Whatever It Takes

Frank had been staring at the ceiling for a good hour until the buzzing of his phone snapped him out of his trance. At first he watched it with lazy eyes, but decided to roll over and reach out for it after it had gotten dangerously close to the bed stand’s edge.
A short look at the screen told him, that it was Gerard’s little brother, Mikey.

Frank was unsure about answering, but decided that it probably had something to do with his missing half and pressed the green light on his screen.


„Hey man“ Frank greeted quickly as he got comfortable on his back again, wiggling into the still warm pillows.

„Hi Frank, how you’re doing?“ Mikey’s voice came through the phone.

„Been better, how’re you?“

„Well actually… I’m a bit concerned. Do you know why Gerard isn’t answering his phone? I’ve been trying to call him since yesterday afternoon.“

„Uhm..Yeah his phone is switched off.“

„Okey, could you please tell him to call me back, I’m in town tomorrow and we wanted to meet for coffee.“

„I would but, he’s not here and I kinda don’t know where he is at the moment…“

There was a short silence on the phone.

„Did you two fight again or what?“

„Yeah, it’s stupid, we… I don’t know…“ Frank hesitated „I kind of broke up with him, and then he never returned to the house, and all of his things are here. His phone, money, keys..“

„What? He’s out there alone, on the streets?“

„No… I guess he’s with this dirty piece of shit..uhh I mean, the guy he fuc..uh..he had the affair with.“

Frank cursed silently and rubbed his palm over his closed eyes, he had to remind himself of speaking somewhat decent in front of Gerard’s brother!

„So you’ve thrown him out of the house and won’t give him his belongings?!“ Mikey’s normally emotionless voice almost cracked.

„NO! No, listen“- Frank hastily struggled to sit up and held up his one hand defensively as if Mikey could see him- „He just hasn’t returned to the house yet.“

„So…you think he’ll be back soon?“

„Well I don’t know, I’m a bit worried too, I thought I’d go to check at this guys apartment anyways after work. Gerard once told me something about that he tried funny things…but..“ Frank drifted off, should he really continue to tell Mikey about the rape attempt in the park?

„Like what?“ Mikey pressed impatiently.

„Well… I don’t know if Gerard wasn’t exaggerating back then, but… he may have said, that this guy tried to…uh… I don’t know- to rape him?“ Frank blurted out, as if the words were less severe when spoken out quickly.

„…Are you for real? You let him stay with a potential rapist?!“

„Uh Mikey come on, what should I do in your opinion? Maybe he isn’t even with him, I don’t know, I can’t message him either!“

„Wow, I’d really like to punch you in your fucking face!“ Frank had to hold the phone away from his head, as the yelled words rang painfully loud in his ear.

„Mikey…“ he started weakly, but his furious almost brother-in-law continued yelling-

„My brother is lost somewhere and you don’t even care! Why didn’t you call me? Since when is he missing?“
Mikey seemed to be really raging at the other end of the line.

„The last time I’ve seen him was at the bar on Sunday night, since then I haven’t heard anything. But after work I wanted to- “ „NO, you look for him NOW! Call in sick or something, I don’t fucking care, I need to know if Gerard is well!“

„Fine, I’ll call you back“ Frank grumbled and ended the call.

Who was Mikey to order him around…Nevertheless he called at the music shop and made a flimsy excuse about having angina, while coughing and snivelling into the phone the best he could. Luckily they bought it.

So he had to face the ugly truth now, Frank thought. At least he still had the address of William, this relationship-bashing-bastard’s apartment somewhere.
Frank got to his feet and started to look for the documents he had received from the private detective back then. After this incident with the photographs he had stuffed all of it in a drawer in the living room.
Frank descended the stairs and headed to the black chest of drawers, ripping the first one open and started to rummage about.
After a while he spotted the envelop he was looking for, an edge of the natural brown paper peeked out under all the other bits and pieces that littered the drawer. He remembered pushing the envelop carelessly into the first thing he saw when he had left for work, the day after their fight.
Frank tried hard to get the address quickly, and not getting lost in the private detective’s notes about Gerard’s and William’s activities and whereabouts back then again…

With the right sheet of paper in hand, Frank slipped into his Vans, grabbed his denim jacket and the car keys and rushed out of the door. The unpleasant feeling about the coming confrontation grew stronger and he felt a knot forming in his stomach…

About fifteen minutes later he pulled into the spacious parking lot in front of the five story high apartment houses and headed over to the name tags.

