"So, didja get at least the color of the car guys," said Tony a bit tiredly as he listened to what happened to Aidan and Ralph.
"No, Ralph and I hit the deck and the car sped by, trying to figure out who wanted to turn us into road pizza," said Aidan. They were at her apartment waiting for Pam, who had to finish a trial session before she could come over and help.
Ralph was seated on the loveseat icing his mildly sprained ankle. "Did the FBI find bombs under Ade's or my cars?"
"Nope, they were clean, but it might be best if ya carpool together for a couple of days until we nab this bum," he said, then looked at Aidan, smirking a little. "And, next time when ya get done for the day, Ade here can use the fancy underwear and make sure there are no bombs under the car herself."
"OK, I wasn't thinking but good grief, we nearly were run over," said Aidan before pausing for a moment, thinking. "Tony… do you know of anyone who might have been released from jail that could want either Ralph or me?"
"Not off hand, but I'll look. Maxwell might be able to help out with the stuff he and Mr. H used ta do when he had the suit."
There was a knock at the door, and after looking through the peephole, Aidan let Pam into the apartment. "Hi guys, I came over as soon as I could," said Pam as she hugged Aidan and went over to Ralph's side. Lifting up the icebag off Ralph's ankle, she made a face when she saw the bruises and minor swelling. "Ouch, that has to hurt."
"Tell me about it. Got it when Aidan pushed the two of us out of the way," said Ralph.
"Let me guess, she had the suit on when she pushed you," said Pam and Ralph nodded.
"Well, I'd rather have this than been killed," he said as he replaced the ice bag. "It's not too bad. I can walk on it, but I'll probably need to wear an Ace bandage on it for a few days."
"So, have you guys thought of who might try to kill you?"
Aidan nodded slightly and then thought for a moment, realizing they were missing another possible scenario. "Do you think they might've been after someone else instead?"
"Like whom?"
"Dylan," she said simply. Seeing the others' quizzical looks, she continued. "Listen, I know you're worried here about it being us, but listen. Tony said that as far as he knows no one's after us, and this just so happens to occur when Dylan is trying to reconcile. What if someone doesn't want us to do so?"
Tony shook his head. "Ya think one of the Onyxsards is afta him?"
Ralph even had his doubts. "Sweetheart, he left earlier in the day, and they went after us. And, I know Dylan wasn't the most beloved with your dad's side either, but I don't think they'd kill him. They covered up for him a couple of times."
Aidan smiled softly as she toyed with the card. "I know, believe me I remember the last time we talked, but, former family or not, I'm not taking a chance and letting someone get killed," she said picking up her phone and dialing the number. Hearing it someone pick up, she started to talk. "Hello, is this Dylan? Hey, it's Aidan. I did some thinking, and wanted to ask you if you'd be willing to join us for dinner?"
"Sure Aidan. Just give me a time and place and I'll be there."
"OK," said Aidan. "It's the Magnolia Bar and Grill, and we'll meet you there about 7 p.m."
"I'll be there, and Mi… Aidan, thanks for letting me at least talk with you about wanting to reconcile."
She coughed slightly. "I'm not sure I want to do it yet, Dylan, but I'll at least listen to what you wanted to say. We'll see you in a couple of hours…. Goodbye."
Hanging up the phone, she turned to the other three. Seeing Ralph open his mouth to protest, Aidan put a hand up. "Don't worry, it's my treat. Besides I owe you guys for letting me bunk at your house after my hospital stay to recover from the plane crash," she said.
"So I haveta pay then," said Tony a bit hurt.
"Well…" she said, and seeing Tony groan, chuckled. "No, you don't. Besides, I owe you more than that. You saved my life."
--------------------------------------
Jackson answered his cell phone. "Listen, I just got a tip from someone about where they'll be next," said the voice on the other line.
"Oh yeah? Where?"
"The Magnolia Bar and Grill. I found out from a couple of friends and her records that Aidan has a severe food allergy. I need you to set up an accident, and lace her drink or food. Once she takes a sip or bite, she'll go into anaphylactic shock and die."
"What is it?" said Jackson and he listened to the other side discuss the allergy and plan. "All right, how do I get in there?"
"I know someone there who can let you in through the back. Just do it so we can get that dough, or you'll wish you were never born."
