Hunting Truth (Orion the Hunter Part Four)

by J. D. Chase

  Chad had slumped over the steering wheel and when he turned to her, I could see that his face was clammy with sweat. “What did you want me to do? Stand on the brakes so we could announce our presence? Maybe even get out and say hi?”

  “Of course not!” she retorted angrily.

  “Well, what the hell was I supposed to do then, Miss Know-It-All?” he snapped.

  “Guys”, I shouted. “Can we just concentrate on what we do now, please?”

  Angel lifted her chin to signal her belief that she was in the right and Chad’s sulky expression conveyed his annoyance with her but their disagreement ceased.

  “I think we should turn around and pull back on to the road so we can observe the van from a distance. If they drive past, we all duck down,” I suggested.

  “I think that’d make them suspicious if they notice us. Especially if we have to try to get close to them again when they move,” said Angel, shaking her head.

  We all thought for a few seconds. “We can’t just sit here. They could’ve moved off already for all we know and we’re sitting here like idiots,” muttered Chad. “I could try sneaking out on foot and peering around the building on the corner, just to check they’re still there. I’ll be far less noticeable than the van would be with the headlights illuminated. Plus, if we drive back we’ll be facing the wrong way if they move on. They’d have to drive past us and we’d probably be seen.”

  I shrugged, devoid of any better ideas. “Okay then. Just be careful.”

  Angel’s eyes were wide with apprehension when he climbed down from the van. “Please take care,” she called.

  Angel lowered her window and poked her head out to watch him walk down the sidewalk behind us. I carefully slid over to the driver’s seat and attempted to do the same but the body of the van was blocking my view. My shoulder ached with every move. I sat properly in my seat, preparing to await Angel’s commentary that would undoubtedly begin any second. Movement on the other side of the road caught my eye. I looked across and could scarcely believe my eyes. A woman who looked like Ava was walking past, presumably from a nearby convenience store judging from the bag of groceries that she carried. And I mean, she looked exactly like Ava. She’d been level with me when I’d noticed her so by the time my brain had registered her similarity to Ava, I was looking at her from behind. My hand went automatically to open the door, but before I did, I remembered why we were there and thought it wise to check around for Joel—without risking being seen and recognized.

  I sat back in my seat and scanned the area in front of the van. Daylight was fading fast but, from what I could see, it looked just like any respectable neighborhood with houses on both sides of the street. Apart from the woman walking away from me, I could see no other activity. There were cars on driveways and most of the houses had light seeping through or around closed drapes, but nobody was outside. Then I looked in the wing mirror so I could get a view of what was behind us on my side. There was nothing.

  “Angel,” I hissed quietly. “What can you see in your mirror?”

  “Not a lot. It’s getting too dark,” she replied. “Why are we whispering?”

  “Do you see that woman—” I began, looking back in front.

  I heard more than saw Angel looking around her but my attention was firmly fixed in front. The woman had disappeared. “Dammit!” I cursed, as frustration fought with the adrenaline that had been building since I’d seen her.

  “I can’t see any woman,” she whispered. “Where should I be looking? Oh, but I can see Chad—he’s almost back here.”

  I moved back over so he could climb in quickly. “Phew,” he said, as he sat back in his seat and sighed. “I’m not cut out for all this spy shit.”

  “Yeah, whatever. What did you see? Are they still there?” Angel demanded.

  “Give me chance, woman. The van’s still sat where it stopped. It was difficult to see anything because its lights were still on at first. I daren’t get any closer in case it pulled off and saw me. But then the lights went out and I thought I saw some movement but it was tricky to see in the dusky light. But then I saw two guys—and they weren’t Lucas and Carter—dressed all in black and I can’t say why but something about the way they walked and didn’t interact made me think of spies or marines or something. I know it’s mental before you say anything but—”

  “Chad, if they came out of Lucas’ van, they’re Carter’s men and they probably were marines. What happened next?”

