Hearthville Serial: Book 5 – Chapter 1

Excerpt:

Stewart plopped down in the black oversized recliner in the room and flipped on the TV to catch the sports news. On television was a closeup of Victor hanging on to one of the skids of the helicopter with one hand and holding onto Billy Bingo with the other hand.

Stewart and Judy stared at the TV and then looked at Victor. They called, “Mom. You need to see this on TV.”

Ellen came in to see what they were watching.

The video footage showed Victor roll his body upon the skid and pull Billy upon the skid with him. Victor made it look almost easy but the danger they were in was obvious. Victor, all so carefully, moved to lift Billy where he could be pulled back into the helicopter by Arthur and Daniel. Victor then climbed up into the helicopter.

 

Hearthville Serial
Book 5 (Title Undecided):
A Paranormal Suspense Gangster Horror

By Charles Peters

Copyright 2019

All Rights Reserved

Chapters

Chapter 1

Victor arrived home in his red mustang. Feeling tired, all so tired, he crawled out of his car. He felt confused. He looked at his home and he looked at his watch. “I didn’t call them. I should have found some way to call them so they wouldn’t have worried that I didn’t come home last night.”

George whispered, “Don’t worry about it.”

Victor walked upon the porch of his home. He checked to see if the door was locked. It wasn’t. He opened the door and walked inside. His sister Judy was sitting on the couch. He could see his mom through the door in the kitchen.

Victor closed the door and his sister Judy looked at him. His mom peeped out of the kitchen. His mom said, “You didn’t come home last night. You didn’t call.”

Victor said, “I am sorry.” Victor tried to think of something to explain his not calling but nothing came to his mind. George stepped in. “I was in Atlanta on business. Time got away from me. I am sorry that I didn’t call.”

His mom said, “It is okay. I know you are grown. You don’t have to call.”

Judy mouthed. “She and dad were were worried. You are a fucking asshole for not calling.”

Victor nodded. He repeated, “I am sorry.”

Judy said, “You should be.”

Stewart came into the room. “Where were you? Were you too busy getting laid to call to let mom know that you are okay.”

Victor said, “No. Just Atlanta. Business.”

Ellen said, “It is okay. You two stop being mean to Victor.” She stepped back into the kitchen.

Stewart plopped down in the black oversized recliner in the room and flipped on the TV to catch the sports news. On television was a closeup of Victor hanging on to one of the skids of the helicopter with one hand and holding onto Billy Bingo with the other hand.

Stewart and Judy stared at the TV and then looked at Victor. They called, “Mom. You need to see this on TV.”

Ellen came in to see what they were watching.

The video footage showed Victor roll his body upon the skid and pull Billy upon the skid with him. Victor made it look almost easy but the danger they were in was obvious. Victor, all so carefully, moved to lift Billy where he could be pulled back into the helicopter by Arthur and Daniel. Victor then climbed up into the helicopter.

A woman on TV said, “Hearthville’s very own Victor Duddley saved the life of Billy Bingo after the helicopter they were in began to whirl out of control and Billy was thrown from the helicopter. The acrobatic agility of Victor in saving the life of Billy Bingo was truly amazing. Apparently Victor’s brother Stewart Duddley is not the only athlete in the family. It is not known what caused the helicopter owned by the gangster, Arthur Ramsey, to spin out of control and nearly crash.”

Judy trembled as she watched them showing the footage again. She rose from the couch, shaking. She slowly moved with her arms outreached. She wrapped her arms tightly around Victor. “I am sorry I was being mean to you. But why weren’t you going to tell us.”

Victor returned his sister’s hug. He kissed her on the cheek and then he pulled back away from her. “What is there to tell? You all would have done the same thing. I have to go to bed. I am just really tired. And I kind of hurt a little bit.”

Ellen asked, “Do I need to take you to a doctor?”

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“No. I am okay. I just need to rest.”

Victor went up the stairs and to his bedroom.

Ellen asked, “What was Victor doing on Arthur Ramsey’s helicopter?”

Judy shook her head. “I don’t know.”

 

Stewart said, “I have no idea. Victor said it was business.”

Elliot called Ellen. He asked, “Is Victor home yet?”

Ellen asked, “He just came in and went up stairs. Did you see the news?”

“Do you mean about Victor saving that boy’s life?”

“Yeah.”

“I saw a video of it on bitchute.”

“Victor was not going to tell us about it. Stewart just happened to turn on the news. After we saw the footage Victor said he was tired and that he hurt a little bit. I asked him if he needed to go to a doctor but he said no.”

Elliot said, “I have some paperwork at the college I have to finish to meet some crazy, arbitrary deadline that makes no sense. But I will be home just as soon as I can get home.”

Ellen said, “Victor is a hero. He saved that boy. But did he risk his life because he doesn’t care whether he lives or dies? Am I wrong to even wonder that?”

Elliot said, “I wouldn’t say wrong but we should focus on the fact that Victor is a hero.”

***

Billy Bingo stood outside the car with his mom and his sister Bess. The memory of what had happened had quickly faded into a dream as a different reality had begun to sink in and take over. And more than that, the dream itself had begun to fade. Billy didn’t remember that he had died. He didn’t remember about Dexter, his dead half-brother.

