by Lilly Wilder
“Don’t tell me you think she doesn’t deserve to know,” he snorts back at me.
“Of course I think she should know, dammit!” I raise my voice. “But, it’s not your story to tell. And neither is it mine. You may have destroyed her relationship with the last living member of her family.”
“I know…” Anderson looks down, as he always does when he knows he’s messed up. But, what’s done is done. Feeling sorry won’t change anything. “But, I also know that - “
“Shhhh!” I interrupt him, jumping up from my chair.
He knows what that means. His body reacts in the same way. My muscles tighten, my hand pats the handle of my gun. I see him doing the same. He’s quiet.
I raise my nose slightly upward. The wind is blowing softly in our direction. The woods are still. I smell sweat, dirty laundry, raunchy mayo.
Silently, I point my finger in the direction of the narrow path that leads from the woods in the distance. We’re both on our guard. For a few moments, nothing happens. But, I know it will. My nose is never wrong. My gut is never wrong. And, this time, both are ringing loud and clear.
Anderson is silent. I can barely tell he’s by my side. In all these years of being partners, we’ve adjusted to each other. We know what the other is thinking, and in cases such as this one, it’s invaluable. He knows when to be quiet, when to act, when to jump at my mark.
The smell of sweat is getting stronger, the mayo raunchier. I hear the cracking of little branches lost in the fallen leaves, and I know something’s coming. My breaths have become shallow, my fingers calm. I’ve been in this situation more times than I can count. So has Anderson. It could be just a wood critter, but I doubt it. They don’t sweat like that. And, then there’s the mayo. It’s a person, and that’s the problem. A person who isn’t supposed to be here.
A few more seconds pass by, and someone jumps out of the bushes and into the clearing that opens up into a path. I can’t see him well, not as well as I’d like to. The little light on our porch is on. The usual set up is not to make the house look like it’s uninhabited. On the contrary, someone should be outside, me or Anderson, and if someone happens to pass by, we should send them on their merry way. Maddie is not to go out or make a peep if there’s someone else on the porch or close to it. She has already been instructed on that.
Both Anderson and I wait for the figure to walk closer to us. Whoever it is, he stops every few steps, to take a deep breath. His hands are resting on his back as he does so. It’s a he. Now, I’m sure of it. And, I feel even more nervous than a few seconds ago. This isn’t a usual trail for hikers. Nor is it the right time of the year. Something just doesn’t add up.
The man finally approaches the house, stopping at the foot of the little stairs that lead up to the porch. Anderson and I have both gotten up, and are facing him from the top of the stairs.
“Good evening,” the man says, breathing heavily.
He doesn’t look in good enough shape for a hiker, especially not for someone who is hiking alone on an unmarked trail.
“Good evening,” I reply. Anderson just nods. “Far away from the road, aren’t you?”
“I honestly have no idea how I got lost,” the man informs us, and the small light on the porch reveals his pale, but reddened, chubby face.
His backpack is small, half empty. The water bottle in the side mesh pocket is half empty as well. His shoes are dirty, dusty, but not worn out. His lightweight jacket is wrapped around his waist, even though it’s a chilly night.
“Do you need help?” I ask again.
He looks benevolent. He also looks so out of shape that I think Maddie herself would easily take him on. But, he may be just a clever decoy. It wouldn’t be the first time. We put our guard down and it all goes to Hell.
“I think I parked my car somewhere over there,” the man points behind our house. “But, I didn’t pass your house when I was walking up the path.”
“There is no path that leads by our house or even near it,” I tell him, my voice not allowing a single ounce of politeness.
I want him gone, but I also want to know what the Hell he’s doing here in the first place, because it sure isn’t bird watching.
“That’s why I’m so confused,” the guy continues, sounding lost and helpless.
I know that Anderson would run downstairs, talk to him like they were best friends, show him everything on the map, and maybe even walk him to his car. But, somehow, he doesn’t move. I appreciate him going against his first instinct here.
