Blackbird Fly Part Five

If you haven't read the previous parts to this ongoing story, here are the following links:

Part One: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-xrl46g04bk

Part Two: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-two-little-angel

Part Three: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-three

Part Four: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-four

Part Six: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-six

Blackbird Fly Part Five

The Freeway

The sound of speeding cars woke Jack. He could smell the exhaust of the cars as if he were on the road with them. Something was wrong. He was lying on a hard gravelly surface and was extremely groggy, feeling like he'd been drugged.

He was face down on the asphalt of a freeway. This observation shocked him as he woke up and opened his eyes. He stood up and brushed the gravel off his face. He figured out, fairly quick, that he was on the 55 freeway southbound.

Jack stood there in a daze looking at all the traffic zooming by. He didn't know what to think and knew nobody would ever believe him. He decided he'd better get his act together and began briskly walking toward the 17th street exit. Once he was off the freeway, he looked for the nearest bus stop.

Before he made it to the bus stop, an obnoxious car horn began honking repeatedly.

Mitchell Gannon

"What is going on here?" Jack grumbled under his breath as he turned to look at the honking car. A smiling, blonde-haired guy was waving. He pulled up beside Jack and shouted out, "Hey Jack, Jack Amsbury!" The guy pointed at the parking lot, signaling Jack to meet him there.

"I thought that was you, Jack," the guy in the car said in a jovial manner.

"Yeah, you're from chemistry. I can't remember your name."

"That's okay. I'm Mitchell Gannon."

"Oh yeah, yeah."

"Grad night was a blast," Mitchell said.

"Yeah, sure was."

"Are you okay? Your shirt is torn."

"I'm not sure," Jack responded in a sarcastic manner.

"Hop in if you need a ride."

"I'm going a bit of a distance."

"That's okay. Get in. I've got all day."

Mitchell dropped Jack off at the sanctuary.

"It was great running into you, Jack. Let's get together for lunch or something."

Back at the Bird Sanctuary

As Mitchell drove away, Jack noticed his car was covered in bird poop.

"What is this? What happened?"

He went into the administrator's office to inquire about the bird poop.

"Excuse me, sir," Jack spoke to the man sitting at the desk.

The man looked up and responded, "Yes."

"Oh hey, you were here yesterday. You're the tour guide who was talking with my girlfriend, Angelita."

"Yes, I remember her. She said you two had a fight and she needed to get away as soon as possible."

"What did you do to her?" Jack asked. "She's gone missing."

"I was going to ask you the same," the tour guide said, "The sheriff was here about 30 minutes ago questioning me about her. I told him that you and she had a fight."

"Well, that's her side of the story," Jack growled out, "You weren't there. You don't know what happened."

Jack left the office and wiped the bird guano off the windshield of his car and drove away towards home.

The Sheriff

Once he arrived home, he saw the sheriff's car in the driveway.

"Oh boy! This is serious. Something bad has happened." Jack murmured under his breath as he rushed toward the house.

Upon entering the house, his mom and the sheriff were standing in the living room talking.

"Jack, this is Sheriff Sampson."

"Hello Jack, let's sit down and talk."

"I'll be in the kitchen if anybody needs me," Jack's mom mentioned as she exited the living room.

"Jack, how are you today?" The sheriff sternly asked.

"I'm not sure, sheriff."

"When did you last see Angelita?" The sheriff abruptly changed the tone of the conversation.

Shaken by the urgency in the sheriff's voice, Jack answered, "Yesterday. We were at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary around 10:30 am."

"Anything else, Jack?"

“Well… yes. She and I were having a really nice day enjoying the sun. All of a sudden, her mood changed, and she became mad at me for no apparent reason. She slapped me! I asked her what was wrong, what did I do? She kept repeating, ‘You know what you did. You know what you did to Xochitl’”

"Oh yes, Xochitl Jimenez. Did you know her?"

"No, I've only known Angelita for ten months."

"Well, now we have two missing girls."

Jack nodded quietly as the sheriff continued speaking.

"Jack, you were gone all night. Where were you?"

Jack contemplated whether he should tell the sheriff about his flight or not.

"Well Jack! Where were you?"

Jack snapped out of his thoughts, "Oh uh, yes, last night. Well sheriff, I woke up this morning on the shoulder of the 55 freeway southbound near the 17th Street exit.

The sheriff notated Jack's comment. "Did you get into a fight with somebody, Jack? Your shirt is torn."

"No, uh," Jack laughed nervously as he ruffled his shirt.

"Are you high, Jack? Are you on drugs? Have you been drinking?"

"No sheriff. No, nothing like that."

The sheriff skimmed over his notes quickly. Then continued questioning.

"Angelita had the taxi driver drop her off at the Pizza Shack on Redhill Avenue in Tustin. Do you know why she would want to be dropped off there?"

"I don't. I've never heard of the Pizza Shack until now."

An anonymous employee from a neighboring business said he saw her, but she did not go into the Pizza Shack. She was walking toward Walnut Street. Do you have any idea where she would have been going?"

"I don't," Jack answered.

"Has Angelita said anything to you about Xochitl's disappearance?"

"Well, Sheriff, a few months ago she saw a green Impala in the school parking lot, and she freaked out. As the car drove away, she started screaming out, 'Xochitl, Xochitl. No, don't take her!'"

"Was Xochitl in the car?"

"No, it was just two guys."

"Okay, thank you, Jack. You've been helpful today. I'd appreciate it if you keep our conversation confidential as this is an ongoing investigation."

The Dream

After the sheriff left, Jack went up to his room. He was exhausted from his flight the night before and needed rest. Jack was out the moment his head hit the pillow. In his dream, he saw his car sitting alone in the dim light. A blackbird flew upon the car hood and stood there.

Angelita appeared and as she walked past the car, a large flock of blackbirds hovered over his car and simultaneously covered it with their feces. It was deliberate and almost mean-spirited. Angelita stood off to the side, watching as Jack’s car was covered with white, yellow, and gray bird droppings. The entire car was covered, but the lone blackbird that stood on the hood was not touched.

Before he woke up the voice in his dream said: "Did you notice the lone blackbird's face? It looks oddly familiar."

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Hold steady! Hold still... Come back soon for Part Six of this continuing saga.

Part Six is here Now!

Thank you to Tiffany Gordon and J.S. Wade for your help and inspiration.

With Love, RHC