“Why does that say Industrial Entrance when there is nothing here?” Denise asked.
“Good point.”
“Quite a few No Trespassing signs. That’s not very friendly.”
“People who put them up don’t care what other people think.”
“Are there any private residences right near here?” Denise said.
“I would have to say no. I never realized how odd this area really is,” Layla laughed.
“We will come back and go down all these roads that are not blocked.”
“Sure thing.”
“Pull in over here on the right,” Denise said.
Layla pulled up to what looked like the headquarters of the Wildlife Refuge. “Want me to come with?”
“Yes. I’ll need you to remember. I have too much on my mind.”
They parked the Mustang in the driveway and walked into the office.
“May I help you?” a uniformed male asked.
“I hope so,” Denise said. “We were hoping to get lucky and perhaps get some photos of an eagle or other wildlife. Would you be able to direct us to any locations that might be possible this time of year?”
Ditzy students. I get why you stopped. Layla said.
The officer explained that the best place to see eagles might be Little Grassy Lake and all areas between it and the Spillway they passed earlier.
Denise thanked them and they walked back to the Mustang. “We need to go down that road right across the street, you know, to get lost.”
“Indeed,” Layla said as she pulled the Mustang out of the driveway, pointing at the road looking a bit confused in case anyone was watching.
You’ll be lucky to get out of this alive unless you cooperate, Denise heard. It was a male’s voice, but not Aren.
“Now there’s a fab first photo opportunity,” Layla said, pulling up shortly after turning down the unmarked road across from the headquarters.
“Yeah, it’s really something,” Denise hesitated.
You’ve heard something haven’t you? Layla said.
Yes. Let’s just say these people are not nice.
“How old do you think this is?” Layla asked.
“Late 1800’s?”
“Very good.” Come on darling and pose for a few photos. We must stay in character.
Denise posed in front of the old wooden structure. “It’s not larger than our living room,” she said peeking inside. When she touched it the words she had heard the day before whispered in her head again, but this time the words were not broken. Were at this site. Top is a deception.
They were here. Fuck. They’ve been moved, Denise said.
This place is creepy, Layla said.
Yes. It’s a cinch we are not getting in there in broad daylight, she said, rolling her eyes towards a formation of buildings up the road.
“No eagles out this way,” Layla said.
“Let’s go find some eagles. I need to think.”
Denizen. It points directly to us.
What? What points directly to you?
The arrow ----ts -- -- ---- -bove.
Myla, is Aren with you?
Yes Denizen. At times I can see --at yo- see.
Get us away from here, away from prying eyes. We need to talk.
“I think I know a quicker way to the area they told us to go to,” Layla said.
She turned the Mustang around and slowly drove back the way they had come. This time a white van approached in their direction. Denise smiled like a bubblehead and the two men inside wearing mirrored sunglasses smiled back. Denise memorized their plate number as Layla steered the Mustang out of the area and back onto Highway 13 heading west.
Nola, are you around?
“I’m going to stop for some water,” Layla said pulling into a gas station.
“I’ll be right here.”
We are not far, Nola answered.
They were here. The message was as clear as speaking to Myla on a telephone. She went on to relay the words she heard, Top is a deception. It points directly to us.
Did she say what points directly to them?
Yes. When she did it was broken. She said The arrow then a pause ts then a longer pause and bove. I believe she was saying The arrow points to us from above.
We will be back in the area shortly.
We’ll be out somewhere between here and Giant City by the lakes.
“Here you go,” Layla said, handing Denise a large bottle of water.
“Poor Nola. She is going through mental hell and covering it up so well.”
“Come on, let’s go look at some eagles.”
Hurry Denizen. I think they plan on moving us again soon.
Chapter 11
Eagle Flies
“It was Aren this time,” Denise said.
Layla put the Mustang through so many twists and turns on country roads Denise simply laughed. “It is just so gorgeous down here I haven’t been watching where you are going. I could not tell you where we are if my life depended on it.”
“We’ll be coming out to Giant City Blacktop in a little bit, and we won’t be too far from Little Grassy and Devil’s Kitchen when we do.”
“It will be good to take a breather.”
“I think I’d be starting to feel like a Band-Aid by now if I were receiving all these messages. I wonder why I can’t?”
“Be glad you can’t,” Denise sighed. “Whoever has them in custody sounds sick and dangerous. One of them had more of a southern accent than you normally hear around these parts.”
“These parts? You’re catching on,” Layla smiled.
“Ha.”
“Why do you think we can only receive limited messages, bits and pieces?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps they are being sedated? I could not say for certain.”
“We’re going to have to remember to eat,” Layla said.
“Yes. Brain drain takes it out of you.”
The Mustang cruised south on Giant City Road.
“That’s a big bird flying over yonder,” Denise said.
“Could be an eagle. Then again, it could be a buzzard.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They can be hard to tell apart from a long distance. We are heading in that direction.”
