The Deadliest Stunt Chapter 6

The Deadliest Stunt

Chapter 6

I decided to go back to my place. At least there I was in a controlled environment. Mom and Dad were probably sleeping but if we went down to the den in the basement and didn’t play the music too loud, then it might be OK.

As it was, Dad had been called away on business earlier in the evening and Mom decided to go to Aunt Maureen’s—Alex’s mom, for the night as Aunt Maureen wasn’t feeling well.

So I had the place to myself. My younger sister Kimmy was at a friends for a sleepover.

Cool, Rhys said when he found out we would be alone—no parents to cramp our style. Whatever style that was.

We went down to the den and after Rhys approved some of my music choices, we cranked up the stereo and listened to music. He proceeded to tell me about his experiences living in L.A. with a stunt man for a father. I had grabbed some colas from the fridge and chips from the pantry and we continued to talk—me about some of my cases.

About 1:30 the phone rang upstairs and I went to grab it, but by the time I got there the person had hung up. It showed “Unknown Number” on call display. I returned to the basement to find Rhys perusing my movie collection.

Who was on the phone? He asked.

Don’t know. They hung up and it was unknown caller.

Mmm, Rhys said absently turning back to the pile of DVD’s in his hand. Oh, look at this one. Dad was in this movie, he said, showing me an action movie from a few years before.

I took a few more sips of my cola and we continued to chat about movies and music. At 2 am I was starting to nod off. Rhys kept on talking but I had trouble focusing on his conversation. His anecdotes seemed to ramble on—one story into another.

The next thing I remembered I woke up on the floor of the den, sunlight streaming into the side basement windows.

What happened? What time was it, I mumbled to myself as I got to my feet. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was 7 am. The last thing I remembered was talking to Rhys and it was 2 am.

Where was he?

My head hurt like someone had taken a baseball bat and was hitting the back of my skull. I took a few tentative steps  but had to stop as a wave of nausea came over me. I suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to throw up and raced to the bathroom that was next to the den. I just made it in time as I emptied the meager contents of my stomach into the toilet.

Ewww!

Why was I so sick? Had I eaten something bad the night before?

After I was done and felt a little better I went to pull my phone from my pocket, but it was gone.

I was sure it was there last night. And where was Rhys? Had I just passed out and then he left? I headed to the stairway and went up to the main level. Maybe he had spent the night on the couch or something. But there was no sign of him. I looked around for my phone but couldn’t find it.

I had a program on my laptop that would detect the cellphone to within a hundred meters. I hurried up to my room and booted it up at my desk. My head still hurt as I opened the program and set it on scan.

A beep a few seconds later revealed the phone was in the house. Not too far away from where I was sitting.

Unfortunately the program couldn’t pinpoint the exact signal, just give a general area. It was meant to be used if your phone was stolen and you could track to an address.

I searched my bedroom. Under my bed all I found were dust bunnies and some dirty old socks rolled up in a ball. No wonder I was running out of socks. I was hoarding them under my bed!

I bundled them up and lifted up the lid of the clothes hamper and was about to throw them in when I heard my phone start to chirp an incoming call.

I peered into the hamper and saw my phone laying there on top of a dirty t-shirt.

How did my phone get there?

I picked it up and said “hi”.

Justin where are you? It was Xander Wyatt.

Home. Why? What’s up?

Is Rhys or Reed with you?

No, neither of them are. Why?

They’re not here. Neither of them slept in their trailer last night. I’m worried about them. They don’t usually go off without telling me and neither of them are answering their cell phones.

OK, I’m coming out there. I have something to tell you—it might have something to do with the case—I’m not sure. I’d rather discuss it in person, though. But give me some time. I need to clean myself up a bit—I’ll explain when I get there.

OK, Xander said. Then he hung up.

I sat on the bed. I had a horrible feeling and it wasn’t just the nausea and headache. Reed and Rhys had disappeared.  And I think I knew who was responsible. I just had no clue why.

I took some anti-nausea medication and hopped in the shower. In the hot steam I mulled over what had happened in the past 12 hours. I was convinced now that Rhys lured me back home to keep me away from the fairgrounds—somehow drugged me and hid my phone to delay me getting or sending texts or calls. But why?

And where was he, and where was Reed?

What was going on here?

I finished my shower and quickly got dressed in beige cargo shorts and black muscle shirt. My nausea was subsiding as I made my way down to the kitchen for some toast. Maybe some food would make me feel better.

As I bit into the toast it hit me (not the toast). The cola I was drinking. Had Rhys put something in it. I had that strange phone call at 1:30 and it was after I got back and took a few sips that I started to feel woozy.

I went down to the den but couldn’t find the glass or the bottle of cola anywhere. Rhys must have taken it. Ok, so he cleaned up before he left. But did he drug the cola so I would pass out? But why?

