Amateur Hour

Liam

Liam watched his wife’s eyes grow wider, and her face go through the several phases of emotion, from surprised, to disbelief, to indignation as he related the incident with Starkey.

“That was nothing but pure intimidation!” she declared, when he had finished.

“That was my read on it,” Liam agreed.

“I’m glad you didn’t let him get away with it. Probably a good thing I wasn’t here. I couldn’t have been as cool as you were. Sounds like you disposed of him, with dispatch and efficiency. I’m proud of you, Sugar.”

Janice kissed him soundly, on the lips.

“It didn’t take him long, to slither off, in a puff of black smoke,” Liam smirked, feeling satisfied.

“Black smoke? He drives a diesel truck?”

“Yeah. Is that important?”

“Not important, no. It just reminds me of something Ted said, the other day, about men who buy fancy trucks, and larp as working men.”

“Interesting. This looked like that, for sure. It was a Chevy Silverado, with lots of bells and whistles. Cleaner than a prom date. The mower looked new, too.”

“Huh…” Janice shook her head, then smiled at the sight of the back yard, on the other side of the sliding glass door. “I suppose we’ll have to get one, now. We have an island, out there.”

“It’s in the garage, gassed up, and ready to go. I just wanted you to get a look at the scene, for yourself, before I mowed it down.”

“Oh! Let me!” Janice’s eyes were bright with amusement, and her face was eager.

“Seriously?”

“Yes— It’s so satisfying. Please?”

“What would the neighbors think?”

“Who gives a damn? I don’t know a single one of them, and I’m sick of them, already.”

“Okay. Change your clothes, and I’ll fill your water bottle. And, don’t overheat yourself, Jan — I mean it.”

She rolled her eyes. “I won’t.”

He watched her head off to change, shaking his head. She hadn’t yet seen the lawnmower (black) or the bow he’d jokingly put on it (bright red), but somehow, it was already hers.

***

Liam returned to his postponed work, with one eye on it, and another on Janice, lest she get lost in her enthusiasm, and forget to hydrate.

His initial look at Ridgeview Educational Services yielded scant information. The names of the board members were there, and their titles, along with their credentials as educators, but little else that might offer any insight. Nothing stood out. No names rang any bells, certainly. It wasn’t unexpected, that several private schools were listed, also, as holdings of the company.

New Canaan Academy was touted as a ‘therapeutic school’. From what Liam had observed, the therapy mostly involved cursory assessment, diagnosis, medication, and heavy-handed discipline. Thus far, he had seen no group therapy, one-on-one counseling (unless Janice counted, with the fifteen minutes or so, she had, per student), or outdoor exercise activity.

He had to wonder about the other schools, under Ridgview’s control. Opening another browser tab, Liam typed in the name of the first one — Saguaro Sands, in Arizona. This one turned out to be a ‘rehabilitation center’ for high school children, with ‘learning differences’, and ’emotional and behavioral needs’. Liam felt queasy, thinking about that one. If New Canaan seemed like a prison, what must that place be like?

It got worse. High Ridge, near Spokane, Washington, was a boarding facility for physically disabled teens. Liam winced. He wasn’t much of a religious observer, but he felt inclined to pray for these children, in particular.

The lawnmower paused, and idled outside. Liam rolled to the window for a look. He caught sight of Janice walking away, in the direction of the patio, before she vanished from his sight line, presumably to get a drink. “Good girl,” he muttered. She was nearly finished. Two more passes with the mower would complete the job.

He shook off the miasma of his brooding, got up from his chair, and walked out to the kitchen to pull a package of ground beef from the freezer. She deserved lasagna, tonight, he decided, pulling out their last package of ground sausage, as well.

When he resumed his seat, she had finished in the back, and was rumbling down the side of the house, on her way to the front. Jan was many things, but lazy wasn’t one of them.

