Remembering the tagline 'Who is Keyser Soze?' always gave me good feelings. A tagline that really represents the entire plot of a film and is a blueprint for how to deceive people, it was such a coupe.
Matt and Bob were walking out of a Federal building in Washington D.C. looking very haggard and both had black bags under their eyes. Watching them walk forward to the car made me excited for what I was about to do.
Bob, as usual, walked to the driver's side door of the rented BMW while Matt hopped into the passenger seat.
"That was fucking nuts," Bob blurted out as soon as his car door was shut behind him.
"Nuts? It was fucking bullshit," Matt was as visibly upset as he was verbally.
Bob started the car and pulled away trying to get away from the building as fast as he could. They looked at each other as they moved and just shook their heads.
"So," both of them jumped as I spoke.
"Fuck, mate! You have to stop doing that shit. You're going to give me a heart attack," Matt said as he looked at me. I couldn't stop laughing.
"Jesus! Come on," Bob was pale white.
Between laughs, "How'd the interrogation go?"
Matt just sat there breathing with his hand over his heart. He looked over at Bob. Bob was breathing pretty heavy. He was in pretty good shape still, but he was a large man anyway. That girth was a lot to slow down.
Matt turned around, "Well, they decided that the last two years we'd given them enough information that they didn't need to see us "Formally"," Matt put his fingers up for double quotes, "again. They did say they would still be watching us."
"Of course, they think they have me contained sitting in that damn room," Matt laughed at that.
"I wish I could be there when you tell those fuckers the truth," Matt smiled with joy at the thought of it.
"Me too," Bob said and it made me think about that moment.
It would need to happen at some point. I would be nice enough to let them know in the end. That was still a long way off. I had other things to deal with right then.
"So, was it more of the same? Companies and bank accounts?" Trying to make sure everything was secure was my main goal in asking.
"Yes. They know about you wanted them to know about and nothing else," Bob was very matter of fact about the situation.
"Good. Now, do you know what day it is?" They had already been thinking about it.
"Of course! It's not every day my best friend turns 23! We picked out a nice place to have dinner," Matt wasn't upset that I would think he might forget.
Bob, looked into the rearview mirror, "How are the Lab Coats today?"
"The same as every day. You know, they keep testing me to see if I am mentally unbalanced and the truth is, if I was there all day long stuck in that room with all those idiotic tests, They would be the ones that would eventually drive me insane."
Matt chuckled, "Good thing you spend your days with us doing something constructive." The car erupted with laughter.
My 23rd birthday. It was strange to think that reality had been given to me two years before. Reality was a strange word to even think about at this point. What is reality? It's all subjectively based on the person it is pertaining to. My reality, for instance, was quite bizarre as compared to the rest of the world, but to me this was just a normal day in my life.
The car started to head out of the city toward where ever we were going for dinner. Small smirks and glances back and forth between the two of them while we were driving. I wanted to know what they were thinking about, but I decided to ask because I had no intention of ruining the surprise.
"Do you not want me to know and just let it be a surprise?" Matt spun around in his seat.
"God Damnit!" he had his frustrations with me.
I stopped him with my hand, "I told you about that."
"Sorry, mate. Hard habit to break," he faced forward again. "I hate the fact you can always know what's going on sometimes! It's gets annoying."
"Yes, when you are trying to hide something I am sure it does get annoying," I could see Bob looking back in the mirror.
"Just let him have his fun. He did all the work," Bob spoke up for him.
"Alright," I smiled. Truth is, it had become so hard to surprise me with anything that a little bit of a surprise was welcome. It would be a good surprise anyway. How could any surprise on my birthday with my family be anything but good?
Bob headed north out of DC, going toward Maryland. Maryland and Virginia were places I didn't have good memories of. Most of the government agencies I was having issues with were in these areas. Of course, they had no reason to be looking for me right then.
We ended up driving into some hills in Maryland that I had never been to before. It was dark by the time we pulled up to a nice little get away hotel of sorts. It seemed like a pretty nice place and comfortable place to spend an evening having dinner with some family.
