Larkspur

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  The women were quickly becoming an angry, pregnant mob. The receptionist called for security. Jill smirked and they threaded their way through the crowd.

  “How’d you do that?” Sandy asked when they were at the elevator.

  “I figured that I only have a few weeks left with these powers,” Jill smiled. “Better to make the most of it.”

  “What did you do?” Sandy asked.

  “The women heard inside their heads that the doctor was using their samples to create new drugs without their permission,” Jill said.

  “No, I mean the doctor,” Sandy asked as they stepped onto the elevator.

  “Oh, I don’t think he’ll have any more children,” Jill said.

  Sandy laughed.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Friday mid-day — 2:15 p.m.

  “Jake!” Valerie yelled into the phone.

  “Are you taking cell phone etiquette from Delphie?” Jake asked. “You just broke my ear-drum.”

  Valerie chuckled.

  “Jacob, my darling baby brother,” Valerie said. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”

  “I’m kind of in the middle of something,” Jacob said.

  He stepped out of a six-foot trench and waved to the backhoe operator. The engine revved and he missed what Valerie said.

  “Sorry, I missed that,” Jacob said.

  Television news blared in the background.

  “I’m in the airport,” Valerie said. “We’re coming home.”

  “Great,” Jacob said. “Should I make your bed? Leave a chocolate on the pillow?”

  Valerie laughed and he chuckled.

  “I wanted to tell you before we got there,” Valerie said. “You know how you said Jill was seeing cats?”

  “Uh-huh,” Jacob picked up his shovel to clean up the trench.

  “Those aren’t cats,” Valerie said.

  Jacob waved to the backhoe operator.

  “Sorry,” Jacob said. “I missed what you said again. There’s a storm coming in and we want to get this done before it hits. Maybe we should talk tonight?”

  “Oh my God,” Valerie said.

  “What? What happened? Val?” Jacob screamed into the phone.

  The sound of the television news got louder.

  “Oh my God,” Valerie repeated.

  “Valerie!”

  “It happened, Jake.” Valerie’s voice was low and filled with emotion. “Just like you saw it.”

  “What happened?”

  “The street buckled. People are caught under the concrete. The trailers flipped . . . People in trenches. All the equipment is either in the ground or flipped over. How do you flip an excavator? Jacob, you have to go. Go now.”

  “Go where?” Jacob asked.

  “Your old site,” Valerie said. “Did you get the equipment out?”

  “Yesterday,” Jacob said. “It’s at the farm.”

  “Call everyone,” Valerie said. “We need to be there to help dig them out.”

  “Help what?” Jacob asked.

  Rather than respond, Valerie held the phone up to the television.

  “This just in,” a male announcer said. “There has been a catastrophic earthquake near Denver International Airport, just outside of Denver, Colorado. The airport is closed until further notice. This story is unfolding. Please be advised, the footage you are seeing is graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.”

  “People in the trenches are . . .” Valerie whispered. “Blood everywhere, screaming, . . . It’s like one of those doomsday movies, Jake, but real. You have to . . .”

  “We’re on our way,” Jacob said. “You’ll . . .”

  “We’ll be there as soon as we can,” Valerie said.

  Whatever she said next was lost as the workers around him were receiving the news. His phone rang and he clicked over to speak to the site manager responsible for closing the big site by the airport, Jerry Siegle.

  “Did we . . .” Jacob started. His team’s cellphones all seemed to ring at once.

  “All three teams are at the farm,” Jerry said. “Your dad’s here. We . . . Oh my God.”

  “Go.” Jacob looked up to see everyone on the team was talking in low voices into their phone. “We’ll be there as soon as we can get there.”

  “Done,” Jerry said.

  For a moment, the team stared at each other.

  Monday’s meeting had run long because they had argued through this very scenario. It took hours, but they finally agreed. No matter what the state did, no matter how difficult the other guys were, if the earthquake happened, the Lipson Construction crews would respond.

  “Load up,” Jacob said before answering his phone again.

  With a nod, they got to work. They loaded up the backhoe, packed up their shovels, left a note for the homeowner and headed toward their old site.