Bess and Maureen had no idea of what had happened before time had changed. It was as though they had never met Quentin Darko or Myrtle.

When time changes, in some aspects and with some people time is more slow to adjust. Paradoxes can come to develop and exist in various ways. Not everyone forgets what has happened.

Nanny Ogleby held the cage which imprisoned the two Hunters Maurseau and Dojave. It was a simple cage where she could look in and they could look out. From their perspective their prison was a cottage. From the perspective of Nanny Ogleby the cage was a wine bottle. She guessed she would release them but she thought, “Not yet.”

Maurseau and Dojave looked about the cage they saw as a cottage but still they knew it was a cottage that held them captive. Maurseau asked, “What are we doing in a cage? How did we get here?”

Dojave shook his head. “I don’t know. The witch who did us in has good taste. That painting over the mantel is a duplicate of ‘The Sinking Ship’ painted by Dude Righteous. And look at that chair there in front of the fireplace. If a human bought it, it would cost well over a thousand dollars.”

Nanny Ogleby held the ghostly wine bottle up to the face of Bess. To Maurseau and Dojave, it appeared they were looking out a large window to view a giant young woman. As Nanny Ogley spoke her voice seemed to thunder. Nanny Ogleby ordered her prisoners, “Look at the face of Bess. She is beautiful. Don’t you think?”

Maurseau questioned, “Why have you made us your prisoner?”

Nanny Ogleby said, “In time, I will free you. But look at Bess.”

Dojave said, “She is rather homely and too American for my taste. I prefer my women older and more exotic. Now Maurseau may fancy her. He is still a virgin. Though, on second thought, he may be gay.”

Maurseau smiled. “Shut up. All witches are bisexual but I think I prefer women.”

Nanny Ogleby grinned. “So Maurseau, what do you think of Bess?”

“She is pleasant. I would guess she is smart and probably romantic. I would not mind having her on my arm at a dinner party.”

Nanny Ogleby smiled and then transported away from Bess. She took her prisoners with her.

Bess whispered, “I felt a chill. Odd.”

Nat and Natalina walked up from talking to Daniel, to say bye to their departing guest. Daniel had received a call and several feet away he was pacing about as he talked on his phone.

Billy said, “Before we leave Hearthville, I want to visit Victor and thank him for saving my life.”

Nat said, “We have thanked him.”

Billy said, “I don’t think I’ve thanked him enough. And also, I am kind of worried about him.”

Nat asked, “Why? Have you seen the video of him saving you? The way he saved you was amazing. I don’t think you have to worry about Victor.”

Billy said, “I can not explain it.”

Natalina said, “Victor looked exhausted when he left to go home. He was tired but I think he is okay. Still. You know. Billy. I know what you are saying.”

Daniel walked up as he put his phone away. “The GBI is trying to stick their nose in local business. That is all I need.”

Natalina kissed Daniel. “I am sure you can handle the situation.” Then she asked, “Do you know where Victor Duddley lives?”

Daniel said, “Sure. He lives with his parents in a nice but modest home but don’t let that fool you. He is very wealthy.”

Maureen said, “Billy wants to thank him again for saving his life. Do you think Victor would look at us as intruding if we went by his home to again let him know our gratitude?”

Daniel said, “The Duddley family are a very nice family. Victor is an inventor. His father works at the college as an administrator. His mother is very friendly. His brother Stewart is or was a local football star before he got injured. His sister Judy is kind of on the shy side. I say she is shy, but to be honest she has been mean to me a few times. She is not as popular as her brothers.”

Maureen nudged Natalina. “Oh. I know that feeling. I can sympathize with having a sibling more popular than myself.”

Natalina asked, “In what universe was I the more popular one. You had more friends than me.”

“Well. Maybe. But you always shine when you walk into a room. All the eyes are on you.” Maureen laughed. “God, I am sounding so jealous.” She changed the subject. “So Billy, we will go by the Duddley home so we can meet his family and make sure they all know how grateful we are.”

“Good.”

Daniel said, “I will lead the way. I need to apologize to Victor about our fight on the helicopter. I said some things I should not have said.”

Natalina asked, “Have the police found that Dioson guy and rescued Paulstir McCluskey?”

Daniel said, “No. So far there has been no sign of them.”

***

Victor lay in bed. He felt tired and he closed his eyes, but then he couldn’t go to sleep. George wouldn’t let him. George was still afraid Victor might enter a sleep where he would not wake.

George saw the ghost of Donny Maxtone enter the room through a wall. George said, “So I am now going to be able to see you?”

Donny said, “It looks that way. And I can see you. That means you are not just an alter ego of Victor. You have a separate soul.”

George said, “Nope. You are wrong.”

Donny smiled. He wasn’t going to argue. “So how is Victor doing?”

George said, “I honestly don’t know. I am scared for him to go to sleep. I am afraid he might not wake.”

“He will have to sleep some time. You do know that.”

“I know.” George changed the subject. “So Victor is your half brother?”

“Yeah but I don’t want to talk about it or how I found out or any of that. I just don’t.”

“Okay.”

