Crossroads

by Alexie Aaron [Aaron, Alexie]

  “Ooh, gossip, tell me more,” Ralph encouraged, walking away.

  “Now, Burt, who is this lady?” Bernard asked.

  “Push me to a beer and I’ll tell you,” Burt promised.

  ~

  Ted returned from his third trip to the borrowed three-row SUV looking a little green.

  “Come here,” Mia instructed. “How much did you have to drink?”

  “Not as much as Cid.”

  Cid, who was still in Mia’s bathroom vomiting, moaned in agreement.

  Mia placed a hand on Ted’s head and the other on his stomach. She eased the symptoms. “Now drink a full bottle of water before we leave this room. Next!”

  Cid stumbled out and over to the bed.

  “Why do you drink hard liquor? You know what it does to you.”

  “Dunno,” Cid said and crawled into the hospital bed with Mia. “Please stop the bells.” Cid pulled the covers up over both of them.

  “What bells?” Mia asked.

  “The elevator down the hall; each room has machines that bleep and ring; and the church down the street,” Cid said, pulling Mia’s pillow out from behind her back and covering his head.

  “It’s got to be brutal with his hearing,” Ted commented.

  “He should have stayed home,” Mia said. She pushed the pillow back so she could get a healing hand on his head. She reached for his stomach and brushed against something hard.

  “That’s not my stomach.”

  Mia’s face went red.

  “It’s my arm. Here,” Cid said, moving her hand to his stomach.

  Ted laughed. Mia’s expression was of embarrassment. It took her a few minutes to respond. “Whoa, for a minute, Teddy Bear, I was going to trade you in.”

  “Jesus, Mary, Joseph! What’s going on now, Mrs. Martin,” Dr. Walters demanded.

  “Cid’s got a vicious hangover.”

  “Likely story.” The doctor turned to Ted and asked, “Is the dark-haired girl yours or his?”

  “Mine. I don’t think Cid’s balls have dropped yet.”

  Cid groaned.

  “We may have celebrated too much last night,” Ted admitted.

  “Had you been here, you could have explained how Mia’s legs healed overnight.”

  “Must have been a miracle. I hear you had quite a few last night in ER,” Mia said evenly. “Cid, what are you doing?”

  “Reaching for my phone. Someone keeps texting.”

  “You won’t find it there,” Mia complained. She slapped his hand and then pulled the phone out of his pocket, still trying to ease Cid’s headache with the other hand. “Here, you have to open your eyes to see it, or do you want me to read it?”

  “Who is it from?”

  “Kittykat. Yes, it’s spelled with two Ks.”

  Cid grabbed the phone.

  “Mia, now do you see why you have to make friends with a better set of people? I could recommend a few book clubs. And AA,” he said, looking from Ted to Cid.

  Cid groaned and launched himself off the bed and into the bathroom, slamming the door after him.

  “I’ll order an IV and anti-nausea meds,” Dr. Walters said, texting it to his nurse. He did not want to leave the room when things were getting interesting.

  Mia picked up the forgotten phone. “Kittykat sent a picture. Wow, and I thought my boobs were big. Ted, did you go to a strip club?”

  “I don’t think so. If we did, Father Santos is spending a lot of time in confession this morning.”

  Dr. Walters looked at the picture and whistled. “I bet they’re augmented. If not, the lady is going to need back surgery.”

  Another picture arrived.

  “That’s no lady,” Mia said. “Hey, Ted, she’s got a Wonder Woman costume almost on.”

  “This is a trap. If I go look, I will lose my leverage in the divorce,” he told Walters.

  The nurse arrived and headed for Mia with an IV setup. Cid opened the bathroom door.

  Mia slid out of the bed. “It’s for Superman. Evidently, someone gave Wonder Woman his phone number. Contrary to popular culture, kryptonite isn’t his kryptonite, hard liquor is.”

  The phone beeped. Mia looked down. “Whoa, is that what it looks like down there?”

  Dr. Walters took the phone. “I think she took the shot from the bathroom floor up.”

  Cid groaned again. This time, the nurse had an emesis basin handy.

