Train To Springfield

The loud knocking made Jack jump off the sofa. Jack placed the book in his hand on the coffee table and went to get the door. "Jack Summers?" There were two police officers at the door. "Yes?" Jack was puzzled. "We have a warrant to search your place." "Warrant?" The officer stepped inside. They started searching Jack's apartment. Minutes later, they found something. "Jack Summers, you are under arrest." The second officer grasped Jack's arm and handcuffed him. "But I, didn't" "Silence!" Next thing, they pushed Jack inside the car. It was a quiet ride, but Jack's mind was as loud a V8 at a drag race, he had so many questions.

They escorted him to one of those rooms, to be interrogated. All there was a table, two chairs and a light hanging above that table. The door opened, and a lady, I'll say in her mid-forties, stepped into the room. She threw a manila folder on the table, "You got quite a case, Mr. Summers." Jack didn't reply. "Well," the lady sat down, "let's get started." She flipped the pages on the manila folder. "When was the last time you saw her?" The lady asked Jack. Jack was looking down at the table, "About nine months ago." Whispered Jack. The lady looked at the papers, then at Jack, she was not convinced." She flipped the papers, "where?" "It was at New Hope Ranch." "Okay...What was the last thing you said to her? or better asked, what were you two doing there?" Jack sighed, this time he looked at the lady in the eye. "Planning." "Planning?" Jack nodded, "We were going to get married." "Interesting..." She flipped the papers again, "do you have proof of that?" Jack shook his head. "We were just talking about it." "Then?" "I never saw her again. It was a Friday night, she told me she would see me the following Monday, after that I texted her, she didn't reply. I called, neither she replied. At first I thought there was something wrong with her phone, then I found out she had blocked me." "How did you know she blocked you." "Well, the way everybody does, I created a new account, so I could see her profile." "So you were stalking her?" "No, I just wanted to make sure she was fine, and she was, I saw her picture; she was with someone else, and she looked happy, for that I decided to step away..." The lady looked at Jack as if he was a rare bug. The room was quiet, perhaps too quiet. Jack cleared his throat, "Ma' am?" "Yes?" "May I know what happen to her." "The lady stood up, "I am sorry, but I cannot say, and my job here is done." She pushed the chair under the table. "But..." "Don't worry, someone else is coming." She walked to the door, " "Ma' am, please, can I at least know what is going on?" The door closed.

The room was quiet, only the fan hummed. That's annoying. Thought Jack; he never liked Air Conditioning. The air blowing and the fan noise gave him anxiety. The door opened. This time it as a tall, serious looking man; wearing a long coat. The tall man threw the manila on the table. "Is that a habit?" Mocked Jack "You all come in and throw the folder on the table. Does that make you feel cool?" The tall man gave Jack a this-is-no-joke-kid look. The tall man pulled the chair, sat down and stared at Jack. Then Jack realized, Im in trouble. "Where is she?" Asked the tall man. This question answered Jack's questions. She' is missing! Jacks mind now working fast. "Where is she?" Repeated the tall man. "I dont know, I have not seen her for a..." The tall man reached into the manila folder and pulled a picture. "Is this you, Mr. Summers?" Jack saw the picture and saw himself, sitting next to the girl. Jack was speechless. How? "I dont..." The tall man waited for an answer. "This picture is from a surveillance camera...About a week ago, three days before she went missing." "That's not me, I haven't seen her since we broke up." The tall man observed Jack's moves and gestures.