“You got a map?” I ask him again, and he immediately slides the backpack to one side.
My muscles tighten even more, and my hand presses on the bulge in my pants where my gun is. The guy could really be taking out his map only, but he could just as well be taking out a Glock. It’s fifty-fifty at this point. But, I’m not revealing anything. My eyes are focused on his backpack, and I know that I’ll be able to take him out the moment I see that metallic gleam.
His hand extracts a folded map, one of those really old ones, with scratched and folded edges, and he opens it.
“Now, see this is where I parked,” he points at a place on the map, expecting us to know where it is, even though we are not close enough to see it, and neither of us has any intention of getting closer.
“See, that little dirt road down there will take you to another road, and if you just keep going patiently, you’ll reach a small exit. That exit will eventually get you to the highway.”
“Hmmm,” the man seems confused. “That’s not the road I came by.”
“Well, this is the outback here,” I reply quickly. “There are many roads which aren’t on the map. It wouldn’t surprise me if you took one of those and now you can’t find them on the map.”
“Is this where we are?” he turns the map to us, and points at something again. “Actually, do you mind if I come up?”
I have to make up my mind quickly. Maddie might make some noise inside. She doesn’t know there’s someone here. And, if the guy’s on the porch, there’s no way he wouldn’t hear noise from the inside.
“I’ll come down, hang on,” I quickly make up my mind, invisibly gesturing at Anderson to stay put. “My buddy here and I are watching the house for a friend, and he’s a very reclusive kind of guy. No offense.”
“Non-taken,” the guy replies, as I walk over to him. “I’m Pete, by the way.”
“Rod,” I tell him. “This here’s Hunter.”
“Nice to meet you, guys,” he says honestly, and it’s difficult to believe that he is anything but a lost hiker.
“Same,” Anderson nods from the porch.
“Let’s see now,” I look at the map sprawled open in Pete’s hands, and I try to pinpoint our location.
It’s hard, because it’s mostly greenery on the map where we are. So, I pick a spot at random.
“Here,” I tell him, nodding knowingly. “This is exactly where you are.”
“How can you tell?” he wonders.
“Our friend’s parents bought this house when he was just a kid, and we’ve all been coming here almost every year since. I know those woods like the back of my hand.”
I’m not sure if the guy is buying it, but I’m selling it like our lives depend on it. For all we know, they do.
“Alright then,” he nods. “And, I should just go down that road?”
His gaze lifts up at the road that goes around the house and extends somewhere into the darkened distance.
“The road’s not on the map,” I tell him. “But, trust me. Just go down that road, and you’re bound to see a paved road. Take the right turn, and soon enough, you’re bound to stumble onto other cars.”
“Well,” he sighs, “I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“No other way, buddy,” I pat him on the shoulder, a gesture I overtook from Anderson, one I wouldn’t be doing of my own accord, but this time, it hit the bull’s eye.
; Pete’s eyes widen in joy, as if I told him a secret, and now we were the best of buddies.
“Must be nice owning a house in the woods, huh?” he looks at the house, and whistles.
I turn to it, and see that Maddie’s window is lit up. We need to send this guy packing, before she passes by it and reveals there’s someone else here.
“Yeah,” I nod. “Or having a friend that does.”
“I bet,” Pete chuckles, then finally folds his map and puts it back in his backpack. “Thanks for the help, guys.”
“No sweat, Pete,” I try a smile, and manage one. Anderson just raises his hand in a wave, and we both watch him as he disappears down the road that I pointed him to.
“So, what do you think?” Anderson wonders, when we couldn’t see the moving figure any longer.
“I’m not sure,” I shake my head. “And, when I’m not sure, then it’s not good.”
I release a heavy sigh. We’ll have to bring in Maddie on this one and tell her about the hiker. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to, but this is too much of a coincidence.
