One of these Days: 05/04/13

A friend in need´s a friend indeed... just how desperate had things to get for Nick that he would actually bring himself to call Le Anh in the middle of the night, that´s the question

Stiffly I hang up

What the hell was I thinking
Why on earth should she care? She won't show up

Slowly I bend forward and press my forehead against the cool, slightly uneven surface of the painted wall, try to regain some conciousness... until I realize he is talking to me and I turn around to face him

"So what is it, will this friend of yours come here to verify your identity?"

I am shivering a bit now... why do I shiver

Need... to get a grip...

"Um, yes Sir..."

My ears are ringing

"Well fine, and did she tell you when, too... hey Mister? Are you with me?"

"Gee I hate night shifts"
"Me too... listen up Hank we gotta be back on patrol, so what you want- shall we just leave him here with you, or..."

"Why not ask him?"
"Yeah right..." she sighs "...hey, Mister, will you behave, or do we have to move you to a cell while you wait for your friend to arrive?"

... cell...
"No...please, no"

"Did he just say no?!"
"That's what I've heard, too"

Head... hurts...

"Common partner, the guy's a nutjob- let's lock him up and get back on the road, eh?"
"Guess that makes sense..."

"Good, err, morning officer- my name is Su, a friend of mine called me about half an hour ago and... well he was not to clear in his call, but he told me something about having been arrested? And having no ID on him?"

"Well Miss, tonight the choice is all yours. Who would your friend be, the drunk or the nutter?"

"I beg your pardon?!"

The cop blushes slightly
"I apologize, seems like the lack of sleep is getting to me tonight- what I meant to say was, we in fact took two men in tonight. One is, excuse my french, drunk as a skunk and here because he yelled abuse at the bartender- the other was arrested on the scene of a burglary because he acted highly suspicious on the arrival of the night patrol"

"... so who do you think called you... M'am are you alright?"
Unconciously, I have grabbed the edge of the counter for support
"Unfortunately both descriptions might fit my friend, but unless he has a long lost twin brother this should be no problem... can I please take a look at your inmates?"

"Why, of course, if you want. But I have to warn you, both of them are not the prettiest of sights"

I straighten my shoulders and follow the desk officer to the back room

I feel like walking into some cheap bar, the stink of stale smoke and alcohol is so intense in here. The stranger in the first cell starts to wave his arms around at the sight of me

"Heya da´lin´where´cha been all night? ´Bout time ya showup, yanno! But hey, I forgive you... we both know you canno live without me"

"Never met this one" I state with a frosty undertone, turning towards the second cell
"I guessed so much... well, that leaves us with..."

"... the other one"
Oh dear, it is Nick indeed and it seems as if he is about to try hide underneath the bed any second now that we entered the room.
I stiffen. Jail.
My god. This must be shere hell for him

"Yes. This is my friend, Nicholas West. No doubt about it, you can release him now" I add sadly
"Lady, I hate to say it, but I am not comfortable with the thought to get your friend out there right now. He behaved... very oddly to say the least. Are you sure you want him out?"
I willingly unclench my fists "Yes. Right now, if you don't mind. Nick? Hey Nick!"

"Watch out Lady..."
"Hey Nick... I came as fast as I could... come on now, let's go home"
He only starts walking as I gently poke his arm... it dawns on me that I have not really planned beyond this point and feverishly start thinking about that

I keep on glancing sidewards at Nick while I am signing the release papers- his behavior is most unsettling... he did not say a single word since the police officer took us back to the lobby, he followed me like some strangly solid shadow, or sleepwalker
Just as he does follow me now on my way to the car park

Gee Lady I sure hope this friendship thing you guys have is mutual

And then, just before we reach my car, I suddenly hear him break into a run
As I turn around I am lucky to catch a last glimpse of Nick running into the night like a hunted deer

"Nick, wait..."
To late. He has been swallowed by the dark

Two days now, and still no sign of Nick. He has not shown up at the Lizard, he doesn't return my calls...

What makes things even worse, no sign of Seamus, either. I truely am a nervous wreck, it is almost impossible to concentrate and, just as important, not to raise Heather's suspicions. She already rised an eyebrow at me when I asked if all was well at home... at least Seam can not be missing, she would have mentioned that, surely?

