Bard didn’t reply.
He just stood there staring at her.
Was this fucking for real?
“Okay. You got me. Do you wanna just tell me what your plan is?”
“Huh?” Calypso replied.
Bard stared at her a little longer.
Finally, he spoke.
“I just have to make sure you don’t work for somebody who’s trying to follow me or something like that.”
“I almost thought about asking you the same thing when we first sat down.”
“Yeah. I know of Alex. Sort of. He’s tied to this little personal investigation I’m working on. The boy is missing, and I’m getting ready to start trying to find that place I just told you about from last night. Somehow, I think it’s connected.”
He looked at her.
“What made you bring up Alex?”
Calypso explained what had happened that morning.
“If we walk to my truck, I can show you the newspaper.”
“Okay.”
They made their way toward the parking lot.
Bard stopped when he saw her vehicle.
The green Ford Bronco.
His mind started working through where he had seen it before.
He knew it hadn’t been long ago.
Calypso pulled out the newspaper and showed him the article.
“I actually got a copy of this paper yesterday. I’ve been meaning to look at it.”
He quickly looked over the article.
“Unfortunately, though, I’m gonna have to go for now. Maybe we can exchange phone numbers and talk more about this if you want, but right now I’ve got some more pressing matters.”
“Okay. I’m genuinely curious. I’m trying to think if there’s any way I could help you, really. I know a fair amount about ancient practices and occult stuff, but not too much. So much of it is culture-specific that it’s hard to be well versed in everything.”
She thought for a moment.
“I don’t even know if any of that would help you. That being said, if there’s a missing boy, have you called the police?”
Bard chuckled.
“Yeah. It’s a pretty complex situation.”
His eyes drifted toward the parking lot.
“If you’re genuinely interested in helping, or even just talking more about this, maybe we can figure out a plan to meet up later.”
Then Bard remembered where he had seen the green Bronco.
Route 4.
By now, he was looking over his shoulders. Into the woods. Through the parked cars. Scanning the surrounding terrain.
There had been too many coincidences.
“Yeah,” Calypso said. “Maybe later, when you’re done with everything and get settled, give me a call. Or… I don’t know. I’ll call you.”
They exchanged numbers.
“Okay. It was nice to meet you.”
They looked at each other.
Then came a quick, awkward hug.
Calypso watched Bard walk up the hill toward his red Honda Civic. He extinguished his cigarette, climbed inside, and drove away.
She remained beside the Bronco.
“Okay. Now what the fuck?”
Then she remembered the red Civic.
Route 4.
The night before last.