CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR: HEART LEADING MY BODY.

Miles:

Through thick and thin, I tried to reach out to Meredith, but she just vanished into thin air. Even with all my contacts being involved, it was a dead end. They kept saying the same thing: "She doesn't want to be found." She wrote a note which she left on her kitchen counter in her small apartment. Meredith had stated that she was doing fine and nobody should come looking for her. Funny. Because, when people ask not to be looked for, that's an indication to search for them more.

Yet, I didn't give up my search until it led to something confusing two days ago. Meredith had an interview with Alan by her side, stating that it was all a misconception. In her words, "I was with him the night my brother went missing. We had a nice dinner, after which we came to a mutual conclusion of taking a break from our relationship. It's ridiculous that anyone would pin this on him. I think the initiators are those who want to tarnish his image due to his new productive project." She went ahead to announce that they were back together.

Was she kidding? A moment when a lead on her brother, who had been missing for almost a year, was found, she chose to go all lovey-dovey with a guy who left her for ruins when she needed him the most. Either her brain wasn't working well or something else was going on.

"Did you find anything new?" My voice towards Brandon was harsh.

We were in my sitting room, where the FBI left a few moments ago after rigorously questioning me about my relationship with Meredith. They were trying to gather as much information about her as possible. I made sure that Neymar and Britney were picked up. They haven't been taken to court because there was no sufficient evidence to bring down all involved.

It was draining, and I felt like I was playing a game they wanted.

"Nothing, Sir. There's nothing but silence from Meredith's end."

"Okay."

"You need to rest, sir," Brandon suggested.

I just scowled and stormed off to my room. He was right. For two nights straight, I have been awake. Her silence and that measly interview were bothering me. If only I could reach her, that would be much better.

Inside was tightening and suffocating. I grabbed my jacket to go for a ride. Honestly, I could hardly think straight.

Walking past Brandon, "are we heading out, sir?' He was right behind me.

"No. Just me. I need to clear my head. I am not going far."

"That is a bad idea, sir. At this point, you need security on you at all times. If you don't want the crowd, then I will just come with you."

"Brandon, I will be fine. I am just driving to the bar to get a few drinks. It is safe there. Besides, it is a VIP area with its own security."

"But, sir--"

"Enough! End of discussion."

Fifteen minutes later, I was hitched on top of a high stool, running my hand over the rim of my cranberry juice with a hint of vodka, thoughts swimming in left and right. I have been caught up in difficult situations and had to make demanding decisions, and yet, none of them pressed a weight on me like what was happening with Meredith. How can my resources not find one little girl? I had no idea what to think anymore. Even if she backs out, I will continue working on the case until I have brought down every last being involved.

Breathing out, I gulped down the whole thing in my glass. The slow thumping of 'A Man Without Love' by Engelbert Humperdinck made the atmosphere more gloomy. So far, I've had two glasses of drinks thinking it would give me some kind of calmness. Did I clear my head? No. It didn't work.

The night had eaten into itself, and I knew it was going to be another long and lonely one. I temporarily stopped working, handing affairs over to my new HR. In this state, decision-making for me was a bad idea.

Sliding into the car, I decided to drive home. Maybe doubling my sleeping pills will help out. And, if I didn't find Meredith before the end of the week, I was going to get in contact with some regrettable people who owed me a favor. This was a crucial time to use them.

Clutching and speeding my car to a stop, I got out, meaning to head into the house. Something felt off. I just noticed that accessing inside was easy. I didn’t see my guards or my beautiful flowers. Also, the place smelt of earth and cheap wine. Checking out the environment, thanks to the thin lights flashing across the streets, I saw that this was a warehouse of some sort. How did I get here? Oddly, it looked familiar, having a matching resemblance to the same one I saw in my nightmare.

Switching on my phone light for better sight, I walked to the entrance, which was locked with a chain. I went to get a bolt cutter from the boot of my car. Finding one, I went back to the door and easily cut through it, sliding open the metal gate which was an entrance.

Unpleasant smells hit my nose. A mix of chemicals, blood, and something that happened to be decaying. Yet, the inside was empty except for barrel after barrel, stacked in rolls. I peered into the barrels and saw oil. What was I doing here? It didn't make sense. Exhaling, I turned to leave.

Approaching the metal gate, my eyes went to the left, my body and mind guiding me to see what was there. My mind urged me to check the top of the ceiling. I jumped on one of the barrels for support and to aid my height, stretching my hand to check the top. Nothing was there. I must be going crazy for real. Withdrawing my hand as I dragged it away, it fell on something smooth. A bag of some sort. Immediately, I took it out. Surprisingly, it was the same backpack that I had seen in my dreams. Was this a de ja vú of some kind? Was I a reincarnate, or was this all connected?

I jumped down from the barrel and opened the bag. It was dusty and seemed to have been up there for months. I hurled the contents inside onto the floor. It was a boy's backpack. Games, marvel magazines, some crappy old keyboard, a broken laptop, and other irrelevant items. I opened the second zip and a case for eyeglasses fell out. Opening it, there was a mini box that held two contact lenses. It didn't look much, but when I flipped open the case of the contact lenses, it began beeping green, booting itself.

Intrigued, I pulled them out and inserted them into my eyes. Somehow, it automatically overrides its security, breaking the firewalls, and recognizing me as its user. It began projecting different memories of someone I knew and missed. This certainly belonged to Christian. It showed him spying on Meredith, both of them conversing and playing around, and him engaging in his activities. The thing was, Meredith had no idea she was being recorded. This is the future of technology.

"I wanted to take it off because I was invading their privacy. If anyone should have it, it was Meredith. My hand reached for my eyeballs, and I caught a recording of Louis with Christian.

“Just give me the fucking lenses and I will let you go! If a billion dollars isn't enough, I will increase it to two. Sell that crappy shit to me.” She sounded impatient and forceful.

“No. This invention is my life. I would never give it away. Just let me go.”

“I am sorry I can't do that. We will get that invention from you, alive or dead.” She snapped her fingers, and four goons came over to search Christian.

“Ma'am, there is nothing here.”

“Oh, well. What a shame. We will have to hurt you then to get it.”

“Let me go!” Christian was smart enough to kick the guys in the balls, slipping away.

While I watched, I heard noises at the gate, startling me. Who could be there? Before I could put the contents back into the backpack, they were already in. Think. Think fast. There was no place to hide without getting caught.

Flashlights were on my face in seconds, bodies marching toward me. “Miles?” Louis's voice called from the crowd. “What are you doing here? How do you know here?"

“That is the same question I want to ask you. What happened to Christian Tate, Louis?”

Feigning ignorance, “I have no idea what you mean. Who is that? What are you talking about?” Her eyes narrowed down on my hands, spotting the backpack. Snapping her fingers to her goons, “seize him!” Turning to me, “I guess it's late for you. It's time you reunited with Meredith and Christian in Heaven.”

“Louis, what did you do to Meredith? Don't you dare hurt her.”

“Save your strength and the drama.”

I braced myself to fight through the guys. I could beat four of them without blinking, but that wouldn't be enough. I needed to irritate Louis and get a confession out of her. Enough to bring her and Alan down. Still, what was she saying about Meredith? Was she okay? Alive? I swear, if anything happens to Meredith, I will make sure that their deaths is slow and excruciating. The thought of Meredith being in danger ignited a strong push for bloodshed within me.