Captain Stellar Page 3

  Margo nodded.

  “Normal people with ordinary lives. They get to laugh and have fun like we did, years ago.”

  “We can have fun still.”

  “I don’t think so.” Fernando stared at his boots. “Even with the endless money, I’m miserable.”

  “Dr. Almighty-”

  “His name is Ted,” he interrupted. “Don’t let his nickname fool you.”

  “What I was trying to say is, if we ever want our freedom, we have to stop Dr. Almighty.”

  “But how?” Fernando removed a glove and Margo’s eyes widened. “I can think of one way, but it’s too risky. He has loyal followers. Not many, but they’re devoted to him and they’re strong.”

  He picked up a rose a bridesmaid had dropped on the sidewalk on her way into the bar. Within seconds, it disintegrated into ash in his bare hand.

  Margo snatched Fernando’s glove and handed it back to him. “Funesto, you better wear this before you destroy anything else.”

  “Whatever you say, Magenta. Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Every turn and slam of the brake wreaked havoc on Cal’s gut during the cab ride home from the party, like an amusement park ride from hell. It took immense willpower not to vomit in the backseat.

  The driver parked in front of his house with a grinding halt. Cal stumbled out of the cab, overpaid the driver, and trudged up the steps. Despite his drunkenness, he was confident in his movements, paying no attention to how he staggered up each step. He fiddled with his keys and after seven failed attempts, unlocked the door.

  Conversations from the party echoed in his head, his mind repeating Nessa’s words; he heard “you and Jin are not your parents” and “divorce” until he wanted to scream. He headed upstairs to his room and fell facedown on his bed, wishing he was more tired than nauseous.

  The first time he saw his father after the divorce was two years ago when he moved home after dropping out of college.

  “Dad?” Cal dropped the boxes he had been unpacking in the middle of his cluttered bedroom.

  “Hey, bud,” Dominick smiled.

  “I haven’t seen you in five years.” He turned and placed a stack of books on his desk with a loud thud.

  “Look, it’s been hectic with work. Diana and I have been traveling. I’m sure you’ve been busy, too.” He sat on a desk chair, looking too tall for it with his knees angling toward his chest.

  “You didn’t even come to my high school graduation.” Cal scowled at the floor. “I looked for you in the crowd, but you weren’t there.”

  Dominick raked fingers through his curly blond hair. “Your Mom said you dropped out of college.”

  “Is that why you’re here?”

  “You’re smart, Cal. I thought you had a good head on your shoulders. I’m more than disappointed my only son dropped out of college.”

  “Well, now you know how it feels,” Cal sat on his bed and turned to face the wall, “to be disappointed by a Bolden.”

  “I’m sorry-”

  “Do you wanna know why I dropped out?” Cal took in a sharp breath. “I didn’t want to end up miserable, like you and Mom. You hate your job. Seemed like you hated your life, which is why you left and never looked back. I don’t want that. I wanna do it right the first time.”

  “Good luck with that. And yes, my lifelong dream was not to be an accountant. But it pays well, I make enough money to travel, and I met Diana after your mom and I split up. She was working for a company that was a client of mine-”

  “Spare me the details. I don’t give a shit about Diana. I’ve never even met her.”

  “Can we talk about something else? I didn’t drive two hours for your bad attitude.”

  “You wanna talk? Fine. I have a boyfriend named Jin. He makes me happy.” Cal looked at his father, trying to read his reaction.

  “Jin. Is that Asian?”

  Cal let out an audible breath through his nose. “His family is from Korea. Do you want to see a picture?”

  “Uh, no, that’s okay. I’ll take your word for it. Look, I should go. I’ve upset you, and that wasn’t my intention. So, take care of yourself, bud. Maybe find a school that’s better next year.” He stood up from the chair and stepped closer to the door.

  “When will I get to see you again?” Cal wondered, glancing at his father. It had been five years of hoping his dad would call or come see him, only to be disappointed over and over again. Five years of missed fishing trips and basketball games in the driveway. He didn’t want to show his dad how much it hurt and fought against the tears welling up in his eyes.

