APRIL 1989, THE DAY AFTER THE ARREST OF VICK CROSS
Vick sat on the floor of the police department cell with his back against the wall. The lights flicker and buzz above his head. He stares at the cell bar, thinking about what he just did and where he's at.
His face was covered with dried-up tears and dried-up blood by his chin. A radio plays at the distance in the background in the department. "When Tomorrow Comes" by Eurythmics plays as his eyes widen. He suddenly feels comforted by the song, as it is one of his favorites. He bites his lips and closes his eyes as he leans his head against the wall.
The night in Houston, April 21, 1989, was quiet and warm. It was the day before Vick was caught by the police. Streetlights shine on empty streets, and the winds rustled through the trees. The city's lights shined in the distance, but the area around the small office was dark and still.
Inside, the room was lit by a single buzzing light. An old video camera stood on a tripod while recording live. A boy with wavy blonde hair sat in a chair looking nervous.
A woman adjusts a microphone and asks "Are we live?"
"Yes," a voice answers in the background.
"Let's start the interview. What is your name?" The interviewer asked. The boy took a deep breath "My name is Brent Luther...and I am a friend of Alan Becker"
"Can you tell us about your relationship with Alan Becker?" the interviewer followed up. Brent took another deep breath "Alan and I were friends from school. We met this year just a month ago and got along really well. He was a transfer student. And... and... he was very different from most people, but that's what made me like him"
The interviewer nods "What kind of person was Alan? Did he change over time or was he always acting like this?"
Brent answers "Alan was always looking at people, especially girls. I thought it was very weird for him to talk to a lot of girls and take them out like they were objects" As Brent talked, the camera kept rolling, capturing his moment.
The interviewer nods "I see. And did you know that Alan's real name is Vick Cross?"
"No, I did not know that until now" Brent answers.
Suddenly, Brent's eyes widened as he noticed the interviewer looked kind of familiar "Wait a minute…" he said "You look familiar. Are you...Jade's mother?"
The interviewer is shocked by the question "Yes" She decides to tell the truth "My daughter was abducted by Vick. I've been trying to get the police to find her 'til this day, and been out looking for her" the interviewer's eyes begin to water.
"No, no, we don't have to talk about this, Ma'am," Brent says. "No, it's fine" She answers "She's back at the hospital safe and sound. But, going through all that suffering...her bruises...her wounds...it's so terrible"
Brent was quiet and shocked by the interviewer's response; how she opened up with him and the rest of the world about her daughter. He begins to feel for her "I'm sorry that happened"
She wipes her tears "Oh, what I would do to Vick if I ever see him is unimaginable" she said, her voice shaky from crying.
"Oh, what I would do too," Brent says. He gets up from the chair and slowly walks over to her, his heartbeat going to a calm, and his legs stop shaking. He kneels to her and gently places his hands on her shoulders "I believe Alan- no, Vick deserves hell for what he did. All those people he took; all those parents who were worried sick for their child. What Vick did was evil and I would never forgive him for doing that. Doing those sick fucking things. What kind of sick fuck would do something like that?"
"What are you trying to say?" She asked. He immediately answers "What I'm trying to say is that...If I ever come across Vick, I promise you...I will avenge your daughter...by taking his life away and making him suffer for what he did. I promise"
TRAUMA OF '89
VOLUME 2, CHAPTER 13, DISAPPEARANCE OF CROSS
It's October 2020, and news outlets reported on the ongoing search for Vick, who vanished from Austin two months ago at the shootout in Haney's warehouse.
"Two months ago, a dramatic shootout took place at a warehouse in Austin," the news reporter says "The incident resulted in several deaths and left behind significant evidence linking Vick Cross to the scene. Authorities believe Vick and a few other criminals escaped the shootout alive and are hiding from the police"
The screen displays images from the warehouse scene, showing the ruins of the warehouse, bodies covered by plastic bags, the entrance where Phil ignited the bomb, and the wall where Vick ran the car through.
"Despite the violent nature of the crime scene, many in the public view the ones who killed all the criminals as a hero" the news reporter adds "They believe whoever took down these dangerous criminals did the city a favor, but the search for Vick Cross continues, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward at any Police Department in Texas"
The broadcast ends with a reminder for the viewers to report any information they have about the ongoing investigation.
I was sitting in the living room while watching the broadcast. The TV turns off as I press the button on the remote. The sun shines through the blinds of the living room as I close my eyes to rest.
