“Take him to his sweet Ellie.”
The men brought me into a small metal trailer and tied my hands behind me. Ellie was tied up already and was crying. The men laughed and gave me a kick to the stomach, winding me and almost causing me to lose consciousness. Ellie stared at me, begging me to help her with her eyes. I, however, was powerless to do anything.
“Ellie, are you okay?” I asked.
“No.” she replied through her tears.
“Do you know where we are?”
“One of Finlow’s buildings. It has something to do with the mining. Where is Dawsley?”
“He’s safe in his estate.”
“He’ll come for us.”
It was then I realized why we were brought here.
“No,” I said, “no, he can’t!”
“Why?” she asked.
“That’s what they want.”
Ellie began weeping uncontrollably once more. I may not have liked the woman, especially since all of this was because of her, but I felt badly for her nonetheless. I tried to console her, but there was nothing I could have said or done to alleviate her fears. We sat quietly, except for Ellie’s occasional bursts of sobbing, waiting for something to happen. I did not know if we were to leave the site with our lives. I did not know if Mr. Dawsley was on his way or had been captured. I did not know of anything happening outside of the trailer.
“Will they kill us?” asked Ellie.
“No, they would not.” I replied.
“My father will come and rescue us. I know he will. He would never allow Samuel to do such a thing.”
I was not as positive of such a thing as she was, but I nodded so as to calm her down. It worked to an extent, as her sobbing died down after that. I looked around the room for anything we could have used to escape or signal for help. I managed to move my hands from behind me to in front of me with great effort. My shoulders hurt from the process, as my arms had to be extended past their normal range. I made it to my feet, which had also been bound, and shuffled over to a window on the other wall.
“I need your help.” I said to Ellie. She looked up at me.
“With what?” she asked.
“The window is too high for me to see out of it clearly. I need you to boost me up.”
“How?”
“Move your hands to your front as I have. Then, just push my foot up while I try to pull myself up with my hands.”
“Okay.”
Ellie moaned with pain as she attempted to move her hands. After my encouraging her to keep trying, she managed it. I counted to three and jumped up, grabbing the windowsill and holding on with every ounce of strength in me. Ellie grabbed the bottoms of my feet and was pushing up. Her help was not much, but it was better than nothing. I looked through the window and saw a man with trash bags dumping them into a hole in the ground. I called out to him, but he couldn’t hear me through the glass.
“On three, I need you to push my feet up as hard as you can.” I said to Ellie.
“Okay, I’ll try.” she replied.
“One. Two. Three!”
She pushed and I threw my head as hard as I could against the window. It broke, but shards of glass rained down on Ellie, causing her to drop me. I fell backward onto the floor with a loud thud, blood streaming down my face from where I had struck the window. A knock came at the door and I knew that we had missed our opportunity to be saved. We were about to be killed and there was nothing to be done about it.
Chapter 30
The door was forced open by our suspected killer and I could not see them due to the blood in my eyes.
“What the -- What are you doin’ here?” said the voice. It sounded familiar.
“Killer?” I said.
“Yeah, it’s me. I heard some glass break over here, decided to check it out. You break some with your head?”
“Indeed I did. What are you doing in this area?”
“I like to take my trash over here from time to time. Good dumpin’ grounds.”
“Well, thank you for coming to our rescue. Would you mind untying us?”
“Sure thing.”
Killer untied the ropes around our feet and hands and Ellie embraced him, still crying.
“Who’s the broad?” Killer asked me.
“Ellie Bell.” I said.
“Bell? Like the miner politician?”
“Yes, you know of him?”
“I read papers every now and again. He’s also hirin’ us ‘low-life thugs’ as he says when he thinks we ain’t listenin’”
“What’s he hiring you for?”
“Some big minin’ job. He needs men for dangerous work, figures people like me’ll take it. He’s right.”
“Big mining job? What is the job exactly?”
“Don’t know yet. It’s expensive, though. Right by the coast it’s happenin’. One of his partners has been waitin’ for an excuse to start up this job apparently.”
“Which coast?”
“You ask alotta questions, you know that?”
“Killer, please.”
“All right, all right. The one over by the bridge leadin’ out of Atlantia. A few more sites scattered around, too. I don’t know what he’s lookin’ for, I just know he’s payin’ good wages.”
“That’s odd.”
“It is what it is. Now what do you say we get out of this trailer?”
I nodded and looked at Ellie. She nodded timidly, her face covered in running make-up and her bright, red hair a mess. The three of us quietly exited the trailer through the door that Killer had broken in order to enter. He led us out the way he had come in, grabbing a trash bag on the way and tossing it into the back of a truck. We got in the truck and he drove us off the site.
Chapter 31
He brought us to Dawsley’s mansion and left us at the driveway. We thanked him and thanked him and thanked him, causing him to finally just drive away to avoid being thanked any more. We hurried up the driveway and were surrounded by heavily armed men. They handcuffed us and led us toward a tent that had been set up on the grounds of the estate. We were forced to sit down and the leader of the men radioed in to someone else. After several minutes, Mr. Dawsley entered the tent and laughed. He instructed the men to free us and he brought us inside.
“I am sorry about that.” he said.
“It’s quite alright.” I replied. Ellie looked at him apologetically. He smiled at her sadly.
“Hello, my dear.”
“Forgive me for running off. I was a fool.” she said.
“I understand. Perhaps you would like to clean yourself up?”
“Yes, that would be nice.”
She stood up and exited the room, heading for the nearest bathroom. Mr. Dawsley and I moved into the piano room and sat down in front of the fireplace which was burning.
“They broke my gate.” he said. “It is lodged open somehow.”
“Is there no way to fix it?” I asked.
“I have decided not to fix it. It will lure in some enemies who think they have found themselves fortunate in their discovery. My security will take over from there.”
“Do you think anyone would be foolish enough to enter through the gate?”
“I am not sure, but the option is there.”
“Okay.”
Mr. Dawsley got up and fixed us a couple of drinks. He handed me mine and sat back down.
“Mr. Dawsley, terrible things are afoot.” I said.
“I know that already, dear Truman.” he said.
“It goes beyond the sabotage of your gate.”
“How do you mean?”
“Ellie and I were kidnapped by Finlow. We think he may have been attempting to lure you to one of his sites with us as bait.”
“Did he hurt either of you? Your head seems as if it was bleeding.”
“It was, but I stopped the bleeding with a piece of a trash bag.”
“Where the devil did you find a piece of a trash bag?”
“From
Killer. He saved us and we learned of some peculiar things from him.”
“What kind of peculiar things?”
“Finlow and Bell are beginning a massive mining mission in Atlantia. He says they will be drilling in different areas, one being right by the coast near this estate.”
Mr. Dawsley took a drink and thought about what I had just said. Before he could respond, Ellie returned, looking more clean and composed than she had before. She sat down next to Mr. Dawsley and took his hand in hers. She looked at him with her intoxicating eyes and made him seem young again. He smiled at her happily and I decided to leave them alone in the room.
I went up to my bedroom to think about what the mining operation could possibly signify. I would need more specific information, but did not know where I would gain it from. Kate crossed my mind, but I had thrown away her number and could not remember it, not that I thought she would have helped me anyhow. I heard the sounds of the piano on the floor below me and the song lulled me to sleep.
Chapter 32
The following morning, I awoke and descended the stairs into the foyer. I entered the dining room and found Dawsley scanning several newspapers.
“Good morning.” I said.
“To you as well, Truman.” he said, still scanning the paper he was holding.
“What are you looking for?”
“Anything to give us more information about the mining job.”
“Have you found anything?”
“I’m afraid not. It seems as if the media is not aware that it is even happening.”
“Perhaps we should tell them?”
“What would we tell them? There is no story as of yet.”
“Should we go to the police at the very least? We can press kidnapping charges against Finlow.”
“They would not hold and he would be free within the very hour they arrested him. No, it would simply amplify his motivation to strike.”
“Then what shall we do?”
“We wait, dear Truman, we wait.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“And what of Ellie? Surely you would not keep her here?”
“For now I will. Things will escalate soon, I can feel it. When the time comes, I will ask you to bring her with you to your home. You mustn’t stay in Atlantia when the war intensifies, it will be far too dangerous for the both of you.”
“We will not be safe in my home. It is a simple apartment building.”
“That is what makes it safe, Truman. It does not stand out and it will take them a very long time to find you.”
“Will they eventually find us?”
“I am not sure. It depends on the outcome of things, I suppose.”
I nodded slowly. The information and gravity of the situation were a lot to take in. I could not blame Dawsley for causing this situation. It seemed that Finlow was using Ellie as an excuse to start the war he had been waiting for since childhood. If it was not because of her, it would be because of something else. I ate sparingly and realized that the driver had not come back to the mansion the previous night.
“Where is the driver?” I asked.
“What’s that?” said Dawsley, looking up from his paper.
“The driver, did he ever return?”
“He did not bring you back last night?”
“No, Killer did.”
Dawsley grew pale and stood up quickly, rushing out of the room. I followed him and found him dialing a number on the telephone. He held it to his ear for awhile, but did not speak.
“He is not answering the car phone.” said Dawsley gravely. “He always answers the car phone.”
“Perhaps he is smoking outside of the car.” I said in an attempt to reassure him.
“No, something is wrong.”
“What are we to do?”
“We are to find out exactly what is going on and put an end to it. Do you still have Kate’s number?”
“I threw it away after finding out her true agenda.”
“That is a shame, she would have been a valuable asset if we could have brought her over to our side.
“I am sorry.”
“Do not apologize for what you did out of the hurt from losing your love. We will simply find a different way to gather information.”
We stood there thinking. Finally, a plan formed.
“The mugger!” I exclaimed.
“What mugger?” he asked.
“The mugger! From the park! The one you gave all of that money to!”
“What of him? Shall we have him mug Finlow?”
“He is wealthy now because of that money. I saw him when I was going back to live in my apartment. He told me that he is forever in your debt.”
“I still do not see how we can use him to our advantage.”
“He is an investor in the mining industry. He speaks with Finlow.”
“You are thinking he might know where the drill sites are.”
“Exactly!”
“That is all good and well, Truman, but where will we find this man?”
I frowned. I had forgotten that our encounter was a coincidental one in a random area. We had no address or idea as to where he lived, worked, ate, or relaxed. Dawsley stood up a little straighter and smiled.
“Actually, wait here, Truman.” he said as he ran away and up the stairs. I could hear him knocking loudly on one of the doors and then the sleepy voice of Ellie Bell answering. After a few moments, the two of them descended the stairs and came into the room.
“You’re looking for Charlie.” she said after yawning.
“Do you know where we can find him?” I asked.
“Sure. He likes to drink over at that filthy bar. The Prime Meridian or something.”
“I know the place.”
“I am sure that you do.”
With that sassy comment, she left the room for the dining room to have breakfast. Mr. Dawsley chuckled and slapped me on the shoulder.
“She is grumpy in the mornings, forgive her.” he said.
“It is the least of my concerns at the moment.” I said.
“That is good.”
“Shall we head over to the bar?”
“Dear Truman, it is morning. Let us spend some time in the piano room. Perhaps while I play, an idea will form or something we have heard will become more clear. Music is always wonderful for the senses and the mind.”
We entered the piano room and I sat on the couch while Mr. Dawsley took his seat at the piano. He played a lovely impromptu while we went over the situation in our heads. After he had played a few more songs, he walked over to a bookshelf and picked out a book on war, which was appropriate for the moment. He read quietly, studying each page.
Chapter 33
In the afternoon, we ate a quick lunch and called a cab. The driver brought us to the bar a short time later and we entered cautiously. The place was fairly empty, but we found Charlie sitting alone in the corner, nursing a beer.
“Charlie,” I said as we approached, “how are you?”
“Oh, hey!” he exclaimed. “Please have a seat.”
We sat down at his table and he signaled to the bartender to bring over a few beers.
“Dear Charlie, you are looking well.” said Dawsley with a smile.
“It is all because of you!” he said excitedly.
“How do you mean?” replied Dawsley, pretending not to know.
“I have invested that money, well some of it, into the mining industry.”
“That is wonderful!”
“Isn’t it? There’s a lot of money to be made drilling in Atlantia.”
“You drill here in Atlantia?”
“We are starting tomorrow morning in fact.”
“Ah, that is very interesting. I assume you will be disturbing the peace and quiet?” asked Dawsley with a chuckle.
“On the contrary! We’re drilling just off shore, through the water, into the submerged sides of the island. My partners tell me that we are to
bring in the most if we drill there.”
“The most what?”
“I do not actually know. It’s not a scam though, honest!”
“I believe you.”
“Can you show us where you will be drilling on a map?” I asked.
“I actually have the plans with me.” said Charlie, removing a map from his pocket. The convenience of this was fantastic.
Charlie showed us where the drilling would be done and when he asked why I wanted to know, I explained that I would be bringing my nieces and nephews to the shore the following day and wanted to know which spots to avoid. I did not have nieces and nephews, but Charlie did not need to know the truth. We thanked him, had a few drinks, and took another cab back to the mansion.
Inside, we went to sit in the piano room. We independently mulled over what our possible courses of action were. We did not know what they were drilling for, nor did we know the significance of the locations. We did not even know definitively if the drilling had anything to do with the war between Dawsley and Finlow. It was just too peculiar to leave out of the situation.
“Oh dear.” said Dawsley sitting up with a shocked look on his face. “They’re going to sink the island.”
Chapter 34
This theory was absurd, yet I felt the same shock as Dawsley. We were not dealing with rational people, after all. Finlow wanted to end Dawsley once and for all by any means necessary and the loss of an entire state would cause the politicians to have to comfort the nation, thus giving them valuable media exposure in the event that they ever wanted to advance their careers. There were surely other ways to do that, but I was certain that if this was the plan, Finlow had somehow further convinced the congressman that this was the right course of action.
“We have to tell someone!” I shouted.
“Who, Truman? Who would believe us? How many people even know that drilling is to take place tomorrow morning?”
“We can warn everyone!”
“No, we can not. We are too late.”
“This is not the Mr. Dawsley that I know. Where is your hope and determination? Did you not make a commitment to save the world? This may not be the world, but it is a piece of it!”
Mr. Dawsley sat quietly for a moment, a hopeless look on his face. I left him in the room alone to think over what I had just said. I went outside and looked out over the grounds of the estate. I could see the armed security officers at their various hidden posts. The gate was still wide open and a few of the men were stationed close by to it.