Richard Stephenson - Collapse

The young man’s proclamation managed to turn a few people around. Realizing that he wasn’t going to convince any others, he gave his final plea. “Just be patient and wait here. My dad will be back soon to take another group of you out.” The young man climbed down from the roof and quickly went inside his RV.

Richard turned to Tank. “Billy, I’m gonna stay here and try to talk to this kid. Do me a favor; walk around and see if you can find the RV we’re looking for.”

“You got it.”

“And Billy?”

“Yeah?”

“Be nice. Try not to start any trouble.”

Tank smiled. “I already told you, Killer, trouble finds you, not me.”

As Tank headed into the RV-Town, Richard walked to the young man’s vehicle and knocked on the door.

“Hey man, I’ll tell you the same thing I told these people. I’ve never been inside the place, so I really can’t answer a lot of questions.”

Richard smiled and turned on the charm. “Not what I was going to ask. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to run a scam or hustle you. Just want a few minutes of your time. It’s really important, please.”

“What’s this about?”

“I think someone in that first group has my kids. Please, let me inside, and I’ll tell you all about it. I really need your help.”

The young man paused warily for a few seconds before unlocking the door. “Sure, come on inside. Don’t try anything stupid, cuz I got a Glock 19 holstered under my jacket.”

Richard smiled, raising his hands in surrender. “I promise you, nothing stupid. I’m an unarmed man looking for his kids.”

“Please, sit down,” the young man said, motioning towards the kitchen table.

“Thank you. My name is Richard.”

“Jamison.”

“Jamison, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll get right to the point. My junkie ex-wife let her boyfriend take my kids away in his parents’ RV. I want them back.”

“That’s terrible, man. I’m glad to help. What do you need to know?”

Richard described the RV to him, and the young man leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. “Yes, I remember it, kinda hard to miss. Those folks seemed nice enough. Older couple and their son.”

“You see my kids?”

“I do remember a boy, early teens. He was following your ex-wife’s boyfriend around like a puppy.”

“What about my girl? She’s nine.”

“Don’t recall a little girl. She might have been inside the RV with the old couple.”

“You’re probably right. How long before your father gets back? I need to get out there as quick as possible.”

“Well, the place is about an hour away; no roads lead out to it. He’s probably just getting there, so depending on how long he stays, it’ll take an hour for him to get back.”

“Do you know the way? Can I drive out there myself?”

“You can try, but you’re liable to get lost. I’ve been there one time myself.”

“Depending on how good your directions are, I think I can manage.”

“Suit yourself. Hold on. Let me get pencil and paper to draw you a map.”

“Fantastic. I really appreciate it.”

Jamison drew a very impressive map and talked Richard through it. Richard was impressed with the detail the kid was able to recall having only been to the place once. He thanked the young man and shook his hand.

“I hope you find them. Good luck.”

“Thank you. If we ever meet again, just know that you’ve made a friend.” Richard exited the RV and made his way back to the truck, motioning for Tank to come back.

“Sorry, Richard, no luck. The RV isn’t here.”

“It’s all good; I know exactly where they are. Time to get moving.”

As the two drove away, Richard grew more and more confident that the map was solid; every marker and checkpoint on the map matched up exactly with the terrain. Just shy of an hour into the trip, they saw about two dozen vehicles parked in a central location.

“That’s it.” A few minutes later they were close enough to see the details of the vehicles. Parked in the middle of the group was an older, tan colored RV with an American flag spray-painted on the driver’s side and a black quarter panel above the rear driver’s side tire. “There it is!” yelled Richard as he raced over to the beaten down RV and began banging on the door.

An older woman opened the door and silently surveyed the two men standing in front of her.

“Ma’am, my name is Richard Dupree. I’m Timothy and Christina’s father. I’m here to take them with me.”

Tank walked a few steps away to give Richard some privacy. The woman gave Richard a harsh look. “I think you must be confused. Their father died years ago. I’m hoping my son will marry their mother. I love those kids so much; they already call me Grandma.”

Richard was shocked but didn’t let it show. “Ma’am, I assure you that I am their father and I’m obviously not dead.”

“Monique’s ex-husband was a convicted murderer and was executed for his crimes. If you’re their father, and I know you most certainly are not, it’s probably best that those children stay with us.” The old woman shot a disapproving glare at Tank and looked back at Richard. Tank was not the type of guy you would bring to a child custody hearing as a character witness.

“Ma’am, I hate to tell you but everything you’ve been told about me is a lie. I’m not surprised my ex-wife made up some stories about me to tell the kids. It’s painful for me to say that my daughter has no idea who I am. She was only two years old the last time she saw me. I’m sure my son will remember me. He can tell you I’m his father.”

“Monique wouldn’t lie to me. I love that girl and trust her more than some stranger I just met.”

“Ma’am, why isn’t Monique with you right now? Where do you think she is this very moment?”

“Monique is a nurse. She had to stay behind at the hospital and care for those poor people. Chad said she was one of the few people who stayed behind at the hospital when everyone else left those poor sick people to die. Once my husband and I are safe with the kids, he’s gonna go back and get her.”

None of this surprised Richard in the least, he even had to stop himself from laughing. He’d learned the hard way that Monique’s talent for lying bordered on sociopathic. She could manipulate anyone into believing anything she told them. This poor woman was no exception.

“Ma’am, where can I find Chad?”

“He’s over with the rest of the group. He and my husband wanted me to stay with the RV.”

“Thank you, ma’am, I’m very sorry for bothering you.”

The old woman looked at Richard in disgust and slammed the door behind her.

Tank walked back over to Richard. “See what I mean? You and trouble are old friends.”

Richard didn’t reply. He scanned the crowd and tried to figure out his next move. He knew he wouldn’t have any problem picking Chad or his father out of the crowd; he had memorized their faces from the pictures in Monique’s iPad and had asked Tank to do the same while they were in the truck.

“Do you see them?” asked Tank.

“No. They’re here somewhere, though, so keep looking.”

They didn’t have to look very long. They saw Chad and his father walking back toward their RV with Richard’s son following close behind. Richard tapped Tank on the shoulder, and they both started walking back to the RV. Suddenly, Chad spotted them and turned, grabbing his father’s arm to stop him. Richard’s son noticed nothing and kept walking toward the RV. Richard was relieved that his son kept going. If things went poorly with Chad, the last thing he wanted was a repeat of Oswald Jefferson’s murder. He had scarred his son for life by brutally murdering a man in front of him; he didn’t plan to repeat it.