Chapter Eleven

Robbie walked down the hall to the study room where they held the teen help line activities. If he wanted answers as to where Rocky was that was where he had to go. It has been a week now and Rocky still hasn't shown up. He was beyond worried now not knowing what to do about it. He would have liked to call Rocky's parents. The ninja has mentioned that his father worked with the F.B.I, surely he would care that his son has turned up missing. Or possibly, because of himself, ran away. But that didn't seem like Rocky to him. The running type. He seemed more like the type to stick it out no matter what, that was the guy he was introduced to and came to know.

The door squeaked open as he walked into the room. His eyes surveyed the area to locate the teacher in charge of the place. He was nowhere in sight, but he saw a couple people looking at him so he turned on a smile to make himself seem friendly. Which he is, but he needed answers and the slightest wave of bad air wouldn't get them. Approaching a girl who seemed to be looking the hardest he sat down in front of her.

"Hi. I'm Robbie." Reaching across the table for the girls hand, it was shaken then he drew it back.

"Tabatha... Aren't you Rocky's room mate?" She asked pointing a finger at him.

"Why yes, yes I am. in fact- Rocky is just the person I wanted to talk to you about..."

"O-kay... What do you want?" Tabatha cocked a brown brow, wondering what the boy had to say.

"And don't freak out but... Have you seen him recently- or heard from him, a phone call or anything?"

The girl thought for a moment, then sighed shaking her head. "No, I just assumed he had gone home over labor day weekend. Why, is something wrong?"

Robbie considered the question. He didn't wanna cause a panic, but come on it's been a week and there wasn't so much as a note left on the door for him. So something has to be done. "Yeah, I think that Rocky has been hurt somehow."

Tabatha's eyes widened. How could Rocky be hurt? He seemed fine the last time she had seen him.

"That's why I asked. Has he been acting weird or, did he say anything about leaving anywhere?"

He was drawing attention now, people in the room were watching him and the girl speak. They were either eaves dropping or like with Rocky, wondering why someone looking the way he does would hang out with a girl like Tabatha. But he didn't care. If they wanna be uncivilized then let them. He was here for Rocky, not to make new friends.

"Hmm, come to think of it..." she raised a painted finger. "Rocky was waiting for a phone call, he said that three times that week when I asked him if he wanted to walk back to class with me. I just stopped asking the other times I'd seen him doing it assuming the same answer."

"The phone call... I'll bet whoever he was on the phone with knows where he is..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, someone had called him one night, he really chewed them out too-"

"Chewed them out?" The girl interrupted. "That doesn't sound like Rocky."

"I know, but he really was upset by the call."

"Come to think of it... he seemed to be getting this call every once in a while that always seemed to upset him... do you think that could have been them?"

"Could be, he did ask how they got his cell number."

"God... I hope he's ok... Do his parents know he's missing?"

"No. And I don't know their number to call them." He dropped his head, defeated.

"That's okay. You can check the phone book. Since Mr. Douglas is a cop, I think they're listed."

"Thanks! I think that'll really help me out a lot." Turning out his best smile, he laughed when the girl blushed. "I've gotta go check for the number. Thank you again, Tabatha."

"You're welcome..." Her breath seemed taken away as the cute brunette swept out of the room.

Sam Douglas walked into the police station carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and his brief case in the other. He couldn't believe how hysterical his wife had gotten over the fact that their son hadn't called at all last week. He tried explaining to her that Rocky was a mature responsible boy, who is now in college. He can't always be expected to call home to his Mommy to make her feel better. Their son is fine, studying hard, and getting his work done.

She swore and said that if he didn't call by the middle of this week she was going to go down to that college herself and give him a reason not to forget. Kissing his wife good bye, Sam said good bye to his sons and left for work. He didn't have time to listen as his wife spoke of responsibility.

"Can you believe it was his son?" Officer Bradshaw whispered.

"Ssshhoooot," the other officer ran a hand over his bald head. "If that were my son, I think I'd wanna know what happened."

"Commiss' says that it's not Douglas' place to know." The black man leaned forward to whisper to his friend. "He says, if Douglas was to find out, he would only try to hide his son."

"If he hasn't already. I heard the kid couldn't be found since that night he was called over the phone. Plus, the officer we had tailing him was drugged so that he could get away."

"Get out."

"No foolin'... Man there's a whole lot a wrong shit goin' on around here." Officer Bradshaw shook his head. "Man I can't imagine what a nineteen year old boy plans to do with a seven year old little girl anyway. Shouldn't he have a girlfriend?"

The other officer shrugged.

The door opened and Sam walked in. "Hey guys, what are you whispering about?" Even though he knew it was 'he', that the other cops were whispering about.

"Eeeh?" The two cops look at each other wondering what to say.

"It's nothing. We were just discussing the case."

"The Gonzales case?"

"Nope, nope the uuuhhh, Mansfield case." Said the other cop.

Sam cocked a brow. "Mansfield? That was... four years ago, why bring that up, was there a break?"

