“He's done it again? The bastard has done it again?”
“What?” Asked Simon, confused. “Who has done what? Em, calm down and talk to me.” He commanded. I took a breath. He didn't know.
“Derek.” I whimpered. “They think he took a girl.”
“When?” Simon's tone was hard. He was annoyed as I was about being left out of the loop.
“I don't know.” I wailed. “Now. Today. They saw him follow her, and now she is missing. She is twelve Simon. Twelve.” The tears broke my voice into an inaudible babble of garble. “You said he wasn't here.” I fretted.
“He wasn't, Em. He wasn't. I will come over Em, don't worry.”
“You'll get in trouble.” I argued, secretly hoping he wouldn't care.
“I don't give a fuck. They can fire me for all I care.” He grumbled. “I'm going to make a few phone calls to see what I can find out. I will see you soon.”
I glanced at the clock. 10pm had come and gone, and there had been no sign of Simon. I was beginning to worry.
I tried his cell. It rang out. I tried again and it was turned off. Sleep. I needed to sleep. I needed to forget. Making my way to the bedroom I curled up in bed. My mind wouldn't stop. I could feel a panic attack rising. My bedside table beckoned. I reached in and took out my emergency stash of sleeping tablets. This was an emergency. I took two.
“Where the fuck are you? I told you I needed it hours ago.” He hisses. I keep my eyes closed. I know better than to let him know I am awake. I hurt so much. My stomach, my legs, my head. Hell even my hair hurts. I have no way of knowing how long I've been here. I drift in and out of consciousness so often it could have been hours. Or weeks.
“Well hurry the fuck up!” I jump as he slams the phone down. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter. I know what is coming. I feel him hovering over me. The sound. Squish. Squish. I tense as I feel him climb on top of me. I don't fight. Last time I fought he had wrapped a bag over my head until I passed out. A knock. The door. He pushes himself off me. The force sends me rolling into the wall.
“About fucking time!” Out of the corner of my eye I see the package of white powder. The other man shrugs.
“Fuck you dude. You said 78, not 79. And room fucking 26 would have helped” He nods toward me. “Who's the bitch?”
I screamed, my eyes focusing on the darkness surrounding me.
My hand blindly flailed for the lamp, finally, light filled the room. I sat up letting my eyes adjust to the light. The reality of my dream hit me. 79. Route 79. There was only one route 79 in all of New York State. And only one caravan park on that route.
I tried Simon again. No answer. I knew Cass was at her fathers and she would be out of range. Tom wasn't answering either. Everyone was so concerned for my safety, yet I couldn't reach anyone? Some friends. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I couldn't just call the police. They'd think I was nuts. And I couldn't exactly go there myself. For what seemed much longer then the ten minutes it actually was, I sat staring at my phone. Willing someone to ring me.
Anyone.
The phone stayed silent. My stomach churned into knots at what I was about to attempt. I could do this. I had to do this.
I reached for my purse and fumbled around for the valium mom had put there in case I needed to leave in some kind of emergency. I swallowed a handful. If this wasn't an emergency, I don't know what was. Now for a taxi. I had never called a taxi before. I wasn't even sure what to do.
Eventually I buzzed the doorman downstairs.
“Hi, uh, can you order me a taxi. Mancelli. Apartment 123.”
“Mancelli?” He repeated, shocked.
“Yes.” I hoped I sounded more in control than I felt. “To Sunny Hills Caravan Park.”
“Yes Ma'am.” He replied nervously.
“Oh, and I will need a hand getting downstairs.” I added meekly. Suddenly I wasn't feeling so good.
I propped myself against the wall while I waited for the doorman. I didn't even know his name. I'd probably met him twice in the year I'd been here. The valium was starting to set in, though I still felt very overwhelmed. My stomach was churning, my head ached, and I was so cold. In my condition no taxi driver was going to take me anywhere. I grabbed the bottle of valium and took another.
“Miss Mancelli?” A knock on the door rudely interrupted my struggle to breathe. “The taxi is here.” The room began to blur. I willed myself to stay focused.
“Miss?”
“Can you open the door please? I'm okay.” My eyes squeezed shut, my mind summoning up all the energy I had to move.