Jack scrubbed his hands against his face. "I didnt do it." said he. His voice was shaking. "Well, there's more." The tall man pulled some sheets from the folder, "does those look familiar?" Jack looked at the sheets, they were copies of a text message conversation. "That is your phone number, isnt it, Mr. Summers?" Jack grasped the sheets and started reading. He was not convinced, but it was clear, that was his phone number. "Now, I need you to cooperate with me." Said the tall man as he placed the papers back in the folder. Well, if this is a game, I guess I should play it. Jack took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll tell you where... Well, I know of a place where she might be." "I knew you were lying. You have no shame. Where is she?" "I'll tell you if I get to go." "You know you can't." "Then she would die." the tall thought about it, the he stood up, and went out of the room. Later two other agents came and took Jack out that room. They escorted him to the car, there was the tall man on the passengers seat. They drove out of the city until took about three freeways until they merged on I15. "How far are we?" The tall man asked Jack. "You are going to take exit 12A." Jack told the tall man. They were accompanied by two other agents. "Once you exit," continued Jack, "you'll see a dirt road." Jack was right, there was a dirt road. "You seem to know this place pretty well, Mr. Summers." "I know some." They ended at an abandoned mansion. Broken windows, faded paint, mold on the roof, but the doors were still functional. "Wow..." The tall man stepped out of the car, "Didn't know this was here...Lets search the place." The other agents followed the tall man's orders. Right before they went inside the mansion, an old truck pulled on the drive way. The door opened and an old man jumped out. "Hey! What are you doing here? This is a private property!" The tall man was quick and took out his badge. "Sir, we are agents. We are investigating. Are you the owner?" The old man shook his head, "no sir..." the old man looked at Jack, he gave Jack that, you-look-familiar look, then looked back at the agent, "...I just work here." "Is your boss around?" "No sir, my boss is on vacation, he'll be back in about a week." The tall man looked towards the mansion, then at the old man, "do you know is that mansion is occupied," "No sir..." "have you heard or seen anything abnormal?" "Abnormal?" "Yes, we are looking for a girl?" "Well, I haven't seen her... but the locals have." The tall man looked at Jack. "the locals say the place is haunted..." Jack chuckled. Everybody looked at him. "Sorry." not the right time, Jack. "Do you mind if we take a quick look?" The tall man asked the old man. The old man hesitated. "I guess, just don't brake anything." "We wont." Replied the tall man. "It wont take long." The old man nodded as a response, got on his old truck then left. The tall man waited for the old man to leave, then looked at Jack, "you are pulling my leg, aren't you?" "Why would I do that?" "I already know she is not there." "Well, I said, she might."

They went inside the old mansion, the tall man looked around, then looked at Jack, "I don't think she is here, sir." Said one of the agents. "I knew it, This is a..." the tall man paused, he spotted something of the floor, he walked and picked it up. It was a hairband. "Where is she?" The tall man asked Jack. Jack looked down, "Upstairs," he whispered. "Do you want us to take a look, sir?" The tall man nodded, "I watch the boy." The two agents ran upstairs. Later, one of the agents called, it sound like a distress call. "What is it?" Called the tall man. "Help!" the agent repeated from upstairs. "See, this place is haunted." Said Jack in a mocking tone. The tall man took out the key and took off one of the handcuffs from Jack and latched it to the bars by the staircase. "HELP!!" The tall man looked at Jack, "you, don't go anywhere." "I'll try not to." Replied Jack. The tall man ran upstairs, there he found the other agents covered with bees. There was a beehive in one of the room. Many bees...Too many. While the agents were busy with the bees, Jack took advantage and used a piece of wire that he found of the floor, with that wire he was able to open the handcuffs. He looked around, "That's the room." He whispered. He went into that room, then grabbed an old wooden chair and used it to reach the ceiling. "I know its here." Said Jack as he knocked on the tiles, then he heard a hollow. "This is it." He pushed up the tile. There was a lot of spiderwebs, and it was dark. With his hand Jack removed the webs then he touched something; something rectangular. A small metal box; about the size of a hand. Jack jumped off the chair and ran to the door, he heard the agents coming down the stairs. "Where is the boy?" Asked one of the agents. "Is down..." the tall man looked down the staircase and saw that Jack was gone, "great, just what we needed, he escaped." Jack was now in the kitchen, he squatted behind the counter. The agents were now by the door. Jack peeked over the counter and saw the the tall man and the second agent were carrying the agent that got attacked by the bees. "What about the boy?" Asked the second agent as they were about to step out the door. The tall man turned around and looked around the house, "leave him, we'll catch him later. We have to take Sam to the hospital." The second agent nodded, then they left. Jack looked out the window and waited until they were gone. Then he ran out the mansion.

