Full Tilt (Rock Star Chronicles) Page 25

“What is it, honey?” Karen noticed the Down button was lit. “Can I help?”

  “I can’t find my keys.” Her voice shook.

  “What’s the hurry? Where are you headed?”

  “That was my dad. He’s in trouble. I’ve got to go.”

  “Wait a minute. Let’s go tell Ev. One of us can go with you—”

  “No.” She snatched the keys and pressed the lit button repeatedly. “There’s no time. I told him I’d meet him. I’ll be back. Don’t worry.”

  The bell rang, and the elevator doors lurched open. Madison stepped in, and Karen’s mind whirled. “Madi, please. Tell me where you’re going.”

  “I can’t! No one can know.”

  The heavy silver doors began to close, and Karen stiff-armed one, triggering them to reverse.

  “Madison, the people your dad’s dealing with are dangerous. You saw what happened to him and to Everett. Please, let me—”

  “Stop!” She forced Karen’s arm away. “I’ve got to do this alone. He needs me.” The doors began to close again, and Madison reached a hand out toward her. “I love you, Aunt Karen. I’m sorry. It’ll be okay. Just pray for us.”

  Karen ran back down the hallway to Wesley’s room and swung the large door open. Everett was seated in a chair next to his bed, reading aloud from a Bible.

  “Madison’s leaving.” Karen gasped. “You need to follow her! She got a call from Eddie, he’s in trouble, and she’s going to meet him somewhere!”

  “She’s in her Bug?” Everett patted his pockets for his keys and phone on the way to the door.

  “Yeah, I assume. Light blue with a black top. You gotta catch her right now, or we’ll lose her.”

  He was gone.

  Everett scanned the oncoming cars as he hurried through the hospital crosswalk, then panned the surrounding city streets and parking deck all the way to the black Nissan loaner he’d been given—no sign of Madison’s Volkswagen.

  She’s got to be headed back to New York.

  All he could think to do was get to I-95 as fast as he could and head south.

  Gunning the Nissan out of the parking garage, he searched for signs to the interstate but saw none. The streets were unfamiliar.

  Show me the way, Lord.

  He took a right on West Broad and immediately spotted signs for I-95.

  Thank You.

  Roaring through the gears, he flew down the city streets, hoping for no police and hunting for the light blue bug.

  Within three minutes he was merging onto I-95, bound for New York City.

  He opened it up, figuring if he didn’t see Madison now, he might never see her again.

  31

  KAREN PICKED UP THE open Bible on the chair next to Wesley’s bed and sank into the seat herself. Where did this come from?

  Examining the pages where it looked as if Everett had left off, Karen’s eyes fell to some words that had been underlined in blue ink, and she read quietly: “‘Mary took a jar of costly perfume…and anointed Jesus’ feet with it—’”

  Her phone rang, and she picked it up. “Ev?”

  “Nope. Sorry. Gray.”

  “Oh…hi, Gray.”

  “Gee, Karen, don’t sound so excited.”

  “Sorry about that.” She snorted. “I thought it was gonna be Ev. Happy New Year! I understand you had quite a night in Miami.”

  “It was incredible,” Gray said. “Wish you could’ve been there. One of the guards told me they counted more than 250 inmates who came forward afterward.”

  “Can you believe it?”

  “If that’s any indication of what’s in store, we better hold on to our seats!”

  She chuckled. “I know.”

  “Tell me about Wesley.”

  “Thankfully, he’s going to make it.” Karen looked at her nephew. “Right now he’s sleeping. We haven’t gotten to talk to him yet to find out why he did this, but we will.”

  “I’m praying for him, sweetie.”

  “Thank you, friend. We need that.”

  “Listen, I’m calling about SoundSystems…”

  “Are they in?”

  “They’re in!”

  Yes! Everett and Karen had been praying for one more big sponsor. “Oh, Gray,” she turned away from Wesley, “that is such good news!”

  “So, I’ll see your husband tomorrow for practice?”

  “Lord willing, Ev will be ready.”

