“Sniper! Hey, who are these people?”
Heading down the front stairs, Hinton says, “We’re not sure, just go set the world record.”
Sandoval, zipping up his coat at the front door adds, in a loud whisper, “You want me to cut the power to that house?”
Stopping in his tracks for a second, Hinton looks at him and after a moment of thought says, “No, not yet; but grab a business card off my clip board and in about ten minutes call me and tell me how long it would take you to do that. Consider it another world record.” And with that, he runs over to the Phelps front door.
Getting to the front door, Hinton rings the bell. Mary goes over to let him in. Entering the living room Lauren cannot help but look a little relieved to see him. He says to the group, “Hey, look what I found in my car! Remember what we were talking about earlier, strange premonitions and phenomena?” James, knowing Lauren’s passion for this topic looks over at her, but she does not notice him; she’s looking at Hinton. “This tape was recorded at one of my cases and supposedly shows a spirit coming down to tell someone something in their sleep. Do you have a VCR?”
Mrs. Phelps replies, “Oh my! Yes, I’d like to see that!”
“It’s very faint, so we’ll have to turn the lights down in here, maybe off all together.”
Catching on to what he’s doing, Lauren at long last can take a breath. James notices the relief on her face, and thinks she must have been wondering what was going on.
He says, “I’m sorry, Lauren, this is Mr. Hinton, he’s the insurance adjuster for the fire. Sir, this is a friend of mine from school. You know it’s so weird you guys were talking about that, ’cause we were talking about the same thing on the drive up here! It must be something in the air.”
When they dim the lights, Lauren is the first to notice that there’s light coming from outside that places Joseph in deep shadow now that the inside lights are dimmed. Very impressed, she looks over to Hinton with great appreciation in her eyes. Always the professional, he does not acknowledge her look in any special way. James does catch her pleased expression, but chalks it up to her great interest in all things supernatural.
Hinton places the tape that he knows very well is blank in the VCR and begins to play it, but with perfect timing, the electrician calls him. Looking at the caller ID he says, “I’m sorry everyone, it’s the electrician, I’d better take this.” Leaving the room, which is now dimly lit, and with the remote in his hand, he takes the call outside, going through the foyer.
Sandoval says on the phone, “About fifteen minutes to safely cut the power to just their home.”
“Excellent. I don’t think we’ll need it. Let me ask you something. If you had to get a shot at the boy on the sofa in the front room from where you are, do you think you could get it on the first try?”
“Hold on, let me see. Hmm, I really can’t make out anyone ’cause of the reflection.”
Hinton, “Good job on the headlights agent. Okay, when I go back in there, we’ll likely bring the lights up full in a few minutes. When we do, I’ll call you. If you think a sniper would have a clear shot, text me a message.”
Sandoval, “Wow! Text you.”
“Yeah. What are you trying to say, Agent Sandoval?”
“Uh, nothing, I just– Nothing.”
“Goodbye sprout.” And with that, Hinton heads back over to the Phelps residence.
• • •
Now, somewhat more familiar with the Phelps home, Hinton knocks on the door and then gently opens it saying, “Hello, I’m back.”
Mary still manages to get to the door and welcome him in again. She takes his coat this time, to which he replies warmly, “Thank you, you really don’t have to.”
“It’s my pleasure.” She says, seemingly with a slight interest in the seasoned agent.”
Hinton notes her interest, but he cannot see any purpose in indulging, so he swiftly moves on to the living room and announces, “Well, looks like he will have the power on any moment; but you’ll still want to give it some time to warm up.”
Joanna, “Oh, that’s great news.”
Hinton, “So, where were we?”
Joseph pipes up, “You were just about to show us the spooky video.”
Hinton, “Oh, yeah. Thanks. Let’s see.” He kneels down to place the tape in the VCR and begins attempting to play it. Of course the blank tape just makes a screen full of snow, and keeps the room relatively dark. After a few moments waiting for it to start and looking to keep the room dim Hinton says, “Hmm, maybe it’s further down on the tape. Let me fast forward some more.”
