MUD

Chapter 13~ Dirty Dirt

Bryson's POV -two days later

Time off so far has been super beneficial for me. I'm getting rest, collecting my thoughts & getting ready to do the digging. Also, I have been to dinner with the beautiful Ms. Cruz. Haven't heard from her since then, but I am sure I left an impression.
Aunt Petra has been calling my phone none-stop, but I don't have the time.
Looking across the street now I can see the apartment where the victims supposedly lived, namely my cousin and her friend.

There is mail overflowing the mailbox and several newspapers in front of the yard. The brush hasn't been groomed either. The stone pavement is nearly covered in fallen leaves from the birch and oak trees nearby. The place is deserted.
Pulling out my lighter and a cigar, I exit my car , lock it and walk over to the gate. It's half open. The grass in the yard is a bit high, exposing big pressed down patches....boot prints. Not wanting to use the front door I go around the side to seek out an alternative.
She didn't even have the decency to call.....
I told her if she was uncomfortable I would have her home.....
She's probably more of a baby than I expected.

"Pfft." I say out loud.

Round back I find a locked entrance which I quickly pry open. Breaking doors, a little skill I picked up from my father.
I remove my shoes and tie my feet in plastic wrap, slide walking on the floor as to not leave distinct prints.
Maybe I should call right that's the "gentlemanly" thing to do
But I've called twice before!

I pull out my phone to call Victoria one last time.
No answer
Okay, maybe another last time.

— the line opens but she doesn't speak.

"Tori.."
"What is it Bryson?" She is annoyed. Oddly it makes me smile.
"I might be ignorant here, but have I done something to offend you? Why did you leave early? Not call?" I ask sincerely.

"You're delusional!" she scoffs, "you don't know if you've offended me?!"

At this point I'm willing to assume Victoria is shouting at me because she's in the town, and there's noise. I begin to manoeuvre my way around the apartment to the little kitchen. There everything seems normal.
" Please just tell me where I went wrong."

"Bryson. I came on that dinner because I believed you liked me. Not because you wished me to entertain you and your women!"

I turn to the living room and start looking through piles of paper on the small table.
"You're telling me you didn't feel anything? When you were watching.."

"You're disgusting," Victoria replies.

Bills, magazines, a map, books and classifieds are among what I find. Not interesting.

" I want you." I tell her.

"So? You want everyone else. How many even are there?" she asks, sucking in a breath, "I'm not interested in being involved in your dirt."

In the bedroom I find two beds with clothes on them, digging up drawers I find a phone book and open letters. To the left on the wall I see a diagram of my family tree! Alison knew us?

"Hey, Victoria you want me too.. or you would have not answered the phone. Call me when you're ready to be a big girl about it."

"Bird-shit.."  comes from the other end of the line.

" and quit with the name calling."
BEEP. I hung up.

Over beside the family tree I discover pictures and pictures of me! My home, pictures of me getting out of my car, pictures of me walking into buildings. So, she was watching me before she died. Alison has been non-existent to me all this time, but knew about some of our relatives.
What kind of sorcery is this?

Collecting the letters and the phone book, I get out of the room and back where I came from. I wonder how long it will be before someone comes to claim this home.

Back in my car, I realize I did not take any pictures of what I had found on the girls' wall.
I'm not going back in though. All these letters are in Russian; and I know just who can translate them.