Part 16 (1/2)
She sounded just like Justin.
”Well, we might have to come back for that, hon,” she continued. ”I told Jackie, Angie, and Tom about the reading from the other night, and they're ready to leave now...or at least as soon as possible.”
That surprised me. I figured she'd wait for a more appropriate time to share such information.... Then again, when would that be? Especially since she'd intended to do it immediately after the unpleasant revelation came to her two nights ago.
”What reading?” asked Tony, whose question Justin quickly echoed.
”We're on our way down...just give us a moment to collect Tom's recorders,” I said. ”Or does he want to come get them himself?”
While waiting for her reply, I told Tony and Justin it'd be best for Fiona to handle the telling of what she picked up Sunday night from the 'other side'.
”He's okay if y'all pack things up!” said Fiona, her voice sounding a little more excited. Just then, the McGlothins' Navigator pulled up in the driveway outside. ”We'll get busy packing everything else down here!”
”Okay!”
We hurriedly gathered our stuff-all of this caught by our attendant cameramen. I can't speak for anyone else, but what felt like guarded curiosity from the spirits who frequent the halls of Twin Forks mansion seemed to turn more menacing. In other words, it suddenly got a h.e.l.luva lot creepier. Several times, we all looked over our shoulders while returning Tom's expensive recording equipment to its protective crate. Even Sam repeatedly glanced back toward the landing on the way downstairs.
I had hoped that Fiona's revelation would be met with calm open minds, and that our peers wouldn't overreact. But it didn't happen. They all took the news hard, although Tom and Jackie seemed the most upset. I'm sure we presented quite a sight for Mr. and Mrs. McGlothin upon entering their esteemed Victorian. Haunted Victorian, I should say. I just hope we've got the goods on film and our digital memory cards, so we can redeem something positive from tonight. That'd be nice for our hosts, and even nicer for the producers who have their b.u.t.ts riding on our abbreviated investigation's results. At least we've got plenty of drama for em'.
The night ended with Tom driving back to his sister's place along with Tony and Justin. Angie and Jackie hadn't moved back to their apartment yet, so that meant one more stay-over with their Franklin benefactors. As for Fiona and I, we already planned to spend the rest of this week at Stella's place in Goodlettsville.
As long as we can avoid a confrontation with the killer still at large.
We all believe he'll strike again, it's just a matter of time...likely pursuing us one by one and when we least expect it. It leaves just one maddening question for us...one that even Fiona's guides can't answer.
When?
Chapter Twenty-two.
”Jimmy! Good to see you, brother!!”
Chris was the first one to greet me Wednesday night in Madison, accosting me as soon as I stepped out of the Camaro. He seemed much giddier than usual ...either high off his a.s.s on dope, or music. Hopefully it's the latter.
Either way, it's always a great feeling to rejoin my music buds again...a bond that's really hard to explain, forged on some other level, man. The heightened fear about our red-headed menace couldn't deter me from coming to rehearsal that night. Not even after a stressful return to my day gig at the call center. There's no way in h.e.l.l I'd jack up my chances of hitting the big time. And not just my chances...the other four guys' fates are tied to mine. We either make it as a solid ent.i.ty, or look back ten to twenty years from now on what might've been.
”Hey, Chris!” I said, giving him a warm hug with a solid pat on the back.
He's definitely been smoking some high-priced weed, man-affordable only on a single dude's income. ”Everybody else is here, I take it.”
”Yeah...I wanted to be the one to bring you on in, before we show you the latest stuff we worked up this past week,” he advised, motioning to my axe in the backseat.
I waved him off, politely, since other than my briefcase filled with CDs and lyric sheets, I wasn't burdened carrying my fretless.
”We're still running with the same playlist for Sat.u.r.day, right? Or, have there been any changes?”
I tried to sound nonchalant, though I really hoped we didn't sc.r.a.p anything of major importance. Major important to me, anyway.
”Just one change...one song chosen for its prowess over another,” he said, smiling with that same s.h.i.+t-eating grin I'd seen on so many faces lately...Tony, Angie, Justin...and now Chris.”
Before I even nodded a tentative 'okay', he stepped through the main entrance, calling behind him for me to close the heavy steel door and make sure it was locked.
No problem with that request, with a crazed serial killer on the loose.
”Jimmy Boy!”
Max? Mr. 'I think you're a frigging p.u.s.s.y-whipped wimp' is actually glad to see me? It made me do a double take.... But h.e.l.l, they were all acting like this...real strange. Ricky and Mongo were just as giddy. Some d.a.m.ned good weed around here some place. Just lead me to it, and we can all act like we just found Jesus.
”Are we ready to play him the demo?”
It's Chris's show still and Ricky's wearing that same Ches.h.i.+re Cat expression.
”What demo?” I asked, while my heart sank a little. Apparently, the guys had created a new song without me, which is okay in a sense. But to record it meant somebody else handled the ba.s.s line. That totally sucks.
”Chill, dude!” Ricky chided, moving over to where I stood and grabbing me by the shoulder. ”Have a seat at the board, and we'll let you hear it.”
I suppose you don't work closely with someone for nine years and not learn to read them. Either that or my p.i.s.sed-off expression told him I needed comfort. Could a cookie and blanky be far behind?
”So what's the song called?”
”Shhhh!!” Now Mongo admonished me, while Ricky queued the recording. ”Just listen, Jimmy!”
After Ricky's standard count off, an acoustic guitar began to play a beautiful riff that caught Fiona's ear when she first heard me do it long ago. I started to say something again, but Max motioned to me this time, sternly, to hold my questions until the song ended.
To my complete surprise, a full arrangement of strings, heavy guitars, drums, and keyboards joined in just before the first verse, and then Chris's powerful voice delivered the lyrics and melody I created so long ago with pa.s.sion and graceful restraint I didn't realize he possessed.
My eyes misted, and I thought I might cry...maybe from everything going on, or maybe something more than that.
Feel your warmth...softness as you lay beside me Flame of youth...your skin so smooth, your hands to guide me In your eyes...I see your love for me burns brightly Tender soul...free my heart and hold me tightly...
”Whose idea was this anyway?”
Deeply touched, I hadn't expected anything like this. Not in a million years. Sort of like a surprise birthday party, only in this case a long-lost cherished tune was now resurrected. Actually my personal favorite...at least until Mike d.i.c.kenson, our reptilian-blooded manager, sent it to the s.h.i.+tter since it doesn't have a 'bridge'. Apparently, an instrumental turnabout won't cut it in the commercial marketplace...unless, in reality, Mikey doesn't have a clue about trend-bucking, potential hit songs.
I snickered at the image of his annual subscriptions to Cash Box and Billboard magazines better served as toilet paper or a combustible crumpled wad suitable for a bonfire.
Lady Jade...rescue now my heart from sorrow Lady Jade...for just one day I'd give tomorrow Lady Jade...my heart can only yearn for the girl who lives inside my head...
”Chris and I were cleaning up the digital tracks on 'Primetime' and we found the original guitar track you laid two years ago, man,” Ricky advised. ”Good thing we didn't erase it, huh?”
He smiled, impish, as if it'd really been a close call on Lady Jade's fate.
”Yeah, I guess it is,” I agreed, still amazed by the whole thing. ”Who handled the piano arrangement?”
”Mongo. He used to play keyboards back in college,” Ricky explained. ”Chris handled the rest.”
Where'd we be without our band wh.o.r.e and newest member? As long as Chris didn't get too far ahead of himself and frigging take over the band, it'd be all right. For now, Mongo going Hank Williams on us is a bigger concern.