Voices of Conflict

Chapter 5

Gail could tell that Gary was tense. Normally it would show in his eyes, but even with them covered in gauze she could see the tightness in his jaw line. "Gary is something wrong?" She whispered in his ear.

"No Gail, why would there be? I'm at home with all of my friends having a party for Cap. What would possibly be wrong?" He tried to smile, but it didn't quite come off the way he hoped it would.

"Gary Saunders you're a terrible liar."

"It's okay Gail, I don't want to be the center of attention today. We'll talk about it later."

"Okay Gary, but you let me know if you start feeling bad or tired. I don't want you overdoing it today. I'll see that you get inside and in a bed to rest if you need to." Gail kissed his cheek again before standing up and greeting the other guests. She planned to keep a close watch on Gary.

The yard was full of people, some Cap's family, some friends, many firemen, even the Fire Chief. Jimmy decided he would mingle among the crowd and see if he could pick up any information about Gary from them. There were so many people there that he guessed no one would suspect he didn't belong. Walking up to a group he stood listening for a few minutes.

"Hello I don't believe we've been introduced. My name is Beth and this is my husband Micky. Are you friend or family?"

"I uh….I'm neither actually. I'm here with a friend. I think he may be family." 'What do I do?' he thought 'She'll want my name.' He felt panicked. 'What was I thinking? I should have planned this out better. I'll give her Amber's brother's name. That way they won't find me.'

"And your name?" Beth smiled at him.

"Joe, Joe Sanders."

"Nice to meet you Joe, are you hungry? We have plenty to eat. Come on over to the deck and fix yourself a plate." She took him by the arm and led him to the food.

Cap saw Beth with a man he did not know. "Hey Jeff who is that guy?"

"I don't know Cap. Maybe he's one of your relatives. I have so many cousins I can't count them all much less call them by name."

"Maybe, but there is something familiar about him; I just can't place it." Cap scratched his head as he tried to remember where he had seen the man before.

When Jimmy stepped onto the deck Beth led him across in front of Gary. Gary immediately noticed the man's aftershave. It was the same odor he thought he smelled when he was in the hammock. He sat up straighter and tried to listen to the voices as they passed by. There were just too many people around him talking, and with his eyes covered he couldn't make heads or tails of who it was or where they had moved to. He just knew. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.

Gail had noticed Gary's movement and wandered over to his side. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Again Gary smelled the floral scent of his favorite nurse. "Hey Gail do you think you could get me a plate?"

"Of course Gary. Why don't we go over by the table, and I can tell you what all is there. That way you can pick what goes on your plate." She moved to his side and released the brake on his wheel chair. Careful not to bump anyone with his casted leg, she pushed him toward the food. "Let's see there's chicken or steak."

Gary was distracted and didn't answer her. He was searching the area for the scent that had assaulted his senses. He was unnerved for some reason, but he wasn't sure why. Could that have been the person in the forest?

"Gary?" Gail became worried at his sudden silence. His head was down and tilted slightly to the side. "Gary?" she asked again. "Steak or Chicken?"

"Uh sorry Gail," he stumbled over his words. "Chicken's fine."

"Gary what is going on with you today?"

"Nothin'. Is there any deviled eggs? I love deviled eggs." He tried to change the subject again.

"Yes and baked beans, and potato salad. I know you'll want those." She continued to fill his plate.

Beth and ‘Joe’ came around the table and up next to Gary whose head immediately shot up. He smelled it again. "Oh hey Gary, this is Joe he is here with a friend of his, a relative of Cap's. I brought him over for some food."

Gary listened intently to the breathing patterns of the man. He felt certain it was the person in the forest, but why had he been hiding, watching him.Gary held up his hand to shake the hand of the curious man he could not see. "I'm Gary Saunders, nice to meet you. This nice lady fixing my plate is Gail McCormick."

"Nice to meet you both." Jimmy quickly shook hands with Gary. "I'm going to find a spot to eat. Thank you for letting me crash your party."

"Why don't you eat over here on the deck with me?" Gary hoped to get the man to himself so he could try to find out a little bit about him.

"Well I need to find my friend, but thanks anyway." Jimmy walked quickly away. Beth returned to her husband, and Gail took Gary and his plate back to where he had been earlier.

"Do you need me to help you with your food?"

"No Gail, I think I want to go inside. I can pull up to the table in there out of the way." Gary wanted to eat in private. He didn't want everyone watching him eat. He knew he might make a mess and hated to be the center of attention.

"Charlie, could you help me with your partner? He wants to go inside."

Charlie immediately came over concerned about his friend. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I just want to eat inside where no one is watching me spill my food." Gary chuckled trying to hide his worry about the strange way he felt about 'Joe'.

"Okay Junior let's get you inside." He opened the French doors that led to the kitchen, turned Gary around and pulled the chair inside. He moved the chairs to make room for the wheelchair and pushed him up to the table. Gail placed the plate in front of him.

Outside Jimmy took his plate of food and slipped through the crowd pretending to be looking for his friend. The voices in his head began their murmuring. 'You almost screwed this up Jimmy. You should have stayed behind the barn. What were you thinking? He tried to shake off their torment as he continued walking until he was out of sight from the party goers. Once he moved around the front of the house he again moved to the place behind the barn where he could eat the food and watch over Gary Saunders. 'At least now our nurse has a name, Gail, it's a good name. She's pretty Jimmy. Pretty like Amber. Maybe we won't have to hurt her. Maybe we can let her go after she takes care of Gary Saunders for us. Once she removes the bandages, and he can see we can let her go."

Cap ducked into the kitchen to have a minute alone with Gary, "Hey Pal I wanted to thank you for the surprise party. This is great."

"You're welcome Cap. I'm glad we didn't have to cancel it after…." He didn't finish. He simply waved his hand over himself in explanation. "It sounds like everybody in LA is here." He chuckled.

"Well Gary I guess you can hear the size of the crowd. I wish you could see it. There are so many people here I don't think I can thank them all for coming. I don't even know them all. I saw a guy with Beth that looked familiar, but I can't figure out where I know him from."

Gary wondered if the man Cap was talking about was the same man he thought was in the forest.

"What'd he look like Cap?"

"Huh?"

"Maybe if you described him to me I might know him."

"Don't worry about it Gar, I'm sure I'll get a chance to find out before I leave. It's early yet."

"Oh….okay Cap." Gary didn't want anyone to think he was crazy. He just had a feeling something was amiss with 'Joe'.

Out behind the barn the voices kept up a constant babble in Jimmy's ears. 'We could keep her. She would take good care of us like Amber did. We could take her far away from here. We'll need to leave anyway once we take care of that fireman.' Jimmy threw his half eaten food against a tree, put both hands on his head and squeezed his eyes shut trying to block out the babble. "Stop it. Stop it. Please," he whispered to himself. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to replace Amber. I only want him to suffer for letting her die, just Gary, just Fireman/Paramedic Gary Saunders."