by Alexie Aaron
“See, how ha ha hard can that be?” Beverly said, emphasizing the H sound.
Richard just glared at her.
“So it seems to me, my mother talked about your kind before. Not in a kind way, but we’ll forgo that for the present. You’re a wheeler-dealer. An enslaver of the innocent.”
“Pah. There are no innocents.”
“She said, if I straddled the line between good and evil, I would attract your kind.”
“That is true.”
“Explain, what did I do that was so wishy-washy?”
“You use your powers to lie to people for their own good.”
Beverly scratched her head. “I guess I do that. Everyone does that.”
“Most sensitives don’t.”
“Ah, so I’m a valuable commodity because I straddle the fence, and I’m a sensitive.”
“Yes. I could ‘ave sold you to a power of good, but they weren’t interested.”
“I wouldn’t think so. They have trailers full of good souls, I imagine,” Beverly joked.
“They promote from within.”
Beverly studied the man in front of her. He seemed ill at ease in her presence. She would use this against him. “What is your job exactly?”
“I get myself invited into your ‘ome. I bring you the deal. I negotiate the deal. If you turn down the deal, I bring in my associates, and we take you anyway.”
“So why bother negotiating in the first place or getting yourself invited in at all if you are just going to take me and enslave me regardless?”
“There are proper procedures that must be followed.”
“If I walk away from the negotiation, then I lose,” Beverly clarified.
“Yes.”
“What ha ha happens if you leave?”
“It won’t ‘appen.” The man pushed the paper towards Beverly. His hand was shaking.
Beverly twisted her lips, trying not to smile. “I’m sorry, but I must know. If you walk away or don’t follow proper procedures, then what ha ha happens?”
Richard scowled. “I leave, and you’re never approached again.”
“Well, gee, Richard, I have some ha ha hard facts for you. One, this isn’t my home. So, I didn’t invite you into my home. I don’t have my name on the deed of the land this carnival sets on. My home is up north in a small town in Illinois. Two, the name you have on here is Beverly Cooper. I’m Beverly Anne Cooper. A small adjustment is needed. Here, you may want to take this back and fix it.”
Richard snatched the contract and stormed out of the tent before he realized she just tricked him. He turned around and dropped the paper. It burnt to ash before it touched the ground.
“Ha ha have a nice time explaining this to ha ha Harvey and Associates,” Beverly said waving.
The Other disappeared, followed by a deep rumble.
Beverly put her hand on her stomach. “Time for dinner.”
Gerald pulled out of her mind. He picked up his satellite phone and dialed his assistant. “Arthur, do a title search on the Martin farmhouse and get back to me.”
Bev raised an eyebrow. “You and I were thinking the same thing. If Ted didn’t put Mia’s name on the farmhouse…”
Gerald frowned. “She does own the frontage of the property. I negotiated that purchase from April for her.”
“I doubt that Mia is standing on the side of the road talking to an Other.”
Gerald’s satphone rang. “Yes, Arthur,” Gerald answered.
Bev watched his face as it went from concern to jubilation. “Her name is definitely not on the deed to the house. Yes, an oversight that I’ll have Mr. Martin take care of at the turn of the year. Thank you, Arthur. Yes? No, she owns the peninsula property and the easement off the farm road. She’s inherited the ranch home and property from Rose Malloy. I don’t think Ted was too worried. Yes, we must look out for her. Thank you again.”
Gerald took a moment to settle down from the lecture his assistant just gave him.
“Well?”
“We have our loophole.”
“Now we just have to get to her in time,” Bev reminded him.
Chapter Twenty-one
Mia graciously showed Richard into the living room. “I had Ted light a fire in the fireplace. I have to admit I’m chilled to the bone, you?”
Richard, taken back by the hospitality and concern, didn’t have an answer. He wasn’t used to spending this much time negotiating a contract, let alone in the company of humans.
“You don’t mind if my husband sits in, do you?”
“This doesn’t concern him.”
“Oh, but it does. It concerns me and our child; I’d say it concerns him.”
Ted grasped Mia’s hand, and the two of them sat together on the worn but comfortable sofa. Richard took the chair opposite the couple. He fidgeted, unused to courtesy. He was used to fear, then resignation.
“I believe you said you had a contract?”
Richard pulled a folded piece of parchment out of his suit coat pocket. “I represent an entity that is interested in your services for eternity.”
“Well, that’s impossible,” Mia scoffed. “I have a life expectancy of eighty-nine, perhaps ninety, years if I cut down on the sugar. Eternity is out of the question.”
“It’s not your physical body he is interested in; it’s your soul.”
Ted started to hum a tune, and Mia sang a few words in an odd key. “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier…”
“Gee, Minnie Mouse, do you think that came from a previous negotiation?”
“Sounds reasonable. Richard did you visit any of The Killers by chance?” Mia inquired.
“Killers, perhaps…”
“No I asked if you visited The Killers? That’s were those lyrics come from.” Mia called out, “Cid, what song does this come from…” Mia proceeded to sing flatly.
Cid stepped out of the kitchen and walked through the dining room. “That would be ‘All These Things That I’ve Done,’ I believe.”