The hit man heard the other person hang up the phone, and closed his cell phone. He smiled softly, realizing what he found out would be beneficial to him. "Should be easy," he said to himself. "After all, sometimes foods get mixed up, so in this case, a murder would be simply ruled as accidental." He smiled and headed toward the restaurant, ready to finish this job and get paid. The person who hired him would pay him quite well for his services.
------------------------------------------
It was getting dark as Tony drove the group over to the Magnolia Bar and Grill. After discussing several options, the group decided that for the night they'd take Tony's car to the event.
As the group rode toward the restaurant, Aidan sat in the backseat looking out the windows. Tony, noticing her look in the rearview mirror, knew she was thinking about what had happened today. He started thinking about things himself. He had heard from his son, who was friends with Xander, about Dylan's visit at the school and Aidan's reaction to the fact.
Considering he had heard Aidan talk about wanting to talk with her relatives on that side, Tony wondered what the man did to her that would make her react so violently to his return.
After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to broach the issue. "OK Ade, you've gotta come clean here. What did that guy do to ya so many years ago that you turn into the Incredible Hulk at the school?"
Aidan glared at him, and turned, fussing with the alexandrite bracelet she was wearing. Pam, who was sitting in the front seat on the passenger's side, frowned. "Tony, listen, I know you're worried here as we are, but you can't just force her to say anything," she said.
"C'mon, Mrs. H, given what's happened today I should get ta know what happened," said Tony.
Ralph opened his mouth to defend Pam's decision, but Aidan put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right. I think he should know. I just wish he'd been a little politer about it," said Aidan. "And, I think it's best to say it now and not in the restaurant."
"You sure?" said Ralph and Pam.
"Yep, or I might do an encore of my 'Incredible Hulk' performance at the restaurant, and I don't want us banned from there," said Aidan and the others chuckled softly.
Tony rolled his eyes and took the exit that would take them downtown to the restaurant. "OK, I get the picture, so can you please help me with this?"
Aidan smiled. "OK, but I might need some help here," she said, giving a knowing glance to Ralph. "It's been 12 years since I last saw Dylan. Misha, my grandmother, had passed away and I wanted to visit her one more time before the funeral. While the rest of the Onyxsards wanted me to stay away, Ralph said that we'd stay away while the family had visitation. They still tried to deny me the right, but Pam, who was still a lawyer then, said she'd sue on my behalf. Hearing this, and not wanting the public embarrassment, they agreed - reluctantly."
"Reluctantly?" said Tony.
"Yeah. Misha had a soft spot for me, the only relative other than Dad on that side who cared about me. I think they were afraid I'd get a cut of the inheritance. I didn't care, as I had something more important - memories. Even when they put her in the nursing home and said to the nurses to not let me come visit, she ordered the nurses afterward to let me have visitation rights," she said chuckling. "I remember the first time I visited her when she was there. She said, 'I told those nurses that they couldn't let that jackass family of mine keep me from seeing Aidan. I'm the only tie she's got to her father.'"
"Sounds like she was a tough gal… sorry woman," said Tony.
"She was, and apparently very different from my grandfather. We had to stay in the nursing home, because that way the family couldn't arrest me for kidnapping, but I would come over and bring her ice cream or some sort of bead project I had been working on. She lived there for about 5 years before she passed away."
Tony cleared his throat slightly, knowing Aidan was moving away from the subject. "OK, so what happened at the funeral home?"
"Well, the night before the funeral, after the family had left, Ralph and I went over to the home - I think Pam had been stuck working on a case with a client. Ralph, realizing I wanted to say my goodbyes in private, let me go into the parlor where Misha lay in state. It was hard, because like she said, she was the last tie on that side who cared about me. …Unfortunately, what I didn't know was Dylan and a friend of his were there.
"Ralph had gone to the funeral home director's office to see if there was a way I could attend the service without creating much of a ruckus, and I was alone in the parlor. Dylan and his friend, seeing me in there, decided to pull one of the cruelest pranks anyone could do," she said, clearing her throat. "I remember looking at Misha and toying with the toggle of the bracelet she had given me just before she died when I felt a sharp blow to my head and everything went black…"
Noticing Aidan was having problems talking about this part, Ralph took over. "After Dylan and his friend knocked Aidan out, they carried her to the storage area where they kept the caskets and put her in one, closing it. I had returned to the main room and went to the parlor to tell her we needed to leave. Finding it empty save the alexandrite bracelet she had been wearing - they didn't see it fall - I picked up the bracelet and tried to get a holograph…"
"You were wearing the suit that day," said Aidan, a bit surprised. She did remember it was odd Ralph had been wearing a long sleeved shirt that warm day in May, but at least now she knew why.
