Bea Cannon - A Small Gray Dot

IFOUND OUT WHY THE VOICE SEEMED FAMILIAR.

The boy who’d told me how to get out when I was lost in Blue Heaven stood in the foyer with the doctor. He was wearing the hat I’d given him and the same ragged denim jacket. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open when he saw me.

“Hey! It’s you! You th’ man what gave me th’ hat!”

Dr. Bennett, dressed in a blue and white plaid flannel robe over pajamas – dark blue judging by the pant legs coming from beneath the robe – looked from the boy to me. “I take it you’ve met Terrance.

I nodded. “He helped me get out of Blue Heaven after my first visit.”

While I wondered why the boy was running around the neighborhood after midnight on a Sunday morning, or how he’d known Morgan was at the doctor’s house earlier, or why the doctor had to “spring” him from Bedlow, I could find that out later. Now I needed to figure out how to get her back.

I smiled at the boy. “Hello, Terrance. We didn’t get the chance to introduce ourselves before. My name is Tennessee Murray. I don’t mean to rush you, but it’s important we get back the lady you saw. How long ago did this happen?”

“Um, maybe ten minutes, or fifteen. I didn’t want nobody to see me, ‘specially if that guard what had her came back ‘cause he’s th’ mean one that limps. So I didn’t come ‘rectly here, sir.”

“You said the guard took her to Mr. Bedlow. Is he the man that wears a black suit?”

“Yes, sir, well, he’s one of ‘em. He’s th’ guards’ boss. When he ain’t in th’ guard office, he stays down on Maple Street, not too far from th’ Semptor.”

“Would he be at the office now or on Maple?”

“I can answer that, Tennessee,” said the doctor. “At this time of night he would be at his house, and since the guard took Morgan to him, he will likely notify Henderson that he has her.”

And Henderson was certain to call Madison.

The doctor continued, looking contrite. “I’m sorry, Tennessee. I was tired and I fell asleep almost immediately so I didn’t hear her, and I didn’t think to set the alarm. I seldom turn it on because after all, there’ve not been any break-ins in this neighborhood for years but had I done so—”

I shook my head and waved it away. Too late for that now. Besides, I hadn’t heard her either.

“I’m calling Madison. She needs to know she’ll be getting a call from Henderson.” I started down the hall. Then I stopped and studied the boy still standing there in his thin jacket

“What about Terrance? Doesn’t he need to get home?”

The doctor looked at him, then nodded. “You’re right but it’s cold out and he’s not wearing a heavy enough jacket. I’ll get dressed and take him.”

Terrance spoke up. “You don’t have to do that, Dr. Bennett. I can stay here if you don’t mind. I’ll leave come daylight.”

“Er, won’t your parents be worried?” I asked.

“Oh, no Mr. Murray. I don’t have no parents. Th’ people I live with went outta town for th’ weekend an’ locked up th’ house, so I can’t git in anyways.”

“What? Well where have you been staying?” Surely he hadn’t been out in the cold since they left. Why would they lock him out?

“Been stayin’ in one a th’ ‘bandoned houses down on Pine but if’n th’ doc don’t mind, I’ll stay here tonight and leave tomorrow.” He shivered. “Lot’s warmer in here than there.”

Dr. Bennett and I looked at each other, and I’m sure we had the same what-the-hell thought.

The doctor only said, “Of course you may stay, Terrence.”

I didn’t say anything but I couldn’t imagine why these people would’ve left the boy essentially homeless for the weekend. Perhaps I was misconstruing something but it didn’t sound right. However, it was something else I’d have to worry about later. I continued down the hall and into the doctor’s bedroom, past his rumpled bed and through the closet to the lab. I dialed Madison’s hotel number. She picked up on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Madison, Tennessee. Morgan decided she wanted to leave here now instead of waiting and they’ve captured her again.”

“What? Jesus! Why did she do that? Why did you let her leave?”

“I didn’t. She waited until everyone was asleep and left a note. I’m not sure why she left, but it may be because of something upsetting we learned earlier. She’d had a couple of drinks and wasn’t thinking clearly. Look, I’m certain you’re going to get a phone call from someone at Semptor.”

“Huh? What did she learn?”

“Tell you later, no time right now, I have to go.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going after her. I’ll get her back but you’re sure to get that call before I do, so stall them as long as you can. How are things there, still quiet?”

“Yeah. Your guys came. They’re all sleeping down in the lobby. They said they weren’t leaving until you said so. The police department sent a couple of men, too. They’ve filed a kidnapping report and now they’re stationed out front.”

That’s good friends for you. “Okay. I’ll call you as soon as I get back here with Morgan.”

As I hung up, I was wishing I had a couple of those friends with me. Working alone on something like this would be difficult but that wasn’t going to stop me. I would get her back. I went back to the front. The boy and the doctor had disappeared but I heard their voices coming from the direction of the kitchen. I dashed back upstairs, pulled on my boots, and grabbed my guns and knives from the nightstand.

I went back down and to the kitchen, where the doctor was pulling out food from his refrigerator. The doctor saw the shoulder holster when I removed my jacket earlier so he wasn’t surprised to see it now. Terrance’s eyes got big but he didn’t say anything. I had already stuck the smaller gun into its spring mechanism, and attached it to my arm under my sleeve and was putting one of the knives into the holder on my other arm as I entered.

I hoped I wouldn’t have to use them but I wouldn’t hesitate if it became necessary. The other knives were in various pockets and I had the 9mm I confiscated from Abe Harlow years earlier, in its holder in one of my boots. Simon once said to me, “One can never have too much backup, son”. I’d taken his words to heart.

“I’m making a sandwich for Terrance,” said the doctor. “Do you want one? When was the last time you ate?” He pulled out bread from what I took to be a pantry and laid it on the counter beside the cold-cuts, cheese, and orange juice he’d taken from the fridge.

“Yesterday evening before I came to Blue Heaven, but I don’t have time to eat.”

He threw a stern look my way. “Well, you’ve been busy since then. You need to eat.”

He wasn’t going to be satisfied until I agreed. I capitulated. I’d eat fast.

He quickly began slathering mayonnaise on the bread as he said, “How are you going to go about retrieving Morgan?”

“I’m going down to Bedlow’s house, first. With a little luck, that’s where she’ll be. I wish I had a couple of guys with me but I’ll make do.”

He handed me the sandwich and began making another. He was fast.

“Well, wait a minute. I might be able to get you at least one man.” He handed Terrance the sandwich and poured juice into a glass for him. “He may want pay, though.”

I bit into the sandwich wondering from where he would get someone this time of night, but the doctor was proving to be resourceful and I wasn’t going to worry about it. Madison had given me quite a lot for expenses but in this case, even if she hadn’t I’d still pay the guy because this had become personal.