by PJ Fernor
“I needed air,” Johnny said. “Your mayor is looking for a punch in the jaw.”
“You come outside and then there’s a note left for Allie,” Ben said.
“Whoa,” I said. “Ben…”
“Are you asking if I saw something?” Johnny asked. “Because I didn’t see anything. Or anyone. I was out front. Waiting for you to finish up with the mayor. My guess is that he-”
“You saw nothing?” Ben asked.
“I don’t like your tone right now,” Johnny said.
“I don’t like that there are notes being left on Allie’s vehicle,” Ben said.
Now the two started inching toward one another.
I sighed. “Don’t do this.”
“I’m just asking questions,” Ben said.
“You’re being vague,” Johnny said. “Try harder, Ben.”
“I don’t know, Johnny. Have things been too quiet for you? Not getting enough time with Allie? So you drum up all this attention?”
Johnny laughed. “I get it now. I killed Claire and Candice, right? I did it because I wanted more time with Allie? Even though we had been meeting to talk about her sister’s murder. I think you need some sleep, Ben. This case is getting to your head.”
“You haven’t answered my questions,” Ben said.
“Ben, stop it,” I said. “The other letters were left when he wasn’t here.”
“So we think,” Ben said.
“You want my cell phone records?” Johnny asked. “You want to track down the dates and times and see where I was?”
“There are ways around that,” Ben said.
“You know, this is a little bit funny, but I suggest the joke stops right here. Before things go too far. I will defend myself, Ben.”
“Try it,” Ben challenged.
I whistled. “Will you two look at this note?”
I slammed my hand to Ben’s gut.
He groaned and took the note from me.
“Not dead…,” he whispered. “Oh, no…”
He showed Johnny the note. Johnny looked away for a second. “Still think it’s me, Ben? That I have some woman hidden somewhere right now?”
“I’m just open to all possibilities,” Ben said.
“What about you?” Johnny asked. “Your life is hard right now, man. Your father is sick. You have a busy home. Your girlfriend got promoted over you. Maybe you’re doing this to make Allie look bad. So she gets the boot out of the big seat and you get a chance there. How about that?”
Ben looked ready to hit Johnny.
So I had to get in between them. “Can we just agree that between the three of us, nobody committed any crimes? Because this note is not about carving a pumpkin. This suggests someone is in danger. Maybe we can focus on this for a second?”
“Oh, I’m focused,” Johnny said.
“So am I,” Ben said.
I walked away from them. They were officially idiots in my book.
Maybe they weren’t exactly wrong in a sense, but I had to think.
My brain swirled with too much at once.
Mayor Jim had me rattled. The sudden news of the man who killed my sister…
Now this note.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.
I rubbed my forehead.
Think, Allie… think…
The word yet stuck out to me.
If the killer wanted someone dead, they would have done it. Left the body to be found. Or hidden in the woods. This was a message. This was… maybe a test. And who was it? Why leave a note without some kind of…
The motherly instinct pinched my nerves.
I needed to check on Lo.
I tracked her phone to the house.
Then I called her.
“Allie…”
“Lo,” I said, feeling relieved to hear her voice. “Really dumb question. Are you okay?”
“Okay…? I’m okay. Why?”
“The power flickered here,” I lied. I shut my eyes. “I was wondering if it did there too. If something happened.”
“Not that I saw,” Lo said.
“Okay. The nurse there with Ben’s father?”
“Yeah. I promise, I won’t bother anyone.”
“It’s okay, Lo. I was just checking up on you. Talk to you later.”
“Are you okay, Allie?” Lo asked.
“Yeah,” I said in a way too happy voice. “Like I said, the power… flickered… here…”
“Okay,” Lo said. “I’m going to go then. I have to keep working.”
“Good. Study hard.”
The call ended.
Study hard?
I cringed at myself.
At least I knew Lo was safe.
I turned and saw Ben and Johnny still close, still arguing.
Who else would be involved…
I gasped.
“Hey!” I yelled as I ripped open the door to my SUV. “We’ve got to go!”
“What? What happened?” Ben asked.
“I know who this letter is about!”
Chapter Forty-Three
I stopped in front of Mrs. Mickels house and hurried out of my SUV.
Ben and Johnny were right behind me.
“Allie, wait!” Ben called out.
“You have to be careful!” Johnny added as though I didn’t know how to do my job.
I ran up the porch to the door and Ben caught up.
“Allie, be logical here,” he said.
“Yet,” I said. “That was the word in the note. There’s nobody else it could be. He came here and hurt her. Left her for us to find.” I slammed my hand on the door. “Mrs. Mickels! It’s Allie Down! Open the door!”
There was no response from her.
I hit the door again.
I grabbed the doorknob. Locked.
I threw my shoulder into the door and it didn’t budge.
Doors did not break as easily as they showed in the movies.
I backed off and thought about shooting the door.
My luck though would have Mrs. Mickels approaching the door as I shot it.
“You keep knocking,” I said to Ben.
