Epilogue

 

 

 

 

One more time, we visit the City. Strangly, it appears in a different light... as if morning might eventually be dawning after what seemed like eternal night, at least to some

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observed up closer, it is not a morning but a rather foggy afternoon. Hm. Where might we be today? This neighbourhood is clearly not as rundown as the the district where Al used to have his dwelling

 

 

A paper boy, at this time of the day? Ah, this shop nearby must be be selling not only books, but also newspapers. The kid has probably been picking up his load for tomorrow... seems like some customer will get a slightly stained issue

 

 

So, this building is our destination today. Let´s have a look. Not too bad at all, we have seen worse

 On closer inspection, there is movement behind those windows up on the second floor. Someone has apparently been renovating

 

 

"Last box?" 

"Last box."

 

 

 Both men carefully lower the cardboard box onto the ground and step a little further into the room

 

"Now look at that. Nice, huh?"

"Yeah. One hell of a difference"

 

 

"Hey, coffee anyone?  - Oh Jeeze! The last one already? That was fast"

 

 

"Would love to, but we must be on our way. In fact, we just admired the wonders you guys worked on the place! Looks real good!"

"Agreed. I felt a little bad when I first saw the state the place was in. After all, the hint came from my brother in law"

 

 

 The room is definitely still very bare, but... nice? Clean, freshly painted...

 

"Yeah, Al is kind of a pro when it´s about renovation stuff. He made me sand the floors twice...  and he was right, so worth it"

 

 

 

"But I´d never gotten here if it wasn´t for you guys. Honest to God. Thank you so much for you help"

 

 

Browne very obviously has his difficulties accepting the profound gratitude that is washing over him

 

"Uh, right, welcome"

 

 

Frantically he turns to his partner

 

"S´ getting late Tom. Gotta be going"

 

 

 

"No problem, be on your way. I´ll be with you in a minute"

 

And in the blink of an eye, Harry has rushed out of the small appartment. They listen to his fading footsteps on the stairs

 

"So... about Al... you said, he moved into your old place, like, ten minutes walk from here? Is he doing okay? He would really like to know, too, but you know how it is. He´d rather bite off his tongue than ever ask"

 

 

 

Now look at that. So that is what his smile looks like

 

"Oh yeah, he did. It was to small to keep the chess table there... eh... which is why we had to carry the wretched thing up here, sorry again about that... but all in all, big enough for one guy who likes to mind his own business"

 

 

 

"He´s been painting the walls and scrubbing everything for days, even after Betty and I did, and tell ya, no comparision to what it was before... when I lived there... you know what I mean..."

 

 

"He is fighting an uphill battle against the cockroaches, but methinks he is making ground in that department, too. And as he said himself, still a hundred times better than that ol´ factory"

 

 

"He keeps buying books, reads a lot. Says he never got around to do that during those last years and has some to catch up on"

 

 

 "Hard to tell with old stoneface him, but yeah, guess he is good now"

 

 

 

Tomasz appears relieved upon hearing this bit of information. He would most likely not want to admit how much the two cops have worried about Al

 

"Good to hear that... hm it´s  really getting late, I better be going now"

"Sure. You already spent so much time on us. Want to say bye to Betty? She´s in her room, unpacking"

 

 

 And there she is, our girl. Glued to the heavy chess table the grown ups have been dragging up the stairs, swearing sinfully, no doubt about it. She is probably already planning ahead for the next time she and Al will be playing

"Tom wants to say bye, he needs to leave now"

 

 

Now look at her hair. This did not grow in a week. I wonder how much time has passed since she first met the cop who has become a friend of the family... well, if we define family as her, Dan and Al, at least

 

"Already? Okay... thanks for helping with the boxes, some of them were really just to heavy for me and Dan alone. But say, can Gosia maybe come over after school tomorrow? Now that I have Al´s chess table we could play together, we talked about it and she said she would want to learn how to do it"

 

 

"Of course. Anytime" 

 

 

 

Upon hurrying down the stairs, he almost bumps into his partner who is nervously smoking a cigarette right in front of the building´s entrance

 

"Hey there. I asked about Al, he is good. Moved into Dan´s old place, just as we assumed"

 

 

Harry lets out a sigh of relief with the next puff of smoke

 

"Thank goodness. I still feel like crap that I ever doubted his.. motives... oh boy..."

 

His voice trails of, and they both remain silent for a while

 

"Don´t. Who could have imagined what kind of a heartless prick that lover of Betty´s braindead mother was?  Surely her two braincells must have collided coincidentally that day when she signed those papers, so that Dan could get full custody"

 

Harry just nods

 

 

He drops his cigarette on the ground and stomps heavily on it

 

"Blessing they have both been convicted down south. Blessing nobody dug up anything about Dan´s little problem. Blessing he´s still holding up..."

"Plain to see, eh? He´s looking so much better now, and it´s only been a few months. Even put on some weight, I´d say"

Looking at each other for a moment, the men quietly agree to maintain contact with the girl and her legal guardian, both very aware who might need more support of the two

"Let´s call it a day man. One on the way? Eddy´s?