Frank noticed that some of them weren’t labeled and he frowned at the thought, that he would have to ring every one of them for as William’s last name wasn’t listed…
As he pressed his index finger on the small metal cylinder next to the first unlabelled name tag, the intercom remained silent for a long time until the high pitched voice of a child finally came through it.
Even though Frank knew for sure, that there wouldn’t be any kids living in William’s apartment he asked the child nevertheless about him, but of course the little boy didn’t know anything about it and was quickly gone after a short ‚no‘.

Frank pressed the next bell, feeling nervous again and cleared his throat in advance.

This time an elderly lady answered and he heard the barking of a small dog in the background as her thin voice piped up. „Shush beast! I can’t hear a word! Sit!“ she scolded the dog, then got her attention back to the person on the other end of the intercom.

„Sorry, but it’s just me and my dog living here, maybe the house management knows something that could help you, dear.“
„Alright, thank you“ Frank answered and just hoped that the next try wouldn’t be in vain.

But as he rung the bell to the last unlabelled name tag, nobody answered at all. He tried it three times but gave up after that.
Luckily the mobile number of the house management was displayed outside the building on a board behind a partly cracked glass and he decided to ring right through.
After spending about 20 minutes on hold, while having to listen to „I Need a Hero“ he felt his patience coming to an end, but just as he stuck the second cigarette between his lips and lighting it, he finally heard the droning voice of a severely bored employee of the house management’s hotline.

As Frank ended the call he felt worse than before. They lady on the hotline had told Frank, that ‚William C. Hayes‘ had moved out two weeks ago, but couldn’t tell him where he moved next, because he hadn’t left a forwarding address. So far they didn’t know anything else about their former tenant.

Frank had been so sure of finding William and Gerard at this address that he felt stupefied by his wrong assumption and certainty of the actual situation.
Now he didn’t have a single clue where his ex(?)- boyfriend could be. Maybe he wasn’t in Jersey anymore? Maybe Gerard and William weren’t even together?

He had to call Mikey, that was for sure. With slightly staggering feet he walked back to his car and slumped into the driver’s seat. Frank’s hands were sweaty as he opened the list with his recent calls and tapped on Mikey’s contact.
He gripped the wheel hard as he pressed the mobile phone to his ear with the other hand, he was fucking nervous and felt extremely guilty for being so oblivious about the situation, that Gerard wasn’t just sleeping around with his former affair again, but was really missing!

„Frank?“ Mikey answered almost immediately as if he had waited in front of his cell phone.

„Yeah, it’s me. I’ve been to his place…“ Frank’s voice was trembling.

„So? Spit it out!“

„He… this guy, he moved out two weeks ago. The flat is empty, so Gerard isn’t there.“

„…no…“

„The house management couldn’t tell me his new address either, he hasn’t left any information, no forwarding address, nothing, as if he didn’t want to be found.“

„You think…do you think Gerard is with this William?“ Mikey swallowed hard at the thought of his brother being a victim of this potentially dangerous guy.

„Well, he hasn’t that many friends here, so we don’t have a wide range of people to choose from…“

„Frank, I’ll come over as fast as possible, we need to tell the police or something, try to think about some possibilities where he could be. See you in two hours at your house!“

Mikey hung up, the disturbance in his voice had been clearly audible. Frank started the engine and after a last glance at the depressing grey of the apartment houses he drove home again, hot tears running down his cheeks.

One and a half hours later Frank heard a car speeding up his driveway, and as he stood up to open the door, Mikey had already jumped out of his car and kept ringing the doorbell furiously.
Frank opened the door quickly, and braced himself against Mikey’s anger, but as he faced the nervous man before him, Mikey threw himself in Frank’s arms.

„Wow- Mikes, take it easy-“ Frank coughed at the lanky male’s tight grip.

„Sorry Frank, I’m just so concerned, did something happen in the meantime?“ Mikey answered and stepped back from Frank.

„Not really, I switched his phone on, but there weren’t any important messages or calls. And I couldn’t think of anything else…“

„Okey, well, I had an idea while driving.“ Mikey started- „You said you were at a bar, right?“

„Yeah, why?“

„Well, maybe they have surveillance cameras or anybody has seen something? We should definitely go there and ask before we go to the police, because if there are actual videos, we wouldn’t show up empty handed at the police station.“

„Good thinking Mikes…Why didn’t I think of that myself?“ Frank mumbled and slipped into his jacket and Vans again.

„Let’s take my car“ Mikey stated and rushed out of the door.

