Chapter 6: Notes

POV: Gabby

Word Count: 3171

February 23, 2009

We had to drive back home yesterday, leaving much earlier and while I did consider being very mean coming home as well, it was daylight and it was much more of a risk of being caught. We did get to talk about the houses and other things though.

The rest of Fool’s Banquet had been a blast. There was sledding on Friday after another snow and then another bonfire where Zac got to play in the snow and got to set fire to stuff, he was excited. The other individuals that were present were nice and I really liked how funny Al was. Imani and I really didn’t have that much in common, but I did talk to her more.

The Disturbed concert had been phenomenal! Aside from getting to watch the show in the front row, I’d also gotten to meet the whole band and Mike let me sit down and play his drums. Followed by playing drums with the band, while he watched. It was awesome and I was beyond happy. So much that I got them to shout out to Sierra on my twitter as a thank you.

Yet, despite the long drive yesterday we were at the studio early, they wanted to work on plans for the tour and for the member’s EP which they were debating about recording during the members event this year. I really hadn’t wanted to stay at the apartment so I came in with a canvas and the things I’d need and set about using a picture Taylor had taken during the cruise as inspiration for a sunset over a lake. I could hear them in the room beside me talking about the EP.

Sierra called about eleven.

“What’s up?”

“Really? You get to meet them and play and get them to shout out to me? Fucking hell that was awesome.”

“Did you finally get the e-mail?”

“I did. I was almost to California.”

“California? What are you doing there?”

“Well, I kind of live there but Heather wants me to move back home, so I am. I have to come out and pack though and take care of business here.”

“So, are you and Heather an item?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. But, I really haven’t been happy in California for a while. My dreams are admirable but there barely getting me by. I was looking into some programs around town and she said she’d help me.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want though? I’ve never seen you as a..corporate person.”

“Oh hell no, not corporate. I’m thinking more along music teacher or something, not like corporation. I think I’d be good with that, but I’m not a hundred percent yet, so once I get back and settled then I’ll determine where to go from there.”

“Sounds like a plan, are you staying with Heather?”

“I’ll be at the big house but I’ll have it mostly to myself. Without a clear idea of what we are, I don’t want to move in with her and I know you don’t have the room.”

“Not yet anyway, we’re looking around town actually. We saw some places before we left but they were either very small surrounded by houses or the right lot size but the house was either too big or way too expensive.”

“What? You don’t like big things?”

“Funny, I like some things big but we don’t need a house with ten thousand square feet or with 18 rooms.”

“Not unless you want a huge family.”

“Negative on that shit.”

“Well, I’m sure the right place is out there somewhere.”

“Hopefully. How long will you be in California?”

“Couple of weeks, I’m going to cut off everything but lights and water, then I have to clean up really good. Pack everything which I’m going to go through some of it, I can’t wear some things and I really have too many shoes. I figure two weeks for packing and making sure I have all my stuff and then a week to load the U-Haul, drive out. I have basically until the middle of March.”

“You can do it.”

“I hope so! I should be fine I have Carrick and Austin who said they’d help me load the furniture, which really isn’t much.”

“That’s a good thing then, there good guys. I’m sure I can compel three men here to help unload if needed.”

“Say what?” Zac asked.

I giggled and she laughed. “And here I thought he never listened to you. I was just calling to say thank you and let you know what was up.”

“Uh..Sierra..Be careful while you’re there please.”

She was quiet for several minutes. “Why?”

“Simon sent me an e-mail last Monday, pretty threatening this time but I got the idea he wasn’t aiming solely at me. If he wants to hurt me then he will go after people I love and care about. You’re one of those people and you’re there alone, so be careful.”

“Please, I dare that asshole to come near me I will drop kick his ass with my stilettos.”

“Of which I have no doubt, but it’s not just him. I’ll forward the e-mail and include pics of them all.”

“Thanks. You be safe there.”

“I will.”

“I’ll call you later I just arrived and I’m talking major fucking sleep time.”

“Okay, sleep well.”

I hung-up. “Why are you compelling us?!” Zac asked.

“Sierra is moving back here, she may need some people to help unload.”

“Ahh, makes sense. Lunchtime, you staying or going?”

“Staying, bring back whatever from wherever.”

“Okay, if Max shows, don’t let him in.”

“Not a chance in hell I’m letting anyone in.”

He smiled and they left. I went back to painting the lake portion of the picture, making sure the colors of the water were good before I began to reflect the sunset above it, they got back just as I finished it and laid it to dry.

“That is awesome.” Taylor said.

“Needs to dry.”

“It’ll dry here. We brought lunch come, eat.”

I made sure the painting was stable and then went to eat with them, they had gone across town which accounted for why we were eating together versus me eating with them watching. It was pleasant to have lunch with them and be normal for a change.

“Oh hey you have a package here.” Isaac said.

