The Ties That Bind

by T. Starnes

  "You mean, am I feeling screwed up because I killed those two guys. Maybe this is going to sound bad, but honestly … no. I feel ok with it. By the way they were coming in, it was pretty clear they meant to harm me and the others.”

  She looked at me with an unsure expression.

  "I'm serious, I feel fine.”

  She let it drop but the rest of the night I could feel her watching me. I couldn't complain about that, really. I knew it was just because she cared about me and wanted to make sure I was ok, both physically and mentally. Still, I was happy when the next morning rolled around and Jonathan picked me up to go see Ted. I was surprised when Jonathan said we were meeting at Ted's house and not the hospital.

  "Getting shot is pretty bad," he said when I expressed my surprise, "but the bullet didn't hit any bones or anything important. They patched him up, gave him some painkillers and sent him home. We don't get a lot of shootings here, but ERs see stuff worse than this all the time. From what Ted told me, they were actually pretty nonchalant about the whole thing.”

  "Huh," was all I could say in response.

  Thankfully, Jonathan had called everyone else, and had moved our meeting to Ted's house. They were all already there when we pulled up. Ted's wife, whom I had only met a couple of times, let us in and showed us to their living room where Ted was propped up in a recliner. She fussed over him for a few minutes, until he shooed her out of the room.

  "I can't tell if she's mad I got shot, or happy that this has forced me to stay at home. She has been hovering since we got back last night.”

  "So, you're gonna live?" I asked, half in jest and half in genuine concern.

  "Yeah, they think I'll pull through. Of course now she is going to expect me to spend more time at home. That's why I'm glad we are meeting here. That way she can see you guys can't live without me, and maybe she'll let me go back to work.”

  We all laughed at that, and then sat in silence for a moment. I wasn't sure if it was my revelation to them last night, or the violence itself, but everyone was still acting out of sorts, except Talmon who was a peripheral player in all this and just waited until it was his turn to participate.

  "So," I said pulling papers out of my backpack and putting them on the table, "this is what I found at the hotel last night. I read most of this on the phone to Carter. I know there hasn't been much time between then and now; but these guys were definitely after us, and it seems pretty sure this ties in with Mapes.”

  Everyone except Carter took a moment to look over the notes I made off the laptop in the gunman's room.

  "Like the kid said," Carter stated, standing up, "I didn't have much time, but I was able to get a little information. It did work in our favor that the mastermind behind all this seems to be an idiot. There is a Karl Sambor at MilTech, Inc who is VP of new developments. I called around and, while nothing has actually been brought out directly against him, he has a rep. He is a 'win at all costs' type of guy.”

  He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a couple of documents. On the front were photos of two men.

  "These are the guys who came after you. I haven't had time to do much digging, but I talked to someone I know at the precinct. These two do have some records outta Houston. They seem to be muscle for hire, and both have done a little time. One for assault and the other for extortion. My best guess is they were what they seem, just muscle hired for the job of ripping you off. Not sure where a guy like Mr. Sambor gets together with the likes of these two, but it seems pretty cut and dried.”

  "So what do we do about this," Marcus asked?

  "That's a good question. First, the cops need to see the evidence you found, but I am not sure how to do that without getting you in trouble," Carter said.

  "I was careful. The hotel is not big on security and I didn't see any cameras. I didn't run in to anyone on my trip there and I don't think anyone saw me. I made sure to keep my hands covered before I touched anything, so there shouldn't be any fingerprints," I said.

  "Well that helps," he responded, looking thoughtful. "We still need to get the key to the cops.”

  "The office was a wreck," Jonathan said. "They could have dropped it during the struggle and it was overlooked. We just had the office released back to us, although we had all the employees stay home, at least until we can get someone out to clean up. I could drop the key off at the station, since I am the legal representative of the company they might not think much of it.”

  "OK, let's do that," I said. "I think that's it on this front. Carter, thanks again for everything you are doing for us.”

