FanStory.com - Miracles - Chap 19by Begin Again

The faint rumble of a car engine broke the stillness of the countryside. The gravel crunched under the wheels of a sleek black sedan as it pulled into the lot. The driver parked near a row of Harley's, each shinier than the next.

From their stakeout spot in the shadows of an overgrown thicket, Tango adjusted his binoculars, focusing on the car. "Well, well, looks like we've got company."

Owen Maxwell climbed out of the car, smoothing his high-priced, out-of-budget suit. He adjusted the Italian fedora on his head, imagining himself thriving in the gangster world.

Garth chuckled, "He's acting like a rooster in a hen house."

The passenger door opened, and a man's hand rested on the edge. Tango squinted. "That's Joey DeLuca — Maxwell's newest lapdog. They were together at the crime scene too.

Poppa leaned forward, peering through the windshield. "Now, what are the odds those two clowns show up at this dive the same night Rossi and William are inside?"

Tango smirked. "Slim to none. Something's going down."

Maxwell slammed the car door and strode toward the bar entrance without looking back. DeLuca remained in the driver's seat, the glow of a cigarette illuminating his face for a brief moment. He glanced at his phone and then at Maxwell's back as he disappeared inside the bar.

"DeLuca's staying put," Garth observed, his voice low. He checked his firearm. "Well, William isn't slipping through our fingers this time. I'll position myself near his car in case he checks out of the party early."

Tango nodded, keeping his eyes on the bar's entrance. "Good call. We'll stay put and keep an eye out for Danni.

Garth handed Poppa the binoculars. "Stay sharp. This crew plays dirty, and we're walking into their playground."

*****

Jason DeLuca, Joey's father and once a formidable detective, sat in his modest room in a quiet nursing home. Confined to a wheelchair, he no longer wanted to join the activity center. Instead, the faint hum of the TV filled the air as the Cubs game played on the screen. His head bobbed as he nodded off time and time again.

"Bottom of the ninth," the announcer's voice boomed. "Bases loaded."

The crowd roared. Jason stirred, opening his eyes groggily.

"You almost missed the end of the game," Eleanor teased.

Jason turned his head slowly, his heart skipping a beat. There she was — Eleanor — his former friend and confidante.

"Am I dreaming?" Jason muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"No," Eleanor replied with a smile. "But I don't want you to miss this last pitch. Watch."

Jason narrowed his eyes as he looked at the screen, skepticism lining his face. "Why bother? It's three to nothing. He'll strike out, and the Cubs will lose. Same old story."

"Not this time," Eleanor said, her voice laced with certainty. "Bases are loaded. Anything's possible."

Jason scoffed. "Yeah, right. This guy doesn't have it in him."

Eleanor leaned forward slightly. "Don't be so sure. Sometimes, we surprise ourselves. Watch."

As the pitcher wound up, Jason's disinterest faltered. The crowd's chants grew louder, and he found himself gripping the arms of his chair. "Come on!"

The ball flew through the air. CRACK!

"It's — it's a home run!" Jason shouted, pounding the chair's arms as the Cubs took the lead. "Cubs win! Cubs win!"

He turned to Eleanor, breathless. "Lady, where were you when I was losing at poker? How'd you know?"

Eleanor smirked. "Call it woman's intuition."

Jason's joy faded as he took a long look at her. "This has to be a dream. Not only did the Cubs win, but I'm talking to a dead woman," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Eleanor's expression softened. "You're not dreaming, Jason. I came here because your son needs you."

Jason's face hardened. "Joey? He hasn't needed this old man in a long time. Besides, what could I do? In case you haven't noticed —" He gestured to his legs, now stubs beneath a blanket. "I don't get around much anymore."

"Joey's about to make the biggest mistake of his life." Eleanor offered, her tone was serious.

Jason looked away. "That's too bad, but he doesn't listen to me. Even if I could get to him, what could I say to change his mind?"

Eleanor reached out and touched his arm. "You're his father. He may not always listen, but deep down, he still hears you. You've got to try."

Jason sighed, his shoulders slumping. "And how exactly do I do that? I can't just wheel myself out of here."

Eleanor smiled. "That's why I'm here. I'll take you. But you're going to have to trust me."

Jason eyed her warily. "Trust a ghost? Am I going to fly like Peter Pan?"

Eleanor extended her hand, glowing faintly in the dim light. "Something like that."

"You're joking, right?"

"No, but trust me, Jason. It's worth it."

Jason hesitated, then placed his trembling hands in hers. A warmth spread through him, and suddenly, the room shifted. The familiar walls of the nursing home blurred and dissolved, replaced by a kaleidoscope of light and shadow.

"Where are we going?" Jason asked, gripping her hand tightly.

"To Joey," Eleanor replies. "And to a chance at redemption — for both of you." She sighed. "And we're here."

"That fast?"

"Yup! It's great, huh?"

Eleanor settled him with a soft landing beneath the trees. "I wish I could say this was permanent, Jason, but it's only for a few hours."

He stared in disbelief. The wheelchair was gone, replaced by a strong, younger version of himself, standing tall in his detective's trench coat. He looked down at his legs, fighting the tears. "I've got legs."

Eleanor smiled. "It's not about the legs, Jason. You've got a second chance. Use it wisely."

He took a deep breath, knowing his son's future was on his shoulders. He straightened his coat, determination etched on his face. "Let's do this."

