The Tangerine Killer

by Claire Svendsen

  I nodded. He didn’t ask why and I was thankful for that. In fact he looked sheepish. I wondered if he already regretted what we’d done.

  “You want breakfast? I can make French toast.”

  “You can?” I teased.

  “Hey,” he laughed.

  In that moment everything was back to the way it had been before. I hoped that things would stay that way. I wanted our relationship to be just that, nothing more, nothing less. I promised myself I wouldn’t sleep with him again.

  The phone rung and he left to answer it. After a few minutes I heard him talking in the bedroom. He sounded worried. For the first time since last night I remembered Parker and how desperately we needed to find him before something bad happened. Even after Olin’s voice fell silent, he didn’t return. As I smoked, my mind wandered through all the worst case scenarios until I couldn’t take it anymore. I found him sitting on the side of his bed, the phone limp in his hand. He looked up when he saw me standing in the doorway, his face pale.

  “Is it Parker?” I asked softly.

  I wanted to go to him. To put my arms around him but I just stood fidgeting in the doorway, heart pounding in my chest.

  “No,” he shook his head.

  “Thank God. I was so worried.”

  But if it wasn’t Parker then what was it?

  “Come on Olin, you’re killing me here. What the hell is going on?”

  “That was Mike down in evidence. Your stuff isn’t there.”

  I’d forgotten about the missing items from my room. The mascara, the conditioner, my panties. They didn’t matter now. I couldn’t have cared less if the psycho was ejaculating all over them. Perhaps they would buy Parker more time.

  “He can keep them,” I said. “I don’t care. Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

  “Wait. There’s more.”

  “What?”

  “Faye Reynolds is down at the station raising all kinds of hell.”

  “About what?”

  “Apparently she’s convinced that her daughter was murdered and now her son is missing.”

  “Well none of that is news to us.”

  “No but apparently she is threatening to blow this whole thing wide open, go to the newspapers and bring in reporters. She could really fuck this up for us, for Parker.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well let’s get down there and shut her up.”

  “It gets worse.”

  “How the hell can it get worse?”

  “She’s joined forces with my ex.”

  That was all we needed. Two crazy women hell bent on their own brand of vigilante justice. Crying and sobbing their way through countless news interviews and giving the killer all the attention he could ever want. If he had the whole state focused on his every move, it was going to make things a lot more difficult for him. So difficult that he might just decide that he didn’t need Parker anymore.

  “So what do you want to do?”

  “Fuck it. Let’s go down there and blow this thing wide open anyway.”

  The fact that the insufferable Faye Reynolds and the detested ex had joined forces seemed to infuse Olin with a renewed surge of screw the world. A small pang of jealousy rose up in the pit of my stomach. Those two women had been able to do something I had been attempting and failing at ever since we had learnt of the kidnapping. Yet deep down I knew it didn’t matter how Olin became enraged, it just mattered that he had.

  FIFTY FIVE

  Nothing much had changed down at the station since we left. There were no new photographs pinned to the board, no new lines connecting victims to suspects. It didn’t seem like they had accomplished much of anything since we’d been gone.

  I quickly scanned the notes for mentions of Mrs. Crumb and Ella but there was nothing. The detectives seemed to be flagging under the strain of no sleep and so was their work. They sat slumped at their desks, heads cradled in their hands. One guy was actually drooling. Captain Bright had better start organizing his men into shifts or Parker was never going to be found. I was glad we hadn’t stayed, not that Olin and I had slept much either. Between the sex and sleeping on the patio chair, I might as well have just stayed up all night.

  As a loud wave of voices crashed through the door and into the room, I instinctively stepped back behind Olin. I knew my presence there was even less desirable than his was. Better not to be seen, at least not right away.

  “I don’t know who you assholes think you are,” Faye screamed. “Both our sons are missing. What are you going to do about it?”

  I loved the way she made Harvey Lee Reynolds, adulterer and all around slimy scumbag, sound like he was a missing child. Olin’s ex didn’t seem to mind. She held onto Faye’s hand protectively.

  “Don’t you care about a mother’s rights? A mother’s instinct?” she said.

  Faye nodded. “Yes. Victoria and I know what’s going on here.”

  The two women locked arms fiercely as though they could take on the whole police department together. Standing side by side I realized how Faye’s age played on her. Her blonde hair held an artificial sheen next to Victoria’s shiny locks and her skin looked sallow under the glare of the florescent lights. The woman who had seemed fairly buoyant at her daughter’s funeral now looked distraught at the disappearance of her son.

  “Ladies please, let us conduct our investigation in the way we see fit. Trust me when I say we know what we are doing.”

  It was Captain Bright, trying to take back control of his squad room. His face belayed how tired he was but his voice did not.

  “You know what you’re doing?” Faye said. “I highly doubt that. We’re going to talk to the press and there’s nothing you can do to stop us. Come on Victoria.”

  She grabbed hold of the younger woman’s hand and tried to pull her from the room. Victoria turned back to look at Olin and I didn’t like what I saw. She was grief stricken and distraught. I knew she would do anything to get her son back but there was something else. Hidden beneath all the layers was something only a woman would notice, longing. She wanted Olin back, I was sure of it.

