Stalking the Phoenix

by Karen Woods

  Geoff nodded his head. He seemed amused at the detail of this project of hers. I wondered if this was the first that he had heard of it. “Woman. That is some plan. What’s to stop a sharpey like, say Sister Bonaventure here, from removing the canvass after that part of the painting is complete and replacing it with another?” he asked with clear humor in his voice.

  Alicia smiled and winked at him. “That’s easy. After the painting has begun, if the canvass is removed from the easel, the entire process recycles. Starting with, guess what, the gesso and the white lead. And to answer the next logical question, there is no way around it. The machine will sit motionless if there is any lack of either the gesso or the lead. The machine tests the quality of both the gesso and the lead. If either fails to meet preset minimum criteria, the machine will not continue. The control for that portion of the process is in hardware. Any modification of the machine out of preset criteria will cause it to malfunction.”

  “What do you mean malfunction?” Sister Dorothea asked.

  “It will paint, but . . .” Alicia laughed boldly. “the only thing that the machine will produce is a facsimile of one of the suggested early American flags. You know, the one with the snake and the message ‘Don’t tread on me’?”

  Everyone at the table broke up laughing. Geoff looked over at Alicia. “That’s real cute ‘Licia.”

  “Yeah, I thought it was poetic justice.”

  “What is the possibility of lead poisoning from your process?” Brother Louis asked when he stopped laughing.

  Alicia laughed. “The amount of lead in the machine is insignificant. The amount on each painting is hardly worth talking about. It’s well below the EPA standards.”

  Brother Louis smiled. “So, do you see other applications for the sub-assemblies?”

  “Yes. There are lots of manufacturing applications,” Alicia replied.

  “You’ve worked out the visual recognition problems?” Brother Louis asked.

  “For the most part.”

  “Wow!” Brother Louis remarked in awe. “The applications are mind boggling.”

  “I’ve already licensed some of the technology to Davis Engineering,” Alicia said.

  “That’s Rose Davis’ outfit?” Father Cecil asked in surprise.

  “Rusty’s a friend,” Alicia replied quietly.

  “You’ve got some . . . real . . . interesting friends,” Father Cecil remarked with distaste in his voice.

  Alicia looked at him with narrowed eyes. “My friends are interesting people.”

  “So what is Davis going to be doing with your innovations?” Father Cecil asked in a cautious tone still heavily laced with distaste.

  “Why are you so concerned?” Alicia asked.

  “That woman has her paws into many areas,” Father Cecil said in disgust. “She is little more than a pawn in the hands of the military industrial complex.”

  Alicia bristled. “Rusty is my friend. No one who knows her would call her a pawn in anyone’s game. She plays by her own rules. Period.”

  Father Cecil, seeing the fire in her eyes, backed down. “I meant no disrespect. The pair of you seems diametrically opposed to one another. She’s such a-a flamboyant person.”

  “Only Rusty’s work is flamboyant. She is actually quite a private person.”

  “She’s a merchant of death!” Father Cecil said.

  “Rather, her inventions try to maintain life for people in otherwise untenable situations,” Alicia countered, no small measure of heat in her voice.

  “Right.” A person would have had to be deaf to have missed the sarcasm in Father Cecil’s voice.

  “How did you meet Davis?” I asked quietly, trying to get a handle on my future sister-in-law.

  “I was a doctoral candidate when she was an undergraduate challenging the Institute for her Bachelor’s and Master’s course work. There weren’t a lot of women in the E.E. and M.E. programs. The few of us that there were tended to form friendships as self-defense against the good-old-boy mentality of the department.”

  “So, Geoff,” Sister Dorothea said changing the subject, “Monsignor has told us all about your upcoming marriage. The date is for three weeks from tomorrow?”

  “Yes,” Geoff answered with a smile.

  I cleared my throat. “Well, Sister Bonaventure, you’ve outdone yourself with this cheese and vegetable chowder. It is wonderful.”

  “Thank you, Monsignor. I remembered how much you all liked it the last time I made it,” Sister replied, her face beaming with quiet pride.