“What are you going to do now?” Ben asked.
To my right was the front window. On each side were smaller windows.
Taking my chances, I popped the screen off the left window and pressed my hands to the glass and pushed. The window budged just a little.
I looked back at Johnny. “Open the window! Now!”
Johnny pressed at the window and got it to move a little more. He then forced his fingers under the window and grunted as he lifted it up enough for me to squeeze through.
“Mrs. Mickels!” Ben called out.
I stuck my head into the house. “Mrs. Mickels! It’s Allie Down! Say something!”
I kicked my feet off the porch and stuffed myself into the partially open window.
It was a wonderful reminder to myself of my age and that my body didn’t have quite the same shape as when I first started this job all those years ago.
I had to wiggle, twist and negotiate with the universe to let my hips get through the window.
When I finally was in the house, I climbed to my feet, grabbed my gun, and ran.
“Allie, the door!” Johnny yelled back at me.
I slid on my heels, spun around, and ran to the door.
I unlocked it and took off running again.
Ben and Johnny were behind me.
“Mrs. Mickels!” I cried out as I ran toward the kitchen.
I saw her feet first.
My heart stopped for a second or two and I caught myself inching through the kitchen, trying to wrap my head around finding her with her wrists and throat slit.
When I saw her alive, awake, and semi-alert, I tucked my gun away and dropped to my knees.
“Mrs. Mickels,” I said.
I touched her leg.
She jumped and lifted her left hand.
A large butcher’s knife suddenly slashed through the a
ir at me.
“Allie, no!” Ben yelled.
“Drop the knife, ma’am,” Johnny said.
“It’s okay,” I called back to both men. “She’s in shock.”
Mrs. Mickels pointed the knife at me.
“It’s just me,” I said. “It’s Allie. I’m here to help.”
“Allie,” Mrs. Mickels said. “Do you want some coffee?”
“No, thanks,” I said. “We need to get you to the hospital.” I looked back at Ben. “Call an ambulance.”
Ben backed off to make the call.
“Who is that?” Mrs. Mickels asked, pointing the knife at Johnny.
I casually put my hand to her wrist. “That’s Johnny Barby. He’s a detective. He’s helping us. Okay?”
“Oh, sure,” Mrs. Mickels said. “Of course.”
I took the knife from her hand and tossed it into the sink.
“Help will be here in a few,” Ben said.
“What happened here?” I asked.
“The door,” Mrs. Mickels said. “The man at the door…”
“What man?” I asked.
“The man I saw across the street. He came to my door. He tried to hurt me.”
I shook my head. “I’m so sorry…”
Guilt tore through me.
“I heard the knocking and I heard a voice say they needed help. That the killer was coming. I should have known better. I opened the door and he was there. Dressed in all black. He lunged at me and pushed me. He could have hurt me. He could have killed me. But he didn’t. He just…”
“He just scared you,” Johnny said.
“Yes,” Mrs. Mickels said. “He scared me. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the knife. We kind of faced each other for a few seconds. Then he suddenly turned and ran off. He locked the door and shut it behind him. I thought I was okay. Then this feeling came over me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe or something. I felt dizzy and sick. I just…”
“You were probably having a panic attack,” I said. “You should have called for help.”
“I couldn’t move,” she said. “I just couldn’t move.”
I heard the call of the ambulance siren.
“I’ll go out,” Ben said.
“I think I’m okay,” Mrs. Mickels said.
“Let’s have the paramedics help you,” I said. “You should go to the hospital and get checked out.”
“I can’t leave,” she said. “I have to stay and protect my home.”
“Mrs. Mickels…”
“I can’t leave,” she said. “They can check me out. Give me a pill or something. I am not leaving this house.”
“Okay,” I said. “When you were looking at this man, did you notice anything? His height? Hair color? His eyes? The sound of his voice?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I just opened the door and it was so quick. Even in those moments he stood in the kitchen, I just saw… everything was dark. Black. His shirt and pants and hat on his face. Like a winter cap with holes cut in it. His eyes… I can’t… I was thinking about what to do. I remembered the knives. The drawer.”
“Okay, that’s fine,” I said. “Maybe when you calm down you’ll remember more. I’m just glad you’re alive.”
“I am too,” she said.
“You really should go get checked out,” I said. “Let us look around here and make sure things are safe. You shouldn’t be alone.”
Mrs. Mickels suddenly smiled.
“What?” I asked.
She looked up and pointed at Johnny. “How about you leave him here to protect me all night long?”
Chapter Forty-Four
I did not order Johnny Barby to stay with Mrs. Mickels. It was tempting to do so, just to watch Johnny feel uncomfortable as Mrs. Mickels flirted with him. I had never seen Mrs. Mickels act like that either.
We sat with her and convinced her to let the paramedics check her out.
She was fine. Just spooked.
We were all spooked.
We made sure the locks on her doors worked. We made sure her house was clear (like we had done before).
Finally, we left.
Muldavey had been tasked to stay behind and watch the house.
