The Nirvana Effect by Brian Pinkerton

Author:Brian Pinkerton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi; SF books; flame tree press; creepy stories; aliens; science fiction books
Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing
Published: 2021-03-30T13:26:48+00:00

PART TWO

One Year Later

Chapter Fourteen

Grandpa Ed performed ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ from the Scott Joplin Song Book on the classic oak console piano. Grandma Louise sat on the sofa four chapters deep into a Harold Robbins novel, taking a break from her kimono knitting project. Eight-year-old Liam sat on the floor, constructing a country cabin from a bucket of Lego.

“We’re eating dinner in ten minutes,” called out Robert Sullivan, Liam’s dad and the son of Ed and Louise. He was setting the table in the dining room, laying out plates, napkins and silverware. In the kitchen, his wife, Tracy, prepared a meal of ham, green beans and scalloped potatoes that filled the small California home with sweet aromas.

As Grandpa Ed played the opening notes of ‘The Entertainer’, a loud BANG BANG BANG erupted at the front door. The interior of the house immediately went silent. Then:

“Shit,” Robert said under his breath. He exchanged a worried glance with his wife, who stood frozen in the kitchen. Grandpa Ed backed away from the piano. Grandma Louise put down her book. Liam remained on the floor, clutching a piece of Lego in his fist.

Robert grabbed his electronic tablet from the counter and called up the security camera aimed at his front porch. He saw four men wearing identical dark suits. One of them carried a black medical bag.

Robert rushed into the living room. “Hide,” he said. “Now.”

Tracy quickly stepped inside the kitchen’s food pantry. She moved a large coffee can to reveal a silver latch. She unhooked the latch and pushed a broad wall of shelving inward. It opened like a door, revealing a small interior compartment the size of a walk-in closet.

Without a word, Grandpa Ed, Grandma Louise and Liam entered the hideaway. Tracy closed the shelving unit on them, careful not to spill its contents. She moved a few food items around to conceal the cracks where the secret door didn’t cleanly align with the frame. It had to look as natural as possible.

The banging continued, followed by a loud shout: “Robert and Tracy Sullivan, we know you are in there. We have the authority to force entry.”

“You gonna be okay?” Robert whispered to Tracy.

She nodded.

“Act natural.”

He left her side and stepped into the front entryway, where he disengaged the locks and chains, shouting, “Hold on. Just a minute.”

Robert opened the door.

Four men, in two layers of two, faced him. They did not smile.

“What’s this all about?” he asked.

“We have reason to believe you are harboring illegals,” said the senior-looking man of the foursome. His hair was thin and silver.

Robert’s expression turned quizzical. “Here? You must be mistaken.”

“Who lives at this residence?”

“My wife and I. We’re compliant. Do you need to test our chips?”

“This isn’t about the two of you. Our records indicate your parents, Edward and Louise, also occupy this house.”

“Goodness, no. They left years ago. They moved to a retirement community in Scottsdale.”

“And your son.”

“My – my son?”

“You have a son, Mr. Sullivan. Where is he?”

“How – how dare you….” Robert began to stutter.

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