Zeke

by Wodke Hawkinson

  “Been enjoying a cold snap of my own, freezing rain, and light snow. But I think I’m moving beyond its reach now, fingers crossed on that. Any results on the cheating spouse?”

  “Well, yes. Unfortunately, our client was right; his wife is running around on him. In fact, she’s got three guys on the side.”

  “Three! Poor bastard! How’d he take the news?” Will shook his head sadly, thinking of the man’s sorrow.

  “I haven’t told him yet. I’m meeting with him this afternoon.” Roxie clicked her pen, a habit she had when nervous.

  “I can tell it’s bugging you; I can hear that pen clicking,” Will said with a small chuckle. “But, I can relate. I hate giving bad news, too.”

  Roxie sighed dramatically. “You know me so well.” There was a slight pause as she changed gears. “The Morris case is going well. So far, we’ve identified two employees pilfering supplies from the warehouse and I think that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Old man Morris wants us to stay on it, collect as much evidence as possible, and not spook the thieves until we have everything we can possibly get.”

  “Wonderful! We’ll be able to pay our electric bill this month and next,” Will joked.

  “True.” Roxie was silent, then asked, “So, have you decided where you’re going yet?”

  “I have.” Will took a deep breath, preparing for her outburst. “I can’t quit thinking about that old barn. I’m going back.”

  “What? Will, that old geezer might still be around. He’ll shoot you for sure this time! Besides, think of the time you’ll lose!”

  “I know. I know. But, I got the weirdest feeling out there. And when I saw that skirt...”

  “I hate to pull rank on you, Will, but as your partner...” Roxie had that stern tone to her voice that said she was ready to let him have it.

  “Pull rank? Need I remind you I had the business first, and brought you in later?” Will teased. “Anyway, don’t worry; I know what I’m doing.” He disconnected before she could protest further, and imagined her glaring at her phone, fuming. The image brought a full smile to his lips and he hummed as he put the car in gear and pulled out of the travel plaza, heading back the way he’d come.

  He hadn’t driven far when his phone rang. He glanced at the display. Uh-oh! Roxie.

  “Hello.” Will braced himself for an argument that never came.

  “Will! The bank notified Mr. and Mrs. Cox that Sue’s debit card was used last night!”

  He pulled to the shoulder and put the car in park. “Where?”

  “Four Falls.”

  “Let me get my map.”

  “You don’t need it. Just head north toward St. Louis. Four Falls is approximately halfway between there and where you are now. When you get to Four Falls city limits, go to the Pump & Save. It’ll be the first big convenience store you come to, on the right-hand side of the road. You can be there in less than two hours.”

  Will made a quick note. “Got it.”

  They disconnected. Will checked the road behind him and turned back the way he’d come. He pressed the gas, a small smile on his face. He had direction to his search once more.

  On the outskirts of Four Falls, Will noticed a flurry of activity around a pair of abandoned steel buildings. Several cop cars, lights flashing, were parked outside one of the buildings. An ambulance idled nearby. Uniformed officers milled about. A chill traveled down Will’s spine as he pulled onto the gravel road leading to the site. When he got closer, an officer stepped in front of his car and signaled him to stop.

  Will lowered his window and leaned out. “What’s going on here?”

  “Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Please turn your vehicle around and go about your business.”

  “You don’t understand,” Will protested. “I’m a private investigator and I’m tracking a couple. A young girl I think may be in trouble and a young man whom I believe is holding her against her will.”

  The officer considered this info and then made a decision. “Sir, step out of the vehicle, please. And I’ll need to see some identification.”

  Will got out of the car and further explained his interest as he handed the policeman his ID.

  “Wait here.” The officer moved away and spoke into his radio. He turned back to Will and handed him his ID. “Detective Fryer will come out and speak with you.”

  “But what happened? Can’t you tell me that much?”

  “Homicide. A woman.”

  The shock hit Will in the gut, nearly doubling him over. “Have you identified the body? Do you know who the victim is?” He grabbed the officer’s sleeve, clearly a mistake.

  The cop stared at Will’s hand on his arm. “You want charged with Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer?”

  “I apologize,” Will said contritely. “I overreacted. It’s just concern about this young woman and...” His words trailed off as a portly man in a brown suit and wool overcoat approached.

  “Mr. Falstaff? I’m Detective Fryer. Let’s move over here where we can talk.” He led Will a few feet closer to the building, but not into a position where he could see what was happening inside.

  “Tell me about your case,” Fryer said, watching Will with shrewd hazel eyes.

  Will gave the detective an abbreviated version of his case. When he had finished, Fryer pulled a bag from his pocket. It contained a mangled credit card. “The girl you’re looking for…Susan Cox? This is her bankcard. It was inside the room next to where we found the victim.”

  “Oh, god.” Will closed his eyes. “Do you have a name for the victim yet?”

  “No.” Fryer frowned. “But we know she isn’t the girl you’re tracking. We ran her name through the system and she doesn’t match the victim in any way, shape, or form. We assume the victim had long blond hair since we found several clumps with pieces of scalp attached.”

  “Hold on.” Will frowned. “You assume? Can’t you see her hair?”

  Fryer cleared his throat. “The head’s missing.”

  “Missing? As in not on her body?” Will paled.

  “That’s right. She’s pretty cut up, mutilated. If I had to guess the cause of death, I’d say blood loss, but of course, we have to wait for the official verdict. The coroner is on his way. We probably wouldn’t have even discovered the body this soon if it hadn’t been for a realtor bringing a client out here, some big shot in manufacturing who’s thinking about opening a plastics plant on this site.”

  The detective continued speaking, but Will didn’t hear anything after the description. He felt bad for the family of the dead woman, but couldn’t help but be relieved it wasn’t Sue. A few seconds later, his head cleared enough to register the fact that Sue’s card had been found at the scene. The detective’s next words hit home.

  “We think your girl may be involved in this killing, Falstaff.”

  Will’s blood boiled and he grew defensive. “Just because you found Susan’s card here doesn’t mean a thing. If anything, she probably left it on purpose, hoping it would be found. I believe she wants nothing more than to get away at this point. She’s most likely as much a victim as that poor woman in there.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Fryer signaled another man, who had just exited the building, and waved him over. “This is my partner, Dane Alter.”

  Will shook hands with the man. During the ensuing discussion, Will referred to his notes as he filled in the detectives on details of his search, including information about the van Zeke drove, and even the break-in at Doris’s house.

  Fryer chewed his lip thoughtfully. “Hold up a minute.” He left to speak to an officer and returned almost immediately. “We’re putting an APB out for the van.”

  Detective Alter looked at his partner. “I’ll give the police a call over in Assaria and have them send us a copy of the report on the break-in.”

  “Sounds good.” Fryer nodded. “There’s also that bunch that were partying here last night. We need to see if we can round some of them up. Maybe they
saw something.”

  As they outlined their strategy, it seemed as if they had forgotten Will for the moment. He stood patiently by. It was also obvious they were keeping something from him. Furtive looks passed between the two men. Finally, Alter seemed to come to a decision. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a sealed evidence bag and slipped on a pair of latex gloves. When he spoke, his voice was heavy with concern.

  “Mr. Falstaff. We found something else beside Miss Cox’s bank card.” He reached inside the bag and withdrew a folded sheet of paper. He opened it and held it out for Will’s inspection.

  Will, careful not to touch the flyer, read with trepidation. MISSING, it said across the top. Under the word was a grainy photo of a young girl with dark hair. In bold type, the girl’s name stood out; Daisy Swak. Beneath that, a hotline phone number.

  “Oh, lord.” Will ran a hand over his face and stared at the picture.

  “You know this girl?” Fryer asked.

  “No. But I might know where to find her.”

  He proceeded to explain the flowers the couple had purchased, and described his clash with the farmer outside the old barn. The detectives listened with interest, making notes. Finally, Will reached the end of what he knew.

