by Kelly Oram
“He looks like a secret agent,” Angela said.
“I’m sure it’s coincidence. He’s probably just grabbing some take out.”
“Yeah,” Angela agreed. “But lets just watch for a minute. If Seth’s a killer, won’t he get nervous around cops?”
“Good point.”
I sat back down and watched in complete wonder as the cop entered the restaurant and sat down at Seth’s table. The two talked for a second, and then the cop slid a folder full of papers across the table to Seth.
“What the?”
Angela and I glanced at each other. “Do you think that was illegal?” Angela asked as the cop drove off. The entire moment had taken all of three minutes.
“Oh, yeah. Cops don’t just give out information to people.” I couldn’t believe it.
“I’ll bet that’s the case files for the Saturday Night murders. I’ll bet they’re in it together. How else could he be leaving no evidence behind?”
I had no idea what to think. I honestly didn’t think Seth was a killer, but what the freak? I didn’t know what was in that file or why he wanted it. Or even how he could possibly know dirty cops. But I did know one thing. Wherever he was going next, I would definitely be following him.
‘Next’ happened to be the park in Garden City where Crystal Chambers’ body was found last Saturday. “No freaking way,” I whispered as we watched Seth head straight for the farthest corner of the park. The girl was found on Sunday morning, and it was now Friday, so the yellow tape was long gone, but I’m sure it had to be the crime scene he was standing in.
“Ew,” Angela said when Seth sat down beneath a tree. She was whispering, too, even though we were clear across the park from Seth and he couldn’t have heard us in a million years. “Do you think he’s sitting in the exact spot where…?”
“There has to be a rational explanation.” I mean, there just had to be.
“Yeah, it’s called he’s a psycho who kills girls and then goes back later to soak up their death karma.”
“Death karma?” I repeated dryly.
“Whatever.” Angela shuddered. “I’m done. This isn’t fun anymore. Let’s get out of here before he sees us and decides to come after us in our sleep.”
I agreed with Angela that it was time to leave. No way did I want to have to explain to Seth what we were doing following him around the city. But not because I was afraid he was going to slice me up first opportunity he got. At least I didn’t think he would.
Angela prattled on all the way home about how Seth was the killer. She made me swear over and over again that I wouldn’t go anywhere near him, but the day’s events hadn’t convinced me that he was a murderer. I already knew he had a crime fixation—he has all those novels in his room, and the way he talked at the car dealership that day meant he obviously did a lot of research on the subject. But that didn’t mean he ever hurt anyone.
For all I knew, Seth had a sixth sense and worked with the cops to solve crimes like the chick on that one TV show. Or maybe he was a ghost whisperer. Hey, weirder things have happened—I did just have a heart-to-heart with my big sister.
“Maybe we should call the cops,” Angela said as we pulled into our driveway.
“What?”
“Or at least tell mom and dad.”
“Tell them what? That Seth is a serial killer? Dad would just laugh at you and mom would probably ground you from scary movies or something.”
“But we could tell them about how crazy he is.”
“Sure, just tell dad that the boy across the street is stalking his daughter? If he knew half of the things Seth’s done, he’d move us across the country to get away from him. You want to spend your senior year in Kansas or somewhere?”
I was right and Angela knew it, though she clearly didn’t like it. “Alright, fine,” she relented. “But just promise me you’ll stay away from him, Ellie. Promise.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Sure, whatever.” Not.
I’m going to hell for the lies I tell.
I decided to stay outside for a while and go for a good skate. I’d been so busy with Angela this week that I’d barely had any time to myself. Plus, after wearing that hoodie I was already plenty sweaty. What better time to get in a workout?
I’d just finished lacing up my first skate when a shadow fell over me. “You’re late, Westley. The game was Monday.” I glanced up and Dave smiled down at me as friendly as ever. “And Wednesday,” he added.
I shrugged and continued to tie my other skate. I don’t know what he wanted me to say. He knew exactly why I’d avoided the park this week.
