by Lauren Eason
Jess nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Chapter Nineteen
I used the flashlight on my phone to peer through the slats of the metal grate into Steven’s garage. Upon inspection, I learned he hadn’t returned home from the outreach program. Raven handed me the screwdriver as I lay on the cold concrete floor on my stomach. Taking it, I unscrewed the grate from the wall and set it aside as gently as I could.
“Raven,” I whispered, “go ahead and stay near the garage door. If you see a car pull into his driveway from the windows, send us both a text. Got it?”
“Right,” she whispered back and left Jess and me alone.
Placing my phone into my back pocket, I grabbed the other side of the wall inside the vent and shimmied through the short distance, avoiding the sharp edges. Once I was in the garage, I peeked through to Jess and waited for her to do the same. Helping her to her feet, we tip-toed to the door to his home.
Jess took her I.D. card out of the back of her phone case and slid it into the crack of the door. Jiggling the handle, she managed to hook the card between the lock and the door jam, pushing it open.
“How did you know to do that?” I whispered.
“It’s the same as our home. I got locked out one day and had to improvise,” she replied.
We stepped into the dark home and shone the small lights of our phones around the room. Closing the door behind us, Jess searched downstairs while I made my way to the second floor. She wasn’t kidding when she was talking about the similar layout for our homes. It was like looking into a mirror.
I started in Steven’s bedroom first, which seemed like the most logical choice. I poked around his dresser, looking for anything out of place. Steven was particularly clean for a man. I wasn’t sure what I had been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t the pristine bedroom I was in. His bed was made, his floors were clean, and there wasn’t a strand of fiber out of place.
Rummaging through his drawers, I found a handgun near the bottom stashed under some clothes. I left it alone and headed over to the nightstand by his bed. A few books were on top of it, mostly crime novels but a few on music theory. It made sense for a pianist to enjoy reading about his career and indulge in some bestsellers every once in a while.
I knelt down and pulled open the drawer in the nightstand, and found several pill vials. Quickly scanning the label, my mind flashed back to what Steven had said in his dream from several nights before. He was taking methotrexate, and from what I could remember from my stint in rehab, it was a drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Steven was very young to be diagnosed so early. No wonder he had been so upset in his dream about his career. It was affecting the joints in his hands and his ability to play.
I placed the vial back into the drawer, feeling guilty for knowing his personal affairs. The vial clicked against another prescription drug. Picking it up, I held my phone over the label and saw my name on the bottle.
“What?” I whispered, glancing at my sleep medication. “Wha—“
“Did you find something?” Jess asked from behind me, startling me.
“Jesus, Jess!” I hissed. “You scared the shit out of me!”
“Sorry,” she said apologetically. “I didn’t find anything downstairs, so I thought I’d help you up here.”
With a sigh, I held up the pill bottle and showed it to her. She approached me and took it in her hand, her eyes growing wide. “Why does Steven have your medication?”
I shook my head as I stood up to head over to the master bathroom to look around. We looked through more drawers and the medicine cabinet but found nothing else we could use.
“Should we take this with us?” Jess asked, holding up the bottle.
“I, honestly, don’t know,” I said. “If we take it, then he’ll know someone’s been in here. I don’t think we should take that risk, but I am going to take a picture of it in that drawer.”
“Documentation. Good idea,” Jess commented as she headed back into the bedroom to replace the pills. I snapped the picture, not sure exactly how I could use this. The only thing I knew to do was talk to Detective Highwater about it and hope for the best.
My phone buzzed in my hand as Raven’s text came in loud and clear. Before I could make a move, Jess grabbed my hand, whipping me around. We raced down the stairs towards the garage door. Flinging it open, Jess bolted down the few steps towards the grate. I closed the door behind me and followed her as I waited for her to shimmy back to the other side.
“Wait,” I breathed as I headed across the garage to where a small door should be. If this was a perfect mirror image of our home, then Steven must’ve had a basement entrance just like us.
“Aislin! What are you doing?” I heard the urgent whispers from Jess and Raven. Ignoring them, I threw some boxes away from the wall and saw the same small door on the other side. The noise from the garage motor started as the door ascended to allow Steven’s car in.
I ducked down behind the boxes as the light on the motor illuminated the garage, and Steven pulled into the empty space. I saw Jess and Raven’s faces on the other side of the vent, afraid for me as they watched helplessly from the other side. The engine shut off as Steven stepped out of the sedan, slamming the door behind him. He leaned against the door and held his head in his hands as he yelled into them.
With a loud sigh, he straightened and headed towards the steps right over me into his home. I flinched at the sound of the door slamming above me. Turning around, I glanced over the basement entrance and saw the digital keypad. I leaned against the door, pressing my ear against it to try and listen to see if there was any sign of life on the other side, but it was no use. The door above me opened once more as I looked up through the cracks of the stairs as Steven descended them into the garage.
“This wasn’t the plan, Samuel,” Steven growled into his phone. “You tell that son of a bitch I want more money!”
There was a slight pause as Steven stopped at the bottom of the stairs. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t turn and spot me. My heart raced inside my chest as I waited for him to say or do something—anything.
