I Can Hear You (6 page)

I was wearing a tiny red dress that hugged my curves. Becky and I were driving down the interstate.  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”  I asked with a grin on my face. 

“Nope.  It’s a surprise for your birthday,” Becky stated as I heard the words to the song. 
Sixty-eight bottles of beer on the wall, sixty-eight bottles of beer, take one down, pass it around, sixty-seven bottles of beer on the wall. 

Laughing, “That song is driving me crazy!”  She turned her head and smiled.  “Becky, I’ve been thinking, let’s move out of Sanstone.  We can go somewhere together.”

“Is that why you were packing yesterday, you’re moving?”

“Yeah.  Want to go with me?”

She quit singing that annoying song.  Looking at me she said, “Really?  I’d love to but I don’t know how that’s possible.”  Sincerity rang in her voice and I listened to her mind race with ideas of how to make it possible.

“The woman I found that knew mom had all the paperwork and bank records.  I got life insurance money and I have a trust fund.”

“No shit!  Really?” With my nod, she squealed.  “Let’s do it!”

“I’m ready.  Where do you want to move to?”

“I don’t know. Indianapolis or maybe, Chicago?”

“Chicago!  That’s where we’re going tonight!”  Becky slipped and I heard her think about a dance club.

“Shit Amber, you’re no fun!”  She huffed and I laughed.  “Seriously though, we can start checking for apartments tomorrow if you want to.”  We were spending the night in a nearby hotel so it would be easy to check the classifieds and drive by a few places the next day.  My heart felt light, happy, for the first time in forever.

“Sounds good to me.  The quicker we move the better.”

Arriving at The Club, I looked at Becky.  “The name of the club is The Club?  Seriously?  It’s like they were too lazy to think of a name.”

“Shut up Amber, you’ll love it.”

Getting out of the car, we made our way to the front.  The line to get in wrapped around the building but Becky and I walked up as if we owned the place.  Becky in her low cut bright blue dress showing an abundance of cleavage and me in my tight red dress that stopped just below my ass, the bouncer let walk right in.

Everywhere I looked bodies molded together, whether by choice or circumstance, I couldn’t tell.  The place had standing room only.  Lights flashed, bodies swayed and the thumping of the music kept the voices out.  “Come on Amber, let’s get a drink.”  She grabbed my wrist, navigating us through a sea of skin, sweat and hands.

“We can’t drink, we’re not old enough,” I whispered loudly.

“Lighten up.  The bouncer should have checked ID’s but he didn’t.  You have to be twenty-one to get in so they won’t be carding at the bar.”   She pushed her tits up and bent over so the bartender could get a good look.  It worked, he passed by the men who were waiting and came our way.

“Ladies, what can I get ya?”  He asked, smiling at Becky while glancing at her tits.  I’d never seen Becky act this way before and I wasn’t sure I liked it.

“We’ll both have a shot of Tequila.”  She smiled seductively.

When he brought our drinks, he touched Becky’s hand. “These are on the house this time sugar.”   He winked before moving on to the next costumer.

Handing me my drink, she raised her glass expecting me to do the same, “To your birthday and a new beginning!”  Clinking glasses, we both downed our shot.  It burned all the way down and left me coughing with glassy eyes.  Immediately I could feel some of the affects.

“Excuse me, ladies,” turning to see a muscled man with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, he looked at Becky, “Would you like to dance?” 

Never taking her eyes off him, she asked, “Do you mind, Amber?”

“No, you go have fun.”  She took his hand as he led her to the dance floor.  I didn’t sit long until a man with jet black hair and blue eyes asked me to dance with him.  When I took his hand, I noticed how
wrong
it felt.  He didn’t feel wrong, him touching me felt wrong.  I ignored it, determined to have a good time tonight.

I danced song after song, not caring if he was still dancing with me.  At times, I felt hands on my body but didn’t pay much attention. 

