by Rose Pressey
When I drove by the Dizzy Whiz burger joint, I made another right and was within a few miles of my apartment. Traffic was light and I was thankful. When I made a right turn at the stop sign, I glanced in my rear-view mirror. That’s when it registered. The car behind me had been the same one I’d seen last night and today at the diner.
Chapter 22
The hot rod had been a few lengths back when I’d turned, but now it was gaining on me and making every move I did. Were they pursuing me? A chill ran up my spine. What the hell did they want? I decided to turn on the street up ahead and see if they followed. The light turned yellow as I approached and I mouthed a silent prayer I wouldn’t have to stop.
Without easing off the accelerator much, I steered left onto the street and glanced in the mirror. After a few seconds, sure enough, the car whizzed behind me. Okay, yeah, definitely not a coincidence. My stomach twisted into a knot; I wanted to lose this deranged nutjob in the worst way. I didn't want them to know where I lived. No way could I go home with this strange car pursuing me. The facial features of the car’s occupants weren’t discernible, but I made out the silhouettes of two men. The skull placed in the center of the front window was easily spotted and definitely spooky. I prayed it was a leftover Halloween decoration.
The dull gray 1958 or 1959 Cadillac needed a paint job—not in mint condition like mine. Something told me I didn’t want to be caught in a dark alley with these characters. What could they possibly want with me? Did it have something to do with Johnny's murder? Possibly because I’d discovered him?
Since I’d never taken a course on losing crazy psychos who were tailgating me, I had no idea how to shake off the car. It was so close people probably thought I was towing it. Somehow I figured hitting them upside the head with my pocket book wouldn’t save me.
I turned again. The car turned with me.
Sweat broke out on my forehead and my hands were clammy, making the steering wheel hard to grip. I had to think of a way out of this mess quickly before they captured me. Maybe I should just pull over and ask them what the hell they wanted. No, not a good idea. They could have guns or any number of weapons. Not to mention sharp fangs, or claws, if they happened to be werewolves. Plus, I wasn't exactly a big girl. They'd tower over my five foot two frame. My brother had probably outrun cars before. I should have asked him for pointers—I should have asked him for a lot of things, but it was too late for that now.
As I steered the car around a curve, I was certain of one thing—these guys wanted me dead. What other reason would they have to chase me like that? It couldn’t be a coincidence this happened after I found Johnny. Maybe the killer thought I knew their identity? The mysterious hot rod still trailed my bumper. If I went any faster, I’d lose control of my car. My apartment was nearby. If I could make it there, I’d be safe. I thought car chases only happened in the movies. I prayed I wouldn’t meet with my final destiny. Not yet, anyway. I had a lot more life left in me.
I usually didn’t speed, but the car behind me seemed hell-bent on pushing me to move faster. A vintage car like mine was made for cruising around town. I liked to take my time. Apparently these hooligans didn’t. Hadn’t they ever heard of taking a joy-ride? With the traffic up ahead, punching the accelerator again wasn’t an option. An ice cream truck poked along in front of me. With the car in front of it, there looked to be just enough space for my Bel-Air between the truck and the other vehicle. If the psychos behind me didn't speed up, I thought I could slip in between the two vehicles. I didn’t have any other options. Good thing my father couldn’t see my driving now. The idiot following me was in serious need of a Prozac and Xanax cocktail.
After a couple of miles of straight road, I reached a difficult section of the highway. A big yellow sign with a winding arrow came into view warning of the danger ahead and making me grip the wheel a little tighter. In order to handle the car better, I eased my foot off the gas when I reached a curvy section of the road, navigating through the twists and turns and keeping my eyes focused ahead. But the loud rumble from the other car engine caught my attention, breaking my concentration.
When I glanced in my rear-view mirror, the gray Cadillac followed so closely I felt as if I’d been transported into a Nascar event. With the sun in my eyes and a glare across their windshield, I couldn’t make out the driver. The posted speed limit was thirty; I was already driving over the limit at thirty-five. Going faster around the turn wasn’t an option. Maybe they were some of those road rage people in a hurry to get nowhere. No, my mind told me this wasn’t the case.