  “I turned before they got too close and walked as nonchalantly as I could back here. And let me tell you, that wasn’t easy when I was crapping myself. There’s something spooky about those two. I could hear the sound of my sneakers as I walked but they didn’t make any noise. I had no idea whether they were behind me and, if so, how close they were. I just wanted to get my ass back in this van.”

  “So you don’t know where they were heading?” Angel asked, frustration evident in her tone.

  “No, I don’t. My only thought was not to be seen . . . or worse, caught,” he muttered.

  “God, you’re such a pussy. So we’re still none the wiser,” she said, scornfully.

  “Well, as they haven’t passed us, I think it’s safe to assume that they didn’t follow you,” I intervened, before they got started. “But just before you got back, a woman passed over there,” I nodded my head. “And although I only saw her fleetingly from the side and then from the back, she looked just like Ava.”

  “Ava?” cried Angel. “But I thought she was being held hostage by Joel?”

  “Shush for God’s sake,” hissed Chad. “Remember those two creepy dudes are out there somewhere and for all you know they’ll hear you if you keep shouting like that.”

  “I’m not shouting,” she retorted, crossly.

  “Guys!” I hissed. “Please. This isn’t going to get us anywhere and we can’t just sit here all night. We have to figure out what we should do next.” The pain from my shoulder, as well as the stress of the situation, was making me snappy.

  “Well, where did this woman go?” Chad asked.

  “I lost her,” I admitted, sheepishly. “I almost opened the door and called to her to check whether it was her but then I thought I should check to make sure Joel wasn’t nearby. By the time I’d scanned the area in the fading light and looked back, she’d gone.”

  Chad tilted his head to one side. “And you’re not sure it was her?”

  “No, I didn’t get a good look at her face and the light was crap, but she was the right build and had the same hair length and color. But I guess it couldn’t have been her if Joel’s kidnapped her. She’d hardly be walking down the street carrying groceries, would she? I think it may have been that Ava was on my mind and, in the semi-darkness, I saw someone who vaguely looked like her and my overactive imagination jumped to a possible conclusion. The woman was well wrapped up against the cold too—she probably bears little resemblance to Ava.” I began to feel slightly foolish.

  “So, like I say, we’re still none the wiser,” claimed Angel. “Well, we can’t just sit here. Any ideas?”

  “We’re not going near that van or those creepy spies,” Chad muttered. “Where was that woman heading?”

  “To the top of the street—” I began before Angel cut me off.

  “But that’s pointless because it wasn’t her. We need to somehow find a way to keep an eye on Lucas’ van. That’s the only lead we have to get us closer to Scott.”

  “But how do we do that without being seen?” I asked, beginning to feel that we were on a fool’s errand and maybe we should have stayed in the warmth and safety of Lucas’ apartment. But, even as I thought it, I knew I’d be climbing the walls in frustration at not knowing what was going on by then. At least I knew that Lucas was safe at that moment in time, and he wasn’t doing anything stupid that could get him hurt.

  The sound of the engine starting cleared my head. “What are you doing, Chad?”

  “He probably wants the heater on to keep
him warm,” Angel murmured.

  “No,” he replied coolly. “I’m going to drive to the top of the road to see what’s up there.”

  “And it’s just a coincidence that it happens to take you further away from the nasty spy men.” Her voice was laced with sarcasm.

  He ignored her and pulled off, driving steadily to the top of the street. The houses on either side of the road stopped and then, shortly afterward, the road gave way to a gravel path that was just wide enough for the van and we found ourselves in pitch-black darkness. We turned a sharp bend and a large sign warning that we were on private property and trespassers would be shot loomed into view. Chad abruptly applied the brakes.

  “What are you doing?” Angel cried.

  “Stopping the van so we don’t get shot!” he retorted, haughtily. “Can’t you see that huge sign?”

  “Of course I can, you doofus, but what’s the use of stopping here? We’re sitting ducks!”

  Their constant bickering was really starting to grate on my nerves. “Guys, please!” I shouted, fisting my hair in sheer frustration. “Must you argue over everything? What’s gotten into you two today?”

