Chapter 15: Chapter 15

“GOING HOME”

Ben and Quazum were getting ready in the nice hotel room. Ben was wearing a clean shirt and putting on a new tie. He looked clean shaven, and his hair was nicely combed. Quazum was sitting on the bed wrapped in a motel robe.

Ben wheeled out the polished suitcase and turned to Quazum. “Okay, take that off and climb on top. I want you to be still and remain invisible, with no audible sounds. No one is to witness your open eyes or any unexplained movement.

“I thought I could just wear this robe,” answered Quazum. “I’ll have no clothes or shoes, and I can look just like a crumpled towel.”

“No. It’s best if you just keep your body bare. That way you can just blend right in like part of my luggage. No one will notice.”

“Or I can just ride inside a real suitcase, and you can just put some clothes in a bag on top.”

“No, the suitcase will go through a scanner, and everyone will be curious. I think the more we keep you out in the open, the less people will notice.”

“What will I do on the plane?”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll just set you down in an open seat with a couple of blankets. And we’ll have a comfortable flight to California.”

Quazum finally crawled on top of the suitcase and changed shape and color becoming invisible. “Perfect!” said Ben as he carefully began wheeling Quazum and the suitcase down the hall.

Another housekeeper walked by and seemed curious. “Good morning,” said Ben with a polite smile as he reached out to hold invisible Quazum still.

“Oh, good morning to you.” The housekeeper then walked into the motel room seeing the two unmade beds and seemed curious.

When Ben got to the motel lobby, he walked quietly up to the counter where the same motel clerk as the day before was working.

“Yes, I just want to check out,” said Ben politely.

The clerk looked up, surprised to see the same Ben from the day before clean and nicely dressed. “Was everything okay with your ‘two’ beds?”

“Everything was fine. I just want to check out. I’m in a hurry.”

“You know? We’ve been getting questions about you.”

“Questions?” asked Ben. “Who’s asking questions?”

Motel clerk read from the computer screen, “Local police and a few news reporters. They heard about an unidentified beat up man and strange voices in the motel.”

“I was alone. I might see some policemen later and straighten this out.”

The receptionist looked at him suspiciously again, then looked down at the suitcase. “And these are all your personal belongings?”

“Yeah, I just want to pay the final bill and make the final checkout. One man for one night.”

The receptionist reached out to the suitcase, causing Quazum to move a little before Ben shouted out and put his hand out. “Oh no! I have some valuable things in this suitcase. No touching. I don’t want to risk damage.”

“Can I ask what’s in the suitcase? You know you can’t bring in pets to this motel. We have rules.”

“I told you. It’s nothing.”

The receptionist stared at the suitcase before responding. “I know I saw something moving in that box yesterday and today, and I’m not the first to see it.”

The manager then walked over. “If you didn’t bring anything in, and you are trying to sneak something out, then we can call the police.”

“You know what?” replied Ben. “I’ll be boarding a solar jet in a mission headed for Quazmopolis. It’s an Avant moon in the fourth planet of the Kepler solar system.”

The receptionist looked confused. “You’re on the mission?”

“Yes, I’m also friends with Sheriff Neil, and I’m going to report these unfounded accusations being thrown around.”

Ben then grabbed his receipt and carefully rolled Quazum and the suitcase out to the parking lot, passing other guests.

With a confused look, the receptionist turned to the hotel manager as they watched.

When Ben finally arrived at his old, dirty car, he looked around before carefully lifting Quazum off the top and putting him on the ground.

Without expectation, Quazum suddenly jumped down, ran around the car, and opened and climbed into the passenger seat. Motel workers and random people looked confused. Ben tried to ignore the unexplained motion and continued stuffing the suitcase into the trunk.

With a polite wave, Ben then climbed into the driver’s seat and closed the door. He started the car and began backing out, again waving politely at curious onlookers.

“Quazum, you can’t just jump out and run around like that. Everyone’s just looking for some excuse to start an investigation and put us both in jail.”

“I can get into a car by myself, and I can walk. You don’t have to lift me and carry me everywhere.”

“People who just see a little motion want to call the police! Especially now. It’s important that you just maintain a low profile. Can you do that?”

“Fine.”

