Bill and the Sting of Death

by Gary McPherson

  “If I can’t control myself, it would probably be safer for everyone to be isolated.”

  John raised his bottle, “From your lips to God’s ear. For the record, I don’t believe you should hide under a rock.”

  “We’ll see.”

  The two quietly sipped their beers. Bill placed a couple of small limbs in the fire and put his feet as close as he dared to the flames. He pulled them back as the soles of his shoes began to smoke.

  John stared at the sky and finally looked back at Bill and asked, “Will you keep the house?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t think that far ahead. Maybe I’ll sell it and buy one of the lots up here and be your neighbor.”

  “There are worse places to live.”

  “So, what’s going on at your job?” asked Bill.

  The two men talked about John’s job, family, and Rhonda’s plans for the mountain house until the fire died out. Bill was thankful for an hour or so of normalcy. Ready to fall asleep, he walked up the two flights of stairs to the main floor, exhausted.

  Bill walked into his bedroom, took off his shoes, laid face-first into his pillow for a moment, and then started to snore. He soon found himself walking on the grounds of the orphanage as a child. Joshua was walking with him, holding his hand. Bill let go and skipped ahead.

  “Are we going to the Viking village?” asked Bill.

  “Would you like that?”

  Bill responded, “Yes,” and he twirled and danced beneath the blossoming trees.

  Bill tripped, his body jerked, and he woke up on his bed in the mountain house. He slipped off his pants and slid under the blankets. “Who are you, Joshua?”

  Chapter 10

  Bill sipped his coffee at the oak dining table and looked past his friend through the picture window at the fall mountain morning. The low clouds partially covering the hills meant a temperature change was coming. Gray bare trees extended below the cloud line and into the brown valley below.

  John sat holding Bill’s phone, lost in thought as he read the document on its screen.

  He put down the phone, “That seems more than generous.”

  Bill nodded in silence and stared blankly out the window.

  “I thought you’d be relieved to finally hear from Clark and Company.”

  Bill looked over at John. “Sorry, I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

  “I understand,” John took a sip of his coffee.

  Bill asked, “Do you think I’ll ever be alright?”

  John reached over and grabbed his friend’s forearm, “Look at me.”

  Bill looked into John’s penetrating eyes.

  “You’re going to be fine. Will things be like they used to be? No, but everything changes, including us. Give yourself some time. Give God a chance.”

  John let go of Bill’s arm, and Bill pulled it back.

  Bill’s fingers started to drum on the table. “Look, I know what I said last night, but so far, God hasn’t shown up in my life since I was a kid. I’ve always taken care of myself, but now things are different. I’m told people screwed with my head. I’m not even sure who I am anymore.”

  John answered, “If you obsess over it, you may have bigger problems with your brain from all the added stress.”

  Bill took his phone back and slipped it into his pocket. “What do you suggest. Just sit around here and wait for a couple of men to show up wearing sunglasses on a mission from God?”

  The doorbell rang. Bill and John’s mouths dropped open.

  John asked, “Aren’t you going to answer that?”

  “What for? This is your house.”

  John stood, “I’m not expecting anyone, are you?”

  The doorbell rang again.

  Bill pointed at the door, “Now who’s overthinking. Just look out and see who it is.”

  John walked over and looked through the peephole, blinked, and looked again. The doorbell rang a third time, and John opened the door. Bill could hear a quiet exchange of greetings.

  John looked over his shoulder, “They’re here to see you.”

  Bill hesitated, but then stood and slowly walked towards the front door. When he was halfway across the room, John took a step back, and Bill froze in place. Two people stood on the front porch. The woman was close to Bill’s age, but he thought she was possibly a little older. She was Bill’s height, wore a khaki pantsuit, and was built like an athlete. Next to her stood a man that Bill guessed was in his late fifties. He was in decent shape for his age. He wore jeans, a flannel shirt, and a trucker’s cap with a local bait shop’s name. Both people wore sunglasses on this overcast morning.

