There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 14

"I've decided I'm tired, and I'm going to sleep."

"Do you have another foot that I don't know about?"

"I never used my left foot remember. It was a joke. We both laughed at it."

"I don't remember it that way."

"When was the next time you expected to get laid?"

"Now, and on the couch."

"Incorrect answer. In a very long time, and when it's snowing in hell. Good night Grayson, it was fun while it lasted."

"Get back here this instant. You still have your left foot, and if need be I'll give you my left foot."

She didn't answer him. He heard their bedroom door close and lock.

"I want to spank you so badly."

He got up off the couch and strode towards their bedroom.

"Delicious, sweetheart, are you dead? If this door stays locked between us, you are going to be. Open the door please; I don't want to have to break it down."

Delicious did not answer him again.

He shouted, "Delicious, open this door now."

She snuck out of the second bedroom, and lay down on the floor a few feet from him.

"This is your last chance, open the door or I am going to break it down."

Again he received no reply.

"That's it; I'm going to knock it down. Stand back."

He stepped back, charged the door with everything he had, hit it with his shoulder, but the door did not move. He did it again, with as much force as he could muster. This time, he hurt his shoulder. He slithered to the ground in pain.

With his back resting against the door, rubbing his sore aching shoulder, she said, "Would you like me to do that?"

His head whipped around and saw her lying on the floor. He was confused. Silently, he pointed to her, then to their bedroom, and then back at her.

"How did you get out of the bedroom?"

"Magic."

"Delicious, I am in enough pain right now to be angry with you. Don't add to that anger and make me spank you."

"You are going to treat me like an adult remember?"

"I will keep my word."

"Is that a sometimes promise or in all the time promise?"

"As far as spanking you is concerned, it is in all the time promise. How did you get out of our bedroom?"

"I never went in. Did you check the door handle?"

He closed his eyes and thought he couldn't possibly be that stupid. Please God, don't make me look that stupid, I will never live it down.

He struggled to get up, because his left shoulder was causing him a great deal of pain. Once he was straight, he reached out his right hand grasped the handle, depressed the mechanism, and the door opened.

He pressed his head against the doorjamb, closed his eyes, and said, "I heard you lock this door."

"No you hurt me lock the door to the second bedroom, which I immediately unlocked. The second thing you forgot was that our security team replaced all the doors. Like the front door, in order to get through them, you would have to use axes or explosives to do it. Should I take you to the hospital to see if you broke your shoulder?"

"No, the only thing that's broken is my pride. You outsmarted me again, you little devil. Come over here and kiss me. I can't imagine if we have a baby girl, what she is going to be like."

"Of course you can Gray. She is going to be just like her mother. The only difference being she is going to love to play with trains, like her father."

"The trains will probably levitate over the tracks instead of touching them."

"Tracks, what tracks, the trains will go wherever they want, whenever they want to go there."

"You haven't kissed me yet."

"Are you going to spank me now?"

"No, I think we are even after this last episode, don't you?"

"In that case, you sex suspension has been removed. You can have me whenever you want me. I know you're too tired to do it now so let's go to sleep."

"You owe me one."

"How do you figure that Mister Thyme?"

"You owe me a woman on top. The couch is already prepared. Are you reneging?"

"No, I am wide-awake. I know you are exhausted, and now you have a shoulder that may or may not be broken. I didn't want to cause you any more pain."

"Delicious, you are so full of shit."

"There is only one way to find out, let's go to the couch, and see if you can stay awake."

***********

57. The Wedding after the Wedding

"Sarge pick up the phone, it's someone by the name Jayden. He says you know him."

"Tell him I moved to Sweden for sex change operation."

"He said they wouldn't take you, because your balls are too big."

"Jayden if you are up to your neck in trouble again I'm going to put you in isolation for the rest of your life."

"Why Sergeant Fowler I just called pass the time of day. Do you think I only call you when I am in trouble or saving the law enforcement agencies time and effort in trying to recapture criminals after they do their dastardly deeds?"

