Chapter Seventy Seven

"What you mean dead? Is she.... like dead dead?" My head could not comprehend the words that came out of Richies mouth, and I was cringing hearing myself ask the stupid questions.
"Yeah, dead as she can be. I told the hospital I was a relative, I gave her brothers name Tony." Rich walked over and slapped me on my back, "your troubles are over buddy"
Without realising I gave rich the stink eye, "hey, what's with the look eh? Thought you'd be pleased..... what you've seen and heard ain't Antonia. "
"And cause it ain't her, you think my life can return to normal?, you not think her mom is gonna want a peice of me now her daughter is dead? Man my problems have only just begun."
"Jon what you taking, her mom is locked up right in some Jail, she ain't getting out an time soon, her goons and brothers are outta the picture too.... what you think she has henchmen hired on a payroll somewhere? "
"I dunno Rich, but there's some strange shit going on here today, I wanna forget it but something is biting at me telling me alls not right."
Teek joined in, " hey that's to be expected with what you've gone thru, but today could be circumstance?"
This time I threw my stink eye at Teek,  "circumstance? What about the voice David and me heard? Explain that?"
He looked at me as he lit his fifth cigarette in minutes, as he exhaled the blue smoke, and looking ahead he replied, "I don't have all the answers, but you need to be logical not hysterical, is alls I'm saying."
I looked at the rest of the guys, even matty was shaking his head in agreement,  the only person to agree with me was David. " no what guys, I hear ya I do, but you weren't there, the voice spoke from right behind us, when we turned round no one was there. You can't apply logic to that."
Matt asked, "why can't ya? Seems if you want it to be unexplained spooky shit, it's gonna, everything  in life has an explanation it just depends on if you want to hear it and accept it."
"So your saying were imagining it matt? Is that it? You think were both screwballs now?"
I gave him a look to be mindful of his reply, " no I'm not saying your screwballs,  I'm saying your getting carried away with everything...."
This time my voice was dangerous as I repeated his statement. "Carried away?"
Matt paid no attention to me and carried on, "well yeah, look you have been to hell and back with Antonia, " I interrupted, "you think?" "Yeah and drop the attitude Bro,  open your ears for once, stop trying to intimidate me and the guys and listen, OK? " I stood silent for a few seconds and looked at my baby brother standing up to me for the first time in his life, and at that moment I could not decide if he was brave or stupid. He continued, "no one is judging you or David on what you saw and heard, we're trying to be supportive and offer some suggestions, advice, comfort call it what you will, but all were hearing is dismissal of suggestions, to us it's like you want it to be, oh I dunno.... " Rich joined in, "un-natural"
"Yeah, un natural" David had stood listening as the guys shared there wisdom, and take on the events, so now I had to know, was it just me, or was he still with me on this one.
I asked him, " so I've heard from them, you were with me, what's your take on it all now?"
"Jon, I hear the guys, I hear you, for me what I seen and heard has scared the shit outta me, I wanna believe the logic, but I can't,  what I saw and heard the logic spoken here tonight, just don't gel, and I ain't gonna try to convince anyone, it maybe one of those things that will never be answered, who knows eh..   so I'm still with you on this one buddy, and on that note, I'm going home.... I'll print off the shots and courier them over tomorrow OK? " He straightend himself and moved to the door, raising his arm in goodbye salute to the guys he was gone.

 

As David had gone it wasn't long before the guys were making there excuses to leave too, and I found myself back at the door watching them leave.

As Teek was the last to go, I secured the door behind him, and double checked it was locked. I made the usual route around the house doing the same with all the windows and other exit doors too. Half an hour later I was back in the kitchen and fixing coffee. I looked at the clock on the wall and it hit me that Madison had not come home yet. With Coffee in hand I made my way to the den and called my ma's number on my cell.

"Hey Ma, what time Madison drop the kids with you?"

"Ages ago, why?"

"how long?"

"I dunno, bout half hour or more, she not back?"

"no, she say anything bout stopping for gas?"

"no, no cant say she did, but it could be hold ups on the free way, you know how it is..."

"not at 12.30am ma... ok, I'll call her cell..."

Jon, you know I'm sorry... can we..."

"ma, not now ok, I have to go, we'll speak soon,,, night..."

I ended the call as I did not want a full scale spat with my ma again on the phone. I felt an uneasy feeling in my bones and rang Madisons phone. it rang and rang and rang and went to voice mail, "Hey this is Madison, I cant get to the phone right now, so leave your voice and If I like the sound of ya ill get back to ya..." I left my message, "Maddy, where are you call me its Jon"

as I ended the call I sat on the couch in the den and watched waiting for my phone to ring...