“I’m really happy you came into my life,” Denise said, reaching over to play with Layla’s light brown hair.
“Thank you. Love you too darlin’.”
They parked the Mustang as close to the shore as possible. Layla chose to park at Devil’s Kitchen Lake, since it is the lake with the coolest water in the summer, and where swimming is strictly prohibited.
“It’s really beautiful here,” Denise said.
“Yes. It remains relatively unspoiled since they created it.”
“Another man-made lake?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think we should do about the latest information?” Layla asked.
“I’m not certain what it even means yet.”
Denise brought a blanket with that she kept in the trunk and spread it out on the grass near the shore. “Come on, take a breather.”
Layla joined her on the blanket watching the puffy white clouds gently roll by.
“You know something I noticed before?” Denise said as a shadow from a passing cloud blocked out the midday sun.
“What?”
“See this shadow we are in now? Well when I used to lay out at the Lakefront in Chicago, I would notice that the smaller clouds passing by never seemed to get in the path of the sunlight to cast a shadow, ever. Much larger ones would but the smaller ones, even though they appeared to be on a path to do so, would not.”
“That’s interesting. Can’t say that I ever noticed.”
Denise shifted to rest her head on Layla’s stomach.
“That one has an obvious facial profile.”
“It looks angry, it’s mouth wide open as if it is screaming or getting ready to swallow something,” Layla laughed.
>
“Yeah.” An Image of a blonde female and a rather muscular looking male with black hair seen from above flashed in Denise’s head.
Nola.
Denise.
Is Myla a slender blonde?
Yes.
Is Aren kind of buff, you know, fit, muscular, with black hair?
Yes. Her voice was filled with longing.
I will get back to you.
Denise stood up to have a look around. She noticed a large bird sitting atop a dead treetop near the waters edge on the other side of the lake. “Layla, is that an eagle?”
“My guess is yes, but I can’t be certain from here. Hang on.” She stood up and walked quickly back to the car and brought her cameras back with her. “It is indeed,” she smiled, looking at it through a telephoto lens. “Here have a look.”
Denise sat down and braced the long lens between her knees. When she found the eagle, its head turned so that it was in profile. A dimly lit series of images showing Myla and Aren being loaded into a white van at dawn or dusk flashed in her mind. Even in the darkness they were clearly visible. “The fucking white van. We need to go back.” Denise stood back up and an image of what clearly appeared to be an arrow pointing appeared in her mind’s eye. “It’s the terrain, the arrow is the terrain from above,” she said, falling back to her knees.
“But where?” Layla asked. “Where are you getting this information from?”
“From her,” Denise said, pointing to the eagle that spread its wings and flew off towards the south.
“Magnificent,” Layla giggled.
Denise opened the Google Earth application on her iPhone to the saved place marked Old School House. Slowly zooming in from there she clearly noticed the arrow formation. “We were right next to it,” she said showing the screen to Layla, slowly zooming out to reveal the old Armament Complex and Schoolhouse next to it, “and so were the people who have them, driving a white van.”
Nola.
Denise.
How fast can you get over the area we were at yesterday?
I can gather a crew member and be there in less than a minute.
Do it. It’s urgent. From where we are we cannot get there in less than thirty minutes.
What are we looking for?
A white van.
Chapter 12
White Van
There is a white van. Check your phone map program.
Denise turned her iPhone on and opened Google Earth to find another pushpin on the map she had not put there titled ‘van’.
“How did she do that?” Denise giggled.
“I love it,” Layla laughed, steering the Mustang at much higher than usual speeds towards the location of the van.
A male walked from the building to the van and back less than a minute ago.
We’re traveling as fast as possible in our gas combustion vehicle. Let me know if anything changes.
I will.
“I wish this Mustang could fly,” Denise said.
“She is flying,” Layla laughed. “Don’t worry honey. If they are on top of it we don’t need to kill ourselves getting there.”
Denise leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
Denise.
Nola.
Two males came out of the building, each pushing two-wheel motor vehicles.
Motorcycles?
Yes. They have left the complex and are ready to turn onto Highway 13 heading west towards Carbondale.
Nola. Keep me updated on where they are at 30-second intervals.
I will.
“They are at Route 149 and Highway 13 about to head towards town.
“Tighten your seat belt,” Layla said, as she flew down the smooth two-lane surface of Spillway Road towards Highway 13.
They are roughly one half mile from Spillway Road.
We are here waiting for them.
“Fuck. I knew we should have filled up earlier. What if they just keep heading out of town, like way out of town?” Denise said.
“That’s them,” Layla said.
We have them in sight. Please continue to follow.
The motorcycles came to a stop at Spillway Road.
Layla turned left on to Highway 13 and drove just under the speed limit in the right lane. Within minutes the two bikers were in the left lane passing them. They did not seem to notice it was the same Mustang and the same two ‘chicks’ they’d seen at the complex earlier.
