Searching for Apollo

By Jerald Ramsey

Bandon Summers, the hero of the fourth Key, returns with a new adventure that will keep your eyes glued to the pages. Along the way you'll meet many memorable characers. Searching for Apollo is a tale of many things: Mystery. Suspense. Intrigue. Fantasy. History. It's a love story. And oh, the chocolate!

Take the journey, and follow Brandon around the globe as e portrays the Greek god, Apollo, in movies and personal appearances.

And what of the ancient oracle with the prophecy?

Will this trip to Greece signal the end of his movie career?

Or is it a new begining?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493162468

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The men whose job it was to take down the exhibit entered the room of the museum. It had been a successful show of an unusual young actor who had made several action movies as the Greek god Apollo.

The men looked around the empty room.

Where is everything? the supervisor asked. No one else could have taken it down as it was still showing last night.

The room was completely empty. There wasn’t a poster or a painting which had made the exhibit so interesting anywhere. They looked around and finally noticed an unlocked door.

Someone has stolen everything, and Roger Tenneman, the man who had originally set up the show, is on his way here, the supervisor said sadly.

They had the museum security team look through the camera activity. They saw people coming in and taking things and they were all dressed as mimes. Somehow, the alarm had been cut.

Once Roger Tenneman arrived, he was badly shaken.

I’ve never had this happen before and I’ve done exhibits far more valuable that this one. I can’t imagine what I am going to say to all the people who donated things that were dear to them. The boy who starred in the movies is going to be terribly upset as I used almost everything he had.

CHAPTER ONE

Jennifer Summers, the wife of the movie star whose items were stolen, answered the phone when Roger called her.

She was shocked.

He used to have all his things in a special room which he called the Apollo room. He used to love to go there and be by himself. He has felt his movie career has been his greatest achievement, so he is going to be devastated.

He told me about the Apollo room, Roger told her. I doubt that he even has enough items left to make another one now. The insurance will pay for everything including that expensive painting he had, but I know money won’t replace his memories.

Her husband, Brandon Summers, was working his normal job at the Thunder and Rain Chocolates and Unique Gifts store at the time Roger called his house. He was part owner of the store with his partner, Chad Simmons, and a couple of their employees, Jirka and Fred, who had bought into the company.

A customer came in and said how sorry she was for his loss. Bran didn’t know what she was talking about but made an appropriate remark back to her. Pretty soon, one of his best employees, Alex, came out to relieve him.

Chad needs to see you back in his office, Alex said. Bran noticed Alex looked upset. He couldn’t figure out anything that he did to upset Chad.

Once he was back in the office, Chad motioned for him to sit down.

I have some real bad news, Bran. Some people broke into the museum where your show closed last night and stole everything. So far no one has any leads. The crooks all dressed as mimes, so there won’t be anything easy about identifying them.

Bran couldn’t believe his ears.

Why would they steal my stuff? Some of the paintings were worth a lot of money, but most of the items were pretty inexpensive though in my case, some things are irreplaceable.

It’s a real bad thing to happen. Call Jennifer before you go back out as she has been worried about how you are going to take this.

He called Jennifer and told her he was all right, but in truth, he was in shock. He would be glad when the day was over. He figured that he wasn’t going to be at his friendliest the rest of the day.

When another one of his good employees, Aaron, heard about what happened, he tried to console Bran.

Maybe you’ll be able to find a lot of things that you can replace, Aaron said hopefully. I’ll look for things on the computer tonight.

By the end of the day, Bran almost felt that they had stolen his whole movie career. He knew he had to gain his composure as his three children would be waiting on him when he got home. They had just moved his two older infants into their own room and own beds, and his new baby, whom they had named Apollo, was now sleeping in the crib in Jennifer’s room.

Jennifer had problems having the first two children and Bran was afraid for her to have another one, but she had no problems this time and the baby seemed to have Bran’s special blond hair. He hoped it would stay that way. Jennifer wouldn’t be able to have any more children, but they had already decided that this one would be the last one they would have.

Once he got home, his two older children, Alexander and Licia, demanded his attention. He was able to give them quite a bit of his time before he noticed his dog, Sylvie, at the door wanting to go out so he got the leash and took her for a walk. It was nearing Christmas and Bran started worrying about the Christmas party they usually had up at his new building. They usually invited anyone who lived around the lake to come as well as all the relatives.

