Chapter 64

word count 1315

Adam Miller stared at the open casket and his pulse raced. It was his mother in there, his mother with more makeup on her face than he had ever seen her wear, lips too red, hair too carefully coiffed. And her face, even with her cheeks rouged didn't look real, more like a mannequin. But most of all, the body was motionless. She lay  so still, eerie, in a place where sounds aren't heard and nothing is real or touchable, a void. His mom's laughter and spirit were long gone from his own world. He felt on the outside looking in, trying to grasp where she was, to join her in the stillness, to touch her wherever she existed now.

"How are you holding up, son?" It was Mr. Hunt behind him, Elliot's dad. He placed a soft hand on Adam's shoulder. "Are you doing okay?"

"No."

"Well, hang in there, kid. You need time to heal. It'll get better." John Hunt walked away as if he was afraid to continue the conversation. Adam knew it.

He took a seat, plopping down on a damask-covered love seat. He felt sick to his stomach. His thoughts kept going back to how he found his mom dead. He'd called out and everyone came running. Lisa had grabbed him aside and hugged him while paramedics took his mother away, one of them straddling her chest on the gurney doing CPR. All the while, his father was yelling and trying to stand up and run after her. It was like watching something crazy on TV. Things like that didn't happen to real people, did they? Now he was stuck in that strange apartment with only his dad and Mrs. Dunn. That place wasn't his home and he wanted his mother, not Mrs. Dunn, and certainly not his dad.

There were so many people at the funeral parlor he had never seen before. They'd been coming in all day, people his mother knew before she got married, long time friends who never came by once Buzz was in her life. And his father had people coming from the police station, people Adam had never met. They all stood around talking, some of them laughing as they chatted, as if the tragedy of his dead mother wasn't laid out right in front of them. He hoped he never grew up. If they were coming to see his mom, why did they act like she wasn't there? Didn't they have the same pain as he did?

"Hey, Adam!" His best friend, Elliot, appeared next to him and sat on the love seat. “Did you see that guy over there? I thought he was that homeless guy from DQ, but it looks like he works with your Dad."

Adam spied Gil in the entrance. He always suspected Gil was an undercover cop, but never knew for sure. He wondered if Gil told his dad about the gun he had. I don't care, he reasoned. Because I don't care anything about my dad, not even if he's mad at me.

Hank Bower came into view next, stepping into the room to stand next to Gil, and his eyes scanned the area as if looking for someone. Gil, in the meanwhile, smiled at Trudy, who stood stiffly with her husband.

Hank spotted who he was looking for and charged off in Buzz's direction. The grieving husband sat in a cluster of friends, still in a wheelchair, speaking with sadness on his face. The detective pushed his way through the crowd, knocking people out of his way to come face to face with his boss.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! You killed her!" Hank slammed a tight fist in a direct hit to Buzz's jaw. It sounded with a loud THUMP as a bewildered Buzz reeled in confusion.

"What the hell, Bower?" he said, his hand against a reddened face.

"You cheated on her! You beat on her! You wore her down and you made her ill! When she discovered she had cancer, she was afraid to tell you for fear you'd BEAT ON HER MORE!"

Gil arrived and dragged Hank by the shoulders, propelling him out of the room. "Quit staring, people! The guy's a little upset, now back off!" He yelled it out loud and clear for all to hear as he pushed his friend out the door.

From where Adam sat, the whole thing happened in slow motion, like he was in another world. He couldn't believe it was happening. The violence made his heart race. He was afraid, just like he was alarmed when his dad hit his mom. He never knew where punches and screaming would go next. An angry person swinging fists made him about as scared as he could ever be. Not that he didn't like that his father got hit. He wished he could do it himself. Someday when he got bigger, he would.

"Holy shit! Did you see that?" Elliot said. What a welcome sound his friend's voice was, bringing Adam back to reality.

"Yeah, my dad got socked good," he said, trying to make light of it. But he still felt frozen with fear.

"Look at my mom, running over to see him!" Elliot said. “Something funny is going on there.”

Sure enough, Trudy took off heading in Buzz's direction while John stood by, rigid.

"Oh, Buzz! Are you all right?" she asked, hugging him.

"Trudy! Yeah, I'm okay. Wait til I see that Bower again!"

Trudy looked up, and Buzz followed her gaze. Gil had returned and was slipping into the room. When Buzz saw him, he bellowed.

"Bettencourt, get over here! What's going on with Bower?"

"I'm not sure, boss!" Gil nodded to Trudy. "I sent him home in a cab."

"Well, call him later, and tell him HE'S FIRED!"

"Boss, isn't that a little harsh?"

"FIRED, Bettencourt! I said FIRED!"

"Okay." Gil's blood froze as he pondered what the boss would do if he found out he, in fact, was boinking the guy's main squeeze. He shot a frightened glance to Trudy.

John noted the silent nod between his wife and Gil. He turned around and looked to Lisa who shot him a tiny smile.

***

Buzz sat at the kitchen table, working his way through the second six-pack of Michelob. It was a good thing Mrs. Dunn had to go out that night. He'd needed a beer bad, and God knows, he couldn't do it when she was around. Especially after the other night, when some guys from the precinct came by with a whole case of beer to sit and shoot the bull. They sat drinking and talking for hours. There wasn't much she could do to stop him. But later, when he got mad at Adam and almost hit the kid, the woman went ballistic.

"You drunken slob! You lay a hand on that boy, and I'll smash your face in!" She said it behind his back in barely a whisper, probably so as not to alarm the kid. But it did stop him in his tracks. Later, she told him, "I'm only still here because of Adam. Someone needs to look out for him. Your wife just died three weeks ago. You're grieving, and you get very angry sometimes, Mr. Miller, especially when you drink."

