[LUMINA, NEW MEXICO]
It was a quite neighborhood.
The houses there had a beautiful old pueblo look with adobe walls that looked like warm clay taken from the earth itself molded into shelters against the scorching heat. Dark wooden vigas could be seen protruding from the roofs, weathered and sun-bathed, they stood like bones of an ancient desert creature.
"Why do I feel like we stepped on the sun?" Wain asked as he suddenly appeared drenched in sweat.
"This desert is no joke…but it's beautiful in its own way." Kristan said as she admired the desert landscape.
"Let me do the talking." Arthos said as he approached the front door.
KNOCK, KNOCK
A few seconds later an elderly woman answered the door. Her face still held a hint of beauty from days long past. She smiled faintly as she greeted the guests at the door.
"Good morning, how may I help you?"
"Good mornings Mrs. Gates. My name is Arthos, these are my classmates Wain and Kristan. We are journalist with Lumina University working on a story. If you have a few minutes, we would like to ask you a few questions about your husband." Arthos said politely dressed in a dark black suit.
Mrs. Gates' face turned serious as her smile faded away turning into a bitter expression.
She said, "I'm terribly sorry, I'm afraid I can't speak to you…I don't speak to journalists. Good day."
As she prepared to close the door, Arthos reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture of a small item. He held it high enough for Mrs. Gates to see.
"We found this recently…we believe it belongs to you." Arthos said politely as he held a picture of the wedding ring in his hand.
Mrs. Gates froze for a moment, countless thoughts and memories from days long past resurfaced in an instant.
She remembered that ring…she remembered when she and her husband renewed their wedding vows on their 50th anniversary…she remembered seeing that ring at the jewelry store. She remembered thinking it was expensive but so exquisitely beautiful…she loved her husband dearly. The two had been best friends and high school sweethearts. They married at age 18 and had spent everyday together since. How she missed him…and to see that ring again.
"Where…where did you find that?" she asked, as if seeing a ghost.
"Can we talk? Privately…we promise we won't publish anything." Arthos said as his companions put away their notepads.
"Come inside then," she said as she opened the door for them.
[…]
The living room was quaint and warm. On the corner stood giant bookshelves reaching the ceiling full of thick books and volumes, most of which were worn with use. Light filtered through laced curtains giving the room a golden-brown hue that matched the pueblo style house.
"Thank you for inviting us in…can you tell us anything about your husband and his connection to NAVA? We understand he was an employee and worked there?" Arthos asked politely.
"Oh, heavens…my David was much more than an employee. He was a close friend to both Marlin Ashford and Morgan Novaris…the founders of NAVA."
Arthos, Kristan, and Wain shot quick glances at each other…this piece of information seemed important, but they were unsure how it fit into the puzzle.
Mrs. Gates continued, "that's something you will not read in the newspapers or journals. History and the truth are often mistaken as the same thing…but they are not. History is told from the perspective of a person, truth on the other hand is absolute."
"Anyway, David was a professor at Lumina University teaching in the Science department. His specialty as theoretical physics. He loved science and he loved teaching…he had doing it for over 30 years…but getting him to retire was impossible…it would be like telling someone to stop breathing."
"It was at the college that he met Morgan Novaris…he was a star student of my David. David loved him like a son and formed a close friendship with him. He always talked about Morgan with pride…he was brilliant and ambitious. Perhaps David saw himself in him…or maybe he saw what he could have been."
"Morgan had a roommate named Marlin Ashford. Most people believed they were close friends, but I never got that impression. The two of them were poor starving college students…so my David invited them for dinner frequently. They often talked for hours about physics, science, and game logic…I really didn't understand most of it."
"I remember this one day, it was late October 2029, David came home with such excitement. He said they had made a major discovery that would change the world. The boys came over for dinner and they talked about forming a company together. David declined being a founder because he believed the future belonged to the youth…besides he never cared much for fame and money. He just loved science and what science could do to help others…that's the type of person he was."
"That's when NAVA was founded…really founded. Right there on that dining room table. Marlin and Morgan went on to be the official founders, and my David retired as a college professor to join them as a special advisor."
"Before he went missing, did he say anything to you? Did he say or do anything unusual?" Arthos asked.
"No…not really, no. David was a calm and caring man…he never hurt anyone. The night before he went missing was a very ordinary night…I remember the boys came over for dinner. I made meatloaf and it was delicious. The key to making a good meatloaf is the moisture…you have to maintain the moisture."
"Anyway, after diner I cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed. David and the boys stayed up late talking about NAVA. I remember the discussion got heated. There was some yelling…I can't remember what they were saying…but it sounded like David and Marlin were disagreeing with Morgan over crystals and monetization…or something like that…I couldn't hear too clearly."
"The next morning David went to work…and never came home." She paused breaking down in tears.
Arthos got up and sat next to her…he wrapped his arm gently around her shoulder and said, "I'm terribly sorry Mrs. Gates…I lost my mom when I was a little boy…she was the world to me. I can only imagine how you feel without your husband."
"Do you know what happened to him? Is he ok? Is he alive?" She asked pleading for answers.
"Sorry, we don't know. We are just as confused as you are. We found his ring in a place far from here…we are investigating but fear something terrible happened at NAVA." Arthos' voice grew full of compassion for the poor widow.
"Heaven's Gate…that's what he called it…David talked in his sleep…most nights he talked about a project called Heaven's Gate."
"Thank you, Mrs. Gate. We appreciate your help." The trio said as they said goodbye.