The Deadliest Stunt Chapter 1

The Deadliest Stunt

Chapter 1

Rain spattered against the large window beside me. I was sitting in History class and it was last period on Friday. Through the rain I could see the cars in the student parking lot getting splattered.

Justin? A voice called out.

Hmm? I said turning around to face—the whole class staring at me. Yes, right—the battle of 1812! I blurted out, sitting up straight in my seat. A handful of students chuckled and the teacher, Mrs. Pruitt smiled. I hardly think that was when Prime Minister Trudeau signed the Charter of Canada, she said with a smirk. Very well, she added with a sigh. Seeing as it’s Friday before the long weekend, you can all go five minutes early. Remember your reading assignment for the weekend. Two chapters for Tuesday. Class dismissed.

I jumped up from my seat at the back of the class and headed to the front where the door exited to the hallway.

Justin? Can I see you for a moment? Mrs. Pruitt remarked.

Sure, I said, stopping at her desk. I figured she was going to ream me out for dozing off in class. I’m sorry about that, not paying attention. It won’t happen again.

Oh, never mind that, Justin. That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.

Oh? Ok, what’s up?

She smiled. I know you’re a bit of an amateur detective and—well I was wondering if you could talk to my brother?

Ah, sure, I said. What’s happened?

It’s just—well he’s gotten a few threatening notes and phone calls and he doesn’t know from who or why.

Has he told the police? I said, putting my books down on her desk. They were getting heavy—I had a lot of reading homework for the weekend.

Yes, she said. He has. You see, my brother Xander Wyatt is somebody—well he’s famous—in his field anyway.

I’ve heard of him, I said. He’s a stuntman, isn’t he?

Yes, Mrs. Pruitt replied. Xander—he’s from Toronto originally but he moved to L.A. a few years ago with his family. He was actually a stuntman on that last superhero movie—what was it called again? The Masked Avenger—or something like that. I don’t keep up on all these new movies. Anyway he’s coming to Port Salser for a charity show that’s happening next Saturday night. He’s doing it for one of my charities, I asked him if he would come here and do a show.

Right, I said, remembering now the ad in the local paper. “The Deadliest Stunt” I think his show is called. He’s going to perform some stunts from popular movies, then for the final stunt, he’s going to ride a motorcycle from an airplane with a parachute and land and then ride away.

Mrs. Pruitt looked impressed. Yes, Justin. That’s right. We’re very proud of Xander. He’s worked hard to get where he is. But now—I.

Something’s happened?

Nothing too serious—yet, like I said, he’s received threats. Well I guess that is serious.

What kind of threats? I asked, my interested now piqued. You mentioned threatening notes and phone calls.

His office in L.A. has received some threatening phone calls. His secretary is quite distraught over this whole thing and has asked for a leave of absence.

Then, last week he received a letter in the mail, threatening to sabotage the stunt show here in Port Salser if he were to go ahead with it.

Someone doesn’t want him to perform the stunt show here in town? Why is that? Did the letter say anything like that?

I’m not sure, Justin, Mrs. Pruitt said. Xander will be in town tonight—there is a reception being held out at the fairgrounds at 7. Were you planning on being there?

No, I said. I had other plans—but they can be postponed. I would really like to meet Xander. My friends would like to meet him as well. Is this an invitation?

Yes, she said with a smile. I know of your reputation and that of your fathers’. I know you would be able to help Xander—if you want to that is. He’s spoken to the police in L.A. and has been in contact with them here as well, so the security will be beefed up for the stunt show.

Right, I said. So he has no intention of stopping the show, then?

Not at the present, Mrs. Pruitt said. If the authorities deem the threats serious enough to harm public safety then they will pull the plug—but Xander is doing this for a local charity—the new children’s hospital they’re building downtown. It’s a charity that I belong to. Like I said, he’s doing this for me.

Yes, that’s due to start construction in a few months. I wasn’t aware of the involvement of the charity in the stunt show. It didn’t mention that in the paper.

No, Xander wanted to announce it at the event next Saturday. Now, Xander is a little—different—but you’ll see that when you meet him tonight. His sons will be there—twins Reed and Rhys. They’re about your age. They travel with their father, their mother is back in L.A. she’s ill—with cancer. Xander didn’t want to leave her, but Ruth insisted he come with the boys.

Mrs. Pruitt sighed and put her head down. I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but Xander and I didn’t always get along when we were younger. He is a bit of a—rebel. I was a lot older than him. He was bit wild like I said. But we’ve patched things up over the years—I’ve learned to accept him as he is and he’s learned to put up with a boring older sister. Anyway he’s excited to do this charity thing for me—but you’ll meet him anyway tonight—if you want to talk to him, that is?

Sure, I said. I would love to meet him—frankly I’m curious.

Thanks, Justin. I really appreciate it. But don’t think by your helping me that you can fall asleep in my class!

Right, I said, sheepishly. It won’t happen again.

At 7 pm, my buddies Van and Raj met me at the front gate of the town fairgrounds, north of the city limits. Port Salser was a city of about 30,000 on Lake Ontario, just east of Toronto.