  They only hoped they weren’t too late to help.

  Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-five

  Dirt

  Friday afternoon — 4:52 p.m.

  Jacob stepped aside so that a police officer with a cadaver dog could get past.

  “It’s not stable over there yet.” Jacob used the crowbar in his hand to point to his left. The police officer nodded to him. “You’re all right in that direction.”

  Whatever the police officer said was lost in the icy wind. Jacob nodded to encourage the man and the dog moved to his right. Running his hand over his wet face, Jacob felt the remnants of the bruise left from Monday’s scuffle with the rapists. He sighed. For a moment, the weight of the week felt too heavy to bear.

  Around him, Lipson Construction owner-employees, police, and National Guardsmen were looking for survivors. More than a few men and women would not go home tonight. The man who had irritated him with his smug superiority, now lay under a blue tarp in a tent morgue currently run by Bambi and Honey. One after another, full ambulances took survivors to overflowing emergency rooms. There were more than a thousand people working this site when the earthquake hit. More than two hours later, they were still missing over a hundred.

  Jacob looked down. He was soaked. He couldn’t tell if he was wet from blood or the misting snow. He glanced up at the news helicopter flying overhead and wished he could work the weather. He sighed again and pulled his Carhartt jacket tight around him. Most of his mental energy went toward trying to keep the area stable in the midst of the near-constant vibrations from aftershocks.

  “What do you hear?” Sam yelled to Jacob.

  That was the worst thing. Jacob could hear people. He heard them weep for their condition, scream in agony, or pray in resignation. He heard them die.

  Even with his best efforts to stabilize the area, the ground still shook. When the first Lipson teams got to the site, no one was willing to venture into the wreckage for fear of falling in. By the time Jacob and his team arrived, Jerry and his team had set up a support structure. Everyone on the site wore safety ropes that were clipped to the structure. They hadn’t lost a person. Yet.

  Jerry’s team had rescued most of the people caught under equipment and those who were working in trailers when the earthquake hit. When Jacob arrived, Sam had sent Jerry’s team back to the farm for a break. Sam and Jacob’s team had joined forces to rescue people who’d fallen underground.

  “Check the map,” Jacob yelled and pointed to an area off to his left. “Sounds like a cavern or maybe a sewer pipe.”

  Sam pointed to the map and nodded.

  “We’re here,” Sam said. “They poured the pillars for the overpass on Tuesday and the trench shoring was set for a sewer line to run here.”

  Sam pointed in a diagonal line to their left. He passed the map to Josie, the backhoe operator.

  “They must be caught in the trench shoring,” Jacob said.

  “Let’s try to get the concrete up.” Sam pointed to a broken corner of a concrete pillar. “We’ll have a better idea of what we’re dealing with then.”

  “Shovels,” Jacob yelled. “If I remember correctly
, there are tunnels and drainage all through this area.”

  Wanda’s father, Erik La Monde, gave him a shovel and an ironic look. He’d been at the park on Monday too.

  “Hell of a week,” he said as he passed.

  Jacob took the shovel and followed Erik. Josie, Sam, and his team brought shovels and crowbars. Sam’s team dug a trench next to the concrete pillar. Working efficiently, they moved as much dirt as possible away from the area. Erik, Josie, and Jacob dug out the end of the pillar.

  “Everyone!” Jacob yelled.

  They caught an edge of the concrete and pressed. Thick steel crowbars bent. Josie’s shovel handle snapped in two.

  “Stop!” Jacob said.

  “We can’t risk a backhoe,” Sam answered the question on everyone’s faces. “Too heavy.”

  “Did you hear that?” Josie asked. “Someone’s right there.”

  She dropped down. She pressed her head against the concrete.

  “I hear someone . . . a man . . . maybe two. They are yelling for us.”

  “On three,” Sam gave Jacob a nod. “Remember when we get this up, we’re going to have to do some quick dirt work. Hombre, Luis, and Francisco — stand ready.”

  The three men were the fastest on a shovel. They nodded in agreement.

  “One,” Jacob yelled. Josie grabbed Jacob’s shovel from him and stuck it under the lip of the concrete pillar.

