Luke's Lithium

 

Excerpt from

Lukes’s Lithium

 

Chapter One

 

“Fire on Wall Street!” Drake said, not quite a scream, but loud enough for every man at the Ground Zero precinct of the FDNY to hear.

Luke raised his head from the five playing cards he held in his hand. Looking at his dark haired, green-eyed best friend and firefighting comrade, he said, “Are you shittin’ me? This is the best poker hand I’ve had all morning.”

“I’m out.”

“I’m out.”

“Me, too.” The fourth man tossed his cards onto the table with a scowl.

Grinning, Luke scooped up his winnings and kept his cruddy hand of cards face down. I can’t believe they fell for that. Not that he needed the meager twenty bucks in the pot. He was only a month away from cashing in on his multi-million-dollar trust fund his grandfather, Luther Edward Allen, had set up. But the bragging rights of bluffing his buddies to win the game was priceless.

“Aren’t you going to show us that ‘great hand’ of yours?” Tommy asked.

“Nah, man. I’m going to let you douchebags wonder.” Luke walked to his locker and donned his fireman protective suite. Kicking off his Nike shoes, he stepped into the oversized pants and secured the suspender straps over each shoulder. After slipping his socked-feet into the black, knee-high boots, he put on the fireproof jacket and hard hat.

Walking to the center of the room, he grabbed the silver pole. Not everyone slid down the cliché pole, but Luke loved the feeling. And not just the tingly one on his groin, but the thrill of saving lives and homes.

His two-year anniversary with the FNDY had just passed. He’d come to NYC to volunteer after 9-11 with his twin sister, Lilly Allen, and her now fiancé, Grier Garrison.

Luke loved volunteering so much he stayed on with the FDNY, in spite of his mother’s, insatiable nagging to ‘get a real job’ and ‘use his college degree’, referring to his B.S. in Criminology from the University of Florida. But his iron clad defense, ‘philanthropy plays a huge role in the Allen Family Dynasty’, always smoldered Charlotte’s fire poker.

 “Ready to rock n’ roll?” Drake asked, stepping up onto the fire truck next to Luke.

“Sure as shit. Let’s grab a pint after we put this mother out.” Luke smiled, already tasting the cold one.

The fire truck drove four blocks down to Wall Street and stopped at the curb next to a fire hydrant.

Drake looked up five stories. “Looks like a small one.”

“It may be small, but if we don’t get it under control, the whole block could burn to the ground.” Luke squinted as the afternoon sun glared in his eye.

“Let’s get this party started.” Tommy snapped his fingers and unwound the hose from the reel. With the help of two other men, they connected the hose to the fire hydrant.

“Stairs or ladder?” Drake asked Luke.

“Ladder! Called it.” Luke jumped on the ladder and turned to Drake to help him up on the ladder with the hose.

“Ready to rise,” Drake called to Tommy who now controlled the ladder.

The pair rode up in silence while they collected their nerves and steeled their balls for the upcoming testosterone fest.

Luke jumped on the balcony first, followed by Drake and the hose. They busted the sliding glass door with the nozzle of the hose and went inside. The fire was contained to one apartment, but they needed to act fast to keep it from spreading.

“Ready?” Luke asked as Drake helped him aim the heavy hose.

Luke turned the lever and shot back a foot from the water’s force. Together, they sprayed the interior of the living room until the fire extinguished. Dragging the hose into the bedroom, they put out the rest of the fire. 

The scorched curtains, candles, and rose petals all over the floor pointed to the cause.

“Damn candles must’ve gotten out of hand.”

Luke looked at his watch, shortly after lunch. “Nooner gone bad, real bad.” He chuckled over the notion. He and Drake always loved speculating about the situations which caused the fires they extinguished.

“Or it went real good, before it went bad.” Drake chuckled.

Luke bent at the waist, hands on his knees, laughing hysterically. “Oh, my God!” he said, crying.

“That’s what she said.” Drake laughed at his own quip.

Two more firemen, who took the stairs with another hose, came through the front door.

“What are you two pansies laughing at? Is the fire out? Are the people out?” Tommy asked, looking perturbed at the lack of professionalism.

“It’s about time you dumbasses showed up, after Luke and I put out the fire.” Drake’s face grew absurdly serious because he was trying not to laugh.

Luke’s smile and burst of laughter made Drake bust into stitches again. “Remind me not to use candles for my next nooner.” Luke waved his hand towards the cause of the fire.

“Yeah, like you need to light candles to fly solo.” Tommy ragged on him, finally smiling once he realized the source of the joke.

