A Killer Among Us

by Rhys Stalba-Smith

  They shook hands, and Charlie took a deep drag of his cigarette. Oh yeah, how’s that?

  Mike smiled. I know what you’re thinking. Gary’s a dickhead, but a dickhead that puts on a free bar.

  We have one thing in common then, Charlie said.

  He’s a lonely bastard though, Mike said. Don’t let him get to ya too much. Been talkin about this do for a fucking while. Would’ve gladly worked under Carl to escape it.

  Charlie nodded, remembering full well how Gary was with his thirtieth. Back before the incident and his own life had changed. Back before Gary had personally smeared his name in the papers.

  That your wife on his arm then?

  Unfortunately, Charlie said. They’ve been friends since high school. He’s been tucking his cock into his bands ever since meeting her, still thinks she’ll turn to him at some point. But she’s never seen him that way.

  Yeah sounds like Gary.

  What’s he like to work with? Charlie asked.

  Mike scrunched up his face, stubbing the butt of the cigarette into a pot plant. An absolute dickhead, as already established, but a good journo. Tells a good story. Edits like a sadist. They pay him the money for it though. I think we’ve won journalistic prizes every year since he became editor. Definitely made me a better writer.

  Yeah? Charlie had asked hoping to hear that Gary was a joke. That indeed everyone else saw him the same as he. They did. The problem was he was talented too.

  Mike took another cigarette out and began again. Charlie figured that he would only return to the party if he had to as well. Charlie really didn’t feel like being here, he’d wanted to stay home. He would’ve, even if it was rude, but Eve’s parents were on Eve’s side. He more than anyone needed a night to relax. Gladly would’ve been home alone.

  But relaxing was not on the agenda. Not when he saw Eve detach herself from Gary and make her way over to him. He’d been seen. He didn’t care, he didn’t even try to put the cigarette out. Instead he took a drag.

  Eve opened the sliding door and came out onto Gary’s balcony. You alright Mike?

  Mike nodded at Eve. Howyadoin Eve? Not a bad party, eh? He’s been going on about it long enough.

  You haven’t had to listen to him on the phone, Eve said, they laughed. Charlie watched them.

  Mike nodded knowingly, probably had been on the end of a phone with Gary at some point in his career. He stubbed his cigarette out and excused himself. Gettin’ another drink, he said.

  Before she could jump down his throat Charlie decided he’d get in first. I know I’m smoking and I don’t give a fuck. I don’t care. I just needed one.

  I know, Eve said. It’s okay. I know it’s probably not the night you wanted for relaxing, but I can understand why you’re smoking.

  Charlie swallowed, his imagination having pushed him down the wrong track. Thanks, he finally said.

  Gary’s such a dick tonight.

  Just tonight? Charlie said. Eve smiled and pushed him playfully. Well you’re not the only one to think that though.

  Well tonight especially, Eve said, pushing on the conversation. He’s obsessed with highschool. Keeps talking about us and how great we could’ve been. Keeps saying to everyone I was his first crush in high school.

  Charlie took a drag of his cigarette, watching Gary in the room. Laughing loudly at probably some shit joke he told. Nothing new then? he said.

  He’s lonely Charlie.

  Second person to say that too.

  But really. Think about it. He has no one. He works all the time. This party has been his fixation for the last year. He asked the doorman for the apartment to come along and bring friends. Does that scream happy to you?

  Charlie didn’t answer, but inside he was smiling. Beaming pearly whites. Take that ya bastard. Maybe he’d tell Ralph on Monday. Ralph had known Gary, worked with him years ago. A knob, talented though.

  Anyway, Eve said. I came out to tell you speeches are about to begin. You might want to get another beer or two, he’s written bloody pages.

  Takes any opportunity to talk about himself he does doesn’t he.

  Don’t be mean, Eve took a swig of his beer then puff of his cigarette. Winked at Charlie then opened the door for them to enter. Charlie followed her back inside, a mixture of appreciation and love for his wife. She gave him a kiss and made her way through the bodies towards the host. Charlie headed to the bar and got two beers. Thanked the barman and wandered to the end of the table of food, it was half in shadows now.

