by J. J. Franck
“The knowledge will come, and the truth be known. Gemini has his twin killed and seeks the world that was his.”
Jake was taken a back by what Nathaniel had said. Avery took hold of Nathaniel’s hand and guided him to the checkout counter while Jake just stood there watching, not sure what he should make of Nathaniel or for that matter what he should do next.
“You will enjoy this in the park. And no more talk about Gemini. Do you understand, Nathaniel?”
“This world as we know it, is no more. Gemini will destroy all he touches to cover his evil ways.”
Nathaniel walked over to the checkout line while Avery turned around and walked back to where Jake stood watching them.
Once she walked up to Jake, Avery turned around and watched Nathaniel and then breathed a sigh of relief. She sensed Jake had a problem with the way Nathaniel was talking about Gemini. Avery too was a little apprehensive because Avery didn’t understand its meaning. The trouble with Nathaniel was he spoke in riddles, but she knew there had to be a meaning behind it, it was just understanding what it was.
“That guy gives me the creeps. What’s his problem anyway?”
Avery shrugged as she turned to Jake. “He cared too much about the world. The strain became too great, and he had a breakdown. Now he spends his days reading and becoming more paranoid about the world.”
“I know the world is screwed up, but this guy should be put away.”
“He’s harmless.” Avery said with a sincerity that showed just how much she cared for the troubled young man.
Avery had more work to do and standing around talking to Jake wasn’t getting it done before she left for the day. She quickly turned and walked away from Jake.
“How about dinner?” he yelled after her.
Avery turned back to Jake and smiled sweetly at him. She wondered what his motives were and didn’t think it had anything to do with an interest in her.
“When I get done here, I just want to go home and crash.”
“Maybe another day then,” he added.
Avery nodded and then smiled again without saying more. She only hoped her indifference was enough of a deterrent for him to stop pursuing her. Avery knew once she got home she would have to deal with Kirt along with that briefcase full of money. She didn’t need Jake hanging around also. Avery couldn’t undestand why her life had to get so complicated lately.
CHAPTER 17
Once Avery distanced herself from Nathaniel and Jake, she was overcome with nausea. Avery had felt good all day, but their little altercation put stress on her fragile body. Now all the old symptoms were back, plus the fact the sun finally came out from behind the clouds and was sending bright rays throughout the library’s many windows that encompassed the building. Avery didn’t know how much longer she would be able to endure working at Bobst given the fragile state her body was in. Too many things were making her situation worse, and it was harder to survive the eight-hour days that made up her workweek. As much as Avery didn’t want to admit it, her parents were right in that she should reassess how she wanted to spend her last days.
Avery hurried down to her office in the basement, and once she got to her cubicle, she opened her purse for the pill container that was her lifeline to an ordinary existence. She quickly dumped the pill in her cupped hand and then grabbed the bottle of water next to the computer terminal. Avery quickly sat down and waited for the pills to relieve the uncomfortable feeling she had been experiencing. But unlike before, the effects she longed for didn’t seem to come in the timely manner they had done so often in the past three months. With each bout though, it was taking longer to ease her pain. Avery wondered if the stress she had been under the last week had anything to do with it. She did suspect the dosage had to be increased but feared going in to see the doctor and dreaded the prognosis that was not going to be good. For her, ignorance of the situation was the only way to cope with the fact the end was nearer than she was initially led to believe.
Avery’s intention for the day, was to leave early but with being short staffed, Avery was asked to stay and work an extra shift. As yet she hadn’t told anyone of her illness, so it was her fault if they took advantage of her good nature. Given the fact Avery was single and had no family waiting for her at home, only compounded everyone’s thinking that Avery had nothing better to do with her off time than taking on extra work. In the past, she never really minded it, but now faced with her mortality Avery didn’t want to spend her last days taking on extra work at the library in order that her coworkers could to have more free time.
* * *
Avery sat behind the checkout counter as the lights of the library were slowly shut off, floor by floor. It was a ritual she once enjoyed, but now the finality of the end of the day brought with it a reminder that the end was near for her also.
It was a welcome sight to see the janitor step out of the elevator with a mop in hand. He glanced over at Avery with a smile.
“I can close if you want to leave,” he said walking up the counter with his dust rag in hand.
“I would have liked to have left eight hours ago,” Avery replied with a sigh of relief.
“You got stuck with a double shift again?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“You shouldn’t let them get away with it.”
“I had no choice. My co-worker called in when my shift was almost over. Someone had to be here. Plus it’s exam time. You can’t just close down the library because we’re short staffed.”
Avery grabbed her purse and made a beeline for the exit, thankful that she did not have to stay any longer. The sun had set long ago. She thought of the sun as her enemy lately because she knew it was the cause of most of her headaches. On overcast days, life was barely tolerable, but on the days where the sun shined brightly, she had to increase her pill intake just to make it through the day.
