Your Truth is Out There (Find Your Truth Book 1)

by David Allen Kimmel

  Chapter 44

  Only One Way to Fix This

  Theo watched his mom leave the room, chasing after his dad, just as she’d done countless times throughout his childhood. Without knowing how it happened, he was suddenly that helpless ten-year-old boy again, distraught over disappointing his father, yet again, and angry for having to try and live up to standards he knew he could never meet.

  He shook the thoughts from his head and pushed his chair back. For once, the old bastard was right. It was time to stop living in the past and start looking ahead.

  If I leave right now, he thought as he stood up and turned toward the door, I can be back in the city by midnight. He tossed his napkin on the table and started for the door.

  “Theo, where are you going?”

  Dammit.

  He turned back to face his mother, who was setting a large baking dish of bread pudding on the table.

  “Mom, I’m sorry, but I can’t stay,” he said. “Something’s come up and I have to get back tonight.”

  “Theo, sit down and have some dessert with me …” she said as if she hadn’t heard a word he’d said.

  “Mom … look, I’m sorry. I know how much you want Dad and me to … connect, or whatever, but it’s not gonna happen. For once, I happen to agree with him. It’s time to start looking forward instead of back, and that means I need to go. I’m sorry, Mom, I really am.”

  “Are you finished?” She was giving him one of her ‘you may be finished, but I’m just getting started’ kinda looks.

  “Umm … yeah, I guess so.”

  “Good, now sit down and have some dessert. Another ten minutes with your mother before you leave isn’t going to kill you.”

  Theo did as he was told and sat back down, while his mother dished up her famous bread pudding.

  “Thanks,” he said quietly when she’d handed him a serving.

  “You’re welcome. Now, would you mind explaining why you’re in such a big hurry to leave that you weren’t even going to tell me goodbye?”

  Theo ducked his head as he was being scolded, but it lasted only for a moment when he realized he was no longer that ten-year-old boy.

  “Tonight, this whole meal, it’s like nothing has changed” he said, looking up at his mother, defiant tears forming in his eyes. “Dad with the lecture first, followed by the cold silent disregard right before he leaves, then you running out after him. It’s just like it was when I was a kid.”

  His mom started to interrupt, but he kept going.

  “Dad was right. I don’t need this crap anymore. I love you, Mom. You know that I do and I always will. But you don’t need to chase after him anymore on my account. He’s part of my past, and like he said, I need to look forward. I can’t do that if I’m constantly seeking his approval. I’m never going to get it, so I need to stop chasing after it. I’m done with him.”

  “Theo, I wish you wouldn’t say that.”

  “I know that’s not what you want to hear, Mom, but it just can’t go on like it has. I can’t go on like that.”

  “No, I don’t suppose you can. But, your father wasn’t right about everything, or at least your interpretation of what he said wasn’t right.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Theo …” His mom stopped and rubbed her forehead, while she took in a deep breath and let it out. He’d seen her do this before, usually when she was worried about something very important.

  “Mom? What is it?”

  She looked up at him and smiled.

  “Theo, I don’t know if you realize this or not, but as much as you take after me, you are just as much your father’s son as you are mine. You are two of the most stubborn men I have ever known.”

  Theo ducked his head again.

  “Hey, I stayed for dessert,” he said, a small grin on his face. “There’s no need to be rude.”

  He looked up at her again. She wasn’t smiling.

  “Mom, seriously, what’s going on?”

  “Your father was right, in the sense that to continue dwelling on the past does you no good. But, if you interpreted that as meaning that he wants you to move on with your life without him in it, then you missed the point.”

  “So, he just expects me to forgive and forget? I’m not sure I can do that, Mom.”

  “I don’t know about forgiving and forgetting, but at least cut him enough slack for the two of you to figure out how to move forward.”

  Theo thought for a moment.

  “I’m willing to do that,” he said finally, “but I doubt he is. I mean, how am I supposed to go forward when he doesn’t approve of anything in my life?”

