Jaq With a Q (Kismet) (3 page)

“Fine, I’ll give you twenty. See what you can find out, but don’t scare her.”

“What’cha want wit her?”

It wasn’t like I could truthfully answer that question.
I didn’t even know. “I don’t want anything with her. Mind your own business. Are you in or not?”

“Yeah, but you better not stiff me. You want some weed?”

With brooding eyes, I hit the power button, rolling up the window and placing my car into drive. “No, I’ll see you right here tomorrow afternoon. What’s your name?”

“Hooker.”

“Great,” I sarcastically replied, my eyes rolling as I pulled away.

My entire night was spent researching Jaq with a Q, and I did find an IP address; unfortunately, it wasn’t hers. It belonged to her neighbor, but lucky for me, she did use it. She’d logged into it that afternoon, and of course, I had to find out what it was my new ghost friend searched the internet for. Her computer had some sort of weird firewall on it that took some time to get through, and once I did, I was sure Miss Tarantino was on a stolen laptop. Regina Bacon was no doubt missing hers. She did most of the searching from a different IP, her state-worker title explaining the strange firewall used.

Jaq had taken over the computer role three months and two days before, and she searched like a professional hypochondriac. Everything from an infected hangnail to heart disease, to rare horrible cancers. Thoughts of things I shouldn’t have been thinking filled my mind. Nobody would miss her.

“Jesus, Oliver. You’re losing your flipping mind,” I audibly said, the addiction coming before the poison. I closed my laptop with that and called it a night, trying like hell to keep my attention on the thought experiment on television. The quantum suicide theory that might explain why movies illustrate how reality actually works. To explain why that shouldn’t happen is impossible for a scientist. I got that, and I got Jaq, or at least I wanted to try anyway. That’s where my thoughts were as I dozed off, not quantum suicide.

The next day at work was much the same, mundane, yet full of thoughts. And yes, I ended up back in her neighborhood, but I didn’t learn much. She hadn’t come out. Hooker, or Wallace, as I had learned from an angry mother screaming for him from a corner. Wallace told me all of her lights were on in her apartment the entire night, but the drapes were drawn. Same thing the next day, and the next. Searching every record, I could find for Jaq Tarantino did little for my investigation. She was like a ghost. Even the files I found on her in county records were vague. More than likely, they were in a folder, tucked away in some forgotten filing cabinet, not on a hard drive. Her self-diagnosis research and Hooker were my only tools, a punk ass kid from the Bronx and a skillful valetudinarian. That’s it.

Twelve days. That’s how many days I drove over to the hood to pay my private investigator for nothing. There was a note taped to her door, informing her of her full mailbox. She would have to go to the post office to claim her mail. That’s what the kid said. Her lights came on just before dark and stayed on the entire night, her mail hadn’t been checked in days, and she hadn’t left her apartment. That worried me, and I didn’t even know why. It wasn’t like I could do anything, and the one thing I could do was wrong on so many levels, but it did cross my mind. A lot.

It was finally that night, almost two weeks from the day she had called me, asking me to kill her that I made the call. I took a deep breath of air into my lungs and hit send just after dark.

“Hello.”

“Who is this? What do you want?”

“It’s Oliver Benson.”

Silence filled the space between us and I had to speak again, trying to soften my gravelly voice. “Jaq? Are you there?”

“What do you want?”

“I thought maybe you would like to talk.”

“About the thing? You’ll do it?”

“Maybe, but you have to talk to me first.”

“About what?”

“You, and why you want to do this.”

“Because it’s better than living.”

I asked because I genuinely wanted to know. “What are you afraid of?”

An obvious snort was heard and then silence. Just when I was about to coax her again, she spoke in a frail, faint voice. “I’m afraid of everything.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Nobody knows why I’m like this and nobody cares.”

“I care.”

“No, you don’t. You don’t even know me.”

“Okay, talk to me, tell me about yourself..”

“I should, and then you would know what a freak I am. You’ll be happy to get me off the same planet as you.”

My nails dug into my scalp while I pondered what to say, my mind trying to put a face to the voice. I pictured her to be blonde and probably pale as a ghost, a pompous judgment based off her weak nature. “I don’t think you’re a freak. I think you’ve got a history that has shaped your life, and you think it’s the only way but it’s not. Let me help you.”

“Why?”