"Hang on a second Jayden; I'm looking for my shovel. What can I do for you this time?"

"Doctor Luck's daughter is getting married a week from Saturday. About 3000 well-heeled guests will be here starting Thursday afternoon, and leaving sometime Sunday or Monday morning. Do you know anyone in the police department that would like to make some extra money over those four days at the same rate of pay as the last time?"

"How many do you want?"

"On the soft side, 600, on the top side 900."

"Who the fuck is coming the president?"

"No, he wasn't invited. These people are more important than the president. He can be replaced. They can't. It will be easier this time for you to identify our guests. Instead of having to identify all the police officers involved, each guest will receive a token of some kind. They will have to wear it, to the church and to the events afterwards, to gain admission. You will be our point man, and everything will work through you. If they don't make you a Lieutenant after this, Doctor Luck is going to want to know why. He may even make you Police Commissioner."

"The Police Commissioner is a mayoral appointment. Our mayor is unbeatable."

"Would you dance naked at the police ball if you're wrong?"

"Oh no, you know something I don't know. I'm not going there."

"Could you run a police department?"

"A two-headed donkey could run a police department. The only thing that gets in the way of running this department is the politicians."

"Sergeant Dan Fowler, if I were you I would start studying. You have friends in very high places, and your career is about to take a very large jump."

"I have two suits to my name, both of them are black."

"That's funny, so am I. Let me know how many people I can expect by a week from Tuesday please."

"Why do I have a feeling I should've let that guy in the jewelry store shoot you?"

"Sergeant where would your life be without me?"

"Simpler, much simpler than it was before I met you."

"Goodbye Dan."

"Goodbye Jayden."

***********

Both general aviation sections of the Denver airports were so crowded the aircraft were spaced less than one foot between wingtips. Each aircraft was tied down and blocked to keep it from moving a fraction of an inch. These were not tinker toys, these aircraft cost between $50 and $100 million each. Not even when it hosted the Super Bowl did Denver have this many high-powered people here for a single event.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was capable of holding 3000 people, and that Saturday afternoon not one seat or standing position was left unfilled. All of the investors in my project were given front row seats. They were informed that it was going to be an event they would never forget. This wedding would be the first of its kind.

The Cathedral's bells rang precisely at 2 PM, and the organist began to play. The bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle and took their positions. Gray elected a friend from NASA to be his best man. He warned him not to faint at what he was about to see.

Gordon was the ring bearer, and he came into view at the rear of the church. He stepped into a clear plastic cylinder, with a 4-inch black bottom. Montgomarie put his helmet on, tapped his head, gave him a thumb up, and backed away.

Gordon lifted two control handles, and the tiny machine lifted off the ground silently.

That was the only thing silent in the Cathedral. There were gasps, and words passed between people. Other people asked where the cables that were holding him up were.

Gordon answered that question very quickly as he started maneuvering his little airborne cart all around the church, doing figure eights, letters, and for his final maneuver he landed the craft in the front of William Zabo Junior.

"Your dad would kill me if I told you to take it for a ride now. We have one for you, and all the other investor's children to take home with you when you leave."

Young William leaned over the rail, looked at his father and said, "Dad, I won't need that motorcycle we talked about. This looks like more fun."

"When I get my hands on Even, I'm going to break his neck."

Jemma replied, "Why, because he's given Junior something safer than a motorcycle, or you because you finally got me pregnant again, because he told you to?"

"What did you just say?"

"Why do you always go stone deaf when I am talking to you?"

"Way to go grandpa, you did it again!"

"No comments from the peanut gallery; I don't need your opinion right now. Are you sure?"

"Doctor Stephanopoulos is sure. The little blue test strip is sure, and in a little more than seven months you're going to be changing diapers again."

"Shit, exactly what I need to do as I turned 65 years old."

Patti asked, "Dad what are you going to be doing when you hit retirement age?"

Jemma answered for him. "Patti, your dad is going to be changing diapers again."

"You dirty old man. At this rate your next child will be born when you're 80."

"Don't you even joke about that Patricia, my heart will give out."

