Encompassing

by Richard Lord

  Encompassing

  By Richard Lord

  © Copyright 2016

  CHAPTER 1

  “A stone is thrown and the world is changed by the ripples.” -- from the book of Sara

  “Lux erat ansas ora cortinae ut in aeternum” -- from the words of the son who was the father. – circa - unknown. Translated from the Latin: “The light of the loops on the edge of the curtain that they would endure.”

  “It’s interesting to finally meet you, Mr.?” He pauses awaiting a response he knows he won’t receive.

  “Well I suppose that doesn’t matter yet. I’ve heard you talk a lot?” The detective quietly asked while reading the file in his hand.

  “Yup” The subject replies while reading the file in the Detective’s hand.

  The Detective notes that the attempt, but was sure to hold the file very far from normal view and purposefully held out of direct view.

  “Not what I expected.” Detective Brady says lightly at the response.

  “Uh huh.” Renfield replies.

  “You realize why you’re here, right?” Brady says, checking to be sure his subject is responsive to the conversation at hand.

  “Yup.” Replies Renfield, with complete lack of interest

  “They tell me, supposedly you’re extremely smart?” Brady inquires.

  “I’ve heard rumors.” Renfield replies

  “OK, well this isn’t going far.” Detective Brady again pauses, but again, only for effect. “You know why I’m here. You’re aware of my job, you aren’t going to incriminate yourself and I’m wondering what the hell happened.”, states Brady.

  “A lot.”, replies Renfield, dryly.

  “So tell me some of it!” Brady shouts at him, but he already knows that won’t have much effect. He’s seen this type before. Although it doesn’t match up with some of what is in the records he is holding.

  “You could not believe and you don’t really have any charges. I could walk out of here, but then you’d follow me and I’d have to put up with that and frankly, I’m not in the mood, Detective.”

  “Factually that’s all true, but I have a job to do. They’re right.” He notes as he taps the file in his hand. “You’re…perceptive and you can see the endgame already, can’t you?”

  For the first time Renfield moves and says, “With true respect, yes. I can and you won’t be able to until the end game is mine.”

  Brady relaxes and sits down in front of Renfield. “I’ve met others like you.”

  Renfield notes, “Yes, I know. Weren’t you thinking that a moment ago?”

  Detective Brady thinks to himself and realizes he had and then cuts to the chase,

  “I need to know what’s going on.”

  Renfield sits back again into his relaxed state. “No, you don’t need to know, you want to know. The others I made. They had their purpose as you have yours and I have mine.”

  “What purpose can you serve from behind bars?” asks Brady

  “How would that ever happen? You have nothing but a hunch and some video tape. Have you reviewed those tapes? I have done everything I have done to serve. I know you cannot understand because unlike me you can’t see the alternates, but I have and I know I am doing what is right. Scribble down paranoid in your notes while you’re at it. It doesn’t’ change anything, but it would make it harder for me to help you, which I eventually will do. I have a job too, Detective.”

  Brady combs his chin with his hand and says, “So you do talk! More than you seem at first.”

  “I talk more to the people who should hear me and you are one of them, like it or not. Something tells me one day you won’t like it, then other days you’ll love it!”

  “So, Renfield, is that what you are going by now? I’ll note that you’re egotistical too.”

  “It’s a character flaw brought on by being me. Also note you don’t lack it either.” Renfield grins at the Detective.

  “Don’t tell me what to put in my notes, Renfield! I haven’t written them yet.” Brady recomposes himself.

  “I beg to differ with you old friend, you’ve got a stenographer, I’m sorry, junior detective on the other side of that wall furiously typing what we say and you’re typing notes under the table. Neat upside down keyboard design, must have taken a while to adjust to.” Renfield puts a foot on the desk between them.

  “How the hell…never mind, so what’s up?” Brady regains his composure awkwardly.

  “What’s up is that I’m going to tell you where some really bad shit is about to happen, you’re going to take me there and stay the hell out of my way while I stop it. We’re going to be really good friends… someday, but right now you’re about to say there is no way anyone would authorize such a thing!”

  Brady tilts his head dismissively, and then loosens his neck and coolly says, “On some of those points you are dead on. But, I wouldn’t even ask for a transport. Why would I transport you to where YOU want to go?”

  “I am going to guess you’ve played cards before. Especially poker. You are a Detective, too. So you know when a person is bluffing. I think you know right now, at least in my mind, I am bluffing. You’ll come to realize that, but sir, that takes patience. I am not a patient man, but this part I know, it’s the rest that concerns me.” Renfield removes his foot from the table. “It would be nice if you would un-cuff me so I could shake the hand of an old friend.”

  “That’s not going to happen and I am NOT your friend!”

  “Ok Brady, but I knew you would say that, which is why I took them off myself. See? Now I could have gone bonkers and hurt you, but I’m trying to tell you the same thing I have so many times. It becomes annoying each time. You will find a way to get the transport, we will go there. We will again try to stop it. On the way, we’ll have pie. You like pie.”

  “You’re insane!”

  “But you do like pie, Brady.”