  "I'm in it for a paycheck, and yours cleared," he said with a grin,”but, sure thing, kid.”

  Carter saw himself out and I turned back to my colleagues.

  "Don't let him fool you, Cas," Jonathan said, "I've known Carter for years, and he turns down a lot of work. He won't take anything that goes against his … let's call it a personal code.”

  "Fine by me. I like that guy," I said. "Plus he does damn fine work.”

  "So," Marcus said changing the subject, "What do we do about the company. Without this contract we are in a bad place?”

  "We still have some working capital," Ted added.

  "True," I said, "but Ronald's project is a ways off and his initial design is going to be pricey.”

  "If we build it on the Gulf Coast and can show our method has promise," Ted said, "I am betting we can get some funding from state and even city governments to defray our costs. We might be able to get more if we shop our test plant around California. They have been struggling with matching the demand for water in the state. It's not critical yet, but some are predicting real issues in the next ten years or so. That will defray a lot of our build costs.”

  "True. And I am willing to put everything I was just paid out back into the company if needs be. We should also start shopping our drone to other governments, too. I can see the Brits, Germans or French going for it. Who knows, we might get lucky," I said.

  Ted thought for a moment and said, "Maybe. We don't have the contacts with their procurement departments like we did here, and their defense industry is just as entrenched as here in the US. It will be tough.”

  "Yeah, but what else can we do?" I asked.

  No one had an answer for me and the meeting broke up shortly after that. I convinced Jonathan and Marcus to follow me back home, so they could talk with Mom. Ted wanted to come, too, but his wife put her foot down. I got the impression he was happy for the attention, but knew he would be going stir crazy before long.

  I left Mom and the girls to have a frank discussion with Marcus and Jonathan, and hid out upstairs. I still wasn't crazy about everyone discussing me in the abstract, so I preferred to let my family go over all the details and I could come down later. After about an hour Mom called me to come back downstairs.

  "All done?" I asked as I came down the stairs.

  "No," she said, looking worried. "Tina is here. There is a problem with Margret.”

  I hurried after into the living room, looking upset. Tina was hugging Zoe when I came in, but when she saw me, she broke the embrace and rushed over to me.

  "What's wrong?" I asked as I stroked her hair, trying to sooth her.

  "Mom hurt herself. Her yelling got worse, and she was breaking stuff, then she punched the TV. She was bleeding really bad. I called an ambulance, but Mom didn't want me to get in with her. She said to stay home.”

  I looked over her head and said to Zoe, "I think Alex is working a shift tonight. Call the hospital and see if she can find out what's going on.”

  Zoe nodded and went into the kitchen to grab the phone. I led Tina to the couch and made shushing noises trying to get her to calm down. Marcus and Jonathan were looking highly uncomfortable in the middle of all this.

  "You guys can take off, you don't have to stick around for this," I said to them.

  "I'll hang around for a few minutes. For something like this you might need legal advice," Jonathan said.


  I wasn't sure if he thought we would but he was trying to be supportive and I appreciated. Marcus nodded absently, but said nothing, instead looking down at his shoes. I took that to mean he had agreed to stay for a little while as well. About ten minutes later Zoe came back in.

  "Alex is on the phone, Cas. She wants to talk to you.”

  I passed Tina back to Zoe, who replaced me on the couch, and went to the phone.

  "Alex?" I asked when I picked up the handset that was sitting next to the phone cradle.

  "Cas, Zoe told me what was happening. I'm not working in the ER, but I came down to take a peek at Margret’s chart. She will be fine, but she is going to need to get stitches.”

  "What caused all this?" I asked more to myself then to Alex.

  "Cas, talk to Angela.”

  "Why?”

  "Just, do it, please. She can explain.”

  Then Alex hung up. Very cryptic. I walked back in and looked over at Mom.

  "Alex said I should talk to you," I said to her.

  "She did?" she said. It was worded as a question, but her tone was more resigned than confused.

