Chapter 2: Returning a friend or foe
"What are you doing here?" Effie stuttered as she gazed upon the face of Alan Frog.
He had grown broader in the shoulders over the last year and his hair was a tad longer, falling into his eyes so he had to sweep it out the way. He looked more and more like Edgar, so Effie almost had to double take but Edgar was shorter.
Effie stood frozen to the spot as Sam bent over to catch his breath, still reeling in disbelief. They hadn't heard a word from the brothers for so long and yet here stood Alan, the questions surmounting in Effie's head were almost unbearable to her.
"What the fuck?" Was all she could say as she looked at Sam and then went back to Alan to check if this was all real.
Alan was classically stoic as he gazed back at them, but even he had a small amount of emotion across his face. Happiness? Effie wondered. She also noticed his clothes looked worse for wear, dare she say a bit redneck? But at least he looked clean and like he had been taking care of himself.
Sam cut in, "he just showed up this morning. I hid him in here in case anyone saw him, there was a reason they left. Didn't want to risk that and then I came to get you asap. I haven't even spoken to him yet," Sam breathed heavily as he tried to get it all out and struggled in the process.
Alan was just about to open his mouth again after Sam had cut in but now Effie did.
"Where's Ed?" She interjected walking closer to Alan, he thought she was about to shake his shoulders.
"Well if either of you let me get a word in I could explain everything," he said dryly.
Effie laughed in relief, "Glad to see you haven't changed much. Where have you been?"
Before anyone else could hurl questions at him, Alan responded. "We're in Luna Bay in an RV." Alan said taking a seat on a dusty box.
Effie and Sam joined him sitting on boxes of unknown contents, covered with dust sheets, the midday sun cast a glow through the small basement window.
"So why have you been in Luna Bay all this time? Edgar left a goodbye letter saying that you had both left but he didn't want me to find you because I would get in trouble. I hope this has nothing to do with Michael because I haven't seen him around either. I swear if he caused trouble - Sam do you think he's involved in this?"
Sam put a hand on Effie's shoulder, "Just breathe for a moment. No, I see Mike around, he and Star moved out together a while ago. He's still here." Sam said trying to choose his words carefully, knowing that Mike probably was involved as well as the whole group he kept company with.
"Guys can I just-" Alan said putting a finger up to claim their attention with little result.
Effie huffed, "Just because he's around it doesn't mean he didn't run Ed out of town. You know they had issues and also Mike has that obvious drug problem." Effie remarked which built Sam's defenses up.
"Look, he's still my brother he is not a junkie! And there are other people in that group. What about that Dwayne, he disappeared too and stood you up on your birthday he's no knight in shining armour, have you thought about that? You're always so quick to point the finger." Sam retaliated.
Effie stood up and Alan attempted to catch their attention again but Sam was also too heated, his eyes not leaving Effie as she loomed over him.
"I know Dwayne left but he saved me and did a lot of good that summer, Mike just stood by and watched and then, what, ran away with Star? He left just like everyone else in a sense, we are the only people around Sammy. Mike is also suspect in this."
Sam now stood up, "Please don't start this Poirot bullshit again, it would kill Lottie off. We are both already too worried about you to handle this again so just calm down and -"
"WOULD YOU BOTH SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR ONCE AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT I CAME TO SAY!" Alan screamed as he was also now stood up gazing furiously at them.
There was pure silence, they had never seen Alan like this before. Effie wanted to laugh but she was also glued in fascination to his sudden dominance. Sam sat down back on the box and pulled Effie down with him, finally giving Alan the undivided attention he was trying to claim for the past 5 minutes.
Alan still felt heated, "It's no wonder things are a mess when grown people can't even listen, not much has changed then has it?" Alan ranted as he paced the room.
"Let it all out, Al" Effie said in amusement, maybe she wasn't the only one who needed therapy, it was always the quiet ones too.
"Oh, I will. But first, let me tell you some home truths. Let's just get this shit all out on the table because Edgar isn't around right now. Alan is running the show, and we're going to listen to Alan!"
Effie became blindsided again, she wanted to ask Sam if it was normal for Alan to refer to himself in the third person as she had never heard him speak too much but decided against it, he was on a mission and he had definitely captivated her. Or he was having a mental breakdown. Alan noticed Effie's mind was elsewhere and knelt down before her gesturing for her to keep her eyes on him.
