Vick lies down, but listens to Nate sniffling as he tries to fall asleep. A scowl forms on his face as he listens to a weak man silently complain about a perceived unfair system.
Chapter 2
Papa Nutmare sits across from an exceptionally beautiful woman. Her makeup is professionally applied, her breasts are large and natural, and her short dress reveals long, toned legs. Her blonde hair completes the cliché fantasy girl.
Papa Nutmare plays his part as a shock jock, but his words have significantly less bite. This guest is not one he wants to offend too much.
“Alright, my Driblets, welcome back. As promised in studio, with me is the insanely hot Gallery.”
“Hello,” the woman says into her microphone.
A “thump thump” sound effect is played along with heavy breathing.
“Damn it, Shattered Blanket!” Papa Nutmare shouts. “Show a little class. Stop jerking it!”
Gallery plays along. “You know I can see you.”
“Really?” Papa Nutmare asks. “Add amazing vision to her list of attributes, Driblets.”
The thump and breathing sound effects stop.
“Sorry,” Shattered Blanket sheepishly says. “I have to go to the bathroom now.”
The sound of a chair pulling out plays as Gallery shakes her head at the absurdity.
“I’m sorry about that, Gallery. Some people just don’t know how to behave around celebrities,” Papa Nutmare apologizes.
“Or around human beings it seems,” Gallery quips back.
“So, tell us why you’re in town.”
“As you know, I’m on tour, but I had to stay a little longer out here to see a superhero city.”
Papa Nutmare sighs. “Why waste your time with a piss stain like Colberton?”
“That city’s been through a lot. They deserve to party and shouldn’t have to drive up here to Yama every time they want to.”
“What’s wrong with Yama?”
“Nothing. I love my Yama fans.”
Gallery laughs and keeps a vibrant smile for the benefit of the online subscribers.
“Please tell me you’re not an auggie groupie. A fat slob like me can’t take that kind of news. My heart will fail.”
“I have the groupies. I don’t need to be one.”
“I guess that just put me in my place.”
Gallery leans into her microphone and seductively says, “Which I might add is significantly far from me. Don’t think I don’t notice you trying to roll your chair closer.”
“It’s not me, honest. Your body is a tractor beam pulling me in . . . groin first.”
“That’s sweet. Too bad I’m allergic to bad metaphors.”
“Fair enough, but let’s get back to your impromptu show in Colberton. Tell me you at least have some free tickets you’re going to hand out on my show.”
“Absolutely. The Driblets are in need of partying more than any other social group in America.”
“You see, Driblets, I told you she was alright. Will these tickets include your backdoor pass–I mean, back stage pass? I swear. I always get those two mixed up.”
“Shattered Blanket mentioned that and said it led to awkward family gatherings.”
“C’mon, Gallery, don’t talk about my Bottom Driblet when he isn’t here to defend himself.”
“Actually, he was quoting you.”
Keith laughs along to the exchange between Papa Nutmare and Gallery. He runs through his neighborhood in Colberton while listening to the night’s show on his smartphone. Sweat stains his t-shirt, an indication of several miles behind him. He rounds the corner to his street and transitions to a walk. His hands are on his head as he breathes heavily from the extra effort during the final half mile.
“Whew.” Keith gasps.
He slowly walks to his front yard and performs his cool down stretches. After a few minutes, he gets up and goes through the front door.
Tina sits in the living room and reads a romance novel. She looks up at her son as he stands in front of an open refrigerator in the kitchen.
“Please don’t drink from the bottle. Pour yourself a glass.”
Keith takes a few more swallows and replaces the cap on his oversized sports drink.
“Sorry, but you don’t drink it.”
“I don’t like looking at it. It makes me wonder about the stuff that we do share.”
“Okay, Mom. Would you buy the strawberry lemonade next time?”
“If I see it at the store.”
“Thanks.”
Keith walks into the living room and sits on the reclining chair. Tina makes a face of disgust.
“Please shower first.”
“I can’t. You shouldn’t take a shower until your body stops sweating.”
“Then stand up. I don’t want your stink infecting my chair.”
“I’ll spray it down.”
“I’ve heard that one before. So how far did you run tonight?”
“Ten miles. I’m working my way up to a full marathon. You wanna run with me?”
“I’ll pass. They invented this thing called the combustion engine, which led to cars, so I’m good.”
“Your loss.”
“Any significant plans coming up that I should know about?”
“Funny you should ask. Gallery is going to perform in Colberton. Jenny loves her. Would you be a doll and use that surgeon money to get me some tickets?”
“A doll?”
“Because you’re eternally beautiful.”
“I can see that a year with your father wasn’t wasted. How many do you need?”
“I’d like four, but I’ll take two.”
“So, you can introduce some friends at school to your girlfriend?”
Tina uses air quotes around “girlfriend.”
“You know video chats are a thing. It wouldn’t be hard to prove Jenny’s existence, but I was actually asking for two more tickets for Mason and Sherry.”