Laura said, "You don't have to worry about that grandpa, after your next son is born, we will put you in stasis until you are 79. We will let you out of stasis for enough time to get Jemma pregnant again, and then we will put you back in."

"I won't be pregnancy material by then," Jemma said. "I'll be 49 years old, and my baby factory will have closed down."

"That's no problem; we will put you in stasis next to grandpa. We will keep both of you forever young."

William smiled, "Now there's an idea I could get used to very quickly."

***********

The organist began to play; Gray and Brian walked out from the side vestibule and took their positions, as the bridesmaids, and the groomsmen took their positions. When everyone was in position the great doors at the rear of the Cathedral opened, and Wagner's wedding march began.

I kissed my daughter, lowered her veil, and began walking her down the aisle to meet her husband. Her gown was so white it almost seemed light blue. When we reached the front, I gave Delicious' hand to Grayson and made them both laugh.

"LIVE LONG AND PROSPER."

I must have practiced that line for hours trying not to crack up while I was saying it into a mirror. Leonard Nimoy would be very proud of me, because it came out perfectly. It had the exact result I wanted it to have. It broke the tension of the moment.

The Cardinal came out from the sacristy, stood before the couple and in 20 minutes the rights of marriage were completed. The nearly 3000 guests stood up and applauded the new Mister and Mrs. Grayson Thyme as they kissed chastely by the altar of God Herself.

The Cardinal would have had an epileptic fit if he knew what they were thinking.

He did thank me however, for the $1 million check for the use of the facility for two hours.

***********

Then it was party time. Not everyone who was invited to the wedding was invited to the party afterwards. I had a second party at another venue held to accommodate them.

Jennifer and I sat with my benefactors, and William was ridden hard about Jemma being pregnant.

"I know I told you Jemma had to have more children with the amount of patents that were going to come your way William, but you didn't have to take me seriously."

"I should be angry with you Even, but I can't. Jemma is the light of my life, and if she is happy, I am overjoyed by her happiness. However, do you realize what you did today in front of all your guests? You put the world on notice that you have broken the laws of gravity. Sir Isaac Newton was wrong and you are right. People from around the world are going to be knocking at your door to find out why and how you did it."

"All of you know what happened at my daughter's residence 10 days ago. Someone wants it that information badly enough to try to kidnap her. How do they know it's her? I was at home and they didn't come after me. They tailed her from the hospital, all the way to her home. They recorded her conversation at lunch and believed she would be unguarded during the evening. Who let the cat out of the bag? I know damn well it wasn't you William. That leaves only one other person. I think someone has to go to the University of Chicago and have a talk with a scientist. Do you want to do it William; or should I have my people do it?"

"Let me take care of it Even. I have someone I trust who will get us the information we need."

********

Everyone was having a good time at the party, especially Delicious' guests from school. They had never been at an affair so elegant. They were here with their boyfriends. They had hotel rooms for the night, which meant fun would go on and on with their parents blessings.

During a brief pause in the festivities, a strikingly elegant young woman approached Delicious, and introduced herself.

"Congratulations Mrs. Thyme, my name is Junie Penick. I assume Gray has told you all about me."

Unsure how to answer, she kept it brief, "Yes he has Miss Penick."

"May I have a moment of your time? If you don't, it's okay, I'll understand."

"It's a party sit down, let's have a drink. What would you like?"

"Sparkling water please."

"You don't have to impress me; Gray tells me you can outdrink a battalion of men."

"It's a well-groomed image. I never drink, I never have. If I touch liquor I throw up. I have a medical condition called, "Alcohol Intolerance." It's a genetic disorder because my body cannot metabolize the grains they use to make liquor.

I'm not here to talk about me. I want to thank you for taking Gray off the market. His mother and my father were determined to have us marry for the sake of a railroad empire. My father was going to drive thousands of small companies out of business by raising prices beyond their ability to pay. B&O is the only game in town in the east, and he knew it. It is the single most profitable transportation system, and with dozens of his corporate buddies they were going to make moves that would have consolidated businesses into the hands of large corporations, and made small businesses obsolete along our railroad corridors. Tens of thousands of people would have lost their jobs, or businesses, because of my father's greed. You want to how I know this; I was taught at my father's knee.