  Angel folded her arms defensively. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m not the one with a problem.”

  Instantly, Chad took the bait. “Oh so in other words, I’m the one with a problem? That’s rich. I wasn’t the one flaunting myself in a seedy sex club!” His voice rose an octave and several decibels as he spoke.

  “It isn’t seedy!” Angel cried before adding, almost as an afterthought. “And I wasn’t flaunting myself.”

  Oh God. So that’s what their bickering is all about. I could see where it was heading. “Look, can we just get ourselves out of here? Drawing attention is hardly going to help. Besides, I think that conversation is best had in private, don’t you?”

  Abruptly, Chad threw his door open and got out, leaving it slightly ajar. “Oh for fuck’s sake, now what does he think he’s doing?” Angel spat. “He’s been acting like a sulky five-year-old since we left Odyssey. It’s beginning to grate on my last nerve.”

  I sighed, not wanting to get involved but also feeling partly responsible. It was my fault that they’d set foot in the club, after all.

  “He’s not used to seeing you like that. Hell, I’m not either!” I almost chuckled as I recalled Angel swinging merrily to and fro and Chad’s frantic attempts to get her down.

  “But you’re open to all that stuff. Chad isn’t. I want us to go back there but he says he won’t ever go back there and that if I do, it’s over. Can you believe that?”

  “Yes. I can,” I said simply. “Most people never set foot in a club like Odyssey. That lifestyle isn’t for everyone. And there’s a whole spectrum of . . . um . . . activities that you could try together if you both wanted to, without having to be in a BDSM club. Do some research, try some stuff, but above all have fun. Together. You can’t pressure him into it. He may well enjoy kinky sex . . . hell, he may turn out to be far kinkier than you but he may not be an exhibitionist. And remember, sex isn’t the be all and end all of your relationship. It’s much more than that.”

  She was nodding as I spoke. She was silent for a few seconds, seemingly mulling over my words. “Christ! I’m taking relationship advice from you . . . who’d have thought? Crap, things must be worse than I thought between me and Chad.”

  She gave me her wide-eyed innocent look. I turned my head away as if I was offended and she snorted. “Fuck off,” was all I could manage before the pair of us collapsed in a fit of giggles.

  We both jumped when we heard a loud cough. Hearts pounding, we looked over to the slightly open driver’s door. Nothing. I looked around wildly, rapidly remembering where we were and why. It was pitch dark out there and suddenly it felt forbiddingly eerie. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I heard a scratching noise. Angel clutched my arm tightly, triggering pain in my shoulder. Clearly she’d heard it too.

  “Nice to see you two taking the situation seriously,” said a deep voice.

  Angel squealed and grasped me tighter still, making me feel even more nervous, despite the pain it caused.

  “Shushhhh, for God’s sake!” came Chad’s voice, before the door opened a little more and his head peered inside.

  Relief flooded through me. I could feel my heart thudding solidly as it attempted to return to its regular rhythm.

  “You stupid ass!” hissed Angel. “You scared the crap out of me. Why the fuck would you do that, you fucking idiot?”

  He climbed into his seat and pulled the door to. “Because I could hear you two laughing from a hundred meters away, that’s why. And if I could hear you . . . then maybe Joel could hear you.”

  Angel huffed. “A simple shush would have done. There was no need to hide and scare the shit out of us.”

  “Wait . . . How could Joel hear us?”

  “Because I think we’ve inadvertently found where he’s holed up.”

  “What?” we chorused.

  “I went to see if I could find somewhere to turn the van around. I didn’t want to have to reverse back around that sharp bend back there—especially in a hire van in total darkness—and I didn’t want to drive the van any further until I knew what was out there. Not after that threatening sign.”

  “So you felt safer blundering around on foot?” asked Angel.

  “No, not really, but the van was making a hell of a noise on the gravel path so I thought it best not to go any further until I knew what was up ahead.”

  “And what is up ahead? What’s Joel got to do with it?” I asked, impatiently.

