Love Lost and Found

Chapter 25/?

By the time they arrived at the police station they were nothing but four uneasy bundles of nerves. “But what do they want us for?” Orlando had asked again and again. He had been chewing his nails continuously the whole way. “MacLachlan didn’t say anything. Only that it was urgent.” Torsten replied every time Orlando asked, trying to sound as calm and self-assured as possible.

His mouth was dry as he woke and filled with a foul, stinging taste. //I must have eaten something wrong...// came the surprised thought. His mind seemed to be a foggy haze of thoughts and images but he could not remember anything. At least nothing that had happened within the last few hours. He remembered coming home after visiting a friend, whistling happily because he had just got the letter that filming would start again soon. He had only a minor role and needed the money. A frown creased his face as he realised that he could not see clearly and that his arms and legs felt heavier than usual.
He tried moving but no avail. Something seemed to be holding him down. He could remember pulling into the parking lot, getting out and walking towards the house after he had locked the car. And then... he had taken out his keys... he had been anxious to get home.. and then... nothing. Just the feel of something soft against his lips.. a foul stench invading his nostrils and a dizzy impression of being caught by strong, warm arms as his body went limp and then... nothing again. Only this time it was total. Just nothing. He could not remember.
He concentrated on searching his mind but the memories of what had happened afterwards remained lost to him. He just could not remember, even as the fog in his mind slowly cleared away. He still felt dizzy and disorientated but the worst thing was that he felt his memories of the missing hours – had it really been hours? – linger on the back of his mind. And yet he still could not grasp them, could not pull them into consciousness.
From somewhere to his left came the steady sound of dripping water. He wanted to open his eyes again, to see where he was but he was too tired and slowly sank back into the chloroform-induced slumber.

“Have a seat.” Sergeant Goodie said and gestured to the four additional chairs that had been crammed into the already crowded office. Orlando fidgeted on his chair, intertwining his fingers with Viggo’s behind the back of their chairs. He already felt a little less nervous as the older man squeezed them gently. Happily he smiled at his lover. The sound of Goodie clearing his throat brought their attention back to the police man.
“As you can see,” Goodie started “my colleague, MacLachlan, is not here at present. He had other pressing obligations but he’ll be here as soon as he can and” “Yes, but what happened?” Torsten interrupted, exchanging a worried glance with John. “Mr Dunst, I presume?” Goodie asked, consulting his note book. “Yes. What has happened? And why did your colleague tell us to come at once?”
“Well...” Goodie said and started to rummage through the papers on his chaotic desk till he finally found the photo he was looking for. “Do you know this man?” he asked, handing the photo to Viggo, who at once showed it to Orlando. The photo was the snapshot of a young man, perhaps 23 or 24 years of age, with rather pale skin, deep brown eyes, short brown – almost black – hair and high, elegant cheekbones.
“Yes,” Orlando said shakily “we had some scenes together... he plays a character named Melpomaen... another elf. But why do you ask me this?” “He was reported missing by one of his friends two days ago.” Goodie explained. “We found this in his flat..” Without further flourish he handed John a sheet of paper. “To whom it may concern,” the blond bodyguard read aloud, deep lines of worry already etching themselves onto his face. “Know that I have taken this man prisoner, not because of a personal hate, but because he is the closest in looks to...” John paused and then looked first at Orlando, who was already frozen in shock, and then, unbelievingly, at Sergeant Goodie. “This is a joke, isn’t it?” he asked “This can’t be...”
“I’m afraid not.” Goodie sighed. “Please continue reading.”
“But because he is closest in looks to... Orlando Bloom...” Orlando gasped, his widening in shock and started to tremble like a leaf. “No...” he whispered “That cannot be... that cannot have happened... not because of me...” Wordlessly Viggo drew Orlando close, calming and soothing the younger man, while he motioned for John to go on reading. Torsten was obviously furious, whereas Goodie seemed to watch the scene unfolding in front of him with quiet curiosity.
“Know that I will kill this man,” John continued reluctantly, his voice almost as shaky as Orlando’s had been. “to deliver him from a fate worse than death. A fate, which I myself will inflict upon him and I shall not be deterred from doing this, unless...” John gulped “unless the one called Orlando Bloom is handed over to me.” John turned the paper. “That’s it. No signature. Nothing.”
A deadly silence fell upon the room, echoing heavily between them. Orlando was sobbing into Viggo’s shoulder, while the older man was staring at the clueless John and Torsten with a strange mix of fear, fury and helplessness.
“What do we do now?” he whispered, breaking the eerie quiet. “You are not going to do anything.” Goodie said decisively. “We figured that we had to inform you, because the abductor might try to take what he wants when he notices that he won’t get it this way and”
“What do you mean?” Torsten snapped. “I mean,” Goodie explained “that he might try to abduct Mr Bloom too, as soon as he notices that we’re not going to hand him over. We must find him before he kills the other victim. That is the only chance we have.”
“How?” whispered Viggo. “How are we to do that? We know nothing about him or his motives!”
Again words were met with a terrible silence.

Tbc...

A/N: Sorry for the long delay, I had problems acessing the site. And Aura, you have been most helpful. Thanks!