Chapter 4
David Collins had always preferred traveling by train. The train always had the scenic route, whereas traveling by air was rather boring. Sure, in first class they had movies to watch, by taking the train seemed more majestic, more relaxing. He found that he was always able to complete more paperwork on a train ride. Even though it was more expensive to take the train across the country, David enjoyed it more and that was all the mattered to him.
David had spent the last few years in California, where he had built a respectable home, nothing to marvel over. He moved there to set up a branch of the family shipping business, feeling that he needed to spread his horizons. Not only that, but his advisors had informed him that it would be a very business savvy decision. So, he made the decision. David took a fourth of the family fortune to California with him and spent it on his new home as setting up the business. He had bought a pier that was already built, remodeled it and made it much larger. Then he bought fifteen ships and gave them an overhaul as well. After that, the only thing left to do was advertising and David hired the best in the business.
As it was now, the business on that side of the country was booming, and David knew it was time to return to visit his family. He wasn't in Collinsport when everything happened; he had just left for California. But he had heard about it. And was appalled by it. But Quentin had told him not to come back; there was nothing left to come back to. This trip would mark the first time he had seen his family in five years.
He walked up to the ticket window and told the young lady behind the glass that he wanted a round trip to Crystalville, New York. Once she had printed the ticket and told him the total was $150, David paid her with cash and continued. He carried one suitcase and a light-green duffel bag, all the things he would need housed within. A light mist began wafting through the air, and David stepped under the platform roof, to avoid his luggage becoming moist. The train would be arriving any moment, and David prepared himself to board.
The train pulled up and came to a screeching halt. Many people were waiting in a long line in front of David to board the train. No one would notice if he were captured. The night air was thick and the only light was from the few street lights along the platform. A man came up behind David and wrapped his arm around David's neck, putting a cloth over David's mouth. Soon David fell unconscious and another man emerged from the shadows to help carry David off.
Ian Shepard and Carolyn Collins sat at a small table in the restaurant in the Collins Hotel. The restaurant was called Moonlite, and was run by Carolyn and Kathleen. Many guests dined there every evening, and often there was a short play put on the tiny stage.
"Is it your intention to woo me, Ian?" Carolyn asked, flashing a smile and sipping some tea.
"It wasn't when I when I arrived, but I hope you do not mind that I've decided to," Ian said as Carolyn put her cup down.
"Not at all. But I should warn you that my brother insists on screening every prospective boyfriend of mine. Even in our older age he has a fit if I don't tell him about anyone I'm seeing. He has always been overprotective, and I enjoy humoring him."
"I'm not worried at all. I am quite sure he will find me satisfactory. After all, you like me, don't you?"
Carolyn nodded. "Perhaps we will be able further out friendship a bit more before Quentin decides to pry."
"Friendship? Is that all it is right now?"
"I'm not one to move too fast for my own good, Ian. I suppose I should have told you that right away." Kathleen walked through the double door entry way. She nodded to Carolyn and Ian and continued over to the hostess podium. "You two love birds better not Quentin catch twinkling in each others' eyes. He'll start another inquisition." Kathleen and Carolyn laughed at the same time. "Yes, I was just explaining to Ian about that." Carolyn took a last sip of tea and looked at Ian. "Now if you'll excuse the two of us, we have work to do," she said, standing up. "All right. I will see you later," Ian said. He stepped over beside her and kissed her on the cheek. As he walked past her and out the door, Carolyn turned and watched him walk away and then turned back around and walked over to Kathleen. "So, it seems a lot has happened since I last saw Mr. Shepard." "Oh don't start. Nothing's happened," Carolyn said, picking up the menu for that night's dinner and looking it over. "You're only lying to yourself. There's something more there, and you know it." "We'll just wait and see what happens," Carolyn retorted, putting the menu down. David opened his weary eyes. His vision was blurred, and his wrist hurt. He became aware that his hands were behind his back, tied to the back of the chair he was sitting in. He guessed he was in a room, as the area was extremely dark, and he could see no more than a few inches in front of his face. A soft glow of light filtered under a wooden door and into the room David was in. The door slowly creaked open, and David attempted to glimpse into the other room, but saw nothing more than an arm chair, as the person entering David's room quickly shut the door. "Good, you're awake," his captor said. The man carried a single candle, which illuminated his face only enough for David to make out the outline. Not enough to describe him with.
