by Alexie Aaron
Sabine pulled on her boots and accepted Mason’s hand up. She followed Ted out of the command center.
Mason sat down. “Ted’s not pleased.”
“He’s worried. Mia is one of those women who pushes themselves to the point of exhaustion,” Cid said. “She’s so focused that sometimes she needs to be pulled back to see all the resources around her.”
“But what if she wasn’t?” Mason asked. “What would happen if she were a lollygag?”
“I’d be frozen in the forest,” Cid realized.
“I’d be Mason-mush in that middle school.”
“Ted appreciates who she is, but I think he wants her to find a happy middle.”
“Ah, she is who she is. Take away her abilities, and you’d see a supermom who’s got two jobs, head of the PTA, and still manages to help the kiddies with their homework. They wear themselves out, but all around them thrive.”
“You’re pretty smart.”
“Hooligans have to be smart to survive, Cid.”
“Your friend Dave calls me Cid the Saint.”
“He’s daft. Anyone can tell you’ve surfed the gray wave, my friend.”
Cid smiled. He didn’t initially like the rough young man beside him, but Mason was sure growing on him.
Chapter Thirty
Mia was staring down into the excavation, trying to pinpoint what was shadow and what was the Dark Watcher. The evening breeze picked up, and the borrowed dress was caught up in the wind. Mia’s concentration was on the pit and not how she may look under the mercury lights.
Ted was awestruck. Her pregnancy had given her a roundness, a womanliness, she didn’t have otherwise. Her hair had escaped the clips and pins and moved in the wind along with the dress. She turned her head, sensing his approach. Ted wanted to remember this moment forever.
Sabine caught up to him. “She waited.”
“No, look.”
They both saw Kevin standing with his arms crossed in front of the ramp. He looked relieved when he spotted Ted.
Mia smiled. “Good, you’re back,” she said as Murphy manifested behind Sabine.
“Mission accomplished,” Sabine said. “What’s next?”
“As soon as this blackguard will let me pass, we need to talk to the Dark Watcher.”
“Why?” Ted asked, taking her arm.
“If this is Tony, maybe he saw who caused the explosion,” she said. “If we know who it is, then we can stop him.”
Murphy motioned for Kevin to let Mia pass and clapped him on the back.
“Your woman is a tough customer.”
Murphy didn’t deny that he considered Mia his, but neither would he say so in front of her husband.
Ted was concentrating on Mia’s face. Her eyes kept fading out as if she was looking inward instead of being in the here and now.
“Mia, what is it?” he questioned, putting his hands on her face and gently turning it upwards so her eyes had to focus on him.
“I know where part of the bomb is,” Mia said. “It’s under the tile at the exact center of the room. You see, the grout does not match in a two-by-two-foot area. It’s fast drying while the rest is commercial grade, and that stuff takes forever to cure, but it’s hard as rock. I was able to scratch off grout before the black-eyed man stepped on my fingers. I’m worried he knows that I know and will come back tonight to set it off.”
“Calm down.” Ted touched his earcom. “Cid, relay me to Burt. Burt, have Dash close down the bar. Just for tonight. Tell him, I’ll make up the profits lost,” Ted said. “Yes, we’re sure. We need to get a handle on this. Oh and tell him, Tony stays until Mia talks to him. Thanks.”
“Feel better now?” Ted asked.
“Yes. I’m so afraid I messed everything up in my zeal. I should have waited until after the bar closed.”
“Mia, we’re paranormal investigators, not the FBI,” Ted said. “I’m proud of you. You don’t have to change for me. Just tell me what you’re doing, so I can come along for the ride.”
Sabine smiled to herself. Mia had certainly found someone perfect for her. Ted was fun and serious when he had to be. He didn’t talk down to Mia. He knew and appreciated how different she was from most people.
“Sabine, do you see him?” Mia asked.
“Not yet. I was thinking he would be where he could watch the bar.”