“Gotta keep the romance alive, man. We’ll be together for a long time.” Luke held up his hand and kissed his palm.

“Go on and hose off, you two. We’ll meet yous guys at Fraunces Tavern. We need to find you a woman, Luke.” Tommy winked.

“My chances will increase when you and your ugly mugs get there.” Luke nodded and helped Drake with the hose.

“Yeah, yeah, and with pretty-boy Drake about to be engaged, you don’t have to compete with the GQ poster boy,” Tommy said.

“So what’s the story here? Where’s the owner? Who called it in?” Luke asked.

“Landlord called. Said the tenant hadn’t been seen in months. Some scientist guy who  worked all the time and travelled to the Keys a lot,” Drake said.

The Keys. Luke’d just returned from vacation there. Why did a strange feeling envelop him?

Looking around the apartment, Luke noticed some plaques hung above the desk. Some sort of achievement award.

 

Create Life Scientist of the Year

Theodore “Teddy” Toomey

 

A chill ran down his spine. Grier Garrison ran Create Life. And Luke remembered him mentioning their scientist, Teddy, who left Create Life to work for their competition, Morgan Medical Research.

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

Fraunces Tavern, the quintessential pub, was nestled a few blocks away in the heart of the Financial District. Lilly and Luke loved this place because of its long history dating back to the colonial period. Its patriotic décor and excellent food attracted droves of New Yorkers in the months following 9/11, including Luke. It had comforted him, and many others, to come together and drink amongst the portraits of their great country’s founding fathers.

Luke and Drake meandered their way past the high-gloss mahogany bar in search of a vacant, and acceptable, location. They found one with a view of the television and quickly ordered two pints of Guinness to enable their buzzes to catch-up with everyone else’s.

Soul sister, soul sister. Luke’s clever ring tone sang on his cell phone.

“Hey, Lil’. S’up?” Luke answered, after gulping the rest of his beer.

“Luke, I just heard about the fire on Wall Street. You okay?” Concern rang in his twin’s tone, but not as loud as her lust for a story to report.

“I’m just fine. And a pint or two away from being fantastic.” Luke winked at the hot waitress who’d just delivered him another Guinness.

“Luke?”

“I think I’m in love. A beautiful woman just brought me a beer.” Luke laughed.

“Oh, Luke, you’d love anything with a vagina, let alone one who brings you beer.”

“Speaking of vaginas, get your royal ass down here. Drake’s here. He’d love news of Britta. And the rest of the gang is coming soon.”

“If you promise me a story, a sober story for the camera. And meet me first in front of the building where you just put out the fire.”

“Only if you’re buying afterwards.”

“Fine.”

“For everyone.” Luke smacked Drake’s arm.

“Fine, just let me call my cameraman, Joe.”

 

* * * *

 

“This breaking news just in. A fifth floor apartment on Wall Street erupted in flames today. We have one of the brave firemen with us who helped extinguish the fire before it ran rampant downtown. Luke Allen, can you tell us about this fire?” Lilly asked and leaned the microphone towards Luke.

“We arrived on the scene within minutes of the call. Drake and I came up the fire ladder and entered through the balcony.” Luke gestured up towards the balcony and the camera followed. “The ladder is the quickest way to extinguish a fire, especially on the higher floors, because it’s time consuming to drag that hose up multiple flights of stairs. The fire started in the bedroom and spread to the living room. But we were able to extinguish it within minutes before it spread any further.”

“Do you know what caused the fire?”

“It appears that the fire was caused by candles being lit too close to loose draperies. It’s unfortunate that I see so many fires started this way.” He shook his head in frustration.

“Do you know anything about the tenant in that apartment?” Lilly asked.

“Well, that’s the strange thing. The tenant has been missing for a few months. The landlord planned to evict. He told me that the rent was in arrears.”

“Who was the tenant? Do you know anything about him?” she asked.

“His name was Teddy, and he used to be an award winning scientist for Create Life, based on the plaque I saw in his apartment,” Luke said.

Her eyes grew wide. Like she knew him or of him, not surprising since her fiancé worked there. Luke watched her compose herself.

She continued. “Thank you, Luke. This is Lilly Allen reporting for W.A.O.K. news. Thank you and good night.” Lilly blew up her bangs after Joe signaled that the camera was off.

“You were great, Lil’.” Joe smiled.

Luke noticed the look between him and his sister. Joe was in love with her. He wanted to kick the cameraman’s ass, but Lilly loved him, even if she just didn’t know it yet.

“Thanks for coming, Joe.” She smiled.

Joe kissed her on the cheek and said, “Sorry, but I’m due at the station. Bye, Lil’, good to see you again, Luke.” He shook Luke’s hand.

