Man of Mystery – 15
Music… loud…music hot… music smothering senses until he couldn’t breathe. Words wound through the air, filling his mind, pushing aside the music until the words were louder than the steady beat of music, strange, ethereal, mysterious, and other worldly.
Justin tossed and turned in the bed, he knew the music wasn’t good for him to listen to, yet it filled his head, distracting him from the main task he’d been set to perform. The task, he needed to finish, but all thoughts of it were leaving him and being replaced with a rhythmic beat that unsettled rather than soothed.
Brian sat up in his bed. He noticed Justin moved restlessly beside him and then suddenly stilled. At first he thought the blond had settled back into a normal sleep. He wasn’t used to sleeping with another person in his bed, yet having Justin beside him somehow felt right.
Justin’s breathing slowed, his chest rose and fell, until there was no perceptible movement. “Justin?” Brian whispered, “Justin?” his voice rose loud in the quiet of the bedroom. “Justin?” Fear made the last name tremble and he shook him by the shoulder. “JUSTIN!” he yelled unable to wake the other man up.
“Dad what is it?” Gus stood in the bedroom doorway.
“Call Doc, NOW!” Brian yelled as he began CPR on Justin, not sure if he was doing the right thing, but aware he needed to do something to keep air circulating through the other man’s body.
Gus didn’t hesitate. He had Doc on the phone and told him what had happened. Doc lived on the third floor, Gus knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d be there. He also put in a call to Seiji, something was wrong and maybe his friend with his otherworldly abilities, could do something. It was reaching, but Gus was willing to try anything rather than have to tell Molly that her brother wasn’t breathing.
“Brian, what the fuck?” Doc ran into the room followed by his husband Niko who carried his bag. “Get out of the way,” he said as he began to observe Justin. His training had taken him to many places around the world and his observation of Justin’s skin color, the color of his nail beds and the fact that he’d passed what had to have been a hex sign on the wall near the floor, but close to the bed brought him to a quick diagnosis. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to put that the signs together and come up with a fairly accurate conclusion.
“Something, or someone has gotten to him. Who’s been in this apartment today?”
Doc listened to Justin’s heart, then his lungs, and finally he checked the younger man’s body for any signs that he’d been injected with something. There were a few marks that he wanted to check out later but for now he covered Justin up carefully. “We need to intubate him so that we can regulate his breathing. He won’t get enough oxygen like this.”
Niko tried to lead Brian out of the bedroom, but he refused to leave Justin’s side. He didn’t say anything, just sat on the bed, cradling Justin’s head (cradled) against his body and watching Doc and Niko working on him. Doc’s clinic was on the main floor of the building, so getting what was required to keep him alive was easily accomplished. The look on Brian’s face told both Doc and Niko that this was a good thing.
It didn’t take long and Justin was hooked up to a number of intimidating machines. The once quiet bedroom was now filled with a steady beep. But rather than irritate Brian, it comforted him. Knowing that Justin’s heart was beating and breath was being pumped in and out of his lungs was enough for now.
It was now time for some explanations.
“Talk,” Brian said, his voice low as he stroked Justin’s hair.
“Brian, you know that there’s been a lot of mysterious shit going on with your project,” Doc began nodding toward Justin.
“He’s more than a project,” Brian hissed.
“No shit,” Niko laughed and then shut up when he felt Brian’s glare.
“I’ve been doing some research myself, with Niko’s help.” Doc leaned into his husband. “Justin’s family, the Taylor’s have quite the reputation in this part of the country, and it isn’t a good one,” he sighed and began to explain to Brian both legend and facts he’d discovered.
“I know a lot of that, but Justin isn’t part of it. He isn’t even a Taylor for fuck sake in anything other than name.”
“I think that’s part of the problem. Everything Craig Taylor had was left to Justin by the terms of the family legacy; he being his first born. At least on paper, if not in fact. And there isn’t fuck all Craig can do about it since he’s dead. I’m sure he figured he had lots of time to deal with the problem, but he forgot one thing. He forgot that the powers that be had to be dealt with and apparently they figured his time was up in this world. Oops to old Craig. He’s dead, his ill gotten gains go to Justin who not only doesn’t want them, but plans on returning what he can. In the world of black magic, each time someone who is pure and filled with white light undoes a piece of what has been done, in this case when Justin returns something Craig or his ancestors stole, then the magic or evil diminishes slightly.” He grinned. “Sucks to be a Taylor about now.”
