Chapter Twelve
Chapter 12
"This is Kassandra Gutierrez reporting to
you live from the corner of El Camino Real and Walnut Avenue in Greenfield,
California. As you can plainly see the corrupting influence of the Bank of
Fortunatus continues. Greenfield's seamier elements, who have made this machine
their icon, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the so-called "first child"
Rodolfo Robles. The proverbial "free lunch" has wreaked havoc with the work
ethic of this once industrious community, just as it has done in every other city and town
as this plague has virtually circled the globe."
Ernie had gotten in his car after Preston had
beat him and started driving south, cut over at Paso Robles, on down through Barstow,
caught the I-40 and before he knew it he was through Arizona, New Mexico, and looking at
Texas in the rear view mirror. He went strictly cash all the way, caught a cat nap
in a cheap motel with a garage to hide his car. He figured he was finally a safe
distance from Greenfield, so he stopped to drop a dime on his old boss.
Vic got the phone call just before sunrise. It
was Ernie---- calling from "somewhere in Oklahoma." as he said it.
"I'm sorry for what I done chief, but Preston made me do it. He was the one who
tried to blow up that machine. That's all I know. Bye."
It was getting close to time to take Rodolfo to the
machine, so Vic thought he'd go by and tell everybody at Belinda's he'd be a little late.
Aaron was up early to catch Sofia's morning
broadcast. Apparently, this was as close as he was going to get. To his
disappointment, another newscaster was doing the show. No reason was given, so Aaron
decided this was a good time to make his move. He showered and shaved and got in his
pick-up and headed straight to Belinda's.
The street in front of Belinda's was blocked off and
he had to wait til Carson called the chief to see if he should let Aaron in. He did,
so Aaron drove on through.
Sofia and Etienne were sitting at Belinda's watching
the morning report, wondering who had gotten to the brass at Fox. But a brief scan
of the other channels convinced her that it wasn't an internal decision. All of them
were speaking from the same page, the page that she had read yesterday with Biggs.
She heard the knock on the door and went to answer it. It was Aaron.
"I was watching the news and saw you weren't
on, so I was worried. Is everything OK?" Aaron wasn't nervous. He
was telling the straight up truth.
"Yeah Aaron. Everything's OK, except I
don't have a job anymore. How you doing. I know it was hard on you to buck
your father. And I don't think I thanked you for helping us find Rodolfo.
Sorry you couldn't go with us to get him, but you know Vic, all business."
Sofia wanted to give him a hug, but she didn't want to give him the wrong impression.
Aaron looked over and saw Etienne on the couch. He
turned red and looked back at Sofia. "Can we talk a minute Sofia.... out
here?"
"Sure Aaron, just let me get my
coat." Sofia went inside, spoke to Etienne, grabbed her sweater, and headed
back to Aaron. "Let's go."
They walked out on the porch and Sofia sat
down. Aaron sat down beside her. "I miss you so bad, I don't know what to
do. I love you Sofia. I'll always love you. I want you to give me
another chance. Not because of anything in the last few days, but because of what we
are to each other. You know it's true Sofia. We were.. we are
meant to be together. I think something in you feels the same way. I hope you
feel the same way." Aaron looked for a response, but he was going to have to
wait. Vic drove up in his squad car before Sofia could say anything.
"Sofia, I gotta make a stop before we go to the
ATM. You may as well know Witt, Ernie just ratted out your dad. I'm gonna go
pick him up." Vic felt sorry for Aaron Witt.
"Let me go with you chief. Maybe I can
help get him to turn himself over easy. You know how he is." Aaron
was afraid for his dad. He did not want him to get shot.
"OK Witt, that sounds like a good idea.
Maybe we can get this done peacefully." Vic turned and headed towards the
car. Aaron started to follow and then stopped.
"Let's take my truck Sheriff. He'll be
less suspicious." Aaron suggested.
"OK Witt, but you better play this
straight." Vic didn't want any problems. He jumped in beside Aaron in his
truck. Sofia stood on the porch and watched them drive away.