Mia turned her gaze to the deep shadows by the original excavation. She saw solidity in the shadows. “I think I see him. Sabine come with me. Don’t touch it. It’s pure energy.”
The two women approached the Dark Watcher. Murphy motioned for Kevin to stand on the other side of the women. Ted hung back and used his mini camera to send footage to the team in the command center.
“Tony. Tony, it’s Mia. You remember from PEEPs?”
The dark mass moved forward. Mia was hit with a wave of grief. Sabine gulped, trying to get her emotions under control. Murphy put a gentle hand on Mia’s back to let her know he was with her. Kevin stayed with Sabine who seemed to be more affected by the flood of emotion.
“You’re Tony,” Mia stated. “Tony always said, ‘I am all, and I am none.’”
“How am I here?” Tony asked, as the realization of who he was filled him with a new horror.
“There was an explosion where everyone died. You were given a second chance by fate,” Mia explained. “Now’s your time to take it. Tell me what you saw before it happened.”
A mix of images moved in Tony. He did his best to sort them before speaking, “It was Latin Night. Dash had the chef prepare all these yummy appetizers. The smell kept wafting out the door as people went in and out. The place was packed and my velvet line was long. I had just let in the lone wolves when I saw him… He was wearing a big jacket on such a hot night. I said, ‘Hey you! Come back here.’ He ran into the bar and pushed a few people off the stools and opened his coat. I ran, but I couldn’t get there fast enough. I turned to yell for the people to get out, but everyone was frozen in time. It was like watching a broadcast replay, everything was in slow-motion. First, his body exploded, and then the ground underneath lifted up in a million pieces, and everyone and everything I ever cared about was turned to dust. I launched myself into the blast, trying to suppress it with my body.”
“I was immersed in darkness. Then I became darkness. I drifted moving from shadow to shadow, trying to figure out why I had become a shadow amongst other shadows. That’s when I sensed a man moving in the darkness with me. A light came on, and another man walked through the door. My partner in the dark waited and hit this man on the head and dragged him away. Then you came. I know now, that the injured man is Burt.”
“Who was the other man?” Mia asked. “Think back. You’ve seen him before. I saw him twice in the past two days. Think, Tony.”
The dark mass twisted in agony. “One of the lone wolves. Comes in on theme nights, but lately he started coming in every night. He arrives at the same time every night. Eight thirty- three. I know because, in order to remember the patrons, I make up stories about the odd characters. I call him the eight thirty-three man.”
“He has dark hair, black eyes, and…” Mia led.
“He’s a white heterosexual, forty years in age. I think he lives in the area because he walks here. He was the only one not to complain about the lack of parking because of Dash closing the parking lot. Shiny shoes. They were shiny like,”
Mia remembered the shoe on her hand. “Like military dress shoes,” she filled in.
“Yes.”
Ted backed up his camera feed by relaying this information to Cid, who typed the information into the computer. Jake started searching for the man on the outside security camera, keeping in mind the time of his arrival.
Mia sensed the Dark Watcher was losing his energy. “Is there anything else before you rest?” she asked.
“He had your hair wrapped around his fist when he blew himself up. Mia, you were the first to die.”
Ed tossed his hook up and caught hold of the massive boat
of iron as it passed. He eased his canoe alongside the ship where it would not be sucked under and destroyed by the massive propellers. He tied the rope and sat back and eased the strain on his muscles. He would borrow the energy from this craft until it turned for the shipyards. He then planned on moving towards the city and the canal. It felt good to be functioning at his peak again. A god amongst mortals. Too long had he isolated himself on the isle, hiding until he understood the time he now resided in. Good things had come from this time: Judy, his mate, Mia, his sister who was carrying his nephew, whom he would protect with his life. “Blood of my blood, I am coming,” Ed vowed and sent this message through the ether.
Mia put her hand on her stomach.
“Is something wrong?” Ted asked.
Mia took his hand and placed it on her abdomen. “Just your son. He is very active tonight.”
