The Arrangement Ch. 11

Why had she not thought of it sooner? Dodd was there. At the mall that day. He was angry already. How easy would it have been for the man to race across the mall. Perhaps he did not even mean it. Perhaps he was just so angry with Trisha and her that he had pushed Jesse without thinking. But that second one? If Jesse was right and she had no reason to doubt her step-daughter, even if that first shove had been accidental or in the heat of the moment, a second would have been deliberate.

And Trisha? The police sergeant said there was no sign of forced entry. But would her friend have let the man in? She knew she was upset that day at the mall. But Trisha was upset with Travis too. Had she meant to restart the affair? Or maybe she had simply let him in to discuss his blackmail?

Jill looked up to see the light turn yellow. She put her foot down on the brake but nothing happened. Her car continued forward and she pumped the brake harder. Her hand came up to blow the horn as the light turned red. But she did not manage to even touch it before the loud crash of metal on metal jolted her. Her body jerked forward as something came up to hit her in the face and everything went black.

***

Daniel watched as Samuel talked and laughed around the camp fire with the man they had named Doc. Technically, Brent Jacobs was not a real doctor, a PhD in geology. He watched as the bright orange sun began to set over the desert. At least they would not have to worry about the cold night this close to the gapping hole in the ground that boiled and churned with red hot molten lava.

As missions went this one was damned cushy. God damned cushy in fact. His unit was doing a bit of reconnaissance on the Afar, a desert tribe in Ethiopia that had until recently been friendly. But with growing tensions in the region and with hostile neighbors like Eritrea and Somalia, there were rumors that extremist had targeted the group as its latest recruits for spreading militancy and violence.

Usually he and his men would spend days or weeks laying low and observing the tribe, but Jacobs's research on the Erta Ale volcano provided the perfect cover for the group to get closer to the tribe. Because of Jacobs's connection to his father's oil business, he worked closely with the government. The man had been more than happy to substitute his usual security and guide teams with members of Daniel's team. Others watched from the distance and probably cursed the lucky bastards their simple luxuries like a camp fire, hot food and even their IPads.

Daniel finished his final checks around the perimeter, you could never be too careful. Samuel was frowning and nodding at something the man said. Curiosity drove him towards the fire. Doc stood up as he approached. "I better be heading to bed." Looking at Samuel he smiled, "Think about it at least."

Samuel nodded, "I will. I promise you that."

Daniel sat on a blanket across from his friend. The two of them stared into the fire in silence for a moment.

"Everything all right? Did you check in with Trav and the others?" asked Samuel.

He nodded, "Yeah, other than being mad as shit that we're here and they're out there everything is cool."

Samuel chuckled, "Damn straight. Seniority ought to have some perks."

Daniel stretched, "Do you ever feel you're getting too old for shit?"

Samuel's shoulders slumped, "Only every fucking day for the past five years."

He nodded. Five years. Five years since the incident that had taken his friend's life. Samuel's friend and Jill's husband. He sighed.

"I've been looking for a way to say this, man. And I guess since you mentioned it, this is as good as any." Samuel shifted on the blanket, poking nervously at the fire with a steel rod. "When we get back, I'm putting in my papers. I'm retiring."

Daniel's mouth dropped open. "What? You've decided to accept Dodd's fucked up offer?"

Samuel shook his head, "Naw, man. I'm tired and old, not stupid. Simone and I have been talking about this one for a while." Looking over at Doc as he spoke quietly with their Afar guide next to his tent, he continued, "But Dodd ain't the only one that recognizes our skills. Doc's offered me a job, running security at this place he's building in west Texas."

Daniel frowned, "You don't buy his shit, do you? I mean all this end of the world crap."

Samuel shrugged, "I don't know, Danny boy. The man is some kind of fucking genius from what our Intel said. His daddy is rich as shit too."

"I know but you of all people should know how that kind of shit can screw somebody up. I mean it all just seems too weird. Some kind of mad scientist shit if you ask me."

"He's not like Dodd or Rachel. His theory might be a bit out there, but everything I've learned about this guy is on the up and up. You know he put himself through his doctorate program without any help from his father. His dad had thought he'd use his geology degree to find more oil but the guy was more interested in his volcanoes."

