13th Avenue

by Cyrus Winters

  But there was still time.

  “Wait here,” Christian muttered.

  He leapt across onto the tracks, hurrying towards the hole.

  Click-click.

  The hatch snapped shut.

  “Fuck!” Christian cried on approach. He tried stomping on it. Once. Twice.

  Then he looked back up.

  His eyes on Stasia. Her face said it all.

  Christian opened his mouth to say something, but the train was already there.

  CHAPTER 29

  What a nightmare. What an absolute fucking nightmare.

  There were no other words for it. Detective Graves was standing by the window in a conference room on the top floor of the precinct, an hour after Detective Nguyen’s death. Stasia was sitting alone at the conference table behind him. He took a flask of rum from his jacket, ingesting mouthful after mouthful as he watched her in the window’s reflection. She was staring down at the table. Her notepad in front of her. The pen moved from one hand to the other. She twisted it around. Squeezed at it. Like a stress ball. Graves couldn’t even imagine what she was going through. First her daughter. Then her husband. It was unthinkable.

  Graves screwed the lid back on his flask and stuffed it back into his jacket.

  The door to the conference room opened and a red-eyed Fae Dory rushed forward, somewhat panic-stricken herself. “Oh. Oh, Stasia.”

  Blank-faced, Stasia slowly rose from her chair. The pen fell from her grasp and banged on the table. “Fae…” she said, lips quivering.

  They wrapped their arms around each other, sobbing loudly.

  Graves shifted along to the corner of the room, pulling up the next window’s shutters. He reached for his flask again and took another drink.

  “How could this have happened?” Fae cried.

  “I don’t – I don’t know,” Stasia howled.

  Graves breathed in uneasily.

  “They didn’t deserve this,” Fae declared. “They never hurt a fly, neither one of them –”

  “They were saints,” Stasia said. “The best people I ever knew. They were – they were –”

  “It’s okay, take your time.”

  “They were my family.”

  Captain Joe Carmichael headed through the doorway, files in hand. A balding man in his fifties followed behind him.

  Graves pocketed his flask and stepped away from the window.

  “My deepest commiserations, Stasia,” Carmichael asserted.

  Fae parted from the hug so not to be in the way.

  “You must be going through hell,” Carmichael said, his hand on Stasia’s shoulder.

  She tried to smile. “My suffering is nothing compared with theirs.”

  “Of course.”

  The balding man was setting up his laptop at the top of the table. Graves shifted by him carefully, sizing him up.

  The man wouldn’t look at him.

  “Promise me we’re going to get this guy,” Stasia said.

  “We’re doing everything we can,” Carmichael said. He moved around to where the balding man was, and they shared a few quiet words.

  Graves stared down at them, unflinching.

  “Why don’t – why doesn’t everyone have a seat,” Carmichael suggested. “We’ll see if we can make some sense of all this.”

  Stasia nodded and returned to her chair while Fae pulled out the chair next to it.

  Carmichael moved around to the other side of the table where Graves was and began to get settled.

  Graves put his hands to the back of one of the chairs.

  “Sit down, Detective Graves,” the balding man advised.

  “And you are?” Graves challenged.

  “Special Agent Morello,” the man said, still not making eye contact. “Take your seat.”

  “Sit down, Graves,” Carmichael said dryly.

  Graves lowered his eyes and pulled out the chair.

  “What’s the latest?” Stasia piped up. “Have you been through the sewers?”

  “There’s a search underway,” Carmichael answered. “As soon as we find him, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Before we get started,” Agent Morello said, “there’s some questions I have. I take it you’re up to it, Stasia?”

  Stasia nodded. “Yes, of course.”

  “I have it written down that you claim you heard the killer’s voice over some speakers in the golf course. Is that correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, he appeared to be speaking through a microphone? Or –”

  “I don’t know what he was using to speak with,” Stasia said irritably. “His voice just came through the speakers.”

  “And what sort of voice was it? Did he have an accent?”

  “Not really,” Stasia said. “He’s just all low and husky. Like he’s trying to hurt you with his words.”

  “I see.”

  Graves cringed a little at the sound of Agent Morello’s furious scribbling.

  Stasia reached across the table and grabbed her pen.

  “And what did he say to you? Word for word. As much as you recall.”

  Stasia shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

  “You don’t remember? Nothing? Not a word.”

  “It’s hard to – I’m still processing –”

  “Well, can you please try a little harder?” Morello said cynically.

  “Hey!” Graves shouted, banging his hand on the table. “Don’t you start getting into her. Not after what she’s been through!”

  “Graves, be quiet,” Carmichael said.

  “It’s okay, Nicholas,” Stasia murmured. “He’s only trying to help.”

  Now Morello was looking at him. He finally had his attention.

  If Graves wasn’t mistaken, it was something of a sneer.

  “He – he didn’t say a lot really,” Stasia mumbled. “Just something like – ‘You have to the count of three. You have to chase Mei-Lee or I’ll shoot her. One, two, three.’ Then he started shooting.”

  “I want to know what’s been done to find out who licensed the construction of those trapdoors on the golf course,” Graves said.