  “Two,” Jacob yelled. He positioned his crowbar under the buried lip of the concrete.

  “Ready,” Sam said. “Get ready!”

  “Go!” Jacob yelled.

  They pressed with all their might. The concrete pillar had just started to move when the ground shook with an aftershock. The people below them screamed in horror.

  “HOLD!” Sam yelled.

  The wind suddenly died down. There was a moment of silence before heavy snow started cascading from the clouds above. Their grip on the concrete began to falter.

  “It’s slipping!” Josie yelled.

  “I can’t hold it!” Erik yelled.

  “Jake!” Sam yelled.

  Using his psychokinetic capacity, he lifted the concrete pillar. A violent aftershock ripped through the site the moment his attention slipped from keeping the ground stable. Hombre and Luis began digging the dirt away from the pillar. Francisco worked the dirt out from Jacob and Sam’s side.

  “Go!” Sam yelled.

  The slab inched up at a glacial pace. They strained against their crowbars and shovels. When the slab was two feet off the ground, Erik bent down and got his shoulder under it. Dirt shifted and the ground vibrated.

  “Don’t give up!” Sam yelled.

  “Push!” Josie yelled.

  They were able to lift the concrete pillar. Everyone not holding up the pillar worked to keep the dirt from falling into the hole. The snow fell around them like some jaunty Christmas movie gone bad.

  Sam put his fingers to his lips and let out an ear-piercing whistle. He waved to the Lipson sign team. Carrying water and emergency supplies, Christy and another woman from the sign team ran across the vibrating field to them. Christy dropped to her knees and looked under the concrete slab.

  “Medic!” Christy jumped to her feet. She and her teammate jumped up and down and waved their arms. “We need a medic.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Friday evening — 5:48 p.m.

  “How are you holding up?” Sandy whispered and hugged Jill.

  They were setting the Castle table for dinner. Jill nodded. Hearing someone come in the door to the Castle, Jill and Sandy looked up expectantly. Valerie walked in with Jackie in her car seat.

  “Just me,” Valerie said. “Anjelika is coming with Katy, Mack, and Maggie. I guess MJ and Honey are both out at the site.”

  Jill took Jackie’s car seat from Valerie. She picked up the sleeping baby and went through the ritual of checking her diaper before settling her in a crib along the wall. Valerie hugged Sandy.

  “How did MJ get there?” Valerie asked. “He was supposed to be with Jill.”

  “Rodney saw him as we were walking across the street from the hospital,” Jill said. “MJ and Colin went with them. I’m sure it’s better that they’re there. Is Mike with you?”

  “He went out to the farm straight from the airport,” Valerie said. “He checked in with Aden, who is fine . . .”

  Sandy nodded as if she knew that, but her smile spoke her relief.

  “He’s handling resources from the farm,” Sandy repeated what she’d clearly said a number of times. “Machinery, people, stuff like that. Tres is keeping track of who is missing; still more than fifty.”

  Jill gave Sandy an open hug.

  “Mike says Jake’s up to his elbows in mud,” Valerie said. “He’s going to rotate in so the guys can take a break. You should hear from Jake in an hour or so.”

  “Sam too?” Delphie asked from the edge of the room. On her way to her class, she looked worried.

  “Dad’s with Jake,” Valerie said. “They’re supposed to rotate out together. Aden, Mike, and Rodney will rotate in for them.”

  “We should go . . .,” Jill said for the hundredth time.

  “We should stay here,” Heather said as she came into the dining room. “You know that.”

  Jill nodded.

  “We’re supposed to be the voice of Lipson,” Valerie said. “How’s that going?”

  “Blane’s done a couple interviews,” Heather nodded. “He’s on Skype right now with NBC in New York.”

  “We should just be grateful Lipson got out of that place,” Sandy repeated what she’d said a hundred times. Jill gave an obligatory nod.

  “Why is your mom coming for dinner?” Valerie asked. “And Otis?”

  “I have to give Otis something,” Jill shrugged. “Ancient family stuff. We set it up last week and I guess it seemed like we should just . . . you know, get it over with before the boys come. When we set it up, the boys were the big drama in our lives. Now . . .”

