“Thank you, Vincent. To be honest, I thought you didn’t like me.”
“Really?” Vincent straightened up, a disappointed look shown on his face before relaxing again. “I guess I am not very good with people. I do not relate well to others. Please accept my apology for making you feel that way. We will be spending a fair amount of time together, getting all the documents straight and putting everything into your name. But you should know that I do like you. And I am glad I have gotten to know you. I did think you were a little arrogant at first. Well, you still are, but not too much.”
Stephen managed a smile. “Yeah, I guess I can be.”
“Is there anything you need at the present time?”
Stephen thought for a moment. He thought about what all this meant—the money, the businesses. He had become wealthy beyond anything he had ever thought possible, and he could have anything he wanted. Then he realized what he wanted more than anything.
“Time. I need time to take this in. Can we meet back here tomorrow morning, first thing?”
Vincent pecked at his keyboard. “My schedule is open in the morning.”
****
Stephen waited on the steps the next morning. He had walked around the city the rest of the previous day and all night. He went to the places that held strong memories of Waltz: Blueberry Hill, the zoo, Gateway Arch, and more. Eventually he found himself back at work. Morning had finally come, with it his need to take whatever next steps waited.
“Stephen, you are here early. How would you like to start?” Vincent asked as he walked up the steps and unlocked the door.
Stephen walked inside with him, following him to his office. “You know, I wandered around the city all day yesterday, visiting some our favorite places. The only place I remember calling home is the shelter. I don’t remember much before that.”
“Well, the shelter is yours now. That was Waltz’s house before it became a shelter.”
“It should stay a shelter.” Stephen opened the office door for Vincent. “Can you have someone from the property management company call me? I’d like a place to call my own.”
“Absolutely! I’ll have them call you shortly.”
“Actually, just have them come pick me up. I want one today.”
“Okay.” Vincent made a note. Then he grabbed an envelope from his desk and handed it to Stephen. “You didn’t sign the papers yesterday. Once you sign the back page, the envelope is yours. It’s a personal credit card from the company for company expenses. You may also make personal purchases on it. You will have to pay the bill though. The company will reimburse you for company expenses as long as you keep the receipts and file the correct report. It has a $100,000 limit. We will need to discuss your accounts, holdings, all of it in greater detail. I have set Monday of next week aside. Will that work?”
Stephen looked down at the stack of papers, flipped to the back page, and signed. “Monday will work.”
The two wrapped up. Then he sat in Patty’s office waiting for someone to pick him up. He explained to her that Waltz had left him everything but said nothing more. There was no discussion about Waltz being his father. He desperately wanted to tell her. Even in death, however, he trusted Waltz more than anyone else.
Chapter 11
The night air sat stagnant, filled with moisture gathered from the near Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Streetlights illuminated the sidewalk while the stars and moon lit up the almost cloudless sky. There were only distant random sounds. Most of the city slept. Stephen did not.
It had been a few weeks since Waltz died, and Stephen continued to be unable to sleep. His new apartment did little to comfort him. The only activities that seemed to ease his busy mind was walking the streets at night—as he used to do—and working on remodeling his new home. But he didn’t seek peace; he needed answers. A time or two, he thought he might try and contact the Mighty. Bernie, however, urged him to give it time, suggesting there might be other, less revealing ways to find answers.
The only other people Stephen thought might have answers as to who killed Waltz were Fallen. And, it was in the dark he figured he’d find the worst sort of people, the kind with whom Fallen might associate. These type people might have answers that they were not even aware they had. It was possible that they saw or heard something, that to them seemed insignificant. Sort of like when you run into someone that you should know and walk right by without giving them a second thought because you saw them outside of their usual surrounding. People who lurked in the dark places were the ones he looked for, thinking they would be the most likely to have information on the Fallen.
Stephen walked in the darkness. As he walked, the light almost seemed to evade him, as though unable to coexist with him. He sensed the homeless that lay around the city. Most were asleep, completely unaware of his presence at all. Occasionally, he came across someone that woke up just long enough to get a glimpse. No matter how hard they looked, they couldn’t make him out. Stephen’s control of his gift yielded new abilities. One he recently discovered allowed him to affect the minds of others within proximity in such a way that they couldn’t really see him. He also discovered he was able to make them forget. He had seen what lingered in their minds—only a distorted shadow of man, as though looking through the bottom of an empty soda bottle.
For several hours each night, Stephen walked around looking for an opportunity to find out anything he could about Waltz’s death. He searched numerous minds. There had been a few gang bangers, a pimp and his prostitute, and a couple of thieves, but he learned nothing. However, he had seen something earlier today, from a client at Vincent’s office. A young woman came to Vincent’s office for legal help. She was concerned about a neighbor, and as Stephen had begun sitting in on random meetings to learn more about the nonprofit he now supported, he heard her story.
The woman lived with a young daughter and caught the neighbor watching her a little too intensely. She went to the police, but the man had no criminal record, so they couldn’t get involved at this point. She came to Vincent asking if there was anything she could legally do to keep her daughter safe.