Bran and his partner, Chad, had bought a house on Lake Choctaw which was a gated community around a lake. They later bought a cottage, and then Bran had the mansion house built. Just recently, his sister-in-law, Karen, and her new husband, Mac, and her two girls from a former marriage who had all been living in the mansion house moved into a one- story home next door. Karen’s son, Dan, wanted to stay with Bran as he enjoyed his room and felt like Bran and Chad were more like fathers to him than his real dad had been. Sylvie was actually Dan’s dog, but she decided she liked for Bran to care for her as well.

It was time for dinner when he went inside and there was a high chair for Alexander, his first child, next to his. He knew Alexander would make a mess of everything, but also knew that someday, he would be taught manners. With Karen and Mac and the two girls and Jennifer’s other sister, Lilly, and her new husband and three children, there wasn’t room for everyone at the table. Jennifer’s mother, Laura, and her Aunt June also lived in the house. Bran had hired a lady to serve as housekeeper and cook to keep June from having to work too hard, and she had become like a member of the family as well.

They were almost through dinner before anyone had nerve to mention about Bran’s loss.

You’ve got a reputation for solving mysteries, Mac told him. Maybe you can find who stole your things.

It was in a city I’ve never been to in a museum I’ve never visited. Unless I really was, Apollo I would never even know who might be involved, Bran said sadly. The man who organized the exhibit didn’t even arrive in town before they found everything had been stolen. I wouldn’t suspect him anyway.

Chuck was Lilly’s new husband. He worked with Mac on construction. Mac had first introduced his boss to Lilly but it didn’t work out, but she and Chuck hit it off immediately. It was a relief to Bran as he wouldn’t have to help keep supporting her and the children as her ex-husband hadn’t yet got back on his feet and was behind in his payments for the children.

You won’t have to work so hard on the Christmas party this year as Mac and I are going to do most of the setting up of things, Chuck told Bran.

In a way, Bran was glad to get out of all that work but in another way, it was as though Chuck and Mac had usurped control of it from him. Mac and Chuck invited all their relation this year which mean a lot more people than usual. A derelict property next to where Mac had built his house became vacant, so Bran had bought the property and had the house torn down. He had put in a drive which would be near his new building that would be used for parking. He only hoped it wasn’t muddy or wet when the event took place that weekend. Bran knew he would still have to do a lot of work because the mansion house as well as Mac’s, Chad’s, and the cottage would be open for people as well.

Are you thinking of building a new boathouse on the new property since that is allowed? Mac asked. I think I would like to have a boat.

Yes, that is a must with all the properties we have, Bran answered. He wondered where Mac was thinking of getting the money to buy a boat as he hadn’t made the first payment on his property yet.

Finally, dinner was over and after Bran saw to the kids and walked Sylvie, he met Jennifer in the bedroom. He picked up Apollo and held him.

I have big plans for this boy, Bran said. I hope he will want to be an actor like me. Right now, he is the size that looks good for his going into gymnastics when he gets older.

You have dreams for all three of the kids, Jennifer said. You know that they’re going to do their own thing. The way you teach them, you will open up the whole world for them to choose what they want to be.

Alexander and Licia are not happy being in their own room, Bran said sadly. Maybe we kept them with us too long.

I’m sure we spoiled Alexander that way, Jennifer said. Maybe we should have waited a while longer for Licia.

After that they went to bed, and in the middle of the night, Bran woke to find Alexander beside him. When he went to the bathroom and came back, he found Licia sleeping on the floor. She probably had not been able to get up the steps they had put next to his bed. He lifted her and laid her beside him. He wouldn’t sleep well the rest of the night worrying that he might roll on them, but it felt good to have them there.

**

It was the next day at work that Chad found an envelope in the mail with no return address for Brandon Summers. He and Bran did not get personal mail at work, so he opened it. Once he read the contents, he called the police.

Bran was working the counter and was surprised when Randy, the policeman who had worked with them on a couple other problems, came in and asked if he could go back to Chad’s office.

Here we go again, Ellen, one of his longtime employees and Chad’s mother-in-law, said.

It was only a few minutes before Aaron came out from the back to relieve Bran.

Something is up, he said. They want you back in Chad’s office.

When Bran went into the office the policeman showed him the letter.

Brandon Summers, if you want your things back, you will be receiving instructions on how to get them. You need to have one million dollars ready in unmarked bills for us. Otherwise all the paintings and posters and other artifacts will go up in smoke. We will be calling your business later with further instructions.

Whoever this is must be nuts, Bran said. My things aren’t even worth ten thousand dollars. I don’t own the good paintings, and I don’t want to bankrupt myself paying this money. I have my family to take care of and my movie career has been pretty thin lately.

