Las Vegas, Nevada

December 8, 2002

The show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center was a smash and by midnight, the guys were bone tired and headed off to their rooms before they departed the next day to prepare for their show in Phoenix on the 10^th. All except Malvin.

For some reason, he was wired. He was in Vegas – a city that glows neon 24 hours a day. He hadn’t much time to enjoy himself since he got here – his was not to enjoy himself, but to tend to 5 rock stars who, over time, seemed like sons to him.

Dressed in black jeans, sneakers and a hooded down jacket, Malvin took off for a walk down the bright streets, trying to soak up what little he could before heading out tomorrow. He wanted to do something, just for fun, but gambling just didn’t seem to do it. He wanted to indulge in some kind of frivolous guilty pleasure that Vegas had to offer, but not something that would have him getting bailed out of jail in the morning.

Malvin shoved his hands in his pockets as he continued down the street, his eyes appraising every little business that he walked by until one made him stop in his tracks and chuckle.

“Oh, I shouldn’t,” he giggled to himself. “These things are so ridiculous. No one can be gullible enough to believe in this crap.”

Malvin stared at the sign in the window that read Psychic Readings and decided that this was a frivilous as he was gonna get at this hour, unless he dropped a wad of cash at the casinos – something he didn’t want to do.

Seeing the 24 Hour A Day Readings blurb under the sign, he opened the door and went inside. The dark, paneled room was dimly lit with low wattage bulbs within very tacky looking fringed lamps. Weird figurines, crystals and wood carvings were strewn about in a messy sort of way. In the center of the room was a round table covered with a blood red velvet table cloth.

Malvin felt an uneasy feeling come over him, even though he knew these things were nothing but hoax’s. When he didn’t see nor hear anyone, something inside of him just told him to leave. As he turned, a voice from nowhere spoke out.

“Why are you leaving?”

Malvin turned around to find a very old woman. If Phyllis Diller were abducted by a caravan of gypsies, this is what she’d look like!

“Uh, well, I didn’t see anyone here,” Malvin replied. “Plus, I changed my mind.”

The old woman approached him. “What made you change your mind?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Guess I just didn’t want to do this after all.”

“You don’t believe in foretelling the future do you?” the old woman said. “Yet…something drew you in here.”

“You’re right, I don’t believe in this stuff,” Malvin said. “I guess, I don’t know, I was looking for something to humor me this late at night.”

The old woman went to the round table, sat down and offered the seat across from her to Malvin. “Then sit down and let me make your late night curiosity worth your while.”

Malvin shrugged and sat down, as he extended his hand.

“By the way, my name is……”

“No!” the old woman shouted, as she took Malvin’s hand. “Do not tell me your name! I don’t want to know anything about you. I will find all I need to know right here.”

She punctuated that by studying the lines on Malvin’s palm. “You know, each line has a symbol, a meaning. I don’t believe in the stereotypical ones. I prefer the lines to mean something unique to each individual.”

Malvin smirked, thoroughly amused. “So, what do my lines say about me?”

She studied his hand and knitted her very wrinkled brow. “Well, they don’t say much about you, but more about the people who are close to you. You have five distinct lines on your palm. You have five people who are very close to you, do you not?”

Malvin’s was about to be skeptical, but cast it aside. There was no way this decrepit old woman would know who he is and who he works for. If she were much younger, maybe, but not someone her age.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Malvin answered.

The woman ran her frail finger over his palm. “Five men, correct?”

Malvin gulped. “Um…yeah.”

She continued. “Five men whom you’ve been close to for a very long time. Five men who’s lives sometimes depend on you. And you have been exceptionally loyal to them, have you not?”

“Yes, yes and yes,” Malvin nervously said.

“That’s good, because they will continue to need you. Each one of them has a very unique personality and each one has their own set of personal issues that puts a strain on them. And because of this, each one of them will encounter something very unpleasant in their lives over the next two days.”

Malvin rolled his eyes. He really wanted to tell this pruned battle-ax to save the hokey mumbo jumbo, but he decided to continue with the charade – if only to get his money’s worth.

“What can you tell me?” Malvin asked, pretending to be very interested.

The old woman traced one line on his hand as she spoke. “Someone very close to one of them will suffer a loss that they were greatly attached to.”

Malvin bit his lip. “Who? Which one? The loss of what or….who?”

“That I cannot tell you,” she said as she traced a second line. “Another will have a frightening confrontation.”

Malvin paled. “What…what kind of confrontation?”

“Again, I cannot tell you. I do not see the details. They are just general feelings.” She then traced a third line. “Another will be hurt in an unfortunate mishap.”

Before Malvin could ask who and what, he composed himself. This was nothing but a farce. This didn’t mean anything. What she was saying was so general. Hell, over the last 25+ years, these guys have lost, had confrontations and suffered mishaps. What could she predict that could be worse, if, of course, he believed this nonsense?

She then traced a fourth line. “One will receive news that will further delay something he’s been wanting to do for a long time. It will only add to the frustration and stress that he’s been feeling thus far over it.”

Malvin shrugged. Bad news wasn’t anything the band was immune to.

“And, finally,” she said, tracing the fifth and last line in Malvin’s palm, “one will do some heavy soul searching and make a drastic change in his life.”

After a few moments, the old woman just sat there with her eyes closed, head back, as if some sort of trance. She was still holding Malvin’s hand. He decided that he had seen and heard enough and, after having his fun, decided to call it a night..

“Well, thank you for this um….entertaining evening,” he said with a twinkle as he tried to pull his hand away. However, when he tried, the old woman clung to it.

“No! Wait! There….there is………..no! Oh, no!”