  Dominick stared at his brown leather shoes. “Soon. I hope. But it’s up to you now. You’re twenty years old. You can come and visit me and Diana and Am-”

  “And who?” It felt like the floor had dropped from under Cal’s feet.

  “I wasn’t going to mention it, but Diana and I have a little girl. She’s turning three next month. Her name is Amelia.” He opened his phone and held out a recent photo of a girl with big blond curls, blue eyes, and a bright smile. Dominick beamed as he showed Cal the photo.

  “Does Mom know?”

  “Yeah, she knows. She’s happy for me, even though I don’t deserve her well wishes. I hope Valerie meets a good guy.”

  “Lord knows she hasn’t met one yet.” Cal returned his gaze to the empty bedroom wall.

  “That’s my cue to leave,” Dominick stepped out of Cal’s room.

  Cal stood and ran to the bathroom. Dominick was good for one thing. After thinking about him, Cal could finally vomit.

  Chapter 5

  Cal’s ears were ringing, his head heavy, as he entered the construction site the morning after the party. The tiniest sounds, even birds chirping in the nearby oak tree, echoed in his skull. He was on time, at least. Ten minutes early.

  Cal plopped on the ground, trying to gather his thoughts. The other guys were mumbling and laughing, carrying their lunches as they entered the site a few at a time. Cal winced at the echo of their thundering laughter and rubbed his temples.

  His stomach was in knots, and not because of his persistent hangover. Everyone acted as if nothing had happened, goofing off while given their daily assignments. He didn’t miss the usual harassment from Miller, but he hoped he wasn’t paralyzed or dead, his twisted body hidden in a morgue. He wondered if Miller had a girlfriend or a wife and children struggling with the aftermath of his accident.

  “Bolden! Stand up,” Rick called over to him. “You just got here. It’s not time for a break yet.”

  He took a few moments to stand, placing his arms out to steady himself. “I’m up, I’m up.”

  “Come here.” Rick motioned with one hand as if he was slicing the air.

  “Yeah?” Cal tried to act nonchalant, even though he knew he looked pale and awful.

  “Are you hungover?” Rick narrowed his eyes, taking a step forward. “Do you not even give a shit that I put you on probation two days ago?”

  Each word was a dagger to his eardrums as his head pounded harder. Cal squinted his eyes. “Well, it was my best friend’s birthday last night and-”

  “Save it, Bolden,” Rick interrupted. He let out a deep breath. “You’re lucky I’m short two guys.”

  Another reminder of Miller’s fall; Cal fixed his gaze onto his boots.

  “Don’t look so smug. If Vega hadn’t gotten injured last week and, well, Miller…I’d be firing your ass.”

  “Ok, I get it. I’m on thin ice.” Cal scratched the back of his head, unaware he could even look smug.

  “You got that right. Now get to work. Hangover or not, I expect 100% out of you today.”

  Cal walked away, cursing “Rick the dick” under his breath. He needed to keep this job. His mom didn’t expect rent from him, but the job paid well. Last year, he had enough to go to San Diego with Jin for a pharmaceutical conference. Working meant not having to depend on anyone else. And if he had to move out, he could afford rent. He didn’t need anyone whi
le he had a job that let him be independent. At least that’s what Cal told himself most of the time.

  After an hour of loading building materials onto a truck, Rick approached him.

  “You look like absolute shit and, for whatever reason, I’m having a moment of weakness. So go home.” Rick pounded the side of the truck. “Can’t have another of you idiots injured on the job.”

  “Thanks, boss,” Cal smiled.

  “But there’s something you can do,” Rick added, “other than keeping your mouth shut about Miller.”

  “Miller, is he-”

  “He’s alive and at the hospital. That’s all you need to know. And remember not a word to anyone who asks.” Rick’s eyes were fiery.

  Cal nodded. He didn’t want to talk about Miller’s fall to anyone. Just being at work revived Miller’s desperate screams in his mind, but knowing Rick forbid it made him feel even worse.