The sign as we pulled up said 'Welcome to Mt. Vernon'. The building looked very old, but well kept. It seemed like old money, very old money.
As we pulled up the valet two doormen let us out of the car. I was in a black suit and tie as was Bob and Matt. They had to wear them into the meeting with the numerous government agencies around the table. Matt wore a suit every day for work and most of the time Bob did because I made him.
I soon realized whatever we were doing was going to be a tuxedo type of function. The cars in the area and how everyone was dressed walking into the main lobby was typical of a 'black tie' dinner. My left eye squinted as I looked at Matt.
"What?" he chuckled at me as two porters brought out bags with what I could only speculate were tuxedos inside.
I walked around to the right of the lobby where there was a tree. My newest trick, Matt had never seen before. Walking behind the tree in a suit, I came out from behind the tree in a tuxedo with a white jacket in less than a second.
Matt dropped his garment bag onto the walkway. Bob started to laugh hysterically. Actually, I was worried he might urinate in his pants he was laughing so hard.
"Well, doesn't that just beat all," he smiled at me. "When did you learn to do that?"
"Tell you later," tugging his arm to walk into the hotel lobby. "Kind of a Superman phone booth thing though," laughing to myself.
Chandeliers hung from the domed ceiling above. It was about thirty feet high above a large curved staircase that went up one wall to a veranda overlooking the entire lobby. Just below was the front desk. A hallway ran down under the veranda, which I knew was the way to the party. Everyone in formal attire was heading down that direction.
"Let us change really fast," Bob said. They headed off to the men's room which had both a bathroom and a changing room for just such a need.
Standing up against the wall by the changing room, I watched all the people walking back to the party. Some of them were familiar. A few of the people I knew. As long as the family was there, I did not care who else came along for this adventure.
About ten minutes after going into the room, the boys came out fully dressed for a black tie party. They stood in front of me and I nodded.
"Go ahead. This is your show. I will follow you guys," I motioned for them to lead the way.
Matt took the lead and led me down the hallway all the way back to the end of the hotel. The walls were lined with paintings and photos of famous guests they had stay in the hotel since it opened. Every president was represented. I even saw a painting of Magritte Thatcher.
At the end of the Hallway was a door that led out into a courtyard in the middle of the hotel. As I walked out, a sparkler sign set ablaze reading "Happy 23rd Michael" on it. There was a lot of clapping and an orchestra was playing 'Happy Birthday' as everyone joined in.
Making my smile big enough for everyone to see, I looked around and waved as they finished and about 250 people clapped. Mouthing out 'Thank You' I shook hands with everyone I could as I walked up to the stage where the orchestra was. I grabbed a microphone off one of the stands.
"Thank you all so much," more clapping. "It is very nice of you all to come out and see me for my Birthday. Truly, though, 23. Wow!" The crowd laughed.
Someone yelled out, "You're so old, Grandpa!" More laughing.
"You're right! I feel so old! I feel like I could be in two places at once at this age!" No one except for a small group up front, the family, got that. "Seriously, it is so nice of you all to come out and join me for this occasion. I challenge everyone to come by and talk to me tonight. I would love to chat with each and every one of you," right then my eyes rolled back and something flashed through my head. It was a familiar feeling and someone in the crowd had crashed the party. "Especially, my good and very old friend Baal," everyone in the crowd turned back looking for who that was.
He was standing in the back of the crowd by the door, just how I remembered him some two and a half years before. He was dressed in a black tuxedo with a shiny red tie on a black shirt. His cane was in hand and this time it had a nice thin red pinstripe swirling around it.
Winking, he started to walk through the crowd. He had two very attractive women with him. On one arm was the redhead that had called out my name so many times before Baal and I had met. His other arm had a similarly stunning blonde hanging off of it. She was enough to turn every male's head in the room. The two of them with Baal as well turned every head in the room no matter a person's sex.