"Eyes on me, chica. Not in that weird place in your head you get your whacky shit from. Not now, no just you and Alan. Pay attention." He whispered.
"Chica?" She asked.
Alan ignored it and stood back up pacing around like a frustrated middle school teacher who had finally cracked.
"Now," he said with a zen calmness "we all know that me and Ed disappeared and we were in Luna Bay. I didn't know Edgar had written to you Effie, that's pretty annoying because he went against what I said but it's whatever when did he ever listen anyway?" He cleared his throat getting himself back on track. "I'll cut to the case. Edgar is missing!"
"Where is he?" Sam asked straight away hoping for an idea in Alan's small brain.
Effie looked like it was all too much, too real. Perhaps in shock.
Alan scanned over Sam's face taking in his old friend's concern, he was unsure of how much to reveal as Effie didn't know anything yet, thanks to the promise Edgar had made Mike to skip town. Alan also knew that would be the reason Dwayne had left her behind, she couldn't see all this was to protect her and her family, she just assumed everyone had moved on with their lives and left her behind. It was the total opposite, they were left behind to keep her life going. But how could Alan explain that without revealing the truth? He hadn't even had the chance to discuss it with Sam before he raced off to bring Effie in. But like he had stated, he is running the show now. There is no Edgar to take charge and the only people he had in front of him who he could rely on were a human golden retriever and a bipolar Mrs Sherlock.
"Sam, we have to tell her." Alan relented looking at his friend with desperation in his eyes, pleading to have it all be out in the open.
Sam shook his head immediately, "no," he said simply.
Effie snapped out of her shock as soon as she realised there was something she didn't know "Tell me what?" she asked straight away, a sharp eagerness in her eyes.
"You think THEY took him?" Sam queried, ignoring Effie's attempts to understand.
"Who else would?" Alan asked calmly.
"But why now? Mike didn't say anything. What would they gain from this?"
"I knew Michael would be involved somehow," Effie muttered under her breath, Sam cast her an annoyed look. "Why would Michael's friends take Ed? Is this a kidnapping? How deep does this shit between you run?" She looked directly at Sam for answers.
"Let me get my theory out, I thought Mike was on drugs because of the partying, staying out all night and the group of wannabe Twisted Sisters he hangs around with, and now they have taken Edgar? This is some gang warfare shit, you're telling me they're not running a drug ring? Edgar somehow pissed them off and now they're holding them hostage? It's the only thing that makes sense to me."
Sam regarded Effie for a moment and could see why her thoughts would make sense, it was the safer route than exposing vampires to her. Luckily for him and Alan, she was weaving the perfect plausible tale for them to run with.
Effie continued and they just let her, "And on top of all that your grandpa, Sam, clearly a weed whacker. He must get the drugs from somewhere around here, we all know. Maybe Mike supplied him or some member of the gang."
Alan cut in uncharacteristically viciously "And where does that leave your new lover boy, Dwayne? If you were so hell-bent against this drug gang why date one of them?"
Effie straightened herself up even though she understood that she had once dated Alan's brother and then fraternised with their enemy, always on attack mode whenever her morals were questioned. "I don't think he takes the drugs, anyway I never said it was right." She was momentarily caught off guard, she saw Dwayne as a separate entity from his friends.
Sam broke the tension between Effie and Alan. "You know what, you're right Effie. They are a dangerous drug gang and Edgar has had a run-in with them before, it was why we were so distant from Mike for the past 2 years. He's now sort of… owned by them. He's a grown man, he can make his own choices. And now it looks like they've found Ed and for whatever reason they have him. Right, Alan?" Sam said eyeballing his friend.
Alan shrugged his shoulders and relented to the plan, it looked like they were keeping it contained for as long as they could.
"Right," Alan agreed.
"So me and you will go out and find Edgar and Effie will-"
"Effie will come with us, she may as well find out sooner rather than later the…reality of the situation. Besides, she's shacked up with one of them previously, she might even be useful." Alan suggested looking at Effie slyly. However, Effie took this as a compliment of her ability to help, she finally had a new purpose.
"I'd be more than happy to help!"
"No way!" Sam said standing up again in protest. "We keep her safe, if anything happened to her Lottie would kill me and we still haven't explained all this to her."
"Keep my sister out of it, she is safe out there, she doesn't need to know anything, Sam. We can tell her once we have Ed back and understand why they've taken him." Effie shot back.
