Chapter 9

Lenny walked by the bubbling fountain and tossed in a coin. He was called back from his mini vacation, which was mostly just resting and watching the repetitive and predictable television programs. His plans were to visit his daughter but they had a falling out right before he was scheduled to leave. He was beginning to become bored when his boss asked him to come in to work since the temporary guard vanished from his post at the apartments.

Lenny did not ask too many details either but was surprised to find police tape in the parking area of the building. He heard snippets and tidbits from the other tenants that would gossip in hushed tones, in passing.

He had figured out that someone was kidnapped the day that the temporary guard vanished from his post. One of the women of the apartment complex. He did not want to seem insensitive and outright ask but he also did not hear any name being mentioned by the apartment tenants. He decided to wait and through the process of elimination, he would discover who the tenant was.

Audrey walked through the halls of the complex, following the footsteps and whistling. For an elderly guard, Lenny was fit. She wondered how many steps he had walked during his time here, as a guard. He seemed to have his invisible routes and routines etched into the building.

She turned the corner and found the indoor garden, illuminated with the solar lights and string lights. It was a peaceful place, and yet she seldom visited it like most tenants. The fountain could be heard, bubbling with the crickets and insects chirping along. She walked in the direction of the fountain and found Lenny crouched over something on the ground. The elderly man got up and looked straight at her and held out his hand. She thought that he might be startled by her but it was evident that he was aware of her presence.

"Look at what I found in the fountain." Lenny said, his old, wrinkled hand holding a shiny rectangular object. On closer inspection, Audrey saw that it was a name pin that the guards of the apartment complex would wear. "Isn't it peculiar?" Lenny said. "Perhaps it was accidentally dropped in during the rounds, when the guard walked past?" Audrey said trying to make sense of it. "No..." Lenny said wiping the sand and water droplets off the embossed badge. "M.P. Doug was a guard that was murdered two years ago." He continued. "But he never once stepped a foot though the doors of this apartment complex. He was always stationed at the shipping yards." Audrey's face paled. The very reason why she came to Lenny was to find information about the strange guard who was here during his absence. "Lenny, who was the guard that was here during your absence?" Audrey asked, breaking the minutes of silence. "My sister...Abigail..." Audrey's voice trailed off. In her mind saying it out loud would solidify the hopelessness of the situation. "Oh! I'm so sorry Audrey." Lenny said as he pat her shoulder. "I'll find out from my office who was on duty. Maybe it could even give us more insight on why this badge was here."

The two left the gardens and Lenny escorted Audrey to her apartment. He made small talk to try and lift Audrey's spirits. They bid each other goodnight and Lenny continued on his rounds. He walked through the hallways and did his inspections of the windows, access doors that are locked at night and emergency equipment. But his mind was working through old, long forgotten memories. Doug was the reason that brought the dangers of the job into reality for the security company. Lenny could not help but be transported back into the past, as he did his inspections out of habit to pass the time.