  Valerie gave Jill a suspicious nod. Jill shrugged. Before Valerie could ask again, Noelle and Nash came into the room.

  “Are Charlie and Tink upstairs alone?” Sandy winced.

  “They were screwing so we thought we’d come down,” Nash said.

  “What?” Sandy started toward the door.

  “They’re in the kitchen,” Heather said. “I just left them. So unless they’re screwing in the kitchen . . .”

  “We were getting plates.” Charlie’s tone was indignant. “Jeez.”

  “You act like we’re horny teenagers.” Tink sniffed in an attempted joke.

  While Sandy and Heather winced, Jill and Valerie stifled a laugh. Just then, Scooter, Sarah, and Buster came running in the room. They circled the room and ran to the back door. Scooter let out one demanding bark. Nash went to let them outside.

  “The cats get them so hyper.” Jill smiled.

  “Jill, those aren’t . . .,” Valerie said in a low tone.

  “Hello everyone!” Anjelika said from the side door.

  “I’m home!” Sissy came in behind Anjelika and Otis.

  “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,” Mack screamed from the front door.

  Heather left the dining room to get him. Sissy brought Maggie into the dining room. Valerie went through the baby ritual and set her in the crib with Jackie. Katy ran in and Jill was able to pick up the small girl

  “I’m amazed you can still do that,” Sandy said under her breath.

  “Years of carrying full plates,” Jill said. She kissed Katy’s cheeks. “Hello, pretty girl. How was school?”

  “Boring,” Katy said. “Can I go help Daddy?”

  Jill gave her a stern look and Katy laughed.

  “No, Katy,” Katy imitated her voice. “You are a little girl. You have to stay here and entertain the worried guests.”

  She fell into gales of giggles. Jill set her down and the little girl ran to get Scooter. While everyone was saying hello, Nash and Sissy moved the television from the kitchen so th
ey could watch what was happening at the site. Sandy had just set a basket of warm rolls next to the soup when Tanesha arrived with her mother, Yvonne.

  “She’s too worried to be by herself,” Tanesha whispered to Jill.

  Because Yvonne only sort of remembered them, Heather introduced her to everyone. Yvonne’s sweet smile and gracious nature created the first sense of calm since they’d first heard about the earthquake. Otis and his bodyguard, Bruno, seemed to appreciate her company. Blane came in from his interview and they settled down to eat. While everyone tried to keep the conversation light, their attention centered on the construction site.

  “Can I ask you something?” Yvonne asked.

  “Of course.” Jill smiled at the beautiful woman.

  “Why are there gargoyles all over the place?” Yvonne pointed to a black cat in the corner.

  “Mom!” Tanesha tried to shush her mother.

  “Gargoyles?” Jill couldn’t help but smile at the idea. “They’re just some stray black cats.”

  “Mommy,” Katy said. “Those aren’t cats.”

  “You can see them too?” Jill asked Katy.

  “Of course,” Katy giggled. “I didn’t know you could see them.”

  A black cat sauntered behind the chairs to sit between Katy and Jill. Katy held out her hand to pet the black cat. Scooter gave a low warning growl.

  “Don’t touch it!” Valerie yanked Katy’s hand back in horror. “That’s not a cat.”

  “Of course it’s a cat.” Jill gave Valerie an ironic smile. “What else would it be?”

  “That’s not like any cat I’ve ever seen,” Yvonne said. “Cats do not have wings.”

  “Or horns,” Katy said.

  “They tried to kill Mom,” Valerie said in a terse whisper. “When Jake was being born. It was just me and Mom and Delphie and . . . They speak some crazy language. They screamed at her and . . .”

  “The cats tried to kill Celia?” Jill stifled a laugh.

  “That is no cat,” Otis, Jill’s grandfather, said in his thick accent.

  “It’s a gargoyle,” Yvonne said.

  “A gargoyle?” Valerie stared at Yvonne.

  “What it looks like to me,” Yvonne said. “It keeps looking at you, Jill, and saying something.”