You don’t miss a trick do you Lloyd?” My temperament is becoming a little belligerent.
“Like I mentioned Matt, It is a good thing for both you and The Herald. That is, if you decide to keep your job here at The Herald and play according to the rules.
“Now as far as going to this award dinner, Kelly needn’t go with you. It’s you that they want. You were the journalist on the assignment. No need to confuse things” he schems like a slippery snake.
“If I decide to stay with The Herald, let me make one thing clear before we go any farther with this, Lloyd. If I to go on any interviews or go to any award dinners, it will be with Kelly by my side or not at all. Do you understand?”
“Sure Matt, why not? Besides, if you would have decided against staying on here at The Herald, I would have just replaced you with Kelly anyway. You know Matt; no one should think that they are irreplaceable. Anyway, who knows, maybe it will work out better for us this way. The Herald may get more exposure this way,” he gives me his disingenuous appraisal.
“Another thing Mr. Hatch.” I continue.
“What is it?” He snaps impatiently.
“Since I’ve been working here, you have been sending me on every wild goose story that comes along. As a reporter for the Portland Herald, I’ve interviewed a sixth grader that came in first in the grade school science exhibit, I’ve gone to state fairs to find out who will get the blue ribbon for their blackberry jam, and I went looking for the footprints of Bigfoot.” Lloyd raises his hand to interrupt.
“And don’t forget. You found some too.”
“Oh yes, I found footprints. Next you will be having me interview the guy that has just discovered the cure for athlete’s foot.” I add.
“Lloyd, if I am going to stay on here at The Herald as reporter, I want to be assigned more important stories.” I make a stand.
“Well Matthew I give all my reporters the assignments that best match their individual experience and skill.”
“I have been investigating a story for quite some time.”
I go on, ignoring his aloofness. “That’s why I went to Hawaii, to find some answers about a man I want to write about.”
“Oh, what man is that?” He asks apathetically.
“Well I can’t really tell you right now, mainly because I don’t really know exactly who he is.”
“You don’t know who you are investigating? You don’t know who you are investigating, but you want to write a story about him. Is that correct?”
“Look Lloyd, there is a man that has been threatening people for years and years. A few of these people have even been murdered. That’s why I went to Hawaii, to get some more information about this guy. I think I found enough information to at least get started. I need to use the power of The Herald to help uncover this guy, before more people get threatened or killed. I’d like to put his picture in the paper to see if anybody knows who he is, where he is and what he is up to.” I plead my case without hesitation. Lloyd begins to negatively shake his head.
“Now you know as well as I do, that I can’t allow you to put a story in the paper unless I have a lot more information than that. When you get enough info to make a story, come back to me and we’ll see, but until…” I interrupt before he finishes his sentence.
“Lloyd, I mean it. If you say no to this, I’m going to walk out of here, open one of those letters on my desk and accept one of those offers. I’m sure that another paper would love to have me as their employee, while I am accepting an award from the New York Museum of Natural History, for my investigative reporting.” I threat in an unvarnished manner.
Lloyd picks up his pen and solemnly looks down, pecking his pen repeatedly atop his desk.
“All right; write your story. We’ll see what happens.”
“Thank you Lloyd. You won’t be sorry, I promise you.” I overflow with elation.
“I am already sorry.”
I make an exit and begin to walk back to my desk, when Kelly comes to mind. I abruptly wheel around and poke my head back in to Lloyd’s office.
“Where’s Kelly, out on assignment?”
“I believe she is developing pictures. Please don’t interrupt her. We have to have those photos by deadline.”
“Oh no Lloyd, I wouldn’t think of bothering her while she’s working.” I assure him impudently.
Pushing the ‘B’ button inside the elevator, I descend to the bowls of The Herald, to the film room. There, standing by the processing machine, the most fetching creature I know. I stand there for a moment just watching; the swishing rhythm of the photo machine concealing my entrance.
Soon Kelly senses the arrival of someone’s presence in the room, and instinctively turns around. A face of innocent curiosity changes into an enthusiastic smile that instantly takes possession of her dove-like face.
“Matt!” She whoops. She runs to me with open arms and hugs me in earnest.
“Oh Matt, it’s so good to see you!”
“Good to see you too. Do you mind if I go out and come back in? I really like being missed.”
“Oh Matt,” she scolds, punching me in the shoulder.
“Did you see Lloyd yet? Did he tell you that he isn’t going to fire you after all?” She rattles off without taking a breath.
“Yeah, I talked to him. We had a nice talk.” I pause.
“What’s wrong? There’s nothing wrong is there? You are going to stay aren’t you?” She pelts me with questions.
“Hold on, hold on now. Lloyd and I came to a mutual agreement. So I will be staying on here at The Herald, at least for the time being.” I assure her.
“That’s great Matt, just great,” she is looking very pleased.
“Oh by the way; you want to go to a party with me?”
“Party, what party?”
“Lloyd is sending us both to that award ceremony at the Museum of Natural History in New York.”
“Really? New York? That’s great, but….” She hesitates.
