,***Notice: in the first 2 chapters you were introduced to the main
characters of the story. I am still revising some parts of the previous 2
stories to make it more solid. (they perhaps seem not quite whole, I try to
do my best to make it more solid), R/R are always welcome, a story can
always become better! Tell me the truth about how you find them for the
time being!) *** To get back to my ideas about it, the chapters I have in
development will become more action packed, hope you will enjoy
Thanx for reading.
Frozen feelings part 3: Victims
8:00 PM, somewhere in the centre of Duchess Town
A hand was wiping away the damp that had formed itself on the inside of the car window.
The car was totally black, a high 4 WD Mitsubishi, the man inside lit a cigarette. For a moment his face was seen, dark long hair tied in a ponytail, a hawk-like nose, piercing dark eyes. He blew the smoke at the window, which drifted away like clouds over an open sea. Like a messenger, telling bad weather was coming. He was staring outside, eyes dark as a tar pit, observing any movement seen outside. A hunter waiting for his prey. The engine started with a smooth vibrating sound. Hands clutching the wheel, covered in tight black leather gloves.
He sucked at the cigarette again, blew smoke out again this time to the front car window, he put the cigarette in the ashtray, his mouth forming an "o" then a satanic smile. Creeping into the dark night. He had waited long enough, it was time to strike.
Hello money..
On the other side of town
It was about 9:30 pm in. There were almost no cars on the road. Douglas finally made his last trip, delivering the last boxes he had collected from Edmonds, a local warehouse belonging to his employer, from which he had loaded in 80 boxes to be distributed to 5 different computer stores in Duchess Town and neighbouring villages.
"Lets see". He mumbled in himself.
Looking at the delivery list holding it to his cabin lamp, which did not gave that much light. He held the paper closer to the light, made slits of his eyes, looking at the list.
"Braddock , Dolan, Evans, euh, Frippick, strange name for a computer store?", he thought by himself and scratched his head, at first he had not noticed this, because he really wanted to get home after this last delivery, eager to see Becca again. He was getting tired. He ran his fingers along the list and tapped on the last name.
"Griswold, yep Griswold!", he finally saw the name now clearly, putting the list down, shifted in gear, the truck began to move.
"16 boxes coming up mister Griswold " he said to himself. The store was just a few blocks away, he drove into the right street, saw the sign of the store approaching him hanging above the store, like a long lost friend. He smiled.
He drove further into the free loading zone in an alley on the left side of the building. Eagerly he jumped out of the truck, walked to the door where a notice board saying 'ring for delivery' pointing towards a button. He pushed it 3 times, but did not hear any ringing. Just as he wanted to push it again, the door opened and a hand in glove appeared on the doors edge that pushed it open.
A little man stepped outside, and the first thing Douglas noticed was this big grey cap he was wearing, which seemed a little too big for the mans head, with a big red letter G on it. The next thing Douglas saw was a big bright smile on a friendly Asian face.
"Mister Griswold?" Doug asked a bit surprised.
"No,no, no, my name is Jackie Chen, the store clerk" the man answered. Putting 2 fingers to the side of his head, like boy scouts do then again looked at Doug with that warm smile. Doug grinned and in a reflex wanted to ask him if he was family of that other Chan, the movie star, but his eyes caught the nametag the man was wearing. 'Chen', spelled with an E.
"Delivery 2204, 16 boxes from Edmonds?" the man suddenly asked, looking at Doug patiently.
"Euh, yep, 16 boxes, computer components" Doug replied still with a dumb grin on his face, handing over the delivery list. The clerk reminded Doug of his economics teacher from high school back in 1988, mister 'Yamada' who was Japanese, Doug had been close friends with his son. But after a year following his lessons, they detected that mister Yamada had cancer, and that he hadn't much time left. Doug never heard from him again, or his son. Maybe he should make a call sometimes see how he's doing.
"Lets get this crap, unloaded!" mister Chen suddenly said, Doug snapped out of his thoughts gave mister Chen a big smile and followed the man to the back of his truck and they began unloading it.
Tired unloading this last delivery, Doug drove away and waved goodbye to Mister Chen, who again tipped 2 fingers to his head smiling brightly. Doug's mind pondered again to high school, he really should get in contact with Mike Yamada again, ask how his father was, if he was still alive. Mike was one of those friends that came around rarely, just like Dogman. There must be a way to recover an address or something.
When he wanted to turn the truck around the corner out of the alley, he suddenly heard a strange thumping sound in the back of his truck. 'Did we forget something unloading?' he thought. He quickly stepped on the breaks. Again he heard the sound.
"What the hell!" quickly he jumped out of the truck, to the back, unlocked the doors.
A strange man, hair all wild, shirt out of his pants stood there in the door opening. Doug's mouth fell open, with big eyes he stared at the man. He also noticed that this guy only wore one shoe. His left foot was bare!
"Who the hell are you?"
Outside St James, Duchess Town's general hospital, around 10:00 PM
Three figures were strolling out of St James, the 2 girls, Jenny and Pyra were walking side to side. Jenny's arm was wrapped around Pyra. She was silently crying.
A few steps in front of them Dogman was walking. Luckily, Pyra only had a third degree burn, she will survive. But it will leave a scar on her hip. Dogman wanted to get home soon, Douglas promised to drop by before going home himself to Becca. The both of them wanted to drink a few brewskies and chat for awhile, before hitting the sheets.
When he wanted to cross the street to his car, standing almost halfway on the street Dogman suddenly heard the roar of a car coming from the left side on the street. He turned his head and 'Whoosh' it sounded, headlights blinded him in surprise. Just in time he could jump aside, landing in a nearby bush. It all happened in a flash.
Dogman struggled to get out of the bush, his feet were in the air, and his head and mouth were full of leaves. It wasn't a strong bush. He cursed, trying to raise his middle finger, but fell out of the bush down on his butt.
"Asshole!" he cursed, while rubbing leaves out of his hair, spitting leaves out of his mouth. The 2 girls came running to him.
