Accession of the Stone Born: The Vigiles Urbani Chronicles (4 page)

Andrew smiled. “Finish your scotch, get some sleep, and we can discuss it more tomorrow.”

I held my glass out to Andrew before downing the rest of it. Standing, I gave him a quick bow and smiled. “Thank you again for taking me in tonight.”

Andrew nodded and finished his drink. “Sleep well. See you in the morning.”

I padded off to my suite and collapsed on the bed without getting out of my clothes, and for the first time in twenty years I didn’t have the nightmare that had haunted me. Instead, I dreamt of my father talking to Uncle Andrew. It was the first time since his death that I’d ever dreamt of him.

Chapter 2

Thursday May 28th

My rest was fraught with twist and turns, which made the bed creak and groan under my weight. I awoke, clammy, hair soaked, and barely rested. Laying in a soft cushy bed felt...uncomfortable, weird, and unsettling. The soft mattress made me ache in strange places, as the old springs supported me in unfamiliar pressure points.

It was around midnight when I considered pulling the bedding off and sleeping on the laundry room floor. It was small, defensible, and smooth, but that was an impossibility since I was trying to “fit in.” When I got a place of my own that was secure, maybe then, but now…now I had to pretend, I had to fit in. So I forced myself to turn over and try to get a few more hours of fitful sleep.

Rolling out of bed, I flipped on the lamp and headed for the shower. Again I couldn’t help but feel out of place in the civilian world. The power never flickered, hot water poured out of the showerhead and never got cool. The room was oddly quiet…no background sounds of fighter jets overhead, gunshots in the streets, or far off explosions that I’d become so accustomed to over the years. After spending so many years in one warzone or another, I had become accustomed to the sounds, smells, and sights. Here in the States it was so quiet, almost tranquil.

I’d often been sequestered on base with at least two guards escorting me wherever I needed to go. The lack of guards made me feel somewhat lonely and gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. The barracks were full of conversations, laughter, and comradery. It wasn’t as if I’d been included in any of it, but I did miss the sounds. Then there were the smells of the base and people who lived there. That may sound like odd things to miss, but there you have it. Not that I could smell anything, since a few hours after landing, the humidity and mold had me completely stopped up.

The furniture was so clean. I’d become accustomed to a thin layer of sand coating everything…no matter how hard you tried, it was always there. Shaking my head at the thoughts, I pulled out a clean set of clothes and mechanically pulled them on. I needed to get past this sooner rather than later if I was going to survive in the private sector. I finished dressing quickly and headed out of the room, leaving my dirty clothes in a pile in front of the washer. It was a few minutes to five when I pushed open the door and found Andrew in the middle of preparing breakfast.

Andrew glanced over at me and cocked his head. “Sleep well?”

Heading towards the stove, I lied. “Absolutely!”

Andrew paused, and eyed me again. “If that’s what you look like after a good night’s sleep, then you’re going to either need several more such nights or to learn what a good night’s sleep really is.”

Ignoring his comment, I shrugged. “Anything I can help you with?”

Andrew gave me a haughty look. “You can sit your ass down, before I knock you down. You’re in the south now and we take care of our guests.”

I found myself following his instructions without a second thought. These new sensations I’d been experiencing since my arrival were very unsettling. The voice in the back of my head told me not to worry, which only made me worry more.

Reluctantly taking my seat, I said, “You don’t have to wait on me. I’m old enough to make breakfast for the two of us.”

Andrew pursed his lips and sucked in air through his teeth loudly. “The question is, can you cook?”

I felt my chest swell with pride. Cooking was one of the few talents I possessed that would actually be acceptable in the States. It was unlikely there would be bloodshed or deaths involved, which for me was a bonus. During one of my many recovery periods from a serious injury, they’d taught me to cook as part of my rehabilitation.

“I’m actually a really good cook.” I said.

Andrew didn’t appear convinced as he spooned potatoes onto the plates. “We’ll find out tomorrow morning. You’ll be restricted to the basics of what’s in the fridge. If you can make something that I don’t want to scrape off my tongue after, then you have my permission to cook. Otherwise, don’t touch shit!”

