Taken Away

CHAPTER 8

The next day, I woke up feeling groggy and sluggish. I quickly drank my coffee to shake off the tiredness in my body and put on my jacket, getting ready for another day of investigating this case. I was still reeling from the phone call that I received last night. As I was about to step out the door to exit my apartment, I noticed a small piece of paper on the ground in front of my door. I bend down to pick it up, curious to see what it could be. It was a phone number, written neatly on a piece of paper. I stared at the number for a moment, my curiosity getting the better of me. I reached for my phone and dialed the number, not knowing who or what would answer. "I knew you would call," the familiar, raspy voice said, his tone as intimidating as ever. As he spoke, I noticed that he had a slight British accent. He's not American, I thought to myself, taking a moment to process this new information. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and hide my fear. I didn't want the Heart Collector to think I was scared of him. I need to stay calm and remain in control of the situation, even though he has the upper hand right now. "Honestly," his tone was oddly pleasant. "I'm happy that you took the case." I paused, not sure if I heard him correctly. "You're...happy?" "Of course," he responded, as though it was obvious. "I like you," his pleasant tone and friendly attitude still throw me off. "Seeing you try your hardest to find me is fascinating," he continued. I'm at a complete loss for words, unsure of how to respond to these bizarre and unexpected compliments. "The only way you can find me is..." his voice trailing off before he finishes the sentence. I waited in anticipation, eager to see what idea he was about to propose. "To work with me," he continued after a few seconds of silence. My eyes widened as I realized what he was suggesting. "You want us to work together?" I asked, still in disbelief that he was offering to help us catch him. "I mean, you want to find me, right?" The Heart Collector continued, his tone shifting to a more firm and demanding one. "That's the only way you can arrest me." I paused for a moment, trying to process what he was saying. "Only you though," his tone shifted back to the friendlier one from before. But why does he want to work with me and only me? What is he up to? I'm suspicious that this is just another manipulation tactic, but I can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this. "Why only me?" I questioned. "Well, you're a good detective, and I want to work with someone who is smart and dedicated to catching me," he replied, his tone sounding genuinely impressed. "If you think you can easily manipulate me, you're wrong," I refuse to be taken in by his charm and manipulative tactics. I am well aware of what kind of person he is and that he's not someone I should trust. I will play his game for now, just to see what his hidden motive is, but I will not let my guard down. I am a good detective, and I will catch him no matter what it takes. "Oh trust me, I know," his tone full of confidence. I couldn't tell if this was sarcasm or honesty, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "So, what is it that you want me to do?" I finally asked, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. "Take over the case, alone," his tone once again shifting to a stern and formal one. "Why alone?" I asked, carefully weighing the pros and cons of his request.

Silence.

"I understand," I said, my tone remaining neutral. "Look behind the paper. Go there. alone." I stared at the phone for a moment, confused by the abrupt end of the call. I reached up and pulled the slip of paper out of my pocket, examining it and trying to discern any significance that it may hold. I turned the paper over and read the words written on it in bold black ink: Cinema City. Heartless Times.

"You want to take over the case!?" Joshua said, his voice filled with disbelief. I nodded my head, not trusting myself to speak without showing the fear that I was currently feeling. Joshua's eyes went wide as he realized what I was proposing. He clearly expected me to ask him for help, not to take over the case entirely by myself. "Sally, do you hear yourself?" Joshua asked, his tone filled with disbelief. "Yes, I hear what I'm saying," I responded, trying to muster as much confidence as possible. "And I know how crazy it sounds, but I truly believe I can catch The Heart Collector by myself. I don't want to waste any time. He's killed three women so far, and the longer it takes to catch him, the higher the chance that there will be more victims. I can't let that happen." "You're still my partner, Josh," I reminded him, trying to reassure him that I'm not abandoning him. "We just have to separate for a while, that's all." I hoped that my words could help Josh understand that this was what I needed to do, but I also knew that my decision had taken him by surprise. "Come on, Josh," I continued in a more reassuring tone. "You know how important this case is to me." Josh stared at me for a moment, contemplating my request. Then, he nodded his head slowly, his eyes filled with understanding. "I know how important this case is to you," he replied, his voice sounding sincere and empathic. "I want to catch this guy as much as you do. And if you think that working alone is the only way to do it, then I trust you." Josh's response filled me with determination, knowing that I have his support. "Thank you, Josh," I replied. "I won't let you down." "If I find something, I'll call you immediately," I said. "Of course, I'll be in touch," Joshua responded, sounding confident in my abilities as a detective.