Speaking of the devil... I am under the impression that she is getting more lazy by the day lately. I mean, seriously- I already finished two reports this morning while she is still reading the newspaper?!

"YES!! YES I knew it, bwaaaahahahaaa, finally! Oh sucker you are SO gonna pay!!"

Ok, this is it. She has officially gone bonkers now
"Heather... are you alright?"
She freezes in midmove

"Oh, eh... yeah thank you, I am fine... just read some... really good news, ahem"

"And what news would that be, if you don't mind to share it?"

"Oh no, I don't mind. In fact I love to- I just found out that Seamus' father will make a LOT of money very soon, and trust me, I will not let him get away so lightly again. This time, I will put the bastard to court, and he will pay like there is no tomorrow"

Carella will make a lot of money soon?
"How... interesting. And most convenient given your stressfull financial situation, too, I am happy for you..."

Secretly, I google the newpaper article Heather was referring to... ah. This must be it...
"Mesa's most famous archeologist returns to Egypt"
Hm.
Carella constantly nags about the third map
Nick's house is broken into
Carella returns to Al Simhara?!

Quietly I sneak out into the corridor and try once more to call Nick, but his mobile must be turned off... oh dear how I wish anybody knew where he lives, but even Sheila could not tell me...
Hell with it! I need to find him, and if I have to ask Heather for his adress, so be it!

But this will be my very last option, naturally. I decide to drive around town, maybe I can spot him somewhere... need to check the park, too...

The feeling of urgency is growing stronger by the minute now. God I hope he is ok... the state he was in... I will never forgive myself if...

The park seems to be deserted

Panting, I try to catch my breath. I try to blink the upwelling tears of frustration away- where else to look now?!?

Which is exactly when I spot Seamus at the playground. He is ok!
So I jogg over to talk to him

"Seamus! Thank God I found you - I need..."

"... Seam, is this a black eye?!"

"Yeah, it is. Nope, I don´t want to talk about it. Ok? So- you were saying...?"

Alright, I am not going to investigate this - for now. I draw a deep breath
"Nick. He was arrested the other night, I verified his ID for the police, he was released, he ran off, he did not surface at the Lizard and his phone is off. - And I am worried to bits."

Without hesitation, the boy snatches his mobile from the front pocket of his hoody and starts to hit the buttons
For a second I wonder if I will be angry if Nick should answer this time, or just relieved

But I can hear the automatic message announcing that the number is not available all too well although Seam is pressing the phone against his ear tightly

Quietly he puts it back, visibly paler now "Crap. Not available"
"Guess this would have been to easy, huh? Seam, I do not know where Nick lives, but I really really worry and would love to check if he is ok. Would you give me his adress, please?

"Are you kidding?! I am coming with you! Let´s go!"

Part of me is happy that he brought it up first, but on the other hand I am not so sure what to expect when... if... we should be able to locate his uncle

And by the looks of it, I am not the only one who is not too optimistic about this whole thing
"Next one, turn left..."

"Ok, here we are"
A barn?! When Nick said he inherited a shack, I did not think he was to be taken literally about it
I draw the car to the side and stop

"Oh dear. Look at this, he did not empty the post box for several days!"
"Yeah... not good... wait, let me take a look inside..."

"Can you see him?"
"Nope. Crap, he is not in Le!"

"So where else would you look for him? I am running out of ideas here"
"Well the Lizard, of course! He might be there tonight, he always ends up there again, right? Common Le, let´s go, please?"

I do not have the heart to tell him that I called Sheila every day so far. But he might be right after all, maybe today...

"So?"
"No. No sign of him still, and Darren asked around a bit, too... nothing"

I don´t like the sad expression that is spreading over Seam´s face now
"What are you thinking?"
"I... Le, there might be another place he would go to.. he... used to spend a lot of time there... back in the days when he was... not well"
"Well we do not really have a choice, do we? Show me where to drive"

I am getting an idea why Seam was so hesitant about telling me of this place. Dear me I did not even know that there was such a rundown alley in Mesa at all.. in silence, we enter a shabby bar at the corner of a dead end street

"Seems like we found him"
"Yeah..."