That made me chuckle. It was a good sign that he wanted me to stick around. One of the things that kept me up last night was the fact that my current state of unemployment dictated that I needed a few things. “Uncle Andrew, do you know where I can pick up a cell phone and a computer?”

Andrew pushed a plate filled with crispy hash browns and two fried eggs in front of me before sitting down with his own. “I’ve got a perfectly good computer in the other room, if you’d like to use it.”

Grabbing a fork, I was grateful for the offer, but I still shook my head no. “Thanks, but I really need to pick up one for myself. Something portable that I can use wherever I happen to wind up.”

Andrew chewed his food silently, and absently stabbed a few more bits of potato with his fork before nodding. “There’s an Office Depot on St. Charles not too far away if you need something quick. They should be able to help you with the phone and the computer.” He paused, looked in my eyes, and smiled. “You know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you like.”

“Thanks,” I replied.

Andrew continued, speaking between bites. “Is there anything else you need?”

The thought of spending so much of what was left of the cash in my bank account made my stomach tighten. “I’m going to need something to get around in. I can’t bum rides from people every time I need to go somewhere, and New Orleans isn’t exactly known for its public transit system.”

A tiny derisive breath escaped him while nodding in agreement. “You make a fair point, but I might have a solution.”

That perked my interest as I tore my eyes off the plate to look up at my uncle. “Oh?”

Andrew’s smile faded, and he dabbed a paper napkin at the sides of his mouth. “I don’t get out like I used to. Which means I have two cars rotting in the garage.” He made a dismissive gesture. “It’s an older model vehicle, but I assure you it’s in great shape. If you want, I could sell it to you.”

I kind of felt like I was taking advantage of the old man, making me feel even more guilty than before. “I couldn’t take your car.”

Andrew’s eyes narrowed and his face lit up. “You wouldn’t be ‘taking it’! That’s stealing. No, you’d be buying it. Don’t worry so much. I have a second vehicle, and if I don’t feel up to driving I’ll ask you for a ride.”

How could I argue with that logic? He had a second car, so when I needed to move on he’d still have transportation. Then there was Isidore, who’d take him wherever he needed to go if I wasn’t there to do it. If he was willing to part with whatever was in the garage and it helped him in any way, how could I refuse? “Sounds good. How much do you want for it?”

Andrew was quiet for several seconds, pondering the question before settling on a decision. “I hate paying the insurance on it anyway. How about you give me twenty-five-hundred dollars and we call it even?”

Sticking a hand in my pocket I pulled out the wad of cash, counted out twenty-five one hundred dollar bills, and pushed them towards my uncle before pocketing the last of the cash. “Consider it done.”

Part of me really hated buying something sight unseen, but I didn’t like owing people. Having outstanding debts to family, friends, or people in general made me feel indentured to them, and I couldn’t stand that. No, far better that I handle it right away and be done with it.

Andrew was quick to pocket the money with a smile. “When we go downstairs I’ll show you the car before we head in and set up for the day.”

Picking at the last of my food, I nodded. “I take it you’ve got appointments?”

Andrew spread his hands in a casual manner. “Someone is selling a copy of the
Dunlap Broadsides
, and I’m supposed to authenticate it.”

I damn near fell out of my chair. “Someone is trying to sell a copy of the
Declaration of Independence
?”

Andrew shoved another forkful of potatoes in his mouth and shrugged. “There are twenty-six accounted for; after today there might be twenty-seven.”

I obviously didn’t understand what my uncle did for a living. How could he be so nonchalant about an original copy of the
Declaration of Independence
? My mouth had fallen open and I promptly closed it. “You’re acting like this isn’t that big of a deal.”

Andrew swallowed another bite of his food. “It isn’t.” He chuckled and waved his hands around in a grand gesture. “In my line of work, you can’t get all misty eyed every time some musty old document comes your way.”

That was something I could understand. After a while, work could desensitize you to things that would baffle anyone else stepping into your shoes. “Well, it may not be a big deal to you, but to me it’s pretty fucking impressive.”

Andrew eyed my plate and his face brightened. “Finish up while I grab the title to the car. I’ll have it notarized this afternoon so it will be all nice and legal.”