“Later, dude.” Luke watched Joe walk away before he asked Lilly, “Did you know Teddy?”

“Oh, my God. Yes. Teddy left to work for one of Create Life’s competitors. No one’s heard from him in ages, and there’s speculation that Thomas Turner, head of research and development, had him ‘bumped off’ to protect Create Life’s proprietary technology.”

“Holy shit, Batman. I remember that albino freak, Tom-Tom, from that charity shindig. So if Teddy’s dead, then who started the fire?”

“And why?” Lilly looked at him quizzically.

Luke whistled the eerie Dark Shadows theme song. Their mother loved watching reruns from the sixties, especially the vampire soap opera.

“How do you do that whistle?”

“Talent. Speaking of which, now I gotta go find me a woman to cook me breakfast in bed tomorrow.” He braced himself for the inevitable bitch slap from his feminist sister.

“You, pig. I’d slap you if I knew you were serious.”

“Wish I was serious.” He sighed and dropped his head in defeat.

“You’ll meet someone, Luke. You’re a smart, handsome, sweet, funny man,” Lilly said.

He smiled at her words, but said, “Nice guys finish last…” He snapped his fingers as he sang the lyrics of one of Green Day’s hit songs.

“Oh, stop. And don’t forget you’re about to be appallingly rich. Besides, I know the right girl is out there waiting for you. I have a feeling you’ll be meeting her before the new year.” Lilly froze and her eyes grew distant, like she got when she had a premonition.

“What is it? What do you see? Is she pretty, big boobs, petite?” Luke begged for answers.

Lilly shook her head as if to rid herself of her vision. “I better go home and get some beauty sleep.”

“Oh, yeah, your big brouhaha is tomorrow.”

His sister’s eminent leap into stardom happened tomorrow. Her big national interview with Giuliani on live television in Rockefeller Center would make all of the networks beg to put her behind the nightly news desk as an anchorwoman.

“Yeah, I forgot to buy you and your buddies beer. Rain check?” Lilly asked.

“Sure, Lil’. I can go for a pint at Fraunces anytime.” Luke grinned and headed back to the bar.

 

 

Chapter Three

 

 

“Watch it asshole,” a cabbie yelled at Luke as he crossed Fifth Avenue at the last second.

Looking up, the highest tower of Rockefeller Plaza loomed above Luke. A beacon of hope for many New Yorkers and tourists, but, for Luke, it reminded him of his tardiness to Lilly’s big live television interview with former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani. Not to mention his cluelessness as to how to get to the right studio in the massive underbelly of Rockefeller Plaza.

Perhaps he’d ask for directions. Nah. May as well “turn in his man card”, or “check his testicles at the door” as Grier often teased. Stubborn and determined, he’d find it on his own, damn it! Besides, how many studios could there possibly be?

Walking towards the famous ice-skating rink, Luke passed the aisle of sculptures and hedges, all leading up to the rink with its enormous, gold statue overlooking the ice skaters below. Suffering from “shiny object syndrome” as Lilly coined Luke’s tendency to distractions, he stared at the beautiful Christmas tree. He’d heard it’d arrived, and even watched its world famous ‘lighting’ from the comfort of his plush leather recliner on his sixty-inch, HD, flat screen.

The tree topped out at around fifty feet. What kind of engineering did it take to get this massive tree up there? Now curious to watch it being hoisted into position, he made a mental note to schlep out there next year in time to watch the tree arrive.

Oversized Christmas ornaments hung on the tree, and Luke thought perhaps he’d pick up a little tree this year and decorate it. He and Lilly usually got one for her perfectly decorated apartment, but she’d probably be married this time next year. The notion bummed him a little since he was so close to his twin, his other half. She’d presumably move in with Grier at his ginormous Park Avenue penthouse. Although she’d just be a quick taxi away, it wouldn’t be the same. He envied their happiness and settling down. Luke would love to settle down with the right girl as his mother constantly nagged him about, but he just hadn’t met the right woman yet.

Shaking off his daydream, a familiar hat caught his attention. It was the plaid, wool cap Lilly mentioned seeing in Miami and at The Swamp. What the…? He stared at the man with white hair under the Irish cap who was looking towards the skating rink. He looked like he was searching for someone. Crap! Was he searching for Lilly? Or him? Well, Lilly was safe down below in the crowded studio, which reminded him to giddy-up and get down there. Lilly’d kill him if he missed her big moment.