  “Hey, one more thing,” Gray said. “SoundSystems wants new artwork for the tour poster.”

  “This late? How are they going to pull that off?”

  “They assured me they can make it happen.”

  “We weren’t crazy about what we had anyway. What do they have in mind?”

  “Nothing concrete. They want to play off the Living Water theme more. You got any ideas?”

  Karen flashed back to Madison’s house and her painting of the waterfall from the national forest in Oregon. “I’ve got a good idea. Who do I talk to?”

  He gave her the name and number of the marketing coordinator handling the tour promotion for SoundSystems, then they hung up. After leaving a message for the coordinator, Karen opened the Bible and continued reading where she’d left off.

  “‘But Judas Iscariot…the one who would betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”’”

  Karen rested the book in her lap and stared at Wesley for a few moments. Did he just move? She thought she’d seen his eyes flicker. You haven’t had enough sleep.

  She pondered what she’d just read. Judas had become outraged by a person who loved Christ enough to worship Him openly and boldly. Lifting the Bible again, she paged backward, searching for the same account told by Matthew. Oddly, it too had been underlined.

  “‘Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why are you criticizing her? For she has done a good thing…” Then Judas…went to the chief priests, and asked, “How much will you pay me to get Jesus into your hands?” And they gave him thirty silver coins. From that time on, Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus—’”

  “Is that supposed to cheer me up?” Wesley’s hoarse voice made Karen flinch.

  “Wesley!” She popped up to the edge of the chair.

  “It’s me,” he whispered, holding the white tube.

  “I don’t think you should take that out.”

  “It’s okay.” He finally opened his eyes fully, which were clearer and bluer than she’d remembered. “I did it before.”

  “How do you feel?” she asked.

  “Sore.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence.

  “That Bible.” His eyes went to the book on her lap. “It was Cassidy’s.”

  “Your friend from Harbor View?”

  He closed his eyes and nodded.

  Was Cassidy a Christian? Did her death lead you to attempt suicide?

  “We were so sorry to hear about her…”

  “How long do I have to stay here, do you know?”

  Her mind shifted gears abruptly. She wanted to keep talking about Cassidy and the Bible.

  “I’m not sure.” She crossed her arms. “Your mom made it sound like it wouldn’t be more than a day or two.”

  “Where is she, anyway?”

  “She just stepped out for a minute.” Ran out, actually. Where is she?

  “What am I on?”

  “Pardon?”

  “What am I on—what meds?”

  “Oh, I think some kind of strong pain reliever. Not sure what…”

  Wesley turned his head toward the window. Karen suspected this would be one of the few moments she would have alone with him. Give me the words, Lord.

  “Can you tell me what happened, Wesley?”

  His head remained fixed as it was. He clasped his hands on his stomach. “What do you care? What difference does it make?”

  “Tell me about Cassidy.”

  “She was good.” Wesley turned to face her. �
�Life stinks.”

  “But it can be so much better—”

  His hands pounded the mattress. “Don’t give me that! Okay? You haven’t lived my life. You have no idea what I’m feeling. So don’t tell me how it can be.”

  Wesley’s words came like gunfire. And he was right; Karen didn’t understand. His feelings and experiences—his dark world—were foreign to her.

  “I’ll go check on your mom.” As she stood, set the Bible in the chair, and trod softly toward the door, she wondered why she’d been placed there at all.

  Everett was about to turn around and head back to the hospital when he spotted Madison’s Beetle in the far left lane doing at least eighty. He dropped into the right lane and forced his stiff body to relax.

  As he punched in the speed dial for Karen on the cell, a strong blast of wind nudged the Nissan. “Whoa.”

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, babe,” he said, eyes glued to the VW. “I found her.”

  “Good boy! Where?”

  “Going like a rocket down I-95, almost to the New York state line. I’m behind her a couple hundred yards.”

  “She’s not gonna stop for anything,” Karen said. “I’d stay back and just make sure everything’s okay. She’s not going to notice you in that loaner.”

  “Okay.” He loosened his grip on the steering wheel. “What’s going on at your end?”

