Patsy Murray Read online

“I’ll ask Mitzi, but maybe we’ll invite you over to make out. Get the other perspective. Her parents are out of town for the weekend. We can Skype with Misti if she’d like.”

  “I’m not busy Friday night.”

  “Pervert.”

  “Geeky, nerdy pervert. Let’s be clear on that point up front.”

  Chapter 2

  When Misti graduated from high school and chose UCLA as her first choice in colleges, Adam was ecstatic. He was two years her senior and would now be just across town at CalTech in Pasadena. He rented an upscale condo midway between schools that they had long planned would be their private domain, close enough to commute, far enough away for privacy. They were young, happy and in love. They had been best buddies and experimental lovers all their lives; there were no other romantic, serious interests for either. They had each other, and that had always been more than enough for both.

  When Misti was ready to move down to LA, they were prepared. They had planned everything in every detail and were set to leave right after Misti’s graduation. Misti called a few days before graduation and asked to meet Adam in Seattle as soon as he could.

  He was there the next day.

  Misti looked intently at Adam looking as though she didn’t know where to begin.

  “I can’t come with you. You have to go on ahead alone.”

  “OK. I’ll go tomorrow. Get everything ready for when you arrive. No big deal.”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  “OK. What do you mean?” Adam was getting uncomfortable as if something was wrong and he was now the last to know.

  “I’m not coming with you now or ever. I’m breaking up with you. Our relationship is over. I’m moving on.”

  “What are you talking about? I want to marry you. Be together always. It’s what we planned from the time we were little kids. Nothing’s changed, has it?”

  “It has. I changed my mind. I don’t love you anymore like that, and I need my freedom. I want to experience my own life, a life away from Barrows Bay and you. I want to experience all that life has to offer, and you aren’t in my plans. Not anymore.”

  “Take time off, travel. Find yourself but don’t do this. Why are you acting this way?”

  “I need more than you. I need to have others in my life; to experience more than just one guy.”

  “Other men?”

  “Yes. You can’t be all there is to life. And women. I’m sorry, I should have told you this long ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to choose between the personal freedom I crave and a life confined only to you. I choose freedom. I love you for all we have meant to each other, but I’m not ready for just one man. Maybe one day; just not today.”

  Adam was dumbfounded and in shock. “If that’s what you want, then OK. This was a cold and cruel way to undo all that we were; I will never forgive you. I trusted you with my heart, and you’ve tossed me aside as if you were just canceling a hair appointment.”

  She turned to walk away.

  “Who did you talk to about this. Or was this your doing alone.”

  “Cindy. She helped me decide what was right for me, not you.”

  Adam walked away and returned to Barrows Bay alone.

  ***

  “Brother,” Rod Suarez, Adam’s “brother” exclaimed. “What brings you here tonight? I thought you lovebirds would be packing and having one last goodbye fuck on your way south.”

  “Step aside, Rod. Quit lying and get your wife out here. We need to talk.”

  Adam’s tone unsettled Rod. “Dude, settle down. You’re agitated. Come in and have a seat.”

  “I’ll stand, and I won’t be staying long.”

  Rod shouted for Cindy, who arrived momentarily.

  Adam said, “I understand you’ve been advising Misti behind my back.”

  “Misti and I talk. What we discuss doesn’t concern you.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Then let me re-phrase my answer. It’s none of your business.”

  Rod asked, “What’s this all about?”

  Cindy said, “None of your business either Rod. Stay out of this.”

  Adam looked at his brother and best friend growing up in Barrows Bay, a bond forged by two families seamlessly united as one.

  “Divorce her, take the children and be rid of this malevolent witch.”

  “Careful brother, that’s my wife you’re talking about.”

  “Ask her, if she’s capable of speaking the truth, then decide. Then it’s her or me. Take your time, but I leave in the morning for CalTech. Please swear you knew nothing about this.”