Well, she'd been diplomatic anyway, not calling him an animal. But it was just as well she was here, since he was in no mood these days to play the loving parent. And as soon as he could walk again, he had plans to go out and do a whole lot of drinkin'.

chapter 63

word count: 2091

“sandwiches and a icy cold drink!!! just what the doctor ordered!!” mrs. dunn proclaimed loudly as she picked up her lunch tray and headed across the kitchen,, putting behind her the puzzle of where the mayonnaise covered knife in the kitchen sink had come from.. 

“here we go!!” she exclaimed as she rounded the corner,, careful to make her presence known in effort to avoid interrupting an intimate moment between jeannie and buzz.. 

“thank you!! jeannie exclaimed, “i think it’s you, that is just what the doctor ordered!! i feel like a princess in my new home!!”

“ever so happy to serve you!” replied mrs. dunn,, as a sincere smile crossed her time weathered lips.. 

“hey, “ interjected buzz..” i know we got off to a bad start.. i know i am a little rough around the edges,, but i swear to you i am trying to improve on that.” he smiled sweetly at jeannie as he said it,, but silently he questioned his ability to change.. god he wanted to, for jeannie’s sake.. but could he?? could he really do it?? failure was a word that did not often enter into buzz’s vocabulary.. especially when it was directed at himself.. 

mrs. dunn  set a try table in front of each of them.. she served jeannie first, a picture perfect ham and cheese and a deliciously cold glass of ice water.. 

“and for you mr. miller, an extra portion!!” she said as she set down a plate containing not one, but two delectable sandwiches an icy beer mug filled with ice water.. “i thought the mug might give you some comfort.”

“looks delicious.. i am famished!” bud exclaimed. “thank you mrs. dunn,, and i really mean that!

“once again, my pleasure!” said replied.. “anything else i can get for you folks before i get started on dinner?”

“oh no, everything looks lovely! jeannie exclaimed.

“looks like i am all set too!” buzz chimed in as he took a whopping bite out of his sandwich..

“then i’ll just leave you two alone.. i’ve got work to do.. “mrs. dunn headed toward the kitchen.. she stopped short and turned to buzz and jeannie.

“oh i almost forgot to mention,, a miss lisa called and said she would be dropping your son adam off later in the day.. she will pick him up from school,, then take him to her house to collect his belongings and they’ll be around shortly after that. can’t wait to meet the little guy!!” 

“i can’t wait to see my baby!” jeannie said sincerely. “i have missed him so much!”

“yeah, it’ll be good to get the little guy home..”  buzz said as his mind wandered off in the direction of the devastating truths gil and hank had revealed to them in the hospital, concerning adam’s recent deviant behaviors.. 

“do you think we ought to sit him down,, and just let’er rip?? you know let him know we know what he has been up to,, and try and find out what’s behind all this acting out he’s been doing?” buzz queried.

jeannie paused to finish chewing and then replied, “not yet honey,, let just see if we can’t bring him around by setting a proper example.. he has been through so much.. he’s coming home to a home that is not even really his home.. his whole world was destroyed in the fire,,  let’s just give him a little time, and let him settle in..”

“i guess you’re right.” concluded buzz as he got started on his second ham sandwich..  

“we have been given the opportunity to start a new!” jeannie said trying to bring a positive light to the subject.. “let’s not grieve all that we have lost,, but instead focus on all that we have gained.. i have you back buzz,, and that is worth any material loss to me.”

“i still miss my wide screen.” buzz said,, mouth still full of masticated sandwich.. “but your right,, we have been given a second chance.."

“what do you say we have mrs dunn give us the grand tour after we finish lunch? i am dying to see the place.” jeannie said, as she popped the last bite of her sandwich in her mouth..

“sounds good.. wonder what the bed looks like?” buzz smiled slyly, “i’m thinkin’ a proper christening is in order!!”

“oh buzz!!” jeannie giggled, as a blush rose up in her cheeks.. “i am thinking you had better just put that christening off for a couple of weeks.. what would your physical therapist say??”

“screw my physical therapist!!” buzz bellowed,, as they both broke out in raucous laughter at the irony of his choice of words.. 

after mrs. dunn had cleared away the lunch dishes,, she gave each of them a rolling tour of the new house.. it was small, and sparsely furnished,, but as far as jeannie and buzz were concerned.. it was home.. .. 

when mrs. dunn rolled buzz back into the living room and brought his wheelchair to rest next to jeannie,, buzz noticed,, jeannie was pale,, and beads of sweat had formed on her brow.. 

“ you ok hun?? you look a bit peaked??”

“im fine.., just fine, buzz.. a little nauseated perhaps,, but nothing to worry about.. it kind of goes with the territory..” jeannie tried to put buzz’s mind at ease.. she was feeling a bit nauseous,, if the truth be told she was feeling very nauseous,, but she wasn’t going to allow it to spoil their home coming. 

“well you’re not looking too good.. do you wanna lay down a while? you look like you could use a little rest.. “ a tone of sincere concern took over buzz’z voice.. 

“that might not be a bad idea.. i want to look and feel good when adam gets here.. i don’t want to give him any cause for concern..”

“mrs. dunn!” buzz called out. “could you come in here a minute?”

mrs. dunn appeared almost immediately.

“jeannies not feeling all that well,, and she would like to lay down for a few minutes before adam get here.. would you mind helping her to the bed?”

“you aren’t looking all that well,, mrs. miller.” mrs dunn said as she laid her hand on jeannies forehead. 

“i would say you are running quite a temperature as well.. let’s get you to the bedroom..”

she loosed the breaks on jeannies wheelchair.. and wheeled her toward the hall that led to the bedrooms.

“i’ll get you in bed and get a cool compress for your forehead.. you’ll feel better in no time!!” mrs. dunn said reassuringly,, as she wheeled a visibly weakened jeannie into the bedroom.. 

