by S. L. Hebert
Not allowing myself to sit and ponder any longer, I rise from the chair and begin to take a walk down on the dock. For the first time since I came outside, I’m noticing it’s now night out. The water’s glistening from the lights along the wharf, causing me to wonder for a moment if the manager ever took the time to put a security camera toward the back of the apartment. The lighting is dim at best. Maybe Logan would be willing to move; we could find a place for us together.
As I’m approaching the end of the wharf, I decide to turn and head back down to Logan’s. Slowing my pace only a little, I take the time to read the names on the sides of all the large vessels. There’s the Miss Lisa, the Miss St. Ann, and right as I’m approaching the third large boat, I feel this stinging sensation on the side of my neck. Instinctively taking my hand, I swat the area, thinking it’s a mosquito. To my surprise, my fingers are met with a protruding object. Quickly turning, I find myself face to face with the image of a masked figure.
As I’m about to speak out, a jolt of electric current begins to run through me. Simultaneously, my knees buckling beneath me, I proceed to flounder around on the wharf like a fish out of water. Instantly, I know I’ve felt this feeling before, but only once. Back in the police academy, it was one of the requirements for being able to carry and use a taser gun. Armed with the knowledge that I can’t physically fight back, I decide to allow the current to flow through me.
Once the sensation has passed and I’m able to attempt to relax my muscles, I try to lay deadly still. My sole concentration is on trying not to make any sudden movements, allowing my mind to drift back to the needle that was plunged into my neck. As my fear from deep within begins to try and surface, I can sense my body’s being dragged across the dock. Suddenly, my mind’s screaming for me to get up and fight, but as hard as I try, I can’t seem to make my body function the way my mind is telling it to.
Instant terror along the dawning realization of what was in the needle is forced upon me. I must have been injected with the same poison my brother used on my father. It’s the only explanation as to how I can see and know everything going on around me but can’t move my limbs. If I’m lucky, maybe the needle wasn’t completely emptied in me and I was able to knock it off me before the full dose was injected. Otherwise, my time here on Earth has just become very limited, and unless they find me soon, I fear my last moments alive will be of me watching my abductor sever my limbs.
Now as I lie with my back on the bottom of the boat, I’m able to look up into the dark night sky. I begin to try and maneuver my eyes to see if I can notice anything of importance, and the first thing that stands out to me is that the boat I’m being hauled in appears to be small. It’s a little aluminum skiff; I can tell by the side ledges I’m able to see. Using my peripheral vision, I also notice there’s only one abductor in the boat, causing me to wonder if the person’s alone or if others are waiting at the next location where I’m being taken. We’ve been in search of a female but uncertain as to whether she’s acting alone on the outside. We were under the impression that she was taking orders from my brother, but what if he’s managed to manipulate more than one person to help him carry out his plan? I can honestly say, I wouldn’t put anything past him.
It’s been some time now since I’ve been drugged and taken. Seeing that I’m still in the small vessel, my mind starts to think back to Logan. She must have noticed by now that I’m no longer at the apartment. Surely, she’s notified the office, and before my abductors know it, they’ll have the whole department looking for me. Somehow, I’m managing to find myself almost feeling thankful for the fact that I was the one abducted by the killer. Logan’s carrying my child, and if one of us must die, I would rather it be me. With my death, maybe they’ll figure out who the killer is and put a stop to her or them before she can get to Logan and the baby.
The rest of the ride, I find myself mainly praying to the Lord, asking him to spare Logan and my unborn child’s life at all costs. It’s the only thing important to me now. I remind myself I need to try and stay coherent through all of this and take notice of every detail, in case I somehow manage to make it out of this alive.
Awakening to a sudden thud, I’m hit with the realization that the boat has finally stopped moving; I only know this because the stars are no longer moving the way they once were. In the dead silence, I can hear footsteps approaching me, and my masked abductor begins to raise my arms up. As they’re being lifted above my head, I can see my wrists are tied together. I’m dumbfounded by this, unable to remember when exactly during the trip this may have happened. I’m thus reminded that one of the side effects of the poison is the inability to feel.
