Only Shadows Ahead

Chapter Fifty-Five

"Think this is it?"

"No," Kwame grumbled. "I doubt she has a clue where —"

"My feet hurt."

Gi shoved her hands into her pockets, watching Linka's hair bounce along in front of her. "I just wish she'd tell us what's —"

"YO BABE!"

Wheeler's voice boomed from somewhere behind them; trailing along at the back of the group with Ma-Ti. He looked less than impressed.

"BABE!"

"WHAT?" Linka snapped; barely breaking her stride.

"Does it look like we're gettin —"

"YES!"

"That is what she said about the last seven places," Kwame said. "I think it is time to cut this short."

"Give her time," Gi said, eyeing Linka with mounting concern. "She's struggling."

"I do not understand why we are —"

"Something about a serviced apartment," she whispered, craning her neck as Linka hurried through yet another intersection. "Apartment or a hotel or something?"

"Right." Kwame gave a resigned sigh. "This is getting —"

Gi lurched to a stop, losing sight of Linka amongst the heavy traffic and pedestrians. "Oh shit, where did she —"

"There," Kwame said, grabbing Gi's arm and pulling her in the right direction.

"Slow down, Lin!" Gi called, spotting her blonde hair bobbing in front again but Linka paid no attention.

Map in hand, Linka powered through the streets and sidewalks. The others were having trouble keeping up with her. With every wrong location they'd visited, she had grown more and more despondent. This was the eighth possible match; circled in red on the map and once again — supposedly fitting the local characteristics.

Gi wasn't sure where these characteristics had been drawn from. This whole mad dash through the streets of Washington had been unexpected, and no one seemed to have a clue what was going on in Linka's head.

Truth be told, they were all worried.

She knew Kwame's patience was wearing thin. They'd arrived at midday and it was now eight PM. They'd been on foot for most of the day; negotiating public transport and walking around seemingly random locations.

Kwame and Wheeler in particular resented being dragged around on this wild goose chase, especially in light of the fact that Linka was refusing to divulge the reason for her apartment-induced hysteria.

Gi was concerned, to say the least.

They slowed at another intersection, waiting for a set of lights to turn green. Linka gripped the pole, glancing at the map and scanning the area for what Gi assumed to be recognisable landmarks.

"Anything?"

"It was night time," she whispered; a statement that certainly didn't make things any clearer for Gi. "It is hard to know."

"What's this all about, Lin?"

"It ended here," she said vaguely; shielding her eyes against the setting sun. "In Washington."

Gi glanced at Kwame, and he shrugged, folding his arms in frustration.

The lights turned green and Linka pushed forward, crossing the road and hurrying towards an old apartment building. It was a leafy suburb; elm trees lining the streets. There was a chill in the air and Gi clutched her coat around her throat.

She was cold, tired, hungry… and getting a little annoyed now.

"I can see a park," Linka called, pointing to the other side of the road. She sounded hopeful.

"Another park," Wheeler muttered. "Great. That's great…"

Kwame turned, making a quick hand motion across his throat to Wheeler who nodded in return. He leaned into Gi, keeping his voice low. "This is the last one."

"Okay." Gi pursed her lips. "Your call."

"We are done."

"You can tell her."

Linka stopped at the front entrance, almost seeming hesitant to step inside. They piled around her while the doorman looked at them inquisitively.

"Do you think —" Ma-Ti started, but she stepped inside before he could finish. Crossing the lobby floor, her eyes scanning the modern decor. They walked past the reception desk and headed towards the elevator.

Mirrored walls greeted them. Gi's face fell when she caught Linka's dejected face staring back at her in the mirror. Her expression told Gi everything she needed to know.

This wasn't the right location.

The doors opened and Linka stepped out. Gi moved to follow; raising her eyebrows as Kwame pressed the button for the ground floor.

"What are you doing?"

"That is it," Kwame said. "Linka can search on her own time."

"She's not gonna like that."

Kwame just shook his head. The doors began to close and her view of him diminished. "I will book us a room overnight."

Gi bit her lip as he disappeared, knowing that Linka wasn't going to take this well. She hurried to catch up with Ma-Ti and Wheeler, who were a few steps behind the distracted blonde now muttering under her breath.

"I think she's officially cracked," Gi said softly. "Maybe returning to work wasn't such a good —"

"I think she's one french fry short of a happy meal," Wheeler muttered. "Why does she keep looking for room 107?"

"No id —"

"Dyermo!" Linka slammed her hand against the wall. Her frustration was palpable.