Stephen looked into her mind to see if there was anything she wasn’t telling them. He found she had caught a glimpse of a second man she hadn’t mentioned. Yet her emotions, feelings, and conscious thoughts indicated she had told the whole truth. As he continued searching, he saw more of the other man, talking to the first man. But the lady’s neighbor never seemed to acknowledge him, only occasionally reacting to him, as though he were somehow being controlled or coerced. The two of them would often go into the backyard just after they realized they were being watched. She hadn’t seen any more because of the privacy fence and foliage that concealed them there.
After seeing this, Stephen realized this was the first time he had evidence that the Fallen might exist. He concluded the strange man somehow kept himself from being noticed, similar to how Stephen kept people from remembering him. He made note of Mrs. Finney’s address so he could pay the man a visit, which is where he decided to go this night.
Stephen walked up the street, looking at the addresses on the mailboxes until he arrived at the man’s house. There were no lights on as he stood in the darkness of night and listened for the man’s thoughts.
You know I love you! That’s why I keep you here, away from the world. I know you understand. I need you to help the others understand.
Stephen caught a glimpse of a woman dressed in a faded denim dress with long brown hair and no makeup. He searched for her thoughts and found out how horrible the situation was. Thoughts from more than one woman came into focus. He sensed fear, uncertainty, despair, and defeat. Then he felt hope. One single girl remained hopeful that someone would rescue them.
Stephen went toward the privacy fence. The thoughts came from behind the house. He cleared the fence easily, focused on uncovering whatever waited on the other side. The thoughts and emotions seemed so jumbled and intense, he found it hard to filter through
and understand the situation.
Inside the fence, Stephen noted a variety of garden plants and paths. A light shone from a detached garage in the back corner. He made his way over, being careful to go unnoticed while listening for any signs of trouble. There were none.
As he approached, he peered into a window that had been mostly covered by a curtain. He couldn’t see much, only a few tools on the opposite wall and no evidence of anyone inside. Searching for thoughts again, he found they were loud, more jumbled, and even more intense. He searched for the man’s thoughts, finding he was closer.
Stephen opened the door and entered the building. He had barely begun looking around when he realized why he was so close to those thoughts with no one in sight. In one back corner, a hole in the ground had a ladder sticking out of it.
“I’ll return in the morning for breakfast. I know you will all be excited to see me then.”
The ladder shook as the man climbed it. Stephen walked over to the ladder.
Never again!
“What?” The man looked around. Then he looked up and saw Stephen.
Before he could say a word, Stephen reached down and took hold of the man. He snapped him up out of the hole and slung him across the room. The man grabbed for the first tool he could reach, a hammer.
Come on, Dan! Stephen spoke to the man’s mind, causing him to pause. I said, come on!
Dan dove at Stephen, who sidestepped harmlessly to the side and disarmed him with an arm-bar hold before forcibly bending Dan’s elbow the wrong way.
Dan yelled. His eyes searched the room. Stephen heard Dan’s mind looking for a way out. Stephen pushed him away and stood between him and the door. Dan crawled back toward the hole.
That’s right, Dan. You dug this hole. Now lie in it!
Stephen grabbed the hammer and, as Dan entered the hole, knocked him in the head. Dan’s body fell to the bottom, making a loud thump and several cracks as it hit. Stephen listened but heard nothing. At best, Dan lay unconscious. He probed deeper. The pitiful excuse of a man remained alive. Stephen climbed down the hole. Examining Dan, he saw a nasty cut on his head. He figured there were broken bones too, but couldn’t be certain. Looking around, he found a room with a small kitchen, table, bed and television. The walls appeared to be sheetrock. At the far end was another door.
Stephen opened the door. Inside were three cages, each with a bed and a woman. The prisoners looked to be in her twenties to early thirties. Their similarities were striking, brown hair, fair skin, blue eyes, and dressed denim dresses. They appeared a little thin, but in otherwise decent condition, considering.
“Please, let us out,” the one closest called out. The others, who had been seated, stood up when they saw Stephen.
Stephen looked at the locks on the cages. “Where are the keys?”
“He keeps them on him. Just call the police.”
Stephen walked out of the room and over to Dan. “You’re sick!” He roughly nudged the body with his foot, listening for the jingle of keys. He stooped down and found the keys in Dan’s shirt pocket, then went back and freed the girls from their cages. They appeared reluctant at first. He sensed their uncertainty and heard the questions in their minds.
“Look, you’re free. No tricks. You need to go.”
One of the women, who seemed the youngest, stepped forward from her cage and wrapped her arms around Stephen’s neck. “Thank you!”
Stephen searched their thoughts, finding memories of the other man.
“Where’s the other man? Who is he?”
“There’s no one else. Dan’s the only one we see.”
“I’m sorry for all this,” Stephen replied
The woman looked at Stephen as he reached deep into her mind and into the minds of the other two, burying any trace of himself in their memory. Instead, he implanted images of the youngest somehow managing to get the drop on Dan. Then he planted a deep desire to run and find help in their minds. And they did.