  “What’s that?” Mia pointed.

  “I think it’s a piercing.”

  Tom Braverman walked in. “What’s the holdup? I have the infant seats installed.”

  “Mia and Doc Walters are looking at porn,” Ted mumbled.

  Tom walked over.

  A tone announced that another picture had arrived. This one was from the back.

  “That’s a hemorrhoid,” Walters told Mia.

  “Give me that,” Tom said, taking the phone. He took a snapshot of his badge and sent it. “That should stop that.”

  Tom looked at Mia. “How’d you get a sunburn? I delivered your babies under a tree.”

  “Yikes, what else is burnt?” Mia asked.

  Dr. Walters scrolled back a picture.

  Mia laughed so hard she started hiccupping.

  Chapter Eight

  Mia arrived home to be ignored by everyone but Varden. The living room was filled with well-wishers, but the babies were the stars of the show. Varden refused to leave Mia’s side and kept kissing her cheek.

  Nanny Berta looked on, seeing a future problem. “Varden’s never going to leave home,” she mumbled.

  “Sure he is,” Lazar said from behind her. “It’s not him needing reassurance but Mia.”

  “How’s the head?”

  “My dad understands a hangover. Mia normally heals our headaches.”

  “Does she look sunburnt to you?”

  “She did give birth outside.”

  “But she wasn’t burnt when I left her in the hospital.”

  “Mia’s got an unusual body. She processes things differently.”

  “You’re quite good at supplying alibis.”

  “Maybe she went flying when no one was looking,” Lazar said.

  Mia got up and carried Varden to the elevator. “Come on, kid, let’s go jump on Daddy’s new bed.”

  Varden put his hands to his cheeks.

  “Let me know if I’m needed,” she said to Lazar as she entered the elevator.

  “Will do.”

  “Grandpa and Grandma Martin are coming tomorrow,” Mia said to Varden.

  “Where’s Grandpop Cooper?”

  “He’s a few days away. He will be bringing Adam and his parents.”

  “Did all these people come to see me when I was a baby?”

  “Yes, and it was in the winter, so they really must have wanted to welcome you, to make that journey in the snow and ice,” Mia said.

  The doors opened. Varden ran ahead, jumped, and did a belly flop on the bed. Mia encouraged him with her laughter, and he performed all kinds of stunts under the watchful eyes of his mother. Brian walked in.

  “Go on, get it out of your system,” Mia said.

  “What?”

  “The new-babies-are-cuter-than-you attitude.”

  “First Varden and now this,” Brian said, climbing on the bed.

  “I still think you’re adorkable,” Mia said.

  “That’s not a word.” He started jumping and falling.

  Varden encouraged him with his clapping.

  Dieter walked in.

  “Brian just started. Give him some time, then jump,” Mia said.

  “I think I’d hit the ceiling. How about a hug instead?”

  Mia hugged her son.

  “I talked to Mr. Cabello, and he said that he would be very pleased to have me help him. He will even schedule me around football camp. I have asked Lazar if he can drive me on rainy days. Otherwise, I’ll ride my bike.”r />
  “How does Mark feel about you not working at the facility?”

  “He won’t notice. He’s got a girlfriend.”

  “A lot of girls go into the art store.”

  “Oh, Mom, that’s not why I’m working there.”

  “I was just saying…”

  “Mia,” Ted called, approaching the bedroom.

  Brian dove for a chair and picked up a book. Varden posed like he was being read to.

  “Nanny Berta’s on her way up with two hungry girls. Hey, there’s footprints on my bedspread.”

  “It’s your imagination, dear,” Mia said, wishing she’d gotten a chance to jump.

  She rose, and Ted unexpectedly drew her into his arms. “I love you, Minnie Mouse.”

  Mia enjoyed feeling his arms around her. “It’s good to be home,” Mia said.

  “After you’re finished, Burt wants to have a PEEPs meeting. Jake is setting up a conference call so Mike and Audrey can weigh in.”

  Maeve’s cry pierced the upstairs.

  “What is that?” Brian asked, holding his ears.

