Chapter
15
The time was 9:37 and the four remaining
members of the Backstreet Boys sat silently on the couches and chairs in the
living room area of their suite. The room was dimly lit by the one lamp that
was on and all the blinds were shut. Kevin was shaken gently on his shoulder by
Brian which brought Kevin back to reality from his own world. He got up from
the couch and moved to the side to allow Brian by and followed Brian to the
small refrigerator and to the small table in the kitchenette.
The two cousins both sat down in silence, Brian drinking his bottled
water slowly and rubbing his forehead as Kevin looked on.
"You ok Bri?" asked Kevin after watching Brian rub his
forehead for several seconds.
"Yeah I will be fine, Kevin. It isn't me you should be worrying
about. I just have a really bad headache. Probably from the stress. It is no
big deal Kev, just don't worry about it." said Brian as he took another sip
of his water.
Kevin looked at his youngest cousin and said, "It is too a big
deal, Bri. I worry about you no matter what and you know that. Just go lay down
and rest maybe then your headache will go away and.."
Kevin was interrupted by Brian who shook his head furiously and slammed
down his water bottle on the table as he quietly said, "Kevin my best
friend is missing and you expect me to rest when something bad could have
happened to him? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard."
"Kevin is right, Bri" said Howie as he entered the
kitchenette. "We don't need you getting sick, man. You get sick easier
than the rest of us and what good would it do Nick if when we find him, you are
sick? Just go rest Brian. Me, Kevin, and AJ are all staying up to wait for news
on him. As soon as we hear something, we will wake you up ok?"
Brian silently sat at the table for a moment thinking about what he
would do. He looked up to see two pairs of anxious eyes, one pair green and one
pair brown, and he nodded. He stood up from the table saying, "I will go
lay down but I'm not going to sleep. Wake me the MOMENT you hear
something, if not I will be extremely mad, ok?"
Howie nodded for both him and Kevin and said, "Of course Rok. You
go lie down and get better. We will wake you if anything happens."
Brian mumbled a "You better" as he entered his room and shut
the door.
Kevin let out a sigh of relief and turned towards Howie, thanking him
for his help. Howie smiled and made his way into back into the living room area
and sat on the opposite side of the couch from AJ. Kevin was about to get up
and join AJ and Howie but he was interrupted by the faint sound of a ringing
phone.
Kevin walked towards the sound and followed it to Brian's open book
bag. He reached in and got out his cousin's ringing cell phone and answered the
phone as he walked towards his room for more privacy. Kevin said
"Hello?" to the caller and told the caller that Brian was sick and
was lying down when the man on the other line asked to speak to Brian and he
then explained to the man that he was Brian's cousin. The man on the line
identified himself as Officer Daniels and Kevin felt his heart stop in fear.
He regained the use of his voice as he asked the officer to please
continue when he stopped once he heard Kevin gasp. The officer explained that
he was making his rounds of the city for the evening and he discovered the body
of a young boy and they searched him for identification and found Brian's
wallet. Kevin supported his lowered head on his arm and began to give the
officer Nick's description and asked if the description fit the one of the boy
the officer had found. He heard the officer clear his throat and then confirm
Kevin's darkest fear.
Kevin felt his eyes fill with tears and he asked the officer if Nick
was still alive. He let out a relieved sigh when the officer told him that he
was still alive but his eyes again filled with tears as he listened silently to
the officer describing Nick's condition and he reached over towards the
night-table beside the bed and got a pen and paper, writing down the location
of the hospital where the young boy was taken. Kevin thanked the officer and
pushed the "End" button on the cell phone and sat quietly with his
head in his hands.
A million thoughts ran through his head: Why did Nick have Brian's
wallet? Why did Nick run away? and How could anyone do such a horrible thing to
such a kind hearted child? The possible answers to that last question kept
running through his head, he just couldn't come up with an answer that seemed
logical.
In frustration, Kevin picked up the lamp on the night table and flung
it at the closed door and fell to his knees sobbing when the reality of the
situation hit him full force. Moments later he heard 2 pairs of feet running
towards his room and he heard the door open. Next thing he knew he felt someone
approach him and ask him what was wrong. As he continued to sob, he tried to
tell Howie and AJ what the officer had told him. They both looked at him in
shock with wide open eyes. Their attention was turned towards the door of the
room as they heard a THUMP.
They turned around and saw Brian curled up on the carpet, shaking as
the sobs rocked through his small body. AJ and Howie looked at each other with
concerned eyes as they watched the sobs run their course through the bodies of
both Kentuckians. Howie made his way over to Brian to comfort him while AJ
stayed with Kevin.
After a few moments, Howie got Brian calmed down enough to where he was
just shaking slightly and AJ and Kevin made their way over to him. They all
then decided that they should make their way to the hospital and be there for
Nick.
Howie walked into his room and dialed the front desk telling them they
needed a rental car as Kevin helped his cousin to his feet. Howie came back in
the room moments later and told the other 3 men that a rental car would be
waiting outside for them. They all walked towards the door of the suite
stopping only when Brian reached for his book bag and put a notebook he had on
the table into it. He put his arms through the shoulder straps and solemnly
followed his band mates out the door of the suite while wiping his wet face.
They made their way outside the lobby and were pleased to discover a
hotel employee standing beside a rental Grand AM. The employee gave Howie the
key to the vehicle and the boys climbed in and made their way towards the
hospital, terrified of what they may find when they got there.
***