  Charlie had to admit, as much as he didn’t like Gary he threw a good party. His apartment itself was impressive. A half floor looking out over the Southern parklands. Floor lighting cut into the hardwood floors. The man had had a temperature controlled room installed for his wine collection. Feature bottles lined the entrance hallway. A jacuzzi was on the balcony further along from where he’d been with Mike. A large couch for ten stretched across the face of a fake fireplace. In the corner four Eames chairs sat facing an Aldo Tura coffee table. Abstract art hung on each wall, pieces that if you let Gary tell you went for upwards of forty thousand pounds. But Eve was right, the place was lonely. It stank of loneliness. Of desperation. He didn’t feel as jealous.

  How’s the PK Killer then at your paper? Mike was back. I know Carl was all I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, with Gary. Course Gary jumped at it. Couldn’t fuck’n wait. He was on the bell to Francis over at the—

  Charlie had stopped listening, The PK Killer. He’d forgotten about the nickname. The phone call had changed all that.

  Charlie?

  Oh sorry, um, yeah. Yeah, plenty of theories and what not. Um, photos have circulated around plenty.

  I’ll say, Mike said. Poor girls. I mean fuck, what sicko would do that? We’ve got a thing at the office, wondering if he’s finished or not. Course five bodies at once is pretty crazy. I don’t know how they’d be able to do more given the attention now.

  Charlie agreed with a nod and grunt, he was already away again. He didn’t need to think if there’d be more, he knew. He knew the PK Killer was only just beginning.

  A week earlier, when Charlie had just finished holding onto a poor woman’s life, and had recounted it vividly to the attending police officers, he’d tried to call Eve at home. He stood at the phone booth by his bus stop for a few minutes listening to the malfunctioning phone ringing. He thought maybe if he picked it up it would stop it. Hang up the line, so to speak. So he picked it up and put the receiver back down. He put his money in, began dialing, and it rang again. Again he waited, picked it up, then put it back down. Again he put his money in, but the same happened. The fourth time he picked up the phone and listened, said hello. Was anyone there? But the line was silent.

  Eventually his bus came and he hopped on, the driver staring at him, eyes wide. You can ride for free, he said. Charlie barely registered it and sat down. The journey painfully slow, he counted off the stops. Everytime the bell dinged he saw the gun flash. The bang. The girl falling backwards onto the pavement. His hand pressing against her stomach and the blood flowing up around it. Then the boy flying through the air. Someone had taken the stocking from his head, so that he could breathe easier as he died.

  He wondered how to explain it to Eve. How did you explain something like that? He listened to his inner monologue soaring and flying with words. His train of thought expressing the thin chance that is life. The slim vision of light between darkness. It all seemed fake, stupid. Something a would-be writer would say.

  Eventually his stop came and he descended. He saw the phone booth by his stop and thought to call Eve again. He still had a ten minute walk ahead of him, any contact would be appreciated. He was already two, actually three, hours late after telling his wife a serial killer was on the loose.

  But just as he entered the booth. The same thing happened. The phone rang. He hung it up. It rang again. He hung up. It rang again. Now he answered.

  Why aren’t the phones working? he snapped.
<
br />   I wouldn’t take that tone with me Charlie, given what I know.

  Charlie froze. Who is his?

  Considering you practically chased that poor woman to her death, I wouldn’t take that tone with me. But don’t worry, I can keep a secret. Everybody has secrets Charlie Gardner.

  Who is this?

  We’ll come to that.

  Who is this? How do you know my name?

  Oh I know more than just your name Charlie. I know a lot about you. I’ve been watching you for a long time. A long long time. Ever since Jesse Mullins I knew I’d found the right person. Just as broken as always.

  Look, I don’t know who you are or think I am. You’re probably having a joke—

  A joke? Charlie if you think I’m joking then it will be your gravest mistake. I have not set things in motion purely for amusement. There is a message. There is meaning. And just as God began with a single word, so have I. More importantly your sister’s name.

