As the minutes slowly passed each group entered several facilities all around the city and showed Randy’s picture to the locals. Michelle roughly communicated with the locals who couldn’t speak English.
Each group searched for three hours without finding a clue. As Doug and Michelle were leaving their latest facility, Michelle asked, “Is there any reason that we aren’t talking to the Mexican police?”
Doug thought for a second before commenting, “Why not? Let’s go and show them Randy’s picture.”
Doug and Michelle walked up to a cab and got in.
Ten minutes later, Doug and Michelle stepped out of the cab in front of the police station. As they were walking towards the door, Michelle asked, “What are we going to tell the police as to why we are searching for Randy?”
“I have been giving that some thought and we… or since you are the one who can speak Spanish, it will most likely be you who tells them that Randy has an identical twin, and that his twin brother is dying and to save his life, he needs a bone marrow.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
Doug held out Randy’s picture for Michelle to take and said, “Here’s the picture.”
Doug and Michelle walked into the police station and up to an officer behind a desk. In Spanish the officer asked, “May I help you?”
Michelle held out the picture for the officer to take and roughly said in Spanish, “I’m looking for the man in the picture and I was hoping that you can help me find him.”
Without taking the picture the officer said in English, “This is not a private investigator’s office, so you two have to leave.”
“How did you know I spoke English?” Michelle asked.
“Young lady, your espanol is okay, but it needs some work.”
“How did you know I spoke English though?”
“Your accent gave it away. Now as I said, you and your friend have to leave.”
“He’s my brother.”
Doug stepped up while saying, “Sir… officer, it’s very important that we find this man as soon as we can. It’s a medical emergency.”
“I hate repeating myself, but I’m going to say this one more time,” the officer said. “You and your sister didn’t walk into a private investigator’s office.”
Before Doug was able to say anything else Michelle blurted out, “The man who we are looking for doesn’t know this, but he is walking around your city with a contagious and deadly disease.”
Doug gave Michelle a surprised look as the officer said, “Young lady, if you and your brother are coming in here crying wolf, you and him both will be in serious trouble.”
“Officer, please excuse my sister, she doesn’t know better. However, it is very important that we do find this man. His twin brother is dying and the only thing that will save his life is this man’s bone marrow.”
The officer gave Doug an uncertain look before saying, “Young lady, let me see the picture you have.” Michelle handed him the picture. The officer looked at the picture for a couple of seconds before handing it back. “The man who you are looking for is locked up in a cell in back.”
“Randy is here?” Doug asked.
“He’s been here for a while, waiting for his trial,” the officer said.
“What did he do?” Michelle asked.
“He broke into a home of a respected person,” the officer said.
“What will it take to get him released?” Doug asked.
“You will have to talk to the judge for that,” the officer said.
“What is the possibility that I can talk to Randy?” Doug asked.
The officer moved a visitor’s registry towards Doug and said, “Write your and your sister’s names and you two can follow me.”
“Where are you taking us?” Michelle asked.
Doug was about to say something when the officer said, “I’m taking you to a room to where you can visit, Senor Miller. Your brother did ask to see him, and I’m going to allow it.”
“Cool,” Michelle said.
After Doug wrote his and Michelle’s names they were led to a small room with a table and four chairs. After stepping in the officer said, “You two have a seat, and I will have Senor Miller brought here.”
“Thank you,” Doug said.
After the officer left, Doug and Michelle took their seats. Doug took his phone off of his belt and dialed a number.
Michelle gave Doug a curious look before asking, “Who are you calling?”
“I’m calling Alex to let her know that we found Randy so everyone can stop looking.” When Alex answered the phone, Doug told Alex where he found Randy.
Minutes later, Doug and Michelle were sitting quietly when another officer escorted Randy into the room. Randy was twenty pounds lighter and had a full beard and mustache.
When Randy saw Doug, he said, “Doug, I’m glad to see you. But how did you find me?”
The officer stood at the door on the inside of the room. As Randy was taking a seat, Doug said, “Alex remembered a discussion about you coming here to look for your dad.”
“I forgot about that. Where is he anyway?”
“He? What do you mean where’s he?” Michelle asked.
Randy looked at Michelle before asking, “Who are you?”
“She’s my and Alex’s sister. Her name is Michelle and she knows everything.”
“So you and Alex have a sister. Where is he anyway?”
“Are you calling Alex a he?” Michelle asked.
Randy gave Michelle a curious look before asking, “Alex isn’t a he?”
Before Doug was able to say anything, Michelle said, “She’s our sister.” Michelle then had a thought. “Wait! Was Alex a guy in the other reality?”
Randy whispered, “Michelle, the man at the door doesn’t need to hear about other realities, and yes, Alex was a guy.”
“Okay, now Michelle knows everything,” Doug said.
“Doug, does Alex still favor you?” Randy asked.
“She definitely doesn’t favor me any more, oh and to answer your question of where she is, she’s actually on her way here along with Kenny, Ben, Brandy and Cindy.”
