Episode 17
“Hello everyone I have returned!” Said Essme, bounding through Tabby’s front door.
“Good morning Essme.” Kay was coming down the front stairs carrying Maria. “Do you always make such a dramatic entrance?”
“Typically, yes, only night before last I came in the back door. I like to shake things up. I find it keeps people on their toes.”
“If you say so.”
“Good morning Maria.” Said Essme.
“Good morning Essme.” Bubbled Maria.
“That is just the cutest thing. I never get tired of seeing Endora and her do that.”
“Where were you last night, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Oh I just spent the most harrowing night at the mansion.”
“Really what happened?”
“Well, this giant cake was delivered for Chad and Whitney’s reception only it was cancelled, so I ended up cutting into the cake and when I did…”
“A body fell out of it.” Finished Kay.
“That’s right, how did you know?”
“Because it happened like that at the original reception; before Adam’s time shift.”
“Oh, yeah now I remember. Fancy filled me in on the details but I wasn’t in town back then. Something about a tabloid reporter being killed.”
“Yeah his name was JT Cornell.”
“This time it was Jared Casey.”
“Oh my God.”
“Gee I remember all this stuff from before the time shift. I guess it’s because Adam used my wish to bring it all about but it certainly would be nice to have magical powers like you guys.”
There was a sudden flash in the room that seemed to be centered around Essme.
“What was that?” Asked Essme.
“I’m not sure.” Hedged Kay. “But I have an idea. I want you to think of something, then wave your arms.”
Essme followed Kay’s instructions and there was a puff of smoke.
“A PONY!” Bubbled Maria.
“Uh Kay there’s a pony in our living room. What does that mean?”
“You were just thinking of pony right?”
“Yes, what does that mean Kay?”
“Essme, it means you’ve just given yourself magical powers.”
“Oh my Gawd.”
“You idiot, I can’t believe you’d show your face around me after botching the simple job I gave you.”
“Murder is never simple Jackson; you of all people should know that.”
Jackson Marr stabbed his finger at the plasma TV on the wall and the announcer droning on about Jared Casey’s death. “How do you explain that?!”
“I can’t.”
“If you did what you what you were supposed to do how did Casey’s body end up in a wedding cake at the Crane Mansion of all places?!”
“I just told you, I can’t explain it. Everything was going like clockwork. I waited at the docks like we had planned; you called me and told me Jared was on his way there. He showed up and I jumped out of the shadows dressed as a masked mugger and forced him to give me his wallet. Then I shot him and left his body on the docks. I spent the night at some seedy motel just off the docks. It wasn’t till this morning when I caught the news that I found out what happened to his body.”
“His death was supposed to look like a random act of violence. Something that wouldn’t even make the back page of the newspaper; now it’s tied to Cranes and anything involving them is automatically broadcast worldwide. It’s a nothing short of a miracle that his Father hasn’t called me yet. It doesn’t matter though if he doesn’t call me soon I’m going to have to call him and explain this mess.”
“At least there’s no way his Father can connect this thing to you.”
“We don’t know that. Sydney Neppos has a way of finding things out.”
“If you really believe that, why would you get us so far over our heads?”
“It’s much too late for either of us to turn back now.”
Chris Booth was well aware of that.
Sam’s cell phone rang again. At first he was irritated, considering the new development in the Jared Casey case, but then he saw the caller ID.
“Grace is this really you?”
“Yes Sam. Did you get the package I sent you?”
“Yes and I think your suspicions were right. Sheridan told us that Alistair had a bust just like it when she and Julian were small.”
“I’m sorry Sam I don’t think we should get into that over the phone. Listen, the reason I called was to let you know that I’ve booked a flight on the first plane to the states tomorrow. I just can’t shake the feeling I’m in danger here in Greece.”
“That’s great news; would you like me to meet you at the airport…? Grace?”
But the line had gone dead.
Meanwhile somewhere in the world Jared Casey’s eyes fluttered open.
“Welcome back to the land of the living son.”
“Dad? Where am I? What happened?”
“I’m afraid that’s a long story son. But we have all the time in the world.”
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End of Episode 17
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