Chasing Manhattan by John Gray

Author:John Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paraclete Press
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Check It Again

When Gavin arrived back at Briarcliff Manor the next morning, he could smell bacon and syrup wafting from the kitchen. Chase’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail, no make-up in sight, and she was jumpy, having already finished three cups of coffee. Gavin had long ago stopped telling her how beautiful she was without a stitch of make-up, because she refused to believe him, but he thought it every time he saw her this way.

As he entered the kitchen, Chase pointed at the tall wooden chair with two slats on the back and said, “Sit.”

Gavin, feeling a big like a Golden Retriever, did as he was told and saw his first cup of coffee was already waiting. He gave Chase a look that said, Go ahead. I know you have a plan, so hit me with it.

Chase took a large bite of toast and jumped right in, “Remember the snowmobile falling through the ice, back in Vermont? Of course, you do—you were there chasing after it. Anyway, I’m thinking this could be the same thing, sort of.”

Gavin took a drink of his hot coffee and spoke for the first time this morning, saying, “Explain what sort of means?”

Chase continued. “I saw something in that church window back in Manchester that warned me the snowmobile and the rider were in danger, that they might fall through the ice. And it turned out to be true. I think it’s happening again here. Not the same way, but kind of the same, me getting a warning, a premonition.”

Gavin understood where she was going, so he replied, “Go on.”

Chase then, “The words I kept getting last night in those Scrabble pieces were bar, rake, bake, break, and brake. And as we discussed over pizza, I don’t go to bars, I don’t bake, I don’t need a rake or to take a break, so that leaves us with the spelling that means a BRAKE that stops something. And what has brakes?”

Gavin, following along, replied, “A car.”

Chase, “Exactly, but that’s not all. Trucks have them too. Like your pick-up truck.”

Gavin reached over for a piece of slightly burnt bacon, placing it on his plate and said, “So you’re worried my brakes are going to fail or something when I’m going down a hill?”

Chase then, “A hill or highway or wherever. Yes, I am worried about that, and not just you.”

Gavin was curious, “Who else?”

Chase slid over a piece of paper that had a long list of names in black ink, “I was working on this while you slept. Obviously, we need you to get your brakes checked and Matthew, my driver. But I was also thinking of a few people back in Vermont, my mom in Seattle, of course, um, Raylan at the café, Deb, Oscar too, although I’m not sure he even has a car.”

Gavin thought a moment and said, “And you plan to call them all and warn them something might happen?”

Chase corrected him, “Called, past tense, as in I already did it.

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