  John smiled and patted Bill on the back as they walked past each other. The two strangers held out identification.

  The man said, “We’re with the CIA. I’m agent Garcia Hernandez, and this is agent Darla Brown.”

  The woman removed her sunglasses and shook his hand. “I hope we haven’t startled you. I imagine we’re the last people you’d expect at your front door.”

  Bill asked, “How’d you get past the gate.”

  Garcia smiled and answered, “Please, Mr. Johnson. We’re CIA.”

  “What do you want with me?”

  Darla replied, “May we come in?”

  “Sure.”

  The two agents came in and sat next to each other on the couch, and Bill took the loveseat.

  John stepped over, “Do I need to leave?”

  Darla answered, “Please, join us. This will impact you, as well.”

  John sat, and Bill noticed Darla tap her cheek. Agent Garcia removed his sunglasses.

  Bill asked, “How can I help you?”

  Garcia replied, “We’re here to help you. Dr. Adam Klein called Dr. Joshua Zeev. I believe you’re familiar with their names.”

  Bill nodded.

  Garcia continued. “Joshua is currently in protective custody. I’m afraid I can’t disclose more than that. When Dr. Zeev explained to us the urgency in finding you, we flew him up here so the two of you could meet.”

  Bill looked towards the front door. “Where is he?”

  Darla responded, “He isn’t in the car. We need to take you to him.”

  John interrupted, “How did you find us? Did you speak to my wife?”

  Darla said, “We tried, but she wouldn’t tell us where you were. You have a very protective spouse.”

  John answered, “She’s the best.”

  Garcia said, “Yes. Well, fortunately, we had Bill’s phone number. I tracked the location of his phone.”

  Bill asked, “Is that legal?”

  Darla’s eyes seemed to penetrate Bill’s soul, and something inside him told him not to ask that again.

  Darla answered, “We have a wide latitude with this case.”

  Both agents stood up, and Garcia said, “Please, both of you, pack up. We need to leave. If I thought to track your phone, others might try as well.”

  Bill and John asked, “Who?”

  Garcia answered, “It’s need to know. Mr. Palazzo, we don’t believe you are in any sort of danger, but I think you should go back home, just in case. We’ll leave an agent in the area to watch this house for a couple of days. If things change, we’ll be in touch.”

  Bill asked, “What about me?”

  Darla answered, “You’re coming with us.”

  Bill folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not sure I like the way that sounds.”

  Garcia answered, “We’re taking you to Joshua.”

  Bill nodded and walked briskly towards the bedroom. He could hear John exchange words with the agents and then hurry upstairs. In a few minutes, he had everything tossed hastily into his suitcase and zippered it closed with some effort.

  Bill returned to the agents with his suitcase.

  Darla said, “Let’s go.”

  Bill put up his finger and hollered from the bottom of the stairs. “Do I need to help with anything?”

  John poked his head out from the upstairs bedroom and said,
“I’ve got it. Let me know that you’re safe wherever you end up.”

  Bill nodded and then followed the agents outside. A black SUV with tinted windows sat at the entrance of the driveway. Bill noticed a black sedan with a man standing next to it in the house’s lower driveway.

  Bill pointed, “Who’s that?”

  Garcia answered, “Frank. He’ll keep an eye on things. Please, we need to leave.”

  They loaded his suitcase and put Bill in the back seat. The two agents slipped inside the front seats, put on their sunglasses, and were driving down highway two-twenty-one in a couple of short minutes.

  Bill asked, “So, where are we going?”

  Darla answered, “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Bill’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and asked, “May I answer it?”

  Darla turned to face him. “Please don’t say where you’re going.”

  “That won’t be hard, I don’t have a clue.”

  Carol’s voice was shrill on the other end, “Are you working with the CIA?”

  Bill stammered, “Wait, what?”

  Darla turned back to Bill and said, “Please ask Ms. Lewis not to shoot our agent.”

  Carol sounded insistent. “There’s a Frank Jones at your door. He claims he’s with the CIA. Do you know about this?”