  “It’s a public course,” Carmichael answered. “We’re looking to see if there were any complaints to the council about it, but so far there’s nothing.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from asking questions, Detective Graves,” Morello said.

  “Well, forgive me for showing interest. I thought this was an open discussion.”

  “Nicholas,” Stasia said.

  He looked to her.

  “I have to tell them.”

  “Tell us what?” Morello asked.

  Graves made a face. “Can we just, consider some –”

  “Nicholas!” Stasia shouted. “He killed Mei-Lee and Christian! He needs to be stopped at once. I’m sorry if it…”

  Graves pointed to Morello. “I want this guy removed.”

  “Excuse me?” Morello fired.

  “For full disclosure? We’ll talk to Fae and Captain Carmichael. This guy is an outsider. He can’t be trusted.”

  Captain Carmichael rose from his chair. “Graves. A word.”

  Graves hesitated.

  He then got up furiously and exited the room.

  Carmichael followed him out. “What the fuck is going on? What’s wrong with you?”

  Graves looked back at the Captain. “It’s my fault they’re dead, okay? It’s all my blasted fault. I should never have gotten her involved…”

  “Involved in what?”

  Graves sighed.

  “Involved in what?” Carmichael hissed.

  Graves moved by the wall. He leaned against it. Wiped his forehead. “I’ve done some pretty messed up things in my career. You know. Illegal things.”

  “Illegal?”

  “Don’t act surprised,” Graves said. “I know you’ve had your suspicions. I haven’t done much to conceal my antics.”

  “Is there anything
specific you wish to confess to?”

  “I never killed anyone, alright,” Graves lied. “Maybe I came close a few times. Maybe I took money I shouldn’t have. Maybe I saw a place for myself in the streets where I could make things better. But as of right now, this moment, it’s all ancient history. Do you understand me, Joe?”

  “Perhaps we should have this conversation in my office.”

  “You’re not listening, are you?” Graves muttered. “I’m not being clear.”

  Carmichael put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re a sick man. You need help.”

  Graves shrugged him off. “No. What I need is a deal.”

  “A deal?”

  “You gotta wipe the slate clean for me. Drop whatever it is you think I’ve done. Because it’s not nearly as bad as you think it is. And I’ve got something now. Something that will redeem me.”

  Carmichael shook his head. “I’m not following you.”

  “This man,” Graves said. “The one we’ve been chasing tonight. I’ve been looking into him for months. He’s worse than … any I’ve chased before…”

  “You know who he is, don’t you?”

  “I know his alias.”

  “And?”

  Graves pulled himself away from the wall.

  Posture straight.

  Head high.

  “He calls himself … The Trapdoor Master…”

  CHAPTER 30

  After Carmichael exited the conference room, Stasia got to her feet and went to the door, watching Graves and the Captain argue. She knew Graves had secrets. Secrets he didn’t want coming out in front of these people. And perhaps she could see how he might think she was still obligated to protect him, even with everything that had happened. Stasia knew the meaning of loyalty. But sometimes there were much more important things.

  “Can I, uh, can I get you some coffee or anything?” she asked, turning back to the others still present. “While we wait, I mean.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Fae said standing up. “I’ll get it. You just sit back down. Don’t wear yourself out. Alright?”

  Stasia shrugged. “If you think it’s for the best.”

  Fae touched her hand as she moved past.

  The door closed and now Stasia was alone with Agent Morello.

  “He was working with us, you know,” Morello said.

  “What?” Stasia’s eyes fluttered.

  “Detective Nguyen,” Morello said. “Christian,” he added.

  “Well, what do you mean, ‘working with you’?”

  “After you said no to our proposal tonight, Christian said yes.”

  Stasia walked back to the table.

  “He wasn’t going to do it because he needed our help. Or because he disliked Detective Graves. But he wanted to do it for you. He wanted you to have the new job Fae was offering you. To have your name cleared of any implication with Graves’ activities. He was going to take that man down, and he was going to do it tonight.”

  “I don’t see how any of that is relevant now,” Stasia said.

  “Christian knew what sort of man your partner was. Graves was so intoxicated he was on the verge of confessing everything to him. It seems he has also confessed some things to you too.”

  “You’re sick,” Stasia said bluntly.

  “What?”

  “Even after Christian and our poor daughter have been murdered, you can’t stop thinking about Graves. You’re obsessed.”

  “I’m not obsessed. In fact, I’m seeing things quite objectively.”

  “Oh, are you?”

  “I don’t know what Graves’ relationship is to this man you were chasing, but I can’t help but wonder, if the pair of them aren’t working together.”

  Stasia moved towards Agent Morello.

  Daggers in her eyes.

  Poison sizzling under her tongue.

  “I see where this is going.”

  “Do you?” Morello said with a smirk.

  “You think Graves found out about Christian going undercover, so he had his friend, the serial killer, take care of him, is that it?”

  “We just need to look at all possibilities.”