  Charlie buckled at the knees and fell into the booth wall. Dropped the phone. Hyperventilating. It was Sarah’s name. His chest tight, skin jittering. He could hear a small noise echoing around the booth. Giggling. He picked up the phone, heard the chuckling.

  Dear me Charlie, you are better than I expected. What theatrics. Sarah would be proud.

  Where are you? He said, trying to see through the reflecting glass. Headlights passing him constantly by the Main North Road. Who the bloody shit—

  Shouldn’t swear Charlie. She didn’t like swearing. She was a saint your sister. I did this for her. And everything that will follow—

  Who is this? Charlie said. Who are you to say, saying that you’ve—

  Killed poor women in her name? Please Charlie, none of these women wanted to live. All of them, all that you will come to see, never wanted more of the life that they’d been given. Of course they all needed someone to listen to them, but society is deaf to a personal need. Where’s the profit?

  Charlie couldn’t say anything. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.

  This of course will be our secret Charlie. I’ll keep yours if you keep mine.

  Charlie said nothing. Staring at the bus that just pulled in, people getting off. People walking home like it was still normal. Like there wasn’t a murderer. Like he wasn’t talking to the murderer.

  And next time Charlie, I hate being interrupted. So please don’t do that. It will not bode well for you. My watch of you is closer than you’ll ever know. I know you and your family incredibly well. That little Harper had a purple bow in her hair today. Oh and Charlie you never said, the other one, your Rachel, she looks just like her, doesn’t she? Spitting image of Sarah. Especially in those little overalls. I’m sure how she looks is why you have a strained relationship with her. Tata.

  The line went dead. Charlie could breath finally, letting go of the phone. Tried to sink further into the corner of the booth. He had to call Eve still, but he had no strength. Felt deflated, like his blood had drained from him. The only thing bouncing around him was the voice of the caller. The confident and calculating voice. She looks like her, doesn’t she? He knew they were right. As if they’d plucked the thought right from his mind. His deepest fear realised. His deepest truth no more than a sentence a stranger could utter.

  So you think they’ll be another body soon? Found that face the other day. Course it doesn’t match the body, but—Mike drunk from his beer, shrugged his shoulders. You see the pics?

  Charlie came back. Uh, yeah I did. Pretty gruesome. Pretty sad.

  What’s your take as an old psych?

  There it was, Charlie thought. There it always was. Simmering between every interaction. His past. Well, Charlie began, stopped. He couldn’t exactly use the information he knew from the caller. Course he knew that was more than a prank. He’d received a letter the other day too. Slipped into his jacket pocket as he made his way to work. He didn’t even know when it could’ve happened.

  Well, he began again. Well it’s hard to know really. It could be sadistic fantasies of some poor soul. It could have meaning. Most people, whether they know it or not, act with meaning in mind. They have a message. Being understood is a basic human need. Whether it’s a threat or a call for help, we couldn’t know. The person though, Charlie’s vision was captured. Eve with Gary at the front of the crowd. Gary making faces and calling at people. Picking up a glass to tap with a spoon. Speeches.

  The person most likely, Charlie went on. As what happens with all unstable people, has been rewired, or wired incorrectly. Not everyone starts out crazy. This person may be a sociopath. Or they may be someone who’s suffered a great deal of hurt in their life. Their mental responses to what’s right and wrong has been altered. Maybe by loneliness, maybe by—

  Gary was hitting his spoon against his champagne glass. A bit too much force. The glass shattered, champagne washed all over himself and Eve. Eve in her white dress. Now clinging to her, tracing her body. Laughter in the room. Gary making some joke.

  Charlie couldn’t think of where his thoughts had been going.

  Mike nodded. Like you punch someone in anger and feel bad later, they punch someone in joy and feel better.

  Something like that, Charlie said.

  Everyone turned now to the fireplace, Gary and Eve standing in front. Eve had slipped her jacket off, trying to cover herself.

