Reapers, Inc. - Brigit's Cross

by B. L. Newport

  She was surprised to see them all there. John, Belinda, Seamus and Mama Dee had occupied a large table in the middle of the café. They were conversing cheerfully; Brigit noted as she entered the café and exchanged a nodded greeting with Edmund J. Polly. John was the first to see her come in.

  “Brigit! Good, we were just wondering if you would find us,” he greeted. “Come, join us.”

  “Here, baby, sit next to me,” Mama Dee instructed as she began to scoot her own seat closer to Belinda.

  Brigit caught the firmness of her friend’s tone and obediently stepped to take the space Mama Dee had indicated. Seamus Flannery was sitting across the table. Mama Dee, Brigit guessed, was just being protective even though Brigit was sure the old woman knew nothing of the strained relationship she shared with Seamus. If Mama was aware of it, she had not heard it from Brigit.

  “What is everyone doing here?” Brigit asked as a large hand bearing a large mug suddenly glided over her shoulder. The aroma that greeted her senses made her smile as she looked up into the face of Giuseppe Cincotta.

  “Welcome back,” he greeted in his deep baritone voice.

  “Thank you, Giuseppe,” Brigit replied.

  “We decided to take a break,” Belinda piped up in response to Brigit’s question. “John says we’re close to catching up and we deserved a break.”

  “Aye,” Seamus added as he eyed Brigit. “We’ve been working like mad to make up for the shortage of staff.” Brigit paused in mid-sip of her coffee to meet his glare. He had oiled his words carefully, but she had caught their meaning all the same.

  “I apologize for the inconvenience my absence may have caused you, Mr. Flannery,” Brigit said evenly.

  She had hoped for more sarcasm, but in a way, she was glad it came out as it did. It was a blanket apology for everything. There would be no fight today. Seamus flinched slightly with her reply. It was barely a movement, but Brigit had seen it and she saw the fires of anger light in the Irishman’s emerald eyes. He knew she had seen it.

  “I think I need to get back to work,” Seamus suddenly said after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence danced in the space between them.

  “What? I thought you said you were caught up for the day?” Belinda protested as Seamus rose from his chair. Brigit looked at the girl as she detected notes of disappointed surprise in her voice.

  “I just remembered something,” Seamus lied. “I’ll see ye back at the office,” he muttered before stalking out of the café. Belinda looked down into the contents of the cup before her. Disappointment shone clearly on her face though she remained silent.

  “At any rate,” John finally spoke, acting as though they were resuming a conversation that had been rudely interrupted. “How are things with you?”

  “Everything is fine,” Brigit answered. “So, we’re really close to being caught up? What happened with the Bailey?”

  Brigit listened intently as John related the going ons of the office during her absence. Seamus had returned to reaping the harder assignments that were his department. The Bailey had been put on strict orders to deliver the new files himself every evening. Brigit felt Mama Dee shudder beside her and looked at her friend in questioning confusion.

  “I don’t like him,” Mama responded. Brigit suppressed the urge to laugh out loud before returning her attention to John.

  “I’m hoping that if he is delivering our workload himself that it will slow him down and give us the opportunity to catch up – not to mention beginning to lay the foundations for new offices around the world,” John explained.

  “I can see the logic in that,” Brigit agreed. “And what about you, Belinda? How do you like the firm?” Her former protégé looked up from the contents of her mug and shrugged in half-reply.

  “It’s cool,” she said somewhat apathetically. Brigit left her attention on Belinda as John lauded the young woman’s accomplishments over the last month. Belinda had secured the new and permanent position as the official record keeper of Reaper’s, Inc. The praise, Brigit noted, seemed not to affect the Goth girl as she let her bright blue eyes return to the contents of her cup.

  “What are you drinking?” Brigit asked when John had finished talking.

  “Hot cocoa,” Belinda sighed.

  “John,” Brigit formed the question in her mind and the head Reaper immediately nodded in agreement. Without another word, he scooped Belinda’s cup from the table and headed to the bar to refill it for her. Surprised, Belinda looked after him and then to the two women that were looking back at her in earnest.

