Slideways

by Jeffrey Grode

  “I’m Dr. Baum with the Commonwealth Security Division. You look young, dumb and on the run.” Baum sneered. He had a small piece of green lettuce stuck between his two front teeth.

  “What do you want?” The man stood too close. If it weren’t for the Taser, he’d clock the asshole.

  “Let’s be civil if we can. Give me the watch, and I’ll help you go home.” The agent held out his free hand toward Ben.

  Ben slowly raised his arms him until his bare wrists were visible. “I’m not wearing a watch.”

  Baum grabbed Ben, spun him sideways, and pushed him face-first against the wall.

  Ben’s sunglasses broke, gashed his forehead, and fell to the floor. He felt Baum’s hand frisking his pockets. Pushed off the wall with both hands, he knocked Baum back a few steps. Blood ran down Ben’s forehead and into his left eye.

  “Give me the damn watch!” Baum pushed Ben back against the wall.

  The restroom door creaked open. In the mirror, Ben saw DJ Donner’s eyes flare as he entered the room.

  The DJ grabbed Baum’s jacket at the nape of the neck and dragged the tall man down and backwards onto the gritty bathroom floor.

  Ben wanted to run, but Baum lay on his back with his Taser aimed at the DJ. Ben kicked the Taser hand just as agent fired. The leads flew into Baum’s neck and made him flop and fry like a drop of water on a hot griddle. They watched until Baum stopped moving.

  When Baum moaned and tried to sit up, DJ Donner kicked him in the head. “Lights out, baby.” Donner washed his hands. “When they’re down, don’t ever let them back up. Get out of here, kid.”

  “Play well or die,” Ben murmured

  “What?” Donner looked confused.

  “Uh. Thanks.” Ben ran out of the bathroom and bumped into Lori. They both caught each other and kept their balance as AC/DC’s Thunderstruck played in the background.

  She studied his face. “Who are you? You look like . . . you’re bleeding.” She swallowed. “What—”

  He saw the concern in Lori’s eyes and hugged her. “You were always my friend.” He knew it sounded stupid as soon as he said it, and blushed.

  She blinked and took a step back.

  Ben glanced over Lori’s shoulder and saw the curly haired agent bumping past customers and moving toward him.

  Brandon who had been watching Lori, saw the agent, stood, and moved to intercept.

  “Sorry, Lori. Gotta go,” Ben said, and walked quickly to his right. Keeping the tables between him and the approaching CSD agent, Ben eyes searched for Jack, but couldn’t find him. Gone.

  Ben angled to the right and hurried along the restaurant bar toward the kitchen where he hoped to find Jack, or at least escape through the back door.

  The curly man with the brown suit lurched toward him, but Brandon was closer. Brandon caught the agent’s left hand and bent the thumb back forcing the man to his knees. The nearest customer gasped, but others clapped as if it were improvisational dinner theater.

  Ben gave Brandon a quick thumbs up and raced past two waitresses and into the kitchen. Hot and humid air washed over him as he ran across sticky floor. Surprised faces greeted him, but not one of them was Jack’s.

  “What’s going on!” a cook yelled, as Ben dashed past the ovens. A busboy with an armful of dishes ducked out of the way. Ben found the exit and pushed through the screen door to the alley outside. He stopped and scanned the parking lot.

  Jack stood twenty feet to his left, engaged in a conversation with the driver of a red pickup truck with silver lined solar panels. Jack held a wrapped birthday present under his right arm.

  Behind Ben, the screen door slapped shut with a bang.

  Jack turned toward him and stared.

  Ben rushed to Jack’s side out of breath.

  Jack took a step back and paled. “What the hell?”

  Johnnie leaned his head out the truck window. “Ben? You’re bleeding.”

  Ben wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

  Jack stared. “You can’t be Ben, but . . . why do you look so much like him?”

  Ben smiled. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

  Jack shook his head. “Why?”

  Ben grinned like a madman. He took a step forward and hugged Jack breathless. “Tag, you’re it, Brother Bear.”

  “Back to the zoo for you,” Jack said automatically, but then pushed Ben back a step. “How do you know about that?” He squinted at Ben’s face.

