Lieutenant Sparkman and Detective Quint were made to take a back seat to special agents sent in to get a handle on the situation. As the public was made aware, Governor Bradford was intent on there not being a repeat performance of utter defeat as the city had seen only a year before with the first wave of unsolved killings.
Trent and Tina sat on a bench across from where some little kids were playing; their parents or guardians with a keen eye nearby. Trent could see uniformed police officers along the perimeter and hoped that their presence would make a difference and actually diffuse the evil forces at work. However, something inside told him different. These characters did not need guns, knives or spears to bring utter devastation. They operated with powers invisible to the human eye and could snuff out the life of an innocent in a mere split second.
Tina took Foster out of the push and sat him on her lap.
"You're getting so heavy!" She smiled.
As he looked back at her, she noticed a florescent green glint in his eyes. She was not taken aback as she knew she could not deny the DNA that made him who he was. Trent slid a strand of hair away from the baby's face, at the same time thinking that his son was worth whatever chaos had come about. Anger started to build as he thought of the nerve of those ruthless entities to actually want to take his son away.
Just then, Trent's cell phone rang. Glancing down at the caller ID, he said: "It's Luke."
"Oh," Tina responded jovially, holding the baby's hands and softly clapping them.
Trent's call ended within a matter of seconds.
"Luke wants to see me at his office right away," Trent said.
"Did he tell you why?" Tina asked.
"No."
"Well, let's go then. Just keep the air-conditioner running and Foster and I can stay in the car. I wonder what could have happened within three weeks of Solange being in France that warrants an emergency meeting," Tina stated on their way back to the car.
"We'll know shortly," Trent replied.
Luke Schafer's Law Firm was situated in a high-rise a few blocks down from First Provincial. After pulling into a spot near the security booth, Trent left the car running and hurried upstairs. Tina clicked the automatic lock button after he left.
Luke's office appeared empty other than for his secretary and probably Luke himself. Trent wondered if it was routine for the high-priced attorney to work weekends as well.
"Mi casa es su casa!" Luke said bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after his tall, brunette glamour-girl of a secretary showed Trent in.
"What is this about, Luke?" Trent asked as he took a seat.
"Good news, my friend," Luke said eagerly. "I couldn't tell you this over the phone."
"What's up?"
"You need to make a trip to Paris. Get your sister and bring her back. In a few days all of the paperwork will be completed and she will be able to walk right out of that jail, board a plane and return home where she belongs."
"What are you really saying, Luke?" Trent shifted more towards the edge of the chair.
"Sanshay, her attorney called today and said the AG is dropping all charges against your sister on the basis that they simply have no case."
A grimace had long made its way across Trent's face. "How can that be? They have an eye-witness."
"Fortunately for us, that so-called eye-witness retracted his statement against your sister saying he made the whole thing up and two days ago was found dead in the bathroom of his apartment. An empty bottle of prescription pills was near his body. So, since your sister never confessed to any crime and they had put together a mickey mouse case even filed for extradition based on one so-called eye-witness who now kicked the bucket, the AG knows they'll never convict her. So they dropped the charges."
Trent was overwhelmed. The news seemed surreal and needed to set in.
"Are you happy?" Luke asked him as he sat there in a daze.
"Happy? I'm elated! I'm overjoyed! I'm beside myself!" he replied, getting up and pacing the floor. "I can't believe it."
"Believe it." Luke smiled widely.
Trent went over to him and gave him a bear hug! "Thanks so much, Luke, from the bottom of my heart." His eyes were tearing up.
Luke patted Trent's back after he was finally free of him. "My pleasure. All my pleasure."
"When should I go there?" Trent asked, drying his eyes and grinning.
"Whenever you're ready. If you go now, you can take a few days to enjoy the city since the paperwork will take a little time to get sorted out," Luke said. "I'll arrange for you and Sanjay to meet as soon as you get there."
"Super!" Trent replied. "But tell me, how come this process is so… quick though?"
"You don't pay the big bucks for nothing, Trent."
Trent nodded with understanding. He felt like he was on cloud nine when he left Luke's office and couldn't wait to share the news with Tina.
Tina reached over and hugged him tightly after hearing the wonderful news. "I'm so happy. I can't stand it!" she cried.
Trent wiped her tears. "We needed some good news, didn't we?" he said.
"We surely did." Tina was struggling to restrain the tears. "I'll be so glad when she's back home. I've missed her so much."
Trent suddenly had a cunning look on his face. "You wanna come with me? You and the baby? I figure we could use a little break — get away for a while. What do you say?"
Tina did not respond right away.
"You actually have to think about it?" Trent was flabbergasted.
Tina released a sigh. "I would love to go to Paris, sweetheart, but I think you should share this special moment with your sister. When things are calm around here again, we can travel. We can go there on our honeymoon. That would be so romantic."
Trent was a bit disappointed. "Are you sure? One hundred percent? No doubt at all about this?"
"Totally." Tina smiled. "Go and bring Solange home. Tell her how Little Foster and I can't wait to see her!"