“So everyone at the table crossed?” Randy asked. Doug just nodded. “Do you know of anyone else who might’ve crossed?”
“It was just the seven of us,” Doug said. “There are two more people who know about us. Their names are Trudy and Miles and they are also in Mexico with Alex and the others.”
“Heather knows,” Michelle said.
“Who’s Heather?” Randy asked.
“She’s my best friend,” Michelle said.
“That’s not important,” Doug said. “We need to talk about how to get you out of here, so you can remake your device.”
“Well, I was actually able to make diagrams of how to make the device, so if you guys can’t get me released, you guys will have to create it,” Randy said.
“You have the diagrams with you?” Doug asked.
“I do.” Randy pulled out eight pages from his back pocket and held them out for Doug to take. Doug saw the officer staring at him as he took the papers. Randy noticed the officer staring too before telling him, “The papers are just those drawings I was doing. My friend here is actually who I wanted to mail them to, but you and your buddies wouldn’t let me.”
The officer didn’t respond to Randy’s comment and looked forward again.
When Randy faced Doug again, Doug said, “Well, I hope we will be able to get you out of here, so you can create the device. In any case Michelle and I should go and talk to the judge about getting you released.”
“Okay, well now you know where to find me.”
After everyone stood up, Doug and Michelle left the room first. As the two were walking back to the front of the police station, the officer escorted Randy back to his cell.
The officer from the front desk saw Doug and Michelle walking up and asked, “Did you talk to Senor Miller?”
“We did,” Doug said. “Whe
re do we go to find a judge?”
“Judge Carlos Torres will be the one who you want to talk to, and most likely he will be at his house. He also lives about thirty minutes from here. So do you want his address?”
“Yes, please.”
“Oh and Judge Torres also speaks English,” The officer said before giving Doug Judge Torres’ address. Once Doug had the information, he and Michelle left the police station and waited for everyone to arrive.
Chapter Fourteen
Kenny and Brandy showed up first. Minutes later, Alex, Trudy and Miles pulled up in their cab.
As Alex, Trudy and Miles were walking towards Doug and Michelle, Michelle stepped up to Alex with a smile on her face. Alex saw the smile that she was getting and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I found out why you and Randy were never more than friends,” Michelle said.
Alex gave Michelle a skeptical look before asking, “What do you think you found out?”
Michelle whispered, “For someone who would have been a brother to me in even another reality, you are good with putting on makeup.”
Alex grinned before saying, “Trudy and Brandy showed me how to do it and I didn’t tell you because I was trying to respect the other Alex’s privacy.”
“I understand why you kept quiet, and you seem pretty mellow about your situation… well, more mellow than what I would be anyway. I’m also afraid that my sister Alex won’t be as mellow as you are being either.”
“Would Alex do anything rash?”
“I honestly don’t know what Alex would do.”
“Well, we need to correct this crossed reality before the other Alex does do something rash.” Alex then stepped up to Doug before asking, “Doug, what did you learn about Randy’s situation?”
“I was given a name of a judge to talk to, but if we can’t get him released, we’re going to have to create the device ourselves.”
“Randy is the only one who can create the device though.”
Doug pulled out the papers that Randy had given him before saying, “Randy gave me the diagrams to it.”
“What did Randy do to get thrown into a Mexican jail anyway?”
“According to the officer at the front desk, he broke into someone’s home.”
“That doesn’t sound like Randy to break into someone’s home.”
“The Randy of this reality was the one who broke into the home and we don’t know anything about that Randy.”
“Still, I don’t believe Randy of any reality who searches for his dad would break into a home. I think there must be a misunderstanding somewhere. I’m going to talk to the officer. Does he speak English?”
“He does, but what do you need to talk to him about?”
“I want to know what home he supposedly broke into, and then I’m going to talk to the owner.”
“Please don’t go out there and play Nancy Drew, and get yourself thrown into an adjacent cell to Randy’s.”
“I have no intentions on playing Nancy Drew. I just want to talk to the owner that’s all. And as I’m doing that, you can talk to the judge.”
As Alex walked towards the door to the police station, Doug yelled out, “Please don’t do anything stupid.” Alex waved without looking.
Trudy and the others walked up to Doug. When Trudy stepped up she asked, “What is Alex doing?”
“She’s planning to get the address of the person who got Randy arrested and then have a talk with him or her.” Doug saw a cab driving up with Ben and Cindy in it. “Hey, guys, Michelle and I are going to grab that cab Cindy and Ben are arriving in and go talk to the judge. Someone needs to go with Alex to keep her from getting herself into trouble.”
“I’ll go with Alex,” Miles said.
“Me too,” Trudy said.
Inside the police station, the officer at the desk was watching Alex closely as Alex was walking up. The officer pleasantly grinned before saying in Spanish, “Hi, beautiful lady. How can I help you?”
“Do you speak English?” Alex asked.
“Si, Senorita. How can I help such a beautiful damsel as yourself?”
Alex slightly grinned before saying, “My brother and sister were just in here talking to a friend of ours, who is being held in a cell. Our friend’s name is Randy Miller.”