  His mom stared at him with her mouth agape. He’d stepped into something this time, he just wasn’t sure what.

  “Theodore Eustace Alcorn, Junior!” she said. “Were you not at the same dinner table I was at this evening? Did you not hear your father talk about his son with the doctorate in art history? His son, who was one of the foremost art experts on the entire east coast? His son who was going to have the rare chance to examine some of Raphael’s paintings up close? I don’t know who you were listening to, but the man I heard speaking not only approved of what you do, but seemed pretty damned proud.”

  Theo stared at his mother as he processed all she’d just said. As he thought about it, he did say all of those things, that’s just not how he’d heard them. His father hadn’t really meant them like that, had he?

  “Theo? Theo, are you still with me?”

  “Why’d you go running after him?” he said suddenly, coming out of his daze.

  At this, his mom looked down and ate another bite of dessert.

  “Mom? Clearly there’s more to this than you’re telling me. What the hell is going on?”

  “Theo, I’ve watched you and your father struggle for nearly thirty years and I know just how much both of you hurt. Yes, both of you. He hurts too, Theo. More than he’d ever want you to know. More than that, though, I also know a lot more about what your father does for a living than you might guess, a lot that’s classified and I can’t talk about. About the only thing I can say, is that he needs your help, Theo. He’s struggling with something big, really big, and it involves your area of expertise.” She looked around the room. “That’s all I can say … it’s probably more than I should have said.”

  “Why didn’t he ask me himself? No wait, I know … because he either didn’t want me around or didn’t think I could be of any help. Maybe he’s not all that proud of me after all. All of what you just said about him has been one big manipulation to try and get us together, hasn’t it. I’m sorry Mom, I truly am, for your sake, but it won’t work. I have to go.”

  He stood up and started to leave the room.

  “So be it,” said his mom, tossing her fork down onto her plate. She stood up and started clearing the dishes from the table. “Go on back to New York … and Raphael.”

  “Mom, look … I’m …”

  “Goodbye Theo,” she said as she took an armload of dishes into the kitchen without another look in his direction.

  Dammit! You really screwed that up.

  He stood in the dining room for a moment waiting for his mother to come back out, but silently hoping she wouldn’t. He didn’t know what he would say to her if she did.

  There’s only one way to fix this, you know. You’re going to have to go out to the barn and square things with the old man.

  Dammit!

  Chapter 45

  What is Your Mission, Zef?

  Alcorn went through the security steps to open the door to the barn as if in a daze, his body functioning but his mind still on Theo. Had he gotten through to his son? As much as he wanted a relationship with Theo, he wanted his son to find happiness even more.

  Maybe the boy will pack up and go back to New York and Raphael, he thought. Ultimately, that’s probably what’s best for everyone.

  As he played out the various scenarios in his head about what might or might not hap
pen with his son, the one thing he wasn’t doing was the one thing he’d preached for nearly all of his years in the Army, and that was to be in tune with his surroundings and be ready for any contingency. Had he been more focused on the task at hand, he might not have been so ill-prepared for the scene that unfolded before him as he walked into the barn.

  The cold in the room immediately alerted him that something was wrong, even before he had a chance to look up. When he did look, the first thing that caught his attention was the gaping hole eight feet high and twenty feet wide that had been cut out of the far wall. As shocked as he was by that, he was equally taken aback by the fact that where thirty paintings had once been displayed on easels across the main floor, there was now nothing but empty floor. Empty, except for a familiar pale blue creature with four arms and four legs, who was staring directly at him.

  “Come in, General Alcorn,” said the creature in near perfect English. “We have much to discuss, and little time to discuss it.”

  Alcorn hesitated briefly, then walked toward the blue being from another planet, moving at a pace that was slow enough to allow his thoughts to catch up with him and assess the danger of his situation.

  “I see you’ve learned our language and who I am, Zef,” said Alcorn, when he got close enough to the intruder. “That is your name, isn’t it?”