"Please, everyone enjoy," clapping from the crowd as I turned to the band and told them to play something in the mood of Jazz or Blues.
Stepping off the stage I walked over to Matt and Bob. Giving them both a look and to my surprise, I saw a bulge from Bob's left side under his arm. He was caring tonight and there was no better night than tonight for that.
Bob and Matt had been given my detailed explanation of my encounter with Baal. As Baal made his way to me through the crowd I knew then the night would become very interesting and somewhat of a nightmare for all of us.
"Hello, Michael," he reached his hand out to me. "Happy Birthday, boy!"
Matt lurched forward, but I saw it coming and had my hand on his chest before there was much movement. "Hello, Baal," I thought about what touching him might do to us both. "Baal, you and I both know that," I looked at his hand, "isn't a good idea."
"True, but I wanted to see what you did and did not know, my friend." Of course, he only knew about what would and did happen on my 21st birthday, but beyond that he knew nothing.
"May I ask why you decided to come out and see me tonight?" being hospitable as I would to any guest I had invited out.
"It need not all be bad, Michael. We can co-habitat places. Since this might be the last time we could be none hostile towards one another, I wished to come out and see you on your birthday," he slung his hand around the courtyard at the decorations. "I had heard you throw quite a party, Matt. I did hear correctly," Matt's teeth were grinding as Baal spoke.
Hitting Matt in the middle of the chest, "Baal, you are more than welcome here. After all, this is my birthday and I would have it no other way. Please, by all means, enjoy yourself."
"Thank you so much, Michael. I appreciate your hospitality on your own birthday," he smiled and wondered off into the crowd with the women still attached to his arms, I actually wondered if they were real or not.
"What the fuck are you doing!?" Matt yelled into my ear, but not loud enough for anyone else but Bob to hear.
"Do not worry. I need to know more about him. Keep your friends close," my hand was gesturing out at the crowd, but I was looking at Matt.
"And your enemies closer," I could see the light turn on.
"Bob," I wasn't that trusting, "how many do you have here?"
Bob looked at me as if I didn't know about something and then gave in, "Twelve." Bob had twelve armed ex-police friends of his in the crowd as body guards.
"Put three on Baal and the girls. But tell them to Never, Ever let Baal out of at least one person's sight for the entire night!"
"Okay," he pulled an earpiece out of his collar and stuck it into his ear. Immediately he was talking into his hand.
Matt grabbed my arm, "Come on. Let me show you who I actually brought to see you."
We turned to the main table and standing in front of me were my parents. My Father looked fantastic. He was dressed to the letter and my mother was impressive in a silver gown that would have made her look younger if she didn't already look twenty years younger than she was.
"Mom! Dad! Wow," I gave them both a hug. They knew what was going on. My father and Matt were running all the businesses when I was not around. It was impossible to be in every meeting or even in my own office every day.
"Son, you look stunning," my mother said. "Are you here with anyone tonight?" the woman was trying to marry me off. It was her life's ambition.
"No, Mom. I told you, I missed on that one," she gave me another hug, the motherly consoling type.
Remy walked over in a shimmering red gown. It made me think of Baal for a split second. She looked fantastic and much better than Baal ever would in such a gown.
Giving me a hug, "Happy birthday, Michael! How are you doing, today?"
"Well, you know how it is. Every day I get stronger and stronger. Today has been good so far," winking at her with a grin.
My father grabbed my arm and pulled me aside for a minute, "Where did you want to go with that decoy thing?"
Patting my father on the back, "Brazil. No more business the rest of the night," pointing my finger at him. He nodded and gave me a night of business peace.
Sitting at the table my mouth needed a break and my body needed food. There were small sandwiches on the table. Drinking down a glass of champagne while shoveling some sandwiches into by face, my stomach gave its growl of approval.
It was a rough night. My Mother's words would not stop repeating over in my mind. She wanted only for my happiness, but in her mind the only happiness was to be in love. In my case, although I didn't know how true it was, it was true. Wishing she was with me that night, for some reason, it was the worst night not to have her with me.