"Are you all right, Dogman?" they both asked worried in choir.
"Did you get his freaking plates, damn!" he cussed, rubbing his butt with both hands with pain in his eyes.
"To dark to see his plates, looked like a black car to me" Jenny said hastily, while she crouched down next to Dogman who was sitting on the grass, and she pulled leaves out of his hair. Irritated he slapped her hands away.
"What!" Jenny said with a loud voice.
"Damn it, what's this?" She heard Dogman saying with a freaky voice. He stood up looked down at the back of his jeans, sniffed and made a disgusted face than looked at his hands. The 2 girls also started to look at his behind, then at his hands.
"Yuck!" they said in choir
There was brownish goo dripping from Dogmans hands.
"Looks like shit!" Pyra almost said snorting, hiding her mouth in her hands. Jenny also had to hide a laugh. Then they both looked at each other and began to giggle.
Dogman looked from one girl to the other than back to his both hands, arms stretched in front of his body.
"Shitting monkeys!" This made the 2 girls brake out in laughter.
Back.Nearby Grisswold's
"Hey buddy tell me what are you doing in my truck?" Douglas yelled.
"You scared the hell out of me!" he stared at the man.
The man could barely keep on his feet, he was swaggering a bit. Douglas noticed this and felt a bit sorry. He helped him down from the truck. The man sat down on the ground, raised a hand to his head
"Ouch!" he touched the wound on his head. Douglas kneeled down and took a better look at where he had touched his head.
"Is that a wound on your head, mister? Trouble with your wife, or did somebody robbed you?" Douglas asked worried.
"Don't know.. what happened, was cold. Got into. truck" the man spoke in broken sentences.
Douglas sat down next to grissom, who looked very exhausted.
The man sat there holding his head in his hands and seemed like crying. Douglas felt very sorry for the guy. Wearing only one shoe, clothes ripped at knees and elbows.
"Tell me man, what were you doing there inside my truck?" while Douglas stood up again leaning to the back of the truck, eyes still focused on the man.
"Don't know...Dark.was cold.cannot remember?" grissom said while shaking his head, shivering, then suddenly looked straight up at Douglas. Their eyes connected.
Douglas sighed, did not know how to react when he saw the lost and helpless look on his face. Remembering him of his own dad, the last time he had seen him, when he decided to leave his parents house when he was 18. All kids out of the house now. He missed his dad, and his mum!
"Let us get out of here, no use to stay sitting here, your wound looks very ugly man!"
"Its late and its cold and I am hungry, let us get you to a doctor!" Douglas claimed.
He helped him up and they both got into the truck. Grissom walked as if he was drunk. His legs felt like pudding. Douglas put him in the sleeping compartment in the back of the cabin, got behind the wheel, and looked over his shoulder while he got behind the wheel. When he turned to look again he heard the man snoring like a cat.
Douglas smiled." Poor bastard!" he thought. "What is this world coming to?"
He put into gear and slowly as if he did not wanted to wake his passenger, pulled up the road and headed for county hospital.
Two hours later, while waiting in the visitors room.
A doctor walked up to Douglas, who was sitting holding yesterdays newspaper. He was not really reading it, but was thinking about the man he found, that he was wearing only one shoe puzzled him and the man also strongly reminded him of his dad. He put down the paper stood up and looked up in wonder.
"You are the man who brought John Doe in?" the doctor said while holding out a hand to shake Douglas' hand. Saying his name was doc Blotter.
Douglas stood up, and cleared his throat. "Yes, Douglas Black, I found him".
"Mister Black, I have to tell you that your friend is very lucky, he has a severe concussing to the left side of his head, with some broken bones in his hands and a twisted left ankle, but he will survive!" the doctor said with a sincere smile.
Douglas was glad and nodded smiling, noticed that he still held on to the doctor's hand. Doctors always made him feel uncomfortable the last time he was in a hospital was when his parents had the accident and the doctor brought him the bad news. He let go of his hand. The doctor nodded.
"Nice to hear Doc, but what will happen to him, I mean, I do not know his name, I found him in the back of my truck while delivering, he did not have any ID on him or something, what are you going to do with him?"
"You have to know that every day there are anonymous people brought in to this hospital, heck, to every hospital as far as I know, the police will question him as soon as he feels better, or a relative will pop up and contact us. Don't worry, he is in good hands!" Doctor Blotter replied.
Douglas felt relieved, after he found the man he felt some sort of connection to him as if he knew him somehow. His mother always told him, that ever since he had been a kid, he had a gift to draw people around him that would become very close friends. Just like the Dogman and the Wolfman. He had been a friend with them since kindergarten.
"Yeah, right Doc, but would you give him my name and address, soon as he is feeling better?" "May he ever want to know who brought him here, so he could buy me drink sometime to thank me?" Douglas said a little jokingly, smiling.
The doctor looked surprised, while Douglas handed him a piece of paper with name and address. Doc looked at it. A smile came on his face.
"Sure, I make sure he gets it!" "I, really appreciate your concern for other people, not many people who would do so, Mister Black!" The doctor said, while shaking Douglas' hand patting him on the shoulder, and thanked him.
Douglas saw him hurrying away, because his pager began to beep, a nurse approached him and spoke to him with hastily concern. Off he was.
He stood there for awhile, in thoughts, and then slowly walked away to the exit of the hospital. He remembered that he promised Dogman to drop by after his last delivery. He looked at his watch, it was almost 23:30, hope Dogman is still up.
(Douglas did not know that Dogman and the two girls had been at the same hospital an hour before him!)
He took up his pace when he was outside. A few minutes later he drove into the street where Dogman lived.
Meanwhile inside Dogmans house..
Shooting was heard. The two girls where snuggled up on the sofa watching a rerun of 'Terminator 2', Arnie was just about shooting his shotgun empty at the truck riding over the bridge, eating popcorn the girls were giggling at each other. Dogman was busy in the bathroom, scrubbing his hands in the sink, now and then looking in the mirror disgusted. His hands totally covered in soap, again and again he soaped them in until his hands saw red after he rinsed them.