  “I was getting to that,” he said, sounding annoyed.

  “Well, is there any chance you could get straight to it?” I just knew Angel was rolling her eyes as she spoke.

  Then it was Chad’s turn to huff loudly. “Basically, there’s a large house around another sharp bend with a huge graveled forecourt in front and several vehicles.”

  “Is that it, Sherlock?” Angel asked, barely suppressing her sarcasm.

  “Hardly. I can’t be 100 percent sure but I think one of the vehicles is Scott’s van.”

  Angel turned to face him. “You think? Why didn’t you check?”

  “Because it’s parked right in front of the house. There could be security lights controlled by sensors and even if they weren’t, what if someone came out of the house?”

  “Someone meaning Joel?” I asked, although it was more of a statement, given the circumstances. Why else would Scott’s van be there? Assuming it was his van. “Chad, what makes you think it was Scott’s? I mean, it’s dark and, from what you say, I presume you didn’t get very close to it.”

  “It’s the same model but it was impossible to check the color.” He was interrupted by an exasperated gasp from Angel.

  “There must be hundreds of those vans around. Thousands even,” she blurted. “For God’s sake, Chad. There’s no reason to think it’s Scott’s.”

  I could feel Chad bristling in indignation. “Yeah well, how many others have a huge, rusted dent in one of the back doors . . . in exactly the same place as his from when Travis kicked the hell out of it after a gig one night?”

  I felt my eyebrows shoot up. “Well, that kind of changes things.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I figured,” he gloated.

  “But what should we do?” Angel asked. “Should we go and check it out?”

  “No!” Chad and I exclaimed as one.

  “No way,” I said firmly. “I think we should get out of here. God only knows what Joel would do if he caught us here.”

  “And do what?” she challenged.

  “I think we go find Lucas and tell him what we’ve found,” Chad replied. “He’s got the men for the job with him. He’ll know what to do.”

  I shook my head, knowing Lucas would go ballistic if he knew we’d followed him. But even as I did so, I knew that facing his wrath was preferable to allowing something to happen to Scott and Ava. Something bad.
Ava! Was it a coincidence that I’d seen someone fitting her description heading this way just an hour or so ago? If it wasn’t, it didn’t make any sense.

  Angel and I got out and watched Chad reverse the hire van safely around the sharp bend. It seemed to take forever—a point which Angel made several times. I found myself regretting taking them to Odyssey. It seemed to be a catalyst for all kinds of crap. I hoped they could get past it because one thing was for sure, being stuck together on a tour bus for almost twenty four hours a day would only add more strain to their relationship. As I gingerly climbed back into the van, I pledged to myself that I’d find a way to help them—I had no idea how, but I vowed I’d find a way.

  We quickly reached the end of the narrow, graveled path and Chad turned the van around. He drove back down the street and turned right at the bottom. Lucas’ van was gone. Chad pulled over. “What do we do now?” he asked.

  I let out a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that were tying my stomach up in knots. “I’ll have to call him,” I replied quietly.

  I fished my cell out of my purse and made the call. It went straight to voicemail. “Fuck it!” I exclaimed, feeling that anything that could go wrong was doing exactly that.

  “Drive around some,” suggested Angel. “Walton Park isn’t exactly huge, is it? We’re bound to bump into them.”

  Chad shrugged and looked to me. “We may as well.” I had no better ideas.

  We drove around for what must have only been five minutes or so but seemed like hours. “Look,” shouted Chad suddenly, pointing ahead and making me jump. “There’s one of those spy types walking towards us.”

  “Pull over,” I instructed. “They’ll be able to contact Lucas or Carter.”

  Chad abruptly swerved across the carriageway and hit the brakes. Pain seared through my shoulder and I could have slapped him hard but, thankfully for Chad, the rush of adrenaline kept my focus on our mission.

  I turned to face Angel. “Put your window down quickly.” The man, dressed entirely in black and looking completely disinterested in us, was almost level with the van.