Johnny, Ben, and myself each got into our own vehicle and we drove back to the station.
There in the parking lot, we gathered near my SUV.
I had the note in my hand again.
“It’s going too far,” Ben said. “She could have been killed.”
“I don’t think he wanted to kill her,” Johnny said.
“She could have had a heart attack,” Ben snapped.
“He’s right, Johnny,” I said. “And you’re right too. He wanted to scare Mrs. Mickels. Maybe he knows she was the one who called the police. More than once.”
“We need to go up and down the street,” Ben said. “Knock on every door. Check everyone’s house. The killer has to be close, right?”
“That’s a lot of headaches,” I said. “It’s a good idea. We can canvas the area. Put some pressure on people, but we have to be careful. Don’t want to scare anyone.”
“Why not?” Johnny asked.
“Not in a town like this, Johnny. Believe me, I’ve lived it before.”
“People know,” Ben said. “People are talking. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I said. “I just can’t figure what this all is. Why Claire and Candice? I mean, okay, fine, let’s say it was random. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fine. This guy jumps out and attacks both. Cuts their wrists and throats. Cuts off one of Candice’s feet and puts it into a pumpkin. Then he leaves notes on my windshield.”
“Maybe someone wants to pretend they’re in a movie,” Johnny said. “You’ve had issues in the department before. What if…”
“Who?” I asked.
“Muldavey,” Johnny said. “Any chance?”
“None,” Ben said. “And do we really want to go down that road?”
“What road?” Johnny asked. “The one where we accuse each other of murder? Didn’t you just do that to me?”
“Let’s not do this again,” I said.
“I’m just throwing out names and ideas,” Johnny said. “This little town feels stressed.”
“I can tell you where it comes from,” I said.
I pointed.
Ben and Johnny looked and there was Mayor Jim yet again.
Jogging across the parking lot. His tie thrown over his right shoulder, blowing in the wind just like his suit jacket and his perfect hair.
It looked like he was running a marathon.
When he stopped, he was out of the breath. “Allie… hey…”
“Wow,” Johnny said. “You are out of shape.”
“Political life will do that,” Mayor Jim said.
“Now is not a good time,” Ben said.
“I get it,” Mayor Jim said. “I just need to know… what’s going on now…”
He was jumpy. It was official.
Mayor Jim was nervous.
And for some odd reason, him being actually nervous made me feel a little nervous.
His entire purpose of being near me - or in my way - was to make sure his dream parade happened. Now the look in his eyes suggested it was beyond that. Maybe it was finally sinking in that two women were murdered in our little town. And that the murderer was still on the loose. Leaving notes on my windshield. Now scaring Mrs. Mickels.
“He went after Mrs. Mickels,” I said.
Mayor Jim stepped back. “What? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Ben said. “Now is the time to take this seriously. No more messing around, Mayor. You need to let this parade stuff go. We get the point. You want a parade. On our end, we have murders to solve.”
“Just go back to your office and take some pictures of yourself smiling,” Johnny said.
“I don’t like him here,” Mayor Jim said to me as he pointed at Johnny.
“He’s going to talk like I’m
not here?” Johnny asked. He laughed.
“I don’t want him here either,” Ben said.
Here we go.
Mayor Jim shot his hand out at Ben. “Yes! You get it!”
Ben didn’t shake Mayor Jim’s hand.
“Johnny is helpful,” I said. “This isn’t a simple case. The three men we have been questioning live in Johnny’s jurisdiction. He’s needed here.”
“I can bring in help if you need it,” Mayor Jim said.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” I said. “It’s time to go, Jim. You see what we’re up against.”
“I’m not okay with a lot of this,” Mayor Jim said.
He turned and stormed off.
“He could have at least tried to shake my hand,” Johnny said.
“That guy is a pain,” Ben said.
“He’s doing his job,” I said. “I’m trying to see it through his eyes.”
“Don’t,” Johnny said. “I can’t stand the political stuff at all.”
“Same,” Ben said.
“You two seem to agree more than not anymore,” I said.
They both laughed and I walked away.
The note in my hand.
My thoughts running in all directions.
It still didn’t make sense.
David, Drew, or Greg didn’t do this.
The idea that a random person was choosing random people to kill made me shiver.
Now that random person - that murderer - was somewhere in this town.
They could have seriously hurt or killed Mrs. Mickels.
They didn’t want to.
That was a message. Just like the notes. Just like Candice’s severed foot in the pumpkin. Just like the carved pumpkin.
All of it done to see my reaction.
Maybe to test my reaction.
Maybe the killer wanted to see us afraid.
Maybe what Mayor Jim wanted to do was actually the right thing.
If we didn’t let the notes and whatnot get to us, he’d slip up.
He’d get nervous, bored, or both and make a mistake.
The only problem with that was it left me without a sense of control.
In some way, I was just like Mayor Jim. I just wanted to do my job.
He wanted to have a parade.
I wanted to solve two murders.
Chapter Forty-Five
“I made meatloaf for you all tonight,” I announced.