Sleepers and Scouts

by Phillip Murrell

A prison guard gets to the cell too late to see the evidence of Vick’s ability.

  “What the hell, Inmate? Get against the far wall,” the guard demands.

  “He’s an auggie!” Nate screams.

  “What?” the guard asks.

  Vick takes a chance and runs straight for the bars of his cells. He feels his body impact with the door, then contort. A second later, he finds himself on the other side of his cell. The guard is too stunned to react. Vick instinctively slams the man’s head into the bars and knocks him unconscious.

  Sirens and lights fill the room. Many prisoners scream in support of Vick and beg for him to free them as well. Vick decides to be more pragmatic and grabs the keys and pistol from the disabled guard. He quickly walks toward the central door of the cell block that will take him to freedom. A guard shoots at him, but a slight odd sensation is all he registers. When he looks down, he sees that his body has moved away from the bullet’s path without his knowledge. He tries to mimic what he saw on television and punch the guard from across the room, but his body doesn’t stretch.

  “Worth a shot!” Vick screams at the guard, then fires a pair of warning shots to get the man to dive for cover.

  Panic overtakes Vick as he realizes the predicament he’s in. He runs for the community bathroom with the showers and knocks the trash can over in front of the door behind him. He throws his hands up as he continuously curses his actions.

  “Shit, shit, shit.”

  Vick looks around and quickly realizes that the door he entered through is his only way out. Even windows are absent from the showers. Vick looks at the floor and sees the grate covering the floor drain. At a mere four inches across, it’s hardly an escape route. Vick thinks of what he did to get out of his cell and reconsiders the potential of the small opening. He hears the door push open and slide the trash can. Vick empties the last rounds of his pistol near the door to scare them away. He can hear the curses of the guards as they move away from him.

  “You’re only making it worse on yourself, Inmate,” someone shouts from the other side.

  Vick tosses his pistol into the sink. He pulls the grate up; it just sits on the floor, the screws long corroded away. Vick tosses the thin sheet of metal to the side and stands over the hole.

  This better work, Vick thinks.

  He decides a jump may help him best. He takes a deep breath and forces his feet into the hole. The two take on the consistency of gelatin and easily slide down the opening. Next come his hips and his torso. Vick holds his arms over his head, but it really doesn’t matter. He smiles as he shimmies his body down through the hole and slinks through the pipes.

  The door to the bathroom bursts open. Guards in riot gear spill inside. A lead shield leads the way, but it soon peels off. The guards search every stall and come back dismayed by the lack of a prisoner.

  “Shit,” one guard says. He leans into his radio. “Call the A-Men. We’ve got an auggie fugitive.”

  Chapter 3

  A short and pudgy man in his early fifties enters the Colberton Police Department. He has a clean shaven face and wispy brown hair. He adjusts his glasses and moves immediately to the desk sergeant.

  “May I help you, sir?” the desk sergeant asks.

  “Absolutely. My name is Gordon Burr, and I’d like to speak with Detective Benji Tanner,” the man answers.

  “Do you mean Sergeant Tanner?”

  “If his first name is Benji, then I suppose so.”

  “Wait a moment, and I’ll see if he’s available.”

  “Not a problem,” Gordon says.

  Gordon stands by idly as he waits for Benji. Eventually Benji rounds the corner and walks toward the desk sergeant. After a moment of conversation, she points him over to Gordon.

  “Mr. Burr, you wanted to speak with me?” Benji asks.

  “I do, but I’m afraid I’ll cause a commotion if we have our conversation in a public place. Could we go someplace a little more private?”

  “It depends. What’s your purpose here?”

  “I’m an auggie,” Gordon whispers.

  “What was that?”

  Gordon moves closer to Benji. “I’m an auggie, and I think I can help you.”

  Benji’s hand instinctively hovers over his pistol. Gordon immediately throws up his hands.

  “I’m not one of the bad ones. My powers can’t hurt anyone.”