"I agree with Effie, let's keep this quiet for now. We don't need everyone involved just yet," Alan said.
"I can actually be useful Sam, Alan has a point. I have Dwayne."
"How? He left months ago," Sam laughed in disbelief.
"Until he turned up last night, it was him I saw at the Sound Factory, he came back. I know he will help us, you know he isn't as crazy as the rest just let me try to get something out of him it could be a lead. A start?"
Both boys raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Edgar would not like him being involved. No way, Effie. this stays between us we have our ways of dealing with it." Sam said firmly, Effie had never seen him so adamant about anything before.
"Once again, I agree with Effie." Alan smiled
"But your brother -" Sam started.
"Isn't here" Alan clipped back, "we can use the enemy to our advantage."
"Maybe less of the Rambo talk, it's just Dwayne. He's like one of the top guys and he claims to love me and now he's back so let's do this."
Effie scanned their faces for a truce, some sort of compromise, which their silence solidified.
"I'll speak to him tonight," Effie said, sure Dwayne would keep his promise and come back.
"I guess you need to stay with me for the time being then, the comic book shop would be too dangerous to go to." Sam sighed as he looked at Alan like a stressed parent.
"I'll tell your parents you're ok, Alan. I need to go to get a comic anyway, Ed promised I could have whatever I wanted. They've kept that word." Effie offered him a small smile, but Alan seemed to be above it.
"Even after you went off with Dwayne? I thought my brother had more sense than that but no. Sam, make sure your mum is cool with me being here, I know we can trust her." Alan said as he walked up the creaky stairs and disappeared to make himself at home.
Effie stood up awkwardly and started to collect the smashed pieces of her coffee mug from earlier, Sam knew she felt burdened.
"What is it?" He asked, meaning to sound supportive but after the weight of what was happening it came across as passive-aggressive, luckily Effs didn't mind.
Effie breathed in deeply, "In my opinion, I preferred Alan when Edgar did the talking. He's so sassy. Clearly Never liked me. Yes, I know I started to date Dwayne but me and Edgar just didn't work out and Edgar was the one who left! So why does that make me the bad guy? I know it's his brother but like, grow up? I'm still their friend." She chuntered to herself as she stood up holding the broken mug.
Sam was at a loss for words, he just shrugged his shoulders and looked apologetically at Effie. He had been with her every step of the way recently and he did feel sympathy for the cold shoulder she was receiving and she did have many points. But she always saw things as black or white, never considered the in-between.
"You are right, Effie. But let's think about what Alan has put up with. He left town with his brother and has been isolated for months and now that brother goes missing, possibly in the hands of people they hate and one of those people, who let's say isn't as bad as the rest, is dating his friend and also his brother's ex, it does get a bit complicated. Alan is fiercely loyal, they both are. They can't see past that and ironically neither can you, you're all very similar it's annoying to deal with." Sam smiled slightly as Effie looked at him, actually listening intently.
"I'm just happy that Alan is here and Edgar is somewhere out there and we can do something to help. I'm not that selfish," she exclaimed as she started to make her way up the stairs, feeling she had outstayed her welcome. "I can be loyal to my friends as well as myself. I'll call you when I speak to Dwayne and before you say anything, of course, I will ask him not to say anything to his friends. I'm no idiot." She said without looking back.
At this moment Sam felt more sorry for her than he ever had, she always had her heart in the right place and sometimes it just wasn't enough.
"Effie, wait," Sam said making his way to join her up the stairs. "No one has ever thought you were bad, selfish or useless. People care in their ways and if Dwayne is really back it just makes things…complicated. It's not a reflection of you, don't let Alan make you feel bad. I would have been against it at one time but my own brother is out there with them. so I get how when your heart is in it, it makes things more difficult."
"Thanks, I get it. Look, I promise this isn't about any obsession with finding purpose again, I'm just glad I have someone. Edgar and Alan left, my sister is away and I only had you and Mom. I need Dwayne, I just want someone for me. I will give Dwayne a shot and I want to get Edgar back, that's it. No getting up in people's faces like when I first came here, I'm past that." She said.
"See you later Sammy, and remember, I went out last night so no more talk of me getting help I'll be fine." Then she was gone.
Sam let out a long breath, thinking those coupons would really come in handy now that everything was rising to the surface again.