*******

Janice

Janice was having a whale of a good time, with her new mower. Instead of the plain ear protection Liam had provided for whomever was to do the mowing, she’d opted for her noise canceling headphones. They didn’t eliminate the mower noise, but they cut it enough for her to hear her mixture of rock tunes that she could sing along with. Every once in a while, she’d forget herself, and execute a dance move.

The machine was self-propelled, and ate grass like a sheep. All she had to do was stroll behind it, and turn it. Still, she knew she’d be worn out, by the time she was finished. The heat of the day was over, but it was still muggy.

All too soon, she was on the last strip, to be mown, and it was beginning to be dusk. She cut it, killed the engine, and went to grab another drink, from her bottle, before putting the mower away.

It was as she was surveying her work, feeling satisfied, indeed, that Ted appeared, with Raven, coming down the sidewalk. Janice hailed him, and pulled her headphones down, around her damp neck.

“Looks good,” Ted remarked, when he was close enough.

“Thanks. It’s about time, isn’t it?” Janice swallowed some more water, and pushed away some damp hair, from her forehead.

“Want to come and do mine?”

Janice laughed. “Don’t tempt me—I love to mow.”

“You’ve had a busy day. First, a day out, with Nina, now, this.”

“Yeah, well. We had a visit from the president of the home owners association.”

Ted looked puzzled. Janice went on to explain Starkey’s visit, and to describe how Liam had evicted him, from the premises.

“You might want to watch out for him,” she added.

“He wouldn’t dare. I have red privilege.” He smiled a little.

It was Janice’s turn to be puzzled.

“Half Seminole,” Ted reminded her. “He wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t even have to bring a lawsuit — just go to the local news. His career would be over. I’m sorry that happened to you and Liam, though.”

“He’s not very bright, is he? He pressed the wrong buttons, if he’s trying to get Liam to give up his research.”

“Maybe so.” Ted turned his gaze to the ground, and kicked at a small mound of cut grass that was already starting to dry up.

“You’re thinking that you warned him, aren’t you?”

“The difference is that I meant well. I was picturing legal hassles, and direct threats — not subtle intimidation.”

“Pfft… ‘Subtle’,” she quoted.

“Make it ‘attempted subtle intimidation’, then. Don’t be mad at the wrong person, Janice.”

“You’re right, and I’m not mad, at you. I’m just annoyed, in general. Starkey’s one loathsome individual. Why should he be so concerned, anyway? He could just fire both of us, and have done with it.”

“Would that stop Liam from doing further research? No,” Ted answered his own question. “Some dogs are diggers, and can’t be broken of the habit. I hope he’s saving his research to some medium other than hard copy or his personal computer. I sweated my ass off, getting my half of those pictures.”

“I thought it was mostly shady, out there.”

“Oh, it wasn’t the heat that made me sweat. It was the gators grunting. It’s warmed up early, this year, and it’s mating season.”

Janice had forgotten about mating season. As for Liam, she’d be willing to bet he hadn’t even noticed.

Ted laughed, at the look on her face.

“That’s just my phobia. I doubt we were in any real danger.”

“Thank you, Steve Irwin,” she replied with a wry face.

“I love that guy. I never missed an episode, when he was alive, and I still watch the reruns.”

Janice slapped at a mosquito, on her left arm.

“I’d better get going, and let you get inside,” Ted said. “You might want to tell Liam what I said about saving his notes and photos.”

“I will. Thanks, Ted.”

*******

Liam

Liam emerged from the room they had set up as their home office, when she came in, and watched her collapse onto the sofa.

“I was just getting ready to come looking for you,” he said. “It seemed like it took you a long time to put the mower away, after you turned it off.”

“Ted came by, and we chatted for a few minutes.”

“Of course, he did.”

“Don’t start,” she smiled, tiredly. “I told him about Starkey.”

“Did he have any pearls of wisdom, to offer?”

“He said you should save your work to portable media.”

“Ol’ Ted must think this is my first rodeo. Of course, I’m saving it. In fact, I’m emailing it, to myself, and saving it to the cloud.”