  "I asked her what caused Margret to attack the TV, and she said to talk to you about it.”

  Mom looked uncomfortable for a moment but met my gaze when she said, "We have been checking up on her since Tina told you about her behavior. We weren't able to get much, but from what Alex could find out about the prescriptions issued, and some off-hand conversations she had with one of Margret’s psychiatrists that Alex knows socially, we believe she has some kind of chemical imbalance. At least that is what the drugs she is on suggests.”

  "And that caused her to attack her TV?" Tina asked, sitting up and taking interest.

  "I can't say for sure, since this isn't either Alex's area or mine, but yes. Wild mood swings, violent outbursts, and paranoia can all be symptoms. Of course, they could not be symptoms, also. There are several chemical imbalances that the medication she has been prescribed could be used for. This is all guess work.”

  "Cas," Tina said looking at me, "Can you help her?”

  "Help her like …" I said, stopping mid-sentence trying to get her to finish her question.

  "She is having some kind of chemical thing in her brain. Wouldn't your blood fix her like it fixed Mrs. Bell?”

  I looked over at mom with a question.

  She shook her head, "I have no way of knowing. Let me go call Alex back and see.”

  She walked out of the room and I started pacing back and forth.

  "So your blood really does alter the physiology of other people," Jonathan asked.

  "Yes. We have learned that much. Besides confirming physical benefits, it cleared up Mom's cancer," I answered him. "But, it has side effects.”

  "The loyalty thing?" Jonathan asked.

  "Yes. We are pretty sure, but our tests into that have been limited. Plus, 'loyalty' is kind of a nebulous thing to test for. But we think so.”

  "So an infusion of your blood could help your step-mother?”

  I shrugged, "Maybe. We are still feeling these things out day by day. This is all uncharted waters.”

  “So you if your blood is compatible with hers, the same type, or whatever, you will be able to test this?” Jonathan asked.

  Mom reappeared at this moment and said, "It doesn’t have to be tested. Cas’s blood morphs to be compatible with any blood type.”

  She then turned to me and said, “Alex thinks it might work, but she said she has no way of knowing either. But she says it's worth a try. Margret’s condition seems to be deteriorating.”

  I looked over at everyone else, and then at Tina, "This isn't something I can decide alone. Tina?”

  "If it will help her, then I say yes. It's worth a try. She scares me.”

  I looked at each of my girls, and they all answered 'yes', as did Mom.

  When I looked at Jonathan, he held up his hand and said, "This is a family decision.”

  "You are in the inner circle, now, with all the rights and privileges thereof,” I responded in my best legalese.

  He didn't laugh, but nodded solemnly, followed by Marcus.

  "Ok, tell Alex to do it. I know she has a small supply from the last time I came in for tests. This will take a while, Jonathan, you and Marcus take off. We will call and let you know what happens.”

  They somewhat reluctantly left while the rest of us sat around, trying to act normal while we waited to find out if the blood mixing worked.

  Chapter 21

  We all just sat, awkwardly, for almost an hour. At one point, we tried to watch TV to take our minds off what was happening at the hospital, but after about ten minutes of no one even glancing at the screen, we shut it off.

  Eventually, the phone rang. Mom, who was closest, grabbed the handset.

  She listened intently for a few minutes then said, "Oh, dear. Ok, I'll be right there.”

  As soon as she hung up we all started talking to her at once, but she ignored us and grabbed her keys. On the way to the door she stopped to address the rest of us.

  "We aren't sure what's happening, but Alex said there is a complication. She wants me to look at some of the results. I know you are anxious to find out what is happening, but please, just wait here. I will call as soon as we know something.”

  Tina, looking terrified, said, "Can I come with you? Please.”

  "No," Mom responded, "that wouldn't be a good idea, and you would spend all of your time sitting in a waiting room. Just wait here with the others. I promise we will call as soon as we can.”

  With that, she was out the door. Hours passed. I was ready to tell Zoe to get her keys when the phone rang again. I grabbed it this time.

