The Coffee Shop Pt. 04

My throat loosened, and slowly my tears subsided. I was done crying, for now at least. I raised my head and looked up into the heavens, still looking away from Andy. It was still too painful to gaze upon his lifeless face. Into the still empty air I cried out "I'd give my soul to the devil, Andy, if I could feel your arms around me once again!" Only uncaring silence answered me.

"Uhmaybe if you untied my wrists I could help you with that," croaked a raspy voice that could not possibly be.

I turned my head around so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash. I looked up to see Andy looking down at me, impossibly alive and well, it seemed.

"I'm back," he said and smiled at me.

Chapter 14. Smoke and Mirrors.

I knelt there stupefied. It was incredible that I did not faint, then and there. Lord knows, I had reason enough to. I looked at Andy as if I had never seen him before. He couldn't be alive, my mind said. My heart though, was ready to believe that God had just performed a miracle. I toppled back on to my ass and sat there stunned looking up at Andy, unable to move a muscle or to think a coherent thought.

"Well, are you going to help me out of all this nor not?" Andy asked me, smiling that killer smile of his at me. The smile that I thought I would never see again.

"What the hell is going on, Andy?" I asked, without making a move towards him.

"Your friend, Mr. Black, can explain it better than I can," Andy answered me. "I only know a few bites and pieces regarding what is going on here. I think he can explain it all to you. He seems to be the man in charge."

"Mr. BLACK! FRONT AND CENTRE!" I barked out.

Mr. Black turned quickly around and ran over to where I was sitting on the floor. He seemed relieved that I had finally called to him. "Sir?" He asked, wondering what it is that I might require of him. I took a few deep breaths to clear my head and focus my thoughts. I wanted to be sure to ask the right questions of Mr. Black.

"A short while ago, I saw Constable Anderson here, shot by one of your goons," I said to him. "Shortly thereafter, I checked his body for life signs and did not find any. Now it appears that Constable Anderson has just risen from the dead. Would you care to explain exactly how this little miracle was arranged?" I couldn't help from keeping the sarcasm and anger from my voice.

Mr. Black knew that I was displeased with him. (Boy was THAT an understatement!) He gulped nervously several times before he started speaking. Clearly he wanted to be sure that his explanation would be acceptable to me.

"To begin with the guns that my associates are carrying are loaded with blanks," Mr. Black said quietly as he began his explanation. "It was never our intention to harm you or Constable Anderson. Through the use of a few devices we made it seem that Constable Anderson had been shot, when in actual fact he remained unharmed. It was deemed necessary to use this form of persuasion to convince you to disclose the required information." Mr. Black walked and stood next to Andy. Mr. Black looked down at me as he reached down and started to unfasten the buttons of Andy's shirt. In short order he had it undone and pulled the shirt open.

Wearily I climbed to my feet. I stooped and looked down at Andy's chest. A small clear plastic bag lay taped to the white undershirt that he was wearing. There was a red liquid in the bag which was seeping out of a hole about one third of the way up the bag. I peered closer at the bag and thought I could see some black marks almost like charring around the edges of the hole. I reached over and grabbed the sides of Andy's uniform shirt. I confirmed that there was indeed a small hole in his shirt that matched the size and apparent location of the hole in the bag. The facts seemed to match Mr. Black's explanation. I thought about it for a moment or two before I turned to Mr. Black and addressed him.

"What about the gunshot and the way the hole appeared in Andy's shirt? What about his lack of a heartbeat and his lack of breathing?" I asked him coolly.

"A tiny charge blew out the small circle of cloth that was precut from his shirt, and also created a hole in the small bag of stage blood that you can see is taped to Constable Anderson's undershirt. The charge was triggered by a small radio signal from Mr. Red's gun," Mr. Black answered. He pulled at Andy's shirt and slowly worked it out from within Andy's pants. Mr. Black then reached down and began to untie the bonds that held Andy's right hand and arm to the arm of the swivel chair. Mr. Black began to remove Andy's right arm from the sleeve of his uniform shirt. At first I didn't understand the reason behind this action on Mr. Black's part. The answer was revealed to be some type of a small cylindrical device strapped to Andy's right arm. "This device is also radio controlled. At the same instant that the tiny charge on the blood bag was detonated, this automatic air gun injected a predetermined dose of a drug into Constable Anderson's bloodstream, through his skin. This drug suppresses the vital signs of a person to the point where they cannot be detected normally," Mr. Black stated as he continued to explain what had happened. "The drug causes brief unconsciousness as it works, which is why the Constable appeared to wilt after he was 'shot'. We took no unnecessary chances, I assure you."