“What is it about him that rubs you the wrong way, honey? Really?”

“I’ve told you. He’s cryptic, and a bit of a know it all. I don’t dislike him, he’s just irritating, sometimes. He’s likeable, when he’s being straightforward.”

“Must be a Miles family thing. Lisa doesn’t have any patience with metaphorical speech, either, except in books.”

“Must be. You’re as red as a hibiscus, Jan. Are you sure you didn’t get too hot?”

“You know that’s just the way my face gets. But, I wouldn’t mind a cool shower. Help me up.” She held out a hand, and Liam hauled her to her feet.

“I’ll get dinner started. I’m doing lasagna, tonight.”

“What a day! I have a beautiful painting, a new lawnmower, and my hubby is making me one of my favorites, for dinner. I don’t imagine it could get much better.”

Steph

Steph hadn’t imagined it could get much worse, but the rain had not only failed to slack off, but the weather had gotten uglier, as the evening progressed. Lights-out came early, on Sunday night, when the power failed.

Some of the girls pleaded with the dorm supervisor to be allowed to sit up, anyway and amuse each other with ghost stories, but they should have known better; pleading cut no ice with the supervisor.

Thus, they had been sent to their rooms, to listen to the thunder and watch the lightning flash, in isolation. It wasn’t reasonable to curtail the tiny amount of recreation the girls got, just because the power had gone out. New Canaan was the pits, Steph decided, for the hundredth time.

It had taken a whole day for Guy to decide to call a rendezvous. He had come back, yesterday morning, and from what little she had seen of him, in a foul mood. His little classroom jibes (usually barbed, but humorous) had taken on a mean edge, and were devoid of humor.

She wondered, now, if he would even show up, for a meeting. They couldn’t repair to their usual place, in this weather. Nevertheless, she headed in that direction, at the appointed time.

She had reached the exit, and had opened the door, on the pouring rain, when a quiet voice said, “I wouldn’t go out there. You could drown.”

“Dammit, Guy! Don’t scare me, like that!” she hissed.

“Sorry.”

It was a curt apology, but it sounded sincere.

“I think I found a place where we can talk,” he added. “Doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s rounds.” He switched on his flashlight, keeping it trained on the floor, and led her back the way she had come, to the minor junction, where they usually parted.

Instead of making a right, however, he turned left, then left again, until they came upon a metal door on the right that had a narrow vertical window, reinforced with wire in the glass. It was heavy, but it opened almost silently, and he held it for her to precede him.

When she did, she saw the trappings of a clinic, frozen in time.

“We can sit on one of the beds, and draw the curtain,” he said. “Even if someone were to pass by, they probably wouldn’t see a light. I’m not sure anyone comes into this section, anyway, but this is off the beaten path.”

“The dust will probably kill us.”

“It’s not so bad. We’ll pull the blanket off the cot slowly.”

He was right — the largest part of the dust had settled on the blankets; little of it had gone onto the sheets underneath. It was the curtain dust that made her sneeze and her eyes itch.

“Cozy,” she deadpanned, rubbing at her eyes, with the tips of her fingers.

“It’s dry, at least.”

“There is that. Thanks,” she added, when he offered her his pack of smokes. She took one, and he lit it for her.

“Denada,” he replied, before lighting his own.

“Now, tell me why you’ve been in a shitty mood, since you got back.”

Guy took a deep drag, and blew it out, before answering. “Julio refuses to pull you out. That bastard,” he added, bitterly.

“I see.” To herself, her own voice sounded neutral. “We’d better work fast, then.”

“He plans to bring you in, for a day, like he did, me. Plans to offer you a chip.”

“That’s probably a good idea. Make it easier to track down the gator that swallows my arm, or whichever appendage they decide to put it in.”

“Not funny, Steph. Don’t take an implant. Agree to a wearable device. Then, leave it at your motel, and disappear.”

“How? In an Uber?” she asked, with a touch of irony.