Douglas rapped on the door, Dogman had no doorbell. He knocked again. He heard the loud sound of the tv and the giggling.
"Come on people!" he shouted and knocked again. Finally someone opened, a girl with red flaming hair, put her head around the door looked at Douglas in distrust, it was Pyra.
"What do you want?" she asked, looked at him with a brutal face.
"Who are you missy, what are you doing in Dogmans house?
Douglas pushed the door aside, Pyra almost fell backwards into the house.
"Hey, I did not ask you in creep!" she yelled.
"Hold your horses!" Doug replied and kept on walking in.
"Dogman!" he yelled.
"Cat!" Jenny screamed. And jumped up from the sofa, ran to him, and flung herself around his neck. Began covering him with kisses. It took Douglas by surprise. Pyra first looked surprised, but then began to giggle.
"Is that your boyfriend?" She asked curious. Douglas and Jenny both looked at Pyra in surprise.
Jenny let go of Douglas and gave Pyra the middle finger. Douglas smiled. Pyra stuck out her tongue.
"Fool. This is my favorite uncle, Uncle Douglas!" she yelled.
Pyra, had her hands on her hips, wiggling them. Some popcorn was sticking on her hair and t-shirt.
"How the hell was I supposed to know, fine girlfriend you are!"
Jenny raised her head to the sky stretched out both arms, palms up, as if she expected rain to fall down, than pointed eagerly to her head, looking childishly at Pyra, Pyra ran her hand through her hair, plucked the popcorn out of it. Looked at it. Gave a ooh. Put the popcorn in her mouth.
Looked at Jenny than at Douglas.
"Nice!" she said, popcorn cracking in her mouth.
"What the hell is going on in here, what's all that screaming?" someone yelled.
Dogman ran into the room, almost stumbled over a pillow lying on the floor; saw the three of them standing there. The two girls turned their heads to him, gazed with dumb smiles on their faces.
On Douglas' face a brought smile appeared.
Dogman had wrapped his head in a towel; he looked like an Arabian sheikh, only, without beard.
The two girls and Douglas began to laugh.
Dogman stood there, upper body naked, in white shorts that were too wide for his skinny figure, shaking his head, the turban bobbed.
"What?" he said.
23:48, somewhere underground, a secret place.
Computer screens were flashing; people were talking to each other standing close next to each other holding papers, showing each other papers pointing at what was written. Debating or arguing. Some were bending over a big glass table pushing little things back and forth. Nodding at each other. Their voices filled the room. They all wore black or grey suits, or skirts, women and men. The floor they walked on showed the letters spelling S..U.M..A. Everywhere in the building there was action.
In an office isolated from the busy man and women, located on a higher level, a man sat at a table in the centre of the room staring at the screen of his laptop before him, the screen flashed. Next to him a woman sat listening what he was saying. The woman was in her fifties or sixties, but looked very determined and noble, her long gray hair was bond in a knot on her back, she wore a black cap with the grey letters spelling SUMA on it. She kept on nodding to everything the man said.
Finally she stood up. She put a hand on the shoulder of the man sitting there. She sighed.
"No Pizza today!" she said. Her face revealed a faint smile.
Walked away from the man, who closed his laptop. The room darkened.
She left the building, doors closing behind her.
Back at Dogmans house...0:04.
Dogman was sitting across Douglas at the kitchen table; Dogmans hair was free from his turban, still a bit hanging down his face. Both were sipping at a beer.
"Sure looked funny, that towel!" Douglas laughed, and belched.
"Yeah, yeah, make a fool out of me!" Dogman replied. Wiped away the hair out of his face.
"Who is this man you were telling me about, you found in your truck? "You brought him to hospital?"
"Me and the girls were there too tonight, around 22:30 did not see you?"
"I came in later" Douglas replied.
"Why were you there?' Doug asked curiously.
"One of the girls, burned herself, with a joint, but she will survive"
"Who, Jenny? Douglas asked with a grin on his face.
"Isn't her style, barbies are more her style?" He said while he took a sip of his beer.
"No, her new girlfriend Pyra, on her hip" Dogman replied.
"Stupid please to get burned?" Douglas said. Belched.
"What kind of a name is that anyway, is her father a fireman or something?"
"Don't know, just met the kid today, I will ask Jenny about her" Dogman took another beer out of the fridge, looked at Douglas, held up another bottle, but Douglas nodded no.
"But about that guy, you know I have a strange feeling about him, he reminds me of someone!"
"Someone I know too, taxman maybe?" Dogman joked. Douglas smiled.
"Maybe, taxmen are indeed strange fellows!"
"Talking about strange, I was nearly hit by a car when I left the hospital tonight, the asshole missed me by an inch or so!" Dogman proclaimed, putting down his bottle with a hard knock.
"Got his plates?" Douglas asked.
"Too dark, the damn fool made me jump in the bushes, right into dog shit!" "The girls did not see plates either"
"Dog shit in the bushes?" "Must have been a big dog?" Douglas joked and smiled at Dogman.
"Big dog, O man, shut up, fell down on it, but I do remember that it was a black car, kind of a 4WD".
"Yeah now I do remember, sure it was a 4WD!"
Dogman stood up almost knocked down the bottle from the table.
"Damn, when I could get that creep in my hands, I will shit on his face!"
Douglas nearly choked in his beer, still looked funny when Dogman stood there in his oversized white shorts, boney knees showing. Dogman used to be thicker, but since he lost his fiancée, a good meal came last on his list of daily needs. Dogmans real name was Michael Marion Jones. His father was a big fan of John Wayne thereof the Marion in his name. But since the accident friends called him Slim. But he simply prefers to be called Dog or Dogman.
Douglas emptied his bottle, gave a loud belch and looked at Dogman, and stood up.
"Have to go Dog, Becca, must be wondering why I am not home yet, don't want to worry her!"
"And don't you worry about that fellow that almost hit you, probably some joyriding kid!"
