Silt, Denver Cereal Volume 8
Page 30
“Can I bring you some dinner?” Jill asked.
He shook his head.
“Bath?” she asked.
“Only if you can join me, and I don’t think you can,” he said.
“Probably not a good idea,” Jill said. “I’m starting to dilate and . . .”
He smiled.
“You knew that.” She smiled.
He nodded.
“Why don’t you stay right here on my lap?” he asked. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” Jill said.
“Today, before everything happened, you know, I . . . I just wanted to run away . . . to you,” Jacob said. “I wanted to just look at you. And . . . that’s all I wanted.”
Jill smiled.
“I feel . . . guilty for wanting to leave Noelle, for not thinking of Katy, for . . .”
Jill put her fingers over his mouth.
“You’re taking something very sweet and making it bad,” Jill said. “Did you think that maybe you thought of me to gain strength to do something really hard?”
Jacob gave a sad shake of his head.
“Plus, you didn’t leave Noelle,” Jill said. “You’ve never left Katy.”
Jacob gave a sad nod.
“What happened tonight?” Jill asked.
“Oh, tonight.” Jacob pulled on the knot of his tie and pulled the tie off. “Tonight was good. Bambi had to fire a guy who was whining, but after that everyone worked. Most of our people are very reasonable, smart. They knew what was going on, but the curmudgeons shout so loud, they couldn’t get a word in edgewise. They just focused on their jobs and hoped it would work out.”
“So you’re leaving the site?” Jill asked.
“I’m going downtown in the morning to talk to the state inspector’s office.” Jacob nodded.
“That’s really great news,” Jill said.
“Everyone worked hard,” Jacob said. “You should have seen them. When tempers flared, someone made a joke or they talked it through. We were able to get there, together. I was . . . blown away. Dad came late after checking on Noelle and Wanda. He . . . was really proud. That’s what he said.”
“Nice.” Jill smiled.
Jacob nodded.
“So what leaves you out here and not in bed?” Jill asked.
“Just a feeling.” Jacob touched her face. “I’ve given up so much, one tiny bit at a time, and . . . I . . .”
He leaned forward and kissed her.
“We have to be careful not to let the cynics and scowlers take everything precious to us—hope, love, joy, faith, grace—one sarcastic comment at a time,” Jill said.
“Yes,” he said. “That’s what’s happened to me—one tiny word at a time, I’ve lost hope and faith and joy . . . It’s like fluid depression with no beginning or end. And . . . Scowlers?”
“You know what I mean.” Jill shrugged.
“Well, this deal should be done before we have the boys,” Jacob said. “I can leave Lipson in good conscience.”
“You’re going to take time off work?” Jill grinned.
“I know, it’s unlikely,” Jacob said.
“Probably,” Jill said. “We’ll have fun anyway.”
Jacob tugged her a tiny bit closer.
“Are you okay?” Jill whispered.
“I am,” Jacob said. “I just had to say ‘enough’ and stand up for hope and faith and joy and love and grace and . . . life.”
“And the fluid depression?” Jill asked.
“I’m okay,” Jacob kissed her. “I have such a wonderful life. I need to say ‘enough’ more often so I can enjoy my life more.”
Jill got off his lap.
“Come to bed.” She held her hand out to him.
He looked at her hand for a moment before taking it. They walked to the bedroom. She helped him undress and get into bed. She had just slipped in beside him when she realized he was already sound asleep. She kissed his cheek and lay back. She stared at the ceiling for a moment before whispering, “Thanks” to whatever had helped Jacob shake off the funk he’d been in. As if she’d heard a reply, she nodded and fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~
Tuesday early morning—12:23 a.m.
“Charlie!” Aden came into the living room. “What are you doing up?”
“I . . .” Charlie started.
Aden took in the boy’s red swollen eyes. His handsome face was blotchy with emotion. Aden sat down next to him on the couch.
“I . . . all of this . . . and . . .” Charlie tried to express himself.
Aden tugged on his shoulder and Charlie fell over into his lap. The boy began to weep. When Charlie stopped weeping, the boy stared straight ahead.
“What is it?” Aden asked.
“It’s all my fault,” Charlie whispered. “They attacked Noelle because she was my sister.”
“None of this is your fault,” Aden said.
“But Noelle . . .” Tears ran down Charlie’s face. “Jake and, God, poor Wanda.”
“Only the boys who decided to beat up your sister and her friend are at fault,” Aden said. “Not you.”
“Why does it feel like it’s my fault?” Charlie asked.
“Because if it’s your fault, you can control it,” Aden said. “Make it stop.”
“They told me at the police station that only I could make it stop,” Charlie said.
“Art and Colin didn’t say that,” Aden said. “Did they?”
Charlie shook his head.
“Why do you think that is?” Aden asked.
“They’re our friends.” Charlie shrugged.
“I think they didn’t say that because they are honest men,” Aden said. “They told me that you were very brave and that without you, none of this would have happened.”
“That’s what I mean!” Charlie said. “None of this would have happened!”
