The Devil You Know: Chapter 40

Jack decided to meet his aunt and uncle at Kelly’s.  He figured it was out of the way and there was little chance of his father discovering him and who he was meeting.  He nodded to Shawn at the counter before turning around and seeing Viki Buchanan and Victor Lord, Junior. 

“Hello Jack,” his aunt said softly. 

Victor merely nodded before beginning.  “What is it you think I can help with?” he asked, even though he knew the answer. 

Jack was about to launch into his explanation when Starr came through the door and took the seat next to him.  When she was settled, he went through his theory.  When he was done, he looked at the man who had raised him.  “Do you think you can do it?”

Victor looked from Starr to Jack as he felt Viki’s eyes bore into him.  “I’ll give it a try.  What is it you want to know?”

Jack let out a breath.  “Do you remember a piano recital?”

Victor closed his eyes as he searched his brother’s implanted memories.  Then it flashed before him.  “I see an auditorium, a hall.  Lots of people are in it.  I can see fingers hitting keys.”  Then he seemed to be lost in the memory.  The diner faded away with its conversations and he heard music.  Every note was perfect.  He couldn’t identify the piece but he could tell he knew it.  As he sat there, his hands mimicked playing the keyboard.  He continued to the end and finished with a flourish. 

Viki sat there mesmerized watching her brother.  He had completely shut out them and everything else.  When his trance-like state was over, he opened his eyes and noticed her staring.  A smile crept on her face.  “I wish I knew what it sounded like, but to looked beautiful.”

Victor got suddenly sheepish as he turned back to Jack and Starr.  Unnecessarily, he said, “I remember it.  And afterwards, Bitsy was so proud.  She had tears in her eyes.”  Another memory flashed before his mind’s eye.  Bitsy was in tears again, but this time, crumpled up on the floor.  Victor heard her voice but a look of confusion crossed his face. 

“Are you remembering something?”  Starr asked.

“It was her again, Bitsy.  She was telling me to…go…run.  She was on the floor and her mouth…it was bloody.”  Then he heard the cries.  In the memory, Peter was in front of her and yelling at her.  She was pleading with him until the slap of skin on skin arose, again and again.  Then he saw Bitsy’s eyes dart in his direction as Peter turned to him and then neither of them were in front of him again.  “He was hitting her.”

“Peter?” Starr asked.

Victor nodded.  “Slapping her in the face.  Then he turned to me--to Todd--and then…”  The memory was lost.  He tried to remember, sitting there for long moments but nothing.

“You don’t remember?”  Viki asked.

“Or maybe Dad didn’t remember.  Like, no matter how deep Irene dug, he wouldn’t allow himself to remember it and they couldn‘t feed it to you,” Jack suggested.

“It’s possible,” Starr said thoughtfully.  “But you do remember the concert?”

Victor nodded and smiled.  “Yeah, it was at a concert hall at the University of Chicago.  I can see Bitsy in the front row when it began and I can feel…I can feel how nervous he was.  But once it started, that just disappeared.  He got a standing ovation.”

“Do you have any memory about what the argument between Peter and Bitsy was about?” Viki asked. 

“Peter didn’t like the idea about him playing the piano.  Not ‘manly’ enough.  It sounded like it escalated from there,” Victor replied.

Just then, the door to the diner opened and in walked Kevin Collins.  Starr looked up and recognized the psychiatrist immediately.  “Doctor Collins, hi!” she called brightly.  When he came over, she added, “Starr Manning, my dad is funding the Nurses Ball.”

Kevin nodded, now remembering.  “Yes, hello.  Are you getting ready for your performance?”

Starr beamed.  “I have one last rehearsal tomorrow morning and then…”  She point to Viki and Victor.  “Aunt Viki, Uncle Victor, this is Dr. Kevin Collins.  His wife is the mistress of ceremonies for the Nurses Ball.  Dr. Collins, my aunt, Viki Lord Buchanan and my uncle, Victor Lord, Jr.”

“Dr. Collins, lovely to meet you,” Viki said as she held out her hand to shake his.  Victor merely grunted and nodded.

“Viki Lord.  I’ve read about your case,” Kevin said delicately.  “Actually, I’ve interacted with your brother a number of times.  I was wondering, can we talk?  I have some questions about him for you.”

“I can try to answer them, but neither of my brothers” she point to Victor, “were raised with me.  I don’t know what I can answer.”

“Anything may be helpful,” Kevin replied.

Starr, grabbed Jack’s arm.  “You seem to have lot to talk about.  I need to get to the hotel to rehearse.  See you later.”  With that, the brother and sister left. 

They made their way to the hotel, but Starr made a beeline to the elevator.  “Why are you heading in that direction.  The Grand Ballroom is that way,” Jack asked as he pointed.

“I want to check on Dad.  All this is really starting to worry me,” she said as she stepped through the open door.  Jack followed and they got off at the floor for the Manning Enterprises offices. 

Maxie Jones was sitting at her desk.  “Hi Starr!” she called.

“Hey, is my dad in his office?” Starr asked.

“No, Grumpus isn’t here.  He and your mom left a while ago,” Maxie informed them.

“Okay, look, I just want to leave a note for him in his office,” Starr said.

Maxie waved her in.  “Go ahead.  I don’t see a problem with that.”

Starr and Jack headed inside and closed the door.  As she looked on his desk for a piece of paper, a file caught her eye.  Picking it up, she noticed it was labeled ‘GBW’.  She opened it and he jaw dropped.

“What are you reading?” her brother asked. 

She didn’t answer, but opened the door.  Maxie had left her desk, so Starr dashed across the reception area to the copy machine.  She made her duplicates, folded the papers, threw then into her bag and returned the file to where she had found it.  She found a notepad and scribbled a message to her father before walking out of the office, Jack fast on her heels.  She didn’t stop until she got to the gatehouse. 

When they got there, Sarah was sitting on the couch going over paperwork.  “Hey Starr, Jack.  What‘s up?”

Starr opened her purse and pulled out the paper she had copied back at Todd’s office.  “Sarah, were you at Mom and Dad’s wedding reception?”

Sarah threw her a confused look.  “No, I was at the ceremony, but the reception was a private affair, just for the two of them.  Well, three, actually,” she said with a smile.  “Why do you ask?”

Starr handed the papers to her cousin.  As she read them over, she saw what Starr was referring to.  “He’s trying to redo that wedding.”

Starr smiled in a way she hadn’t done in years.  It was broad and bright and looked so much like her father when he got down with scheming.  She turned to Jack then back to Sarah.  “That’s right…and we are going to give it to them.”

Jack saw the look.  For some reason, he got very scared.  He was very aware of Todd’s mental state and it was worrying him more than anyone else, it seemed.  But he was also getting very excited.  He couldn’t remember how many times he had heard his mother or sister talk about the Gold Balloons wedding.  He could remember how many times he caught his mother staring at the pictures from that day.  He wanted to see that look in both of his parents and he was eager to help make it happen.


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