The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 49

Paul stared down at the screen of his phone, his finger hovering above the keypad. No, I better not call him. He must arrest me even though, I'm sure, he doesn't believe I had anything to do with the kidnapping. I can't put him in a position where he has to choose between his profession and our friendship. Paul turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket.

Sitting on the hard cold floor of the empty room darkness surrounded him. I don't dare turn on the lights someone in the hallway might notice. Paul took his first relaxed breath since he escaped from his hotel room. The adrenaline rush caused by his unexpected encounter masked the pain he now felt in his ankle. The throbbing ache increased as every moment passed. Paul reached down to feel the swelling around his ankle.

I hope it isn't broken. It doesn't feel good but sometimes a bad sprain is just as painful as a break. He held his heal and moved it from side to side wincing from the pain. That doesn't feel good. Maybe I should take off my shoe? If it keeps swelling, I may have trouble getting it back on. The swollen ankle was becoming unbearable trapped in its leather prison. I've got to get this shoe off. I'll deal with putting it back on later. Ahh, that feels better.

I'll stay here tonight. It'll be fine. Time, I need time to think about what to do. A crime gang has attempted to grab me twice and now the police are after me to. Maybe it would be best to surrender myself to the police? I would be safe from the criminals in jail. That's ironic. Anyway, I'm sure VK would make sure I was okay. The police would eventually find the reason I was being targeted and capture the kidnappers.

All of that could take a long time and in the meantime I'd be jailed and couldn't take part in my defense. Being in jail would probably make VK feel better. But I also wouldn't be able to use my reasoning skills to unravel this.

Paul reclined on his back lying on the concrete-like industrial tile floor. His ankle felt better but still throbbed from his fall. Sleep tried to take hold as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He welcomed this friend since he often used his deductive reasoning as he slept. Several times he awoke to find a scribbled message written on the notepad he kept on the nightstand next to his bed. Perhaps I'll reason this out during my sleep?

Deep sleep, however, evaded Paul as his mind raced, sorting out the many elements of his dilemma. If I can find the inventors, I'm sure I'll find the reason my investigation is being blocked.

I'm too tired to make a good decision now. I'll see if my reasoning still makes sense in the morning. The dark shroud of nothingness finally covered him.

Should he surrender to police and leave the investigation to them or strike out on his own, placing himself in danger? Morning's light would reveal Paul's carefully analyzed rational answer, unless...