“Sucks to be Justin, what the fuck is wrong with him.” Brian already knew most of what Doc had said. He’d done his research. He knew all the legends and stories.
“Oh, well, there seems to be someone or something around who is on Craig’s side and whoever it is… well let’s say he doesn’t have Justin’s best interest at heart.”
“Well what triggered this attack? We haven’t been doing anything different.” Brian wanted to scream and shout, but forced himself to remain calm.
“I don’t know,” Doc replied as he looked down. “Is there anything happening in Justin’s life that is unusual?”
“This whole thing is unusual,” Brian spit.
“Dad, is Justin okay?” Gus stuck his head in the door.
“No,” Brian replied looking miserable. “Something’s got a hold of him; something bad.”
“What can we do?” Gus asked. He walked into the bedroom, almost on tiptoe he was so afraid of disturbing Justin.
“I don’t know.” Brian pulled Gus down on the bed beside him and hugged him with one arm. “We’ll have to tell Molly and his mother.”
“Can Molly help now?” Gus asked.
“No, let her sleep. We’ll talk to her in the morning. We need some kind of plan. I’m going to call in everyone I know to find out what the fuck is going on.”
“Okay Dad.” Gus absorbed some strength from his father before getting up and heading back to his room. He couldn’t sleep and he was hoping that Paul couldn’t either. He needed to talk to someone who cared.
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In another part of the city, someone close to all of them lay in the dark under the sheltering boughs of an oak tree. The mighty oak was a power point for him, one that had been with him all of his life. He’d learned of his powers when he was very young. He had been barely three when he discovered he could end the life of annoying wild cats in the alley behind his home with barely a gesture. Even though the power he used sapped his strength, the young man found the result exhilarating enough to more than offset the irritation.
He stared up at the few stars in the sky that were visible through the leaves. When his father had died, he thought his world had ended. So many things he’d been promised would never happen. Or that’s what he thought before the dreams started. The dreams that told him what to do.
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Jennifer knelt in the garden, she was cleaning weeds from around the violets that grew wild there, sprinkling the more formal garden with bits of blue and purple.
“Excuse me, Miss Jenny.”
Jennifer turned and smiled at the old man who had wandered into her private space. “Yes Grandfather,” she said not surprised to see him. He’d appeared to her, looking just the same, ever since she could remember. Her mother had once mentioned that he’d also been part of her life. Not knowing his name when she was a child, grandfather seemed appropriate.
“There will come a time, sooner rather than later, when you will have to join with your daughter and one other to form the sacred triad.”
“Grandfather?” Jennifer stood up, dusting off her hands and then her knees.
“He works through the innocent to take his revenge. He does not sleep. He walks among you. He harms ours. Remember this Miss Jenny; together the power of three will bring the one you love back.” He smiled at her and then disappeared, leaving behind a small box.
Jennifer reached down and picked up the box. She looked around, not sure if she’d imagined what had just happened. While she’d encountered the old man many times in her life, he’d never left anything tangible before. He’d only say something cryptic that sometimes would have her thinking for days before she knew what it was all about. What she did know was that the old man always had her best interests at heart. It was partially due to his appearances that she’d kept her sanity during the years of her marriage.
Carefully opening the box, Jennifer looked inside. A ring carved from a single piece of deep green jade sat on a bed of crushed velvet. On the face was a rather intricate carving. Jennifer picked it up and looked at it closely, not sure of what she was seeing. There were words carved to look like a design, though the words were in a language she didn’t recognize. She placed it on the ring finger of her right hand. It felt warm and adjusted itself to the size of her finger. Jennifer smiled, it felt right having the ring to wear. It felt like it was part of her and had always been so. It looked like something Molly might wear, and Jennifer was almost sure she’d seen her daughter with a similar ring. But in the last few years they’d drifted apart so she couldn’t be sure.
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Brian sat in his office staring at the phone. He was going to have to call Justin’s mother. Molly was in no condition to talk to her right now.
“Brian,” Doc called as he looked in. “We have to talk.”
