by Alexie Aaron
“What is William Fucking Shakespeare doing on the monitor?” Burt demanded.
The picture changed to an all too familiar bear in a ranger’s hat. Only you can prevent forest fires…
Ted nodded to Mike who started a tracking sequence on his iMac Air.
“It’s talking to you,” Mia said. “Say something else.”
“Get the fuck off my machine!” Burt said strongly.
The picture changed yet again. This time it was Burt’s face on a poster on a brick wall. A cartoon dog walked onto the screen. It sniffed around before it stopped and raised a leg and pissed on the poster.
Cid was spellbound by the whole thing. He inadvertently said, “Cool,” which brought a death glare from Burt.
“Why me?” Burt asked. “Why is it picking on me?”
Next, a film of Nazis marching moved across the screen.
“Come on, I’m not as bad as that?”
The screen answered with a picture of Burt wearing a toga and laurel leaves at his temples.
One by one, Ted, Mia and Mike left the trailer. Cid and Audrey moved around to distract Burt from seeing the defection, but the monitor already had him captivated.
“Ask it who it is?” Cid whispered.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Burt shouted.
“That’s not what I meant…”
Cid was interrupted by the sound of thunder, and the two small monitors clicked on. Lightning flashed across the three screens several times before the image of Thor presented itself in the large center monitor.
“The signal is pulsing. What does that mean?” Mike asked, bracing himself as he watched Ted take the corner a bit too fast.
Ted was following the directions Mike was giving him from the device that was tracking the ghost’s power source. If they could figure out where it originated, Ted could put in a virtual roadblock to stop the transmission. Mia watched in vain as fast food opportunities flashed by them as Ted increased his speed.
“We’re going to get a ticket,” Mia warned. “Slow down.”
Ted ignored her and pushed the truck past ninety.
“If you crash this thing and I die, I’m going to haunt with Murphy,” Mia threatened.
Ted backed off the gas pedal.
“It’s heading northwest. Take the next right,” Mike said, looking at the tracking device.
Mia saw that they had been following a set of high tension wires. She knew they probably originated at the Dresden nuclear plant. She doubted that the ghost started off there.
“It stopped. We lost it,” Mike said.
Ted slowed to a crawl and pulled off the road. Mia got out while Ted texted Cid.
“If you’re Thor, then I’m Zeus. Get the fuck out of my computer,” Burt ordered.
“Someone’s got a god complex,” Audrey mumbled.
Cid typed back into his phone and shook his head. “They lost the tracking.”
“Cid says the activity is still going on,” Ted told Mike. “Mia… Where’s Mia?”
“She got out.” Mike pointed behind them. “She said, if you’re going to drive like a maniac, that she was walking home.”
Ted got out of the car and ran down the street. Mia had covered quite a lot of ground in the few minutes he had been texting.
He heard the truck start and assumed that Mike was turning it around to pick them up after Ted convinced his wife to get back in the truck.
Mia had stopped and was looking at something at the side of the road.
“I’m sorry, Mia,” Ted said. “Mike will drive on the way back,” he promised.
“Teddy Bear, look.” Mia pointed to the memorial of plastic flowers and a white painted, wooden cross stuck into the ground. The ribbon with the name of the unfortunate soul who died on this stretch of road had become detached on one end and was blowing in the wind. Mia caught the end of it. She untwisted it and reattached it to the cross with a rubber band that had been holding her hair.
Mike pulled the truck over across the street and walked across carrying the tracking device. “I got a blip, and then it stopped,” he said.
Mia tried to take the device from him. He held onto it.
“Give it to me. I promise not to throw it.”
Mike let go. Mia walked up to the cross and faced it. She put the device in her right hand, and it sounded. She moved it to her left, and the tone stopped. She handed it back to Mike. “The source is here somewhere.” She walked past the cross into the dry ditch and up the other side.
