Walker and Valerie Read online

  “We will start here in the lobby. My name is Valerie Greer. I own this little place. What’s your name and what do you do?” She stuck out her hand for a shake.

  “Travis Larson. Walker to my friends. Please, call me Walker. I work at Forces Security in the neighborhood here,” I said.

  “Oh! You work with Domino. That makes sense. Domino and I use the same wheelchair designer; we have similar issues with our legs. Well, every day but Tuesday, I give a veteran discount. Tuesdays since its five-dollar day, it’s the same price. All right, so in this corner over here I have a picture of how the front marquee looked before I had to replace it with that modern one. It was lost in a bad storm. It was beautiful, but all those lightbulbs were a pain to change. Here, I have the only picture I have found of how the lobby looked in 1920 when this theater was originally built. It was done in the French Revival style, was very ornate, and how many theaters were decorated at the time. It was stunning. When it opened you would walk in here, pay, and then go straight ahead and fill the aisles from this side. It was a different setup that did not catch on.” She started to roll towards the center of the room.

  “Sadly, the building was abandoned in the late thirties or early forties. It sat for almost two decades before my great granduncle Francis passed away. He left my grandparents quite wealthy. My grandmother saw this theater and thought they could make it great. My grandfather was a carpenter, my grandmother a painter. Look up,” she said, pointing to the ceiling.

  On the ceiling was a beautiful mural. It was a man and woman looking into each other’s eyes. They were dressed in Renaissance-style robes.

  “My grandmother painted that. It was supposed to be her and my grandfather when they were young. Anyway, when you look around you see a very strong red and gold gold-leaf theme. They tried hard to restore as much as they could of the original style. They improvised as well. My grandfather did all the carpentry work himself.” She rolled on down the hallway.

  “My grandparents knew that things were changing, and they needed to change with the times. They decided to split the one large theater into four smaller ones. They enlarged the bathrooms and made them open at the corners. I am sure you noticed the fanciness of the bathroom matches everything out here.”

  We went to theater one. “All the theaters are decorated the same as the original big theater was. My grandfather copied the work throughout. My grandmother painted. In each theater there is at least one original wall panel from the big theater. As for the seats, well, I upgraded those because these are just more comfortable. The theaters are the same size. We fit one hundred in each one.”

  She moved out of the theater and to a door at the end of the hall. She unlocked it with a code, and we entered. It was a mechanical room. “This is the original mechanical room. We have upgraded the heat and air conditioning, but we still need this old freight-style elevator to get equipment up to the projector rooms. There are the stairs for you over there. I will meet you up there.”

  She got on the elevator and, working some levers, it took her up. I realized it was the least safe thing I had seen someone use. It had no railing, no barrier to hold you back from the edge. If you went over, you went into the pit under it. It did have many steel eye bolts, bolted to the floor of it and I saw that Valerie did have two of the eyes utilized with a cargo strap, so it was like a seat belt for her.

  “This is how the old, big, heavy projectors got up into place. Now we have disc equipment, so it’s much easier to use and maintain. We are going to go to the theater two projector.” She led me to it. “As you can see, we still have some older equipment in here. This is the biggest projector room and I have quite a library of movies in here. On five-dollar Tuesdays, at 2 p.m., I play an older movie. It’s quite popular with my crowd to relive seeing something they saw years ago. Go ahead, take a look.” I looked through the titles. I chuckled as I saw quite a few eighties’ classics, a grouping of horror films, even Disney.

  “How are you able to still play these?” I would hope she would not have trouble with licensing.

  “I write lots of letters asking permission. Once I get it, I bring the movie up here to choose from. You will notice letters attached to each one. That tells me what it will cost to play it and where to send the money,” she explained. “See one you like? It’s 1:50 pm, You’ve got to choose.”

  “Me?” I was shocked she would let me choose.

  “Yes, as a thank you for helping with that jerk. Pick one,” she said.

  I then saw Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers. “You really have this?” I could not believe it. It was so bad it was funny.

  “Yeah, I have never played it, and I don’t plan on it, ever.” She laughed.

  “Here, this is a good one for anyone.” I handed her a non-zombie movie. I would not have minded seeing Night of the Living Dead or one from that series, but they were not here.

  “Ah, this is a good one. I will set it up and meet you down in theater in two. We can watch Mikey save the Goon Docks,” she said, setting up the equipment.

  I headed downstairs to wait for her.

  Chapter 4

  Valerie

  I loved showing off my theater. I was so proud of it. I had a very good group of regulars. I liked to make more by giving them a tour of the place. I typically didn’t bring them to the projector room, but I knew Domino very well and knew I would be safe with one of his guys.

  I set up the movie and started it. I headed downstairs to find Walker waiting for me at the entrance. We went to the wheelchair seating in the theater. He seemed to be not sure what to do. “Go ahead, sit.” At least he was trying to be a gentleman. I parked my chair next to the seat he chose.

