by Dan Padavona
“LeVar is a raw recruit. What if we canvass the farmhouse, and Benson shows up? I can’t predict how your brother will react.”
“Have faith in LeVar. He’s experienced far worse than Mark Benson.”
“I’d feel better with you as my partner. How about we drive past the gym on the off chance he stopped by, then stake out the house together? Send LeVar to interview Ellie Fisher.”
“We don’t have time. Every second we waste debating our next move puts us further behind.”
Chelsey shook her head and handed Raven a radio.
“Just in case you lose cell coverage. I want updates from you every ten minutes. I swear, Raven. If you don’t reply on time, I’ll call Thomas and tell him to send the search party after you.”
Raven set a hand on Chelsey’s arm.
“I can take care of myself. Let me tell you something, Chelsey. Nobody threatens me or my family and gets away with it. When I catch Benson, he’ll wish he never crossed me.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
October 31st
10:10 a.m.
Ugh.
Mr. Pierpoint was driving her nuts.
Valerie slammed her locker and checked the time. Five minutes until study hall. Pierpoint barely acknowledged her after she turned in her essay, despite his admonition this morning. He just stared at Derek’s open chair and grilled Valerie over her boyfriend’s whereabouts.
Her boyfriend. Wow, that happened fast.
What was Pierpoint’s obsession with Derek? Sure, he was the teacher’s pet. But Pierpoint paid Derek too much attention, always asking him what he did over the weekend, comparing notes on their favorite musical artists, as if Pierpoint wasn’t almost twice Derek’s age. What a creep. Then, after a rough social studies lecture that almost put Valerie to sleep, Pierpoint encountered her in the hallway, again asking about Derek. His eyes held knowledge. Almost like he knew where Derek was, but wanted to test Valerie. So weird.
Calling up her web statistics on her phone, she checked last night’s numbers and swallowed. Sometimes, the podcast listener counter ran behind and caught up the next day. She’d tripled her listeners. If Mom and Dad couldn’t pay for college, Valerie would cover the expenses from advertising. That settled it. If she ended the story tonight, she’d leave money on the table. Time to cash in on her success. The show needed to go on.
What was scarier than a madman murdering Valerie on-air? It came to her. What if the Halloween Man hosted the show? Her listeners might imagine Valerie’s dead body slumped in the corner and gathering flies while the killer spoke to them. Derek needed to reprise his role.
She dialed his phone and listened as it rang. Strange, the call didn’t dump her into his voice-mail. She hung up and sent a text.
Where the hell are you? Pierpoint is losing his mind because you didn’t turn in your paper. Write me back. Got a great idea for tonight’s show. It involves you and a sharp knife. Ha!
Ten seconds passed. Then thirty.
So, yeah. I want you to play the Halloween Man. You host the show. One night only. Warn everyone to lock their doors before you go on another killing spree.
Still no reply.
I’m worried you’re blowing me off. Did I say something? If so, I’m sorry. Write back when you can, K?
Valerie stared at the screen, waiting for a return text. When Derek didn’t reply, she scrunched her brow and stuffed the phone in her pocket. Something was wrong. It was one thing for Derek to ditch school. It was another for him to ignore messages. Had she pushed him too hard last night?
Leland threw his hand against her locker and assailed her with an impish grin. Beside him, Gardner folded his arms and studied his shoelaces. Since Leland had seen Derek last, she’d finally get answers.
Tall and fair-haired, Leland was a good-looking guy, except for the acne and bloodshot, stoned eyes. Somehow, he kept his grades up despite stumbling around in a perpetual haze. The honor society had inducted him last month, and Leland won a music scholarship to Ithaca College.
“You told me your show was gonna be special, but wow. Epic.”
“Gee, thanks. Did you repay me by getting Derek too high to drag himself to school? I need him for my Halloween show.”
A confused expression fell over Leland’s face.
“What are you talking about? Derek didn’t party with me last night.”