The street had turned into two lanes with no shoulder, so I couldn’t move over. I had nowhere to go. The vehicle sped along behind me like a big bully, as if they owned the road. I had no idea how to get out of this situation. Where was help when I needed it? I couldn’t even reach my cell phone without wrecking.
At least putting other vehicles between us might help. It couldn’t hurt. Or could it? A car horn honked as I swerved to the left. I overcorrected. Grasping the wheel tighter, I straightened the car, narrowly missing a parked car on the side of the street. I hadn’t driven under this kind of pressure since I took my driver’s exam. Rumor was that the instructor quit right after my parallel parking incident, but whatever. Luckily, there was no oncoming traffic, so I switched to the other lane. This was one instance when I wished the police would stop me for speeding. I could tell them someone was following me. If I could have fished around for my phone in my purse, I would have. But I'd for sure wreck if I tried that maneuver. A stunt driver I was not. People on television made it look easy, but trust me, it wasn’t. At this rate, I’d be driving a car named The General Lee and hopping through the open side window to get into it.
I sped up and in one swift move jerked the Bel-Air over to the correct lane. My poor baby, I’d never driven her so hard. She practically moaned when I hit the accelerator. Glancing in the rear-view mirror again, I noticed the car swerving back and forth behind the truck, looking for an opening to get behind me again. The muscular man in the truck seemed to notice them as well. He honked, then pumped his fist out the window. If they kept following him like that, he'd probably stick a snow cone in a place they wouldn’t want.
I looked ahead and saw a street coming up. If I turned quickly, they might not have time to make it. One small problem: I'd have to keep the truck behind me from ramming into me. I could try to get the massive machine to ease off my bumper a little, but that might give enough time for the strange men to prepare for a turn. No, I'd have to take my chances and hope I didn't cause a multi-vehicle pileup and possibly kill innocent people and myself in the process. The turn approached and my heart thumped wildly. No need for the treadmill today, my heart was getting enough of a workout. I gripped the wheel and in one swift movement, turned to the right. The tires squealed and I righted the car to avoid oncoming traffic. Car horns honked. Road rage ran amok. I hadn’t even come that close to hitting anyone. Yet.
Chapter 23
When I peered back through the mirror, I saw the car zoom past. They had attempted to slow down, but it was no use. A car trailed directly behind them, and if they’d stopped, it would have smashed right into their bumper. They’d probably try to find the next street over and look for me, so I made another right. I planned to loop back over to the main road I'd just turned from. The ass-hats wouldn’t think to look for me back there. If they were as dumb as I figured they were, they'd spend their time searching the side streets. Home sure did sound good. Safe and sound. I hoped.
“Come on, baby, just a little bit more and we’ll be home.” I patted the steering wheel.
I tooled through the evening traffic. My fear amplified as I contemplated what had happened. Perhaps I did need a weapon. Heaven knows I didn’t own a gun. I made a mental list of things to use in case I was attacked. Umbrella? Keys? I’d seen those used in self-defense classes. Okay…so I had no weapons. I shook the thought out of my head. No, I wouldn’t need a weapon. If I thought it enough
, it would be true, right? Better to think of my upcoming gig instead of fighting off a serial killer.
I punched down the gas again, more in a hurry than ever after my little game of car tag, and made my way down the congested street as fast as the old Bel-Air would take me. I never liked pushing my car this much. My baby was delicate. For what must have been the thousandth time, I glanced back looking for the mysterious car. It never reappeared. I’d made it home in one piece. As I pulled into my apartment building parking lot, I finally allowed my breathing to become somewhat normal again. My pulse slowed to normal, but thoughts of the maniac driver returning still played in my head.