  Benji realizes how threatening his posture is and forces himself to clasp his hands by his waist in front of him.

  “I’m sorry,” Benji says. “Follow me.”

  Benji leads Gordon through the police station and into his office. Benji offers him a seat in front of the desk, then rolls his chair around to Gordon to have a conversation without his desk acting as a barrier.

  “Would you like something to drink? Water? Soda?” Benji offers.

  “No, thank you,” Gordon responds.

  “Alright then, down to business. You say you’re augmented. What exactly can you do and how does that help me?”

  “It’s easier if I just show you. It won’t cause any damage, but it will give you a bit of a shock. I was told to do this as proof that I can help you solve cases.”

  “I’m in complete suspense.”

  Gordon takes off his glasses and sets them on the end of Benji’s desk next to him. He takes a deep breath, and his eyes turn royal blue. They’re completely the same shade without any indication of iris, pupil, or sclera.

  “Irvin Love, I summon you,” Gordon states matter-of-factly.

  Wisps of smoke pour out of Gordon’s eyes the same blue color. The volume increases and begins to take shape. The blue spirals above the office floor, exactly where Gordon is looking, and forms feet, then legs, then the full appearance of deceased Police Sergeant Irvin Love.

  Benji feels his body shake. Emotions hide just beneath the surface of revelation as Benji tries to comprehend what he’s looking at. To his surprise, the apparition speaks.

  “Calm down, Benji. It isn’t that bad,” Love says.

  The voice sounds exactly as Benji remembers. His own voice cracks when he speaks.

  “Irvin? Is it really you?”

  “It’s me, buddy. Surprise.”

  Love holds out his hands and shakes them like a spooky ghost.

  “I can’t believe it,” Benji mutters, more to himself than anyone else in the room.

  “Why not? Some crazy shit has gone down in the world lately. Talking to a ghost should be pretty easy to wrap your mind around,” Love says.

  “I guess,” Benji admits.

  “Congratulations on the promotion, by the way. You earned it.”

  Benji nervously laughs. “Thanks. I feel your shadow every day, and how the hell did your feet ever fit in these big ass shoes?”

  “I understand the feeling, but you’ll figure it out.”

  Benji looks over at Gordon and realizes that he forgot he was there.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Burr. I was definitely not expecting this.”

  “I understand, and please call me Gordon.”

  “Sure, Gordon, I’m Benji. Do you mind explaining all this?”

  Gordon’s eyes are once again their normal brown color. He places his glasses back on his face.

  “I used to wear contacts, but they’re a bit inconvenient now,” Gordon jokes. “I activated a month or two ago. I was just messing around with a roleplaying game and summoned my decades dead grandmother.”

  Gordon laughs. “She was just as confused as I was. We talked all day. It was amazing. When I woke up and looked for her, she was gone. I figured I would summon her again. It worked, and she asked me not to abuse the privilege. Apparently, she enjoys Heaven more than daily conversations with me.”

  “Can you blame her?” Love jokes.

  “Apparently, I can’t,” Gordon admits.


  “I asked what she was doing in the afterlife, but she told me that it wouldn’t make sense. So, I asked if my grandfather was there, too. I tried to summon him, but nothing happened. She asked me to send her back, and after an hour or so of trying, I figured out how to do it. I realized that I had forgotten to ask her something and tried to get her to come back, but she didn’t. Long story short, I realized over the next couple of days that I can summon one spirit per day and keep them until I fall asleep. I spoke to a lot of old friends and family. It was great.”

  “It sounds great, but what led you to me?” Benji asks.

  “I figured I could use this trick to make money. Medians seem to pull in some big figures, but my method is harder for skeptics to doubt. I’m not a greedy man, so I set a price of five hundred dollars per summon. It took a few days, but then people started calling me to book conversations months in advance.”

  “I hate to be rude, but please get to the point,” Benji interrupts.