  “So, what did you think of the theater? Gonna be a regular?” I asked.

  “It is beautiful. I’ve never seen all that goes on in one. I just get my popcorn, pop, and go see the zombies eat brains,” he said.

  “Zombie fan, huh? I don’t have a lot in the library of those, but in October I show all the horror I got; my regulars love it.”

  “I will look forward to it. I love watching movies, so yeah, I will become a regular easily as long as I am not working.”

  “Fair enough.” The opening theme music started, and we turned our attention to the screen. We enjoyed the movie, laughing at Chunk and rolling our eyes at Mouth. As it ended, I asked, “Did you enjoy it?” as we went out to the lobby to where my assistant Gabby was taking care of some patrons.

  “Yes, very much. I really liked my company though. I was still wondering if I could take you coffee?” he asked, giving me another one of his big smiles.

  He was very tall, very muscular, and very handsome. He had a modern James Dean rebel-without-a-cause look about him. With his golden brown hair slicked up and back like a greaser, his black leather jacket and white T-shirt, and jeans that hugged his muscular legs, he would be nothing but trouble. I had already seen my soccer mom club check him out twice. His blue eyes twinkled at me, waiting for my positive answer. Well, he was about to be disappointed.

  “Oh, that’s very sweet,” I got out.

  “She says yes,” Gabby answered for me.

  “Gabby!” I turned to her.

  Walker cleared his throat to gain my attention. “Val, an attractive, independent, and respected woman like you should have a man to take her out and show her a good time, all while taking care of her.” He was smooth. I would give him that.

  He dug in his pocket, pulling something out. “Here is my card. It has my cell phone number on it, along with the Forces number as well. You decide which it is and call me sometime soon. In the meantime, if you need anything, or if that jerk from earlier comes back, please call. No strings attached to your safety. I am sure you know Domino will not put up with guys like that.”

  I took the card. Domino had given me his one time after he found out that not only did I own this place, but I lived by myself. He had insisted on installing all the security on both places. We eventually came to an agreement
on it. Domino was a good friend, who really did understand just how it was to live on your own with no legs to use. He also had his programmer Binary make me a fob, so if I fell or needed help, I could press it and get help.

  “Thank you, Walker, I will. Hope you will come see a movie again soon,” I said as we reached the lobby.

  “Oh, don’t you worry. You will see me soon,” he said. He smiled and headed out.

  I rolled my eyes. So cocky. So not what I would ever need.

  “Valerie, why don’t you finish your lunch on your desk and then call him?” Gabby asked, giving me her mom stare. She had sent her kids off to college and took this job to keep her busy. She also made sure I took care of myself.

  “Yes, Mom. Jeez.” I laughed. She walked me back to my office under theater three.

  “Why did you turn him down, again?” she asked.

  “Gabby, we’ve been over this.” Come on, give it a rest.

  “What is wrong with him, Valerie? He seems nice. You told me he helped you with the asshole earlier. What’s wrong with him?” Gabby was worked up.

  “He does seem nice. He seems like an alpha male, seems like a ladies’ man, seems like—”

  She cut me off. “You don’t have a reason to turn him down. You are assuming and making stuff up. Are you doing this because of your legs?” She pierced me with her glare.

  “No …” She wouldn’t understand.

  “You know you could do a lot worse than Walker.” I hated this argument with her. She was convinced that I should be dating, have a boyfriend or five to go out with. But that was just not me.

  “You know I don’t date. I am just fine that way things are,” I said, picking up my lunch to get back to the invoices I was inputting to my accounting program.

  “Yes, a lonely young woman, who won’t let herself enjoy life. Yup, just fine.” She walked away, closing my door. Ugh, I hated when she got the last word.

  “Whatever,” I whispered, knowing she was right.

  Chapter 5

  Walker

  “Enjoy your movie?” Domino asked as I walked in the command center. I had decided to stop in and say hi before I went to the apartment above the garage.

  “Huh?” I asked. How did they know I went to a movie?

  Gena played the video footage of me throwing the asshole out of the theater. I didn’t know they had the movie theater under their security.

  “I did enjoy my movie. Then that guy was being rotten to Val and I helped him out,” I explained as Gena replayed the video.

  “Well, I am glad you were there; she’s a good friend. Val, huh? I hate when people treat her poorly.” Domino cracked his knuckles as he said that.

  “Are you giving me the big brother talk?” I asked him.

  “Did it work?”

  I laughed. “Well, first I have to convince her to go out on a date with me. Then you can really set me down and give me a good talking to.”

  “Losing your touch with the ladies?” Ammo asked.

  I knew I had a reputation of being able to charm the panties off any lady I chose. But things had been changing for me; I was no longer interested in the one-night stands anymore. I wanted something more. Huntsman and Eve, Ammo and Mary, Greta and Ape, and even Domino and Charlotte had it figured out. I wanted what they had. A partner.

