THE INNOCENCE (A Thriller)

by RICHARDSON, Ruddy

  “Where did you go stranger?” Jack asked her, pushing one of her loose hairs back into line with its partners.

  “Oh I’m sorry. This has been such a lovely evening but with the newspaper headlines yesterday and the kids that were found I’ve been so distracted.

  Jack’s face immediately creased into a deep frown. “I know. I’m sure as a mom you feel it a little bit more, but I know everyone is so affected by what is happening. Parents have been calling all week to ask what measures the school is taking to make sure no children go missing during school hours”

  Rita felt tears threatening her eyes and gazed down at her empty wineglass to refocus. Feeling Jack’s presence she wanted more than anything to share her conclusions from her talk with Father Phillips. “Can I tell you something? I just need to share it with someone else.”

  Jack drained the last of his glass and met her gaze without flinching. “Of course. What do you need to tell me?”

  Rita told him the events of the day before, of her research in the library, of talking to Chief Merrels and Father Phillips and of the conclusion she had reached with the help of the Aztec engraving. Jack listened without interruption and when she finished she realized his hand had been twined with hers the entire time. She glanced down at it and back at Jack but didn’t remove her fingers from where they were entwined. Right as he went to respond Deputy Patrick burst into the restaurant and spoke to the host. He was animated and his voice quickly rose before he burst back out the door. The restaurant manager looked incredibly pale and motioned for the patrons to all be silent. The sizzling of the pans in the back room was all that could be heard.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen. You are about to hear this news anyways so I would rather tell you now. Father Phillips was found murdered in the confessional this afternoon. The coroner’s office has just confirmed he was stabbed. There’s a fingerprint but we don’t know anything else.”

  The restaurant burst into pandemonium as everyone at once grabbed cell phones, asked for bills, and discussed what had just been shared. A priest murdered! Children found in caverns. This had gone much farther than accidents and child abductions. Jack turned to look at Rita whose face had paled to a deathly shade. “Rita. Rita!” He shouted to her, grabbing her shoulder to yank her out of the shocked stupor she had slid into. “Jack. If someone was there…” she started but didn’t need to finish. Jack threw a handful of money on the table to cover their bill, grabbed her with one hand, and their jackets with another and they were out the door heading to her house as fast as the accelerator would allow. “Judy and Brian.” Rita thought. “Judy and Brian.”

  Chapter 7

  As Jack drove his small 4 door to Rita’s house swerving cars and people without breaking Rita frantically called every phone number she could think of. The house phone had gone straight to voicemail, as had Judy’s phone. Hesitatingly she called Kelly, not wishing to further destroy the women’s nerves but it had gone immediately to voicemail anyways telling Rita it was switched off. She had nothing else to do but clutch the small device to her chest, willing it to ring and thinking the whole time of her children’s faces.

  When they arrived at the house the first thing she noticed was the TV was off and the lights were still on. Knowing her son and his affinity for television she felt the dread rise up, threatening to choke off her air supply completely. Jack parked a few houses down and grabbed her head, forcing her to turn and look at him.

  “Look at me Rita.” He said. “No matter what happens in there you keep that smart brain of yours functioning through it all. You got me?” Rita nodded at him, trying to swallow the fear she had ripping through her body.

  “I’ll go by the front door. Are there any more openings into the house?”

  Rita nodded. “There is the backdoor with a screen and the basement entrance. But it’s had a lock on it for months.”

  “Fine, you go through the backdoor and I’ll go through the front. Find something to arm yourself with in case someone else is there.” Right as he said that he looked up and pointed for her to look as well. A shadow had passed in front of her windows and had looked out onto the street. An adult shadow. Rita couldn’t stop the shaking that caught hold of her this time as she continued to stare until the source of the shadow had moved away. “Do you recognize them?” Jack asked.

  “No. Please Jack, we have to get in there. We have to find Brian and Judy.” Right as she finished saying her name Rita saw her daughter pull up to the house in the car of one of the neighborhood boys. Rita felt a quick flush of surprise that her daughter had not shared any news of boyfriends with her but her reasoning quickly came into play as she saw he get out of the car and head up to the house. Rita watched horrified as Judy fumbled in her purse for keys and as the door opened her jaw almost hit the floor. There in the door way was Kelly motioning for Judy to come inside.

  Rita felt complete gratitude overwhelm her. “Jack, it’s Kelly. She must have heard what happened to Father Phillips and came to check on us.” Her quivering muscles immediately stilled and she leaped out of the car, running across the street. As she ran she heard Jack call for her to wait but her sense of relief was too great. Kelly had turned into the house with Judy but as Rita called out to her, she turned with a complete look of surprise written across her features. Rita leapt into the house into her friends arms. Kelly hesitated with shock then wrapped her arms tightly around Rita as she shut the door.

  “What are you doing here?” Rita asked her as the unraveled and headed into the kitchen. Kelly kept her arm about her friend’s waist as though guiding her through the hallway.