“So you try to protect Victor? I know the past and the recent mess, but generally, from what exactly do you try to protect Victor?”

“For one thing, I try to protect him from bad memories. When he starts remembering being in that boot, it makes him physically sick. So sick, that he could die just as he died before.”

“But we changed time. He did not die.”

“The memory is still there if I were to let him remember it. Also, he was in the boot of that car regardless, both when he died and he did not die.”

“True.” Donny walked over and touched Victor’s face. “Victor feels guilty about my dying. He shouldn’t. You should protect him from feeling guilty over my death”

George said, “I try. That said, I am sorry that you died. It would have been good if you had lived and had been able to enjoy life with the woman you loved.”

“Love. I will never stop loving Lilly. But I am not sure about the life we would have lived. Lilly was too young. I loved her with all my heart but I should not have married her. And I had secrets from her. If I had lived I probably would have broken her heart.”

“I have never met Lilly. I have seen her. She is a beautiful woman. And I know Sally and Sam Smith adore her. She is their cousin.”

“Sally and Sam. I should spy on them some. I bet they are still as fun as they ever were.”

“Yeah. They are a hoot. And they are good to Victor.”

“I am glad.” Donny looked around the room. He said, “I guess I should go.” Donny then vanished.

George looked at Victor. “I should let you sleep.”

Judy knocked on the door.

Victor called. “Yeah.”

Judy said, “You have company. Billy wants to thank you for saving his life and Daniel wants to apologize about something.”

Victor crawled out of bed and quickly got dressed. He opened his bedroom door.

Judy said, “I am sorry I had to wake you.”

“No. It is good. I could not go to sleep. I guess I am too tired.”

Judy said, “Billy is adorable. He thinks he is something of a psychic. He said that I am going to marry someone rich. I liked the sound of that.”

Victor asked, “What about you and Steed?”

Judy said, “I don’t know about Steed and me. I know you don’t like him but I think one reason that I like him is that he reminds me of you.”

Victor said, “But there are days you totally hate me.”

Judy said, “Yeah, but today is not one of them and the other days, I don’t know why I get angry at you. I am sorry for those days.”

“Don’t be. You say what you think and I will say what I think and we can get as angry as we want, but the main thing is that we don’t stay angry. I love you. I don’t want you hurt. Not by Steed. Not by anyone.”

Victor and Judy came down the stairs and went into the living room. Bess was seated at the piano. The ghost of Nanny Ogleby was seated next to her. Nanny Ogelby moved to play the piano through Bess. Bess began play, “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever Will Be, Will Be?”

George jumped out of Victor and knocked Bess away from the piano and to the floor. He spoke to Nanny Ogelby. “Don’t play that. You know Victor and Jossette talked about that song before it all happened.”

Nanny Ogleby asked, “Do I?”

Bess stood up from the floor. “Wow. That was weird. I am so embarrassed. Just slipped off the bench right down to the floor.”

Stewart said, “Don’t be. That song floors me also.”

Bess laughed. “I loved that movie. I don’t know why?”

Victor said, “It was the most God awful movie I ever saw but Stewart cried during it.”

“I did not. You was wearing some awful cologne that…”

Victor said, “Sure. It was my cologne that made you cry.”

Stewart said, “Yes. That cologne stunk that bad.”

Victor laughed.

Nanny Ogleby said, “See, Victor is okay. Hearing the song did not remind him of anything or upset him.”

George said, “But it could have.”

Nanny Ogleby said, “You love Victor very much. Don’t you?”

“No. I am Victor.”

Nanny Ogleby smiled. “Okay.” Nanny Ogleby vanished.

Billy smiled and walked up to Victor. He asked, “Are you okay?”

Victor said, “Sure. How about you?”

“A little sore but good. I didn’t want to leave Hearthville without seeing you and letting you know, man, you saved my life. I don’t even know how to begin thanking you. But thank you. Thank you so much.”

Victor said, “Anyone would have done the same.”

Daniel said, “I wish I could say that was true. But there I was and I wasn’t the hero. And the truth is if I had tried to be the hero, I would not have saved the day. It would have ended in disaster for both Billy and myself. Victor. You are very special. Your family is very special. And I am so sorry for the shit I said on the helicopter.”

Victor walked over and hugged Daniel. “It is okay.”

George jumped back into Victor and took control. “It is okay but I don’t want to talk about it.” George whispered in Daniel’s ear. “There are things I don’t want my family to know.”

Daniel nodded. “I just wanted to let you know that I am sorry. I am not even sure why I said some of things I said.”

George said, “It is okay. Things got heated. I am sorry as well.”

Daniel returned Victor’s hug. He patted him on the back. “I want to talk to you later.”

“Sure.”

When Daniel backed away from Victor, Nat stepped in to take Victor’s hand. He shook his hand. “Thank you for traveling back in time and saving my cousin.”

Maureen asked, “What?”

Nat said, “It is an inside joke.”

George nodded. “Be careful to whom you tell that joke.”

Nat said, “I understand. But you do know?”

“I know.”

Daniel and Natalina looked at one another as they moved their eyes from side to side. They also had not totally forgotten that time had been changed.

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