The Nexus

by Gary M Martin

  The explosion drove him into the wall just as the step below him collapsed and he fell onto the concrete floor. For a moment he felt the intense heat envelop him. He tried to scream just as the darkness slammed the life from him.

  Easton Chase had the phone pressed to his ear. “It’s done,” he said.

  “Good,” the voice on the other end of the line said. “Any problems?”

  “No. But there may be some trace evidence that doesn’t need to be found. Like whatever might be left of the motion detector in the basement and the cell phone.”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be taken care of. Now get out of there. Fire trucks and police will soon be on their way.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Candace had followed Mira’s car at a great distance so as not to give herself away. At times she had pulled off and allowed one of the other agents to take up the pursuit. She wasn’t sure where the lady was going, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to follow her for a while before bringing her in. Her location may turn out to be important to the case.

  Candace had called Walter only minutes ago to break her date with him. She hated it but she had no idea when her assignment would be completed. It was likely that it would be late evening.

  She cared a lot for Walter. Did she love him? In a way she did, but she wasn’t sure if it was the right kind of love. Her love for him was not the kind of love that makes the heart race and the knees weak. But that was probably overrated. She had that kind of love with another man. That one didn’t turn out so good.

  Her love for Walter was more one of caring and respect than anything else. And maybe that was all that was needed. Like Tina Turner sang, ‘what’s love got to do with it’?

  Walter was a great man. He probably had a heart bigger than anyone she had ever dated. He wasn’t perfect, of course, he had a few issues like everyone else. His biggest problem was he carried his feelings on his sleeve. That sometimes didn’t comport too well with his profession.

  She couldn’t fault him for his issues. She had a few herself. Only a year before meeting Walter she had a rather messy breakup with a boyfriend.

  Beldon James was a bartender at an upscale restaurant. She had met him there while having a girl’s night out. It was one of those instant attractions. She could tell that he was as much into her as she was into him. She could hardly contain herself, but this wasn’t supposed to be a night to meet guys so in the end, she had merely settled for giving him her phone number.

  Beldon played the bad guy, macho man type. He seemed to delve into anything rough and tumble. He was aggressive and competitive. He liked to play contact football, mountain climbing, mud bogging, and above all showing off on his motorcycle.

  As angry as she was at him, she still thought fondly of the times she rode on the back of his big Harley her arms wrapped around his tight abs, the taste of the wind blowing in her face. This bad boy image that he portrayed excited her though she knew deep inside that it was all a shallow show and did nothing to deepen their relationship.

  He had truly excited her. It was that overwhelming confidence mixed in with the devil may care attitude of his. But what also drew her to him was the sensitive, caring side of him that he sometimes exposed to her. The face to face conversations where he spoke to her in that deep, but soft voice that said he loved her and understood her and made her believe it. He was a charmer with a hint of danger in his eyes.

  It didn’t take long for him to move in with her. She wasn’t sure how it happened it was such a smooth transition, as though this was the next logical step. That was okay, though, she was the happiest she had ever been.

  They were together for almost a year. Both madly in love. So, she thought. She found out later his love was not confined to her. There were others.

  Working for the FBI had been her dream since she was a little girl. When she was finally admitted into the agency shortly before meeting Beldon she sought to be the best that she could be. That often meant putting in some long hours. She thought he was okay with that. After all, they had the nights and most weekends together. Apparently, that wasn’t enough for him.

  Her life unfolded like a Lifetime movie. One day, unexpectedly, she was able to knock off early. As a surprise to Beldon, she decided to run by the grocery store and pick up a few things to make them both a good home-cooked meal. Afterward, she stopped by and picked up a movie that she knew he had been wanting to see. It was to be the romantic evening that they hadn’t been able to have in quite a while.

  He wasn’t expecting her. That was instantly apparent when she stepped into the empty living room and heard voices coming out of the bedroom. One was his. The other a female voice.

  She felt the blood drain suddenly from her face as the anger, hurt, confusion, and frustration nearly overwhelmed her. In the end, the anger took over and drove her forward.

  She burst through the door hitting it hard enough that it slammed into the doorstop mounted on the baseboard at the bottom of the wall.

  They were both naked lying in bed against each other. For just an instant they were frozen in place seemingly unable to move. Then the woman pushed out of the side of the bed scrabbling for her clothes.

  “What the hell!” Candace screamed. She shook her head as Beldon stuttered for words. “Get the hell out of my house!! Now. Now!”

  The woman frantically slipped into her clothes not bothering to put on her bra or her shoes. She slipped past Candace like a terrified deer and headed for the front door.

  “I said get out of my house,” Candace said slowly, ominously.

  “You mean me?” Beldon asked surprised.

  “Yes. I mean you.”

  He slid out of bed and began putting on his clothes. “You’re never here anymore, Candy. What did you expect?”

  “Don’t call me Candy!” she shouted. “I don’t like the way you say it. And what the hell did I expect from you? How ‘bout not cheating on me. Especially while you’re living in my house.”

