Frank Klus - Azaleas Don't Bloom Here

Several hours went by and no one saw the mysterious cargo van. Ray and Cassandra checked at every restaurant, diner, and motel on the highway, but nothing. They snooped around at four battalion command posts but no white van.

“We’re getting close to the Canadian border. This is ridiculous, Cass. Call up Armstrong and ask him what he wants us to do.”

Cassandra did so. “He told us to turn around and retrace our steps. They haven’t had any luck either.”

“Christ! This is so fucked up, Cass. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, and it’ll be dark in a couple hours.”

“What happens then?”

“We’ll just keep going. That’s all we can do now.”

Cassandra began sobbing. Ray glanced over to her as if to say “what’s wrong”, but didn’t say anything.

“It’s all my fault,” she mumbled. Ray said nothing.

“If I hadn’t….”

“Hon, we said we’d forget about it.”

“But I can’t forget,” she said through sporadic tears. “First we and Dennis tried to tear him apart, then I got him put into prison, let Dennis rescue him, only to put him in Hell House, and now he’s been kidnapped, and for all we know, he might be dead right now.”

“First, it was Casimir, not you. He was the instigator to everything—it wasn’t us. There’d be no need for us to get involved if it wasn’t for Casimir. The moment he found Catherine, Eugene’s whole world collapsed. That was the moment the reality of this fucked up world hit home. All we did was make him understand that.”

Cassandra still had tears in her eyes when she turned to Ray. “Do you think they’re still alive?”

“Yeah.” But he didn’t sound convincing.

The pulsating rhythm of the road had a hypnotizing effect on Ray. He’d constantly look up at the traffic or the trees to keep from nodding off, though he was tired. Daydreaming became an uncontrollable comfort.

“They’re going to disband us,” Colderon said.

Ray was too upset to respond. He kept thinking about his brother Dennis. Colderon looked at him with a smirk.

“You’re such a damned idealist.”

Ray glared at him. “At least my life has meaning.”

“Mine too. And, unlike you, I want to keep what I earn. Ray, you’re too idealistic. This is an opportunity man—you and me—we can make a fortune. With your muscle and my organization skills we could be the fiercest duo in America. You recruit the muscle, I recruit the customers, and we keep what we make—no turning it over to a bunch of losers.”

“You don’t understand, Carlos. We’ll all be losers. Martinez and that hack, Casimir, will fuck us over at the first opportunity. If you want to be a winner then know that we have to overthrow this moldy old regime and become part of the New World.”

“The only thing you’re going to get is prison or a bullet.”

“You okay, Ray?” asked Cassandra.

Ray didn’t answer.

“You look like you want to swat something. I hope it isn’t me.”

Ray came out of la-la land as he turned to his wife.

“What?”

“Were you thinking about your brother?”

“No… well, maybe a little.”

“It’s this world we live in. It corrupts us all one way or another. Pamela said Eugene talked about surrendering, and letting them use the brain probe on him.”

“What? You got to be kidding. He’s got to be kidding. Why would he say a thing like that?”

“So he can forget,” she said sadly. “He wants to forget Catherine, Zinney, and not care about how his new promotion would fuck us all over even more.”

“You don’t think Eugene would bargain with them.”

“There’s nothing to bargain over. They shut Hell House down. I think if we don’t find him and Pamela soon, we won’t ever see them again.”

“This isn’t working, Chad,” Bones said.

“I know, man. Let’s continue on this course until we reach Illinois, and then head for Old Chicago. If we don’t find the van on the way there, then there may be leads for us in town.” Armstrong relayed instructions to Foote and Wrenn.

It was now past dark. Everyone wanted to know what to do. Chad Armstrong told them to just take turns driving, and try to get some sleep.

Chad turned to Bones. “I was just thinking of that day when I found Dennis O’Reilly after he disappeared for almost a year. I yelled for him on the other side of the street. He just looked queerly at me. I went over to him to shake his hand, and he asked me who I was. Imagine that, Bones, he didn’t even know me. Said he was on his way to Squad headquarters to apply for a job there.” Armstrong just looked away sadly. “Can you imagine that—Dennis O’Reilly applying for a job as a squad member?”

“Just fucked up.”

“I feel bad charging Ray so much money.”

“We gotta live, too.”

“I know. If I thought he’d have half a chance… well… we could work something out.”

“The only time he calls on us is to bail his ass out.”

“So far we’ve failed him. At least it’s those sicko doctors that are paying us this time.”

“What chance will they have if Eugene and Pamela can’t be found? They aren’t going to pay us the rest.”

“So? If we lose them we don’t deserve anything more.”

Armstrong was deep in thought until he turned to his friend. “I think I was the one who fell asleep.”

“Did you get much sleep last night?”

“No. I needed to think. I had to put a plan together to figure out how to lure Colderon to us if he didn’t go to the motel, and then figure out how to kill the Hogs. When I took over your watch I just remembered it got to dawn awfully early. Shit, I dozed off. That’s when the kidnapping occurred. I fucked up.”

Just then three motorcycles passed them. They never heard them coming.

“What do you think?” Bones said.

“I think we might have gotten a break.”

“The middle guy had a funny looking helmet on. Maybe Colderon?”

“Follow them at a distance, Bones. Keep the brake light of the rear pointman in view.”

“They’re moving across to the right lane. We’re coming up on an exit with restaurants. You think—”

“I think we got lucky. Look, they’re turning off. Don’t lose them.”

The cyclists turned into a burger joint.

“Follow them in, Bones.”

“Chad—over there. Isn’t that… yeah—the cargo van.”

“And it’s Colderon in the middle. I’d know that bastard anywhere. Lay back until they go inside.”

They cruised behind the van.

“That’s it,” Bones said.

“Pull around the front of it.” Bones parked the truck right in front of the van.

“If they’re in there, you may have to pick some locks. I’ll watch the restaurant for any sign of them.”

Bones got his stuff. He went over to the driver side. The door was locked. He went over to the passenger side. The door opened. He climbed in, carefully closing the door. He looked to the back and smiled. There they were. Their mouths were taped and they were handcuffed to the bulkhead. He crawled back there, and taking out his knife, cut the plastic cuffs. Both started to remove the tape over their mouths when Bones motioned to them not to talk.

Armstrong called Wrenn and Foote with the good news. Foote answered, but Chad heard Wrenn telling one of his dirtiest jokes. “…then the guy says ‘did you really think I was asking for a ten inch Bic?’”

“Shit, not that one again,” Chad said, laughing.

“I’ve had to listen to his jokes all day. What’s up?”