Chapter Two; The Novel
Cooper was talking into the speakerphone with Jefferies standing behind him. The arrogantly whiny voice of forensic pathologist's answer to Buddha explained what the men had found at the Stevens' house. Albert Rosenfield, a strict Buddhist himself was the best at what he did, and the FBI's top forensic pathologist. He was a strange man, not on the same level of strangeness as Cooper, but weird nonetheless. He had a bad attitude problem and high self esteem which made for a bad combination, and a very cocky, arrogant man, with a smart retort for everything, and an even worse attitude for local law enforcement. He was at the beginning of summarizing Jefferies, and Cooper's find at the Stevens house.
"Okay boys, listen up. Once again that glitter isn't of the common house hold variety. It's really finely ground crystals, some precious, some not so. Everything from rhinestones to rubies, boys. It looks ground up but definitely not by hand. It's got the same effect as sand. Wore down by time, not jewelers scrap. That feather Jefferies found is from a Tyto Álba. That's a Common Barn Owl, boys. Common because they're all over North America. It's a light colored owl with long legs and a heart shaped face. It's strictly nocturnal, and hunts rats and mice. Not big enough to carry off a baby."
"I knew it." Coop said as he smiled. "It all goes back to that book."
Jefferies snorted in Coopers general direction, and spoke to the phone.
"Is that all you got for us Albert?"
"Yep boys sorry I didn't have more to go on. You guys track down this baby snatcher you here."
"We got ya Albert." Jefferies answered.
The phone clicked off and Cooper pushed the button to hang up his end.
"What now?" Jefferies asked Cooper.
"We read the book."
"We've already read it Dale. Five times looking for clues."
"Not aloud. Remember what Angela said. She said she was reading Samantha a story to try and calm her down, and then all hell broke loose."
"Not more of your hocus pocus Dale."
"She was missing time Phillip. All of them were. And it all happened after they either read or quoted the story. I say we give it a try."
"You can read it if you want, Coop. I know you're going to anyway."
Cooper fished out one of the copies of "The Labyrinth" that they had collected from one of the many kidnapping crime scenes.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Cooper began.
"Through danger untold and hardships unnumbered. I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom is great…" Cooper read the first chapter. It was about a girl Sarah who was feed up with caring for her half brother, and living in a dream world. Her stepmother fit into the classic role of wicked stepmother and forced her to stay home with the baby while she and her husband went out. Sarah couldn't get the baby boy to calm down and sleep so she began to make up a story. Cooper read on. "Sarah pulled Toby's red and white striped hat upon her head and sneered into the mirror, playing the role of a goblin. 'Say your right words.' the goblin said. 'And we'll take the baby to the Goblin City, and you will be free. But the girl knew that the king of the goblins would keep the baby forever and ever and turn it into a goblin. And so, the girl suffered in silence, until one night when she was tired from a day of house work, and hurt by the harsh words of her stepmother, and she could no longer stand it.' Sarah held the baby boy repeating, 'No I mustn't… I mustn't say… I wish…. I wish.' Then, she raised him high above her head and called, 'I can bare no longer. Goblin King, Goblin King wherever you may be! Come take this child of mine far away from me!'"
Cooper paused, and Jefferies and he exchanged glances, outside a rainstorm was brewing ready to spit forth lighting and hail at any moment's notice.
"Well don't just sit there Coop, keep reading."
Cooper continued the tale.
"It didn't work and Sarah placed Toby back in his crib still wailing, and covered him up with a blanket. 'I wish I did know what to say to make the goblins come and take you away.' She said as she crossed the room to the door. As she switched off the light she said. 'I wish goblins would come and take you away. Right Now!'"
Cooper stopped reading. The lights in their hotel room had just gone out.
"Probably the storm." Jefferies said a little shaken up.
It wasn't the storm at all. Suddenly, they both heard a thumping noise at the window. Cooper went over and pulled the blinds. A Barn Owl was thrashing it's self against the glass. The glass smashed and a cloud of the jewel dust filled the room. The owl flew around the room before disappearing. In its place stood the imposing figure of the Goblin King, arms crossed and smiling with his head slightly cocked in curiosity. Cooper smiled and whispered to the dumbstruck Jefferies.
