Murder, He Wrote

by R. S. Higham

  40

  Staring back at him was the blackness of clustered trees and evergreen foliage. Here, at the parking lot, was the last street light he’d see before entering the wood. James turned the car electrics on and the orange glow of the digital clock lit up. 7:28. He would have left earlier but Mallory was nowhere to be seen. He got out of the car and glanced around for any sign of her- a car engine growled in the distance. He turned his gaze to the entrance, a car was pulling in. It was too dark to make out the type, his heart thumped. “What if it’s Stacey? No, he has a motorbike.” He was right; Mallory’s Mercedes was illuminated under the sickly yellow light.

  “Where have you been?” He asked before she had managed to get fully out of the car.

  “You didn’t tell me it was this far away.”

  “Well, it’s half past, he might be waiting. We need the upper hand. You follow me, close behind. When I spot him you quickly but quietly make your way round the other side of him and hide then when I give the signal come out. Here change into these clothes.”

  She took them in her arms and James turned his back to her and covered his eyes. After a short moment she had dressed and was re-tying her hair in the pony tail. When James turned he could have sworn Kate was standing in front of him.

  “What are you gonna hit him with?” She asked.

  James bent down and picked up a large branch. “This I guess.”

  “Are you sure you can do it? Kill someone?”

  “Don’t say that, I’ll just shut my eyes and do it. I have to do it.”

  “Then what are we waiting for? After you.” Mallory stepped aside and let James pass then followed behind him. She darted her head left and right and behind her constantly checking if there was anyone about, Mallory had never met Stacey, she had no idea what he would look like. In her head she tried to imagine her sister’s killer. Was he tall? Or muscular? Was he a psychopath? With a shaved head and tattoos covering his face? She knew she would find out soon. Over and over she recited what she thought she should say. “I’ll address him as Stacey, make sure he knows that I know him, I’ll ask him “Why did you kill me?” No, shut up, don’t be stupid, you’re not a ghost. Tell him “You tried to kill me but I survived and…”Shit, I have no idea what to say.”

  “James.” She whispered.

  “Shhh. What?”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just… look at him, be sure he recognises you… or Kate. You don’t have to say much.”

  “OK.” Mallory bit her lip, it suddenly dawned on her just what she was doing. Coming face to face with a killer, her sister’s killer. She was a smart, educated and independent woman who had built a successful career for herself, she could hardly believe she could do something so dumb.

  James felt her breath on his neck quicken, he put his hand behind him and in an instant she grabbed it, her palms were sweating but James didn’t mind, she was the bait, the pawn in he and Stacey’s game, she had a right to be terrified. He was about to tell her it’d be OK when he heard a crack about fifty yards away. He stopped dead and Mallory bumped into him slightly. She held her breath and when she couldn’t any longer she tried her hardest to stay quiet taking short breaths that made her body shake. A wide figure was walking at a steady pace, James was sure he hadn’t spotted them yet. He pushed Mallory to the side and she slowly creeped around to the back of him, James tightened his grip on the branch behind his back and headed straight for him.

  “Stacey.” He shouted, stifling a break in his voice. The man froze and turned to him. “That is you isn’t it?”

  “James. It’s about time. Thought ya’d got cold feet.”

  “I’m here aren’t I?”

  “Yup, ya got what I want?”

  “Right here.” James lifted a padded brown envelope above his head and waved it.

  “On the ground and back away.” Stacey said, never moving from his spot.

  “Don’t tell me you’re afraid.”

  “Don’t get smart with me, I ain’t stupid. Now do it.”

  James hurled the package a little further than he wanted to and backed up, in the dim light it was enough to look like he was a safe distance from him, he needed to stay close.

  “Well, James. It looks like this is the end of the road, was nice knowin’ ya. I hope I given you somethin’ good to write about. Oh an’ when ya describe me in yer book couldya take a few pounds off?”

  “I would never write about you, I don’t want anybody to know your name.”

  “Feelin’ tough now? Don’t forget I make the rules here, this is over when I say it’s over.”

  James shut up. He had let his anger get away with him. Stacey felt this and laughed.

  He waddled over to the brown envelope and, with some difficulty, bent down to pick it up. James saw his chance and looked around for Mallory, when their eyes met she nodded and ran out towards him. James was about to stop her, she was too close, but Stacey stood and turned round before he had chance.

  “Stacey! Remember me?” She shouted, her voice trembled. Stacey looked at her, for a moment James thought this would work, even he mistook her in the dark.

  “What’s goin’ on? What is this?” Stacey shouted, turning back to James, the moon broke through the trees and onto Stacey’s face, it was clear he had no intention of being on the receiving end of a trick.

  “Kate is alive.” James said, forcing a smirk. “You didn’t kill her.”

  “Like Hell I didn’t.”

  “You… you thought you’d killed me.” Mallory tried again, but Stacey wasn’t fooled. He turned back to her.

  “Say my name again.” He told her.

  “S…Stacey.”

  “Naw Kate that's not whatcha called me the first time we spoke, was it?” Stacey smiled, she saw the evil in his eyes. His giant ham swung at her head, she tried to run but he snagged her hair in his hand and yanked her backwards. James darted at him but with one punch he was on his back on the ground. Looking up he saw Stacey take a knife from his jacket pocket and plunge it into her heart. Before Mallory could scream she fell onto her knees and then onto the floor, the tip of the blade sticking out of her back. He had failed. What happened next was a haze. James heard sirens all around him, getting louder. Then voices, four, or five, or more. They were running towards him, he could hear the rustling of bushes and crunching leaves and sticks. His vision was foggy, he sat up on his elbows and looked around for Stacey but torch light blinded him. Someone gripped his arms and hauled him up. A tight pain encircled his wrists. He tried to fight them, he tried to speak but he couldn’t, he looked down to his legs, they were being dragged under him. The men who were carrying him pushed him into a police car and read him his Miranda rights. The spinning started to lessen, he looked all around him, police were everywhere. He began to understand what was happening. His stomach dropped. Mike Sullivan leaned into the car and stared at him.

  “Why did you do it, James?” He asked, his blank expression amplified the surrealism of the last ten minutes.

  James recalled every one of them, Stacey must have vanished, his closing act. James knew the game was over, he had lost. All the emotion of the previous days swelled and burst inside him leaving nothing more than an empty shell. Mike righted himself and slammed the car door shut. “Such a shame we didn’t get here in time” James heard his muffled voice say to the man beside him. “At least it’s over now.”

  James looked down at his mud stained fingertips. “At least it’s over now...” He repeated.

  Epilogue

  “Brilliant, I love it.” Said Audrey standing from her desk after she and James read the last chapter together.

  “Really? I thought it was corny at parts.”

  “You doubt yourself too much, if I like it that’s all that matters.”

  James grinned with his newly whitened teeth. “So, will you be celebrating tonight?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, not asking me on a date are you?” She winked.

&nbs
p; “I don’t think Kate would like that.”

  “By the way, I never thanked you for killing me.” She tossed her head back as she cackled. James couldn’t help but look at her straining neck where the killer’s blade had sliced through sinew and muscle. “That wasn’t some deep desire was it?”

  “You read too many horror stories, I’ll see you soon Aud’.” He paused halfway through the office door and looked back to her.

  “See you, Jimmy.”

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