There was no sign of her anywhere. If she was in the river, Kallita was dead, and I didn’t care. Nobody saw me. All I had to do was stay quiet. So I did.”
The only sound in the room was the steady beep, beep, beep of Gord’s heart monitor. It was a lot to take in. Each in their own mind had their suspicions of the others, but this revelation shattered even the most cynical. Kallita had more than one attacker, and Gord was the only witness. Why? How could this be so? Who? Colm pressed harder.
“You gave the purse to Dan Clifford. When did you do that?”
“Right after Mary saw it in the trunk of my car. I knew then I had held onto it too long. I needed to do something with it. I almost tossed it in the river. Now I wish I had. But Audri knew about it also, and she insisted that I turn it in; demanded that I get a receipt for it. I didn’t know what to do. I knew by handing it in, there would be a lot of questions asked. It took a long time to summon the gumption to do it. Once Mary saw it, though, I had no choice. I took it to Dan — Constable — Clifford the following day. I was shocked when he gave me the receipt. He asked me where I found it, and I told him, but that was all, I didn’t say anything about what I’d seen. It was like he didn’t care and didn’t want to know. I wanted to get the hell out of there. I had my receipt to show Audri. What happened after that, I have no idea.”
Colm wasn’t satisfied. He pressed a little harder. “So why do you think Kallita tried to kill you? You do know it was Kallita who attacked you, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know. She surprised me, though. I heard a noise, and when I stood up to see what it was, there she was. I almost pissed myself. For a second, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and then she raised her arm, and I saw the needle. I just reacted. I smashed her in the side of the head. She went down, and when she didn’t move, I bent over to see if I’d killed her. That’s when she hit me and knocked me backward, twisting my knee. I went down and fell under the table. There was the needle, so I picked it up, but when I stood up, my knee gave out, and I fell forward. I felt the needle jab me, and I couldn’t move after that. I heard her run out the back, and then all of you were there around me. God, I thought I was gonna die.” Sobbing, Gord’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble. I honestly don’t know why she was there. There’s no way she could have known about me or what I knew.”
* * *
“What’s going on here?” Gord’s doctor pushed his way through the throng of people crowded around Gord’s bed. “There are far too many in this room. Detective, this man needs to rest. All of you must leave.”
“I need to question Mr. Seavers about the attack on him earlier. I must get the information while it is still fresh in his mind.”
“Not now, Detective, you’ll have to come back later. Mr. Seavers must rest. He’s been through a lot. I can’t allow it, I’m sorry.” He pointed to the exit and motioned for the detective to leave.
“It’s Detective Sergeant, and I must insist that I continue my interrogation of this man.”
“I’m sorry — Detective Sergeant — but I’m his doctor, and I say not now. So, if you don’t mind, we need a little privacy. I won’t ask again. If I have to, I’ll report you to your supervisor.”
Colm was about to push the issue when Emily butted in.
“Colm, I just had a nasty thought. Gord isn’t going anywhere, and he’s safe here. I don’t think there’s anything more to be gained by pushing him harder, but one thing does spring to my mind.”
All eyes were on her as she spoke. She pulled Colm away from the group out of earshot.
“If Kallita went after Gord for no reason, who’s next? She’s the prime suspect in and Dan’s murders, and now this attempt on Gord. It seems like she’s going after everyone who had a reason to see her gone, and if what Gord says is true, then there are at least two that would be on the top of her hit list. The question is, which two? Has she already taken care of them, or is she leaving them for last? She might be cleaning house first.”
Emily’s words were electric. Colm knew Kallita must be behind these attacks, but his focus was in trying to find who had done her in, and now, armed with the knowledge that she had survived that night, it finally hit him. Emily was right. Find Kallita, and the puzzle pieces would fall into place. But where would she strike next? Yanking his phone from his pocket, he searched for a number and pressed the call button.
* * *
The words of the young detective drove all thoughts of the present from Roy’s consciousness. He stared around the kitchen, through the patio door and into the blackness beyond. Failing to notice that the beam from the flashlight had disappeared, in that moment he forgot all about Roger. The sight of the three beer bottles on the table seemed incongruous to him, and he wondered why they were there. Somewhere outside, a voice called. Now, who would be out there at this hour? And where the hell is Roger?
“Roger! Oh, shit! Roger!” Roy snapped back to reality. He heard Mike’s cries for help. He almost ripped the screen door off its track as he raced down the steps. The light from the kitchen cast only a dim light on the ground below. Unable to see in the gloom, Roy ran headlong toward the sound of his brother’s voice. Reaching the shed, his eyes adjusted enough to make out the shadowy figure of his brother as he struggled with someone in the dewy grass.
Fighting to hold his opponent’s arms down, Mike yelled, “Help me here! I think she hurt Alan.”