They drove straight to Preston Witt's ranch,
discussing their plan on the way. They parked and went to the front door.
Aaron knocked, and when no one answered, they went inside. Aaron yelled his father's
name but there was still no answer. "Oh my God." was all that Aaron
could get out when he saw a body lying in the doorway to his father's room. He ran
and turned the man over to see that it was Noe. He was alive.
Noe regained consciousness and looked up at Aaron
Witt and Vic Castenada. "You boys know how to knock a man out. What the
hell did you hit me with?"
"We didn't hit you. Where's
Preston? What the hell did you do to him?" Vic was puzzled. None of
this added up to him.
"Well I was just about to shoot the
bastard. And the next thing I saw was you two leaning over me. That's all I
know. I ain't shot this gun since those two rounds I fired into the rocks up at the
Pinnacles. I just don't want to see that kid hurt. Preston said he's gonna
kill him. Just protect the kid, you two. You know what a crazy bastard Preston
is," said Noe, as he exhaled and blacked out again.
Vic called for an ambulance. He and Aaron
checked all the out buildings but there was no sign of Preston. The ambulance and
the sheriff got there about the same time. Vic told the sheriff to go with the
ambulance to the hospital and to keep a man in the room with Noe at all times. He
and Aaron got in Aaron's truck and headed back to Belinda's.
Vic had failed to check the back of Aaron's
truck. Curled up, under Aaron's tool box with a tarp over him, was Preston Witt.
The morning was getting old by the time that Vic
and Aaron got back to Belinda's house. The crowd was restless, but holding their
positions. They had been told that Rodolfo would be on the way soon, and a murmur
passed through as they saw Vic Castenada get out of Aaron's pick up. Luckily
everyone was ready to go, so they exited the house when they saw Vic arrive. Cheers
of "Rodolfo, Rodolfo, Rodolfo, echoed through the town.
The whole crew stopped for a little pow-wow on the
front lawn. "Preston Witt is on the loose, and Noe told us he vowed to kill
Rodolfo." Vic explained. "I know that Jasper said all the first kids
would be protected, but I don't want to take any chances. Rodolfo and Belinda will
ride with me, Sofia and Etienne you block the crowd side. Aaron if you don't mind
you pull in beside us on the other side. That way no one will have a clear path to
Rodolfo."
The procession pulled out past the police blockade
and on to Walnut Avenue. Etienne and Sofia took the lead and went to the machine to
make sure that all was clear. They pulled up next to the ATM and both got out.
The crowd was maintaining it's distance. A policeman was positioned on top of the
school across the street, and he had a commanding view. He gave them the thumbs up
signal.
Sofia pulled out the radio and got Vic on the
line. "Looks real good here. Come on in."
Vic rolled and Aaron followed right behind
him. They crossed El Camino and Vic was starting to feel relieved. The day and
a half without the machines had bread a discipline in the crowds. He didn't foresee
any problems. They climbed the curb and pulled up with Etienne and Sofia's vehicle
on the left side and the ATM near the right front of his patrol car. Aaron drove and
stationed his vehicle on the right rear, completing a protective triangle.
Vic got out and looked at Sofia and Etienne, and
then back at Aaron who had just gotten out of his car. Vic found no reason to not
continue, so he opened the rear door and said, "It's all clear Rodolfo."
Rodolfo got out and walked to the teller screen with Vic.
Belinda waited by the car, looking around
nervously. She saw Rodolfo get his Daily Bread and then turn and smile at her.
She then caught a glimpse of something in the corner of her eye. A person was
standing up in the back of Aaron's truck and leveling a rifle at Rodolfo. Aaron had
seen it first and he made a run toward Rodolfo to pull him to safety. The rifle
discharged and Aaron fell in a heap on the ground. By the time Vic was able to get
his weapon from his holster, Preston had thrown the rifle to the ground and was sobbing,
"Aaron, Aaron..."
