Oblivion (5 page)

He should be thinking about fly-fishing and seeing his grand kids, not piecing together a murder right now. Dan needed this experience and he put him in charge, but the deputy refused to see the obvious that was in front of him.

Growing up with all these people in Little Bend made it impossible for him to see the Chase boy as a suspect. Dan hung out with Cam’s older brother in school and vouched the boy was a good, decent kid, if a bit wild the last year.

Dan refused to consider Chase as a suspect, going with the lone, murdering drifter theory the State cops believed. Gary might have believed that too, except it was too easy.

Gary had to sit back and let Dan handle the investigation. He was looking into a couple theories of his own. The missing ring was troubling him. Obviously the boy planned to give it to Lindsay Morgan. The two were going away to school together in the fall. He debated the wisdom in telling the girl. She was so broken up she hadn’t left her apartment since.

Even more tragically, the state workers would arrive that week to take the Turner kids unless they got a family to take them in here. Nobody wanted Everett Turner at their door and would likely refuse to take his kids in.

The heartbreak of the case was even more profound when it was learned Jace Turner was giving up his golden ticket to the NFL to stay behind and care for his siblings. Gary knew such a noble sacrifice was rare among kids today. Maybe that was why he decided to do his own digging.

Chapter Four

Darkness and pain were all he saw or felt before his eyes. He sat up and groaned. How long he lay here; he didn’t know. All he could think of was getting to Dougie. He forced his body to move. He staggered to his knees and looked around the dank alley in confusion. It was night. He heard sounds of city life beyond the alley.

Music and horns blared loudly. Where was he? He shook his head to clear it, feeling foggy and disorientated. The last thing he recalled was driving Cameron out to Marnie’s house.

Cameron had used every trick in the book to get him to take him there. At first he refused, unwilling to chance Dougie getting done early. Then he was driving down Route 4 and Cameron was adjusting the radio. That was the last thing he recalled before everything went blank.

He took a couple steps and his head was swimming. He went down on his knees. He had to get to a phone and call Lindsay. The kids would be worried sick. Somehow he’d been kidnapped and dumped here. His eyes were swimming as he took in the surrounding alley. The stench from nearby garbage made him gag. He struggled to remain upright, looking around to get his bearings.

Heavy metal music blasted not far away. Loud raucous female laughter and shouting were heard. He stepped to the entrance of the alley. His gaze took in the scene grimly. Wherever he was; it wasn’t Helena. It looked like Gotham City to him. The city block was deserted except for a bar on the corner.

He stumbled toward the neon sign flashing Deadhead’s Lounge. Along the way, he gazed about him in anxiety. The businesses all looked abandoned except for the bar. Everything was painted black. Even the concrete under his feet was black. Combined with the starless, moonless evening, the light from the bar was the only one he saw.

Jace approached it and saw a large bald man with a tattooed head standing out front. He was dressed all in black and looked dangerous. He glanced at Jace and his cold, flat eyes burned into his.

“We don’t take Newbie’s in here. Get outta here before they see ya.”

“Wait!” Jace insisted, looking alarmed. “I need help. I think I was attacked and robbed. I need to use your phone.”

That seemed to amuse the big man. He chuckled and his massive arms folded across his chest. “Ya don’t need a phone any more, kid. Trust me you look like ya got diced up pretty good back there.”

Jace looked down and his eyes widened to see his blood-drenched plaid work shirt. He felt no pain. His hands went to his chest and he felt no wounds there. His confusion was obvious. The big man seemed to see that.

“Ya need to find Merrick. He can help ya,” the big man said. “Take my advice and go, kid. When those animals walk outta there; they'll make you wish you were more than just dead.”

Jace appeared confused at his comment. “Who is this Merrick?”

“He’s like the greeter here. He shows ya the ropes. Usually he finds you guys before you wake up and get into trouble.”

“Where am I?” Jace demanded, looking around, alarm evident on his face.

“Welcome to Oblivion, Kid,” the big man said and grinned. He turned and went back into the club, leaving Jace standing alone.

He looked down one length of darkened street and the other, fuming to know he’d never heard of a town called Oblivion in Montana. He turned and decided to take a right and explore his options. He needed to get to a phone and call Lindsay.