Malvin again rolled his eyes. Okay, so she was laying on the drama for his money’s worth. Suddenly, she let go of his hand and, without opening her eyes, she grabbed a pencil and pad and began to write.

First she wrote three numbers….2-7-9. Then, she drew a picture of something round. Inside the circle, she drew lines, like the spokes of a bicycle tire. Then the words – inside, left, square, black.

She ripped the piece of paper out of the pad, folded it up, stood up, walked over to Malvin and put it in his pocket.

“Here, take this. Whatever you do, do not lose it. But, do not delay in looking at it. I…I can’t figure it out, but hopefully you can. It……its not good. Not good at all. Please, as I said, do not delay.”

Malvin continued to humor her. “Oh…okay, sure. No problem. I always like puzzles and clues. So, how much do I owe you?”

The woman shook her head. “No, no charge. Please. If you’re able to figure out what’s on that paper, then that will be payment enough. Now, go. Go to those five men who’s lives depend on you. Because they may.”

Malvin felt a chill run up his spine before he realized what was going on. This woman was just trying to freak him out. It was her job. She probably just decided to give him a midnight freebie reading, nothing more.

“Okay madam, well thank you,” Malvin said, nodding his head to her before he left.

The old woman went to the window and watched Malvin as he disappeared down the street. Her mouth trembled as a lone tear streamed down her aged face.

“They’re all going to die!”

Chapter 2

December 9, 2002

Early Morning

One by one, the weary band members boarded the bus that would take them to their show in Phoenix for the next night. They had a bit of a drive ahead of them and would use the time wisely and rest up some more.

As usual, Malvin boarded last, always waiting to make sure everything, and everyone, was accounted for before they departed. The events of the previous evening still made him a bit uneasy. What was worse, is that he felt silly for feeling that way. Psychics aren’t for real! No one can predict the future! Its all a bunch of bunk!

However, if it were…..how did she know about the men – the five men – whom he carefully looks after? She was right on target with that. And all those individual scenarios that she stated would befall each of them? They were way too general. It could be anything. Except….except for that last one for which she wrote those clues down. Malvin didn’t know what it was, but the look on her face frightened him a bit. Well, hey she was quite a fright to look at to begin with!

He boarded the bus and wearily took a seat, hoping to nod off himself after they took off.

“Okay spill it,” Joe said in his direction. “How much did you lose last night?”

Malvin opened one eye and looked at Joe who was slouched down in his seat in his usual attire – black jeans, loud, obnoxious t-shirt and a pair of shades.

“I didn’t lose a bloody cent,” Malvin replied. “I didn’t dare go into a casino. Until the promotion wheels start rolling again, I’m watching my money very carefully.”

“So where’d you go?”

“Just walked around. Trying to take in as much of the Vegas experience without succumbing to the pitfalls of the slot machines.”

“I wish I stayed on the slot machines,” Phil muttered after overhearing. “I was torched at that blackjack table yesterday. Thought winning big would take the edge off of turning 45. Not that I care. But dropping almost $500 made me feel worse. What was I thinking? I’m better off sticking to vices that don’t cost me money.”

“Your wife costs you plenty!” Joe shot out. “Which is why you’ll never catch me with a ring on my finger.” Joe then looked at the gold rings on his hand. “Well, a wedding ring at least.”

“I’ll second that….for now,” Rick said. “Who knows what’ll I’ll be thinking a year from now.”

When Joe turned to acknowledge Rick, he saw that Sav and Viv were sound asleep. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Those two better get as much rest as possible before they go back home and chase those little ones around,” he muse.

“Thank God Lauren Shane’s past those ‘toddler’ years, even though being five is still a handful. I don’t envy Sav with those two little ones. Viv too.”

Just then the sound of a cell phone went off. Everyone pulled theirs out to look at it before Rick announced “mine”. “Hello? Hello sweetie. I was just talking about you. Whats the matter? Lauren Shane, why are you crying? Hold on.”

Rick then got up and walked to the back of the bus so he could talk to his daughter. Joe rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You know, its bad enough when your woman checks up on you. Now you’ve got to deal with your children doing the same!”

After a few moments, Rick clicked off his cell phone and walked back up to his seat.

“So….whats the trauma du jour at the Allen Residence?” Phil asked.

“Oh, nothing major,” Rick replied. “Well, not to me, but to Lauren Shane. Her um……goldfish….Buffy The Shark Slayer…..was found floating upside down in the tank. It took Lauren forever to convince her to flush him…or, should I say….her, down the toilet.”

Joe broke out in a fit of laughter. “What? Buffy the what?”

Rick huffed. “I know, I know. But, Lauren Shane watches the repeats of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and tries to imitate her moves. When we got her the goldfish, she came up with the kitchy name.”

“Nothing like losing a pet,” Phil said somberly. “I still miss Woof.”

“Yeah, but he was a dog, Collen,” Joe stated. “A faithful companion who understood commands and stuff. But….a goldfish?”

“Joe, she’s only five,” Rick said defensively. “To her it’s a big deal. She was very attached to that goldfish.”

Suddenly, Malvin’s ears perked up. “What did you say Rick?”

Rick looked bewildered. “Um, about the goldfish? I said that Lauren Shane was very attached to it.”

Malvin’s mind raced back to the previous evening, trying to remember what that creepy gypsy woman said. “Someone very close to one of them will suffer a loss that they were greatly attached to.”

No, it….it couldn’t be? It was just a coincidence, that’s all. Nothing more.

Then again, if, for some bizarre turn of events, her predictions did come true, Malvin would have nothing to worry about if they were all as harmless as this.

They key word was ‘if’.

