Cursed Blessing

by J. M. LeDuc

  Brent looked at Chloe, who was wide-eyed and taking it all in. As he looked into her eyes, he tried to figure out what she was thinking, while at the same time not wanting to know.

  “Okay, here’s where it gets tricky,” Brent continued. “One of the most vivid memories I have of my grandfather is of him telling me that love cannot exist, and it certainly can’t last, without honesty and trust. Because I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, tell you the truth about the building, I felt I wasn’t worthy of loving you and definitely not worthy of your love in return.” Looking into her eyes again, he said, “But the truth is that I have loved you ever since I first saw you, and I love you even more today.”

  “Why, Brent? Why couldn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I was selfish and didn’t want anyone to know about the rooms. I mean, anyone beside you. I couldn’t ask you to compromise your integrity and I was afraid that, once you published your findings, the town and more specifically, the library, would become a media circus.”

  “The selfish part, I believe. The rest of it is B.S., and you know it, Venturi,” Chloe said. “There’s more to it than that. You don’t let someone you love go for something so stupid.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about my past. Things I hoped to leave behind when I moved back to Palm Cove.” Looking Chloe in the eye, he took a deep breath and continued, “Part of my Delta training was learning how to become detached from all others. There was no way we could have completed our missions and stayed alive if we felt any emotion toward others.

  “I want to change. I thought I had, but…” Brent shrugged his shoulders. “It’s going to take time. If we’re going to try and make you and me work, I need you to bear with me. These ‘things’ are embedded pretty deep in my psyche.”

  “What’s changed? Why tell me all this now?” she asked.

  “Because not having you in my life was worse than anything else I could imagine. I’ll do whatever it takes. I will burn the library down if it means regaining your love and trust.”

  Chloe reached up, put her hands on either side of Brent’s head and pulled him to her. For the first time, she initiated their kiss, a hard, long kiss, before letting go.

  She wiped his hair out of his eyes and said, “What you did was wrong, and we’ll never get back the time we’ve lost. But I’ve never stopped loving you. As far as trust goes, if I didn’t trust you, I never would have left my house last night.”

  They wrapped their arms around each other and stood in silence.

  “Just one more thing,” Chloe said.

  “What?” Brent replied. “Anything.”

  “I want to hear you say it again.”

  Brent looked at her with such passion that it was as if he looked into her soul. “I love you, and I have ever since we first met. I promise I will never let you down again.”

  “The first three words were enough,” she said as tears of joy rolled down her face.

  Brent kissed away her tears as they melted in each other’s arms.

  Neither wanted to let go for fear that the moment would somehow be lost, but suddenly, they were disturbed by the sounds of an ATV motoring toward them.

  “Good morning,” said a beach patrolman. “I don’t mean to interrupt a tender moment, but the sheriff’s department has started making routine checks of all the county beach paths. So, if that’s your car parked on the path, I would advise moving it.”

  “Thanks, we appreciate the warning,” Brent said.

  Chloe turned to Brent as they started walking up the beach. “Do you think there is any connection between the secret rooms and everything that’s been going on here the last few days?”

  “I don’t know. I never gave it any thought. What makes you think there might be?”

  “In every architectural structure ever built throughout history, if there are hidden passageways or rooms, there was always a reason, always a secret.”

  Brent kissed her forehead. “I love the way you think. It’s such a turn on.”

  “I hope that’s not the only thing that turns you on,” Chloe cooed.

  “Not on your life,” Brent answered. “But right now, we need to find out what’s in that safe deposit box, but first, let’s drive back to The Loft.”

  “What for?”

  “Benito has a shower in his private bathroom and I don’t think I should walk into the bank smelling or looking like this.”

  “Good point. I didn’t know if it was you or low tide, so I didn’t say anything at the beach.”

  They looked at each other and laughed.

  Chloe added, “You thought those were tears of joy back there. It was really the smell burning my eyes.”

  They laughed even harder—belly laughter, the kind that makes people forget their troubles, at least for the moment.

  CHAPTER 26

  They parked in the alley again, climbed the stairs and walked through the kitchen. Brent’s experience told him that Thomas and James wouldn’t come back here looking for them, at least, not so soon. The only garage in town opened at 9:00 a.m., so they wouldn’t have a car. Benny came up to them as soon as they walked in the door. He gave them both a big hug.

  “Whatta you two doin’ back here? I hoped you would be smart enough to be half way to Georgia by now.”

  “We have a little business to take care of at the bank. But first, I was hoping you’d let me use your shower. Do you mind?”

  “Mind? Of course I don’t mind. It’s in the room off the back of the kitchen.”

  Brent smiled and patted Benny on the shoulder as if to say thank you. Chloe followed him as he walked back to Benny’s office.

  “Leave the door open,” Chloe said as he started to close the door.

  “Why?”

  “Because, I’m afraid. I’m afraid that if I can’t see you, then maybe all this is nothing but a dream. Besides, how many times have you watched me get undressed?”

