

  “Let him go?”

  “Yes. Unless you have a reason for holding a knife to his throat. What has he done?”

  “He's threatened to take a life.”

  “Whose life?”

  “I am not at liberty to say.”

  “I was studying for an exam. My teacher told me talking to you was important.”

  “Are your grades really as good as I hear they are, young man?”

  “Yes. I am in honors programs and slated to be at the head of my classes upon completion.”

  “Do you ever wonder why you're so talented?”

  “I study. I study all the time, sir. I know what I have to do to get a good job so my life can be a good one.”

  “Mathematics? Yes, a great career can stem from the development of those skills you possess. There's no question about that. You are a smart young man. I heard only the best and I wanted to let you in on some secrets.”

  “Why did you stop teaching?”

  “Stop teaching? What did they tell you?”

  “They said you stopped teaching to go on sabbatical.”

  “Is that what they said?”

  “Yes. That's exactly what I was told.”

  “Well, they're right. Except my sabbatical may be one I'll never return from.”

  “Why not, sir?”

  “Leonardo, simply because I am learning too much. I strive to learn. My mind aches for knowledge. This knowledge which makes me more powerful as a human being.”

  “I've heard that knowledge is power. It's not a cliché. It's true.”

  “You're right about that, young man.”

  “I'm impressed by the credentials I've been told you have under your belt. I've been told you went to the most prestigious college of all.”

  “That's debatable. So from what you're telling me I suppose it's safe to say that people are talking about me?”

  “My school has come to know you as a living legend. They just introduced your textbook to our class.”

  “That damn calculus textbook I wrote finally made it out there to classrooms. I didn't get my royalties check, yet.”

  “Excuse me, sir.”

  “I wrote that textbook before I started working.”

  “How much do you earn on a yearly basis, sir?”

  “Stop calling me sir. It's so demeaning.”

  “Demeaning?”

  “I'm sorry. It's fine. I just feel like you're trying to make me sound better than I really am. I'm just a man.”

  “A man who has made a difference in the world.”

  “Again, that's debatable.”

  “Are we here to debate, Finn?”

  “No.”

  “Why am I here. We've talked. Is that all? Can those men take me back to school now?”

  “Give me a few more minutes, Leonardo. I want to just ask you a few questions before you go.”

  “You better make them fast. I have an exam to study for.”

  “I know you know the answers to the questions they will ask you. Why do you need to study?”

  “Studying is how the information stays in your brain. There's no other way to remember the informatio
n.”

  “The information is a joke.”

  “Excuse me.”

  “I meant to say don't forget to joke.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “In life, study, but have fun too. Joke around.”

  “Joke around? That's not how you make a living now, is it?”

  “You'll forget every moment at your job working your actual job but it's the little things you'll always remember like when you tell that student he can improve and he does. That's what makes life really great. When you make an impact on another human being. By helping them in whatever capacity they need your help in.”

  “What does that have to do with joking?”

  “Joke when not studying. Make people laugh. Laughter is the best medicine to deal with this crazy world. Remember these words when you are older. You won't understand what I mean right now.”

  “You're right. I don't.”

  “All I can say is it's not as complicated as it looks.”

  “What isn't?”

  “The world.”

  “The world is the most complicated thing if you ask me, Finn. I look around in amazement at everything I see.”

  “Good! Do that. But, keep your thoughts to yourself until you trust someone to share them with.”

  “OK,” Leonardo said as he smiled.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  For a few more moments, Finn spoke to Leonardo. He didn't say anything of importance but gave Leonardo general information on how to enjoy the moments in life outside of the classroom. For example, Finn suggested a game of checkers with a friend after a long night studying at the library. Elliott and Joe, Sr. watched as Leonardo and Finn bonded. Joe, Jr. was by Finn's side with the knife to his throat. Joe, Jr.'s eyes were closed as he waited for the moment this would all end.

  Finn never felt happier as he felt the moment arriving where he would have to say his farewells to Leonardo. Finn felt closure that he had wanted and he believed that these moments with his son were well worth whatever the consequences would be.

  “I still don't understand why you're holding the knife to the throat of that kid, Finn.”

  “Maybe one day, you will. But, for now, think only about your studies. And having fun in between the study sessions. It will all be worth it in the end.”

  “Thanks. I suppose this is over.”