章節 16: Closer Than You Know

Reece adjusted his glasses as he tried his best to avert his gaze. He had stalked Carl and his family for months and he could tell what was happening even now in Carl's household. He found himself wondering if the wife had left or if she was still with Carl.

Reece's lips twitched in a twisted smile as he imagined Carl searching for his kids and dreaming about whether they were alive or not.

"What can I get for you, sir?" Reece asked as he glided towards where Carl had sat on the counter.

Carl's mind was far away. He wasn't present and hadn't heard what the waiter had asked him.

"Sir? Are you okay?" Recce asked, leaning forward a little to look at Carl with an endearing look on his face.

"Um…" Carl said, noticing that someone was in his face. "Did you speak to me?"

Reece nodded.

"I'll have tequila…" Carl said.

"Isn't it too early for that?" Reece asked as he turned around and grabbed a glass to give the man what he wanted.

Carl didn't respond to that. His mind was full of what he was going through at home with his wife. They weren't even on one front in the search for Kim and Kendra. Carl had gone to the police station the previous day and had just come from there and there was still no report or headway. He felt like he was sinking – falling into a hole that had no bottom. His life was full of darkness and nothing could quench the agony that he felt deep within him.

The click of the glass brought Carl out of his reverie and he nodded in acknowledgment.

"You seem to have loads on your mind, Sir," Reece said, pretending to wipe invisible liquid off the counter.

Carl grunted as he threw his head back and poured the entire content of the glass into his mouth. He scrunched his face as he welcomed the burn that engulfed his throat. Then he heard something from the television that caught his attention as he pointed to the glass again for a refill.

"There's been a sad development in our district and we implore the help of citizens with this situation. If anyone of you has any information whatsoever as to the disappearance of children around Drasetult Hill, please come forward…"

Carl peeled his gaze off the television and scrolled through his phone. He received a message from his friend and while he opened it to read, he overheard someone speak from behind him.

"My friend is devastated…." the man said.

"It was during their birthday right? Who could have done such a wicked thing? Weren't people there? Was no one looking after the kids?" another man on the table asked.

This time, Carl pivoted on the chair he was sitting on with his phone in his hand– he hadn't even gotten around to reading the text he got from his friend as he listened closely to what the men were saying. He had a crease between his brow while staring at them.

"Yes… only about roughly four weeks ago…"

Carl frowned. His girls were taken three weeks ago. He recalled what he'd heard from the police officer who had received his complaints and wondered if this was the case he's been referring to.

Carl stood up and went to the men's table. He sniffed and wiped the perspiration that had gathered underneath his nose. With a hiccup, Carl asked if he could join them at their table and they agreed.

"My girls were kidnapped also," Carl said.

"What?" they both asked looking at each other with shocked expressions on their faces.

"The man you were talking about… your friend," Carl said. "What's his name? Can I get his contact?"

"Um…." the man hesitated as he looked at his friend and watched that one nod in agreement.

"You all have to form a group. I can not imagine losing my kid not to talk of not knowing if they are alive or not…" he stated with a shake of his head while he shook his hand at the side of his head as if trying not to think about such.

"Here, sir…" Reece said as he approached slowly, adjusting his glasses while his ears were piqued to hear what they were saying.

"Your drink…" he said, holding unto the drink for a while longer than normal. He didn't set it down and looked from one man to the other, trying to ascertain what they were doing and saying. He knew about the man they had mentioned as he was the father of the stubborn boys in his house at the moment.

"You can set the drink on the table," One of the men said without looking at Reece.

"That's his number… but I have to warn you… he's not been in the best of mood these days…"

"Who'll be?"

"Huh?" the man that had fetched the number from his phone asked with a surprised look on his face looking up at the waiter that was still there without a reason.

"I-I mean the man who lost his kids…" Reece said in an attempt to explain himself.

All three men looked at themselves and ignored the weird waiter.

Carl just reached for his drink and poured it into his mouth again.

"Easy there…" one of the men said.

But Carl stood up and shook their hands without uttering a word. He still kept some of the liquid in his mouth, slowly swallowing it down his throat.

"We will be here to help… search parties… anything…" the man said as he brought out his business card and handed it over to Carl.

Carl walked to the counter and placed a bill on it. As he was about to turn and leave, the waiter rushed out from the back of the counter and followed Carl outside.

"If you need my help…" Reece said.

"Help with what, boy?" Carl asked with a frown on his face. His phone beeped and he reached into his jacket pocket to get it.

"With finding-"

"Tend to the bar and learn to mind your business," Carl said as he stormed away.

Looking into his phone, he saw that he'd received two text messages from his friend, Ty Fields. Carl opened the messages.

'Where are you, Carl?'

'Meet me at the school.'

Carl's face scrunched. He was in no mood for a pointless hangout but at the same time, he knew Ty didn't like to waste time and this was working hours. So, Carl thought the reason must be important -- he turned on his ignition and headed straight for the school where his wife taught.