His rush to put the car in my name made me a little nervous, but his excitement about it still made me smile. “No rush on my account.”

Andrew looked all too happy with himself. “Hey, I consider this a great return on my investment. I got back exactly what I paid for it when I bought it used. It’s not every day you can say that!”

Fuck! I’d bought a third hand car, and only God knew what kind of shape it was in if it’s been sitting for a long time. All I could hope was that it ran until I could trade in the heap for a new car at the dealership.

Putting on my happy face, I smiled at my uncle. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service.”

Andrew disappeared, allowing me to finish what was on my plate before going for second helpings of the hash browns. He returned a few minutes later with an envelope in one hand and a set of keys he promptly shoved into his pocket.

Chewing the last bits of my breakfast, I followed him down the stairs and out the back into the private park my uncle called a backyard. The lush green yard was perfectly manicured, broken by ancient oaks ringed with golden yellow, brilliant white, and shimmering pink flowers in full bloom. Whoever maintained the grounds could give the White House staff some pointers.

It was a good hundred yards to the white brick four bay garage. Andrew pointed at the far door. Leaning over, I grabbed the metal handle, giving it a hefty tug and allowing it to roll up and over, revealing the deep cavernous room beyond. My mouth fell open when my eyes adjusted to the gloomy interior. There in the early morning light sat a mint condition maroon aerodynamic work of art, better known as the Tucker 48.

The car was eighteen feet long, six and a half feet wide, and five feet high, and of highly polished smooth, curved steel. It had the standard headlights on either side of the front fenders, with the most recognizable feature of a third directional light in the center of the vehicle. A part of me felt the way I had when I saw the photo of the lady on my uncle’s desk last night, as I couldn’t tear my eyes off this amazing piece of machinery. Stepping to the side to get a better angle, I could see the white walls gleaming in the morning sun. The metal body was so polished I could see the dawn reflected in the maroon paint.

Andrew slid between the wall and the car before opening the door and slipping into the driver's seat. He turned the key and the engine purred to life...purred might be wrong, but it wasn’t a growl. It was quiet, but the entire vehicle radiated power as it idled, taking stock of its new owner. A moment later Andrew turned it off, and I felt cheated not hearing its gentle purr in my ears.

He stepped out of the car and casually closed the door with a giant grin. “What do you think?”

Shaking my head, I felt numb, almost speechless. “I think I opened the wrong door.” Stepping back, I started towards the next bay when Andrew grabbed my arm. “You’re kidding, right?”

Andrew puffed out his chest with pride when he put the keys in my hand. “Absolutely not. This is yours.”

My hands were sweating. I felt like the keys would slip and fall at any moment. “I can’t afford this thing. There’s no way twenty-five-hundred will cover it!”

Andrew brushed off my concerns. “Think of it as twenty-eight years of missed Christmas and birthday presents.”

I nearly choked on the thought. “Uncle Andrew—”

Andrew waved me off with slight irritation in his voice. “Uncle nothing! You’ll take it, and if you’re a good boy I’ll show you what’s in there.” He pointed at the closed door next to this one. “The third door…well, that’s probably never going to happen, but boys can dream.”

What the fuck! If this was the shitty toy in my uncle’s collection, then I was in for a huge surprise one day. “Fine. I’ll hold it for you until you see fit that you need it back.”

Andrew rolled his eyes, amusement clear to see in his features. “If it makes you feel better, but I don’t make deals I don’t stand by.” He chuckled more to himself than me. “Besides, it was worth every cent to see the look on your face earlier when you thought you’d bought some piece of shit Oldsmobile. You take good care of her and she’ll take good care of you. Take her out for some fun and enjoy yourself.” He stood between me and the garage and motioned towards the back of the house. “Later of course. We’ve got work to do this morning.”

There were only fifty-one of these beauties made, and every one of them was unique in their own way. We stayed out in the garage till nearly seven as he pointed out all the features of the car, and there were many. Heading inside, Andrew clapped me on the back and smiled, and before I knew it we were setting up one of the clean rooms for use at 8:30 for the client with the documents that needed authenticating.