Matt had thrown me parties before, many like that night. Something just felt off that night. It was not that Baal was there, either. It seemed like half of me was missing, well, that was almost true in a way. It felt like half my heart was missing from the room. Each glance only seemed half fulfilled.
Watching Baal across the courtyard made me start wondering what kind of smooth game he was running on all the people in the crowd. A board member, from one of my companies, being flirted with by the redhead with his wife was standing right next to him. Shaking my head in disgust, I could only imagine what was next.
After sitting in the chair for twenty minutes, my legs needed to get up and stretch. Bob followed me, but was hanging back just keeping an eye on me. Needing to be away from the crowd my was my goal, but my desire was not to be alone. My arm ushered him up beside me. I didn't need to just be alone. I ushered him up to me as I walk along beside him.
"Missing her again, aren't you?" By now he knew me pretty well. It was obvious to him and Matt when I was in a specific mood and that night it was written all over my face.
"Yes. It seems strange, but it almost does not seem like any of this is happening because she is not here with me." We walked down another hallway and ended up outside the back of the hotel.
"Well, I don't know if you could say anything that we have all been through the last five or six years has been anything if not strange," that made both of us laugh. "Something like this seems to just fit the bill of normal as far as our lives seem to go."
He was right about that. Life in our small group was pretty much outside the normally of every life on the planet Earth. As well it needed to be for what was happening.
"That Baal is a handful," Bob was just shaking his head as he started replying to his hand back to the person on the other end.
"What is he doing now?" hoping to avoid too much trouble with Baal, but given that's his nature something was bound to happen and I knew it would when I invited him to stay.
"He's trying to seduce the wife of some Senator," well, that was unexpected.
"I wanted to be nice, but I have had enough. Just tell them to get him out of there. And tell them to try not to make a scene, please." He nodded and turned around speaking back to his hand.
Wandering down away from the hotel, Bob stayed where he was able to watch me. My mind was filled with thoughts of her. Thinking about the past, it could be possible to just think about her and focus on her, then show up wherever she was at. Interesting to think about, but it seemed pretty unlikely.
Expecting it, but my eyes rolled back and my head twitched a bit. "Bob, he's coming, finally." In front of me, alone, Baal just appeared. "Did you honestly think I was just going to let you do that shit at my birthday party?"
"Michael. What? What did I do?" he tried to give me the innocent tone. Cocking my head and raising an eyebrow. "Okay, fine. I'll leave you to your boring little party," he said condescendingly. "We'll see each other again soon enough. Happy Birthday, my dear boy." As quick as he appeared he evaporated into the tree line around his black smoke cloud.
"What a fucking dick," Bob yelled out.
Very low and light, "That is the point, Bob."
With a solemn expression I turned and walked back into the hotel with Bob following. My preference would be to never see Baal again, but that was not going to happen. Bob was right, he was very ridiculous, almost comically so.
Drifting off in my mind I headed to sit down. People greeted me here and there wishing me a happy birthday. It was good to see some of the board members, but my thoughts were someplace else.
Waiting for me at my seat were two steaks. My mother gave me a wink. News gets around our group pretty fast. She was trying to keep my energy up. Which was really nice to know someone was watching me that way as well as watching my back for potential, well other types of people.
Finishing off one steak rather quickly, my stomach needed moment to let the food digest a bit. My thoughts drifted off with day dreams of Delilah, again. Not paying attention to myself or anything I was doing, my hand was coming up out of the table next to me. My dad noticed, though.
"Michael!" He was putting his hand up to his neck and giving me the 'cut' sign.
Looking down I saw my hand and pulled it back and then looked around to see if my dad was the only one. It seemed that everyone was preoccupied with their own conversations to have noticed what I was doing. Which was good considering everyone would have ran out screaming.
Delilah was getting dangerously distracting. My mind was wandering off thinking about her and my body was just doing what it wanted. As if she had some sort of effect on what it wanted to do. Realization took hold of my mind; I had to find out where she was and what she was doing.