Chapter 3

December 9, 2002

Late Afternoon

The bus pulled up in the back of the hotel, allowing the band to enter inconspicuously and without any hassle. A number of people carrying various pieces of luggage, bags, packages and whatnot followed them inside as Malvin went to the front desk to arrange for check in.

As they waited by the elevator, Sav noticed someone out of the corner of his eye and paled a bit. He very slowly went over to Phil and stood in front of him, blocking the person’s view of him.

“Uh Phil, don’t look but, um…..you know who is here.”

Phil tried to crane his neck past Sav to see, to which Sav blocked his view.

“Didn’t I tell you not to look?”

“Sav, who is….oh…oh no! Oh God, no! Please…please don’t tell me…..”

Just then Joe joined them. “Bloody fuck, did you see who’s here?”

Phil looked about to die of exasperation. “Yeah, I just found out. I can’t believe she followed me all the way to Phoenix! She can’t be alone. She has to be here with someone. Oh God, where’s Malvin? Make sure he gets on this and keeps her, and whoever she may be with, away from me.”

Joe sent someone over to Malvin to whisper in his ear about Phil’s admirer. Malvin turned around, sought out the person in question then asked for hotel security to have her removed. This was getting a little ridiculous!

Phil was hiding behind a large, potted floor plant until the woman was gone from the hotel. Even still, he wanted to get out of the lobby as quickly as possible.

“That’s it, I’m taking the stairs,” he said heading towards the door leading to the stairwell. “I know what floor we’re on. I’ll meet yo there.”

As Phil went through the door, he took them two at a time, marveling, as he always did, how great a shape he was in for 45. When he got to his designated floor, he opened the door and sucked his breath in. Waiting for him, was a close, recognizable friend of his psychotic admirer who followed him from time to time.

“Phil!” she exclaimed, throwing herself at him and wrapping her rather large frame around him.

“Crikey!” Phil choked out. “Hey, come on….please……let go of me. No one’s supposed to be up here.”

But the woman wouldn’t budge. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” she gushed as she had him in a hold that a wrestler would be proud of. “I told you I’d be here in Phoenix. That we both were. Didn’t you see…..?”

“Yeah, I did,” Phil gasped. “Down in the lobby. Malvin saw her and she was escorted out immediately, which is what you’re gonna be if you don’t……”

The bell ringing signaling the elevator arriving on their floor allowed Phil to heave a sigh of relief. He took the woman’s arms and disengaged them from around his neck. “Look, you have to leave. Now! I’m sorry, but you can’t be around me. I don’t like be accosted this way.”

“Aye! What are you doing up here missy?”

Malvin’s voice boomed down the hallway as he approached the woman, followed by a security guard. Phil used the opportunity to scoot out of there, as the guard took the woman by the arm and escorted her off the floor, via the stairwell.

Phil flattened his back against the wall of the hallway and banged the back of his head against the wall. Viv came over to him. “You okay?”

“Bloody hell, so much for taking the stairs,” he huffed. “Scared the frigging life out of me.”

Malvin walked back over to Phil. “Philip, you alright?”

“Yeah, for someone who just got mauled by a psychotic fan. Crikey, I can’t believe how that woman and her friend stalk me like that. Nowhere’s safe. Everywhere I go I gotta keep one eye open. I’m so sick of these frightening confrontations.”

Malvin’s heart slammed in his chest at those final words from Phil. And just as quickly, the old woman’s words from the following night assailed his memory.

“Another will have a frightening confrontation.”

Malvin gulped as he quickly escorted everyone into their rooms. “Listen, just to be safe, just do room service tonight lads,” he ordered. “I’ll go take a walk through to see if there are any more surprises lurking.”

Not even desiring to argue with Malvin’s order to stay in and order room service, the five bandmembers, including a shaken Phil, retreated to their rooms. Malvin then went to the elevator and took it to the lobby to check around.

On the ride down, he reflected on what just happened, along with what happened earlier with Rick and his daughter. So far, two predictions that the psychic said came true. At least Rick’s was nothing but a little goldfish dying, even though it was traumatic to Lauren Shane. But this….this was a little different. This was a direct confrontation to where Phil could’ve been harmed, had everyone not gotten there in time.

Malvin was beginning to get sufficiently creeped out. As much as he tried to reason that it was nothing but a coincidence, he wondered what the next day and a half held for the remaining bandmembers.

Chapter 4

December 10, 2002

Sound Check

American West Arena, Phoenix AZ

The guys stood in a circle in the center of the stage to look over the setlist. Viv was a little concerned.

“Hey guys, can we go over the High ‘n Dry songs first? I’m a little rusty on those still.”

“No problem,” Joe said going to his mic. He then looked around. “Aye, can I get a check on this?”

As Joe tapped his mic waiting for the proper sound, Viv went over to his side of the stage and did some fine tuning on his guitar. His tech plugged him in before bringing the other end over to the amp to set him up to do his sound check.

As the tech walked over to the amp, he tugged on the wire and felt it catch. Not seeing what it was caught on, he pulled with all his might to disengage it. It was followed by a loud thud and an “oh shit!”

The tech turned to see that the amp wire was laying on the floor and looped in a circle, the circle being right underneath Viv’s foot. When he had pulled on it, it had tripped up Viv, causing him to take a nasty spill on his bum.

Phil and Sav headed over to Viv at the same time. “You okay?”

Sav bent down to unwrap the wire from around Viv’s ankle as Viv sat up, wincing in pain a bit.

“Yeah, but I landed on my damn tailbone.”

Just then, the tech came jogging over and knelt beside Viv. “Geez, Viv I’m sorry. I had no idea the wire was wrapped around your ankle when I tugged.”

“How’s about looking the next time?” Joe said as he joined the group.

“Or maybe not tugging so hard,” Viv added with a wince.