"Incidentally, Constable Anderson was unconscious when we prepared him for this meeting with you. We took great pains to insure that he was unaware of the devices we had attached to his body. I am sure that Constable Anderson truly believed that he was about to be shot, by Mr. Red."

"You'd better believe it!" Andy snarled at Mr. Black. "I was so scared that I nearly wet my pants!"

"While I regret that we had to frighten you, Constable Anderson, it was necessary. You had to be convinced that you were about to be shot. Mr. Walton had to be convinced that you life was in fact, in danger," Mr. Black said in response to Andy's comments.

"Andy, did they hurt you? Are you okay?" I asked him as I saw a pained look come to his face. Now I understood why they had taped Andy's mouth, when they had presented him to me. It was an effect way to add to the feelings of helpless and fear that both of us were experiencing.

"They roughed me but a bit, but I guess they didn't hurt me, Paul," he answered with a half smile. "It's just that my hands and feet are still kind of numb from being tied up so long." Andy looked up at me a pleading expression on his face.

"I can relate to that, Andy, believe me," I half joked to him. "Untie him, Mr. Black," I directed as I looked down at Andy and threw him a half smile. It was all that I could muster up.

"Yes, sir," Mr. Black replied as he walked around to Andy's left side and started undoing the cords about Andy's left arm and wrist. A minute or so later, Mr. Black walked in front of Andy and swatted down in front of him, as Mr. Black got to work on the cords that were holding Andy's legs together. It did not take Mr. Black long to accomplish his task.

"Done, sir," Mr. Black reported as he stood up, and walked a few paces away from Andy, and then turned about to face me. I ignored him for the moment. I was still adjusting to the fact that Andy wasn't dead and that this had all been some kind of charade.

"Andy!" I called out to him as I looked at him waving his arms about and moving his legs a bit as he tried to force the circulation back into them. "I thought I'd lost you! Dear God I thought you were gone! Don't you ever do that to me again, you hear me?" I screamed at him.

Andy stopped rubbing his lower legs and looked up at me. "I promise. I'll never put you through that again, if I have any say in the matter, Texas," Andy said softly, as he slowly stood up and hobbled about the room. He stepped awkwardly as he struggled to fight off the pins and needles feeling in his legs. After a few minutes, as he mastered the feeling and stood up straight, tall and proud. He turned and faced me. He slowly walked over to stand just in front of me. His face suddenly seemed to shine like the sun on a spring morning. "I would never hurt you, Texas. I love you, you know."

Andy's words were like a balm on my pain and suffering of the past few hours. I could feel myself draw strength from his simple declaration of his devotion to me, and his love for me. Andy hugged me once, softly and quickly. The embrace was short, much too short. It was miraculous though. Andy's embrace melted that cold lump of stone in my chest and transformed it back into a beating heart that thrilled at the slightest whisper of my name on his lips, and lightest brush of his fingertips on my skin. A part of me was amazed at the sudden transformation. It was like Andy had just brought me back from the dead.

We didn't have time for anything more than that brief embrace. We were still very much in trouble here, and we both knew it.

"So how do we get out of here, Mr. Black?" I asked as I turned my attention back to my former captor.

"You don't, sir. At least, not just yet," Mr. Black replied in a loud shaky voice.

"What do you mean?" I demanded coldly. I could feel my anger returning.

"That door is locked from the outside, sir," Mr. Black said as he pointed to the door that the other three men were guarding. "None of us may leave until someone from the outside opens that door."

"Then I'll have you and the rest of the boys break down that door even if you injure yourselves in the process," I replied as I got ready to give the necessary orders.