He took another look at the man in the plaid, wool cap before walking away from the tree. Something familiar tugged at Luke. He’d seen him before, not in the cap, though. Charleston perhaps? He looked so familiar, only Luke couldn’t place him from this distance.

“Ah, there you are,” Joe said to Luke.

Surprised, Luke jumped and turned towards Joe. “Hey, Joe. Did Lilly send you to fetch me?”

“Hey, man. How’d you know? Oh right, that twin telepathy thing she always talks about.” He extended his hand to shake Luke’s.

“Yeah, it’s scary sometimes.”

Luke shook his hand and thought that Joe’s ice-blue eyes must spellbind all the ladies. His dark curly hair and pale skin was the opposite of Grier’s golden-blonde hair and tanned complexion.

“She even knew you’d be by the tree, distracted.” Joe laughed. “Come on, I’ll show you the way. I can’t get you backstage because of the heightened security. Only station personnel and Rudy’s entourage are allowed back there, but you can sit in the studio with Grier, if he bothers to show up.” His disdain for Lilly’s fiancé rang in his tone. He turned and walked downstairs into Rockefeller.

“Aren’t you working today?” Luke asked.

“No, man. I’m just here to watch Lilly. She’ll be brilliant, but she’s a nervous wreck about interviewing such an important man. And, besides, this could be her big break. She’ll probably get fantastic offers from all the networks. I’m thrilled to watch her rise to the top, but I’ll miss ‘my girl Friday’.” Joe sighed.

Okay, he’s definitely in love with Lilly. Does she know? Does Grier? 

 

Chapter Four

 

“Hey, watch it, man,” Luke yelled at someone who nudged him from behind. Turning, he realized the guy was an enormous thug, a bodyguard perhaps. Oops. The act reminded him of Lilly, the reigning queen of putting her foot in her mouth. He quickly separated himself from the beast in a black suit, praying he didn’t piss off some mob goon.

He quickly found his seat, last row, but on the aisle at least. Still standing, he looked at the empty stage, except for the two, beige, cozy chairs that faced each other at a ninety-degree angle and an end table with two coffee mugs. Sensing Lilly’s eagerness to see him for mental encouragement, he looked towards the side of the stage by the curtain. There she was, scanning the crowd. He held up his hand and gave her a big “thumbs-up” and a smile.

She saw him and waved happily, looking fantastic. Perhaps a little too much make-up and hairspray, but he knew the camera required it. She smoothed the skirt of her Gator-blue suit and waved once more before disappearing behind the backstage curtain.

Taking his seat, he noticed the empty seat next to him had Grier’s name on it. Grier was at the ICU watching his father, Dr. Michael Garrison, fight for his life. Luke forgave his absence. He smiled at a little, old lady two seats down and pointed towards the stage. “That’s my sister who’ll be doing the interview.”

“Oh, a celebrity,” the little old lady crooned.

Luke studied the rest of the crowd around him, hoping to find a cute, little blonde he could use his sister’s local celebrity status to make small talk after the interview. He found a trio of girls two rows in front of him, but several seats down the row. Close enough to gawk at their cleavage, but not close enough to talk to without yelling. They looked young. He just hoped they were legal.

To his left at the smaller outer section of seats, the mob goon/bodyguard had taken up residence. Next to the goon, stood two carbon copies of him. They stared right at Luke and pointed.

Oh shit!

The lights in the studio audience darkened, and the lights on the set brightened. Intro music played in the background, and the announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause for WAOK’s very own, Lilly Allen.”

Luke stood and applauded with the rest of the audience. He beamed with pride and cheered the loudest for his twin. Something tugged on his arm, and he looked over. The three stooges pulled at him.

“Luther Allen, come with us, please,” the closest goon said.

“No way, man! I’m watching my sister.” Luke struggled as the men forced him into the aisle.

“We insist.” Goon number two stuck something hard against Luke’s side.

“Oh, shit,” Luke said as he felt the nozzle of a gun pressed deep into his ribs. Turning to look at his sister, who probably couldn’t see past the first row because of all the bright lights, he mentally called to her. Lilly, help me! Lilly, help!

She paused on stage, her smile retreated, and she looked towards him, but the lights blinded her.

Then the announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, may we have an even bigger warm round of applause for the former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Gulliani!”

The crowd roared with applause, piercing Luke’s ears. The goons yanked Luke towards them and he struggled. “Help, someone help me!” But his shouts went unheard in the deafening roar of the live studio audience. The gun pressed deeper into his ribs, but Luke didn’t care. He needed to get someone’s attention. The audience’s noise would die down soon. They wouldn’t shoot him in a crowd would they?

“Help! Somebody help me,” Luke yelled