Level Zero by Dan McDowell (books that read to you TXT) 📕

“You know, I stare at this map for minutes at a time, hoping for a link to pop out at me in a providential revelation. It never does, though. It feels kind of hopeless,” Penske said.

Herbert put his hand on Penske’s shoulder. “Well, I hate to break it to you, but it should. Take the night off, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

.     .     .     .     .

Penske’s sleepless night left him searching his mind.

The medical records… They’re not identity crisis runaways. They’re kidnappings!

He jumped out of bed and drove back to the Precinct Three station, ambitious and confident, running straight to Herbert’s desk.

“Hey,” he said, working to catch his breath.

“What are you doing here, Penske? I told you to take the night off.”

“Good grief. I don’t think you ever leave, do you, Jack? Can you give me a few of your missing person’s files? I want to check something.”

“Sure.” Jack picked up the stack of folders and handed them over. “What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute.”

Penske rifled through the files for a period before looking up to grin ear to ear at Herbert.

The senior detective approached his desk. “What is it?”

“They were comatose, Jack. Before they disappeared, they were comatose. Some at RGH, handful across town at Northview, others at Southcreek, even a few at Westlake.”

“What are you saying?”

“We have a lead. Let me look at the Nancy Helbens file again. We matched the serial number on that dental implant in Walnut Creek Park. She lived with her mother on the east side of town.”

They raced toward the home of Bobbie Helbens. The Scorpions blared through the RPD-issued vehicle, an ‘81 Crown Victoria. The two men bobbed their heads, jamming to the music as they drove down the freeway.

Nothing special about this place. Just an average lot and block property in suburbia.

Penske put the car in park and turned the radio down. He took a swig of coffee and popped a breath mint in his mouth before pouring another into Herbert’s hand.

“Alright, Detective,” Herbert said. “Let’s do this. I hope you really are onto something.”

They climbed out of the car in haste. The two detectives knocked on the door, and it squeaked open. An elderly woman with glasses dangling from a chain, and a crochet hook tucked over her right ear, stood with a cane.

“Hello, Mrs. Helbens. I’m Detective Penske. This is Detective Herbert. We’re here to search your home for evidence regarding your missing daughter, Nancy.”

She gasped as her eyes widened. “You’re here to what? Where were you two months ago? I’m moving on.”

“We understand, ma’am. Humor us, please. We have additional evidence,” Penske replied.

“Okay. Don’t expect any coffee or cookies from me. I’ve already repurposed Nancy’s bedroom into a craft room. Forgive me, but I’ve got to move on with my life, and we weren’t that close. I only meant her to live here short term before she… before she disappeared.”

Cold as a cucumber, aren’t you, lady?

“Understood, ma’am,” Penske said. “We appreciate anything you feel would be helpful for us to know. Your daughter’s dental implant turned up the night before last in one of the parks.”

Helbens face remained emotionless as she spoke, “Well, as you may or may not know, Nancy was in a coma for some time before her disappearance. She awoke and seemed to have a massive imagination for life in a different era altogether. The doctors assumed her to have a schizoid-clustered illness or personality disorder after the brain damage. Drunk driver all but killed her. We didn’t think she was going to pull through,” Bobbie sighed. “You know, some say people have vivid dreams while they’re in a coma. I figured that’s all it was. That faded away with time, and I got more and more of my ‘old Nancy’ back, but then… her job began taking her away from me again. I thought she’d drop some weight while she was out… it never happened.”

What’s that got to do with anything…?

“Just so we can verify with our files,” Herbert said, “what was her last place of employment?”

She shook her head and huffed as her crochet hook hit the floor. ”Here, just look in the box.”

Didn’t mean to put you out. Most parents care about their children. Sheesh.

Mrs. Helbens walked the two men over to the corner of the wood-paneled living room, rifling through Nancy’s things.

Her eyes glimmered a moment, “This might seem a little off-topic, but I was going to ask if you’d seen those commercials for Creepy Nights.”

Both detectives smirked at each other.

“Penske, you take the high harmony. I’ll take the melody.”

The pair sang the commercial jingle and Helbens chuckled, applauding them for a moment before circling back to the more serious discussion.

We got a smile out of her. What do you know?

“Very nice, gentlemen. Very nice. Nancy worked over there at Creepy Nights. She called me that night and told me they fired her. Disappeared sometime on the way home. You guys know that already, though.”

“We found the car wrapped around a gnarly oak. No body, though. Why did they fire her?” Herbert asked.

“I don’t know. Nancy was a good person. Maybe she was late for work? I think the manager’s the one on the commercials. Go talk to him.”

“Yeah,” Herbert said. “He’s a piece of work, alright.”

Penske extended his hand to shake Mrs. Helbens. “Thanks for the information, ma’am. We’ll be in touch.”

They waved at Mrs. Helbens as they walked away from the house. She closed the door.

“Man, those windchimes are obnoxious,” Herbert said. “Look at those hand-painted garden gnomes. This lady should stick to paint by numbers.”

They both laughed as the door to the house squeaked open again. While they approached the Crown Vic, Helbens called out from behind, “I just want to say, I hope you find her. Dead or alive. I don’t care at this point. Just bring my daughter’s disappearance to a close. This has gone on long enough.”

Herbert and Penske glanced at each other for a second and nodded.

“We’ll