She was still reeling from the news when they arrived at the rundown property.
Leave canceled. There was no decision to be made. She had no choice, she had to go. Still, it felt like a betrayal. She'd promised Harry to find his daughter and she'd let her go. Now Harry had gone missing and she was leaving town. A promise, regardless of how much or how little she knew him, was a promise. Cybil Bennett was no longer a woman of her word.
Sometimes she didn't know why she came back to Silent Hill. All it seemed to bring were more painful memories. It would forever be etched in her mind as a place where you can search endlessly and never find what you're looking for.
Still, she could do this one last favor for the SHPD. Maybe it would bring them a lead.
Thomas had brought them by Leonard Wolf's house on the way to pick up her motorbike. It was organic in appearance, old wooden boards alive with moss and creeping plants. It seemed to watch Thomas advance and knock on the door. He glanced at Cybil anxiously as they waited in the ominous presence of the building.
The pause had been just long enough for her to join him at the door. She was thinking about knocking herself when the door creaked inwards. A dowdy young girl, about twelve years old stood in their way, head bowed, her long lank hair mostly covering her features. She did not speak.
"Excuse me young lady" said Thomas, "but is your father home?"
She raised her head and fixed her gaze on Cybil.
"Who is asking?" she sneered.
"I am Officer Gucci and this is Officer Bennett. We thought your Dad might be able to help us with a missing persons enquiry."
The girl hesitated.
"We just want to ask him a few questions. He's not in trouble." Cybil added.
She softened a little at this statement.
"He is in the greenhouse." she uttered gravely as she led them through the property.
Of course Wolf could have been the perpetrator, but with no leads and three missing persons, it was best not to alarm anyone.
It was warm inside, kindling cracking in the fireplace, flames smoldering round an old black pot. Whatever was bubbling away inside it was pungent, but pleasantly so. There were discolored charts on the walls and dog eared books on the shelves, all adorned with unusual symbols. It was very charming – markedly different from the foreboding presence of the exterior.
They carried on through the rustic, dilapidated kitchen and into the garden... Though a little overgrown it was very green and some of the plants were flowering. Small and white, just like the orchids at the lake. There was a hint of vanilla in the air. She felt miles away from anywhere in this old country house, though the town was just a little way along the road.
Thomas pointedly cleared his throat. Cybil had been staring down the garden, unaware that she had stopped and the odd duo ahead of her was waiting. She had been away with the fairies (not that she believed in fairies) while there was a job to be done. It was an unusual experience for the woman who had been nicknamed 'razor' at the police academy. She felt her face flush slightly and walked hurriedly to catch them up.
They approached the greenhouse. White paint was peeling from the faintly rusty metal frame. A white haired gentleman sat by a trellis tending to an exotic looking orchid. He wore glasses, which were kept about him by a chain around his neck. Like his daughter, he did not look up as they entered.
"Claudia, I told you in the clearest terms that I was not to be disturbed." said the man calmly.
"I do apologize father, but they are local police. They are looking for a missing person."
He raised his glasses and acknowledged their presence. He was younger than his white hair suggested, healthy looking (though slightly underweight) and had an untidy beard. He smiled jovially.
"Please, sit down. Would you like some tea?"
"No, thank you Mr. Wolf. We were hoping you might be able to help us. It's quite urgent." said Cybil.
"Of course officers. How may I be of assistance?"
"We came across a strange symbol in the schoolyard at Midwhich Elementary School today."
Thomas retrieved his sketch of the symbol from his jacket and passed it to Wolf.
"We wondered if the symbol might be familiar to you."
Wolf had become quite ashen faced. He was silent.
"Mr. Wolf?" said Cybil.
"It is a bad sign. Very bad. I will have to research it a little to be sure of the exact nature of it, but it is a dark symbol."
"Do you have any idea who could have made such a mark?"
"It seems a little obscure, though it may be familiar to practitioners of the occult. But if you believe in such things, it would not be common to display it in public, unless you intended to make something happen. I suspect you may be dealing with a dangerous character, possibly unstable. I suggest you find your missing person as quickly as possible."
Cybil thought of Harry disappearing on the same day that the symbol had appeared. She thought of Cheryl, of broken promises –
"It was created on a reasonably large scale and within a short period of time. We think there could have been more than one person working on this." revealed Thomas.
"More than one? Interesting...it is possible."
"But is it likely?"
"I really have no idea. The only information I could give you would be historical in its nature. Any attempt to name a suspect would be pure speculation."
Having composed herself, Cybil rose. Thomas scribbled for a second, then tore off and passed the note to Wolf.
"If you find anything, call the station on this number and ask for officer Gucci."
"I will do."
They turned and left Leonard Wolf staring pensively at his orchid. They made their way back through the garden and the rickety house. Claudia sat by the fire, tending to the pot. She acknowledged them with a slight nod and bared her teeth in a way that was somewhere between a smile and a snarl. Outside, the exterior was still menacing and the sun was dropping behind the horizon. The light of the day was quickly fading.
She was glad to get in the car. Wolf had been helpful (if a little dramatic) but there was something about his house...his garden...his daughter...that wasn't quite right.
"Sorry Thom" she said as they got back on the road.
"What for?"
"I drifted off back there."
"Yeah well it's understandable. Our missing person is your new best pal."
"But the teacher is missing too. And the girl. We were so close to the girl today."
"Must be difficult for you. Bring back old memories..."
"A little. Nevertheless, I should have been more professional about things. There wasn't much point in me being there."
"I don't think I would have got past the front door without you."
"Thanks for trying to make me feel needed, but I'm sure you could have handled a twelve year old girl."
"Are you kidding? She was fierce..."
They both giggled at this.
"I wish I didn't have to go Thom."
"You are employed by the Brahms Police Department."
"I know, but I feel responsible for this case somehow."
"It's not as if you have a choice...look I'll keep you up to date. I promise."
"Thanks Gucci." she said with a smile, though she felt more like screaming. But Thomas was right, she had no choice. She would have to leave Harry and his missing girl behind