Cocoa Tales

Episode 8

Inside the Deluxury truck, the Sandman took the corners faster than he should've, but then he had a very narrow timetable, didn't he? He had to get the kid to safety before the cops got to the Gerald Estate and get back to blow the place up after everyone left to look for the kid. Montgomery Gerald wouldn't leave the house, not with a price on his head. His wife might stay; he couldn't do much about that.

The Sandman was trying to minimize collateral damage, not eliminate it. He was The Sandman after all, the best, the most reliable hitman ever trained. In his advancing years he had visions of retirement, of a life devoid of murder and mayhem. Perhaps he'd get married, perhaps have a child.

But if children were anything like the little bundle of joy next to him in the passenger seat of the Deluxury van, perhaps murder and mayhem would suffice.

"Why isn't there a seatbelt in here mister alien?"

The Sandman sighed. "Because...I dunno. I stole it from a human being and there weren't seatbelts in here when I stole it."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm just trying to keep you safe, kid."

"You know, the safest place is where you keep your gold, did you know that?"

"Really," The Sandman mumbled as he swerved the truck around another corner.

"Yeah, people put their gold in a safe place and no one knows where the place is so they don't find the gold only I found the safe place I call it the gold house we should go there mister alien."

The Sandman didn't reply. Just kept driving.

"You know, it isn't very safe driving around without seat belts. You aliens should really get your act together."

The Sandman handed her another bar of chocolate and said, "Here, have some more candy."

"Oh thank God you're here," Caroline exclaimed as she ran down across the driveway. The carefully manicured bushes were weed-free and blooming beside her as she hurried to Faber and Floyd's car. Her eyes were red from terrified tears and the previous hour between realizing Carrie was missing to the detectives' arrival had been an eternity for Caroline Banter. "I told her not to go into the woods but that has to be where she is."

Gripping her hands firmly, Faber said, "Don't worry Mrs. Gerald, we will find your daughter."

Shyly, Caroline said, "She's not my daughter. I'm the sitter."

"Oh," Faber replied. "Well, we'll find your..."

Leaning in, Floyd said, "Ward."

"We'll find your ward, I assure you."

"Thank you," Caroline said as fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

"Good, you're here," Monty Gerald said as he marched out of the house. "I have, um, business to attend to so I won't be able to assist you gentlemen in the search, but I need you both to understand something: do not search the woods to the west of the house. I assure you, my daughter is not to the west, there's nothing there for her or you to find. Understand?"

Faber and Floyd glanced at each other. "Perfectly," Faber said. He returned his attention to Monty Gerald, but he was looking over them to the turnaround beyond them.

"I'll be in the house," Gerald said, staring at the Deluxury truck that was pulling in. He didn't wait for a response from the detectives; just turned and speed-walked back to the estate.

Faber and Floyd had both turned to look at the truck as well. The driver, obscured by shadows, navigated the truck around the turnaround slowly.

As its side became visible to them, Jessica read the logo aloud: "Deluxury," she muttered, "The Sandman."