Avery stopped as she exited the library and just stared across the street. The park appeared deserted as it did the night Kirt was shot. Avery knew it was a shortcut home and that was all she had on her mind right now. Avery quickly crossed the street and took the path that cut through the center of the park. As she neared the fountain, the running water wasn’t enough to hide the footsteps of someone approaching her from behind. Avery turned to look around but saw no one. The footsteps stopped as soon as she stopped. Avery could feel her heart pounding, and as the sounds of the distant city in the background filled her senses, Avery stood there for the longest time searching her surroundings. Finally, she got up enough nerve to continue her journey home regretting now entering the park.
When Avery heard the footsteps again, she quickly dashed up the path that leads to the exit closest to McDougal Alley. As fast as she could run, the footsteps behind her just got louder as they too hurried after her. When Avery neared the edge of the park, someone grabbed her arm. Avery struggled at first until she turned around quickly and realized it was just Nathaniel.
Avery let out a huge sigh of relief at seeing him and realizing she indeed was not alone. She could hear someone running in the distance and realized that possibly it wasn’t Nathaniel following her, but someone else. Avery quickly looked beyond Nathaniel and searched the park for who ever it was following her and Nathaniel, but she saw nothing. Finally, she turned her attention back to Nathaniel.
“Someone was following me,” she said almost out of breath.
“Gemini is not to be trusted,” is all Nathaniel replied as if it was an answer to what she had just said.
It frustrated her that Nathaniel kept talking in riddles. She wished he made more sense in what he was trying to tell her. Avery didn’t know who Gemini was or for that matter why he seemed obsessed with following her lately.
“You keep talking about Gemini,” Avery said with a puzzled look on her face before continuing. “Who is Gemini?” she asked.
“Gravitration is the only way.”
Avery looked him straight in the eye and then quickly said in a slow, purpo
seful way. “What do you mean by all of this?” she asked.
But when Avery got no response to her question, she just forced Nathaniel to let go of his grip on her arm. She was thankful for him being there but didn’t know if him being with her was enough to deter whoever followed her. Avery stepped away from Nathaniel.
“I have to go. You go home too,” Avery said putting distance between them and then waved goodbye.
Avery quickly crossed the street while Nathaniel just stood there watching. Avery didn’t have the stamina just then to make sure Nathaniel got home safely. Her only concern at the moment was making it home safely herself. Avery hoped that Nathaniel’s intervention would stop whoever it was following her from continuing.
Once Avery opened her apartment door and flipped on the light, she finally felt safe. She quickly glanced around. She slowly walked over to the sofa, bent down and pulled the briefcase out from under the sofa. Avery set it back on the coffee table.
Kirt suddenly appeared next to her. It startled her for a moment. But then she realized how much she missed his company that day.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Don’t do that,” she said turning to him with a startled look on her face.
“Boy, are we jumpy.”
“It’s been one of those days,” she snapped.
“I told you to stay home. Why are you so late?”
Avery turned to him while shaking her head as she laughed. “You sound like my mother now.”
“Well, I’m concerned. You don’t look good.”
“It’s not that. I had a strange feeling I was being followed tonight.”
“It wasn’t me.”
“Jake came to the library this afternoon.”
Avery could tell this troubled Kirt, but she didn’t quite understand why.
“What did he want?”
“To talk.”
“What did you tell him?”
Avery just got up and walked into the kitchen. She grabbed a glass off the counter and then poured herself a glass of water. She held it up to Kirt and then said. “There was nothing to say.”
“I wonder what he’s up too?”
“Well, if that’s his money. Maybe he wants it back,” Avery said as she set the glass down and then picked up one of the pill bottles and quickly put one in her mouth and took a sip of water.
“Not yet.”
“What are your plans?” she asked.
It had bothered her all day thinking of the cash in her apartment and how best to get rid of it without raising questions. She knew time was of the essence and there was no easy way to handle it without raising suspicion against herself or Kirt’s involvement in illegal activities.
“I’m toying with a few ideas. Just haven’t figured it out yet.”
Avery opened the fridge door and took out a can of ginger ale. She quickly popped the lid and gulped the cold liquid. Then she turned back to Kirt who got up from the couch.
“Just keep me out of it,” Avery quickly added.
Kirt walked up to Avery with a look of concern. “You should eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Did you eat at all today?”
Avery just turned to him and stared for the longest time. “Have you been talking to my mother?”
“She called three times today,” Kirt with a look of concern.
Avery laughed as she took another a gulp of the soda and then set the can on the counter. Her stomach took a quick turn. Avery had an uneasy feeling all day, and nothing she did would eliminate the discomfort she felt. Finally, she turned to Kirt.
“You two are alike.”
“We care about you.”
“You’re dead!”
“It doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings.”
Avery just shook her head mockingly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just,” she started to say, but then stopped. “Never mind.”
Avery walked out of the kitchen as the phone started to ring. She quickly reached for the receiver not wanting to continue her argument with Kirt.
“Hello,” she said with a look of surprise came over her face. “How did you get my number?” she asked and then paused a moment before continuing. “Well, yeah.”
Avery turned to Kirt, she covered the receiver and then mouthed the word ‘Jake.’
“What does he want?” Kirt whispered as if anyone other than Avery could hear him.