"Sure thing. Now that Xander convinced the old man to sell that stupid piano and bought that sick sound system..."

And off they go

The End.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

And did I not say, I would be back to finish this story? I can fully understand if you should have lost faith in me, though. After all, it´s been almost six years. Apologies. Sad puppy eyes. All that.

So do you want to know where this is going, or not?

I thought so. 

Thanks for reading, and your patience. I would think that it could be helpful to re- read the earlier chapters, by the way.

 

Yes, it´s the morning after Al and Dan have met again under such straining circumstances.  It´s still winter in the city, but as an icy merciless rain has been pouring down for hours, the snow is gone now, leaving enourmous puddles everywhere, turning every bit of bare land into a swamp

 

 

Betty is very obviously wide awake despite the early hour. In fact, the sky has not even turned into a proper gray yet

 

 "I can´t believe he found you! Do you really have no idea what his plan might be? Oh boy I hope we can get back at Kris and Mom for that"

 

 

 The guy shivers, and not only from the nasty wind that is howling in the streets now I´d say

"No. But tell you the truth, after last night´s rain and all, I think he was lucky in more than one way. He def needed a warm place to... yanno... unwind? Let´s go inside, it´s  freezing"

I could not agree more, Danny. Al was at the end of his tether. Look at him now, he is still fast asleep in that remote corner of the club, right where you left him a few hours ago. He looks less pale, though. Could be that little bit of rest already did work wonders

 

"Hey... Al..."

 

But look how fast he snaps to attention end gets up on his feet, zero to one hundred in three seconds indeed, this one

 

 

For a brief moment in time, all is still and silent in the grubby chill out zone. The older man seems lost for words, which is less impressive if you bear in mind that he never was much of a talker, anyway

 

 

Just before the silence gets a little too uncomfortable, the younger speaks up. Do I even spot a little grin there?

 

"What? I said I´d be back, and I said I´d bring Betty. That´s about her, too. She´s got every right to be here"

 

"Frankly, I did not know what to expect. Nevermind. Let´s get down to business. We don´t know how much time we still have on our hands"

"... fine"

 

 

The girl eyes the futuristic chairs sceptically, but does not comment. Soon enough, they all have shuffled themselves into more or less comfortable positions on the strange seating furniture

 

 

 

He does not like his little princess to be around. In fact, right now he wishes very hard that she would be elsewhere. Not hear him. Not see him. He can barely look at her himself now, as he starts to lay out the plan he came up with

"Today, I will give myself up to the police. I know the local cops. They are taking their job seriously. They will still be looking for me."

 

 

"I will tell them that Kris came to me, not you"

 

 

"That he dropped of Bethany at my place. That he offered me cash. Like he did offer it to you"

 

 

"That all was good, because she was used to hanging out with me. That we would stay away from people, that, one day before the blizzard fully hit the city, we visited that abandoned playground near the docks"

 

 

"That I must have dozed off"

 

 

"That she must have become bored of the swings and have started to explore the area"

 

 

"That she must have climbed that quay wall"

"That I slept until I heard that scream. That scream I will never forget. That when I finally realized what must have happened, she was gone, swallowed by the icy waters, ripped away by the current"

 

 

Now that was unexpected

 

"What?!? Are you crazy?! That doesn´t make any sense, why would you tell the cops you let her die? What´s wrong with you? What use would that be? What the..."

 

 

Alright. The total calm that is radiating from him now is more than just a little unsettling

 

"Hear me out, Son. Remember how you told me about leaving with her, telling everyone how she was your daughter"

 

Oh my, he is even avoiding the girl´s name now...

 

"Screw that. This is not the 80s anymore. Sooner or later, you would be found out. And then nobody would care to listen to the truth. You´d be just another creepy kidnapper and she´d be just another victim with Stockholm´s Syndrome to everyone."

 

 

Somehow completly deflated he continues, his voice getting quieter by the word

 

 "No. She needs to be dead, or they will never stop looking for her. And you need to move far away. Further than they´d expect. Take this. It´s the last valuable thing I own, and it should buy you some extra miles on the intercity bus lines"

With a tiny clink, he puts a small golden object down on the table between them

"For all I know, it´s solid gold. It´s been in the family for a long time. You have it."

Silently, both of them stare at the signet ring.

 

 

Until Bethany speaks up to adress a detail that hast not been on the table yet

 

"But what about you, Al? What will become of you? Where will you go from there?"

 

 

"It doesn´t matter kid. I do not matter. This is about your future. Just about you and Dan"

  

 

Ah no, big boy. She is not having any of that. 

 

"But you do matter. You matter to me. I am not leaving you behind, forget it. You committed no crime"

 

  

"Dan I´d be cool being your daughter from now on, but in this Al is right, it´s not that easy. We can´t just leg it"

 

 

 

And for the first time ever, and only out of shere desperation,  I am sure of it, Allister Styles for the first time ever raises his voice against the child that means most to him in this world these days

"So what´s the alternative? Tell the police what really happened? Risk that they´d call him a kidnapper´s associate? Risk them sending you back to your Mom, and Kris?"