“I know we have a lot to do, but you must rest too.”
“A rested mind is an alert mind,” Mia echoed his thoughts. “I’m going to put my feet up for a bit. I wish that I hadn’t been taken in by the man’s eyes in The Eighty-eight, otherwise I would be able to identify him.” Mia turned to Murphy and Kevin. “Watch the restaurant. Make sure no one has hidden in it. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to patrol the street to see who might be hanging around after,” she told Murphy and then quickly said, “I know you have already thought of this. Thank you for humoring me, by listening.”
Sabine watched how Mia twisted the truth of things to make Murphy look good in front of his father. Sabine knew that her habit of being too truthful was irritating. That combined with her blurting out things that were better kept secret, put people off. She looked for and saw Patrick having an animated conversation with Fergus and decided that he may need a hand.
“Hello,” she said, approaching the men. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
Patrick drew back his ire. Fergus stared at the woman a moment and frowned.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“This sleeveen has trapped me in this circle and has insulted my heritage.”
“But Patrick is Irish like you,” Sabine said.
“He says…”
“I can speak for myself,” Patrick interrupted. “I told him that I heard that he was spreading lies about how O’Connors were such good friends of the Callens.”
“Was it a lie when Fergus was living?” Sabine asked Patrick.
“It was because of an O’Connor that Ayden Callen left Éire in the first place. Ayden’s farm was the best in the country. He had sold his crop and was going to the landlord to pay his rent when he was waylaid by Kegan O’Connor. Kegan offered to buy Ayden a drink at the pub. Many drinks later, Ayden found himself in the gutter and Kegan gone with his money. The landlord tossed the Callens off their land and gave it to Kegan who offered the landlord a year’s rent in advance. It was good land, but the Lord saw what Kegan had done. He cursed the land, and it failed to produce.”
“There are no Kegans in my line,” Fergus said. “My people were here a generation before the Callens arrived.”
“There are many O’Connors,” Sabine said. “Some have risen to be role models and good citizens.”
“Just because one branch has gone foul, you don’t chop down the whole tree,” Murphy said from behind Sabine. “This man has been a good friend of my father’s. Yes, he encourages my father to drink, but he also got him a job when he had none. This O’Connor is a good man.”
Kevin put his hand on the shoulder of his son and admitted, “To be fully honest, it was I that encouraged Fergus to drink.”
Patrick kicked the salt circle open. Fergus stood there and reached out his hand. “No offense taken, Callen?”
Patrick tried to grip the ghost’s hand, but physics weren’t with them. He laughed. “It’s good to know this O’Connor,” Patrick said.
Murphy and Kevin left and Fergus followed them.
Sabine looked over at Patrick. “One can’t control one’s relatives. My mother sold Mia to the Brotherhood of the Wing, but Mia doesn’t hold it against me,” she said.
Patrick was surprised by this statement.
“I think we have to be careful judging others because of transgressions done by their forefathers and mothers.”
“You are very wise, fair Sabine.”
“Thank you, Patrick. I’m learning. I was sheltered all my life because of my gifts. I think, had I traveled the road Mia did, I may have not turned out so gullible.”
“You don’t seem gullible to me,” Patrick said honestly.
“I’ve learned by watching and listening, but I fear that I’ve still got a lot of catching up to do.”
“This is a complex world that we are living in,” Patrick commiserated. “You have your daughters to teach to be strong.”
“Yes, I do. I need to be both the mother and father to them. I’m not sure if I’m up to the job.”
“My mother used to say to never underestimate yourself. If your heart is pure and your instincts good, there is nothing you can’t accomplish in time.”
“Yes.” Sabine looked at Patrick and sensed an unrest. Instead of reading him, she asked, “Why are you uneasy?”
“I fear my impatience has led me down a road, I’m not proud to have traveled.”
“That’s what reverse is for,” Sabine said. “Come. Let’s see how we can help. Your shrewd eyes may be just what PEEPs needs right now.”