Trent glanced back at the baby who was looking quietly out of the window.
"Okay," he said to Tina.
"So when do you leave?"
"I'll make reservations when we get back to leave the day after tomorrow," Trent replied.
"Who will oversee the bank?" Tina asked.
"I'll give Will Salstrom that job. Put on your seat belt." Trent put the car into reverse and headed home.
10
The First Night
On Monday morning, Trent took his luggage downstairs and rested them at the front door. For the past two days, he had tried to spend as much time as possible doing fun things with Tina and Little Foster since he might be gone for the better part of a week.
Tina was waiting in the living room with the baby as Trent skipped downstairs with his carry-on.
"All set?" she asked.
"Yep. Thanks to you, my darling." Trent smiled, taking the baby. "Is Amina still coming in today?"
"She promised she'll be here right after she's done with her appointment." Tina checked her watch. "Your flight leaves in a little under two hours, honey."
Trent kissed Little Foster and gently rubbed his forehead against his. "Love you, son. Daddy will be back before you know it." He held Tina by the waist. "As for you, my lovely lady, I'll be dreaming of you every night and missing those luscious lips of yours as well as everything else that makes you so wonderful." He kissed her passionately.
Tina felt her heart skip a beat like it did when she experienced her first teenage crush. "I'll miss you too," she replied softly. "I love you, honey."
"I love you too," he said before placing Little Foster back into the protective arms of his mother. "If anything comes up, don't hesitate to call me."
"I know. Have a safe trip and we'll see you soon."
A private limousine was waiting in the driveway to take Trent to the airport. Tina waved Little Foster's tiny hand to Trent as he was being driven away.
Down the road, he pulled out his cell phone and made a call. "I'm on my w
ay to the airport," Trent said. "Would you look out for Tina and the baby? I left your number with her just in case."
"Sure thing, partner," Deed replied. "I'll check in while you're gone."
"Thanks. I appreciate that."
"No problem at all. See you when you get back."
* * *
After meeting Sanjay at the airport and having an in-depth discussion at his office, Trent checked in at the hotel and settled into his lavish suite. He took a long, cool shower, then sprawled across the comfy bed in nothing more than his boxer shorts. Solange would be released in two days, he was told; Wednesday morning could not come fast enough.
Having dozed off for an hour, Trent got up and sauntered over to the window. He could see the Eiffel Tower which stood just a few kilometers away from the hotel. Paris was a beautiful place with commanding sceneries. Trent felt the excitement building inside when he thought of the day he would bring Tina and the baby there after the wedding, which he hoped they would soon set another date for.
* * *
The First Night
It was their first night alone in the sprawling mansion and Tina was not about to sleep with the lights off. Little Foster's crib was placed inside the master bedroom next to Tina's side of the bed. The lights downstairs remained on, as well as those in the hallway upstairs.
Already in her nightgown, Tina rested the baby into the crib after his final feeding for the night and climbed into bed. She reached for a book from the nightstand, having purchased it that day from her favorite bookstore. As she opened it to the first page, the telephone rang.
"Hi, my darling." Trent's voice sounded like sweet music to her ears.
"Hi," Tina replied softly.
"I wanted to say good night. Did I wake you?"
"You know I don't fall asleep this early," Tina said, smiling. "I just picked up a book to read to help get my mind off you. I miss you already."
"I miss you too, honey. Is the baby still awake?"
"Sleeping like a log," she answered.
They chatted for approximately ten minutes before wishing one another a good night. Trent said he would call her the next morning.
The book slipped out of Tina's hand and landed on the carpeted floor.
"Ti…na…" someone called from outside of the room. The voice was prominent enough to catapult her from her sleep.
"Yes," Tina answered, not yet fully awake.
Suddenly realizing what she had done and what she had heard, Tina sat up in bed and looked around the dark room. Though the door was closed, from the light in the hallway, she could see that Foster was still asleep and resting comfortably, but she was certain she had heard someone call her name. Then again, she felt the need to entertain the possibility that she might have been dreaming. As the house was completely quiet, she slid back onto the bed and shut her eyes again.
A few moments later, she heard that voice again: "Ti…na…" It was clearly that of a female. Tina attempted to sit up again, but this time, she couldn't move. No part of her body was able to move other than her eyes. She became terrified of the possibility that she would have to re-live the dreadful episode that she had never shared with Trent. Her eyes were focused on the doorway again. It was where she had heard the feminine voice and also where she had seen the burly figure push itself right through a few weeks earlier. Her heart was pounding now and she screamed on the inside as she watched the doorknob shift with her own two eyes, as if someone had turned it. Then the door creaked open, but only by a few inches. For several uncanny moments, there was extreme, pulsating silence that literally terrorized her. She did not know what was more disturbing - the eerie silence or to eventually see something she did not want to see.
With no prior warning, the door flew open as if by means of a powerful wind and swept inside the room were dozens of misty shapes and sizes twirling in mid-air. There were cries escaping each entity — horrible, shrilling cries that pierced the soul. Tina was gripped with unimaginable fear and she struggled to move her limbs, but still, to her horror, nothing worked.
