Authors: Angella Graff
That was true, of course, but it was ridiculous information. Ben wasn't about to be laughed out of the room by a couple of young detectives after telling them that the unconscious man was Judas Iscariot.
Ben suppressed his own laugh at how ridiculous it all sounded. He'd been a detective for years, and he'd seen some pretty impossible things, but this was all just ludicrous. Rubbing his face, Ben started to stand up, but his cell began to buzz in his pocket.
He wrenched it out and saw a vaguely familiar number. “Stanford,” he said.
“Detective? This is Greg Asclepius.”
“Doctor, how are you?” Ben asked.
“Well enough. I was wondering if it was possible to meet this evening? I'm currently on the road, heading your direction. I'm afraid it's imperative that we meet sooner rather than later.”
“Do you have information on my case?” Ben asked, standing up and pacing a little in front of the tree.
“I have very important information that may help you on your case,” the doctor said.
Ben didn't like how vague the doctor was being, but his voice was honest, and Ben hadn't detected anything suspicious about the doctor when he had met him. “How long until you're here?” Ben eventually asked.
“About an hour,” the doctor said.
Ben scratched the back of his head and then looked down at his watch. “Call me when you get into town and I will tell you where we can meet. It's probably best if we don't meet at my office. I want to check into the validity of your information before I continue investigating.”
“Absolutely. What I have to say would be best kept to yourself for now. I know this case has gotten complicated and I regret that I might add to that. I will see you soon, Detective. Thank you.”
Before Ben could question the doctor further on his “complicated” information, the doctor hung up, leaving Ben standing at the base of the willow tree, frustrated and tired. He slipped his phone into his pocket and started towards the parking lot.
As he crossed the walkway, a car peeled out behind him. He could feel a gust of wind hit his back from the speed of the car, and he turned, but caught only the tail lights as it turned the corner. Shaking his head, Ben walked back into the school and went to Abby's office.
The lights were out, which was unusual seeing how Abby usually had quite a bit of after-school work and lesson plans to write. Knowing she had just been interrogated by detectives on a missing persons case, Ben wasn't surprised to find her absent.
Still, he hoped to catch her and make sure everything went alright. He understood the necessity of her questioning, but he wasn't about to let a couple of newbie officers bully his sister around, especially because they were suspicious of him.
Making his way down the hall, Ben figured if Abby was anywhere, she would be with Mark. He had a hard time with remembering the way to Marks apartment, regardless of having just been there, but eventually he found the place and lifted his hand to knock.
His knuckles rapped on the door twice before he realized the door was open slightly, and with a frown, Ben pushed on the wood. “Mark?” he called out.
Not a sound came from the inside of the room. Ben quickly reached for his gun, pushed the door wide and stepped in. “Abby? Mark? Are you in here?” His voice carried, echoing against the thin, white walls.
There was no response from anyone, and Ben could tell that no one was inside. It was unlike Mark to just leave his door open, and unless he had just stepped out for a moment, something was going on. Ben went into Mark's bedroom and saw clothes littering the bed, a few things lying on the floor. There were shoes scattered, and papers everywhere.
A drawer had been upended on the floor beside the nightstand, and the closet door stood open, clothes ripped down, leaving hangers scattered all over. Mark had clearly left in a hurry, and Ben instantly began to panic.
Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he dialed Abby, but it went straight to her voicemail. He left a shaking, “Abbs, it's your brother, call me back as soon as you get this,” and then hung up. He dialed the personal number Mark had given him, but a recording sounded, telling Ben that the number was no longer in service.
Ben felt his stomach sink. It was possible Abby had just gone home, but very unlikely. The only real question was, did Mark take Abby by choice, or by force.
~*~
The pair on the run made it several hundred miles before stopping at a small seaside diner for food. Abby hadn't complained about her hunger, but it was obvious to Mark, and he found a little place that looked palatable but could get them in and out quickly.
Mark pulled around the back where the car wasn't visible from the street, and parked the car. With a pleased groan, Abby stepped out, stretching her legs and back, grinning at Mark as he came around the side of the car.
“So you're not going with the whole blind thing now?” she asked, pointing at the white cane that was lying in the back seat of the car.
“It won't be long before your brother has a search party out for us,” Mark said with a shrug as they started inside. “He's going to put an alert out for a woman with a blind man.”
“True,” Abby said, and then put her hand to her cheek. “Oh God, he's probably freaking out.” She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and saw that it was dead.
“It's better that way,” Mark said, nodding for her to put the phone away. “Once we get some answers, some idea where Yehuda might be, you can contact him. Likely right now he's going to think I kidnapped you, and that makes our situation dangerous and urgent.”
“Maybe I should call him and just tell him I went with you willingly and that I'll tell him everything as soon as I can. That way he doesn’t try and have you arrested for taking me against my will.”
Mark shook his head and held the door open for Abby. “He already thinks me suspicious, and no matter if he says he believes you, he's going to try and stop me, and I can't have that. You're more than welcome to cut this trip with me now, Abby, if you feel you should, but I can't let your brother interfere with me finding my friend.”