I stood and walked toward the sound of sirens, my eyes staring through the city lights in a daze like fashion. It would have been easier to explain had I understood it myself, but I didn’t, Not even a little. “I’m, I—.”

“You want to do things to me. You want to hurt me.”

“No, that’s not it at all. I’m a scientist with a very active mind, working an ordinary job, and it’s not working for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m—it’s like—I have something I’d like to try with you. To help you,” I quickly added, trying like hell not to sound like the oddity I felt.

“So you want to make me a specimen?”

“I mean, sort of.”

“Like a drug study? I did that once when I was fifteen. It didn’t work.”

“No, not man made drugs. I want to try something else. Something my father did years ago with a girl like you, similar background.”

“Nobody has my background.”

“This girl was kept in a cage for thirteen years. No contact with people. Ever.”

“Why?”

That got her attention, and I could tell she was more than intrigued. I might have even said she was on the hook, at least nibbling it. “He was what you might call a mad scientist. The point is, my father helped her. If you do a search on Styloid, you should be able to pull it up.”

“I don’t have the internet.”

I refrained from telling her to use her neighbor’s as she had been and talked about the lake instead, thoughts of the shambles it was probably in crossing my mind. It had been years since I had been back there, and I was one hundred percent sure, my brother, Silas hadn’t either. Who knew what I would find, what I was about to get myself into, but…I wanted it, I needed it, and she needed it. “I would like to take you away from the city. My childhood home. The lake is beautiful this time of year. Flowers are starting to bloom, the sun is warm, and the nights are full of twinkling stars. There are no people around. It would be you and me.”

“I don’t believe you. You want to use me. You’re going to make me do things.”

A deep breath filled my lungs and I reeled it in, my unpolished skills manifesting from out of nowhere. “Okay, okay. I get it. Will you at least talk to me? Maybe we can work up to that.”

The stillness between us gave me a bit of hope. “I don’t have very many minutes.”

“I’ll send you a phone.”

“You don’t know where I live.”

Again, I abstained from breaking the news that I indeed knew where she lived. “You can tell me, Jaq.”

“But I won’t go to my mailbox. I can’t get it.”

“It will come right to your door. Why can’t you go to your mailbox?”

“I just can’t. I have to go. It’s time for my medicine.”

“Wait, don’t go. I’ll hold on.”

“I’ll run out of minutes.”

“I’m going to send you a phone.”

The quietness between us was a sure sign that she was thinking about it. “I don’t understand what this is all about. What if something bad happens?”

“Then I will personally give you your wish.”

“You’ll kill me?”

My head shook back and forth, thinking about the alternative. “Yes.”

“Promise?”

I promised and tried again. “Will you go to Maine with me?”

“Maine?”

“Yes, that’s where the house is.”

“No. I can’t.”

Even with the disapproving words, I knew with everything in me that I would be back there…with her. “Okay, we’ll do this for as long as you need. I’ll send you a cell phone, and get your internet turned on. I need to be able to send you things.”

“What kind of things?”

“Simple things. Don’t worry about any of that. This isn’t a test. I really think I can help you, Jaq,” I assured her, or maybe it was my own selfish assurance as a stream of adrenaline pumped fiercely through my veins.

“I won’t open the door.”

“It’s okay. I will send a friend. He’s black, a young boy, maybe thirteen or so. His name is Wallace. It will only be him.”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you have to lose, Jaq? Isn’t it worth a shot? Wouldn’t you like to be happy and not be afraid all the time?”

“But, you don’t understand. You can’t help me. I’ve seen doctor after doctor, I’ve taken every drug out there. It doesn’t work for me.”

“What do you take? What prescriptions are you on now?”

“A lot.”

Jaq wasn’t kidding. She was on five different prescriptions plus something for the constipation one of them caused, all for numerous ailments. I scribbled the names she read from the labels while she sounded out syllables like a first grader. She was more worried about running out than what they were for; even the two given as a placebo, one for her fuzzy head, and one for the nightmares. One of them was actually Obecalp, placebo spelled backward. Sure there was a reason, I didn’t disclose that information.”

“I’ll send your medicine. Is there anything else you need?”

The hesitation told me there was more. “No.”

“It’s okay, Jaq. You can tell me. I’m here to help you. I will have my friend Wallace there tomorrow. If there’s anything you need, tell me.”