  “I’ve got an easy job tomorrow evening at a site up in the northern suburbs. One of my guys needs to leave early for a wedding, so I need you to lock up the place. He’ll be waiting for you and he’ll show you how to lock up before he leaves. You’ll be house sitting.” Rick tugged at his belt and pulled his shirt over his gut.

  “Just give me the address, and I’ll be there to help.”

  Rick handed Cal a business card with the location scrawled on the back. “Good. Be there at 4. He’ll have a basic checklist to keep you busy until midnight.”

  “Midnight?” Cal blurted.

  Rick narrowed his eyes. “Yes, midnight. You owe me some hours. Now get the hell out before I change my mind.”

  Cal slid the card into his brown leather wallet and left the construction site. Relief washed over his body as he exhaled and relaxed his shoulders, heading for the bus stop. A few college students went by carrying their books and big purses on their way to the L. One of the young women pointed at his hardhat, and the others giggled and blushed. They smiled at him, but he kept walking to avoid encouraging them. He passed a man with thinning brown hair and green eyeglasses approaching him on his right. Cal felt the man study him, his eyes scanning up and down. Getting checked out by men was nothing new, but this seemed different. Curious, Cal turned to catch a glimpse of the bespectacled man…but he was gone.

  * * *

  Ted Foyle, the man with green glasses, stepped onto the construction site, scanning the busy crew for the man in charge. He spotted a pot-bellied man on the phone and tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Look, I’m kinda busy, pal,” Rick scoffed, covering the bottom of the cell phone with his hand.

  “You have time to talk to me.” Ted revealed an envelope stuffed with cash tucked in his briefcase.

  Rick ended the call with a quick tap of his finger. “What can I do for you?”

  Ted smiled at the swift cooperation. Most people were so predictable. Show them what he knew they wanted, and they became putty in his hands. “I need you to give me all the information you can on the tall, blond man who left your construction site five minutes ago.”

  Rick chuckled. “Who the hell are you?”

  “The name’s Foyle.”

  “Well, Mr. Fo-”

  “Dr. Foyle,” he corrected, adjusting his glasses. He hadn’t earned two doctoral degrees and countless certificates to be called Mister.

  “Why should I?”

  “If I must remind you…” He opened the briefcase again and pulled out the large envelope of cash.

  Rick gaped at the money within his reach.

  “A down payment on a new car? Jewelry for your wife? It’s up to you.”

  Rick hesitated for a moment. “Fine. What do you wanna know? I’ll tell you all I can about Cal.”

  “Pretty painless, wasn’t it?” Ted grinned, baring his teeth. “Tell me everything: family, friends, where he lives…”

  Rick’s eyes were fixed on the money.

  “Here’s a deposit.” Ted put half the cash into a large yellow envelope, sealing it with a long pale finger covered in ink stains.

  Rick snatched it from Ted’s hands. He held the concealed money to his chest in a warm embrace. “I can do that.”

  Ted smirked at the dolt of a man holding the envelope like a long-lost lover.

  * * *

  After a long nap and a warm bath, Cal’s head no longer throbbed. He even mustered up the energy to edit his latest photo shoot. A few weeks ago, he went to the lake near his home to capture the many shades of blue in the water and sky. The photos looked good, but he wanted them perfect to apply for freelance work.

  Cal sat at the desk in his bedroom and cleared away a stack of books, a few pieces of junk mail, and a clean but wrinkled pair of gym shorts. Waiting for the computer to boot up, he dusted off his keyboard and then stared into space, watching the icons pop up on the laptop screen, when he heard a noise at the front door.

  Startled, he bolted from his chair, picturing that strange man with the green glasses. He should have been used to oddness on the streets of Chicago; he had seen his share of characters. But it had been the way the man had looked Cal up and down, examining his body, that gave him the creeps. The man appeared harmless, but something about his eyes was unsettling.

  The door opened and Cal grabbed a tripod from the floor, holding it as a bat as he crept down the stairs.

  “Cal? What the hell’s the matter with you? It’s me,” a familiar voice echoed in the staircase.

  Cal sighed in relief as he set the tripod on the top step. “Sorry, Mom. It’s been a crazy day.”

