Starlight Mansion
Jerrica Benton pulled up to the empty driveway and turned off the motor. She stepped out of the car; the door closed with an echo. It was then that she noticed how still the air was even as she approached the large double doors leading inside.
She entered; the stillness spilled over into the mansion.
"Hello?"
Her voice echoed, along with her loud footfalls against the granite tile, which prompted her to regard her reflection in the shiny floor.
Mrs. Bailey has been busy.
A waft, carrying an aroma of sweet sauces and spice, encouraged Jerrica to inhale deeply. She followed her nose to the kitchen where she found Mrs. Bailey hunched over the stove, stirring a large pot.
The gentle housemother turned to Jerrica as she heard her enter the kitchen. "Ah, Jerrica. Good morning, sweetie."
"Good Morning, Mrs. Bailey. Where is everybody?"
"Well, the starlight girls are at school, of course, but I sent all the adults out to run errands. I noticed that things are starting to get neglected around here."
Jerrica blushed. "Sorry, things've just gotten crazy lately with the new album and all."
"I know, dearie." Mrs. Bailey approached and placed her hand gently on the young woman's cheek. "That's what you have me for."
Jerrica closed her eyes and inhaled with a smile. "That smells wonderful."
"Sit down." Mrs. Bailey motioned Jerrica to the kitchen table as she grabbed a plate from the cupboard. "You've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. It's not healthy." She placed a piece of chicken on the plate then covered it in sauce, and she served it to Jerrica, saying, "This is my grandmother's 'no interruption' Chicken Cacciatore."
Fork in hand, Jerrica placed her nose closer to the dish. "Why is it called 'no interruption'?"
Mrs. Bailey smirked. "Because, once you take a bite, you'll insist on no interruptions until you've finished your plate."
Jerrica took a hearty bite. "Oh, my god."
"Now you know how I became Missus Bailey." She poured two cups of coffee and took the seat across from Jerrica. "How does it feel to slow down for a change?"
"Wonderful." Jerrica smiled and took another bite. "Thank you. This is just what I needed."
"Talk to me; I never get see you anymore, as busy as you are," Mrs. Bailey said, taking on a sudden serious tone. "You've seemed distracted all week."
"Have I?" Jerrica pouted. "I guess it's because I've run into Rio recently."
Mrs. Bailey stilled the cup at her lips long enough to inquire, "Who's Rio?"
Jerrica snorted. "You know Rio: the boy next door who was my boyfriend for, like, ten years..."
"Of course. How silly of me." Mrs. Bailey chuckled. "So, you're not over him yet, I take it?"
Jerrica sighed. "It's complicated."
"No, it's not. A woman like you can have her pick of quality men. No need to waste your time on one boy who can't appreciate how... unique you are."
"Men are nice, Mrs. Bailey, but women today don't really need a man to be successful or to define themselves."
"Sounds like a bunch of feminist propaganda." Mrs. Bailey narrowed her eyes unapologetically. "Men make life easier. They were put on this Earth for us. As long as you cook for them, and put in a little time on your back, they'll do anything for you."
Jerrica eyes widened as her face became flushed. "I don't believe we're having this conversation."
"Well, you lost your mother at such a young age. She never got the chance to impart upon you the wisdom of The Sisterhood." Mrs. Bailey thoughtfully sipped her coffee. "Think about it. You're mother may've had the voice, but where would Starlight Music be without your father?"
"You're right." Jerrica averted her eyes. "Sometimes I forget how blessed I've been."
"So, what do you remember about your father?"
"I remember his love." Jerrica smiled upon reflection. "And his wisdom… when I wasn't busy being teenager, that is."
Mrs. Bailey laughed and rested her chin in her hands, "Did he ever talk to you about his life before he met your mother?"
"Now that you mention it, he never did. I don't really know anything from when he was younger." Jerrica shrugged. "I figured you would know more about that than I."
"No. Your father is a real mystery." Mrs. Bailey sighed heavily. "He literally didn't spring into existence until the year you were born."
"What do you mean?" Jerrica asked nonplussed.
"Hmm?" With a dismissive wave of her hand, Mrs. Bailey finished her coffee. "Oh, pay no mind to the ramblings of this old woman."
Their tête-à-tête was interrupted by the doorbell. And Mrs. Bailey nearly hopped from her seat.
"Oh, they're early."
"Are you expecting someone?" Jerrica asked.
"Yes. The Salvation Army is here to pick up some knick knacks that are just sitting around collecting dust." She started to leave, but had the presence of mind to ask. "I hope that's okay, dearie?"
"I guess…. I just wish you discussed it with me first."
"You've been so busy, I didn't want to bother you." She approached and took Jerrica brusquely by the arm. "But, since you're here now, you might as well come with."
The two women made it to the entrance. When Mrs. Bailey opened the door, they were greeted by four large men of unconventional dress for charity workers.
The blond man with a pony tail spoke first. He had an accent. "Good Mornin', ma'am. We're the pick-up service from Goodwill."
