Post #7 Deal the Cards

Jack cleared his throat. "You are looking for something that is actually very close to all of you."
     He paused and looked at the three people sitting in the big club chairs next to the pool.  He was standing with the pool at his back.  The mist rose-up and circled around him. From time to time it circled around the chairs covering the feet and knees of the others.
     They shifted in their chairs and looked from the pool, to their feet, to each other and then back to Jack.
     "After his wife died, Mr. Evans gave quite a bit of his household possessions to friends, homeless shelters, other people in the apartment building and, of course, all the sterling silver to the museum." Jack paused and wondered why these three, after working together for over a year, were acting uncomfortable with each other.
     He continued. "The knife you found is very, very old and of some value. But the most important item that Mr. Evans gave to the museum is the deck of silver playing cards." He paused again. Now it seemed he had their attention.  "Supposedly there are only 5 sets known to be in existence.  But there is a 6th set. Complete with 52 cards."
     Bret spoke first.  "I did hear from a former manager something about that." His voice trailed off.
     "Is the set still in the museum?" Evelyn asks.
     "Mr. Evan died because someone or some people wanted the only other full set of silver cards."
     "How much is it worth?" Frankie asked.
     "Somewhere around $4 million dollars. They are still in the museum.  Find the deck and you will find the killer."
      "Wait...if it is still in the museum, then isn't Evans' killer still looking as well?" Bret asked.
      "Yes." Jack paused.  "By finding it, the killer will try to steal it."
      "Wait." Evelyn said.  "Are you saying we should find it, advertise that we have it and wait for the killer to come after us?"
       "Of course not." Jack said.  "Claude Evans deserves justice. By finding it, you can put it on display and make money to keep the museum afloat. The killer will try to steal the cards.  Whoever is the killer will be caught. Trust me. But you need to need to find the deck first."
        "And the deck is in the museum?" Rose said as she walked around the pool. Her arrival startled the three sitting in the chairs.
        "Yes," Jack said.  "And whoever finds it will get a reward from the insurance company and help to catch a killer."
   
       

Post #6 - Fools and knaves

"I must talk to Boots about this knavery," Jack muttered as he stood on the roof of his small roof-top apartment.  The tiger was circling the pool and occasionally glancing up to Jack. It was just before sunrise and the rather large cat caused the mist from the pool to form tiny swirls in its wake.  

"I thought having his own creature would quell his mischief." He moved slightly back from the edge of the roof.  He started the chant quietly at first, then as the cat paused in his pacing, Jack's voice rose a bit and he continued his chant. "...Come booba yalle, come booka tambee, come konka yalle, come..." "Come on buddy," Jack thought. "It's time for you to go."

As he continued his pacing, his eyes wandered toward Jack then he paused sniffing the air. His gold flaked eyes were no longer sad.  Now they glowed with interest in Jack. "Great. The chant isn't working." Jack said to the tiger. "Now what?" Suddenly, the tiger turned back toward to the pool. He looked in as if searching for something in the water. 

Jack straightened-up, "Oh, okay, okay, that's a good sign." Then he shouted, "Be off you beautiful one!" 

The tiger leaped into the mist and was gone. 

Jack's job wasn't complete. There was still poop to clean. 

"Yes, I must speak to Boots about this. Perhaps I should have him clean-up the mess.  Then maybe he'd think twice next time." Jack muttered as he scrubbed the pool deck. The smell was horrendous. 

Post #5 - Boxes

As the night grew darker, Jack stood looking over the guard rail toward the old power plant.  Long ago the site was a burial ground for Native American tribes, then a battleground. The hill on which the power plant sat was sacred ground.

"Sacrum Terram," Jack murmured as he watched each one enter the building.  "I do hope they will trust one another."

After a moment he heard someone behind him clear his throat. He turned his attention to the young man who stood on the other side of pool.  The warm mist blurred the edges of his profile.

"Hello, Elwood, I was hoping you'd come up and enjoy the view and the waters.  The plants are exceptional.  They were recommended by a resident here at the Foxberry. Rose, do you know Rose?"

Jack smiled and Elwood, still a bit bewildered how he ended-up on the rooftop pool deck, nodded.  He, in fact, had met her. "Yes. Yes. She's very nice."

"Yes." Jack paused then walk over to a table and picked up the box.

"I am sure you are familiar with this style of box." Elwood walk around the pool deck and smiled.

"Why, yes.  It's a sakake-bako box."

Jack smiled at Elwood's response. "Of course." He paused then looked at Elwood.  "There are so many questions that are, well, infesting our town. Perhaps you can find some answers for us. This box was delivered today by Bea. You know Bea, our mail person?"

"Yes, she's very helpful." Elwood looked at the box.  It was an old one. Not the cheap, tourist-brand. He looked up at Jack.
"Yes, perhaps, Mr. Stars. Maybe I can help."

Post #4 - Aaron and Heqet and Exodus

"Joshua."
"Oh!" Jack jumped and straightened-up.  He had been ferreting out the various frogs that made it to the roof. He admired their persistence and felt the need to give them sanctuary.
"Joshua."
"Here, my name is Jack." Jack said standing amid the pots with a frog in each hand.  "How many times do I have to remind you? And I'm a bit busy at the moment."
"Joshua. This needs to stop."
"I didn't start it. I am trying to rectify a few things if you haven't noticed."
"Go find the one who will end this."
"The frogs?" Jack placed the last two frogs that he could find into the cage with the others. "What do you have in mind. Please," He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, 'keep it simple. I am finding it all a bit much right now."
"Go find the teacher."
"Mr. Salimov?"
"Yes."
"Fine, but I am busy." He headed to 203.
As he stood in front of Mr. Salimov's door, he took a deep breath. He heard a soft peep behind him. He turned and reached down gently scooping-up the small Peeper.
"Okay," He whispered and knocked.
When Mr. Salimov opened the door.  He paused, looked at Jack, then at the small frog. "Yes? Can I help you?"
Jack looked into his eyes and wished he didn't feel so rushed. "Mr. Salimov The question we should all be asking is how can you help this town."
Mr. Salimov blinked. Jack sighed, turned, and walked back down the hall. "And bring the watch. You may lose track of time."

