Chapter
14:
He Ain't Heavy...
I took a deep breath before opening the door
to let Kevin in. When Kev was this eager to get in to anyone's room it was
never a good sign. I had only been back at the hotel for less than one hour and
I wasn't quite ready for the "Richardson roundtable" I reluctantly
opened the door and in breezed Kevin like a whirlwind. He brushed past me and
took a seat on the chair by the window.
"Hey what took you so long to answer the
damn door! I was waiting like forever to get in here!" Hey great to see
you too Kevin and yes my single got off the ground terrifically thanks for
asking.
"Sorry man. I just got in and was trying
to take a nap" I said as a pulled up a chair next to him.
"In your shoes?" What the hell is he
talking about now? I thought to myself as he pointed to my shoes.
"Yeah, I said I'm tired. I left the
shoe's on; too much work." I looked over at him and shrugged. "So,
what can I do for you?"
He stood up and started to pace and I could
feel the tension starting to thicken in the room. I wanted him to just get to
whatever the hell it was he wanted to yell at me for so I could get back to my
detective work. He instead kind of threw me off guard when he ducked down to my
wet bar grabbed himself a drink and tossed me a beer.
"Uh Kev, is something wrong?" He was
starting to worry me. He came back over to his chair opened up the beer and
said "Cheers!"
"Kev, seriously what's up you're starting
to scare me now!" I didn't mean to raise my voice but he was really
starting to piss me off and I already wasn't having a very good day.
"I just wanted to make sure you were all
right that's all" I was just about to start arguing when what he said
registered in my head and all I did was look at him with a dopey expression on
my face. "Huh?" Kevin looked at me and laughed. "I got a weird
phone call and I just wanted to come down here and make sure everything was all
right. I didn't mean to scare you." He laughed again and continued to chug
on his beer.
"What kind of weird phone call?" Now
I was interested.
"Some freak called me and said he wanted
my little brother" Oh my, was this the kind of phone call Howie and Brian
were talking about.
"Well, Kev, in the context of the group,
it could mean any one of us." I wasn't sure if I should tell him about A.J
or not. "You are the Big Brother of us all you know" I made sure I
made that sarcastic finger gesture to show I was quoting pretty much the entire
universe when I said that. He rolled his eyes at me showing me he was just as
sick of the moniker as I was of being
the "Baby" "I know, but, I just figured he was talking about
you" It was a he. Sounds like it's definitely J's maniac.
"Did you check up on J yet? I mean he's
next in line right?" I decided to tell him without really telling him.
"He could have easily been talking about him too. J is the one who gets
most of the weirdoes!"
"This is true, but he made it sound
like..I don't know man...I just assumed he meant you." He had a deep look
of concern in his eyes as he said that and for the first time I started to
think maybe it was Brian and J that were wrong as well. "So what exactly
did he say or was that it?" I asked him as I started to reach for my
drawer of "Secrets" I thought maybe it was time to tell someone about
all of this just in case this maniac was really after me and not J. Who better
to confide in than Kevin.
"Just what I said, nothing else. You know
man you're probably right. I mean maybe it was directed at J." That being
said he stood up to leave. I was just about to stop him and tell him how scared
I was about the Mizpah lady, if it was a lady, and finally spill my guts about
the whole thing. I even had the newspaper in my hands when Kevin's mood
slightly changed. "Oh by the way Kaos, I wasn't going to say anything
until we all met tomorrow, but I didn't want you to feel attacked"
Instantly before I even heard the rest of the sentence he was about to say, I
put the evidence, wow it was weird referring to it as evidence but I guess
that's what it is now, back in the drawer.
"Attacked" I asked him as I closed
my drawer shut.
"Yeah, the guys and I weren't really that
happy that you took off with no notice for a whole week. It was pretty selfish
and I for one am annoyed that I had to do your work as well as mine while you
got to gallivant all over the damn place!"
I just stood there boiling on the inside and
was just about to explode before thinking twice. "Well, whatever Kev, it's
not like you guys had to stop working while I was gone or anything." Kevin
walked towards me and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't get pissed Nick, I just wanted to
warn you that's all. We'll talk more about it in our meeting tomorrow
okay?" I gave Kevina half smile and a hug. I was going to be the big man
from now on when it came to my "brothers"
"Okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow
then." Before Kevin stepped out of my room, he back stepped, pulled me
close and whispered in my ear "Nicky please be careful..just in
case..watch your back for me" He then left. I stood on the other side of
the closed door and shut my eyes trying to make myself not think about the
meeting tomorrow and instead think about Kev's concern. No such luck, I opened
my eyes and headed for my drawer of "secrets."
******************************************************************************
I sat back down on my bed this time removing my shoes. I took out all of the
info this person had given me over the last few encounters. Why did I think it
was a woman? I mean I was so sure. It never really said anywhere that the
Mizpah lady was an actual lady. I just kind of figured it was a girl. Way to
show your chauvinist side Nick. Wow that really changes things a bit doesn't
it? I decided to look at the gift wrap that my journal came in. Knowing it was
newspaper I figured there might be another missing person or something on the
page. I scanned the whole first side and there was nothing but movie
times and what's going on in the area. I recognized a club that was mentioned
and figured out it was a Tampa newspaper. HUH first New York than Florida. The
psycho gets around! I flipped the page over and sure enough at the bottom right
hand corner another missing person
Respected Businessman's Son Missing
John Buckman president of Buckman industries in Tampa has offered a reward to
anyone who mighthave information on his youngest son's mysterious
disappearance.Tye Buckman age 20 has been missing since October 1st. He has Blonde hair and blue eyes He was
wearing a Black sweatshirt and jeans. He is 6ft 2inand approximately 186 lbs.
If you have any information please contact the sheriff's office
I think I actually remember this happening. I was still living in Tampa at the
time so it had to be late 80's early 90's. I don't think they ever found him. I
remember the dad coming on the news and pleading with the kidnappers to let his
son go. My Mom was so paranoid because it was extremely close to where we used
to live, that she wouldn't let me go out alone for months.
I then quickly looked at the other piece of newspaper that was wrapped around
the picture book to see if there was anymore to that story. Sure enough there
it was.
Funeral Held for Buckman Son
Tye Buckman 21 will be laid to rest today on the one year anniversary of his
disappearance. Buckman who had been
missing since early October of last year, turned up dead in a field only about
one mile from where he was originally taken. The police,
who are being sued for negligence in the case by John Buckman CEO of Buckman
Industries, refuse to admit they were responsible in any way. "We searched
this area thoroughly last year and came up with nothing" Sergeant Bickle
said.
I didn't bother reading the rest of the funeral arrangements since I knew this
was a while ago. I did notice a date on the top of this paper. October 1st
1991. Which means he was kidnapped in 1990.
Hmmmm first 1986 than 1990. Every four years maybe? that would mean that
1994 would be next. If I'm right. All that detective work made me exhausted and
I decided to call it a night. I put everything away and went through my bed
time routine. As I laid there in my bed, Kevin's words echoed in my head.
They're going to attack me at our meeting tomorrow. I better be ready to defend
myself. Then just before dozing off I remember thinking I should have told
Kevin about this stuff.
I hope he doesn't feel guilty.
***