“None of the arrests would have happened,” Aden said. “These boys would have kept getting high and hurting girls. You made that stop. That’s a pretty big deal. They even caught the leader. He’s wanted in other states for doing the same thing.”
Charlie didn’t know how to respond, so he didn’t.
“That’s the truth,” Aden said. “You can believe you screwed up, or that you set things right. It’s up to you.”
“What do you think?” Charlie asked. “Sandy? Noelle?”
His voice caught with Noelle’s name.
“We think you’re pretty wonderful,” Aden said. “Noelle told Sandy that she didn’t realize how brave you were until she saw how scary those guys were.”
“Sounds like Noelle,” Charlie said. “Do you think this is over?”
“God, I hope so,” Aden said. They sat in silence for a while before Aden repeated, “God, I hope so.”
“Me too,” Charlie said.
Glossary of Characters
Aaron Alvin: Father of Ava; also called “The spider.”
Aden Norsen:
CEO at Lipson construction; single father of Nash and Noelle; husband of Sandy.
Alexandra Hargreaves:
Identical twin to Max Hargreaves; ‘The Fey;’ the leader of the Fey Team; wife of Dr. John Drayson; sister to Colin and Samantha Hargreaves.
Anjelika:
Megan, Mike, Steve, Candy and Jill’s mother; grandmother to Katy; wife of Perses.
Andrea Menendez or Andy Mendy:
Mother of Sandy; Seth’s love & lover from the time he was 14 until he lost her when he was 30.
Arthur “Raz” Rasmussen:
Member of the Fey team; boyfriend of Samantha Hargreaves.
Ava – Amelie Vivian Alvin:
Denver Police Crime Lab Technician; fiancé of Seth O’Malley; daughter of Aaron Alvin.
Ben Red Bear, Detective:
Denver Police Detective in charge of investigation of rapes; possibly involved in the distribution chain.
Bestat Behur:
Partner to Zack Jakkman; step-mother to Teddy; dragon.
Glossary of
Characters
Beth Baker:
Ava’s best friend; Child Psychologist; murdered by Saint Jude.
Blane Lipson:
Jacob’s ‘cousin;’ raised in foster care; assistant to Jacob Marlowe at Lipson Construction; Chinese Medicine doctor; husband of Heather; father of Mack.
Bob aka ‘Blood spatter Bob’: Former expert forensics instructor with the FBI; currently a laboratory technician in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.
Bree or Briana Lipson: Step-child of Sam Lipson.
Becky Lipson: Step-child of Sam Lipson.
Bumpy Wilson:
Good friend of Seth’s; medical doctor; father of Jeraine Wilson, husband of Dionne, born Leroy Wilson.
Candace or Candy Roper: Daughter of Anjelika; sister to Jill.
Charlie Delgado:
Step-brother of Sandy; street kid; drug addict; has been out of school for a long time; comes to live with Sandy in Cimarron.
Celia Marlowe:
Wife of Sam Lipson; mother to Valerie Lipson and Jacob Marlowe; Delphie’s best friend; died of cancer nine years before Denver Cereal begins.
Cleo: Black and white cat belonging to Sandy.
Glossary of Characters
Colin Hargreaves:
Brother of Alex, Max and Samantha Hargreaves; Homeland Security Agent; Fey Team member; father of Paddie Hargreaves.
Dale:
Boyfriend of Beth Baker, Amelie’s best friend; housemate of Amelie; Handyman who lives with Seth O’Malley.
Delphinium or Delphie:
Psychic; beekeeper; master gardener; best friend of Celia Marlowe; girlfriend to Sam Lipson.
Dionne Wilson:
Wife of Bumpy Wilson; mother of Jeraine and LaTonya; medical nurse.
Erik Le Monde:
Wanda’s father; plumber; works for Lipson Construction.
Edith Stiefel:
Mother of Wanda. Ex-wife of Erik Le Monde.
Evette:
Secretary of Jacob’s for one week; claims romantic relationship between them.
Fran: A laboratory tech in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.
Frankie Aziz:
Boyfriend of Wanda Le Monde; videographer of group of rapists; brother of DPD Sergeant Aziz.
Glossary of Characters
Heather Lipson:
Jill’s childhood friend; one of Jillian Roper’s group of best friends; mother to Mack; wife to Blane Lipson.
Honey Lipson:
Paralyzed; step-daughter of Sam Lipson; wife of Sergeant MJ Scully; Lives at the Castle and works at Lipson Construction.
Jacob Marlowe:
Son of Sam Lipson and Celia Marlowe; husband of Jillian Roper; brother of Valerie Lipson; president of Lipson Construction; owns his own rehabilitation business; carpenter; hockey player.
Jeraine Wilson:
R&B sensation; husband of Tanesha Smith; son of Bumpy; drug and sex addict.
Jillian or Jill Roper:
Daughter of Anjelika and Perses; mother of Katy Roper; wife of Jacob Marlowe; ex-wife of Trevor Mc Guinsey; pregnant with twin boys.