“Si, Senorita; Senor Miller is here. Are you an affectionate friend of his?”
“No-no, we’re not affectionate friends. We’re just friends. We knew each other since we were six. Anyway, I’m not really here to see him or talk to him.”
“Why are you in here, Senorita?”
“I understand from my brother that Randy was arrested for breaking into someone’s home and I was hoping that I can get the name of the owner of that home and the house address. I want to talk to the owner and perhaps I can persuade the owner to drop the charges with the promise that Randy will return to the U.S.”
“I will give you the information, but the chance that the owner will drop the charges is remote.” The officer took the time to get the information for Alex.
As Alex was receiving the information, she said, “Gracias.”
“You’re welcome, Senorita. Senorita, my shift ends in two hours and I would feel honored if you would allow me to personally show you around our lovely city.”
Alex slightly grinned before saying, “My boyfriend and I have seen a lot of your city already, but sure. You showing Miles and me around would be delightful. I bet there are plenty of sights that we haven’t seen yet.” Alex saw the officer searching his thoughts as she continued to say, “Miles is waiting for me right out front, so I’ll go tell him of your kind offer.”
“Senorita, wait. I actually just remembered a promise I made to be somewhere right after I got off.”
“That’s a shame. I bet the three of us would have a great time together. Hey, perhaps another time.”
“Of course. Another time.”
“Well, bye. I’ll see you around.”
“Bye, senorita.”
Alex turned and had a smile on her face as she walked towards the door.
Miles and Trudy saw Alex smiling as she stepped out of the police station. As Alex stepped up to Miles and Trudy, Miles asked, “What happened in there for you to be smiling like that?”
“The officer at the front desk wanted to give me a personal tour of Mexico City,” Alex said.
Trudy slightly grinned before asking, “The officer hit on you?”
“He sure did.”
With a curious expression across his face Miles asked, “So how did you handle it?”
Alex grinned at Miles before saying, “I told him that my boyfriend Miles and I would be delighted for him to show us around.”
“You told the officer that I was your boyfriend?”
“I did, and after I told him that, he seemed to have remembered something he had to do instead. You don’t mind that I told the officer that, do you?”
“Oh no; I don’t mind. You can tell every guy in Mexico that I’m your boyfriend if you want.”
“Okay, thanks.” Alex then noticed that everyone, but her, Trudy and Miles was gone. “So where is everyone?”
“Ben and Cindy went with Doug and Michelle,” Trudy said. “Brandy saw a bargain store and she and Kenny went to that. They said to call one of their cell phones if we need them.”
“Okay, well anyway, I have the address to the place that Randy supposedly had broken into. The owner’s name is Catalina Mendez.”
“Okay, we need a cab,” Miles said.
Alex, Miles and Trudy walked up to the edge of the street and when a cab came by they hailed the driver.
Fifteen minutes later, Alex, Miles and Trudy were being let out in front of Catalina’s house.
The house was slightly run down. The fence was broken in a few spots. The grass was tall and was filled with weeds. A car sat on the driveway that led up towards the house.
Alex, Miles and Trudy were quiet as they walked towards the front
door. Once they reached the door, Alex knocked. Alex was about to knock a second time when Catalina, a sixty-year-old woman, opened the door.
When Catalina saw Alex and her friends, she asked in Spanish, “Can I help you?”
Miles said in Spanish, “Hi, ma’am. Do you speak English?” Catalina shook her head ‘no’. “Well, anyway, ma’am, I’m Miles.” He gestured towards the others. “They are Alex and Trudy. We are here to talk about Randy Miller, the man who was arrested for breaking into your home.”
“What about him?”
“Alex is a good friend of Randy’s and Alex believes that there was a misunderstanding as to Randy’s intentions.”
“There were no misunderstandings. My son Jose came to visit me while I was out and found him in my home.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m not arguing that part, but Randy is from the U.S. and the only reason he came to Mexico City was to find his father. The only reason Randy would have come here was if a clue to find his father had led him here.”
“For whatever the reason he was here, he broke into my home.”
Alex interrupted by asking, “Miles, what’s being said?”
Miles gestured for Alex to wait before asking Catalina, “Ma’am, did you ask Randy why he had broken into your home?”
“His reason never interested me.”
“Ma’am, if I promise that Randy will return to the U.S. and not return here would you drop the charges against him?”
“That man needs to pay for his crime.”
“Can I offer you compensation in exchange for you to drop the charges?”
“What kind of compensation?”
“Name your price, and I will see if I can get it for you.”
“I have been needing repairs done to my home, but neither I nor my son has the money to hire someone to do it. My son was going to do it, but he hasn’t the time.”
“So do you want me to hire a handyman to fix your home?”
“I want your friend, the one who broke into my home, to be the one to make the repairs. I have the money to buy the supplies. I just need your friend to do the labor.”
“If Randy agrees to be your handyman, will you drop the charges?”
“Si. Once the repairs are done then he can go back to the United States.”
A Crossed Reality Page 20