  “Why did he do that?”

  “I asked him to,” Brigit replied. “What’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing, why? And how did you ask him to? You didn’t say anything I didn’t hear you say anything,” Belinda pointed out.

  “Don’t change the subject,” Brigit instructed.

  “You have been acting all melancholy lately. Mr. John, he gives you a pat on the back and you just shrug it off,” Mama Dee pointed out. “I think you’re distracted by something.”

  “I’m not distracted,” Belinda denied.

  “Belinda, we’re not jumping on your case,” Brigit said gently. “We’re concerned. Sometimes, a girl just needs to talk it out.”

  “I think she’s in love,” Mama Dee declared, before picking up her own coffee cup.

  “I am not,” Belinda suddenly looked surprised at the old woman’s accusation. The slight blush rising in her pale cheeks betrayed her.

  “At any rate,” Brigit pushed the denial aside as she watched the color flood her protégé’s face. “We’re a family. If you need to talk,”

  “I’ll let you know,” Belinda interrupted with a sigh. The blush, however, remained.

  “I still think she’s in love,” Mama persisted.

  “Is all well?”

  The three women at the table looked up to find John Blackwick beside them. A fresh cup of cocoa was in his hand. Brigit exchanged one last glance with Belinda, seeking reassurance that the younger woman was indeed all right. She grew more concerned when Belinda looked away.

  “It’s as well as it can be,” Brigit sighed.

  “Good!” John slid the refreshed cup of cocoa before the Goth girl and resumed his seat. “Brigit, I think we need to discuss further plans for the firm and develop a strategy for increasing productivity.”

  “John, I’ve only been back a few minutes,” Brigit laughed. “I thought you were taking a break?” John looked at her in surprise as her words sank in on him. Finally, he allowed a slight smile to emerge across his thin lips.

  “You’re right. Business can wait a bit longer, eh?”

  34: Back in the Swing

  Things did seem to be flowing easily lately, John mused as he nodded solemnly to the Bailey. No words were exchanged as the pale figure in fluttering black robes deposited the day’s new portfolios on the corner of John’s desk and exited the office as quietly as he had entered. As he watched the dark figure glide back down the hall, John acknowledged the tense underlying energy that seemed to course through the productivity since Brigit’s return.

  He was aware of the source, yet, until something happened between them – John could do nothing more than keep one eye open to it. He only hoped Seamus Flannery would eventually come to his senses and let it all go. Brigit had apologized that day in the café, although, John was sure she had not meant to be so far reaching in the apology. Seamus had been slick in his attempt to lure her into an argument of some sort. John had caught that much. He had been proud that Brigit had eluded the attempt in such a lady-like manner. Even so, John knew it would not be the last attempt Seamus would make in an attempt to cast a bad light on Brigit. He only hoped Brigit would not fall into the trap…

  Brigit had resumed her assignments eagerly, reaping during the day and returning to Maggie at night. John had the sense that it might seem unfair to the other Reapers that she would be allowed to have a dual existence with the firm. It was part of their agreem
ent, though. So long as Brigit Malone maintained the efficiency of her assignments and the priorities of the firm, John would continue to honor their agreement as long as Maggie Devon still drew mortal breath.

  John set the newly delivered files at the bottom of the stack before him. He was taking his time with them these days. New recruits were still his first priority and he did not want to miss the opportunity to find another Belinda Yaris. Brigit had done well to bring the young woman on. He wanted to make sure the future members of the firm were of the same caliber.

  A quiet knock at the door broke John from his thoughts. He looked up and found Brigit standing just inside it.

  “I’m heading home,” she announced.

  “You’ve dropped your completed assignments?”

  “Belinda’s working on them now,” Brigit confirmed.

  “Very good. Thank you, Brigit,” he said quietly.

  “For what?”

  John looked at his assistant for a long moment. There were so many things he was grateful for in regard to Brigit Malone. Finally, he smiled and simply said:

  “For getting back into the swing so easily.”