We both go inside this time. It’ll be a quick watch of a few hours each, as we both need to rest. I let him take the first nap and after getting a quick bite to eat, I get back out on the porch. The sounds of the night are soothing. It’s like the whole world wants me to fall asleep. But, I won’t. Not now. Especially not now.
Chapter 13
When I walk into the kitchen the following morning, I see Fynn sitting there. He looks troubled, much more than usual.
“Good morning,” I call out, a little apprehensively.
I know we sorted everything out, in a way, but it always feels like walking on eggshells around him. I feel like I could say something wrong at any given moment, and he’ll be back to his brooding self, snapping at me for no apparent reasons. And, yet, I want to be in the kitchen with him. I want to know why he looks so worried.
“Oh, good morning,” he tells me a moment later, when he realizes I’m there.
“You look troubled,” I comment. “Much more so than usual, if you don’t mind me saying.”
“We had a visitor last night,” he suddenly tells me, without changing the tone of his voice.
“What?” I almost drop the cup that’s in my hands, but instead I put it gently on the kitchen table and sit opposite him. “What visitor?”
“Anderson and I were out, and a hiker walked over to the house. He asked for directions.”
He says it in a way that doesn’t reveal much about the whole story. So, my gut feeling awakens immediately and starts panicking.
“Was it Sven?”
“Sven?” he repeats, giving me a cross look. “No. We would recognize him. Don’t be stupid.”
I’m so scared at the potential outcome of this that I don’t even pay attention to the comment he just made. I want him to tell me that the guy was just a hiker and nothing else, and that there is absolutely nothing to get worked up about. But, waiting for him, I see he has no intention of doing that.
“So, who was he?”
Fynn just shrugs. His eyebrows are furrowed, brought together all the way close, and the usually fine lines on his forehead have become much more prominent.
“Is he a threat?” I ask again.
“We don’t know.”
“So, how are you supposed to keep me safe if you have no idea if I’m even in danger right now!?” I snap at him, and my words cut at the air between us like a knife.
He pulls back, and gives me a puzzled look. He isn’t angry. But, he should be.
“Are you the cop here?” he growls at me. I don’t even grace him with an answer to that obviously rhetorical question. “So, calm down. There is no sign of a threat, at least not at the moment. It’s highly unlikely that the guy’s a mole, but I wouldn’t rule it out either. We just need to stay put, and be twice as vigilant.”
“Be sitting ducks, you mean?”
“You wanna try and outrun Sven?” he suddenly pulls his chair back and gets up. “Be my guest. You wouldn’t be the first one who tried. But, you’d sure as Hell be the first one who succeeded.”
Those words leave me speechless, and I just watch as he walks out of the kitchen, and goes to the living room. I run after him.
“You can’t expect me to just - “
The sound of the phone interrupts me, and we both look in the direction where the ringing is coming from. Fynn glances over at me. His eyes are wide, uncertain. He hesitates before he reaches for the phone. In that short amount of time, I managed to take a peek at the screen. It was a hidden number.
“Hello?” Fynn answers after it had been ringing for a while.
I see his face turn pale, as he lowers the phone from his ear and presses a button with a trembling finger. The sound coming from the phone fills up the room.
“Maddie baby?” I hear the voice that makes my blood turn cold. “Do you want to say a few last words to daddy dearest?”
I know that voice. It will always belong to my nightmares, and even in my waking hours, I’ll never be able to escape it.
“Maddie?” my dad speaks, his voice trembling. He coughs a little.
“You need to excuse daddy dearest, he doesn’t feel very well. And, I’m afraid he won’t be feeling much better than this ever again,” Sven chuckles violently.
Fynn isn’t saying anything. I look at him for help, but all he is doing is holding that damn phone.
“Dad?” I manage to muster, on the verge of tears.
“Sweetheart, it’s fine… don’t worry…” my dad sounds tired, his words are garbled, like he’s got something in his mouth.