  Wanting grew in Chloe’s eyes as Brent took his shirt off, showing his ripped mid-section. To diffuse the moment, she jokingly said, “Looks like someone has put on a few pounds.”

  “I can think of a few ways you can help me burn them off.”

  “Not smelling like that. Get in the shower.”

  Chloe stepped into the shower minutes later. “I decided I could use a little freshening up myself,” she said.

  Brent turned to face her. They embraced with such heat that they could have spontaneously combusted. For the next thirty minutes, they melted into each other’s embrace. When they finally separated, Brent said, “We need to finish washing up. I want to be at the bank when it first opens.”

  A speechless Chloe smiled and rinsed herself off. They said goodbye to Benny, then headed for the bank, driving past the library. Chloe remembered how she had looked at that building with disdain. Now, she looked at it with an excitement that bubbled up inside her. Brent saw the look in her eyes, reached over and squeezed her hand.

  “After we get what’s in the safe deposit box, we’ll come back. I can’t wait to show you the rooms.”

  “That would be great,” Chloe said, nearly driving past the bank.

  “Whoa, turn right.”

  She turned onto High Street. “Whoops, sorry, my mind was elsewhere.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” Brent said.

  As Chloe stopped the car, Brent said, “We need to stay focused here. You know those two haven’t stopped looking for us. I don’t know how they get their information, but they always seem to know where we’ll be, so we have to be very careful. They may or may not know about the safe deposit box, so, if you see anything that doesn’t seem right, let me know and we’ll get the heck out of here. Understand?”

  Chloe was both scared and excited by Brent’s manner of speech. He was usually so laid back, but not now. His words were crisp with an air of authority that she lik
ed. “I understand, Brent. You don’t think they’re watching us right now, do you?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think so. I’ve been looking out for them all the way here. What I do know is that we have to expect the unexpected. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  High Street was a very short street that dead-ended behind an abandoned industrial park.

  “Chloe, turn the car around so it’s pointing back toward traffic.”

  She looked at the warehouse and remarked, “I’ll never understand why the city hasn’t fixed up the industrial area.”

  “It’s been stuck in red tape for years. Just one of those bureaucratic messes, I guess.”

  Chloe made a U-turn and parked on the side of High Street.

  “Ready?” he asked, and she nodded. Brent rounded the front of the car to take Chloe by the hand. “Let me have your car keys. If we need to get out of here in a hurry, I know the side streets and alleys.”

  She squeezed his hand and gave him the keys. They walked up the cobblestone to First Federal Bank and Trust at 9:00 a.m., just as the doors were being unlocked.

  CHAPTER 27

  Maddie drove away from the warehouse and back through the heart of town to get home and ready for what would probably be a crazy day. As she drove past the library, she thought about talking to Brent. She knew she would have to earn his trust. Helping Lucille stay alive was how she intended to accomplish that. What she didn’t know was at that moment, Chloe and Brent drove past her in the opposite direction.

  Arriving at home, she drove into her parking garage. Since she wasn’t in any mood to run into or flirt with the concierge or answer his questions about her cuts and bruises, she rode the service elevator to her penthouse.

  Disrobing, Maddie checked her bruises and injuries in the mirror. Her stomach was slightly swollen and black and blue. She pushed into the bruises, checking for sensitivity. She didn’t think there was any internal bleeding and all her ribs seemed to be intact.

  Maddie’s eyes looked much better since she’d performed her own triage back at S.I.A. headquarters. The swelling is almost all gone, she thought, but it’s a pretty shade of reddish purple. She wasn’t overly concerned about the bruises, they’d go away. The cut under her eye was another story. “That’ll leave a scar,” she thought out loud, as she ran her finger over the cut. Maddie felt as though she’d been violated. She stripped off her clothing and threw them in the trash, she’d never wear them again. Then she walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. After the soothing water calmed her down, she stretched out on her bed. It gave her time to think what her next move would be. She’d hoped Brent would call her soon. Until then, she didn’t have any concrete directions. Maddie blessed herself then with the Sign of the Cross, and prayed for the first time since she was a little girl.

  “God, I’ve never really done this before, so forgive me if I do it wrong. Joseph used to tell me that in order to be whole, I need you in my life, but my life never seemed appropriate for you. I always thought I had to be perfect before you would love me. If I had listened to Joseph, I would have known differently. I know I haven’t been faithful and I know I’ve sinned. I ask for your forgiveness and your mercy.”

  Tears streamed down her face as she continued to pray. “Father, I feel so alone. Since Joseph died, I don’t just feel alone, I feel abandoned. He was my mentor, my father, and my best friend. Maybe my only friend. More than that, he was my connection to you. I felt that his faith was strong enough for both of us. At least, that’s what I used to think. But now that he’s gone, I don’t know anymore. Lord, guide me through what’s ahead of me and help me make the right decisions.”

  Maddie got out of bed and knelt down beside it. She rested her elbows on the mattress as she continued to pray.

  “I’m tired, God. I’m tired of trying to do everything myself. I’m tired of having to be the strong one. Take me in your arms and hold me, Lord. Lead me in the direction that you want me to go. Help me make Joseph proud. Help me be pleasing to you.”