You won’t be paying the money, Bran, Randy said. We’ll have to wait to hear what the telephone message says before we know what our next step will be.

Bran went back out to his post hoping he could keep his mind off the note. It was nearing Christmas and not only the chocolates were selling, but people were clearing the shelves of gifts before Josie, another long time employee, could restock them. She had to bring Aaron out to help. Aaron and Josie loved the gift section and had begun to help Bran with picking out and ordering things. He sometimes began to wonder if he was becoming obsolete, but this was his and Chad’s store, and it only seemed to run well when at least one of them was there.

Fortunately, Bran was able to ride home with Chad that night and Bran talked his friend’s ear off about the note.

You are going to have to quit worrying about it. You can’t pay them that much money, and there would be no guarantee you would get the stuff back if you did. Can you think of anyone who hates you enough to do something like this? Chad asked.

No, only Madge, Bran laughed.

Madge had been the lover of Chad’s wife, Fran, until she started seeing younger women. Chad and Bran had helped Madge out of so many jams, but she still hated them for some reason. They were glad when she ran off, and neither one of them would allow her to return after she asked.

**

Over at the Gay Donut Shoppe, Lonnie and Devin were talking about Bran’s loss.

He’s such a nice guy. I don’t know why he has all these problems, Devin said.

He has money, Lonnie said. There are always creeps out for other peoples’ money. I used to be one myself.

Lonnie was a straight guy and Devin was gay, but their paths crossed and they became lovers. Devin really was upset when he thought Lonnie had found a girl, but then that didn’t work out as she couldn’t accept Lonnie’s past. After a while, Devin found that Lonnie really thought of him as a son, and he didn’t want to go out and do things at night like Devin did. He also wasn’t giving Devin much sex, so Devin found Scott. In turn, Lonnie found a girl and was now expecting his first baby. Fortunately, they remained friends as the donut shop was what they had started together along with the twins, Trent and Claudia. Lonnie didn’t really like Scott and Devin didn’t like April, Lonnie’s wife.

Their business had become so successful that they opened another shop near Thunder and Rain Chocolates. Bran, who had helped them financially to start their business, was now a silent partner on the new shop. They made their own sandwiches and served soup in the new location as well as having donuts and tea and coffee. They had hired Bran’s sister-in-law, Lilly, to work part time at the new shop. At the time she put in her application, they had no idea she was connected with Bran.

Even though they were no longer lovers, Lonnie missed having Devin beside him in bed at night. April was used to sleeping alone and only came to Lonnie’s bed when she wanted to have fun. He wondered if Devin missed him at all now that he had Scott, but he had an idea that he did.

**

The message came the next day. Randy had put the phone on a recording device. He asked Chad that when they called to try to keep them on the phone as long as possible. At first, the person refused to talk with Chad, but he told them Bran was not available and that Bran did not own very many of the things that they had stolen and wasn’t interested in paying the money. They would have to contact the other people who owned the paintings if they hoped to get any blackmail money. The person finally in frustration shut off his or her phone. Chad figured that they would hear from the person again with an offer for less money.

We’re dealing with amateurs here, Randy told him after he listened to the tape. First of all, they dressed as mimes, and that was how a robbery was committed on a television show not long ago, and the person on the phone stayed on long enough for us to pinpoint where she was. We had already contacted the police there before the conversation was over, but unfortunately, it was a public telephone in a bus station and the place was empty when the police arrived as a bus had just left not long before then. It definitely sounded like the caller was a woman, but it appears there was an attempt to disguise the voice.

Aaron found copies of some of the posters Bran lost on an internet auction site last evening, so Bran can recoup a few things he lost if it comes to that. Do you really think they will burn the items, Chad asked the policeman.

It’s possible, but they’re desperate for money and may need to send proof that they still have the items before anyone will pay them anything, Randy replied.

**

That evening, Bran called John and Bobby in California and told them about the theft. They had already heard about it and were concerned.

John Funder, who starred as Johnny Thunder in three movies and used that name for his chocolate shop in California, was the first person Bran loved. But John’s ex-lover, Bobby Rain, wanted him back, and Bran had to let him go. By the time Bobby got to Ohio to take John back home, Bran had been beaten and left for dead, and once he awoke from his coma, he became the lover of Chad. John and Bobby were the owners of the original Thunder and Rain Fine Chocolates and Unique Gifts in California and Bran and Chad opened their own shop as a branch. Now, John and Bobby treated Bran as their son even though he was now married with three children.

