Later that night, Josh was walking down the hall at midnight as planned. He walked into the elevator and pressed floor 5. Just when the elevator's door was about to close, a man stopped it with his hand. Josh freaked out when the man behind the door was revealed to be the tall guy from room 105. He looked at the floor nervously as Duke rode the elevator next to him.
When the door opened again, Josh walked out and headed to his room. Duke followed. Josh sped up his pace until he reached his room and tried to unlock the door fast but he dropped the keys. He tried to pick them up but Duke grabbed his shirt and punched him a couple of times in the face. Josh's nose started bleeding and he felt dizzy.
Duke slammed and pinned him to the wall. He threatened him, "I know it was you. Don't you ever even think about breaking into my room again."
Duke looked at the room number, 509. Then he turned back to face Josh and told him, "Remember. I know where you live now."
He let go of him and left.
Josh went quickly into his room terrified. He locked the door shut, his back pressed against the door, and breathing heavily. He wiped the blood off his nose. Suddenly, his phone rang and he shuddered. He picked it up nervously from his pocket. It was agent Robinson. He anxiously answered, "Gale. I'm so glad you called."
"Hi, Josh. I'm calling to tell that we're canceling the plan."
"What? Why?" Josh replied surprised.
"A man has been kidnapped from a bar just moments ago at the other side of the city."
"Wait a minute. Why would you assume he's kidnapped when it's been less than.."
Gale interrupts him, "There was a witness. But that is not what I'm calling you about. I wanted to tell you to stop your little detective games. Some students reported you. I was able to drop the charges. The point is, your cover has been exposed. And the kidnapper was far away from the route Kevin took every night. Which means you can stop searching the dorms."
"But what about Kevin?"
"That is the other thing that I wanted to tell you. The kidnapper normally catches a new victim once he is finished with the previous one."
Josh whimpered, "Wha.. What are you saying?" He continued with tears in his eyes, "That he's dead?"
"Either that or he is sold as a slave. That is how human trafficking usually works."
Josh's collapsed on the floor grieving and crying, "No. Oh my God." He wiped his tears with his sleeve then he snapped. "NO. I refuse to believe that!"
"Josh. Based on what I observed, the kidnapper makes a move after a week. It has only been 5 days. Be grateful that he did not suffer that long."
"Wow," Josh clenched his teeth and said, "You're a heartless bitch. YOU USED ME! You knew that once the kidnapper takes me, then that means he's done with Kevin!! And you never said SHIT about it! YOU. USED. ME."
"Josh, I.."
"YOU HEARTLESS BITCH!" He was shaking with rage and sorrow. Then he put his hand on his forehead then a bit lower covering his eyes until he calmed down.
"I did what I did to catch the criminal. To end this once and for all."
Josh wiped his tears, sniffed and replied quietly, "Shut up and don't call again." He hung up and threw the phone away. His chin quivered and his eyes turned puffy and watery.
Once he saw Kevin's bed. He couldn't help but curl up in a ball and sob. "No. You're not dead. You can't be dead."
The feeling of grief, guilt, and loneliness was driving him to the edge.