Valerie glanced at the time. Two minutes until study hall.
“Walk with me. I’ve already been late once this morning. So where is Derek?”
Leland shrugged and turned his body sideways so the rush of students didn’t trample him.
“I messaged him after midnight and told him to stop by. He never showed.”
Fear flashed through Valerie. What if something happened to Derek? The train tracks weren’t safe after dark. She remembered the fog, the sharp moonlight, and something moving through the field while they walked down the access road. Anger replaced her fear, and she shoved Leland’s shoulder.
“Hey. What was that for?”
“Derek no-showed, and you didn’t bother to find out if he made it home?”
Leland looked away and ran a hand through his hair.
“I fell asleep.”
“What?”
“Look, it was almost one in the morning.”
“And you’d partied since sunset. Jesus, Leland. What if something happened to Derek?”
Leland glanced at Gardner, expecting his friend to back him up. Gardner raised his palms. Leland scratched his arm.
“Derek blows me off all the time. When he didn’t show, I assumed he walked home and finished his paper. Isn’t he in school?”
“If Derek showed for school, would I ask you what happened to him?”
Leland’s mouth opened. Nothing came out.
“Wasn’t Derek’s paper due this morning?” Gardner asked.
“It was, and Pierpoint is throwing a shit-fit over Derek not showing up.”
“I’m surprised Pierpoint doesn’t know where he is,” Leland said over his shoulder as he pushed through the crowd. “He’s like Derek’s best friend.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Derek didn’t tell you? Pierpoint showed up at his house at the beginning of the semester. Said he’d help Derek keep his grades up and get a college scholarship.”
“Didn’t Derek’s parents freak out?”
“Derek’s folks are never around. Anyhow, Pierpoint’s wife divorced him. You heard why, right?”
Valerie looked to Gardner for an answer. The boy wore a poker face.
“Rumors are stupid, Leland,” Valerie said. “I can’t stand Mr. Pierpoint, but I won’t gossip about him. I suppose people claim he cheated on his wife.”
Leland raised an eyebrow.
“Wow, you really don’t know. He likes guys, Valerie. Why do you think he pays so much attention to Derek?”
Valerie pulled up. A girl bumped her from behind and pushed past with a huff.
“Are you suggesting Mr. Pierpoint wants to have an affair with Derek?”
“Don’t fret. It’s a one-way street, and Derek isn’t interested. I’m sure Pierpoint is heartbroken.”
The crowd clogging the hallway parted. Gardner swatted Leland’s arm and pointed at the wall. Valerie turned and saw the Halloween Man dummy from the stairwell posed outside the teacher’s lounge.
“Where did that come from?” Leland asked.
“The Halloween Man,” Gardner said, staring at the dummy as he shifted protectively in front of Valerie. “Looks like someone is taking your show a little too seriously.”
Valerie stood on her toes and spied the dummy over Gardner’s shoulders.
“Should I be flattered or concerned?”
“Whoever did this,” Leland said, smirking. “He listened to every detail in your story. You’re a regular Stephen King, Val.”
Leland draped an arm around Valerie’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. Valerie gave him a playful punch. Gardner stomped away
before Leland snatched his arm.
“What’s gotten into you?” Leland asked.
Gardner scowled.
“Maybe this isn’t best time to screw around. This doesn’t worry you?”
The dummy posed beside a rolling garbage container filled with bags. Valerie’s eyes flicked to the leering mask. Goosebumps rose on her flesh as a troubling thought occurred to Valerie. She wasn’t a celebrity, but she’d attracted thousands of fans. There was bound to be a psycho among them. What if someone adopted her urban legend and played the role of the Halloween Man?
“He’s staring at you, Valerie,” Leland said. “I guess he wants to be your boyfriend.”
Gardner glared at Leland as Valerie adjusted her knapsack.