  “Maeve. Get used to it,” Mia advised, walking out of the room towards the nursery.

  Ted walked over and picked up the book. “Since when are you interested in growing your own tomatoes?”

  “I was reading it to Varden,” Brian said.

  Ted looked down at Varden.

  “I love tomatoes,” he lied.

  Dieter coughed, drawing the attention away from the little liars. “Dad, could you look over the new-hire paperwork Mr. Cabello gave me?”

  “Mr. Cabello…”

  “Acalan, the artist.”

  “Is he going to paint you? Because I have to warn you, he likes to paint nudes.”

  “No, I’m going to work in his shop this summer.”

  “Don’t you have summer school?”

  “First year without it,” Dieter said. “This year, I’m going to make some money and learn all about paint and paper.”

  “Do you get a discount? Because Varden is drawing us out of house and home.”

  “I am not,” Varden said, walking by, trying to carry the tomato book tucked under his arm. It kept bumping on the floor as he walked. “If you will excuse me, I have to talk with Uncle Murphy.”

  Ted was amazed at not only how quickly his boys spoke but understood and used complex sentences. “Why Murphy?”

  “I suspect that birds like tomatoes like I do. How do I protect them?”

  “You could grow them inside.”

  “Yuck.”

  “It may be too late to start them,” Ted warned.

  “I’ll ask the farmer,” Varden said and marched out.

  Brian followed him giggling.

  “It’s amazing how far Varden will go to protect the nest,” Ted said to Dieter. “He hates tomatoes.”

  “I’ll talk to him. Otherwise, we may have to design a birdproof garden just to cover up their crime.”

  “How high did they get?” Ted asked, smoothing the bedspread.

  Dieter wasn’t getting caught in that trap. “My work papers?”

  Mia held up Genevieve to the natural light. “Your shiner is almost gone.”

  Genevieve yawned. Mia placed her in the bassinet. Maeve was already sleeping in the adjoining bed.

  Nanny picked up the wicker baskets that came in with the other gifts from the hospital. “These are unique. I haven’t seen this quality of workmanship in years.”

  Mia drew out the colorful skirt and hugged it, remembering the feeling of freedom that Roumain’s cove always gave her.

  Nanny Berta sensed Mia’s change in mood. Little Bird had so many dimensions to her personality. Secrecy was one of them.

  “Don’t forget you have a PEEPs meeting in the carriage house.”

  “Thank you. How are you doing? Do you need someone to watch these characters so you can get some rest?”

  “No, dear. However, I am going to see if I can get the boys to nap so we can have some peace and quiet for a while.”

  “Good idea. Let Jake know when you need me.”

  “Go and have some fun. Wear that skirt. It brings out the green in your eyes.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Burt was still getting used to the larger, professional looking space. Cid had contracted Jessie Holden to spare no expense in creating a room that would satisfy Jake’s and PEEPs’s need for more equipment but still be comfortable. The conference table opened to seat as many as sixteen comfortably. Today, it was only set up for six. Jake was working on connecting with Mike in Chile and Audrey in Greece.

  Ted walked in carrying a tray of sandwiches he had snagged from the refrigerator. He set it on the sideboard and sat down at one of the consoles and began typing. Cid, still a little green, followed. Enos walked in, chatting enthusiastically with Murphy.

  “Mia’s coming,” Jake said before Burt could ask Ted.

  “No fat jokes,” Ted warned the ghost in the machine.

  The large eyeball rolled.

  Mike sat in what looked like a travel trailer. He was tanned and sported a large bug bite on one of his cheeks. Audrey was sitting in a floral chair with a fan blowing directly on her.

  “You look hot,” Burt said.

  “Thank you, I feel hot too. Ted, if you could design an air conditioner that works totally on solar power, I would be eternally grateful.”

  “I’ll put it on my list,” Ted said.

  The door opened and Mia walked in. She was wearing an old washed-out PEEPs T-shirt over an island-flower midi skirt. Her feet were in sandals that she promptly kicked off when she entered. Her hair was loose and flowed down her back in waves. “Sorry to be late,” she said, walking to her seat.