  “I’ll come back in…”

  “I already know how long it takes you to recheck your intel and come back, Brady. You’ll find some things and a lot of misinformation that when you look deeper at it will make you realize there is more to me than you thought when you walked in this room. This is not just a day on the job. You just met your future, sir.”

  Brady looks at Renfield very suspiciously but something tugs at him. A knowing, a feeling. But he goes back into mode and replies, “I strongly doubt that. I’ve seen a lot of your kind. As for the cuffs, just hand them over so the cop who bought those out of her own pocket. She is dedicated and deserves to have her own investment, to her job, back. I can see they are useless. I won’t argue that fact. I also get the feeling that if you wanted to you could kill me pretty quickly. So I will give you the benefit of the doubt and I won’t play hardball. I will be calling psychiatrists, but you already knew that.”

  “Yes, sir. SOP. I know how it goes, remember, I already explained this.”

  “Whatever, Mr.” Brady pauses as if it pains him to say the name, yet he wonders why. “Renfield.”

  Brady stands and leaves the room, but he is completely taken by a foreboding feeling. It’s not about Renfield he thinks, it’s what Renfield will show him. He begins planning transport while simultaneously thinking through proper procedure. “Damnit!” he thinks, “He didn’t even finish his coffee this morning and it’s going to be a long day.” Of that, he is sure!

  CHAPTER 2

  “Things seem to be so because we want our world to be simple. Things are never what they seem. We know, however but we ignore that to deal with one thing at a time. He once taught me, there is a difference between what is and what seems to be. He said the difference is, what is, is always less drastic than what seems to be. That’s why the flash of lightning or the boom of the air it compressed did n
ot bother me, much.” - from the book of Jessica

  “Okay, so what am I looking at?” Behind the desk uttering those words is a man who is clearly overweight and has been blessed by the billions of dollars that have flowed in his direction thanks to the hard work of those around him and his willingness to invest in people he believes in. He is being clear that he does not believe in the man in front of him. He looks at his partner with the silent question on his face of, “Why is this guy in front of me?”

  The man to his right responded quickly, “Because what you see in front of you is the future. It is the it will change everything!” Looking up at the man in presenting the idea in awe, he notices the look of skepticism from his partner. Then he looks up to the figure in front of them for help to explain.

  “I think he’s right. I’ve seen others try at it horridly. Our team is different. We do pay attention to detail and we are not just on the cutting edge, we are the pioneers. Pass this up and wipe it away, but in a decade you’ll remember the day I stood here.” The representative straightens his tie and looks down at his not so fancy suit.

  “The billionaire looks at his partner, “I don’t know what the fuck I’m seeing. I don’t know why it matters. Do you see anything worth continuing this?”

  His partner leans across and replies, “He’s right. This is the future. I don’t know why you can’t see it. S.I.R. labs is doing things that people want. In this case, I would call this amazing.”

  The billionaire looks at his partner with a face full of skepticism. Then over a mountain of paperwork he looks at the man in front of him and says, “You don’t have the look. Your hair’s too short for a genius. Plus, you try to come off polished but it’s clear you don’t have shit. $10 million and I own it and I’ll put my people on it. Take it or leave it.”

  The man with the impassioned plea turns harder than either the billionaire or the partner has ever seen. “No. Pay me to run it. I can always deal with some other ass who doesn’t know their ass from a hole in the ground.”

  Both of the heads of the company look at him oddly. The billionaire speaks first, “Do you know what you are giving up? Leave. You’re an idiot.”

  The partner leans over and grabs the arm of the billionaire, “He’s the founder. I don’t think he’s an idiot.”

  The billionaire thinks for a moment and then says to the founder, “Deal with my internal issues. If you can do that, I’ll consider your offer. I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t take the $10 million offer and run.”

  “To quote Lewis Carrol, ‘Fuck you, I don’t have time for your bullshit.’” The founder exclaims.

  “I haven’t read that since I was a boy, but I’m fairly certain that wasn’t a quote.” The billionaire says.

  The founder responds, “True, but ‘Here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.’ I’m pretty sure that was Lewis Carrol. And accurate.”

  The partners stare at each other and the deciding vote is unanimous. “What will you do with the funds, as they are trickled in, instead of poured in a swoop so that you can invest?”

  The founder laughs. “I’m entirely too irresponsible to take on too much money. I’ll be ripped off by crookery, thieves, liars and whores. I have ex’s, ya know? Plus, the kids need new shoes. Not to mention my own requirement of fun and amusement to…”, he pauses then finishes, “Make the time pass, as they say.” I just want to be sure it never runs out. Ever.”

  The partners look at each other, not sure what to think. Then they silently agree and the lead partner stands for the first time since the meeting began. He holds out a hand, but Renfield waits where he stands. The billionaire moves towards him, clearly irritated, but shakes Renfield’s hand as he exclaims, “Deal.”