"That won't be necessary," said a new, but familiar voice from somewhere behind and above me.

I turned around hard and fast, preparing myself to face this new threat. I was tired and weary, physically, and I felt mentally drained. I was not in any shape for another battle. Nevertheless I gathered up my powers and raised a modest shield over my mind. I saw a blank white wall. There wasn't anyone behind me. I turned back and looked at Mr. Black. He offered no information. He stood there, looking nervously at the white wall.

I knew that voice, though. Suddenly I felt a small vibration in the floor. Slowly a crack appeared between the ceiling and the top of the wall. The crack slowly widened and the white wall began to descend into the floor. Smoothly and slowly, the white wall disappeared into the floor. A room was revealed. A most unusual room. The walls, floor and ceiling of the room were a warm soft creamy white. The lighting was subdued and gentle. The room seemed to radiate with a calm and peaceful feeling. Try as I might I could not see any indication of a door in this room. I suspected though that one of the other three walls to this room probably opened in a manner similar to way that the wall in front of me had just opened.

The room was bare except for a long rectangular eight legged table. The table was draped with a cool gray tablecloth that stopped a couple of inches short of the soft creamy white floor. I looked at the feet of the legs of the table, and was surprised to see that the legs appeared to be made of ebony, a sharp contrast to the white decor and the gray tablecloth. On the opposite side of the table from me were nine chairs. The chairs had high backs with what appears to be padded armrests and headrests on them. If the headrests were anything to go by, the chairs were the exact same cool distant gray as the tablecloth. All the chairs were the same, except for the center chair. It slightly higher than the other eight as if it were on a raised platform. There was one other difference. This chair was empty, the other eight were not.

"Welcome, Paul Walton and Andrew Anderson, to the Council of Coins," said that familiar voice.

I flicked my gaze over to the direction of the voice as my mind finally matched that voice to my memory. It was Mary! Mary of The Panel!. Mary once my mentor and good friend. Mary, the woman who had trained me in the use and development of my powers. Mary, the last person the face of the earth, that I wanted to see right now. I closed my eyes in pain as I realized I was in even more trouble than before. I wanted to scream and curse at her, but I was too tired and too smart to waste my energy like that. The last time I had encountered Mary it has been a battle of five experienced minds against mind. Somehow I had won. I did not look forward to a rematch. Hell, I was in no condition for a rematch! To make matters even worse, the odds were now eight to one. Talk about stacking the deck!

"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" I wanted to scream at her as I looked at her sitting there at that gray table wearing a simple gray robe that matched the colour of the tablecloth. I bit my tongue to hold back the words and studied the room, and the people seated at the table. Maybe I would spot something that would help Andy and me to figure a way out of this trap. I looked that the people sitting there. I did not recognize any of them, save Mary.

"I would offer you my thanks, save that I find your welcome to be less than hospitable," I replied coolly, as I directed my gaze towards Mary. My brain burned with a thousand questions, but I thought it best to keep my curiosity in check. I had no idea as to what the exact situation was. This was defiantly a time to keep my mouth shut and my ears and eyes open.

"Yes, that is both understandable and regrettable. We would ask your indulgence now, so that we may explain the events of the past few hours," Mary responded in that same cool voice. She was so controlled and placid, that it was almost unnerving. She waved her hand at Mr. Black and Mr. Yellow. They did not respond, other than to shake their heads back and forth in a clear 'no' to Mary's request. She furrowed her brow in concentration for a moment, and then a look of shock erupted on her face. She looked over at me, and then glanced over at the other persons sitting at the table.

I watched quietly as they stood up and joined hands to form a chain. Instantly I poured all my power into my mental shield as I prepared for the forthcoming attack. But the attack never came. They merely stood there for a minute or so, holding hands with their eyes closed. They released their hands and then sat back down.

'Be at ease, Paul Walton," Mary said in that same controlled voice. "While you were wise to raise your defences, there was no need. The Council of Coins did not intend to engage in combat with you. The time for battle and tests is over."

"So I was right. This was some type of test, wasn't it?" I interrupted her.

