Jayden sat on her hands and stiffened her back. She had provided no details about the cause of the damage.
“Miss Nanjee,” he said softly. “It’s evident your Jeep has been ‘assaulted,’ and not in a vehicular accident kind-of-way. Someone did this on purpose. Do you have any idea who might have done this?”
Drawing herself taller, Jayden shook her head in a negative gesture. “No,” she whispered. She looked downward, unable to maintain eye contact.
“You’re sure?” he asked again.
Jayden shook her head, unable to mouth the word, ‘No.’ Liar liar pants on fire she scolded herself.
“Perhaps we should call your father?”
“I, uh, I’ll call him after you give me the estimate.”
“We can do that, of course,” Mr. Mortimer agreed. “And I will tell you, based on the condition of the Jeep, the repair cost will likely be in the forty-five-hundred dollar range.”
Jayden gulped. She didn’t have $4,500. This crossing point of independence sucks.
Chapter 12
What Comes Next?
The next few hours were painful for Jayden. Even though dealership staff provided a detailed explanation of the required body work, she was in a conundrum about payment. If she filed a police report and pretended to be unaware of the culprit, they would then question her superintendent and discover it was her mom who laid a beating on the Jeep. Insurance would be obligated to pay for the repairs but... what would happen to her mom? Yeah but if I don’t tell, how can I pay for the repairs? I don’t have $4,500.
Seated in the glassed-in waiting area of the dealership, Jayden swirled the drinking water in her small paper cup, formulating her next move. Customers sat around her, most of them staring vacantly at the closed-caption TV on the wall. She heard footsteps in the hall and everyone glanced over as Mr. Mortimer appeared behind the glass partition. He nodded to the customers and then motioned toward Jayden, pointing to his office. Slinging her purse over a shoulder, Jayden stood and followed him.
“My son, Junior, will be here shortly and will escort you back home.” He was holding an open file folder containing the repair estimate and he closed it slowly. “I know this is a lot to absorb in one morning and there’s no need to make up your mind today,” he said, “so you can let me know tomorrow what you want me to do.”
There was a knock on the door and Junior popped his head in. “Jayden!” The surprise was evident in his voice and he looked enquiringly at his father.
Mr. Mortimer moved from behind his desk and strode toward Junior, placing a hand on his forearm and preventing him from entering the room. “Would you excuse us for a moment, Miss Nanjee?” he asked. She nodded without speaking and they left the room.
“I’m confused,” Junior said in the hallway as he closed the door to his father’s office. “What happened to her Jeep?”
“Listen very carefully,” Mr. Mortimer said in a hushed tone, his face darkening with annoyance. “We have an opportunity here. You have an opportunity. I think Jayden knows who damaged her vehicle and for some reason, she’s reluctant to say.”
“And what is my opportunity here?”
“You need to find out who did this so we can report it, anonymously. That way, insurance will cover the restoration, the full restoration, if you know what I mean, and Jayden won’t have to pay from her own pocket.” He waved the file folder at his son. “We know from previous experience that customers cheap-out on a lot of repairs when they have to pay for it themselves. Remember – we have a business to run. I don’t want her taking the Jeep somewhere else.”
Maintaining a neutral expression, Junior stared ahead while his mind absorbed what his father was implying.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Junior finally replied.
“No, you won’t ‘see what I can do,’” Mr. Mortimer hissed. “You’ll do as I say.” He slapped the file folder against Junior’s chest. Opening the office door, he contorted his features back into a benevolent beam and then stepped inside.
“Miss Nanjee,” he purred, concern wrapping his face. “Please know you can count on my son to assist you in any way, isn’t that right, Junior?”
“Of course, Father.” Junior extended an arm toward Jayden but the smile on his face failed to reach the amber brown of his eyes. “At Maximum Drive, we’re always happy to help a valued customer.” Jayden accepted his outstretched hand but glanced quizzically at Mr. Mortimer before returning her gaze to Junior. She recognized the appeasement in Junior’s tone – it was the same tactic she used to mollify her mother. Something just happened between the two of them and, whatever it was, it angered Junior.
