My Beautiful Doll
Warning: It's another safe chapter guys. Don't worry, you're all safe here :)
A/N: Heyyyy, so I know I said I'll be taking a break but it turns out that I A. fucked up my schedule so most of my work is due this week and not both this and next week which is cool. And B. I managed to finish a few parts of my essays so you know what? I'm treating myself. Because it turns out, once you start writing, you don't fucking stop (not that I mind, I like writing...kinda). Thankfully, today's my last day of Uni, yayyy! So after Thursday where the last bulk of my homework is done, I'm free! I only have my teaching part-time job which is nice (I'm honestly surprised I managed to survive this long working with children around the ages of 7 until 10 and doing that with Uni). And after the schools I work for go on holiday, I can finally go back to my home country! I honestly miss it far too much (missed so many weddings, I'm kinda disappointed). Don't get me wrong, I love Japan, but I guess it's true what they say.
There's no place like home.
Anyways, I'm done being all sentimental like this. I hope you guys have a good day and see you later!
Billy slammed his hand against the car door in anger as his search turned up empty. He's scrounged every empty house, warehouse, and building, leaving no stone unturned. He went high and low, trying desperately to find something, anything that would give them Don's location.
But it all ended up empty.
So far, there was no sign of life at all. Billy called the people who owned these places and there was no mention of anyone trying to buy them out, let alone an FBI agent. A text from Ian told him that his searches also turned up empty. Billy sighed as he banged his head against the hood of his car, tempted to just try and smash it through the metal.
He didn't though, which was a testament to his restraint.
He got into his car, slamming the car door shut with a resounding bang! He kept banging his hand furiously against the steering wheel, eager to let out the anger that had been building up ever since this entire thing started.
"GOD FUCKING DAMNIT!" He screamed as he kept letting out his anger on the poor steering wheel, the feeling of powerlessness threatening to overwhelm him in a way that he's never felt before. God I hate this, he thought to himself. He's never felt this hopeless before. He's always been so sure in his ability, his skill to track even the most unpredictable of criminals. But now, when it counted the most, he couldn't do anything.
You're giving up now? Really? A voice that sounded like Don popped into his head, his tone extremely sarcastic.
"No I'm not," he replied, feeling a little awkward at the fact that he's talking to no one.
Are you really trying to deceive your own mind Coop? That's a new level of stupid, even for you.
"Hey!" He protested. For something that his own mind created, it sounded far too much like Don. His heart ached at the thought of the other man. It's been two and a half days since he was last seen, two and a half days since Billy last saw the man, smiling softly as both he and Ian walked away. Would I even get to see that smile again?
You would if you'd get off your ass and look.
Billy sighed, running a hand over his face. "Are you saying I haven't looked?"
I'm saying that you haven't used all of your skills.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Even if Billy couldn't see the man, he could feel the imaginary exasperation. Didn't you give a whole speech to Charlie earlier about my instincts? What about yours?
"I tried that. Didn't work."
It's because you're thinking too hard, Coop. You've always been better at flying by the seat of your pants.
"Are you saying I should just drive around and hope for the best?" he asked incredulously.
I'm not saying you should run around the city all willy nilly, imaginary Don sounded very exasperated; it was almost like talking to the real thing. But I'm saying that you should re-look at the map, use your experience to sniff out possible areas and then just let your instincts guide you.
"You make it sound easier than it is," Billy grumbled, "I'm not you Donnie."
No, you're better. C'mon Coop, where's that confident asshole I fell in love with?
Billy had to look down. Even though Fake Don didn't have a form, he couldn't stand to look up, afraid of seeing his disappointed face. "He disappeared with you…" Billy mumbled underneath his breath.
Coop…that's not true…
He almost snorted at that. Turns out imaginary Donnie was just as insecure as the real one. God I miss him, Billy thought as he gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw set. "You changed me Donnie, and surprisingly for the better," he replied. "I don't think I can go on without you…"
He could hear imaginary Don sigh with fond exasperation. And you won't have to if you get off your ass and try. You're still the man I love Coop, whether I'm there or not won't change that fact. You're the one who taught me after all, so go put those skills to good use.