“Is it Justin? Is he okay?” Brian asked. He checked the monitor that showed inside of Justin’s room. The blond’s position hadn’t changed. Molly sat on one side of the bed stroking the back of her brother’s hand, her face a mask of grief
“He’s alive, but we can’t keep him like this for long. His muscles will begin to deteriorate.”
“People stay on life support for months,” Brian interrupted.
“Brian, this is different. Justin is dreaming. The monitors tell us so, and they don’t appear to be good ones. The stress of living through hell over and over again is going to begin tearing down his mental stability and may affect him severely when he finally comes out of this.”
“You don’t know that. You don’t know what he’s dreaming.” Brian couldn’t take his eyes off of Justin, though the other man’s face was impassive, the occasional abrupt eye movement under his closed lids told Brian that Doc did know.
Brian shielded his eyes with his hand. “What can we do?”
“I’ve talked with Sandy and he’s suggested a few options?”
“Sandy? What does he know about this kind of thing?” Brian was puzzled. “He’s a lawyer for Christ’s sake.”
“He’s a lot of things,” Doc laughed. “A lawyer being the least of it. The point is, Sandy has come across this kind of thing a few times. What it boils down to, is that Justin has been put under a black spell.”
“Bullshit!” Brian snorted.
“It isn’t bullshit! You’ve seen what’s been going on. Sandy told me what happened to you and Emmett,” Doc stated as he began to pace the room. “What we do know is that it’s going to take some powerful magic to get Justin back and it has to be done soon. Both of us agree that we need to get him away from here... and I mean far away. I think you should take him to his villa in France.”
“Have you looked at him lately? How the fuck is that going to happen?” Brian squeezed the bridge of his nose; his head was pounding.
“Brian, surely to gawd you can rent a plane, and have him flown there. I’ll provide the medical certification that he requires care in France. Sandy has already made sure you have the necessary powers of attorney to act for him. Don’t ask how he did that, it’s best you don’t know,” he said forestalling Brian’s inquiry.
“I can get him there, but then what?” Brian felt like his head was full of cotton wool, he couldn’t think straight.
“Well, that’s another story. I just feel it’s necessary. I’ve sent the Book of Shadows that Molly found to Sandy. He’s going to see if he can find something to release Justin from whatever evil bastard has him trapped.”
“You know if this was a movie, I’d walk the fuck out,” Brian said. “It’s beyond ridiculous.”
“Welcome to our world.” Doc shrugged. “Niko, Sandy and I have spent a lot of time dealing with this kind of thing all over the world.”
“You’ve never said anything to me before,” Brian said looking hurt.
“Do you tell me about your work?” Doc asked. “No you don’t; only when it pertains to something I’m doing for you.”
“But this seems at the very least interesting,” Brian argued. He was looking forward to his talk with Sandy. “What I do is mostly trace skipped car loans.”
“As you so eloquently put it, bullshit.” Doc looked up, “I know about some of your cases. Justin isn’t unique as your cases go.” He grinned. “Just prettier.”
“Fuck off,” Brian said not looking at his friend, but instead staring at Justin and Molly in the monitor. “Have Sandy set it up,” he sighed. “I suppose I should call his mother now.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you Brian. In fact, I wouldn’t mention the trip to anyone. I really think someone close to you is bad. Sandy and I are the only ones who need to know. We’ll get the passports and everything you need ready to roll. We can tell Molly on the way to the airport and call Justin’s mother in the air.”
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Molly felt the phone in her pocket vibrate. She looked at the face and saw that it was Seiji. Reluctantly she let go of her brother’s hand and headed into the hall. She didn’t want to disturb him with chatter, not knowing if he could hear her or not. His stillness was freaking her out.
“Hey,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you like we planned, but things aren’t good.”
“What’s wrong?” Seiji asked. He could tell she was upset.
“It’s Justin, something’s happened to him and he’s in a coma or something?” she started to cry.
“Was he in an accident?” Seiji asked not sure what she was talking about.
“No, he just didn’t wake up in the middle of the night,” she sobbed.
“Did he have a stroke? He’s too young for that isn’t he?”
“I don’t know what it is. The doctor keeps checking on him and he’s on a machine to help him breathe. It’s awful. He has all these tubes and things going in and out of him.”
“What hospital is he in? I’ll come as soon as my classes are over.”
“He’s at Brian’s place, not a hospital. But it’s kind of like a hospital only better.” She shrugged. “It’s hard to explain.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Seiji, don’t come. Brian said nobody is allowed in. I think he means everybody.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. I work for him. I’m not a stranger.”