"Just —"

"This is not it!" She threw her hands in the air, pacing the hallway in an almost frenetic manner. "I need to —"

"All right," Wheeler said, dumping his bag in the hallway and leaning against the wall. "We'll try again another ti —"

"I think if we just moved closer to the outer suburbs, Yankee. Maybe this Arlington place on the map, or —"

"Linka, it is late. We are all exhausted," Ma-Ti said. "We can come back another —"

"We have back to back missions coming up, Ma-Ti! We will not have the time for a—"

"Lin, this is crazy," Gi said, grabbing her shoulders in an effort to calm her down. "Look, maybe you just need to put a little more research into —"

"I cannot!" she hissed, stamping her foot. "If I could just —""

"Geez, babe," Wheeler retorted. "Calm down, it's not a life or death —"

"Do not tell me to calm down, Yankee!" she snapped, gesturing around wildly. "There was a fire escape, a… a park opposite. Underground carpark, I —"

"Is that where you've been all this —"

"Nyet!" she cried. "I have not been there but —"

"Then why the hell is it —"

"It is important to me! That should be en —"

"Are you listening to yourself?" Wheeler said, his own temper rising. "You're not makin' any —"

"SHUT UP, YANKEE!"

"DON'T TELL ME TO SHUT UP!"

"Linka," Gi said softly, placing her hands on Linka's shoulders and glaring at Wheeler. "C'mon. We'll grab something to eat and —"

"I need to see it!"

"We don't understand," Gi pleaded. She hugged her friend tightly; dropping her chin onto Linka's shoulder. "Maybe if you told us why —"

"It was a room I saw," she said. "A place I remember. I was —"

"You were held there?"

"Nyet," she said, blinking back tears and gazing at the ceiling. "It is difficult to explain."

"I just think —"

"I need to see it," Linka pleaded. She wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve. Dropping her bag to the ground, she started rifling inside for something. "Look, just let me show you —"

"Linka, we are done."

Kwame's voice cut through the noise. Gi glanced up as he approached; a key swinging from his hand.

"Just one more," she cried, tossing her clothes out as she rummaged through her belongings. "Or I can go by myself, I… oh, where is it?"

"What are you —"

"I know I packed it!" she shrieked, her voice bordering on hysterical. "If you could just —"

"Linka —"

"I need to see where it happened, I —"

"Linka, that is enough. We do not have time —"

"NO!"

She rounded on Kwame angrily, eyes flashing. He took a step back, looking stunned at the outburst. Linka could be assertive, but she was certainly not confrontational. Gi sucked in a breath, glancing at Wheeler whose jaw had just about hit the ground.

"You are right! We did not have time! There was no time! No future, nothing! But we fixed it! We have another chance, now! I just need to see where it all ended!"

She broke down, slumping to the ground in a desolate heap, hitching sobs wracking her body. The others stood on awkwardly; not quite knowing how to proceed.

Linka curled her legs underneath her body, turning away from her friends. In the end, it was Kwame who moved first. He dropped to his knees in front of Linka; rubbing her back in soothing, circular motions in an effort to calm her.

"Do you know the street?"

"Nyet," she whispered.

"Do you know the suburb?"

"Nyet."

"A name, perhaps? A company —"

Linka shook her head; eyeing the wall miserably.

"I am sorry, my friend. We are all tired."

"I just know we were close to Washington." She threw her bag aside, slumping forward and holding her head in her hands. "It is hopeless, isn't it?"

"I am so sorry, my friend."

"I do not even know where to start."

"Come," he said, attempting to help her up. "I think we all need a good sleep, we can come back another —"

Linka withdrew her arm, seeming to want to remain where she was. He glanced at Gi and she shrugged, waving them away. With a worried glance in Linka's direction, he motioned for Wheeler to follow him back towards the elevator.

Ma-Ti picked up Linka's scattered belongings, returning them to her bag. He hoisted her backpack over his shoulder and wandered away.

Gi sighed, eyeing Linka worriedly. She looked pitiful — pale, tear-stained face and her usual perfectly-coifed hair looking lank and dishevelled. She'd wrapped her arms around her knees and was refusing to meet Gi's eyes.

"Hey," Gi said softly. She dropped down to the floor with a slight wince, reaching forward and brushing Linka's hair out of her eyes.

Linka sniffed. "Hey."

"Long way down to the floor these days," she said. "My joints are screaming."

Linka said nothing.

"What's going on, Lin?"

Linka rubbed her hand over her face. Her cheeks were wet with tears and she looked exhausted. "I just wanted to see."

"You remember now, don't you?"

She nodded.

"You were taken to this place? This apartment you're looking for, here in Washington? That's where you've —"

Linka shook her head. "No."