  The sound of crashing dishes, pots, and pans, echoed from inside the kitchen. A gunshot exploded and a woman screamed. “I’ll explain later,” Ben said, “but we need to leave now. The CSD is trying to kill me. Please . . . Mr. Fuller. Can you get us out of here?”

  Johnnie frowned and looked back down the alley. “Get in boys. We need to roll.”

  Ben and Jack hurried around the truck and climbed into the front seat. Ben sat in the middle and watched the side mirror.

  Three CSD agents emerged from the kitchen and one pointed at the truck.

  Johnnie tromped the accelerator and the electric motor whined as they sped down the alley.

  The agents chased them on foot, until Johnnie turned the corner and drove into the twilight.

  Chapter 19

  Johnnie drove Jack and Ben west through Terra’s Carlston. He ran two red lights, turned north, and west again until they were miles outside the city limits. They chased the setting sun passing cornfields on the left and soybeans on the right. As far as Ben could tell, they weren’t being followed, but he kept watch for the brown sedan.

  Johnnie slowed down to the speed limit and glanced at him. “God, you look so much like Ben.” He shook his head. “This feels like some crazy dream.”

  “Yea, but it’s not, Dad,” Jack said as he watched the rearview mirror. “Why are we running like scared rabbits from CSD? To protect . . . him? We don’t know who he really is. Balls up. I’m not sure if it’s even safe for us to go home tonight.”

  Ben winced. His happiness collapsed like a black hole inside his chest. He’d hoped for a happy reunion, but instead he’d confused the people he needed most. Johnnie looked a little scared and Jack seemed pissed. He’d put them in danger and their anger was justified. He rocked his head back and closed his eyes. God help me. I don’t always do the right thing.

  Johnnie turned east and drove into the growing darkness while Jack kept his eyes on the side view mirror.

  Ben blew out a breath. “You’re right. Sorry. I should never have gone to the restaurant.”

  Jack studied him.

  Ben maintained eye contact. “I just wanted to see you again, but I never wanted to get you in trouble.”

  Johnnie turned northeast on Forest Parkway and toward the county reservoir. “Today, in Tibbetsville, you said your name was ‘Charlie.’”

  Ben nodded. “I was afraid, so I lied. I’m Ben Fuller. Charlie’s my middle name.”

  “Ha.” Jack said. “Ben’s middle name was Joseph. Wait a minute. What were you doing in Tibbetsville?”

  Johnnie glanced at Ben and waited. His face, a mixture of shadow and light, reflected the dashboard illumination.

  “I needed a ride.” Ben explained what had happened with Suzie, why he felt foolish, and why he’d run away.

  Johnnie blinked. “At first we weren’t sure if you were trying to kidnap her. Later we realized Suzie had learned how to open the gate latch herself. I owe you, Ben. I think you may have saved her life.”

  “He’s not Ben, Dad. Can’t be,” Jack said. “Ben died.” Jack balled his fist and beat it against his chest. A tiny cloud of flour puffed from his white kitchen apron. “I got him killed, remember?”

  “Jack, a car killed your brother. You weren’t even there.” Johnnie said. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Yes it was.” Jack sighed. “If I’d gone running with him that morning, he’d be alive today. I could have saved him.” Jack lowered his head.

  “Jack. We’ve been over this before,” Johnnie sai
d softly. “Bad things happen. It wasn’t your fault.”

  The silence stretched. Ben knew this argument too well and exactly how Jack felt. This stranger from another world made him feel closer to Jack than any of his family or friends back home.

  Johnnie pulled into the picnic grove by the reservoir, backed into an empty parking spot along the woods, and killed the lights. A young family roasted hot dogs around a campfire by the pavilion. Another couple listened to music in their car as the sunset painted an orange flame across the water.

  Johnnie turned off the ignition, gripped the steering wheel, and turned toward Ben. His eyes were red. “Okay. Help me understand. I know my youngest son died. How can you be Ben Fuller?”

  Ben unbuckled his seatbelt and took a deep breath. “Okay. “I am Ben Fuller, but I’m not your biological son. I’m from a different world.”

  Jack’s shoulders stiffened. “Cowshit.” He slapped the dashboard hard enough to make the glove compartment door drop open. “Who the hell are you?”

  Johnnie raised his hand. “Ease up Jack. Give him a chance to explain.”