"Where am I?" David asked, still groggy.
"Where you are is not important right now. Information you possess, however, is. I will ask you a few questions and you shall be compelled to answer them honestly. If I suspect you of lying, there will be dire consequences. Do you understand?"
David said nothing. This person certainly was quick and to the point. No messing around. David would do all he could to lie to the man, depending on the question. This would be tough. There was no telling what this man would do.
"Do you know Quentin Collins?" the man asked, putting the candle down on a petite table, and seating himself in a chair that creaked when he sank into it. "I'll repeat the question. Do you know Quentin Collins?"
"Yes," David uttered so softly that anyone with perfect hearing would have needed the strongest hearing aid to hear it.
"Good. We're making progress, however small." The man's answer let David know that he was something other than human. No human man could have heard that. "Were you traveling to see Quentin Collins?"
"Yes."
"Good. Is someone after Quentin? Does someone wish to kill him?"
"I....don't know......" David answered.
"YOU LIE! I WARNED YOU NOT TO LIE!" the man screamed so loud that David attempted to cover his ears but couldn't. The pain of the sound ringing through his ears was unbearable. "Now, tell me again. Is someone after Quentin Collins?"
"I.....DON'T.........KNOW!!!!!!!!!!" David yelled as loud as he could.
"All right, next question. Are you going to kill Quentin Collins?"
"No, I would nev-..." David was cut off.
"Are you going to kill Quentin Collins?"
"I told you I would nev-.."
"Are you going to kill Quentin Collins?!"
"No."
"ARE YOU GOING TO KILL QUENTIN COLLINS?!?!?"
"No, I won't."
"ARE YOU GOING TO KILL QUENTIN COLLINS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Yes."
David Collins had always preferred traveling by train. The train always had the scenic route, whereas traveling by air was rather boring. Sure, in first class they had movies to watch, by taking the train seemed more majestic, more relaxing. He found that he was always able to complete more paperwork on a train ride. Even though it was more expensive to take the train across the country, David enjoyed it more and that was all the mattered to him.
David had spent the last few years in California, where he had built a respectable home, nothing to marvel over. He moved there to set up a branch of the family shipping business, feeling that he needed to spread his horizons. Not only that, but his advisors had informed him that it would be a very business savvy decision. So, he made the decision. David took a fourth of the family fortune to California with him and spent it on his new home as setting up the business. He had bought a pier that was already built, remodeled it and made it much larger. Then he bought fifteen ships and gave them an overhaul as well. After that, the only thing left to do was advertising and David hired the best in the business.
As it was now, the business on that side of the country was booming, and David knew it was time to return to visit his family. He wasn't in Collinsport when everything happened; he had just left for California. But he had heard about it. And was appalled by it. But Quentin had told him not to come back; there was nothing left to come back to. This trip would mark the first time he had seen his family in five years.
He walked up to the ticket window and told the young lady behind the glass that he wanted a round trip to Crystalville, New York. Once she had printed the ticket and told him the total was $150, David paid her with cash and continued. He carried one suitcase and a light-green duffel bag, all the things he would need housed within. A light mist began wafting through the air, and David stepped under the platform roof, to avoid his luggage becoming moist. The train would be arriving any moment, and David prepared himself to board.
The train pulled up and came to a screeching halt. Many people were waiting in a long line in front of David to board the train. No one would notice if he were captured. The night air was thick and the only light was from the few street lights along the platform. A man came up behind David and wrapped his arm around David's neck, putting a cloth over David's mouth. Soon David fell unconscious and another man emerged from the shadows to help carry David off.
Ian Shepard and Carolyn Collins sat at a small table in the restaurant in the Collins Hotel. The restaurant was called Moonlite, and was run by Carolyn and Kathleen. Many guests dined there every evening, and often there was a short play put on the tiny stage.