On the day of my 13^th birthday, I was in my prettiest dress, when he pulled me into his room and raped me. My mother was dead and he told me I was to be the woman of the house. I was to take care of his needs at all times. I was to do as I was told, and never say a word. He would beat the shit out of me, if I didn't comply. When I complained, he did as he promised. I have tooth implants, and X-rays of a fractured jaw that can prove it.

Gray was two years ahead of me at Penn. He was the Golden Boy and everyone knew it. There wasn't a co-ed there who wouldn't have dropped their panties for him. I was one of them, but I didn't dare. I am watched night and day by my father's goons. I am sure you know I have a reputation that I slept with everyone and anyone at Penn; probably a few horses and sheep also. The only person I have ever had sex with is my father. I'm 21 years old and I am his personal whore." A single tear began to drip from her left eye.

"Where is your father now?"

"He is with Gray, Mister Thyme, and Mister Zabo."

"Are any of your guards here with you?"

"Just two of them, but I don't know where they are right now."

"I'm going to ask you this one time: did you just tell me the truth?"

"I am so happy you married Gray to get him out of my father's clutches. Yes I have told you the truth."

"Would you like to disappear and start your life over again?"

"No one can do that."

"I'm asking you if you want to start your life over again."

"I would do ANYTHING to be able to do that. I would strip the skin off my body to do that. But I have guards around me night and day, and I am never left alone for one second."

Gray noticed that Junie was talking with Delicious and didn't like it. He broke off his conversation and went to see what was going on.

When he arrived at the dais Delicious was on her cell phone.

"Junie leave my wife alone."

Junie was frightened and began to stand. Delicious grabbed her hand, and made her stay.

"Sit down Gray."

Delicious continued her conversation "...that's right, police cars in front and in back, and one of our armored cars in the middle. If anyone tries to trail them cut them off. Take her to my father's place for now. We'll figure the rest of it out on the fly. How long will it be before we are assembled? Three minutes, we are on our way."

"Keep quiet Gray, we are going for a walk. Junie you are in the middle. Take Gray's arm, smile, and make like nothing's happening. We are going to see if your two goons show up. Then the police will help them disappear."

As they walked towards the exit of the hotel, Junie pointed out her two guards, as soon as they walked to intercept her.

"Are you going someplace Miss Penick?"

"I'm just walking with the bride and groom. Is that a problem?"

"Your father does not want you to leave the ballroom area."

Delicious said, "If the bride and groom can leave the ballroom area, why can't one of our invited guests?"

"Her father wants her within his sight at all times."

"Why would her father want that unless he was holding her against her will?"

She just finished asking the question, when four Denver police officers made their presence known.

They pressed Tasers against the men's neck. "Sirs, if you move you will be shocked. Take her to the car; these two are under arrest for participating in an ongoing crime of rape and white slavery."

Junie screamed at the two men. "Tell my father he will never rape me again."

Gray was somewhat confused but pulled Junie away from the scene, and towards the front door of the hotel. Tawny and Sydney were waiting for her by the armored car. The door was open and they hurried her in. She looked back, kissed Delicious, and thanked both of them. 15 seconds later the three units were gone.

Gray asked Delicious, "I'm sure you going to tell me what just happened."

She put her arm through his, and rested her head on his shoulder. "When we need something to fill in a boring day, remind me about today, and I'll tell you all about it."

He pulled her to his chest, kissed her, and growled into her ear, "Oh I want to spank you so badly right now."

"I'm feeling frisky. Maybe if you ask me politely, I will say yes."

"Don't get my hopes up; my hand might fall off from the anticipation."

"I have a few words I want to say to Cyrus Penick before he leaves. Does he know about you and your father owning 51% of the railroad?"

"I don't know if my father told him yet. Delicious, what are you going to do?"