Malvin was in the arena area finishing up a cell phone call when he saw Viv take a tumble out of the corner of his eye. He immediately sprinted up on the stage.

“Viv, you okay? What happened?”

“He pulled a ‘Sav’ on us, only he stayed on the stage,” Joe smirked.

“So much for not re-opening old wounds, eh Joe?” Sav replied.

Joe chuckled and reached out his hand to Viv. “C’mon mate, lets get you up.”

“Easy Joe, I said I fell on my tailbone.”

With Malvin behind him and Sav and Phil taking each arm, they slowly got Viv to his feet. Once upright, Viv rubbed the round bone at the base of his spine. “Damn, that hurts. Hope I didn’t chip it or anything.”

“You alright for tonight?” Joe asked.

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure. Just an unfortunate mishap, nothing serious.

Malvin stilled from where he stood.. He heard the psychic’s voice in his head as clear as day.

“Another will be hurt in an unfortunate mishap.”

“This is crazy!” Malvin thought to himself. “No…no, its just a coincidence. Its got to be. Its just got to be.”

“Gotta be what, Mal?” Phil asked.

Malvin didn’t realize that he spoke his thoughts aloud. “Oh, uh…..Viv’s injury. Its got to be only minor.”

“Probably hurt like a mother tomorrow or the next day,” Joe said.

“Thanks Joe,” Viv sarcastically replied. “Now I’ve got something to look forward to.”

As they all got back in place for sound check, Malvin hopped off the stage and sat down in on the arena seats, dumbfounded over how three of the five psychic’s predictions had come true. He thought about the last two, and then that final one which frightened the psychic greatly.

Malvin still had that piece of paper. He had stuffed it in his dayplanner for when he had a free moment to work out the puzzle. He unzipped his planner and pulled it out. He glanced at the three numbers 2-7-9, then the drawing of what looked like a bicycle wheel and the words inside, left, square, black.

For the life of him, he hadn’t a clue as where to start. Something deep inside of him told him that he should start soon, though. If the next two predictions wind up coming true, then whatever what’s on this paper will be sure to follow.

Chapter 5

The band wrapped up sound check around three in the afternoon. They headed back to the hotel lounge for a late lunch before retreating to their rooms to rest before the show tonight.

They all sat in a big, leather booth in the hotel restaurant and perused the menu. Viv sat cautiously on one side, as not to put any pressure on his tailbone. Phil was slouched down in the booth, nervously peering about through a pair of sunglasses. Joe reached over and pulled them off.

“Phil, stop being so paranoid! She’s not here.”

“Yes, Philip, don’t worry,” Malvin reassured him. “Every entrance and exit has been checked and we’ve got the dining room all to ourselves so we can enjoy a nice quiet lunch.”

Rick Allen had just joined them as he walked over with his cell phone in his hand. He sat down heavily and let out a sigh.

“Someone explain to me how I let a five year old talk me into getting her a pet monkey?”

“You’re a sucker?” Sav offered.

“Look who’s talking?” Rick shot back. “All Tyler has to say is ‘da-da’ and your wallet jumps out of your pocket!”

Sav smirked. “You’re probably right!”

“Ha! All you blokes have to worry about is buying your kids fuzzy little toys and cute harmless pets,” Phil said. “I’ve got high school and university tuition to look forward to!”

“Not to mention that Rory will be 13 next month,” Joe added. “Time for the ‘ol sex talk soon, eh?”

“Soon? Already gave it to him for his twelfth birthday,” Phil replied. “I mean, c’mon! He is my son!”

Their banter was interrupted by the sound of a cell phone ringing. All six men reached for theirs simultaneously before Sav called out “mine”.

“Who wants to bet it’s the little woman?” Joe snickered. “Or one of his lads calling to coo in his ear.”

“Scott’s past cooing Joe, and Tyler can talk now,” Sav replied.

“Good, now I can teach him the fun words,” Joe mused.

Sav gave him a ‘don’t even think about it’ look before he clicked on his phone. “ello? Aye, luv.”

“Little woman,” Joe surmised.

Sav just rolled his eyes and continued talking. “What’s up. What is it? What do you mean you’ll tell me when I get home? Paige, I won’t be home for a while, tell me now. Huh? What? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, right?”

Sav dislodged himself from the booth and sought out a private corner to continue his tirade on the phone.

“Well, that’s a side you don’t see too often,” Phil said. “Wonder what’s up.”

“We’ll find out soon,” Viv said. “Here he comes.”

Sav walked back with a face full of anger and frustration and sat back down. He let his head drop back to rest against the back of the booth.”

“Are you gonna spill it, or do we have to get rough?” Joe asked.

Sav lifted his head and huffed. “Till the day I die I will bloody kick myself in my own arse for not marrying Dara in some Vegas chapel or something! Its been almost ten years since I married her and almost 7 since we separated and she’s still legally my wife, not to mention a major thorn in my side. My attorney just sent papers to my house that contained more bullshit from her attorney. Paige opened up the envelope while I was on the phone. I’m so sick of this! I just want this bloody divorce to be final. All I want to do is get this over and done with so Paige and I can get married, but Dara keeps pulling these stunts just to delay it because she knows its what I want. I don’t need this stress anymore! I just don’t.”

Malvin took a sip of ice water just as Sav said that, and his hand instantly shook. The psychic’s voice rang through his brain.

“One will receive news that will further delay something he’s been wanting to do for a long time. It will only add to the frustration and stress that he’s been feeling thus far over it.”

Malvin gingerly put the glass of water down as a chill went up his spine. Just then, the waiter came over to take their order. Joe put an arm around Sav.

“He’ll just have a big glass of vodka and a couple of Valium,” Joe jested.

