Carter turned to the section describing the death of Noah:
It was my duty. It was my destiny. I honor the great master who sent me to Rockfield, having confidence that I would be the one who could eliminate an evil force like Noah Warner. I was invigorated when he fought. It made it extra special that he wanted to live. I would have killed him the year before, but he wanted to die last year. This year he wanted to live and it made it so much more just. That is what filled my mind with each strike of my nightstick to the back of his head, and then watching his lifeless body tumble to the rocks below.
Carter looked up from the disturbing scribbles with a look of disgust. He decided he would wait until Jones returned and rip his head from his body.
Suddenly his sixth sense perked up again.
Then everything went dark.
Chapter 56
Batman remained stoic as he applied the sharp snap of the stick to the back of Jeff Carter’s neck. The behemoth dropped to the floor like a wounded Woolly Mammoth, barely conscious. Two more blows put him out cold.
Taking no chances, he placed masking tape over his mouth, and handcuffed his arms behind his back.
He reverently caressed his vibrating necklace. Once again it didn’t let him down. But he was angry with himself for not securing the room-too drawn by the temptation of Gwen. He vowed that would be the last time he would fail that test.
“Kyle, are you okay? What was that noise?” his temptress called from the kitchen.
He thought for a second. Was she working with Carter? Did she use her seductiveness to lure him away from the house so that her partner could search it? She did plead with him to stay out on the boat.
He would get his answers. And when he did, he would take the pleasure in adding her to the wall with an X slashed through her pretty face. But for now, he saw how she could be very useful to him.
He didn’t have time to get rid of Jeff Carter. He would have to return for that. When he gave him one last kick in the ribs, the unconscious giant didn’t even flinch. This time he made sure the room was secured and headed toward the living room.
“It was nothing-are you ready to go? The taxi is here,” he told Gwen in an emotionless voice.
“Kyle-I am so sorry-please, let’s stay.”
He refused to even look at her. They walked out to a waiting cab in silence. Within half an hour, they were on a flight heading back to Rockfield.
Chapter 57
Charleston, South Carolina
October 2
I drove the Humvee along the cobblestone streets of Charleston, passing horse drawn carriages and stately mansions. I finally gave up the idea of finding parking along the street and entered a parking garage north of Broad Street.
With help of my cane, I headed by foot toward the Waterfront Battery Park on an idyllic seventy-five degree October day.
From the quaint alleyways to the majestic steeples, Charleston gave off the historic feel of another era. I passed a pineapple-shaped fountain that welcomed me to the park. My steps were slowed by apprehension, spotting the white gazebo where I was to meet Byron.
The sight of him trapped in a wheelchair tainted the perfect day for me. It just didn’t look right. And I was struck by the irony of the strongest man I knew, both physically and mentally, constricted by a chair.
Behind the chair was his mother, known affectionately as Mama Jasper. Standing to Byron’s left was his long time girlfriend, Tonya. It didn’t surprise me she stood by him in such a troubling time. It would have surprised me if she hadn’t. Not only was she beautiful-often mistaken for Tyra Banks-but also one of the most loyal and supportive people I’ve met. It’s not easy to find someone who understands the crazy business that we chose. Byron found a good one.
Mama Jasper was a large woman, but she wore her weight proudly. She was the first to spot me and gave me an enthusiastic “over here” wave. I felt a fleeting sense of relief to see the friendly smiles. When I reached the group, Mama Jasper gave me a big hug that knocked the breath out of me. Tonya followed with a much gentler one.
The last embrace came from Byron. Attempting to get my arms around a man strapped to a chair was an awkward movement, but even more so for me, since I knew I was the one responsible for him being in that chair.
Because he always thought of others first, he first said, “I’m so sorry about Noah.”
I nodded a thank you, but was unable to shake my feeling of guilt, which Byron picked up on. “Do you remember what we talked about in the hospital?”
“I just wish it happened to me instead of you.”
Byron laughed so hard I thought he was going to tip over. “JP, God only gives people what they can handle. You couldn’t handle this.”
He was right.
“Besides, I can still beat you one-on-one. When you can beat me on the basketball court, then I’ll be handicapped.”
Everyone laughed, except Mama Jasper. Overcome by emotion, she was busy wiping tears from her cheeks.
“Thank you so much, JP, for what you and Carter did with the renovations. I don’t know how I can ever repay you,” she said in a deep voice, seasoned with a southern accent.
I tried to speak, but she wrapped me in another affectionate hug, crushing my diaphragm. “You don’t have to repay me,” I replied the best I could.
“Maybe not, JP Warner, but you ain’t leaving Charleston without gettin’ a meal at Mama Jasper’s … on the house.”
Byron had bought the restaurant for her-her dream-when he signed his first NFL contract, allowing her to leave her job as a seamstress. I kept saying for years that I would make a trip there, but instead, I found myself eating with her son in places like Beirut and Sarajevo.
Tonya, with her gentle style, pulled Mama Jasper away. “What do you say, Mama, that we leave the boys alone and go do some shopping?”
She agreed, but not before delivering last words, “I expect you two at Mama Jasper’s at six o’clock sharp.”
We nodded our heads like obedient children and watched the two women walk away.
Always the reporter, I had noticed the large rock on Tonya’s finger. “Is there something you’re not telling me, my friend?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he played coy.
“Are you getting married?”
“I almost forgot that I was talking to the great J-News. Yes, we got engaged the night before we left for Serbia,” Byron said, unable to hold back a grin. “I would have told you on our trip, but those terrorists tied my gag a little tight.”
We slapped hands-it was the best two crippled men could do to celebrate.
“I’m taking the plunge,” Byron said, as I took the pushing position behind him. “I guess I couldn’t run away anymore.” He tapped the sides of the metal wheelchair to make his point, and then snorted a laugh.
I was too conflicted to see the humor. I was glad he couldn’t see my face, and notice the tear roll down my cheek. After collecting myself, I asked, “So what did Mama say when you told her?”
“When the hugging ended, she said it’s about time.”
“I’m happy for you two, and it is about time. She’s beautiful, smart, and loyal. There are like six of them in the world.”
“Is Gwen Delaney one of the six?”
I wasn’t going to touch that one. “Somebody’s been talking to Carter. Let’s get out of here.”
I handed Byron my cane and pushed him toward the waterfront. “Don’t you need it?” he asked.