by S. R. Rashad
Jeffries has sat in front of Roberts’ house, a couple of hours, and still nothing. He sees someone is home next door. So, he decides to ask the neighbors if they've seen the Sgt. or anything fishy, in the late couple of days.
Officer Jeffries rings the bell of the elderly couple who live next door. He can see through the living room window as an elderly man approaches the door.
“Who's that?” Says the old man.
“Hello! My name is officer Jeffries. Can I ask you a few questions?”
“Sure. Can you hold up your badge so I can see it?”
“Yes, here it is.” Jeffries says as he places his badge in front of the peephole.
“Oh, I see. I'm opening the door, now.”
“Great”
The elderly neighbor opens the door.
“Hello officer. How can I help you?”
“I'm here looking for your neighbor Sgt. Roberts.”
“Oh, Doug.”
“Yes, Doug.
“Well, I haven't seen much of him lately. It’s ashamed what happened to his wife and boy, just sad, you know.”
“Yes, I know. But when is the last time you saw him. Can you remember that?”
“Sure, sure. It was last week, yes, last week, for sure. It was the night the missus made tuna casserole. We offered him some. You know he doesn't eat so well anymore with his wife gone. It's just sad.”
“So, not since then?”
“Yup, that was the last time. Why? What's going on?”
“Nothing really, we just need him down at the office. That's it.”
“Oh, ok. When I see him, I'll tell him officer…officer, what is it again?”
“Officer Jeffries.”
“Yes, that's right. I'll be sure to tell him.”
“Thanks for your time, sir.”
“No problem, son. I hope you find him soon. That’s all, right? I need to get back to the missus.”
“Ok, that’s all.”
Jeffries begins to feel a little stupid. What the hell is he doing here. This Sgt. Roberts being gone, is no mystery. Jeffries is starting to feel as though the captain and the others are blowing this out of proportion. Jeffries opts out of continuing to wait. He feels his talents are best needed elsewhere. He’s worried, but he doesn’t think there’s any foul play or malice behind his disappearance. Personally, he thinks the man just needs to be left alone for a bit. He knows the Sgt. has been up under a lot of stress and he thinks the Sgt. is off fishing or some other stress relieving activity. He knows that’s what he would do. So, he heads back to the precinct.
Officer Chan approaches Sanders at her desk.
“Hey, Sanders. You got a sec?”
“yea sure, what’s up, new boss?” she says with a smile.
“New boss, eh. Don’t you start giving me shit, woman.”
“No shit from me, boss. What’s up?”
“I need you in Sgt. Roberts’ office for a minute.”
“Ok.”
As they enter, Chan tells her what’s up.
“We all know something strange is going on around here, right?”
“yea, that’s right.”
“Well, you see this locked draw?”
“yea.”
“Well, I think it may hold answers this team needs to help stay a team. You know what I mean?”
“Not, really, Chan.”
“Ok, let me put it this way. What is your specialty?”
“Oh, hey, you’re not asking me to break into the Sgt.’s file cabinet are you?”
“Well…
“Come on, Chan. You are not team leader more than 5 minutes and you’re asking for this kinda stuff. I think it’s a bad way to go. Let's just stick to the draws that are not locked, ok.”
“I thought you would see the urgency in this.”
“Well, I don’t, boss. So, if that’s all. I have work I need to do. And let me advise you, boss. This is the kinda stuff that put this team in jeopardy in the first place.”
The funny thing is, as Sanders leaves the office, Chan starts to realize how much his old boss’s habits have infiltrated his way of doing things, his thinking and belief system. He saw nothing out of the ordinary with what he wanted to do. How many times did he step over the line with Sgt. Roberts, in the name of duty. This is why the team is in jeopardy.
Officer Jeffries is back at the precinct. He goes to the captain’s office.
“Knock, knock, cap.”
“Hey, what's up, Jeffries?”