Dogman gave a sour smile, he looked tired. They gave each other a friendly hug, patted each other on the back.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Doug, have any plans tomorrow?" Dog asked.
"I think, I will take Becca for a ride to the mountains in my truck, for some fresh air, will do the baby good!"
"Say hello for me will you?" showing Doug to the door.
"Hope the baby will come soon, Becca is stress at times, you know what I mean?"
"Yeah, women, I know, especially pregnant ones, pain in the butt!" Dog said.
"Can't live without them, Dude, man needs to hear some sweet words once in awhile!"
"Yeah right, later dude!" Dog closed the door, he thought about Elizabeth again, sweet Elizabeth. Her blond hair and lovely blue eyes, he always called her his Pheebs, because see looked a bit like that girl from 'Friends", phoebe. One of their favorite TV shows. He sighed.
'How I miss you, baby!' he thought. He went to bed, and fell asleep; on his mind he pretended holding her close in his arms kissing her.
The next morning 8:32, at the county hospital, room 365.
Curtains were drawn open. The soft tapping of shoes was heard, someone walking around in the room, the room became brighter and lighter chased the dark spots away.
The man in the bed opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling for a moment, concentrating on his breathing. It was the only sound he heard next to the footsteps. He tried to turn his head, but a sharp pain forced him to close his eyes again.
"Ow!" he grunted.
"Ah, you're awake!" A soft woman's voice said. A shadow came closer.
Grissom opened his eyes again, felt a soft warm hand touch his cheek, it was almost comforting. Now he saw the woman. She looked like an angel; a soft face surrounded by short black curly hair, a mouth with soft full lips, revealing teeth, white as snow. Big light brown eyes looked at him with a fiery passion.
At first he only saw her lips moving, without sound, but the more he concentrated he could understand the words.
"Where am I?" he softly asked, looking at the woman.
"O, blue eyes, I am so glad you woke up, you must be hungry?" she said.
"Where am I?" he asked again. This time, he tried louder. He tried to sit up, but her hand held him down. He felt oozy again.
"Easy now, blue eyes, I will tell you in a second". The woman spoke softly, patting him on the shoulder.
He stared at her, and breathed slowly in and out, seeing her nodding.
"That's right, easy now!"
She stood up from bending down over him, and he saw that she was holding a glass in her hands, she let him sip. The water was cool, tasted somewhat bitter. But it made him feel good.
"You are in St James county hospital, Duchess Town, a man found you in his truck, do you remember him?" she asked slowly. Looking eagerly at Grissom. He did not reply, but gave a worried look.
"Do you know your name?" her eyes looking at him with great expectation.
Grissom, searched his mind, but could not get a grip on his memory. He remembered only bits and pieces. But he did remember the man, a young man, yelling at him than helping him into a truck. But his name???
"I do not know," he said to the woman.
"I.. Remember the young man, but I can not remember my name?"
"Hush now, it will come, better rest now, your family will probably look for you!"
"Family?"
Grissom felt sleepy, passed out.
The next day,11:18 outside Dogmans house.
Both girls were dressed in worn out jeans with holes, torn at places their mothers would not want to know, underneath their high school jackets they wore tight T-shirt with all the colours of the rainbow. All to pleasure the boys at school. You had that on their age. Jenny and Pyra stood waiting for their boyfriends to pick them up.
It was Friday, they had to be in school at 10:00 for their first class, but they missed the bus. Jenny solemnly promised her uncle Dog that she would not skip school, even if her father was on holiday in the Bahamas.
"So, what's this deal with Patrick, you asked him yet?" Pyra asked teasing, chewing bubble gum blowing a balloon, letting it pop.
Patrick was the boy in high school, Jenny had a crush on. James Dean type.
"So?" pulling the gum out her mouth into a long strand.
Jenny was combing her long blond, while bending over, so most of her hair was, hanging down, she shook her head back, had had the Tina Turner look for a moment. Then she combed her hair straight to the back again looked at her girlfriend. She sighed.
"He gave me his number but I am chicken shit to call him!"
Jenny bended to her knees, pulled up her jeans a bit, showed Pyra the number written on the inside of her left ankle, Pyra tried to wipe it away wetting her finger, Jenny slapped it away, but the number looked like tattooed on it.
"Permanent marker!" Jenny said, covering her ankle with her trouser again.
"Cool!" she said. Still chewing her bubble gum.
"And even so, Dogman got my mobile, said he is going to keep it for awhile!" Pyra gave her the huh-look.
"Remember the fire, your panties, me and you smoking pot?"
She looked at Pyra, who cursed silently, fanatically chewing her gum. "Whe could use a phone booth?" She claimed looking at her shoes, popping her bubble gum.
"Could, do", Jenny replied. Both suddenly looked up, a car was nearing.
But Jenny noticed that it was not the car Richard and Charlize drove their friends; it was a big black 4WD! And it was clear that it took up speed when the driver saw them. The engine began to roar like a wild animal. His wheels shrieked! Burned rubber!
"Shitting monkeys!" They both cried out in total surprise. Pyra almost choked on her gum. They started to run. Run as fast as they could!
But they were not able to put enough distance between them and the car, which drove relentlessly over stoops, over garbage cans right thru garden fences. No mercy.
Pyra saw Jenny had fallen to the ground behind her. She did not move anymore. The car moved closer and closer!
Then she saw the barrel of a gun, a silencer sticking out of the window. Dark sunglasses behind it!
"Ommigod!, he killed her!" She walked back to Jenny and bowed down shaking her body. She cursed, Pyra breathed heavily. Tears ran down her face. With both hands she pushed hard against her girlfriend's body.
No reaction!
She wanted to drag her girlfriend away. Her whole body was shivering. Sunrays made the car windows flash.
Suddenly she felt a sting on her back, her hands touched her back in a reflex, then her body dropped over, head down, right on Jenny. They both did not move anymore.
