At Witt's End (26 page)

Profanity spewing, Rodney issued every threat he could contrive. “Let me out, you worthless piece of shit.” He banged his knees against the trunk. “I'll fade away if you don't let me out."

"Really?” Theo said. “What a shame that would be."

"Didn't you hear me? I'll fade away."

Theo waited for the banging to stop before he responded, “You should have thought of that before you tried to kill Sadie."

"At least that bitch is dead.” Rodney let out a haggard laugh, a laugh meant to disguise panic. “Who needs her any way?"

"You made a big mistake,” Theo said. “By killing Sadie, you ruined any chance of going to the parallel world. Be sure to let me know what it's like in oblivion."

More profanity escaped from the trunk. Lora grimaced and looked away.

Theo joined the crowd kneeling over the body and made his way to Sadie's side. He drew in a somber breath. His eyes grew moist as he placed a knee on the ground and stared at the body.

"Nooo. Please, nooo. Don't go. Don't leave me,” Jane moaned, cradling the bleeding head. Tears flowed down her cheeks, dropping in small splats against her arm. She gently held the still hand, rubbing her cheek back and forth against the bruised skin. Her head dropped back as a piercing wail escaped.

Aanders appeared at the door and realized what had happened. A guttural cry rumbled forth as he ran to the people gathered around the sidewalk.

Trembling, he knelt next to Jane. He reached out and touched the body. “Please don't die.” Brushing tears from his eyes with the back of his hand he repeated, “Please. Please don't die."

Aanders’ pressed gently on Sadie's shoulder fighting to regain his composure. “It's time. It's time for Tim to go. I need to get him."

Jane wailed as Aanders’ words registered. She pulled Mr. Bakke closer to her chest. The man's head fell against her shoulder. She placed kisses on his forehead.

Aanders’ breaths came in spurts, suddenly understanding the finality of his statement.

"Hurry. We don't have much time,” Sadie said, fighting the acid inching its way up her throat. The roar of her pulse pushing adrenalin through her system was deafening.

"Why did this have to happen to him? Why couldn't it have been me?” Jane said grasping her sister's hand.

Sadie looked toward Lora who leaned against the rental car's trunk with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Lora's lower lip trembled. She nodded toward Sadie. The frail woman stood sentry over the trunk, ignoring the threats emanating from within.

Tim appeared in the doorway with Aanders bracing him on one side. Theo ran to assist the pair.

"Just a little farther,” Aanders whispered, encouraging Tim to take a few more steps. Aanders helped lower Tim to the ground and sat behind him to prop him up. He swiped at his tears with his hand.

The sound of sirens in the distance caught Jane's ear and she looked at Sadie.

Sadie shook her head in reply to Jane's unspoken question.

"Noooo,” Jane said, as she caressed Mr. Bakke's hand. “Noooo.” She bowed her head and placed a final kiss on Mr. Bakke's cheek.

Aanders, Sadie, and the crossers looked on as a glow began to form and a gentle breeze swirled around Mr. Bakke.

Tim managed a forlorn smile. He looked up at Aanders who lifted him into a standing position. He mouthed “Thank you,” but the words were barely audible.

Aanders sobbed, trying to fight the consuming emotion.

"You know I don't want to leave you. But I have to. Mom and Dad need me."

"I know,” Aanders said, bracing Tim's sagging body. “I'm sorry I kept you from going through the light the other day. That was wrong."

The wind's intensity grew as the tunnel began to rotate with increased momentum.

Mr. Bakke rose and placed a kiss on Jane's head before he turned to gaze at the vivid aura building in the background. Wisps of his thin, white hair danced excitedly in the wind. He reached out to Tim and beckoned with a motion of his fingers. “Let's go son. I think I know two people who are anxious to see you."

Tim released Aanders’ hand and grasped Mr. Bakke's arm. The elderly gentleman pulled him to his side.

Brilliant rays danced like lightning. The power of the light drew them deeper into the vortex. “Please remind Jane how much I love her and take good care of her. Tell her we'll meet again,” Mr. Bakke shouted, waving farewell to Sadie.

"Thank you, Sadie,” Tim said. “Thanks for taking me in.” Tim stood straighter as his strength increased. He placed his right arm behind Mr. Bakke and together they began the journey they had chosen. Tim looked back over his shoulder. He scanned the group gathered around Mr. Bakke's body. “You'll always be my best friend, Aanders. Don't ever forget that."