He was obviously here to try and smooth things over between us. I just hoped he’d do the guy thing and not actually, you know, say it. I understand girls are supposed to be all about expressing their feelings, but I’m totally down with avoidance.
When my skates were on I let Dave help me to my feet and managed a very cool, “What’s up?”
“Were you going somewhere in particular? You owe me a game of one-on-one.”
He’d said the magic words. Any tension left between the two of us was gone. I grinned. “I take it you’re in the mood for a good butt-whooping?”
I dragged my nets out to the street and proceeded to put my money where my mouth was. An hour later I was sufficiently humiliating Dave when Seth finally got home. “Goal!” I shouted as I sailed the ball through Dave’s net. Again. “And I do believe that’s game, sucker!”
“Dude, I was distracted by that car.”
“And what’s your excuse for the other nine goals?” I asked as we dragged our nets to the curb in order to let the car pass. I didn’t realize the car was Seth’s until it slid to a stop in front of his house.
Dave skated up beside me and gave a low whistle. “A BMW?” he asked curiously.
I sighed, and with a sad shake of my head answered, “I know. It’s embarrassing.”
I suddenly realized that this was the perfect opportunity to talk to Seth. I’d wanted to all week, and now I was hoping I might be able to piece together some kind of explanation about what he’d been doing today.
Right now was my chance. It was daylight and we were in public, and Dave was there to keep things from getting out of hand. Because, yeah, I guess there was still a slight possibility that Seth was a psycho killer—just a really sweet one. Plus, Angela was inside. There’s no way she could get out here to stop me in time.
With that, I became determined. Seth had briefly met my eyes when he’d pulled up, but after seeing Dave at my side he was doing his best to pretend we weren’t there. He didn’t even look my way when he got out of his car, so I had to yell, “Hey, Seth!” to get his attention. And boy did it.
Seth practically stumbled over his feet, he stopped so short. Then, when I smiled and gave him a friendly wave, he couldn’t even say hi back. He just stared at me like I’d lost my mind. I couldn’t really blame him. It’s not like I’d ever initiated a conversation with him before. Usually I ran for the hills with my tail between my legs.
“Hi!” I said again as I skated over to him, towing Dave with me.
Seth had to drag his stare away from Dave to look at me. He watched me with suspicious eyes, the side of his mouth curving up into a hard smirk. I didn’t understand the joke.
Don’t let him intimidate you, Ellie. No fear. I steeled myself and smiled even more sweetly. “I haven’t seen you all week.”
“Yes. I noticed you’ve been very busy this week,” he said, his expression completely neutral. He couldn’t help the way his eyes flashed to Dave again, though.
I figured it was as good a time as any to make introductions. “I know you guys saw each other at the party Saturday, but I didn’t think you’d been technically introduced.”
Dave held out his hand, and Seth surprised me by smiling at Dave as he shook it.
“Dave, this is Seth. He just moved here from California. Seth, this is my friend Dave.”
Both guys raised a brow at my emphasis
on the word friend.
“Well, somebody has to stop all those rumors you started last weekend!” I snapped, so much more annoyed than I’d have liked to be.
Seth’s cool expression never faltered and he said, “From where I stood, it looked like you guys were starting that rumor together.”
Dave bust a gut with laughter, but I couldn’t tell if Seth was giving me crap or if he was just really jealous. Either way, I didn’t need it. If he was going to be like that, then I wasn’t going to go out of my way to be nice to him.
With a groan, I whirled around to go take my skates off and Dave said, “Lighten up, Westley,” but it was Seth who grabbed my wrist to keep me from leaving. The reaction was instantaneous. My arm tensed beneath his grip to keep a shudder from exploding through my whole body. I tried to ignore the feeling.
“Whatever,” I said, and blew some of the loose strands of hair out of my face. In an attempt to change the subject I looked at Seth. “Did you still want to learn how to play hockey? Dave and I were just playing a little one-on-one. We can teach you if you want.”
I glanced at Dave for confirmation and was horrified to see him looking at Seth’s hand. Because Seth was still holding on to my wrist.
