Song of the Red-Legged Birds: Chapter 24: A remorseless killer
An invitation that can't be ignored
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With gratitude, Bill
Last week, in chapter 23, We met the tech team at the PDCO in Maui
Chapter 24: A remorseless killer
“Hey, it’s not polite to point, man!” Scott yelled at Takeda. He was sitting on the dirty sidewalk in front of The Center; a protest sign propped up against his leg.
“I’m sorry, Scott? It is, Scott, right?” Takeda said.
“Yeah, hey! I remember you from last night, right? Weren’t you here?” Scott squinted.
“That was me. There was a bouncer here, Sheila, I think, that threatened to kick your ass.”
“He’s a jerk, isn’t he? You’d think a dude named Sheila, who used to be a chick, would be a little... I don’t know, sweeter?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Takeda said in a monotone.
“So, he has to be sweet because he used to be a girl? No wonder he wanted to kick your ass,” Holly said, squaring off with hands on her hips.
Scott stammered, “Sorry, I meant no disrespect, like, to your whole gender and stuff.”
“Ugh, what a mess,” Holly said, making a circular motion that encompassed Scott.
“Why are you two hassling me anyway? Can’t you see I’m a busy man?” Scott picked at the gum on his shoe.
Holly made a face at Takeda and said, “This is the guy who’s going to help us?”
“Help you? I don’t even know you. I’m not big on social graces and shit, but introducing yourself before asking for a favor is just fuckin polite, dude... and dudette.” Scott said forcefully, now with gum strung between both hands. Triscuit looked up at him with confusion, turning her head back and forth.
Takeda saw Holly tense, and he put a hand on her shoulder. “Scott, my name is Takeda Hill, and this is Holly Johnson. If you don’t mind, we came here because I’d like to ask you about your sign. About government mind control.”
“Very pleased to make your acquaintances there.” Scott offered a sticky hand to Takeda and Holly, then realized why they hesitated.
“So, what then?” Scott rubbed the gum onto his jeans.
“So, what, what?” Takeda replied.
“What about my sign? Can’t you read it, or don’t you understand it?”
“Why do you say government mind control? What does the government have to do with this place? It’s only a Center, right?”
Scott ran his hands through his dirty hair, promptly got gum stuck in it, and fought to free himself. Then he took a deep breath and stared at the ground. He turned in an almost complete circle while staring into the distance and pulled down on his filthy tank top. As an afterthought, he sniffed his armpit and wasn’t pleased with the resulting aroma. His phone began playing the ringtone ‘I always feel like somebody’s watchin’ me.’ He pulled it out and, with a flat tone different than how he had been speaking, grunted, “Yeah. Are you sure? Well, you don’t have to be a dick about it. Later.”
Takeda saw that Holly’s jaw was slightly open in either amazement or annoyance.
Scott sighed as if he was about to do something laborious. “You two, Hill, Johnson. Listen close, keep your shit together, and don’t speak while I tell you a few things. If you don’t follow my simple instructions carefully, you will NOT pass GO, you will NOT collect $200, and you sure as fuck will not get the decryption key.” He waited for that to land and unwrapped a fresh piece of gum.
Holly started to say, “How…” and Takeda nudged her.
“I’ll let that slide. I always have to. For the next thirty seconds, you will react to me like the crazy, off-my-meds, sign-carrying wacko I’m portraying. That means look pandering and sad for me, NOT fucking interested like how you look RIGHT NOW.”
They both made a weak, self-conscious, and uncomfortable attempt at acting.
“Geesh, neither of you ever took drama in school? Have you ever been in a play, anything? No? Then, I’ll have to be quick.”
“If you want answers to your questions, you’ll meet me this evening. The location is written on a card I’m about to throw at you when I start screaming. Your touch will activate the ink so that you can read the address. You’ll have thirty seconds from when it’s activated before it disintegrates into dust, so I hope you have a good memory. If you don’t show up tonight, exactly when and where it says, we will never speak again. I’m not above literally throwing poop at you to back that up, understand?”