All the people who have paintings are concerned. It makes me sick to think of some of those being burned as they were masterpieces, John said.

When they called today, Chad told them they would have to contact some of the other people since I didn’t own a large dollar amount of their heist. I don’t want them to burn the things, though. A lot of those artifacts that I loaned for the exhibit were one of a kind, but I can’t bankrupt myself paying that kind of money, Bran told him.

You might not get them back even if you paid. How would they get them to you as they are several hundred miles away? John replied.

I am being considered for a small movie role coming up in May so I may see you then. I feel a little depressed that my time being a movie star is past, but how many Apollo movies can they make? Bran told them.

A lot of people are considering you for roles, so don’t get discouraged. You’ll probably never get a role that fits you as well as Apollo, though, John answered.

When Bran disconnected the phone, Alexander and Licia were there waiting for him. Bran spent some time playing with his son and daughter and all the while was worrying about the Christmas party at the lake in two days. It had been the last day of school before the holiday break, and Bran noticed that Dan’s friend, Morgan, was in the house. He would probably be there for the whole holiday as his family did not celebrate Christmas. Bran would most likely have Sylvie on his bed tonight as Dan’s room would probably be too noisy for her. He wondered if the kids would stay in their own beds tonight or if he would find them in his later on in the night.

**

Roger Tenneman looked over the tape showing the heist.

Have you noticed an odd thing? he told the security man. It looks like they are mostly, if not all, women.

If they are all women, they are all matronly as well, the security guy answered. Brandon Summers is a sex symbol and maybe that is why they stole his things.

It could be that they resent his being a man and a sex symbol, Roger replied.

Let’s send a copy of this to Brandon and let him look at it. We won’t mention anything about it being women and see if he feels the same way, the security guy said.

Brandon has been known to solve a few mysteries, so sending him a copy may possibly be a good idea, Roger added.

**

The Christmas party at the lake took place before Bran received the DVD of the heist. He had taken the day off work to attend to the party. He had figured his job of greeting all the guests would be limited this year as Mac and Chuck were supposedly taking that over, but instead they sat with their relatives most of the time.

Bran noticed Viv and Oliver were there. The two kids had stayed at their house for a while when their mother, who was staying with Madge, ran off and left them. Bran hoped the grandmother would be there as he would like to talk with her.

It was after he went and got Alexander and took him up to the new building that he ran into the grandmother.

You really made the kids change, she said to Bran. They always want to be clean and they study. Even Oliver is happy now that you made him wash and study.

I’m happy to hear that? Bran said. What about their parents? Is the mother still in jail?

Believe it or not, Flame was released and she took off. Nobody knows where she is and she has never even tried to contact her children. My son had to go to a nursing home for his wounds and he is really enjoying all the attention. I think I’ll be raising the kids till they get out of school.

That is just unbelievable, Bran said. I would never want to strand my own kids.

"Viv wrote that article about staying at your house like you told her to do, and she not only got an A, but won state recognition for it. I should have brought a copy for you and the rest of your household to read," the grandmother told him.

Later, Bran saw Toby, who was Lilly’s only son and in the middle of her three children. Toby wanted to follow Dan and Billy around, but he was five years younger and they rather thought of him as a pest. He had met some kids his own age and seemed to having a good time.

Alexander enjoyed seeing all the people, but it started wearing him down so Bran took him back to the house.

Licia wants to go see everyone as well, Jennifer said. I never would let you take Alexander when he was that age, but I think she feels she has to be able to do anything that Alexander does, Jennifer told him.

Bran decided Licia was more outgoing than Alexander as she really ate up the attention the visitors gave her. He ran into the cop, Randy, who had decided to come on his own since his wife and he only lived in the same house, but did nothing together.

That Jimmie is driving me crazy, Randy said. I can’t get him to give me the time of day.

You need to get Jimmie out of your mind as he can’t seem to get settled down to just one person. I need to go to the boathouse and see who is with him today, Bran said.

Jimmie along with Trent from the donut shop and Bran’s employee, Aaron, were all three targeted by a killer but all were lucky enough to escape. Jimmie was just twenty-one and had energy to kill. Bran felt he was one of the most good-looking and sexiest young men he had ever met.

It seemed the gay men like to congregate in the boathouse. His employee, Aaron, was there with Rex, Trent with Brett, Devin with Scott, and Jimmie with someone new. Bran didn’t know if anybody else was hanging around there or not. Unfortunately, he never made it down to find out for sure.