Sav rolled his eyes towards the waiter. “Just give me a gun, it’ll be so much easier!”

“Don’t even think of it Sav,” Rick said. “We’re right in the middle of the tour.”

“You blokes do wonder for my self esteem – whatever’s left of it,” Sav groaned.

“Oh kill the self pity and order,” Phil said. “Lets see….I’ll have….”

“Excuse me,” Malvin said as he got up to leave.

As he climbed over Viv, he winced at the soreness in his backside. “Mal, where ya going?”

“I’ll….I’ll be right back,” he stammered and headed outside. He pulled the piece of paper containing the clues and studied it.

“Damn, damn, damn,” he muttered. “This is sheer lunacy! That old bat’s predictions can’t be coming true. That nonsense isn’t real. But……but what if…….oh, God what should I do? If there’s only one prediction left, then I’ve got to figure out this puzzle fast!”

Chapter 6

December 14, 2002

Four Days Later

San Francisco, CA

For the last four days, Malvin was on edge. Yet, at the same time he was still feeling silly. And a bit relieved, so far.

That psychic specifically said that each bandmember would encounter something within two days of the reading. So far, four of them came true within that time period, all except for one. The last bandmember to to affected by it was Joe. Malvin remembered the last prediction being about a major decision being made after a lot of soul searching. Since Sav received that frustrating phone call four days ago, everything seemed to be quieting down.

Malvin watched Joe like a hawk – even engaged in conversation with him a little more than normal to see if he’d say something that resembled the final prediction. But he didn’t. Malvin felt that, as long as that didn’t happen, then he didn’t have to worry about being under the gun to solve that puzzle.

In truth, he kinda forgot about it. It had been so hectic since they left Phoenix. They had a show in LA the following night, then in Sacramento two nights later and now they just finished up their San Francisco show and was heading to Salt Lake City for a show on the 16^th.

Rather than endure an exhausive 16 hour bus ride to Utah with the crew, the band, along with Ricky Warwick, headed for the airport.

The arrived at their gate at almost midnight, waiting to be called. Malvin put his overnight bag down and walked over to the floor to ceiling window as he watched the ground crew below give a once over maintenance check to the plane underneath a sea of floodlights.

Malvin then looked up at the sky towards the full bright moon. So many times he had taken in the sight of a full moon, but none had even made the hair stand up on the back of his neck. It was interrupted by the sound of their flight being called.

“Flight 279 now boarding for Salt Lake City,” came the announcer over the speaker.

Malvin backed away from the window and watched everyone begin to rise and grab their carry-ons. It only took a moment before what he just heard sunk in.

“Flight 279? 2-7-9!”

Malvin fumbled for his dayplanner inside his carry-on for that piece of paper. Sure enough, there were the numbers the psychic predicted – 2-7-9. He then looked at that drawing – the circle with the spokes going through it that looked like a bicycle wheel. What….what?

He then looked up and saw everyone begin to board and something inside of him took over.

“No! Wait! Don’t!”

Joe stopped first and looked back. “Don’t what?”

It was Rick who noticed the chalk white complexion on Malvin’s face. “He doesn’t look so good.”

“He was acting a bit strange after we left Vegas,” Sav said. “But after Phoenix, he was acting normal again.”

“Yeah, well he doesn’t look normal now,” Viv said.

Phil dropped his bag and went over to him. “Mal, whats wrong? You okay.”

Malvin just looked down at the drawing, then back out the window, then back down. Phil was perplexed.

“Mal, what? Tell me?”

Malvin looked up and saw Joe shrug and continue on to board. Malvin went after him.

“No, wait! Joseph, don’t!”

Joe turned and walked back out, his eyes scanning the looks on everyone’s faces at the scene Malvin was causing.

“What in bleedin’ hell is wrong?”

Malvin didn’t know if he should share the truth with them. What would they think? They’d think him a loon, that’s for certain! But they wouldn’t think that if they knew what was predicted had come true. But, what about the last prediction? It was out of sequence.

Malvin was confused as the rest of the band, along with Ricky, stared at him waiting for an answer.

“I…I…..look, I can’t say why right now. Just don’t get on that plane.”

Malvin looked at the perplexed faces that stared at him. Phil’s eyes twinkled a bit. “What, is there some terrorist on board or something?”

“This isn’t funny Philip!” Malvin shot back harshly. “Something is dreadfully wrong!”

Malvin then saw a few other begin begin to board the small, charter plane. Malvin left the guys in the dust and ran over to the attendant behind the desk.

“Please…please listen to me. I….I think there may be something wrong with the plane.”

The few people who were about to board overheard Malvin and retreated back. One man went up to him.

“What’s wrong with the plane?”

“I….I’m not sure,” Malvin, stammered looking for something believable to say. “I….I can hear the engine from the tunnel. It….it doesn’t sound right. It…..it……dear God!”

Malvin darted back to the window, as everyone, included his five, bewildered employers, watched him with open-mouthed disbelief.

Malvin looked at the plane as if faced the window. He then noticed the two twin engines. Each cylinder shaped engine had a round, front opening with a grate covering that resembled…….the spokes of a bicycle wheel!

Malvin’s heart raced as he sprinted back to the woman behind the desk.

“It’s the engine! Please, you must believe me! Something is wrong with the engine!”

Chapter 7

The woman behind the desk was aghast as she tried to calm Malvin down. “Sir, please, you’re causing a disruption. There’s nothing wrong with the engines, I assure you. If there was, the crew would pick it up. Now please, there’s nothing to fear. We have to board everyone now, else your arrival time will be…..”