Sofia and Etienne rushed around the patrol car to
see Vic putting cuffs on Preston as Belinda and Rodolfo bent over Aaron on the
ground. Sofia ran to him and grabbed him up in her arms. Aaron was
unconscious, but breathing. Sofia began to pray.
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Esperanza was on a solo night walk just after
dusk. Things were peaceful and quiet in the great central courtyard. She
reflected on all that had happened in the last few days. Her life here was tranquil
and the vistas were beautiful, but she missed her old life. Sensing him before she
saw him, Esperanza took it in stride when Jasper fell in step beside her.
"I'm glad you came sir. I wanted to thank
you for helping my father, and all the poor people in Mexico, all over the world.
You are a good man." Sofia waited for a response.
"If a feller knew how to say it Esperanza, he'd
say all the thanks was to you. God asked me to give you a message. Above all
the humans who ever lived, your prayers were dearest to him. You were his light
Esperanza. And that's the message I bring. God wants to give you a new
name." Jasper began to choke with emotion.
"God wants me to change my name?"
Esperanza asked.
"No darlin, He just wants to give one to go
along with it, Luz. He wants you to be Luz Esperanza, the light of hope."
Jasper could not continue.
"I will take the name sir, and I will be proud
of it. But I still don't know your name. What is it sir?" asked Luz
Esperanza.
"Fellers just call me Gaspar, little darlin,
and I best be movin on. I just wanted you to know that your work here is done.
The machine will leave tomorrow. You and your father can go home." Jasper
concluded.
Luz Esperanza turned to ask him another question,
and Gaspar was gone.
Sofia had ridden in the ambulance with
Aaron. Vic followed in the patrol car with Etiennne and Belinda. Vic skidded
to a stop in front of the emergency room at Mee Memorial in King City. He ran in
leaving Belinda and Etienne in the car.
"She's always loved him Etienne. You had
to know that. She just broke up with him to try to get him to change. Didn't
she tell you that?" Belinda blurted before she could stop herself.
"It's OK Belinda. I tell you, I like your
sister a lot thing, but I don't think I could handle anything like romance right now even
if Sofia cared about me." Etienne was tired, and it showed in his voice.
"I know what you mean Etienne. I love
Vic. He is the nicest man who has shown any interest in me in a long time. Two
weeks ago I would have eloped to Vegas with him after one date, if he had asked.
Right now, I don't know. I may just want to be alone for a while. I've always
needed someone. Now I maybe want to find out what it's like not to need
anybody. You think Vic would understand that Etienne. I mean I think maybe
someday I could be with him, but right now I just want to be with me and Dolfi and
Mango." Belinda fell silent.
Vic came out and got in patrol car with them, and
knew instantly that they had been talking about him. He sat for a moment waiting for
one of them to speak, but when they didn't he went on, "Look's like Aaron is going to
survive. It was a clean wound and nothing vital hit. What's up with you
two?"
Before either could answer Etienne caught something
out of the corner of his eye. An old pick-up with a homemade camper shell passed
behind them and parked in the lot. "I gotta get some air," blurted Etienne
as he got out of the car. They both thought that he was just trying to give them
some privacy and did not watch as he went over, knocked on the back of the camper.
The door opened and Jasper climbed in.
"Jasper, Sofia wants you to appear on
television tomorrow, to tell everyone about the ATMs. Can you do it?" Etienne
asked.
"Feller says that'd be somethin that you'd
handle right smart Pablo. Hit's your job now son. I got's to go."
"But Jasper, couldn't God find someone else for
this thing. I mean why did he pick me, I'm a liar. My whole life is a
lie. Doesn't God understand that. I can't do this."
"You was prepared son. That's how God
does things. And he don't ask us for advice on how to do it." Jasper
said.
"What kind of preparation is being a
professional liar?"
"Feller says that God, he's got use for two
kinds of people. Thems that sinners and knows it and them that's saints and
don't. I'll let you figger out which one you ere."