Without A Trace Chapter Five
11th June 10am
I was not sure how to find Chris Kane so I decided to run upstairs and use the pc to do a google search, when the results showed up there was a couple of news stories from the South London Press over the last few years, one that detailed how he had been charged with assault, it also stated that he owned a bar called Steve's in Clapham.
I threw on my Jacket, made sure I had my mobile with me and seconds later I was in my car and on my way to Clapham. Steve's bar was a small building on a little side road with a big neon sign hanging above the door, I parked my car around the corner and walked back not really sure if it was opened or not this time of morning but it was so I walked in and got the attention of the bartender.
“What can I get for you?” He asked.
“Hi,” I said. “I am looking for a guy, I think he owns this place?”
“What's his name?”
“Christian Kane.”
The bartender seemed deep in thought for a moment then said. “Nope he doesn't own this place as far as I know.”
I became aware that two of the men at the bar had stopped talking and seemed to be taking an interest in what I was saying.
“What sort of business have you got with this Mr Kane anyway?” The bartender asked.
I smiled at him trying to be polite. “It's a personal matter,” I replied. “But I would be very grateful if you could tell me where I could find him?”
“If you want to leave your name and this Kane fellow does come in, I could pass it on to him.” He said.
“Maybe if you could just tell me where else he might be, I don't mean him any harm or trouble, I am just wondering if he has seen someone I am looking for?” I said to him as calmly as possible.
The bartender shook his head at me then spoke. “Nope I have no idea where he is, I’m not even sure if I know who you are talking about.” He replied.
I shook my head in disappointment and went back outside after giving him my details and said to myself. “What now ass hole?”
All I really knew for sure was that I needed a coffee, there was a greggs just down the road so I walked down and got my self a large coffee. When I had bought my drink I sat outside on a bench and got out my mobile to call Jared again. But just like before it went straight to voice mail so I left a message.
“Baby call me back please.”
I had drank half of my drink before I realized it had gone cold so I tossed it in the bin and walked back to my car. Just as I rounded the corner near the pub a Black truck bounced up and over the curb and stopped in front of me. The back door opened and a mean looking son of a bitch jumped out.
“Get in the car.” He said to me.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, get in the car.... now.”
“I don't fucking think so.” I replied as I started to back away but before I could get far he lunged forward, grabbed me, threw me in to the back of the truck, climbed in himself and then the truck took off.
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It really did not take a genius to figure out that this had something to do with my questions about Chris Kane, maybe one of those guys at the bar had made a call or the bartender had called Kane himself. Then someone must have put a call into tweedle dum and tweddle dee here to find out why I wanted too see Kane.
The truck slowed down then took a sharp left and stopped, looking out the window I could see mostly sky but out of the corner of my eye I saw a large white house.
“OK I want you to be a good boy, were getting out and going up that path there and in to the house and if you try to run or shout for help I am going to hurt you... do you understand?” He asked me.
“Yes.” Was my reply.
The three off us got out of the truck and walked up the path to a massive white house that looked more like a mansion than anything else. At the top of the path he opened the door and we entered into a large room with a staircase going up and glass sliding doors either side of us. I was pushed to the left and led through a set of the glass doors which turned out to be the kitchen.
There was a man standing with his back to us at the cooker with a frying pan in one hand and a spatula in the other.
“Here he is boss.” The one I had named dweedle dee said.
The man who I believed to be Chris Kane nodded without speaking. The two men that brought me here then turned around and walked out. Kane reached up to the cupboard and took down the salt and brown sauce, he then turned around and walked over to the table and sat down with his food.
“Would you like some tea?” he asked me pointing at the pot on the table.
“No thanks,” I said “I just had some coffee from greggs.”
“Is that the one by my pub?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“Do I know you?” He asked.
“No you do not.”
“But still you are asking around for me?”
“Yes I was bit it was not my intention to alarm you.” I said.
“When people I don't know start asking questions about me that causes me some concern.”
“I guess I did not really think about that.”
“So down to business, who the fuck are you?”
“Jensen Ackles, I believe you knew my husband a long time ago?”
He just raised his eyebrow and smirked at me. “Really... so what's his name?”
“My husbands name is Jared Padalecki.” I said.
He stopped eating at Jared's name and spoke. “Fucking hell man, that was a long time ago.”
“I know it has been thirteen years.”
“OK, so why are you here Mr Ackles?” He asked.
“Jared's missing,” I told him. “He has run off.”
“Well that's to bad, but it still does not explain why you are here.” He said and it looked like he was starting to loose his patience so I carried on quickly.
“I thought there might be a chance that Jared came looking for you. He is trying to find the answers to what happened that night and it's possible you might have some of them answers.” I told him.
“And what does he think I know?”
“I do not know, but you were probably one of the last people to see Jared's sister that night?” I replied.
“That's all very interesting Ackles but I don't particularly give a flying fuck.”
“So you haven't seen Jared,” I said. “He hasn't been by here or your work to talk too you?” I asked.
“No,” He said very evenly staring straight into my eyes. “But if he had of been here I would have finally told him what I saw that night.”
“Can you tell me please? So that I at least have something to tell Jared when I find him.” I asked and prayed silently that he would tell me.
He looked away for a second then spoke. “Do you want some coffee?”
“Yes please that would be nice.” I replied as he walked over and poured us both a cup before coming back to the table and sitting down.
“This is something I have never told anyone else and if you tell the police any of this I will deny everything... do you understand?”
My mouth felt dry all of a sudden. “OK.”
“That night I was parked down the street hoping to see Meghan as her dad could not stand me and after a while this other car drove past me, going really slow like they were looking for door numbers on the houses.”
“OK.”I said.
“I didn't really pay much attention, but then when it got down to the end of the road it turned around and parked on the other side of the street facing Jared's house.”
“Could you see who was in the car?” I asked him.
“It was a woman.” He told me.
“How long did the car stay there?”
“Well not long after it parked there, Mrs Padalecki and Meghan came out and drove off and as soon as they left the other car followed them.”
“Is there anything else?” I asked him.
“Well I sat there for about another thirty minutes or so and was just about to drive away when Jared's front door opened and his father came running out of the house and drove off as if the hounds of hell was on his arse.”
I let Kane's information sink in before speaking again. “So if you have never told anyone this, why are you telling me now?”
“Because I always liked Jared and maybe this information can help you bring him home once you find him... if you find him.” He said, then paused before speaking again.
“Is there any way I can be of assistance to you, maybe to help you find Jared or at least some answers?”
“I don't really know.” I told him, not really knowing what I was up against.
“You do not trust me, do you Mr Ackles?” He asked me.
I figured he could spot a lie, so I answered with the truth. “No I don't.”
“That's very smart Jensen, so why don't I just tag along for a while and see what develops?” He said.
“OK... and thanks.”
Chapter Six