The only other employee who was able to attend was Ellen, who was Fran’s mother. The rest had to work to keep the shop running. Chad didn’t take off as he hated big affairs even though a lot of his relatives attended.

When Bran took Licia back, he noticed his one living uncle was there in his house. He greeted Bran and then went on talking. Bran realized he was talking about him and about how bad his parents had treated him. Bran made his excuse and left as soon as he could. He didn’t want to hear it again. His parents had made up with him before they died and that is how he wanted to remember them.

The Christmas party was a big success. Lilly and Karen had done the decorating this year and it was the prettiest it had ever been. Karen was only able to start doing things again as she had an operation that made her a semi-invalid for almost a year.

By the time it was all over, Bran was just as exhausted as ever and he had to go to work the next day. Mac and Chuck would do most of the cleanup in the next few days. Bran would pay them but he knew it would be worth it. The new caterer had worked out even better than Madge, and though Madge’s relatives were there, no one asked him about her.

**

The DVD came to Thunder and Rain on Monday. Chad was anxious for Bran to see it, but knew it should wait till he got home and could concentrate on it. He didn’t let Bran know about its coming until time to go home. They were in the car and ready to leave when Chad handed him the package.

There’ll be no swimming tonight, Bran said. I am really getting out of shape. I need to get back in the groove in case I am asked to do another movie. I can’t wait to see this, but I don’t expect there is any way it could help me find who took the things.

You don’t look any different, Bran. You still have a flat stomach and good abs. But you do need to get back into doing your swimming. You have to make time for it. I’m a good one to talk as I seldom get to the basement to exercise anymore, Chad told him.

Bran decided right there and then that he would swim tonight. Once he was home, he greeted the kids and took Sylvie for a short walk. Then he got his trunks and headed for the community pool in the recreation building. He found he didn’t tire easily and was glad for that. It was dinnertime when he got back to the house. They were having leftovers from the party, but it was good food. All the people from the other houses came over to have an easy meal.

Once dinner was over, he noted that Dan, Billy, and Morgan were heading upstairs. Toby was following at a distance. Bran felt sorry for the younger boy. Morgan would probably move in with them if they asked him. His parents were semi-illiterate and not clean. Dan and Billy gave some of their old clothes to Morgan and he brought them when he came to be washed. For some reason, everything his mother washed turned out the same faded color. Bran didn’t want Dan to have company all the time so he didn’t push it. Dan was in the top of his class at school and wanted to be an archaeologist when he graduated college. Mac wasn’t keen on that, but Bran was thrilled as Dan was interested in doing diggings in Greece and Turkey. Billy, who was Chad’s son and was more athletic than the other two boys, was second in the same class and Morgan was third. Bran doubted Morgan’s parents even cared that their son was doing so well.

**

It wasn’t till then that Bran went to the television in the library and started to watch the short DVD of the museum heist. When it was over he was in a state of shock.

He didn’t want to say what he was thinking until he let someone else view the video. He found the Chad and Fran were still there, and Billy came downstairs to get a snack. He asked if they would watch the video with him. June and Jennifer came in as well when they saw the shocked look on Bran’s face.

When she was watching the video, Fran gave out a cry, but it was June who yelled the loudest.

It’s Madge, she said. No one else walks that way.

Madge is getting back at you again, Chad said. After all you did for her, why would she do something like this.

Bran was in a state of shock all night. He couldn’t wait to call the number they had given him tomorrow. He figured it would be hard to trace Madge as she was living with someone else, but he thought he noticed another figure that he knew. He had only seen her a couple times, but she had an unusual figure and a strange gait. He thought it was Flame, the mother of Viv and Oliver. He wouldn’t be able to say that for sure, but he would mention it as a possibility.

CHAPTER TWO

Madge was in trouble with the group of women she had gathered to pull off the heist.

You said we would have the best Christmas ever, Flame complained. Now we won’t have enough to even buy some cheap wine.

Why didn’t you know that stuff didn’t belong to that guy? You used to live with him. I think you just used us to get back at him. It doesn’t sound to me that he ever did anything but treat you well anyway, Belle, the woman who gave Madge a job when she got out of jail, said.

Don’t give up on me yet, Madge told them. We’ll just go back and ask for less. I’ll have you call them again, Belle, and you can be more threatening about destroying the stuff this time.

Why don’t we try to get some money out of the guys who own these paintings, Flame said. I bet they paid a pretty penny for them.

That’ll be our next step if this one fails, Madge answered with a grimace.

**

Jimmie was really upset. Scott had suspended him from working in the new donut shop that Lonnie and Devin had started. Jimmie hated