“I know, but he said for today it’s in-house personnel only, whatever that means. Call me when you’re done with your classes. I’ll work on Brian.”
“Okay,” Seiji paused. “Take care Molly. I’ll call as soon as I can.” She disconnected and turned almost running into Brian. “Hey Mr. K., Seiji wants to come over after class.”
“Not today Molly. I need to think.” Brian ran his fingers through his hair. “Why don’t you take a break, maybe have Gus make you some breakfast or something. I’ll sit with Justin.”
“But,” she looked in the direction of Justin’s room. “I’m going to call my mom.”
“Okay,” Brian smiled at her and checked his watch. All the outgoing calls would be restricted, including cell phone calls thanks to Sandy. He had said ten minutes and it was fifteen now.
Molly smiled and headed for her room. She needed to take a shower and she needed to talk to her mother.
“Hey Mollster,” Gus called as he came out of his room. “Want some breakie?”
“Yeah, I guess,” she shrugged. “You know Gus, this really, really sucks.”
“I know.” He gave her a quick hug. “I’ll make breakfast... maybe banana pancakes. You have a shower.”
“kay,” she said and smiled a watery smile. “I won’t be long.”
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Justin could barely see, the mist was so heavy. He felt closed in by hanging moss that seemed to drip from the trees and he wondered if he was down south; perhaps in Florida, but he wasn’t sure how he could have gotten there.
“You finally decided to visit did you?” Justin turned, shocked to see his father standing with his back against an oak tree.
“You’re dead,” Justin stated. He knew he was hallucinating and wondered what he’d eaten that would be have caused this. Then he wondered how he could have a rational thought if he was hallucinating. He started to laugh at the paradox.
“Yes, I’m dead,” Craig agreed. He stood up and wandered into the woods. “We’re all dead here.”
“Not me,” Justin declared.
“You will be,” Craig began to laugh, the sound sending cold shivers through Justin, even though he refused to let the other man see this.
Looking around, he realized that what he was seeing was only a small part of where he’d managed to land himself. He could smell sulphur and wondered if he was in hell. It had to be if Craig was here. Not sure that he was doing the right thing, he began to walk through the woods in the direction his father had taken.
“You shouldn’t go after him you know.” Justin looked down at where the sound of the words were coming from and found himself staring into the eyes of a raven who was sitting on a dead tree stump. “He’s rotten, rotten to the core.”
Justin shut his eyes and opened them again, not sure that he was actually seeing a talking bird. “You talk,” he finally stuttered.
“No shit.” The bird hopped up on a branch making him level with Justin’s face. “I do a lot of things, but one thing I can’t do is sing.” The bird laughed and laughed until he started to choke. “Fuck, I wish I hadn’t eaten that bug.” He coughed again and spat out a rather bedraggled looking grasshopper who then stood up and shook himself before hopping into the undergrowth. “Those things never give up. Have you ever had hoppers in your gut? Let me tell you kid, it isn’t the best feeling in the world.”
“Uh, no, bugs aren’t my first choice,” Justin answered feeling somewhat foolish.
“Mine either; give me a nice ripe possum on the side of the road any day over a damn hopper.” The raven hopped from one foot to the other as if he was nervous. “Say kid, you know that you’re stuck here now don’t you? I mean the door only opens one way and it isn’t out.”
“I’ll get out of here,” Justin stated as he looked around. “It’s only a matter of time before Brian gets me out.”
“Yeah, well, I’d get used to eating hoppers, ‘cause kid, there’s no way you’re leaving and unless this Brian is one high wizard of the tenth degree, which we both know he isn’t, I mean there is only one and he’s been lost for so many years we can’t even count ‘em.”
“You’ve been reading too much Harry Potter.”
“Good one kid, a raven who reads, hahaha,” he snorted. “Can’t sing, can’t read, can’t dance either for that matter.”
“Kind of useless, aren’t you?” Justin sat on the tree stump ignoring the bird beside him.
“I’m a teacher, messenger, trickster, prankster; a bird of many ideas.” The raven pulled himself up to his full height and Justin thought he had to be the size of a chicken he was so big. “And devastatingly handsome as well I might add.” He preened his wings.