Billy almost chuckled at that. Even the imaginary Don, one that Cooper's own mind created to mimic the brainstorming that he and Don did, helped in a way no one else can. He turned the keys and started the engine, "I hate it when you're right," he muttered.
Which is basically all the time.
Billy rolled his eyes, not even dignifying the imaginary voice with a response. He could hear a familiar soft huff of laughter before eventually fading out, leaving Billy all alone. Ignoring the pang of loneliness in his heart, he grabbed his phone where Charlie had sent them the completed map. Alright… let's see where this bastard is.
Looking at the map, he started to run his hands over onto the areas, trying to think. Too crowded, already checked there, busy streets, already checked there, tight knit community, already checked there…
One by one he knocked the areas, most of them they've already ran over with a fine tooth comb. Growling, he ran a hand to his hair, frustration mounting. "Damn," he sighed. "Where the hell are you?" He looked over at the video once more, to check if there were any clues that they might miss.
As hard as it was, he tried to ignore the torture that Don was enduring in favor of looking at the background for something that he might miss. Squinting closely, he realized something. Wait… those look like leaves on the floor. Sure enough, he could see a few pieces of leaves moving into frame on the floor, disturbed by the movements. Not only that, he could see a few patches of dirt around, like if someone stepped in damp dirt and tracked it all over the house. Dirt like that would've gone off if the man had walked on some driveway or any flooring. So to have him track dirt all over the floor of this possible basement meant one thing. The area that the house was on was definitely some sort of natural ground with no pathing.
He frantically looked back at the map to see if there were any possible areas where the houses didn't have any paths leading up to it. Looking at all the areas he's marked off, he realized that they all couldn't have been the place, since they were either in suburban areas, near streets, or otherwise would've had plenty of pathing where the dirt would fall off. But all of the possible places were written off. All of the houses and warehouses have been checked off. None of the buildings in the area could possibly be the spot. He was about to give up, but then an idea hit him.
What if the house isn't in a known area of residence? What if we don't even know this house existed…? Tracing this train of thought, he looked over places that had the possibility of hiding a house, one that could be hidden from everyone. His eyes trailed over place after place until it settled upon one area. It was a forest that was found in the outskirts of town, one where hunters like to visit during hunting season. But after that, it was largely empty with a road that goes through it. A road that would be useful for a large car like the one Baker had.
He picked up his phone and searched up if this forest had anyone who owned land there. After a few phone calls, he managed to reach someone named Kenneth Brady. The man was only too happy to give up the information that he had, saying that he did have land in the area and even built a house there, but it was unfinished before he sold it off to someone.
"Did you ever see them or did they give you a name?" he asked.
Kenneth was silent for a moment before he replied, "We didn't see each other, but he did give me the name Pat."
Billy felt a jolt of shock crawl up his spine. That was the same name that Baker had given Don during their second encounter in the park. Either this was one hell of a coincidence or Baker had bought the land along with the house. After a few more lines of questioning, he found out that Kenneth's friend owns a hardware store that was near the area. After thanking the man, he peeled off into the direction of the area, calling Ian on speed dial as he did.
"Edgerton," Ian's tense voice rang out from the phone.
"I might have a lead," he spoke up. He told Ian about everything that he found. As soon as he finished, he could hear Ian's frantic rustling as he gathered his things.
"I'm on my way to you. You go and interview the guy and tell me if you find anything," he said. Billy didn't need to be told twice. He told Ian that he'll call if he gets anything and the phone was shut. As he drove through the streets, evading traffic, he could feel his hope rise.
Hang tight, we're almost there Donnie…
We're going to find you.
A/N:Oooooooh, rescue is so close! But will they get the right place? Will they make it in time? What awaits them at the empty house in the woods? So many questions and so little time. We're almost done here boys, let's gooooooo!