  “No, I am up for the challenge. I am glad to know, though, that her place is monitored. She has said she would just call 911, but I doubt they could respond fast enough,” I said, looking through the feeds they had of The Greer.

  “Yeah, I would like to do more but she will only allow so much. She has been though a lot, Walker.” Domino seemed to want to say more.

  “I am not messing around Domino. I really do like her. I would like to get to know her better.”

  He seemed reassured at that.

  “All right, so what are you up to for the rest of the day?” he asked.

  “I thought I would hang around and see what I could learn,” I answered.

  “Great. Sit in here and learn. Gena, please send a message out to everyone. If they have seen Trick, Charlotte wants her toilet paper back. And they might want to let him know that her and her girls stay with me often. I will not have them freaked out over his stupid shit.”

  He turned to Ammo. “You ready to go see what trouble our ladies have caused?”

  “Sure, they have probably given poor Charity a run for her money,” Ammo said, getting up. They must have asked Charity to come in for a special yoga session for Mary and Charlotte, who were pregnant. While I had heard things were a rollercoaster for Domino and Charlotte, I only saw them together and happy. Yeah, that’s what I wanted.

  They left and went to the elevator to go down to the gym. I pulled up a chair between Hack and Gena. I got my tablet opened so I could take notes and settled in to learn.

  “That’s how our apps work together. You now can have the different camera feeds to the app on your phone or tablet,” Gena finished explaining.

  “Pretty easy for anyone to use, I like to think,” Binary said. I tended to forget she was there since she was so quiet. Though now and then you would see a flash of color as she moved her head. Right now, she had fuchsia, purple, and teal streaking her hair.

  “It’s excellent work, Binary.” I looked to her and she just shrugged.

  “I am going to head out. I’ll see you all later,” she said, vacating her workstation, then the room.

  “Did I say something wrong?” I felt bad that she left like that.

  “No, that’s just how she is,” Gena said. “She would say something if you pissed her off.”

  “Okay.”

  “We were going to call it a night. I know you are just kinda drifting in and out as you please right now as you get used to not being in the army anymore, but we do have a security install tomorrow if you want to join them.” Gena was picking up some stray pens and adding them to a cup holder.

  “Yeah, I would like to.”

  “The appointment is for 9 a.m. Be ready to go from here at 8,” Hack said.

  “Thanks, see you both tomorrow at some point then,” I said, walking out letting them finish their tasks.

  I really liked the work I was doing and would be doing at Forces. When Domino heard that I was being medically discharged with a heart condition he’d called me and asked if I wanted a job and a place to live. I’d asked what the catch was. He’d said I’d need to sit in his house when he wanted a shower if no one else was around. He liked someone around in case he slipped and needed help. I’d told him since I already saved his life once, I could do it again.

  He had explained that my job would be setting up and monitoring security systems, helping investigations, and using my medic skills as I saw fit. I knew he did rescues and some other things, but I had a feeling I would not be a part of those because of the heart condition. I wasn’t supposed to be in very high stress, high-risk situations. I understood that and putting others at risk was not who I was.

  I wanted to call Elder and see how the team was doing—not there was much of one left. I headed out to the apartment above the garage. Ammo had lived there before he moved in with Mary. He had taken his clothes, his kitchen stuff, and his chair, and left everything else. Before I could replace the kitchen stuff, Gena and Binary had taken care of it. They said it was courtesy of Domino; he wanted the apartment completely furnished. I wasn’t going to argue; I didn’t even cook much. I sat on the couch and called Elder.

  “Hey, Walker, how’s things in Chicago?” Elder asked.

  “Not bad. Getting used to it. How are things there?” I was dreading this.

  “Well, the decision was made. They broke us up. They left Power and Charge together, thank God, but I am no longer a team leader. I am more of a trainer now. Lynch is on administrative duty. He hates it, but it is allowing him to be there for his parents. I have a feeling he will end up having to discharge early to care for his mom. His dad just can’t do it alone.”

  “Well, fuc
k. I ...”

  “Don’t, Walker. You had no idea about your heart. You didn’t ask for. It is what it is. You have to take care of yourself,” he said.

  “I know; just not how I wanted to go out. How are Tina, Power, and Charge handling the change?”

  “They are okay. Tina is good. Power and Charge are getting used to the new team. I think the team guesses at their relationship, but Power and Charge just haven’t built enough trust in them yet. They have such a hard time with trust because of Charge’s family of closed-minded bigots.”

  “Yeah, I hope the best for them. How do you like your new assignment?”

  “It’s interesting. Right now, I am part of a very young new team. I am helping their leader figure out how to lead, helping the team with my experience. They have the makings to be excellent. It is kind of nice to not be in charge but be able to give advice. What’s Domino having you do?”