Ever since the day at the warehouse, I've been feeling guilty for leaving Vick and Charlotte. When we left the warehouse with Charlotte, we ran to the car and started the engine. We waited for Vick and Phil, but they never came back. Until we turned around and realized that Charlotte was gone. It was just me, Veronica, April, and Priscilla.
How stupid can we be to lose Charlotte like that? We quickly got back to the warehouse and everyone was gone except Phil. Phil was knocked out cold on the ground as he woke him up. He tells us that Vick and Charlotte got kidnapped and he got knocked out by Haney and his crew.
That was the aftermath. I really hope Vick and Charlotte are still alive. I need to find them as fast as possible before it's too late; before they die; before they go through more suffering. My goal is not to kill Vick anymore but to save him from those evil kidnappers.
"Jacky, Christine, wake up!" Phil raised his voice in the hallway "Did you guys stay up playing video games again?"
His words bring a smile to my face as I push my body upwards and start toward him "Good morning, babe" I kiss him on the lips. "Good morning, love" he calls me. I smile, but then open the door to Jacky's room "Wake up, boy!"
Later, we all sat at the dining table.
The table is filled with plates of sausages, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Jacky pulls himself forward to the table and reaches for the scrambled eggs. The eggs drop in his bowl as he scoops the eggs with a spoon. Ketchup drizzles all over the egg as he mixes it in and takes a bite "Mmm"
"You disgust me" Christine scoffs, mocking Jacky for putting ketchup on his eggs. "Hey, don't say that," Phil says "I love ketchup on eggs too!"
"Disgusting!" Christine shouts. The entire table chuckles as I sit there smiling. I'm thinking about something else. I'm thinking about Vick and Charlotte instead of connecting with my own family. I get overwhelmed with the thought of them suffering while we're sitting on the table, fine.
Phil catches me acting weird "You're very quiet, honey, is something wrong?" he asked me. If I tell him the truth, he'll probably get mad at me for thinking about them again. But, I just can't stop thinking about them. Every day, even at work, in bed, or just hanging out with my family, I'm always thinking about them. It's my trauma.
I want to tell the truth "We need to find Vick"
He looks at me wide-eyed with disbelief "You're still thinking about him? Honey, you told me that you would stop"
"I can't. It's hard. They could be out there suffering right now while we're sitting here living freely" I come back. "Honey, we can't be searching for them again. You're putting our family at risk by trying to save that psychopath"
"He's not a psychopath!" I raised my voice. Phil shouts "He is! You know, I want to forget about Vick, but you keep bringing him up!"
"You can't run away from the past!" I shout "He's innocent, not a psychopath!"
"He killed your family, don't you remember!!?" Phil shouts at me louder. "Who's Vick?" Jacky asks. I realize that we are arguing in front of our children. I start feeling guilty for starting the argument. Jacky is chill, he's sixteen, so he's a bit more mature than Christine who is thirteen.
"He's someone your mom shouldn't be trying to talk to" Phil answered Jacky. "So is mom cheating or something?" Jacky added. "Wouldn't be surprised if she is" Phil attacks me with those words. My ears start heating up and my heart pound as I shout at him angrily "Don't fucking say that, you dipshit! How could you assume I would do something like that, Phil!?" I stand up and storm out of the kitchen.
Phil watches me as I grab my keys and stomp my way out of the house, slamming the door. Why is he being such an idiot? Why does he keep trying to avoid saving Vick and Charlotte? In my car, I begin feeling sorry for Jacky and Christine to have to watch us go through a heated argument.
Phil and the kids walk out of the house, with their backpacks on. I reverse the car out of the driveway to avoid them seeing my face. I don't even wanna see Phil right now.
I drive out of the neighborhood as he watches. "Mom has some anger issues," Jacky says. "No, son. You don't understand" Phil says, feeling guilty for saying those things to me. They enter the car and drive off to school.
"Is Vick the guy who killed all those people back in the '80s?" Jacky asks Phil. "Yeah, but he was innocent all along which is why she wants to save him from the kidnappers" he answered.