  “Mr. Falstaff, we can’t thank you enough for the help you’ve given us. Did someone get your contact information?”

  Will shook his head, reached for his wallet, and extracted a business card.

  Alter put it in his coat pocket, turned to an officer nearby, and told him to contact the sheriff over in Chamberlain County. “Get them out to that barn, ASAP.”

  Finally, Fryer turned his attention to Will. “You’ve done an outstanding job, Falstaff, excellent tracking. But we’ll take it from here. We’ve got your number and we’ll keep you abreast of any developments on our end.”

  “Now hold on there,” Will objected. “I’m not walking away from this. I was hired to do a job and I intend to do it. I’m bringing that girl home to her parents.”

  Detective Alter put a hand on Will’s shoulder. “Don’t interfere in our investigation, Falstaff. It’s a law enforcement matter now. It ceased to be a civil matter when that corpse was discovered.”

  Will realized it would get him nowhere to argue. “Okay, no problem. I’ll leave it in your capable hands, then,” he said disingenuously, teeth clenched. “I have something to give you, though. The skirt I found at the barn.”

  He went to his car and retrieved the bagged garment. After handing it to Fryer, Will got into his car, backed up, and returned to the highway. Minutes later, he pulled into the Pump & Save where he discovered the ATM was located in a kiosk on the exterior of the establishment. This probably meant no one saw Sue when she withdrew her money. That didn’t stop him from checking with the clerk, however. As predicted, the clerk saw nothing, but suggested it might have occurred on a different shift.

  While he was there, Will bought a pack of cigarettes, a large coffee, and a turkey sandwich. He left the store and ate his sandwich in the parking lot, deep in thought. One of the derelict buildings on Melvin’s list triggered his decision to continue north to St. Louis.

  After reporting the latest news to Roxie, Will slowly reentered traffic, thinking about the building he planned to visit next. It was a place he was practically positive Zeke couldn’t resist. He hoped he was right.

  Sad Angel of St. Louis

  Zeke barely contained his jubilation as they passed through the quiet streets of Four Falls. Once out of town, he let loose.

  “Holy shit, that was hot!” Zeke careened down the highway, deliberately swerving from side to side across the empty road. “Whoo-hoo! What a fucking rush!” He howled like a wolf, shook off another burst of manic excitement, and finally straightened the tires. Flinging his hair back, he draped one arm over the wheel and turned to Sue, who had been pulled from lethargy by Zeke’s spirited antics.

  She shrank under his burning gaze. Huddling against the passenger door, she lowered her eyes to her lap and said nothing. Trembling, she tightened her jaw to avoid screaming.

  “Ah, Susie, you can’t believe how awesome that was. It was so satisfying, so tasty, so fucking sweet. If I had it to do over, I’d bring you in and let you watch. Hell, maybe I’d even let you make a cut or two. I think you’d get off on it.”

  Shuddering at the thought of ever helping Zeke kill someone, Sue barely kept her nausea down.

  Zeke dug a cigarette from the pack on the dash and lit it. “At least I can describe it for you. You want to know, don’t you? Don’t you, Sue?” Although she didn’t respond, Zeke proceeded to relive the killing in graphic detail. He was exuberant as he recalled the terror on the woman’s face, the bucking of her drug-impaired body, the hot feel of her blood coating his skin in a macabre caress. He waxed poetic for several miles, using an endearing tone as he recalled the horrific slaughter of his victim.

  The woman’s screams still echoed in Sue’s brain and she shook her head, trying to shut them out. But they lived in her memory, would probably live there forever. She forced her breathing to slow, the pull of the drug working with her as she attempted to retreat mentally. She tried to picture graduating from college, finding a dream job, meeting a decent, loving man, and having a baby or two of her own. She’d eradicate Zeke from her life, pretend she’d never met him. Before she could sink entirely into the fantasy, Zeke’s voice broke in.