Ted watched as his wife stopped and looked up. She shook her head and then nodded. She walked quickly to the base of a wooden telephone pole. She squatted down and said, “Gentlemen, I found your source.”
Ted and Mike jumped the ditch and ran over to where she was, with great care, pulling the long grass out in clumps.
“Whatcha doing, Minnie Mouse?” Ted asked, bending over her.
“Pulling weeds.”
“And why are you pulling weeds now?” Mike asked, squatting down next to Mia.
“To show you the source of the ghost in the machine,” she said. Mia finished her landscaping and sat back.
At the base of the pole was what was left of a smart phone.
“It must have hit this pole with such force that it cut the wire and fused itself to it,” she pointed out. “See, the wire comes up from the ground. It probably was originally attached to an old out building from that farm over there, forgotten but still live. Be careful,” she warned.
Ted followed the insulated wire up the pole and saw where it had connected to the larger poles. “It can’t really work. It just can’t,” Ted said as he walked around the site for a minute before squatting down and examining the fragile weld, that had happened when the electricity flared as the phone cut into the wire, on the back of the cracked face of the phone.
“I may not be a genius, but I’d say that this smart phone is just a machine. Not organic. Machines are clever things but don’t have souls. People have souls,” Mike said strongly.
Mia looked over at Mike and sighed. “People get attached to their things, even cell phones. Perhaps the owner of this phone died carrying it.”
“I hate to do this, but I have to disconnect the thing. It’s messing us up big time.” Ted walked back to the truck, hopped in the bed and opened up the box and began rummaging through it. He came back with a few tools.
“Please don’t fry yourself,” Mia pleaded.
“Don’t worry, if I die, I am going to go and haunt you alongside Murphy,” he said snottily.
“Go ahead and be that way,” Mia said and got up. “I don’t have to watch you die though. I’ll just add your cross to this one. Hey, I’ll save money by just adding your name beside…”
Ted tuned her out as he proceeded to safely interrupt the current and then detached the phone. He handed it to Mike and picked up his tools. “Someone should mention this live wire, anonymously of course, to the phone or electric company.”
Mike looked at the metal tag on the pole and put the numbers to memory. “I’ll do it. Anonymous is my middle name.”
“Speaking of names, Minnie Mouse, whose name is on that cross?”
“Jake. It just says Jake.”
“Do you think the phone is Jake’s?” Ted asked, putting an arm around Mia’s shoulders.
“It’s his or someone that died with him. This is only a guess,” she cautioned. “But I think if we find out what happened here, it will go a long way to sorting out our little problem of the ghost in the machine,” Mia said. “Sorry for being so grumpy. But I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry, Mia,” Mike said, walking past them. “Come on, I saw a Steak and Shake in that last burb we flew by. I’ll treat you two to a meal.”
“We love you, Mikey,” Mia said, getting into the truck beside him.
“You only love me when I feed you,” he teased.
“Are you coming, Ted?” Mia called.
He took a few pictures with his phone
of the memorial and the area around it before he got into the truck. He noticed that Mike was still at the wheel. He shrugged and walked around and got in beside Mia.
“You, sir, are grounded,” Mia said.
“I’m sorry. I was caught up in the spirit of the hunt,” he said.
Mia squeezed his hand and leaned against him. A low growl emitted from Mia’s gut.
“Told you I was hungry,” she said, patting her stomach.
Ted’s phone dinged, and he looked at Cid’s latest text. “Cid said the computers are back to normal.”
“Do you think we killed it?” Mike asked.
“We’re not that lucky. That thing is so deeply entrenched that I have no clue how to remove it. We may have to start with a whole new system,” he warned. “I’ll pay for it since I let it in.”
“Don’t be too quick to take the blame, Ted,” Mike said. “We all plugged our phones into the computer at one time or another.”
“Nice try, but it started with my phone,” Ted admitted. “Mia, the addition may have to wait.”
“Don’t worry, that house is too big for the two of us as it is. Besides, Cid’s going to be busy helping John Wheaton with that house.”