“I’m hungry.”

That statement was felt more than heard and it took me a second to respond. “I’ll send some food,”

“Okay, can I go now?”

“Yes, and make sure you open the door for Wallace.”

“What if it’s someone else? What if I open the door for a bad guy?”

“I’ll call you. I’ll tell you what he’s wearing and I’ll stay on the phone with you until the door is locked behind him.”

“Oh, okay. I guess that will be okay. Goodbye.”

“Goodnight, Jaq.”

“Wait. You don’t know my address.”

“Oh right, you’re quick. Good job,” I praised, mentally chastising myself for the slip.

My phone went into the air, plopping to the sofa as my hands met my knees. I stayed in that position, my eyes momentarily focused on a brown swirl in the tile, trying to take it all in. For the first time in years, I was excited about something, something huge.

Reaching for my phone, I stood up and dialed my brother’s number. “Silas,” I said excitedly.

“Hey, bro. I’m sort of busy; can I call you later?”

“Silas, I’m going to the house.”

“The house?”

“Yes, the lake house.”

“There’s no power.”

“I’ll have it turned on before I go, genius.”

“Oh. Okay, great. Can this wait?”

“You with a girl?”

“Sort of.”

“Fine, you can call me later, just answer one question so I know whether or not to look elsewhere. Can you get me a couple prescriptions?”

“Um, sure. What kind of prescriptions?”

“I don’t want to get into it yet if you’re distracted.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely distracted. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

I’m really not sure if I slept at all that night, too many things running through my mind. The house, getting her there, the medication, her being hungry, so many things I needed to do. A purpose. I had a purpose again.

Chapter Two

For the first time since I had started my new job, I called in sick, and truth be told, I really wanted to call and say I quit, take my subject back to Maine, and start my experiment. The gratification I would get from that would be greater than her own, greater than a Nobel Prize, a breakthrough that could make a difference in so many lives. I knew I could do it. If only I could talk her out of that apartment.

My first stop was the local phone company. I waited with a red number twenty-two, a paper tag that would tell me when it was my turn. My nerves were crazy, almost to the point of pacing. What if they needed inside? What if she wouldn’t go for that? The chances of that were high. Very high.

I jumped, my body jolting from the unexpected ring in my pocket and stood. “Hey,” I answered, looking up to the number seventeen and then my tag while I walked to the far end, away from people.

“What’s up, bro?”

“A lot, Silas. I met this girl, well sort of. It’s complicated.”

“Yeah, I had one of those last night, too. She’s sexy as fuck and I’m here for a week trying like hell to make her a five-night stand. Are you smelling what I’m cooking?”

I furrowed my brows, a light shake of my head, and sarcastically replied. “Yeah, that sounds complicated.”

“Right? Your turn. Who’s the lucky lady?”

“Well, she’s not really a lady. She’s barely eighteen.”

“Um, yeah, disapprove.”

“No, it’s not like that. Remember Dad’s old journals? The ones with that wild girl?”

“You found a wild girl?”

“No, not exactly. She’s scared.”

“I’m so confused right now, Oliver. Why are you going to the lake?”

The lady behind the counter called the number before mine, speedily rushing my call. “I’ve got to go. Are you going to be around? I’ll call you in a little bit.”

“I’m in Portland, getting ready to go into a meeting. I’ll call you. This isn’t anything illegal, is it?”

Twenty-one. Twenty-one.

“Not yet. We’ll talk later.”

Lucky for me, the lady didn’t ask questions. She didn’t care whether I was paying for someone else’s internet services or not. Unlucky for me, they needed inside. I set it up for that afternoon, unsure if I could get them in.

Next came the grocery store. I had a feeling she wasn’t really picky, so I filled a cart with things I liked. A lot of fresh fruit, raw vegetables, and lean meat. Potatoes, bread, and condiments. I even stopped just before arriving in her neighborhood for a carton of ice-cream. My favorite. Butter Pecan.

Wallace stood by my side holding the bag while I dialed her number, patiently waiting for his pay.

“Hello.”

“Hi, it’s me. Can Wallace come up?”

Her voice was shaky, and I had a feeling she’d been nervously waiting for this all morning. “I don’t think this is a good idea anymore.”

I used her hunger, debating on asking if I could bring it myself. The vibes I got from her told me she wasn’t quite ready for that. “I brought food.”