“You’ll be back on Quazmopolis soon, and it won’t matter. You can finally move around at your natural weight and speak freely.”

Quazum looked out the window and became quiet. Ben pushed buttons to set his futuristic car onto autocruise saying, “Head to the Airport in the fastest route possible.” Ben then took his hands off the steering wheel, and the car continued making turns and speeding down the old roads.

Ben patted the frustrated Quazum on the arm and said, “Hey, it’s okay. Relax. You’re finally going home. Everything’s going to be fine.”

A larger group of reporters and camera operators were gathered outside the Back Bayou Police Station with their cameras rolling.

One television reporter, holding a microphone and talking into a handheld camera, announced, “I’m coming to you live from the Back Bayou Police Department, and public information on the ghost sightings is illegally being withheld. Sheriff Neil and the police department are also avoiding comment.”

Another reporter reached out with a microphone to ask a passerby. “Have you seen or heard information about any of the ghost sightings?”

“I heard they’re scary as hell, and looking for blood!”

A third reporter turned to his live camera. “We now know a growing list in the city have witnessed this ghost, but the Back Bayou police and sheriff do not seem concerned.”

Sheriff Neil was looking out of his office window at the flashing lights and confusion surrounding the building, and people around the world were now focused on his one small town in Louisiana.

“Sheriff, I’ve got a report of another sighting,” yelled an officer from his desk. “It came from a motel.”

“That’s from yesterday,” answered Neil. “A guy with a talking suitcase.”

“People said this morning it was the same guy checking out. He demanded a room with two beds and seemed to be hiding behind a moving suitcase.”

“Just add it to the list. How many sightings do we have now?”

“That was number thirty-eight,” answered Vera.

“Who’s the guy? Do they have a name?”

“No, they said he paid with cash. No identification. And they didn’t believe him, but he said he was friends with Sheriff Neil.”

“With me?”

“This just happened. We could send a couple of officers down there just to ask some questions.”

Sheriff Neil looked around, then stood up. “No, I’ll be asking questions myself.” Officers looked confused as Neil walked over to the gun cabinet. He strapped on lazer guns and rifles and headed out his office door.

“Covert? Come with me,” yelled Neil. “Let’s go look for the ghost!”

“Yes sir,” responded Covert as the two men headed out the back door leaving confused officers watching in disbelief.

Dr. Palmer was attaching new wiring to various parts of Lacy’s body and head in the clean private room. Nurses were rushing in and out with new medical supplies.

“I want a constant monitoring of elements penetrating the cerebellum. If you witness any convulsions or involuntary movement of the temporal lobe, begin amphetamine shots of Biloba. And notify me immediately.”

Dr. Winston was annoyed as he looked into the door. “Why are you monitoring the temporal lobe with heart equipment? And using liver medication!”

“I am doing the best I can with the old fashioned antique treatment gear you have available.”

“There’s no equipment for bringing the dead back to life.”

Palmer continued concentrating without looking up. “She took a gunshot to the skull, and a human brain is not dead when the body is still alive. That’s a simple medical fact.”

Winston looked confused, “But even if you can save the body, she’ll have severe mental disability for the rest of her life. Is it fair to do that to a person?”

“Nurse,” said Palmer. “Start new transfusion of Septicemia into the small intestine.”

“Yes sir.” The nurse rushed out of the room going by Winston into the hallway.

Palmer continued the examination of her skull fracture. “I have a professional neurologist arriving in six hours that will apply brain implantation and vibrant revival stimulation. We will do everything we can to save Lacy.”

Winston shook his head and mumbled, “You’re just a rich crackpot doctor with a lot of free time. You may have the money to buy respect, but I think it’s disgusting.”

“You are excused, doctor. Go back to your sitting area, and have a fresh cup of coffee.”

When Palmer’s computer phone began to buzz, he held down Lacy’s bleeding skull with one hand before pulling out his phone and pressing buttons with bloody fingers. “Alice, did you get the information to Kjell?”

“Yes sir. He’s cancelled all appointments and has another doctor filling in for brain surgeries today and tomorrow. He left this morning and is bringing live brain parts and equipment for MRI Brain Scan.”

“What time will he be arriving?”

“He will arrive in New Orleans this afternoon,” replied Alice as she read from the computer screen. “That’s three fifteen your time.”