  “I heard about Father Phillips and came here right away. I just got here 2 seconds ago. Did you hear the news?”

  Rita turned to stare at the kettle on the stove and couldn’t remember when she had put it there. As she began to turn she felt something hard contact against the back of her head and as she slid down into darkness the last thing she saw was Kelly’s face twisted into a bitter sneer. Where had Judy gone to, was her last thought.

  Rita opened her eyes to see her basement. A sliver of light illuminated the boxes she had meant to unpack but had never gotten to and her husband’s old saxophone that had somehow survived the trip with one of her children. Her head ached and something wet was leaking down the back of her shirt. She felt stiff and tested each of her limbs to find that she had been tied to a pipe of some sort running through the foundation of her home. She heard the sound of shifting and strained her eyes to see her daughter also bound on the floor, a bag over her head tied about the neck. “Judy don’t move. It’s ok sweetie, I'm here with you too.”

  “Mom?” Judy asked the darkness about her? She was visibly shaking but not moving or testing her bonds. “Mom, what’s going on? Who did this?”

  “I don’t know sweetheart but we will figure it out. Where’s your brother?”

  “I don’t know. I was on a date. I’m sorry but I was going to tell you when I got home.”

  “Judy focus, we can talk about that later. Where’s your brother? Did you see him when you walked in the door?”

  “No. I just remember seeing Kelly, which I thought was weird since you weren’t home yet and then that’s it. Is it her? Is she behind this? Does this have to do with those kids?”

  Surprising to herself Rita felt absolute calm as she calculated the situation. She heard the muffled sound of footsteps upstairs. Her friend. How could this be possible? They had known each other for years. They had even played in this basement together as girls. Suddenly Rita remembered. She had hid a stash of trinkets in her when she was 10 in case she ever wanted to run away.

  “Judy, listen. I want you to crawl forward towards my voice. I can remove the bag and you can untie me. Understand?”

  Judy nodded her head and slowly inched forward until she felt her mother’s bare toes against her shoulder. Rising slowly she felt hands pull at the rope about her neck until suddenly the blackness of the bag was replaced by the eerily lit basem
ent. The smell of dampness and dirt filled her nose as she looked into her mothers face with a look of absolute terror. Rita’s own expression was calm and Judy found it odd that her mother could be so relaxed in such a situation as this. Untying each others bonds the two finally found themselves free of their bonds. The moment the last rope fell Rita wrapped her arms about her daughter's shoulders and whispered to her, “It’s all right. It’s going to be all right. I need you to be strong now and help me. Don’t lose it ok?” Judy nodded into her mother’s chest.

  Rita pulled away and immediately walked into the darkest corner. Judy could have sworn her mother had been swallowed but she heard the scratching coming from where she had been headed.

  “What are you doing?” she asked the darkness.

  “When I was 10 years old I was sure I was going to run away. So I hid a sack of goodies down here in case I needed a quick escape. Pulling away three loose bricks she thrust her hands into the wall and pulled out a small child’s backpack that looked as though it hadn’t seen light since it had been placed there over 20 years ago.

  Judy watched as her mother quietly spilled the contents of her satchel onto the basement floor: a pack of gum, a small flashlight, aluminum foil, matches, Band-Aids, animal crackers, a pack of cookies, and a pocket knife.

  Rita crouched down and grabbed the knife, flashlight, and matches then motioned for her daughter to listen. The footsteps had retreated to one of the kids’ bedrooms. Judy’s, Rita knew, from her childhood experience of hiding and listening when people would visit her parents. I’m going to go upstairs and find your brother. I don’t care what happens but you do not come up there until you here my voice. If I tell you to, you run. No questions. Got it?”

  Judy nodded, crouching back down to hug her knees in the darkness.

  “You don’t need to be scared Judy. Just wait for me.” Rita added and quickly moved off to the stairs. She needed to move fast and think just as quickly. Kelly could be in any of the rooms now, and she still didn’t know where Brian was hiding or hidden. Any slip could be a fatal mistake for all of them. She thought for a few seconds more then slowly opened the basement door and stepped foot back inside her house.

  Chapter 8

  Her first thought when she opened the door was that it smelled like burning. Something in the house was burning. Her next thought was that it was cold, as though all the windows had been left open. She walked through the hallway, bypassing the floorboards that she knew would give her away. Stopping by the living room she listened with every fiber of her body for something, anything that would give away where Kelly was and if her son was alive.

  She heard a small sound coming from the back bedroom where her parents had slept and where she now kept her desk and assortment of projects she always meant to find time to do. Holding her breath she crept closer, hugging close to the wall as though some picture frame would protect her should anyone come from that room.

  As she drew closer she heard the sounds of muffled whimpering mixed with the shuffling of furniture. The smell of fear flowed through the passage, massaging each smiling picture and photo of family memories, hitting Rita with the realization that her son was alive, but that she had no time to stage an elaborate plan for his freedom. A sound she could not recognize filtered through the mix, leaving Rita suddenly without confidence as she crouched before the door. Stilling herself she could hear her friend’s voice above the noises of the room, explaining to her son what would soon happen to him.