“Sorry, Halloween Man. I’m already spoken for.” She glanced at her friends. Leland laughed, but Gardner stayed between Valerie and the dummy, as if the real Halloween Man hid behind the mask. Valerie ran her gaze over the onlookers and raised her voice. “Very funny, everybody. Who’s the prankster? Step forward and take credit for a job well done.”
Students shared looks. Then the crowd parted as Valerie’s schoolmates headed for class.
This was crazy. She wished Derek was here to see this. Where was he?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
October 31st
11:00 a.m.
Traffic arrowed down the Kane Grove thoroughfare as Raven brought the binoculars to her eyes. She parked her black Nissan Rogue in front of a twenty-four-hour laundromat across the street from Mark Benson’s old gym. A thick overcast hung over the town, the wind beating at the SUV and blowing dead leaves around in the grass. Damn, it was chilly for Halloween. Raven’s teeth chattered until she surrendered to the cold and turned on the heater. Even then, it took a long time for the interior to heat. It seemed the cold wanted a piece of Raven.
The binoculars constricted her peripheral vision. She scanned the front of the gym, focusing on the front doors and windows. Twice, she swore something moved in the darkness beyond the glass. Each time, it was a bird’s reflection. She set the binoculars on the seat and sighed. It was going to be a long day, and she had no proof Mark Benson would return to his bankrupt business. Rumors of Benson in Wolf Lake were just that—rumors. Raven understood human psychology. When the authorities released a BOLO on an escaped convict, people claimed to see him behind every tree and on every street corner.
The wind moaned as it whipped along the laundromat and pushed against the Rogue. Her stomach flip-flopped. Unable to consume fast-food, she pawed inside a container of sliced vegetables and dipped the snacks in hummus. The crunching sounded loud inside the SUV with the windows rolled up.
Staring through the binoculars, she stopped. A shadow moved along the wall. Someone was beside the closed gymnasium. Her hand moved to the phone before the figure stepped out of hiding. Just a jogger cutting through the parking lot. Still, the false alarm forced Raven to consider the back door to the building…where Benson had dragged her away after knocking her unconscious inside the locker room. If Benson cut through the neighborhood behind the gym and descended a grassy hill, he could break through the back door undetected.
She jumped out of her seat when the phone rang. Covering her heart, she read Chelsey’s name on the screen.
“You missed your check-in time. I’m serious about calling the sheriff’s department.”
Raven checked the dashboard clock.
“Sorry. I got caught up with the surveillance and forgot.”
“See anything?”
“Nothing. The place looks dead.”
“LeVar will arrive in an hour, and the gym seems like a dead end. I think you should come back to Wolf Lake.”
“You just want to monitor me.”
Chelsey snickered.
“Someone has to keep you safe. Anyhow, I got a tip from the Kane Grove PD.”
“What’s up?”
“There’s chatter around the office that Thomas sent a deputy to Wolf Lake. A shop owner saw Benson in the village.”
Raven pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Something tells me we’ll hear a lot of that today. I don’t suppose this shop owner took his picture or copied his license plate.”
“No.”
“Sounds like a false alarm.”
“Come back, anyway,” Chelsey said, walking as she spoke. “You said you wanted to check on Ellie Fisher and her roommate.”
Raven heard her boss opening cabinet drawers inside Wolf Lake Consulting. Returning to Wolf Lake had its merits. At least it was warm inside the office. But her instincts warned her she was right about Benson and his old gym. The closed business was the perfect place to hide, if he found a way inside.
“I don’t know if that’s a great idea.”
“How long have you been watching the gym?”
“About twenty minutes. Surveillance missions take an entire day.” She exhaled, understanding Chelsey wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Fine. I’ll drive back to Wolf Lake and check on Ellie Fisher.”
“Don’t forget to call me as soon as you arrive. Every ten minutes, Raven.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Raven pulled the Rogue out of the parking lot and checked her mirrors. She felt eyes watching as she waited at the red light and pulled into Benson’s parking lot. After circling the building, she checked the back door. A scuff mark marred the lock, as if someone had forced his way inside. She paused and stared at the steel door, contemplating her next move. Snapping a photo of the door, she turned the SUV out of the lot, one eye drifting to the rear-view mirror, expecting Benson to lurch out from behind the building.
