Dead Sure?: A Paranormal Mystery (25 page)

Tim grimaced reflexively, “Great, just great.”

“You know him?” the old man said curiously.

Hesitating, Tim answered, “Unfortunately, yes. I would appreciate it if you never mentioned this conversation took place.”

“As you can see from my filing system, I had no intention of giving the man any helpful information.”

“Good point.” They both laughed, it was the first truly enjoyable part of the conversation. “Thank you for all your help, it really means a lot to me.”

“You’re welcome, young man, if I was you, I would get rid of that thing as quickly as possible and don’t make any wishes with it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Tim said, turning and walking slowly out the door.

*    *    *

Angela sat in her office feeling a mix of emotions. It was six p.m., and Tim hadn’t come back to the office since leaving earlier in the afternoon. The truth was staring her in the face. His own journal had stated he was leaving today. Yet something in her, some strange feeling kept telling her different. What was that feeling, hope? Yes, maybe that was it, but why?

I’m wasting my time; he’s just like the rest. Tim’s probably just as bad as Charles and I keep failing to see it. Oh bullshit, Angela, you know that isn’t true; it just makes you feel better about the whole thing. I know he is going to show up, I just know it. Yeah, he’s a real prince charming, like there is such a thing. Well, if he doesn’t show up I won’t be surprised. He can’t pull the wool over my eyes.

Opening her drawer, she took out a fancily packaged White Orchid cigar and hurriedly removed the wrapping. She also pulled out of the drawer her new expensive lighter. She smiled at the novel device. It wasn’t cheap, but then fashion never is.

Leaning back, she closed her eyes, enjoying the cigar’s flavor, trying to forget about her worries.

With a groan the door swung open and Tim came walking in, a mix of melancholy and excitement on his face. 

Angela shot forward, her eyes opening wide with astonishment, as she instinctively grabbed for the small revolver she kept close at hand. Quickly realizing it was Tim, she set the gun back down on the desk. Fumbling for words, she blurted out the first thing that came into mind. “It’s you, you actually showed up.” Her face reddened a little with embarrassment at her weakness.

“Of course I did,” he replied, trying to sound convincing. Thinking better of it, he decided honesty was a better approach. “You’re right to be surprised; I had no intention of showing up tonight. You seem to be able to read me like a book.”

That comment elicited a wry smile from her.
If he only knew, except now I feel guilty about it. Why should I, I’m second choice anyway to some plan or scheme of his.

“Allow me to explain the whole story. If you stop me I might not get up the nerve to finish it.”

Angela just sat there staring at him, trying to look calm, blowing smoke rings. The truth was that she felt anything but calm. What was he going to confess to her? The anticipation was almost unbearable.

“I acquired a medallion at ahh; let’s just say I acquired it. Anyway, the medallion has magical powers. I have become convinced that if the person holding it wishes to go back in time or relive an event it will happen. I know, I know, that sounds absurd, so before I continue the story I would like to prove it to you.”

Angela stared coolly back at him. Whatever emotion she was feeling even she couldn’t identify. “You are seriously trying to tell me that a coin can manipulate time and that you are going to prove it to me.” Skepticism spread across her beautiful smooth-skinned face.  

“Yes, and I’m going to convince you of it.” He walked up to her and placed the ugly-looking coin into her right hand. The dragon side was facing up, the evil eyes glaring up at her, nostrils flared in defiance. It was as if it was saying just try me.

She squeezed her hand shut, covering the starring monstrosity with her slender fingers; her red finger nails now gleaming back at her.

“Try wishing that the two of us are back taking our relaxing walk after lunch again. Trust me, just try it. Be very specific in your mind about the details,” Tim said imploringly.

Why she trusted him she couldn’t explain. However, she wished for exactly that, to enjoy again their afternoon walk and embrace. A warm sensation washed over her body, and she felt her eyes closing and then tingling mixed with a sharp pain.

Forcing her eyes open, she found herself standing in the late afternoon sunshine next to Tim, several blocks from the restaurant where they had eaten lunch. This wasn’t exactly what she had wished for, but it was close.

She had never felt more confused in her whole life. What had just happened? This whole experience couldn’t be for real, could it? “Tim, did that really happen or am I finally losing it? What time is it anyway?”

“No, it happened and thanks for trusting me. It’s five minutes after five. We only went back about an hour. That thing is very unpredictable. I’m glad you wished for what we discussed or it could have turned out very badly.”  

“I’m not sure I follow that.”

“I strongly believe that this peculiar medallion only works once. If you wish for something accidentally, you may end up living to regret it.”

“What do you mean it only works once? If I try it again nothing will happen? That’s almost as hard to believe as the first part.”

“Try it, let’s prove my theory together. Wish to go back to our lunch today. How about the part where the food was just arriving, it was sooo good.”

“Thanks, I was hoping you’d say the part about us kissing.”

“I’m just kidding, of course that was the highlight, but it doesn’t matter anyway, nothing will happen.”

Realizing she was holding the coin loosely, she tightened her grip on it again, and began her wish. It wasn’t a second before a serious pain swallowed up her hand, and began traveling up her arm. Angela held on tightly for another couple of seconds before the pain had reached her shoulders, forcing her to drop the coin and recoil from it, a look of horror on her face.

“That thing is cursed. Its unbelievable, yet the proof is right here.”

Tim bent down to pick it up. “As long as you aren’t trying to use it again, it is safe to carry around. I think,” he added tentatively.

Looking around, Angela pointed towards the park and urged Tim to start walking. “I don’t want anyone to see us with this thing, or notice how oddly we’re acting.”