“He can’t get in without the code.”

“What is it, Jaq? Tell me what it is.”

“I’m scared.”

“Don’t be. Everything is fine. Tell me the code.”

“I can’t do this. Never mind, okay?”

I was too close to let her back out now. “No, it’s not okay. I have all this stuff for you. Tell me the code, I’ll bring it to you.”

Her reply was instant and loud. She wasn’t about to let that happen. “No! Let the boy come. Wallace.”

“Okay, good girl. What’s the code?”

“What if he comes back?”

“He won’t, Jaq. He’s nice. Tell me the code.”

“54956.”

“It’s okay. I’m right here. I’ll stay on the phone with you.” Holding the phone from my ear, I ushered Wallace to go, whispering the code. “Go, knock gently. Are you there, Jaq? Wallace is coming up.”

The tone was almost a whine. “No, I can’t. I won’t let him in.”

“He’s not going to hurt you, Jaq. I promise. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. Just keep talking. Tell me about your day. Did you sleep well?”

That was definitely a snort, sarcasm for sure. “No, I don’t really sleep.”

“I didn’t sleep much either. I had you on my mind.”

“You did?”

“Yup and you’re going places. That’s a promise.”

“I feel like you’re up to something. I don’t understand why you would do this.”

“I’m not up to anything.”

A loud gasp was heard and then silence, followed by a whisper. “He’s here.”

“It’s okay. Open the door. It’s just Wallace. He’s just going to hand you a bag.”

“What if it’s not?”

“It is. Look out your peephole.”

“I’m scared.”

“Jaq, I’m right here. Unlock the door.”

I listened to the locks being unlatched, four I think, and then I heard Wallace.

“I gots your food.”

“You’re okay, Jaq. Tell him to set them down.”

“Uh-uh.”

“I’ll just put them right here, okay?” Wallace said with a quiet tone, pleasing me with his behavior toward her.

Right after I heard the door slam, she nervously said goodbye. “I got it. Goodbye.”

“Wait, I have someone coming to hook up your internet at one.”

“I’m done, dude. Where’s my pay?”

I dropped my phone and frowned at Wallace, shushing him with a finger over my lips.

“No way. I’m not doing that.”

“What if Wallace comes back? He’s a tough kid, he’ll protect you. He’ll stay there while they work.”

“That’s gonna cost you more.”

“I’ll just use my neighbor’s internet. I know when it’s on.”

“Okay, how about this? You can lock yourself in the bathroom and I’ll stay on the phone with you while they’re there.”

“Broccoli and grapes. What do I look like? Where’s the pizza, the chips, the soda?”

“I’ll order you a pizza and soda tonight if you let them come in and turn on the internet.”

The quietness was a considering sign. “I don’t know. Is it just one person?”

“I don’t know, but you don’t have to know either. You can hide behind the bathroom door and I’ll talk to you until they’re gone.”

“I do that all the time.”

I frowned, wondering what we were actually talking about. “Do what?”

“Never mind. When?”

I slapped Wallace’s hand away while fetching my wallet. “I’m not sure, after two. They’re going to call me when they’re on their way. I’ll call you and let you know as soon as I know. Okay?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll take that. In the meantime, there’s a cellphone in the bag. Spend some time on that, think about that, not the phone guys. Can you do that?”

“It’s a smartphone.”

“Yes, it is. Fully charged. Set up a nice ringtone, pick a nice photo for your screen, find a game. Focus on that, that’s it. Okay?”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

“Good girl. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Goodbye.”

I let out an anxious breath of air and slapped a ten in Wallace’s hand.

“What’s wrong with her? What’cha gonna do?”

“I have no idea. She’s sick.”

“She crazy. You want me to come back for the internet people?”

With an idea already in mind, I looked at my watch and got in my car; time an important virtue. “I’ll call you. Thanks, Wallace.”

“It’s Hooker. Stop calling me that,” he yelled, his bark way worse than his bite.

“Now, where does one find spy cameras in New York?” I questioned aloud, driving through the rundown streets with my thumb searching for an address on my phone. I couldn’t help but think about her back home, where she could go outside anytime she wanted without being afraid. And then I thought about the mess and what kind of shape the house would be in. I was thirteen the last time I was there; the last time anyone was there. For all I knew the place wasn’t even livable.