  Maddie continued to kneel next to the bed. As she lowered her head onto the mattress and closed her eyes, a peace came over her as if a blanket of comfort had been placed on her, and all the stress and anxiety left her body.

  Years later, Maddie would swear that God talked to her that day. She would say that he called her daughter, and that he’d said everything would be okay. He told her that all would be unveiled to her soon, but that she had to be patient and believe.

  When she opened her eyes, Maddie felt as though she’d been sleeping for hours. She looked at the clock. It was only nine forty-five. It had only been a few minutes, yet she felt completely revived.

  She pulled herself off her knees and realized she had no pain. Looking at her stomach, she still saw the bruises, but her pain was gone. She walked over to her mirror and was surprised at what she saw. There was a youthfulness in her face that hadn’t been there before. It was as if the lines and other signs of aging were gone. Even the cut under her eye looked different, smaller and less noticeable.

  Maddie tilted her head back as if to look to the heavens and said, “Thank you, Lord. I promise to be patient, and I do believe.” Maddie knew from other times in her life that when ‘a conversion’ was necessary, her new life was not going to come without setbacks. She had lived a certain way for over fifty years. As she continued to stare at her reflection, she just hoped that God wouldn’t abandon her like everyone else in her life had.

  Just then, the phone rang. It might be Ferric, she thought, and apprehensively picked up the receiver. Everything would be okay, she remembered God had told her.

  “Hello?”

  “Maddie?”

  “Yes, who is this?”

  “It’s Brent. It’s important that I meet with you.”

  “When?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “Where?”

  “Meet us at the library at eleven this morning. Don’t go through the front door. I’ll leave the fire exit open for you at the back of the building. If you’re not there on time, the door will be locked.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be there. And Brent? Thanks.”

  Brent detected a softness in her voice that hadn’t been there before. “Yeah, well, okay. See you at eleven.”

  “Wait. Who’s us?”

  It was too late. Brent had already hung up.

  CHAPTER 28

  Thunder crashed in the distance. The sun disappeared behind the clouds and the skies darkened. Chloe looked up and saw the storm rolling in. She and Brent maneuvered their way up the uneven cobblestone path. “I hope that’s not a precursor to what’s about to come,” she said.

  “It looks like it’s going to get nasty,” Brent remarked. “Let’s hope it moves out as fast as it’s moving in.”

  The skies lit up as they stepped into the bank. Thunder struck so close it shook the building.

  “If you brought that with you, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” They looked up and saw a woman who had stood up behind her desk. She was an attractive blonde, about five foot six, slightly overweight and in her early forties. She extended her right hand and introduced herself.

  “I’m Jody Burke, the bank manager. Just kidding about the rain, but I’m glad you made it inside before the storm hit. How can I be of assistance?”

  They introduced themselves as they each shook Jody’s hand. Chloe remarked about her jewelry. “What a beautiful ring. What kind of stone is that?”

  Jody turned her hand to get a better look at it herself. “Thank you,” she said proudly. “It’s a sapphire, a gift from my boyfriend.”

  “You’d better hold on to him. It’s hard to find one with good taste.”

  “I know what you mean.” Jody and Chloe looked at Brent and chuckled.

  The humorous exchange had broken the ice. A much more relax
ed Jody invited them to sit down. “It’s good to have nice customers first thing in the morning. Kinda sets the tone for the day. Ya know what I mean?”

  Taking the lead, Chloe said, “We sure do. It’s nice to start the day off with a smile.”

  Jody’s eyes traveled from Chloe to Brent. She looked as though she was studying him. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just that I could swear I know you. Have we met?”

  “I seem to be getting a lot of that lately,” Brent answered. “I don’t think we have met, but it’s possible. I’m the head librarian at the public library. I meet a lot of people.”

  “That’s probably it. I love to read and I spend quite a bit of time at the library,” Jody said, smiling. She switched her attention from Brent to the business of the day. “Now, what brings you two to First Federal on such a morning?”

  “I’d like to get into a safe deposit box here in my name,” Brent said, and reached into his pants pocket for the piece of paper he’d written on at the hospital yesterday. “It’s box number zero zero one.”

  The number of the box startled Jody. “You must be mistaken. That box number was issued over one hundred years ago and it’s in a secured section of the bank.”

  “I would hope all parts of the bank were secure, Miss Burke.”

  “I can assure you they are. That’s what makes the area where this box is located so very special.”

  “If you look it up in your records, I’m sure you’ll find that it is in my name and that all of the paperwork is in order.”

  “I apologize. I didn’t mean to imply anything.”

  “No apology necessary.”

  “Even if it is in your name and all the paperwork is in order, the bank doesn’t have the master key to the box.”

  “I’m sorry, what is a master key?”

  “All safety deposit boxes require two keys to open them. The owner has one and the bank has the other, the master key. This helps with security. But the bank doesn’t have the master key to box number zero zero one. It was assumed that it had been lost years ago.”