  Ben told them almost everything about Jack’s death on Earth, meeting Albert, his encounter with CSD on Earth, and his need to find GranPat. He didn’t tell them specifically about the portal watch, or his attempt to meet with Patsy. The former to protect Johnnie and the latter to avoid upsetting Jack.

  “You’re fuckin’ crazy,” Jack said.

  Ben shrugged. “Crazy or not, here I am.”

  Johnnie shifted in his seat. “If the CSD is really after you, then you’re in trouble. They don’t play by any set rules. People who cross them go to jail or just disappear.”

  Ben grimaced. “Baum told me he was CSD at the restaurant, though I think I first saw him outside Dad’s garage on Earth. He’s the same guy who captured Albert.”

  “But I just saw Pop-Pop this morning at my house,” Jack said.

  “No. You saw Patrick, my grandfather. He’s from Earth too.”

  “He looked like Pop-Pop.” Jack frowned.

  “And I look like Ben. Patrick and Albert are doppelgangers.”

  Jack frowned. “Doppelgangers? Do you mean like twins?”

  “Yes, like a copy of you in a parallel universe,” Ben said.

  “Patrick is a nice guy and all,” Jack said, “but we need to get my grandfather back before those CSD fuckbangers hurt him.” Jack studied Ben’s face then offered his hand. “Look. I’ll help you find Patrick if you help me find Albert. Deal?”

  Ben shook his hand. “Deal. Thanks.” He felt the tightness in his chest loosen. “You do remind me of my brother. I really miss him.”

  Jack nodded. “I miss mine too.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, I can roll with you . . . for the sake of my little brother. It feels weird, but good at the same time.”

  Ben nudged Jack’s shoulder. “Yea. I’m your surprise birthday gift.”

  “Ha!” Jack smirked. “You surprised me alright. Never saw it coming.”

  “Ben,” Johnnie said, “I’m happy to meet you and grateful for what you did for Suzie. You were her guardian angel today. Let me know how I can help.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Fuller. You already have.”

  “Sure. Call me Johnnie, or Dad if you want.”

  Ben shrugged. “Thanks, Johnnie.”

  Johnnie shifted in his seat. “I better get back home. I can drop you two off at Patsy’s, since Patrick is staying there.”

  “No!” Ben said a little too loudly. “CSD agents are watching the house. I saw them in a brown car.”

  “They were at my house?” Jack eyes grew wide.

  “Come back with me to Tibbetsville,” Johnnie said. “You can stay at my house.”

  “CSD saw your truck tonight, Dad,” Jack said. “They’re probably watching your place too. Go home and check on Suzie and Lucy. We’ll be okay. We can hike back home from here and stay at a friend’s house. We’ll contact you tomorrow if we need help.”

  “I agree,” Ben said. “Let things cool down. We’ll sneak over to Jack’s house first thing in the morning and speak with my grandfather.”

  Jack nodded.

  “Okay. Be careful.” Johnnie met Jack’s eyes. “I’d like to talk to Ben for a minute. Do you mind?”

  “No problem.” Jack slid out of the truck and walked down toward the water.

  Johnnie turned toward Ben. “I want you to know if you can’t get back to Earth, for whatever reason, you’re always welcome to come live with me.”

  “Thanks, but why? You don’t even know me.”

  “You saved my little girl. You have the same heart as my Ben, always ready to jump in and try to do the right thing. He’s gone now, but I miss him so much.” Jonnie cleared his throat. “I hope he knew how much I loved him.”

  Ben remained silent while Johnnie gathered his thoughts.

  “Back on . . . Earth,” Johnnie said, “are your father and mother well?”

  “Yes. They’re still together.” Ben said. “Dad left the hardware store to open his own garage. He’s a mechanic.”

  Johnnie’s eyebrows rose. “Really? Wow. And your mom?”

  “She works full time at Allied Insurance and is the best cook you can imagine.”

  “Is she happy?”

  Ben tapped his lip. “Sometimes. Other times she gets really sad. She misses Jack so much she can’t seem to . . . well, come back to normal.”

  “Did she get an implant for the depression?” John asked.

  “We don’t have those kind of implants back home, just pills and therapy.”