  “Wesley’s awake.”

  “Really? How’s he doing?”

  “He’s okay,” she said. “I tried to talk to him about why he hung himself, but he shut me down.”

  “What do you mean?” His grip tightened on the wheel. “He didn’t try to hurt you, did he?”

  “No. He’s just impossible to talk to.”

  “Kind of like I used to be?”

  “Worse.”

  He sensed her discouragement. “Thanks for trying, babe.”

  After Karen shared the news about SoundSystems and her hopes for the new tour poster, they said good-bye.

  “You have me here for a reason, Lord.” Everett’s gaze was fixed on Madison’s Bug. “I don’t know what it is, but I pray You’ll protect Eddie and Madison and me. Give me wisdom if I have to get involved…”

  Every now and then one of the minivans between Madison and him swerved slightly in the gusting wind. On a whim, Everett picked up his phone, found Eddie’s number, and hit the speed dial. No answer.

  Not long after the VW flew over the Connecticut state line into New York, Madison veered off, picking up Interstate 287 and heading straight for White Plains.

  She’s going home. Eddie will be there.

  Question is, will the Mendazzos?

  Sheila was flat-out drunk when she staggered back into Wesley’s hospital room, plopped onto the bed, and tried to lie down on her back next to her son.

  “How’s my baby? You doin’ okay, sugar?”

  “Jeez, Mom.” The IV nearly ripped out of Wesley’s wrist as he scowled and shoved her off the bed like a bag of smelly garbage. “You’re plastered!”

  She smacked the floor.

  “Oh my goodness!” Karen shrieked. “Sheila, are you okay?”

  Clinging to the white sheets and rising unsteadily back to her knees, Sheila’s expression was one of shock and horror. “How dare you push me away!”

  Karen reached to help her up, but Sheila knocked away her hands, nearly falling over as she did. “I don’t need your help, little miss saint.”

  Wesley’s face was distorted in anger.

  Sheila grunted, out of breath and red-faced, as she rose to her feet. “I am so fed up with the whole bunch of you. I’m ready to walk out of this whole—”

  “Go ahead!” The veins in Wesley’s bruised neck protruded. “I wish you would! We’re no family; never have been!”

  “Well, maybe I would go, if you weren’t such a child,” her head wagged, “needin’ to be coddled and watched every minute. When are you ever gonna grow up?” She was practically spitting as she strained to get the last words out without taking another breath.

  Even though Karen believed in miracles, the ugly exchange unfolding before her seemed dreadful and hopeless. The heat from embarrassment and uncertainty filled her cheeks.

  “People wonder why I’m so messed up.” Wesley’s head snapped the other way. “It’s ’cause my world—my reality—stinks!”

  “It’s all about you, isn’t it, Wesley? It’s always all about you.”

  “Me? You’re nuts. You and the old man are the selfish ones. You’ve never had time for us. You’re always off doin’ your own thing.”

  “That is a lie, Wesley Lester! We’ve worked our tails off to provide for you—”

  “I’m not talkin’ about what you’ve provided for us!”

  Karen’s heart was pounding. She took a deep breath and tiptoed into the conversation. “Why don’t you try to explain what you mean, Wesley, so your mom can understand—”

  “Stay out of this!” Sheila snarled. “You don’t have any idea what goes on in families.”

  “That’s not true.” He turned to his mom. “You dis Karen, but I’ve felt more love from her than I’ve ever felt from you or Dad.”

  That’s when the room went silent. Sheila dropped into the closest chair. Her bloodshot blue eyes were half open and so was her mouth. She sat frozen in time, staring glassy-eyed out the window.

  “Where’s Dad right now? Huh?” Wesley shrugged. “Just forget it. Forget the whole dang thing.”

  In the drab light of the colorless day, Sheila bent forward, found her purse with patting hands, and brought out a glass flask with about a half-inch of gold liquid swishing in the bottom. Staring toward the light, she twisted off the silver cap and held both in her lap for what seemed like minutes. Then she closed her eyes, slowly brought the flask to her mouth, and tilted her head back—draining every last drop.