She and Junior walked to the dealership’s courtesy car in silence. Still the gentleman, though now a reserved one, Junior opened the passenger door and Jayden slid in, murmuring her thanks. After getting in and starting the car, he typed Jayden’s address into the GPS unit. As they were driving out of the lot, Junior’s phone rang. It was Max.
“Hey, Junior,” Max’s voice echoed over the speaker phone. “Have you seen Jayden at the dealership?”
Before Junior could respond, Jayden piped in. “I’m with your brother now, and he’s driving me home.”
“Well, dang, Jayden! I’ve been texting you all afternoon and you haven’t answered.”
“Yeah, I turned my phone off,” she said slowly. “I’ve got a few things on my mind.”
“Wait a minute,” interrupted Junior. “Max, why do you have Jayden’s cell number?”
The silence was thick with the unanswered question-of-the-moment. Jayden held her breath, not knowing what to say and hoping Max would think of a credible response.
“Um, th-th-that’s a great question,” replied Max. “Come pick me up at home and I’ll go with you to Jayden’s place. I’m assuming you’re driving her home now?”
Junior furrowed his brow. “You haven’t answered my question.”
“Yeah yeah, we’ll talk about it when you pick me up. Don’t you have some footballs to throw around?”
Junior rolled his eyes and glanced at Jayden. “He’s such a nerd when he tries to be funny. Ha ha ha.”
“What’s your ETA, big brother?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. And you’re lucky it’s on the way to Jayden’s place ’cuz I would have said no, otherwise.”
“Really?” pressed Max. “And not find out why I have Jayden’s number?”
Junior tapped the steering wheel. “I’ll be there in five.”
Jayden fiddled with the strap of her purse as he disconnected the call. She kept her head down, praying he wouldn’t pose the same question to her. The seconds ticked by and Jayden was about to begin a new conversation when Junior cleared his throat. “Perhaps you’d like to tell me why my little brother has your cell number?”
Jayden smiled weakly. “Not really.”
“I thought not,” he replied. “Then how about telling me who demo’d your Jeep? My dad seems to think you know who did the dirty deed.”
Jayden gasped. “Why would he think that?”
“My dad’s been a salesman his whole life. He thinks he knows what people are thinking before they even know what they’re thinking.”
“Oh.” Jayden turned her body toward the window and they drove in awkward silence until they reached Junior’s home.
Max bolted out of the house the moment the car entered the driveway. He hurled himself into the back seat and then patted his brother on the shoulder, grinning cheekily. “Onward my chauffeur – to Jayden’s castle.”
Junior glared at him through the rear view mirror. “You best be careful little brother. I know where you stash your General Jaxxon shirt.”
Max sat back deflated, an embarrassed flush heating his face. He sputtered a few words in an attempt at a witty comeback, but drew a blank. Sitting forward, he turned his attention instead to Jayden.
“Hey, Jayden, how are you?”
“I’ve been better,” she replied. “And if you know where I might find a p
ot of gold with forty-five-hundred dollars in it, I’d feel a lot better.”
It was Max’s turn to gasp. “Your Jeep? Ouch.”
Jayden pivoted in her seat, facing Max. “Yeah, I have to figure that one out.” She glanced casually at Junior and added, “By the way, Max, I think General Jaxxon is super-cool.” Max grinned while Junior clamped down on the steering wheel in a white-knuckle grip. It was his turn to blush.
They drove for 30 minutes in silence until they reached Jayden’s apartment complex. As soon as the car was in park mode, Max hopped out and opened Jayden’s door. “I’ll walk her home,” he announced to Junior. “N-n-no need for you to get out.”
Junior gave Max an exasperated salute and then turned to Jayden. “I’ll call you tomorrow and we can talk about the Jeep repairs.”