 

 

Oh- oh. Yes, Al. Judging by the determined look the two of them are sharing, judging by the way they are looking back at you right now... this is what they are, all out of a sudden, willing to do. 

"Maybe they will even put Kris and Mom to jail for feigning the kidnapping. Only thing we can absolutely not tell the cops about is the drugs"

 

 

 

Oh my. He jumps to his feet. He clenches his fists. He is almost yelling now

 

"Did you even listen!! There is no other way! Don´t you get it, I just want you to be safe! "

 

 

Now Bethany slips down from her seat, too, and straightens up to her full height... which is still rather short, I might add

 

"But I know. Thing is.. I want you to be safe, too. Stop yelling at me, it´s no use. You are my best friend and I love you, you know. You are like a Dad to me. I am not throwing you to the wolves, no matter what"

 

 

 

And finally, the big guy gives in. As do his knees, I might add. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the girl pulls him into a hug 

 

"Let´s go. The police station is always open, right?" 

This little rabbit made up her mind. No more running

 

 

 

Yes, Betty, it is always open. And by now, even the sun has come up

 

 

"Let me go first. I´ll do the talking"

 

 

And so the three of them take a deep breath in unison, unconciously, and enter together, with the little girl in the lead. Almost casually she strolls over to the counter

"Good morning, officer"

 

 

 "I believe you are looking for me"

 

 

And who, of all cops in town, would it be, worn out and tired and almost at the end of his shift? Right. Tomasz. Officer Kowalczyk

 

He looks at the child and immiadetely recalls her name. Bethany Muddler. The missing girl.

 

 

He then looks up and just as fast identifies the man standing right behind her. Allister Styles. The prime suspect

 

 

No doubt about it. And of course, the suits left days ago. Oh well

 

 

"Alright, I believe we will need to talk in peace. Feels like this could be a lenghty conversation we are about to have. -

OFFICER BROWNE? Please take over the front desk, willya "

From somewhere in the back of the building, you can hear a muffled retort

 

 

"This way, please"

 

 

 

"... gimme a minute, I´ll be right there..."

 

 

"... what the hell, is that - Styles?!? " 

 

I feel you, Harry. I really and completely do.  And even before your morning coffee...

 

 

The policeman and the girl walk into an office, two very tense men remain at the otherwise deserted sad waiting area. Well. So far, this could have been worse. I suppose. Breathe, boys

 

 

"You really planned to do it, right? You would have... given yourself up to save her"

"To save the two of you"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Tom has managed to bring his outdated office computer to life and is about as ready as it gets at this time of the day. Encouragingly, he actually claps his hands

"So. Well. Ready when you are. Tell me what happened, in your own words, and start at the beginning, please..."

 

 

 

"Kris dropped me a off at Dan´s before Snow Day. He told us, he and Mom would be going on vacation"

Against his own training, the young cop lets his surprise get the better of him, and he interrupts her

 

"Wait. Are you saying, there never was a kidnapping to begin with?"

"No! They said the wanted some alone time, and I stayed with Dan before! He´s Mom´s cousin. He used to babysit me since I was little. I thought it was weird, because Kris really hates Dan´s guts, but I really like him and was looking forward to spending more time with him"

 

 

"But Bethany.  Everybody has been looking for you. It´s been all over the news. TV, newspapes, you name it, how is it even possible that your uncle did not learn about the whole story?"

 

Our little fighter looks seriously unhappy now, but being a father himself Tom is pretty sure that he will be able to tell if she is sticking to the truth or not

"Not my uncle, Mom´s cousin... you know, he´s really been down on his luck lately. He had to sell all his good stuff over time, and when his phone died a while ago, he could no replace it. And the weather was so cold... we stayed in most of the time. And when we learned about Kris schemes, we got scared."

"Only when we heard that you cops are looking for Al as my kidnapper, we got that we had to come forward. We went looking for him, filled him in and came here. Al has been my friend for ages, it was so mean to set you on him. I hope Kris will burn in hell"

 

 She sounds so bitter for a kid her age, it is heartbreaking

"Mom is just... stupid. But Kris is whole different piece of cake"

 

 

 

 

 

 

After what feels like an eternity to both of them, the door finally opens and releases the girl into the corridor. Sheepishly, she looks at her friends, her family

 

 

Because, let´s be honest, that is what those two are to her.  And somehow always have been

 

"Alright, please take a seat, m´kayes? This will take a while longer. If you need anything, just talk to my colleage at the front desk. I´m sure he will even be able to cough up some tea and donuts for you if you get hungry.-

Gentlemen? next please"

Oh come on. Not all at once, guys. No need to rush

 

 

Finally, all cards are on the table. Don´t miss the Epilogue... you know how much I hate loose ends