Jack walked down highway 15. It was hot, and there was no shade near by. He walked about a mile when a big tow truck stopped in front of him. Jack felt relief. He ran towards the tow truck. "Hey kid!" Jack climbed on the sidestep and looked inside the cabin, he saw a chubby-young boy. "Excuse me sir, is it possible you can give me a ride?" "Holly smokes, kid! looks like need some water, jump in." Jack climbed inside the truck, "thanks." the Young truck driver reached into a cooler and took out a water bottle, "here." "Thanks". Repeated Jack. "My name is Tom, by the way." "Im Jack, Jack Summers." "Where are you heading, Kid?" Jack took a sip of water "...New Gold..." took another sip, "sorry." "New Gold..." The Tom looked at his GPS, "it says we are a few miles away." Jack nodded. Jack looked around the cabin, saw all kind of souvenirs, "do you collect these?" he asked the driver. "Yes, I get one from every state I visit." "Interesting." There was a moment of silence, Jack enjoyed the panoramic scene. There was a lake, nice view. They moved about a mile when Jack noticed something. "What on earth..." "Holy smokes! is that a car?" Indeed it was, Tom. It was a black SUV that had rolled over. Tom pulled over, killed the engine, then jumped off the truck. "Do you need help?" asked Jack. "I might." Replied Tom. They went close to the SUV. "There is no one." Said Jack. Tom didnt reply, just looked at the Upside down SUV. Tom went back to the truck and grabbed his phone. "Yes..." "...Mile 24, highway 15." "...Yes, I am with the road assist...Yes, Im just reporting...Ok, got it." The call ended. "Im taking this big boy." Say Tom, "I am going to back up, keep an eye, would you boy?" "Sure," Replied Jack. Tom got in the truck, then backed up. They latched the cable to the SUV's frame, Jack signaled, Tom stepped on the pedal, then they were able to flip the SUV. Minutes later they were in new gold. "Well kid, we made it." Said Tom. Jack nodded. "I still got to drop this buy boy." "Do you need me to go?" Asked Jack. "It will fine...Well kid, take care." Jack got of the truck. The big tow truck turned around, Jack was able to see Tom's hand waving as he left.

Jack went around the corner, he had to be cautious, now he was a wanted man. Jack found a phonebooth, I need some coins, he thought. When he turned around there was a little girl with, "do you need some coins?" she asked Jack. "It's alright, kid, I'll find some." Jack kept walking, then saw that the little girl walked towards the bus stop. The little girl started asking for money, everyone ignored her, then a man reached in his pocket and took out some coins. This man was not happy about giving the little girl his spare change. The Little girl went back to Jack, "here," she offered the coins to Jack. Jack hesitated. "If you dont want them, I am going to buy ice cream." Jack hesitated, "It's alright, you can have your ice cream." Replied Jack, the Girl ran to the phonebooth and pushed the coins into the slot. "What are...No!" "Too late...and you better hurry, time running out." The girl left, then Jack went inside the phonebooth and dialed a number. "Hello?" A voice responded on the other side of the line. "Carl, it is me, Jack." "Jack? How did it go?" "I got in, I found the box." "That's great, we just need to open it... Man, I hesitated." "Yeah, I guess I got lucky, they agents got attacked by bees and I was able to get away... That was not what we had in mind, I didnt know we were going to get my ex girlfriend involved." "What do yo mean? I sent them the email as planned." "Well, the reason why they came into my place was becuase Grace is missing." "What?" "Listen, Carl, I am running out of time, I'll see you at 'The Ambush'." "Got it." The call ended.