"Yes… just in case something did happen. Anyway, when I didn't get one, I knew something was wrong and began to search for her in the home and heard laughing. I tracked it down and found Dylan and his friend laughing near the storage room. After getting the caretaker to keep an eye on them, I went inside and began to touch the caskets."
Ralph ran a hand through his hair, remembering that event again. "I finally got a holograph of one with Aidan inside coming to… or so I thought. Finding it empty, I realized it was the bracelet and pocketed it. Touching another casket, I got another one of Aidan … just when she realized what she was in and shrieked. I opened the casket, fortunately not off its hinges, and there was Aidan inside."
Aidan put up a hand and continued. "Anyway, Ralph picked me up and got me out of the casket, but I jumped out of his hands… and apparently too quickly because the next thing I know I'm lying on a fainting chaise with Ralph dabbing my face with a wet washcloth and the caretaker waving a packet of ammonia spirits under my nose," said Aidan sadly. "Ralph, being as angry as he was, started chewing out Dylan and his friend. Problem was, Dylan's parents arrived and decided to chew me out, saying it was my fault I got in the coffin and that I closed it myself. When Ralph mentioned it was locked too, they implied he did it to throw the blame on Dylan and his friend."
Tony shook his head in disbelief. "So, someone who's out cold can close caskets?" he said.
"With that family, apparently. Anyway, they ordered Ralph and me to leave, and not only that, told the funeral home director to not let me return to visit. When he balked, they threatened to sue the funeral home, so he had to reluctantly agree. Ralph tried to reason with them, but they said they were getting a restraining order on me so I couldn't attend the funeral… and they did." she said, glowering at the memory. "So, I missed the service, and didn't even try to go near her grave until about two weeks later, when the family had pretty much moved on with their lives. The thing is, it wasn't my fault, it was Dylan's as to why I missed the funeral. Still haven't gotten over it, since I didn't get to really say goodbye."
Pam thought for a moment. "So, why you want to talk to him now?"
"Well, if he's serious about this, I could possibly learn a little more about why he did it and about the family," said Aidan as they turned into the restaurant's parking lot. "Besides, I did some thinking and felt that if I didn't try, Misha would be upset. I just wish we didn't have to worry about someone attacking us."
Tony nodded as he found a spot and pulled in. "Don't worry Ade, I'm keeping guard here and if the guy or anyone else gives you trouble, just give a nod and I'll have them arrested for everything under the sun," he said, turning off the ignition.
Aidan chuckled and the group got out and headed into the restaurant. Once they were inside, they saw Dylan get up from the bench and walk toward them. "Hello Aidan, Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley. How are you doing?" he said warmly.
Ralph shook Dylan's hand. "We're doing fine. Dylan, this is a friend of ours, Tony Villacana. Tony, this is Dylan Onyxsard."
Tony shook Dylan's hand. "So you're the guy who's trying to be part of Ade's family again? I hope ya don't go an make Aidan do her Hulk impression again," he said a bit directly. Aidan kept mum, but her eyes twinkled at the slight dressing down Dylan received.
"No, no I don't think I'll do that again," said Dylan as the maitre'd came up to them and took them to their table.
Once the group was seated, they gave their drink orders and looked at the menus. Ralph and Pam frowned slightly when they saw Aidan glower a bit at the menu. "What's wrong?" asked Ralph.
"What I normally get isn't on the menu," said Aidan. "I guess I'll have to get something else."
Tony chuckled as he thought about his choices. "Ya know, it's a hard choice here, but I'm goin' to get these mountain oysters. They sound good."
"Not if you know what mountain oysters are," said Aidan wryly, who chuckled when Tony gave her a quizzical look. Rolling her eyes slightly, she whispered in his ear what they were, and he blushed. "Uh, maybe I'll try the crawfish one instead. Is it good?"
"Very much so," said Aidan. "But I'll have to have them make mine a special request if I order it."
"Why's that? Is it too hot or something for you," asked Tony as they received their drink orders. He knew Aidan could eat hot peppers without flinching and if Aidan said something was spicy, it'd be way too spicy for him.