Daniel shrugged, "Still, have you actually listened to his whole theory? A series of volcanic eruptions around the world that will plunge us into a new Ice Age. Come on, that's science fiction crap."

Samuel poked the fire again, "Maybe, man. But his ideas for sustainable living on this damned, I don't know, commune, I guess, are fucking amazing. Raise your own food, recycle everything, and everyone pull their own weight."

"Hippie fucking crap. Utopia. You know it never works like that."

"I don't know. Maybe it could." His friend met his gaze, "Man, like you said I'm getting too old for this shit. I'm forty-two. Forty fucking two. I should have been out of here long ago."

Daniel felt anger and betrayal knotting in his gut. "So why the fuck didn't you, old man?"

He slumped, "Simone and I agreed that as long as you needed us we'd stick around." He looked up and smiled, "But you don't need us no more, man. You got Jill and like I keep telling your sorry ass that woman is great. Second best one I know."

Daniel lay back on his side and watched the fire flicker, "I know."

"It still bothering you?"

"It probably always will," he whispered.

Samuel chuckled, "Tell you what, since you won't listen to me on this one, when we get home I'll have Simone do a fucking séance. Let the son of a bitch give you his blessing himself."

Daniel laughed. "Yeah, right. Even you don't believe half the crazy shit your wife does with her voodoo magic."

He crooked his eye brow, "Maybe not, but I do know this. You got to let this one go. Like I told you, you ain't god. There was nothing you could have done, everyone knows that. But if you keep letting these ghosts from your past gnaw at your guts, you're going to screw up the best thing that ever happened to your ass. And that would be a real shame, my friend."

Samuel ran a hand across his face, "But I can't have your back forever. Hell, even this Hotel Hilton shit is getting to me. I feel it in my back every morning when I wake up. Truth is that men my age, David's age, don't belong out here. When you get older, no damned matter how hard you work at it, your reflexes slow, little pains creep in." He pinned Daniel with his stare, "And it can cost you your life," he looked off at the rolling sand hills on the horizon, "Or worse yet others," he whispered.

Daniel nodded, "I know I call you old man, but Samuel, you know that I'd be the first to tell you if I didn't think you were up for the job."

His friend grinned, "I know man. And if this was just everyday shit. I know I can still kick most guys asses. Hell, I'm retiring, not curling up in a hole somewhere and dying. You know there is life after this adrenaline rush shit." He winked, "Fuck, there's even more fun ways to get that fix."

Daniel roared with laughter, "Please no more about how you like your buns buttered."

"Aw, man, from what my wife said about what Jill had in her bags on their little shopping expedition, I don't need to be giving you no advice." He smiled as he hummed, "She's a super freak, super freaky."

Daniel chuckled and threw the stick that he had been using to play with the fire at his friend, hitting him squarely in the chest.

"Hey, you might be into the pain thing, but I ain't. Especially not with you, buddy; wrong equipment. And no damned cushion for the pushin' either," he joked as he tilted his hips back and forth imitating the act.

"Fuck man, what am I going to do without you?" Daniel laughed.

Samuel sighed, "I know. Seems like we been friends forever. You know I'm sure Doc could use another good man down in Texas. The place is hundreds of acres. Nice quiet life, plenty of time with your daughters," he winked again, "and your wife."

"I don't know. I used to live for this shit. The mission. The adrenaline. The game. Now all I can do is wonder what new thing Britney and Ashley are getting into. Is Bel doing all right? Did Jesse win her soccer game this week?" He sighed, "Is Jill feeling better?"

Samuel chuckled, "Don't worry I'm sure your wife will be fine in a few more weeks, these things usually go away on there on by the end of the first trimester."

Daniel's eyes flew open, his mouth dropped. An elephant sat on his chest making it hard for him to breath. "What? Jill said it was food poisoning like Bel had."

"Yeah, I know. Girl can be as dense as her husband sometimes. Simone's been trying to get her to go see the doctor since you two came back from your parents'. But man, come on, don't tell me after four daughters, three pregnancies that you didn't wonder the same damned thing?"

Daniel shook his head, trying to think. "No, Jill just seemed so certain that it was the same as Bel. If I had any idea."

