Lost Contact (The Bridge Sequence Book One), Nathan Hystad [primary phonics books .TXT] 📗

on a Friday at closing time. I left my bag and checked the streets before dashing for the bar.

The spot was close enough to downtown to catch the blue-shirts crowd, and a few of them were already loudly arguing the merits of their investment plans when I entered. Marcus was at the same booth we always occupied, his laptop open. When he spotted me, he frowned, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry about that.” I plopped into the seat, the cracked leather bench pinching my leg.

“What the hell, man? You scared the crap out of me,” he said loudly.

“I know.” I explained what had happened, leaving out the issues and subsequent planned date with my boss, and he listened without a word until I was done.

“Damn it. Good thing we’re leaving town. Let’s lay low until Sunday,” he advised.

“I wish I could. I’m going to Klein’s for a dinner party tonight.” The waitress brought over a beer, sliding it across the dark wooden table.

“Rex, the last thing you should be doing is walking around in the open. Everyone knows you and Klein are close. If someone’s after you, they’ll be at that party.”

“I’d hope they weren’t on the guest list.” I sighed, wishing I could rewind things. How long had they been following me? Was it after I’d visited my sister, or well before?

I took a sip and stared at his computer. “What have you found?”

“These Believers are no joke if half of what I’m reading is true. Lots of speculation on some conspiracy sites, but nothing substantiated. They’re ghosts, Rex.”

“And what do the internet whackos think of them?” I asked.

He leaned closer, glancing around. Two gruff men sat in the booth beside us, wearing Red Sox hats and sharing a pitcher of beer.

“One guy, a reputable source as far as the internet goes, says they worship beings from outer space. He claims they mirror the coming of Christ, but instead of Judgment Day, we’ll be visited by aliens.”

“So Hunter Madison wasn’t lying.”

“Nope. And if Hunter was one, I wonder how he escaped,” Marcus said, making a good observation.

“You know cults. Easy to get in, impossible to leave. If he actually did break away, I bet it cost him a pretty penny.”

Marcus flipped the computer around, showing a picture. It was a symbol, one I thought I’d seen somewhere before. It looked like the top half of a star with three points only, bending at their tips.

“Do you know it?” I asked.

“No. Can’t find much on it, either These guys are covert, Rex. Like, clean as a whistle.” Marcus sipped at an iced tea, and I had an idea.

“Can you give me a ride tonight?”

“Oh man, I have a date. She’s meeting me here in an hour,” Marcus pleaded.

“Fine. But if I’m driven off the road and shot before I get to Klein’s, you’ll have to live with that,” I told him, keeping my voice low.

“Damn it. Rex, you owe me for this.”

____________

Doctor Richard Klein came from money, and I suspected he’d also done well for himself along the way. He owned a few properties near Harvard and rented them out to students who were used to the life of luxury. The type that wouldn’t stoop to residing in a dorm. Those alone probably earned him more annually than my salary, and every time I visited his home, I was reminded of how different our social classes were. The estate houses off Hammond Street continually impressed me, and while they weren’t quite on par with Madison’s East Hampton mansion, they were closing the gap quicky.

Klein’s home was a large brick colonial, with four dormers topping the roof and a guest house at the end of the yard, a pool between them. It was shut down for the year and covered, and I walked toward the house, avoiding the main entrance. If someone was watching for us, they likely would have missed Marcus parking his hatchback several blocks away and our ensuing trail across Klein’s neighbor’s land.

Klein’s two golden retrievers were in a large outdoor kennel, and they barked excitedly as they spotted Marcus and me. A motion sensor light flickered on at our movement, and a second later, the back door opened, revealing Janelle Klein. “Rex, is that you? What are you doing out here?” She wore a knee-length dress, an olive green number that made her look like a youthful fifty-seven.

I stammered out an excuse. “I… I wanted to show Marcus the yard. Isn’t it incredible?”

“Sure is. I like how the… trees line the…” Marcus stopped as Richard arrived, peering over his wife’s shoulder.

She turned to him and smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Look. Rex brought a guest.”

Richard frowned but waved us inside. “Marcus, good to see you again.”

“Likewise.” They shook hands, and I kissed Janelle’s cheek, entering their warm and inviting abode.

Richard’s wife slid her arm into Marcus’ and led him off toward the living room, and Richard came over. “What are you doing? You’re late, and you brought Marcus? This could be a real push for your career, Rex.”

“I know, but my car broke down, and I needed a lift,” I said.

“Too good for a taxi?”

“We were at the bar…”

“When are you going to grow up, Rex? You’re over forty, and you’re hanging out with this kid. Doing what? Chasing apparitions? I owe it to your parents to ensure you’re successful, and I’ll not let you throw your life away.”

It had been some time since I’d been chastised by a parental figure, and I clenched my jaw, taking the brunt of it without response.

“Did you hear me?” he asked, moving closer. Richard was wearing an Armani suit, the same one he’d worn to my mother’s funeral, and for a second, I closed my eyes, picturing the event. I’d walked around like a zombie for a week when I’d heard the news, and being reminded of that time firmed my resolve.

With a glance to ensure none of the guests overheard, I tapped his chest with a finger, stepping directly