  35: Hearing Matilda Sing

  Brigit picked up the short stack of portfolios John had left on her corner of the desk.

  She had paused long enough to wish Belinda a good morning on her way to the head Reaper’s office. As she looked around the younger woman’s space, she had noticed the addition of a black leather sofa and a vase holding an overly large sunflower bloom on the small table beside it. The bright yellow of the flower’s soft petals seemed to add all the more light to the otherwise bleak room. Upon commenting on the loveliness of the sunflower, Brigit caught the notes of pride as Belinda gushed that it had been a gift from Seamus Flannery. Mama Dee had been right, after all. Belinda Yaris was in love.

  Biting her tongue to keep from issuing a warning against the younger woman’s obvious infatuation, Brigit simply smiled and reiterated how lovely the flower was. Something inside her warned her to maintain her silence in regard to Seamus Flannery, if only for the sake of the peace that seemed to mask the every day operations of Reapers, Inc. Eventually, that mask would fade away. Brigit had no wish to rush that particular moment into existence.

  As she walked down the hall toward John’s office, Brigit couldn’t help but revisit the fact that she still didn’t have her own office space within the firm. Seamus had his quarters assigned to him almost immediately upon joining the company. Brigit had planted Belinda in the small room she now occupied upon bringing her to the main office and even Mama Dee had an office to call her own. Brigit reminded herself to have a discussion with John regarding the situation when she returned from her assignments.

  The first portfolio of the day’s assignments caused Brigit to smile. Mickey Benjamin was finally going to have his final wish fulfilled. Feeling light, Brigit made her way to the main entrance of the office as she read the address out loud: 72 St. Marks Place.

  He was seated at a small table in the middle of the room, one arm resting on the table and his legs crossed at the knee in patient waiting.

  Through the dim light of the morning sun that forced its way through the dust encrusted panes of glass high up on the walls, Brigit could see the trails through the dust on the floor where he had dragged the table from where it had been stored against the wall. How long he had been sitting there, she was unsure. A bottle of champagne on the table beside him indicated his preparedness for the celebration he intended to have once he heard Matilda Swenson finally sing. Almost a year had passed since the crossing of Matthew-Matilda Swenson, though. Brigit wondered if a celebration was still intended after so much time.

  The echo of her boots on the club’s wooden floor caught his attention. Mickey Benjamin quickly turned to face her. Hope filled his eyes as she emerged from the shadows.

  “You came back!” the young man gushed as he jumped from the chair and rushed to embrace the female Reaper. “I’ve been waiting for so long. I was afraid you had forgotten about me.”

  “I’m sorry it took as long as it did, Mickey,” Brigit apologized. “I’ve been a little busy.”

  “It’s okay, sweetie,” Mickey said as he finally released her. “You kept your promise. That’s all that counts.”

  “I always keep my promises one way or another,” she replied as she caught the odor that arose from the collar of his purple silk shirt. “Have you been drinking?” Brigit asked as she glanced at the champagne bottle on the table. The cork, she noticed, was still securely attached. Yet, a distinct smell of alcohol had arisen from the young man when he had stepped back from her. She didn’t remember smelling it on him during her first encounter with him.

  “What? Oh, that,” Mickey suddenly looked embarrassed. “No. I don’t drink. The night we,” he faltered, looking for the right word.

  “Passed,” Brigit offered.

  “That will work,” Mickey agreed. “The night we passed, Matilda and me, well, I fell down the back steps after I told Mr. Pershing that Matilda was dead. I landed in a puddle of whiskey someone had spilled at the bottom of the stairs. It’s a terrible smell, isn’t it?” The young man sniffed at the collar of his shirt and wrinkled his nose in disgust.

  “Mickey Benjamin, are you ready to leave this place?” Brigit asked as she withdrew his portfolio from her coat pocket. Quickly, she read the pages of his life as the door appeared to her left. On the last page, she saw the details he had just told her. His passing had been the result of a mis-step on the stairs leading to the club owner’s office. It had been an accident.

