Renan inhaled. “It’s obvious - our guy took the buses to get the kidnapped out of Calico. And logically there is an obvious question - where?”
“It’s strange that he does it at all?”
“Well… I do not think that they became hostages because he does not demand a ransom or something in return. Usually, kidnappers use tactics. First, give, and then get it, but here… It just merged with silence.” Renan looked at the side of the road; outside the window was a small cafe DeVola where the light was on. “We should stop, Doc.”
They stopped in front of the cafe and got out of the car, they looked around - a lonely road, forest and silence… They entered the cafe - empty tables, the smell of wood and quiet music from the radio filled the hall until there were other steps…
Jonathan said, “It looks like there’s no one here.”
“No.” Renan looked at his wristwatch. “It’s after midnight, and this cafe is open until 10pm. The working day is over, but… they left and left it like this? I do not think so.” He went to the kitchen door and exchanged glances with Jonathan, he opened it and came in.
The kitchen was also empty, but he paid attention to the fresh hot tea that stood on the table. “Maybe someone else is here…” Trying not to make a noise, he went along the other door but still fearing an attack. The door opened… A woman about forty years old came out; she had a working apron and a light dusty blouse. When she saw Renan, she flinched and stopped…
Renan looked at her. “Excuse me… Did something happen here?”
“Here? No. Whoever you are, Mister, you cannot be here.”
“I… I’m a private investigator. I’m investigating the case of mass disappearances of people. Have you heard about this?”
“All the news tapes talk about this.”
“My partner is in the hall and… Why are you here? After all, is the work day over?”
She moved forward slowly. “I’m waiting for somebody.”
“Hmm…” Renan looked around. “Have you seen a bus with a couple of dozen people here?”
“No, I have not.”
“Are you sure?”
“I do not want to put pressure on you, but… Why does it seem to me that you are hiding something?”
She walked slowly around.
Renan watched her. “Miss?”
She took her tea and drank a little. “The bus was here. It stopped in front of me when I went out. He nearly knocked me out, then the driver got out and pointed his gun at me. I thought he would shoot me in the forehead, but it he left me alive.”
“Have you seen him close?”
“It was dark and he was hiding his face behind the hood. He just got on the bus and drove away, I do not know anything else.”
:What about the details?”
“Well… It smelled of coffee and peanut, also smoke similar to tobacco. It’s all.”
Renan nodded. “Okay… Okay.”
***
After telling Jonathan and their dialogue, Renan came out of the cafe with him and they looked at its territory - no trace…
Renan said, “Do you think she said the truth, Doc?”
“I would like to know.”
“This guy is like a ninja - he has an excellent grasp and absolutely transparent touches that allow him to leave nothing to say about his recent presence.”
“What else did she say?”
“Nothing - only that the owner of the institution must return tonight and personally check everything.”
“Maybe my son was here. We must go further.”
Renan nodded.
They got into the car while Jonathan drove it, Renan saw the woman from the cafe, and she steadily looked at him from the window… This predator look made him feel cold in the body, but soon she just disappeared somewhere beyond the horizon.
They rode along the road past the forest trees and silhouettes in it… At one point, Jonathan hit the brakes, the car stopped with a squeak.
Renan said, “Jonathan, what’s the matter?”
“Look there.” Jonathan got out looking at something ahead.
Renan followed him. They stopped in front of a street pole on which hung a poster with the inscription “Wanted”.
Jonathan pointed to one of the men from the portrait. “This is Garret Stanley, he was my patient. For a while he was under house arrest, later the police informed me that he had disappeared. The signal of his bracelet also disappeared.”
Renan looked fascinated at the other portrait…
Jonathan said, “Hey, Renan? Renan?”
“Look.” He pointed to a photo of a woman on a poster. “Gina Murilo, a serial killer with a mental disability. She is that waitress from the DeVola cafe.”
They looked at each other.
Renan shouted, “Goddamn!”
They ran back to the car, after getting down in it they headed in the opposite direction until the light of the DeVola cafe was far behind the horizon… Having stopped before it in a few minutes later, they got out and looked around - nothing has changed… But this smell…
Renan said, “The smell of coffee, peanut and tobacco… Jonathan, he was here. He was here recently.”
Jonathan looked out the window and did not take his eyes off it, he took a step back.
Renan said, “What’s there?” He approached him and looked through the window - the dead body of Gina Murilo lay on the floor and a broken cup of tea was nearby…
Jonathan said, “He is still there.” He pointed to the kitchen door that was slightly open.
“Did you see him?”
“Only for a second. I have to go there.” Jonathan headed for the cafe entrance.
Renan stopped him. “Not so fast, buddy. He must be armed. He’s dangerous, Jonathan. How can you go against him?”
“Danger is sometimes an action of self-defense. He can use it because he is afraid. But to hell with psychology, Renan, my son is in his hands!”
“I understand.” Renan took a gun from the inner pocket of his dark brown jacket and handed it to Doctor. “Take it, man, you need it.”
Jonathan looked at it. “Forty-fifth caliber. Where is it from?”
“Let’s just say, sometimes finding bad guys in a company gives bonuses. So, are you going?”