“Ah, maybe. But first I have a call to make. I promised to give Mia’s pet policeman some information.”
“Pet… Oh Tom. He’s not a pet of Mia’s. They are friends from school,” Sabine corrected. “He has his own mind, and he can see ghosts.”
“Was he born that way?”
“No. Murphy jump-started his heart, brought him back from death. Ever since, he can see most spirits.”
“Murphy seems like a handy guy to have around,” Patrick said.
“Yes, he most certainly is,” Sabine agreed.
Tom copied down the information Patrick Callen gave him.
“Most of the big time fences are in Chicago. I could nose around if it would help you out,” Patrick offered.
“I was hoping Murphy could do a little recon.”
“Ah, you don’t want to spook the fence. You just want to look through his records and find out whos he’s accepting merchandise from.”
“Yes.”
“Hypothetically, I could come in looking for work…”
“Be an inside man?”
“Hypothetically, it wouldn’t be outside my experience.”
Tom caught on. “I wouldn’t want you breaking the law. Murphy can’t be arrested.”
“Well, I’ll present it to him. But, Deputy, I will warn you that PEEPs is up to their eyes here right now. I doubt if Murphy will be available, but his Da maybe…”
“Wait, what did you say?”
“The ghost of Stephen Murphy’s father Kevin walked out of McNally’s, and he seems to be a very capable fella to work with. Think it over. We can’t do anything until morning. It’s all hands on deck here right now.”
“I’ll work on your information. I have a call into the Chicago PD. Let me work the legal end of it for now,” Tom told him.
Patrick hung up, happy he did his part. He looked over at Sabine who was waiting on the deck of the trailer for him to join her. “Patrick, get ahold of yerself before you lose yer heart,” he scolded himself.
Ralph and Bernard walked over to the PEEPs command center truck. Ralph looked for a way of knocking and ended up banging on the side of the truck.
Mason opened the door and stared at the couple. “Well?” he asked.
“We’re Mia’s godfathers…”
“Oh, sorry, didn’t recognize you. You look different in person. Come on in. Mind the trash. There’s working people about. Watch what you touch.”
Bernard shook his head as Mason rattled off his cautions. Ralph held his kerchief to his nose. “Working unwashed people,” he mumbled.
“Queen Mia, you have two subjects. Mind the little one, he’s got the look of a mentaller about him.”
“Menthaler?” Ralph asked as Mason left.
“He said mentaller,” Bernard said. “You do look a bit crazy tonight.”
Mia opened her eyes. “I’m sorry I ran out on you. Please sit.” She indicated the two camp chairs.
“First you leave, then Dash announces the bar is closed due to a possible gas leak in the lot next door. What’s really going on?” Ralph asked.
Mia succinctly caught them up on the investigation, what may possibly happen, and how they were going to deal with it.
“Mia, I have to insist that you leave here now,” Bernard demanded.
Ralph looked at his spouse open-mouthed. It was normally him who made demands.
“I will when I’m sure we have this resolved,” Mia said firmly. “We have to have proof to bring in the police. Otherwise, we’re the mentallers, and the maniac goes free to do this someplace else.”
Bernard wasn’t convinced.
“Tell me, were the two of you planning on being here Latin Night?” Mia asked.
“Why yes. We have our outfits and…” Bernard said and stopped. “No.”
“That thing that’s in the shadows was created then. As we came here to investigate, it started to have memories that included us. It’s still here, so we haven’t stopped it from happening. I’m not leaving until it disappears.”
“How can we help?”
“Do you know anyone in bomb disposal? Or anything that will make us look more credible?” Mia asked.
Bernard thought a moment. “All you need is a credible threat… And you’re sure there is something in the floor now?”
“Ninety percent sure,” Mia said.
“I have a contact that I used for the museum when I was in charge of security. Let me call him.”
“I’d use a lot of hypotheticals until you’re sure he’s on board,” Mia advised. “And we need to bring bomb disposal in quietly. I want to catch this bastard.”