Roy bolted toward his brother. He tripped over something and fell, hitting the ground hard, knocking the wind out of him. Scrambling to his knees, gasping to regain his breath, Roy searched for what tripped him. It was Alan, and he wasn’t moving. Oh, God! Alan! Are you alright?” Alan didn’t respond. He rolled him onto his back. Alan’s dark, frozen eyes stared up at him. Roy’s heart shattered at the revelation that there was a monster loose, and her name was Kallita.
Mike straddled the intruder who fought, kicking and squirming to get free. The sounds of the struggle brought Roy back into the moment. He sprang to Mike’s aid grabbing the intruder’s legs attempting to hold them still. Applying all of his weight to the interloper’s legs, they finally ceased to move. Mike’s chest heaved with every breath as he held Kallita down. She struggled to break free, spitting at him, grinding her teeth, and cussing at him. The filth that came from her mouth was more than he could take.
“You need to shut your mouth, bitch! Or I’m gonna shut it for you! I have her Roy. You can get up. Go see to Alan.”
Roy eased his grip. Kallita didn’t move.
“Mike, are you sure you have her?” He eased off her legs and moved to face his wife. Kallita looked at him with fiery eyes, staring through him, trying to burn her hatred into the depths of his soul. Roy’s anger boiled deep within him, roiling around, filling every crevice of his being. A tidal wave of loathing seethed within him, finally bursting forth. Pushing his brother off her, he balled up his fists, smashing Kallita in the face over and over. Straddling her torso, he beat her, turning her bloody flesh into raw meat, breaking her teeth and then her nose. Mike pulled at him to get him to stop. Finally, pushing with all his weight he knocked Roy off her.
“You’re going to kill her, Roy! You don’t want to do that.”
“Don’t tell me what I don’t want to do. She deserves to die.” He turned to the lumpen bloody mass lying on the ground. “Why did you come back here? You bitch! You killed my brother.” The words screamed forth in a wail. He fell to his knees sobbing through a veil of tears, all the while watching the hateful mess lying on his lawn. “I hate you! What did you do to him? Why? Why, why… ” Roy couldn’t take any more. His strength was gone.
“The cops are on their way, but prison is too good for you.” He turned to Mike. “See that she doesn’t move, I’m gonna get some rope.” Roy stepped past his dead brother, past Roger, and pulled the shed door open.
“Oh, Jesus! Roy! Help me here.”
Roy spun around to see Mike on his knees, Kallita’s b
loodied, and broken face twisted into a grimace devoid of any emotion. She was behind him with her left arm up under his left arm, and her hand behind Mike’s head. Her right hand held something sticking into Mike’s neck. A small trickle of blood ran down under his collar.
“Don’t fuckin’ move!” Blood spattered across Mike’s cheek with each word she uttered. “Don’t move or so help me, I’ll kill you right here. You too, Roy. Don’t even think about it. I will kill him.”
“Then what? You’ll kill me. No, Kallita. One thing I know about you, you’re a survivor. What the hell is wrong with you? You disappear for all these years, and suddenly you’re back and on a killing spree. Mark was right about you. You’re a head case. You’ve killed Alan, and I don’t know who else, but you need to get out of here, and that’s not happening if you kill him.”
“You’re right. I am a head-case now. All because of you and this shit hole of a town. For that, you are all going to pay.”
Kallita’s eyes flicked back and forth. Roy edged a little closer as she looked away. She was nervous and cornered, but he could not allow her to walk away from this. Ten feet separated them. If he worked it right, he could be on her before she could react. I just need another step closer. He took a step. She moved her right hand, putting her thumb on the plunger of the needle.
“I mean it! Don’t come any closer. Or he gets the full dose. It’s a terrible way to die. Believe me, I know. Now sit your ass on the grass, dear husband, and listen.”
“We’re not married anymore for your information.” He sat on his knees, not wanting to risk Mike’s life. His brother was fading, losing consciousness. Whatever is in the syringe must be getting into him. “OK, Kallita. You’re holding all the cards, but take your thumb off that needle, or all bets are off. I swear, if you hurt him, I will kill you. So talk. I’m all ears. Why don’t you start with why you’re doing this.”
“Oh, by the time I’m through with you, you’ll understand completely. After all, I’ve got nothing to lose now. It’s not how I had it planned, but I guess it’s how the cards ordained it. We’ll all be dead by morning.”
Chapter 29
Colm pulled the Mini Cooper up to Roy’s gate. The rally headlamps pierced through the darkness at the driveway beyond. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he searched for Roy’s number.
“Colm, wait! Look over there.” Emily pointed to a car parked a dozen yards further down the road. “Is that the Buick we’ve been seeing? Could it be Kallita’s car?”