  “I’m in the dark here. I’ll speak to Cindy, then you. That’s all I know.”

  ***

  Adam spoke to Maria, Pops, Rod, and Cindy again. He made it clear that the world was now is divided into two parts. If any of them had had any communication with Misti without letting him in on the secret, they too were out of his life permanently.

  The family was likewise clear; Adam did not dictate terms. He agreed that was only fair and their personal decision to make. Inside he was raging; this was almost too much to bear from a family who had taken her side.

  Adam said calmly and quietly, “This is just my explanation of attendant consequences. There is no penalty, no terms, just consequences.”

  One by one they said they would not, could not do as he had requested, so they would just have to suffer the consequences. Everyone, Cindy and Rod included, assumed this episode would blow over in time. Being rough on Adam was nothing new; he would come around. Without family, he was lost.

  Adam packed that night, left a note addressed to all and departed for LA. He was at CalTech for two years finishing up his Ph.D.; then he went to New York City.

  He had no contact with his family in the years following the confrontation. Letters were returned unopened; requests for assistance via email shredded. Emails were deleted, and phone calls went unanswered. His official corporate biography made no mention of his family; those who asked were told they died years ago. He said he was alone in the world, and that was how he wished his life to move forward. He would build his future from the ground up; that included family, a new and invented family.

  His personality underwent drastic changes soon after which manifested in the usual, and some unusual ways.

  After several years in New York City, and fabulous success, Adam suddenly cut ties with many of his business clients in response to his anger over Misti’s growing business relationship with them, arranged by his father, Edward. All business contracts and work in progress with his company, Mindwerks, were abruptly terminated and allowed to bleed off; no further contracts would be let in the future if they did business with Misti Alarcon or Edward St. James. Misti had no family money, so someone, probably his father and mother, had to be behind her cash flow needs. Edward St. James had a pipeline of projects that came from the Victoria Institute, the American government, and global law enforcement. She was a trained anthropologist, so workflow was abundant, and she could move freely around the world for her job.

  After college, she just disappeared. Misti was gone, and Adam seemed to be the reason for it. Initially out of concern, he used his tracking resources through close friends, including Beata Armistead and her three computer geniuses, to find Misti, but to no avail. Eventually, he gave up.

  Though deeply hurt, he resolved to recover his emotional wellbeing and move on. Next time, his heart wouldn’t be so easily exposed and easy to wound. He would find someone new; someone trustworthy and honest. In the end, he blamed his youth and naivete for being such an idiot. In time, the pain lessened, but not his curiosity about the reason for the breakup. He believed there had to be something more, but whatever it was remained a mystery; no one was talking back home.

  Many of his past contacts and business associates all had the same response to Adam’s demands, but each for a different reason. In the end, they refused to join Team Adam. They maintai
ned their relationships with Edward and Anna, and most likely, Misti.

  Adam was immensely wealthy by then and would henceforth work only on his pet projects and diversify into a more significant number of new clients, each needing cutting edge tech. Each new client was required to agree to his terms, and all did so gleefully. Major competition was now frozen out due to their allegiance to Edward and Misti; these new clients thought Adam was worth his weight in gold, notwithstanding his quirky behavior and odd business practices. Boardrooms were replete with Directors doing their happy dances.

  The DOD, NSA, CIA, FBI, and DARPA were livid but unable to do anything about it. Demands and pleas to his patriotic sense of duty were made and ignored. For Adam, he told them, St. James Avenue was now a two-way street. Adam would play by his own rules, not theirs, and had iron-clad contracts and the law on his side. The government agencies had longstanding relationships with Edward and Anna, Maria, Pops and the Institute, so Adam knew he would lose out on that business, but not with other agencies in the US, Canada and globally.

  Adam hired top law firms to represent him, complete with former Justice Department and Inspector General alums. He was untouchable. The standoff continued and grew more bitter, and, as it did, so too did his company.