"Please! Please! Don’t let them do it!" She heard a man's voice ring out among the twirling chaos.
"Save my children!" A different female voice sounded right after.
The agonizing cries persisted. Tina shut her eyes tightly and prayed and prayed, and when she finally re-opened them, she was greeted by the stillness of the room. No longer held down by a mysterious, unseen force, she sat up in bed and looked at the baby. He had not been disturbed like so many times before and she was thankful. She threw her hands up to her face and sobbed deeply; rocking back and forth as she attempted to rock away the misery. She knew who the misty visitors were. She knew they were souls who had no idea they had paid her a visit prior to their gruesome demise with pleas that were bound to have fallen upon deaf ears.
11
The Second Night
"Are you okay, Miss Tina?" Amina asked after Tina had sat down at the dining room table.
"Yes, I'm fine, Amina. I just didn't get much sleep last night." Tina responded rather weakly.
"Oh, I am sorry, Miss. Can I get you anything? I just put on a pot of coffee."
"Coffee would be great." Tina barely managed the smile.
When Amina returned with the coffee, she sat down at the table with Tina. "Miss Tina," she started, "I know this is none of my business and I am well aware of the fact that by doing this I am overstepping my boundary, but as a mother myself and one who is old enough to be your mother, something weighs heavily on me that I must speak with you about."
"What is it?" Tina asked, for the time being taking her mind off herself in case Amina needed her.
"I am so worried about you." Amina shook her head. "I am so worried."
Tina reached across the table and placed her hand on Amina's.
"I get this terrible feeling, Miss Tina, that something is so very wrong. Not like before — worse than before!"
Tina actually watched a single tear slide down Amina's face.
"Is there something you would like to talk about?" Amina asked. "I know you are my boss and I am just a housekeeper and babysitter…"
"No," Tina interjected. "You are more than just our housekeeper and babysitter. I told you that you are like family now. If you say you're just those things, it sounds like you're saying you are nothing to us and that is not true."
"Thank you, Miss Tina."
"My mother passed away when I was a child," Tina went on. "I loved her more than anything and anyone else in this world. She was not always easy on me because sometimes I could be a difficult child to raise, but I always knew she loved me and I always knew she cared." Tina paused for a moment. "And I know you care. In some ways you remind me of her and I do appreciate you reaching out to me like this out of concern. I won’t lie to you, Amina. I am going through something right now that is truly difficult. I know you spoke with Trent the other day…"
"Miss Tina…"
"No need to explain." Tina patted her hand quickly. "If I were you, I would have done the same thing, but he knows some of my challenges right now and believe me, this has nothing to do with me losing my mind or going off the deep end."
Amina's worried expression began to settle.
"I will be all right, Amina. I have a great support system in Trent and now in you, so I'll get through. I promise you that."
"Okay." Amina smiled. "That makes me feel much better."
"I have a few errands to run; the food store being one of them. Before I leave, I'll take Little Foster for a stroll to get him out of the house for a while," Tina said.
"Okay," Amina replied. She got up to resume her work and left Tina to her coffee.
The Second Night
The dream seemed alive — like it was real and not a dream at all. Tina could see herself from back-on standing alone in a long, white, flowing dress at the brink of a hilltop overlooking a city of beautiful lights. The scene around her and below were so serene she felt herself sinking into the m
oment, when suddenly she felt a touch of her right hand and she looked down. Standing next to her was a boy about seven or eight. He was holding her hand, looking below. Dressed in a long-sleeved, white linen shirt and knee-length linen pants, not a strand of his fluffy, brown hair was shaken by the light wind.
Though curious about his presence, Tina was unperturbed.
"My birthday's in a few days," the little boy said.
"Oh, that's nice. How old will you be?" Tina asked.
The boy was silent.
"Little boy, how old will you be?"
He looked up at her with the saddest eyes she had ever seen. "I wanted to be a heart doctor when I grew up."
Tina was bewildered by his response. "You said wanted. Why did you say that? You can be a heart doctor if you really want to. Did you know the name for it is cardiologist?"
The boy was looking below again. "No, I can't."
"Why not?" Tina was concerned.
"You won’t let me!" he snarled. "You hate me. You hate all of us! You're selfish!" He started to slip his tiny hand away from hers. "Because of you none of us will grow up. I'll never become a heart doctor!" He turned and faced her. "I hate you! I wish you would die! You're an awful person; an awful witch!" He then turned around and jumped off the edge of the hilltop plunging himself below to the depths of what turned out to be a massive graveyard. The city below had been transformed to a desolate land filled with thousands of unmarked graves.
Tina pitched up out of her sleep. Her heart was beating rapidly and she was drenched in sweat.
She felt around on the nightstand for her cell phone and clicked on the flashlight app. Sitting up, she pulled open the top drawer and retrieved the notepad with Deed Grumbley's number on it. She glanced at the alarm clock. It was 12:01am.
Immortals- The Complete Real Illusions Series Page 37