Lauren who understands this is all a delaying tactic uses the lull to bridge the topic over to talking about Joseph’s skills. “Mrs. Market, I know we’ve only just met, but I’ll have to get going soon and I just won’t be able to keep my mind on driving if you won’t solve a mystery that James brought up on the drive.”
Joanna replies, “Oh my, I’ll try. But who can tell what Jimmy might have said.”
James gets in, “Oh, no.”
Lauren continues, “Well, he tells of a time years ago—what was it eight, nine years ago—when your son, Joseph, had special insights and abilities.”
All of a sudden, all of them seem to freeze in their tracks. Joanna turns and looks at her husband, who is already looking straight at her! Mrs. Phelps covers her mouth in shock
The next sound anyone hears comes from Joseph, himself, “Wow!”
Lauren, “What? What did I say? Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up! I’m so–”
“No,” says Joanna, “it’s not that. It’s okay, really. It’s just that, we were all just talking about that! The coincidence is kind of– I don’t know.”
“Creepy as all get out!” cheerfully adds Joseph.
Lauren, “I’m really sorry Joseph, I didn’t mean to creep you out.”
Joanna tries to politically correct her younger teen, “Well of course you didn’t; you couldn’t have known. Joey is just very, um,” looking at her son with a face, says, “expressive!” Turning to Lauren, she adds, “Help me get these things in the kitchen and I’ll fill you in as best I can.”
Mary jumps up from her seat and says, “You really don’t have to–”
“No, Mary, you’ve done so much, I’d feel terrible if you don’t let me do this little bit.”
Lauren looks over at Hinton, distressed that she is being asked to leave her position blocking Joseph from the window.
James catches the concerned look, and says, “Lauren, do you need something?”
Lauren, “Um, no, I can’t wait to hear your mom’s side of the story.” She grabs some dishes and walks away from the window, exposing Joseph.
But at that very moment Hinton picks up his cell phone and walks over towards the window to allegedly get a better signal. He says, “Excuse me all, I just remembered I need to ask the electrician to make sure the bypassed circuit doesn’t keep the heater off line.” He rings George Sandoval. “Hello George, I just wanted to make sure that you would make sure that their heater was online when you’re done.”
Sandoval, “What? Of course, what are you trying to say?”
Hinton, “Okay, good, good. We’re all eager to get back over there. By the way, I see your truck lights on, can you see me in the front window?”
Sandoval, “Oh, okay, you need to tell me something. Okay, yeah I can see you, but only your silhouette. I can’t see the kid at all.”
Stepping to the side Hinton continues, “So we’re still looking good?”
Sandoval, “Yep, I can’t see anything that’s not directly illuminated by the truck light.”
Hinton, “That’s great news. Okay, I just wanted to make sure about the circuit, and to tell you that your lights were on.” He turns around to the unsuspecting stares of Joseph and Mr. Market but Mrs. Phelps seems to have dozed off.
In the kitchen Lauren and Joanna talk while washing the few dishes that were used. Mary brings in the last s
et and leaves. The conversation continues.
Joanna, “So your dad taught you piano?”
“Yes ma’am.” replies Lauren. “I hated it, but whenever I play I have a real special feeling.”
“I can understand why that would be special. I’m so sorry to hear you lost him so young.”
“Thank you ma’am.”
“I would have loved to have taught the boys. James got about two years worth, but he really didn’t take to it. He’s more of a watcher than a participant.” Lauren shakes her head and laughs a little, remembering the incident on the highway. Joanna continues, “and Joey started with this gift of his right at the point when I was beginning his lessons.”
Using her reference to return to an earlier part of their discussion, Lauren asks, “So, if I have this straight, when you first questioned Joseph about what he was hearing, he told you he could hear everyone praying, but only certain people were praying the same thing?”
“Yes.”
“And were they the same people each time?”