"I think we've just cracked the case."
"No shit." Jefferies responded.
The figure spoke up.
"Well, well, well. Now what do we have here?"
"FBI shitbird. Care to tell us where the kiddies are? Or do I have to shoot you?" Jefferies said as he pulled his pistol. The man laughed.
"That thing will have no effect on me. I'm not even really here. Now I don't see any children so why don't you two explain what I'm doing here."
"We want the babies shitbird." Jefferies intoned not lowering his gun.
"My name, gentlemen, in Jareth. Not… shitbird." He said with an evil grin. "And you can't have them. You didn't wish them away."
"Is that how it works? A person wishes away their siblings and you snatch them up?" Cooper asked calmly.
"It is." Jareth answered.
"What do we have to do to get them back?" Cooper asked.
"Are you betting men?" Jareth asked in return.
"Yes." Jefferies said still with the king in his sights.
"Then you have to solve that." Jareth said pointing out the window. What used to be a parking lot had transformed into a gigantic maze colored in browns and sandy golden hues. "But I really shouldn't let you. They weren't your responsibility, and you didn't wish them away. But I'm bored and you too look like fun. I guess I could bend the rules on this one. I'm interested to see how grown men will fair against the perils of my labyrinth"
"Wow." Cooper said amazed. "It's big."
"And certain death awaits you round every corner." Jareth said dramatically. "I usually soften it up for the kids who try and beat it. I always make sure they aren't in any serious danger. They never remember a thing after loosing. And no one has ever won. The story is false, but it helps me do my job. But you two aren't children, so I'm upping the stakes and lowering the time limit. Death, gentlemen awaits you. Such a pity… You have seven hours in which to solve my labyrinth and reach my castle in the center. If you loose, which you inevitably will, and are still alive at the end of seven hours you may return back to your pathetic lives. Without the children."
"And if we win?" Jefferies asked.
"And… if… you win, I will give you the children from you case files. Simple." Jareth laughed a haunting laugh and disappeared. His voice could be heard echoing in the air.
"Such a pity…Such a pity."
Cooper was talking into the speakerphone with Jefferies standing behind him. The arrogantly whiny voice of forensic pathologist's answer to Buddha explained what the men had found at the Stevens' house. Albert Rosenfield, a strict Buddhist himself was the best at what he did, and the FBI's top forensic pathologist. He was a strange man, not on the same level of strangeness as Cooper, but weird nonetheless. He had a bad attitude problem and high self esteem which made for a bad combination, and a very cocky, arrogant man, with a smart retort for everything, and an even worse attitude for local law enforcement. He was at the beginning of summarizing Jefferies, and Cooper's find at the Stevens house.
"Okay boys, listen up. Once again that glitter isn't of the common house hold variety. It's really finely ground crystals, some precious, some not so. Everything from rhinestones to rubies, boys. It looks ground up but definitely not by hand. It's got the same effect as sand. Wore down by time, not jewelers scrap. That feather Jefferies found is from a Tyto Álba. That's a Common Barn Owl, boys. Common because they're all over North America. It's a light colored owl with long legs and a heart shaped face. It's strictly nocturnal, and hunts rats and mice. Not big enough to carry off a baby."
"I knew it." Coop said as he smiled. "It all goes back to that book."
Jefferies snorted in Coopers general direction, and spoke to the phone.
"Is that all you got for us Albert?"
"Yep boys sorry I didn't have more to go on. You guys track down this baby snatcher you here."
"We got ya Albert." Jefferies answered.
The phone clicked off and Cooper pushed the button to hang up his end.
"What now?" Jefferies asked Cooper.
"We read the book."
"We've already read it Dale. Five times looking for clues."
"Not aloud. Remember what Angela said. She said she was reading Samantha a story to try and calm her down, and then all hell broke loose."
"Not more of your hocus pocus Dale."
"She was missing time Phillip. All of them were. And it all happened after they either read or quoted the story. I say we give it a try."
"You can read it if you want, Coop. I know you're going to anyway."
Cooper fished out one of the copies of "The Labyrinth" that they had collected from one of the many kidnapping crime scenes.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Cooper began.