  “Had the day off?” Valerie dropped her heavy bag of therapy materials with a thud and walked into the kitchen to wash her hands.

  Cal followed her. “I, uh, worked a half day. Sorta.”

  “Did you get fired?” Valerie narrowed her eyes as she dried her hands.

  “No. I was hungover from Nessa’s party and-”

  “When are you going to grow up, Cal Nathaniel Bolden?” His mother put the floral-patterned kitchen towel next to the stainless steel sink and turned to eye him.

  “I mean-”

  “I don’t want to hear it.” She threw up her hands.

  “You sound like my boss.” Cal rolled his eyes.

  “Cal, you are twenty-two. You’ve made big decisions, like dropping out of college halfway through, and-”

  “You said you supported my choice.”

  “I did, but it kind of broke my heart,” Valerie admitted. “Your father and I both have master’s degrees, and we thought you’d at least graduate college.”

  “But you’re miserable,” Cal fought back, glaring at his mother. “You both hate your jobs. I grew up listening to you complain about work every day, and-”

  “Yes, but part of being an adult is doing something you don’t love for the people you care about. Occupational therapy is hard work and sometimes, yes it sucks and I get crabby patients who don’t want to do anything but groan. But it pays well, and it gave me security after your dad left. Someone had to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. You hit 6’2” your senior year of high school, and you turned into a big gremlin eating everything in sight.” She forced a smile as she fought back tears.

  “Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Cal dipped his chin to his chest, feeling guilty for disappointing his mom. She went above and beyond for him, especially after his dad left. But she expected too much from him. College had been her dream, not his. Academics had never been his strongest asset. As an only child, the burden of being a college graduate with an impressive career weighed heavy on his shoulders.

  “Cal? Are you still with me?” Valerie tapped his downturned chin.

  “Uh, yeah, just zoning out.”

  “I wanted to tell you something.”

  “What is it?”

  “I know you’re not his biggest fan, but I wanted to warn you so it wouldn’t be so shocking.” She paused and a smile spread across her face. “Gary is going to propose soon. I can just sense it.” Valerie smiled even wider.


  Cal’s stomach dropped. “Propose?”

  “We’ve been talking about starting fresh, buying a new house, moving to a different town. I thought you’d have moved in with Jin by now, with him asking you every five minutes. Or at least have an apartment of your own.”

  “Well, I’ve been trying to decide…” Cal wrung his hands.

  “You’re always welcome to live with me…well, with us. I’d never kick you out. You‘re the only family I have.” Valerie put a hand on his shoulder. “But you and Gary aren’t the best of friends.”

  “He thinks he’s way cooler than he is,” Cal teased.

  “Hey, he’s the real deal. Used to go see The Ramones play when he was a teenager in New York. Hell, CBGB was his home away from home, back when it was still around.”

  Cal saw the gleam in his mom’s eyes as she boasted. He knew how much his mom enjoyed the connection she had to the infamous music club through her spiky-haired boyfriend. “Whatever. He’s still a weirdo.”

  “Well, he’s been nothing but good to me. After the ugly mess that was my divorce, I could use a fairy tale ending.’’

  Cal knew the divorce had taken a toll on his mom, despite the brave mask she wore. She had been a source of comfort whenever Cal had wiped away tears early on in the divorce, hoping for a weekend fishing trip. Gary was a decent guy, annoying and strange, but he treated Valerie better than Cal’s father Dominick ever had. That’s what mattered, knowing his mom would be all right, not his minor irritations with Gary’s quirks.

  “I know he makes you happy. Even if he is a doof.”

  “I want you to be happy, too, Cal. I wish I understood what you’re doing with your life.”

  “When I’m a famous photographer traveling the world, you’ll get it.”

  “It’s good to dream, honey, but be practical. You won’t be young and strong forever. You need steady work, a career, something that’ll pay the bills.”

  “All right, Mom. I’ve gotta edit my lake photos. I’ve been putting it off.”

  “I’m going to change out of these scrubs and watch Netflix. How about Rosie’s Diner tonight? Maybe Gary can meet us.”

  “Yeah, fine.”