“And Mary is going to come out of the bathroom and say she needs go.”
Mary who has already entered the room says, “Well, I need to go.” Agent Reese and Joanna both turn and stare at her with such an expression of shock that causes Mary to say, “What? What! Did I grow a horn?”
But they are too stunned to answer and only turn to Joseph who nods and says, “Did I grow a horn,” acknowledging that he knew she was going to say that also!
“What is it?” Asks Robert who looks up from his paper. Hinton had already started following what was going on.
Joanna answers, “Joey is walking out the mother of all bouts of déjà vu!”
As a quick test, Reese turns Joseph to face him and away from his mom so he cannot see what she might be trying to say.
Joseph, still kind of trance-like, whispers to Reese the last four words that come out of Joanna before she says them in answer to Robert, “He’s remembering things as, and right before they happen!”
“Whaaat?” ask Hinton and Robert in unison.
Reese, “Wow!”
Hinton walks over and asks, “Agent Reese, what’s going on?”
“Uh, I, uh—um …” stumbles Reese.
“It’s fading,” says Joseph.
Mary interrupts, “May I go do my shopping now?”
Joseph, “Wow.”
Agent Reese continues, “It’s what she said, this kid was remembering what’s going to be said right as—and sometimes a little BEFORE—people said it!”
Hinton corrects him, “Before people say it.”
Joanna asks, “Joey, is it still going on?”
“No. It seems to have faded out.”
Lauren and James, stepping in from the dining room, try to catch up to the conversation. Lauren asks, “What’s going on?”
Hinton, “While you were interviewing James, it seems that Joey was having what I guess you would call an extrasensory event.”
Lauren cuts her eyes briefly at Hinton and frowns with mild irritation, “Excuse me? What happened?”
Hinton and Reese go on to explain exactly what transpired.
A frustrated Mary says, “Hey! Well, I’ll see you all later. I’ll be back by eight p.m..”
Joanna is the only one with the presence of mind to respond, “Okay Mary, we’ll see you then.”
Robert then asks, “How do you feel, Joe?”
“I’m fine. You know, it’s just, déjà vu.”
Lauren, “Yeah, but this wasn’t any ordinary bout.”
Joseph, “No. I can’t say I’ve ever had one so vivid, or lasted so long.”
Lauren, “But your mom said you knew things in advance.”
“Well, not so much in advance, advance; kinda more like, right as they were happening.”
Joanna, “Joseph, does this have anything to do with your dream you were telling me about?”
“Hmm. I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
Hinton, who had been sitting strategically close to the doorway that leads to the front door before this all began looks around quickly and says, “Wait. Where did Mary say she was going?”
Joanna, “I think she said shopping.”
He looks at Lauren and says, “Agent Coles, can I get a second?”
She walks over and meets him in the front atrium where he tells her, “You know, I think we should have Pratt stay with her.”
Lauren, “You think so? But DC said to cut her and Mrs. Phelps loose. I mean, I’m pushing it having them here at all.”
Hinton, “Well, ask yourself why you want them here.”
“I just didn’t want–”
“Any loose ends. Right?”
“Yeah.”
Hinton continues, “That’s good instincts, stay the course. I’ll back you up.”
She thinks a second and then says, “Okay, do it.”
He further assures her saying, “Besides with these NSA guys, she’ll never know she’s being followed.”
Lauren feels relieved and she begins to return to the living room, but Hinton, who’s calling Pratt on the walkie-talkie, holds up one finger to have her wait one minute. He has something he needs to settle with her, and this is as good a time as any. He quickly communicates the situation to Pratt who is more than happy to follow Mary; then continues to utilize this moment alone with Lauren. “Agent Coles, I want to tell you that I think you’re doing a great job on this.”
Legitimately surprised by his vote of confidence, she says, “Thank you, that’s very nice of you.”
“Don’t be too flattered, ’cause I don’t appreciate being treated like second status.”
“What? When? What are you talking about?”
“That BS between you and Pratt about the twenty-one hours.”
“I, uh, started to–”
“Listen, I understand need-to-know intel that doesn’t reach the bureau. Hell, I’ve been complaining to my bosses about it for ten years!”
“Look, Agent Hinton, I’m sorry. I didn’t know if–”
“The point I’m making is, just don’t lie to me. It’s okay if you say, oops, my bad, that’s classified. Hell, I’m likely to report you if you did divulge privileged information! But just don’t lie to me. I’ll be able to tell; and for the rest of the case I’ll have a hard time believing you.”
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t want to keep anything from you—I mean, let’s you and I be straight about this, if nobody else is: you’ve made this case. I could not have done this without you.”
Hinton, with the slightest of all possible smiles, “I know.”
“And that’s the only lie I’ve told you.”
With an actual smile he says, “I know that, too.”
As they begin to walk back to the living room she cuts her eyes at him again, only this time with a smile and says, “So, since you know so much, what was the twenty-one hours all about?”
“That I don’t know. Would you let me in on it?”
“Sure, it–”
“Lauren,” he interrupts, “I wasn’t kidding, I’ll turn your butt in faster than you can say Jiminy Cricket!”
