*
Jason almost felt the trickle of sweat rolling from Robert’s forehead onto his upper lip. Through intense eyes, he surveyed the upturned yard with a large heat lamp, but the spotlight did not reveal anything useful. All around were the wasted efforts of the man. Systematically he’d go through the enclosure from fencepost to fencepost. Still there was no magical chest waiting just under the topsoil. There was no time capsule waiting to be unearthed from its resting spot just under the runic rock sitting at the immense pine tree’s base.
“At least you don’t have to hire someone to till the yard now.” Jason snorted. He knew he shouldn’t poke the man who was paying him but couldn’t help himself. Not wanting the play by play was one thing, but this moment offered additional proof that even if the method of prediction worked, Robert just didn’t have a clue who his mother was.
After the first reading, Jason was sure it wouldn’t work again. Positive that all he would see is Robert shattering the fireplace, over and over. To his credit though, Robert focused himself through a series of deep breaths. That second reading showed Jason the destruction of the floorboard beneath the master bed. But aside from spider webs and dust bunnies, the result was the same. The images rolled on with each instance, but they appeared to get no closer to Robert’s goal.
In the third or fourth vision, a neighbor decided to talk over the fence, curiosity getting the best of him. A tall lanky man, tan skin hung off him. He barely seemed to recognize Robert, even after a prompting. When he saw the devastation in the back yard, he let out a long whistle.
“I gotta say… I didn’t know Patty had a son. I’ve been living here going on ten years, and she never talked about it. Never saw any pictures in the house of you. Until the funeral this morning, at least.”
Robert didn’t look up from the tilling. “We really didn’t get along.”
“Hmm… we all got our secrets, I suppose.”
Robert grunted his response.
“Well I know she wouldn’t have liked that you’ve dug up the yard. Every day, right up to the end, she was out there. Her yellow work gloves, straw hat to block the sun, and a song on her lips. Yessir, she loved working outside. Though I guess you left the flower garden alone. That’s something.”
For his answer, Robert slammed his shovel into the closest flowerbed, destroying the last remnants of tranquility. The old man frowned and ducked back into his own yard.
Still they continued the game. When destroying the back yard didn’t provide results, Robert turned his attention to the front yard. While he mangled the bushes along the perimeter, a group of local children would wander nearby. Sometimes they stood and stared while other times they’d ask after Robert’s mom, unaware of her recent passing. No matter the question, he dismissed them with a quick answer of “she’s dead” before returning to the next bit of obliteration.
The readings began to blur together as the session wore on throughout the day. It came to a head when Robert announced his intention to dig up every square inch of the flooring in the house… in excruciating detail. The visions transformed from early afternoon to late afternoon to early evening. Yet it was all for nothing. After the twentieth session, they were no closer to discovering the missing papers, but Jason discovered the beginnings of a migraine.
Jason pulled his hands away. “I’m not sure I can do another one.”
“Hey, a deal is a deal.”
Jason rubbed his temples, trying to keep the migraine at bay. “What if there are no secret papers? You said your mother was crazy. Maybe she never had any papers to begin with.”
Robert shook his head. “You didn’t know her. I knew her!”
Jason felt his face get flush. “I don’t know her? I’m beginning to wonder exactly how well you knew her. Her neighbor, Mr. Barkley, never recognizes you when he’s checking out your progress in the back yard. At least not at first.”
“So? How’s that any of your business? So what if I didn’t visit her that often?”
“I’m just saying-“
“How about this? You do two more for me and regardless of what you see or don’t see, we call it a night.”
Jason halted his forehead massage and focused on the cash still sitting on the table. “Two more?”
Robert nodded. “That’s all. And then we’re done.”
Jason extended his hands once more.
Robert paced through the house, pausing at various spots they eliminated earlier in the day. Almost like he performed mental math. He counted each site, every point he’d already destroyed in one of the myriad of possible futures. Behind the appliances in the kitchen, beneath the tub, sink, and toilette in the bathroom, and the upstairs attic area had almost cost him a leg when a rotten board gave way under Robert’s weight. Still, the mythical papers never turned up.
Outside was more of the same. With the earlier attempt covering the back yard, there was no place left to reveal. Robert sat on the outside pair of concrete steps, which lead into the house, but housed no secrets themselves.
And that’s when he saw it. The first place he went in most of the futures, but somehow the only place he had not thought to look. The wooden shed housed all the tools, the shovels, the sledgehammer, and a lawnmower long since rusted. Robert stood there in its open doorway and focused on where the best hiding place might be.
Jason decided to walk him through the images, whether he wanted the play by play or not. “There seems to be a spot in the shed. Behind the table opposite the sledgehammer. Maybe a small point alongside a toolbox tower. You slide the table out of the way and there is… something.”
“Yes? What is it? What do you see?” Robert couldn’t contain his excitement.
“There is a box. It has a design on it… I’m not-“
Before Jason could get a firm picture, Robert ripped his hands from Jason. Whatever symbol lay on the box was lost to him.
“Why’d you do that?”
“I think you’ve seen enough.” Robert stood up from the table, but left the money where it lay. Without another word, he darted from the room. Jason snatched the money up and shoved it into his pants. He thought about chasing after Robert, but decided against it. The man had everything he wanted, and Jason had everything he needed in his pocket. Stretching his back, he stumbled a bit to the opening in the curtains, his right leg asleep. On the other side, he found himself face to face with Michael Seven, the owner of the bookstore and his landlord.
Much like Jason needed to go through some theatrics, so did Seven. When you ran a bookstore specializing in the occult, you could afford to be a little eccentric. It was expected. Still, Jason had no reason to complain. Seven was the best friend he had. He stood by Jason when everyone else turned their backs. He was the type of friend who would take a bullet for you.
“I didn’t know you were even still in there. This place has been crazy all day. I’m not sure if it is the full moon or if something strange went down on this date, but I made out like a bandit. Did many of them stick their heads in?”
“No, but I didn’t need the distractions. Was pretty much with the same client all day.”
Seven threw a look back toward the front door. “Was that who lit out of here in such a hurry? Bad news?”
Jason shook his head. “No. I think he got the answer he was looking for… even if it took all day.” He took a glance toward the front of the bookstore and the windows. Outside night had long since replaced day. “I didn’t realize it was so late. What time is it?”
Seven reached into his front pocket and clicked his cell phone on. “A little after nine. Wait, how long were you back there with him?”
“Too long. Too many readings.”
“How many?”
“Try twenty.”
“Really?” Seven asked.
Jason shrugged. “Paid me for them, plus some, but I’m beginning to wonder if it was worth the raging headache I’m going to have for the rest of the night. And possibly tomorrow.”
Seven pointed at the empty store. “Well, I’d say go ahead and get home. Even if another person wanted a reading I doubt you’d be of much use to them tonight.”
Jason rubbed his head. “You’re probably right.”