“Well, I went to the Sgt.’s house and there's no sign of him.”
“Really, I wonder…”
Jeffries interrupts the captain.
“Hey, cap. I think the Sgt. is taking a little time to himself. Doesn't he have a ton of sick days and personal days built up? I think we may all be making too much of this. I bet once he chills out and relaxes a bit, he’ll be back. This team is everything to him. He wouldn't just abandoned it. Hell, cap, maybe you can talk to his shrink. I bet you he told him to take a little time to himself. You know how these shrinks can be.”
“Yea, maybe you're right. Those guys are always saying shit like that. I’ll talk with him. Thanks Jeffries.”
“Hey, cap. I'm heading over to homicide, now. I bet we’ll get that damn shooter, soon.”
“I hope so. These vigilantes just get under my skin. I hate those bastards. What they think they know better than us? They know more about the law or about who should be allowed to go free or who shouldn't? Shit, I don’t think that maniac, VonNetzer should go free either, but to go out and start shooting wildly at a crowd of people, fuck!”
Chapter 18
Into the woods
He’s not as comfortable in the woods as he is in other environments. But he is very adaptable. His two tours in Iraq taught him to fight, live and survive in rough terrains and he knows how to use his surroundings to his advantage. He's good at working with what he's got. He just hates the woods. He drove like a man on fire, no sleep the last 24 hours. Now, his body wants to shut down as it cries out for rest. Ok, just a little shuteye, he thinks. The doc can't be too far ahead of him and he needs to be at the top of his game when he meets him next. He pulls off the road and into the deep brush and sets up camp, preparing to bed down for the night. He constructs a makeshift perimeter. He doesn't like people sneaking up on him, so he devises a little alarm system. A simple can and bottle system, empty cans and bottles tied together and run along tripwires, encircling his camp and hidden by twigs and leafs. Anyone tries to come into his camp, they'll stumble on the wire, the bottles and cans bang together, clink clink. And he is alerted. This system always seems to work best and it’s fast and easy to assemble and empty bottles and cans around a campsite never alert suspicion. The camp is now secure. He grabs a blanket, flashlight and his sidearm equipped with suppression for the ever needed quiet kill, the least amount of bang bang the better, discretion always discretion. Now, he can hit the hay.
The morning comes quickly in this open air woodland environment. Sunlight rushes in, flooding the landscape, bursting through the trees. His campsite is brightly illuminated now. The most intense of the morning ray’s lands on his face, jolting him from his slumber. He’s awake and ready to continue his pursuit. He rubs his eyes, splashes a little water on his face, checks his surroundings. Everything seems in order. With no unwanted intruders during the night, he was able to get adequate rest. The few hours of uninterrupted sleep is enough. He feels invigorated. The pain in his shoulder and arm is minimal. No morphine is needed on this occasion and he’s definitely glad about that. That stuff just makes him sloppy, lethargic, not his best. But now, He is feeling fit and ready to get this creep.
Peter too, had a good rest. He slept the sleep of the dead. Claire let him sleep. He is glad she stumbled across his path. She can be a valuable asset. She prepares a meal for the two of them. Peter wakes, rested, but feeling anxious and unsettled. He absolutely doesn’t feel at home here anymore, not with the violations to his sa
nctuary. While him and Claire eat, he informs her of what needs to be done.
“Claire, I don’t know if a sickly man like myself might not prove to be too much for you…”
Claire doesn’t like the sound of this. Is he trying to fire her before her job really even starts. He needs her. And she knows she can be good at this job, more correctly, this new career. She just prepared this meal. She can be helpful. She can anticipate his needs. No, she can’t go back. She doesn’t want to go back, to the soul sucking and depressing life of a checkout girl at ShopSmart.
Claire interrupts him...
“Frank, I think it’s the cancer talking or the lack of meds. You may be a little delirious. Don’t trust what you are saying now. I can and will be a good nursemaid.” She says, nearly in tears, defending her new found position.