  Bill asked, “Why are you at my house? I thought you’d be at work.”

  Carol answered, “I got laid off, so I thought I’d come over and check on things. Five minutes after I got here, some guy in sunglasses is telling me he’s CIA, and I have to leave.”

  Bill said, “Hang on.”

  He covered the receiver and asked Darla and Garcia, “How’d you know she’d be there.’

  Garcia said, “Please,”

  Darla interrupted, “Remember, CIA. We’ve been keeping track of Ms. Lewis since the attack. She was an early person of interest, but we cleared her.”

  Bill’s eyes widened, “Person of interest? My admin?”

  Darla turned and faced the front.

  Carol’s voice sounded irritated, “Don’t put me on hold. I’m debating whether or not to shoot this guy.”

  Bill’s voice rose an octave, “You have a gun?”

  “Baby, I’m a black woman in the south, of course, I have a gun. Don’t worry, it’s legal.”

  Bill took and deep breath and said, “He’s CIA. It’s about the office shooting. Please do what he asks.”

  Carol’s voice grew quiet, “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  Bill answered, “No.”

  “Are we in danger?” asked Carol.

  Bill answered honestly, “Not if we listen to them.”

  Carol sounded calmer. “Alright. You better call me later and tell me what’s going on.”

  Bill replied, “When I figure it out myself, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Don’t make me call you,” warned Carol.

  “I won’t. I need to go.”

  Bill hung up the phone. He looked out the window and noticed them passing the only Walmart in town. The car made a left on to highway four-twenty-one business, and they were soon puttering through downtown North Wilkesboro. Bill spoke up as the vehicle turned left on highway eighteen.

  “We’re headed to the airport?”

  Darla turned towards Bill. The surprise on her face lasted only a second. “How do you know that?”

  Bill shrugged, “It makes sense. You said you flew here.”

  Darla and Garcia looked at each other. Garcia asked, “Do a lot of people use this airport?”

  “I don’t know. It’s not like it’s Charlotte Douglas.”

  Darla’s posture relaxed, and the three sat in silence as they approached the airport. Bill could feel a knot forming in his stomach. He wiped his palms on his slacks as the SUV slowly made its way through the hangers. They pulled up next to a Honda Jet.

  Bill asked, “Is he in the plane?”

  Neither agent said a word. They exited the vehicle, and Garcia opened Bill’s door. Bill got out of the car.

  Garcia pointed at the hanger’s small door, “Joshua’s in there. Darla will join you. I have an old friend to visit.”

  “Who?” asked Bill.

  “It’s need to know, and you don’t need to know.”

  Bill stepped around the vehicle next to Darla, and Garcia got in and drove away.

  Darla asked, “Nervous?”

  “Yea. I don’t know. None of this makes sense.”

  Darla placed her hand gently on Bill’s back, “Don’t worry. Joshua is one of the best men I’ve known. He’ll help you sort this out.”

  Bill stood there. Darla pressed harder against his back, and he started making his way towards the closed door.

  Chapter 11

  The steel handle felt cold against Bill’s hand. Darla stood behind and waited for him to enter. Bill took a deep breath, heard the bolt give way with a click, and pushed inward. For a moment, everything seemed covered by shadows as his eyes adjusted. Only one of the lights at the top of the hanger was on. The building sat empty except for some tool chests near the hanger’s rear.

  Bill looked to his left, and four feet away stood a man in dark sunglasses and a suit with a submachine gun. He kept it diagonally pointed to the ground. At the far end of the building sat a man behind a folding table. He stood, and Bill took a deep breath and stayed his ground.

  Darla gently pushed him in further and entered the hanger, shutting the door.

  Darla said, “Follow me.”

  Bill fell in line behind Darla, and the man began to walk towards them. Bill could see immediately that he was the same height. As his face came into view, Bill held his breath. He looked like the Joshua in his dreams. Gray hair and deep lines in his brow made the man look older, wiser. Something clicked inside of Bill. He walked briskly past Darla.