Sadie wrapped her arms around her sister and placed her chin on Jane's shoulder. “He's gone now, Jane. He took Tim with him. They've completed their declaration."

Jane hugged Sadie fiercely in return and let her anguish flow.

A young paramedic gently encouraged the twins to move to the side while he knelt next to Mr. Bakke's lifeless body. After checking for a pulse, he shook his head. He pulled the stethoscope from his ears.

Jane, Sadie, and Aanders accompanied the paramedics back to the ambulance and watched them release the spring-loaded mechanism and push the stretcher into the ambulance. “I'm sorry, Ma'am,” a paramedic said, tenderly prying Jane's hands from the gurney. “I'm so sorry."

After the deputy finished interviewing Jane and Sadie about the accident, the sisters retreated to the porch swing. Jane rested her head on her sister's shoulder. Sadie kept the swing in motion with the tips of her toes. She and Jane reflected on the afternoon's tragedy.

Sadie raised a hand and waved at the Pouliots as the rental car laden with luggage, and a crosser who would soon slip into oblivion, rounded the corner and disappeared from view.

Belly lay near their feet and watched with soulful eyes. Each time Jane began to sob, he let out a high pitched whine. “It sounds like that silly goose is yodeling,” Jane said between sniffles. As the flood gates opened once again, she said, “How could he do that? I just don't understand how someone could do that to Mr. Bakke."

"Mr. Bakke wasn't his intended victim. I already told you Rodney was trying to kill me,” Sadie said. “He told Lora about his plan to put me out of my misery. Because Mr. Bakke realized he'd forgotten the fish in the freezer, he headed down the steps in front of me."

"Are you sure Rodney won't ever get out of that trunk?"

"All we can do is hope that what the Pouliots said about the rental car is accurate. By the time the trunk is opened, Rodney will have faded away.” Sadie patted Jane's hand. “He can kick and holler all he wants. No one's going to hear him."

Tears dropped into Jane's lap. “I'm really proud of Mr. Bakke. He was such a kind man."

"I know you are,” Sadie responded, pressing her nose against Jane's cheek.

"Mr. Bakke and I both decided we'd go to the parallel world if we had to make a decision. It was unselfish of him to accompany Tim back through the light so he could find his parents. But it doesn't surprise me. He always loved helping people. I hope I'm fortunate enough to meet up with him again.” Jane smiled up at Sadie.

"If we're lucky, we'll all be together. Mr. Bakke wanted me to tell you how much he loved you and that he'd see you again."

"Do you think he'll be lonely without me?"

"Of course he will,” Sadie said.

Jane leaned her head against Sadie's shoulder. “Do you think death coaches will have a different role in the after life once they leave earth?"

"I guess I'll have to wait to find out,” Sadie said. “Maybe you'll have to worship me as a goddess and wait on me hand and foot."

"Then nothing will change, will it?” Jane's attempt at humor was lost in another torrent of tears.

A family of four walked past the cabin and waved at the sisters. They briefly stopped to offer condolences. After they left, Sadie said, “You know what else shocked me today?"

Jane dabbed at her eyes and shook her head.

"Lora didn't go through the light with Tim."

Gasping in amazement, Jane said, “Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. She's sitting right there.” Motioning toward Lora on the porch step, Sadie continued in a whisper, “Lora knew Tim had chosen to return to his parents rather than go to the parallel world. If that's really where Lora wanted to go, she'd have taken advantage of Mr. Bakke's death and gone with Tim. Apparently she's had second thoughts."

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Aanders body jerked as a clap of thunder jolted him from a troubled sleep. Closing his eyes and burrowing deeper into his pillow, he tried to block the sound of rain hammering against the side of the mortuary. Lightning sizzled outside his window. As if competing with nature's fireworks, a deafening clap of thunder exploded through the darkness before fading into a distant echo.

Aanders’ bed sheets were clammy from the heavy humidity. He heard his mother hurrying from room to room, shutting the windows against the driving rain. After sitting on the edge of his bed to get his bearings, he rose and pulled the window frame down until it met the sill.

Nan wrapped on his door. “I need to check your window."

"I just shut it,” Aanders said. “The floor didn't get wet."

