****

Dexter Hughes knew he wasn’t alone. He had seen the other locked doors and he could smell the stench of trapped humans. He jerked at his chain, it wasn’t going to give, and looked around for an escape. He wasn’t going anywhere, even if he did get loose.

“Dexter?”

He was startled to hear his name from the next cell.

“Who’s asking?”

“Suzanne Cooper. Are you Dexter Hughes?”

Dexter tried to place the name. He knew it but from somewhere way in the past.

“Yes. Do I know you? How do you know me?”

“Damn! Well, that seals it.”

It was a male voice and came from the far end of the room. Dexter also heard a female start to cry.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on?”

The woman who had spoken first, her voice barely above a whisper, tried.

“The man in the far cell is Ed Garland. Next to me is Chelsea Burt. As I told you, I’m Suzanne Cooper. We guessed who you were because we all have a connection.”

Dexter slumped back against the wall.

“Billy Jarvis.”

“That’s what we think. Ed was taken first, Chelsea second and me third. We knew if you were the one put in the last cell, all of this had to be connected to Billy.”

“Who’s the guy that’s locked us in here?”

Ed spoke up from the far end.

“Hey Dex. Never thought I would speak to you again, especially under these circumstances. We think it’s Donnie Jarvis, Billy’s little brother.”

“But why?”

“We don’t know, he won’t answer us. Just keeps saying ‘We’ll find out soon’.

“Have you told him you know who he is and Billy wouldn’t want him to do this?”

“No! We don’t want him to know we’ve figured out who he is. We think it just increases the danger.”

Dexter tried to get comfortable on the blanket.

“Makes sense, I guess; if anything to do with this could make sense.”

****

The next morning Devin James prepared to leave the house but before he did, he called Dexter Hughes at home.

“Hello.”

“Mrs. Hughes, this is Devin James. Is your husband at home?”

“No. In fact he didn’t come home last night.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Hell yes, it’s unusual.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Hughes. I didn’t mean to offend. I think you should call the police.”

“I already did but they said it needed to be 48 hours before anything could be done.”

“Do you have a pen and paper?”

“Yes.”

“Call Detective Jason Strong. I know him and he’ll listen to you. You can tell him I gave you his name. Tell Detective Strong I believe your husband’s disappearance may be tied to the cases he is working on.”

“What cases?”

“I’m sorry maam, I can’t say more.”

“Jason Strong?”

“Yes Maam.”

“Okay. Thank you, Mr. James.”

The phone went dead and James felt a queasiness in his stomach. He hated to find out he was right. Dexter Hughes is missing.

Chapter  16

Donnie pulled up at ‘Gates of Heaven’ cemetery before sunrise. Today was the day he and Billy had been planning. Over ten years since that awful day and now they were going to make things right. It was going to be so sweet to see all their work pay off.

Donnie couldn’t sleep anyway, so he’d got up early and come to visit Billy for the last time before they played out the final step. Parking the van, he walked through the damp morning grass to his big brother’s grave. He felt a peace inside knowing he had accomplished the most important task his brother could ever give him. To help him rest.

“Good Morning, Billy.”

Donnie crouched down, listening intently.

“I know you’re ready. I’m sure going to miss our talks when you’re gone.”

Donnie smiled.

“Thanks. I did it all for you. You deserve it.”

Donnie brushed the leaves off his brother’s name.

“Don’t worry about me, Billy. I don’t think they know who I am and, if anyone survives, I’ll make sure they don’t know where to find me.”

Donnie stayed by his brother for a little while. It reminded him of the visits he made with Momma when she was alive. They would just enjoy being with Billy. But the events planned for this day would not let Donnie linger as they had those many days. Today was a day for action.

“I’ve gotta go now, Billy.”

Tears welled up in his eyes.

“I love you, too. You’re the best brother a kid could ever have and I’m gonna miss you.”

He stood up.

“You’re welcome. Tell Momma ‘hi’ when you see her. Make sure she knows I miss her.”

Donnie hesitated a moment or two longer.

“Bye, Billy. I love you.”

Donnie walked away with the usual sadness but now it was mixed with anticipation. He was coming to the end of a decade long journey. He fired up the van and sped for home.

****

Jason arrived at work around his usual time. Waiting for him on his desk was a note.

Call Mrs. Hughes. Urgent. 555-230-4210.

Jason got himself a cup of coffee and sat down. He dialed the number.

“Hello?”

“Yes. Mrs. Hughes?”

“Yes. Is this Detective Strong?”

“Yes Maam; I had a note to call you?”

“Devin James, the reporter, he gave me your name and said I should call you.”

Jason did his best not to sound irritated but he didn’t like James using him as an inside contact. He would have to talk to him about it.

“Okay. What can I help you with?”

“My husband is missing.”

“How long has he been gone?”

“It’s been since yesterday morning when I talked to him and they told me at his work he’d never checked in yesterday.”

“Well Mrs. Hughes, we don’t consider a person missing for at least…”

“48 hours, I know. Mr. James said you would help me. He said to tell you my husband missing is connected to some cases you’re working on.”

Jason had been leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed but now he sat upright and put down his coffee.

“Did he say what cases he was referring to?”

“I assume missing persons but I’m not sure.”

Nina came in and gave a nod before sitting down at her desk. Jason grabbed a pad and wrote down the name Hughes.

“Mrs. Hughes, what is your husband’s first name?”

“Dexter.”

Jason wrote it in front of Hughes.

“Okay. Can you hold on for a minute?”

“Sure.”

Jason punched the hold button and gave the note to Nina.

“Check and see if that name is on our reunion list.”

Jason watched her intently as she scanned the sheets. It wasn’t long before she looked up at him.

“Yes. Dexter Hughes. Why?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute.”

He punched the hold button again.

“Mrs. Hughes?”

“Yes.”

“If you’ll give me your address, my partner and I would like to come by and talk to you.”

“Oh, thank you so much.”

Jason wrote down the address and hung up. Nina was watching him, waiting for an explanation.

“I found a note on my desk this morning to call a Mrs. Hughes. When I called her, she said her husband was missing an officer she spoke with told her it had to be 48 hours before they could do anything. Apparently, she has somehow got hooked up with Devin James and he told her to call me.”

“Oh, wasn’t that nice of him!”

“Wait, there’s more. James told her to tell me that her husband missing was connected to the cases we’re working on.”

“You’re kidding! How would he know that?”

“A very good question, one I intend to ask him as soon as I get a hold of him. Anyway, that’s when you came in and confirmed the name on the list.”