  “I’m sorry,” Gordon says. “Bottom line is that Irvin’s family asked me to summon him. Before I sent him back, he requested I use this power to help solve murder cases. I must admit that the nobleness of the concept is something that appeals to me. He told me that you were the best guy to come speak to about it. So, here I am.”

  “The guy likes to talk, but he’s good people. I figured the center of augment activities would want someone like him on the payroll,” Love adds.

  “We can definitely use you, Gordon. I guess since you used up today’s meeting, I’ll see you on Monday. We’ll take care of you on the salary end of things.”

  “I’m not doing it for the money. I’m retired Coast Guard, so I live comfortably. I just want to help in the best way I can. I do ask that you keep my schedule to only four days a week. I’d like to use the other three days to help people who haven’t had to deal with the pain of murder.”

  “I think we can work with that. Who knows, maybe with practice you’ll be able to do it more than once a day.”

  “That would be nice,” Gordon agrees.

  “Well, my job is done, and I have paradise to get back to,” Love says. “Gordon, if you don’t mind?”

  “Wait,” Benji says. “That’s it? I don’t get to ask any questions?”

  Gordon looks sympathetically at Benji. “I’m sorry. They’ll talk about their lives, but none seem to want to reveal the secrets of the other side.”

  “Sorry, Benji. Even Heaven has rules,” Love states.

  “Okay, Irvin, I guess I’ll see you on the other side, but you have to know that Captain Crawdaddy’s isn’t the same without you.”

  “Man, why’d you have to bring them up? Now my mouth is watering. I remember putting the endless buckets away with you. Good times.”

  Benji smiles at his friend. “It never was fair that you could out eat me and keep a six pack.”

  Benji grabs his small belly and gives it a shake to emphasize his point.

  “I’m not going to apologize for better genetics,” Love jokes. “I’ve really got to go now. Take care, Benji. Keep the officers safe.”

  Love breaks down again into smoke, which travels back through Gordon’s blue eyes.

  Benji lets out a huge breath he wasn’t aware he had held in. Gordon stands there while Benji tries to process what just happened.

  “Three . . . two . . . one . . . go!” Alex screams.

  The sound of dozens of children charging across a football field rises all around him. The children, ages seven to ten, race with large baskets and pluck multi-colored plastic eggs from their various hiding places. Alex watches as Ava weaves her way around the younger children to grab the choice targets.

  Kim stands next to Alex with her phone out and records the race to sugar.

  “Go, baby! Find the golden egg.”

  Ava seems to ignore her mother as she dumps three more eggs into her basket, which rapidly nears the overflow point.

  “I’ve got to go check on Donald at the prize table,” Alex says to his wife.

  She just nods and continues to film their daughter.

  Alex weaves his way through the throngs of spectators and younger children until he reaches his friend. Donald stands behind a table with higher quality presents. Occasionally parents of younger children walk up to him and had a slip of paper found inside one of the eggs. Donald then searches through his stash of toys and hands the lucky winner something a bit more substantial than candy. A kid walks away with a toy drone as Alex arrives.

  “How goes it?” Alex asks.

  “You here to bail me out?” Donald asks.

  “Sorry, buddy.”

  “Then it goes exactly as you’d expect.”

  “Easter’s tomorrow. Soon it’ll go back to normal again.”

  “Not a word that I would use with this city.”

  “Fair point.”

  “So, what do you get to indulge in again when Lent ends?” Donald asks.

  Alex checks to make sure no young eavesdroppers can hear his answer.

  “Kim, in her great wisdom, decided that we should give up sex for Lent. Something about it being a great sacrifice, and it will bring us closer together.”

  Donald laughs hysterically at his friend. He slaps his knee and tries to catch his breath, but each time he looks at Alex’s face, another fit of the giggles overtakes him. Alex grows increasingly annoyed as the laughter continues and grows in volume.

  “You finished?” Alex eventually asks.

  “Sorry, man. Did Rosie Palms give you the same speech? How about her five sisters?”