She laughs and says, “I wasn’t going to say.”
“Yeah, right.”
She peels her eyes and says, “I wasn’t.”
“What ever lets you sleep.”
“And it’s Jimmy-the-Cricket, not Jiminy Cricket.”
“From Pinocchio? God save us from you, know-it-all babies we’ve got running things! Twenty dollars says its Jiminy.”
“Ha! I’ll take that bet, grandpa.”
They enter the room where Hinton retakes his strategic seating in the chair closest to the front door; Lauren walks over to replace Reese, next to Joseph; and Reese moves to the far end of the room. Levy then looks to Lauren and says, “I guess I’ll go back out to the car,” and heads out.
Hinton, “Say, Joey, any more strange feelings or anything?”
Joseph, “No. I’m good. Nothing strange, just hungry.”
Hinton, “Not a bad thought, at that.”
Joanna then says, “Okay, what shall we have, a late lunch or an early dinner?”
Robert, “It’s only two; it’s lunch.”
Joanna, “Okay, lunch it is. Agent Coles, will you guard me in the kitchen?”
“It will be my pleasure,” replies Lauren; and the two ladies go in the kitchen.
• • •
Agent Hinton, meanwhile, goes to sit next to Joseph instead of at his previous location near the door. He asks him, “Joey, remember earlier, when you said you had a dream about the ten-speed bike, can you tell me a little bit more about that?”
Joseph responds, “Sure, what do you want to know?”
“Well, how about everything.”
“Oh, ’kay. The dream starts with me–”
“No, son. I mean, everything. When did you dream it, what was that day like, what time did you go to bed, who was home. Don’t leave out anything.”
“Ohh. Well, let me see … Gosh, it’s hard to remem
ber.”
“I know, it’s not like in the movies, but try.”
“Well, I know when; it was the same day that Jimbo left for Maryland.”
“Good.”
“And so, that was August twenty-eight.”
“That was a Saturday. So, did you dream it Saturday night, or Friday, night before.”
“It was Friday, the night before, ’cause I got up and wanted to tell Jimbo but he was busy, everybody was busy getting ready for the trip down to college.”
Taking notes, Hinton, says, “Good. So what was that Friday like?”
“Man! All right, let’s see. Friday. Friday. I cut the grass, ’cause it had rained a lot and Dad didn’t want to miss it with us leaving town on Saturday. I remember thinking that a gutter check was overdue, but I couldn’t do it without Jimbo. Mom made a lot of food, and I kept sneaking a piece when I would come through the kitchen.” Joseph struggles to remember anything else and says, “I really can’t remember any other details.”
“Its okay. Let me ask you some questions, it might make it easier.”
“Okay.”
“What did you guys watch on TV that night?”
“Friday? I think– Yeah, Jimbo and I played video games, figuring it would be a while before we could go head-to-head again. Oh! and we had desert. Mom made a pie. Oh my gosh, it was great!”
Hinton, “So after dinner, games, and desert—What game did you play by the way?”
“Madden NFL!”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!” and gives Joseph a fist bump. Joseph laughs and continues to remember more and more details from the evening.
Reese, who is still seated at the far end of the room watches as Hinton does a masterful job of interviewing without interviewing.
• • •
In the kitchen, Lauren says, “Joanna, time flies by so quickly, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to tell you that I think you are a remarkable woman and it has been a real pleasure meeting you—your whole family, really.”
Joanna is flattered, “Well, thank you! I must admit, though, we’ve never been through anything like this before, I can’t help but feel that if it hadn’t been for you, this would have been a lot more traumatic—certainly for me.”
“Thanks, I hoped to make it as easy on you as possible.”
“And I hope you’ll stay in touch with us—though I get the sense that I can count on Jimbo for that!” Both laugh.
Lauren says with a big smile, “We shall see; it does appear that he and I may last beyond these events.”
Joanna says a very warm, “I’m glad.”
Her warmth reminds Lauren of her own mom, and of a phone call she had forgotten to return, and says to Joanna, “Excuse me for one moment, I need to check a message.” She walks over to the far end of the kitchen, near the hall, and picks up her phone messages, specifically, the message from her mom that came in when they first got back from church.
Joanna tries hard not to eavesdrop, but Lauren is not making it easy with a very emotional reaction to her mom’s message.
She excuses herself again and calls her mom. “Hi, Mom. That was some message!”
Laughing, Mrs. Coles says, “Well, I figured I had to say something to get your attention.”
“As if that day doesn’t have enough going on with it!”
“I know sweetie, I’m sorry. So, how was it? I prayed that you actually wouldn’t remember this year.”
“Well, I can’t go into details now, but I did remember; someone actually asked me about it. But, for the first time, it was okay.”
“Really!! No crying? No depression?”
“No, Mom, I think those days are gone forever.”
With tears beginning to flow, her mom says, “Thank God. How I’ve wanted to hear you say those words.”
“And, Mom, that is not the best part of it!”
“What else could there be?”
“I feel better about everything. I’m really doing well, really well, Mom.” Silence. “Mom?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m just so happy.”
“Me too.”
“So, can I sing it?”
“Oh, God. Do you have to?”