I was guessing he was talking to Taylor or Zac, but it was me he sat the little box down in front of. I was confused for a moment but then seen it really was addressed to me.

“Um…whose it from?”

“No idea, there’s no return address.” Isaac said.

I eyed the box, questioning who would send anything here to me, but curiosity overcame me and I undid the brown tape holding the two pieces tightly together. Inside the box was a small swan figurine, it looked like glass, it was super cute and the quality of the item was top notch, under that was a pink rose the stem cut very short to fit in the box and then a sheet of paper. I sat the two items out and unfolded the paper.

Once Upon a time something happened to me…

It was the sweetest thing that ever could be…

A fantasy, A dream come true!

It was the day I met you.

I smiled and looked at Zac. “What did I do for you to have this sent to me? Love the little swan it’s quite perfect.”

“Um…I didn’t send that to you. That’s not my handwriting, for once I am completely innocent in that. But, damn I wish I had thought of it.”

“Taylor? Isaac?”

“The little figurine maybe but not that type of note.” Taylor said.

I reread it and it really did have the semblance of liking someone, but if it wasn’t Zac I wondered who it was? I asked Sierra and Abby, both denied it.

“Could Max be playing head games?” Zac asked.

“He wouldn’t send anything like this, it wouldn’t be here either. He’d send it to the house.”

“Well, since it was mailed to the studio it could be some fan. I mean, they know you come in with us and even if they don’t they know Zac’s your husband and he’d get the package here.”

“I guess. The figure is cute.”

Zac smiled. “Like little figures do you?”

“Eh, sometimes. I have a bad habit of throwing them.”

“Let’s leave that here then.”

I giggled. “Not a problem.”

I got up and put the little swan in the painting room, it would add something kind of personal to the room. I checked the drawing and found it to be perfectly dry so I went ahead and signed and then dated the back. Debbie said dates were important for value. Because it was still early I went ahead and set up another canvas but I wasn’t entirely sure what to draw. What was inside my head was an imagine of Taylor but Debbie had said those would sell easily to any fan, but I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to go that route. If I drew one now, they would want more and more. I wanted something different and that Swan was there, so I went with it. Just began to paint. I was deep into painting an up close Swan when I heard Taylor’s voice, he sounded frightened and scared. I laid the paints down and walked to the control room, could see him standing on the other side. Isaac was sitting there confused.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, he ignored a few calls but finally stepped out.”

When he hung up he came rushing in. “I gotta go.”

“Why? What is going on?” Isaac asked.

“Stella’s at the emergency room, the bookstore caught on fire and she was trapped in the back. It was a fucking miracle that her employee told the firemen she was inside. Shawn said she wasn’t critical but she was asking for me.”

He was gone before anyone could ask any more questions, yet all I could think about was the last line of his e-mail.

I will tear your fantasy world apart, break the walls, tear apart everything you hold dear to you. I will destroy your life and then I will take your life. Seven fucking days Gabriella. Seven days or I start tearing things apart.

“I wanna go to the bookstore. She’ll want someone to take pictures.”

“Gabby.” Zac said.

“We need to go.”

He held his hands up and got his keys. “Isaac can you go make sure Taylor is okay? We’ll meet you there.”

“Yeah. I’ll lock up too.”

We left the studio and it was a rather quick drive to the bookstore but there wasn’t anything left to photograph. Her bookstore was on the end and everything was gone but the bricks. Detective Myers was standing nearby and I walked to him.

“What happened?”

“Fire department is suspecting a gas line, pretty much blew the entire end off. The owner was lucky to get out.”

“Are they sure?”

He nodded. “Why are you here?”

“The owner is about to be my sister in law.”

I turned and walked away went to the car. This couldn’t be him, why would Simon go after Stella?! She and I were close but not like Sierra or Abby. Shit! Abby!

I called her number until she answered. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I was in class. What’s wrong?”

“Stella’s bookstore blew up and I just..I needed to know you were okay.”

“Oh god, is she okay? I’m fine.”

“She’s at the hospital, we’re going there next.”

“Let me know how she is, but I’m okay.”

I hung up and Zac was looking at me utterly confused. “You cannot think this was Simon, this is extreme.”

“Yeah, just odd timing I guess. The detective said gas line.”

We headed to the hospital where Isaac was waiting. “He’s back there with her.”

“We figured, has he sent you any update?”

“No.”

We sat down and before long her mother, father, and sister were here. There wasn’t much we could do but wait and Taylor came out with Shawn about 5.

“She’s okay. There was minor burns that should heal fine. Her hair will be a little shorter too, but not much. She’s shook up obviously.”

“Did she know what happened?” Her mother asked.

“She said she was in the stock room checking on a book for a customer, she heard the alarm go off and moments later she heard the explosion. She was sealed in the room in the back, she couldn’t get out for the door and the heat. She said she screamed for help and finally a fireman broke through the door and got her. The rest of the bookstore went up went fast.”