“I’d know those mirror sunglasses anywhere,” Denise laughed. “How much gas do you have?”
“Little over a quarter tank.”
They stayed a few cars back anticipating catching the stoplight at the east end of the Mall.
“To make matters worse, I really have to pee,” Denise said.
“Me too.”
“Let me try something.”
Denise massaged the biker’s brains with a suggestion. Boy, could I dig a tall cool one.
Not seeing a reaction, she tried again. I HAVE to get a beer.
They watched as the biker on the left turned towards the other and said something, the other nodding in agreement.
“Fingers crossed,” Layla said.
“And legs crossed,” Denise laughed. “I REALLY have to pee.”
They headed straight into town and turned left on University.
“PK’s. I bet they’re going to PK’s,”Layla said.
“I have a feeling they just might be.”
They were. The two bikers pulled their bikes up to the front of PK’s and parked them on an angle facing the street.
“Ok, now what?”
“Let me try to make them REALLY thirsty,” Denise smiled. “I have a plan.”
Nola.
Denise.
We are going to give them the chance to get a bit intoxicated and get back to you.
I understand.
Denise did not know if she was responsible at all for their decision to stop at PK’s, but she added a suggestion that they had time to kill and would hang out there a while.
They parked the car about a half block south on Main Street and waited.
“I don’t turn 21 until August,” Denise said. “Think they’ll let me in?”
“You shouldn’t have a problem with that,” Layla said.
“Shall we?”
When they walked into the bar the smell of alcohol, beer, a strong disinfectant and cigarettes wafted over them. Denise went directly to a table and sat down. Layla sat at the bar and ordered two Bud Lites. The bartender looked at her, then looked at Denise, then popped open two long neck bottles of beer and took the twenty-dollar bill from Layla. She left a dollar tip on the bar and walked back to the table to join Denise.
“One of them is shooting pool, the other one is talking to those other two guys,” Denise said. She lifted the bottle and took a long drink. It tasted good going down, cool, carbonated. “I hope alcohol does not impair my thinking,” she smiled.
“If it does they may be in big trouble.”
“I am going to burst if I don’t pee.”
“I’ll be right behind you. Now shake that money maker,” Layla laughed.
“Behave.”
Denise crossed the bar and walked into the woman’s bathroom. She found it surprising clean, but the smell of disinfectant was so strong it made her eyes water. What a relief she thought.
Hurry or I’m going to piss my pants, Layla giggled.
Denise walked back to their table and suggested to the biker at the bar to size her up as she did.
When Layla returned she sat back down just long enough for them to finish their beers. Denise noticed the biker at the bar checking her out and smiled. “Let’s leave slowly,” Denise said. Follow us. You know you want my name and number.
They walked out the door into the fresh hot summer air. By the time they got to the end of the building they heard a voice.
“Excuse me,” the biker said.
Denise and Layla turned to look at him. He had a southern accent, definitely f
rom somewhere further south.
“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help noticing how beautiful you two girls are,” he said. He was directing his words to Denise. She smiled at him, as if she wanted to hear more.
“Would you like to have dinner or see a movie sometime?” he asked, now clearly talking to Denise. His friend opened the door and looked out, a fresh beer in hand, and laughed when he saw him talking to Denise. The door closed with him still in the bar.
“What’s your name?” Denise asked.
“Phil,” he answered. It sounded like he said Feeyull when he did.
“I’m Monica Phil,” Denise said. Phil, I want you to have a seat on the curb with me.
He moved to the curb and sat down.
Smoke em if you got em.
He took out a Marlboro cigarette and lit it up.
Phil, I am going to ask you three questions, is that ok?
“Sure, ask away.”
Please smile when you answer.
“Ok,” he smiled.
Question 1. Are the two creatures you are holding captive still together?
“That one’s easy. Yep.”
You’re doing great. You are so hot.
“I get that from chicks a lot.”
Question 2. Where exactly are the creatures being kept?
“Oh, about 150 miles straight southeast of here, not far from where I grew up, down by the abandoned granary in the lake, do you know where that is?”
No, but I can’t wait for you to show it to me.
“We’re heading back down there tomorrow if you want to tag along, shit, I don’t think Johnny will care.”
Johnny is your friend inside?
“Yeah, he’s he guy inside, but friend? Yeah, I guess he is a friend.”
I love it when you exhale that cigarette smoke.
Phil smiled widely showing too much of his nicotine stained teeth. “Would you like one?”
No, I’m good. Question 3. What time are you leaving for Tennessee and will you be taking the white van?
“You know, that’s really four questions. You see, I can count. Might not be able to write that well, but I can count.”
You’re great with numbers. What time will you be leaving and will you be using the white van?
“We leave as soon as they call, sometime tomorrow I think, usually late in the afternoon, and yes, we are taking the white van, that big ass white van.”
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