Gi lent back, confused. "I can't help you if you don't talk to me, Lin."

"I wanted to show you…"

Linka pushed herself to her feet, trudging wearily towards the elevator with Gi not far behind her.

Time was fleeting.

For longer than he could remember, the days had been jam-packed with missions, flights, people and politics. The constant sense of urgency took a toll on all of them, but the way they dealt with their busy schedules were worlds apart.

The nights were his.

Couch, chocolate and something random on the television. Movie or sport, it didn't really matter. The opportunity to destress and recharge was something he closely guarded. He'd passed out on many couches over the years, opting for the living room over sharing a cramped bedroom with two other guys.

Nothing personal, but Kwame snored louder than a freight train. Waking up to Ma-Ti's ass crack peeking out from the covers every morning wasn't really his 'thing' either.

Wheeler rolled over, curling his legs up and tossing the remote aside. The others were asleep, having retired to their bedrooms several hours ago. He sighed, glancing towards the girls door.

Linka was a mess.

Just when he'd thought things were starting to get back to normal, the proverbial rug had once again been pulled out from under them.

Linka was falling apart. Something was eating away at her. He had a feeling she knew more than she was letting on; but she refused to let anyone in. It was gut-wrenching to witness.

He dropped his hand to the floor, fumbling around blindly until his fingers latched onto the Snickers bar he'd grabbed from a vending machine earlier. He took a bite before resettling himself under the blanket; intent on allowing sleep to take over. Hoping by morning that things may have returned to some semblance of normality.

The soft creak of a door opening could be heard over the television. He remained still, spotting Linka pass quickly through his field of vision.

His heart sunk.

Bag over her back, she was fully dressed; a determined look on her face as she slipped through and out of sight. The door closed softly behind her.

She was sneaking out.

Wheeler was up and on his feet quickly, half tripping over his discarded sneakers in the process. He pulled them on and exited the apartment.

He followed close behind. Her sneakers padded softly towards the elevator at the end of the hall; coat rustling around her as she reached the elevator doors. He snuck down the hallway in stealth-mode; hugging the wall.

"Goin' somewhere?"

She whirled around; guilt written all over her face.

"Uh, Yankee —"

"What are ya doin', babe?" he asked softly, grabbing her hand as she moved to press the button. He led her away, pulling her back towards the room. He made it halfway before he was met with resistance. Linka had halted, refusing to move. "What's goin' on?"

She slipped her free hand into her pocket, still refusing to meet his eyes. Her hair fell over her face in freshly-washed waves. Full lips and pale, almost ethereal skin. So pretty. Seven years and she still took his breath away. Her three month disappearance had done little to diminish his feelings for her.

She looked so very tired.

"What are ya doin'?"

"Sight seeing."

"Nothin's open, ya dope."

She stood stiffly. "Silly me."

"Would you just talk to me?" he implored, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to face him. "For God's sake, Lin, you're freakin' me out. Freakin' us all out."

She raised her eyes to the ceiling, taking a trembling breath and slumping against the wall. "I needed to see."

"See what? What's goin' on, babe?"

"Everything was gone."

"Huh?"

"All of it."

"What the hell happened?" he asked. "You know, don't you? Where were you?"

"I need to see where everything changed."

She hugged herself. Her head lolled and she seemed to sag, pressing her forehead against his chest. He wrapped her up in his arms, hugging her tightly. She relaxed into his embrace with a heavy sigh as his hand settled on the nape of her neck, massaging gently.

"What's goin' on, babe?" he said softly, running his fingers through her hair. "You're a god-damn mess."

"I know," she said faintly.

"You remember what happened, don't you."

She nodded, pushing him away reluctantly and composing herself. Hoisting her bag back over her shoulder, she gave him a sombre look. "Just let me go. We will not get the chance to —"

"This is nuts! It's like lookin' for a needle in a haystack!"

"I will not be long." She buttoned up her coat, pushing her hair away from her face and pressing the button to go down. "Do not try to stop me. Go back to sleep, Yankee."

"It's two in the mornin' —"

"I know." She stepped inside the elevator; that little frown of determination he knew so well back on her face. "I will be back —"

"Just wait until —"

"We are leaving in the morning, Wheeler." She pressed the button, and he knew that he had no hope of stopping her. "Go back to sleep."

He groaned, squeezing inside just before the doors shuddered close. She looked surprised, opening her mouth to protest but he cut her off.

"Don't give me no sass, girl."

"Yankee, you —"

"Can't have ya walkin' the streets on your own."

"I am not going back." She looked mildly annoyed. "I can look after my —"

"I know you can," he replied.