***The story gets hotter, in the next episode, a lot of questions will be revealed, you will get to know what Granny Smith has to do in all this. (Hope I don't spoil the fun by telling this) Grissom will become more involved, but mainly Dogman and Douglas and that mysterious man in the black car will stick out in the story. And, what about the two girls? Are they just victims? *** (Thanx for reading, hope you will enjoy the rest, please R/R)`
Frozen feelings part 3: Victims
8:00 PM, somewhere in the centre of Duchess Town
A hand was wiping away the damp that had formed itself on the inside of the car window.
The car was totally black, a high 4 WD Mitsubishi, the man inside lit a cigarette. For a moment his face was seen, dark long hair tied in a ponytail, a hawk-like nose, piercing dark eyes. He blew the smoke at the window, which drifted away like clouds over an open sea. Like a messenger, telling bad weather was coming. He was staring outside, eyes dark as a tar pit, observing any movement seen outside. A hunter waiting for his prey. The engine started with a smooth vibrating sound. Hands clutching the wheel, covered in tight black leather gloves.
He sucked at the cigarette again, blew smoke out again this time to the front car window, he put the cigarette in the ashtray, his mouth forming an "o" then a satanic smile. Creeping into the dark night. He had waited long enough, it was time to strike.
Hello money..
On the other side of town
It was about 9:30 pm in. There were almost no cars on the road. Douglas finally made his last trip, delivering the last boxes he had collected from Edmonds, a local warehouse belonging to his employer, from which he had loaded in 80 boxes to be distributed to 5 different computer stores in Duchess Town and neighbouring villages.
"Lets see". He mumbled in himself.
Looking at the delivery list holding it to his cabin lamp, which did not gave that much light. He held the paper closer to the light, made slits of his eyes, looking at the list.
"Braddock , Dolan, Evans, euh, Frippick, strange name for a computer store?", he thought by himself and scratched his head, at first he had not noticed this, because he really wanted to get home after this last delivery, eager to see Becca again. He was getting tired. He ran his fingers along the list and tapped on the last name.
"Griswold, yep Griswold!", he finally saw the name now clearly, putting the list down, shifted in gear, the truck began to move.
"16 boxes coming up mister Griswold " he said to himself. The store was just a few blocks away, he drove into the right street, saw the sign of the store approaching him hanging above the store, like a long lost friend. He smiled.
He drove further into the free loading zone in an alley on the left side of the building. Eagerly he jumped out of the truck, walked to the door where a notice board saying 'ring for delivery' pointing towards a button. He pushed it 3 times, but did not hear any ringing. Just as he wanted to push it again, the door opened and a hand in glove appeared on the doors edge that pushed it open.
A little man stepped outside, and the first thing Douglas noticed was this big grey cap he was wearing, which seemed a little too big for the mans head, with a big red letter G on it. The next thing Douglas saw was a big bright smile on a friendly Asian face.
"Mister Griswold?" Doug asked a bit surprised.
"No,no, no, my name is Jackie Chen, the store clerk" the man answered. Putting 2 fingers to the side of his head, like boy scouts do then again looked at Doug with that warm smile. Doug grinned and in a reflex wanted to ask him if he was family of that other Chan, the movie star, but his eyes caught the nametag the man was wearing. 'Chen', spelled with an E.
"Delivery 2204, 16 boxes from Edmonds?" the man suddenly asked, looking at Doug patiently.
"Euh, yep, 16 boxes, computer components" Doug replied still with a dumb grin on his face, handing over the delivery list. The clerk reminded Doug of his economics teacher from high school back in 1988, mister 'Yamada' who was Japanese, Doug had been close friends with his son. But after a year following his lessons, they detected that mister Yamada had cancer, and that he hadn't much time left. Doug never heard from him again, or his son. Maybe he should make a call sometimes see how he's doing.
"Lets get this crap, unloaded!" mister Chen suddenly said, Doug snapped out of his thoughts gave mister Chen a big smile and followed the man to the back of his truck and they began unloading it.
Tired unloading this last delivery, Doug drove away and waved goodbye to Mister Chen, who again tipped 2 fingers to his head smiling brightly. Doug's mind pondered again to high school, he really should get in contact with Mike Yamada again, ask how his father was, if he was still alive. Mike was one of those friends that came around rarely, just like Dogman. There must be a way to recover an address or something.
When he wanted to turn the truck around the corner out of the alley, he suddenly heard a strange thumping sound in the back of his truck. 'Did we forget something unloading?' he thought. He quickly stepped on the breaks. Again he heard the sound.
"What the hell!" quickly he jumped out of the truck, to the back, unlocked the doors.
A strange man, hair all wild, shirt out of his pants stood there in the door opening. Doug's mouth fell open, with big eyes he stared at the man. He also noticed that this guy only wore one shoe. His left foot was bare!
"Who the hell are you?"
Outside St James, Duchess Town's general hospital, around 10:00 PM
Three figures were strolling out of St James, the 2 girls, Jenny and Pyra were walking side to side. Jenny's arm was wrapped around Pyra. She was silently crying.
A few steps in front of them Dogman was walking. Luckily, Pyra only had a third degree burn, she will survive. But it will leave a scar on her hip. Dogman wanted to get home soon, Douglas promised to drop by before going home himself to Becca. The both of them wanted to drink a few brewskies and chat for awhile, before hitting the sheets.
When he wanted to cross the street to his car, standing almost halfway on the street Dogman suddenly heard the roar of a car coming from the left side on the street. He turned his head and 'Whoosh' it sounded, headlights blinded him in surprise. Just in time he could jump aside, landing in a nearby bush. It all happened in a flash.
Dogman struggled to get out of the bush, his feet were in the air, and his head and mouth were full of leaves. It wasn't a strong bush. He cursed, trying to raise his middle finger, but fell out of the bush down on his butt.
"Asshole!" he cursed, while rubbing leaves out of his hair, spitting leaves out of his mouth. The 2 girls came running to him.
"Are you all right, Dogman?" they both asked worried in choir.
"Did you get his freaking plates, damn!" he cussed, rubbing his butt with both hands with pain in his eyes.