“I would agree with you on that.”

They walked a couple of blocks in silence as Angela tried to wrap her head around what had just happened.

“Angela, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think you’ll believe me now if I tell you the rest of my story.”

“There’s more? I guess after that what else could be that shocking?”

“How about the concept that I bought this coin in nineteen-eighty-six, and that I’m from the future.”

“You’re kidding right? I mean, we just went back a few hours. You went back, wait a minute, that would be fifty-seven years.”

“Yes, that’s correct; it’s quite a culture shock. I have always been an avid history buff with a particular fascination for the nineteen-twenties. One afternoon after buying this coin, I picked it up and was staring at a postcard from this era and wished to see what it would be like. I got my wish and a whole lot more than I bargained for. I couldn’t confide it all to you before, because I have just pieced the whole thing together myself.” His face had an expectant look on it. What would she say next, the cards were all out on the table now?

She weighed her response carefully, something was nagging at her. It wasn’t the story or the validity of it. No, wait, it was the ugly truth that he had meant to leave that night without saying a word, leaving her and their new romance behind without a second thought.

“You know what bothers me, Tim; it’s that you were just going to leave me as if I didn’t matter to you.”

“No, Angela, it’s not like that at all. I am a widower, and back in nineteen-eighty-six I have a small daughter counting on me that now has no parents. I have been feeling desperate to get back to her. You are the only thing that has made nineteen-twenty-nine worth while. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the whole crazy story earlier.”

Angela smiled a small sad smile, “I’m sorry to here about your daughter Tim. I can understand why that must be so frustrating to you. That poor little girl! I’m sure she is confused about where her father went, and why he doesn’t come back.” She stopped walking and gave Tim a comforting hug. “It will be okay; somehow it will all turn out okay.” A soothing nature she was unaccustomed to poured out of her.

*    *    *

Charles watched as the young boy he hired earlier that day approached. “I thought you were going to report back tomorrow kid? You got something good for me?”

“I sure have, but its going to cost you two dollars.”

“The agreed upon price was a dollar, but if the information is good enough I’ll throw in another fifty cents.”

“Done,” the kid said, reaching his hand out to shake on it.

Charles smiled, “Spill it already, kid.”

“The guy you asked me to follow went to the park and searched the bushes for something. I wanted to know what it was and got pretty close. In the end the egg found what he was looking for, and you’ll never believe what it was.”

“I’m not easily shocked, try me.”

“It was the same coin that you gave to me to shut up about the robbery. The very same one I sold later to the coin dealer.”

The coincidence of it all stunk to Charles. What were the odds? Why did Tim want that coin, and what was it doing in the bushes at the park? Something just didn’t smell right about the whole thing.

“What else happened? I need to know every detail; it is very important,” he said in a slow deliberate voice. A voice that his mind felt detached from as it began to spin with endless possibilities and scenarios, none of which made much sense.  

“The egg picked it up from the bushes and then squeezed it in his hand. He just stood there stock still with his eyes closed as if he expected something to happen.”

“Well, did something happen?”

“Nothing at first, and then he dropped the thing like it was on fire or something. He looked like he was in pain. Then he carefully picked it up with a handkerchief.”

“Are you sure nothing at all happened?”

“I’m positive. I was right there, probably following a little closer than I should’ve. Next, the guy walked to the very coin shop that I had pawned the thing to several days earlier. He went in and started talking to the old crumb that runs the joint. That’s when they made me. The two of them come bursting out the front door yelling, ‘hey kid’. Of course I ran like hell. The pikers didn’t even bother to chase me. Now, give me two clams, you know this information was worth every penny of it.”

“You’re right, kid, it was.” He pulled out his money clip and peeled off two bills. “Now beat it.”

*    *    *

Twenty minutes later, it was no coincidence that Charles bumped into the old grey-haired merchant as the man finished his dinner and exited the corner diner. The shopkeeper was full and feeling much happier than before. Earlier, he had awoken from a strange dream about a man coming into the shop and asking about a medallion, and then he couldn’t remember the rest of the dream.

“Hey, old man, wait up a second.”

Oh, this rude young man again.
“I told you everything I knew earlier.”

“I’m thinking you know more now. Am I right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll call you if something comes up!”

“I think it already has, you old rag-a-muffin, and you’re just not telling me.” Charles grabbed the old man by his coat lapels and roughly shoved him into a small side alley.

“Listen, I don’t care for this kind of treatment at all!”

“Then be honest with me, old-timer.” Charles could see the fear in the merchant’s eyes, and he relished it.

“Okay, okay, some guy came into my store asking about it. I thought the whole thing was a dream,” he stammered.

“It wasn’t a dream, you old fool, now make with the details,” and with that, Charles shoved him roughly up against the brick wall banging his head hard. 

“I really can’t remember a thing beyond that,” he choked out.

“Maybe you just need a wake up call,” his fists began to pummel the old shopkeeper’s midsection. One blow after another, they hit the mark. Charles could feel a rib or two crack, as he continued his assault.

Coughing up blood, the old mutton-chopped coin dealer’s back slid down the wall, his ass landing hard on the concrete.

“So what’s it going to be, old man?”

“With difficulty between strained breaths, he wheezed out, “I don’t know anything.”

“Fine, if that’s your final thought on the matter.” Charles whipped out a knife from his suit pocket, and leaning down, he stabbed the man repeatedly, the blade making a sickening scraping noise as it encountered bone. After he was done, Charles calmly wiped the knife off with a handkerchief and replaced it in his pocket.