  Months later as Renfield enters the building the senior partner a.k.a. the billionaire is exiting and looks at his watch. Then he looks at the young Renfield and despite the mass of people following him who are clearly dignitaries of one sort or another, he comments, “Better late than never.” Then he laughs and all of the dignitaries laugh and then he closes the distance between himself and Renfield as he whispers in Adam’s ear, “At least you don’t lie, like these fuckers!” The billionaire, a.k.a. John Paulson laughs and adds, “You don’t have exes. You’re not the type and I seriously doubt you’ve ever had to resort to a whore. But, I get it was meant to amuse and not to be taken seriously.” Then John pats Renfield on the back as he turns back to his Entourage and exclaims, “Pardon. This kid’s my right hand man.” Then he turns a steely eye at Renfield.

  Renfield hears John think, “You’d better be! I just sold you as a brand to the biggest of the big!”

  Renfield nods and looks away as they all follow John out of the door. Renfield thinks to himself while watching John exit the building, “Thanks for not doing introductions today!”

  CHAPTER 3

  “The things that seem impossible are not. They’re just hard.” -- from the book of Persistence

  All of them looking down at the terrain below, they all felt peace and serenity, yet they felt a looming sensation as well. The desert was a brutal place. They knew that intrinsically, but from up in the sky, with canteens at their sides and the laughter of jokes slung at each other and with each other, it just seemed so blissful down there. The architecture of the planet was amazing.

  “So why are we here?” asks Renfield

  “What kind of question is that? Because you busted my balls and convinced me to convince others and now we’re here, asshole!”

  “But why? Think hard, it’s not that deep of a question.”

  “You are a royal pain in my ass and I’m going to lose my job. How’s that for a why?” Brady yells over the beat of the chopper blades making their distinctive whir, hum and beat.

  “We’re here so that we don’t ever meet again and don’t call me asshole. It’s just not a good idea, trust me. You’re about to be a jerk of unfathomable level and I’m about to pay the price for that, but I never am able to change that. Every damned time, you shit!”

  “What did you just call me? If it weren’t for me, you would have never been allowed here or anywhere but an 8x4 room! What the hell do you mean why are we here? Answer me, damnit or we’ll turn around and never land!”

  “You know. Everything echoes. You remember through the ‘you’s’ before you. The ones I knew. My friends. Think about that, but be ready! I need you to act fast when I…” Renfield propels himself out of the helicopter trailing his sentence and leaving everyone in shock.

  “Brady yells at the pilot, “Can anyone survive that fall?”

  The pilot responds in half shock, half amazement, “Ummm, no! No way! This was a failed mission or an elaborate suicide.”

  Brady yells louder, “Did you see where he went?”

  The pilot gets a strange look on his face and replies, “Yes, but...”

  “Follow! NOW! Go!”

  The pilot looks back and wonders if Brady has lost his sanity too. In order to avoid another “crazy” on board he quickly moves the stick to go in the direction of the strange man’s body. “Of course, he’s dead!” He thinks to himself, “If the fall didn’t kill him the terrain down there would have ripped him to shreds!”

  The other officers aboard look at Detective Brady as if he just lost his life, and in a sense, since Renfield was dead, then he had.

  Brady picks up on the looks and screams at the pilot again, “Dive, get down there as fast as you can! We need to bring back that body!”

  CHAPTER 4

  “When I met him, I understood that to everything there was a season and I turned.” -- from the book of Sara

  “So gentlemen, shall we dine? I know the wait staff will deal with any dietary issues.” Renfield comments.

  One of the attendees, Larry Garfield, looks at another and asks, “Who the fuck is this kid and who the fuck does he think he is? It’s not like I don’t like a free meal,
but I don’t like his tone.”

  The other attendee shrugs, having no problem with the situation. From his standpoint it’s either going to be interesting or entertainment to watch the kid crash and burn.

  Renfield rises, “To all of you in appreciation of our celebration, I thank you!” He stands and raises his arms although most ignore his gesture and continue to dine or have their side conversations.” Renfield laughs and grabs a bottle of champagne, holds it between his legs and shakes it in vulgarity. The he aims his body at Larry Garfield and pulls the cork. Before Larry can even react to the fact that he has been struck in the eye with a cork, his suit sprayed with champagne, Renfield jumps to his table and grabs him by the hair. Struggling to ease the pain Larry, holds onto Renfield’s wrists with every fiber of his being as he’s dragged up the stairs to the podium.

  Renfield addresses his newfound audience again. He notates that there is a greater amount of attention on what he is about to say. “What makes the difference between us, with money and power and our rules and the money and power and rules of those in prison? Don’t say they have less, it’s worth as much in that economy to be kings and queens as it is in this one.”

  The room, including the staff waiting on them are all turned to him, some awaiting the answer and some questioning his sanity.

  Renfield kicks Mr. Garfield in the face hard as he lets go of his hair. “Why is he the person I would kick down?”

  Again, the room is silent.

  Renfield continues, “He disrespected me. In either society he can charge me with assault right now. He won’t. None of you would do business with him again if he did. You have your reasons and he is a shmuck so he’ll do whatever the crowd says. So why did I do it? Because in either society if I let that type of shit go, I’d become a little bitch like him. Have I made it clear that I am not only not a little bitch like him, but I will kill any of you fuckers if you fuck with me. Period. End of statement.” He shakes off Larry’s hands and returns to his table as he adds, “Please, enjoy the night’s festivities! By all means, drink up! I am expecting someone to toast the event and I would be egotistical to do so myself.”