“But what?”
“Lloyd told me that you were the only one going.”
“Well I guess I told Lloyd that there wasn’t going to be an award dinner without you. You deserve that award as much as I do, if not more.”
“Thanks Matt, that’s very sweet of you to…” Her voice wavers for the moment; her eyes begin to brim with tears. Her composure restored, she continues.
“When are we supposed to go to the award dinner?” She wonders.
“I think Lloyd booked us both on a flight to New York, tomorrow afternoon around 5:00 PM.
“Tomorrow afternoon. Matt, that’s ridiculous.” She panics.
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? I’ve got to buy a new dress, get my hair done, pack and make arrangements. How am I supposed to do all of that by five o‘clock tomorrow?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You look gorgeous, just the way you are. Go pack a few things and you’re ready.”
“Be serious Matt. I can’t go to a formal award presentation dinner like this,” she gestures up and down at herself.
“Are we going to have to get up and give a speech, do you think?” She continues to carry on.
“I think if we are going to be guests of honor at the award dinner we probably will be expected to say at least something. But don’t worry about it too much. With your face, all you got to do is get up there and say thank you.”
“Matt, sometimes you are such a man,” she definitely is irritated.
“A woman can have something intelligent to say just as much as a man, you know.” She pokes hard on my shoulder with her finger.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything. I’m sure you won’t have any problems coming up with something intelligent to say.” I hope I have totally redeemed myself.
“Whatever.” She smiles. “If I am going to be ready by tomorrow afternoon I better get going. I’ll call you later.”
With an armload of groceries I unlock the door and pus
h it open with my foot. As I enter the little apartment, Cashew excitedly begins to squawk and says “Call the cops, call the cops,” over and over.
“Cashew, how have you been buddy?” I reach through the cage and pet his head. Cashew bends his head down and closes his eyes. I stop after a few moments and Cashew bobs his head in protest.
“Sorry Cashew. I got to get some food in my stomach. I’ll come back and let you out later.”
I flop myself onto the bed and tell myself that I won’t go to sleep. I am just going to rest here for a quick minute.
I begin to mentally digest what has happened to me in the last few weeks. I’ve gone to Hawaii and back, been fired from my job and then rehired, and now Kelly and I are celebrities and guests of honor at the Museum of Natural History in New York. It has been a long day.
On top of all of this, this mysterious gentleman continues to be a daily threat to my life, and to others. What will happen if I put his picture in the paper? Will he kill me or someone else? Who in the world is he, and how many will be dead before his existence is uncovered and his insidious works are stopped? After only a few moments of troubled thought, I fall fast asleep from mental exhaustion.
As Kelly and I enter the museum’s conference room, a small man wearing thick glasses immediately walks over to us, his hand extended.
“Welcome to New York and to the Museum of Natural History. My name is John Cooper, the Museum’s curator.” He greets us with a smile and a handshake.
“Hi, this is Kelly O’Hara, and I’m Matthew Brooks.”
“All of us here at the museum are so very happy that you accepted our invitation to come. If you would follow me, I made arrangements to have special seats up front for you both.” He takes the lead.
“Here we are. I hope these seats will meet with your satisfaction,” he directs his conversation toward Kelly.
“Oh yes, these are great. Thank you so much.” Kelly accepts graciously.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. I need to go make some final arrangements now, but please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything.”
“When are we expected to go up on stage?” Kelly asks nervously.
“There will be short speeches from two or three of the museum’s board members, and then I will conduct the rest of the night’s activities and call you both up at that time. How does that sound?”
“That sounds fine. I’m just a little nervous I guess. I just don’t want any surprises.” Kelly says, restlessly.
“Don’t worry Ms. O’Hara, you will be just fine. Remember you don’t have to impress us old fogies. You’ve done that already with your wonderful discovery. Everybody just wants to get a good look at you two. In fact, as pretty as you are tonight, we could just skip Mr. Brooks altogether. I’m sure no one would mind at all,” he jests.
One by one, each board member of the Museum praises Kelly and I for our discovery of a supposedly new civilization, until we are embarrassingly gorged with flattery by the end of the presentation. Finally Mr. Cooper is invited to the little stage, and is about to invite Kelly and I up to speak.
The small audience of about one hundred archaeology enthusiasts applauds as Kelly and I step up onto the stage. As we both approach the podium Kelly nudges me and signals for me to go first. I step back and gesture her to step up to the microphone, giving her no choice in the matter. She gives me a stern look and proceeds.
As Kelly begins to talk about our adventure in Montana and of our mutual discovery, I curiously scan the audience.
The audience is comprised of seventy five percent males, most over the age of fifty. By the look of the delightful grins on their faces, this large fraction of the audience seems to be totally captivated with Kelly, and the rest appear to be truly interested in her speech. Mr. Cooper was right. This is Kelly’s show, and I’m just along for the ride.
Just at the moment that Kelly is introducing me to the microphone, I see him. No, it couldn’t be. It just couldn’t be, but it is. There before me sits the threatening stranger from the past and present, sitting in the back row.