John Drayson, MD:
Vascular surgeons; husband of Alex Hargreaves.
Julie Hargreaves:
Mother of Paddie Hargreaves; wife of Colin Hargreaves.
Katy or Katherine Anjelika Roper:
Daughter of Jillian Roper and Jacob Marlowe.
Leslie: A laboratory tech in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.
Glossary of Characters
Leslie Roper:
Wife of Steve Roper; mother of infant Elisa Roper.
Levi Johansen:
Won Delphie in a card game when she was 5-6; held her as a slave/The Oracle Tabor; gets out of prison and wants Delphie dead; evil.
Mack Lipson: Infant son of Heather and Blane Lipson.
Margaret Peaches or Sergeant Margaret Peaches:
Fey team member; partner of Sergeant MJ Scully.
Maresol Tafoya:
Seth O’Malley’s housekeeper; mother of Bonita’s Seth’s second wife; friend of Delphie.
Max Hargreaves:
Identical twin to Alex Hargreaves; brother to Colin and Samantha Hargreaves.
Megan Roper:
Daughter of Anjelika and Perses; partner of Tim; mother to Ryan and two other boys.
Melinda:
Daughter of one of Sandy’s clients; Nash Norsen’s romantic interest.
Mike Roper:
Son of Anjelika and Perses; husband of Valerie Lipson; hockey goalie; painter.
Glossary of Characters
Mitch Delgado:
Sandy’s step father who she called ‘Dad’; father of Charlie and Sissy; Seth O’Malley’s best friend; died of lung cancer 8 or 9 years ago.
MJ or Sergeant Michael Scully Jr.:
Fey team member; partner of Sergeant Margaret Peaches; husband of Honey Lipson.
Molly:
Bookkeeper for Jacob Marlowe’s rehabilitation business; wife of Pete.
Nash Norsen: Son of Aden and Nuala Norsen; brother of Noelle Norsen.
Nelson: A lab technician in Ava’s Denver Police Department lab.
Noelle Norsen:
Daughter of Aden and Nuala Norsen; sister of Nash Norsen; artist.
Nuala Norsen:
Ex-wife of Aden Norsen; biological mother of Nash and Noelle Norsen.
Paddie Hargreaves:
Best friend of Katy Roper; nephew of Alex and Max Hargreaves; son of Colin Hargreaves.
Patty Delgado:
Mother of Sissy and Charlie; mother to Sandy; wife of Mitch Delgado.
Pete: Husband of Molly; father of her children; friend of Aden Norsen.
Glossary of Characters
Perses:
Paid assassin; rescuer and biological father of Jillian Roper.
Rodney Smith:
Father of Tanesha; imprisoned for more than 20 years for a crime he didn’t commit; husband of Yvonne Smith; site manager at Lipson Construction.
Ryan: Oldest son of Megan Roper and Tim.
Sam Lipson:
Husband to Celia Marlowe; married to Tiffanie Lipson; boyfriend of Delphie; father to Valerie and Jacob Marlowe-Lipson; step-father to Brianna, Becky, Honey and the ‘step-whore.’
Samantha Hargreaves:
Sister to Alex, Max and Colin Hargreaves; girlfriend of Art Rasmussen; best friend of Valerie Lipson; criminal defense attorney.
Sandy Delgado Norsen:
Best friend of Jillian Roper; one of Jill’s group of best friends; wife of Aden Norsen; hairdresser.
Sarah: Yellow Labrador belonging to Jacob Marlowe.
Scooter:
Gift from Celia and Delphie to Jillian on her marriage to Trevor McGuinsey; taken care of for last 4 years by Delphie after Trevor put him up for adoption; Katy’s constant companion.
Sergeant Aziz:
Denver Police detective assigned to investigate rapes; does nothing to protect his brother, Frankie.
Glossary of Characters
Seth O’Malley:
Godfather and biological father of Sandy; best friend of Sandy’s step father; Denver Police Detective; gifted composer and protégé pianist.
Step-sister or Step-whore:
Eldest daughter of Tiffanie Lipson; sister to Honey, Briana, and Becky Lipson; step-daughter of Sam Lipson; second wife of Trevor Mc Guinsey.
Steve or Stephen Roper:
Son of Anjelika; middle child of Roper family; medical nurse to Honey Lipson; husband of Leslie.
Sissy Delgado:
Step-sister of Sandy; anorexic; talented ballet dancer; lives with Sandy and Aden.
Tanesha Smith:
One of Jillian Roper’s best friends; wife of Jeraine Wilson; medical student.
Teddy Jakkman
Son of Fey Team member Captain Zack ‘the Jakker’ Jakkman; best friend of Nash Norsen; dates Noelle Norsen.
Tiffanie Lipson:
Second wife to Sam Lipson; mother of Briana, Becky, and Honey Lipson and the step-
whore.
Tink:
Street kid; friend of Charlie Delgado’s; attacked and beaten by gang of rapists, Heather and Blane Lipson’s adopted daughter.
Glossary of Characters
Tim: