“That shouldn’t be a problem. It was in a bag in my home.”
“But it is a problem. As I said, we’ve been unable to find the device.”
“It’s in the bag. Isabella’s got the bag.”
Did he send Isabella back to the property? He wanted to check. “And where could we find Isabella?”
“I think I sent her back home. Thought that would be the safest place. But there was a contingency and I just can’t remember where that was.” He licked his lips. “Could I have some water, please?”
Aaron looked around the room. No water, how remiss. He looked up to the CCTV and raised his hand as if to have a drink. While they waited, Aaron thought about the connection between water and the brain. Fuel for the brain. Water might help the memory, clear the fog.
A man dressed in camouflage uniform brought in a jug of water and two glasses. Aaron thanked the man, poured water into the glasses and handed a glass to the professor. The professor took a few sips.
“I think I may have given them the GPS back to near where I lived.” He took another sip. “I think that’s where they’ll be.” He stared at the water in the glass. “I tell you this because I’m tired and know someone else had to look after my granddaughter. I did get someone to help, but can’t remember who.”
Was this man’s memory being affected by the current events? He remembered sending his granddaughter back. Aaron was curious about the connection between stress and dementia. His phone vibrated. He looked at the screen and nodded.
He looked up at the man. “We’ve found your granddaughter. She’s okay. We’ll look after her for you.”
Aaron thought it best to bring the girl back to assist with discussions with the Professor. At this point in time, he didn’t think Lucas Fell would add any value to their discussions, so he advised the police Lucas was their man.
<°)))><
James needed space. His place of escape was well concealed where he could watch the world pass by. And he wished the world to pass by quickly. He was perched on his favourite rock, taking deep breaths and calming himself down. It seemed to be working.
He noticed a hiker heading up the path. The hiker was puffing a bit and had stopped to get his breath.
A flapping noise caught his attention. James looked up and saw black shadows gliding through the greenery. He watched as the ravens landed on branches. James looked back at the hiker.
The hiker stood still and was looking up at the two large black birds. He leaned against a tree trunk and lifted one foot and gave it a stretch. He did the same with the other foot.
Those boots looked new.
Ah-ah-ah-aaaah
One of the ravens flew down ahead of the hiker and started exploring the ground ahead of him. Ravens had a reputation of being smart and confident birds. The raven had discovered something and was now using a twig to try and get to whatever it was. Another raven sat on a branch nearby, watching his inquisitive friend.
As the hiker moved closer, the raven on the ground sensed the man’s presence and turned towards him. The bird flew off with a few loud squawks and arched and dropped his twig as though dropping a bomb. James smiled.
The hiker stopped and looked down to where the raven had done its digging. James watched as the hiker picked up something. A glint of silver reflected through a covering of litter. The hiker held it up, rotated it, and started to remove the debris from his newly found treasure. The hiker was trying to work out what it was.
James was distracted by another sound coming towards him fast, its camouflaged metallic belly now over the top of him.
He looked towards the hiker whose initial reaction was to duck and then looked for a clearing and ran towards it.
James had a good view from his rock. The helicopter landed in a grassed area between the two properties. He watched as armed men disembarked and surrounded the people. The girl they pointed towards the helicopter and moved her in that direction. The man they signalled to stay put. An armed guard watched over him.
The lady? Where did she go? He’d never meet anyone like her before.
James returned his view to the hill. The hiker was gone. He wondered what the treasure was the hiker had found. A feeling of isolation swept over James and surprised him. What’s going on? He stood up. His legs felt heavy. He best go back.
<°)))><
Isabella looked back at her soldier sitting down on the steps.
“Lucas,” she yelled.
He looked up at her.
“Thank you. I’ll be coming to see you soon. I’ll tell them all what a lovely man you are.”
Her cheeks were wet. She rubbed the tears. The device—what have I done with it? I’m sorry, Lucas. I would’ve used it.
She walked between two soldiers, confused, heading towards the helicopter. Loneliness crept over her. No Gramps. No Lucas.
She saw pesky things jump off the helicopter’s landing bars.
The pesky things were running towards her now. They were smiling. She shook her head. They were gone. But it was time for her medication. She needed her backpack. She reached for the straps. But they were not there.
She turned. The backpack sat on the steps, next to Lucas.
“Could someone get my backpack, please.”
A large pesky figure stood behind Lucas. Isabella shivered.
40 – Getaways and strategies
JAMES WALKED INTO THE BEDROOM and sat on the bed. Still too much stuff going on—his head was spinning, not from drugs, but from everything else. His encounter with that lady did something to him. She brought long-suppressed feelings to the surface. His wiring wanted him to respond to her beauty, but he didn’t understand how to respond to the feelings. Now she was gone, he wanted these feeling to go as well.