  “Patsy has an implant. She was inconsolable after the accident and spent some time in the hospital. The implant helped her overcome her depression, but she became angry and hard. The implants work to varying degrees, but some have negative side effects.”

  Ben waited. He knew there was more.

  “I’m sorry.” Jonnie continued, “I wondered what life might have been if I stayed with Jack’s mom. It just didn’t work out. Lucy and I are happy, and I want the same for Patsy.”

  Ben frowned. “To be honest, you and Lucy didn’t seem very happy today.”

  Johnnie shrugged. “We have good days and some wicked bad ones, but it’s mostly good. Call it a work in progress. You can’t count on someone else to make you happy, you have to make it happen up here.” Johnnie tapped his forehead.

  Ben nodded. How do you do that?

  “Is your father happy?”

  Ben tilted his head. “Yea. Mostly. He’s really nice and works hard. He gets pissed off sometimes, but it doesn’t last long. We all miss Jack.”

  Johnnie nodded. “I understand how you feel, but like I told Jack, you shouldn’t blame yourself for things you can’t control. Got it?”

  “I hear you.” But I do blame myself. Kipper didn’t follow Dad to work that morning. She left because I forgot to close the damn gate.

  “Good. Let’s find Jack.”

  “Wait, I have a question. I overhead Dad on a phone call. He might have been talking to another woman. I’m not sure, but it bothers me. Do you think I should ask him about the call?”

  Johnnie’s eyes widened. “That’s up to you. If you trust him, then trust him. If you can’t let it go, then ask. I’d trust him. He sounds like a better man than me.”

  “Thanks.” He wanted to trust his father.

  “One last thing.” Johnnie said. “Humor me. I’m going to pretend for a moment you’re my son.” Johnnie took a deep breath and his eyes teared up. “Ben, I love you, and I’ve missed you, and it’s so good to see you again.” Johnnie hugged him.

  Ben returned the embrace. “I love you too, Dad.” He meant it. This was a good man.

  They found Jack skipping stones by the water’s edge.

  Johnnie tussled Jack’s hair. “Happy Birthday.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “You boys watch each other’s backs, and remember, call me if you need my help.”

  “Will do.”

  They wal
ked uphill to the fire trail and waved to Johnnie in the parking lot. He flashed his lights and drove into the dark night.

  Chapter 20

  Patsy sat in her living room and surfed the tube from the sanctuary of her leather easy chair. The Commonwealth forecaster promised three days of fair weather, followed by storms with possible damaging wind and hail. They advised everyone to button down and reel in their tethered solar panels.

  She thought about her houseguest - the liar. The CSD agent had told her an imposter may show up pretending to be her father, and asked her to go along with the charade. CSD hoped his accomplice, a boy pretending to be Ben, may also visit. She understood why this Patrick might pretend to be her father, but Ben? How absurd and cruel. CSD had, however, promised a sizeable reward for the boy. All she had to do was keep them informed.

  Meanwhile, the liar worked on her busted washing machine in the basement. At least he was handy. She switched to the Lottery Channel and watched a reality show based on winners who’d spent through their prize money and were utterly miserable. Patsy pulled back the lever for the footrest, stretched out her legs, and sighed. She wondered if Johnnie missed his favorite chair.

  Dr. Harry Baum, CSD SAC for Pennsylvania Province, UAC, Terra, sat on an examination table in a small room at Mercy General outside Carlston. A nurse bandaged his bare scalp.

  Should he have just kept Patrick a prisoner, rather than release him as bait? He might have avoided the ugly scene in the restaurant altogether. Luckily, the DJ’s kick to his head hadn’t damaged his cranial implants.

  Baum grit his teeth and his wispy mustache tickled his lower lip.

  “How’s that feel?” The middle-aged nurse wore a thick foundation makeup and a dark purple shade of lipstick.

  He rubbed his hand over the white bandage. “Can you loosen it a bit, sweetie?”

  “Wrapped a little too tight?” She smirked. “Did you get the name of the horse who kicked you?”

  “Donner. Brown hair and eyes. About twelve hands high.” She didn’t need to know he got his assed kicked by a freaking disc jockey. He could press charges against the DJ for assault, but this operation was off book. Still, he’d shoot the fuckbanger, if he ever got in his way again.