The old house I lived in had been converted into apartments. It had three floors and I lived on the top one. My place consisted of one bedroom, a small kitchen, and a living/dining room combination. Not a huge space by any means, but enough for me. Having a place to call home after being out on the road was all I needed. Right after moving in, I’d painted over the white walls with warm colors. I added splashes of red and sage green with pillows and such, bringing out my inner interior decorator. The kitchen area I’d painted a muted yellow. It reminded me of the warm summer days at Grandma Annie’s when she’d tried to teach me magic. I had a bizarre mix of a Pottery Barn catalog and kitschy Fifties décor, but I liked to think of it as eclectic.
Next to the house was a parking area. It was for the law firm next door, but they allowed us to use a few spots for extra money. It sure beat fighting for a spot on the side of the street. Built in 1888, the house looked like something out of a haunted movie, minus the cobwebs and thunderstorms. On stormy nights it could be creepy. I liked to order a pizza and watch the teenage delivery boy hesitate before approaching the imposing structure. The place definitely had that old haunted house look, but it wasn’t exactly the Bates Motel, either. At least it wasn’t run-down. The landlord maintained the historic home well and it showed.
Its intricate cornices and stained windows gave it an almost gothic feel. Most of the homes on the street had the same look. It was like stepping back in time when you walked down the sidewalk. Tall, narrow, double-paned windows covered the brick structure and the porch was topped with a balcony with large banisters. I hurried up the front steps, onto the porch, and stuck my key in the front door. When I twisted, I discovered it was already unlocked. Old Mr. Cooper was forever forgetting to lock it when he came home. I’d been reminding the landlord to replace the lock with one that latched on its own when the door closed, but he said that was just asking for trouble. He was probably correct. The other tenant was older as well, and my landlord knew they’d inevitably lock themselves out, requiring him to make the fifty-mile trip and let them in. I guess I could see his point.
I pushed through the door and shut it behind me. I didn't lock it because if one of my neighbors had gone out and forgotten their key, there would be hell to pay. They’d pound on the door so loudly they’d wake the whole neighborhood. The last thing I wanted was to be disturbed, so I decided the best thing was to leave it open.
I adjusted the shoulder strap of my purse and set off on my journey up three flights of stairs. Stained a deep mahogany with intricate carvings on the handles, the staircase was steep and wound around all the way to the top. Almost every step creaked when I placed my foot on it. At the top of the stairs, there was a skylight with stained glass. It brightened the area; otherwise, it would have been even spookier. I reached the top and turned to the right, making my way down the narrow hallway. The hardwood floor creaked as well. I figured Mrs. Stevens heard every step I made. Lucky for her, I was on the road a lot. And when I was home, I was out at night most of the time and slept during the day. Well, what little sleep I got. Ever since the dreams started two months ago, I was lucky if I got three or four hours a night. Visions of dark figures, blood, and screaming filled my sleep.
I pulled out the key and slipped it into the lock. The door creaked on its hinges and pushed open without me twisting the lock or the knob. My heart sped up. I was sure I'd closed and locked the door behind me that morning. Had the landlord been there without telling me first? He'd been known to do that in the past. I pushed the door a little, just enough to poke my head in. The place was in shambles. My sofa was turned on its side and books thrown about the room. Plants toppled over and dirt all over the floor. Even the blinds had been ripped from the windows. And that was just the living room. My stomach dropped. I hated to see what the rest of the apartment looked like.
When I looked at the overturned sofa again, I noticed it. It was too big not to notice. Propped up beside the sofa was an upright bass, just like Johnny's. The one that had disappeared from the scene.
Chapter 24
A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to scream, but no one would hear me. No one except whoever was responsible for this mess. Was the person still in my apartment? I paused and held my breath. No noise. Maybe they were waiting for me. If I made a sound, would they hear and run out from their hiding spot after me? Should I call the police? Yes, I definitely needed to call the police. The bass gave me the heebie-jeebies. Propped next to the sofa, it looked as if it were staring at me. Laughing at me and taunting me. Was it Johnny's? Why was it there? My mind raced with thoughts and questions I had no answers to. I pulled the phone from my purse and dialed nine-one-one.