He reached into his jeans pocket and took out a thin metal case. Scott slid the card out with the tips of two fingers and placed the holder back into his pocket.
They stared at him with wide eyes.
“This is your blue or red pill moment. You ready?”
Scott began screaming and waving his arms like he was shooing away bees. “YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT YOU SIMPLE MOTHER FUCKERS! THEY COMIN’ FER YAH, THEY COMIN’ FER ALL OF US, AND THEY AIN’T STOPPIN FER NO ONE NO HOW! GIT OUT OF HERE AFORE THEY COME GIT US ALL! GO GOOOOOOO!” His eyes went wild, and he tried to shove them away, then balled up the card and threw it. It hit Takeda square in the chest, and he reflexively trapped it.
Scott stopped his screaming briefly to utter a low and calm, “Go. Now.”
They retreated, stumbling backward and watching him. Takeda grabbed Triscuits leash and pulled her alongside. Behind them, a Flyer arrived, and people started filing into the Center in animated conversation. Then the giant of a man, the man Takeda recognized as Sheila the bouncer, got off the Flyer. Sheila looked at Scott, then, speaking loudly to Holly and Takeda, said, “That little shit giving you a hard time?”
“AIN’T GIVIN NO BODY NUTHIN BUT THE TEE-RUTH!” Scott bellowed and stomped his feet.
“Oh balls, shut up. Gonna make me punch you before I punch in?”
“Sorry folks, we have to let the protesters have a voice here. You want to file a complaint or anything?” Sheila said with an air that said, please don’t need to do that.
Holly spoke up, “Nah, we’re good. Shit, Tak!”
A wisp of smoke came from his clenched fist. “Damn!” he yelled and opened up his hand. The card was disintegrating, but he could just make out the address:
16 Harborway Square Unit 2, 11 pm.
Then the card was nothing but dust. Takeda wiped his hands on his pant leg.
Sheila was staring at them. “Well, ain’t that somethin. You can’t take no bullshit like that inside The Center. I hope you know that.”
“We were just leaving,” Takeda said, motioning to Holly to jump on the Flyer, which was preparing to leave.
“Uh-huh.” Sheila gave an unnerving smile. Holly and Takeda retreated and got aboard with Triscuit at their heels.
They ducked into a coffee shop through a tiny rusted door. Three decrepit round tables were an arms reach of the line of patient customers. A barista hunched over a wooden counter pulling steaming shots.
Holly and Takeda sat silently, staring into their porcelain cups and not saying anything with purpose. A napkin between them had the address and time written on it. Triscuit sprawled underneath the table. She opened her eyes briefly to lick an errant crumb, then dozed.
Holly looked at him and raised her eyebrows.
He looked back at her, wrinkled his forehead, and shrugged.
“Do we do this? Isn’t this getting dangerous?” she whispered.
Takeda thought for a moment, staring out the window and watching passersby. People began to run inside as the sky broke open with a torrential downpour. The rain sizzled on the roofs of cars like butter in a frying pan and danced against the glass. Mobile devices in the coffee shop let out a high-pitched screech that indicated a government alert. He checked his screen. It said:
SEEK SHELTER.
POISON ACID RAIN ALERT PH .025 - FOR BOSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS FOR THE NEXT HOUR. STAY INDOORS UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR.
“At least we’re ahead of the game for once,” Holly said. A few people who had rushed into the shop were yelping in pain and trying to wipe the rain off of themselves with napkins.
“Hey, H, when are you returning to work in the mountains again?”
“That’s a pretty random question.”
Thunder rumbled, and the sky relented. Rain poured as if from a pitcher and created rivers in the road. Triscuit whimpered and scratched Takeda’s leg. He hefted her up onto his lap.
“Guess I was thinking about how things are simpler and more peaceful there.”
“Tak, you’ve never been outside of a city,” she said with amusement.
“Well, no, but I’ve seen pictures and stuff. It looks nice. Like, you could find peace there.”
“Because of the lack of tree-men, assassins, maniacs, and crime?”
He knew he was about to get schooled, could see her amping up, and braced for impact.