  Employees dissatisfied with events, or doubting the purpose of Adam’s intrusion into the life of an ex-girlfriend, were free to leave. Most stayed, but some left believing it was only a matter of time before Adam completely lost it for ‘felony something or other’; therefore, Mindwerks would be no more. After all, Adam’s conduct seemed creepy and made him look like a stalker.

  The fact they failed to consider, however, was that Adam now strictly compartmentalized his workplace duties from his emotions. When focused on working, he was the old genius and “Savant Adam.” When he wasn’t, he was ‘Fixated on Getting the Truth Adam”; he sought to learn what had really happened and why. Things in his world, including his Barrows Bay family, didn’t just suddenly disintegrate; there was a reason no one shared it with him.

  Those employees closest to him knew the difference between the “Adams” and supported his testy dual nature. Those unable to relate merely left.

  The only unanswered question was which ‘Adam’ personality outcome would eventually predominate. Even Adam had no clue. But this new Adam was a wholly new creature, and he would attract new beings to his side. Most were typical men and women of excellence in their chosen fields drawn within the gravitational pull of his genius and personality; others were women attracted by his capacity for romance, lust or love.

  One being was not. She was always with him, though unrevealed. That would change soon. Soon he would need her to safeguard his being. That was her job and, in tens of thousands of iterations in the MultiVerse with him, she had never failed to protect him.

  She would not fail this time either.

  Chapter 3

  There was a loud knock at the door of the Mindwerks Warehouse; people were busy working at their desks or consulting with colleagues in small rooms or just standing and arguing over one or more lines of code. A couple of couples were discussing plans for the evening, but only one guy heard the knock. There was a doorbell on the metal front door, habitually broken as it was just then, so the guy who heard the knock made his way to the door somewhat annoyed for the interruption. Among all the engineering talent in the Mindwerks Warehouse, not one had the complex engineering skills required to fix a $10.00 wireless doorbell.

  A lovely young woman was standing on the stoop there, bundled against the season’s chill and only asked if Adam St. James was in and if so, was he available to a chat. She mentioned she was an old friend from Barrows Bay and his Mom and Dad had asked her to drop by.

  “He’s in and not in a very good mood, but if you want to deal with the dragon, I’ll call him over.”

  “I’m familiar with his moods. I won’t be a minute, but if I could step inside, I’d appreciate it. It’s chilly and windy out here. “

  “Not supposed to, but you don’t look dangerous. Please wait here, and I’ll fetch the boss.”

  Misti placed a tiny object in the corner of the mudroom at the junction of the edges of the ceiling. It looked like the beginning of a mud wasp nest, though no wasps were rooming with the nerds at the time.

  The man walked off, scanning the floor and peeking into Adam’s office where he was now relaxed and speaking with their CFO and COO, Kalindra Wilson. Kalindra has soothed the beast sufficiently that a smile could be detected. She seemed to be the only one who could manage him these days; his symptoms of depression, the bouts of which he occasionally shared to the dismay of his employees, came on suddenly and without warning. The manifestation of varied behaviors from grouchy to almost sleepy-comatose was dealt with swiftly by his colleagues; Kalindra herself had moved into a newly built apartment near the ogre’s office.

  He did not go bananas; he merely seemed affected in odd ways. His colleagues loved him, knew the strength of his mind, but noticed new manifestations and a slight downward spiral. Kalindra asked her boyfriend, a local community activist and former NFL linebacker, to stay with her. Adam wasn’t violent, but if he became so, he was very, very dangerous.

  Adam walked to the door, having been told his guest was a looker, and expected to see Adele Mora, a close friend; she had blond hair, blue eyes and was well-toned from working out and able to kick ass. She was by far the only looker he knew.

  It was not. It was Misti Alarcon.

  “Who let you in?”

  “That nice man who answered the door. Don’t blame him. It’s windy and cold outside, and I smiled sweetly.”