“All three of them are going to travel down here? You think their parents will let them?”
“Mason’s practically eighteen, Mom. He’ll be a senior next year.”
“Why don’t I ever hear of friends at your school here?”
“I’ve got acquaintances; isn’t that good enough?”
“No, it isn’t. You should have people here. It seems like your friends change with the sports season. None of the guys from the football team ever come over anymore.”
“Because it’s track season, Mom.”
“You know what I’m getting at. Is this about Kyle?”
A flicker of emotion washes over Keith’s face, but is soon gone.
“No. I’ve accepted that now. I miss him, but the pain isn’t the same. It’s dull now, instead of piercing. Jenny got me to a good place.”
“Good. She’s a good girl, but you need the fellas from time to time, too.”
“Okay, Mom, I promise to get bros in different area codes.”
Tina smiles. “Good.”
“If you want to buy six tickets, I’m sure I can find someone on the team to come, too.”
“I’m not the party charity.”
“Okay, Mom, hard bargain, but I accept your offer of four tickets.”
“Jenny has rubbed off on you more than you realize.”
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes.”
Keith jumps up from his chair. “Thanks, Mom. I didn’t give you that number one mug for nothing.”
“You’re welcome, aww!”
Tina tries to protect herself from the sloppy and sweaty hug her sixteen-year-old embraces her with.
“Gross! Let go! You aren’t too big to whup!”
“Say ‘I love you, Sweetie’ and I’ll let you go.”
“Le
t go or no tickets.”
Keith instantly releases his grip. “I was just trying to show that I appreciate you.”
“You can show me by taking a short shower and saving money on water. I’m gonna need it to buy the tickets.”
“Alright.”
Keith gives his mom a kiss on the cheek and runs upstairs.
“There better be some hot water left!” Tina shouts to him while wiping beads of Keith’s sweat off her arm.
Julie stands inside a triangle of three large, athletic men. All four wear workout clothes. Julie scans each of her opponents to ascertain which will pounce first. Henry stands outside the training area, with a tablet in hand and a phone to his ear. He’s amid an important conversation, but Julie isn’t concerned with that at the moment. Henry will tell her when he’s ready. For now, she must intercept the first blow.
It comes from the bearded man to her right. Julie steps out of the punch’s path and palm strikes the man in his solar plexus. He gasps and takes a step back. Julie begins to turn around, but feels the powerful arms of the bald man grab her from behind. The man’s grip is impressive, and he lifts Julie’s light body off the ground with the intent to pile drive her into the mat. Julie head-butts the man with the back of her skull. The man’s grip loosens, and Julie takes the additional arm room to chop the man in the crotch. His grip loosens more. She drops into a wide horse stance and throws her hands up. The maneuver frees her from her captor, but it sets her up from a vicious right cross from the final man.
This opponent is covered in scars, and he connects with an uppercut under Julie’s chin. She sees stars from the power of the blow. She uses defensive and sloppy blocks to bat away the sequential punches and kicks from the scarred man, as well as a recovered bearded man. Julie can barely concentrate on her surroundings as her mind continues to go back to the pain from the well-placed blows. She wills the pain away, but it seeps back in as she’s swept to the floor by the scarred man.
Julie hits her head hard on the mat and lies there gasping for air. The scarred man mounts her and attempts to choke her out with his hands. Julie traps his leg with her own. She then punches the man in the throat and rolls him over while he gags. Julie is now in the mount and punches the man repeatedly in the face. Her own face is red from exertion. She feels a pair of powerful arms yank her from the scarred man’s body. Trapped in a full nelson lock by the bearded man, the bald man strikes her in the stomach. Once again, the air rushes out of her body. Julie traps the ankle of the bearded man holding her and essentially sits on his knee. The unique angle of the pressure forces him to the mats, sparing Julie another punch to the face.
On the floor, Julie uses both elbows to strike the man underneath her in the ribs. Her elbows dig deep. Julie senses victory until the bald man flings her across the room again. She attempts to stand quickly, but not fast enough to escape the headlock from the scarred man. Her vision blurs while two more hands grab her ankles and lift her. She’s now suspended from the floor by her legs and her neck. She flails with her hands to land a successful blow, but all three men are obviously wary of her only defense. Black spots form in her eyes. She has to accept the fact that she has lost . . . again. With complete disdain, she taps the scarred man’s elbow.
Immediately she’s gently set down and allowed to regain her composure. Her opponents are likewise winded. All four sit on the mats and pant for a few moments.
“Good job, gentlemen. Highest marks as always,” Julie compliments.
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman,” the three say in near unison.
“I’m getting closer,” Julie says, more to herself than her opponents.
“I agree,” Henry says, his phone conversation now complete.
Julie motions with her head, a dismissal for the three sparring partners. She stands and wipes the errant dirt from her palms.
“Do you have good news for me, Henry?” Julie asks.