  Small talk ended the meal. After dinner, we all went to the living room.

  Sister Dorothea stepped over to the piano and sat down. “Now for some real music,” she announced. She began to play some Irish folk songs. Father Cecil and Brother Louis sang along.

  The hall clock struck ten. Sister Dorothea stopped playing and excused herself saying that it was getting late. Sister Bonaventure also made her excuses as did Father Cecil and Brother Louis. Within three minutes, only Alicia, Geoff and I remained in the living room.

  “Hummph,” Geoff declared, “you certainly have them well trained.”

  I looked at Geoff, shaking my head. “They all are adults living under rule. They are expected to keep the hours for retiring of their respective communities. For most of them that is ten or thereabouts,” I replied matter-of-factly.

  “Yeah. I remember,” Alicia said, mostly to herself.

  “Father Cecil is going to say early Mass in the morning. I don’t have to be at the Church until ten tomorrow. So, we can stay up and chat for awhile, if you like,” I offered.

  “Yeah”, said Alicia, “I’d like that. It’s not often that one meets her soon-to-be brother-in-law. But, if we are going to stay up and chat, I could use a warm drink.”

  I nodded. “I could use a cup of coffee myself,” I said as I rose to go make the coffee.

  They were embracing when I returned to the living room carrying thermal carafe of coffee and three mugs. There was something very tender in the caress that my baby brother was bestowing on his fiancee. I was glad to see that. Geoffrey has always been a womanizer. I was glad that he had found a woman for whom he could feel tenderness. Couples embracing don’t bother me. But I thought that Alicia might be embarrassed. I backed out of the room and waited.

  A few minutes later, I handed her a cup of coffee. “I received your letter the other day,” I remarked to Alicia. “It was a fine idea. Thank you for the thought.”

  “You’re most welcome,” Alicia hedged, as her face went totally ashen.

  That was when I realized that I was talking out of school. Geoff didn’t know about the birthday surprise that she was planning for him.

  Geoff looked at Alicia then at me. “Okay, why has this suddenly become ‘Treat Geoff like a mushroom’ day?” he demanded.

  Alicia smiled. “Never mind. Trust me. I’ve got a birthday surprise for you. I just wanted to run it by your brother to get his opinion. You’ll see about it soon enough. That’s all I’m telling you.”

  “Okay. But the suspense is killing me,” Geoff said.

  “You’re a big boy, you’ll survive,” I told him with humor.

  The conversation went on for hours as Alicia, Geoff and I spoke of many subjects. As the hall clock struck one, I announced that it was way past my bedtime. “Come on, we’ll have lots of time later today to talk. It’s time that we all got some sleep. Come on, now. Up to bed with all of us.”

  Chapter 17

  ALICIA

  I hadn’t been asleep long when I was awakened by the sound of the door opening. I opened an eye to see Geoff standing at the door. I sat up in bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. “What?”

  He walked in and closed the door behind him.

  “Geoff, go to bed. It is very late. I’m tired.”

  By the light streaming in the window, I watched as he walked over to me. He sat on her bed facing me. His arms surrounded me, crushingly. He kissed me, angrily. His face felt very
cold, almost plastic. I pushed him away. While pushing him, I tore some latex loose from his face. He tore the rest of it off. It was Raoul Hernandez. His hands went around my throat.

  “Now you die, Seester.”

  The next thing that I knew, I was sitting upright in bed, screaming. Suddenly, the light switched on. Geoff and Father Will were standing there. Sisters Dorothea and Bonaventure, along with Father Cecil and Brother Louis, followed quickly.

  “What’s wrong?” Sister Bonaventure asked.

  “‘Licia’s had a nightmare,” Geoff explained. “Go back to bed, please. We’re sorry to disturb your sleep.”

  Sister Bonaventure nodded. “I’ll brew her up some chamomile and red clover tea. That will put her back to sleep.”

  Father Will smiled at Sister.

  “Please go back to bed. There is no need for you all to stay here. The situation is under control,” Will told them.

  I was breathing very hard, as I tried to regain my composure. Tears streamed down my face. It was only a dream, I kept telling myself.