Nothing made sense. This whole business with Xander and the threats. It was doing my head in.

I gave up looking for the bottle and went back upstairs. I pulled on my white high top sneakers and headed to my SUV. The drive out to the fairgrounds was quiet as it was Sunday morning and only 8 am. I found Xander frantic with worry standing outside his trailer. A woman was with him. She was rail thin and had blond hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Justin, good you’re here. We’re worried about the boys. The woman smiled at me. I’m Ruth, she said as I shook her hand. You’re the famous Justin Macdonald. Millie—Xander’s sister, has told us about you and some of your exploits.

Nice to meet you ma’am, I remarked.

Call me Ruth, she said with a wan smile. I noticed that she had sleeve tattoos as well, like her husband. I also noticed a small ring in her left nostril.

I proceeded to relate my experiences of the previous evening, ending with passing out in my den and Rhys hiding my cell phone.

Ruth looked at her husband. Why would Rhys do that? She said. I don’t know what’s come over him lately. His animosity towards Reed is really bothering me too. And now this incident with Justin. I can’t believe he would drug your drink like that. It’s horrible.

I agree, I said. But I don’t see any other explanation. Look I really like Reed and Rhys and we could be buds but something is definitely up with Rhys. His erratic behaviour is very suspicious. We have to tell the authorities.

Now they are both missing, Xander said with gritted teeth. I’ve already called the authorities and they are on their way.

I don’t know if the boys went off on their own or if someone has taken them. There was no note and they’ve both taken their cell phones.

But they’re not answering either calls or texts, Ruth said with a frown. I need to go lay down, she said after a moment and Xander nodded. She headed off to the trailer and went inside.

Ruth’s not doing well, Xander said running a hand through his thick mop of hair in frustration. She’s getting better but then the stress of the boys being missing and the charity show being cancelled. I just don’t know if I can go on like this. Our house offer was approved so we move at the end of the month, but now I’m wondering if this is the best thing to do.

I glanced at the trailer. Look, I’m trying to find out who’s behind the sabotage. It’s a real shame if the show won’t go on. And we’ll find Reed and Rhys.

Xander nodded and remained silent for a moment. You mentioned on the phone that you have some information about the case? He asked.

It’s about Rhys. He had a lot of animosity towards me and Reed yesterday morning. I just think he was jealous, but we saw him talking to someone, I didn’t recognize who it was—it was a woman. I didn’t recognize her from your crew. It looked suspicious and then afterwards he did a complete 360 with his attitude. He was all of a sudden my best bud and being really nice even to Reed. I didn’t buy it. I figured he was up to something—and he was, he drugged my drink and kept me away from Reed and the fairgrounds.

You think this woman is connected? Xander said. The only women on my crew are Raina and Elise, then there’s Leland’s assistant Janelle.

It wasn’t one of those women, I said. I’ve met them all. I should have asked Rhys who she was but I didn’t want him to get upset. I played along with his game last night and all it got me was a morning spent hunched over the toilet and a massive headache.

Xander closed his eyes and rubbed them in frustration. I’m sorry about that, Justin. If you want to stop investigating, I’ll understand.

Xander, I said with a wry chuckle. You don’t know me very well if you think a morning spent puking my guts out will make me give up on this. I’ve been in worse spots than this before. I want to see this show on Saturday. I want to get these people who are behind the sabotage. We will find them and the show will go on. I promise you that.

Xander sighed. That’s great news, Justin. Look, the authorities are here. I’ll let them know about Reed and Rhys and you can tell them about your adventure last night.

An hour later, the police had left. I told them the whole story about Rhys and meeting with the suspicious woman, then about him drugging my soda, but I had no proof as he had taken the evidence.

The police had searched the boys’ trailer but found nothing incriminating. In the back of my mind I knew Rhys was responsible for Reed’s disappearance—or at least knew it was going to happen. He had an accomplice—maybe the woman? He had gotten quite adamant that I not call Rhys. He then drugged me and hid my phone to delay me investigating until he or someone had time to take Reed—for what reason I couldn’t fathom—and take off. They could be anywhere. Were they even in Port Salser? And what did this—if anything have to do with the sabotage?

Most of the crew had left and gone back to L.A. Only a skeleton crew remained. Denny and Raina were still here, working on dismantling the equipment. In the middle of the main field stood the cargo plane that Xander was going to do his main stunt from on Saturday night. It had arrived the previous evening and had been put in the field for the local media to check it out. But no media were coming—they had been cancelled as well.

Suddenly a figure alighted from the plane. Someone I had seen before. It was the suspicious woman Rhys had been talking to the day before. Now was my chance to find out who she was!