“He did seem rather excited about the project,” Mike said.
“I caught him caressing the wall,” Mia said and added, “without putting a sock on the doorknob first.”
“Geeze, anyone of us could have walked in on that. Plaster dust everywhere,” Mike joked. “Hey, remember the Hoffman house? Now there was some serious dust.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“So now you don’t need a day off,” Burt said, scratching his head. “I took all that abuse from that computer - that seemed to be defending you by the way - for nothing?”
“Sorry about that, but you did help us in finding the source,” Ted said. “Audrey and Mia are busy right now using our leads to get more information.”
“Ted, can I ask you a question? And I want an honest answer.”
“Not one I can get fired for, I hope.”
“See, that’s what I mean. When did I get the role of the bad guy?”
“I wouldn’t say you’re the bad guy, but you are the boss.”
“Mike and I are equal partners. He’s your boss too,” Burt clarified.
“But he is more of a team player. You’re the boss. You’re loved by all of us, maybe not Audrey presently, but you are loved. You see, there has to be a common foe for the team to unite against. Sometimes it’s Angelo, sometimes Bev, but most times you,” Ted explained.
“Why not Mia? She’s pretty bossy,” Burt said without thinking. He regretted it as soon as it slipped out. You don’t criticize another man’s wife.
Ted seemed to not take offence. “When Mia bosses us around, it’s because there is no time to explain why she needs us here and there. She has the instincts we lack. She hasn’t led us down the rabbit hole that many times.”
“So you agree that she is fallible.”
“She’d be the first one to agree with that. But Mia isn’t the boss. She’s not the one that barges in and doles out assignments and takes leader positions away from qualified people. And, while you’re listening, she doesn’t string people along and then break their hearts.”
Burt frowned. “So we’re chewing on that bone again. Sleeping with Audrey was a mistake. I got caught up with the wedding and…”
“No, I’m talking about the weeks leading up to the wedding,” Ted said. He got up out of the console chair and walked over to the filing cabinet. He turned back, collected his thoughts and said, “Did you like her? Were you attracted to her? Was it just a farce to show that Mia marrying me wasn’t upsetting you?”
“I assure you, Mia was the last thing on my mind,” Burt lied. “I guess I wanted a bit of what you two have with each other. Who wouldn’t? You work together, yet you get along. Sure, you fight, but there is no malice in the spats. Audrey came along, and her enthusiasm was infectious. She only sees the bright side of things.”
“She did until you did your number on her,” Ted pointed out.
“So the cynical change has nothing to do with being kidnapped and dragged into the hollow? Or perhaps seeing Father Santos die?”
“He’s not dead,” Ted said as he pulled out a box and began digging through it.
“He’s dead,” Burt said firmly. “No matter how you, Mia, Cid, and Angelo try to spin this, the man died on the ground in the hollow.”
Ted didn’t want to get into a lengthy explanation about the dark world adventure so he said, “Let’s just say I disagree with the Father Santos thing, so move on,” Ted said, fingering the part he found, not looking at Burt.
“What I’m trying to say is, I’m not the villain here. I’ve made some mistakes. I will make more mistakes, but that’s the price we pay when we’re moving into new situations that have no rules on how to handle them. My personal life is that, personal and off limits. When it comes to PEEPs, yes, I’m the fall guy. It’s my name up there. If this fails, then people aren’t talking about Ted and Cid failing, they’re talking about Burt Hicks’s folly. This is all I’ve got. You have your inventions, Cid construction, Mike his mother’s money, Audrey a successful business. Me, I don’t even live in a house I own. Mia’s my landlord. Hell, you’re PEEPs’s landlord. All I have to show is the success of this group.”
“You have more than that,” Mia said from behind them. She climbed into the truck and faced Burt. “You’ve got friends.”
“How long have you been listening?” Burt asked embarrassed.
