Things Fall Apart, Part 1
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:04 am
The day I spent with Rachel was a nice getaway from the depressing thought that I'd lost Amber to whatever evil forces had her. But eventually Rachel had to head home, and I was alone again that night.
So I tried to sleep, expecting that when the dreams came I'd find her there. But for the second night in a row, no Amber.
And the next day, as I ran errands and tried to busy myself with home improvement projects, the dark thoughts kept invading my consciousness. I went to bed early, hoping I'd meet up with my girl.
Nothing.
By the third day, I was a wreck. Rachel came over to talk about the leads she was following and to get my opinion on a few business items. Little did I know we were about to have a giant donnybrook at the house.
"So anyway, we're running down the limousine and trying to see where it connects. But we're not out of options, so I don't want you to lose heart. This isn't over."
"I appreciate it, Rachel, I really do."
"I know this is hurting you. If I can help, just say so."
"Thanks. But nothing solves this nightmare other than resolving it. You're doing all you can on that score, so, really..."
"Oh, isn't THIS friendly?"
"What are you doing here, Katie?"
"I came to check on you, because you aren't answering your phone, and now I see why."
I looked at my phone.
"I don't have any missed calls from you."
"Well, that's strange. So is this romantic little scene you have going here."
"Honestly, Katie, I think you have the wrong idea. Oscar and I are friends, and as it happens colleagues, and we're working on getting your sister home."
"Oh, sure. I can see that!"
"Katie, shut up. Really. Nothing untoward is happening here. We're talking about Amber and trying to get her home. Period."
"Why even lie to me like that?"
"It isn't a lie," said Rachel. "We haven't done anything wrong. It's actually really obnoxious of you to accuse us."
"Well, my friend Sheila saw y'all at the movies yesterday. Were you talking about Amber then?"
"This is bullshit. Katie, go away. I'm not talking to you when you're like this."
"Oh, so now it's 'go away, Katie.' Got it. Just wrote my sister off and moved on."
"What did you just say to me?"
"Well, where is she, Oscar? This woman is supposed to be a pro, so why isn't she home yet?"
"Oh my God, I can't believe this," said Rachel.
"She's just angry," I said.
"Don't patronize me. Where is Amber?"
"Probably in the hands of a Mexican cartel lord right now," I said. "We nearly missed rescuing her in a warehouse in Tampico where they were training her as a prostitute."
Katie was struck dumb. She looked at Rachel, who nodded her head.
So I tried to sleep, expecting that when the dreams came I'd find her there. But for the second night in a row, no Amber.
And the next day, as I ran errands and tried to busy myself with home improvement projects, the dark thoughts kept invading my consciousness. I went to bed early, hoping I'd meet up with my girl.
Nothing.
By the third day, I was a wreck. Rachel came over to talk about the leads she was following and to get my opinion on a few business items. Little did I know we were about to have a giant donnybrook at the house.
"So anyway, we're running down the limousine and trying to see where it connects. But we're not out of options, so I don't want you to lose heart. This isn't over."
"I appreciate it, Rachel, I really do."
"I know this is hurting you. If I can help, just say so."
"Thanks. But nothing solves this nightmare other than resolving it. You're doing all you can on that score, so, really..."
"Oh, isn't THIS friendly?"
"What are you doing here, Katie?"
"I came to check on you, because you aren't answering your phone, and now I see why."
I looked at my phone.
"I don't have any missed calls from you."
"Well, that's strange. So is this romantic little scene you have going here."
"Honestly, Katie, I think you have the wrong idea. Oscar and I are friends, and as it happens colleagues, and we're working on getting your sister home."
"Oh, sure. I can see that!"
"Katie, shut up. Really. Nothing untoward is happening here. We're talking about Amber and trying to get her home. Period."
"Why even lie to me like that?"
"It isn't a lie," said Rachel. "We haven't done anything wrong. It's actually really obnoxious of you to accuse us."
"Well, my friend Sheila saw y'all at the movies yesterday. Were you talking about Amber then?"
"This is bullshit. Katie, go away. I'm not talking to you when you're like this."
"Oh, so now it's 'go away, Katie.' Got it. Just wrote my sister off and moved on."
"What did you just say to me?"
"Well, where is she, Oscar? This woman is supposed to be a pro, so why isn't she home yet?"
"Oh my God, I can't believe this," said Rachel.
"She's just angry," I said.
"Don't patronize me. Where is Amber?"
"Probably in the hands of a Mexican cartel lord right now," I said. "We nearly missed rescuing her in a warehouse in Tampico where they were training her as a prostitute."
Katie was struck dumb. She looked at Rachel, who nodded her head.