“Lauren it’s been nine years, of course I have to!”
“Mom, I really need to–”
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday …” She breaks up into full sobbing, and cannot sing any longer.
Lauren is also crying at this point. Joanna walks over and hands her a tissue. Lauren can only mouth, “Thank you.” Wiping her tears, Lauren says, “Mom, I really have to get back to work. Thank you for hangin’ in there.”
“Sweetheart, I cannot wait for the holidays this year.”
Lauren smiles, “Me either. Love you.”
Her mom says a peaceful, “Love you too, bye.”
Lauren turns around towards Joanna and says, “I am SO sorry!”
Joanna, who is still prepping lunch say, “What? It was nothing.”
Lauren, “That was so unprofessional, I just–”
“It was not! You took a moment for yourself; it’s perfectly reasonable.”
“Well,” says Lauren with an embarrassed smile, “that was my mom. She called and said that– Oh, God! She left me a message saying that–” Lauren shakes her head in disbelief that she’s sharing it, “that she just found out that she was pregnant!”
Joanna, who was rinsing vegetables, does a double take, and with shock says, “She’s what?”
“I know. It’s crazy. Of course she’s not! It’s just that my mom and I have this … agreement kind of, that someday we’ll get such great news on that day—on September Eleven—that it will erase the bad memories. Which is why she said …”
“Yeah,” says Joanna, nodding that she got it. Then, suddenly, her expression changes, as she begins to piece together what she overheard and what Jimbo had said, and says, “Lauren, may I ask you a personal question?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“When is your birthday?”
Lauren, looking at her square in the eye, says, “Today ma’am.”
“Jesus!” slips out of Joanna. “So your dad—the tragedy.”
“The day before my fifteenth birthday. The worst day of my life.”
• • •
Back in the living room, Hinton by this time has Joseph free flowing with details of the night that he dreamed about the 10-speed bicycle. Joseph is just getting into the dream itself when the two document recovery agents come rumbling down the stairs with their equipment and a sealed aluminum case. They alert Agent Hinton, who goes to meet them in the foyer. They tell him:
“We got it, sir, it was under a floor board in the kid’s closet. We found it using the x-ray.”
“Good job! Wait, in that first bedroom closet?”
“Yeah, that’s the bad news, that closet floor took most of the heat and water up there, so it’s not in the best of shape.”
“Can you recover it?”
“We’ll do what we can. Give us a few hours.”
Hinton calls out to Agent Coles from the living room, “Coles, we need you out here.”
Silence.
“Agent Coles?”
After about half a minute, Lauren comes rushing out and turns to summon Joanna to stay with her. Joanna follows with tears running down her face from the conversation they were having.
Hinton looks at them both and with a confused expression asks, “Everything alright?”
“Yeah.” Seeing the agents gathered just outside the living room in the foyer, Lauren asks Joanna if she would wait for her in the living room while she joins the men. She asks, “What have we got?”
The materials experts explain the situation. Lauren further asks, “Can we see it?”
Without so much as a word, the agent with the case opens it to reveal a clear plastic pressurized inner casing, which in turn has the water-soaked and singed wire-bound composition note pad. At first glance it looks p
retty grim, as you can scarcely make out any of the writing due to either burning or smearing from the water.
Disappointed, Lauren looks at them and says, “Wow! Is there any hope?”
The men simply repeat the prognosis and request of Lauren the same patience they asked of Hinton. A moment later they are out the door and gone.
“No way!” says a voice in the living room.
It is James who exclaimed, after his mom told him that, on top of the fact that yesterday was the anniversary of the loss of Lauren’s dad, today is her birthday. In an excited whisper, he says to her, “I asked her when her birthday was and all she said was soon or something. Geez!”
“Well we have to do something, even if it’s just a thank-you card,” whispers back Joanna.
“I could give her a wedding ring!” says, James smiling, and they both crack up laughing.
“O-kay. Well, shy of that.”
Robert and Joseph, who are a bit away from them, ask, “What’s so funny?”
James, “Uh, nothing. You kinda had to be here.”
“I thought we were here,” says, Robert. “Joey, where are you?”
“I’m here, Dad.”
Joanna finally ends it with, “We’ll tell you later, okay?” She then says, loud enough for Lauren to hear, “Agent Coles, can we go back to the kitchen?”
“Yes,” says Lauren, “I’m coming.”
The Girl That’s Something Extra
James walks over and turns on the TV and says to Joseph, “Yo’ Brady, are you ready for some football?”
“Yep!” replies Joseph and he gets up to go join him, then turns to Agent Hinton and asks, “Is it okay?”
“Sure, go ahead. Can you play and answer questions at the same time?”
“No problem.”
“I’ll be right there. Let me talk with your dad for a moment.”
Hearing that, Robert lowers his newspaper, and turning to Hinton, says, “May I help you?”
“Yes, I’m hoping that you can. If you don’t mind a few questions about your office.”
“Anything,” ensures, Robert.
“Can you tell the circumstances around your hiring of Miss Brayson?”
“I don’t know—we needed an admin for me, and she was hired. What do you want to know?”
The Journal: A Prophecy, A President & Death Page 35