“all this excitement in  one day,” continued mrs. dunn. “i think it’s just got the better of you.”

as she gently maneuvered jeannie gently into the bed,, it was evident there was something more than exhaustion going on here.. not only was she suffering from nausea, and running a fever,, but her whole body was covered in a cold clammy sweat.. 

“you just rest right here.. mrs. dunn we'll have you better in no time.” she tried to exude confidence so as not to alarm jeannie,, but she knew a call to the doctor was in order.. she went to the bathroom and soaked a washrag in cool water wrung it dry,, and proceeded to place it on jeannie’s fore head.. 

“there, there now.. you’re gonna be just fine.. she said as she silently slipped out of the bedroom. 

as she passed thru the living room on her way to place a call to jeannie’s doctor in private, so as not to alarm buzz,, she noticed buzz had gone quite pale in her absence.. 

“you’re not looking to good yourself mr. miller.. is there something i can do ?”

“just worried about jeannie, i guess.. she’s got cancer you  know.. she is on a rigorous course of chemo and radiation.. maybe we better put in a call to her doctor..”

“i’m one step ahead of you,, i was already on my way to do just that.” instructed mrs. dunn as she hastened her way to the kitchen to place the call..

as buzz and mrs. dunn anxiously awaited a return call from the doctor,, lisa pulled up in the driveway,, with a reluctant adam in tow..  he had hardly spoken a word on the drive over,, and lisa feared he might not be ready for this reunion with his father.. while he had expressed a sincere desire to see his mother,, he would not even discuss his father,, giving her a cold lifeless stare every time she even mentioned his name.. 

‘it’ll work out.’ lisa tried to reassure herself. ”it just has to.”

lisa had personally seen to setting up the new house so it was as homey as possible, in an effort to make the transition from the hospital to the rental home go as smoothly as possible.. she had taken special care in the preparation of adam’s room,, even bringing over a few of erik’s toys and stuffed animals,, to bring a bit of a warmth to the sparsely furnished room,, in hopes that it would help him find some semblance of normalcy there.. 

she had stocked the kitchen with everything that adam suggested,, as well as plenty of fresh meat and vegetables so that the new caretaker would have easy to prepare meals at the ready.. adam had even helped her by  putting  the groceries away,, while she busied herself with putting the finishing touches on the meager new home.. 

he had seemed so happy that day,, in fact it was the first time she had ever really see him smile..  he had even helped himself to a sandwich while he waited on her to complete the tasks at hand..  she had seen a spark of hope in him that day.. a spark that was more than visibly missing as they gathered together adam’s few worldly  possessions and headed toward the front door.. 

mrs. dunn answered the door,, and warmly welcomed both lisa and adam into the house.. 

“oh, your mama is gonna be so happy to see you!!!” she said as she ushered them into the foyer.. “your daddy is in the living room,” she admonished adam,, as she pointed him the direction of the living room. 

“you just go on in there and welcome him home!!”

adam gave her a vacant look,, and set off down the hallway toward his new room instead..

mrs. dunn gave lisa a puzzled look.. 

“he’ll be alright.. it’s just gonna take him some time to readjust.. he has been through so much.” lisa tried her best to sound convincing.. 

as adam made his way down the hall to his new room,, he saw jeanie lying in bed.. she looked like she was sleeping.. he set his backpack down,, and quietly made his way to her bedside.. 

“mommy?” he whispered. “mommy,, it’s me , adam. i’m home..”

jeannie didn’t stir.

“mom?” adam leaned in closer.. he wanted her to know it was ok.. he was there,, and she wasn’t alone with his dad anymore.

“mom!” adam said abruptly, hoping his heightened tone of voice would wake her up,, even if just for a moment so he could put her mind at ease.. 

jeannie still did not stir.. 

adam reached out and brushed a tousled strand of hair from jeannie’s face.. she felt kind of cold.. maybe she needed another blanket.. he went to his room,, took the comforter off his new bed and brought it in to cover jeannie..  he threw the comforter over her,, and tucked her in like she had so often done to him.. 

it was not until he lifted her arm out from under the covers as she always did to him when she tucked him in,, that he noticed how limp she was.. not like sleeping limp.. like dead kitten limp.. adam panicked..

“lisa!! he screamed at the top of his lungs,, “lisa come quick!! there’s something wrong with my mom!!”

jeannie lay still,, even the clamor of adam screaming out to lisa had not awakened her..

“what is it??” lisa called out to him as she and mrs. dunn scurried into the room.. lisa knelt next to adam,, as mrs. dunn went immediately to jeannies bedside.. she took jeannie’s wrist in her hand,, and then hurriedly placed her ear over jeannie’s nose and mouth.. 

“call 911!!” mrs. dunn barked urgently. “i don’t think she’s breathing and i can’t get a pulse!!” 

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

word count 1535

The van driver and his helper eased Jeannie's wheelchair down the ramp to bring her from the vehicle down to the sidewalk and rolled her to rest next to Buzz. Next, the two technicians propelled both wheelchairs down the walk, up a makeshift ramp and into the rental the new Albany police department had secured for them while they were in the hospital.. A stern looking woman, looming tall, gray-haired, dressed in an old-fashioned flowered house dress and practical white oxfords, stood with hands on hips, surveying her new charges.

"Well, there you are! I'm your new live-in. I'll be taking care of all your needs during your recovery period." Her eyes glinted like steel in a flushed, wrinkled face which was haloed by gray wiry hair. "I'm Mrs. Dunn."

"How do you, Mrs. Dunn! it's a pleasure to meet you! I am afraid I will not be much help at helping you to settle in,, as this is the first time I have laid eyes on the new place.." asked Jeannie. as she surveyed the stark,, yet adequate surroundings.. It was not her home,, but in light of all that had happened over the course of the past week or so,, it would do nicely..

"Certainly, madam! I've never met a kitchen or a household, for that matter, I couldn't conquer!"