“Thank you. I’ll have someone waiting at the airport. His name is Rico.”

“Dr. Palmer, what about the new mission to Quazmopolis?” asked Alice.

“It is to go on as scheduled. No changes for mission.”

“Will you be back in time for take-off?”

Palmer adjusted the skull applying pressure and gripped the phone with his shoulder. “I will be there before departure. Scientists are to continue all planning and preparation.”

“Yes sir,” answered Alice. “We’ll be ready.”

Palmer then shoved the phone back in his pocket and continued treatment of the brain on Lacy’s motionless body. Dr. Winston looked on in disbelief.

Officer Covert was driving down the bumpy road as Sheriff Neil searched for information from a map on his small screen.

The computer began speaking out, “New mission of Science Exploration is scheduled to leave tomorrow from SEA Headquarters. The US Space Force will be providing live coverage of the launch and taking statements from scientists boarding the Solar Jet.”

Officer Covert seemed confused. “Are you really interested in a mission to explore a moon in the middle of some whacky solar system?”

“I just want more information. I can’t believe they’re spending so much money to explore a place that can’t even support life”

The computer continued, “Last investigation exploring Quazmopolis moon, scientists discovered new combinations of elements in stone surface and variety of colored rock. New mission intends to lay down new bonding composite base.”

“How much is this mission going to cost?” asked Covert. “Any idea?”

Computer responded, “Total expense of the mission is currently unknown. Chief scientist, Dr. William Palmer of Science Exploration, is paying all costs.”

“Isn’t he the guy that broke into your office? Any idea what he might be looking for?”

Neil closed the laptop and looked up. “I have no interest in his silly mission. I just want information on Dr. Palmer himself. I need enough information to put his ass in jail.”

“I think he’s just trying to get the Back Bayou Police in trouble. He’s not interested in looking for ghosts.”

Neil looked out the window and examined the empty land leading up to the hotel. “I can’t believe we’re wasting our time on an investigation of ghosts. We got local reporters and media from around the world pushing this story.”

Neil’s computer phone began to buzz, and he quickly pushed buttons on the speaker. “This is Neil. What’ve you got?”

“I’m sorry Sheriff,” said Vera. “We just got more information about the man at the Motel.”

“Oh God! What is it now?”

“The man said he would be coming directly to your office.”

Officer Covert jumped in, “You want me to turn around? I can get us back to the station in ten minutes.”

Vera continued, “Hotel management also claimed other hotel patrons noticed unexplained motions.”

“Do they have proof? Any video?”

“They said hotel cameras showed nothing unusual, but an older couple witnessed a car door opening and closing when the man was climbing in.”

“Okay, we’ll be there in a minute,” answered Neil. “We’ll ask questions, look at videos and get a full rundown. If this man shows up before we get back, I want full search and lockdown. Just keep him and the ghost in a jail cell.”

Ben quickly drove into the packed New Orleans Airport Parking area. Cars were lined up in every space as Ben and Quazum drove around slowly searching for a spot.

“There!” shouted Quazum as he pointed to an open space. “Park there!”

Just as Ben began pulling up the spot, another car turned in blocking him off. Ben shouted, “Damn! If you weren’t here, Quazum. I might lose my temper!”

“Don’t sweat it! There is a car pulling out eighty-seven yards ahead. I can detect the motion.”

“You’ve got such amazing powers. I think your entire species is so advanced from the average human. You could just stay and use your skills in some way.”

“No.” Quazum thought about the possibilities as Ben pulled into the open spot.

“Now. Stay in your seat. Just keep still.” Ben looked around, then walked back to the trunk and unloaded the wheeled suitcase cart. After seeing no motion, he wheeled around and opened the side door. Quazum changed colors becoming invisible as he climbed on top.

“Just remember what I said. You’re not even here. You will just remain motionless and invisible on top of the suitcase. You don’t speak out. You don’t move quickly. You don’t do anything that might be noticed. Understand?”

“I think. I’ll do everything I can.”

“Fine. I’ll put you on the belt for carry-on luggage and you can jump onto the suitcase when it’s through.” Ben leaned the suitcase cart back and began pulling. “But for now, you just keep still.”