Aidan took a drink of her Coke. "No, not too hot it just that there are some ingredients I can't have," she said and then turned to Dylan. "So, why did you want to reconcile? I mean, you're risking your inheritance by just being around me."
Dylan shrugged. "Aidan, it's been a long time since any of us have seen you, and visiting Grandmother's grave the other day made me realize that there's more to life than power and prestige," he said softly. "We were too hard on you, us kids, and should've not based our opinions on some outdated beliefs."
"Got that right pal. Ade here's fantastic," said Tony.
"Maybe, but I think the clincher is that I remember what Grandmother said before she died. It was to try and see all sides of life…"
"Or you'll end up flat," said Aidan finishing and taking another sip of her soda.
"Exactly," said Dylan and he continued to talk. As he did, Aidan started to feel a bit hot and her throat started to itch, softly at first, but was increasing rapidly.
Ralph turned to Aidan, and frowned when she was rubbing the sides of her throat as though in pain. "Aidan, what's wrong," he said.
When she started turning red and gasping for air, Pam knew what was wrong. "Ralph, I think Aidan's having an allergic reaction," she said.
"What the hell? She can't be…" said Ralph, but saw Aidan hunch over in her chair, trying to take in deep breaths, with very little luck. Aidan bent to the side to try and get something out of her purse. She missed the purse and it fell to the ground.
Seeing Aidan's tears of distress and now hearing wheezes in her breathing, realized Pam was right and he sprang into action. "Tony, call the paramedics," he said and got out the chair. He grabbed Aidan's purse and started rummaging through it.
As Tony ran off to get the paramedics, Dylan was confused at what was going on. "What are you doing?" he asked. "What's wrong with Aidan?"
Ralph wasn't answering, and found the item he wanted… an EpiPen. He grabbed it and turned to Aidan seeing she was in pain from trying to breathe. Kneeling so his injured ankle was only used for balance, Ralph remembered what she told him to do in this case if she couldn't. He removed the cap and, making a fist around the EpiPen, jabbed her in the thigh with the medicine.
Ralph heard the spring click and kept the needle in her leg for about 10 seconds so the epinephrine was completely administered and removed the needle. Aidan's eyelids fluttered closed and she fell sideways and out of the chair, limp. She crashed into Ralph, who caught her as best he could to keep her from hitting her head, and eased her the rest of the way to the ground.
Pam kneeled next to Ralph as he put his ear next to Aidan's mouth and checked her pulse. Pam swallowed hard. "Ralph, is she?…" asked Pam, ready to help out if they needed to give her CPR.
"Her breathing's better, but still a bit ragged. Her pulse is a bit fast too, but I think she'll be all right," said Ralph. Seeing Pam raise an eyebrow in regard to Aidan's state, he continued. "She fainted … probably from the stress of trying to breathe. Dylan, can you go get a wet towel or washcloth for Aidan's face?"
Dylan nodded and left to get a waiter. Ralph covered Aidan with his coat while both he and Pam kept an eye on the young woman to make sure she didn't have a relapse.
"Ambulance is on it's way," said Tony as he came back to the table. He frowned when he saw Aidan was unconscious. "How's Aidan?"
"She's better, but we need the paramedics to help treat it fully," said Ralph.
Tony looked at the pen shaped syringe Ralph was holding. "What did you give her?" he asked, confused.
"Epinephrine," said Ralph simply. Seeing the man's inquiring look, Ralph continued. "Aidan has a severe allergy to olives, and they can trigger an attack like this. She brings an EpiPen with her to places such as the restaurant just in case something gets cross-contaminated with olive oil."
"So that's why she hasta have them make her plate special like right?" said Tony, and Ralph nodded.
Looking at the table, Pam frowned. "But, we haven't eaten anything with olives," she said.
Tony wondering, stuck a finger in Aidan's soda and tasted it. "Maybe, but there's something odd in this drink," he said quietly to the two. "It's a bit oily for a Coke."
The two Hinkleys frowned, realizing the person who tried to attack Ralph and Aidan was definitely after her. "What's wrong," said Dylan, returning with a damp washcloth a waiter gave him. The waiter had already seen Aidan's attack and figured it might be needed. Dylan hadn't heard what Tony told the others.
"We don't know, but we're going to find out," said Ralph simply as he took the cloth from Dylan and began cooling Aidan down so as to not trigger another attack.