The Ambush, I was a small tavern on the heart of New Gold, some how hidden. It was a famous place, but hard to find, since it was at the end of an alley. Carl parked about two blocks away from The Ambush, ask he walked to the entrance he kept thinking about Grace, how is she missing? It got stuck in his head since Jack told him. When Carl got there, he found a big guy guarding the entrance. Did a security check, then he let Carl in. Carl knew where he would find Jack, by the corner, Jack's favorite table. Carl pulled the chair and sat down, they were quiet, then Jack took out the small box and placed it on the table. "Can I take a look at it?" "Sure." Replied Jack. Carl examined the small box. "Well, any idea how to open it?" Jack shook his head. "It looks like one of those puzzle boxes, you move the pieces, then you'll find a key slot. I just dont see where to start, what piece..." Carl looked at Jack, noticed that something worried him. "You are thinking about her, arent you?" "I dont understand, when I saw the pictures, she looked happy...not going to lie, I was jealous. It hurt, but I admitted it, they made a good couple...Do yo think it was him?" Carl didnt reply. Jack shook his head, "Sorry, I still haven't got over it." Carl cleared his throat, then tapped on the small box. "You are right, we have to focus on this. I am not going to waste all this time and hard work, we finally got the box, we are a few steps to become millionaires." "Sure we are."

The next day Jack woke up early and headed west on Riverside Dr. Even though he promised Carl, he was still curious about Grace. To clear things up, he went to the swap meet. He remembered were her stand was, there was an old lady instead, when she saw Jack, she smiled; but it was a broken smile. "You are looking for the girl, arent you?" "Yes...Do you know what happen to her?" The lady shook her head, "she is missing...They say she went on a trip with her husband, then she went missing, so is the husband, they say his the only suspect." "I knew it." There it was quiet, then the lady started organizing her merchandize. "Thank you." Said Jack, he turned around then left. There was only one place left, that parking lot where he and Grace used to meet.

Jack sat by the sidewalk at the parking lot, it was that place that used to make him happy, now those memories made him sad. He took a deep breath and walked to the spot, a tear dropped. Yes, they say that those who cry are strong... You are strong, Jack. He sat on the floor, a heave feeling fell on him...Yes, Jack felt like crying. Let it go, Jack...Let it flow. Jack shook head, "No," He whispered. "What am I doing here? It is us..." Jack didn't finish when he saw something. It was a small piece of paper. Someone had rolled that small paper and squeezed inside the lamppost's base. Jack reached and pulled the small paper, unrolled it. It was a receipt. The receipt was for two train tickets, to Springfield. Jack turned the small paper, then saw something that made his blood ice cold. It read:

Jack, I knew you would come here. I left this receipt hopping you'll find it. I was taken hostage, at the moment I'm in a warehouse, but the train is leaving on August the 2nd, heading to Springfield. I hope you find this note timely. I don't have much time. Please Jack, help me.

PS: Don't call the Police.

Jack looked at his watch and noticed that he had some time. It was July the 30th. Jack got on his car and rushed to Carl's place. When Jack got there, he rapped on the door. "Who is it?" It was a lady's voice. Jack knocked again. "Going!!" Jack was anxious. The door opened, Jack went inside the house, "Jack...are you ok?" "Mrs. Q, is Carl here?" "Yes, he is up...." The lady didn't finish when Jack was already climbing the stairs.

The door to Carl's door opened, Jack found Carl talking on the floor, "What the...Jack?" "Carl I know..."Jack tried to catch his breath, "I know where she is." Jack put the reached for the phone, "listen, I have to call you back...Yes...bye." he hung up. "Jack, What's all this?" "I know where she is, Grace is was taken hostage, she is...in somewhere in a warehouse...but she is going to take a train to Springfield." Carl was wordless, "Please, Carl, help me...I know you are good with computers, please." "Well, this is serious, I think we should..." Jack reached in his pocked and handed the note to Carl. "Wow, this is crazy." "The train gets there on August second, if we drive we can make it on time." "Springfield is a fourteen-hour drive." "Well, we got a long drive."