Unable to move, I instinctively focus on what I can see. My abductor has managed to take a rope and tie it around my chest and back, passing it under my arms. Once finished, my perpetrator takes the loose end and fastens it to the piling on the wharf.
With somewhat of a struggle and using a very unorthodox method of lifting me from the boat, I can only assume the person behind the mask is none other than our female killer. Any man with a lick of sense would have figured out a better way to hoist me out of the boat. This forces me to acknowledge to myself that Logan was right: our female killer is an amateur at best.
It’s taken her quite a bit of time to finally get me inside of what appears to be a camp. Having been dragged in and left to lie on my back on the solid wood floor, at first glance I was blinded by darkness. With the pull of a single string hanging from the ceiling, the room is filled with a dim glowing light. As my eyes adjust, I’m starting to see things more clearly. The ceiling is white with what appear to be red specks all over it. Taking in the sight for a moment, I realize it’s dried blood spatter. From the looks of it, someone was slaughtered here. There are ample amounts of blood scattered everywhere, with no set pattern, causing me to contemplate if it was caused by the amputations.
Diverting my attention, I notice two hooks hanging from the ceiling. They look to be part of some type of pulley system, but why would one need it to do an amputation procedure? I become so lost in thought that I’m surprised to see a masked figure slide into my vision. Without saying a word, my abductor pulls off the mask, and I’m left staring at a rather plain woman. She has messy brown hair and hollow brown eyes. Quickly, I notice she’s not wearing a single trace of makeup, nor does her face bear any scars or tattoos that I can see. As she looms over me, I can’t help feeling a sudden tinge of disappointment. I’m not sure what I was expecting; I only know it was not this disheveled form of a woman.
Unable to move, I observe as she proceeds to travel her eyes back and forth across my body. When she’s finally finished, she decides to speak. “So, you’re Detective Michael Grasso? I’m not impressed. I mean, for appearances sake, you’re well-built in stature, but I was able to pounce upon you with much ease. It was almost too easy, now that I think about it…” Slowly, she begins to pace around me, making a complete circle of my silhouette before continuing. “I’m sure you’re wondering who I am? Let’s just say, I’m an old friend of your partner. See, her and I go way back. Long ago, she took something that was important to me. Now, I’m going to return the favor.”
Listening as her words drift through the air, she continues to stand above me, wearing a conniving smile. The fact that I’m unable to speak is killing me. I want so badly to find out what the secret is from Logan’s past and attempt to put a stop to all this madness. If only there was a way for me to negotiate with her.
Watching her now as she walks away, I can hear her begin to speak again. “I’m sure, Detective, you have many questions. Quite frankly, I’m surprised your department hasn’t been able to figure out who I am yet. What I will tell you is that if it wasn’t for your brother John being arrested, I may have never been put in the position to get my sweet revenge. Your brother just so happened to fall into my lap at just the right time. He’s provided me with ample information, arming me with the know-how and supplies I would need to carr
y out my agenda. Take this camp, for instance. He figured since he could no longer use it or any of his other tools, he supplied them all to me. I have full access to carry out my plan and his wishes. I must say, it was brilliant the way he took your father down. He has informed me of every detail, and in return for all his charitable deeds, he has cast upon me a few requests of his own. I happily agreed to them as payment for all his guidance and kindness in my venture. I’ve agreed to use some of his methods as almost a tribute to him.”
I listen to her as she begins to chuckle about the whole situation at hand. She said he’s given her access to this camp, meaning the blood spatter on the ceiling is not only from her, but also from my brother John’s killings. The only problem is that we checked into his assets, and he’s never owned a camp. This tells me someone else is the owner, but who? We know my brother never had an accomplice, leaving the only other option: one of his victims was the rightful owner.