“No, that’s what Robert was concerned about, he asked him that exact same question. But what Joe told me was that most people were praying in English, you know, the way we all hear people. A bunch of people were praying or saying, in his words, gobbledygook, but a small group of people were praying in, again his words, TV language.”
“TV language?”
“Well, you see, he was only about five, and when we would flip through the channels on TV, we would sometimes come to a section of foreign language stations. Joe said it sounded like that, only each person sounded like they were about five channels.”
“Did he recognize any of them?”
“Yes, one of them he knew, for sure, was Mommy’s study language.”
“What language was that?”
“Latin. I would practice my Latin once a week.”
“Wow, and you’ve written all this down?”
“Oh yes, this was all I could think about back then. It really got to be quite a thing. If I didn’t have my time alone with my journal; time to pour it all out to someone, I don’t know.”
“Pour it out to someone?”
At that moment James comes in and says, “Okay, as much as I hate to be paranoid, but my favorite mom and my favorite schoolmate have disappeared into the kitchen of my neighbor’s house, what could they be talking about.”
Joanna, “Oh my, Lauren, we’re making him nervous! I’d take that as a sign of interest if I were you.”
Lauren blushes noticeably and says, “Duly noted.”
Joanna continues, “Jimmy, isn’t it amazing that not only do you two have the same career path, but the same favorite movie?”
James, “We do?”
“Yes, and that you both started piano lessons at the same time?”
“We did?”
“Yes! And that you both have the same desire for sky-diving?”
“We have?”
“Yes Jimmy, my gosh, did you not talk to the girl? What in the world did you– Oh, no. James!”
“What?”
“Tell me you didn’t spend five hours on the highway trying to convert her!”
Lauren smiles broadly as James kind of shrugs and says, “Well, no. Not five hours.”
Joanna, “James.”
“Mom, it wasn’t– I wasn’t … The conversation just went that way. I didn’t–”
Lauren, now laughing in amusement of her new friend’s back-pedaling, “Mrs. Market, it really was a pleasant ride for the most part.”
“For the most part?” replies Joanna, who turns to her son and says, “Jimmy! Have I taught you nothing of how to behave with a young lady!”
James, “Mom.”
Turning back to Lauren, Joanna says, “And please, call me Joanna.”
At that point, and to everyone’s amusement, James Market drops his head and goes and stands in the corner.
The three return to the living room, still laughing at James’ clowning. Entering the dimly lit room, Agent Coles is for a moment unnerved when she sees that Agent Hinton is no longer blocking the window, but her fear quickly turns to relief as she locates Joseph down on the floor helping him get the VCR working. Hinton is down on all fours, tinkering with the unit and has cleverly enlisted the help of the 14-year-old.
Mary, who has just returned from taking Mrs. Phelps up to bed, walks over and kneels down near them to pick up some crumbs off the floor. She notices something odd and says, “Hmm.”
Joanna asks her, “What is it Mary, do you need some help?”
Mary, “No, no ma’am, I’m fine, thanks.”
James asks, “What was it?”
Mary, “Oh, sir, it was nothing really.” What she saw was a small hole in the floor molding, the type that could be made by a mouse perhaps—or a bullet.
Joseph then gets up and walks over to his mom. Hinton all but reaches out to grab him, but thankfully, he does not walk into the light! He says what you’d expect of a 14-year-old at about this time, “Mom, I’m getting hungry. Could we order a pizza or something?”
Joanna, “My, it is after eight p.m., we need to think about something to eat.”
Lauren then says, “Wow, it is late. Well, everybody, it was a real pleasure meeting you all. James told me so much about you I just couldn’t press on to Catskill without taking a chance to meet you.”
“Catskill?” interjects Robert, “Is that where you’re headed?”
Lauren, “Yes, sir.”
Joanna pipes in, “She has a wedding rehearsal to attend, and she’s due there at nine”
“At nine?” adds James, only proving that he knew little about Lauren or her plans. His mom just looks at him and shakes her head.