"To dark to see his plates, looked like a black car to me" Jenny said hastily, while she crouched down next to Dogman who was sitting on the grass, and she pulled leaves out of his hair. Irritated he slapped her hands away.
"What!" Jenny said with a loud voice.
"Damn it, what's this?" She heard Dogman saying with a freaky voice. He stood up looked down at the back of his jeans, sniffed and made a disgusted face than looked at his hands. The 2 girls also started to look at his behind, then at his hands.
"Yuck!" they said in choir
There was brownish goo dripping from Dogmans hands.
"Looks like shit!" Pyra almost said snorting, hiding her mouth in her hands. Jenny also had to hide a laugh. Then they both looked at each other and began to giggle.
Dogman looked from one girl to the other than back to his both hands, arms stretched in front of his body.
"Shitting monkeys!" This made the 2 girls brake out in laughter.
Back.Nearby Grisswold's
"Hey buddy tell me what are you doing in my truck?" Douglas yelled.
"You scared the hell out of me!" he stared at the man.
The man could barely keep on his feet, he was swaggering a bit. Douglas noticed this and felt a bit sorry. He helped him down from the truck. The man sat down on the ground, raised a hand to his head
"Ouch!" he touched the wound on his head. Douglas kneeled down and took a better look at where he had touched his head.
"Is that a wound on your head, mister? Trouble with your wife, or did somebody robbed you?" Douglas asked worried.
"Don't know.. what happened, was cold. Got into. truck" the man spoke in broken sentences.
Douglas sat down next to grissom, who looked very exhausted.
The man sat there holding his head in his hands and seemed like crying. Douglas felt very sorry for the guy. Wearing only one shoe, clothes ripped at knees and elbows.
"Tell me man, what were you doing there inside my truck?" while Douglas stood up again leaning to the back of the truck, eyes still focused on the man.
"Don't know...Dark.was cold.cannot remember?" grissom said while shaking his head, shivering, then suddenly looked straight up at Douglas. Their eyes connected.
Douglas sighed, did not know how to react when he saw the lost and helpless look on his face. Remembering him of his own dad, the last time he had seen him, when he decided to leave his parents house when he was 18. All kids out of the house now. He missed his dad, and his mum!
"Let us get out of here, no use to stay sitting here, your wound looks very ugly man!"
"Its late and its cold and I am hungry, let us get you to a doctor!" Douglas claimed.
He helped him up and they both got into the truck. Grissom walked as if he was drunk. His legs felt like pudding. Douglas put him in the sleeping compartment in the back of the cabin, got behind the wheel, and looked over his shoulder while he got behind the wheel. When he turned to look again he heard the man snoring like a cat.
Douglas smiled." Poor bastard!" he thought. "What is this world coming to?"
He put into gear and slowly as if he did not wanted to wake his passenger, pulled up the road and headed for county hospital.
Two hours later, while waiting in the visitors room.
A doctor walked up to Douglas, who was sitting holding yesterdays newspaper. He was not really reading it, but was thinking about the man he found, that he was wearing only one shoe puzzled him and the man also strongly reminded him of his dad. He put down the paper stood up and looked up in wonder.
"You are the man who brought John Doe in?" the doctor said while holding out a hand to shake Douglas' hand. Saying his name was doc Blotter.
Douglas stood up, and cleared his throat. "Yes, Douglas Black, I found him".
"Mister Black, I have to tell you that your friend is very lucky, he has a severe concussing to the left side of his head, with some broken bones in his hands and a twisted left ankle, but he will survive!" the doctor said with a sincere smile.
Douglas was glad and nodded smiling, noticed that he still held on to the doctor's hand. Doctors always made him feel uncomfortable the last time he was in a hospital was when his parents had the accident and the doctor brought him the bad news. He let go of his hand. The doctor nodded.
"Nice to hear Doc, but what will happen to him, I mean, I do not know his name, I found him in the back of my truck while delivering, he did not have any ID on him or something, what are you going to do with him?"
"You have to know that every day there are anonymous people brought in to this hospital, heck, to every hospital as far as I know, the police will question him as soon as he feels better, or a relative will pop up and contact us. Don't worry, he is in good hands!" Doctor Blotter replied.
Douglas felt relieved, after he found the man he felt some sort of connection to him as if he knew him somehow. His mother always told him, that ever since he had been a kid, he had a gift to draw people around him that would become very close friends. Just like the Dogman and the Wolfman. He had been a friend with them since kindergarten.
"Yeah, right Doc, but would you give him my name and address, soon as he is feeling better?" "May he ever want to know who brought him here, so he could buy me drink sometime to thank me?" Douglas said a little jokingly, smiling.
The doctor looked surprised, while Douglas handed him a piece of paper with name and address. Doc looked at it. A smile came on his face.
"Sure, I make sure he gets it!" "I, really appreciate your concern for other people, not many people who would do so, Mister Black!" The doctor said, while shaking Douglas' hand patting him on the shoulder, and thanked him.
Douglas saw him hurrying away, because his pager began to beep, a nurse approached him and spoke to him with hastily concern. Off he was.
He stood there for awhile, in thoughts, and then slowly walked away to the exit of the hospital. He remembered that he promised Dogman to drop by after his last delivery. He looked at his watch, it was almost 23:30, hope Dogman is still up.
(Douglas did not know that Dogman and the two girls had been at the same hospital an hour before him!)
He took up his pace when he was outside. A few minutes later he drove into the street where Dogman lived.
Meanwhile inside Dogmans house..
Shooting was heard. The two girls where snuggled up on the sofa watching a rerun of 'Terminator 2', Arnie was just about shooting his shotgun empty at the truck riding over the bridge, eating popcorn the girls were giggling at each other. Dogman was busy in the bathroom, scrubbing his hands in the sink, now and then looking in the mirror disgusted. His hands totally covered in soap, again and again he soaped them in until his hands saw red after he rinsed them.
Douglas rapped on the door, Dogman had no doorbell. He knocked again. He heard the loud sound of the tv and the giggling.
