Part Eight

Harry and Stuart are boarding the plane. They check their tickets for their seat numbers while squeezing past an older woman with a large leopard duffel bag. After passing five rows of seats, they find their places. Harry stuffs both their suitcases inside the compartment box above the row of seats.

Stuart watches Harry struggle with the suitcases and says, “Hey buddy, do you need help?”

“I got it. My arms are just a little sore from doing Zumba with Taylor last night.”

Stuarts throws his head back, laughing, and says, “She’s got you exercising? I haven’t seen you work out since college.”

“We are trying to eat more healthy and get into shape.”

“That’s great. Maybe I should join you? I put on a few pounds eating fast food. It’s nice to be home and eat homemade food.”

“How do you like living in Philadelphia?”

“It’s okay. I live in a loft apartment. It’s small, but it’s perfect for me right now. I tell you one thing, though, I miss hanging out with you and weekly dinners with the family.”

“Are you thinking about moving back here to Buffalo?” Harry says with a grin on his face.

“I have been thinking about it a lot,” says Stuart, then he jerks up to the edge of his seat as the plane prepares for landing.

“It would be nice to have you home again, buddy,” Harry says with a hand on Stuart’s shoulder.

“Yea, I think it’s time to come home,” Stuart says while nodding his head.

The light goes off to remove their seatbelts. Harry stands up and stretches. Stuart glancing out the window taking in the scenery and reading a light-up sign saying, “Welcome to New York.”

“Thank you for flying with Delta. I hope you have a wonderful trip,” says a flight attendant with a big grin on her face.

Stuart waits to exit his seat as a big Italian family squeezes by Harry while he is trying to gather their things. Stuart grabs his suitcase from Harry, and they head towards the door. A tall gentleman with a leather coat steps in front of them, causing Stuart to drop his cell phone.

“Hey, what’s the rush?” Stuart shouts.

“Did that guy look familiar to you?” Harry asks.

“Not sure. Why?”

“Just a feeling I have in my gut.”

The smell of roasted coffee beans makes its way up to Stuart’s nose as he places down his luggage on a black metal chair in the airport waiting area.

“Hey, do you smell what I do?”

“I didn’t let one loose if that’s what you mean.”

Stuart laughs, then says, “No, freshly brewed coffee.”

“Oh yeah, I could use a cup.”

“How about you stay here with the bags, and I will go grab us coffee and sandwiches before we grab a taxi to the hotel?”

Harry nods his head and says, “Sounds good.”

Stuart starts walking towards the Tim Hortons, and his vision becomes blurry.  He rubs his eyes, and a fog of smoke swallows him. He hears a voice calling out.

“Help! I am trapped.”

A wooden door comes into view. Stuart places his hand on the golden doorknob and turns it. A woman is confined to a chair with tape on her mouth. He turns his head back and forth to see if anyone is around. No one else is in the room. Just the woman and Stuart with an Edison lightbulb on a metal chain swinging from the ceiling. Stuart runs towards her and begins pulling the tape off her mouth slowly.

In disbelief, he blinks his eyes twice and says, “Grandma is that you?”

“Someone’s coming for you, Stuey. They know you are digging around for answers.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sir, are you okay? How would you like your coffee?” The brown-haired woman at the counter asks.

“What did you say?” Stuarts says with his head feeling foggy.

“Do you want any sugar or cream in your coffees?”

“Sorry. I guess I am a little jet-lagged. Yes, three sugars and cream in both coffees, please.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes, two turkey club sandwiches and a twenty pack of assorted Timbits.”

“Is that everything?” She says while grabbing a donut box.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay, your total is $21.74.”

Stuarts pulls out his bank card from his pants pocket and pays for his order. He leans against the counter, thinking about what he just experienced. I have never seen my grandmother like this—only in my dreams. What’s happening to me? All I know is I have to find out what happened to her. The more I research and what I see in these dreams; her death was no accident.

“Here’s your order, sir.”

“Thank you. Have a goodnight.”

“You too,” the woman says, then waves goodbye.

Stuart approaches the seating area at the airport and sees his buddy dozing off in the chair. Harry is rocking his head back and forth. Stuart shakes his arm.

“Hey! Wake up.”

“Oh, snap! Was I falling asleep?”

“Yea, you were. Here’s some coffee to wake you up.”

“Thanks. What time is it anyway?”

Stuart checks the time on his cell phone. “It’s almost four in the morning.”

“Wondering why I am so tired all of a sudden.”

“Let’s eat our food and call a taxi.”

“Good idea. I’m going to need some sleep before our mission to the FBI building.”

Stuarts places a finger over his mouth and says, “Shhh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t say where we are going. I think someone knows we are here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I had a vision or dream. I don’t know what to call it, but I saw my grandmother tied up, and she told me someone is coming for me.”

“Are you sure, Dude?” Harry says with an incredulous look on his face.

“I’m serious.”

“All right. Do you think it’s the guy that bumped into you on the plane?”

“Possibly. All I know is I need to scarf down this food and get to the hotel for a nap.”

“Me too, bro. I got the Uber app on my phone. I will get us a ride to the hotel.”

“Okay. Tell the driver we are going to the Four Seasons Hotel on 27 Barclay Street.”

“Okay, got it. They will be here in about twenty-five to thirty minutes.”