“I don’t care if I’m causing a bloody disruption!” Malvin half-shouted. “I’m telling you, missie, that there is something wrong. And since just about everyone here has heard me, I don’t think anyone’s gonna be boarding.”

The woman then picked up a phone to call into the pilot to explain the delay. Joe went over to Malvin and spun him around. “Are you out of your mind? This isn’t like you Mal. We’ve must’ve flown 1,000+ flights in our career and you’ve never freaked out like this.”

“Joseph, please, I can’t explain, but you must believe me,” he said with anguish in his face. The look gave Joe a chill up his spine that almost made him believe Malvin.

The rest of the band rallied around Malvin as the pilot walked in from the tunnel over to the group. “What seems to be the problem here gentlemen?”

All the guys looked towards Malvin as they awaited an answer. There was no way Malvin could tell them that a psychic predicted this. They’d have him hauled off in a strait jacket for sure. Malvin had to think and think fast.

“Sir, please listen to me,” Malvin pleaded with the pilot. “I…I’ve been standing here listening to the engines through the tunnel. Something sounds wrong. Dreadfully wrong.”

The pilot crossed his arms in a condescending manner. “Now sir, please listen to me. If there was a problem that was audible, out crew would’ve picked it up. Now, seeing that they’re more experienced than you are in this,……”

“Don’t you dare patronize me, Captain Jerk-off,” Malvin seethed. “I’ve probably flown more times than you have. I’ve heard dozens of plane engines in my day. My ears are very astute. I’m telling you, something may be wrong. Now, this can be easily solved if you just have the crew check….check….”

Malvin tried to remember the words on the drawing without having to take it out. “inside, left, square, black”

“……check the left engine……inside. That’s the engine that’s facing the entrance to the tunnel. I think everyone here would rather be late than crash.”

Malvin said that loud enough to earn him a collective gasp from his fellow passengers. The stern look on his face, not to mention his age and maturity, caused the pilot to recant.

“Okay, okay,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “You win sir.”

“Don’t act like you’re pacifiying me like a babe on the teat!” Malvin shot back. “This isn’t a matter of winning or losing. More like living or dying.”

The pilot turned on his heel and exited back through the tunnel. Malvin went to the window as he watched the plane shut its engines down so the crew could go in and do a once over.

The band watched Malvin very cautiously. Never before had they seen him like this. They didn’t know whether he was just overtired, or truly onto something.

About 45 minutes passed and all the would-be passengers fidgeted and huffed waiting for confirmation that everything was a go. Viv and Sav went off to call their kids, Phil placed a call to Anita and Rick sat on the floor with his legs crossed, eyes closed and did some calming, deep breathing exercises. Ricky Warwick stood by the window with Malvin, as Joe sat in deep reflection. All he could see was that look on Malvin’s face.

Suddenly, the telephone at the desk rang and the woman behind it answered it. All watched her face slowly change, her eyes widen and her hand cover her mouth. Joe was the first to shoot out of his chair and go over to her as she hung up.

“What? What is it?” he begged.

The woman ignored him as she took the intercom into her hand and spoke into it. “Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention. Unfortunately, due to…….technical difficulties…Flight 279 to Salt Lake City is cancelled. We are going to see what other flights are taking off at this time to see if you can be re-routed to your destination. Again, I apologize for the inconvenience.”

As she hung up the intercome, Joe practically lunged over the desk. “Technical difficulties my left nut! What was it? What did they find?”

Malvin came over and joined Joe at the desk as they awaited an answer.

“Sir, that information is confidential and I…….”

“I think we have every right to know what was wrong, missie,” Malvin said. “Now, tell me. Was I correct?”

The woman’s eyes scanned around as she kept her voice low. “Um, yes sir. You were. One of the tech’s found a large, square black rock with very sharp edges inside the engine. It must’ve been on the runway and got kicked up into the engine during landing. The velocity at which it lodged into the engine caused the sharp edges to sever some wires. It could’ve been very dangerous.”

All Malvin heard were the words square, black – which described the rock. He felt the blood drain from his face and close to fainting right now.

Joe paled as his hands gripped the desk. “Bloody frigging hell! Mal, you….you were right. Jesus Christ, we could’ve……..we all could’ve…..”

Just then, Malvin looked at the clock and saw that it was almost one in the morning. As he did, he felt a great wave of relief sweep through him. He couldn’t pinpoint the feeling but it was so strong that his knees almost buckled. But not as strong as the realization of something greater.

He just possibly saved the life of every person waiting for this flight.

No, make that the psychic saved them!

Chapter 8

Just about everyone had been re-routed to other flights to get them to Salt Lake City Utah. They would be late, but they’d be alive.

The guys were still a bit shaken over their possible demise and were eerily silent as they awaited their new flight arrangements

Malvin kept quiet the entire time, the harsh, eerie reality of everything that came to pass still causing him to stagger. However, the failure of the fifth and final prediction not coming true seemed to puzzle him. Since it didn’t seem like it was anything fatal, he passed it off. Malvin decided that, once they finished the Denver show on the 17^th, he’d make a quick trip back to Vegas before heading to Sioux Falls for the show on the 19^th. There was something he just had to do.

As the band got their new flight arrangements, all except for Sav and Ricky were a little skittish about getting on the plane.

“Uh, I hope you guys don’t mind, but I think I’d rather take the bus,” Sav announced. “Mal, could you check the arena to see if they’re still there packing up?”

“Yeah, me too,” Ricky Warwick said. “I think I rather endure the 16 hour ride right now.”

Malvin just nodded and dialed the head crewman on his cell phone. As he did, Phil went over to Sav.

“Whats the matter – get creeped out?”

“Just a bit,” Sav said a little shakily. “Phil, do you realize how close I came to never seeing my kids again? Paige? My brothers? My mum? God, who’d take care of everyone…?”