Unable to close my eyelids, I’m left to try and mentally sort through all the bodies we’ve come across and the list of the eight missing men the Franklin Sheriff’s Department is still in search of. Mentally, I check them off one by one. I’m about halfway through when she makes another appearance into my view, now hovering over me.
In a calming voice, she states, “It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed my time together with you, Detective Grasso, but I feel it’s best if you’re not coherent for the next part of my plan. You see, I know your partner will inevitably come for you; hence, the reason for keeping you alive. When she comes, I want to make sure I’m ready and waiting. It may help you to know you will both die together when the time is right. For now, you must sleep.”
And with her last words, she places a cloth over my nose, and all goes black.
Logan
It’s been over half an hour since Michael decided to go outside to get some fresh air. I now find myself pacing the floors of my apartment, wondering if he has any intention of coming back inside. I mean, really, how much time does he need to clear his head? I understand he’s mad about my recent actions and the fact that I didn’t tell him about the pregnancy, but he’s acting more like a petulant child than a grown ass man. If he thinks this news is upsetting to him, maybe he should try putting himself in my shoes. I’m the one carrying our child, with the killer turning her sights on me. Why can’t he see I’m the one who stands to lose the most in all this madness?
Taking a glance at the clock on the wall, I’m faced with the realization that it may be a while before we can head back down the bayou. Feeling a little disgruntled, I decide to go hurry and take a quick shower before we leave. Maybe the warm water will help to relax my nerves. Quickly, I head into my room, opting to grab the first pair of clean jeans and long-sleeved tee shirt I see.
With my clothes in hand I head to the bathroom, and I’m just about to close the door when I hear my cell phone start to ring in the living room. Dropping my clothes on the bathroom counter, I hurry to pick it up. Seeing it’s Detective Richard, I instantly answer, saying, “Hello.”
As he begins to speak, I can hear the urgency in his voice. “Logan, it’s me. Is Grasso by you?”
“No, not at this moment. Did you manage to trace the mysterious phone call from earlier?”
“Umm, yes, and I’ve tried to call Grasso’s phone, but it went to his voicemail. I really would like to speak with him. If he’s around, could you bring him your phone?”
Momentarily, I begin to think up excuses and reasons I could tell him as to why Grasso’s outside in case he starts to ask. Then, as I hear his last statement about wanting me to bring Grasso my phone, it undoubtedly pisses me off. The nerve of him, feeling the need to bypass me and go straight to Michael. I have every right to know what’s going on, and there’s no reason he can’t tell me first. I’m sick and tired of being treated like a helpless victim. Finally, I break the stagnant silence.
“Detective Richard, Michael’s outside on the patio getting some much-needed air. If you have any information about my phone call from earlier, I think you should tell me. I’m the person who received it in the first place.”
After pausing, he attempts to backtrack on his statement. “My apologies, I wasn’t trying to shut you out. I just figured you both should be together when I broke the news.”
“What news? Spit it out and quit wasting my time beating around the bush.”
As I listen to his words, all I can focus on is the part where he says the call came from a pay phone within less than a mile from my apartment. Without hesitation or saying a word, I take off running to the back door, praying the whole way that when I open it I’ll see Grasso sitting at the patio table.
Swinging the door open, I see nothing. It’s dead quiet as my heart begins to beat rapidly. Turning the corner, I make my way up and down the docks. The whole time, I can hear Detective Richard on the other end asking if everything’s okay. Purposely, I ignore him as I focus on looking for Michael.
Once I’ve made a complete round of my apartment complex, I pass in the parking lot to see if his car’s still here and see it’s right where we left it. I find nothing out of the ordinary except Michael’s gone.
As the gut-wrenching feeling in the pit of my stomach begins to rise, I hear Richard now on the other end yelling into the phone, “Damn it, Logan, answer me!”