“Thank you,” Jayden acknowledged. “I really appreciate the ride.” She and Max walked slowly toward the apartment’s main entrance, stopping in front of the glass doors.
“This dream we share,” Max began, “do you think it’s real? A real world?”
“How can it be real? It’s a dream.”
“But Richard Hatemore is real. He’s alive, sort of I guess, if you count lying in a coma and creeping in the dream world as ‘alive.’ But you’re real.” He pinched her arm. “Just like me.”
Jayden chewed on her lip. “So you think Connor is real too? And because we’re here and they’re all real somewhere, you think the dream world is actually ‘real?’” She shook her head. “Sounds like a fantasy book to me.”
“Think about it for a minute,” Max insisted. “How else can you explain it?”
“I don’t know how, but I do know this is a crazy scenario,” Jayden replied. She sighed in frustration. “So, Master Genius, what do we do next?”
Max crossed his arms and gazed into the afternoon sky, a far-away expression lining his face. “We found each other in the real world,” he said slowly. “Maybe we’re supposed to find Connor too.”
* * *
Jayden’s mom pulled her jean jacket tight and smoothed back her blond hair. She knew she was still intoxicated from the night before. The puffy eyes and smudged mascara across her cheeks told an ugly story – but not as ugly as the real life story she hammered out on Jayden’s Jeep.
Straightening her shoulders, she strode to the counter.
“Yes, Ma’am, how can I help you?”
She peered at the man sitting behind the bullet-proof glass. “Officer, I’d like to report an assault.”
He stood up, concerned. “Were you assaulted?” he asked.
“No, I assaulted someone. Well… something,” she said. “I want to say this only once, so please write it down.”
The officer moved his head a fraction closer to the glass. “What’s that? Please repeat what you just said.”
“I said I only want to say this once!” She put both hands to her forehead. An alcohol-induced migraine was skirting the edges of her brain and about to crash down in a powerful strike. She began to cry.
“I need help.”
* * *
The apartment was empty when Jayden let herself in the front door. There were no lingering odours from her mom’s cigarettes and the kitchen was in the same condition as she left it. No sign of Ma.
Popping a frozen dinner into the microwave oven, she leaned over the sink, watching the timer on the microwave countdown the cooking time. She still hadn’t decided what to do about the Jeep – if she should call her dad, or if she should call the police and report her mom’s actions. There were so many ‘what-ifs’ surrounding each option. In frustration, Jayden punched the countertop with the side of her hand. If only life were as simple as counting, I’d know what comes next.
Chapter 13
Down the Drain
Jayden sensed the brightness through her closed eyelids. It was happening again. I’m not sure I want to see this or be here right now.
“Jayden.” The voice was calm and gentle.
“I’m not feeling cocky today,” she whispered. “Perhaps another night?” She clenched her fists and held them over her ears.
“Jayden,” the voice persisted. “You won’t be alone.”
“Yeah, I know you’ll have me hook up with Connor and Max, but it’s terrifying down there. This ‘cross over’ thing makes me not want to fall asleep.”
“But you have to fall in order to climb,” the voice replied.
Jayden fluttered her eyelids. The light was too strong and she tilted her head away. “Who are you?”
He ignored her question. “You have to cross over, before it’s too late.”
“Who are you?” Jayden repeated. “What are you?” She peeped out of one eye but couldn’t distinguish the man’s features. He was a black shadow surrounded by brilliant light.
The figure remained stationary. In the distance to her left, Jayden could hear chants and thuds.
The figure finally spoke. “I’m your... Protector.” He held out his hand and instantly she felt immersed with an overwhelming sense of tranquility. “It’s not too late,” he whispered.
Swallowing a whimper, Jayden reached out.
* * *
Jayden choked and sputtered, spitting out warm water. She could feel herself being dragged down the river in the clutches of the strong current.
“Over here!” Her eyes followed the voice and she saw Max waving his hand a few metres away. The night-vision goggles were still fastened to his head.