  “You’ve spoken with Henry, then,” said Zef, his tone changing from the previous melodramatic welcome to one of genuine concern. “Tell me, is he okay?”

  Alcorn looked closer at Zef, looked into the non-terrestrial’s eyes. At that moment he knew that this creature, this being from outer space, truly cared about Henry and what had happened to him. Alcorn realized he did too.

  He was about to answer Zef’s question and tell him that Henry was okay, when he caught movement in the shadows of the far corner of the room. He looked over just in time to see another non-terrestrial moving quickly toward him. This one wasn’t like Zef. It was short and mean-looking, and was carrying a rather large device that couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than what it was: a weapon. As it got closer, it started shouting at him in a language he recognized, but didn’t understand. It was the same language Zef spoke during his last visit. His linguistics team had been trying to translate it, albeit unsuccessfully, ever since.

  Though weaponless, Alcorn prepared himself as best he could for an attack from this new quarter. He’d faced armed opponents before and came out in one piece. And there was something about this creature that didn’t feel particularly threatening. Even amidst the chaos and questions swirling in his head, and with this new creature pointing a weapon at him, he somehow didn’t feel all that concerned. Alcorn thought it strange, but as the being moved closer and its snarls grew louder, the menace it presented actually seemed to diminish by the same proportion.

  The alien stopped its approach two feet away from Alcorn, closed its mouth and stared as menacingly as it could, yet the yelling continued. That’s when Alcorn realized it was Zef who was shouting, but he was yelling at the other non-terrestrial.

  The creature ignored Zef’s commands, raised its weapon, and pointed it at Alcorn’s head. Before he could react, Zef came over, pushed the weapon aside, and said something quietly into the being’s ear. Alcorn saw it flash what could only be considered an uneasy grimace, which quickly turned into a smirk. It gave Alcorn a nasty look, then turned around and walked back into the shadows of the far corner.

  “My apologies, General,” said Zef. “My associate, Dilnch is … well, let’s just say he’s a very unhappy creature.”

  “I’d say that’s an understatement,” said Alcorn. “I think your friend needs a rabies shot and a straightjacket.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

  “Never mind, it’s not important. What do you want, Zef? Why did you destroy my barn and take all of Henry’s paintings? And how did you do it without setting off any of the alarms? And what do you want from me?”

  “First, you must tell me about Henry. Is he okay?”

  “Yes, Henry is fine, now. He had some rough times after you left, but he’s recovered and doing well.”

  For some reason he couldn’t explain, Alcorn seemed to feel it necessary to make sure Zef knew that Henry’s life wasn’t all wine and roses after his last visit.

  “I’m very sorry to hear that Henry has suffered because of me,” said Zef, lowering his head. “He had no reason to help me, but he did. I owe him everything.”

  “What’s your mission, Zef? Why did you come to Earth the first time and why are you back now?”

  “I know what you are thinking, General. I think I must put your mind at ease. I am not here to invade. There is no fleet of ships coming to attack your planet. Exactly the opposite, in fact.”

  “What do you mean, by that?” asked Alcorn.

  “Well, it’s embarrassing, General Alcorn, but to be perfectly honest, this planet of yours is not of much interest to anyone. The only reason anyone even knows about it at all is because of your music. We call it Albalan, but you refer to it as rock-and-roll. It’s become quite popular in some sections of the galaxy. That is why I came here last time. I wanted to add some of this music to my collection. As I entered orbit, my vehicle broke down and I was forced to land. Henry helped rescue me. He helped rescue me from you. And now, here I am again, asking you to help me rescue him.”

  “You want me to do what?”

  “As I said, General, we don’t have a lot of time. I will explain everything back on the ship.”

  “On the ship? I’m not going on any damn ship. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. You’re coming with me …”

  Before he could finish his sentence, the barn door opened and Theo walked in.

  “Dad? What the hell is …?”

  “Theo! Don’t …”

  Alcorn turned to warn his son, but a sharp pain shot through his body and darkness overtook him.