"Well, hey there, hon! Would you roll me out to the fridge. I want to get a beer and a snack!" Buzz said.

"I beg your pardon, sir! My name is Mrs. Dunn, and I'm not your 'hon' and your discharge instructions specifically say no alcohol. You're on medication!"

"What?" Buzz could feel blood rushing to his face.

Jeannie worked hard stifle a smile. "I think Mrs. Dunn has your best interests at heart," she said.

"Like hell!"

"Buzz!" his wife retorted. "Mrs. Dunn, I think Buzz and I could benefit with some time in the living room, please. And perhaps some ice water to drink, or green tea?"

"Certainly, Mrs. Miller!" Mrs. Dunn replied. She shot Buzz a death stare before starting to push Jeannie toward the living room. Next, she came back for Buzz and bumped him along at a rollicking speed.

"Hey, take it easy, sweet...I mean, Mrs. Dunn, please!" Buzz said, holding on for life.

Later, with their drinks in hand, Buzz and Jeannie sat, enjoying each other's company. They were quiet, but in a peaceful way.

"well,, it's not home,, but anywhere we are together as a family will become our home.." Jeannie said whistfully,, as she thought  about all they had lost in the explosion.. "Everything looks strange, but in a good way, like something new just waiting to be discovered."

"I miss my wide screen TV," Buzz had the remote to the meager 30" tv that came with the house in hand already but paused and laid it on table instead. Sitting here and talking to his wife, it felt good.

Jeannie watched him. She looked down at her hands on her lap, lost in thought. Finally, she spoke. "Buzz, that other woman, Trudy...did you know her long?"

Glass of water in hand, he wobbled the glass but got it back before it spilled. He shot his wife a frightened look. He wanted to think about his answer. "I really don't know how long. It was nothing, Jeannie. We weren't getting along so well, and I ran into her at the restaurant where I get coffee. And you can see what a flirt she is."

"Buzz, did you screw her?"

The question took him by surprise. His first thought was he had no idea how to answer. But next, heart pounding, he saw red as his blood went to an instant boil. He knew his volcanic anger was actually a line of defense to avoid the question, but the anger genie had zoomed out of the bottle and there was no stopping it now.

"DAMMIT, Jeannie! What kind of a question is that? DON'T YOU QUESTION ME?" He struggled to try and get out of the chair, his hand already in a fist, his eyes steaming.

Jeannie cowered in the chair, covering her face with her hands. Her heart had taken off on a rhythm so fast she thought she might faint from the way it raced. Her pulse rang in her ears. She could feel icy tears rolling down her face, chilling streams against a flushed, hot like a frying pan surface. And tiny whimpers filled the air, pathetic, weak, despicable noises, and then she realized they were hers, her sounds, pleading for mercy. She was sobbing. The cries seemed to come from outside of her, and yet they were hers. Was it all going to start again with Buzz, his anger, his violence? She'd felt so strong, fighting the cancer, fighting for her marriage. Was Buzz incapable of being again the man she wished him to be? Was he too far gone to come back? Her world was tumbling, tumbling fast.

Buzz, fist in mid air, saw his wife and stopped. He knew he had raised his hand to her many times, but this was the first he stopped to see her, really see her. It must have been her weakness, her illness. It gave him pause. He usually would have hauled off and swung already, fist to body, killing soft flesh, in a rage, thoughtless and angry. But this time he stopped, then slumped in the chair and started to cry in rolling, cavernous sobs. He hadn't sobbed like this since he was a little kid, when he'd watched his own father pound on his mother without mercy. But now, he needed to cry.

It was an illness. He knew it. Chasing after Trudy, all the women. What a sorry excuse of a husband he was! His job, there was a barrage of good and evil, danger and reprieve, ups and downs. It came at him all day, every day. And women like Trudy, they were his heroin, the great release. Jeannie had lost her role in his life as the rigors, the stresses, pushed her right out of the picture. What did a demure, thoughtful, gentle woman have in his nightmare? He'd get angry. At first he convinced himself the anger was at her for being so inadequate, so unable to join him in his madness. She had no idea of his pain, and he was fully aware of the fact. He wanted to lash out at her for her inability to feel his anguish. But lately, he'd come to realize he'd been directing his ire at the wrong person. He should have been mad at himself for being such a loser, for dealing with the pain in the worst way possible, by damaging other lives and dragging them down with him.

He knew it was wrong. And still, the women tormented him. Every time he got upset, some piece of beautiful ass would beckon him in his misery, taunt him with the fix, the great release. But they were temporary releases that left no permanence, no satisfaction, only a craving for more, a necessity to continue the cycle.

He could fight it; he could win. But it wouldn't be easy.

"I'm sorry, Jeannie! Oh babe, I just lost it. I'm so sorry!" He pushed the wheels of his chair, making them turn to take him closer to her. He grabbed her hands in his and kissed them.

"Jeannie, I screwed her. I was ruthless, but that was then, and this is now, and I promise to make it up to you. Please, work with me and let's love each other again."

"Of course, Buzz!" she said, tears streaming. "I already love you! I never stopped."

Mrs. Dunn watched from the hallway. She swiped a tear away and smiled, then turned to get the couple more ice water and some sandwiches from the kitchen.

***

Trudy and John sat face to face at the kitchen table, each very still. They'd sent Elliot off to play with friends, and it was only the two of them now in the house. Trudy fought back thoughts of Buzz, and Gil, and tried to concentrate on her husband.

"So what do you have to say for yourself?" she asked. Even as she spoke, visions of Buzz and Gil taunted her. Such sexy men! But dammit, John was her husband. He owed her something.

"Trudy, who in the hell do you think you're trying to fool? I've seen the way you look at other men."

The way you used to look at me, John thought. His blood ran cold in the realization that he was more than likely just a passing fad for Trudy, someone whose profile intrigued her at the moment, the bookish fellow, the intellectual type. But it was over. The novelty had worn off for her long ago. That was obvious. A woman like Trudy had no long term interest, no stability. The grass was always greener.