They packed some needs, then headed to Springfield. It was a long drive, have to stop for gas several times, but there was something odd, Jack noticed a car since they left new gold, maybe they are heading to Springfield as well, thought Jack. About 10 miles away from Springfield, Jack saw the car again. "Take this exit." Jack told Carl. "But this is not the exit." Replied Carl. "Just do it." Carl obeyed, then exited the freeway. Jack looked at the rearview mirror, and saw that the car wasn't following them, instead it went straight. "What's the matter?" Asked Carl. "I don't know if you noticed, but there was a car following us." "Yes, I noticed, it was following us for a while, " said Carl then stepped out of the car, "do you mind driving the las few miles?" "No, not at all." "Thanks, just let me make a quick call." "Sure." Carl took a few steps away from the car and made the call. Jack waited, "Did you call your mom?" "Uhh...oh! yes, I didn't want her to be worried...you know."

About fifteen minutes later they were in Springfield. "Should we wait for them at the station?" Carl nodded. They parked the on the second floor, then took the elevator to the lobby. "Keep your eyes open." Said Jack. About an hour passed, and no signs of Grace. Carl took out his phone. "Mom, again?" "Yep." While Carl was one the phone, Jack saw someone walking out of the gates, he elbowed Carl. "Dude, I almost drop my..." "It is them," Said Jack. It was Grace and her husband. Come on, look at me...Look at me. Jack wanted to see Grace in the eye; she did, Grace looked at Jack, but the she looked down and turned around. Grace's husband grasped her arm and pulled towards the main door. Jack stood up, but Carl held him, "wait," he told jack, "not here. Jack and Carl waited for them to go out of the station. "Now, this is our chance." Grace and her husband headed towards the parking lot. They have a car here? Jack wondered. Something is not right. "Come on." Jack and Carl got in the car and hurried to the exit. "There!" Called Jack, "I recognize that car, it is hers...why would..." "Hurry! they are getting away!" They followed the car, not far from the station, ended at an old-abandoned warehouse. Something is not right. Jack heard someone screaming, "It's her!" Said Jack as he rushed inside the old warehouse, "Come on!" The warehouse was full of old office furniture. "Help!" It was Grace calling. Jack went behind some dusty shelves and found Grace tied to a chair. "Jack!" She started crying. "It's ok, it' ok, Im here." Jack untied Grace. She stood up, Jack grasped her hand, "Let's get out of here," Jack told her, but Grace stood still. "Grace?" Then Jack felt something behind his head. "Dont move." Carl was clutching a gun against Jack. "Carl?" "Sorry, Jack." Jack looked at Grace, she avoided eye contact. "Oh, I see, I was framed." "Well done guys." A voice came from behind the shelves; it was Grace's husband. "Nice to meet you, Jack, Grace would talk about you all the time, I am Rob, by the way." Rob stretched his arm for a hand shake, but Jack ignored him," "You guys have no shame." Said Jack. The all laughed. "Carl, I would have never expect this." "Well, you thought you'll have all that money for yourself." Jack shook his head, "Really?" "Where is the box?" Jack hesitated. "Well, we'll do hard way." "No need to, Jack reached in his pocket and took out the small box. "Open it." "I don't know how." Rob took out a gun and pointed it at Jack, "you'll open that box, understood?" Jack said nothing and started playing with the small tiles. Everybody observed. Left...Left...Right...Up...Left...Up...Right... 'Click' A small slot opened, then Jack saw a small key. Jack figured, He just have to do it backwards in order to find the key slot. Left...Down...Right...Down...Left...Right...Right, But didn't see the key slot. "Now what?" asked Rob. "No idea." Replied Jack. Rob pulled the trigger, "Listen, I am running out of patience, are you going to open that box..." "Whoa, what is going on here!" Everybody turned around to see an old man. Rob aimed from Jack to the old man, "this is none of your business old man." "Well, if you don't mind, this is...Oh, you have one of those boxes, I had one of those, long, long time ago, may I?" "Don't!" "It's alright, I promise I wont take it." Said the old man, then stretched his arm. Jack looked at Rob. Rob hesitated, "Ok fine." Jack handed the box to the old man then the old man started moving the the tiles on the small box, later a secret slot opened, "thaara, there you have it." Rob placed put the gun away and grasped the small box from the old man, "give me the key." Jack Handed the key. Rob was anxious to open the box, he inserted the key, turned it, and a click was heard. Everybody froze. "There is nothing!" Said Rob. "Oh well, I got to go." "No, you are not leaving." Jack saw Rob's intention, he was going to shoot the old man on the back. Jack ran and jumped in between.