  “Joshua,” Bill said with the excitement of a small child.

  Joshua held out his arms, and the two embraced. Bill could feel the tears from Joshua’s face, and for some reason, he was crying too. He still held no memories beyond his dreams, but it felt like he had found a long-lost family member.

  The two let go, and Joshua patted Bill’s shoulders. “Look at you. You’ve turned into such a fine young man.”

  Darla walked up, “I can see I don’t have to make introductions. I know you two have a lot to talk about. Frank and I will be over by the door.”

  Joshua put his arm around Bill, “Come, my boy. We have much to discuss.”

  He led Bill over to the table, and the two men sat down. Joshua’s eyes twinkled with delight.

  Bill looked at the armed guard, then back at Joshua and asked, “Who are you?”

  Joshua answered, “I thought you recognized me.”

  “I feel like I know you, but I’ve only seen your face in my dreams.”

  Joshua leaned forward, “What did I look like?”

  “Younger.”

  Joshua grinned. “Yes. We were both much younger then.”

  Bill asked again, “Who are you?”

  The smile left Joshua’s face, “I can answer all your questions, but I’m going to need you to trust me.”

  Bill looked over his shoulder at Darla and the guard conversing quietly by the door. The hanger had many shadows, and Bill hoped someone was not hiding in one of them.

  Bill looked back at Joshua, “What do you have in mind?”

  Joshua pulled a gold pen out of his pocket, angled it so it caught what little light was in the room, and began to twirl it. He asked, “Do you remember this pen?”

  Bill stared hard at the object. “It feels familiar.”

  “Keep watching it, and just relax. Your memories will start to come back.”

  Bill watched it for a few more seconds. He blinked and shook his head. “Hey, you’re making me drowsy.”

  Joshua’s voice sounded a little distant. “That’s just your brain, remembering. Focus on the pen and let your eyelids relax. Do you remember the woods we u
sed to walk in?”

  Bill thought he could see a green forest around him. His eyes opened slightly, and the glint of the cold pen caught his eyes.

  Joshua spoke softly, “You do remember.”

  Bill mumbled, “Yes.”

  Joshua’s voice drew Bill in. “Good. Do you want to go there together?”

  Bill asked, “Why?”

  “To find your answers.”

  Bill nodded and smiled, “Hurry, Joshua, let’s go now.”

  Joshua’s voice was soothing. “Okay, let’s go on an adventure. Do you see the woods?”

  The forest came into focus. Trees created a canopy above, and crisp air felt good against Bill’s bare chest. Joshua walked beside him. Both wore wolfskin, but Joshua also had a shirt on.

  Joshua turned and asked, “Do you know where we are?”

  Bill answered, “Helvsgud.”

  “That’s close enough. We have a short walk this way.”

  The two walked in silence. Bill breathed in the fresh air and beat his chest. “It’s good to be home.”

  Joshua said nothing. They broke through the edge of the woods and into the clearing. Farmers were tending their crops, and people were walking to and fro through the village gate. Joshua sat down in front of a thatched hut and invited Bill to join him.

  Joshua said, “I want you to concentrate on me. Tell me the last time you were in the village.”

  Bill’s brow wrinkled. He drew in his breath. “The farms, they were on fire.”

  “It’s okay, Bill. There’re no fires now. Why were they on fire?”

  Bill answered, “Raiders, they came to attack the village.”

  Joshua asked in a soft voice, “What happened?”

  Bill continued, “I protected the village. I went berserk and saved the town, except.” Bill’s voice trailed off.

  “Except what?”

  Bill said, “Lori,” and then began to weep.

  Joshua held Bill as he cried. Bill finally wiggled free and growled, “I need to find her killer.”

  “I thought you killed the raiders?”

  Bill answered, “I did, but there’s someone else.”

  Joshua’s whispered, “Who told you that?”

  Bill looked Joshua in the eye, “King Adam told me. He said dangerous men were after you and my brother. Perhaps they are after me too.”