Van Gilman was about an inch shorter than my 6’1” and had dark hair and brown eyes. He was the goalie for the local hockey team, the Port Salser Porcupines. He loved all kinds of sports and was always involved in something all year round. He was a good guy to have in a fight. He was dressed casually in cargo shorts and t-shirt and work boots as he had been working at a garden centre for a few hours after school. His shift had just ended a short time ago.

Raj Mistry was a year older and was originally from Mumbai, India and had moved with his mother, father and twin sister Neela to town a while back. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes and sported a cool moustache. His attire included basketball shorts and flip flops with a muscle shirt with a famous rock band logo on the front.

Dude, we’re really going to meet Xander Wyatt? Van blurted as we went in the front entrance of the fairgrounds. The “meet and greet” was by invitation only and Mrs. Pruitt had left 3 of them for us at the front gate.

Yeah, Raj said, eyes twinkling. He’s really famous—not many stuntmen are but everyone wants to work with him in Hollywood.

How do you know this? Van said turning to Raj.

I am up on all current events, he said with a  big grin. I read the movie magazines too. Xander Wyatt is a well-known name around the movie business.

I nodded. Yeah, and Mrs. Pruitt is his sister, can you believe it?

No, Van muttered. I can’t. She’s so—straight laced and proper but Xander—have you seen a picture of him?

Not recently, I said. Why?

You’ll see. The guy’s actually cool, he remarked.

Up ahead by the back of the bleachers, two young guys were arguing. A moment later I realized they were identical twins.

That must be Xanders’ sons, Reed and Rhys, I said pointing. Looks like trouble.

I didn’t put it there, one of the youths retorted.

Well I didn’t either. I’m telling Dad about this.

The two youths turned and saw us watching them. Who are you? One of the youths asked.

I pointed to myself, Me? I said.

Yeah, the youth who had an ultra-blue long sleeve t-shirt and baggy black jean shorts and black high-tops said. He had blond spiky hair with blue eyes. Do you guys want something?

You’re the Wyatt brothers? I asked.

Yeah, so who wants to know? The other youth retorted. He had a red long sleeve t-shirt and khaki shorts and white sneakers—and the same blond hair. 

I’m Justin Macdonald. These are my friends Van Gilman and Raj Mistry. Your aunt—actually I don’t know her first  name—well she asked if I would talk to your Dad.

The Wyatt brothers looked at us like we were joking. Blue shirt guy chuckled. Aunt Millie is your history teacher, right?

Yes, and you are—?

The youth in the red shirt spoke up. I’m Rhys and my brother is Reed. He’s not as good looking as me as you can see.

Reed, Rhys, great to meet you, but is your dad around? I asked.

Sure, Rhys said, pointing to the line of trailers behind the bleachers. Dad’s getting ready for the party, he added. He turned to his brother. I’m telling Dad that I didn’t put his phone on the sink. It’s your fault it fell into the water and got ruined.

Well I didn’t leave it there, either. Tell him if you want.

Reed turned to me. I’ll take you guys to Dad. Reed led the way and Van, Raj and I followed, leaving Rhys alone. He just muttered and shook his head as we left.

A large trailer was parked at the end of a line of trailers. As we walked towards it, Reed spoke up. Sorry we were so rude back there. Rhys can be a bit of a jerk sometimes. We’ll be moving to Port Salser in a few weeks and Rhys isn’t happy about it. Seems he has a girlfriend back in L.A. I know hard to believe, eh? He’s an ugly butt. Personality to match.

But he’s identical—Raj was about to say but I shook my head. He’s joking, I mouthed to him.

Reed knocked on the door of the large trailer and a moment later a head popped out.

What is it Reed? The man said, then saw us standing behind him. Oh, you must be Justin and his friends. Come on in.

Xander Wyatt stood aside as we went inside his massive trailer. He turned to his son. Go get your brother and bring him here—now!

Reed moved off.

The inside of the trailer looked like a home on wheels. I turned to Xander and was a bit surprised at his appearance. He was tall about 6’3”, and was very slim. He had dark spiky hair and green eyes.  A small patch of whiskers graced his chin. He wore a white muscle shirt that showed off sleeve tattoos on both arms. They were colourful  pictures of birds with leaves and vines. He had jeans with holes in the knees. Leather studded bracelets hung off one wrist and he had a chain around his neck with a strange symbol in silver with a cross as well. Large gleaming white high-tops completed his outfit.

You’re one of Millie’s students, he said, shaking my hand. He was surprisingly soft spoken and had a bit of an accent. Was it Australian?

Right, I said, I’m Justin and these are my buddies Van and Raj. Xander shook each of their hands in turn.

Nice to meet you all. I see you’ve met Reed—my son.

Yeah, Van said. We met Rhys as well. They seem like nice guys.

Oh, very good, he said. Now, Millie, my sister asked you to come to talk to me. I will admit I was a bit skeptical when she said you were her students, but she informed me that you were a very good amateur detective. I’ve notified the police both in L.A. and here about what’s been happening, but frankly there isn’t much they can do. The notes were not able to be traced nor the phone call neither. It was made from a pay phone in downtown L.A., so anyone could have made it.

What were the threats about? I wondered.

Before he could answer a powerful explosion rocked the area!