“Stay here,” Colm ordered. Emily ignored him, following a few feet behind as they walked up to the car. It was the same blue Buick they had seen earlier.
“I bet this is Kallita’s car, and if that’s the case, then she is somewhere through those woods. It looks like we’re in for a little walk.” Emily headed for the gate.
The couple emerged from the wooded driveway and stepped into the clearing. They crept past the two pickup trucks, climbed the steps to the porch and approached the front door. As Colm raised his hand to knock, Emily grabbed his arm.
“Listen. Do you hear that?” The pair strained to hear above the night sounds of crickets chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. “I’m sure I heard voices coming from the back of the house.” Emily took hold of Colm’s hand and pulled him around to the side of the porch. They stopped to listen again. This time, the voices were louder. Colm moved forward, careful not to make a sound. Reaching the corner, he peeked around. Emily pushed against him, trying to get a look.
Roy knelt on the ground a few feet in front of Kallita. She was holding something against Mike Prewitt’s neck. There was no doubt about who was in control. Colm sensed that one false move would be the end of Mike. The late spring breeze carried the sound downwind toward them. Kallita’s hate-filled diatribe sent a shiver down Colm’s back. He pulled Emily close to him and whispered.
“I’ve heard enough, we have to do something to end this now. I hope Roy has patience enough to let her keep talking. We — I need to get behind her. I’m going to circle back around to the other side of the house. Give me two minutes, and then create a distraction. Make some noise, scream, whatever; draw her attention away from Roy, and pray he doesn’t try anything before I can get into position. I need to get behind that shed. Whatever you do, don’t get close to her. The stuff in that needle is deadly.”
Two minutes later, Colm settled into position, waiting for Emily to start her diversion. Kallita’s voice continued as she railed against Roy, his family, the town and everyone in it. She held Roy and his brother at bay, but Colm saw a third man lying in the grass. Jaysus, that’s Alan, God damn it! She’s done for him too. I’ve got to stop this. Come on, Emily, love, anytime you’re ready. As if on cue, Emily appeared from the darkened corner and strode to the top of the porch steps.
Silhouetted by the kitchen light, she yelled, “Roy Prewitt! What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to pick me up hours ago. If you think— who the hell are you?” She looked Kallita square in the eye. “Roy, what the hell is going on here, and what is she doing with your broth—?”
Kallita looked away from Roy and turned her attention to Emily. The light from the house blinded her for a split second, she let go of the needle to rub her eyes to see better. Roy sprang forward, lunging toward Kallita. Colm flew from the shadows, almost tripping over Alan’s body. Letting go of Mike, Kallita caught Roy’s attempt to subdue her and rolled to her right as the two men collided with each other. Reaching into her pouch, she snatched another syringe. Dazed from the collision, Roy and Colm scrambled to their feet. Kallita disappeared into the dark. Emily flashed past the two men.
“I saw where she went!”
“Emily no!” Colm yelled after her as she vanished from sight. Leaving Roy to deal with his brother, he chased after her into the blackness beyond. As he approached the tree line, he stopped to listen. It was so dark, they could be standing right in front, and he might not see them. The blackness of the thick forest forbade entry. Even in daylight, they would be hard to penetrate, and there was no sign of Emily. Where the hell did she go? She can’t have gone far. He had to risk it.
“Emily, where are you? Call out so I can find you.” He waited for her to respond. Nothing. Colm followed the tree line. With each tentative step, he listened. No response. She couldn’t have been more than a few feet behind Kallita. She surely would have overtaken her. He could not shake the feeling that he had missed something in his haste to catch up to Emily. The tree line was at least a hundred yards from the house and looking back toward the building; the only light available came from the kitchen. He saw a figure standing on the porch. But there was more movement at the foot of the steps. Colm saw two more ascend to the deck. Kallita! Jaysus! She must have circled back, but where is Emily? No! Emily was quicker than that, smarter than to succumb to Kallita’s madness. On a dead run now, he raced to the house. He had to stop Kallita. Nothing would get in the way. Drawing his service pistol, he prepared for whatever might present itself. Kallita would kill no more. Not if he had anything to say about it.
* * *
As Roy helped his brother struggle to his feet, Kallita’s deadly syringe fell from the folds of his clothing to the ground. Picking it up, he steadied Mike as they climbed the steps into the house and sat him at the table. Mike was groggy but alive. Roy placed the half-full needle on the table. Some of the clear liquid oozed out.
“What the hell is in this?” Mike picked it up and pulled the plunger back to stem the flow of the drug. “Jesus, everything went numb. It was hard to breathe. I couldn’t even move my arms. I’m weak as a kitten. Whatever it is, it’s potent stuff. Christ, she was going to kill me, wasn’t she?” Mike’s voice broke at the realization of how close he’d come to dying. “What about Alan? Is he really dead?”
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