The drive was barely five minutes, at least at the speed Mikey was going, and soon enough the two men stopped in front of the Rangoon Bar. It was the early afternoon, so the bar hadn’t opened yet, but after a bit of looking around they found the back entrance and knocked loudly enough until the bearded owner ripped the door open.

„What?!“ he barked at the two men’s faces.

„Sorry to disturb you Sir, but we wanted to know if your bar has any surveillance cameras? My brother went missing and the last time he has been seen was at your bar…“ Mikey looked at the grumpy owner with pleading eyes, and saw the man’s expression soften a bit at the mentioning of somebody missing.

„Your brother huh?“ the owner grunted, less aggressively than before.

„Yes, he had been at the bar on Sunday night, and hasn’t been seen since.“

„So do you have surveillance cameras?“ Frank chopped in, startling the owner who darted his eyes over to the shorter male.

„Yeah yeah boy, we do“ his eyes glaring a bit at the hasty question. „Actually I don’t have time for you two now, I need to prepare for later, bar’s opening at five, y’know..“

„Please, it won’t take long, we just need to have a short look, maybe the cameras have caught something important!“ Mikey pleaded again and stepped further to the opened door.

„God damn, alright, but hurry up. Follow me!“ the bearded owner grunted and turned around to lead the way, but stopped in his tracks and turned around again to face Frank who followed behind Mikey. „Will you close the god damn door, boy!“

Frank opened his mouth to protest, but Mikey nudged him in the ribs, to silence him. Frank rolled his eyes and closed the heavy door, grumbling.
They followed the plump man through a long dark hall, with boxes full of bottles stacked to the ceiling, until they reached a small and shabby looking room. There was a desk with a computer and revelling chair, some monitors above and shelves crammed with folders.

„There we are“ the man huffed and dropped his heavy body into the revelling chair, which creaked at the impact.
„So you said it was a Sunday?“

„Sunday around 8 or 9 pm…“ Frank recalled as he looked over the pub owner’s shoulder who had opened a file with different videos on his computer, each one labelled with the date on it.
He clicked on the folder with the exact date and played the video. There was no sound, no colours and a pretty low resolution too, nevertheless you could still see faces and details.


„You know I have two cameras, one in front of the bar, and one focused on the back entrance, after somebody has broken into the back door and stole bottles worth hundreds of dollars once.“ the owner explained as he fasted the video forward.

„This is the video from the front camera“

„Hold on for a second!“ Frank chimed in and the bar’s owner stopped the video. On the screen he could clearly see Gerard and himself, holding hands, on their way into the pub.

„That’s me and my boyfriend!“ Frank spoke jittery.

„Please continue.“ Mikey ordered tonelessly.

The video continued and more people entered the bar, which Frank didn’t recognise. He thought, that he maybe already missed William in the crowd of people who were funnelling inside the bar, as he suddenly saw a couple standing in front of the building.

„Wait, that’s him I think, William.“ Frank narrowed his eyes and started to chew on his lip ring. He had forgotten, that he hadn’t shown up alone, but with some dark haired guy, which looked a bit like Gerard. Frank could see them discussing in front of the bar until William pushed the other male inside nonchalantly.


„Please forward it a little, I think we were inside an hour or so.“ Frank asked the owner, who just hummed in agreement and fasted the video forward.

„Wait- there!“ Frank exclaimed.

„Stop shouting into my ear boy, I’m not deaf!“ the barman barked, but stopped the video.

„Sorry…“ Frank mumbled quietly.

„That’s definitely Gerard!“ Mikey spoke up, as he saw the black haired man who had appeared in front of the pub.

„And now they’re kissing“ Mikey amended as William had come into view, grabbing Gerard’s wrist.

Frank felt heat flush over his face at the scene. Gerard didn’t look like he enjoyed it that much, as far he could decipher from the pixelated video, but still, they were kissing and Frank clenched his fists.

„That’s you Frank, leaving the pub.“ Mikey muttered, totally focused on the video.

The video showed Frank, standing in front of Gerard and William, his arms crossed in front of his chest. William gestured defensively from himself to Gerard, and Frank knew that this was the moment when William had told him, that Gerard started it all again, because right after he could see Gerard lunge at William, but missing him and dropping to his knees.

The tiny pixelated Gerard in the video raised his hand in a pleading manner in Frank’s direction, but video Frank stepped back so the man kneeling before him, couldn’t touch him.
The pixelated video Gerard was shaking and cowering on the floor, obviously crying his eyes out, but video Frank threw some words at him and walked off, out of the camera’s field and now video William and video Gerard were left in front of the bar.