Jonathan nodded and entered the cafe. Renan looked at him through the window and saw him enter the kitchen… He walked around, still feeling a smell of coffee, peanut and tobacco. “He is here… He knows that…” A sharp sound came from the cafe building. Renan went to the window and looked through - the room was empty… he came in and slowly stumbled to the door, where it seemed to him was a knock… Taking a knife from a table, he sharply opened the door… The light in the kitchen was turned on; he went a little further forward. “Doctor, you…” The light turned off. “So… Calm down, this darkness will not win.” He heard footsteps behind him. “Jonathan?” Someone pushed him, he hit the table, feeling the darkness weigh on him, he waved a knife in front of him and felt how it hurt someone… He froze in anticipation of the next step, but this next step must be done by himself… He headed to the exit, but this blow stopped him… The darkness won…
***
This cold floor… the wind… the small ice drops… Renan opened his eyes. He saw the gray sky above him and the beginning rain; feeling slightly dizzy, he got up - he found himself on the roadside of an empty road and saw a gas station on the other side. He checked his pockets - documents and wallet were in, and the forty-fifth caliber… He took his phone, its screen was a little bit broken, but he saw - 6:19am. Looking around, Renan crossed the road and headed for the gas station, where there was also a small supermarket. He came in there - there were no visitors, only a quietly working TV.
“Oh, man, you’re alive!” A young man left the staff room and stood behind the counter. “How are you?”
Renan looked around. “You… Where am I right now?”
The seller handed him a bottle of water. “We are in Santa Clarita, California. Do you
remember what happened?”
“I was at DeVola Cafe, a few miles from here. How long have I been… on the sidelines?”
“I do not know for sure. At night,there are almost no customers and I did not go out until the morning. When I decided to freshen up, I saw you lying on the ground, and then came back here to call 911, but… you are here.”
“I see…” Renan thought about it. “Someone was in that room when I… Jonathan.” He randomly dialed Jonathan’s phone number. “The subscriber is unavailable… Something happened.” He looked at the seller. “I need a car. Mister…?”
“Call me Bryce. Do you need to go to town?”
Renan nodded.
“My shift has already ended. I will take you there, me along the way.”
“Thanks buddy.”
“You are welcome. Give me a minute.” Bryce entered the staff room.
Renan walked along… Jerque cigarettes with coffee and peanuts. DeVola Cafe…
Bryce came out of the room.
Renan looked at him. “Bryce, those cigarettes…” He pointed to the Jerque pack. “How far are they common?”
“Well, they are quite specific and not everyone buys them, so they only have to some stores, why?”
“Indeed, they are quite specific. And how many people take them?”
“Like I said, not everyone does. In addition, their price is much more classic cigarettes.”
“And it matters, Bryce. It can help to know his identity…”
***
After a couple of hours, Renan and Bryce stopped in front of a psychiatric clinic. Thanking Bryce, Renan went there. He entered the vestibule and not seeing anyone at the reception, he went to the elevator and pressed its button. The elevator drove down.
“You know who he is, right?” A man’s voice said behind Renan.
He turned around - Colin LeCompt stood in front of him.
Renan said, “You are the same patient… We thought you were one of the missing. How did you manage to escape from here?”
Colin looked at him in silence.
Renan said, “Listen, your location is not my concern, but I think that the guards are going to return you and…”
Colin came closer. “You always knew he was real, did not you?”
The elevator doors opened. Several people came out, Renan looked at them and at his interlocutor again - Colin was gone.
Renan got top floor and went out of the elevator; he went ahead looking for Jonathan’s office. Smell of coffee and peanuts… These patients, their attacking consciousness… It’s terrible when the agony, fear and broken moments of life take control of you, you stop feeling your life, you stop feeling your body and your mind burns you from the inside and how can you fix it? Self-control, own strength… sometimes that is really not enough, but somewhere in the furthest corner of your consciousness there is a light that can defeat it. Somewhere in this world, you understand that you can do this, you can defeat these monsters and finally say, “Goodbye, Agony.” Then this world and all that you see in it will be like a new emancipation from yourself and walking along new streets of your mind you will finally find your way.
Renan stopped in front of the door with the “Doctor Jonathan Fallon” inscription. He knocked on, but did not receive an answer; he pushed the door - it was locked.
“Sir?” Dr. Neil Hayes approached him. “Dr. Fallon is not here right now. Can I help you?”
“I’m Renan Stewart, I’m his new friend. We were outside the city a few hours ago and something happened… I called him, but his phone is unavailable.”
“Wait a minute, I will try to call him.” Neil took his cell phone and while he called Jonathan, Renan looked at his wound on his arm, which was bandaged, but still stained with blood…
Neil said, “Yes, he is unavailable and his home phone is not responding.”
Renan pointed to his wound.” Do you have violent patients, Doctor?”
“Yes, one of them pounced on me today and… What do you know about Dr. Fallon?”
“Dr. Hayes, listen up… We need to find him immediately. Otherwise, it may be too late.”
“Why? Is there a threat?”
“Yes! Yes exactly!”