  No one spoke. Enos pulled Mia’s chair out and waited for her to sit down before pushing her comfortably towards the table.

  “Hey, Audrey!” Mia waved at the screen.

  “How was it?”

  “Horror story, but we’ll talk later. How’s Grandpa?”

  “Grumpy. He’s been asked to moderate a clash between the goat herders and the fishermen. Evidently, the goats have taken to chewing on the tie-down lines of the boats. You look beautiful. How’s the kids?”

  The men in the room used the time that it took to catch Audrey up, to get used to the Mia who was in their midst. Mike saw his friend flip back her long hair and laugh at something Audrey said and wished he was sitting in the seat next to her.

  Mia finished and turned her attention to Mike. “Hello, stranger.”

  “Cooper,” was all Mike could manage. He would later tell Gates that Mia didn’t look like the exhausted wreck she had when she was managing the boys’ first few days. She had taken on a grace he never associated with her.

  “I don’t want to keep the new parents long,” Burt began, “so let’s get started. I called this meeting because a possible local haunt was brought to me yesterday.” He went on to explain the situation and why he was asking for the PEEPs that were in Big Bear Lake to address this ASAP. “I know I’m asking a lot, Mia, and I understand if you’re not up to it.”

  “Give me a day, and I think I can manage a four-hour late-night shift. “Since it’s local, and a friend of ours, I will make the extra effort. I’ll fly in and out using the Bravermans’ yard for cover if need be.”

  “Cid?” Burt asked.

  “I’m available until after Labor Day.”

  “I can do some research if Jake can get me into the New York State correctional and court computer systems,” Audrey said. “I’ll try to get as much background as I can.”

  “I’m stuck here until Gates wraps,” Mike said. “A few weeks.”

  “Cid, are you up to presenting?” Burt asked.

  “If I have to. I’d rather be behind the camera.”

  “You could use Enos,” Mia said and directed a wide-toothed smile at Mike, knowing the handsome, much younger, birdman was no doubt al
ready worrying Mike.

  “I would be too nervous,” Enos said. “I would rather back Mia and Murphy up.”

  “Lazar has a nice voice,” Ted said. “I think he could add a new dimension to the investigation.”

  “His hands are full here with the ΄rents invading,” Mia reminded him. “Burt, I think it’s time for you to step back into Mike’s shoes for a while.”

  “I agree,” Mike said quickly.

  “Fine,” Burt said, irritated by the notion of always having to be wearing a clean shirt and shaving. “But you’re going to have to do some post-haunt narration,” he said, pointing at Mia. “Sticking to the script.”

  “You wound me, but since it’s for Noah and his mother, sure,” Mia agreed.

  “We’ll set up right away. Ted, I know you’re bombarded with new baby activities, but I’m going to need you set up and ready to go, pronto.”

  “What about Ethan?” Mia said, looking through her phone contacts. “I have no idea if he can handle himself as tech support. Jake, what do you think? Can you train a newbie?”

  “I can.”

  “Ted?”

  “The kid’s got a smart mouth but not as bad as Dave. I can work with him.”

  “We’ll have to pay him,” Burt said.

  “Take it out of my share,” Mike said. “I’m the inconvenience.”

  “Good. Now that personnel are sorted, does anyone have any thoughts about what could be happening at Paula Glynn’s home?”

  “Sounds like a personal haunt to me,” Mike said.

  “I have some intel that there was an unfamiliar ghost moving through Big Bear Cemetery.”

  “Who saw the ghost?” Burt questioned.

  “The crossroads demon.”

  “When did you talk to the crossroads demon?” Ted asked.

  “I didn’t, my CI did.”

  “CI as in confidential informant?” Cid asked.

  “Yup.”

  “There may be another reason there is a stranger in the Big Bear Cemetery,” Murphy spoke up.

  Mia looked at him and said, “Go on.”

  “While you were giving birth, Burt, Enos, and I rescued a woman from drowning who claims to have been attacked by a funny looking man who jumped off a lumber truck. Either it’s an acrobat or it’s a ghost.”