“I know, I was thinking the same thing,” Phil confessed. “It’ll pass though.”

“Yeah, well I think I’d rather be traveling on pavement instead of air right now,” Sav said.

Malvin hung up. “Well, you’re in luck, you two. They’re just taking off now. They’ll swing by here and pick you up. See you in a few.”

As Sav and Ricky grabbed their bags to exit the airport, everyone else boarded for to Salt Lake City. On the plane ride over, Phil slept fitfully, Rick listened to some soothing music on a portable CD player, Viv read a magazine and Malvin, exhausted from all that transpired, finally fell into an uneventful sleep.

But Joe didn’t do any of the above. On the entire ride over, he sat sideways in his seat, his long legs stretched across the seat next to him. His elbow was propped on the arm rest as his head was cradled in his hand. Thoughts, feelings and emotions that he never knew existed bubbled up inside him and came to the surface. Each and every one that arose, he gave careful attention to. It was as if he reflected on his entire life since he joined the band. All the ups and downs, good times and bad, euphoric celebrations and frustrating shouting matches played in his mind. Marriages, divorces, births and deaths, breaking up and making up – they’ve been through it all. And they survived it. Joe thought he could survive anything.

Up until now.

If Malvin’s astute ear and stubborn streak hadn’t convinced that pilot to have the engine checked, his life could very well have been over. Things that he had avoided or put off altogether would never have a second chance to be considered because he wouldn’t be here to do so. He never felt so vulnerable in his life. He thought long and hard about what he would want left behind, should he suddenly leave this earth. How would he be remembered? Would he be remembered? As an only child, his parents would have no one left.

It wasn’t long before Joe pulled out his cell phone and placed a call.

Chapter 9

Post-Show

Salt Lake City, UT

December 16, 2002

The band finished up their showers before heading to a small, private room to get something to eat and meet with fans and press before boarding the bus to their next show in Denver on the 17^th.

Joe was the first one out and immediately scanned the hospitality room until his eyes fell upon the person he had placed that heartfelt telephone call to two nights ago. What surged through him at the moment was unquestionable certainty. He hadn’t had that feeling in a long time in this area of his life and the fact that it wasn’t present at all told him that the decision he made before he placed that phone call was the right one.

He took a deep breath and approached the person before he led themselves out of the room for a bit.

It was about a half hour later when Malvin began to look around. “Where’s Joseph?”

Rick took a swig of Poland Spring bottled water before whipping his head around to look himself. “Hmm, not sure. I haven’t seem him since he flew out of the showers to get dressed.”

“Looked like he was in a hurry,” Viv added. “Sort of had a man on a mission look about him.”

Malvin knew that Joe should be here performing his band responsibilites rather than being off somewhere, even though he knew exactly who he was with. Even though it was muffled, Malvin heard a great deal of the telephone conversation that Joe had on the plane ride over after the near-disastrous turn of events. He had been quiet since he ended the call and disappeared for a while by himself after sound check this afternoon. He was acting both skittish and mysterious. No doubt the episode at the airport still had him shaken.

It had Malvin still shaken as well. When he had informed the band that he had to make an emergency stop off in Vegas on the 18^th before rejoining them in Sioux Falls on the 19^th, they were quite inquisitive. Malvin couldn’t very well tell them the truth. He only told them that there was an elderly friend that he made there that night that he had to visit. Something strange had come over him after the technical crew discovered that rock in the engine. It was a cross between a feeling of relief and….closure. But Malvin was also overcome with gratitude and had to find that old gypsy and tell her all that happened.

Malvin checked his watched and called out. “Ten minutes!” That’s all the time the band had left before they had to wrap up and board. “Where they hell is Joseph?” he thought to himself.

Not long after the fans and media disbursed from the room, Joe then entered it. The band and Malvin looked up to see him walk in, his right hand firmly clasped in Bobbi’s left one. Malvin folded his arms and gave him a look of admonishment.

“Well? Where’ve you been, except…not here?”

Joe smiled a gorgeous, sexy smile but it didn’t match the look of sheer, beaming joy on Bobbi’s face. “Don’t worry, Mal. I didn’t ditch the fans. I met up with several outside and chatted and gave autographs. There was just something um……more important I had to do first.”

His bandmates and longtime tour managers all said in unison. “Yeah?”

Joe looked down at Bobbi who flashed a diamond the size of a skating rink on her left hand.

“I finally asked Bobbi to marry me!”

Six pairs of eyes totally popped. Sav was the first one to comment with mirth and a twinkling smile.

“Guess that fiasco at the airport scared you more than we thought!”

Joe gave him a look. “Is that any way to congratulate me?”

Phil walked over and extended his hand to his friend. “Gotta say mate, that this is quite a shocker. But, I will say this. The fact that you asked this lovely lady, who’s put up with you for almost 7 years, to put up with you legally till the day you die, well, then I know that there wasn’t a doubt in your mind. Congratulations!”

Phil hugged Joe tight before hugging Bobbi and kissing her on the cheek. Everyone else followed suit, both surprised and overjoyed by their lead singer’s decision to do something he long vowed never to do. A decision that caused Malvin to take Joe aside a moment.

“Joseph, I must admit that I didn’t quite expect this.”

“Nor did I Mal,” Joe replied. “But….knowing that the other night we all could’ve….well, it just made me realize how short life can be. I’ve been with Bobbi for a long time and she’s stood behind me through the good times as well as the crazy ones. She’s never waivered. I’m not gonna live with the fear of taking a risk with my heart again. At least I’m alive to take that risk. That scare the other night caused me to do a lot of soul searching. I know that this is a drastic change in my life, but its for the good. I know it. I’m forty three years old and, well……I…I think that maybe a um……little Elliott may not be such a bad idea. Whether naturally or adopted, I don’t care. There’s one thing that all you guys have that I don’t and that’s a legacy you’re leaving behind – through your children. Something I don’t have. If I had died the other night, what would be left behind of me?