The music flowed through me as I swayed and my heartbeat echoed the sound.  I danced with my eyes closed, as sweat covered my body, letting the music be my guide.  When the tempo changed so did my rhythm but still I danced, uncaring about the world around me.  I still heard the muffled voices in my head but if I concentrated on the music, they became a hum instead of an assault.  Therefore, I danced so I could forget if only for one night.  Until one voice pushed through my barrier,
Help me!
It screamed, and then I panicked!

“Where are you?”  I yelled and everyone around me looked as if I’d lost my mind. 
Amber, help me!
  I pushed my way through the crowd looking for Becky but I couldn’t find her anywhere.  Searching frantically, I searched everywhere praying she’d give me more to go on.  Trying to concentrate on her,
Outside, side door exit! Nooo!
  I heard as I ran for the exit. Slamming into the door, it opened but there was nothing there.  “Becky?!”  I screamed but the alley lay empty.  I felt my heartbeat in my ears and my labored breathing didn’t let up.  Standing in the still opened door, I turned and spotted another EXIT sign across the room at the top of the wall.  Racing toward it, I pushed and shoved people out of the way, ignoring the rude comments.  I had to get to Becky!

I pushed the door open as fast as I could and scanned the alley.  Spotting something on the dark pavement, I walked over and when I saw what it was, I dropped to my knees and sobbed into my hands.  There were no voices in my head, no screams for help anymore and no Becky.  Her shoe lay near a puddle of blood, but she was gone.  Terrified, I scanned the alley again but there was no sign of anything else.

I sat against the wall as the police combed the area while I answered question after question.  Their thoughts were beating at my skull and I needed to leave. 
Oh yeah this one’s dead, Poor girl
, and
I hope she’s dead, who knows what will happen if she’s not
.  The last one made me drop my head to my bent knees and sob.

“Excuse me miss?”  I looked and found a kind, older face staring down at me.

“Yes?”  I didn’t bother to wipe my tear stained face.

“I’m Detective Woodard.  I need to ask you some questions.”  He kneeled down in front of me so he could look into my tear glistened eyes.  I just nodded for him to go ahead.  “Where are you from?”  He asked gently, treating me with kid gloves.

“Sanstone.”  He wrote it down in his little note pad.

“And you and your friend…”  He looked at his notes, “Becky, you came together?”

“Yes.  She brought me here as a surprise for my eighteenth birthday.”  He raised his eyebrows as he again made notes before looking back up at me.

“They let you inside?”  When he asked, I realized we were supposed to be twenty-one, but I didn’t care anymore.”

“Yes.”  He shook his head as he made another note, probably noting we were underage and shouldn’t have been allowed in.

“Can you tell me what happened here tonight?”  I looked into his soft grandfatherly face and stared into his grey blue eyes.  I needed someone and he could be my grandfather because I didn’t know my family.

“Becky brought me here as a surprise.  We were both dancing and when I noticed she was gone, I went looking for her and found this.”  I gestured to the blood on the pavement.

“Why did you come out here looking for her?” 

“I don’t know, just a gut feeling.”  He looked at me a little suspiciously and I heard,
She’s not telling me something. 

He put down his note pad and looked me in the eyes.  “Listen Amber, we’ve had a lot of young women go missing this past week, a lot more than we’re used to seeing.  Anything you can tell me, anything at all, will help.”

I felt horrible that I couldn’t help.  But I didn’t know anything, only that she screamed for help.  “Believe me, if I knew anything that would help you find Becky, I’d tell you.” 

He still looked at me a little suspiciously, but let it go.  “Are you staying in the city?”  He’s crazy if he thinks I’ll ever leave here with Becky missing.  If I have to drive around every street, just to listen for her voice, I will.

“Yes, I’m not leaving.  I’m going to look for an apartment tomorrow.” 

His eyes softened and I could hear how worried he was about me.  I reminded him of his daughter.  She moved away after college.  “My wife and I have a small apartment over our garage that you’re welcome to stay in.” 
She’s too young to be in this town all alone.  Who knows what might happen.