  Geoff walked around the bed and sat down. He held me and let me cry. “Oh, Geoff. Such a nightmare. Hernandez found me. He disguised himself as you and got close enough to hold and kiss me. Then he tried to kill me.”

  “It was just a dream. No one is going to hurt you while I’m here,” Geoff reassured me as he stroked my hair.

  Father Will came over. Kneeling by the bed, he took my hand. “Alicia. Listen to me. You’ve got to pull yourself together. It was only a nightmare.” He got up from his knees and sat on the bed. I looked at him, seeing only compassion in his eyes.

  I laughed, nervously, becoming embarrassed. “I’m so sorry to wake everyone up.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Will said.

  I realized that Geoff wasn’t wearing a shirt. I looked down to discover to my relief, that he had, at least, pulled on his pants before answering my screams. I pulled away from Geoff.

  Will looked over at Geoff. “I want to talk to Alicia about this. Why don’t you go help Sister.”

  Geoff and his brother exchanged looks I couldn’t decipher before Geoff left the room.

  “Alicia,” Will began, “I know all about Los Angeles. I know about this Hernandez fellow. I can understand why you’d feel fear of him. I would be in fear of him, if I were you.”

  I laid my head on Will’s shoulder, and hugged him.

  Will held me tightly. A long moment passed. “Feeling better?”

  I moved out of his arms.

  “Yes. Thank you.” I paused briefly. “Will?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you. You are going to be a fine brother in law,” I said warmly as I touched his shoulder. “I’m a lucky woman to be marrying into this family.”

  Will patted my hand. “Anytime that you want someone to talk to, call me. I’ll always be here for you.”

  I looked at him. “Thank you, Will. You’re a fine man.” I heard Geoff coming up the stairs. “That brother of yours is coming. Have you noticed that he has a great sense of timing?”

  “Yes. Just super,” Will said with a touch of caustic undercurrents in his voice.

  Geoff opened the door. He was carrying a tray with cups, a pot of tea, and cookies. Closing the door behind him, Geoff said, “Tea and sweets.” He sat the tray down on the table and poured three cups of tea.

  Will looked at Geoff and then at me. He downed his very hot tea as though it were merely lukewarm. “I’d better get some sleep.” As he rose, he admonished, “Be good, you two.”

  “What else would we be?” Geoff asked in as innocent of a tone as he could muster.

  “Frankly, I’d rather not know,” Will said as he left the room and closed the door softly behind him.

  Geoff sat down on my bed. He sipped his tea. “Do you feel better now?”

  I smiled at him. “Yes. I feel much better now. Nothing is solved. That maniac is still out there somewhere. I’m still in danger, but I feel better.”

  I finished my tea. I waited until Geoff had finished his, then I handed him my cup. He laid them on the floor before he tucked me in, under the covers, then he lay down beside me, on top of the covers. He held me until I dropped back off to sleep. There were no words between us. There was no need for them.

  Once I was asleep, he must have picked up the cups and taken them downstairs to the kitchen.

  Chapter 18

  GEOFF

  Will was in the kitchen making some cocoa when I came in.

  “I couldn’t get back to sleep,” my brother explained. “Poor girl. She is very lucky to have someone who cares about her like you do.”

  “Personally, Will, I think that I’m the lucky one.”

  “She’s a fine woman.”

  “I’m worried about her, Will.”

  “I can understand that. She’s been through Hell.”

  “She’s so strong. But, there is a limit to anyone’s strength. Since Thursday morning, she’s been on edge. Every little sound is making her jump. I know that she didn’t sleep on Thursday night. I heard her up and walking around almost all night.”

  “That means that you didn’t get much sleep either, doesn’t it?”

  “True. But, I don’t need much sleep.”

  “You and she are to sleep in, while you are here,” Will said. “I don’t care if you stay in bed until afternoon. Both of you need the rest. If you can’t get a bit of sanctuary in a Rectory, where can you?”

  “Thanks, Will.”

  “Drink your cocoa and go to bed,” Will said in a gruff tone which didn’t hide his concern for us.