Everything went black...

When Jack woke up, he was in a cabin somewhere in the woods. He was laying on a hay bed; tried to move but his torso was in pain. Noticed some bands around his shoulder and torso. "I need to get out of here." He got up, and walked to the door. There was a smell, something was burning. Jack stepped outside, there was a man sitting by bonfire. The old man turned around. "Oh, look who decided to wake up." Jack didn't reply. "You are strong, kid. I thought you weren't going to make it. The bullet went deep, but I was able to remove it." "Where am I?" "We are a few miles away from Springfield." "Where is..." "Leo?" "Is that his name?" The old man nodded, "Oh, by the way, he left you this," the old man reached in his pouch and took out the small box. "How did he?" "After you got shot, the Police was coming and your 'Friends' ran like roaches when you turn the lights on." Jack was looking a the box. "Oh, one more thing, Leo said: 'sometimes you have to dig a little bit more'." Jack was confused, then a thought came to his mind. He opened the box and noticed a small tile by the corner, he pressed it and the bottom of the box popped open, there was a shinny key, perhaps made out of gold. Also, next to the key there was a small paper. Jack read it. "This is that golf club by my house." "There you go, kid. You have found it...Good luck." Jack was still reading the small paper, "but I..." He turned around and the old man was gone.

Jack had no choice but go back home. He walked along...wait didnt know where he was. It was just a highway. Cars passed by, none stopped. Kept walking, then hear a big truck approaching. The big truck then stopped, the door opened. Jack knew this truck was familiar. "Holy smokes, Kid!" Jack had never felt this relief, It as Tom. "Kid, are you ok? What on earth, kid?" "It's a long story..." "I assume you are heading to New Gold." Jack nodded.

The date was August 10th. Jack had fully recovered from the bullet. Last thing he heard from the Carl and the others, that they were hiding somewhere out of state. That morning Jack went to the golf club. The receptionist wouldnt let him in, until he showed her the key, saw that it was genuine, the she let him in. Jack walked to the end of the room and found the lockers, tried the key. When he opened the locker he found a backpack inside. Took the backpack and left the golf club, and saw a car. That car looks familiar thought Jack. Indeed, Jack. That was the same car that was following Jack and Carl when they were heading to Springfield. The doors opened and two men in black stepped out of the car. Jack ran the opposite direction, then heard something...a train. Jack smiled, that's my ticket out of here, my run away train. He saw a dirt path, that went over a slope. From there he could see the train; it was moving slow. Jack ran, the men in black were behind him. Run Jack, run. When Jack was running next to the train, he threw the backpack on top of the wagon, then reached for the ladder and climbed up. The train started picking up speed, the men in black ran fast, but it was to late they could not catch up.

Riding on top of a wagon was not as fun as it looked, Jack was freezing, he needed to get off the train, then the train slowed down, this is your chance, jack. He to the rear part of the wagon and climbed down, there he found a door. He opened the door and went inside the wagon. Hours later the train stopped. Jack waited for the right moment then got out of the wagon. He blended with the other people, then walked out of the station. Jack looked around and saw no one, then a hand grasped his shoulder. Jack turned around and saw Leo. "You made it." Said Leo. Jack handed the backpack to Leo. "Thanks," Said Leo as he looked inside the backpack, "Come on, we have tons of work to do." Leo walked towards the ticket booth, Jack followed him. "Where are we going now?" Leo smiled, "We are going to take another train.