Simple Man

- SIXTEEN -

"There's nothing here." Edmond finally stated, as he stopped rifling through the files in his clients office; his frustration was clearly evident in the tone of his of voice.

"This is odd. As many times as we've been over for dinner how come we never noticed he has no older photos? Like before he moved here? He has pictures of all three of us, or him with other people. He has a picture of him and Bruce Willis down in his dining room for crying out loud! These people might be friendly with him but these aren't his friends and there is certainly no family photos to be seen at all...It's kind of sad really." Raul said, looking around the office.

"I think he didn't really had a family—not like most people should. I was always met with resistance when I asked about them so I never really got very far. That's why I eventually stopped asking." Edmond sighed, sinking in the office chair feeling defeated.

"You can't blame yourself. He wouldn't let you in and that was his choice." Raul said, kneeling down beside Edmond.

"I don't. I just don't know what we are doing here. He doesn't have anything Raul, if he did it would be here. We are no closer to figuring out where he is and I think I'm getting migraine."

"There's something here. We just have to think. Is there anything he owns that's sentimental?"

Edmond rubbed his eyes, "You know the answer to that silly. Claude. He said that was the one thing besides a change of clothing that he took with him when he ran off to L.A. I don't know but it was a hunk of junk when he got here and he said he slowly got her fixed up. That's the only thing I can think of."

Raul smiled, "That's it!"

Edmond looked irritated, "What's it?"

"Claude. His motorcycle. That's the thing!"

"News flash! The bike is gone! Therefore the bike does us no good!" Edmond pointed out.

Raul still continued to smile, "Yes but the workshop in his garage is still there—I'm going to check it out."

"It's a wild goose chase... all you're going to find is tools and cleaners."

"There has got to be something Edmond. Sure, he hated his hometown so much he never talked about it but everyone always has something or someone they miss and he would have some memento that reminds him of that."

"I will bet you five-thousand dollars there's nothing down there." Edmond said, leaning back in the chair.

"Oh ye of little faith, he's your friend. If you're suddenly so sure you know him then come with me. Watch me get proven wrong."

"You Americans and your eternal optimism." Edmond groaned as he begrudgingly followed his partner down stairs.

"You're the one saying you never really knew him."

"I know him a hell of a lot better than you." Edmond chuckled, which caused his head to throb.

"We'll see..."

Rowan's house was smaller than Edmonds'. By the Hollywood standard this was a humble abode. It was a contemporary home converted from an old brick textile mill. Eclectic and full of lively colors, it was in great contrast with the prefect white of his own mansion. A true reflection of both owners different taste. Rowan was happiest at home, cooking and entertaining his closest friends in the sun room that was off the the side of the living room. His house was beautiful even if it wasn't up to date on the latest trends.

Rowan collected a lot of memorabilia for the sixties, seventies and eighties which Edmond felt clashed with the modern lines of the house. Rowan thought it worked well with the natural, earthy tones of the brick and the wooden support beams. Edmond had to admit it was much warmer and more inviting than his own home but always loathed the kitschiness of the movie monster and rock 'n' rock decor. His clients' taste was questionable with one exception, the fireplace. A massive brick fireplace built from scratch in a beautiful herringbone design.

Edmond envied that fireplace. The only thing that would have made it better was to paint the brick white. Now as Edmond and Raul made their way back down the stairs it dawned on Edmond. Raul had asked him if Rowan had anything sentimental lying around and here it all was, right in front of his face this whole time. These items Rowan had collected over the years were sentimental in their own way. He didn't have much of anything when he came to Los Angeles but he had memories.

Edmond stopped and stared at a framed carnival prize mirror of Guns and Roses. He smiled. He had walked by this picture he didn't know how many times, thinking it was juvenile but now appreciating it for what it was. A memory. He could imagine a younger Rowan playing air guitar on top of his bed, pretending to be a rockstar as he jammed out to Sweet Child of Mine. He touched the frame and smiled. Rowan hung on to the things that made him happiest growing up and just like that all the decor in his friends house looked like priceless treasures.

He caught up with Raul who was already down in the kitchen, it was still very early. The rare birdsong could be heard before the morning rush of traffic. Edmond sucked back in the tears as Raul opened up the door to the garage. It was pretty empty for a four car garage. He only had the one car, a blue 1987 Firebird and of course the motorcycle was gone.

"So, what are we looking for?" Edmond asked, his head still throbbing.

"I'll know when I find it." Raul said passing the Firebird on his way to the large tool box.

Raul rifled through the drawers, the sound of metal hitting against metal was wearing down Edmond's patience. He helped by scanning through the items on top of the work bench but came up empty handed, "See I told you, nothing."

"Wait, this drawer is locked." Raul said.

"So?"

"So why is this drawer locked, all the others can be but aren't. Only this draw is." Raul pointed out.

"Okay, but where's the key?" Edmond said, trying not to get his hopes up.

"Key, key, key... hold on... here's some keys!" Raul said, excitedly as he pulled them out of a coffee can full of nuts and bolts.

"There's like a hundred keys on that ring." Edmond commented.

"Can you try and be positive for two seconds." Raul responded.

"One, two— there that's my whole quota for next week."

"You're impossible." Raul said, as he started trying keys.

Edmond sat down on a stool and watched his partner try and fail with almost every key. His secret optimism fading with each attempt. Raul was on the third to last key when the lock to the drawer turned and Raul pulled it open. Edmond stood up and peered over Rauls' shoulder. Manuals and magazines— of the automobile and motorcycle variety.

"Of course, I told you." Edmond said, "Can we go now?"

"Hold on. Why would Rowan lock away manuals? The tools he owns are worth a lot more." Raul asked, confused as he lifted the books up one by one.

"I don't and I don't think it's that deep. Let's just go."

"Wait." Raul said as he picked up a leather bound book, "I think you owe me five thousand dollars."

"Oh yeah? And why do you think that?" Edmond scoffed.

"Because I just found Rowans' senior yearbook." Raul replied, as he turned the book around.

Edmond snatched it up and looked at the cover, embossed on the cover was a golden illustration of the school, its name and the year. Edmond opened it up and found a photograph of the illustration and underneath that the address. He continued to stare at the picture of Avery J. Franklin High School until Raul asked, "What?"

Edmond looked up confused, "You ever heard of Juniper, Louisiana?"

Raul just shrugged and shook his head.

"I thought so." Edmond replied.