The thunderous roar of the Devil’s Door Waterfall hammered her ears as Jayden swam toward Max. The current was drawing her toward the waterfall and she kicked and stroked against it. She had almost reached Max when he hollered, “Look out!”
Lifting her arm in an intuitive, self-defensive gesture, Jayden was slammed to one side. The unmanned canoe barrelled into her shoulder and she deflected it away. Gasping, she grabbed the portside gunwale before it glided past. Holding tight, she pumped her legs in the best human-frog imitation she could muster. The canoe travelled easily alongside her and within moments she was beside Max. He, too, thrust his body up and gripped the gunwale. They floated in a small, semi-calm area, out of the current.
Treading water with one hand, Jayden hollered, “Where’s Connor?”
Max pointed behind her.
“Over here!” he shouted to Connor. “Swim as hard as you can toward this eddy!”
Dark, wavy hair clung in streamers over Connor’s piercing blue eyes and it was the only colour Jayden distinguished against the misty monochromatic river. He swam the front crawl toward them in long, sweeping strokes, his head above water and his eyes intent on Jayden’s.
“You can do it,” Jayden encouraged. Her voice wavered. “You have to...”
The roaring din of the waterfall continued its auditory assault beside them. Connor swam the last few strokes aggressively until he was finally in the calm waters. Seizing the stern end of the boat with both hands, he paused, drawing in huge mouthfuls of air.
“It’s calm here,” he sputtered. “Why?”
“We’re in an eddy,” Max explained. “It’s like a mini-whirlpool.” They were slowly spinning in circles around the periphery of the eddy.
“Maybe we should get in the canoe and go the rest of the way?”
Max shook his head. “No paddles.”
Jayden suddenly released her hold of the canoe and pushed herself away. “The bag... where’s the bag of snakes?”
“They’re gone,” said Connor. “Don’t worry – they’re more afraid of you than you are of them.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Jayden retorted. “I, uh...” Jayden paused, working harder than before to tread water. She suddenly realized the eddy was pulling her toward the centre of the whirlpool.
“What’s going on here?” Jayden cried. “Max, I feel like I’m in a toilet bowl and we’re getting sucked down the drain!”
They began to swirl around the eddy, picking up speed and gravitating toward its centre.
“Let go of the canoe,” shouted Connor. “We have to swim out of this eddy and away from the waterfall.”
Max was struggling with his best dog-paddle, trying to keep his head and heavy goggles above water. He pointed weakly to the opposite shore. “Over there. We have to swim over there.”
The canoe spun dangerously close to Connor and he swam below it. The eddy pulled him down and it took all the strength in his legs to kick himself back to the surface. He gasped for air just as Jayden dove head first into the water, also avoiding the momentum of the spinning canoe.
“This is NOT good!” shouted Max. He was spinning at the same speed as the revolving canoe.
Connor stared at the opposing shore as the whirlpool picked up speed. It didn’t seem far but given the strength of the current, it might as well have been a thousand miles away.
Jayden suddenly appeared at the surface, sputtering. She had a terrified expression on her face and her green eyes reflected the ghostly image of the moon. Shaking out her hair, she moved in a breast stroke toward Connor.
“We have to act quickly,” Connor said. “Max, what’s the source of this whirlpool, this eddy we’re in?”
Max grimaced. “The waterfall. The waterfall is the drain source.”
“Then we can’t stay here,” Connor yelled. “We’ll drown.”
“Does that mean...”
“Yeah,” Connor replied before Jayden could finish. “We have to go over the falls.”
Jayden’s features relaxed. “That’s what he said. ‘You have to fall in order to climb.’”
“Who said that?” asked Connor.
“My, uh, my Protector,” replied Jayden. “He was right. That’s our way to climb – we fall first.” She avoided Connor’s questioning stare and instead gazed calmly at the moon, treading water in slow, circular motions. “Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but it really is our only option.” Taking a deep breath, she began to swim out of the eddy and toward the waterfall.
Darkness Descends Page 8