“You’re a raven, get used to it. You’re black and have feathers, that about covers it.” Justin yawned to show his indifference.
“Keep that attitude up and I’ll understand why that asshole Taylor had your ass shoved down here.” The raven leaned over and nipped Justin’s hand.
“Ouch.” Justin glared at him. Okay he felt that, he wasn’t dreaming, can you feel pain when you’re dreaming he asked himself. “That wasn’t necessary, for all I know you might be rabid.”
“Whatever,” the raven drawled. “So, you going to just sit here until you wither up and die, or are you going to do something?”
“What would you suggest?” Justin asked as he looked around. “I don’t know where I am. Brian will find me.”
“At the risk of repeating myself, haha.” The raven moved back to the branch. “There’s a bunch of bad asses meeting in the lower meadow at midnight. I know they have plans for you boy and it isn’t all sunshine and roses. Noooooo, I’d say more coal and midnight, or maybe fire and high noon, or maybe….“
“I get it bird,” Justin said standing up. “I might as well find my father and ask him what the fuck is up. But I need to have some way of letting Brian know where I’ve gone.”
“Oh that part’s easy. Look over there.” The bird flew to a pond that had been unnoticed by Justin. “Peek, I see you,” he ducked back and then hopped forward again. “Peek, I see you.” Cawwwha,cawwha,” he chortled.
Justin walked cautiously over to the pond. The ground was soft and mushy underfoot as if it was some kind of swampland that wasn’t completely drained. He looked past the crow into the water and then jumped back at what he saw.
Another look showed him what he feared. His body lay in Brian’s bed, but he wasn’t entwined with the other man, but rather he was hooked up to life support machines and Brian sat beside him, cradling his head while he talked to someone he was unable to see. “This isn’t a good thing,” he muttered to himself.
“I told you so, I told you so,” the bird crowed. Justin was sure the raven was grinning.
“Fuck,” he continued to stare at his lifeless looking body. “I’ve got to get back there.”
“No can do kiddo. But if you want something to do, why don’t we team up and make old Craig’s life hell. Hell,” he laughed uproariously. “Well, more hellish than now. Now he rather likes it here. I think we need to change that.”
“I’m going back bird, I don’t care what you say. Brian will find a way to get me back.” Justin began to walk on the path Craig took. “And bird, Craig Taylor isn’t my father, so I’m not going to feel bad when I beat his ass into the ground.”
“Yeah, well duh, of course he isn’t, why do you think he’s doing all of this? Your birth spoiled his legacy. He had plans for you and before he could do anything, poof he’s a deader.” The raven flew beside Justin keeping shoulder height as he moved through the heavy forest growth. “Uh, kid, if I were you I wouldn’t talk to anything else, you can’t trust anyone or anything down here.”
“Including you?” Justin asked. As if he would trust a stupid talking bird.
“You can trust me, I’m a raven, we don’t lie.” The raven looked back at Justin and correctly read the look on his face. “Well I can see you don’t think that’s a plan.”
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“Mr. K.?” Molly called out when she found Brian in his office. “Can I use your phone, my cell isn’t working.”
“Sure Molly.” he said nodding his head toward his phone. He knew that whoever she called, she’d receive a busy signal.
“Damn the phone’s busy,” she grumbled and hung up. “I’m trying to call Seiji, I want to tell him about Justin.”
“I’m sure he won’t be long,” Brian smiled. “Keep trying.”
“I’ll go and sit with Justin,” she said looking gloomy. “He doesn’t even move.”
“Molly, we’re doing everything we can to find out how to fix him up.”
“Did you call mom? I tried but there was no answer and she doesn’t have an answering machine.”
“No answer from my call either.” He looked at the door to his office. Doc looked in and nodded. Brian nodded back but said nothing to the other man. Instead he stood up and stretched. “Well Molly, why don’t you get Gus, I think we need to get out of here and get some air. “
“We can’t just go out and leave Justin,” she said looking horrified.
“Only for half an hour, we’ll go to Starbucks. Doc and Niko will look after him.” Brian needed Molly and Gus away from the apartment while Doc arranged for Justin to be transported by ambulance to the private airport. They were leaving in an hour for France.
“I’ll go find Gus. Hey, maybe we can stop by Seiji’s dojo and tell him what’s happened.”
“Sure, we can do that.” Anything to keep her happy and away from the apartment he thought.