  “Yes, finally, yes,” Mickey gushed as he began to run his hands nervously through his hair.

  “Mickey Benjamin,” Brigit reached out and gently pulled open the door that had appeared to her left. From the other side, they heard the music and the singing of Matilda Swenson from the other side. Brigit saw Mickey’s face light up with the recognition of the voice that reached his ears.

  “She’s fantastic,” he whispered in awe.

  As she watched him for a second longer, Brigit realized the depth of the young man’s adoration for the drag queen she had crossed over almost a year before. She suddenly regretted not being able to return for him sooner. “I’m really, finally, going to get to see her sing,” Mickey gushed.

  “Here, you’ll need this when she’s done,” Brigit said. She had fetched the champagne from the table Mickey had been sitting at and shoved it into his hands.

  “Thank you, so much. You have no idea what this means to me,” Mickey said as he threw his arms around Brigit’s neck once more. The champagne bottle was pressed firmly between them as he gave her a good squeeze. Brigit smiled and pushed the young man off again, making sure he had a hold of the bottle as she did so.

  “Get in there already,” she said gently. “Mickey Benjamin, may you find eternal peace.”

  Brigit watched the young man enter the portal as the sound of a sultry torch song wafted through the air to her ears. Matilda Swenson did have a lovely voice. As Brigit held the door open for a few seconds after Mickey Benjamin had crossed over, it occurred to her that she had managed to catch the show at the St. Marks Club after all.

  36: The State of Reapers, Inc.

  “I’m off to Rome again,” John declared as he shrugged into his suit coat and buttoned it. “I trust that all will go well while I’m away,” he asked as he leveled a solemn gaze on Brigit as she looked up from the portfolios before her. She had easily taken over the seat behind his desk and resumed the work of sorting the daily assignments. She had glanced up, John observed, just long enough to grasp the meaning behind his look.

  “I’ll call if I need you,” she assured him quietly before returning her attention to the files. “How long will you be gone?”

  “Just long enough to interview these few potentials and to make sure all is running well in the office there. I shouldn’t be more than a couple of days,” John assured her. “I was thinking that we should begin separati
ng the files by region so that we can be prepared to open other new offices.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Brigit agreed. “I’ll set Belinda to it. It will be a good project for her. Something to keep her focused from her recent distraction,” Brigit said quietly.

  She had not been the only one to notice the budding relationship between Belinda and the Irishman Brigit still found herself at odds with. It seemed, however, that she was the only one worried by the potential outcome of it.

  “Are you sure all will be well?” John asked.

  He was concerned about leaving Brigit alone with Seamus Flannery. John had been trying to make sure they had as little interaction as possible since learning of Seamus’ threat to Brigit. Now, however, he had no choice. The state of the company demanded his presence elsewhere. He could only pray that Brigit would keep her guard up until he could return.

  “It will be fine, John,” Brigit said again. “I will call if I need you. I promise,” she said firmly.

  “Very well then,” John sighed upon the realization that the subject was closed. He knew Brigit would not voice any concerns – if she had any at all to voice. “Good luck with the work load. The Bailey appears to have found a way to increase his productivity.”

  “You’ve noticed?” Brigit laughed. It was true. The Bailey had started depositing his assignments later and the Reapers had noticed the amounts were beginning to increase again. “Get going, John. We’ll all still be here when you come back.”

  With that, the head Grim Reaper turned and exited their office. It was theirs, in all honesty. Brigit had voiced her request for her own space, but John Blackwick had pointed out that it was not necessary. As his assistant, Brigit assumed his role and duties when he was not present. To save time, she would occupy his office. Considering the current state of the firm, John mused as he passed Mama Dee in the hall and exchanged a nod of greeting; he was going to be away a lot soon. The office would eventually belong solely to Brigit and John would only find use for it on occasion. Brigit had learned so much over the last couple of months. Soon, John further mused as he reached for the main entrance to 666 ½ Bleecker Street, she might be facing a promotion if the state of Reapers, Inc. continued to go so well.