“Actually, I gotta get going,” Dave said in a way that made me blush. He smiled again at Seth and added, “You don’t need me to teach you, anyway. Ellie really is the best in the neighborhood. If you figure it out, come with her to the park in the morning. Game starts at seven thirty.” He turned to me again. “Don’t punk out this time.”
I rolled my eyes, but said, “I’ll be there.”
The minute Dave turned to go—which would, of course, have left me alone with Seth—Angela conveniently wandered outside. Yeah, she hadn’t been watching us out the window or anything. Seth glanced over at me, curious of the disappointed sigh that escaped me when Angela walked toward us.
“Having a party out here and nobody thought to invite me?” she said cheerfully.
Only Dave laughed at the lame joke. Oh, brother. “Five bucks says Dave doesn’t have to get going anymore,” I muttered so low that only Seth heard.
Seth chuckled and slid his grip down to my hand, lacing my fingers in his. The action didn’t exactly go unnoticed by anyone. My face paled a little, but I didn’t pull my hand away, and, uh, yeah, that didn’t go unnoticed, either.
“We could make it a party,” Seth offered suddenly to the group. “We could double tonight. Go to dinner. Maybe catch a movie or something after.”
Double? As in double date? I’m being asked out on an actual date?
Obviously another first for me. But could I do it? Could I go on a date with Seth after watching him take files from dirty cops and creep around murder scenes?
I felt Seth squeeze my hand, and when I looked up he said, “What do you say?” with that smile of his. And those eyes…
“Um...” Holy crap his lips looked really kissable. “What?”
“Sounds good to me,” Dave said with a hopeful expression. The poor guy. He might be able to snag half the seniors in school, but I’m fairly certain Angela Westley wasn’t in that half.
“I’m down,” I finally said.
Angela glared at me when I agreed to the date. I gave her a what-was-I-supposed-to-do look, but it didn’t matter. She was going to rip me a new one the minute we were alone.
“Oh,” she said, turning her fake smile on Seth and Dave. She pulled me away from Seth and locked her arm through mine. “That sounds like a lot of fun, but Ellie and I can’t go. We already have plans.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t have any plans.” Now she was really going to kill me, but I just couldn’t help myself.
“Don’t you remember, Ellie? The sleepover at Brooke’s house?”
“Ooooooooh. Right. The sleepover. How could I forget?”
Angela elbowed me, but it didn’t matter how sarcastic I was being. Both Seth and Dave knew she was making it up anyway. It looked like Seth was going to call her on it, except that Lady GaGa started singing Poker Face and Angela spazzed. “Is that my phone?”
I laughed at the longing in her voice. “The freaking thing has been ringing off the hook for a week.”
“Well, did you ever think to answer it?”
“Why would I? None of my friends have the number. I don’t even know the number.”
I could tell the phone was about to go to voicemail because Angela looked like she was ready to tackle me. “Knock yourself out,” I said, handing her the phone.
She squealed as she snatched it and took off across the lawn for some privacy. I quickly turned to the guys. “I apologize for my sister. I’m pretty sure she was dropped on her head as a child. A lot.”
“Ellie!” Angela yelled behind me.
“What?” I asked defensively, but she hadn’t heard my insult. She was handing me the phone.
“It’s for you.”
“It can’t be. I told you I don’t—”
“He’s asking for you.”
“He?” Seth asked while Dave said, “How many boyfriends do you have, Westley?”
I glared at Dave as I answered the phone. Angela, Seth, and Dave all watched as if it were the most interesting thing I’d ever done. “Hello?”
“Ellie, there you are! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all week.”
“Who is this?”
“Travis.”
“Travis?”
“You spilled Coke on me at your party last week?”
“I know who you are. How’d you get this number?”
“You gave it to me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Sure you did. Listen, we never got the chance to set up a date last week. Do you want to go out tomorrow night?”
“No can do, dude. Sorry. Can’t go out on Saturday nights right now. Serial killer on the loose and all.”