Stephen looked around the room, knowing he didn’t have much time left. He had seen an image of another man in the mind of the concerned woman in Vincent’s office. But there had been no trace of anyone else there, just a feeling of evil. Immense evil. The more he looked around, the more he could feel it. He knew the police would be on their way soon and decided to leave.
As he walked away from the house, he began to get flashes. He saw a warehouse. Then he saw a sign: Stored Warehousing. He knew exactly where the place was. He remembered seeing it while picking up building supplies for repairs at the shelter.
It had been a productive night. He had done some real good. And he came away with another lead, one he hoped would lead to a Fallen. Stephen went home and tried to get in a nap before heading into the office. Even he couldn’t go on forever without sleep.
****
The next morning came earlier than Stephen wanted. Early sunlight began to fill his new studio apartment. Regardless of how tired he was, he managed to get up and prepare for work at the office. He usually enjoyed walking to the office. It wasn’t far, and it gave him time to get himself prepared mentally for his inherited responsibilities. However, he had begun to realize that getting a vehicle of his own would be beneficial.
Stephen’s phone buzzed. He had a text from Vincent. I’m heading to the office. Want a ride?
“That’s good timing,” Stephen said as he typed. Sure. Thanks.
Stephen walked downstairs to wait for Vincent, only to find him parked just outside the building. He got in and closed the door.
“That was quick!”
Vincent smiled. “Honestly, I was driving by and saw your light through your windows. It’s already eighty-five degrees outside. So I thought I would offer.”
“Well, I appreciate it. Now, I won’t be covered in sweat by the time I get to work.”
The car pulled away from the building.
“Stephen, I’ve rescheduled your meeting with the CEOs of the various subsidiaries for next week.”
“Okay . . . Why did you do that?”
“I notice how exhausted you are when you come to work. Losing Waltz has taken a toll on you, as it would anyone who lost a father. I also thought it would give us a little more time to continue going over the businesses.”
“I guess I have been stretched a little thin with the business and remodeling the apartment. Still, I wish you would have talked to me about it first.”
“My apologies. I know you were looking forward to the meetings. I am too. I am excited about the future of the company.”
“Really? You don’t feel like I’m in over my head?”
Vincent pulled the car into the parking lot at the soda building. “To tell the truth, I had concerns, but not about your ability. My reservations had more to do with the learning curve. I had anticipated the meeting with heads would have been more of a meet-and-greet. But you have shown interest in discussing the business in greater detail. That is a lot of information to absorb. And you are doing a remarkable job at it. Your knowledge, your business acumen, even your memory are superb. To sum up, you are going to wow them, as you have me.”
Stephen managed a tired smile. “Thank you. I’m glad to hear you have confidence in me.” He yawned, which made him realize just how little sleep he had gotten. “I have been burning the candle at both ends. A week’s delay isn’t a bad idea. Besides, I have some research I’d like to do. Perhaps setting up one-on-one meetings would be best at first.”
“I think that is a wise decision. But, we should go ahead and prepare some type of official company announcement and press release. Even the people in the office do not yet know.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Vincent, have Johnathan put something together.”
“Okay. But, why Johnathan? I was going to do it.”
“One, I’ll need your services elsewhere. Plus you’re already busy with the nonprofit. Two, I’m considering a new position for Johnathan and want to see how he handles this
one. I think he’ll do well.”
“What position?”
“I need a chief information officer, someone to handle company releases and overlook information policies, securities, and more. I think he’d be good at it. But I want to give him a trial run.”
Vincent smiled. “Do you want to review the release? Or should I do it?”
“Have Patty do it.”
“Patty?” Vincent picked up his briefcase from the backseat. “Let me guess. You’re considering her for a new position?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure. We have this relationship thing going. I know she’s capable of more than she’d like to admit. I want to see if it’s something she’d enjoy first. I don’t want her to feel obligated because of me.”
They got out of the car and headed into the building. The conversation turned toward the relationship between Stephen and Patty. Stephen wasn’t sure why, but he had been feeling more comfortable with Vincent since Waltz passed. He had always thought that Vincent had only hired him because of Waltz. Now, he considered Vincent may have hired him on his own. This allowed him to be more at ease around Vincent, which seemed to be reciprocated.
They were still chit-chatting as they both walked into the break room to get their morning caffeine when Patty interrupted.
“Did you guys see this?”
Both Vincent and Stephen stopped and look up at the television, which was displaying the morning news.
A picture of Dan was on the screen as the anchor woman said, “This man is believed to have been keeping three women locked up in underground cages in his backyard. They escaped last night, one of whom had beaten him unconscious.”
“Where was this?” Vincent stepped closer to hear Patty over the others chatting in the office.
Patty continued to stare at the television. “Not far from here, really. They said one woman had been there almost ten years.”
“Wait, I know that address!” Vincent ran out and down the hall, returning only a moment later with a file.
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