Giving up on the steak with more important matters to attend to, I got up from my seat. Walking over to my mother and bending down I gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I have to go back," she gave me some puppy dog eyes that I would never forget. "I have something I need to do, Mom." I turned to my father, "Dad, I will see you tomorrow or the day after."
"Alright, son. Happy birthday," he gave me a bone crushing hug.
It was odd that I felt more and more disconnected from my parents with each passing day. This had been a topic of discussion with Bob and Matt.
At the back of the courtyard, dressed in his all black suit, shiny red tie and cane was Baal. There were no women on his arm. He was not talking to or trying to talk to anyone around him. He was simply standing at the edge of the grass and looking into my eyes, deep into my eyes.
Twitching and rolling back, my eyes closed. Deep in my mind I saw what it was he wanted before anything could happen. Bob and Matt met me about twenty feet from him where I had stopped. Matt was starting to rush up to Baal when I stuck my arm out and stopped him, again. Matt loved to fight.
"Get my parents and Remy out of here, Bob," I wasn't taking my focus off of Baal for a second. Bob turned and said something into his hand. A few of the guys he had with him came over to the table and moved them toward the exit.
"Come now, Michael," Baal's seductive voice rang out between us. "You did not think I was going to just let it be, tonight, did you?"
"I guess it was too much to hope for," my tone had become direct and pointed.
"Well, hope is for the weak, my friend. This you will soon learn," he watched Remy and my parents leave out of the corner of his eye.
"Bob," Bob turned his attention to me. "Do not let him move for just a moment."
Walking to the front of the stage I hopped up to the microphone. Quickly I told the band to stop playing.
"Ladies and gentleman," the attention from the crowd was focused on me. "Tonight, one of my companies and I have come up with a brand new special effects technology that I have decided to display for you tonight. This will be the debut of this technology, so please bare with us if there seems to be any glitches at all. I would like you all to see how real we can make this seem even in a live environment such as this one," I pointed my handed to the back end of the courtyard. "My good friend Baal and I have been rehearsing to prepare for what you are about to see tonight. Please, give him a hand." Everyone was watching and clapping with anticipation.
Jumping down I moved back to Baal, "Very clever, Michael. Very clever."
I pushed Bob and Matt back, "Give us some room and back everyone off," I looked at Bob and Matt more serious than I ever have before. This was going to get ugly.
Matt decided that he might want to ask before he couldn't, "What's going on, Mate?" I just looked at him and my eyes started to glow a faint blue. He looked down at my fingers and they were twitching.
Turning my attention back at Baal, I could feel something surging inside of me that I had never felt before. Energy was dancing in my fingers and in that place deep in my mind. Nothing was in my mind except that energy I would see when I looked back after moving and it was stimulating my entire body.
Baal lifted his right hand off his cane and held it out to my right side. Throwing his arm from right across at me a table came flying at me. I didn't move, it just turned to daisies in front of everyone. The crowd clapped thinking this was the display they were suppose to get from us of special effects.
"Interesting," Baal said as his eyes started to glow red in the whites.
His cane lifted up without his hand and shot toward me taking a huge swing at my head. It was about an inch from me when it bounced off and flew into the bushes. More applauding as the show seemed to be a success.
My eyes rolled and my right hand twitched. I could see and focus on what I wanted. I was at the right side of the courtyard and then the left. Suddenly I was right next to him and kicked him which emitted a blue and red spark. He bounced off the back wall and into a small tree. Getting up his hand reached to the overhang and pulled downward. The overhang came down on top of me. There was a gasp from the crowd.
Standing on stage, I grabbed the microphone again. An applause came over the crowd with some 'ahhs'.
"Thank you. Now, everyone, Baal has to go," they all turned and clapped as he was breathing heavy and his face was seething.
Black smoke started to cover him as my eyes rolled and I was thirty feet, then fifteen feet, then I had him in my arms. Then, we were both gone in a sucking black cloud.