  “Dude, this is a church event.”

  “So, that’s a no? Good woman, that Rosie.”

  “At least I have a known date to the end of my dry spell. What’s your excuse?”

  “I’d love to explain it, but this is a church event.”

  “You see where Father Rich went?” Alex asks.

  “He was over here a few minutes ago, but I think he went off to speak with Tom. Why?”

  “I just wanted to make sure he didn’t need me to help clean up. I promised Kim that I’d take the kids to see that new animated movie.”

  “Better you than me.”

  “Daddy! Daddy!” Ava runs up screaming. “I won!”

  Alex looks at his daughter, who’s trailed by Kim and the twins. All three children are elated.

  “What did you win, sweetheart?” Alex asks as he gives his daughter a hug.

  “I won the bunny!”

  Donald begins to laugh again. A look of dismay washes over Alex’s face.

  “The toy bunny?” Alex hopes.

  To Donald’s obvious pleasure, Ava shakes her head.

  “No, silly. I won the real bunny. The brown one. I’m gonna name her Chocolate.”

  “That’s a perfect name, Ava,” Donald states.

  Ava beams as Donald grabs the cage with a six pound Deilenaar rabbit inside. Ava and the twins bounce next to the cage.

  “Don’t touch her!” Ava shouts. “Chocolate is my pet.”

  “Hey!” Kim scolds. “Let your brothers look or you may not find a basket tomorrow morning.”

  Ava relents to her mother’s wishes. The three kids huddle around the cage while Alex excuses himself to find Father Rich.

  Father Rich is in the middle of a conversation with Father Tom. The two smile as Easter egg hunters march past them.

  “It’s a nice day,” Father Rich marvels.

  “It is,” Father Tom agrees.

  “Tom, let’s not act like it doesn’t bother you to miss out on Easter mass.”

  “It does.”

  “Just stop being so stubborn and tell Bishop Bradley what he wants to hear.”

  “I’m not going to ignore my own convictions, and you shouldn’t encourage me to either.”

  �
�That’s the very obstinance I’m talking about. Why do you have to draw a line in the sand and defend it?”

  “Because someone has to protect the people. I’m not trying to say that you need to change your opinion to match mine, so why is that exactly what you all expect of me?”

  “That’s a bit melodramatic.”

  “That’s what someone with blinders up would say. The world is changing. Our doctrine has to change, too.”

  “I give up,” Father Rich says. “Let me know when you want to have a rational conversation instead of getting up in arms. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve wanted to fight unwinnable battles.”

  “You have a terrorist attack in the recreation center on your watch and see how your opinion changes,” Father Tom counters.

  Alex runs up on the two priests.

  “I’m sorry, am I interrupting?” he asks.

  Father Rich gives a final look toward Father Tom then shakes his head.

  “No, Alex, what do you need?”

  Father Tom slowly walks away from the two with slumped shoulders.

  Garish lights and children’s music surround Karen and Abel. The two hold miniature golf clubs and wait their turn to play the next hole on a breezy afternoon. A family of ten is in front of them and moves excruciatingly slow. Their pace is further delayed by the constant need to take pictures of each player as he or she steps up to tee off.

  “You seem tense, Sister,” Abel comments.

  “I just wish they’d hurry up,” Karen admits.

  “Why? Is there a cash bonus for finishing first?”

  “No,” Karen answers.

  “How about a diamond encrusted championship ring?”

  Karen laughs at the absurdity.

  “Of course not.”

  “So, would you agree that this event is really nothing more than a reason for two siblings to spend some time together?”

  “I suppose.”

  “Excellent, then the family in front of us should no longer be a concern, Sister.”

  “Why won’t you call me Karen?”

  “I suppose it’s a cultural thing. Gudz usually refer to each other by relationship over name. So, you are Sister. It’s also the reason why Votary is Votary. She was an early disciple, and the name sort of stuck with him.”