  “Point taken,” he said putting on his shoes. “I’ll try to do better next time.”

  “There’s not going to be a next time. Just leave, okay.”

  “I said I was sorry.”

  “No, you didn’t. But that doesn’t matter. You need to get out of my house. Now.”

  “No,” he said standing up. “I’ll leave when I decide to leave.”

  “It’s over. Don’t you understand that? You’re not that stupid, are you?” She moved close to him. “Do I need to call the cops, and have you removed?”

  “Get out of my face,” he growled angrily, and shoved her backward hard. She lost her balance, struggled for an instant to get her feet planted, failed, and landed on her back temporarily knocking the breath from her lungs. Catching her breath she climbed to her feet and rushed him. It caught him by surprise, but at the last second, he managed to swing a fist and catch her weakly on the side of the head before she slammed her shoulder into his chest driving him back into the wall. She quickly pushed away from him.

  “Don’t you ever …!”

  He swung at her again before she could finish her words. Immediately she dropped to her knees and his big right fist whizzed overhead. Then, at once, she drove her own fist into his groin doubling him over. She rose to her feet as he fell to the floor.

  Breathing hard from the excitement and exertion she backed up to the bedroom door.

  “Why don’t you leave before you really get hurt.” She meant to sound tough, but inside of her, the fear fought to take over. Beldon was bigger and stronger than her. If they continued their fight it would most likely only be a matter of time until he would gain the advantage.

  She thought of the gun she had tucked away in the closet. With that in her hands, she would have total control. She quickly dismissed that idea. She had told herself long ago that she would never draw a gun on anyone unless she was willing to use it. And despite the anger that she now felt she wasn’t ready to shoot him over it.

  He came to his feet s
lightly bent over and puffing a bit.

  She prepared for another round of battle.

  “Okay,” he said. “You win. Give me an hour and I’ll be out of here.”

  She nodded. “Yeah.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Sure.”

  He went over to the closet and took down his suitcases.

  “She’s turning,” the man in the passenger seat said breaking her reverie.

  “What?”

  “She’s turned off the main road into a subdivision.”

  Candace slowed down even more in case the lady decided to stop somewhere

  CHAPTER 10

  Stone Wilson awoke with a slight headache. He pushed himself up to his knees and rubbed at an area just above his nose. That seemed to be where the pain was centered.

  He looked about the room. It was out of focus like the view from a cheap camera. He felt as though his eyes were struggling to touch his nose. He closed his eyes once more and gently rubbed them with his fingers. When he opened them again it was somewhat better. The room was not as fuzzy or out of kilter as before. Still, there was something definitely wrong with him.

  He climbed awkwardly to his feet and instantly the room began to spin around him. He wasn’t about to let this malady keep him down. He fought against the dizziness and tottered to the door. He paused to catch his breath. Slowly, some of his strength began to return and the room’s twirling motion eased somewhat. After a few moments, he opened the door and headed back the way he had come. He stumbled down the aisle occasionally grabbing the back of one of the benches for balance. After another minute he made it to the Pastor’s office.

  With one hand pressed against the wall, he looked around the small room to see if there were something else here that he could use. He didn’t spot anything.

  He stepped outside and with a start realized that night was quickly encroaching upon him. He figured that he must have been out for several hours. The questions arose again. What was wrong with him? Why was he having these bouts of debilitation and the sudden loss of consciousness?

  He felt the severed cuffs in his front pant pocket. He fished the pieces out and threw them into the woods. Then he thought about the map in his back pocket and drew it out. Concern over his health would have to wait.

  He unfolded the map, and with the light of a full moon found his present location on it then began to search for the address listed on his driver’s license as his residence. He figured that that would be the place to begin to uncover answers as to who he is. The fact was it was the only lead he had.

  He headed around the church toward the front while tracing the streets on the map with his eyes to determine the best route to take.

  According to the map, his home was approximately fifteen miles from here. A little less if he cut through the woods, or across a few yards. That would also lessen the chance of being spotted by some cop who happened to be passing by.

  After a few seconds, he had his route memorized. He began to absently fold the map back up just as he stepped off the curb and into the edge of the street.

  The blast of a car horn from directly behind him startled him and he whipped about.

  The front bumper of a gold and black Lexus was only a couple of feet from him. He looked to the front windshield, but the headlights prevented him from seeing all but a silhouette through the glass. He stepped back up on the curb just as the driver’s window began to slide downward. A young woman’s face appeared in the open frame.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I’m alright.” He smiled guiltily. “I guess I shouldn’t read and walk.”

  “Probably not a good idea.” She returned his smile. “Anyplace in particular you’re looking for?”

  He strolled over to the lady in the car. She was stunningly beautiful. Her auburn hair was thick and luxurious and hung down upon her thin shoulders in silky waves. Her large, brown eyes looked up at him with a sensuality that left him momentarily speechless. These feelings seemed out of place for him.