  “Victoria, please.”

  Olin stepped forward and tried to grab her arm. She pulled it out of his reach.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “You have to listen to me. This is crazy. What you’re considering doing could get Parker killed.”

  “You’re the one who’s going to get our son killed. I have to do everything, you do nothing. It’s always been your problem. You’ve never been there for him. If he dies, his blood is on your hands.”

  I saw her words cut through Olin but he didn’t back down. He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice.

  “Don’t make this about us. It’s about Parker and getting him back safe and sound. That’s all that matters.”

  “It’s not about Parker.” Her eyes latched onto me. “It’s about her. She’s the reason all this is happening and you know what?” She stepped closer to Olin and stuck a pointed nail into his chest. “I know you’re fucking her.”

  In that moment I wished the floor would swallow me whole. Captain Bright and the other detectives were all staring at me. I looked at my feet guiltily, then it hit me. I didn’t care what they thought and it was certainly none of their business who I slept with. I looked back up at the room with a steely glare and as I did each gaze fell away from mine, all except Victoria’s.

  “You’re not even going to deny it, are you?” she said. “Typical.”

  “Who I sleep with is none of your business. Remember?” Olin said.

  “It’s my business if your fucking around gets my son killed.”

  “He’s our son and if you go to the press you’re the one who’s going to get him killed. Right now the person who has Parker thinks they have the upper hand, that they’re safe. You spook them by giving interviews and getting the public all riled up then you might rattle him.”

  “Good. Maybe he’ll give Parker back th
en.”

  “He won’t give him back you stupid bitch,” Olin started to shout. “He’ll kill him.”

  Captain Bright stepped between them. Up until now he’d been lurking in the background, letting the conversation play out. But now he looked less than amused.

  “All right, that’s enough,” he said.

  Olin stepped back and Faye grabbed Victoria and tried to pull her from the room. She resisted, pointing at me like a crazed woman.

  “How does it feel to know you’re getting all these people killed?” she screamed. “That my little boy will die because of you?”

  I didn’t answer. What could I say? In a way she was right. I was the reason he was killing but I had no idea why and no way to stop him.

  “Fuck each other’s brains out while you still can,” she spat. “Because if my son dies, I’ll kill you both.”

  “All right ladies, come on now.”

  The captain herded the two women from the room. Faye screeched as they vanished down the hallway. She wanted to know what was being done to find her own son. She needed to get in line. Four year olds trumped thirty something losers any day.

  I sank into the nearest chair, my legs a little weak.

  “You okay?” Olin asked.

  I nodded but I wasn’t really. Victoria’s words had shaken me up. She was right. Who did I think I was kidding? I was fucking around while a little boy’s life hung in the balance. I’d never be able to live with myself if Parker died and Olin? He’d never want to look at me again. I had to find a way to turn the situation around. I had to do something.

  Olin put his hand on my shoulder but I shook it off. I didn’t need his pity. I just wanted answers.

  Captain Bright reappeared and pointed at the two of us.

  “My office. Now.”

  Maybe now I was going to get some after all.

  FIFTY SIX

  The little boy cries in his sleep. Whimpering like a puppy who has been weaned before he was ready. He doesn’t make a move to comfort him. He knows that will only make it worse. He is fully aware that he’s no substitute for a father and he has no desire to be. The little boy thought it was all a fun game at first but at bed time he wants to go home, even demands so in an angry little voice. When he doesn’t get his way the tears come and that infuriates him in a way he never intended in front of the child. Seconds away from lashing his hand across the boy’s face he leaves the room and locks the door behind him, muffling the cries.

  “Crying is a sign of weakness,” he says through the closed door. But he knows the boy is too young to understand.

  Down in the basement he can’t hear anything at all. He busies himself with the intricate work of the next stage of the plan. His dream catcher swings in the light from the electric bulb and he wonders if she’s figured it out yet. He highly doubts that she has. He knows her better than she knows herself. She’ll never put together the pieces of the puzzle until it’s too late. Besides, he knows all good things come to those who wait. He knows that eventually she’ll come to him. She won’t be able to resist.

  FIFTY SEVEN

  I was so God damn tired. I could have laid my head on the captain’s desk and slept for twelve hours. From the pissed look on his face I was sure he’d have a few choice words to say about that. We were already in the dog house. I guessed word of our snooping around must have found its way back to him. That or he just really hated us by now. I watched as a muscle twitched in his eyebrow and waited for him to rip us both a new one. Olin sat rigid beside me. I knew he was waiting for it too. By now I knew I pretty much had nothing to lose. I could throw myself to the wolves to save Olin. I owed it to him.

  “It was me,” I blurted out.

  “What was you?” Captain Bright asked.

  He eyed me suspiciously but the malice that had been there before faded away. I got the feeling he felt a little sorry for us, though that probably had more to do with the fact that we both looked like shit than anything else.

  Since I didn’t know what he’d hauled us in there for, I was going to have to bluff until he took the bait. I tried to apply my most bashful face. The one that rarely got me anywhere except into deeper trouble.