I whispered into the phone when the operator answered. “Someone has broken into my home.”
“I can't hear you ma'am. Can you speak louder?”
If I spoke louder, the intruder may know I was there. Weren't they supposed to know things like that?
“Do you need fire, ambulance, or police?” She asked, finally catching on.
“The police,” I said, praying my voice was loud enough for her to hear, but not for the intruder.
“What's your address?”
Damn cell phones. Why couldn't they have my location when I called?
“I'm at three forty-six East Davidson. Apartment three. It's unlocked.”
“They're on their way.”
I hung up the phone without thinking that maybe I should have kept her on the line. What if I needed her again? I hoped that wasn't the case. No sound had come from my apartment while I’d placed the call. Just the steady tick-tock of my old grandfather clock.
I poked my head back through the open door. With my foot, I pushed it open wider. I cringed when it made the creaking noise. Couldn't Mr. Smith oil the hinges? I stepped forward with one foot, then the other, forcing myself to enter. When I was just inside the door, I peered around, but didn't see any movement. I didn't know whether to check the kitchen to my right first or turn to my left and check out the bedroom.
I moved to the left. A perfect hiding place would be the bedroom closet. I’d check there first. My heels clicked against the hardwood as I eased across the floor. Too loud. I paused and slipped off my shoes. It’d be easier to run without them if someone attacked me, anyway. I set the shoes next to the wall, then continued on my trek. It wasn't a big space to cover, but with my heart pounding, the distance seemed endless.
When I made it to the bedroom, I covered my gasp with my hand. The mattress was half off the bed. Drawers pulled out, and their contents dumped onto the floor. I hated that they'd touched my underwear; the idea made my skin crawl. A picture of my parents was shattered and lying on the floor. Where the hell were the police? Any other time they’d be here. When I forgot to add coins to the parking meter, they were there.
Apparently, whoever did this had an issue with my window treatments, because every window was uncovered. Knowing anyone could look in the window and see me made it even creepier than it already was. I focused my attention on the closed closet door. What was taking them so long? As Frank would say, too many doughnut runs. I eased over to the wall and aligned my body next to it. You couldn't have fit a quarter between my body and the wall I was so close.
This was a job for the police, but for some reason, I decided to be brave and have a go at it. I inched along the wa
ll until I made it to the closet door. Taking in a deep breath, I placed my hand on the knob. I decided to silently count to three and then open. If anyone jumped out, I could turn and run for the main door. Now that I thought of it, I should have grabbed a knife from the kitchen or something before coming in here to confront a crazy person. Obviously, I hadn't been thinking clearly.
One. Two. Three. I yanked on the door and my heart pumped like mad. In front of me, my clothes still hung on the hangers and my shoes were still on the racks on the floor. Why hadn't the person dumped the contents of the closet out like they did the drawers? Perhaps they wanted me to think they were hiding there when really they were hiding somewhere else. Like, oh, I don’t know, perhaps under the bed? Just like the boogey man.
Since I had a bed that was set higher off the floor than normal, there was a lot of space under there—plenty of space for a killer. I eased over and squatted to the ground. With a shaky hand, I grabbed the skirt from the bed and lifted. I squinted at the darkness and scanned the area, but the only things under there were storage containers for my winter clothes. I stood and looked around. The shower, I thought. The person could be hiding behind the shower curtain. When I’d pull back the curtain, they'd attack me with a knife or something. I shivered at the thought.
Inching across the floor, I made my way to the bathroom. I stepped into the small room, my bare feet cold against the tile. If anyone jumped out at me, it would be hard to get away quickly in the small space. I took a couple steps away from the door and leaned as far as I could toward the curtain. Taking in another deep breath, I moved my hand closer. My hand shook worse than my mother’s Chihuahua on a cold day. I grabbed tight and yanked the curtain back.