"Through danger untold and hardships unnumbered. I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom is great…" Cooper read the first chapter. It was about a girl Sarah who was feed up with caring for her half brother, and living in a dream world. Her stepmother fit into the classic role of wicked stepmother and forced her to stay home with the baby while she and her husband went out. Sarah couldn't get the baby boy to calm down and sleep so she began to make up a story. Cooper read on. "Sarah pulled Toby's red and white striped hat upon her head and sneered into the mirror, playing the role of a goblin. 'Say your right words.' the goblin said. 'And we'll take the baby to the Goblin City, and you will be free. But the girl knew that the king of the goblins would keep the baby forever and ever and turn it into a goblin. And so, the girl suffered in silence, until one night when she was tired from a day of house work, and hurt by the harsh words of her stepmother, and she could no longer stand it.' Sarah held the baby boy repeating, 'No I mustn't… I mustn't say… I wish…. I wish.' Then, she raised him high above her head and called, 'I can bare no longer. Goblin King, Goblin King wherever you may be! Come take this child of mine far away from me!'"
Cooper paused, and Jefferies and he exchanged glances, outside a rainstorm was brewing ready to spit forth lighting and hail at any moment's notice.
"Well don't just sit there Coop, keep reading."
Cooper continued the tale.
"It didn't work and Sarah placed Toby back in his crib still wailing, and covered him up with a blanket. 'I wish I did know what to say to make the goblins come and take you away.' She said as she crossed the room to the door. As she switched off the light she said. 'I wish goblins would come and take you away. Right Now!'"
Cooper stopped reading. The lights in their hotel room had just gone out.
"Probably the storm." Jefferies said a little shaken up.
It wasn't the storm at all. Suddenly, they both heard a thumping noise at the window. Cooper went over and pulled the blinds. A Barn Owl was thrashing it's self against the glass. The glass smashed and a cloud of the jewel dust filled the room. The owl flew around the room before disappearing. In its place stood the imposing figure of the Goblin King, arms crossed and smiling with his head slightly cocked in curiosity. Cooper smiled and whispered to the dumbstruck Jefferies.
"I think we've just cracked the case."
"No shit." Jefferies responded.
The figure spoke up.
"Well, well, well. Now what do we have here?"
"FBI shitbird. Care to tell us where the kiddies are? Or do I have to shoot you?" Jefferies said as he pulled his pistol. The man laughed.
"That thing will have no effect on me. I'm not even really here. Now I don't see any children so why don't you two explain what I'm doing here."
"We want the babies shitbird." Jefferies intoned not lowering his gun.
"My name, gentlemen, in Jareth. Not… shitbird." He said with an evil grin. "And you can't have them. You didn't wish them away."
"Is that how it works? A person wishes away their siblings and you snatch them up?" Cooper asked calmly.
"It is." Jareth answered.
"What do we have to do to get them back?" Cooper asked.
"Are you betting men?" Jareth asked in return.
"Yes." Jefferies said still with the king in his sights.
"Then you have to solve that." Jareth said pointing out the window. What used to be a parking lot had transformed into a gigantic maze colored in browns and sandy golden hues. "But I really shouldn't let you. They weren't your responsibility, and you didn't wish them away. But I'm bored and you too look like fun. I guess I could bend the rules on this one. I'm interested to see how grown men will fair against the perils of my labyrinth"
"Wow." Cooper said amazed. "It's big."
"And certain death awaits you round every corner." Jareth said dramatically. "I usually soften it up for the kids who try and beat it. I always make sure they aren't in any serious danger. They never remember a thing after loosing. And no one has ever won. The story is false, but it helps me do my job. But you two aren't children, so I'm upping the stakes and lowering the time limit. Death, gentlemen awaits you. Such a pity… You have seven hours in which to solve my labyrinth and reach my castle in the center. If you loose, which you inevitably will, and are still alive at the end of seven hours you may return back to your pathetic lives. Without the children."
"And if we win?" Jefferies asked.
"And… if… you win, I will give you the children from you case files. Simple." Jareth laughed a haunting laugh and disappeared. His voice could be heard echoing in the air.
"Such a pity…Such a pity."