As I approached the city of Baker I saw “the world’s largest thermometer,” which was a huge tourist attraction back in the day. I’m pretty sure there is an old photograph of Bailey and me standing in front of it during one of our trips to Las Vegas.
Those were some amazing memories. Every few years, we’d stay at Circus Circus and while my mom took her chances in the casino, my dad gave Bailey and me each a roll of quarters and let us go crazy in the arcade. Once our stash had run out, we’d go see the circus acts.
Tears began to sting my eyes as I remembered those days. We had to find Bailey. We just did.
I stole a quick glance at my phone to see if Ryder had written with an update yet. He hadn’t. The last thing he said to me was “stay at home where you’re safe.” Of course, I hadn’t. But, I wasn’t ready to just show up. “Hi everyone. Here I am in my dad’s expensive sports car and I want to help.”
Speaking of which, as soon as I drove by the huge gathering of bikers in the old Bun Boy parking lot, I realized it might have been a mistake to bring this car. Not only did it attract a lot of attention, but my dad would kill me if anything happened to it.
It made more sense to park the car in a somewhat private location and then walk over to where the Outlaw Souls were meeting up.
I looked around and noticed that the Bun Boy Motel across the street had been shut down, and that seemed like a good place to park. I’d tuck the car over in a spot that was visible to me so I could keep an eye on it, but wasn’t like I was roaring into a parking lot in a showy sports car.
As I was parking the car, my heart leapt as I heard my phone ding with a text message. Unfortunately, it was just my dad.
How’s it going? Any luck?
I just got here, Dad. I promise I’ll let you know.
Okay. Your mom and I love you both.
As tough as this was on me, this had to be a hundred times harder on them.
I love you, too.
I hid the car as best I could while still keeping it where I could see it. I was crossing the parking lot when I heard a weird noise coming from the building. It was like a weird banging vibration. Since it wasn’t a windy day, I figured I’d go investigate before heading across the street to the Bun Boy.
The closer I got, the more it sounded like it was coming from the metal railing that led up to the second floor of the motel.
Why would the stair bannister be clanging and vibrating? I leaned over and put my ear on it, and decided to follow the sound/vibration upstairs.
Although the motel was abandoned, it was still in pretty good shape. The downstairs windows were boarded up and there was graffiti everywhere. Empty beer cans and vodka bottles lay alongside syringes and whatnot. It just looked like a typical abandoned building.
It was a little creepy, but nothing too bad. It was broad daylight and I didn’t see any other cars or bikes around. All of the activity seemed to be going on across the street. It was really just curiosity that was prompting me to explore. I couldn’t imagine what would make such a strange sound.
I got to the top of the stairs and noticed that these windows hadn’t been boarded up, but had raggedy curtains that were all closed. I was half tempted to keep exploring, but figured I’d better get back downstairs where I could see the car and go find Ryder.
Suddenly, I heard a thump come from one of the rooms. I stood frozen for a moment. I was half tempted to run downstairs to safety. But I also wanted to know what it was. What if it was Bailey?
As I stood there, I heard it again. Thump, clang.
Following the sound, I went up to the room that was right in the middle of the outdoor hallway. The tattered curtain was closed, but I figured I might be able to see in if I pressed my face against the glass.
Peering in, it was hard to see because the glass was dirty, the view was obscured by the curtains, and the inside of the room was dark. I sat there for a minute and didn’t see anything, so I figured it was just my dramatic imagination getting the best of me.
Before I could turn around, though, someone yanked my ponytail, pulling me back into them. I didn’t even have a chance to fight them off. Strong, leather jacket clad arms wrapped around me and a hand came over my face with a cloth and pressed it against my mouth and nose.
I began kicking and trying to scream, but the cloth had some kind of alcohol or something on it. I was squirming and trying to get loose and his leg swept under mine, making me lose my balance.
The last thing I was aware of as the world turned dark was me falling limp into a stranger’s arms.
* * *
The first thingI noticed was that my head was pounding with a headache. It felt like Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones was going to town inside my brain. My mouth was dry, too.
I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids were so heavy I couldn’t. It felt like I was on the floor, on some carpet. My hands were tied behind my back and my legs seemed to be tied up, too. I heard male voices, speaking softly.
“What the fuck was I supposed to do, Diablo? She was right there, sticking her face in the window. She had to have seen them.”