  "Hello," I said.

  "Cas, this is going to take more time than I thought," Mom said from the other end of the line. "Y'all try and get some sleep, and I'll call back in the morning. Keep Tina there at the house with you.”

  "But … " I tried to say, but was interrupted.

  "Stay at the house, Cas. We aren't sure yet what is happening. I know this is hard, but you have to wait a little while longer.”

  "Ok," I said, resignedly.

  "Thanks, Sweety. I am sorry about all this, and I promise I will let you know what is happening as soon as we know," she said and then hung up.

  I turned to the rest of the gang.

  "They still don't know anything. Mom and Alex are going to be at it all night. She said we should call it a night and they will talk to us in the morning.”

  It was like a dam had broken as the noise from everyone talking at once rushed over me.

  "Wait…WAIT!" I yelled to get their attention. "I know you're all shocked and want us to do something. But remember Mom and Alex are trained for this kind of thing. We would all just be in the way. We need them to be able to focus on what they are doing, and not trying to deal with us at the same time.”

  "Should I …" a sad sounding Tina started.

  "No," I said, stopping her, "you're staying here with us, tonight.”

  I then turned to Tami and Vicki and said, “Let's get you two home and call it a night. We can all get together first thing in the morning.”

  We went with Zoe and dropped Tami and Vicki at their houses. They were both reluctant to leave us, but even with everything that was happening they still needed to spend most nights in their own beds.

  We swung by Tina's house so she could get pajamas and then came back home. Tina wedged herself between Zoe and me, and we both hugged on her tightly. She silently cried for a bit before drifting off to sleep. The emotional toll of the day had done a number on her. Zoe and I followed her into sleep not long after.

  When I woke up the next morning the girls were still out cold, but light was streaming in through the windows. I made my way out of bed as carefully as possible and poked around the house, seeing if Mom had come home some time during the night. No such luck. Except for Zoe, Tina and me, the house was empty.

  It was already ei
ght in the morning, and I knew at least Zoe would be up soon. She didn't normally like getting up as early as I did, but she rarely slept past eight.

  I pulled out a few boxes of cereal, some bowls and spoons, and the milk; setting them all on the table. I was about to fill my bowl when there was a knock at the door. Opening it I found Vicki, Tami, and Megan standing on the porch.

  "Hey, guys, you're just in time for breakfast," I said, turning back towards the kitchen and leaving the door open so they could follow.

  I pulled out more bowls and spoons, and set them on the table.

  "Vicki called me this morning and told me what was happening. I wanted to come over and make sure everything was all right," Megan said in an unrequested explanation.

  "No problem," I told her. "You know you're always welcome. I don't have any news, though. Mom called last night and said she and Alex were still working on whatever happened, and she would see us this morning. She hasn't come back yet.”

  "Man, this is taking a long time," Vicki said. "It didn't take this long with anyone else.”

  "Yeah, but no one else was having mental issues at the time. The brain is pretty complex," I said.

  "Do you think she will be all right," Tina said from the doorway. I hadn't heard her coming downstairs. Zoe stood behind her.

  "I don't know," I said. "Come. Eat some breakfast.”

  We were all just finishing breakfast when the front door opened. It was like a stampede out of the room. We caught Mom and Alex just walking into the living room and we all stopped cold, staring intently.

  "Everyone sit down, and we will tell you what's happening," Mom said.

  I knew it wasn't good. Her eyes were sunken and she looked tired, but behind the exhaustion was a sadness that she couldn't hide.

  Mom sat next to Tina and took her hand, "Tina, Sweety, I'm so sorry.”

  "Is she …" Tina said, he eyes filling with tears.

  "No, she's alive. But things got worse. We are almost certain it was caused by the blood mixing. She was already in the middle of a serious episode when I arrived, and had been strapped down. We gave her an injection and at first it looked like things were going to get better. She settled down and even slept a little bit.”