FRANKY IS DEAD

CHAPTER ONE

I AM IN TWO MINDS ABOUT THIS

I was awakened by a knock at the door. I rolled over and looked at the alarm clock on the night stand. It was only eleven in the afternoon. Island time had spoiled me I now slept til twelve or one each day.

>Rap... Rap... Rap<>

“Ms. Cartwright? Ms. Cartwright are you home?” Olivia Cartwright had been the name I had chosen for myself when I moved into the one bedroom efficiency in Somerset island about six months ago after mine and Amy's parachute escape from a life of imprisonment had landed us here.

“I'm coming... I am coming... jeez.” As I got up I could feel the humidity clinging my t-shirt to my back. I waddled over to the security spy hole and looked though.

A man in aviator sunglasses stood in a very wrinkled and sweat covered button down shirt. A blazer slung 1980's style over his shoulder in one hand. I could see his gun holstered in his belt.

This had been the knock on the door I had been dreading since we landed here in the Bermuda Triangle. I had only hoped that it would not come this soon but I was no longer lucky Franky Onni, not on the island at least. I was regular boring old Olivia Cartwright here. Amnesic sister of the equally amnesic Jessica Cartwright who really was my best friend Amy.

“Who are you?” I asked cautiously staying in character. Franky was strong and determined. Franky knew the price of freedom and wasn't really willing to give it up. But Olivia was vulnerable and naive to the world. So I had to be Olivia.

“Ma'am my name is Andy Jessup I am a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation based out of Texas. I am here to talk to you about an ongoing investigation.” Texas? The only connection to Texas I had was that Amy and I had ditched the truck there before we chartered the plane to Bermuda. I had taken the plates of the car and scratched out the VIN number. The hotel we had stayed at had no records of us because we had used fake names when we stayed. This guy had to be here for something else.

I opened the door and let Special Agent Jessup into the apartment. My apartment was very airy and clean but it was small. My old house had been modern and dark but huge and comfortable. I didn't mind the downsizing because I was no longer limited to my domicile. Here on the island I was free to roam. I am sure I was free to roam all of Bermuda but I found that a few habits are hard to break.

I looked over Special Agent Jessup. He was young probably not even thirty yet. He was rugged and unshaven. His shirt was even more wrinkled from the back.

“Would you like some coffee? You'll have to excuse me I tend bar down by the beach so I get in late. I just woke up.” I said in my sweetest voice I could imagine. I motioned for him to sit at the bar that separated the kitchen from the rest of the apartment and went about making coffee.

“The locals say you have amnesia and washed up here about six months ago.” Well he wasn't one for stalling.

“Well I guess that is so. My sister and I can't remember anything from before we came here.” I said keeping my face away from him just in case he could detect my lie.

“You said you tend bar?” He asked me politely as I set the cream and sugar out on the table.

“Yea I work down at Tito's. It pays the bills you know. Keeps me here.” I replied leaning on the counter a little.

“Must be hard remembering all those different drinks.” He said looking into his notepad.

“Well you know I have nothing else to remember.” I gave him a wink. Olivia was kind of a flirt.

“Yes I guess you don't.” He sat back contemplating his next move.

Olivia may be naïve but Franky is smart. Franky is cunning and Franky has become kind of ruthless about her freedom. Franky was seeping through.

I walked over and checked the coffee seeing that it was done I brought it to Special Agent Jessup and poured him a mug full making sure to leave room for cream and sugar. He took none and took a sip of the coffee straight black. He held the mug away from his face in astonishment then nodded.

“Good stuff.” He said and set the mug on the counter. “Well Ms. Cartwright I am here, like I said to talk with you about an ongoing investigation. It seems that about six months ago around the time that you washed up here a wanted fugitive by the name of Felicite Onni also went missing.” I did my best to keep my face from betraying me. I was not sure how successful I was. Even though I had been rehearsing this moment in every spare second I had I still could not be sure if he saw any glimmer of all the emotions I was feeling right then.

They had found us. I had been hoping they wouldn't and they did. Part of the beauty of Bermuda is that it gave me freedom from my curse and part of the downfall is that my special ability would come in real handy right now. What to do? What could I do but play dumb?

“Well I am sorry sir but that name jogs no recollection. If you don't mind me asking what is this woman wanted for?” I was trying to be coy. I wondered if he had seen pictures of Franky. I wondered if he had any idea what I looked like. I am sure he did. I am sure he at least had what AGH had which was a picture from when I was sixteen before I dropped out of public school and locked myself away. If he had more than that though he would know me anywhere.