“Dad… I…” The realization of what he did is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t say it. “I love you…”
“I love you, t - “
“Oh, isn’t that sweet,” Sven drags his snake-like voice. “But, I didn’t call for that. Fynn, you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here, you piece of shit,” Fynn growls, as his jaw tightens under the strain.
“Good to hear your voice,” Sven hisses. “It’ll be even better to kick your ass, but I’ll leave that for up close and personal.”
“How did you get this number?” Fynn speaks through clenched teeth, rage oozing out of his words.
“A magician never reveals his secrets,” Sven chuckles. “Haven’t you learned that already?”
“I swear, when I lay my hands on you - “
“You’ll probably be left without them,” Sven interrupts him. “Now, Maddie baby, say goodbye to daddy. He has to go away for a very long time.”
“No!” I scream at the phone, bending my whole body over it, my hands pleading at the voice that materializes out of that little gadget. “Dad! If you touch - “
At that moment, a single gunshot explodes somewhere inside the phone, and the connection breaks.
“Dad!” I scream again, dropping down to my knees.
I’m barely aware of the hands that are around me, but I recognize the smell. Fynn lets me sob on his shoulder, his big palms resting on my back and the nape of my neck. I’m shaking. I feel like someone had pulled the carpet right from underneath me, like I’m standing at the edge of a cliff, and someone just pushed me. Now, I’m falling, just falling, and I have no idea where it will end, or how hurtful it will be when I finally hit the ground.
My body is trembling still. I’ve stopped sobbing. I’ve stopped repeating the word dad over and over again. My tears keep streaming down my face, an endless waterfall of sadness with no end in sight.
Fynn doesn’t say anything. He just lets me be me, my sad self, as we both try to accommodate to the shock we just survived. I just can’t forget the sound of that gunshot. Was it aimed at my dad? And, if it was, did it hit him? If it did hit him, is he alright? Has he survived? Will I ever see him again?
So many questions are swarming inside my mind, each of them stinging me like an angry bee. It takes all my effort to finally ca
lm down a little. I lift my gaze to meet Fynn’s. He is as grave as ever. I know I could never ask him to console me. Would he even know what to say? But, he is here, not Anderson. And, I need him.
“Do you think my dad’s alright?” I whisper, feeling the salty taste of my tears in the corner of my mouth.
He sighs heavily before replying. He lets go of me, and we both get up from the floor.
“I doubt it, Maddie,” he tells me the truth.
A part of me appreciates his honesty. That’s what I need right now. I can’t get lost in daydreams that will end up killing me. But, another part of me wants to squeeze my fists and start hitting him with all my might, because how dare he assume that my father is dead. My mind is screaming with pain, my heart can’t stop skipping every other beat, and I feel like I can barely stand up.
“I think I need to lie down a little,” I feel like I’m reliving the same scene from before, only it’s much more difficult this time.
A sudden sensation of nausea hits me like a tidal wave. I bend over and throw up the remnants of my sandwich and coffee. It feels like it lasts forever, getting all of it back out, and when I’m finally done, my stomach contracts a few more times, but nothing more comes out. The stench hits me like a ton of bricks, as I wipe the corner of my mouth with my upper hand.
“I’m… sorry…” I manage to say weakly.
“Don’t worry about it,” he is quick to reply. “I’ll clean that up. Let’s get you to bed now.”
Unsteady and weak, I allow him to take me to my room. I feel the cold, wet cloth as he wipes my face. Sleep takes over me violently, like a tornado, promising no rest. Only more turmoil.
Chapter 14
Anderson
I doubt I’d been asleep for longer than an hour or so, and yet it seems like I missed everything. Fynn quickly updated me on what happened over the phone, and I see he’s out of his mind. Even though, just by looking at him, you’d never tell. He is that good at hiding it. But, I see his fingers. They’re not calm, as usual. They’re the only part of his body that always betrays him when he’s like this.