"Then why don't you want to save him?" Jacky asked. Phil glances at Jacky and fixes his eyes back on the road "I don't care if he's innocent. He killed people, including your mom's parents. I'll never forgive Vick for doing such a thing"
The car ride was quiet after the conversation. Christine finally calms herself down as they pull up to their aunt's house. "Have fun, kiddos" Phil says to Jacky and Christine. "Thanks, Dad" Jacky replies, but quickly turns around with a smile "Go apologize to Mom, don't divorce"
Phil chuckles "Yeah, of course, ya' dingbag"
Before heading to work, I stop by a gas station for a snack. I couldn't eat breakfast at the dinner table. I purchase a protein cookie, along with a granola bar, banana, and Gatorade. I push the door open and walk out, spotting a girl with straight short blonde hair. I suddenly think of April. I have to see her today. She was the only one who cared about Vick as much as I did, and hopefully, she will help me with searching for him.
AFTER WORK, 4:30 P.M
I rush out of the hospital and jump in my car. I've been waiting the whole day to meet up with April. I quickly shoot her a text that I'm coming while turning on the engine.
Later, I arrive at April's house, standing on the porch in front of the door. I reach out and push the doorbell. After a few moments, the sounds of footsteps approach the door.
Behind the door reveals April "Hi Emily" she greeted me with a smile. "Hi!" I say back.
"Come inside" April welcomed me. I entered the house which had a nice scent inside. I close the door behind me and lock it. "So, do you need anything?" April takes a seat down on the couch as she turns on her foot massager on the ground. She slides her feet in as the massager turns on. I sat down on the couch to her right, "Yes, I do" I answered.
"Do you remember the disappearance of Vick?" I started. "Yeah, I still do. It's tragic how we lost both of them that day. We were so stupid" April says.
"Yes, we were" I replied "They're in danger now because of us and I've been feeling very guilty for it. I can't focus at work and I can't focus on my family all because of that incident"
"I'm sorry to hear about that" April tried to comfort me. "It's okay," I say. "You're just here to talk about it?" she asks, pulling the blanket on her left to her lap. "No, I'm here because…" I start stuttering. She looks like she's been doing well in her life; I don't wanna bring her back to chaos.
"Because I want to start a new team to go find Vick and Charlotte; like a search party" I let it out as her facial expression changed. Her face tense in horror "I know you want to look for them badly, but I think we should leave it up to the police"
"No," I say "We need to find them ourselves. We brought this upon them, so we need to find them quickly before they suffer more"
April faces her head down at the massager "Emily" she called my name "I almost died back then. I would join you, but…I don't know. It's too risky"
I understand where she's coming from, but I really wish she would join me. I feel like I'm all alone in this situation now. "I'll think about it, though" April added, getting my hopes up. "Are you hungry?" she asked. I couldn't resist the food "Yeah"
Later at 6, I drive through traffic going back home to Phil. I contemplate what I should do or say to apologize to him. I get a notification from Veronica "I'm so sorry, but I don't think I'll be participating this time"
Earlier, I sent her a text message if she wanted to join me in saving Vick and Charlotte. I got another notification. It's Phil. "Meet me at the park we went to when I proposed," he said. What is he up to?
I make it to the park and see him sitting down on a bench watching the sunset. I walk up to him and sit down beside him "Hey, Emily" he says. I don't say a word. "Isn't it nice watching the beautiful sunset with the love of your life?" he asked. The park was peaceful with no one in sight. "Breeze feels nice," he added. He looked at me as we made eye contact "Emily" he said "I'm very sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, by telling our kids that you would cheat on me. I was just so angry, but now I understand you, babe"
"We left Charlotte and Vick at the warehouse. It was my fault for getting knocked out before I could save Vick" he gently grabs my cheeks and moves my hair out of my face "I want to join you in finding them and taking down Haney once in for all"
My heart drops as I stare at Phil in shock, shocked by the fact that he changed his mind to join my team. I have nothing to say to him as I'm overwhelmed with what he says. I'm happy, mostly. I give him a hug and say "Thank you"
"Mhm," he says with a smile. We suddenly hear footsteps approaching us from behind. We both quickly turn around to find a man standing before our eyes. He has wavy blonde hair and wears a black suit and black slacks. "Who are you?" Phil asked him. "My name is Brent Luther, and I would assume you guys remember me from high school," the man says as more people approach from behind his trail.
Two men and one woman with suits on approach beside Brent. One of the men pulls out their police badge and says "Hello, I'm Detective Nguyen; part of the Detective Unit searching for Vick Cross and Charlotte Everly. I need you guys to come with us"
TO BE CONTINUED…