Knowing his girlfriend probably called the National Guard made him hurry down the street. His clopping footsteps echoed eerily as he walked. Suddenly those footfalls were joined by another set behind him, heavier and more hurried than his. He looked over his shoulder and saw nothing behind him.

Jace walked about a mile and began to realize he was being followed by the time he got to the next city block. Whoever it was seemed content to trail him. Apprehension filled him to know he was alone in this strange city called Oblivion and his pockets were empty.

The money was gone. Worse, the ring he planned to give Lindsay was stolen. The impulse to ask her to marry him came upon him as he waited for Dougie. He reasoned if they were engaged she would wait the year he asked of her so he could get his family issues resolved.

Once he was home, another reality would hit him hard again. The three hundred dollars left over was for another matter; one that he regretted with every bit of his soul.

He was lost in thought and not paying attention when he was struck from behind. He was tossed into the passing wall of an alley just as an arm slid around his neck, forcing him up against the bricks.

“Hold still, Kid,” a gruff, deep voice growled at his ear. “Those spooks ya got on your tail ain’t leavin’ by the looks of things. You’d have to wake up too soon.”

Jace’s eyes widened, thinking this was the man who attacked him and robbed him. He continued to struggle.

“Get your hands off me!” he raged and fought hard, but the man was strong.

“They see ya and it’s all over, Kid. Trust me and zip it.”

“Who are you?” Jace croaked.

“The Name is Merrick; your tour guide here in Oblivion. I waited for you to wake up and thought I could go handle another bit of business. My bad. Sorry ‘bout that.”

Jace stopped struggling, realizing the man meant him no harm. He was strong though, pinning him to the wall like an immovable force. Jace was six two and two hundred and ten pounds soaking wet. The man who held him pinned to the alley wall did so without hardly any effort.

“I need to make a call,” Jace began and glared in the darkness. “I got jumped. My girl is probably losing it by now. Just let me go and tell me where a phone is.”

“No phone here, Kid. Boy, you’re one of those. Great.”

Jace was confused. “One of what? What are you talking about?”

“You’re dead, Kid. Ya just don’t know it yet. Sorry, it happens when you don’t see it coming.”

“What are you talking about?” Jace said in a seething tone. “I’m not dead! I’m not even hurt. This blood all over me isn’t even mine.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” the gravelly voice asked.

Jace recalled Cameron playing with the radio. They had just turned onto Route 4. He remembered nothing else.

“I must’ve been knocked out. I don’t remember how I got here.”

Merrick chuckled. “Ya got wacked back there, either way. You can fight it or accept it; that’s up to you.”

Jace was furious. The man made no sense. “I just need to call my girlfriend. Can I do that?”

“Nope, that doorway’s closed. You got two choices here, Kid. You can pipe down and follow me, or I’m leaving you here. I’m too tired to fight off more deadheads tonight.”

“What are deadheads?”

“Let’s just say; they don’t like us none, Kid.”

“What did you mean by the doorway is closed?”

“Anybody ever tell you that you talk too much? I’ll explain everything when the coast is clear. You got three deadheads on your tail, and they ain’t happy.”

“What do they want with me?”

“They get off on pain. That’s something you can still feel even if you’re dead. They like tormenting Newbies. It makes them happy.”

“You keep saying I’m dead! I’m alive,” Jace snapped under his breath, aware the footsteps were growing louder.

“Hate to break it to ya, but ya got wacked pretty good back in your life. You’re dead and you’re trapped here in Oblivion. Don’t ask me why you didn’t get the pearly gate treatment. I don’t judge.”

Jace scoffed at his words. “Yeah ok, this is a joke!”

“Like I said; you can fight what I’m telling you. It only makes this worse for you. The sooner you accept you’re dead; the sooner you can move on.”

“What is this place?” Jace asked with a feeling of dread. “Is it Hell?”

“Nah, that place is a real shithole. This is a temporary place in between, or not so temporary for some of us.”

“What do you mean?” Jace demanded, playing along to stall for time.

“Depends on how ya got off’d, for one. Suicides are lifers here. Most of the deadheads are suicides. Accidents get out of here pretty quick once they realize it and reroute them. The murdered are here indefinitely. If ya can’t remember what happened to ya, chances are you’re an accident or somebody wacked ya. Either way, you’re stuck here for a time.”