“I don’t know who’s calling the shots around there, but my students are off-limits. Do you understand me? And you can tell your boss Mathis that we’re through!” Steven shouted as he threw his phone as hard as he could onto the ground, smashing it to bits. He opened his car door once again, the garage opening behind him. As the door closed, I could hear the squealing of tires on the pavement outside as the light clicked off, plunging me into darkness once again.
Dashing from my hiding place, I dove through the vent as Jess and Raven pulled me through. A piece of sharp metal pierced my side, slicing into my hip as I was dragged the rest of the way. Raven immediately dove into screwing the grate back on the vent as I tried to keep from screaming from the pain.
“Ais! Are you okay?” Jess asked as I clutched my side. Pulling my hand away, she shone the light from her phone onto my open palm, red liquid covering it. She pulled me to my feet and helped me out of the basement area as I grunted from the pain. Raven followed quickly behind us as they both helped me up the stairs into the house.
Jess sat me at the dining room table in a chair so I wouldn’t get blood on the other furniture before racing off to find a first aid kit. Raven opened my shirt the rest of the way as I slid my jeans down a little to show the cut. It was deeper than I had expected.
“Well, look at the bright side. That’s going to be a cool scar,” Raven smiled as I groaned.
“Don’t touch it!” Jess instructed as she made Raven back away. She threw the first aid kit on the table and ripped open several gauze and antiseptic pads to wipe the blood away.
“You’re going to have to take your pants off. They’re in the way,” she said.
I unbuttoned them and pulled them down over my thighs so she could get closer to my wound. The doorbell rang, and every one of us froze in our spots. It rang again before Raven took the initiative to see who it was.
>
“Hey, we thought since you guys couldn’t come to the pier that we’d meet you here,” I heard Ben say from the doorway.
“Now’s not a good—”
“Woah, what happened?” Jason asked as they walked into our house past Raven, seeing me seated in the chair as Jess was threading a needle.
“Let me see that,” Jason insisted as he knelt in front of me. “She should go to the hospital. That doesn’t look good.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Jess said, standing tall. “What are you guys doing here? I need you to leave.”
“Jess...” I sighed.
“No, you can’t just barge in here and think you know what’s best for us!” Jess shouted.
“Hey now, we’re not trying to offend you. We didn’t know—”
“Out!” she yelled, pointing towards the door.
I grabbed her hand and yanked it to me. “Jess, it’s okay.”
“But—you’re hurt,” Jess said, tears welling in her eyes. I knew she wanted to take care of me, to be strong for me, but what I needed at this moment was for everyone to calm down.
“Please, don’t tell anyone,” I told Ben and Jason as they stood there in shock. “I don’t want my parents to worry about me. I was being stupid and dropped a knife while chopping up some salad for dinner. If I go to a hospital...they’ll think the worst.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie. My parents would most definitely assume the worst if they knew about this. There was no way I was going to tell them about it or what actually happened. Ben and Jason shared a look but nodded their agreement.
“At least let us help you,” Jason offered. “I took some first aid and EMT classes over the summer.”
Jess reluctantly handed the needle over to him as he took the thread she had out of it. “This was a good try but do you have any non-flavored dental floss?”
“Sure,” Jess muttered as she ran upstairs to our bathroom.
“The floss is better for stitching up wounds like this. Raven, can you find some iodine or hydrogen peroxide?” Jason asked. Raven stood up and went upstairs where Jess was. They came back down with the items and placed them on the table as Ben took a front row seat to watch.
“Does that hurt?” Ben asked, a grimace on his face.
“It could be worse,” I remarked with a weak smile. “Where’s Max? I thought he was supposed to be hanging out with you guys.”
“He decided to stay behind to study for a test. Have to keep the grades to stay on the team. This is going to sting,” Jason warned as he poured the antiseptic over the wound, dabbing it with gauze as I sucked in my breath. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I breathed. “I know you have to clean it.”
“Eh—this isn’t the worst part,” Jason forewarned. “Ben, give me your lighter.”
Ben slid the item across the table as Jason strung the floss through the needle. Picking up the lighter, Jason lit the end of the needle as Raven placed a bottle of vodka in front of me.
“I thought you may want a drink for this. I won’t tell,” Raven said empathetically.
I took the bottle and took two large swigs of the burning liquid to calm my nerves as I looked away from Jason. Raven and Ben both held my hands tightly over the table as Jason pierced my flesh with the needle, pulling it through to the other side. It felt as though I was getting stung multiple times by wasps and the worst part was that I couldn’t get away from it.
“Just breathe,” Raven instructed as tears flowed down my cheeks onto the table as I let my head droop. “Are you going to pass out?”
“She can do it,” Jason assured as he kept going. “She’s stronger than that.”
I choked out a chuckle. “Ugh, I wish that were true.”
“Done,” Jason announced as he stood up from my side. “You’re going to be sore, and I suggest using an antibiotic ointment on it every day. I’ll check your stitches in about a week and see if they’re ready to take out.”
