After parking at the foot of a steep hill, we stepped out to find the Orchard. Rumple told us, before leaving the club, to look for a guy named Appleseed.
"Hey, over there." Jack pointed at a fella laying under a tree with apples hanging from the branches. He was wearing a blue shirt, pair of jeans, and a ball cap. That must have been Johnny.
My feet rustled through the grass, inching closer and closer to the sleeping man.
"Hey. We need to ask you a few questions." I asked as a heavy snore escaped his puckered lips.
"Hey, you! Wake up!" Jack said kicking the man's heel.
Appleseed swung his arms violently, tiny snores escaping his nose and mouth. It was like he was having a seizure. Jack and I stepped back an inch or two as he lifted the ball cap off his eyes.
"Oh. It's you." Appleseed stood up groggily and dusting himself off "You guys need any apples?"
"Thank you, but no. We need a few answers to our questions." I looked him square in the eyes. I could tell he didn't feel like answering anything I asked. He gave off a fake yawn, just to make us think he wasn't awake enough to answer, but after glancing back at us a second time, he knew we meant business.
"There was a girl murdered just outside Rumple's club last night. You know anything about her?"
"I don't know. I might. What did she look like?"
"What does her looks have to do with anyth..." Jack yelled, just before I could say anything.
"Please Jack. I got this."
"Sorry."
"She had brown hair, blue dress, red shoes..." before I could describe the rest of her a shocked expression plastered his face.
"Dorothy?" the passed from his lips as a faint whisper for help "No..." he plopped back down on the grass, propping his knees up and putting his hands on his face so we wouldn't see him cry "Who would do this?"
"Do you know the victim?" I asked.
"Yes... we dated for about a month... but then she broke up with me. I understand why..."
"So you didn't do anything to get her back?" asked Jack.
"No... how could I? She left this place to go live in the city. She claimed she dreamed of an Emerald City. She wanted to follow her dreams... I couldn't stop her from doing that."
"What exactly were those dreams?" I asked.
"She wanted to be a dancer and a singer... I asked if we could make things work out, her being so far away and all... but she didn't have an answer. I wanted to marry her... but I never got a chance to even give her the ring. She broke up with me the night before she left. I knew she wouldn't be happy here anyways... she never was... but I just couldn't let her go... I just..." Appleseed lowered his head to his knees, crying louder and harder than before.
I looked at Jack, giving him the sign that it was time to go. We left the crying man under the tree... I just hope he doesn't do anything drastic.