  “Why don’t you understand Brian? This is for you, to save you from what is about to happen. Children are so pure when they are young. There is nothing to cloud your mind, heart or soul with evil. Your innocence is your greatest virtue. It’s something that you can’t hold on to but only notice it’s lost when you look back and find it gone. Now you will have it forever. You will live forever with your innocence. Don’t you see? Don’t you see why I have to do this for you? You must be pure when you leave here. I’m guaranteeing you will be saved. Your soul will be saved. Aren’t you so grateful?”

  Kelly’s voice was filled with compassion and joy as she delivered her blessing on the boy. Rita peeked around the door frame to see her son standing tied to a chair as a small fire flicked across the floor. She was going to burn him alive, Rita thought. How am I going to do this? Rita tucked her head back behind the framing but not before Brian caught a glimpse of her hair.

  “Mommy!” He sobbed out, his tears resuming control of his face.

  “Oh Rita. You’re just in time.” Kelly called. “Why don’t you come in here so you can understand?”

  Rita hesitated but then thought to herself that this may be her chance to save herself and Brian and possibly even the murderess herself. She mustered up her strength and walked through the doorway. Kelly stood behind Brian’s chair with both hands on his shoulders, the littlest move would push him into the flames now licking at the rug beneath the chair’s feet. Brian’s face was contorted by tears and fear, his eyes begging his mother to rescue him from the death he was not ready to face.

  “Its ok honey. Mommy just needs to talk to her friend.” Rita locked gazes with Kelly as she straightened and stepped toward her.

  “No. You don’t need to come any closer, unless you are planning on joining him in there.” Kelly said, tightening her grip on the chair and repositioning her body.

  Rita put up her hands in a symbol of submission. “Ok, ok. Just tell me what’s going on.”

  Kelly looked up to the ceiling as if searching for support then took a deep breath and began.

  “Mom told me before I left for college to be careful. That those cities could change you, could hurt you but I left anyways. I was so excited. But living there, living with those girls. It twists you and leaves your soul naked. I went to parties, I kissed boys and one night something happened. I don’t know what it was or remember anything. But when I woke up the next morning I realized I had lost my self. I had sacrificed my soul. I had lost my innocence in that place. So I came home. I had to prove myself purified, I had to re-find my faith and see where I had lost it. I knew I was damned. I had nothing left but to pray for all forgiveness. And then I realized. If I could help others attain their true salvation maybe I too would regain acceptance.”

  “But all those children. Why? Why not let them have the ability to chose.”

  “Because man is destined to fail. We have been failing since we first emerged from this earth. It is only a matter of time. No. The best moment has to be when we are still children. Only then are we pure and sweet and our innocence is at its highest. Before we lose it we still have a chance to attain greatness.”

  The window behind Kelly reflected both the chaos within the house and serene quiet of the neighborhood street. Kelly’s eyes glowed with the flames reflection reminding Rita of a cat caught in a flashlight beam. Almost unnatural she was both stunningly beautiful and terrifying to behold. Rita couldn’t take her eyes off her but for a second she had seen a shape behind Kelly in the glass. She wasn’t sure but she could have sworn she had seen a large man. Jack! It must be Jack, she thought and refocused on Kelly in case her attention, too, would be diverted. Out of her peripheral vision she saw him lift one of her large metal trashcans and as the metal hit and shattered the glass Kelly went down to protect herself while Rita flew to Brian, tackling the chair away from the flames. Kelly screamed as she lifted herself to stand, holding one hand over her face as blood leaked down her arms. Glass was imbedded deep in her head and covered her hair glittering like diamonds in the dim lighting. Kelly turned in time to see Jack rush at her, a shard of glass clutched in his hand as a knife. As he imbedded it in her flesh she looked up to the ceiling and said only one word before she met her death. “Why?”

  Jack pulled away from the corpse to find Rita. “Hurry, get Judy. She’s in the attic.” He rushed down the hallway searching each door for the passageway down and went to get the girl who had been hiding with her tears as her only comfort throughout the confront
ation. Jack lifted Judy over his shoulder as he ran out to the street, meeting Rita and Brian just in time to see the house of Rita’s childhood collapse into a pile of burnt beams.

  Chapter 9

  “Well that about wraps up what we can do here folks.” Chief Merrels put his pen down on the pack of reports that had quickly turned into the case summary. “I have your statements, your official medical reports and everything else I need so I think we call this a night.” He snuffed out the cigarette he had been holding for the past 10 minutes without smoking and pushed back his chair from the desk. The four faces staring at him were all shell shocked and he sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one to be dealing with them at 3 in the morning. “How about you all go on home and get some rest huh?”

  “Wait, I have just one question.” Rita interrupted as the rest struggled to their feet under the wool blankets that had been supplied.