And by the looks of it, he might well have been here all the time since the other night

While we still linger by the door, undecided what to do next, Nick slides down from his barstool...

...and staggers towards the door in the back, hickupping audibly

Time goes by and no sign of him
"Ehm, Seam... it is the men's..."
"Oh, crap... ok wait here, I´ll check"

No doubt about it, someone is retching his guts out here
"Nick? Are you alright in there?"

Some incomprehendible cusswords later Nick finally emits from the toilet box, tugging on his jeans, slurring his response
"Whache hell doya wann... Sheam? Whache..."
"Let´s get out of here, ok? This place stinks of piss, man"

Swaying like a sailor, Nick stumbles out of the restroom
"... kayes... so.. whache hell aya doin her´? Tis ainno place for, for.."

"For who, for me? Wake up man, this ain´t no place for nobody. What are you doing man? I really thought you were over crap like that"

"Sheam, I´m good here, fine, juss... juss... great, yanno? Dinn feel so right inn, inn.. dunno... yanno? Wait... tissis a black eye?!"
" Nick. We need to talk"

"Le?!?"
"And for that, you better be sober... come on. Have a mug of java- please"

"...´kayes"

"So, do you think you are coming around?"
"Mmmh"
"Good, because I think if you drink as much as one more coffee you will probably have a heart attack"

"No, it will do... Le, listen... I am... I don't know what to say..."
"Never mind. Shall we go upstairs? There is something I think you should know about, and the upper floor is a little more private"
"...ok"

"Are you sure you are ready to listen?"
"Yeah... just stop yelling at me, ok? My head..."

"Alright then... you might want to sit down, though. I guess this will knock you off your feet"


"And why would you... I don´t know, come looking for me, sober me up, whatever, just to kick me in the face, bring me down again?" "What? Nick, I would not, never! But I think I figured out who broke into your... house the other day!" "Really..."

Slowly he lowers himself onto the shabby couch, cautiously looking over to Le and Seamus
"So what do you think who did it?"

"Carella. Heather freaked out after reading a newspaper article, so I googled a bit- he is organizing another expedition to Al Simhara right now! Question coming to mind was, why now?"

"If you think about it for a bit, there is but one explanation.
One: Someone kicks down your front door while you are with me and Seamus the very night he has been pestering you about the third map once again"

"Two: Someone breaks into your home and searches the whole place, but nothing is reported missing, and frankly anyone could tell that there is nothing worth stealing in your house anyway"

"Conclusion, it was Carella, who must have overheard that I wanted to take you to hospital and took his chances to finally get what he wanted so badly for so long- only didn´t dare steal before because he was to scared of walking into you"

"And now the bastard has finally reached his goal. So what are we going to do about it?"

"So... what do you think we ought to be doing? Yeah, he took the last part of the map, yeah, he had me... once again. So what"

"So what?! Man you can't be serious! We need to thwart the sucker's schemes, we can't let him get away with that, not again!"
Le tries very hard to figure out why Nick seem to be so unbelievably calm about the whole situation

And then the truth dawns on her
"Wait. You knew all along, didn't you? Oh Nick... let me guess- you still have a copy of it?"
"What?! Is she right, you copied your map? But that's perfect, copies of the other two bits can be bought as souvenirs at the museum shop! So we have all three bits, too! We can still beat him!"

Nick shifts his weight
"I told you once and I am telling you again. I am not going back. I don't care anymore"

"Yeah sure, you don't care at all, and you are SO over it, right? Bullshit I say! You are so over it and you care so little that you crawl into this shithole of a bar to do what, try booze you to, dunno, death? Man it's about time you re- grow your balls and kick some ass!"