“No,” Abby said firmly as they took a seat far from the windows. “No, I'm in this. I'll talk to him as soon as I can. For now, he'll just have to wait.”
The pair ordered a couple of sandwiches and some coffee and sat in a rather tense silence. Mark had taken the seat with the window view to make sure he would be able to see if any law enforcement officers before they saw him. He was on edge, and felt even more tense than he would have, now that he had the head detective's sister tagging along with him.
He cared for Abby, though, and her loyalty was touching. It had been a long time since Mark had a truly loyal companion with him, and he was a little hesitant to send her back to her old life. He needed Yehuda with him, but he found he wanted Abby around.
The food arrived and she dug in happily, while Mark picked a little at the over-cooked, greasy fries that were piled on the plate. The coffee was bitter, burnt, but he added a liberal amount of cream and sugar, and took down the entire cup in nearly one swallow.
“So,” Abby said once she had demolished half her plate, “we're going to the hospital? Is that the plan?”
Mark nodded and sipped on the refill of coffee the waitress had brought over. “I overheard your brother talking to the doctor who was treating Yehuda. The doctor has some information that I need to get, and I think it's possible that this doctor knows who took him and where he might be now.”
“When you went back, did you talk to that doctor at all?” Abby asked as she pushed her plate to the side.
Mark shook his head. “He came into the doorway a few times, but never said anything. I'm not completely positive, but I believe he may have some idea of who or what we are.”
Abby bit her lip, her face troubled. “Are you sure you don't want to bring my brother into this? If this doctor actually knows something about you guys, he could be dangerous. It might be a good idea to have someone like Ben on our side.”
Mark hesitated, trying to think of the best way to explain the situation to Abby. She was a believer, and she was open and accepting, but she was also naïve. “Your brother does not believe a word of what I am, and that doubt will always make him suspicious of me. He's protective of you, Abby, as he should be, but that protective nature will cause him to make rash decisions. If your brother, even for a moment, tries to get in my way, I might have to hurt him, and for your sake alone, I don't want that.”
Abby took that all in, her face drawn and pale. It was obvious she was starting to get some idea of what she might be facing, and the fear was starting to set in. “Okay,” she finally said. She pulled her wallet out of her purse and laid a wad of cash on the table. “We should probably get going.”
Mark tried to protest letting Abby pay, but she grabbed his arm, hauled him up from the booth and led the way outside. “Abigail,” he called after her, as she marched to the car several steps ahead.
Abby turned, the light breeze whipping her soft hair around her face. Her eyes were narrow and determined, her trembling hands clutching her sides. “Mark, I'm terrified, okay? The scariest part of this is that I believe everything you say, and my brain keeps trying to reject it, but it doesn't stop me from believing. I'm coming to grips with the fact that I've just taken off with some immortal guy who knew Jesus, and we're now trying to save Judas Iscariot, who apparently isn't the biblical bad-guy I always thought he was, and it's all just a little... a little...”
“Overwhelming,” Mark said as he approached her slowly. He carefully reached out for her, grabbing her upper arms in a warm, firm grip. He could feel her skin, chilled and tense, under his fingers, and he tried to use what little power he had to bring her some peace. “I understand. I was a human when this fell on me. I'm still a human, and sometimes if I stop and think about everything, how long I've lived, what I've done, I get overwhelmed, too. I cry a lot, Abby, if you want to know the truth. I weep and rage and I hate the force that gave me this curse, and all I really want is for it to end. But begging has never worked for me, and I don't expect it to. All I can do is accept my fate and move on. It took me a long time to learn that lesson.
“Your company means the world to me, Abigail, and that’s why I’m not trying very hard to convince you to leave me. It's been a long time since I've had company like yours, so as long as you can keep your fear at bay, I want you at my side. But remember, don't try and
not
be afraid.”
Abby gave a nod, and didn't protest when Mark pulled her in for a hug. She relaxed just a little in his arms, letting her head rest, feeling the subtle comfort of his hand dragging down over her hair. Mark pulled away from her, holding her at arm's length, and smiled at her now-composed face.
“Shall we?” she asked.
Mark smiled and dropped his arms. Unlocking the car, he waited at his own open door, his face turned up to the sky, his eyes closed. He stretched out his mind, trying desperately to feel Yehuda, to feel his presence, somewhere, anywhere.
Mark found more sparks of others, but when it came to Yehuda, there was nothing, just a sea of blackness. Mark shook his head, feeling a little fear start to burn in the pit of his stomach. He had always been able to sense Yehuda, even continents away, he could feel him when he reached out. This time there was nothing, the absence of him heavy in the air, and Mark began to fear that perhaps someone, or something, had figured out how to shield Yehuda's presence from him.
With a deep breath, Mark got into the car and started back on the road. He knew he wasn’t going to find Yehuda at the hospital, but he might find some answers, and that was at least one step closer.
~*~
Ben left Abby's apartment more worried than he had been in a long time. He had tried her cell phone four more times before digging up the emergency key and letting himself inside. It was clear she hadn't been home since the morning, her coffee half-drunk on the counter, and none of her supplies were where she usually left them once she got home. Ben drove back to the school and saw Abby's car still parked in the staff parking lot, but she was nowhere to be found.