As Ben began pulling the cart, an older couple walked by and seemed confused seeing Ben speaking by himself. Ben waved and smiled. “Hi. I just got a lot on my mind.”

The couple walked away, and Ben whispered again to Quazum, “That’s what I mean. We’ve got to refrain from talking for the next five hours. You are a simple carry-on suitcase, and I am just flying home to California. Nothing more.”

“What’s it like to ride in a plane? How high will we go?”

“We’ll be at about 50,000 feet. That’s about ten miles. There’ll be a little shaking at take-off and landing. But you can just sleep the entire flight.”

“Where will I sit?”

“There are always a few extra seats. I’ll make sure to sit by an open chair, and you can sit right next to me with a blanket.

“And how long will the flight be?”

Ben turned a corner and continued carefully pulling the suitcase with Quazum balanced on top. “I don’t know. Maybe four or five hours. You just need to stay still and invisible.”

Dr. Kjell, the neurologist and brain surgeon, was carefully walking through crowds of people in the airport and dragging his large cart of medical equipment. He looked down at his phone computer and read information about the pick-up, when he suddenly bumped into Ben.

“Boom!”

Dr. Kjell tried to protect his heavy cart, and Quazum fell to the ground becoming slightly visible. Ben jumped to try and catch him, as they tumbled to the side.

“Ooohhh!” cried Quazum.

Ben immediately picked up the invisible body and tried to lay it back on top. “I got you, Quazum. Everything’s fine.”

Dr. Kjell reached down also to straighten his precious gear and seemed confused. “I’m very sorry. Can I help?”

The strange color changes, along with the voice and motion of Quazum, confused Kjell as he looked on.

Ben smiled politely and finally looked around. “We’re all right. Thank you. We’re just checking in for a long flight.”

Kjell was confused again. “We? Did you say we?”

“Yeah, we’re fine. I mean, I’m fine,” answered Ben with a polite smile. “Thank you,”

Kjell looked on curiously as he watched Ben pulling his suitcase. He then continued carefully rolling out his medical case to the pick up area.

Ben rolled Quazum sitting on his suitcase to a busy receptionist at the counter. “Hello.”

“There is one open computer there for a quick check in,” replied the lady politely.

“No thank you.” answered Ben. “I have reservations for one going to California, and I just want to be sure.”

“So you will be checking in this suitcase?”

“No. It’s just one carry-on. I’ll be rolling it directly onto the plane.”

“Fine. What is your name and flight information?”

“Do you need to check the weight or size?”

“It looks fine”

“Your name and flight information?”

“Yes, it’s Ben Thomas,” answered Ben politely. “I have a reservation for a flight to Los Angeles. It’s a ticket for one.”

The lady looked curious and continued. “We have one direct flight from New Orleans to LAX. Do you want to book a return flight? We have a special round trip flight at a low price if you’re interested in paying now.”

Ben looked down at Quazum and continued. “No, I’ll be flying back sometime next week, and then driving back to California. I’ll book that flight later.”

“Fine. Your flight will be leaving out of Gate Eleven in about thirty-seven minutes.”

“Perfect! Thank you!” Ben then nervously pulled Quazum towards a long line of metal scanners in the search area.

Dr. Kjell was standing in the airport driveway watching cars as he waited for the pickup. He had a heavy box and a suitcase when Palmer’s special taxi driver Rico pulled up.

“Dr. Kjell?” asked Rico politely as he looked out of the window.

“Yes,” answered Kjell curiously before walking over.

Rico immediately jumped out and pulled Kjell ’s suitcase over to the trunk. “You’re flying in from California Brain Center, right?”

“It's a Neurology Center,” replied Kjell as he watched Rico carelessly loading the trunk. “Please be cautious with this case. I’m carrying incubated cerebral parts that cannot be damaged.”

“Not a problem,” answered Rico as he pushed the suitcase into the trunk and ran back into the driver's seat. “Is that everything?”

Kjell watched nervously before climbing into the back seat and reading from the computer.

Rico tried to be nice, “So, you’ll be performing a surgery on the girl in Back Bayou. Is that right?”

“Yes. Palmer’s secretary Alice gave me more information on specific areas of brain damage. I believe with my superlative cortex, I can possibly revive the unliving part of the patient’s occipital lobe.”

“All right! I think that’s just what she needs.”