But the sex had been so decadent and delicious. Perhaps he was just as at fault. She had been a novelty for him, too. He'd never had a woman who turned him on so much, an unlikely catch for him, the impossible dream that came true.

But his heart raced as thoughts of Elliot came to mind. That poor kid! He wasn't the boy's real father, but he loved him like it. And poor Elliot had no vote in any of this, no way to play a role in his own destiny.

Elliot watched from around the corner. He'd come back to get some extra snacks for him and his friends and heard his parents fighting. He'd lingered to eavesdrop, and now he felt a white hot panic building inside. Were they going to get a divorce? What would happen to him?

chapter 61

word count: 1342

it didn’t take long for the media to get a hold of the autopsy report  confirming that the body of the little boy that had been recovered from a shopping cart, in the neighboring town of weston, was none other than that of one of new albany’s own, little simon learnagle..  

before detectives bower and bettencourt had even arrived at the learnagle household to inform simon’s distraught mother, jada, that a positive identification had been made,, and impart upon her all the gory details surrounding her baby’s grievous demise,,  the front yard of the learnagel home had become an encampment of blood thirsty reporters.. 

the entire street had become a full blown media circus,, lined on both sides by satellite linkup trucks from both local and national news agencies.. reporters and film crews not only gathered in the front yard of the learnagel home,, but poured out into the street,, smoking cigarettes , drinking coffee, generally fraternizing amongst themselves as if they were gathered together at a social event,, instead of lecherously assembled in the front yard of an already overwrought family,, yet to be dealt one of life’s most devastating blows.

some overzealous reporters called out to the family,, demanding a statement be made in response to the discovery of simon’s tortured body..  others knocked unceasingly on the tightly closed door,, as call after unanswered call was placed to the learnagel family’s phone causing it to ring relentlessly.. 

effectively prisoners in their own home,, the learnagel family hid behind locked doors and tightly drawn drapes and waited.. it was evident,, by the overwhelming media presence,, that there had been new information released surrounding simon’s disappearance,, but there was not one among them that was willing to turn on the radio or the tv and have the injurious taunts of the raging reporters confirmed.. 

instead they cloistered themselves upstairs in jada’s room behind a closed, locked door,, and did their best to block out the media assault that was being waged against them.. they huddled together on the bed, finding comfort in their close proximity to each other.. although physical displays of affection were an uncommon occurrence in the learnagel household,, they clung to each other instinctively as few words passed between them,, and many a  silent tear was shed..

“jesus fuckin’ christ!!” gil bellowed, as he maneuvered the car thru the raucous array of reporters,, crew members and illegally double parked satellite trucks,, in attempt to get as close as possible to the learnagel home.. “don’t these people have any scruples?”

“bunch of fucking animals!” hank replied as gil pulled up aside a channel 10 mobile unit,, and brought the car to an abrupt halt.. 

hank yanked a bull horn off the back seat floorboard,, as he and gil exited the car.. badges in hand they descended upon the throng of reporters blocking their way to the front door..  

“can i get a statement?” yelled out the maddened crowd of reporters, as they formed a mob around hank and gil,, cameras at the ready,, microphones in hand.

“back it up people!!” hank yelled into the bull horn.. “this is private property.. back it up to the sidewalk!!”

a cloud of dissidence rose above the wrangled crowd..

“the people have a right to know!!”

“all we want is a statement!!” the disgruntled reporters demanded in unison.

 “the new albany police department will be issuing an official statement later on today.. “ hank roared into the bull horn. “now back up before we arrest the lot of you!!”

as the menagerie of media correspondents,, many of them audibly protesting the direct order,, backed reluctantly away from the house and packed themselves like sardines on the sidewalk and tree lawn,, gil and hank warily approached the front door.. 

“mrs. learnagel!! new albany police department here!! we need to speak to you!!” hank cried out,, making use of the bull horn.. 

“she is probably scared to death to open this door," said gil,, stating the obvious.. 

“do ya blame her?” hank responded rhetorically.. neither of them was at ease with the grim news they had yet to deliver.. 

“mrs. learnagel.. hank bower here!! napd.. please open the door!!”

with that the door opened just a crack,, chain lock still  in place… it was stanley,, the eldest of the learnagel clan.. once he verified that they were in fact police officers,, and not some raving lunatic reporter,, he slowly, silently opened the door,, which gil and hank quickly walked through,, and closed securely behind them.. 

“son, we need to speak to your mother.” gil informed the young learnagel.

“she’s up stairs.” said stanley sullenly.. “follow me."

***

not long after detectives bower and bettencourt had left weston mercy hospital,, to inform the learnagel family of their loved ones confirmed demise,  detective dillon decker from the weston police department showed up to collect fingerprints from the victim of sadie ‘the crazy lady’s’ brutal attack.. as of yet no one had filed a missing persons report that might shed any light on the identity of the victim,, so he had come to be known only as john doe 3..

the attending physician at mercy had called to inform the weston police department, that it was in the patients best interest to induce coma,, as the pain,, both physical and emotional,, would be unbearable should the poor guy wake up of his own accord.. he had implored the department to obtain the identity of his patient,, as any previous medical records that might be available, could his identity be established, would serve invaluable in his treatment.. 

with no evidence to lead them to believe otherwise,, the weston police department had come to assume, that the as of yet unidentified victim,, was just that..  the innocent victim, of a delusional woman who truly believed the bloated, rotting corpse she had found floating in the big bear river was that of her own long dead son..  and then viciously took out her maniacal frustrations on the first person who had the grave misfortune of crossing her path.. 

as detective decker entered the room,, he was visibly taken aback by the devastation he saw before him.. he was greeted by numerous machines,, whooshing, blinking,, and beeping,,  visibly doing for the victim that which he was no longer able to do for himself.. 

as he stepped closer to the bed,, he couldn’t help but notice that the facial features had been completely obliterated in the beating.. the remaining raw flesh was encased in a mask of mesh made of pressed human skin,, (in order to encourage healing)  but its presence only served to produce a deathlike ghoulish appearance, that detective decker surmised he would not be able to wipe completely from his memory any time soon.. 

he went about his business,, slowly and with apprehension.. the logical part of him knew  that the victim was in a drug induced coma,, but the irrational part of him couldn’t help but envision this monstrosity waking up abruptly and grabbing him by the throat.. 