“That’s cool,” Travis said. “We don’t have to go out. We can just hang out at my house. My parents won’t be home, so we’ll be able to chill.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure. Sorry. I’m actually babysitting, so even if I wanted to, I can’t.”
“Okay. Well, I have to work tonight, but we could hang out sometime this week. When are you free?”
Ugh. Some people are too dense for their own good. “Uh, Travis? Learn to take a hint. You’re a tool, and we’re not going out. Ever. Go drink a protein shake or something.”
When I hung up Dave laughed so hard he cried. “Go drink a protein shake? Dude, that was harsh.”
I just shrugged. “I tried to let him down easy.”
“Did you really not give him your phone number?” Seth asked. Unlike Dave, he was not laughing.
“I told you. I don’t even know the number to this phone. He had to have asked around or something.”
“He wanted to take you out tomorrow night?” Seth asked again, getting more and more irritated by the second. I was beginning to understand what Angela meant earlier when she said he interrogated her.
“Yes to tomorrow but no to the going out part. He wanted me to come over to his house, because his parents weren’t going to be home.”
“Ew,” Angela said. “He actually said that? He could have at least pretended he wasn’t trying to get into your pants.”
“Agreed,” Dave said. “The guy’s a tool. Why do you hang out with him?”
“I don’t. I just met him for the first time that day at Rachel’s beach house. Now he won’t leave me alone.”
“I don’t like it,” Seth said.
“Well, of course you don’t.” Angela grumbled.
I was shocked to see the nasty look she gave Seth. I think it startled Dave and Seth, too. Seth glared back at her and then went in his house without saying another word, slamming the door behind him.
“What?” Angela snapped at me, even though Dave was the one staring questioningly at her. “He’s too possessive of you. You guys aren’t even going out.”
“If you’re so wor
ried about it, do you really think it’s smart to piss him off?”
“I wouldn’t have to if you’d quit making it worse. Letting him hold your hand and agreeing to go out with him? What were you thinking?”
“Um, I’m gonna go now,” Dave said, backing away slowly from our fight. “See you tomorrow morning, Ellie.”
“Yeah, later,” I said, then took the fight with my sister in the house, where Seth wouldn’t overhear us.
“Whatever it is you guys are looking at me like that for, I didn’t do it,” I said automatically when I came in the house Saturday evening and my parents looked up from their hushed conversation with grim faces.
My parents both eyed me warily. “You know about the city curfew, right?” my mom asked.
I looked at the clock and frowned. “Unless it got bumped up five hours, I think I’m good.”
“We don’t need your sarcasm, Eleanor.”
Mom only used my full name when she was really upset. I tried to recall the last few hours. I hadn’t done anything that I could think of worthy of being busted. “Well, what are you mad at me for? It’s not my fault some psycho wants to snatch me up and stab every square inch of my body.”
Mom’s face blanched. “Ellie, please!”
“We aren’t mad at you,” Dad said, sighing. “We’re just worried. We’re going to cancel our trip.”
Well, it’s no wonder you’re cranky. “No! No way! You are not canceling your twentieth anniversary because of me.”
“It’s not because of you,” Dad said. The look on his face didn’t agree. “Okay, it’s not only you. It’s your sister too.”
“Oh, yeah, because the Saturday Night Slasher’s been going after so many blonds.”
“Eleanor!”
“What? I’m sick of everyone making such a big deal out of this! He’s never gonna find me. He grabs up drug addicts and runaways. He stalks nightclubs and dark streets downtown. Tonight I’m going to be sitting in the Haskins’s house with the doors locked, eating frozen pizza and watching some lame action movie. Nothing bad is going to happen!”
I stomped up to my room, but could still hear the tail end of my parent’s conversation through the vents. At this point they’d decided not to cancel anything, but they were still pretty worried. I hoped they’d just get over it already. I mean, yeah, it’s a little disturbing to know that someone is out there in my city killing girls that look like me, but the more paranoid my family got about it, the more I believed the hype was just stupid.