“Richard, that could be the title of your memoirs,” Mia suggested. She looked over at Cid and asked, “What smells so good?”
“I’m frying some chicken. Actually, I’ve already fried it. After I make the potato salad, I’m going to fry it again.”
“Twice-fried chicken, Oh, Richard, you’re in for a treat. It’s crunchy when you bite into it and then oh so tender inside.”
Cid turned to him and asked, “Are you a fan of mustard in your potato salad?”
“A little…” Richard started to answer and caught himself. “I don’t eat so I have no opinion.”
“If my vote counts,” Ted interrupted. “I like no mustard, but those little sweet pickles - What are they called, gherkins?”
“All pickles are gherkins where I come from,” Richard informed Ted. “Sweet pickles are…” Richard trailed off. He started to fade a bit, and the parchment contract fell from his grasp.
“You’re dropping the…” Mia said and caught the paper with her mind.
Richard looked stunned. He had no idea she had the power of telekinesis. She was going to fetch a brilliant price.
The paper moved up and down as Mia played with it. “I could teach you this if you have time,” she stopped speaking as smoke billowed between the folds of the parchment. The paper ignited. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, I hate it when that happens. Ted, could you grab that before I set the house on fire, again.”
Ted jumped up and grabbed the floating paper with the fireplace tongs. He directed it into the hearth where it spewed multicolored smoke before it was cremated.
“Did I do that?” Mia asked before she jumped up, picked up a poker and began prodding the burning logs. “I’ve never had the objects of my telekinesis pop into color before. They have burned, but I thought I had a handle on that. That’s what I get for showing off.”
Richard’s mouth hung open for a minute. “’ow the ‘ell did that ‘appen?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Mia
asked earnestly.
“I said, how the hell did that happen?” Richard enunciated.
“Oh, sorry. I’ve got this bug I haven’t worked out yet. Do you know I accidently set a birdman on fire once.”
Ted nodded. “She did. That must have hurt.”
“The poor fellow couldn’t fly after that,” Mia said, looking dejected. “I’m not sure I’m on the invite list to any birdman ball after that incident.”
“Shame, you’re a marvelous dancer, Minnie Mouse,” Ted said, bowing before her.
Mia got up.
“One, two, three…” Ted counted off as he waltzed Mia across the floor.
“Hold on there! Where the fuck are you going?”
Mia gasped and put her hand on her stomach. “Shush, we don’t swear around the B A B Y,” she scolded. “Shame on you.”
Richard was beyond exasperation. First, he had to endure the tempting smells from the kitchen. Second, the contract was destroyed. And thirdly, his prey was dancing a waltz in the foyer of the farmhouse while lecturing him about his language!
“He doesn’t look too well,” Mia said, disengaging herself from Ted’s arms. She walked over and tried to put her hand on Richard’s forehead, but he reeled back.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking to see if you have a fever…”
“I don’t get fevers, nor do I eat, and I’ll swear if I want to, you crazy bitch,” Richard spat.
“Now that’s uncalled for,” Ted said, defending his wife. “You better apologize or leave this house.”
“You’d like that wouldn’t you,” Richard growled. “I am leaving, but I’ll be back with a new contract. You’re going to sit down with me and listen to the terms, or I’ll wipe this farmhouse, and all that live in it, off the face of the earth!”
Mia and Ted watched as Richard disappeared.
“Do you think we’re rid of him?” Ted asked.
“No, but we’ve bought some time.” Mia sniffed the air. “Do you think he’ll mind if we sit down and eat. I know it’s rude, but I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry, Mia,” Ted said. “Shall we dance our way into the kitchen?”
“I think that would be marvelous,” Mia said.
“And a one, two, three…”
~
Breeze, still manifesting as Murphy, looked out the window. He saw that the two ghosts were now reunited with the big monster entity. The monster locked his eyes on Breeze and raised his fist. Breeze returned a salute and stepped out of direct sight, letting his mask dissolve. Pieces of his life had been slowly returning to him. He didn’t have a name for himself yet, but he knew that his mother cried when he left home the last time. His father patted him on the back with pride, and his little sister made him promise to return.
“How can I return if I don’t remember who I am?” he said softly to himself. “I’m lost, so lost…”
~
Tom watched as Tonia and Lorna prepared for battle. The two women donned white winter garments. Each had a small arsenal of ghost-fighting equipment either strapped to their backs or secreted inside the voluminous parkas. He and Ryan had managed to borrow two snow mobiles and would make their way to the high ridge overlooking the farm. Their job was to cause a disruption so Tonia and Lorna could move closer into position. From there, they would fight the three ghosts, keeping them busy until either Mia was able to resolve her problem or more help arrived.
The bounty hunters rejected Ryan’s remuneration, claiming that the Other had taken at least one of their own, and they would be damned if he would succeed again.
~
Gerald shut the door after making sure that Beverly was belted in safely to the snow machine. The snowplow driver was able to get them as far as North County Road where the requested snowcat was waiting, fueled and filled with supplies that would keep them warm and comfortable if they were to get stuck on their trek into the hollow.
Beverly had noticed a case of champagne. “You’re that confident that we’re going to succeed?”