  Everyone, Gary said. Everyone! Happy Birthday to me! A cheer and yells from the room. Alright alright, calm down. A wink. We all know why we’re here. But no seriously, slurring his words. Thank you for all coming. Or, all for coming. Another wink, slapped Eve’s arse. There was laughter in the room. Charlie felt the blood rush in his neck.

  Mike leaned towards Charlie, Even though he’s my boss, and even if the brain is wired wrong, I think it’d be okay to punch Gary and feel good about it. Charlie laughed.

  Gary stopped talking. Tried to see into the crowd to see who’d barked a laugh. Screwed his eyes up. Continued on. Um no, forty years though. It’s a big number. Not huge. Not halfway to a ton but getting there. Batting average is good. Feeling limber. Always have been, ladies. Another wink. Catcalls from the crowd. No, just want to thank everyone for coming. People from work. Friends. Family. He turned to Eve at this, looking her in the eyes. You mean the world to me. You always have. So thank you for coming and celebrating my birthday. Let’s do it again at fifty. Applause went up from the crowd. People calling for him to chug his drink. He took a bottle of champagne, began drinking earnestly.

  Eve was smiling, laughing. Charlie felt more blood rushing up his neck, making its way onto his face. Told himself not to feel jealous. It was his wife. Married to him, not Gary. He was being stupid. Just his foolishness. Just his—

  Gary finished the bottle, everyone cheered. He threw the bottle against the wall behind them and it shattered. Shocks of awe and cries, laughter, more champagne drenching the crowd. More drenching Eve and her dress. Then he turned to Eve, ripped the jacket away and took her by the hips, his arm wrapped around her, and began kissing her earnestly.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Charlie was sitting in bed. The sun up, blinds open. He’d been eating as he watched the gardner working away on the opposite side of the yard, ferrying wheelbarrows of dirt back and forth. They were doing a progress report on him today. An update on his healing, how he was doing after the crash. He still couldn’t feel his legs, his right arm felt weaker than usual too, but it’d only been a couple months since the crash. He still had plenty of healing time. He had to focus on the rehab, couldn’t think about his family.

  There was a knock, followed by the door opening softly. The orderly that brought him breakfast came in followed by two people. Doctors. He remembered that the orderly was called Percy, but preferred Perce. They gathered around the bed, all looking sombre.

  Good morning Charlie, said the older man, the partner of a similar aged woman. I’m Doctor Rawlson, and this is my partner Doctor Smith. We look after your physical and mental care. I understan
d you are able to remember Percy?

  Charlie looked between them, he did remember Percy. But he couldn’t say why. The remembering felt to be from pure repetition.

  Our meeting today is in regards to the incident.

  Oh, Charlie said. The crash? Yeah there were a few questions I had.

  No, not the crash, Doctor Smith said. The incident in particular is from yesterday. When you tried to escape.

  Charlie made a face of stupidity. Why would I try escape? I’ve got my rehab to finish. It’s only been a few months since the crash. Since my family died.

  The doctors nodded, a slight look between them and the orderly.

  Charlie my man, Percy said. Yesterday you were having some trouble. Bad visions. Screaming. You weren’t in a good way.

  Charlie nodded, looked down at his lap. Not what he was expecting. What do you mean? My rehab is still okay, right?

  Your rehab is going fine, Doctor Rawlson said. But yesterday you had an episode. The prescription we have you taking can have certain side effects. Obviously each patient will react differently, especially when their mental condition is such as yours, however, at the time we had to go forward with it so that you could heal. We of course took precautions, Percy here has been more than helpful. He’s been an angel for you. He has, over the years, been almost like your shadow.

  Over the years? Charlie had heard correctly, no? What’re they talking about? What do you mean? he asked.

  Well what we mean, Doctor Smith began. What Doctor Rawlson and I believe, is that the medication has since finished its usefulness. The deep depression and suicidal episodes that have come about because of it have us believing it’s effectiveness has ended. At this Doctor Smith removed a book from her pocket. Taped to the book were three razors. We found this in your room. Afterwards, I should say. The razor we believe, you took from Percy’s kit. Percy nodding silently, sadly. After the current dosage finishes it’s course we’ll be changing your medication.