  “It was my idea. I talked Olin into it. He didn’t want to but I made him. I’m sorry. I was just trying to help.”

  Olin looked at me like I was crazy. Then he smiled. I hoped that meant he thought I was the good kind of crazy.

  “She’s lying,” he said.

  Captain Bright crossed his arms and leant back in his chair.

  “What am I going to do with you two?” he asked.

  We didn’t answer. I thought it more prudent to wait until he told me exactly what it was I was admitting to, then I could go to town.

  “Look, I’m going to lay it on the line. We all know what’s at stake,” Captain Bright said.

  He leant forward on his desk and gave Olin a sympathetic smile. My gut twisted as I thought of Parker.

  “I didn’t really expect you two to just drop this. I mean it’s your kid we’re talking about here.”

  Olin nodded and I just looked at the floor. There was a black mark on the tile in the shape of a crow. I rubbed it with my shoe and tried to smudge it into something else, anything but a harbinger of death. It didn’t work.

  “So where do we stand?” Olin finally asked.

  “I’ve got guys following up on leads all over the place. The white van is proving particularly hard to trace but we’re doing our best and I just got a call that the results are in on the maggots.”

  “Great. Let’s go.”

  Olin stood up to leave but the captain held up his hand.

  “Wait. There’s more.”

  I had a bad feeling about what was coming next. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what he had to say. I toyed with the idea of running from the room but I couldn’t seem to move. I was glued to the chair and I was going to hear the bad news I knew was coming.

  Captain Bright opened a folder and pulled out a flat evidence bag. Inside was a piece of orange paper. I couldn’t see what it said but I already knew it was from him.

  “This was left on my car this morning.” He pushed it across the desk and Olin grabbed it.

  “A ransom note?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Olin read the note in silence. I couldn’t look at him or the captain. I should have known the reason he was being so nice was because there was more bad news. My palms grew sweaty as I waited for Olin to finish reading.

  “Ridiculous,” he said. “It’s never going to happen.”

  “If you want to see your son again, we have to consider all our options.”

  “No.”

  Silence bloomed until I finally found my voice again.

  “What does it say?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” Olin said. “Forget about it.”

  “No. I want to see it.”

  I reached for the note but Olin pulled it away. He wouldn’t look me in the eye.

  “I have a right to see it don’t I?” I gave the captain my best glare. “I know it’s about me.”

  “Show it to her,” he told Olin.

  “I can’t.”

  Olin got up, the note clutched to his chest, and walked to the window.

  “Just forget about it okay?” There was pleading in his voice, desperation.

  “You know I can’t do that,” I whispered. “What does he want?”

  “A trade. You for Parker.”

  FIFTY EIGHT

  I heard the words but they didn’t really register. Instead the room grew smaller and white light shone all around me. I started to slip out of the chair.

  “She’s going to pass out,” I heard the captain say. His words were muffled and distorted. My heart pounded inside my head. Someone pushed my head between my legs.

  It was Olin, his voice in my ear whispering. “Just breathe.”

  I focused on the air in my lungs. Pushing it in and out seemed like a monumental task. I wasn’t sure ho
w I’d ever accomplished it before. But with each ragged gulp the room swung back into focus. I sat up again, shaking from the exertion of fighting what my body really wanted to do. Pass out into blissful unconsciousness and forget about what had just happened.

  “You okay?” Olin asked, his hand still holding my arm.

  I nodded. “Fine.”

  “You should eat something,” Captain Bright said.

  He picked up the note and put it back inside his folder. Then he waited. I tried to make my mouth form words but my lips were thick and rubbery. Finally I managed to squeak something out.

  “I want to do this.”

  “And I told you that’s not going to happen,” Olin’s voice was raised.

  “He’s your son,” I whispered. “I’m nothing.”

  “You’re not nothing and I’m not going to let you do this. No way.”

  “Can’t you see?” I said. “It’s the only way. He wants me, it’s what he’s wanted all along. He’s going to keep killing until he gets what he wants.” I stood up, grateful that my legs had stopped shaking. “I won’t be able to live with myself if he kills Parker and neither will you.”

  “I can’t,” Olin shook his head.

  “Well I can.” I looked straight at Captain Bright. “Make the arrangements.”

  He nodded but Olin was having none of it. He tried to grab me as I left the room but I slipped from his grasp and ran down the hallway. Tears stung in my eyes as I fled to the exit and bolted outside. I ran as fast as my aching body would allow, listening for the sound of Olin behind me. I thought I heard footsteps but I didn’t dare slow down to look.

  Fat drops of rain fell from the sky. They splashed against my face and mingled with my tears. Thunder rumbled in the distance and the ground vibrated beneath my feet but I didn’t stop. I ran past store fronts and shoppers with bags of stuff that they probably didn’t even need, hurrying to get out of the rain. I ran until the air burned like fire in my lungs and I reached the lake. Only then did I slow to a walk, hands clasped against my sides as the pain crashed through me. I stumbled to a wooden bench and sat down. Olin hadn’t followed me and I felt nothing but relief. I needed to be alone.