Brian soon had the two kids in the car with him. He drove to a Starbucks as far as possible away from the apartment. “Why are we going here?” Gus asked, Molly hadn’t been paying attention. She kept seeing Justin still and quiet in Brian’s bed.
“I thought we could stop at the mall for a minute after the coffee.” Brian knew the excuse was lame and even Gus would see it for what it was.
Sure enough, Gus gave him the eye, but said nothing.
“Molly you keep playing with that ring. Is it something Seiji gave you?” Brian asked.
Molly who had been unconsciously turning her ring around and around on her right ring finger, looked down at her hand. “No, I’ve always had this ring, well since I was about thirteen.” She held out her hand so that Brian could see. “It’s made from a piece of jade. I’m not sure what the writing means, but it’s pretty and it makes me feel good. I never take it off.”
“You must have had to have it off for sizing.”
“No, it always fits.” She smiled and turned to look out the window. The ring did always fit. It was something she never really thought about, but she’d worn it since she’d found it in the garden. One finger traced the design, with an almost loving touch. The ring felt right, it felt like a part of her.
“She found it in the garden. Remember it was your thirteenth birthday party,” Gus smiled. “We told her it was left for her to find by her fairy godmother as a right of passage ring. You know, kid to teen kind of thing. It wasn’t dirty or anything.”
“Nice story,” Brian said and smiled. “Maybe Molly’s mother lost it.”
“No, mom never had a ring like this,” Molly said. “Besides, it was my birthday.” She said the last with enough finality that Brian didn’t argue.
While the three of them had lattes, Justin was moved in an ambulance to a waiting jet and settled in. Doc and Niko paid the ambulance off and waited for Brian to return with the kids. They were in no hurry. No one knew where they were; Niko had seen to that with the help of some of his friends and a diversion they’d created in case the building was being watched.
Brian let the kids buy a couple of outfits at the mall. He knew that they would forget about almost anything as long as the mall was available to them. A double beep on his cell phone told him that things were in place and it was time to get to the jet. Ted and Emmett had collected Molly’s and Justin’s passports; Brian wasn’t going to ask how. He collected his and Gus’ from the office safe.
In the car, Molly reminded Brian of his promise to stop at Seiji’s. Pulling up in front of the dojo Brian said, “I’ll just sit here and relax. You guys don’t take all day, this is just a touch base with Seiji stop.”
“Can we stay Dad?” Gus asked.
“I really don’t want to leave Justin alone too much longer,” Brian smiled at Molly and Gus, “Don’t be long.”
“Hey!” Molly and Gus turned around to find, Seiji standing outside of his dojo in his workout clothes. “What’s up guys? I tried to call earlier, but your line was busy.”
“Oh, it must have been when I was calling.” Molly ran over and kissed his cheek. “Justin is sick, he’s really, really sick,” her voice trembled.
“Shit what’s wrong?” Seiji asked. “He was okay last night.”
“I know, we had a great night, better than great.” Molly smiled up at her boyfriend. “But I guess he took sick in the middle of the night.”
“Maybe it’s the flu,” Seiji suggested.
“He’s on life support,” Gus answered. “I don’t think it’s the flu. I bet it’s something to do with that fucking house. Maybe he breathed some poison or something.”
Seiji looked surprised at Gus’ answer. “I’ve never heard of that, but I guess it could happen. Where are you guys going now? I have two more classes to run.”
“We’re going home.” Gus took Molly’s arm. “Molly wanted you to know about her brother, so we swung by here on our way home from the mall.”
“So Justin is okay to leave?” Seiji smiled at Molly. “See, he’ll be fine.”
Gus shook his head. “I think dad was trying to take our minds off (of) things. Since when does Brian Kinney voluntarily go to the mall.”
All three of them smiled at that, Brian never went to the mall. He must really like Justin, they all thought at once.
“I’ll come over after my classes,” Seiji whispered to Molly, “Unless you’d like to spend some time out back in the garden.”
“I think I should stay at Gus’, but I love the garden.” She smiled. “Maybe another day.”
“We’ll have a picnic,” he said, promise in his voice. He kissed her lips tenderly, barely brushing them as he looked into her eyes. “I promise.”
Molly smiled, Gus groaned and Brian honked the car horn.