"Is it your intention to woo me, Ian?" Carolyn asked, flashing a smile and sipping some tea.
"It wasn't when I when I arrived, but I hope you do not mind that I've decided to," Ian said as Carolyn put her cup down.
"Not at all. But I should warn you that my brother insists on screening every prospective boyfriend of mine. Even in our older age he has a fit if I don't tell him about anyone I'm seeing. He has always been overprotective, and I enjoy humoring him."
"I'm not worried at all. I am quite sure he will find me satisfactory. After all, you like me, don't you?"
Carolyn nodded. "Perhaps we will be able further out friendship a bit more before Quentin decides to pry."
"Friendship? Is that all it is right now?"
"I'm not one to move too fast for my own good, Ian. I suppose I should have told you that right away." Kathleen walked through the double door entry way. She nodded to Carolyn and Ian and continued over to the hostess podium. "You two love birds better not Quentin catch twinkling in each others' eyes. He'll start another inquisition." Kathleen and Carolyn laughed at the same time. "Yes, I was just explaining to Ian about that." Carolyn took a last sip of tea and looked at Ian. "Now if you'll excuse the two of us, we have work to do," she said, standing up. "All right. I will see you later," Ian said. He stepped over beside her and kissed her on the cheek. As he walked past her and out the door, Carolyn turned and watched him walk away and then turned back around and walked over to Kathleen. "So, it seems a lot has happened since I last saw Mr. Shepard." "Oh don't start. Nothing's happened," Carolyn said, picking up the menu for that night's dinner and looking it over. "You're only lying to yourself. There's something more there, and you know it." "We'll just wait and see what happens," Carolyn retorted, putting the menu down. David opened his weary eyes. His vision was blurred, and his wrist hurt. He became aware that his hands were behind his back, tied to the back of the chair he was sitting in. He guessed he was in a room, as the area was extremely dark, and he could see no more than a few inches in front of his face. A soft glow of light filtered under a wooden door and into the room David was in. The door slowly creaked open, and David attempted to glimpse into the other room, but saw nothing more than an arm chair, as the person entering David's room quickly shut the door. "Good, you're awake," his captor said. The man carried a single candle, which illuminated his face only enough for David to make out the outline. Not enough to describe him with.
"Where am I?" David asked, still groggy.
"Where you are is not important right now. Information you possess, however, is. I will ask you a few questions and you shall be compelled to answer them honestly. If I suspect you of lying, there will be dire consequences. Do you understand?"
David said nothing. This person certainly was quick and to the point. No messing around. David would do all he could to lie to the man, depending on the question. This would be tough. There was no telling what this man would do.
"Do you know Quentin Collins?" the man asked, putting the candle down on a petite table, and seating himself in a chair that creaked when he sank into it. "I'll repeat the question. Do you know Quentin Collins?"
"Yes," David uttered so softly that anyone with perfect hearing would have needed the strongest hearing aid to hear it.
"Good. We're making progress, however small." The man's answer let David know that he was something other than human. No human man could have heard that. "Were you traveling to see Quentin Collins?"
"Yes."
"Good. Is someone after Quentin? Does someone wish to kill him?"
"I....don't know......" David answered.
"YOU LIE! I WARNED YOU NOT TO LIE!" the man screamed so loud that David attempted to cover his ears but couldn't. The pain of the sound ringing through his ears was unbearable. "Now, tell me again. Is someone after Quentin Collins?"
"I.....DON'T.........KNOW!!!!!!!!!!" David yelled as loud as he could.
"All right, next question. Are you going to kill Quentin Collins?"
"No, I would nev-..." David was cut off.
"Are you going to kill Quentin Collins?"
"I told you I would nev-.."
"Are you going to kill Quentin Collins?!"
"No."
"ARE YOU GOING TO KILL QUENTIN COLLINS?!?!?"
"No, I won't."
"ARE YOU GOING TO KILL QUENTIN COLLINS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Yes."
