Page 26 of Letters Book Two
“He’s alive, but he needs you. Unfortunately, her husband, Mr. Howard, has been shot. Do you know someone named Clint Bowers?” I shook my headno.“He’s been shot as well. Mrs. Howard seemed to know this Clint fella and he’s involved somehow.”
“What? How? Did she say what happened?” My mind was reeling, but I was coming around.Lucas was alive?“She said Lucas is alive?” I whispered.
Chad nodded. “Yes, but he’s unconscious and in critical condition. Mr. Bowers and Mr. Howard are both in surgery right now. We need to go, Perry.”
“Yes. Yes, of course. I... I... need, uhm, what do I need to do?” I looked at Chad, lost and confused still.
“Remember the private plane you told me you joked about with Lucas. Is that real?”
I nodded and found Jeremy’s number in my cell, handing it to him. “Call my assistant, Jeremy. He can handle everything.” I slouched forward and rested my forehead on the edge of the patio table.Jack, I can’t do this again.
Chad turned and yelled at the open sliding-glass door. “Michael! Come quick! We need you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: Lucas
The last gunshot rang in my ears, and I watched as the assailant bounded for the door. I couldn’t see who he had fired at but wondered why he hadn’t finished me off.Had he finished me off? Was I dead? Where’d he go?I gazed across the floor toward the front door, but I couldn’t tell if he was gone. Everything was so quiet after all the commotion. Seconds now seemed like hours in the aftermath. Oddly, I felt peaceful. I didn’t feel any pain.So, this is how it feels when your body quits. I should have written Perry a letter. He needs a letter. He needs to know I loved him.
I heard footsteps.He’s back to finish me off.
“Jesus! Ed! Ed! Can you hear me, Ed?” There was a strange voice outside my door on the entry landing.
“Hey! Over here! I’m right over here.” I tried lifting my foot. Maybe I could kick at something. Nothing worked. “Here! Hey, mister.” I heard me screaming, but I wasn’t sure he could.
The door squeaked as the man slowly pushed it open. “I need an ambulance at Howard’s Garage. You need to get someone here as fast as possible.” He was on his cell. I could see him standing in the doorway. It wasn’t the attacker. The room glowed red as I stared unblinking through bloody eyes. “Three people hurt. One at the top of the stairs and it looks like two in the attic area.” He paused and took a step into the room, cautiously looking around my small place. “Yes, two are down in the room. A lot of blood.”
“I’m alive, over here. Check on Clint, can you?”Why didn’t he hear me? Was I dead?
“Absolutely! I’ll try.” He bent over and held his fingers against Clint’s neck. “Yes, there is, but it’s faint. Let me check this one...” He gasped, “Lucas? Is that you?” He reached for my hand that was awkwardly splayed above my head. I was face down, my head sideways, staring at a customer I knew well. “I don’t recognize the third person, but Lucas Jenson, an employee of Ed’s, is the other victim. He’s not moving.”
“I’m alive, Mr. Logan. It’s me, Lucas.” He once again couldn’t hear me. His face looked anguished and overwhelmed.
I felt his hand on my neck. “Yes, his is faint too. You’re going to need multiple aid units. It’s a goddamned mess. Please hurry.”
Mr. Logan held my hand and brushed his hand over the side of my face. “Hang on. It’s going to be fine. I’m here for you, son. Try to hang on. There are people coming. Hang on.”
I sensed another hand holding mine. It was eerily soft, warm, and kind. The loving embrace swept me into his arms. In a flash of an eye, I was escorted away. The breeze passed through me as if we were not real. I recognized the beach we were on. “Momma? Lachen? Are you here?” I could hear my voice in my head. I gazed at the man holding me effortlessly. He was serene and hauntingly handsome. The angel, or whatever this creature was, gently set me down next to him on the sand. The waves gently crested to the shore and moved through me. They weren’t wet, but they moved directly into my skin and beyond. I felt peace surrounding me as I held hands with the stranger.
I turned to the apparition. “Do you know Momma?” I didn’t know who I was with, but I felt the love emanating from him. “Are her and Daddy coming today?”
The waves washed ashore, and I watched as the salty water disappeared through my feet and into the sand. “They aren’t coming today, Lucas.” I felt his warmth flow through me as he held my hand and my gaze with so much love.
“Why?” I scanned the beach for Momma and Lachen. “I need her. Momma, please help me!” I saw our favorite picnic site and expected them to be there. “Momma?”
“I don’t want you to see your momma, Lucas. Not today. Do you understand?”
“Have you met her? Does she know I’m here to meet her?” I continued to follow him down the beach, wondering, questioning. “Do you know Momma?”
The beautiful image stopped and turned to me. His eyes were brilliant blue, and he spoke to me without moving his lips. “No, but I know of her. She doesn’t want you to see her today, Lucas. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“I’m not dead?”
He nodded his head and smiled. “That is correct.”
“Are you dead?” I asked, wondering why he was on my beach.
“Yes, but I’m not finished on this side yet.” A soft yet brilliant light surrounded his head. “I need your help, Lucas. Can you do me a favor?”
I nodded my head, yes, and looked down. Both of our feet were ankle deep in the sand. “I’m stuck.”