Avery shrugged as she just put her finger to her mouth and motioned for Kirt to be quiet. It was all new territory for her. In reality, she didn’t think anyone else saw or heard Kirt but wasn’t taking any chances. The fact he made his presence known to her, she wasn’t so sure he couldn’t make his presence known to other people.
“I just got home, it’s late,” she said and then paused a moment before continuing. “Well, all right if it’s that important, I’ll meet you near the park entrance on Washington North in ten minutes.”
Avery hung up the phone. A puzzled look came over her as she turned to Kirt.
“What was that all about?” Kirt asked.
“He wants to meet me. Says he has some information about who killed you.”
“I don’t like it,” Kirt said.
Jake's calling Avery just seemed so out of character for his brother. He didn’t know what he was up to and figured it had a lot to do with the key he found and what the locker uncovered. Jake had some explaining to do. Kirt still had a few details to sort out, not knowing how Avery could turn over the briefcase to Captain Elliott without being implicated in its contents. Kirt feared people would assume Avery was involved in the drug operation at the library, but he knew first hand she was just an innocent bystander and had no involvement in any of it. He wasn’t so sure Jake to save his skin would be so willing to protect Avery in all of this.
“All I’ll do is listen to what he has to say.”
“He shouldn’t be talking to you. He should report this to Captain Elliott.”
“Are you sure?” Avery asked.
It did make sense to Avery what Kirt said. She didn’t understand why Jake felt the need to share his knowledge about Kirt’s death with her, given she had no involvement in the investigation. But yet she did want to put an end to it all and solving Kirt’s murder was a big part of it.
Kirt just looked at her as if not believing she questioned him in this matter. “If he had information, why tell you. It doesn’t make sense. It is not the way it works.”
No matter what Kirt said, Avery just wouldn’t listen. She was determined to find out what Jake had to say hoping, in the end, it would help Kirt pass on to the other side.
Avery walked over to the counter. She took another gulp of the ginger ale and then grabbed her purse.
“It may be substantial,” she said turning to Kirt. “If I don’t go, I’ll never know.”
Avery quickly walked out of the apartment before Kirt could stop her. It wouldn’t have taken much more for him to convince Avery that it was just a ploy of Jake’s to get her out of the apartment. The fact that Kirt didn’t follow her, puzzled her for a moment, but in a way she was thankful, he chose not to. Or at least not make his presence known.
The streets were deserted. Although Avery lived in a city that never slept, there were times in the night it was like other cities and became deserted after a particular time. It just depended on where the nightlife bars were located.
Avery walked out of the alley and turned onto the street that leads to the park. As she walked around the corner, she was unaware of the car parked down the street. All that could be seen was the silhouette of a man sitting behind the wheel.
As Avery was about to cross the street, the car suddenly slammed into gear, squealing its tires. The headlights came on quickly, blinding Avery for an instant. At first, Avery didn’t quite know where the noise was coming from and froze a few feet off the curb. As she moved further into the street, the car also followed her. All Avery could do was stand there
in fear.
The car was a few feet from Avery when Kirt shoved her out of its path. Kirt stood his ground and stared at the car as it passed right through him.
At that moment Jake saw the vision of Kirt. It was not Avery who was struck by the car but his brother. But Kirt didn’t move as the car engulfed his image. Shock encompassed Jake at seeing his dead brother.
Avery just lay on the ground for a moment not knowing if the hurt she felt through her body was from the car hitting her or her hitting the ground. She struggled to get up but fell back down. Avery glanced up. Finally, it was Kirt standing over her glancing around as if to protect her from further harm. After a few moments, Avery managed to sit up. She grabbed her knee and saw the blood seeping out of the wound.
When Kirt came to his senses, he bent down to have a look at Avery’s injuries. There was nothing he could do but offer support. Kirt tried helping her up for his hand went right through Avery’s arm. It puzzled him that a few moments ago he could shove Avery out of the way of the car, but now was unable to help her get to her feet.
“Are you okay?” Kirt asked.
“What do you think?” Avery snapped
Avery had a puzzled look on her face when Kirt just stood up after being unable to assist her with rising.
“Why could you shove me out of the way, but not be able to help me up just now?”
Kirt shrugged not able to answer her because he too was curious about what had just happened. It was new territory for the both of them.
Avery finally managed to make it to her feet and hobble off back to her apartment. She hadn’t seen who the driver was and Kirt wasn’t telling.
Once in the apartment, Avery just walked through the living room to the bathroom. She said nothing to Kirt, just held up her hand for him not to follow her. At the moment all she wanted was to be left alone, she didn’t need the specter of Kirt hovering over her.
CHAPTER 18
Avery walked into the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment. And then she just put her hands on the vanity and hung her head. Looking down at the medicine bottles that sat on the edge of the sink. Tears streamed down her cheek with the realization that she could have killed if Kirt hadn’t shoved her out of the way of that car. Avery quickly took a deep breath and then ran some water. She grabbed the washcloth off the edge of the tub and then sat down on the toilet and started washing away the blood from her knee. She winced in pain, but after the blood was removed, the wound wasn’t as bad as she first thought.