"Although I would have put it differently-" Le shoots Seam a dissaproving look "- I agree, I do not believe that you really do not care anymore, either. Nick, please. I understand why you do not want to return to Egypt, I really do. But nevertheless, we can not let Carella get away as easy as that, it is just not fair!"
"And I would do most everything to help. I'd even ask Mom for her permission to leave the country with you guys"

Why can't they just let it slip? Can't they see I just don't have the strengh to carry on fighting...
"Life's not fair, never was, don't you guys get it"

Ok. By the look of it, they won't accept no for an answer, anyway, so I give in
"Alright. You want to do something about it, fine. Just leave me out of it. I'll give you the copy, best of luck with that, I'll even help you with the planning bit- but I am not going anywhere. Deal?"
"But..."
"Fair enough. Thank you Nick"

"It's getting late... shall I drop you guys off at home, or... do you want to stay?"
"No, guess it's about time to catch up with some sleep... thanks..."
"Le, would you come upstairs, too? To, yanno, be there when I talk to Mom?"
"Sure"

Uh. I am not looking forward to this conversation, not at all

"Oh, is he..."
"Yeah"

"Nick?"
"Just... give me a minute..."

"Nick, are you good back there? If you need to throw up again... "
"Naw I am ok"
Nothing left to gag up down there anyway

"Are you sure?"
Because you, my friend, you smell like something that died some time ago.... good grieve, is there really nothing I can do to help you trough this?!
"Yeah. I am good. Let's go talk to Heather"


I can't believe they came looking for me

I can not believe I did not realize how badly Nick was crushed by all this right from the beginning

Can't believe they agreed to back me up

The closer we get to meet Heather, the more the conversation dies down

I can not help wondering...

... was it his mother who hit him so hard that he has this black eye now?

"Ok come on in guys, I think she is..."

"Look who is finally home- where the hell do you come from now? I got a call from your school today, Mister! They wanted to know why I did not respond to their letters!! What letters?!?"
"Mom, I..."

Oh dear
"Le... this might not be the best time to have a chat right now... let's go!"

"What do you think, that I am thick or something?! Did you really think you would get away with that shit? I told you to drop out and get a job, add to the family income, but oh no, you wanted to stay in school, god knows why, and now -"
"Mom, please..."
"Heather..."

"Heather, please... if I might..."
"And you. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Ah now I get it, this is why you have been so interested in my kids lately? You are after my teenage son, you perv?"
"Mom, no, please- it's not like that, I asked Le to come and..."

"Oh yeah right, holy Miss Su, how could I even assume she would be capable of anything like that! God beware!"
"Mom..."
"Heather, I..."

"And now look what the cat dragged in- what is this now, a nuthouse?"
I seriously do not believe what I am witnessing here

"Sis come down. Leave her alone, willya? She's just here because she gave us a ride. This is about the boy... Heather we really need to talk"

"And what, exactly, could it be that should bring me to talk about anything concerning my son with you of all people? Since when is it any of your business? Oh wait. He is skipping classes, getting into trouble, spending the nights God knows where- why does this remind me of someone? RIGHT! Because this is exactly the shit you have been up to all your life, you boozing nutcase jailbird loser! And now you want to drag him down with you? Fat chance I will let THAT happen!! "

Why did I come here in the first place
"... ok. Bye Heather"

"Get the HELL out of here Nick or I swear to God, I will call the cops! - And YOU better get your bony little ass our of here right now, too, Missy!"

"Seam?"
"Le, please... just leave... there's nothing you... I'll be ok..."

"Very well, I am leaving. See you tomorrow at the office, my dear"

Be careful, Heather... be very careful. I will be watching you now, watching your every move... and you better watch your back. You have no idea who you are messing with

"Come on Nick, let's go"
"Yeah..."

"The nerve that little bitch has, unbelievable... I could almost admire it if she wasn't so pathetic. Off to bed now Seamus, we will have our little chat tomorrow... guess you learned something from what you just saw, eh? Nobody messes with your mom and gets away with it!"

I learned a lesson alright...
mother is a name you haven't earned yet, you're just a child with a temper. And I hate your guts

"That was ... intense"
"Mmh"

"Do you want me to drive you home?"
"Mmh"

I can not believe she said all these... things...
And now he is in that frozen state again...

"Alright here we are...Nick...
I want you to know that I do not see you that way- the way Heather does. I can see you made mistakes, and I can see you are struggling. But I am sure that you will make it in the end, simply because you are one of the good guys, and you are still trying"