“Dr. Fallon?” Neil looked behind Renan.
Renan turned around - Jonathan walked toward them. “Neil, I will deal with him.”
Neil said, “Are you sure?”
Jonathan nodded. Neil nodded and walked along the corridor from them. As Jonathan opened the door, he let Renan come in and went to his office after him; he locked the door and walked past his desk.
Renan said, “So what happened there?”
Jonathan sat down at his desk.
Renan said, “Hey, do not pretend like I’m crazy, okay? What happened, Jonathan?”
“Renan, sit down.”
Renan sat down in front of Jonathan. “Well?”
Jonathan ran a hand through his hair. “DeVola Cafe. You were outside. What did you do?”
“Nothing! I mean, I went after you.”
“And what happened then?”
“Damn… I went into the kitchen, the light went out, and somebody attacked me and… now, I’m here and listen to these insignificant questions!”
“Renan, keep calm. I do not know when I lost consciousness, but I heard his voice.”
“Can you identify this kidnapper by voice?”
“No… I heard my son’s voice.”
“Oh… And I thought that this I was going crazy.”
“I heard it.”
“Yes, you did because you were unconscious, right? Doc, look, do you want to get him back? Then we need to look for real tracks, real clues.”
“You are right.”
“Okay. You were unconscious. And where did you find yourself when you woke up?”
“I was in Calico. And Colin LeCompt was there.”
***
“I am telling you, he was here!” Renan walked along the lobby of the clinic while Jonathan walked in front.
“Zac?” Doctor approached the clerk who was standing opposite the counter of the reception.
“Yes, Sir?” Zac looked at Jonathan.
Jonathan said, “I need records from CCTV cameras in the last seven hours.”
“I understood, Sir.” Zac headed along from them.
Renan said, “If he was one of the disappeared… he was able to return.”
Jonathan looked around. “And he knows where the rest are.”
“Including your son.”
“What was he like?”
You know, he was a little nervous at all, but still he was holding on himself.”
“Was there anything special?”
“I would not say so.”
The door of the clinic opened - Agent Devon Warren entered. He walked over to Jonathan and looked at Renan; he stopped in front of them.
Jonathan said, “Greetings, Agent Warren. Are there any news?”
Devon said, “You tell me.”
“Sorry?”
Devon looked at Renan. “Renan Stewart?”
Renan said, “Yes.”
Devon said, “What are you doing here?”
Renan said, “I came to Dr. Fallon, is that problem?”
Devon said, “I’m asking what are you doing in this country because your lawful fast is here long ago expired?”
Renan looked at Devon’s badge. “And what does the FBI have to do with it?”
Devon turned his gaze to Jonathan again. “Because this is a Federal investigation. Dr. Fallon, what kind of initiative?”
Jonathan said, “Excuse me?”
Devon said, “Come on. You are probably looking for your son with this guy, right?”
Jonathan said, “Can you know for sure?”
Devon said, “I just wanted to know how much you’ve found out, maybe you have something that could help the FBI find the rest?”
Jonathan said, “We were in Calico, a ghost town. There were some stuff of those people, n
othing else.”
Devon said, “Yeah? And you have not even seen anyone there?”
Jonathan looked at his hands. “No.”
Devon said, “You know, I’m curious… Why are you lying to me?”
Jonathan looked at him inquiringly.
Devon said, “Stop this show, Doctor. Your patient Colin LeCompt was connected to this place, so my people were watching it. So that? What else, Dr. Fallon?”
Jonathan said, “If your people are watching this forgotten city, you probably know more than we do. Now, excuse me, Agent Warren, my patient is waiting for me.” He walked along the lobby, leaving them behind.
Renan went to the exit, but Devon stopped him. “Mr. Stewart, not so fast.”
“Excuse me, Agent Warren, I cannot help you.”
“You can and you will… I could help you.”
***
“This morning of the next day, the patient Colin LeCompt showed himself to one of the people, who was in the walls of the clinic; his attempt to show himself as a leader in everything that is happening speaks of his predisposition to the availability of control, which he certainly holds in his own eyes. His chemistry causes tension, a sense of risk and a lack of sense of self-preservation - he risks his freedom to come where he fled, but he does it despite nervousness. This kind of excitement can be a way to convey some information through unfamiliar people; his personality disorder builds his own notions of surrounding things and people. “Nowhere”… He could see it, he was able to cope with what he had feared earlier. Or maybe he’s still afraid of it…” Jonathan finished his entry in Colin’s file, sitting at the desk of his office. He stared at the photo of his son, lost in his thoughts. “How is he? What is he thinking about? Will he…”
A knock at the door.
Jonathan said, “Come in.”
Silence…
A knock at the door again.
Jonathan got up, “I said you can come in.”
A knock again…
Jonathan said, “Are you kidding?” He went to the door and opened it sharply.
The corridor was empty… Neil got out of one of the offices and looked at the folder in his hands, he walked along.
Jonathan said, “Neil?”
He stopped. “Yes, Jonathan?”
“How are your wards?”
“They cope. Where is that guy? Renan Stewart?”
Lost In Nowhere Page 3