“I arrived for the listing of assets. That reminds me, you’re late on the rent again,” Mia said smartly. She raised her hand. “Kidding, just kidding, I know you’re good for it. So why all the drama?” she asked, looking at Ted and Burt.
“Just clearing the air,” Burt said and pushed past her and got out of the back of the truck.
Mia received more in that moment of connection than she was prepared for. She sat down at the desk and put her head down.
“Are you alright?” Ted asked, dropping to his knees and lifting her head.
“Burt’s really upset, despondent, and mad. He’s always seen himself as the hero. And he was when I first met him. He’s the type of guy that puts himself between you and death. It’s not that he isn’t the marrying kind. He’s not going to be able to hold onto another relationship because he’s already married to PEEPs.”
“Well, I never thought I’d see the day, Mighty Mouse, you coming to the defense of Burt,” Ted teased.
Mia leaned over and kissed Ted’s nose. “I want to go home and have you make love to me, Teddy Bear. I’m tired of all this,” she said honestly.
“We’re on night watch,” he reminded her.
“I know.”
“Tell you what. When we go off shift, I’ll take you out for breakfast on the way back. Then we’ll barricade ourselves in the house, make love in every room, and then sleep until night comes again.”
Mia felt a stirring that wasn’t going to make it until then. “All this talk is making me very warm, dear.”
“I mean, how can you not be horny when you have all this to look at each day?” Ted asked, standing up. He leaned against the wall of the trailer and smoldered.
Mia looked quickly at the entrance to the trailer before she got up and pressed her body against her husband’s. “Why, Mr. Darcy, if you don’t stop that, I’m going to have to go off script.”
Ted leaned down and kissed her. Mia pulled at him, encouraging him to the dark spot behind the files. Ted lowered the door, locked it, took off his headset and tossed it on the console and went in search of his bride.
Mia tossed her boots as she pulled them off. The heat between her legs had taken over, and soon she was bare from the waist down. Ted walked over and picked her up and laid her down on the lounge chair where he took her slowly until her nails demanded more.
Burt avoided Audrey who was packing up her laptop and headed into the h
ouse to do a battery check. He was tired and would soon head to the peninsula and to bed. He had his say with Ted. In truth, he felt a little better. Was he still pining over Mia? No. But it was difficult having her so close at times, not to touch her. He scolded himself for such thoughts. She was married and pregnant, off limits. He pictured her in curlers and a brat holding the edge of her apron and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Mike inquired, walking down the stairs.
“Just a private joke, I suppose. Why are you still here? You’re off duty,” Burt asked.
“I wanted to make sure we had the attic lights off. This is a great house, isn’t it?”
“Three ghosts and a ballroom full of dancers, I’d say it’s a goldmine.”
“No, I was talking about the house. I’d like to live in a house like this one day.”
“Awfully big for just you.”
“I don’t know, Ma would move in, and perhaps I would consider getting married.”
“You?”
“Don’t be so cynical. I’ve been thinking about it.”
“Anyone special in mind?”
“Oh no. I probably could have settled down earlier if Ted hadn’t taken Mia out from under us. Sneaky guy, that tech. Never underestimate the boy.”
“You and Mia,” Burt scoffed. “You’d kill each other within a week of wedded bliss.”
“I thought we had a moment there back in Lund.”
“She was with Whitney then,” Burt reminded him.
“But he wasn’t there supporting her. And then it all went tits up when my cousin tossed her in the well,” Mike said, rubbing his chin.
“I believe it was Ted that went down after her.”
“Girls always fall for Batman, don’t they? Why not the handsome lead?”
“Mia and I already had our time.”
“You’re not the handsome lead,” Mike argued.
“You could have fooled me,” Burt said, patting his ample girth. “This didn’t stop the girl when we met.”
“True. Well that’s water under the bridge, over the dam, and into someone else’s swimming hole, as my ma says. So, Ted knocked her up. That’s one way to lock down the relationship. Smart lad.”