Linka paused; staring at him, her mouth ajar and seeming to reconsider her choice of words. A hint of a smile curled her lips.

"You will help me?" She hugged her bag to her chest; a slow grin spreading across her face.

He shrugged; eyeing the decreasing numbers on the electronic display as they descended. "Sleep's over-rated, anyway."

Her eyes lit up and she threw herself at him. Wheeler staggered backwards; his hip impacting the mirrored panel as she squeezed the breath out of him.

"Thank you!" she said breathlessly. "Thank you, Wheeler, I —"

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, disentangling himself. He tugged her into the foyer. "Whaddya remember?"

She grinned, clutching tightly to his hand as they stepped out into the night. "There was a park —"

"Park opposite. Car park underneath. 7-Eleven on the corner. Yeah. You sure it was in DC?"

"I know it only took about thirty minutes to get to the second hotel and that was in the centre of Washington. I just assumed —"

"Anything else? You're not givin' me much to go by."

"Uh," she said, seeming to think hard as their hands swung idly. "It was a stone building with big glass windows."

"Yeah, that really narrows it down."

"Maybe three of four levels high?"

"Try again," he said, tugging her in the direction of the main street.

"There was a big painting of a boat in the lobby."

"A boat?"

"Da," she said, stifling a yawn. "Uh… it was an older building. Very tired-looking. Many broken things. Needed a —"

"What kind of boat?"

"What?"

"What kind of —"

"Oh. I know nothing of boats," she said. "Uh, a big one. White, maybe metal. I remember there were television antennas —"

"Radar?" Wheeler's brain had switched into gear. "A ship?"

"Da, I guess," she said. "Maybe an oil painting—"

"Notice anyone around in uniform?"

"Da." Linka's eyes went wide with excitement. She gestured towards her head. " Now that you mention it, there were some men and women in funny white hats. I remember someone mentioned —"

"Notice any water?"

"Water?"

"River? Bay? Waterway of some —"

"Nyet." She shook her head. "Not that I can remember, but we were only there for one night."

Her random statement only added to his confusion. She stopped on the corner; her breath frosting the air in a soft cloud.

He pulled her onwards; wanting to keep moving towards the more populated areas and she fell back into step beside him. The sudden image of his jacket crumpled on the floor flashed in his mind and he regretted not grabbing it. It was freezing. "Damn, it's like 10 damn degrees —."

"The little eyeholes."

"Huh?"

"In the door," she said. "To look through."

"Peepholes? What about 'em?"

"They were in the shape of a wheel," she said, squeezing his hand. "Like a wiggly circle."

"Ship wheel?"

"Maybe?"

"Seein' a pattern here?"

"Da," she said, glancing up at him hopefully. "You have an idea, do you not?"

"I'm thinkin' Annapolis."

"Annapolis?"

"Right on the border. Naval academy," he said, stopping at the crosswalk and bouncing on the spot to stay warm. A cab was approaching and he flagged it down. "Maybe a half hour from DC. Would explain the uniforms and naval shit."

"Oh God —"

He pulled his new phone out — three weeks old and already with a cracked front screen. He scrolled through his contacts list, making a mental note to delete the copious amounts of random contacts he'd made over the years.

"Might have someone who can help."

"Will they mind a phone call at —"

"Guy's an asshole anyway," Wheeler retorted. He yawned, leaning against a light pole as the cab pulled in. "Played for the Hoyas basketball team for a year or two. Think his girlfriend might have lived in Annapolis or Fort —"

"You are brilliant!" Linka clapped her hands excitedly; a wide smile transforming her face. "Thank you, Yankee!"

"Don't get too excited," he said, opening the door for her. "He's probably gonna tell me to fuck off."

She glanced back at him, beaming widely. "Thank you."

"Pain in my ass, girl."

She froze suddenly; awkwardly stuck half-in and half-out of the vehicle. She backed out of the vehicle again and straightened, seeming to hesitate. Clutching her coat around her throat, she watched him intently — a far-away look in her eyes. Flushed cheeks despite the inclement weather.

""C'mon babe, I'm freezin' my butt off here," he said, hopping from one foot to the other in an effort to keep warm. "Can we —"

She pressed her body close to his and tilted her face up, brushing her lips against his cheek. The frosty weather was all but forgotten.

She kissed him, winding her arms around his neck and drawing him closer. Her mouth was soft and warm, and once the initial shock had worn off he gripped her face in his hands and kissed her back. Everything else faded away. The street, the cold, the cab driver glaring impatiently at them.

The horn blared and they broke apart, breathing heavily. She hurried into the cab and he followed. Still dazed, he half-tripped over the kerb as he ducked his head and climbed in beside her.