“What’s that Claire. Oh no, I’m not trying to say I don’t have the use for a nurse, or you. It is quite the opposite, I know I need you. I just think we can get more help.”
She is not sure what he means by more help, but she likes that he wants to keep her around. She doesn't want to feel tossed to the side. She has deep seeded abandonment issues which makes her even more fearful of not being liked. Her father didn’t seem to like her and her boyfriend Dan stopped liking her, or making her feel needed. She wants to, needs to be needed.
“What I want, Claire, is to be around family. We should go to my sister’s.”
The home he made for himself here. The time, the money, the care he put in, all violated. Is his house bugged? Is his every move being watched? It's too much for him to contemplate. He needs to leave.
"Claire are you ok to travel?”
Claire has no one who really loves her. Dan just can't live on his own. She has been more of a roommate or mother to him, than a girlfriend. The ShopSmart heads have promised to promote her to manager for months. The area supervisor just wants to sleep with her. His promises are empty and Claire knows that, so is she ok to travel? Yes, she’s ok to travel. She hates her life. Perhaps, this will help her love her life or herself again. She's ready to see what comes next.
“Yes, Frank. I am. I’m good to travel. Whatever you need.”
“Good… Let's grab our things and hit the road.”
“Fine, is there's anything you need me to do to make you feel more comfortable or are you ok?”
“I'm ok, for now, Claire, thanks.”
Yea, she's gonna work out fine. Frank, the cancer patient and his nursemaid are heading to his sister’s, the only other person, besides his mother, who enjoys his specialness. Peter knows he’ll find home there. And his sister’s gonna love Claire. She will be a welcome addition.
He’s about an hour from Traverse City. He doesn't want to screw things up this time. No more people will be killed by the monster and he doesn't want anyone else injured by him. He doesn't want his blind obsession, for wanting to destroy the monster, to corrupt him anymore. He decides to approach this task with a more even head. The obsession can lead to madness. He doesn't want that. Otherwise, he’ll be no better than the monster. Caution and concern are his new mantras. He’s not going to lose what makes him human, in pursing this madman. He will keep his sanity and his humanity.
Peter knows he has to ditch his car. It is probably too well known or it could even be bugged. And why not, it sat in that lot for weeks. Whatever the case, he needs a more nondescript ride. Traveling by car is still the preferred way to travel for him, with long stretches of sparsely populated woodlands and virtually empty roads, there is little chance of being stopped, recognized or harassed by media, the law or locals. You can’t find this can of solitude or isolation on buses, trains, and certainly not planes. The two leave the car where they got it, at the lot near the ferry and set out to look for another car.
He is in Traverse City now. He is calm, centered and focused. And he knows Peter is near. Where else would he be. The monster is familiar with these parts. He likes hunting here. These woodlands are his home. He’s here. He knows it.
Peter finds the perfect old truck at a used lot. Now, they are ready to hit the road.
He spots Peter’s truck in the ferry lot. He wants to be cautious. He doesn't want to scare off Peter when he is this close. He goes into the nearby gas station restroom and changes into more fitting attire, to blend in. He walks around the lot looking to see if Peter is near. He approaches Peter’s car. It looks like it has just been driven. There’s fresh mud on the rims and tires. He feels the truck’s hood. It's still warm. Yes, Peter’s here, probably nearby. He moves quickly. He doesn't want to be seen. He goes into a diner just across the street and gets a corner booth by the window. It gives him a clear view of the lot and most the surrounding area. He orders a coffee and waits.
He's on his third cup of coffee. Still, he watches and waits. The monster has to be here.