The marigolds of Dia de los Muertos

     Noah and Megan had managed to make it to the rooftop garden. Each didn't see the other because Megan was in the small greenhouse looking at the bright flowers that swooped down from the hanging baskets or clustered together on various shelves as if trying to stay warm.
     Noah arrived and knelt next to the pool. He stuck his hand in tentatively, checking to see just how warm the water was. It felt soft and wonderful. The mist reaching up to surround his face.  He thought about getting in but realized that he would have to get out and back into the chilly December air. Then he heard someone singing..."Oh the weather outside is frightful but the fire is sooo delightful, so let it snow, let it snow...."He looked up to see Jack appear from behind a large pot.
     "Ah, Noah," he said with such a familiar tone that Noah wasn't sure if he was alive or otherwise. "Glad you could come. Please, next time do bring that bathing suit and a towel. It's quite delightful," Jack said and followed it with another smile.
     Noah stood-up letting the water dribble back into the pool. He paused, tilted his head, and realized it was the man who helped Mr. Jenkins get the fountain working again. "Are you the handyman?"
     "Yes." Jack said. "I am.  I am Jack Stars."
     Again, Noah questioned himself about whether or not Jack was real.
     "Sorry about your brother, but the dead don't really leave us do they?"
     Before Noah could answer, Megan appeared in the doorway of the greenhouse. She stopped when she saw the pair. Both seemed young and a bit awkward. She looked from one to the another.
     Jack spoke first, "Oh, how nice, Megan, this is Noah. Noah, Megan."
     Each stood looking at each other. Jack looking from one to the other, smiling.
     "Hello."
     "Hello."
     "Great," said Jack. "Shall I get you two some hot chocolate? You two have much in common. The door between life and death is such an illusion, don't you think?" He turned, started singing the song again while walking toward his small apartment.
     They looked at one another. Noah said, with a hint of urgency, "I see dead people."
     "I bring things back to life," she responded.
     The marigolds, glistening from the mist, clustered around the pair.

Orion

     Isosceles trapezoids pleased Jack.  The rectangular shape of the pool made more geometric figures along the roof top.
     Jack had been busy cleaning, fixing broken chairs, painting, and building decking and finally adding plants. As he stood looking at the angular pots mixed with the round ones, he thought back on his first connection with the residents here.
    He appeared on the doorstep of apartment 306. He tried to straightened his hair, but his work clothes made him look a bit bedraggled. But when she opened the door, his smile made him seem familiar to Rose.
    She opened the door, slightly tilted her head to the right, and paused for just a second before asking "Yes?"
     "Hello, I am Jack, Jack Stars and I live on the roof and I am refurbishing it, and I need your help."
     She paused once again thinking he had something else to say. But, in fact, she was glad in wasn't the police. "Yes?" She said again. "What kind of help?"
     "I have several planting containers and I'm looking for special kinds of plants to fill them with."
     "Special kinds?"
     "Yes."
Again she paused. "What kind?"
     "Ones that make people," he hesitated, trying to find the right word, "compelled."
     "Compelled to do what?"
      With a perplexed look on his face, he said, "Would you mind visiting the rooftop. Perhaps you will know what I mean."
       All along the sides of the pool Jack placed several mason jars with candles in them.  The sun was setting and their lights flickered and reflected in the water.  Rose could see the slight mist rising from the pool. Music was playing from somewhere.
     "Wow," she said and looked at this strange, thin young man standing next to her. "I think I can figure out something."
     Jack hummed along as he continued to sweep, glancing at the plants Rose had suggested, and the sunset.  He stopped and knelt down to feel the water.  He cupped it in his hands, stood-up and let it trickle down. Singing along to the music, "...But I don't know what time it is, it's in a jar," he looked around at the candles. "Which of these lights will light the way to justice for Mr. Evans?"

Blog #1 - Deus ex Machina

His day started at midnight.  He stood on the roof amid the days which stretch out in both directions. Time was one continuous string. No beginning, no end, only now. He stretched his arms as far as they would go in each direction as if trying to be a part of it.

He began humming an old Patsy Cline tune, searching the sky for the Pleiades amid the patchy, ghostly clouds.   3,000 stars like 3,000 wishes he, with outstretched arms, was willing to bestow on this apartment building and its people.

"92 simple elements make up most of the known universe, " he said. "But everything seems so complicated here. Where do I begin? With whom? What does saving look like?"

He dropped his arms, looked around and saw that he had a place to stay for a while.  "This roof will do," He said. Years had past and this place seemed forsaken. The death of Mr. Evans changed all that.

He arrived on this roof amid the stars of the Pleiades as they rose into the clearing night sky. The rain cleared the air.  The brightest of them appeared. Jack lifted one arm to the sky, closed one eye, and pointed into the center of the cluster.

"There you go, Mr. Evans," he whispered.

The waxing gibbous moon appeared to his left, rising up against the building to light the roof.  He wedged open the door to the small apartment now flooded with moonlight and disappeared into its depths.