“What about the people who die naturally?” Jace asked hesitantly, thinking about his Mom.

“Those lucky bastards get the full treatment, either good or bad, depending upon where they get assigned.”

“I don’t get it.”

“You will, now zip it. They’re real close.”

~ ~ ~

Jace was relieved when the mountain that pinned him to the wall moved away. He turned and saw the mountain was a man of medium build, black, and grinning at him outrageously. He wore black military style gear and boots and carried a number of weapons at his waist. Merrick was his name. It was obvious Merrick was his ticket home.

“Why can’t I call my girlfriend?” he demanded when the deadheads were gone from the walkway.

“You don’t give up. Get it through your thick country-cracker head, you’re dead! I’m sorry, but you are. We don’t get any live ones here too often,” Merrick explained and shrugged.

Jace looked sick to hear it, wishing this was some nightmare he would wake from. Yes, that’s what this was. He was unconscious and all of this wasn’t real. Soon, he would wake from this and all would be back as it was.

“Listen, I got a little brother and sister who count on me,” Jace began. “I need to make a call and make sure somebody’s looking after them until I get home.”

Merrick rolled his eyes. “Look, I know this is all a lot for you to take in. I deal with you guys all the time. I’m telling you the truth. You’re dead. This is a halfway house between the upstairs and downstairs we all know about. What ya need to do is figure out why you’re here. That’ll help. You can’t remember anything at all?”

“No, I gave a buddy a ride to his girl’s house. The last thing I remember is him…” Jace broke off then, recalling Cameron asked him to stop so he could take a piss on the side of the road. He saw himself pulling off and Cam got out. After that, he couldn’t seem to remember anything.

“Nice friend ya got there. Chances are; he’s the one who wacked ya.”

“Will you quit saying that?” Jace snapped. “Cam and I been friends since the fifth grade. He didn’t kill me!”

“Somebody did or you’d remember it,” Merrick said knowingly. “That’s the thing about getting murdered. Something happens to keep you from seeing it. Don’t know why. Best thing to do is just wait for enough pieces to come back to put it together. This guy was the last one with you. Hate to say it; but he’s the dude who wacked ya.”

“Cam has no reason to kill me! I’m his best friend!”

“Sometimes people just kill for fun. I know it ain’t right, but there it is. This kid might have just wanted to know what it felt like, or he just hated your guts and you didn’t know it.”

Jace refused to believe Cameron killed him while he waited for him to relieve himself on the side of the road. It made no sense. He and Cam had differences recently, but it was all resolved. Or was it?

He thought of the circumstances and stiffened. He felt a rush of fear and anger, and dread. He recalled Cam begging him to run him out to Marnie’s, even knowing he had a half hour before Dougie was done with his counseling.

“Why can’t I remember it?”

“The mind protects itself from the truth. Trust me you wouldn’t want to see what he did to you. Look at all the blood all over you. He messed you up good.”

Jace refused to accept it despite the insidious feeling Merrick spoke the truth. The horror of it made him stumble slightly and he felt lightheaded. The thought he would never see Lindsay again filled him with sorrow. Then there was Sara and Dougie. What would become of them now?

“Easy, I know this is too much for you to handle right now, but you gotta get a grip,” Merrick said and looked watchful as he looked at the alley opening. “My place is on the other side of town. We gotta get you out of here. You’re a sitting duck for deadheads. I’ll help you as much as I can to get by down here, but the rest is up to you.”

“Do you have a phone?” Jace asked again and Merrick swore under his breath.

“Kid, you need to take my advice and accept my word for it. You’re straight up no comin’ back from it dead!”

Merrick gestured for him to follow him and Jace had no choice but to go, still unwilling to believe this wasn’t all just a dream. They walked through the dark grim city, avoiding the occasional other presences Merrick seemed to see and hear before him.

They walked a couple miles and came to a warehouse. Merrick punched in a code on a keypad and a buzzer went off. The garage door opened and he stepped inside. Jace followed and Merrick punched a button along the wall and the door shut. He flipped a switch and lights went on inside the warehouse.