Part VII
What do you do when the one thing that holds your world together vanishes without a trace?
What can I do, it's not like I can call anyone, and simply ask him or her for help. Lets just hope Josh found something on this guy.
Mick picked up his phone and dialled Josh's cell phone number.
"Josh Lindsey speaking"
"Hey, it's me, Mick"
"Oh hello Mick how's the case going? Anything on Beth?" asked Josh casually.
If you truly loved someone, so much that they were your whole world, you would only naturally be worried sick if they had somehow gone missing or were in danger. So, why doesn't he sound as worried as he has been in previous instances when Beth's life was in danger?
"Mick?"
"Mick, you still there?"
"Hmm? Oh yes, Yes I am still here. No, nothing new on Beth, but the guy who took her has been leaving me riddles after riddles, and he's sending me on a wild goose chase."
"Really? Whoa well you better keep an eye out for him or you might only make him want to hurt Beth more"
"Wait, did you say more? Has he already hurt her? How do you know?"
"I'm sorry Mick but I have to go, good luck"
Maybe it's just my imagination, I suppose he just assumes he's already hurt her, there's no need to be suspicious, wouldn't be surprised if that bastard already has.
The line went dead. Mick closed his cell phone and put it back on his desk. Pacing around his apartment, he decided he would go check out Beth's apartment; maybe there are some clues there that might help him figure out who this guy is.
Mick stood in front of Beth's apartment. Josh had obviously brought his "crew" there in search of clues, evidence. Mick's phone rang, the tag indicated that the caller was Josef; Mick automatically answered the ringing phone.
"Josef"
"Ah Mick, how good to hear from you again, I'm just so glad you called me."
"I've been rather busy lately, Josef. Are you calling for a reason or out of boredom?"
"Oh don't worry about me, old friend, I'm not even slightly bored, just finished having dinner actually, Michelle says hi"
"Listen to me carefully Josef, someone kidnapped Beth three days ago-"
"And you didn't even bother to tell me?"
"He told me not to, but I don't think he can hear me now anyway, wherever he is"
"Where are you?"
"Outside Beth's apartment, I was just about to go in and see if I could uncover anything that could help me figure out who this guy is…but then you called"
"Oh, I see, wait there, I'll be there in a flash"
Josef hung up. Mick closed the phone and slid it in his pocket.
"Good evening" said a voice. Mick turned around to face a security guard. His dark eyes sending daggers in Mick's general direction. In one hand he held a torch, which he pointed at Mick's face, causing Mick to instinctively flinch, his arms raised to shield his eyes.
"Evening officer" Mick answered politely.
"What business have you here. Do you realise how close you almost came to getting shot"
Do you have any idea how close you came to getting your face ripped out?
"I am truly sorry for the inconvenience, officer, but we're here to inspect the scene of the crime. I believe General Montgomery send his regards." Came the voice of Josef. He stood half hidden in the darkness, half illuminated by the light of the moon, from a nearby window. His hands were in his pockets; he wore a black suit with a red shirt visible underneath.
"Oh, I see, well in that case gentlemen…" the security guard took a few steps forward and unlocked the door "In you go" and with that he walked back down the corridor, mumbling incoherently about …"and more active crime response and prevention. Preventive police almost always make up the bulk of a police service's personnel."
Mick and Josef exchanged a brief grin and walked into the dark apartment.
"I take it you knew him?"
"Recognised him actually, he always was so incredibly gullible but I did meet General Mongomery, very nice man actually, and so is his daughter…. so, what are we looking for anyway?"
Mick breifly told Josef what had happened in the past few days, including the riddles, emails and his recent conversation with Josh, while they both scanned the apartment for any helpful clues. As Mick paced about Beth's apartment, he let himself surrender to his vamp instincts, and as he passed the staircase, he had a vision of the past. Moving to each area, the story played itself like a film in Mick's mind.
Beth got up, and walked downstairs with her laundry. She then proceeded to the laundry, but before she got there, she went to the kitchen for a coffee. She then entered the laundry and placed her laundry into the washing machine when she heard a noise, this caused her to turn around, she noticed the box of soap had fallen to the ground. Picking it up she then proceeded back into the kitchen to get her coffee, when she was confronted by a dark figure, she was then knocked unconcious.
Mick's blue eyes snapped open, he was right to come here, now he knew exactly what happened that day, he called Josef and recounted his vision.
"Did you see who it was?" Josef asked after Mick had finished.
"No, I could only see what he was wearing, a dark coat and hat"
Josef noticed how distressed Mick looked, he frequently ran a hand throught his hair, couldn't seem to stay still, and his blue eyes were bloodshot.
"You shouldn't blame yourself Mick, you know it's not your fault"
"How can you say that Josef, I'm supposed tp protect her, I have ever since Coraline took her. I'm supposed to be her guardian, she said so herself. I should have kept a closer eye on her, ensured she was safe-"
"Listen to me Mick, you saw her everyday, you protected her, without her even being aware of it for years. You always stayed close and watched over her, if it weren't for you she might even be dead by now, don't you think so? You're a good man Mick, a good man"
Mick's cellphone rang.
"Excuse me Josef. Mick St. John"
"Hello Mick, so I see you did involve someone"
"How do you know that?"
"I can see you Mick"
At that simple statement, Mick's eyes widened and darted across the room, looking through windows, behind curtains. A small camera hidden above the doorway leading to the livingroom caught his eye. Mick signalled to Josef, who heard the conversation, and grabbed the camera, crushing it in his hand until it resembled nothing more but a shapeless lump of silver.
"You can?" Mick asked in fake disbelief.
"There are more camera's you know Mick, everywhere"
"What do you want?"
"I have another riddle for you"
"You're sick you know that?"
"Look inside the third vase on her desk"
The line went dead. Josef moved cautiously toward Beth's office, studied the vases before slipping his hand into a vase, he pulled out a folded note. Josef unfolded the note and passed it to Mick, who read it aloud
"What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It's another riddle"
"How can your keep going on like this Mick, he's leading you on a wild goose chase, it's almost as maddening as trying to convince a large religious mob chasing you with pitchforks, rosary beads, crosses and holy water that you're not the son of the devil"
"He said that if I don't, he'd harm Beth, I can't let that happened Josef"
Josef sighed, "Okay, but I'm coming with you this time Mick, this has to stop, it's driving you insane, but first we have to solve his latest riddle"
Mick paced the room, lost in thought.
What can run but never sleeps…runs never sleeps…what like an animal? Something fast like a cheetah? No, no, no, not a cheetah. Has a mouth but never talks…has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps? Josef's right, this is maddening
Mick stopped pacing the room and sat at Beth's desk. He took opened her drawers, rummaged through her paper, searched through her log books but found nothing useful. He finally gave up and rested his head in his hands, eyes closed. Josef's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"What about a river?" he said as Mick opened his eyes. He slid the third vase until it was right infront of Mick. The vase depicted a scene of a large serpentine river, mangroves grew along the banks, blending into the dense forest that surrounded the area. Giant pine trees towered above the smaller trees and small boats drifted peacefully along the river. Mick picked up the vase and examined the underside, small cursive writing indicated the artist's name and the scene that he had painted.
Los Angeles River, Los Angeles. Phillip Stanton 1875.