You're lost, little girl
You're lost, little girl
You're lost, tell me who are you?
Think that you know what to do
Impossible? Yes, but it's true
I think that you know what to do, yeah
Sure that you know what to do
You're Lost Little Girl - The Doors
You're lost, little girl
You're lost, tell me who are you?
Think that you know what to do
Impossible? Yes, but it's true
I think that you know what to do, yeah
Sure that you know what to do
You're Lost Little Girl - The Doors
3.27 The Search for Kellie
I didn't realize how desperately I'd been waiting for Beryl's call all the time until her number popped up on my ringing phone. I closed my eyes and pressed the answer button. I missed her so much and I told her. And much much more.
It turned out I wasn't talking to Beryl but my son. I suppose you can't have all your dreams come true at once. My son needed me and that was quite enough for me right now. Can't remember the last time somebody needed me and Christian sounded really desperate.
When your kid needs you, you drop everything you're doing and just go. There are no excuses. Even if I was just offered a billion simoleons or if I was in the middle of a job, cleaning after myself and deposing of bodies, I would go. Family always comes first.
My son asked me to find his missing sister. No time was soon enough he said. He told me where they last saw her and sent me a picture of her. He wanted to come with me, but I explained to him I can't keep an eye on him and be most effective looking for her at the same time. He wasn't happy, but he understood eventually. If she's still alive I'll find her. I'm sure I'll find her even if she isn't.
Then, after I have put on my pants and went to get a clean shirt and pair of socks, I had a very interesting conversation with my boy.
"There's one more thing I should probably tell you, dad," Chris said hesitantly.
"Yes? What is it?" I asked as I was clumsily buttoning up my shirt with one hand.
"She kissed me. Kellie kissed me. That's why she ran away. I think. She's my sister, but she also isn't. We adopted her, remember?"
I held my breath for a second. "Did you like it?"
"Uh... What?"
"The kiss, Chris. Did you like it?"
"I don't know, she caught me completely by surprise..."
At this point Chris started talking really fast so I had to pause for a while and stop checking my gun's magazine to pay him my fullest attention.
"There's one more thing I should probably tell you, dad," Chris said hesitantly.
"Yes? What is it?" I asked as I was clumsily buttoning up my shirt with one hand.
"She kissed me. Kellie kissed me. That's why she ran away. I think. She's my sister, but she also isn't. We adopted her, remember?"
I held my breath for a second. "Did you like it?"
"Uh... What?"
"The kiss, Chris. Did you like it?"
"I don't know, she caught me completely by surprise..."
At this point Chris started talking really fast so I had to pause for a while and stop checking my gun's magazine to pay him my fullest attention.
"...I was so bewildered I pushed her away. She was so different tonight. The way she looked, the way she acted. Very emotional too. So unlike her. Completely different person. I didn't know what to do. First she slapped me, then I hugged her and she kissed me."
The whole picture of what had transpired began to form in my mind. "Wait a minute. She slapped you?"
"Actually she wanted to slap the other girl I was with, Raven Nightshade."
Nightshade? The name triggered a distant memory, but I pushed it away. "Sounds like you had a busy night, son."
Click. My gun was ready. Now, where's my favourite knife?
Chris made a frustrated sound. "She accidentaly hit me and started crying and then ran outside. I went after her, I hugged her to calm her down and she kissed me."
I had to ask. "Are you in love with her, Chris?"
"Why...? I... I don't know. I care about her a lot. Plum it! She's my sister!"
"You said it's only a technicality."
"Yeah, but... How does one even know he's in love?"
My poor innocent boy. Or should I say a lucky boy? Look what love has done to me. "You would know if you were. Now, son, if that's all you wanted to tell me I gotta go. I'll give you a call when I find her."
"Okay, dad. Thank you and good luck in finding her!"
Luck will have nothing to do with that, son, I wanted to say, but the line was already dead. It's all about the talent or rather a skill I acquired in the course of years. I didn't need luck. I knew I would succeed.
Chris also mentioned this guy named Thomas, who he suspected of being responsible for his sister's disappearance. I know what men are capable of when they're obsessed with a woman or a pretty young girl in this case. If anything bad happened to Kellie, anything, that is going to upset my boy, this Thomas guy is in a big trouble. Because when I'm done with him, he won't be able to walk on his own and that will be the least of his problems.
My first stop was the Camel's back. I had to check whether Kellie came back there or not. I waved at the bartender and showed him her picture. But he wasn't willing to cooperate.