"What? Your ass wouldn't be out here right now? Never bothered you before, buddy. Hell, you missed Bel's birth and the first six weeks of her life. Maybe I'm not the only one that needs to be thinking about what the fuck I'm doing out here, sleeping on the ground in another shithole. Maybe you ought to think a bit about why the fuck that woman has your guts in knots and your balls in a vice."

Daniel chuckled to himself. Jill might have his balls but it certainly was not in any vice. Although he was not sure that he would not put it past Mistress J to try it. His mind played over his friends words. Pregnant? Could his wife be pregnant? He shook his head. "Stupid fuck, of course, she could be."

Samuel laughed, "Damned straight. Now you catch on. Question is, what you gonna do? You gonna keep letting something that was not your fucking fault, something that is ancient history, control your life. Or you gonna be man enough to tell your wife how you feel about her and be there for her and your daughters this time?"

He stood and kicked sand into the dying embers. "Talk to Doc when you grow up and face the truth. The man ain't like Dodd, he don't poach. He only made the offer when he learned I was thinking about quitting. You could do lots worse than some fucking eco-village as he calls it in the middle of nowhere. This old man can't wait to spends his days farming, hunting and fishing. And every damned night for the rest of his life wrapped up nice and tight in his wife's welcoming bosom."

"Yeah, just be sure not to smother in there, you old fool."

"Hell, ain't you figured out yet, that's the best way to go. Think about it, man." He looked off towards the hills once more, "This is a young man's game. You trained them damned good, even that piece of shit Dodd knows that. Trav might have his personal problems, but he's a fine leader." He smiled, "Seems to me, I knew this guy once, who kept running from his problems on the home front. He made a damned good commander too, sir." Samuel punctuated his words with a salute before he turned and walked towards his tent. That act in itself unusual despite the difference in their rank.

Daniel sat staring at the dying embers. Lost in his thoughts as around him the night got colder.

***

Cold. It was so fucking cold, Jill thought as she opened her eyes. Bright lights sent shards of pain shooting through her head and she closed them back quickly. Her mind tried to piece together the puzzle. Where was she?

A warm hand squeezed hers and she turned her head, opening her eyes more slowly this time. "Simone?"

"Yeah, girlfriend. You had me scared there for a bit. You've been out cold since the ambulance brought you in. Damned good thing, I saw the stretcher when they wheeled you in. But what were you thinking? I know you wanted to get to the hospital as fast as you could and check on Trisha, but you shouldn't have run a red light to do it."

Jill shook her head at her friend's words, igniting another round of pain. Hospital? Trisha? Red light? None of it made sense. She frowned as she tried to remember what happened. Why was she in the hospital? And why did her whole body ache like she had been in an argument with a school bus?

Not a school bus. Another car. "Oh my god, the accident. Was anyone hurt?"

Simone laughed and shook her head, "That's just like you. You are laying in a hospital bed and your first thought is, was the other guy all right." She nodded and squeezed Jill's hand, "Yes, the guy was rushing to work. All he saw was that his light was green. He did not even notice that you were still coming. Seriously, girl, what were you thinking?"

Jill furrowed her brow as she tried to remember the accident. It was all still a bit fuzzy. She had taken Jesse and Bel to the bus stop. Then she and Simone had gone to check on Trisha. "Oh god, Trisha?"

"She's fine. Well, as fine as she can be. The doctors gave her some sedatives. They checked her over and nothing was broken, but she is banged up pretty good. They are more worried about her mental health right now. Decided to keep her for a couple of days observation."

"What happened? Did she ever tell you?"

"Not really. Just more gibberish about him coming. About how we have to protect T.J. The doctors said she was beat up pretty badly."

Simone looked down at the floor as she whispered, "They wanted to do a rape kit, but Trisha wouldn't let them get anywhere near her. They said it probably wouldn't have shown anything anyway. Said it had happened two to three days ago and that she had bathed." Tears spilled from her eyes as she continued, "Poor baby, her skin was red and raw. Doctors said she had rubbed herself so hard trying to clean up. Said she probably even used cleansers."

"Bleach," Jill whispered as she felt her stomach turn over.

Simone nodded, "How did you know?"

"I smelled it when I went into the bathroom to," she stopped.

"To throw up again?"

Jill smiled weakly in admission. She forced her mind to recall the rest. The police man. Chloe and Dwayne. "Britney and Ashley! Chloe and Dwayne were supposed to take them to home."

