The Silent Confession

Chapter Fifteen

Consciousness attempted to pull Nancy out of sleep, a pounding headache and a dim light greeting her. Her head felt like it was full of cotton as her thoughts tried to squeeze through.

Nancy's eyes fluttered open only to close again. She fought to keep her vision, straining to take in her surroundings. She carefully raised her heavy head, her neck and shoulders aching from slumping back in the chair she sat in. Immediately, she noticed the tug on her wrists as she tried to sit up. Some type of restraint kept her arms bound at the back of the chair. Her ankles were in the same condition, and she could feel the duct tape covering her mouth.

Turning her head slowly, she took in her dimly lit surroundings. She was in a small room that resembled a basement, with stone walls and flooring. There were no windows, and she had to strain to see the single door behind her. A couch sat up against the wall to her right and on her left was a pool table beside a lamp.

Nancy reminded herself to remain calm and think back to what had brought her here. Thoughts of the library and the alleyway came to her before the memory of the attack. Someone must have drugged her with the cloth, causing her to lose consciousness.

She knew her friends must be worried. She had no idea what time it was, but she was certain it was past the time she was supposed to be at the restaurant. The police had to have been alerted by now. Someone was looking for her.

Taking a deep breathe, she struggled against her restraints. Without any luck, she returned to her surroundings, hoping to think of another means of escaping. There was little offered.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door as someone let themselves in. Nancy turned to see a figure dressed in all black with his face covered in a mask.

Her thoughts immediately turned to Mr. Smithers' description of his attacker, who had been dressed in the same attire.

The man closed the door behind him and approached Nancy. She stared fiercely at his eyes through his mask, hoping to show more confidence then she was feeling.

She knew it was him before he removed his mask. His blue eyes were too dark and mysterious to forget.

"I thought I would make a dramatic entrance before the reveal," Jason said, crouching down to Nancy's level. "Although, you don't seem as surprised as I would have hoped. All the stories must be true. You are a good detective."

Leaning foreword slightly, Jason extended his chin, revealing a large cut on his bottom lip. "You're also a pretty good fighter. Cut my lip right open when you were struggling. It hurt like hell."

He laughed slowly before standing, circling her. "I would love to explain why you're here, however my accomplice might not like that. It'll have to wait until I have his permission."

Jason came face to face with Nancy again, coming so close to her face that she could feel his breathe on her neck. "I'm dying to tell you all my secrets, Miss. Drew."

Struggling to move away from him as he inched closer, she whimpered behind the tape. He drew a finger across her jaw, cupping her chin and forcing her to look at him. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you."

He released her, moving away. "Like I said, I don't have the permission even if I wanted to. At least, not right now. There's a reward involved if I follow orders, you see, and I really don't want to lose my fair share of that."

Nancy could hear his footsteps moving further away as he neared the door. "Although, I might have broken the rules a little in keeping you here... but I think I deserve a little more than my fair share of the reward."

He suddenly came close to her from behind, whispering close to her ear. "Anyway, make yourself at home. I'm sure I'll be back soon with my friend."

Hearing the sound of the door close behind him as he left, Nancy struggled again at her restraints, looking around furiously for a means of escape.

What was going on? From what little she knew, she was certain Jason was the one who attacked Mr. Smithers, like she suspected, but why? Did it have something to do with his father being invited to the convention? Did it involve Alvin Brixton's riches? What did Nancy have to do with any of this?

Above all, who was Jason's accomplice, or was this accomplice more of a boss? Jason claimed he had to 'follow orders.'

She remembered that she discovered Mr. Brown could be a descendant of Alvin Brixton. Could it be Mr. Brown? Was he capable of any of this? Was it all just to find Alvin Brixton's riches?

Nancy couldn't break free, and she had no idea where she was. Her phone was taken from her. She scolded herself for walking headfirst into an alleyway without taking precautions. However, she hadn't been in the best headspace. It still wasn't a good excuse.

She should have texted Frank. He worried about her so easily. It wasn't fair of her to yell at him like she did when he was only trying to help.

She wished she had let him come to the library with her, and she wished he was there with her in that moment. He would know what to do. Envisioning his intense eyes, small smile, and comforting presence, she felt the slightest bit better.

Some time passed that Nancy couldn't keep track of. She busied herself by thinking of complicated ways of possibly escaping. Was it possible to use a pool cue to undue knots? Could she use a spring in the couch to cut herself loose?

Eventually, she heard shouting come from outside the door. It became louder as it approached. She looked back to see Jason opening the door to pull a Mr. Brown inside. Nancy's eyes grew almost as wide as his.

"Jason!" Mr. Brown yelled, looking at Nancy, with his eyes turning sympathetic. "I didn't ask for this. You've taken it way too far. We have to let her go."

"You can't do that now," Jason smiled. "She's already seen you. If you release her, you'll be behind bars."

Nancy shook her head, hoping to communicate anything that would set her free.

Mr. Brown slumped, staring at her for some time. "I'm sorry, Nancy. I'm in too deep now." He looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry."

She tried to shake her head and muffle words, but Mr. Brown was already slowly turning away from her.

Jason lounged against the wall, watching Mr. Brown as he approached him. "You tricked me."

"I just did what you asked," Jason replied cooly. "You should learn to be more specific with your requests."

Mr. Brown sighed, whispering, "I can't take much more of this." He took a deep breathe. "I don't want you interfering any further. You're finished."

"Watch it-" Jason reminded him. "You still owe me."

"I haven't forgotten. I promise to get you your reward, and in return, you will leave myself and the convention alone."

Jason shrugged. "I get the reward for my work so far. I will continue to do as I please..."

Frustration seemed to flare in his eyes. "This isn't what I asked of you!"

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Remember your place, Mr. Brown. I'm capable of much more than you will ever be. You signed up for this. See it through. All you need to do now is get the reward and forget this ever happened."

Mr. Brown stifled his anger, seemingly in defeat, before exiting with Jason, who winked at Nancy. "Don't worry yourself, Miss Drew. I'll be back," he said before closing the door.

Her heart raced as she ran over what she'd heard. Mr. Brown seemed to be in way over his head. Did he hire Clayton do to this? Was he behind the attacks and the mishaps? Was the reward Brixton's treasure?

If only she had told Frank of what she'd found as soon as she discovered the link between Brown and Brixton's similar names and possible relation. At least she had told him of her suspicions of the man. Maybe Frank would figure out the truth and find her.

She'd been denying it all this time, but Frank was the one she truly needed.