As I approached the cinema, my heart rate started to increase as I thought about what this clue from The Heart Collector could mean. I entered the cinema, the smell of popcorn and soda filling my senses as I looked around at the crowded lobby. It was bustling with activity as people arrived for their showtimes, their voices and footsteps echoing throughout the room. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm and focused on the task at hand. This was the clue that The Heart Collector gave me, but I have no idea what I'm going to find here. I noticed the irony of the movie title, "Heartless Times." It's almost too perfect, knowing that The Heart Collector has chosen this place as the location for me to investigate. I walked into the movie theater, noticing that there were only three people in the entire theater. I took a seat in one of the empty rows, my curiosity piqued. The movie turned out to be a horror film, and I was immediately absorbed by the tense atmosphere and grim setting. The movie was dark, bloody, and set at night, which only amps up the tension and builds suspense in every shot. The movie was about a group of teenagers who were camping at a remote location in the woods. They are unaware that they are being watched by a mysterious figure, who is obsessed with one of them in particular. As the night progresses, the group's enjoyment quickly turns to fear as they begin to suspect that this stranger has ulterior motives. As expected, the movie was filled with jump scares, blood, and tension. As the movie ended, I stayed seated in my seat, lost in thought about the movie and its meaning. The movie's story had some eerie parallels to the situation with The Heart Collector, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was trying to send me a subtle message. The sound of my phone ringing in the empty theater send a shiver down my spine. In a flash, I'm snapped back to reality and remember the current situation. "Enjoyed the movie?"

"You're a ghost now?" I asked in a shaky voice, "Am I?" he asked in a taunt, his tone dripping with amusement. I bite my tongue, trying not to lash out at him. I have to keep my emotions in check and focus on staying calm and rational. "What do you want?" I asked. "To solve my puzzle, if you can," he replies in a taunt, "What puzzle?" I asked, trying to hide the nervous edge in my voice. "Did you solve the puzzle?" The Heart Collector asks, a mocking tone in his voice. It took me a moment to process what he was saying. "What puzzle?" I asked, feeling confused. "Oh come on, weren't you paying attention," he replied, his tone growing more frustrated at my supposed ignorance. My mind started to race as I tried to make sense of the puzzle he left for me to follow. What did I miss? "Solve it," were the final words spoken before the call went dead.

I left the theater and headed home, my mind immediately jumping into research mode. I sat down at my computer and started digging through the internet to find answers. After a few minutes of searching, I uncover some interesting information about the movie. Turns out, the movie was made by an unknown director and it was released in the early 20s, a time when movies were not as readily accessible as they are today. I paused and jotted down my observations as I watched the scene where two girls tried to solve a code to unlock a door. I was immediately intrigued by the code, wondering if this could be a clue that The Heart Collector wanted me to uncover. I rewind the scene and watch it again, focusing on the girls as they attempt to solve the puzzle. I noticed that there were numerous symbols on the chalkboard behind them, and I wrote down each symbol in my notebook for further examination. Perhaps the code lies within these symbols...

After watching the scene a few more times and making notes on the code, I realized that the code is "2139." My heart sinks as I realize that the girls are killed by a chainsaw before they can solve the code. My phone chimes and I grab it, eager to see what new information I might have. The message is from an unknown number, and it simply reads:

"+"

"What?" I glance at the message again, completely confused by its meaning. 21+39? Is this what he's trying to tell me? My head spins as the numbers sink in, and a sudden realization hit me.

21 + 39 = 60

My heart raced at the sound of a new incoming call, once again from an unknown number. "I take it you solved the puzzle?" He asked on the other end of the call. "What does 60 mean?" I asked, trying to remain calm. "Every answer is in there." As the call comes to an abrupt end, I sat there in shock. I slammed my fists on the table in frustration, annoyed at The Heart Collector's cryptic clues and taunting messages. I've watched the movie over and over again, and all I've uncovered is a house location called "Water Avenue" and a house number. Which was ironically was 60 In the movie, the group of friends receives letters that lead them to a specific location at midnight. I sat up straight, that information caught my attention.

Could this be the clue that I missed? If it is, then it's a huge risk.