CHAPTER 6

POLICE STATION - THE NEXT DAY

Pacey was sitting at Doug's desk with his brother. Doug was on the phone.

"Yeah, I get it, Mike. His bank account was frozen but he managed to withdraw 5k$ two days before the SEC officialized the charge. What about offshore money?"

While Doug was talking, Pacey was looking at everything on his desk, picking up a weird inlaid paperweight.

"Could you stop touching my stuff?- Doug whispered, putting aside the phone - If you haven't noticed, I'm working for you."

Pacey turned the paperweight and opened it, almost breaking it.

"And you wonder why chicks don't like you, Dougie. This stuff is pure anti-sex..."

Doug glared at him, put back down the paperweight, and then resumed speaking on the phone.

"Okay, let me know if you find out something."

Doug hung up.

"So?", Pacey asked eagerly.

"The police found a couple of false documents and passports at his house, he's likely using one of those right now. His phone signal has been dead since last Sunday and his cars haven't left the property. Also, no sign of electronic payments since his account was blocked, so he must be using cash for his traveling expenses. He probably had more money in cash in the house to get him covered in his first period at large. They're also looking into foreign bank accounts but, you know, for those things, there's a lot of bureaucracy and it may take a while. That's it."

"That's it? So what, they have no idea where he is or where to find him? What about traffic cameras or satellites? They must have spotted him leaving the house."

"Pacey you're looking at way too many crime shows. In reality, it's not so easy to follow someone just using those stuff, but Boston Metro Police is doing its best to find him."

Pacey shook his head, disappointed.

"What else do you know about him? - Doug asked - He was your boss, do you know about some of his friends that could help him in this? Because anyone on the run needs a strong and trustful accomplice. Or maybe any place he had some connections in? I don't know, everything could help."

Pacey thought about it for a moment.

"One night we went to Atlanta and there was this motel owner he had known for a long time who had already helped him in the past when he was cheating on his ex-wife. Also, he was pretty close with the nightlife down there, if you know what I mean, and maybe for a generous reward that he must have definitely brought with him, someone there is covering for him right now."

"Mmm Atlanta? - Doug gave him a pensive look - Maybe as a temporary stop...It's also halfway to the Mexican border...Let me make another few phone calls."

"Okay."

Doug picked up the phone again.

DAWSON'S HOUSE - A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER

Dawson was working on his computer when he heard the doorbell ring.

He went downstairs and opened the door just to find Pacey in front of him.

His face immediately turned into a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"What are you doing here? - he asked coldly - I thought I had been clear about not wanting to see you again."

"Hi to you too, Dawson", Pacey said to light up the tone.

Dawson shook his head and started to close the door. Pacey blocked him.

"Wait, wait, wait! Just give me a minute okay? Then, I promise you, I'll get the hell out of here for good."

Dawson sighed and opened the door again.

"What do you want?"

"Okay...Dawson, do you remember, in fifth grade, when we went camping and got lost in the woods and we had to figure out the way back to our tent just using your compass and looking at the traces on the ground? Or later on, in one of our first road trip when we got that flat tire and we had to learn how to change it even if nobody ever showed us how to do it? Or, on senior year, when we set up Drew on taking the blame for the prank we organized?"

"Get to the point", Dawson rushed him, getting nervous and not particularly willing to go down memory lane.

"The point is that, even if sometimes we made a mess, we've always managed to clean it up and overcome it, together. And I have lots of examples like that."

"Those were kids' problems. Now it's different."

"You're right, they were kids' problems but we were kids too. Now that we are a little more grown up, we should be able to handle more serious messes."

Dawson stayed in silence, barely looking at him. Pacey continued his speech.

"Look, I'm sorry if I let you down, and if you lost your money because of me, I really am, and I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"Pacey, I don't need your apologies. To make a movie I need money, do you get it?"

"Yes. And that's why I want you to take this."

Pacey passed him a folded check.

"What is this?", Dawson asked wearily.

"That's the money you gave me to invest."

"You said you lost my money and you were broke too. Where did you get this? Is this from some other illegal operation you made?"

Pacey snorted.

"No, it's nothing illegal, I swear."

"So? I won't take a check if you don't tell me where it comes from."

"All right, let's just say that I still had something I could get this from, okay?"

"Like what?"

Pacey kept quiet. Dawson's eyes fell on the garden behind him and a thought crossed his mind.

"Where is your car?", he asked, confused.

"I walked here", Pacey answered evasively.

Dawson rolled his eyes.

"Did you sell your car to give me this money?"

Pacey paused for a moment and then decided to tell the truth.

"I can't no longer afford a BMW, Dawson. I had still many installments to pay, so...I had to sell it anyway. "

Dawson shook his head.

"I can't take it, okay?"

"Why not?"

"Because this is your money, not mine. And it's a lot of money. I may never be able to give it back to you."

"Who said you have to? I lost your money, so I'm the one who has to pay you back."

"Come on, Pace. You know it's not the same thing. Plus, you're probably gonna need this right now. You know, for legal expenses or something."

"In that case, I can get a public defender if I can't afford one. While you won't be able to make the movie without this."

Dawson sighed. Seeing that he was still not convinced, Pacey resumed speaking.

"Let's do this way, Dawson. At least, just think about it, okay? Then you can decide whether to rip it or not. But if our friendship ever meant something to you, I really hope you will cash it and use it to shoot a great movie or make it invested by someone smarter than me."

"I don't know, I..."

"Goodbye, Dawson."

Pacey turned around and walked away.

Dawson watched him going away, struggling about what to do.