“She’ll never make that by nine,” says Robert matter-of-factly.
“Don’t say that Robert,” says Joanna, who is feeling the loss of her home, and her ability to be hospitable, most acutely.
But it is Hinton’s comment that pushes her from frustration to action. “I gotta agree Miss, I’ve driven from here to there many times, and even without any traffic you’re looking at close to ninety minutes. Perhaps you should call ahead and see if it’s worth the effort.”
“Mr. Hinton,” interrupts a now desperate Joanna, “you said that the electrician told you any moment over a half hour ago, can we not move on over there now?”
Robert supports his wife with, “We could use candles and flashlights ’til the power is back on.”
Up pops Joanna, “That’s it, I’m getting the coats. Mary I know where they are.”
Home, Safe & Sound
As everyone begins to move towards getting his or her coat on, Hinton seizes the opportunity to cash in on Mary’s favorable disposition towards him. He asks her quietly, “Mary, what was it that caught your attention earlier?”
Moving closer to him, near the TV, Mary says, “I’m sorry, what? When?”
Hinton, “When you were picking up the crumbs, you seemed to have remembered or seen something unusual.”
Mary, “Oh, it was nothing.”
Hinton, “Why don’t you tell me anyway? I’m curious.”
Taking hold of his sleeve to bring him to kneel down with her, Mary shows him, “It’s that hole there. I’m embarrassed to bring it up, but it looks like the lady might have mice or some sort of infestation.”
Hinton examines the hole with his flashlight, then abruptly moving the coffee table he goes back down on hands and knees and looks inside deeper using a probe. He is certain that it’s a bullet hole! A fresh bullet hole! Mary stands up next to him as he kind of lays on his side to turn and follow a possible path, letting out, “Hmm.”
Mary, “That’s what I said.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Reaching into his pant’s pocket for his wallet, Hinton offers, “Here, take my card and call me next week, I’ll send someone over to check it out for you; free of charge.” He hands her one of his generic business cards, and recalls that Danning was actually trying to
get him fake insurance agent cards.
The offer, nevertheless, leaves Mary feeling privileged and she smiles saying, “Thank you, Mr. Hinton.”
Standing up, Hinton then says to the group, “Let me call my electrician and ask him something.”
Mary walks over to help everyone get their coats as Hinton walks over to the window, following the angle of the bullet path. Looking up to the upper right corner of the window he sees another small bullet hole! It is confirmed, somebody took a shot through that window!
Hinton, with no time to spare, puts his phone up to his ear. “Hey, everyone one, I hate to spoil the plans, but I’m on the phone with my electrician.” The party, already in the foyer and just about to open the door, stops in its tracks and comically all slowly turns around to give Hinton its attention. In mock conversation on his phone, he says, “What’s that? Okay, okay. I’ll make sure.” He fakes hanging up and says to the group, “Um, he told me that right now it would not be a good time to have us come over. He said that if anyone were to accidentally flip on a switch that could be dangerous for him.”
“Oh yeah, I can never walk into a room without doing that,” says James.
“Good grief!” exclaims Joanna, “This is getting ridiculous.”
For Joanna, who is typically the kindest and most patient person in any gathering, that was the equivalent of profanity. For her to show that level of frustration means she’s really feeling terrible, and Robert recognizes it. “Glory, it’ll be fine. Let’s take a moment.” He then says to the group, “Hey everyone, we’re gonna have a little family prayer, if you want to join in, you are welcome; if not, we understand;” and before anyone can voice an objection, Robert takes his wife’s hand, who takes James’, who takes Joseph’s. But the shock is that Joseph takes Lauren by the hand! Her eyes are wide and express the fact that she is caught totally off guard! But she does not resist his innocent gesture. Robert begins, “Dear Lord, please grant us peace and guidance on this situation with our home, and bless the electrician …”
Hinton offers, dryly, “George Sandoval”
The Journal: A Prophecy, A President & Death Page 20