"Shh, they did. The girls are fine. I spoke with Chloe when they brought you in. Tried her first, figured you would call her before Beth. She said that you were really upset when you rushed out of Trisha's. Said you told Dwayne to take her and the children to your house and not let anyone in. Then you just ran out. What's up, girl?"

Jill tried to remember, but her mind was like one of Britney and Ashley's puzzles, pieces strewn about the floor, some hidden or lost. "I don't know. I remember answering the police man's questions. Well, as best I could anyway. And something doesn't feel right, it just doesn't make sense. But for the life of me, I can't remember what," she sobbed, trying to sit up.

Simone placed a hand on her shoulder, "Lay back down. The doctors said you probably had a concussion. They want to do a CAT scan to make sure it is nothing more and some x-rays of your spine too, but since it isn't life threatening at this point they are waiting on some blood test results."

"Blood tests? For a car accident?" Jill collapsed back against the pillow, trying to make sense of anything her friend was saying. Trying to remember what had upset her so much that she would endanger herself and others by driving recklessly.

Simone blushed and looked away, "Yeah, I told them you might be pregnant."

"Pregnant? Simone, we talked about this. It is just taking me a little longer to get over the food poisoning. But I can't be pregnant."

"Can't? Don't tell me can't. You aren't screwing the ever loving daylights out of that stud puppy you're married to, fucking the man every chance you get." She arched her brow, demanding a response, but Jill could only blush. "So what type of birth control you been using, girlfriend? Cause none of 'dem is perfect, you know."

Jill looked down at the white sheet. "I told you before the chances of me getting pregnant at my age are slim and none."

"Yeah, well, sweetie, slim ain't birth control. And lots of women our age are having babies these days."

"With help. Drugs. IVF. That sort of thing. Don't get me wrong, nothing would make me happier than another baby. But why get my hopes up when something isn't going to happen?"

Her friend rolled her eyes, "I bet you maid service for a month that I'm right. You're pregnant, girlfriend. And all the sticking your head in the sand in this world ain't gonna change that. So I wasn't letting the doctors do tests that might hurt that little peanut, not when it wasn't a matter of life and death. So sue me," she said crossing her arms over her ample chest and sticking her chin out.

Jill reached out and laid her hand on her friend's arm, "I know you were just doing what you thought was best. But this time, you better have the chocolate cake and a big box of Kleenex when that test is negative."

"Deal, sweetie. Now you rest while they finish up those tests. I'm going to check-in on Trisha and call Chloe again."

Jill nodded as her friend slipped from the curtained cubicle. It was impossible to stop her hand from resting protectively over her lower abdomen. "I wish you were right, girlfriend. Oh god, I wish," she whispered as she gave into the overwhelming aches that radiated throughout her body. She closed her eyes, grasping for those missing pieces of the puzzle. Her mind tried to fit them together until her head hurt and tiredness overcame her.

***

Jill tapped softly on the door, but there was no response. She opened it slowly. Every light was out, only the call button glowed above the bed. At first, she thought her friend was asleep. The tiny creature huddled in the bed with the blankets pulled up to her chin. She would just sit with her a few minutes before returning to her own room.

But as she got closer to Trisha, she heard the soft cries and hiccups. She noticed that her eyes that were almost swollen shut and a dark shade of purple, almost black, had tears leaking from the corners. The woman trembled, whether from cold or fear Jill could not tell.

"Trisha, sweetie, is it all right if I sit with you for a bit?" she asked as she approached the bed. The creature that had taken over her friend's body merely shrugged and turned her head away.

"Thanks, girl friend. I just wanted to check up on you before I go to sleep. I don't know if Simone told you, but I had a car accident today on my way to the hospital. I don't really remember what happened but they say that is normal, retrograde amnesia they call it. Said it would come back in bits and pieces over time," she knew that she was rambling but had no idea what to say really. She wanted to rouse her friend, bring back that fighting Texas spirit, but words would not come.

"Chloe, Dwayne and Simone are taking care of the children for us. Chloe took T.J. home with her, said Dwayne would spend the night on the sofa just to make sure things were OK. And Simone and Althea moved into mine for the night to care for the girls. So I guess we don't need to worry about anything there. I don't know about you, but it sure is odd not having them around, not having anything to do really."