Jerrica arched an eyebrow. "I thought you said they were from the Salvation Army, Mrs. Bailey?"
The man shrugged. "Tomato, Tomahto… it's all the same."
"Come in, boys." Mrs. Bailey opened the door wider and waved the rest of the men inside. "Be sure to wipe your feet on the mat; I just mopped."
The men obeyed and followed the women inside, with Mrs. Bailey in the lead. Jerrica walked nervously close behind Mrs. Bailey; she could feel their stares at her back. When she anxiously glanced over her shoulder, one of the men returned her look with a grin.
"It's a nice place you have 'ere... It smells like women."
"Er, thanks?" Jerrica looked away and hugged her chest. She became more trepidatious with each step as they neared the empty wing of the mansion.
"Right this way quickly, now. We don't have all day."
"Mrs. Bailey, where are you taking us?" She did not answer, so Jerrica ran ahead and blocked her ingress to the forbidden area. "Enough! There's nothing in this wing of the mansion."
"Oh, really?" With pursed lips, Mrs. Bailey retrieved a paper from her pocket and unfolded it. "Not according to this blueprint."
Jerrica narrowed her eyes when she recognized the mansion's floor plan inscribed on the paper held by the elder matron. "Where did you get that?"
"It's public record, dearie." Mrs. Bailey gave Jerrica a rather severe look. "You see. I've cleaned this house from top to bottom, yet according to this, there should be an entrance to a room right about where you're standing."
"Well, the plans are wrong." Jerrica replied with her hands on her hips. "As you can see there's nothing here but an empty wall."
The blond man retrieved a device from his jacket. He waved it in Jerrica's direction and it beeped loudly. "I'm reading a power source in this direction."
"Who are you people?" Jerrica insisted, trying her best to keep her arms from shaking. "What do you want? Money?"
For the first time,'Mrs. Bailey' spoke in her true voice. "Stand aside, dearie."
Jerrica gasped. "Y-You're not Mrs. Bailey!"
"Took you long enough, dearie." She sneered. "That's why I picked her: nobody pays attention to the Mrs. Baileys of the world."
The blond man approached. "Move, girlie."
But, Jerrica did not budge. "No." She yelped when she was pushed aside. The men walked through the false wall leading to Synergy, and she followed them, relieved to see the room transformed into a cluttered storage closet. "You see. There's nothing here." She could almost hear her heart thumping against her chest. The blond man snorted and began to wave his device around, following the beeps to the source.
He bumped into something solid.
"Danger! Intruder Alert!"
A blinding white light bathed the room which turned into a fire, yet no heat was given off. Jerrica retreated into a corner.
"Bloody hell!" The blond man, along with the others, stepped back.
However, Mrs. Bailey was not fooled by the light show. "Shut it down, Jerrica, or Mister Bailey becomes a widower today." She gave the men a knowing look, saying, "If you don't care about her, think of the children on their way home from school any minute now!"
The blond man leered. "As long as there's grass on the field, play ball, right fellas?"
The men laughed with a menacing countenance on each of their faces.
Jerrica regarded them, horrified, and her eyes fell. She approached the outlet that Synergy was plugged into. Synergy's visage appeared on the computer screen, her eyes pleading. "I'm sorry, Synergy." And she pulled the plug.
The fire disappeared. Synergy was dormant.
'Mrs. Bailey' smiled sweetly. "Wise choice." And she ordered the men to work, saying, "Pack it up fellas, we're outta here in five."
The four men were efficient in their disassembly of Synergy. Jerrica looked on helpless as the tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't stop her chin from trembling.
When they wheeled the last piece out, 'Mrs. Bailey' regarded Jerrica and seemed to take pity on the crestfallen young woman. "What's wrong, dearie, feel like you've been taken for a ride?" She approached and placed her hand on Jerrica's cheek. "If it makes you feel any better, you should know that it takes a lot of work to become someone else. The hours spent studying your target, memorizing all of their quirks and habits, takes skill. I probably know more about your Mrs. Bailey than you do. She's a crusty old bird, but to her credit, I didn't realize that granny panties were so comfortable. Even that dish I cooked for you... she really can make that, you know." She leaned in closer to whisper in Jerrica's ear. "You see, that's the level I play at. So, maybe you can appreciate how irksome it is for someone like me to watch someone like you—an amateur—prancing about, not even bothering to change her voice, or the way the way she walks. This technology is wasted on you... Jem."
She retreated, just a pace, to take in the surprise in her victim's eyes. "So, how do you do it? How do you flip the switch between Jerrica Benton and Jerrica-Benton-with-a-wig?"
Jerrica spat in her face. The impostor cursed and slapped her. Jerrica fell to her knees sobbing; her hand rubbed the side of her face, and then moved to her ear.
"Sore loser." She regained her composure and tucked back an errant lock of orange hair that had fallen out from under her wig. "Get up!"
Jerrica dropped something as she was hoisted to her feet. Her familiar looking captor led her through the now exposed entrance, and the room was still.
A lone jemstar earring glistened unnoticed in the corner.