The two cops shook their heads. "Nope. It's just kinda funny... Teen boy disappearing like that at school, never to be found. It's strange don't you think?"

"Yeah, it's a lot like what happened to that little girl." He dropped his paper cup into the trash. "I'll keep checking in if I find out anything about the girl, focus on the cases we can solve, instead of the ones we can't. Okay guys."

Both men nodded, watching the agent go into his office.

"I feel sorry for him. If the Commissioner changes his mind, Douglas is gonna have more problems than his kid is he's ever found."

"If he's ever found, guy could be in Mexico with that kid by now." Bradshaw shook his head. "Sure like to know the mind of a criminal. Then this case would be over and we could take our own vacations."

The phone rang in the Douglas house. Jessica was washing dishes while in the living room Tum Tum sat on the couch, posture relaxed, flipping channels. Colt was out, as usual, doing something with his friends.

"Moooom phoooone!" He called over the running water.

"Pick it up sweetie it might be your brother." She called, then muttered under her breath. "If he knows what's good for him."

Tum tum sighed in frustration, she was ruining his TV time. Reaching to his left, he snagged the black phone from the base and said in a dull tone. "This better be good, Rock'. You're making Mom mad."

"Hello. Who is this?" An indifferent voice asked.

"Hello? Rocky?"

"This is Robbie, Robert Ballerini."

"Oh, wrong number. Bye-..." About to hang up, he heard the voice shouting through the phone.

"Wait!"

Sighing again, this time in agitation, the young boy brought the phone to his ear again. "Yeah?"

"I'm calling about your brother." his voice was frantic now, thinking that he would be hung up on. "Is your mother there? who is this?"

"Rocky's brother, Michael." He flipped the phone to his other hand so that he could continue flipping channels. "How do you know my brother?"

"I'm his room mate, please is your mother there?"

"Yeah, hold on." He didn't even move the phone from his face as he shouted. "Moooom! Rocky's room mate wants to talk to youuuuuu!"

"Tum Tum, you're sixteen years old. Stop acting like you're ten." Jessica was drying her hands on a towel when she entered the living room. "Now what is it?"

"I don't know, here. It's Rocky's room mate, Robbie."

Taking the phone from her son, Jessica walked back into the kitchen. "This is Mrs. Douglas, go ahead."

"Mrs. Douglas, this is very important. I need to know if your son came home over the holiday?" Robbie was afraid to say anything to her really. Women are very sensitive when it comes to their kids. But she had to know.

"No, he didn't. And when you see him, room mate Robbie, please tell him he's in a lot of trouble." Her voice was playfully stern.

"Please don't joke this is serious." Robbie breathed into the phone.

Now Jessica was beginning to worry. The answering machine message had nothing on it but blankness, though it said there was a message. She just figured Rocky called but hung up thinking it was too late. "What do you mean?"

"Mrs. Douglas... I think something happened to your son. He left one night, for a drive and he never came back. I think he's trouble, a car accident maybe something else. I'm not sure." He wet his lips. "But, either way, he has not been back since that night."

Jessica could swear she felt her heart stop. All this time, she had just figured, maybe he is busy, but no... all this time her son has been missing. And no one knew about it.

"I would have called you sooner but I didn't know the number."

"No, no that's okay- have you told the police?" Jessica's voice was frantic now. So much so that it caused her youngest son to look at her with worry. "What did they say?"

"That's another thing, there's some... missing little girl." He shook his head. "I think her name is Noelie- something?"

"Gonzales?"

"Y-yeah, I think so."

"Well, what about her, what does she have to do with this?" Jessica was now moving to get her coat and things. She had to get to the station and talk to someone- quick!

"The police think that... Rocky took her. That's why he disappeared."

That seemed strange. "Why would they think that?"

"Because... It's a long story, can you meet up with me?"

"I'll be right there."

"No, come to the coffee shop across the street. I'm wearing a dark green shirt and black jeans." He was quiet a moment. "I'm sitting on a long red couch by the back wall."

"Alright, I'll come as soon as I can." Saying good bye, she hung up her phone.

"Mom, what's going on?" Tum stood and walked over to her.

"I'll tell you later. Wait for your father to get back and tell him that I went to the coffee shop by the school campus." She shrugged her jacket on, then grabbed her car keys from the bowl by the door. "Don't let your brother leave when he gets back."

"But why? Is it Rocky?"

His words were unanswered as the door slammed shut after his mother.

Grumpy, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Man, no one ever tells me anything."

Rocky woke up with a tight pain in his chest. He coughed violently, turning on to his side incase he needed to sit up. He couldn't catch his breath, the air down there was far to thick for that. Pressing his face into his pillow, he took a deep breath then slowly let it out. He had to do this at times when his lungs were over filled with air. It usually worked, and with luck it did this time as well. Once his breathing was steady, he looked around the darkness.

