“Hello?”
“Miss Marx? I'm Rick Lozier, the private investigator.”
Lisa sat up in her chair, grasping the phone. “Yes, hello. You have news?”
Ellie was next to her, halfway through a mouthful of Doritos when she stopped at the sight of the harsh focus on Lisa's face.
“Yes. I checked out the number you gave me and it turns out it's a fake. I did however manage to find a landline and when I finally got through it was a recorded message; something about they're busy and to leave a message and they'll get back to me. Anyway, I decided to go there myself and the woman at reception I talked to -like getting blood from a stone- said that Miss Barker was no longer there. That she'd moved to another one of their facilities. When I asked where it was she said she couldn't say; that Miss Barker had specifically wished to keep it confidential.”
“'Scuse my French but that's total bullshit.”
“Most likely. All I can say is I've never heard of a health or detox or rehab facility as shady as this. I can't find any solid proof that any of the people who've said good things about the place have actually been there. I'll need to go around asking, but I'm bound to have doors slammed in my face.”
“Is there anything you can do?”
“Have her parents done anything?”
“Not that I know of. But I get the impression it's either because they don't give a shit -'scuse me- or they're in on it.”
“On what exactly? What do you expect me to find?”
Lisa sighed heavily, shaking her head. “I don't know. A cult. Something creepy and dodgy. She's never like this. She always contacts us and she's only phoned us once. Her parents say she's called several times but I don't believe them.”
“Who did you say she left with?”
“Her aunt.”
“Her mother's sister or her father's?”
“She said her father's. She's known her for about a year. The woman showed up out of the blue. Something to do with Jaz's dad and her having an argument years ago. They were apparently estranged and she wanted to make amends.”
“What was her name?”
“Erica. I don't recall her last name,” Lisa answered, unhappy with her own response.
“She was married?”
“Yes. Her uncle was called er... Bob? No umm... damn... Ellie?”
“Bo, I think.”
“Bo, or Bob, but I'm not sure,” Lisa said into the phone.
“Okay. I'll look into it. See if I can get their story straight. But I can't do much as it is. Honestly, it'd be much easier if I had her parents on board.”
“I appreciate anything you can do. Just please find her,” Lisa urged.
“Don't worry. I'll find her.”
~Chapter 44 - Crawl~
The same day...
Tuesday, July 5th
Deer Creek
Jaz was up early that morning; her bags packed, ready to go.
She embraced Skye, and Ronnie who was much better now. He kissed her cheek and gave her the blue stone he'd found at the river that day. “I like it,” he said, “but it brings back bad memories for me.”
She nodded in understanding.
“Maybe it'll bring good memories for you.”
She smiled, kissed his forehead and held the pebble close to her heart.
“Stay safe, Jaz. Don't forget us,” Skye muttered. She grabbed Jaz, pulling her into a long hug again. “Don't punish yourself,” she whispered. “He doesn't blame you.”
Jaz leant back to look at her, on the verge of tears. She nodded, 'I know,' and moved on to say goodbye to the others.
Kenna was crying, and Kelda waved frantically from the small crowd at the front entrance. Maria and Erica held her tightly. Garik swooped in out of nowhere and carried Jaz's bags to the car. When she approached, he stood by her door and opened it. “Give my regards to your folks.”
She eyed him, giving him a sharp nod in response.
“Be careful,” he warned.
She stared at him, he bobbed his head as if saying he knew she understood. She wasn't sure if she did. She swiftly sat in the car and he shut the door for her.
Nik got in next to her. He glanced her way, but she had her eyes fixed on the road ahead. He then set off down the dirt road that not so long ago, she'd been running for her life away from him. And then, they were out of Deer Creek.
*
Half an hour into the journey Driver broke the dragging silence. “She told me how she did it.”
Jaz looked up but didn't meet his eyes. She stared at the back of the red RX8 in front of them.
“She said she put it in Lora's favourite chocolate. Sunhild used to make it for her specially.” He laughed, suddenly remembering something. “No one else would eat it because it was this weird chocolate and chilli flavour.”
Jaz whipped her head round to ogle him. “Dark chocolate and chilli?” she pried, her voice gravelly.
Nik's head snapped in her direction. He studied her, amazed and relieved she was speaking again. It took him a short while to respond. “Yeah, I know, strange, right?” he joshed.
She nodded slowly, gazing off into an unknown place between space and time. “Very,” she mumbled.
“She loved that stuff,” Nik added, drifting in and out of memories.
“Me too,” she muttered.