  Chapter 46

  Where’s Henree?

  Gsefx sat in the ridiculously comfortable pilot’s seat of Ricnor’s ship, and used the solitude he’d been given to collect his thoughts and reflect for a moment on just how in the name of the Gods he’d ended up here. Klarnus had taken Dilnch into the separate compartment formed by Gsefx’s ship, where they were most certainly up to no good.

  No matter, he thought, I’ll deal with them later.

  He glanced over at his new passengers—he still considered them passengers, even though they were unconscious and bound—and wondered how long they’d remain knocked out. To Gsefx's knowledge, no scrambler, certainly not one enhanced like his, had ever been used on a primitive before and he couldn’t be certain of the lasting effect it might have. He regretted having to knock them out, but it couldn’t be helped.

  He regretted a lot of the things he’d done lately. Including coming to Earth the first time. If he hadn’t, if he’d just gone home like he should have, none of the things that were happening now would be taking place. He regretted not destroying the painting when he had the chance, right after he first saw the look of pure lust on Qilzar’s face, and then again on Lhvunsa’s. If he were being honest, though, he wasn’t sure he would have been able to destroy the painting. It was a gift from Henree. Destroying it would have been a cruel, callous thing to do. He regretted not being more forceful with Qilzar, knowing his boss could not be trusted.

  While Gsefx regretted much, he also knew that his regrets were useless. He and those around him, friend and foe alike, were now on the same path, and they must see it through to the end. He just hoped that when General Alcorn, and the other Earthling he called Theo, awoke, they would be friends, not adversaries. He looked at them again, and while he regretted using the scrambler on them, he knew if he hadn’t they’d both be dead.

  All had been going well with his meeting with Alcorn, when, without warning, the second Earthling came through what was supposed to be a locked door, and called the General “Dad.” Fortunately, Gsefx had become quite ad
ept at reacting quickly recently, and so right about the time the General turned and said “Theo! Don’t …” Gsefx recovered enough of his senses to remove the scrambler from his pocket and fire it on the General, rendering him unconscious and out of the way. Without hesitation, he turned to aim the scrambler at the other Earthling, a younger version of the General, in hopes of limiting the exposure of their presence so they could clear out as quickly as possible. As he did so, out of the corner of his eye he caught Dilnch raising his obliterator as well. Gsefx fired the scrambler in an attempt to knock the younger Earthling to the ground before Dilnch’s blast turned his body into ashes, but he was too slow. The boom of the obliterator sounded just as Gsefx pressed the button on the scrambler. Another split second and the explosion of the obliterator’s shot hitting its target shook the building.

  Gsefx screamed and took two steps forward before realizing the younger Alcorn was still there, lying on the ground in one piece, a large hole smoldering high in the wall behind where he once stood. Dilnch had missed and Gsefx hadn’t. The one the General had called “Theo” was unconscious and alive.

  Perhaps everything will be all right after all, he had thought, breathing a sigh of relief, after I deal with Dilnch. That Jikian welt will pay for this.

  He turned to confront the traitor, only to find him lying unconscious, his former partner, Klarnus, standing over him holding the obliterator.

  “I tried to reason with him earlier, boss,” said Klarnus, looking up at Gsefx. “I told him that we work for you now, at least as long as we are on this job together.”

  The Yelton looked back down at Dilnch and shook his head disapprovingly.

  “But he wouldn’t listen. And now, here he is trying to kill the Earthlings you’re trying to protect.”

  Klarnus turned back to Gsefx and flashed a large, toothy grin.

  “That just won’t do, will it boss?”

  As Gsefx now sat comfortably in the pilot’s seat of the ship, he remembered how that smile had turned his stomach and made him feel as though the ground was washing away from beneath his feet. He also remembered seeing how Klarnus’ grin actually got bigger when he saw Gsefx’s reaction, and how realizing that little fact was all he needed to get his feet back under him again.