“That’s the Bat signal: duty calls,” Gus laughed. He took Molly by the hand and led her away. “Later Seiji.”
Gus and Molly climbed into the backseat of the Lexus, letting Brian have the front to himself. They started to chat about boyfriends while Brian tuned them out and headed for the private airport, but first he made sure that no one was following them. He still couldn’t put his finger on the one who meant Justin harm and he wasn’t going to take any chances.
As the car turned into the secured parking area of the airport, Gus and Molly both woke up to the fact that they weren’t where they were supposed to be.
“Hey Dad,” Gus began and then stopped when Brian drove through the parking lot and onto the tarmac leading toward a group of planes. Gus had been there before with his father, so he figured Brian was no doubt picking someone up. It was always cloak and dagger with his father and this airport.
“Where’s Mr. K. going?” Molly asked.
“I don’t know, he does this sometimes and he never tells me anything,” Gus shrugged. “I’ve seen some great planes though. People actually own these, like privately.”
Brian pulled up near one such plane. “I have to see someone in here. Do you guys want to come up. The inside of this one is rather special. The plane is owned by a rock star of some kind.”
“Wow, who?” Molly asked opening the door to get out. “Is it someone we know, or some old guy?”
Brian shook his head and then laughed out loud. “I suppose you two think I’m old.”
“Well duh,” Gus said with a giggle. The kids followed Brian up the stairs that led into the plane.
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Seiji finished up his classes and then showered and changed. It was a short day for him but he was anxious to see Molly and find out about Justin. He headed back to the arboretum to check on the watering system timer. It had been giving him some problems and he wanted to make sure he’d fixed it correctly.
He stopped abruptly when he noticed an old man was sitting cross-legged under a wisteria vine that had wrapped it self over a wooden arch that led down one of the paths. “This is private property. How did you get in?” he looked around to see if there was an obvious breach in the walls.
“It isn’t too late young one to learn the ways of goodness and light,” the old man said. “Come sit with me and listen to a story I have to tell.”
“I don’t have time for this,” Seiji glared. “You have to leave now.” He looked around again for the way into his garden that the old man must have followed. When he looked back, the place where the man had been sitting was empty except for a single round marble made from a piece of white jade. Seiji picked it up to study. The jade was warm to the touch. He slipped it into his pocket and began to search the garden. He didn’t want to leave if someone was there.
Almost two hours later, Seiji finally arrived at Brian’s building. He rang the buzzer to be let in, but there was no answer. He rang twice more before ringing Doc’s apartment, and then Emmett’s. Only at Emmett’s was there an answer. “Hey,” Emmett’s voice rang out.
“Emmett, it’s me Seiji, I came to see Molly, but there’s no answer.”
“Oh, maybe they’ve gone to the big house,” Emmett answered. “Want to come up? I’m making butter tarts.”
“No thanks, I’ll head over to the big house.” Seiji turned and as he walked he reached for his cell phone and called upstairs, but there was no answer, not even the answering machine or voice mail. He tried Molly’s cell and then Gus’. Both were out of service. If they were at the big house that wasn’t unusual, as occasionally there was interference there that blocked the cell phone signal. Resigned to the long trip, Seiji began to walk.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Pierre put the final touches on Justin’s room. He had been surprised by the phone call from Brian Kinney not to mention the requests the man had made regarding Villa Rosa. Pierre looked out into the garden again. The place was alive with men dressed in black placing things in trees and nooks and crannies in the wall. Brian said it was a wireless security system, a surprise for Justin. Only the kindness and worry in the man’s voice had convinced Pierre that he was being truthful. Otherwise he would have had the Gendarmes here immediately.
He was actually rather excited. Molly was arriving along with Justin. Now maybe the two children would finally get to meet and learn to love their father. It was like a story in a book. He sighed with pleasure at the thought. It was then he decided to call Aubrey. His old friend needed to hear this news, though maybe his Jenny already knew.
Pierre picked up the phone to call and was surprised when there was no dial tone. He’d only talked to Brian Kinney an hour or so ago. He headed down into the kitchen to try that phone, but again there was no dial tone. The mysterious men in the garden had to be responsible for the dead phone lines. He bristled in anger. This just wouldn’t do. Justin liked to keep in touch with the world with his internet and his phones. Like a protective watchdog, Pierre headed outside to set things straight.