  “Always the bossy big brother.”

  “Does Alicia know about your vasectomy?”

  I hated lying to my brother, but there was no way that I could tell him the truth. He just wouldn’t understand the fact that I had seen fit to lie to ‘Licia. He definitely wouldn’t approve. And the chances of his keeping his mouth closed about it were slim to none. I couldn’t afford the risk. “It’s been reversed.”

  Will smiled broadly. “Then, will I be an uncle within the next couple of years?”

  “Within the next eight and a half months. Alicia’s pregnant.”

  Will just looked at me. “Does Jack Douglass know that?”

  “We haven’t told anyone else, yet. ‘Licia just had the blood test and ultrasound day before yesterday to confirm.”

  “I take it that this was planned?”

  “With malice aforethought. ‘Licia wants children. She doesn’t have many productive years left. We didn’t want to waste time.”

  Will shook his head. “Do you love her?”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, you won’t be the first couple to consummate a marriage before taking your vows. I doubt that you’ll be the last,” Will said.

  “You might try being happy for us.”

  Will smiled at me. “Of course, I’m happy for you.”

  “Are you?”

  “Of course, I am. I just can’t help wishing that you had moved up the wedding.”

  “She wanted to get the term over and done with, so that we could spend those first few weeks without any other distraction. And I needed some time to wind up most of my urgent caseload so that I could take a long honeymoon.”

  Will sighed. “I’m going to bed, now. Turn off the lights when you come up.”

  Chapter 19

  ALICIA

  It was one in the afternoon before I awoke again. I looked at the clock, then looked again. I gathered my clothes for the day and went to the bathroom. My hairbrush and toothbrush had been in the overnight case that had not made it to Chicago.

  Entering the bathroom, I saw a note taped to the mirror. Will had gone out and bought me a new toothbrush, hairbrush, bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and a tube of toothpaste. I smiled. He was just as thoughtful as his brother.

  Leaving the bathroom twenty-five minutes later, dressed in jeans, a cotton sweater, and tennis shoes, and with my still damp hair hanging d
own my back in a single plait, I felt much better than I had in days. I made my way downstairs.

  Sister Bonaventure was in the kitchen making pies for dinner.

  “Want some help?”

  “Come in. Sit down,” the older woman said warmly. “You must be hungry.”

  I smiled. “You are always trying to feed me.”

  “That is my apostolate. I’m a registered dietitian. I supervise the food preparation over at the school. And here as well, I suppose,” the Religious said gently.

  I nodded. “I can see that.”

  “What would you like for breakfast?”

  “Don’t fuss over me. I’ll make something for myself.”

  Sister smiled. “Monsignor Samson is quite taken with you.”

  “He’s a good man. I am glad to be marrying into his family.”

  Sister laughed, then she became serious. “You don’t have a family of your own, Monsignor says.”

  “No. I don’t. Or rather, I don’t have any that I know of. My parents died when I was small. Both of them were only children of only children. There never has been anyone really close.”

  “You ought to get out today and see the area. Make Geoff take you to see the sights.”

  “Chicagoland is my old stomping grounds. I was born in Lake Forest.”

  Will had been standing at the doorway. “Geoff didn’t tell me that you were a native.”

  “I’m not certain that I’ve ever told him,” I said. “My childhood wasn’t particularly a pleasant one. I tend to avoid discussing it.”

  Will nodded and smiled with understanding.

  “Speaking of Geoff, where is he?” I asked.

  “Across the street, shooting hoops with a group of teenagers.”

  I laughed. “That sounds like Geoff. I suppose that he is winning?”

  “Probably being run into the ground, if I know the teenagers who are playing against him. They are ruthless,” Will said with glee in his voice.

  I laughed boldly. “A little humility would not be a bad thing for your brother to acquire. But, then again, I wouldn’t be so sure that the teenagers would best him. He keeps in pretty good shape. And Geoff has a streak of ruthlessness in him a mile wide. That isn’t a trait which your high school kids have probably had the necessary experiences to acquire and hone.”