  “Carmen Place,” he finally said.

  “Would you like a ride?”

  “Well …it’s only a few miles from here. I can walk.” Of course, it was a little more than a few miles, but he felt awkward accepting a ride. Though it made no sense at all, he felt somewhat embarrassed about his depleted memory.

  “Don’t be silly. Hop in. It’s the least I can do for almost killing you.”

  “It’s not necessary.”

  “Oh, come on. Let me do my good deed.” She smiled and all objections suddenly left him.

  “Okay,” he said, smiling back at her. He stepped around the car and climbed into the passenger seat.

  “Which way?” she asked as he strapped his seatbelt on.

  “Straight ahead. I’ll let you know when to turn.”

  As she began to pull away, she looked over at Stone. “My name is Mira. And yours?”

  At first, he didn’t speak. He knew what the name on the driver’s license said but it didn’t feel familiar to him. But it was all he knew. “Stone,” he said at last.

  “Stone,” she repeated his name back to him. “It appeared you had to think about it.”

  “Sort of.”

  “Sort of?”

  He paused another moment, considering how much he should reveal. He decided that it was of no consequence whether she knew of his amnesia. The part of him running from the law was better left unsaid.

  “I had an accident … eh, earlier. And, apparently, I’ve lost a great deal of my memory.”

  “That’s terrible,” she said. She looked suddenly troubled. “So, what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be in a hospital?”

  “I don’t like hospitals. I’m trying to work this out myself.”

  She nodded and was quiet a moment. She looked to be mulling over the information she had just been handed.

  “So,” she said. “Where am I taking you?”

  “Eight oh five Carmen street. That’s supposed to be my home. At least that’s what my driver’s license says is my home.”

  “What if it’s not?”

  He looked at her not immediately knowing how to answer that. He hadn’t thought that far ahead.

  “I mean,” she began, “you could have moved since the license was issued.”

  “He nodded. “Yeah, well, I guess I’ll find out soon enough.” He smiled trying to make light of it, but inside he felt his stomach sink. He had a sudden fear that he may never know who he really is.

  She grew quiet for a while after that and he was glad for it. The weakness that had hit him earlier seemed to be coming back. He didn’t want to answer any more questions. He only wanted to lay back, close his eyes, and hope that this illness would soon pass.

  It was nearly ten minutes before she spoke again.

  “You’re looking a little pale,” she said. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” he answered slowly, but his voice sounded hollow and distant to him. “I don’t think that I’ve eaten much lately. I’ll make sure…” For a moment he lost his train of thought. “I’ll make sure to … fill up when I get home.”

  She smiled but didn’t answer. He thought that rather odd.

  For the next few minutes, their only conversation was regarding the directions.

  Then he found himself going back to the map though he thought he had memorized the directions only minutes ago.

  Outside his window, the night had become increasingly dark as swollen clouds rolled across the moon. It made him uneasy. Inside he was beginning to feel just as dark.

  At last, they had arrived and Mira pulled over to the curb. For several long moments, they sat in silence staring out the window.

  Stone slid out his driver’s license and looked once more at the address. His hands were shaking. He couldn’t seem to settle them. Mira was watching him.

  “Is this the right address?” she asked.

  “This is the address on my license.” He looked out his window at the large expanse of land and
the heaping piles of trash and knew with a certainty that this landfill could never had been his home.

  CHAPTER 11

  The government SUVs converged upon them suddenly while they sat across the street from the landfill. Passing them from behind one of them cut diagonally in front of Mira’s car successfully blocking her from moving forward. Another SUV gently tapped their rear bumper letting them know that reverse was no option either. One man jumped out of the front vehicle and instantly brandished a handgun. Crossing the front of Mira’s car he pressed the gun toward the windshield pointing his weapon at Stone. Two men emerged from the sedan behind Mira’s car. One man came to the driver’s side, while the other crossed over to the passenger’s side. Both men had their guns drawn and aimed at Stone.

  Stone felt an odd sense of relief that they had finally gotten him. With the address on the driver’s license being a dead-end he didn’t know where else to go. And besides, his physical deterioration wasn’t going to allow him to go much further.

  Mira Capilano let her window down. The man at her door lowered his weapon.

  “He doesn’t remember anything,” she said in a low voice. “He claims to have amnesia.”

  “Are you sure this is the right guy?” he whispered back to her.

  “I’m pretty sure.”

  “He could be faking the amnesia.”

  “I don’t think so. What purpose would he have?”

  “I guess you haven’t gotten any answers then.”

  “No. Afraid not.”

  The man looked around her at Stone. “He doesn’t look so good,” he said.

  Stone had sunk back into his seat and closed his eyes. His consciousness was teetering on the edge and he had decided not to fight it. They would be arresting him any minute now, and then they would have to get him some medical help.

  “Do you think he could be suffering from the same sickness plagues us?”