"Come on people!" he shouted and knocked again. Finally someone opened, a girl with red flaming hair, put her head around the door looked at Douglas in distrust, it was Pyra.
"What do you want?" she asked, looked at him with a brutal face.
"Who are you missy, what are you doing in Dogmans house?
Douglas pushed the door aside, Pyra almost fell backwards into the house.
"Hey, I did not ask you in creep!" she yelled.
"Hold your horses!" Doug replied and kept on walking in.
"Dogman!" he yelled.
"Cat!" Jenny screamed. And jumped up from the sofa, ran to him, and flung herself around his neck. Began covering him with kisses. It took Douglas by surprise. Pyra first looked surprised, but then began to giggle.
"Is that your boyfriend?" She asked curious. Douglas and Jenny both looked at Pyra in surprise.
Jenny let go of Douglas and gave Pyra the middle finger. Douglas smiled. Pyra stuck out her tongue.
"Fool. This is my favorite uncle, Uncle Douglas!" she yelled.
Pyra, had her hands on her hips, wiggling them. Some popcorn was sticking on her hair and t-shirt.
"How the hell was I supposed to know, fine girlfriend you are!"
Jenny raised her head to the sky stretched out both arms, palms up, as if she expected rain to fall down, than pointed eagerly to her head, looking childishly at Pyra, Pyra ran her hand through her hair, plucked the popcorn out of it. Looked at it. Gave a ooh. Put the popcorn in her mouth.
Looked at Jenny than at Douglas.
"Nice!" she said, popcorn cracking in her mouth.
"What the hell is going on in here, what's all that screaming?" someone yelled.
Dogman ran into the room, almost stumbled over a pillow lying on the floor; saw the three of them standing there. The two girls turned their heads to him, gazed with dumb smiles on their faces.
On Douglas' face a brought smile appeared.
Dogman had wrapped his head in a towel; he looked like an Arabian sheikh, only, without beard.
The two girls and Douglas began to laugh.
Dogman stood there, upper body naked, in white shorts that were too wide for his skinny figure, shaking his head, the turban bobbed.
"What?" he said.
23:48, somewhere underground, a secret place.
Computer screens were flashing; people were talking to each other standing close next to each other holding papers, showing each other papers pointing at what was written. Debating or arguing. Some were bending over a big glass table pushing little things back and forth. Nodding at each other. Their voices filled the room. They all wore black or grey suits, or skirts, women and men. The floor they walked on showed the letters spelling S..U.M..A. Everywhere in the building there was action.
In an office isolated from the busy man and women, located on a higher level, a man sat at a table in the centre of the room staring at the screen of his laptop before him, the screen flashed. Next to him a woman sat listening what he was saying. The woman was in her fifties or sixties, but looked very determined and noble, her long gray hair was bond in a knot on her back, she wore a black cap with the grey letters spelling SUMA on it. She kept on nodding to everything the man said.
Finally she stood up. She put a hand on the shoulder of the man sitting there. She sighed.
"No Pizza today!" she said. Her face revealed a faint smile.
Walked away from the man, who closed his laptop. The room darkened.
She left the building, doors closing behind her.
Back at Dogmans house...0:04.
Dogman was sitting across Douglas at the kitchen table; Dogmans hair was free from his turban, still a bit hanging down his face. Both were sipping at a beer.
"Sure looked funny, that towel!" Douglas laughed, and belched.
"Yeah, yeah, make a fool out of me!" Dogman replied. Wiped away the hair out of his face.
"Who is this man you were telling me about, you found in your truck? "You brought him to hospital?"
"Me and the girls were there too tonight, around 22:30 did not see you?"
"I came in later" Douglas replied.
"Why were you there?' Doug asked curiously.
"One of the girls, burned herself, with a joint, but she will survive"
"Who, Jenny? Douglas asked with a grin on his face.
"Isn't her style, barbies are more her style?" He said while he took a sip of his beer.
"No, her new girlfriend Pyra, on her hip" Dogman replied.
"Stupid please to get burned?" Douglas said. Belched.
"What kind of a name is that anyway, is her father a fireman or something?"
"Don't know, just met the kid today, I will ask Jenny about her" Dogman took another beer out of the fridge, looked at Douglas, held up another bottle, but Douglas nodded no.
"But about that guy, you know I have a strange feeling about him, he reminds me of someone!"
"Someone I know too, taxman maybe?" Dogman joked. Douglas smiled.
"Maybe, taxmen are indeed strange fellows!"
"Talking about strange, I was nearly hit by a car when I left the hospital tonight, the asshole missed me by an inch or so!" Dogman proclaimed, putting down his bottle with a hard knock.
"Got his plates?" Douglas asked.
"Too dark, the damn fool made me jump in the bushes, right into dog shit!" "The girls did not see plates either"
"Dog shit in the bushes?" "Must have been a big dog?" Douglas joked and smiled at Dogman.
"Big dog, O man, shut up, fell down on it, but I do remember that it was a black car, kind of a 4WD".
"Yeah now I do remember, sure it was a 4WD!"
Dogman stood up almost knocked down the bottle from the table.
"Damn, when I could get that creep in my hands, I will shit on his face!"
Douglas nearly choked in his beer, still looked funny when Dogman stood there in his oversized white shorts, boney knees showing. Dogman used to be thicker, but since he lost his fiancée, a good meal came last on his list of daily needs. Dogmans real name was Michael Marion Jones. His father was a big fan of John Wayne thereof the Marion in his name. But since the accident friends called him Slim. But he simply prefers to be called Dog or Dogman.
Douglas emptied his bottle, gave a loud belch and looked at Dogman, and stood up.
"Have to go Dog, Becca, must be wondering why I am not home yet, don't want to worry her!"
"And don't you worry about that fellow that almost hit you, probably some joyriding kid!"
Dogman gave a sour smile, he looked tired. They gave each other a friendly hug, patted each other on the back.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Doug, have any plans tomorrow?" Dog asked.
"I think, I will take Becca for a ride to the mountains in my truck, for some fresh air, will do the baby good!"