“Unfortunately, no, Mr. Chairman,” Henry answers.
Julie is miffed by this.
“How can he be this difficult to find?”
“Hector has substantial resources. They nearly rival our own.”
“Exactly my point. Nearly rival our own. Who’s protecting him?”
“The entire continent of South America. It’ll take some time.”
“That time comes at a substantial cost. How much did we lose this month because of Hector’s people?”
“Fourteen million dollars.”
“And would you call that a small loss or a big one?”
“I understand your point, Mr. Chairman.”
“I want you to answer.”
“It was a small amount compared to previous months’ losses. It’s a large amount to just surrender.”
“So, please tell me that next month won’t show the same pattern.”
“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”
“I suggest you find a way to kill Hector this month.”
“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”
“Good. Now come take a shower with me.”
“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”
Claire stands next to Sam in his office. She dabs the corner of her eyes with a tissue.
“I’m so happy to finally say this to you, Claire, but don’t be a stranger. Our last session may be over, but I hope I can still count on you as a friend.”
Claire nods. “Of course, Sam. I’ve spent more time with you over the past two years than anyone outside of work, and Benji, of course.”
“Any lingering questions?” Sam asks.
“No. I’m completely good now. My life is amazing. I have the best boyfriend in the world, I live in my dream home, which I get to go to after working at my dream job.”
“Who could ask for more? What about the Drives?”
“What about them?”
“Did you ever get closure there? You stopped ranting about them several months ago. I didn’t want to stir up any old wounds, but I have to confess that my curiosity is getting the better of me.”
“Is this how you trick all your patients into signing up for more sessions?”
Claire chuckles at her own joke, and Sam shares a smile.
“No,” Sam admits, “but that’s an excellent idea.”
“And I’m the opportunistic one? I don’t care about the Drives anymore. Wait . . . that was worded wrong. I hope they do well, and I hope they have great lives. I just don’t need them to validate mine. I thought I did, but I don’t.”
“Good, Claire. That’s excellent. I always knew you would eventually realize that. Does this include Wynona Langley?”
Claire stifles a grimace. “Wynona is her own woman. If I never hear the name again, it’ll be too soon. Thankfully, now I have people who can immediately return her hate mail. From what I hear, it doesn’t come in too frequently anymore.”
“Good. That’s probably a sign that she’s also decided to move on with her life.”
“I hope so.”
The two stare at each other for a moment, neither sure what to say next. Finally, Claire makes a move.
“Doc, you know you gotta hug it out with me, right?”
“Sure.”
The two embrace like old friends. It’s clear that both cherished the relationship far beyond a purely medical one.
“Promise me one thing, Doc,” Claire says, her words muffled by Sam’s chest.
“Anything, Claire.”
“Take care of my man, Simon. He needs fixing, too.”
“Toby will always be a priority.”
The two break their hug. Claire gives him a final wave before leaving his office.
A short woman with a petite build sits at an outdoor table at a coffee shop. She skims across articles on her phone while she waits for someone to meet her. Several articles and numerous sighs later, a coffee cup is placed in front of her.
&
nbsp; “It took you long enough,” the woman remarks.
Gabe Hammington sits across from her with his own drink. Gone are his perfectly styled television hair and professional makeup team. Now his face is pockmarked and wrinkled with hair cut short, revealing some male pattern baldness on his crown.
“You don’t pay me enough to care about punctuality, Wynona,” Gabe responds.
Wynona Langley takes a careful sip from her steamy cup of coffee. She briefly savors the flavor before swallowing and fixing Gabe with an annoyed look.
“You know the bitch moved into her big ass mansion, right?” Wynona asks.
“She made sure to let the entire world know on her program the other night. I use the term loosely because all she does is spread her legs for the auggies. She used to call me on my integrity. Hypocrite.”
“Can you stay with me in the moment, Gabe? Did you find her address?”
“Of course, I did. It wasn’t that hard to come by. I think she puts too much faith in her heroes. The delusional bitch actually thinks they’ll always swoop in to save her.”
“You’re positive they won’t? Those Templars scare me. They can do whatever they want, whenever they want, and nobody in the government seems to care.”
“Listen, I’m not here to be a shoulder to cry on. I got you the address.” Gabe flicks a note card over to Wynona. “If you want anything else, you’re gonna have to pay for it. You’re not the only PI client I have.”
Wynona snatches the card and quickly puts it inside her oversized “mom” purse.
“You can’t just leave right now. You hate her just as much as me. You have to help me make her life a living hell.”
“I only do that for money. Claire Kennedy is too much of a pain in my ass, and she knows me. It’s not exactly easy for me to get close to her.”
“So, you don’t care that she’s won?”
“I didn’t say that, but I’m a rational guy. Someone else will have to take her down, unless I’m getting paid. For money, I’ll burn shit on her doorstep every day.”
Sleepers and Scouts Page 4