Malvin listened to Joe deliver one of the most sincerest speeches he every heard him give. But it didn’t stop him for hearing that gypsey’s voice in his head…

“And, finally, one will do some heavy soul searching and make a drastic change in his life.”

The fifth prediction had come true, albiet out of order. Whatever the case, it caused Joe to reach deep inside and over come something that had been holding him hostage since his bitter divorce from Karla. Somehow, that near-fatal night freed him from it. Malvin couldn’t understand it, but he had never seen such a light of boyish youthfulness in Joe’s face. It was almost as if he were a changed man.

So was Malvin. It made his visit to Vegas all the more imperative.

Chapter 10

December 18, 2002

Las Vegas, Nevada

As soon as the taxi pulled up in front of the requested destination, Malvin opened the backdoor, paid the driver then stepped onto the sidewalk. He stared at the tiny, storefront business before taking a deep breath and going inside.

The jingling of the bells above the door announced his entrance, though no one was about. Just like the night he showed up here back on the 8^th, only it was daytime now. But the sun streaming through the window did nothing to lighten the dark, mysterious interior of the heavily paneled room. Malvin peeked about before calling out.

“Hello? Is anyone here?”

From a narrow alcove that was shrouded in strings of beads, he saw a pair of feminine hands part them from the other side before crossing through them. Expecting the old gypsy, Malvin gasped a bit at the sight of an utterly beautiful young woman with jet black hair, large dark eyes and full burgendy lips. Her long, dark hair was fashioned into a low ponytail, held together by a multicolored scarf. Delicate gold earrings dangled from her ears and her petite, slim body was swathed in burgendy and gold silk.

“May I help you sir”

Malvin got his bearings. “Well, yes, hopefully. Actually, I’m looking for someone else who works here. I uh…..came here ten days ago – on the 8th, actually I came around midnight, and she….um…..well, I…I have to speak to her. I must speak to her. She’s a much older woman.

The young woman bowed her head a bit. “That would be my grandmother. I’m sorry sir, but she passed away recently.”

Malvin’s eyes widened as his mouth dropped. “She…she did? Oh, lass…..I am so sorry. Truly, I am. Um….how recently?”

“Three nights ago, on the 15^th ” she replied.

Malvin squinted in remembrance. “Three nights ago. The 15^th. The show was on the 14^th, but the fiasco at the airport happened well after midnight, which would make it the 15^th!” he thought to himself.

“Oh, well, I didn’t realize it was so soon. Again, please accept my sympathies.”

The young woman raised an eyebrow at Malvin. “Did my grandmother give you a reading the night you were here?”

“Yes, she did. And…..that’s what I wanted to talk to her about.”

“Did what she tell you come true?”

Malvin slowly nodded. “Yes. Much to my disbelief, it did. She predicted 6 separate incidences, one each for the five men whom I’m employed by and one………one that………”

The yong woman moved closer. “Yes?”

Malvin searched for the appropriate words. “Well, the sixth one wasn’t exactly a prediction. They were more like clues. A warning, more like it. She was very frightened at the time and I had no reason why. At first, I brushed it off, just thinking that this is nothing but a hoax. But, when all the predictions for my employers came true, then I knew I couldn’t just ignore her warning. The purpose of my visit here was to thank her. I was able to figure out her clues just in time. It saved our lives.”

The young woman’s face paled a bit. “Did….did you say you were here on the 8^th? And….and that my grandmother was frightened when she gave you that warning?”

“Yes….to both. Why?”

The young woman paced around the room a bit. “It was after that that my grandmother became ill. Not so much physically, but more because of…..worry? All she did was walk around in a daze and mumbling “they’re all gonna die”. Her fretting seemed to have increased on the 14^th, especially at night. She had worked herself up into such a frenzy that she passed out. We had her rushed to the hospital immediately. She came to a little after midnight and just spent the next hour twisting her head back and forth, mumbling “hurry, hurry”. Then, just before one in the morning, a calming effect came over her – actually, it looked like relief. She looked at me and said, “its okay now, they’re safe” then took a deep breath, which would be her last.”

Malvin’s legs felt like they were gonna give out under him. He immediately remembered the night at the airport after they found the rock in the engine. He remembered looking at the clock and seeing that it was a little before one in the morning and a feeling of relief and sadness swept over him. That must’ve been when the old gypsy died.

He couldn’t believe all that he was hearing. Even after everything he refused to believe came true, this was just too much. But he had no choice than to accept it for what it was. And consider himself fortunate that he was alive. He walked over to the young woman and took her hand.

“I believe that it was the predictions your grandmother gave me that caused her to worry. I’m sorry that she took it so far that it cost her her life. All the more I am truly grateful for she possibly saved the lives of many people that night.”

The young woman looked at Malvin with large, tear filled eyes. “Then her death wasn’t in vain. Her work was done here.”

Malvin nodded, then handed the young woman a few bills for her troubles and left to take the taxi to the airport to catch the next flight to Sioux Falls.

When he got in the taxi, he told the driver his destination and he took off, but not before looking in the rearview mirror at Malvin.

“Don’t tell me you believe in that stuff?”

Malvin looked up. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to pry, its just that you came out from that psychic shop. I don’t care what anyone says, that crap is nothing but a waste of money and a bunch of nonsense!”

Malvin glanced down and smirked. “Don’t be so sure,” he thought to himself.