"I'm looking for this girl. Have you seen her in last two hours?"
"Can't you see I'm busy? I've got customers here. Buy a drink or stop bothering me." Such helpfulness called for a different approach. I looked around with increased interest.
"Hmm. What a nice place you have here. I wonder if it is in accordance with all fire regulations. I mean look at those decorations. They seem pretty flammable, don't they? Damn, it would be a shame if this place burned down. You see, I have a couple of friends, they're in this gang and sometimes they like to go on the rampage, breaking things, throwing Molotovs in the windows. I could ask them to avoid this place because I like it here a lot. Or I could mention I wasn't satisfied at all with the service this place provides. Still busy, hm?"
Kellie didn't show up at the bar again and no one saw her since Chris had. Time for a night walk.
After thirty minutes or so I met my first interesting person of the night. When I saw his face, I was sure he's going to tell me stories. This secluded place was just perfect for a friendly chat.
"Hey, son. What happened to your face? Do you need a medical help? Are those scratch marks on your cheek?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Those other two bastards had it much worse."
"They scratched your face?"
"Yeah. Sick bastards. They assaulted my friend and wanted to do pretty nasty thing to her, if you know what I mean."
"I think I do. And where are those guys now?"
"I don't know nor I care. When I was done with them they limped out of here. Probably back to the main road and to get a taxi."
"Hm, and this friend of yours, isn't it by chance Kellie Heffner?"
"Yeah. How did you...? What exactly is your business here, Mr....?"
"Corleonesi."
"Mr. Corlio... Your name sounds familiar. You look familiar."
"Where's the girl, Thomas?"
"And how the plum do you know my name? What's this about?"
"I'm looking for the girl. You stalked her, right? You got too close, she fought back and scratched your face. If she's still alive and you tell me where she is I might not break your legs and arms. "
"Man, are you insane? I was protecting her! I told her to run and she did! Who the plum are you and how dare you accusing me of these things? I would never harm Kellie! I love her! Who sent you?"
I could tell by now he wasn't lying, still I needed him to spill his guts. I sighed. "I hate having to repeat myself. Talk. Now. Where is she?"
"You tell me what I want to know and then I might tell you what you want to know, mister."
"This is not a negotiation, kid, this is an interrogation. I need to find the girl. But I can see it will take more convincing. Now if you would follow me to my car, please." The fact that I suddenly used the magic word seemed to confuse the boy.
"What? Why?"
"Because I've got a blowtorch in my trunk I need to use."
"A blowtorch? How is blowtorch going to help you?"
"I'm going to singe the soles of your feet just a little and in return you're going to finally tell me where Kellie is."
"Are you serious?"
I gave him my serious look number five. "I never joke about my blowtorch. Now, are you going to save us both the walk and tell me or do I really have to put my tools to use?"
"Man, you're a sociopath. Do you know that?"
"People say that about me. But that's only because they really don't know me. I'm a charmer when you take time to get to know me. Well? I'm tired of waiting and asking."
"Fine! I'll tell you."
"You better not lie to me, kid. I'm still in a good mood. You don't want to upset me. When I'm upset, small talk really isn't my forte."
The boy pointed his finger to the other side of the bridge. "She ran that way, I haven't seen her since."
"Okay, lets go."
"What the plum do you mean by lets?"
"Did you think I would leave you here all alone? What if something bad happened to you? I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
At last we found her curled up in the sand. Thomas freaked out.
"OMG! Is she dead?"
I knelt beside her and felt the girl's pulse. "Luckily for you no. She's just exhausted." I lifted the her in my arms. She weighed almost nothing. "You can go, Thomas. I have no use for you anymore."
"If you think I'm leaving you alone with her, think again you perv!"
"I'm taking her home."
"Yeah? That's what I was afraid of. Put her down, I'll take her home. Or shall I call the police on you?"
Teenagers! This one was really starting to get on my nerves. "Her brother is my son, you idiot! He asked me to find her! Now get lost or I lose my patience!" Kellie chose this moment to stir in my arms. She mumbled something what sounded like: "Leave me alone, Thomas." I smirked at the boy. "See? She doesn't want you here either. Smart girl."
He didn't say a word, but followed me all the way back to my car. The skin between my shoulder blades itched from his constant glare. Fortunately, I got rid of him after that.
I decided to take Kellie to my place which was much closer than her home. I'll drive her to Newcrest when she's rested and better. Don't want to scare the whole family bringing her home like this. I'll give Chris a call as soon as I get the two of us to my place.