Inhaling a deep breath of air, I can barely get my words to form. “He’s gone. There’s no sign of him anywhere.”
“Logan, what’s your exact location at this moment?”
“I’m in the parking lot of my apartment complex, heading back around to my patio. I left the back door to my apartment open, I need to go back and close it.”
Deep down, I’m secretly hoping on my way back I come across Michael off somewhere on the grounds, sitting back laughing at me for worrying about him. I silently wish this is his way of paying me back for taking off without him earlier today; maybe he’s giving me a taste of my own medicine.
It’s not until I enter back into my apartment that I begin to speak to Detective Richard again. Disappointed, I let him know I’m back inside. Making my way over to the foyer, I instinctively pick my weapon up from off the table and proceed to check every room of my home. Once I know it’s empty, I quickly inform him, “My apartments cleared. Now, tell me everything you know about where the phone call came from.”
“The call was placed from a pay phone by the car wash off Bayou Black Drive. It’s located less than half a mile from your house. When I first called you, I was concerned, but now that we know Michael’s nowhere to be found, I’m sending out a crime tech to see if we can get any video footage or fingerprints. I’m also on my way. I want you to stay on the line with me. I don’t like the idea of you being by yourself. I’m going to need to call Lieutenant Clark; he’s going to want to dispatch a team to your house to try and figure out what happened. You may want to prepare yourself, Logan; your whole complex is going to be placed on lockdown, and every square inch will be inspected.”
“I understand. How far out are you?”
“I’m about five minutes away, depending on traffic.”
“If you don’t mind, Richard, I’m needing to make a phone call to the Franklin Sheriff’s Department. I have a few questions for Detective Tyler.”
I wait on the line, sensing his hesitation as he contemplates what I’m asking. He then says, “I guess, Logan, I really need to put a call into the lieutenant. Please don’t leave your apartment. I’m on my way.”
“I won’t.” And before he can think better of it, I’m off the phone and dialing Detective Tyler’s number. It only rings twice before I hear him on the other end saying hello. In a stern tone, I immediately begin speaking.
“Hey, I know it’s kind of late, but I’m needing to know if you’ve learned anything pertinent about our victim from three years back, Anthony Yates?”
“Well, good evening to you, too, Detective St. Martin. As a matter of fact, I’ve learned a few things but was figuring I�
�d wait until I could double check all the information to give you a call.”
“Tyler, I need to know everything you’ve found out. It’s a matter of urgency.”
“Are you going to tell me what the urgent matter is?”
“After you’re finished giving up the details.”
“Fine. It appears Anthony Yates was born and raised here in Franklin. From what we’ve learned, he was somewhat of a loner. I’m not certain yet, but we’re looking at the possibility that he and John somehow crossed paths or became friends.”
“What I want to know, Tyler, is why it took so long for someone to report him missing?”
“Oh…that’s simple. The family thought he took time off to go to Houma and stay out at his camp. They said he would do that from time to time, basically disappearing and then showing back up a month or so later.”
“Did they happen to say where the camp is?”
“No, they claim to have never been invited to go. They only said that he would tell them stories about fishing in Lake Decade when he would get back.”
“Okay, is there anything else that’s important for me to know?”
“That’s about it in a nutshell.”
“Well, if you learn of anything else, please don’t wait to give me a call. I really appreciate you filling me in, but I really need to go.”
“Not so fast, Logan. You were supposed to tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t have time right now, but thanks for the information.”
Not giving him time to object, I abruptly hang up the phone on him. I need to make it to my car and out of the parking lot before Detective Richard or anyone else from the department tries to stop me.
Hastily, I grab only the vital things I’ll need. Not bothering to lock the back door, I jet out of the front and swiftly make my way to my car. Right as I’m about to back out, my rear sensor begins to go off, indicating that something’s behind me. Looking in the rear-view mirror, appearing out of nowhere, I see what looks like Detective Richard’s unit pulling up behind me, and he’s blocking me in.