“We went by, there’s nothing left.” Zac said.

I will tear your fantasy world apart, break the walls, tear apart everything you hold dear to you.

I couldn’t say it was my fault with her whole family here. Taylor had clearly been crying, her sister was hysterical, her father had tried to reach her brother who was in Iran. I just kept silent, but Taylor let us go back to see her two at a time, taking her family first and then we went back. He remained with Ike.

She was awake and looked okay, her hair was only a few inches shorter, a bandage around her arm was the only indication of a problem.

“I’m glad your okay.” I said.

“Me too. It was super scary! To be trapped in that room.”

“We went by, the detective said a gas line maybe.”

“Sure sounded like something. I’m just glad my laptop is at home and I can file the insurance when they get me the report. It’s going to be really hard though.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll all help you.”

“You are so sweet but some things can’t be replaced. I had antique books in the back, rare ones and there probably destroyed now. Oh man! Scarlet’s request for an original book had come in today, I doubt I’ll ever find her number or the book again.”

I swallowed. “Scarlet?”

“I think her last name was Smith or something, it was pretty generic. She came in Friday and asked about a first edition book, I found it in Oklahoma City and went and got it Sunday. I called and left a message but she hadn’t picked it up yet. She wasn’t like my normal clients.”

There were a lot of Smith’s, could be anyone really. “Did she have a vine tattoo?”

“Yeah she did actually, I recall asking about it because it looked realistic and all. It was cool, lead up to this black rose which was hidden on her shoulder. She browsed and left with books on gothic construction. It was weird.”

“Stella, did she have anyone with her?”

“Not that I seen, why?”

“Did anyone odd come in today? Anyone gothic looking?”

“I didn’t see but possible, Angela may know. Why are you asking Gabriella?”

“She sounds like someone I know, she isn’t very nice. I was wondering if maybe robbery was her motive or something.”

“Oh…I didn’t think of that. I don’t keep a lot of cash on the premise though.”

“That’s good. Our time is nearly up, we’re going to let Ike come back and I know Tay is staying with you.”

She smiled. “He said he wasn’t going nowhere.”

“Sounds like Taylor, you get rest and get better. I’ll tell Shawn to take good care of you.”

“He’s a darling! He called Taylor because I didn’t have my phone and I was hysterical that he’d hear about the explosion and freak out.”

“Understandable. You get better.”

We went back to the front, Shawn said it was unlikely they’d keep her overnight but we told Taylor if they changed their mind to call us and we’d bring dinner and clean clothes. Zac was very quiet until we were in the car.

“Scarlet has vine tattoos?”

“Yeah, they go all the way up her arm and then across her back, there is a black rose on her back.”

“Do you remember the picture Damien sent you during the tour, some girl handing me a keycard?”

“I do.”

“It was her. The girl had a vine tattoo. She had black hair and she told me she knew I was married, she said she could take me places I’ve never been.”

“Yeah, she can with any assortment of drug. I don’t like this Zac, it’s too…coincidental. Scarlet shows up and then the place blows? That’s just…why would he go after her? I’m closer to Abby and Sierra.”

“You should call the detective. Tell him about Scarlet and your theory.”

I did call him and while he listened I wasn’t sure he listened well enough to actually remember my concern, ruling the bookstore arson would also complicate her getting the insurance money she deserved but ruling it accidental means they can’t file any charges against them nor would they look for proof. I asked him about telling Taylor and while he originally said no, he ended up calling him, because if they did find evidence of arson then they’d want to know why. I just didn’t understand why Stella had been his first target, Zac opted to fix dinner for us as they were sending Stella home and she was going with Tay.

I sat quietly at the counter thinking and then it hit me.

“She was vulnerable.”

“What?” Zac asked.

“Of everyone that he could have targeted, Stella was vulnerable. Sierra is in California, Abby’s at the campus surrounded by others, Nicole is at the hospital most of the time with cameras and let’s be real, Simon isn’t stupid enough to try to do anything at the hospital, same for Shawn and Grace, there both there. Taylor and Isaac are with us at the studio which is mostly brick and no gas lines there. Stella was the easiest person to get too.”

“I’m just not convinced this was Simon Gabby. Why do something but not give you any concrete proof of it? You cannot realistically say he did anything to cause that. If it was a gas line it could have blown at anytime, with or without her there.”

He sounded legit there and he had a point, gas lines could leak for days before a single spark ignites them. Most gas is also odorless and colorless, so Stella wouldn’t have known about it. More, if the leak was outside. Anything could have caused a leak outside. The building was on the end and parking was beside the building also, someone could have backed up and hit it.

I accepted that reason, it made sense and really, Simon was mad at me, he wouldn’t go after them, he’d go after Zac.

It took way longer for me to shut my brain off and fall asleep than normal.