I am still pale despite all the hours spent at the beach bar. My hair is long and black, admittedly more well kept that it used to be but still the same. My eyes still are steely gray blue. I still had the furrow in my brow. Yes as much as I was Olivia Cartwright now I still looked and felt like Felicite Onni most of the time. I am sure Special Agent Jessup would see that if he had anything substantial on me. Here was to hoping he didn't.

“Well ma'am see is wanted for acts of terrorism, arson as well as murder.” He gave me a looked of complete contempt.

Right then I knew something was terribly wrong. This man could not possible be who he said he was or else he wouldn't be discussing an on going case and possible suspect with me. Especially if that suspect was suspected of terrorism. I was in more trouble than I thought. I went to put the coffee pot back on the machine distancing myself from the stranger in my apartment.

“Well Special Agent Jessup I would love to discuss this more with you do you mind if I make myself descent first?” I ask motioning to my pajama t-shirt and pajama shorts.

“No ma'am I don't. Take your time.” I went to my dresser grabbed some clothes and walked to the bathroom. Once there I locked the door and turned on the shower. While the shower ran I quickly threw on my clothes and climbed out the bathroom window. I made my way onto the ledge out side the building and scuttled across to the next window. Mrs. Carlson lived next door and always left her window open so that her parakeet Bam Bam could feel the breeze. Why a bird needed to feel a breeze was beyond me especially one in a cage.

I walked through the apartment to the front door and out into the hallway. I just had to make it two blocks down with no shoes to get to Amy's place and warn her. Once there we could go to the bank empty out my account and get off the island as soon as possible.

I eased my way out the front door of the Apartment building and ran down the street at full speed taking care to watch where I was going with my bare feet. I made it to Amy's apartments in about two minutes.

I walked in the front door of the building and rang the buzzer.

“Hello?” said a groggy voice on the other end.

“Amy get dressed and bring an extra pair of shoes. There is an extra tendril on the octopus.” That was our code for the shit has hit the fan. “Oh and make sure the shoes aren't embarrassing or hard to walk in. Oh and bring the car keys and IDs” I added on.

I waited at the door for what seemed like forever. I couldn't go up stairs if Jessup got wise and came here Amy's place would not be that easy to escape. In retrospect she probably only took a few minutes to make it down stairs. I saw her exit the elevator with a small carryon trailing behind her.

“What's all this?” I asked kind of aggitated.

“It's an emergency bag I packed a while ago. It has clothes and stuff for both of us. Unlike you I am always prepared.” She looked at me smugly from behind her sunglasses and handed me a pair of bright yellow keds.

“I said not embarrassing. They are going to know something is up if I walk around in these.” I said plaintively.

“You are such a baby when it comes to clothes! A little color will not hurt you for once. Besides didn't you here Keds are indie now? Anyway don't we have bigger problems than what shoes you are wearing?”

We had made it to the car by this point.

“I guess you are right.” I mumbled under my breath.

“Okay so where too?” Amy asked me solemnly turning over the engine.

“The bank just like we planned and then we have to go to the pier and get the boat.” I said.

“Okay if you say so.” We pulled out of the apartments.

We were driving for a whole of five minutes before Amy spoke again. I could tell she was scared, usually she was never quiet for this long.

“Franks what happened?” She said looking out the front window.

As I began to explain the events of that morning I could she her grow more rigid in the drivers seat. She had been dreading this more than me I think.

In the real world my disability was more of a blessing for me than a hindrance. Being able to feed of the energy of others and bring yourself good fortune and luck was not necessarily a bad thing when you were on the run. But Amy on the other hand was an extremely powerful medium who saw dead people everywhere she went except of course here in Bermuda. She had found a solace here an escape from her burden. I had found normalcy and the ability to have life around me. When we went back Amy would have death around her.

I had come to accept that I could not change what I was and that I could not escape it. As long as I was on Bermuda they would find us eventually. Like I said before I had hoped it would not be so soon. Amy I think had not accepted things as willingly as I had.

We pulled into the bank and got out. Whether or not she had accepted what was about to happen we had to do what we had to do.

We walked into the bank and there waiting in line was Olivia's boyfriend Kevin Radcliffe. This would be a problem.