‘how the hell do ya ever come back from something like this??” he couldn’t help but wonder as he rolled finger after lifeless finger on the ink pad,, and then onto a standard finger print card.. 

when he had satisfactorily collected all ten prints,, he stood over the body for a moment,, blowing on the ink to make sure it was dry before he dropped it in the zip lock baggie that would preserve the chain of evidence.. he signed and dated the baggie,, and slipped it into the pocket of his over coat.. 

“poor bastard.” he said aloud as he made his way out of the blinking, beeping hospital room and into the florescent lighted hospital corridor.. 

as he exited the hospital,, he put a call in to dispatch to let them know he would be temporarily detained.. these fingerprints had to be delivered to the precinct pronto,, as from the look of things,, this poor guy could very well lose his life,, before his identity had even been established..

Chapter 60

word count 1436

Hank and Gil were back at work again. Seated at their desks, neither man spoke more than necessary. And Gil, in particular, was flushed and peeved. He hated the way Hank stole anxious glances at him. When he returned the gaze, the other man looked away. It was obvious Hank had a big question he would like to ask but didn't dare. No doubt that question was about Trudy. Did he or didn't he? Well, Gil figured it was nobody's business but his own. In the dismally quiet room the phone rang, making both men jump. Gil reached for it first.

"Homicide," he murmured, cradling the phone on his shoulder. "What...where?" He grabbed a pencil and started scribbling. "Are you sure? Have you checked DNA...uh, huh! We're on our way!"

He hung up the phone. "They've found Simon Learnagel's body!"

"What? Any sign of Leichtenstein?" The trail was still dead on Jake, and so with this news, Hank sat up straight in his chair ready to move on any new information.

"Well, they found the body over in Weston. Let's get over there and see if we can pick up a scent."

***

Later, in the car. Hank tried to ask Gil about Trudy.

"So, you mentioned you wanted to call Trudy. Did you then?"

Gil, who was driving, shot Hank a worried look. "Yeah. I did. While you were in the restroom."

They rode in silence for several minutes until Hank spoke again.

"Weston...I think I went bass fishing there years ago. If I remember right it is a regular "God's country, beautiful...white water rafting, fishing, lots of blue water and green hills."

"YOU...a fisher?" Gil said it like it was an impossibility.

"Yeah, I can fish! I do unusual things sometimes. Just like you do...just like you...I dunno...sleep with Trudy!" Hank waited for a reaction.

"Get off my ass, pal! Whether Trudy and I get together is none of your business, NONE of your business at all. What are YOU doing with the boss's wife anyway?"

With Gil mentioning Jeannie, Hank shut down. "There's your exit!" he said, ending the conversation about the boss's wife there and then.

***

They examined little Simon's body at the morgue, a gruesome sight, then headed to the hospital to see the comatose fellow who was at the scene.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Bernstein," the attending physician said, extending a hand in greeting when they were introduced. "Before you go in, I should warn you, he's an unsettling sight. Aside from the fact he is hooked up to machines which bothers most people, he has also been beaten badly, very badly. When he's more stable, we're going to have plastic surgery take a look at him to rebuild his face. It's that bad."

The two detectives nodded, then glanced at each other before opening the door. Neither thought it could be as gory as the remains of Simon Learnagel. But it was bad. The man in bed barely resembled a human being. Aside from the fact tubes were attached to him presumably making his body function, his face was a mass of wrangled flesh. Actual features, like a nose or eyes were indiscernible in the mound of raw, red mush. A bandage was plastered on a wound on top of his head, nested among blood-stained blond hairs, a reminder of an obvious concussion.

"Well, it doesn't look like this is going to tell us much," Gil remarked. "He can't talk, and we can't even make out his features."

"Well, why don't we go and see this Sadie who did the beating."

"I believe they are holding her in the psychiatric unit."

"Oh, that's splendid," Hank said. How much weirder could this day get?"

***

In her room on Level 7, Room 23, Sadie eyed the detectives with distrust. Her appearance was much improved, not that it was easily accomplished. The day nurse had suffered considerable bumps and scratches by the time she and an orderly finished pinning the woman down to sponge bathe her in the most liberal fashion possible and to run a brush through her rat's nest hair in order to cleanse it with foam shampoo. Cleaning the woman's teeth was a nightmare. Nurse Jenkins thanked God her latex gloves held up when Sadie tried to bite her. She made a note on the chart to let the night nurse bathe her next time.

"Hello, Sadie! I'm Detective Bower and this is Detective Bettencourt. How are you today?"

Her dark, beady eyes studied them closely. They stopped when they landed on Gil. "You're cute," she said.

"Um, thank you," he replied. He moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. "We wanted to talk to you about the day the police came and found you. Where did you get the baby you put in the shopping cart?"

"It's my baby, my Isaac!"

"I see. But why was he wrapped up and placed in the cart?"

"He was sick, not breathing. I found him in the river on the rocks. I missed him and I took him to keep with me."

"You found him in the river?" Gil shot a glance to Hank.

"Yeah, the river brought him from upstream. He washed up on the rocks. As soon as I saw him, I knew he was my Isaac."

"Are you sure the river carried him from upstream? Are you sure that's how he got there?" Gil looked anxious.

"Of course, I taught biology once. I know a few things."