“And now I would like for all of you to meet Mr. Matthew Brooks.” Kelly says, introducing me to the audience.
My consciousness is totally fixed up on the strange enigmatic fellow in the back of the room, and I am totally unaware of Kelly’s introduction. I stand there staring spellbound towards the back row of the conference room.
“Matt! Matthew, come on.” Kelly struggles to get my attention with a loud winnowing whisper.
Kelly, beginning to turn red with embarrassment, starts to reach for my arm to pull me to the microphone. I move towards the end of the stage, a footstep or two out of her reach. This time Kelly speaks right into the microphone.
“OK Mr. Brooks, it’s your turn now,” she announces, a few chuckles circulate through the audience.
By now I am half-way down the isle, heading straight for him in the back row sitting on the isle. I am close enough to peer into his eyes now, those cerebral eyes. Returning my stare with a penetrating gaze, he realizes that he is targeted and becomes fidgety, looking as if he will take flight at any moment. I increase my speed.
All of a sudden he bolts out of his chair and runs for the door. I charge after him and grab for his shirt, apprehending nothing but air. He hits open the exit double doors of the conference room at a full run. I discover very quickly, the man is lightening fast. By the time I reach the stairs leading to the front entrance way of the museum outside, he is long gone and nowhere to be seen. I sit down on the steps, totally winded.
By the time I finally return to the conference room, Kelly has turned the podium and speech-making back over to Mr. Cooper.
“All in attendance are invited to the dining room across the hallway. As a reminder, your assigned table number is the same number printed on your name badges you were given.” Mr. Cooper announces to the audience as I enter the room.
I sit down and wait for the crowd to subside.
I see Mr. Cooper shaking hands with Kelly, still sitting in her chair on the stage. Smiling, Kelly nods her head and says something in return. Mr. Cooper then leaves out an exit door behind the stage. Kelly sits alone on the stage, her arms folded, and her face expressionless.
I walk slowly and sheepishly up to the stage.
“I didn’t mean to leave you holding the bag like that. I’m sorry; it must have been embarrassing for you.” I don’t know what else to say.
She picks up her purse off the floor and stands in a mild innocuous manner. Brushing a minute speck of lint off the front of her dress, she slowly walks over towards where I am standing. She reaches the end of the stage floor, raises her head and looks straight into my eyes, her eyes turning horrifyingly homicidal.
“Don’t you ever and I mean ever, do that to me again!” She orders, and begins to storm off the stage.
“Kelly, wait!” I beg her. She stops in her tracks standing still for a moment, and then turns around crossing her arms once again.
“Do you think for one moment that I would have done that to you without good reason?” I ask. She continues to watch me, not moving a muscle.
“I saw him in the audience. He was right here in this audience in the back row.” I point to the exact seat he sat in.
“I’m very sorry, but when I saw him I went into shock. I couldn’t believe he was here. I mean I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to come right in here and sit down in front of us like that.” I give effort to defend and justify my actions. Kelly’s brow begins to tweak with perplexity.
“What are you talking about, Matt? Who was in the audience, in the back row?”
“Remember Seattle. Remember the guy who threatened to kill me atop of the Space Needle?” I nudge her memory.
Kelly’s face turns ghostly white, her eyes bulge open. “Don’t you tell me that he was right here in this room with us tonight?” She blurts out, her hand cupping over her mouth with alarm.
“I’m afraid so, but don’t
be scared. He wouldn’t try anything with all these witnesses. My guess is that he is just trying to make us nervous; you know, making sure we know he means business.” I try to reassure her.
“Well Matt it worked; I’m plenty nervous. The fact that he is here tonight tells me that he means business. How could he have known that we are here unless he has been following us? He is just waiting for the right moment to move in for the kill,” she is starting to sound hysterical. I reach over and grab hold of her hand and pull her close to me.
“Calm down. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Besides, this guy is after me, not you.” I try to soothe her presence of mind.
“Look, we’re not going to take any chances, we’ll be extra careful. Everything will be all right, OK. Now, we still have to go to dinner and let these guys give us our award for discovering some lost civilization. Now take my arm, and I will promise not to screw up the rest of the night.” I offer her my arm like a true gentleman. She wipes a tear from her eye, pries open a fracture of a smile, and then reaching out she enfolds my arm.
“All right Matt, if you say so.”
§
TWENTY FIVE
This morning I arrive at The Herald early for a change. I stop by the office coffee pot and pour myself a cup of coal-black coagulated coffee. I sit down at my desk and hurriedly open the latest edition of the paper, searching for the article and photo spread I submitted for print.
‘Do you know this man?’ Reads the newspaper article on the third page below the fold.
There before me, accompanying the article, are two photos. One is the old photo of my mysterious man’s face while he is running away from the Hindenburg. The other photo is of Hitler handing an award to Hermann Whilhem Goering, honoring him for designing and giving to Hitler the symbol of the Nazi party, the Swastika.
Wyatt, Richard Page 24