“Thanks, Dr. Miller,” I teased as I sat up, rubbing my face. I pulled my pants back up but didn’t button them so I could give my wound some time to breathe without being irritated by my waistband.
“Are you up to date on tetanus?” Raven asked, standing up from the table with me.
“I’m pretty sure.”
“If it was a clean kitchen knife, you shouldn’t have any issues,” Jason replied, placing the supplies back into the first aid kit.
“Raven, Ais, you need to see this,” Jess said, coming into the room from the living room. We all followed her back out where she had the T.V. paused on a blazing inferno on the news. Clicking the button on the remote control, the news report continued.
“As you can see, I’m currently outside of the Ocean Blue Lounge on Front Beach Road, a hot, local club. The first reports of the fire came in about twenty minutes prior to firetrucks and police arriving on the scene. Several patrons who were inside the club at the time reported smelling smoke when entering the men’s bathroom,” the reporter stated.
The camera panned over the remains of the lounge, engulfed in flames as firefighters raced to put them out. As the camera cut back to the reporter, she was standing next to Hunter Mathis, confirming my suspicion of the owner of the H.M. engraved cufflinks from one of my dreams.
“Mr. Mathis, the Ocean Blue Lounge was one of your many properties along this strip. You were also present at the time of the fire. Could you give us any insight into how it started?” the reporter questioned, placing the microphone near his face.
“Unfortunately, your guess is as good as mine. I know this incident will be thoroughly investigated for financial reasons,” he commented.
“It was reported that Mrs. Sheridan Lee left the scene via ambulance for Memorial Hospital with severe burns and smoke inhalation,” the reporter continued.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Lee and her family at this time. I’m hoping she makes a full recovery,” Mr. Mathis remarked before walking out of the frame.
Jess placed the television on mute as she flopped down on the couch. “Do you think Steven was there when it happened?”
“Isn’t that your piano teacher?” Ben asked, taking a seat on the chaise.
“Yeah, he’s been working over there at the lounge,” Jess replied.
“Is there something we’re missing here?” Jason asked. I could tell by his confusion that neither he nor Ben was following the conversation.
“It’s nothing,” I answered. Raven glanced over at me. I could tell she wondered if we should tell the boys what was going on, but I didn’t want to bring more people into it than I had to.
“Uh, well, I guess we’ll see you all at school tomorrow,” Ben said, signaling his cue to leave. “I hope you start feeling better, Ais. That’s a nasty cut.”
“Thanks,” I muttered as I followed both of them to the front door. Opening it, Ben bounded down the steps as Jason lingered on the stoop.
“Are you sure everything’s alright?” Jason asked.
“I’m sure,” I responded. Before I could stop myself, I gave him a peck on the cheek. At first, he was taken aback by the gesture but then smiled warmly. Heat flushed my cheeks as I realized what I had done. “I—uh...thanks for your help tonight.”
Jason leaned in and kissed me on my cheek. “There. Now, we’re even.”
He walked down the stairs towards his vehicle as I placed my hand up to my burning cheek. Waving, the boys hopped into their car and started to back out of the driveway just as Steven’s car squealed past them into his home. The boys had barely managed to dodge a collision before pulling out safely onto the dark street.
I watched as Steven pulled his car into his garage. Checking my cellphone, I pressed on a contact and waited. He picked up on the second ring.
“Detective Highwater speaking.”
Chapter Twenty
“Make sure you have a firm stance for this next move,” Officer Fleming directed as she helped one of the girls beside us. “If you don’t, then it’ll
be easy for the person charging you to take you down. We don’t want you to topple over when you’re trying to defend yourself. Now you all try.”
“Remember, I’m not actually going to hurt you,” Raven said with a wink. I rolled my eyes as I parted my feet about hip-length apart and bent my knees to control my posture.
“Good,” Officer Fleming said as she walked around us. She mimicked my stance, raising her fists in the air. “Remember, block your face and have your elbow bent so when your attacker is on you, you can swing your elbow in and smash them in the side of the face or neck. Try it.”
Raven pretended to run at me as I swung my elbow in front of my face towards the side of hers. This time, I managed to stop short before hurting her. Raven stood from her attacker position, placing her hands on her hips.
“Officer Fleming? What if they have a knife or a gun? I’m all down for kicking some ass but is this really going to help us against a weapon?” she asked.
“Detective Highwater will go over that with all of you later on in the course. Guns are easier to disarm in a fight because you have to aim directly at your target. Knives can be swung blindly and usually strike whatever they’re intended for. Some techniques are effective, but those will be covered when you advance,” Officer Fleming answered.
“Ms. Smith,” Detective Highwater called. Glancing over, I left Raven and Officer Fleming to pair off for practice while I ran over to him at the other side of the gym. The boys from his side watched me until their coach blew a whistle startling them from their temporary distraction.
“Yes, Detective?” I asked as I caught my breath from my short jog. He opened one of the double doors and ushered me out into the hallway for some privacy.
“I wanted to talk to you about your phone call last night,” he began. “You’re doing a good job with keeping tabs on your neighbor Steven, but you were a little vague on how you know he has your prescription medication.”