"Yes, but a necessary test," Mary answered. "What I have long suspected has now been proven to be true beyond any reasonable or unreasonable doubt. You do indeed have potential. Much more than was at first suspected." Mary smiled warmly at me after she finished speaking. It was a smile much like the first one she had given me back when I first met her at The Coffee Shop. Except this time, I felt chills run up and down my spine.

"Right" I said quietly. "Just out of curiosity, why is it called the Council of Coins?"

"If you would be so kind as to take a seat, I will begin to explain," Mary said quietly, while completely ignoring my response.

I was about to protest that there were no chairs available when I saw two small sections of the floor slide open a few feet in front of Andy and me. Moments later two comfortable looking well stuffed chairs rose up from the dark holes. The chairs were attached firmly to the floor sections that rose up and snapped into place with a firm and loud click. The chairs were the same gray colour as the tablecloth and the chairs of the council members. I looked at the chairs warily, like a mouse watching a sleeping cat.

"I guess we're not getting out of here until we listen to what she has to say, Paul," Andy said to me as he touched my shoulder lightly. "We might as well be comfortable."

"Very perceptive, Constable Anderson, " Mary commented. "It is essential that you both hear what I am about to say, for it affects both of you. Even though you do not have the gift, Mr. Anderson, you are involved with Mr. Walton, and what affect him affects you."

"Fine." I said curtly as I walked over and plopped myself down into one of the chairs. "I know better than to try and fight my way past eight gifted people. Say what you have to say." Andy remained quiet as he sat down in the chair next to me, on my left. He looked at the men and women seated at the table in front of us, and waited.

"I am sure that you recall the testing that you underwent during your meeting with The Panel," Mary began as she addressed me. "At that time I told you that your powers had grown more than I expected and I offered you a position on The Panel. You refused. Since that time you have not contacted me or any of the members of The Panel. You must have known that The Panel would not let you go about your business without keeping tabs on you. Mr. Black here, was assigned that task. He has monitored your activities and reported back to this council. We have watched you as your powers have grown in new and unusual ways. Your gift has truly blossomed, and you have used your abilities with wisdom and compassion. We are most impressed with your development. I personally, have derived a great deal of satisfaction to see my former student doing so well. You have learned much and continue to do so." Mary paused and offered me a warm motherly smile. I kept my face expressionless. I was far from flattered or impressed.

"Now I must digress for a moment, if you will bear with me," she said after a brief pause. "Just as The Panel is responsible for policing those with the gift, the Council of Coins serves a similar function. The council arbitrates disagreements and disputes among the gifted. Decisions are made through the use of a coin that is black on one side and white on the other. It is from the use of these coins that the council derives its name. Members of the council are chosen for their mastery of their powers and for other skills. A recent death of one of the council members has created a vacancy. Several candidates are being considered. You are among them. The others have been tested and now so have you."

"And that gives you the right to put me through hell?" I yelled out as I vented my pent up anger at her.

"As a matter of fact, it does," Mary answered solemnly. "Service on the council is not offered lightly. "Few are tested. Even fewer pass and are offered a council position. We had to be absolutely sure. The only way to be sure is to test. That test is now complete and the results have been analysed. A vote is now called for. Members, please." With those words Mary turned to look straight at me as she raised up her hand and held out a large coin, about the size of a Canadian two dollar coin, in between her thumb and forefinger. She flipped the coin about and with a soft crack, placed the coin on the table in front of her. The coin was a pure almost blinding white. I heard a series of cracks as the other members placed their coins on the table. I shifted my gaze up and down the length of the table to see a row of white coins. I shook my head in puzzlement. I had no idea what any of this meant.

"The Council of Coins is in full agreement," Mary declared. "Paul Walton, your testing is now complete. The Council finds in your favour."

"What does that mean, exactly?" I asked doing my best to maintain my cool.

"It means that we find you have acted in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Gift Guild. No disciplinary action will be considered in your case. You are not yet ready to serve on the council, but perhaps someday you will be offered such a position. You certainly show the potential to hold a position on the council," Mary smiled benevolently at me. Her smile failed to move me in the slightest.