  “What’s your damn problem?” His eyes had turned flat and cold as blue steel. He slowed the vehicle as he stared at her. “You’re just sitting there like a lump of shit. Sulking. I hate it when people sulk; it bums me out, brings me down. You should be celebrating with me. Right when I need you to be supportive, you fail me. You’re ruining my moment with your suckish attitude, and it’s selfish as hell.” He glanced back at the road, took a quick drag off his cigarette, blowing the smoke in her direction.

  Sue remained quiet, hands in her lap, pulling nervously on her fingers.

  “I’m gonna tell you something for your own good, Sue. There aren’t many people out there that will tolerate your shit. You need to get a grip on those moods. They wear on me, and I’m a patient man.” He fixed his eyes on the road ahead, sped up a little, and continued lecturing her. “Sometimes you really get on my nerves. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder what I ever saw in you.”

  The feeling’s mutual, you psycho. Sue turned her head so he couldn’t see her face.

  “Did you hear me, Einstein?” Zeke rolled the window down and tossed out his cigarette butt, sparks flitting behind them as it bounced on the pavement. “I’m getting sick of you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sue mumbled. “I guess I’m just tired.”

  “Yea, right. Whatever. I need to find a place to wash up.” Zeke turned his full attention to his driving, watching the signs. The highway was all but deserted at this wee hour of the morning.

  “Right there! Gas station.” Zeke twisted the wheel, bounced roughly down the exit ramp, and pulled into a darkened establishment. A few dim security lights shone inside, but the place was deserted.

  “I don’t think they’re open yet,” Sue said, afraid to get out of the van in this remote location, especially given Zeke’s current anger toward her.

  “No shit! Here’s an idea, why don’t you shut up.” Zeke slammed the van into park and turned off the engine. He stomped around the front of the vehicle and opened the passenger door. Jerking Sue out with one hand, he brandished Big Ben in the other.

  He’s going to kill me now. Sue stumbled along beside him, the cold air whipping her skirt around her legs. She prayed under her breath as he yanked her toward the side of the building and shoved her up against the concrete block wall.

  She squeezed her eyes shut, dreading the first piercing stab, hoping he would at least make it quick and not draw out the torture like he had done with Brenda. Instead of feeling the knife plunge deep within her as she anticipated, she heard metallic scraping sounds and opened her eyes. Zeke was prying open the restroom
door. It didn’t take long.

  Zeke pushed her into the small men’s room and closed the door behind them. Without a word, he emptied his pockets on the edge of the sink, stripped out of his clothes, and turned the hot water faucet on, letting it run until it warmed up. Using wads of paper towels, he scrubbed the bloody smears from his skin, tossing the soiled rags on the floor.

  Sue looked away, repulsed. After washing up to his satisfaction, he cleaned Big Ben and dried the blade and grip meticulously.

  “Need to pee while we’re here, bunny?” Zeke’s voice was pleasant again, solicitous even. “I doubt there’s another stop before St. Louis.”

  Sue stared at him in amazement. The mood shift stunned her.

  “Well?” He smiled at her in his old tender way.

  Sue nodded. “But don’t watch.”

  Zeke laughed tolerantly. “Feeling shy all of a sudden? I swear, you’re just precious, Sue.” But he gathered his possessions from the sink and turned his back.

  Sue lifted her skirt and sat on the toilet. When she finished, he escorted her gently back to the van, seemingly unabashed by his nudity. He stopped at the large green trash bin next to the building and tossed his clothes in, then stretched, arms upraised.

  With dull eyes, Sue regarded his perfect form. She could see what had attracted her to him, but she hadn’t known his true mind then, hadn’t known he was evil.

  He unlocked the van and settled Sue into her seat before opening the side door to rummage around for a fresh set of clothes. They were back on the road in no time.

  Traffic increased as they neared the outskirts of St. Louis. The pink light of dawn stained the horizon like watered-down blood. A few thin clouds rushed over the sky. Sue rubbed her eyes, dry now, and sore from crying.

  “You hungry, honey?” Zeke patted Sue’s leg.

  Although she didn’t answer, he pulled into the first fast-food joint he found and ordered breakfast. Sue surprised herself by salivating over the aroma of the food when it arrived.