“Really?”

“Yeah, it needs a little work but you can stay there if you want to.”  I couldn’t stop myself, I threw my arms around his neck and cried.  He awkwardly patted my back.  “Let me finish up and I’ll show you where it is, unless you’d rather wait until tomorrow.”

“No, tonight’s fine.  I don’t want to stay in the hotel room.  Thank you detective.”

“You’re welcome and my name is Brian.”  I gave him a little smile as my heart hurt painfully in my chest.  Becky’s the only fiend I’ve ever had and now she’s gone.  I couldn’t help but think that it was somehow my fault.

My head swung toward the sounds of fighting at the end of the alley.  I watched as a warrior with black hair and a short sword fought two other red-eyed demon creatures.  Instead of fear, anger rose inside me, making me jump to my feet.  Did they do something to Becky?  Indecision ate at me.  I felt torn between heeding my mother’s words and demanding answers.  Before I got the chance to decide, they disappeared but not before I noticed something fall to the ground.  I cautiously headed that direction, scanning the area as I did, not wanting something to jump out at me.  I may be young in age but I wasn’t stupid, at least I hoped not.

I looked down at the white stone that lay at my feet.  It looked ordinary but definitely out of place.  When I grasped it, my hand tingled and warmed with its touch, slowly spreading up my arm.  I panicked and dropped it, watching it bounce once before rolling to a stop.  As I stood there staring at it, I knew I couldn’t leave the stone on the ground.  As odd as it felt and as much as it scared me, it also felt
right,
as if it belonged to me. Strange. 

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.  As I looked back, I saw Detective Woodard, Brian, standing there.  “What did you find?” he asked, studying the area.

“Nothing.  I just spotted a rock and as stupid as it sounds, I collect them.”  I reached down and snatched the stone then slipped it into my pocket just as I heard,
I don’t believe that for a minute.  She knows more than she’s telling me.
  I hastily turned and quickly walked back to my original spot and slid down the wall to a sitting position.

Not long after, Brian walked over to me.  “Are you ready to go?”

I looked the area over slowly and then took a deep breath.  “Yeah, I guess so.”  I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay here in case whoever took Becky came back.  I knew it was stupid, they wouldn’t be back, but my heart didn’t want to listen.  Reluctantly, I stood and headed toward the street with the Detective, Brian, walking beside me.  I knew his offer was legit, I reminded him of his daughter when she was my age and he worried about my safety.  He also thought having me as a tenant would please his wife.

“My car, I mean Becky’s car is over there.”  Patting my pockets, I mumbled, “Shit.  I don’t have the keys.”  I looked at him as my lower lip quivered.  “All of my stuff is in the car.” 
This girl is breaking my heart.

“Don’t worry about it.  I’m sure someone here has a Slim Jim.  Once we get the door open, you can grab your stuff and we’ll call a tow truck.”  He grabbed his hand-held radio and before I knew what he was doing another officer showed up beside him carrying a long thin metal object. 
Ah, this must be a Slim Jim. 

After he easily unlocked the door, I grabbed my things from the car.  Brian had the other officer stay with it until the tow truck arrived and then led me to his unmarked police car.  “Are you sure it’s okay if I ride with you?”

He smiled warmly, “It’ll be fine.  Don’t worry.” 

I climbed into the passenger’s seat.  It felt odd sitting here with all the radio and gadgets in the car; it even had a small computer.   As he headed out of the parking lot, I tried to listen for Becky.  My head filled with words, noise, but nothing stood out and my headache was getting worse.

We pulled into the driveway of a nice brick ranch home with neighbors bordering on each side.  It was nice, but crowded.  Clutching my overnight bag to my chest, I followed Brian to the front door.  An older looking lady with a kind face met us.  As Brian explained that I would be staying in the apartment, she turned and smiled at me.  I felt uncomfortable in my short party dress as she led me inside.

“It’s nice to meet you, dear.  Can I get you something to drink?”