Nan lingered outside the closed door. “Are you okay? Are you getting any rest with all the racket?” Nan turned the knob and poked her head into Aanders’ room. “Do you mind if I come in?"

Aanders retreated to the privacy of his covers and pulled them tight over his head.

After securing her robe ties around her waist, Nan sat on the side of her son's bed. Running her hand along his back, she said, “You've had a terrible day. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you after Mr. Bakke died. I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Aanders pulled his shoulder away as his mother smoothed her hand over the outline of his arm. “Sadie said you were a real help when Mr. Bakke died. I know you always thought of him as a grandfather.” Nan smiled. “I did too. He was a wonderful man."

Aanders drew his knees closer to his chest. Nan said, “You can't avoid talking about Tim's death forever. I'd like to know how you feel."

Nan shuddered as lightning crackled near the window. “Wow. That was way too close.” She cautiously looked through the window. “I'm always ready to listen. Just let me know if you need me."

A few sniffled gulps broke through despite Aanders’ attempt to hold his breath against the sobs threatening to escape. His mother tugged at the edge of his sheet. He didn't want her to invade his privacy. It was his cocoon. It was the one place, the only place he could seek refuge from the sorrows of the day. Tim was gone. Gone forever.

Prying the fabric away from his grasp, Nan uncovered her son's head and placed her cheek against his. “I'm so sorry about Tim's death. He was my friend, too. And now we've lost Mr. Bakke. I'm going to miss them both."

Aanders’ chest heaved with sobs. Nan freed him from the tangled sheet and slipped her arms under his body. Swaying gently with her son in her arms, she let her tears flow, too. Wishing desperately for a black hole to open up and swallow him so he wouldn't have to face another day without his best friend, Aanders sank into the safety of his mother's arms. “He's gone,” he gasped, trying to draw air into a chest heavy with grief. “Tim's really gone."

Nodding understanding, Nan held him tighter.

"Why did it happen? Tim didn't hurt anyone.” Aanders’ chest rose and fell sharply, spasms rocking his body. Trying to make sense of the injustice, he said, “I heard Sadie tell you about Paul. Why do people do bad things like that? Why did he have to shoot at Tim's Dad?"

With Aanders’ head cradled against her, Nan stroked his hair. “The evidence is going to come out over the next few days. Maybe then we'll understand what happened."

Nan dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “I feel like such a failure. I almost subjected us to life with a man I never really knew. And now they think he might have murdered Richard Fossum.” She ran her finger under her eye to stem a tear. “I'm sorry Aanders. I made a mistake."

"That's okay Mom. You didn't know."

As the night wore on, the two propped themselves against the headboard and talked about things on their minds.

"Can we go visit Tim's grave again? I need to make sure he's doing okay."

"Of course. Any time you want,” Nan said.

"Maybe I can take over Mr. Bakke's duties. I mean helping you with funerals like he used to do. Tim's Dad used to pay him to work in his office. Maybe I can earn money like that, too."

"Sounds like a good idea,” Nan said. “Let's get through the next few days first. Then we'll make a plan."

Nan waited for Aanders to slip into sleep before removing her arm from behind his back. She propped a pillow under his head. Tiptoeing from his room, she looked back through the crack in the door. “You've come a long way, little man.” Patting her lips and sending a silent kiss of admiration, she closed the door and returned to her bed.

Fifteen minutes passed before Aanders woke to the gentle rustle of leaves outside his window. Turning toward the illumination, he saw a bright rainbow arcing in the distance. He untangled his legs from the covers and rushed to the window.

The rainbow radiated the most vibrant colors he'd ever seen. Waves of blue, red, and yellow rose and fell, dancing above each arc as the colors grew in intensity. “A rainbow at midnight,” he whispered. “It's a rainbow at midnight."

A pebble pelted against his window. Startled, he jumped back from the sill. He cautiously peeked over the window ledge. Another one tinkled against the pane. Scanning the ground he tried to distinguish the shadows from the trees and noticed a shadow edge along a Norway pine. He strained to see through the pale light of the rainbow. The shadow moved again. It was Sadie. He slowly raised the window and pressed his nose against the screen.

Signaling with the wave of her arm, she whispered excitedly, “Did you see it?"

Aanders followed the point of her finger. “I see it.” Grinning broadly, he released the screen's latch and swung it wide. He put a leg through the opening, lowered himself to the ground, and joined Sadie under the tree.