"Say hello for me will you?" showing Doug to the door.
"Hope the baby will come soon, Becca is stress at times, you know what I mean?"
"Yeah, women, I know, especially pregnant ones, pain in the butt!" Dog said.
"Can't live without them, Dude, man needs to hear some sweet words once in awhile!"
"Yeah right, later dude!" Dog closed the door, he thought about Elizabeth again, sweet Elizabeth. Her blond hair and lovely blue eyes, he always called her his Pheebs, because see looked a bit like that girl from 'Friends", phoebe. One of their favorite TV shows. He sighed.
'How I miss you, baby!' he thought. He went to bed, and fell asleep; on his mind he pretended holding her close in his arms kissing her.
The next morning 8:32, at the county hospital, room 365.
Curtains were drawn open. The soft tapping of shoes was heard, someone walking around in the room, the room became brighter and lighter chased the dark spots away.
The man in the bed opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling for a moment, concentrating on his breathing. It was the only sound he heard next to the footsteps. He tried to turn his head, but a sharp pain forced him to close his eyes again.
"Ow!" he grunted.
"Ah, you're awake!" A soft woman's voice said. A shadow came closer.
Grissom opened his eyes again, felt a soft warm hand touch his cheek, it was almost comforting. Now he saw the woman. She looked like an angel; a soft face surrounded by short black curly hair, a mouth with soft full lips, revealing teeth, white as snow. Big light brown eyes looked at him with a fiery passion.
At first he only saw her lips moving, without sound, but the more he concentrated he could understand the words.
"Where am I?" he softly asked, looking at the woman.
"O, blue eyes, I am so glad you woke up, you must be hungry?" she said.
"Where am I?" he asked again. This time, he tried louder. He tried to sit up, but her hand held him down. He felt oozy again.
"Easy now, blue eyes, I will tell you in a second". The woman spoke softly, patting him on the shoulder.
He stared at her, and breathed slowly in and out, seeing her nodding.
"That's right, easy now!"
She stood up from bending down over him, and he saw that she was holding a glass in her hands, she let him sip. The water was cool, tasted somewhat bitter. But it made him feel good.
"You are in St James county hospital, Duchess Town, a man found you in his truck, do you remember him?" she asked slowly. Looking eagerly at Grissom. He did not reply, but gave a worried look.
"Do you know your name?" her eyes looking at him with great expectation.
Grissom, searched his mind, but could not get a grip on his memory. He remembered only bits and pieces. But he did remember the man, a young man, yelling at him than helping him into a truck. But his name???
"I do not know," he said to the woman.
"I.. Remember the young man, but I can not remember my name?"
"Hush now, it will come, better rest now, your family will probably look for you!"
"Family?"
Grissom felt sleepy, passed out.
The next day,11:18 outside Dogmans house.
Both girls were dressed in worn out jeans with holes, torn at places their mothers would not want to know, underneath their high school jackets they wore tight T-shirt with all the colours of the rainbow. All to pleasure the boys at school. You had that on their age. Jenny and Pyra stood waiting for their boyfriends to pick them up.
It was Friday, they had to be in school at 10:00 for their first class, but they missed the bus. Jenny solemnly promised her uncle Dog that she would not skip school, even if her father was on holiday in the Bahamas.
"So, what's this deal with Patrick, you asked him yet?" Pyra asked teasing, chewing bubble gum blowing a balloon, letting it pop.
Patrick was the boy in high school, Jenny had a crush on. James Dean type.
"So?" pulling the gum out her mouth into a long strand.
Jenny was combing her long blond, while bending over, so most of her hair was, hanging down, she shook her head back, had had the Tina Turner look for a moment. Then she combed her hair straight to the back again looked at her girlfriend. She sighed.
"He gave me his number but I am chicken shit to call him!"
Jenny bended to her knees, pulled up her jeans a bit, showed Pyra the number written on the inside of her left ankle, Pyra tried to wipe it away wetting her finger, Jenny slapped it away, but the number looked like tattooed on it.
"Permanent marker!" Jenny said, covering her ankle with her trouser again.
"Cool!" she said. Still chewing her bubble gum.
"And even so, Dogman got my mobile, said he is going to keep it for awhile!" Pyra gave her the huh-look.
"Remember the fire, your panties, me and you smoking pot?"
She looked at Pyra, who cursed silently, fanatically chewing her gum. "Whe could use a phone booth?" She claimed looking at her shoes, popping her bubble gum.
"Could, do", Jenny replied. Both suddenly looked up, a car was nearing.
But Jenny noticed that it was not the car Richard and Charlize drove their friends; it was a big black 4WD! And it was clear that it took up speed when the driver saw them. The engine began to roar like a wild animal. His wheels shrieked! Burned rubber!
"Shitting monkeys!" They both cried out in total surprise. Pyra almost choked on her gum. They started to run. Run as fast as they could!
But they were not able to put enough distance between them and the car, which drove relentlessly over stoops, over garbage cans right thru garden fences. No mercy.
Pyra saw Jenny had fallen to the ground behind her. She did not move anymore. The car moved closer and closer!
Then she saw the barrel of a gun, a silencer sticking out of the window. Dark sunglasses behind it!
"Ommigod!, he killed her!" She walked back to Jenny and bowed down shaking her body. She cursed, Pyra breathed heavily. Tears ran down her face. With both hands she pushed hard against her girlfriend's body.
No reaction!
She wanted to drag her girlfriend away. Her whole body was shivering. Sunrays made the car windows flash.
Suddenly she felt a sting on her back, her hands touched her back in a reflex, then her body dropped over, head down, right on Jenny. They both did not move anymore.
***The story gets hotter, in the next episode, a lot of questions will be revealed, you will get to know what Granny Smith has to do in all this. (Hope I don't spoil the fun by telling this) Grissom will become more involved, but mainly Dogman and Douglas and that mysterious man in the black car will stick out in the story. And, what about the two girls? Are they just victims? *** (Thanx for reading, hope you will enjoy the rest, please R/R)`