“No. On foot.” He dug into his pocket, and brought out a small scrap of paper. “This is Christina’s number. Call her, on a land line, or borrow someone else’s cell; whatever — just don’t use your own phone. Leave that in your room, too. Tell Christina where to pick you up, and she’ll be there. She’ll have a burner phone, for you, and some cash. She’ll take you to a bus station, a few towns away. Buy a ticket, with the cash, and don’t use your cards until you’ve gotten to wherever it is you decide to go. I figure, once you’re out of state, Julio will lose interest in tracking you down. When the case is over, you can come home.”

“It’s a neat plan, but, I’ll come home, unemployed and blackballed. No investigative firm will touch me, and maybe not even a fast food joint. Julio’s people can gin up a fake criminal record, for me, and make it look real on an employment background check. It’s their specialty.”

“You’ll come home alive.”

“I won’t be employable, anywhere.”

“Maybe he wouldn’t blackball you. He likes you.”

“My ex husband used to like me, too,” Steph pointed out. “And I never betrayed him.”

“Coward!” Guy spat glaring at her.

Steph only smiled a crooked, sad smile. “Nice try, vato. We both know better than that. If it were just me, I might consider it. But, there’s Galen, too. If I can’t support him, it all falls down. If I lose him…” she trailed off. “No, not while I’m breathing.” She exhaled a plume of smoke, as if to illustrate the point, then dropped the butt onto the floor, and ground it out.

“So, that’s what he meant,” Guy mused.

“What who meant?”

“Julio. He said it was more than a work ethic, with you. I think I’ll kill him, when this is over,” he remarked in a bitter tone.

“I have a better idea. We quit, and go into business, for ourselves,” she grinned, joking. Sometimes, Guy could be jollied out of a bad mood, “They do say success is the best revenge.”

Guy didn’t laugh, as she thought he would. He appeared to be considering the idea. “We’d have to get out of this, alive, first.”

“Where’s your faith, Guy?”

“Speaking of faith, how’s Mike?”

“He’s right here.” Steph patted the area above her breasts, where the medallion rested.

“Good.” He fell silent after that, and was silent, for so long that Steph began to move, as though to leave. He grabbed her wrist, before she could rise, fully, and drew her back. “It seems like the worst of bad luck that they picked you, doesn’t it?”

“Well, yeah, sort of!”

“No, that’s not what I mean. You know how some things are too good to be true? This too bad to be random. Could we be burned, and not know it?”

“I don’t see how.” Yet, her heart rate increased, as she remembered how Janice Miles had all but called her out. She didn’t suspect Mrs. Miles of being a snitch, or even an unwitting leak — the woman had been instrumental in rescuing a kid. But, was she, Steph, really as clever as she thought she was?

“What is it?” Guy asked, moving closer.

Steph related the story of her last meeting with Janice, but the anxiety left his face.

“That’s all right. Even if she suspects, she won’t say anything. She’d be implicating herself, and her husband, in a very real problem, with the law. Besides, I trust her.”

“So do I, to be honest.”

“Don’t start doubting, or blaming yourself,” he admonished, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “If we’re burned, it’s more likely to be because of my big mouth, than anything you’ve done. Mrs. Miles was on the lookout for you, because she caught onto me, first. Maybe I screwed up, with someone else, too.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter, at this point.”

“Consider my plan a little more,” he urged, seizing both of her hands. “Your son needs you alive, and so do I. You don’t need Julio’s job, and you don’t need to bus tables. If he ruins you, you still have me, as a partner.”

Steph had never seen him, so earnest. She’d certainly never seen him plead.

“And, if he ruins you?”

“He won’t. He’s too fair, for that. If I stick it out, he can’t justify it, to himself. Promise me, you’ll think about it.”

“I’ll think about it. But—“

He kissed her. The gesture was so quick, so fleeting, that she could almost doubt it had happened.

“No ‘buts’. Just think about it.”