The Disillusionists cont'd...

"What the hell do you mean you can't find her?" Buck stood with his wife Gracie in the reception area of the station.

Sgt Leah Merriweather invited them into her office - the small station was becoming over-crowded and she didn't want anyone within earshot of each other. She took a chair from the lunchroom and placed it alongside the one already opposite her desk, "Please have a seat... Allow me to explain."

Merriweather sat behind her desk and in the gentlest of terms, unveiled some of what she already knew. She based most of this information on what Gunther and Jim Williams had told her. Buck and Gracie were only aware of the camping scenario and were not at all aware of Mike's involvement... Or anything about a film.

"We let her use the camper occasionally of course. She's been around that unit ever since she was a kid."

Merriweather filled them in on the current state of the camper and that unfortunately, another woman in their party had been killed. May's parents were mortified. What kind of situation had their daughter got herself into? Buck let his distaste for Mike be known, "That guy... I knew he was a fuckin' loser the minute I laid eyes on him."

"So you know him?"

"No! I don;t know him." Buck slid back in the chair and tried to gather his composure. "May brought him home one time for dinner or something."

"It was your birthday." This was the first thing Gracie had said since they arrived.

"Birthday, yeah." remembered Buck, "What a joy that was..."

Gracie leaned forward, "He, this Mike fellow, was argumentative and egotistical. How many people when you invite them into your home become practically combative?"

"Combative?" asked the Sergeant, "Physically?"

"No, no..." said Buck, "Verbally."

"He's an asshole," added Gracie.

Merriweather nodded. On a yellow legal pad she scribbled a few notes. "And this other fellow, Stevenson. Gunther."

"Just met him the other day. Guess he's part of this too."

"He was present, yes." Merriweather did not go into much detail and indeed kept from them Stevenson's assertion that it was all part of some bizarre conspiracy. She wanted to get their impression of him first.

"Seemed like an okay guy."

"Very nice." nodded Grace.

"Jeez. I like to think I'm a good judge of character but..." Buck lurched forward again, " What does this have to do with my daughter still being out there!"

"Sir, we have a team coming in overnight. Unfortunately it will be dark soon. An aircraft is due to make a few passes on it's way back from fisheries duty and I can tell you in all honesty, if she's alive, we will find her."

"If?" That possibility only now hit home.

"I'm sorry," continued Merriweather, "All indications are - that she escaped. In all likelihood she feared for her safety and left the main road. It's been at least eighteen hours since we were alerted and assuming she hasn't found another way out, she's probably within a four or five square mile range. Unfortunately we cannot do anything until morning and when more people become available. Does she have much experience in the woods?"

"Just camping... I don't know."

"Hopefully she knows to stay put. You can cover a lot of ground out there without even realizing it." Merriweather gazed out the window for a brief moment. She stood up. "Let me sort out a place for you to stay. We've got a good B&B in town I can arrange at nominal cost... Have you had something to eat?"

"No. Not really."

"I'm not hungry." said Buck, crossing his arms.

Merriweather regarded them for a moment, "I'll be right back. I'll let them know you're coming."

"Thank you." said Gracie as she reached over to pry one of Buck's hands free.