Suddenly a dull, meaty thud and a suspicious cracking noise combined with a low yelp cut through the silence of the shabby room-

„Awww fuck!!!“ Frank screamed and held his bleeding nose, squeezing his eyes shut out of pain.


„That serves you right you SELFISH BITCH! How can anybody be so cruel??!!“

Mikey had smacked Frank directly into the face and had apparently almost broken his nose!
He still stood with his fist raised in front of Frank, ready to punch him again.

„OI! Are you two fucking stupid?! Don’t you mess my office up or I’ll throw you out in a blink of an eye! I swear!“ the owner yelled at the two fighting men behind him and Mikey lowered his fist slowly, pushing his glasses back up his nose in the right position.

He glared hatefully at Frank, who was still clutching his nose, blood pouring slightly between his fingers.


„I’m sorry Mikey. I’m sorry…“ Frank snivelled regretful. „I know I am an asshole…“

Mikey turned angrily to the screen again, though he took an extra step away from Frank. He wasn’t done with him yet.

„I’m sorry Sir, it’s just hard for me to see my older brother so broken and sad.“ Mikey said in a sorrowful voice to the barman, who grunted in response and played the video again.

A long time nothing happened besides Gerard cowering on the ground, sobbing, then slapping William’s hand away until he was offered a cigarette and stood again.

The barman fasted forward until William’s companion entered the scene, started to fight with both of them and left the picture, and finally the barman himself came up to them telling William and Gerard to get lost.

„I remember him now, your brother is a little troublemaker… Almost broke my fucking front window“ The barman muttered and shifted in his seat.
Mikey and Frank didn’t answer, they were too focused on William who dragged Gerard in the direction of the car park. Unfortunately they couldn’t see the number plate of the car, but at least the exact car model, a black Volvo S80 T6, as it came into view as the car drove off.

„Could we maybe see the video from the other camera as well, the one in the back?“ Mikey asked hopefully and the bar’s owner complied without hesitation.

Suddenly Frank was very nervous. This video would doubtlessly reveal if Gerard had cheated again or not. The constant throbbing in his injured and bleeding nose now matched the beating of his heart as the meaty fingers of the bearded barman clicked the play symbol of the next video.
Frank knew that he could never forgive himself for leaving Gerard behind, if Gerard had spoken the truth. His eyebrows knitted as he waited for THAT scene…

„There! Somebody is exiting the back door!“ Mikey spoke through the silence.

„…Why is your friend taking a piss in my fucking bushes?! You know we have a bathroom, right?!“ The barman turned around to eye Frank up angrily.

„I…uh I know, but I wouldn’t let him go, because of that other guy.“ Frank’s eyes darted quickly in Mikey’s direction who was clenching his teeth dangerously ready to beat Frank up again…

„There’s William!“ Frank spoke quickly to get the attention back on the video and spare himself a truly broken nose.


Mikey’s head snapped back to the screen and all three men watched as the dark silhouette strode nearer in Gerard’s direction.
Video Gerard seemed to be truly frightened at the sudden appearance and sprinted away out of William’s reach, but the other male darted behind him, almost touching him. Then they were out of the camera’s view again.

„See, Frank. He didn’t cheat on you. He told you nothing but the truth and you abandoned him. You make me sick, you selfish asshole.“ Mikey’s voice was cold as ice as he addressed Frank, who was looking a picture of misery now.

„So, gentleman, you can discuss that outside, I need to get back to work now“ Frank heard the barman say and he couldn’t stand staying a second longer in the shabby and stuffed room, he dashed to the heavy iron door and outside the building.

After a few steps he sunk to his knees on the ground and buried his blood smeared face in his hands, sobbing. What in the world had he done? He had left Gerard with this psycho, who could’ve done anything to him by now. After all it was already two days, that he went missing.

Frank wanted to die right here and now, his guilty conscience was eating him up.
He heard quiet footsteps behind him and as he turned his tear stained face, Mikey was standing behind him.
„Quit that bullshit right now, you won’t help him if you’re sitting here and crying your eyes out. Get to your feet and stand your man.“ Mikey hissed at Frank, and the desperate man stumbled to his feet wordlessly.


„I got the videos on an USB stick, we’re going to the police now, get in the car.“ Mikey ordered and turned his back on Frank.

Frank followed behind like a beaten dog, he would do his best to find Gerard, Frank snivelled, his eyes red and puffy. He would get him back, whatever it takes.

Notes

Finally, Frank!