Book Four - Part 8 - Rhyming Evil - Chapter Twenty-Eight

Wal-Mart – 4:47 p.m.

By the time it was aired that it was safe to enter Wal-Mart, you would have never known by how full the parking lot had become, that only a few hours ago, an explosive device had been inside the store.

Jennifer Ralston had taped footage that would be edited for airtime with reactions from the store manager, a few employees, and customers.

Once she had compiled everything along with earlier conversations with Baker, Page, and members of the Bom Squad; and after her news segment would be over, she would be on her way to St. Croix for two weeks of a well-deserved vacation.

Baker=Manning Home

111 Homestead Way – 6:26 p.m.

“You know what, Ed? After these last few weeks, I’m already ready for another vacation, even if it’s just for a few days away.”

“If you want, we could cross state lines this weekend, find a sleazy adult motel someplace and call ourselves the Smith’s.”

“I heard that,” yelled Stevie from the kitchen.

Ed shrugged his shoulders loosely and smiled.

“It's a nice thought if not a lewd thought, Ed, but I'll have to take a rain check on that at least until we can catch the person behind all these riddles.”

“Any clues any idea who it might be at this point?”

“Not a one. We keep hoping the person might slip up somehow, but we can't get any prints off the notes not even a partial. The only thing we do know is that the cut-out letters and words are coming from a magazine and newspaper and that's all we have.”

“If we could keep a lookout all night every night for a week to see who leaves the riddles either taped to the front door or left at the front desk when no one is around, then I could say, case closed. But Satchell said with all the OT paid out as it is; and come the MDA drive, the best we can hope for is one of our guys patrolling the area and possibly spot the person leaving the notes. It's that, or I sit there every night waiting and I can't do that function properly with my responsibilities.”

I bet it’s someone you know mom. You too, Ed.”

What do you say that, Bub?”

“Just a guess, but I've read a lot of books that people like this are secretly waiting to be caught so they leave messages with those they care about.”

“Are you saying this person is a cop” asked Ed.

“No, but hey, they might be. Maybe a retired cop, who knows. \Might be another kid that's frustrated and angry with how he's being treated. There might be a mad bomber holed up in a motel somewhere.”

“Well, we can check all the motels between here and Stanhouse and see who has been staying there any length of time. I do know I certainly don't need another kid blowing himself to pieces either.”

“Just saying, is all, mom. But I want to change the subject for a minute. Ellie's birthday. This is what I bought her yesterday.”

“These are beautiful Stevie. She'll love them.”

Baker turned and smiled at Ed, holding up one of the gifts.

“Wonder what they would say at the Twenty-Second if I walked in on Monday with this on.”

Ed looked at Stevie.

“See there, that was a fine example of a woman throwing out a blatant hint of: where is mine honey.”

The Weekend In Montie

It seemed Wal-Mart flourished more than normal. The free publicity from the bomb scare made its impact. It would prove to be the best-selling weekend in over nine years.

At jazz club, Johnny “Scales” Hightower was playing the piano, Curtis Ray on bass fiddle, and Evan Niles on rhythm guitar, all playing soft progressive Blues.

At a table nearby in the middle of the room, JW and Patrick having finished lunch, and we're mulling over the tragic end of both Michael and Cliff.

“In the beginning it seemed that Michael and I had a connection based on our upbringing on how we both fought and clawed our way to where we are now, but it seemed right after he saw you and Cliff together, he became tense, to the point of irritated. It became worse when he thought I was paying more attention to you than I was him. Michael wouldn't let it go.”

“How utterly sad, yet how similar it was between Cliff and me. He would get all prissy even if I looked at another man. And I guess it was Michael that convinced Cliff I was seeing you. Cliff told me what Michael said to him: stay away from my man basically. Cliff went on a serious rant, and I couldn't sit by and let him go on and on, so I told him it was better we stopped seeing each other before we made a real commitment and have things get out of hand later in a relationship.

“And after all that, that brings you and I, us—here, and you are right; the music is excellent.”

“I can't truthfully say it will be an item Patrick, but I see a lot of wonderful things about you, and I would like to explore. I can sense and can often see a gentle sight to you, one with warmth and compassion, and God knows in my line of work I need that when I come home at night.”

“There is a lot I sense about you as well, James. I know you prefer J.W., but I also like the sound of your name, too.”

J.W. shook his head slightly, a small smile curving and said, “It's been a long time since another man's said my name the way you just did.”

Patrick placed his right hand over J.W.'s left.

“We can explore, James. We can take a small step forward and see where the next one will take us.”

“You know Patrick I'm still not convinced this is the thing I want to do but I'm not convinced that it isn't either. So, where do we take that first small step?”

“I think we just have.”

Across town, the steaks and chicken, hot dogs and burgers filled the air with that come hither aroma, as over one hundred people were lounging about the backyard or sitting on the patio deck as Stevie was playing chef.

Barry and Jolene Whitmore, we're talking with Baker and end discussing politics, general affairs, and of course their daughter's 17th birthday.

Stevie looked at his watch. He yelled out, “Mom!”

Baker looked over, saw him nod his head. She excused herself as she went to the garage and wheeled out a cart holding a five-layer chocolate and white cake decorated in buttery pink and blue frosting. Just before she reached the backyard, she lit all the candles.

Ellie was standing next to Stevie along with a few of their friends when it happened.

The Happy Birthday song started with one voice but ended with a hundred out of tune voices.

Ellie’s face was beet red because of the size of the cake, but she made her wish then blew out all the candles.

“Alright everyone,” Stevie spoke up. “Step right up grab what you want, there's enough here for everyone. After we eat, our birthday girl will cut us all a small slice of cake, then we get to watch her open her presents.”

An hour went by where you could hear people laugh at a few of the joke gifts Ellie received but there would be some “aahs, wow’s, oooh’s” at other gifts and of them all, it was the diamond pendant necklace and matching earrings that had Ellie crying.

“Ellie,” said Stevie, “they say diamonds are forever that's how long I want us to be together.” That was when he handed her a ring.

At County Memorial, Jonathan was slowly regaining his strength faster than even the doctors anticipated but not to the point he was ready to go back to work, but he would be ready to go home by the end of next week if his progress were to continue as it had been. Diane told him home would be at her house. He didn't argue.

Throughout the day, a lot of talk was still about Walmart and the deaths of Michael and Cliff. Someone started a rumor that Michael was being extorted. Someone else said it was a drug deal, and who better to sell drugs than the ADA himself.

Rumors came and went. Another rumor surfaced that they were probably gay people as one pool shooter said at Benny's Pub, “Probably queer for each other’s gear. You know how those gay people are. I can't stand to be around 'em”

By Monday, no one would remember a single rumor said.

But before the weekend was ended there was one person who was determined to end a tragedy that began so many years ago.

Just two more riddles and it would be over.