“Let me tell you something about the mountains. People love to wax poetic about nature and finding yourself and the beauty and blah, blah, fucking blah. The mountains, lakes, birds, and flowers and all that are amazingly beautiful, and here’s the rub; they will lull you into a false sense of safety and kill you if you’re not prepared.”
He considered teasing her about being killed by a flower but decided against it. Her upset and frustration had built up and was oozing out. It was best left alone.
“Thoreau was an asshole!” she said loud enough to turn a few heads.
“You want to be safe? You want predictability? Reliability? Live in the city. You know what to expect almost all the time, and nearly nothing is shocking. Are you shocked when you hear someone following you late at night? Of course not. It’s the city. You’re prepared for either fight or flight when walking alone, and don’t even get me started about acid rain! “
He nodded as she went on.
“You’ve got shelter, food, transportation, communication, police, ambulances, and fire trucks. You know what you have in the mountains?”
“None of that?” He dared.
“Not unless you plan for it. And even if you do, that plan goes to shit, and you’re fucked. It’s just you out there. And if you’ve ever been lost in the mountains, in the dark, tired, hungry, and as cold as you could imagine, shit gets real, quick.”
She stared, emphasizing her point. Takeda noticed a couple of people pretending not to listen.
“You want to find yourself? Start meditating, lose a few pounds, and read a book. You want peace of mind and tranquility? It’s not in nature. Nature is a beautiful and remorseless killer. It will destroy you while birds chirp and sunshine kisses your lifeless dimples.”
At that, she chuckled at her intensity and sat back. Then she kicked him lightly, rousing Triscuit.
“What was that for!”
“For being about to say something like you should write greeting cards for a living, or can I sign up for your motivational seminar?”
“I WOULD NEVER; I mean, of course, I would, but I get what you’re putting down.”
Holly arched back and reached for the vibrating phone in her front pocket. She stiffened and let out an audible sigh, “Hi, Mom... No, I’m inside and safe, don’t worry… look, Mom, can I call you later?... Okay, bye then.”
“Everything all right?”
“Yeah, you know, she likes to check on me. Making sure I wasn’t out in the woods during this.”
“That’s nice. How come you seem to have your back up?”
Holly eyed him carefully for a moment and then relented. “It’s stupid, Tak. She’s got a new boyfriend, Andre. Ugh, the way she says that name.” She rolled her eyes.
“And you don’t like him?”
“No. I mean, he’s okay, I guess. It seems like he treats her great.”
He watched her look out the window.
“You’re staring again,” she said without turning around.
“So, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing at all. I want my Mom to be happy, and she is, and I have no idea why, but it bothers me.” She fidgeted with her coffee cup.
“No idea?” He offered with raised eyebrows.
“Don’t start analyzing me, dude. I don’t think he’s going to replace the father that I never even knew,” she said flatly. “Give me a minute, would ya?” She got up and headed toward the ladies’ room without waiting for an answer.
He pulled out his phone to pass the time. Recognizing that the last thing he did was try the search for trees, red, bird, leg, and birthday he refreshed the page and once again got no results.
He accessed the coffee shop’s free wifi and set his browser to incognito. Then he tried the search again and got the same thing. Takeda sighed, knowing he’d reached the end of his technical skills. He clicked the news icon to ensure the wifi was working.
The first story hit him like a kick in the guts.
BODY FOUND
A BODY WAS FOUND THIS AFTERNOON WASHED UP ON THE BANKS OF THE CHARLES IN CAMBRIDGE. THE MAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BOSTON LANDLORD SEAMUS EMERTON.
There was a blurry photo of several emergency vehicles and police cars near a crowd of onlookers. Two divers were attempting to pull a body from the Charles river.
Ice water filled his veins. Holly approached the table wiping her hands on her jeans and fixing her ponytail.
“What’s wrong with you?” She teased as she sat back down. “Worried about my Daddy issues?”
He pushed his phone across the table and watched as she read, her eyes widening.
Next week in Chapter 25, “This way up,” Christo and Arthur examine a package of remains.
*gulp* - Sh*t's getting real!