  “No doubt a practiced affectation from your many years of freedom in the real world. Bet it works wonders in the bar scene.” Adam’s tone was caustic and sarcastic.

  He asked, “Again, why are you here? I’m pretty sure you know I have no desire to see or speak with you. If you have something to say, say it and leave.”

  “Can we go somewhere private?”

  “Why?”

  “Family business. We need to talk.”

  “We can talk here.”

  “Adam, please. I’ll be brief, but if you want to kick me out now, I’ll go.”

  “I want your ass out of here now. I don’t fight women, though, for you, I might make an exception.”

  Misti ignored the non-threat threat. “Is that a yes or a no?”

  Adam studied her face and relented. “This way.”

  The two walked from the entrance through the labyrinth of desks to the opposite end of the warehouse space toward his office, where Kalindra was still sitting. The nerds were taking bets on whether this was the one, the “she,” his ex who shut him down, turning him into less than the whole male he had once thought himself to be.

  Adam closed the door.

  Misti said, “I’d prefer alone. No offense, Miss.”

  “None taken. You’re Misti. Misti Alarcon. Forgive me for being direct, but I’m surprised you have the nerve to show your face here.”

  “I agree. But this wasn’t my idea.”

  Adam interjected. “Kalindra, don’t be fooled by her civility or her phony appearance. Don’t believe a single solitary word she says. She’s a practiced liar and possibly a high functioning sociopath. She leaves only devastation in her path. And no, Misti, Kalindra stays. I have no secrets from her. That’s what friendship means.”

  “Lovebirds?”

  “Her fiancé is in the next room. Perhaps you’d like to discuss it with him. Ex-linebacker for the Giants.”

  “I pass. But only because I wouldn’t want to hurt him or your CFO. I’m more dangerous now than ever before. You’d be dead in minutes if that’s what I chose.”

  Adam and Kalindra pulled handguns from seemingly nowhere.

  Adam said, “You were saying?”

  Misti, nonplussed by the show of lethal force, said, “Mom and Pops are in town and want to see you. We have things to dis
cuss.”

  “Such as?”

  “Private matters. My Dad is dead. Murdered. Your father thinks you, he and I are next.”

  “Sorry about your Dad. I liked him; he was a stand-up guy.”

  “And your father’s best friend.”

  “Your point being?”

  “We need your help.”

  “You mean you need my help. Sorry, but that ship has sailed. Besides, if you’re so badass, why do you need my help? Go ask my Dad. There are plenty of law enforcement out there to protect your ass.”

  “They’re coming for us. You can’t protect yourself on your own, and you need to help us.”

  “I doubt it. You’re on your own. Why isn’t Dad here?”

  “He’s safer where he is. Sent Mom and Pops to make it seem like we’re happy family catching up with each other.”

  “Give me a cell number to call. I’ll text when and where.”

  Adam paused.

  “Think twice, Misti. If this is a bullshit trap, I’ll destroy you and my Dad myself. Don’t think I can’t do it or don’t know how. I do.”

  “Arrogant prick. You’re smart and a genius, but you have no idea who I am. You and your little toyshop will be pick-up sticks with one phone call if that’s what I chose.”

  “Then maybe I should kill you right now.”

  “You don’t have the balls.”

  Adam fired one shot, barely grazing her shoulder, inches from her neck, and into a solid wall.

  “And you have no idea who I have become. Now, please leave.”

  ***

  Kalindra Wilson sat impassively in her chair in Adam’s office waiting for him to return from escorting Misti out the front door. Her hair today was in dreads; she changed her styles with wigs depending on how she felt from day to day. Her boyfriend loved the creativity; he admitted it was like having more than one girlfriend and that this roleplaying was fun for both of them. Kalindra had waited a long time to meet the right man, a man who was intelligent, thoughtful and gentle. They had dated for months before he finally found out who Kalindra was; she didn’t want to bother with sorting out who liked her for her wealth and who liked her for just being Kalindra, the girl from Brooklyn.