Even though Dirk's first instinct was to run outside and go on the hunt for Todd, he had to remind himself that he is not the only one who should be aware of this. Amanda and Farah deserved to know as well and could most likely be of great assistance to him. Though Farah, with her impressive background, was the most obvious port of call Dirk thought it right to inform Amanda first since Todd was her brother, despite how…strained their relationship might have been at the moment.
There was no answer, however, just as Dirk was leaving an admittedly rushed and uninformative voicemail, Amanda picked up, sounding breathless. No doubt he'd pulled her away from vandalising some other innocent bystanders flat. Not that Dirk was judging. He was truly grateful for the support the Rowdy 3 could provide her. So long as they kept it far, far, away from him.
"Hey Dirk, what were you saying?" Amanda asked.
"It's Todd," Dirk replied. "He's gone. He left a note but I found blood in the bathroom which leads me to believe he has been kidnapped."
"What? Fuck, are you sure? You said he wrote a note?"
"Yes but it only said 'I'm sorry' and as I said, there was blood in the bathroom, hastily cleaned up might I add. He must have been forced to write the note as some sort of diversion."
Silence. Dirk made sure that Delilah had food as he got ready to leave the house once more. "Amanda?"
"This…listen, I hate to say this and all, but are you sure he didn't just leave? Because why would someone kidnap Todd of all people." Amanda sounded both frustrated and upset and Dirk was not happy with what she was trying to imply. Yes, Dirk might have initially had the thought himself but the blood…Todd had either been hurt or managed to hurt his attacker before being taken. It was the only explanation.
"That's what I'm going to figure out," Dirk replied as he checked the door over. No sign of forced entry. Perhaps Todd knew the kidnapper? "He wouldn't just leave, I'm sure of it."
"Look Dirk I…shit. I'm coming back okay? Because if that jerk really has been kidnapped then you're gonna need some help."
"Thank you Amanda," Dirk said, relieved. "I'd hoped you would say that. I know you don't like Todd very much but he is…"
"Yeah," Amanda sighed. "He's still my big brother. I should be able to make it back within half a day. I'll call to let you know when we're near."
"Alright. See you soon Amanda." Dirk hung up and then (with a selfish hint of satisfaction) pressed the dial button for the next person on his list – Farah.
Dirk had begun to study the hallway outside when Farah picked up.
"What's up Dirk?"
Dirk explained the situation to Farah just as he had done with Amanda (also garnering the same argument which he had to, yet again, dispute) and the security officer promised to use some favours to see if she can find something on any security cameras. Not that it would be much help, at least, not until more digging had been done. Dirk had specifically taken this flat due to the lack of cameras surrounding it. Less safe, perhaps, but you never knew who could be watching through them.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in the hallway, nor on the stairs. People in the building didn't appear to be particularly observant so it wouldn't have been unreasonable to guess that the kidnapper had drugged Todd.
Dirk headed back outside, looked left and right, and then willed the universe to tell him where to go next, to give him a sign. Farah had told him to come up with a list of reasons why someone might have taken Todd, and from there a list of suspects, but apart from Black Wing (who wouldn't care about someone as average Todd), he couldn't think of anyone. Dirk had made enemies in his line of work but as far as he was concerned, they were dealt with, having either met an unfortunate end or the cosy inside of a prison cell.
As for Todd, well, he had a habit of getting on the wrong side of some people but he couldn't come up with a reason that someone would go out of their way to take him. He just wasn't a threat. As well, why would they bother to take his stuff, to make it seem like Todd had run away? That was an obvious ploy to get at Dirk, thus meaning it had to be connected to him. How, though, he didn't know. And why? Why go for him emotionally? Were they hoping to make him unstable and distracted? An easier target?
Fear for his own safety began to creep in and Dirk fought to shove it aside. No matter the risk to himself, he couldn't just hide away. If it was his fault that Todd had been hurt then it was his responsibility to fix it, no matter what.
Plans have never been Dirk's forte and so he started his search as he did most cases – blindly. In this case, literally. Dirk simply closed his eyes and walked. It was not a method he employed very often (he'd been close to being run over more times than he was comfortable with) but drastic times called for drastic measures. He put one foot in front of the other, allowing the universe, or perhaps just his own blind sense of direction, to guide him. Dirk stumbled into a few people, got more than one angry comment his way, but he paid them no mind. Eventually, he felt the urge to stop but to his frustration it wasn't a clue – he was just about to walk into a wall. Dirk huffed and scanned the area he'd ended up in. It was a rural area, many quaint little houses around but they weren't of any importance. No, what was important was the bus stop only a few feet away.
"Thank you universe," Dirk said to the sky before he sat down by the stop, foot tapping as he waited. During this time he received a text from Farah, updating him that they'd not found anything yet but they would keep looking, that there were still more options. Dirk knew she was trying to be reassuring but he didn't need it. Camera footage wouldn't save Todd. He would, he could feel it.
Once on the bus, Dirk closed his eyes once more and trusted his instinct as they drove around. And then it came, that sharp, intense feeling of now and Dirk pressed the button, at first insistently and when he realised they weren't even close to a stop, he bounded to the front and pressed against the door.
"Terribly sorry but I really need to get off here. It's imperative that I do and I promise you will be greatly compensated for your generosity and oomph."
"Just get the fuck off."
The door opened and Dirk leaped out. "Thank you kind sir! You have my undying gratitude and any time you need to solve a murder be sure to call on Dirk Gently!"
Dirk never saw the disbelieved shake of the head, or heard the muttered comment of 'needs to be in a loony bin' but even if he had, it wouldn't have fazed him. Like a bloodhound on the prowl, he had a scent and he was determined to follow it. Doubling back on himself, Dirk found that he was in the more run down part of the city, similar to where Todd had first lived but, if that was possible, worse. Clearly this was a forgotten section, reserved for those who could barely afford the essentials and weren't given the help they so clearly needed. He ran to where the urge had first appeared and then circled around.
"Which way to go now…," Dirk muttered. No direction seemed more promising than the other so perhaps if he did a loop around-
A noise. Dirk swivelled to his right. He strained his ears and there it was again, longer this time. If Dirk wasn't wrong, it sounded like someone was shouting. Accompanied with his instincts screaming at him, the blood pounding in his head like drums were being beaten straight into his ears, Dirk knew it for certain.
Todd was here.
