Sparkle of Sunlight | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Sparkle of Sunlight | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
11/03/14
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Jonas spun on his heels as a sparkle of sunlight speared his retinas. He lifted his arm in defense. His right knee buckled and he stumbled against a park bench. He jammed his left wrist but saved the potted orchids in his right hand from crashing to the cement underneath. 'Not here'. 'Not now'.

Icy clouds closed off the small channel penetrated by the sun. The Mission Impossible tune pulsated from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He set the orchids down and checked his i-phone. 'Where was she?'

The roof top garden betrayed nothing. Cedar hedges huddled tightly together and left nowhere to hide. Roses, heather and hydrangea were trimmed back. Black-eyed Susans and mums wilted and waited for winter in the drifting morning fog. Only the purple orchid near his knee gave evidence of beauty. 'Why did she choose here?'

The rooftop on the adjacent parking garage sprouted a variety of cable towers, vents and scattered sheds. Lacey’s text message was clear. Meet me by the fountain near the statue of the unknown soldier. The gurgle and splashing of the fountain continued right behind him.

An old vet, leaning heavily on a cane, shuffled his way through the ivy-covered archway on the south side. He held a leather bound book. An elderly woman with a walker skidded along behind. Three seagulls quick-stepped away from the pair while a crow fluttered down onto a telephone line overhead.

Another text. 'Red dress'.

A distant fog horn sounded from a ferry passing under the bridge nearby. Periodic flashes of headlights fought the growing blanket of white. Jonas shivered.

Taking note of the approaching man in the faded uniform, Jonas set the orchid on the bench and limped toward the fountain. He could almost feel the phone shudder and die as he started his text reply. Dead battery?

Less than three minutes passed. The red dress was unmissable coming in from the north entrance. Form fitting, above the knee, scoop necked and a nice contrast with the raven waterfall of hair cascading off bare shoulders. He took a step and then stopped.

A red dress approached from the east gate, almost identical, except for the blond coiffure wound up on top of a perfectly sculptured face. The smile was inviting. What was Lacey doing? He looked back toward the north and saw another flash of red approaching from the west. Brunette ringlets fronting a shoulder length cut. 'Time is running out.'

Then Jonas noticed. All three women had elbow length gloves. His knee throbbed as he backed up toward the fountain.

Three men in suits stepped in from the south, definitely not accountants or lawyers. They were following the elderly pair. The closest one was early twenties and had a goatee and short cropped brown hair. Fashionable black gloves shielded his hands from the cool air. The seagulls flapped and stutter-stepped another ten feet away. The crow hopped twice along the line without a sound.

The second man sported Gucci eyewear. Suave, confident, broad-shouldered, walking as if nothing unusual was happening around him. Jonas watched carefully as the man buried his hands into his jacket pocket. He was fishing for something.

The third man looked back over his shoulder and waved. If it was meant to distract Jonas, it worked. He bumped up against the fountain base and almost fell back in. He looked around. Someone hidden nearby unleashed a classical sonata on a Bose speaker system. Even if he screamed, no one on the streets below would hear him.

There were no other entrances. Three red dresses were coming slowly toward him. The suited men were now bunching and their intentions were clear. The old woman reached the bench and picked up his orchid. The vet stopped by the war memorial and read the plaque. He set the leather book down on the edge of the fountain.

Jonas squared his shoulders and tried to take the weight off his hurting knee. Okay, if this is where we do it then let’s get it done.
Before anything else could happen Lacey stepped in through the south entrance. A uniformed officer accompanied her. None of the red dresses, suits or elderly couple even looked around to notice the newcomers. They were all looking at him. As was Lacey. The sun broke through and a sparkle glinted off her finger.

The old vet picked up his leather book, opened it, turned and smiled. “We are gathered here together in the sight of God…”

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