The ride back to Wolf Lake took longer than expected. Lunch hour traffic clogged the roads, and a stalled tractor trailer closed the right lane on the interstate. On her way into the village, she checked in with Chelsey and dialed her mother. Serena answered on the first ring.
“Everything quiet at the house?”
“Yes, yes. I’m fine. Ain’t nobody stalking around the property.”
“I’m a mile from the lake and heading for the commercial district. I can swing by on my way.”
“Raven, I’m not a child. If there was a problem, I’d tell you. Besides, Naomi is picking me up at noon.”
“She’s not working this afternoon?”
“Naomi wants me to visit the office. She’s taking vacation time during the afternoon so we can bake. Apparently, her daughter stayed home sick today, and Naomi wants to check on her.”
Scout stayed home sick? Raven remembered the supposed murder on Violet Lyon’s podcast. Her lips curled into a grin. Scout must be playing hooky and investigating.
“All right. If you notice any strange vehicles near the house—”
“I’ll call Thomas right away.”
Raven wondered if Serena would. She got the impression her mother would say anything to get Raven off her back.
The municipal lot overflowed with noon shoppers. Raven found a parking spot between two trucks and squeezed into the space, wincing when her door tapped the neighboring vehicle. As she hurried through the lot, she spotted the sheriff’s department cruiser parked along Main Street. Deputy Aguilar stepped out of the vehicle.
“Deputy Aguilar.” Aguilar’s eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Raven. She lifted a hand and dodged the crowd. “I understand someone called in a Mark Benson sighting.”
Aguilar’s eyebrows lifted.
“News travels fast, I guess.”
“Any substance to the report.”
“I’m on my way to the shop right now, if you wish to join me.”
Raven glanced at her phone and read the time.
“I have one more stop to make. Ellie Fisher, the woman Benson held for ransom, lives on the corner. I’m checking in to ensure she’s aware of the escape.” Raven started away and stopped. “I take it Thomas wants you to watch my back.”
“Something like that. It makes sense. Benson has you on his hit list.”
“Tell yo
u what. If the muscle head shows his face, we’ll take him down together.”
Aguilar quirked a rare smile.
“You’ve got a deal, Raven.”
“What now?”
“After I speak with our eyewitness, I’ll go door to door. Most of these businesses have security cameras. Trouble is, that’s a ton of footage to go through. What have you learned?”
“Not much. I assumed Benson might return to his gym. Might check again later. The lock on the back door appeared compromised.”
“Kane Grove PD sent a cruiser past. I’ll have them check the lock.” Aguilar glanced down the sidewalk. “I’d better interview my witness before the lunch crowd overwhelms the store.”
“I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Stay in touch, Raven.”
Raven crossed the busy street and climbed the steps to Ellie Fisher’s apartment. A buzzer on the door gave visitors access. But nobody replied after Raven pushed the button. Maybe Ellie and Lizzie were at work. She phoned Chelsey and had her research Ellie’s employment records. Chelsey promised to call Ellie at work.
Standing on the sidewalk with her hands on her hips, Raven peered up at the apartment. She hoped Benson hadn’t gotten to Ellie already.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
October 31st
11:15 a.m.
Thomas paced outside the Kane Grove PD lab. Beyond the window, Griffith and his team hunched over the dead teenager’s phone. So far, they’d only pulled a few photographs off the damaged SD card. Until they decrypted his identification, he’d remain a John Doe.
He was about to call LeVar about Raven when Presley rushed around the corner.
“Sheriff, we identified the victim. His name is Derek Jordan.”
Thomas followed the detective to her office and waited while the printer spit out the boy’s photo. She ripped a copy off the printer and handed it to Thomas. He immediately recognized the victim from his driver’s license.
“How did you find him?”