*****

Joey DeLuca leaned against his car, his fingers drumming on the hood. His jaw tightened as he glanced toward the bar's entrance. Maxwell was meeting with William and Rossi, the kind of men he'd swore he'd never work with. But here he was, standing on the edge of a decision he couldn't undo.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, flipping it over in his hand. Dialing for backup would be the right thing to do — it's what the good cop in him would have done months ago. But the promise of easy money, the pressure from Maxwell, and his own father's voice echoing in his mind, "You'll never make it in this world without bending the rules," had cost him the battle to remain clean.

His thoughts are interrupted by a voice, low and familiar.

"Still got that tell, Joey. Drumming your fingers when you're nervous."

Joey spun around, his heart racing. His breath caught in his throat when he saw his father — Jason DeLuca — standing tall and looking more like the man he remembered from his childhood than the broken man he'd last visited in the nursing home.

"Dad?" Joey stammered. "How are you —?"

Jason stepped closer. "Don't worry about how. Worry about why. What are you doing here, Joey?"

Joey ran a hand through his hair, his nerves fraying. "This isn't your concern. I've got it under control."

Jason snorted. "You? Standing out here while the real crooks do the dirty work inside? That's not control, son. That's cowardice."

Joey's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't know what you're talking about! I'm doing what I have to."

Jason's voice softened. "You're better than this. I know you are. You wanted to be the cop who did the right thing, who didn't take shortcuts. What happened to that guy?"

Joey turned away, his fists clenched. "That guy learned the system's rigged. Doing the right thing doesn't pay the bills or keep the people you love safe."

Jason stepped around to face him, forcing Joey to meet his gaze. "Do you think working with Maxwell and Rossi will? Those men don't care about you. When you're not useful, they'll throw you to the wolves. Is that the legacy you want to leave behind?"

Joey hesitated, his defenses cracking. "You think I don't know that? But what choice do I have? You don't understand —"

Jason grabbed Joey by the shoulders, his grip firm but not harsh. "I do understand. I've been where you are. I made my own mistakes, Joey. I thought I was doing what I had to, and I lost everything because of it — your respect, your mother's love, my own damn self-worth. Don't make my mistakes."

Joey's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I don't know if I can fix this."

Jason smiled. "Sure you can. It's in all of us. We have to want it bad enough. The Joey DeLuca I raised — he wanted it. He wanted to be the good guy. That guy's still in there, son. You just have to let him out."

Joey looked down at his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen. "If I call this in, they'll know it was me. They will have my badge."

Jason straightened. "They might not, considering the circumstances. If they do, you'll start fresh. Clean. And you'll look in the mirror every morning and know you did the right thing. That's worth more than any badge."

Joey took a deep breath, his fingers trembling. After a long pause, he looked back at his father. "You're right."

Jason's face lit up with pride as Joey dialed his precinct.

The line connected. "This is Detective DeLuca. I need backup at the Hideaway Bar, out near the cliffs and the abandoned house. I'm not certain yet, but there's something big going down inside."

As Joey hung up, Jason clasped a hand on his shoulder. "That's my boy."

Joey glanced at his father. "The past —" He faltered, his emotions spiraling out of control.

Jason hugged his son. "You've got this, Joey."

When he turned to thank his father, Jason was gone. All that remained was the faint scent of his father's old cologne and the lingering warmth of his touch.

Joey looked to the sky, his resolve stronger than ever. "Thanks, Dad. I don't know how, but I'm thankful you were here."

*****

Danni's hand gripped Crystal's arm tightly as they slid along the side of the building. "Don't you worry, I'm getting you out of here."

Crystal whimpered, her face still red from Bruiser's slap. "He'll kill me if he catches me," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"Not on my watch," Danni hissed. "We just need to —"

A loud crunch of heavy boots on the gravel made them both freeze.

"Where do you think you're going, Crystal?" Bruiser's voice growled from the shadows as he stepped out, his massive form blocking their path. His hand shot out, grabbing Crystal's arm and yanking her back toward him.

Crystal screamed, and Danni didn't hesitate. She lunged, striking Bruiser's arm with enough force to make him loosen his grip. "Get off her!" she snarled, landing a kick squarely against his shin.

Bruiser staggered but recovered quickly, his face twisted in rage. "You think you can take me, little girl?"

Before he could grab Danni, a sudden spray of loose gravel pelted his body. He yelped, stumbling back.

"What the hell?" Bruiser spun around just in time to see a tree branch soaring toward him. It struck him hard on the shoulder, sending him stumbling again.

Danni blinked, stunned, as Eleanor stepped out of the shadows, another branch in hand, poised like a seasoned batter.

"You can't have all the fun, dear," Eleanor said with a sly grin, hefting the branch for another swing.

Bruiser roared, charging at Eleanor, but she was quicker than he expected. With a deft sidestep, she brought the branch down on the back of his knees, making him collapse to the ground with a grunt.

"Eleanor?" Danni asked, still holding a shaking Crystal behind her.

Eleanor gave a sharp nod, twirling the branch like a weapon. "Get her out of here. I'll deal with this one."

"But —"

"Go!" Eleanor barked, her gaze locked on the groaning Bruiser.

Danni hesitated only for a moment before pulling Crystal away. As they disappeared, Eleanor tightened her grip on the branch, her eyes glinting with determination.

"Move, and you'll wish it was just the branch," she muttered, readying for another round.

Bruiser lay on the ground, staring at a branch swinging in the air, and no one was holding it.