“I brought an automated brainstem for reticulation purposes. This can keep the limbic system flowing to the Occipital lobe while recirculating blood to the heart. I believe that is what Dr. Palmer is expecting?”

Rico looked back into the rearview mirror and appeared confused. “I just know it has something to do with a girl’s brain... So, you want to check-in to the motel now. Or are we heading straight back to the Tickfaw Hospital?”

“The hospital. We need to start spinal cord fluid to the cerebellum -- immediately!”

“Not a problem.” Rico then sped up and manually raced the car through traffic, “You know, doctor. We’ve had reports of ghost sightings around Back Bayou and in areas around New Orleans. You heard about that?”

Dr. Kjell was reading from the computer and was hardly listening “Is that so?”

“It’s reports of invisible moving objects reallly. People are talking about hearing strange voices and witnessing slight motions. They say it’s a ghost! It’s really weird stuff!”

Dr. Kjell suddenly looked up in thought, “That is strange. I saw what appeared to be a moving talking suitcase when I was coming out of the airport.”

“A ghost in a suitcase? Wow, that’s news. You should go on TV and tell them about it!”

“It was just a man rolling a suitcase and speaking to it actually. I knocked it over, and it seemed to change shape and color before my eyes.”

“Sounds like the same ghost that everyone’s been seeing around Back Bayou -- a moving invisible figure that you can see.”

Dr. Kjell seemed to be thinking about his sighting as Rico continued racing.

Sheriff Neil and Officer Covert watched reporters and network news vans surrounding the motel as they drove up. When reporters saw the police car, they ran over with live cameras rolling.

“Sheriff, what do you have to say about the latest ghost sightings?” asked the first reporter.

A pretty young female reporter shoved a microphone into Neil's face as he climbed out of the car. “Is the Back Bayou police department now investigating sightings here at the motel?”

Neil and Covert didn’t answer and struggled to get by reporters on their way to the motel entrance.

“Have you spoken to witnesses?” asked another reporter trying to follow them into the motel lobby. Covert blocked reporters off and closed the door as Neil made his way up to the girl at the front desk.

“Sheriff Rob Neil from Back Bayou Police Department,” said Neil as he held up his badge. “I want information from witnesses of all the unexplained ghost sightings.”

“That was me, officer,” answered the girl. “A run down man in a ripped up suit came in wanting a single room with two beds yesterday. He pretended to be nice, but seemed very nervous.”

“He seemed nervous so you called the news and police?”

“No. Other patrons also heard the talking voices,” answered the motel manager as he stepped up. “And the housekeeper and another motel guest said they saw the same man talking to his suitcase.”

“So you think the ghost was hiding inside the case?”

Ther receptionist looked around at the manager, then replied, “I don’t know. He paid with cash, and we didn’t open his suitcase.”

“But there was definitely unexplained motion,” said the manager.

“Do you have a name for this man? Any registration or credit information?”

“No, he paid with cash. And he left no name or identification.”

Sheriff Neil seemed annoyed as he read from his phone, “Can you tell me what this man looked like?”

“Well, he came in yesterday and looked like he hadn’t slept or taken a bath in a week.”

The manager joined in again, “Then he left this morning looking all proper, in a new suit, with a clean shaven face.”

“And a talking suitcase!” shouted the receptionist.

“And what did this man look like? Did anything unusual stand out?”

The manager looked at the confused receptionist before answering, “I guess he just looked normal.”

“How old? Height? Weight? What do you remember?”

The receptionist then answered, “He was in his mid-thirties, brown hair, five foot ten and one sixty-five? Just an average guy.”

Neil pulled out his phone and held up a picture of Ben walking into the police department. “Is this the man?”

“That’s him!” answered the manager. “Is he a wanted man? Did he commit any crimes?”

Neil ignored the questions and continued. “Where did he say he was going?”

“He said he was going to be reporting to you, but I think he was headed straight to the airport. I think he was flying home to California to work on the new space mission.”

“And he said he’d be coming back next week to get his car. Something like that.”

Sheriff Neil looked around the motel lobby. The group of reporters and guests were staring through the motel doors.

“Let’s go,” said Neil as he turned and began walking back out and through reporters on his way to the police car. Covert looked confused and followed.