There were two spy stores in the city, one on the east side and one the west. I chose the one closest to me, in awe of the technology. Genius and expensive. The minuscule batteries alone cost a fortune. Nine hundred-fifty-two bucks and three tiny cameras’ later, I was set. Now if I could just get them placed without her knowing. Her hiding in the bathroom was perfect, me talking to her on the other side of the door was not. Hell, I would just tell her I would be the one there. It was my money, she was eating my food, and using my phone and internet. If this was going to work, it was going to be my way.

I parked my car on the same side as her apartment, a parking lot almost directly in front of her apartment. Of course, I didn’t see any movement, not that I was expecting to, and the drapes never moved. The tiny cameras I had just cut off an arm and a leg for had me overly impressed. Smaller than a pencil eraser. Now, to get them up there. My eyes shifted to the second floor as a deep breath filled my lungs.

“God,” I cried when my phone rang in my lap. Being jumpy like this was sort of foreign. I hadn’t had this much exciting adrenaline in years.

“Hey, bro. So give me the scoop. What are you up to?”

“Man, Silas. I don’t know. This chick called me from out of the blue a few weeks back, only she called the wrong Oliver Benson.”

“There’s two of you? Good Lord.”

I ignored the humor attempt, my fingers pinching the bridge of my nose for a quick second and then turned back to the expert hacky-sacker, a kid not much more than a toddler. Alone on the sidewalk, not an adult in sight. Nothing about this was funny. “From my own research, I think there’s four. Two in New York. Anyway, she was looking for a hit man.”

“Whoa. Hold the phone. What the hell are you doing, Oliver?”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head at my idiot brother. “I’m not going to knock anyone off, and that’s not why she called.”

“But you just said—.”

“You didn’t let me finish. She wanted a hitman to kill her.”

“Why? And why didn’t she just do it herself.”

“She’s scared.”

“Of what?”

“Everything, I have no idea, but I’m about to find out.”

“You’re taking her to the lake? You know that place hasn’t been opened in what …?”

“Yes, I know, but not yet. She won’t let me get close to her.”

“Is she in a psych ward or something?”

“No, she lives in a shitty part of town. I haven’t got the story on that yet, but I know she’s been there for about three months. I just don’t know why yet. Someone approached her a couple weeks ago, and I guess she lost it. Sat down in the street and started screaming.”

“How do you know this?”

“This kid. He’s been keeping an eye on the place for me. He said she took off running, leaving her groceries on the street. That was the last time she was out of her apartment.”

“What are you going to do, Oliver? I don’t like this.”

“You know what I’m going to do. I just have to find the formula. Surely he left it somewhere, maybe the journals.”

The anxious grunt came before the words. “Ha, um yeah. You’ve flipped your lid. I told you to go into business school. You never listen to me. You can’t induce love through a manmade drug laced with LSD. Stop, leave the girl alone. Let’s do something. An adventure. Brazil. I was there last month, and man, you want a place to find the meaning of life? Go there. The beaches are truly cosmic.”

“Yeah, like I’m going to jump on a plane and fly anywhere. I’m doing this, Silas. She needs me. She needs someone.”

“Why you? Where’s her family?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m just now scratching the surface.”

“Oh, my God. It’s finally happened. You’ve lost your mind. Oliver, get a hold of yourself, dude. Listen to what you’re saying. I don’t like it, Oliver. I’m the oldest. You’re supposed to listen to me. Listen, damn it.”

“I’ve got to go. I’ll keep you posted. I’m about to plant a few cameras’ in her apartment.”

“Oliver. Seriously? You’re going to go to jail.”

“I’m not. I’ll talk to you soon. Oh, what about the list of meds I sent you. Can you get them?”

“Yeah, they’ll be there tomorrow, FedEx, but did you know two of those drugs are placebo?”

“Yeah, I knew that. I have to go.”

I hung up without a proper goodbye, switching to the call on hold. There wasn’t enough time to explain that one. “This is Oliver.”

“About time. I’ve got an order for 119 Dressler Street. I’ll be there in thirty.”

“Sorry, I was on another call. I’ll see you then.”

It took two tries to get Jaq to answer her new number. Just when I was about to hang up and try the old one, she answered. “Hello.”

“Hi, it’s me.”

“Ollie?”

“Oliver, yes. The internet guy will be here—there, in thirty minutes.”