“My dear, I’m just prepared for all circumstance. In the crate beside it is enough booze to drown any troubles.”
“As Mia would say, ‘I have no words.’ Which is pretty spectacular when I think of it. When have I never had anything to say?”
“I think Judge Roumain comes to mind.”
“Ouch, that was mean but deserved,” she admitted. “What the hell was I thinking?”
“We’ve never talked about that. I mean we’ve glossed over it, but I’d like to know more when you’re ready.”
“I suppose I owe a few people an explanation. I know Mia’s forgiven me. However, Angelo seems to have taken a strong dislike to all that is Beverly Cooper. That’s odd, considering it was him who I was selling Mia to.”
“He shares the blame, but he wasn’t the betrayer.”
“True. Let’s change the subject. I want to be in a good mood when I confront this Other.”
Gerald nodded. He started the snowcat and used the GPS to find the quickest route to the hollow and Mia.
~
Richard reemerged in the living room of the Martin farmhouse. He had several copies of the contract just in case. He cleared his voice and called, “Hello!”
“In here,” Mia called from the doorway that he had seen the man, Cid, walk in and out of. “I’ve saved you a seat.”
He walked through the dining room and into the fragrant, brightly lit kitchen. The dog lifted her head as he walked over to the table. A low growl rumbled in the creature’s throat.
“Now, Maggie, that’s no way to greet our guest,” Cid scolded.
Ted got up, pulled out a chair next to him and across from Mia. “Sit.”
Richard sat down and noticed that a bountiful feast had been laid before him.
Cid swept the napkin off the table and dropped it in the Other’s lap. “Can I serve you a beverage?”
“No, no thank you,” Richard stuttered.
“I hope you forgive us for starting without you.” Mia explained, “I was very hungry, and it isn’t good for the baby for me to go too long without a proper meal.”
“As I told you, I don’t eat, drink or imbibe in anything remotely human.”
“Was this always so or is it a recent development?” Mia asked.
“Others aren’t human.”
“But were you human before you became an Other?” she inquired.
“What does this have to do with our negotiation?”
“I’m just curious, no offense meant,” Mia sniffed.
Richard didn’t want to sour Mia’s present cooperative attitude so he apologized. “I’m just not used to being the subject of conversation. Please forgive my faux pas.”
“I guess I’d be pretty put off if strangers wanted to vet me too,” Mia said. “They do though. All my life, people have wanted to rip apart my privacy because I happen to be able to do something they can’t.”
“I can sympathize with you there. I have an ability to zone in on talented individuals. I could from the day I stepped out of short pants onto the world’s playing field.”
“So you were human once,” Mia said.
“Yes, a long time ago.”
“What happened?”
“I evolved.”
“Whoa, that’s cool. Can you explain that or is it too metaphysical for me to understand?” Mia asked.
“I’m not sure magic can be explained.”
“See, Ted,” Mia confronted. “Here’s someone else who sees the magical side of things.”
“It’s because he is magical. Just because he gave up on the human race doesn’t…”
“What makes you think I gave up on the human race?” Richard inquired.
“You’re not human, you don’t eat anymore, or drink for that matter,” Ted listed and continued, “You enslave humans for profit. Tell me, do slavers run in your family?”
“Slavers?”
“Did your ancestors sail into African waters a
nd return with slaves? Oh wait, excuse me, did your forbearers negotiate with these individuals who were forced upon the boats in chains?”
Richard stood up. “You, sir, are out of order. No one in my family enslaved anyone!”
“Then what are you doing now?” Ted challenged.
“This is different. This is business. I think Mia will find it most beneficial to be connected with an entity that would appreciate her talents.”
“She is appreciated,” Ted argued.
“I didn’t want to do this; she called attention upon herself by helping both sides. She opened the door when she made friends with Stephen Murphy and didn’t exorcise his spirit from this place!”
Ted looked at Mia and her at him and Cid. She sighed and closed her eyes.
“I’m not the bad guy here. I’m just trying to do my job. I’m not enslaving you, Mia, although you may see it as such.”
“What about my unborn child?”
“That would be up to my client. There are casualties in all business transactions.”
“This isn’t a casualty; this is our child,” Mia growled.
That was all the warning Richard got. Mia launched an all-out kitchen attack on the Other. Ted and Cid dove to the floor and crawled under the kitchen table as drawers containing knives and barbecue sticks flew open. The utensils flew at Richard, finding their mark and pinning him to the wall. Salt containers flew overhead and rained down on him. The large grains of kosher salt pierced his Other skin, causing large welts to raise as it bubbled out. The iron rack that was suspended from the ceiling shook once to relieve itself of the pots and pans, but the second time, it burst off its supports and flew at him, curving around his chest, pinning him to the wall. All this happened so fast that he couldn’t think to defend himself or even concentrate on fleeing.
Mia walked over to the mud room and opened the back door. They could hear a sliding, dragging sound approaching the house. She stepped back as two dozen or so salt licks rolled up the steps of the porch and tumbled into the kitchen.
Ted and Cid moved out from under the table to watch as Mia built a waist-high wall of salt around the terrified, brutalized man.