  “I was there,” Stasia seethed. “I saw how Christian died. He wasn’t part of the killer’s game plan. He wasn’t on some list. The killer was trying to get away from us, so he closed the hatch before Christian could get to him. That’s all it was. The killer, yes, is responsible. But it has nothing to with Graves. Graves is just as much in the dark as any of us.”

  At that moment, Captain Carmichael opened the door and stuck his head through.

  “Agent Morello. A word.”

  Morello squinted with confusion, before standing up and stepping outside with Carmichael.

  “You’re free to go, Stasia,” Carmichael said.

  “Sir?” Stasia replied. “What’s going on?”

  “You can come in tomorrow morning to finalize your statement. But, it won’t be anything to stress over.”

  “Will you please tell me what’s happening?”

  “Detective Graves is coming clean with us,” Carmichael said. “On everything.”

  CHAPTER 31

  11.20pm. Stasia was sitting outside the precinct, waiting for her ride, arms wrapped around herself, trying to stay warm. Shit was going down inside. Graves had given up the fight. The evil they had witnessed tonight – it was greater than they’d realized. Stasia hadn’t thought it would go this way, that he would actually surrender. She supposed it spoke to his character. And now she was out here cold and alone. In the dark.

  Moving away from Graves in her mind, she took herself back to the golf course. Mei-Lee standing centre-stage, in her bright pink jumper. Standing out in front of the black. The sniper rifle’s blue laser, shifting through the grass, penetrating them. It was a call-back to the blue spotlight in the theatre. It touches you. It covers your whole body.

  And then you fall.

  It seemed strange, knowing she would never see them again. Even as their relationships were but a fraction of what they once were, the end had never been so final as it was now. No chance to bury the hurtful words. To go back in time and reverse the destruction. No place for them to heal. Stasia could play the forever optimist and say that she would have worked things out with Mei-Lee had it not occurred. That they would have been able to accept and love each other once again. And then she thought about Christian, and how Stasia had longed for the rekindling of their romance. How she longed to be held, to be kissed, to be cherished as he had once cherished her. Would that have been a possibility too? It was somehow less painful to realize that things were irreparably damaged, than to see a future where Stasia and Christian were once again happily married and living together. Their daughter, Mei-Lee, she was still only eight years old –

  “There you are!”

  Stasia sat upright as Fae hurried up behind her.

  She sat down, handed her a coffee in a paper cup, their legs pressed against each other.

  “Thank you,” Stasia said softly.

  “Is someone coming for you?” Fae asked. “Do you need –”

  “Wendy’s coming.”

  “Oh. Oh good.” She squeezed her knees together. “Do you want to know what’s happening with Graves?”

  “Sure.”

  “Graves giving up info on this guy you were after and in exchange we’re dropping our investigation. Do you believe that? I hope they aren’t serious because –”

  “What sort of things is Graves saying?”

  “Well, that the perp is some undetected serial killer who has been active for years. He’s giving them all his evidence and helping construct a profile.”

  “I really hope they catch him,” Stasia sighed.

  Fae nodded. “Listen. I – I need to tell you something. I –”

  “Don’t.”

  “You don’t know what it is?”

  “Just don’t, okay.”

  Fae shook her head. “No, I have to.” She stood up in front of Stasi
a. “It’s about Christian.”

  Stasia blinked.

  “We were sort of … seeing each other…”

  Stasia took a drink from her coffee.

  “It was kind of serious,” Fae continued. “I mean. When I get home, I’m going to be bawling my eyes out. Like. I’m just going to fall to pieces.”

  “Are you?”

  “Hey. I loved him. I –”

  “It’s too late,” Stasia said.

  “Too late for what?”

  “Too late for me to be mad at you,” Stasia said. “He’s dead after all. What difference does it make now?”

  “He still had feelings for you,” Fae said. “I – I couldn’t get him to let go of you completely. But I tried. I was a real bitch about it.”

  “Well, at least you’re being honest now.”

  “Did you suspect? Did you know?”

  Stasia lifted her eyes. Blinked again. “It’s extremely hard for me to even acknowledge what you just told me. I’m not at a point where I can analyze –”

  Stasia stopped.

  Talking had become difficult.

  “Stasia?” Fae asked. “Are you okay?”

  Stasia waved her hand. “Leave me alone. Please.”

  Fae clicked her shoes together. “I’m really sorry. So. If you need a friend then –”

  “Fuck off.”

  Stasia saw through the blur of her peripherals Fae forced a smile and staggered back to the precinct, eyes on Stasia all the way.

  Stasia looked down to the coffee in her hand.

  She waited until Wendy arrived to throw it three quarters full across the pavement.

  CHAPTER 32

  When they got home, Stasia requested she stayed in the room next to Janette’s – the room where Mei-Lee would have stayed if she was sleeping over. Wendy had no objection.

  Janette and her friend Ash from earlier leapt up from the couch the moment they came through the door, wanting to know what had happened to cousin Mei-Lee and Uncle Christian. Stasia left the explaining up to her sister.

  Wendy ran her a hot bath and made her a cup of hot chocolate. Stasia didn’t say much. There were no words for the pain. No way to explain the misery. Things had just gone the way they’d gone. And life would be forever altered.