Where am I? He wondered. I feel like I've been asleep forever... But that can't be... He heard the sound of tight panting from somewhere in the room. Is that me? no, it doesn't sound like me... Than who? A light came on by the metal door in the room. It was open! Did Maria leave it open on accident? Maria. I remember now. I'm in a cell, somewhere with her...

Pressing his hand down onto the bed so that he could sit up, his hand pressed into a piece of paper. Gripping it, he flipped it open. It was far too dark to read what it said. At least on the bed anyway. If he got closer to the cars he probably could use the light coming from the door. As he moved to further sit up, he heard the rattling sound behind him. No wonder he was choking when he woke up, he was chained up again. Probably so he wouldn't escape while the door is open. But then, why would he escape with the cell doors still closed. Rocky didn't have time to think about these things; getting off the bed, he fumbled.

His body was obviously week from lack of food. It made he wish that he had eaten more of the soup she had brought him, no matter how meager the portions were. But he also couldn't think about that either. As much as he would like to go back to the past to ensure this didn't happen to him, he knew he could not. So he could only look to the future when he would get out. Holding the bed for a bit of support, Rocky steadied his self then tried walking again. this try had a bit more ease.

As he got closer to the cell door, he noticed that it too was open. Am I dreaming? Maybe, something happened to her, and I'm free! The thought of that happening just seemed stupid. How could anything happen to a girl that could control your thoughts. No, this was a set up, and he wasn't about to take the bait. Walking out of the cell doors, he tilted the slip of paper toward the light.

Upstairs. You have ten minutes. Maria. Was all it said.

Ten minutes? From when! I don't have a watch! and who knows how long I've been asleep! Frantically, Rocky hurried over to the chain to unhook his self- if that were possible- but when he got there and felt around for the chain, there wasn't one to be found. What the-...? Feeling the collar, he took notice that the chain was there. But apparently not his chain. This one went somewhere else. Looking at the door, he frowned. The chain was going in that direction, which meant he had to go out that way.

Upstairs... Do I wanna know what's up there? Do I wanna know what will happen to me if I don't go. Figuring out which one would be less damaging he followed his chain out the door.

The hall was just as ragged and barren as his cell. The walls covered in fluffy green mold. The floor felt damp to his feet. It smelled too. Keeping his attention to his surroundings light, Rocky pressed on after his chain. His breathing growing more shallow as he walked. He felt fear touching him, like a person with long bony, cold fingers that ran up his bare backside. His breath stopped in a gasp when he came to another door. He had to know. He had to peek inside and see if anyone was in there.

Standing on his toes, he peered into the little box window. Rocky's eyes almost popped out of his head seeing into the light up cell room. Inside, there was a lovely decorated bed with silky sheets, he guessed, and a large soft blanket. On top of that the walls were painted in a beautiful red color, rich, like wine in a glass. Looking past all the other little luxuries in the room, chairs, clean toilet and tub- there was even a small box of what looked to be chocolates on a desk! The only thing off about the room was a large painting of a body, about 15, maybe 13 hanging on the wall. He looked serene, if Rocky had to describe it. almost too serene. He began to wonder if the boy were in there or not.

Realizing he didn't have time to look around, the blond continued down the hall. But anytime he came to a door curiosity got the better of him and he peeked in. Each room was more lavish than the last and more detailed. As though Maria had made it so whomever was in the room was... happy. That didn't seem like her at all. But then her words returned to him, running his blood cold.

"If you're good. You can have rewards."

How many times has she done this. He knew her when he was 15. There was no way a 15 year old girl could be doing all this. Unless, in some weird way, Maria was older! It wasn't entirely impossible. There were people who were around 30 going to college but looked to be his age. The girl could have faked her age to get into school, but then... Why was she living with her aunt? Too many questions, he'd better just keep going.

Rocky made it to the end of the dimly lit hall way. There was a large set of double doors before him. They were held open as well. He guessed so that the long chain attached to his collar could rest on the floor. That was fine with him. He didn't think he had the strength to push them open on his own. Once past the door, he glanced over his shoulder. No turning back now. There was just five small steps before him then a wooden door.

Gathering his courage, he walked up the stairs. Rocky grabbed the door, and with shaking hands turned it. It creaked lightly and he could hear a tiny laugh playing through his mind. This was different from the one that laughed at him in his sleep. This one was female and definitely Maria.

"Come on, come on. Don't be shy." She was saying to him from another room.

Rocky glanced around for about a second before pressing forward. He had been in a small kitchen in a place that was- as far as he knew- made of brick. Through there, he came into a living room, a very lovely living room, but he didn't have time to think in detail, as Maria's piercing eyes caught his own in a stare down.

She was in an arm chair, legs crossed and looking quite relaxed. Parting her legs, she smiled and said. "Come kneel."

Rocky guessed that she meant between her legs, and he obeyed. down on his knees he came, one hand crossed over the other, head bowed. Maria leaned forward in her seat, patting his cheek then head like he were a dog. "Good boy... My dear Rocky. I think it's time we had a little talk..."