  32

  AS NEW YEAR’S DAY travelers breezed about the streets of White Plains, Madison barreled through a traffic light that had just flicked from yellow to red. Four cars behind her, Everett slammed the steering wheel as he came to a stop.

  Let her be going home; otherwise, I’ve lost her.

  Twelve minutes later, he swerved the Nissan to the side of the road, about a hundred feet past the front of his brother’s estate. Thank God. Madison’s blue Beetle was parked just outside the front door, and no other cars were in sight. Turning off his cell phone, Everett hopped from the car and hurried toward his brother’s residence.

  Turning into the fierce wind, he jogged up the wide, blacktop driveway, shivering as the tenseness of the situation and the cold, damp winter settled into his bones. Bounding up the steps, he found the front door ajar and pushed it open, stepping into the foyer.

  “Madi?” He headed for the kitchen. “Eddie?”

  Standing face-to-face, Eddie and Madison looked up at him simultaneously but said nothing.

  “What’s going on?” Everett stopped in his tracks. “I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

  Madison’s hand was out. In it was Eddie’s wedding band, a gold pocket watch their grandfather had given him, and several other pieces of jewelry Everett didn’t recognize.

  “I’m leaving the country.” Eddie peered at him. “Madison’s driving me to the airport. She may come, too.”

  “What? What are you saying?” Everett turned to Madison. “What’s goin’ on?”

  “Hit another bad beat, brother. But there’s no winning my way out of this one. Lost the Italian lottery. I’m into Badino way over my head.”

  Everett’s mind exploded from the fallout. “How much?”

  “A hundred and eighty-odd grand.”

  No way.

  “Uncle Everett, will you tell him we’ll help him?” Madison wrung her hands.

  “Eddie,” Everett approached his brother, “I’ll pay it. Don’t worry about that. We have the funds—”

  “It’s gone beyond that, Ev. Way beyond. I’ve heard Badino’s furious. You’re pro
bably in danger, too.” He made for the front door, pushed the sheer aside, and stuck his face up to the small window. “The lenders are all after me, repo men… I told Madison to have Sheila sell the house. There’ll be some equity. Maybe she can move into town, like she wanted. A one-bedroom, maybe.”

  “So,” Everett threw his hands in the air, “you’re gonna leave your family high and dry, strapped with your debt?”

  “Daddy, you just need God.” She trembled. “Please, Uncle Everett, tell him…”

  “Madison, no! Everett’s been through that with me.” Eddie waved. “It’s not gonna work. I’m not a Christian, okay? I’m not going to become a Christian. I can’t love a God who took my boy from me and let my marriage die—”

  “Then I can’t go with you, Daddy!” Tears jetted out the sides of Madi’s brown eyes. “I can’t go on without God. You can’t either; you just don’t know it yet.”

  Eddie turned away with a sickening frown.

  “Why are you bringing her into this?” Everett thrust a finger toward his niece. “You want her to go down with you? What gives?”

  “I needed her to drive me to the airport. That’s all. I didn’t want to ask you again.”

  “Why don’t you drive yourself, you selfish… Why would you endanger your own daughter? And what about Wesley? He’s lyin’ up there in a hospital room!”

  Eddie dropped his head and peered at Everett through the top half of his cold eyes. “I think the Amanti and the Yukon may be wired.”

  “What do you mean?” Everett stepped closer. “Bombs?”

  Eddie nodded.

  Everett’s head pounded. And when Eddie spoke again, his voice sounded eerily distant. “The cars are in the garage, but I told Madison no one should go near them until the police check them out—after I’m gone.”

  Eddie pushed up his white cuff, checked his Rolex, and ducked into the family room, where he picked up his expensive overcoat from atop a large black suitcase.

  “We gotta go.” He faced Everett and Madison and began to put the coat on. “They’re on my trail.”

  “Where are you going?” Everett asked.

  “Not sure yet.”

  “Will you call me?”

  “Yeah. You or Madison. I’ll let someone know.”