Claire doesn't like the restroom at the gas station. It's not well kept and looks a little too unsanitary. She goes to use the restroom at the diner and to get some coffee and a juice. She walks in, and sees a cute guy sitting in the corner booth. She catches his eye. They smile warmly at each other. She uses the restroom, gets her beverages and exits. He continues to look at her as she leaves, not a bad looking broad, but he's not here for that. He's here for the monster. Still, he watches as she gets into the passenger side of a dirt old truck. He can't help but take one more little look. There's a man approaching the car, probably her husband and why not, he thinks, a good looking woman like that should be married. Who is this tall sickly looking fella limping around with a cane, wearing a silly shawl, oversized dark sunglasses and with weird looking hair, getting into the truck. This can't be the man she's married to. No! He knows that man. It's the monster. But it can't be, can it. No, that’s him. Shit, why is she with him. Doesn't matter. He has to make sure that's him. He runs out the side exit of the diner, to his car. He’ll follow for awhile, but it’s him. He’s almost certain, but almost is no longer good enough. He has to make sure, and why is she with him.
The truck may look like a heap of junk, but the engine’s good, great shocks and it’s been nicely tuned up and oiled. The gas tank is full. Peter has wads of cash. He's well rested and his eager caregiver is ready to lose herself, shedding off her old life, for a new one. But most importantly, Peter knows these lands, the terrain, the woods, the back roads and hidden trails. He knows the mysteries and secrets these lands keep.
The man tailing Peter will find it difficult to keep chase. Will alone will not prove sufficient. There needs to be skill and planning, or an encyclopedic knowledge of the land. Peter has that knowledge. Northern Michigan is his country.
He has kept his distance the last two hours, far enough away as not to alert attention and he dares not drive any closer. Even though he almost lost him twice. As he drives, he’s trying to figure out where Peter may be going. What’s his end destination. He really has no idea yet.
There's been too many cars on this open road and at least two cars have been with him for the last two hours. Peter needs to be sure they’re just traveling the same road as he, and are not tailing him. He decides to go more off road and to see if the others will follow. Peter slows down and makes a sharp turn onto a small dirt road, more of a path really. There are no road markers, on this muddy, single car wide trail, fully off road.
There's been just one car between him and the doc for the last hour of open road. He doesn't see the doc’s truck ahead anymore. He’s sure the doc is no longer on the road. But, he needs to make sure. He does something a little out of his comfort’s zone. He speeds past the car that separated him and Peter. He drives a few more miles and there's nothing, just open road. He knows where he lost the doctor or at least he knows the last place he saw the doc’s truck on the road. He is at a dilemma. He can turn back. But if, the doc is laying in wait, there goes all his preparation. He can continue down the same road in hopes that the doc’s truck will join the road again, or he can look for the next truck stop, get a road atlas,
regroup and try to anticipate the doc’s next move. He decides on the more cautious route, to regroup.
This old truck can really handle these muddy roads. For just eight hundred bucks, it’s a good investment. Claire doesn’t know why he decided to go off road, but she likes it. It reminds her of her teen years, cutting lose after class with a few friends, some beer and off roading in her dad’s jeep, good times.
Peter feels if there was someone tailing him, he has lost him by now, and makes for the main road again. It is a long drive to his sister’s and there’s no way to avoid the main roads altogether. Peter wants to reserve his off road traveling for when he knows he is in jeopardy.
He has a good idea of the roads now. The atlas is great. He knows this road he’s traveling on, is the main one for miles, most of the side roads dead end or remerge with this one. He is confident, he’ll come across the doctor again, soon enough. He continues down the road for some time and still no sign of the doc. He must be ahead of the doc. Otherwise, he would have caught up to him by now. There is another truck stop coming up. This one is a little off road and setback in the woods a bit and is not as popular as the last stop. It’s more of a pirate’s hide away. His book describes it as a place for the really non discerning. This would be a perfect place for the doctor to rest, grab a bite and refuel. It's just about dusk and some parts of the rest stop are deeply shadowed. He drives in and parks his car in one of these dark pockets, away from the street lights, in the shadow of the setting sun and away from the lights of the passing cars and trucks. He crouches back in his seat and waits.