"Okay, good. Now, who was that guy you were beating up on? Who was he?" Gil stroked her hand gently.

"He's the one who killed Isaac. As soon as I saw him, I knew he did it." Sadie pulled her hand out of Gil's grasp. She was trembling in excitement. "I just wanted to kill him like he killed my Isaac."

"I see. Did you know his name?"

A crazed expression took over her countenance. Her eyes changed, glaring, but looking through Gil rather than at him. "It was Junie. Junie killed my boy."

"Sadie, 'Junie' is a girl's name. Is that the person you meant to name?"

"I saw him on TV...Junie." The more Sadie spoke,the more agitated she became. "I wanted to kill him, kill him for killing my Isaac!" She rocked back and forth, flailing her arms. The distraught woman broke out into wailing, screaming with indecipherable grunts and howls. Hank dashed out the door to get a doctor.

Dr. Bernstein returned with a syringe, expertly injecting it into Sadie's arm. "I'm sorry, gentlemen! This is going to put her to sleep. I'm afraid your questioning is over for today."

***

"Come on, Lisa! What do you want? What do you dream about?" John leaned close, so close she could feel his breath on her cheek.

"I don't know! I guess I have always dreamed of true love...and a good family for my boy...oh, John, you're overwhelming me!"

Yes, John thought. I can do that! I can love her; I can love Erik. He eased her back against the wall and held her there with his arms pinning her hands to the wall, leaning close and peppering little kisses on her neck. "I think I already love you," he whispered in her ear.

"Oh, John!" She stood on her toes to kiss him full on the lips.

With his excitement rising, he let go of her with one hand to pull and wretch open her blouse, sending a button rolling across the floor. Reaching behind in a frantic hand grab, he undid her bra in a clumsy motion, and as it dropped to the floor he cupped her bare breast in his hand. By now she was under his spell, moaning, wresting her hands free to grope at his clothes like a wild woman, with heavy breaths fumbling and yanking, trying to undo his pants zipper.

"Oh, Lisa!" he hissed in her ear, tearing at her jeans.

"Well, isn't this a lovely sight for the children?" The shrill tone cut through John like a machete...Trudy. He turned, one hand still wrapped around Lisa's breast, to see his wife standing behind them, arms folded across her chest, steaming with anger.

"Where are the boys?" she snipped.

He pointed to the stairs with his free hand that wasn't groping Lisa's breast.

"I'm going to check on them. I'll send Adam down. And you," she said, pointing to Lisa, "take him home with you...and don't YOU ever set foot in my home again."

She turned to John and said, "and YOU, I'll deal with later."

chapter 59

word count: 1962

“it’s” presence in the town center had not gone unnoticed.. in fact numerous cell phone calls had been placed to 911,, to report the noxious odor that emanated from sadie's rolling crypt,, as she and jake had wheeled their way through the bustling downtown area, in route to sadie’s  rugged camp site on the banks of the big bear river.

whereas most of the callers had been able to describe sadie in vivid detail,, the few that even suggested that she may have had a male companion, were unable to give the uniforms that responded to the calls a formidable description of jake.. 

due to the fact that the local leo’s were more than familiar with sadie,, as she had become quite a fixture on the quaint downtown streets over the years,, they were easily able to identify her from the distraught onlookers detailed descriptions..

it was a well-known fact that sadie maintained a slipshod ‘residence’ along the banks of the big bear river,, but due to the fact that she dubiously remained within the confines of the law,, and had little if any interaction with the towns people, very little effort had been put into dissuading her from remaining there.. 

the general consensus had always been,, that as long as she seemingly complied with all other aspects of the law,, it was in the town’s best interest to leave her where she was.. after all,, in the past, every time they had evicted her from her little haven by the river, she had taken up residency in the cities well-manicured town center,,  and if the truth be told,, her very presence there served to mar the otherwise picturesque appearance of the midsize town of weston.

although little more than a flyspeck on the state map,, weston had long held the reputation as a trendy day trippers dream.. nestled along the banks of the rollicking big bear river, weston was home to a thriving kayaking business,, several critically acclaimed eateries,, a menagerie of unique shopping venues,, and some of the best bass fishing this side of the mississippi.. therefore,, maintaining the towns pristine image was of great importance,, and having the likes of sadie and her ever brimming shopping cart camped out in the town square was something the town council sought to avoid at all cost.. 

of course it had not always been this way..  there had been time,, as unfathomable as it may seem in light of her present caricature,, , that sadie was a much loved and well respected citizen of the town of weston.. 

a school teacher by trade,, sadie had relocated to the then small town of weston roughly 15 years ago to fill a much coveted spot in the arts and sciences department of the academically acclaimed faculty at william weston junior high school..  

although never what could be described as a handsome woman,, sadies exuberance in the classroom as well as her brilliant ability to bring the subject of biology to life for her students,, quickly outweighed whatever it was she was lacking in the terms of physical presentation.. 

sadie’s timid husband, herself, and their young  son isaac,, had been welcomed into the close knit community, that made up the populace of the town of weston, with open arms within the first months following their arrival in the small town.. 

although no one in town had ever claimed to have come to know much about her husband, sadie’s excellence in the classroom gained her quick critical acclaim.. the reverent portrait of her that was painted in the hearts and minds of the community,,  was surpassed only by her son isaac’s sweetness of disposition,, well-practiced good manners and aryan good looks.. 

the adorable tow headed boy was an instant hit at weston elementary school,, quickly becoming not only the object of every little girl’s affection,, but the most sought after team member in the entire  school when it came to sports of any kind..

from a young age, isaac had displayed a propensity toward any activity that involved a ball.. when most boys his age were preoccupied with anything that had wheels,, young isaac was honing his soccer skills with the much older boys on the soft green grass of the neighborhood park that adjoined the property surrounding the family home.. 

