24 George Misunderestimates Joy

"The reward for living is the living itself." - Charles Hartshorne

The pitch black outside the SUV obscured the countryside passing them by. The SUV's high beams cut open a way through the dark road. Tom kept his focus on the road as it appeared illuminated by the headlights of this SUV, George's SUV. He still had her blood on his hand and arm. He glanced upward. He couldn't see a moon or any stars so he knew clouds must be thick up there. He couldn't remember if there was supposed to be a moon tonight. Tom checked the clock. A long night this had turned into. In the last 10 miles he guessed they had passed only two cars. He turned down a short stub road and pulled the SUV up to a gate. He looked over his shoulder. "This is it."

Mr. Hesburgh nodded and punched a preset number on his cell phone.

An older man's voice from the speaker asked, "Mr. Hesburgh? You here?"

"Yes, Dr. Steinman. At your gate."

The gate started a creaking movement. Tom eased forward through the opening gate and down the long drive leading up to the main building's entrance. Focused bright lights outlined part of the main structure and allowed Tom to see the front of a low two story broad building. The windows he could make out had shades drawn or the rooms were dark. Even the reception area on the other side of the front door was only dimly lit. Three figures and a gurney silhouetted by the lights over the entrance and a lamp post were waiting at the curb. He could see moths and other little buzzing things thick around the nearer lights. A dark form swooped through the lighted zone and was gone - a bat probably. He stopped the SUV in front of a man he took to be the doctor. The other two he could see were women, nurses likely, but not in uniforms. Jane jumped out, moved to the rear, raised the hatch door, and stood back. The two women wheeled the gurney in place and shifted the unconscious Joy Lass onto it. They left with their patient not waiting for the doctor.

Mr. Hesburgh got out. "Her name is Joy Lass. We clear on the treatment?"

The doctor nodded. "Keep her sedated, safe, and don't ask questions of her. All visitors cleared through you, and I believe you mentioned she had some sort of breakdown."

Mr. Hesburgh moved to reenter the SUV. Jane held the door open. He said, "I'll come by tomorrow to discuss more details. Remember. Keep her away from other patients." He got inside and Jane followed him.

Tom noticed the hesitation from the doctor, but he managed a nod. Jane hopped into the back with Mr. Hesburgh and closed the door. Tom eased forward, back down the road, and back out the gate.

On the main road he picked up speed. This early morning hour there would be no traffic. Still it would be a while before they got to a real freeway. Since it was only the three of them now and Trip, or Mr. Hesburgh, didn't mind his questions, he tried asking. "What happened? Why did she do that?"

Jane sighed. "Tom."

"It's OK. Tom…" He stopped. That was weird. Trip was real smart, like Jane, and always knew what was going on. Trip started again, but with a question. "What did you see, Tom?"

"Well, I was watching my show in the living room. And I saw Joy walk by slowly with these big wide eyes. I watched her. I didn't see the gun until the moment before she fired. She must have had it down and close. When I heard the first shot I moved to take her down."

"You both did very well. I'm glad you didn't hurt her."

Jane said, "It's a fucking miracle she didn't hit someone who could've died."

"No, Jane, she was aiming carefully and she hit the one she wanted to hit."

Tom shook his head. This was the part he didn't understand. "Why? I don't understand why? You guys were just playing Monopoly. Did she want to play?"

Jane said, "I did not see it coming." She paused, sighed, and said, "Jesus Christ."

"You did good covering Tommy. But she was careful."

"Well, she was so close. George did not see it coming either."

Trip asked, "That was John's gun, right?"

"I think he left it in the downstairs bedroom."

"OK. But why did she shoot George?"

Jane said, "Tom. Joy doesn't…"

Then Trip picked up. "She thought she was protecting Reggie, Tom."

That made no sense at all. "Those two are best friends, and sisters. George would never hurt Reggie."

"There are many ways to hurt someone…no, Tom, George would never hurt Reggie on purpose, but Joy…"

Jane said, "Joy sees George and all the reapers as…" Tom waited but whatever she was going to say just dropped.

Trip said, "I've talked to her. I should have seen something like this coming. Joy doesn't hide that she sees all of them and that ghost Ray as coming straight out of Hell. She's tried to convince me to help get Reggie away from them."

Jane said, "To tell the truth…I sometimes wonder myself."

Trip asked, "Wonder what?"

She paused and said, "When I was working the other side, especially after George paid us that little visit, I knew there was a very powerful force at work pulling strings…anyway…I think we're safe as long as we cooperate."

"Joy did not cooperate."

Jane seemed to ponder something. And then said, "Are you sure?"