Simpler Things

Part 23: Refuge.

                      Megan has been gone for 4 days. The forensics had taken the book she left, but later returned it due to no real evidence for the case. In other news, I got a call from the school about the time I had missed, and how some of my teachers planned  to help me get caught up. but I didn't want go back. It didn't feel right. With everything that happened.

                          And it's funny how when I'm at one of the lowest points in my life, I haven't had any incline on telling any of my other" friends". They hadn't asked. They didn't want the whole story. There were rumors, I'm sure, about all the destruction. It had been on the news. I'm sure that some people had made a connection from me to the stories, but I didn't want to fuel any fires.

It sounded like non-sense. And it kind of is. I didn't want it to be, but it was. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

              I was a sitting duck. I looked down at the book I was reading. The pages were slightly wrinkled, probably from getting wet. Megan lent it too me, she spoke so highly of it, but I never read it. I never had the chance. I was on page 24, but I hadn't absorbed a single word. I needed to get Megan back, I needed to get my mother back, I needed to avenge every innocent who got hurt because of me. I clenched my jaw, and felt exhausted There wasn't much I could do. But that didn't eliminate everything. I picked up my phone, flinging the book onto my bed. The book fell to the ground with a slap of sound. I ran over and picked it up, brushing it off, I noticed a slip of paper, folded with a small drawing in blue pen. It was a geometric shape. Each point had a line drawn to the middle of the figure. Putting it to the back of my mind, I slipped it into the back pocket of my jeans.

I wanted to see the evidence. I wanted to solve the riddle the killer left. I needed too. I had too.

My father pulled up to the curb. I quickly walked down my pathway and onto the side walk. I noticed someone in the front, and continued to get into the back of the car.
"Hello, Alyson." I didn't need to look at who said it. I recognized that voice.
"Hello... Lee." I said, forcing a smile. The car was quiet for awhile until at a stop light my father decided to strike up some conversation,
"We're heading to the barn again, to see if there was anything we missed."
"Interesting." I said, flatly.
"Are you sure we shouldn't go to the department?" Lee spoke quietly. It was the first time I'd heard him challenge my father.
"We could make a stop," my father smiled and looked at him before looking back at the road, "What do you need to do?"
"I want to pick up some... files." I furrowed my eyebrows. Why did he say it like that?
My father glanced over again, but for a longer time. They definitely shared a look. I sat back in my seat, looking out the window.
43 telephone poles later we pulled up to the department. Lee got out of the car, leaving me and my father in silence.
"So you want to help?" He broke the silence.
"Yeah." I responded.
"Why?"
"What do you mean 'why?'" I asked.
"What's the reason your doing this?" He said, looking at the scenery through his window. I thought about the answer. There were so many. When I finally decided on one I spoke,
"It's the only way I can help."
"Do you feel you need to help?" He spoke in a neutral tone. I knew what he was doing.
"Stop." He turned slightly. I continued, "I'm doing this because I'm the reason. The reason all this has happened. It's the only thing I can do to help."
He looked back,
"Alyson..."
"Stop. This is the only thing I can do that can get my best friend back, and make sure nobody else I love gets hurt."
He didn't respond. I noticed how my out lashes were happening more frequently, like the matter was getting worse, because it was.
The sound of a car opening broke the heavy silence. My father turned back to facing out his window. Lee lifted a cardboard box onto his lap.
"So, what do we know?"
"Lee." My father warned.
"Just wait." He spoke quietly. "Alyson...?"
"Yes?" I said bluntly.
"Here." He handed me the box, go through that as we ride," I looked up at him. "Please." I felt the corners of my mouth raise.
"Sure."

We headed towards the barn near the crash sight. I looked through the case. It contained dozens of photos, documents, and other small pieces of evidence. I saw a picture of the barn we were heading too, about halfway through. The wood was old and peeling, just like it was when my father and I had gone. For some reason, I didn't believe Megan was at the barn. Why would this man bring her to a place where the lead detective had already been. I let the thought sit, as another idea slipped slowly into my brain. I rushed through the papers. Finding each sheet, one by one. All Birdseye view maps. Each sight had been placed, symbolized by a small red dot. The idea began to sink, as I searched through the box for a fuller picture. Finally I found it. The map had the points, all in red. I looked at it, for awhile I didn't notice anything. Until I looked at it, not as separate points, but as a shape. I couldn't trust my mind. I needed to see it. Without thinking, I spoke,
"Do you have a pen?"