by the tender age of seven,, he was a welcome addition to any team sport activities that the neighboring boys engaged in on the lush green grass of the park, be it soccer, baseball, or football,  as he demonstrated  an extremely rare, raw talent that bore it’s self out well on any playing field..  

his devotion to all things sports only intensified, when his parents abruptly divorced,, as he buried himself even more deeply in strenuous physical activity in order to avoid thinking about what part, if any he had played in their break up.. 

isaac took to spending his every waking moment  in the park, even when that meant he had to occupy himself with taking lone control of a soccer ball,, as he guided it expertly across the length of the park, or practicing his pitching and catching skills by bouncing  a hardball off the brick walls of the community center.. 

as soon as sadie and family had arrived in town,,  they had taken into their employ, junie johnson, a young single mother, with a small child to provide for.. junie was an amicable, if not highly intelligent young woman.. she was slight in stature with glowing red hair and entrancing green eyes.. her young daughter, adriana, was little more than an infant when she took over the position of isaac’s primary care giver, and despite the fact that her toddler required much more hands on assistance than did then six year old isaac,, junie displayed an extraordinary talent in keeping both of them well cared for,, and safely under her ever present watchful eye..

on any given day, it was not unordinary for isaac to spend the majority of his waking hours on the playing fields in the park next door,, so junie was less than alarmed the day isaac failed to show up promptly at their designated lunch time.. 

however,, when his tardiness quickly turned from minutes, to in excess of an hour,, she loaded little adriana up in an umbrella stroller,, and headed over to the park to retrieve isaac,, who was no doubt too involved in an ever important game to realize what time it was.. 

when a thorough search of the park failed to turn up neither hide nor hair of her young charge,, junie immediately called 911 to report his absence,, and followed that up, with a panicked call to the junior high school with a disturbing message for sadie, detailing isaac’s disappearance..  that message was immediately delivered to sadie, despite the fact that her class was actively in session, due to the gravity of the situation.. 

by the time sadie arrived home,,  local law enforcement was in the house,, actively interviewing a visibly inconsolable junie,, and the park was swarming with police officers and volunteers,, all searching for any clue that might point to the whereabouts of little isaac.. 

the fevered investigation continued for a matter of weeks,, ending only when the sexually violated,, lifeless body of sadie’s beloved isaac was found entangled in a tree root nearly fifty miles downstream in the murky waters of the big bear river.. 

following a careful scrutiny by law enforcement who had secured no substantial evidence that might point them in the direction of anyone else as suspect,,  junie was cleared of all suspicions in isaacs reprehensible disappearance,, and subsequent death.. 

however,, that fact did nothing to relieve junie of her own agonizing guilt.. nor did it serve to protect her from the irrational taunting’s of a disconsolate, grief stricken sadie.  

sadie took to stalking junie,, shadowing her every move,, publicly defaming her character by openly accusing her of not only defiling,, but killing her beloved son.. she took to making threatening phone calls to junies home,, violently proclaiming her intention of doing  bodily harm,, not only to junie’s person,, but also to that of junie’s toddler daughter,, in retribution for what  sadie perceived as junie’s unquestionable guilt in the gruesome demise of her only son.. 

in the weeks that followed,, sadies world spun violently out of control.. as a result of her obviously ludicrous words and actions,, she was immediately relieved of her duties at william weston junior high school. subsequently,, she lost her home,, her car,, and any semblance of sanity..

after a brief stint in a state run facility for the mentally insane,, sadie’s insurance through the local school system expired,, and she was,, as a result, released on her own recognizance.. with nowhere to go,, nothing but the clothes on her back,, and a hand full of prescriptions for anti-psychotic medications that would forever remain unfilled,,  sadie found herself alone and destitute on the once friendly streets of weston..

in the years that followed,, sadies brilliant former self was all but forgotten,, and she came to be known as the town crazy lady.. as a result,, she was shunned by the very towns people that had once so warmly embraced her.. 

over time, sadie’s delusions became so great, that they had eradicated any inclinations toward regaining normalcy she ever may have had.. as a result of the consequent years of self-imposed isolation and avoidance by the populace of weston,, sadie had sunk to a level of disillusion so great,, that when the body of little simon learnagle washed up in the shores of the big bear river,, she honestly believed that she had been reunited with her own precious child.. 

it was for that reason,, that she had dragged the bloated remains,, of the little tow headed boy from the rocky shores of the river, wrapped him tenderly in her only blanket,, and stowed him safely away in a large plastic garbage bag, that she was sure would protect him from the harsher elements of life on the street… 

it had been purely coincidental that she had been in front of the tv store window at the precise moment in time that the local news was airing the dismal story of the disappearance of young simon learnagel (who’s blonde hair and cherubic face instantly became, in sadie’s twisted reality, none other than that of her own beloved isaac’s) and she saw at last,, the face of the man that she instantly identified as having taken away her own cherished child,, only to deliver him back to her,, lifeless and senselessly abused.. 

when jake tumbled helplessly into the mud that made up the river’s edge, as a result of sadie inflicting upon him the weight of all of her years of inner torment,, she saw her chance.. her chance to avenge the devastating loss of her only son.. her chance to put right all that had gone so terribly wrong since that fateful day when her beloved son had disappeared in her absence.. the day she not only lost her precious child,, but involuntarily began her descent headlong into insanity.. 

in a frenzy of passion driven delusion,, sadie pounced on jake,, and proceeded to beat him about the  head and face mercilessly with the butt of her pistol.. 

by the time law enforcement arrived,, in follow up to the 911 calls they had received from concerned towns people earlier that hour,, and pulled a riotously out of control sadie off the now unrecognizable, comatose body of jake leichtenstein,, they had already discovered the desecrated remains of little simon learnagel in sadie’s odiferous run away shopping cart,, that had somehow come to rest gently against a tree, not far from the maniacal woman’s ramshackle, riverside encampment..