Into the light and back part 9

Calder had described to Auggie the mess in his apartment a bit more precisely and then he had made some calls. He had instructed some CIA members to come around and to help to investigate who could have intruded into Auggie´s apartment.

Half an hour later, Barber, Hollman and a couple of other employees turned the whole apartment upside down, searching for fingerprints or other evidence. Finally they helped Auggie to tidy up the mess. Auggie hated when his place was untidy an messed up. Then, he felt more helpless than ever. When nothing had its usual place he was completely lost and he did not like that feeling at all.

Whilst tyding up the chaos, the CIA guys had found a lighter that was definitely not Auggie´s and an earring. Presumably the intruder had been a woman. When Auggie´s place was cleaned up and tidy. the men sat down with Auggie to have a beer. „Who might have done that to you?" Hollman asked.

„I have no idea" Auggie replied. He had no clue who could have done that to him.

Calder and the other guys stayed for another while and when they had finished their beers, they left

Calder was worried about Auggie, he knew that his colleague was capable in many ways but he was blind, too and in some situations he could be pretty helpless.

Therefore he said „Call me if you need something Auggie" and then he patted Auggie´s shoulder put his sunglasses on and left.

Now Auggie was alone again. He felt a bit uncomfortable, because he had no idea who the intruder was and if he would come back again. Auggie hated to admit that his disability made him vulnerable and that in some situations, he was more helpless than other people. His apartment was a place where he could funtion like anybody else. Everything had its place. He felt protected. But knowing that somebody had access to his rooms did not please him.

He hoped, that whoever that person was, would not come back again. But then he heard a sound, like the shuffle of paper, it came from the direction of his door. He slowly made his way to the door and stepped onto an envelope on the ground. Someone had pushed the paper underneath the door.

Auggie opened the envelope and touched the sheet. But it was not in Braille, so he could not read it. He started his document reader and put the paper onto the scanner.

Seconds later the device read aloud:

You have something that I want and need

prepare yourself for a second date

see you soon my friend

These lines sounded like a threat to Auggie. What the hell was the person talking about. What did he or she want? The idea of the intruder coming back made him shiver. He did not feel safe anymore. The only thing he could now do is call Calder.

He picked up his cell phone from the kitchen counter and said „call Calder"

„calling Calder" sounded the reply of the phone and within a few seconds Calder Michaels picked up.

„Hey Auggie, what´s up?"

„Calder, I have just received a message from the person who broke into my apartment" Auggie said and he tried to hide the concern in his voice.

„Really?" Now Calder´s alarm bells rang, too

„The person was talking about a second date, soon" Auggie explained

Calder was concerned now and he said „Auggie I know how much you try to be independent, but I think in this case, you should accept some help. I don´t think it is a good idea to be alone in your apartment now. It can be dangerous and excuse me to say this but your blindness can make you an easy victim so I´d rather recommend somebody to stay with you for a while."

Auggie had listened to Calder Michaels and as much as he hated to admit it, his colleague was right. It could be dangerous for him and not to accept the help of a colleague and above all of a sighted person, would be stupid.

„I get it that you are worried Calder and I think you are right" Auggie said. He knew that he had no choice.

„I am glad you agree" Calder said and ended the call.

Now Auggie dialled Eric Barber´s number. When his friend and colleague took the call he asked

„Hey Auggie what´s up?"

„Hey Barber, have you got any plans for the week? I would like you to stay with me for a couple of days" Auggie said and then explained the situation.

„Hey man, what a question is this? Barber replied „Of course I´m gonna help you"

And twenty minutes later Eric appeared on Auggie´s doorstep with a bag and some belongings for a couple of days.

„Good to see you, so to speak" Auggie quipped when he slid the door open for his friend.

„I would never let you down, you know that" Barber said and walked toward the couch. He put the bag he had brought next to him and took a seat, whilst Auggie got two beers from the fridge. He handed one over to Eric and felt for the free space next to his friend before he sat down as well.

„Try to make yourself at home here" Auggie said trying to look at Eric „ The couch can be converted into a bed, so you will sleep well I suppose"

„I am not a demanding guest" Barber grinned. He and Auggie had become good friends and it did not bother him to stay with Auggie for a while. Auggie was also looking forward to some company but he also needed to inform Barber about a few things.

Therefore he said „Eric, I don´t want to sound like your boss again here at home, but I would like to tell you that some rules of Langley will also be applied here at home. That means, just like in my office, I do not want you to change anything. You take something and you put it back so that I can find it later. Help yourself if you are hungry, but please put everything exactly back into the fridge, the cupboard etc. As you know I am blind and pretty lost when I have to search and grope for things all the time.

„No problem buddy, I get it" Eric said and smiled a bit into Auggie´s direction.

Later that evening, Auggie turned his couch into a bed for his friend and Barber made himself at home on the sofa bed. As he already said. He was not the demanding type. As long as he had a halfway comfortable bed and enough food, he was satisfied.

The following morning, Barber woke to the sound of Auggie bustling in the kitchen. He could already the smell the coffee that Auggie had started to prepare and shifted a bit on his sofa bed.

„Morning Auggie" he called and Auggie turned towards the couch, realizing that his colleague was now awake, too.

„Morning Barber, I hope you had a good first night on my couch"

„Yeah, I slept like a baby" Eric answered and got up. „But despite that, I guess I need a shower first to wake up completely" he said and made his way to the bathroom.

When Barber emerged from the bathroom, Auggie had already poured two cups of coffee and had made some toast. He grabbed butter, ham and cheese from the fridge and put everything onto the kitchen counter.

Barber had watched Auggie a bit and said „I always wonder how quick you are...I mean...I know you cannot see...but I sometimes forget about that for a while. You look so …..so..."

„So normal?" Auggie finished the sentence for his friend.

„Yes" Barber said

„Well, that is because I AM NORMAL apart from the fact that I cannot see" Auggie replied.

„Of course I know you are normal" Barber said and then he explained „but it looks so effortless. I mean, I am always a but clumsy when I am in the kitchen and I CAN SEE"

„I know I am a genius" Auggie quipped and sipped on his coffee before he took the first bite of his cheese toast.

Fourty minutes lager Auggie and Barber were on their way to Langley. Auggie did not need his regular car service whilst Eric stayed with him.