“Agreed,” Brady said. The mention of the diner fire had his shoulders sagging. Joan and Mr. Bartlett had pulled through as well as the other citizens that were dining in there that day, but Earl had been trapped in the kitchen and unable to get out due to the course of the blaze. Despite the fast response time of the emergency rescue and fire department, he had succumbed to his injuries and died. Brady wore his death around his neck like a ball of lead; Mila’s words echoing in the distance, the potential innocent lives lost. He hadn’t even been able to bring himself to go and see Joan yet, who was still admitted due to some minor burns and smoke inhalation, which he knew made him a coward.
“Listen, I’m sticking around until we catch this fuck. Nora has the real Gabe with her now in Norton Springs and I really want to see this thing through. So don’t worry about anything. Just focus on being here at Gwyn’s side until we hear something.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate that. I’m going to get back in there if you don’t mind. Keep me posted on when they arrive.” Brady went back inside Gwyn’s room and resumed his vigil at her bedside. The guilt at seeing her like this was slowly eating away at him. “I swear I’ll be a better man for you, sugar. I’ll be the one to take the pain away instead of the one to cause it.”
“Have you lost your marbles?” Gwyn rasped. Her throat was dryer than the desert and she could still only open one eye, yet she had her one good one trained on him, glaring. “You’re the love of my life, you bonehead. Stop that crazy talk right now or I’ll kick your ass.”
Brady burst out laughing and gently kissed her bruised lips. “Welcome back, my love.”
* * *
Aubrey, West and Sam drove together to Durham Heights. Aubrey was both looking forward to the change of scenery for a couple of days and feeling guilty about running away from dealing with her sister’s death. With each day that passed, she slipped deeper into melancholy. The hole that Autumn had left behind in her heart was never going to heal. She missed her so damn much that it physically hurt. While losing any loved one is never easy; losing a twin is a pain that can never be described. They had been part of each other’s lives since creation. Two halves of the same whole. Her death was a void in Aubrey’s life that would never be filled; that she would never accept.
West had been wonderful at keeping in touch with her and sneaking over to see her when he could. They’d only been successful twice, but she’d needed his comfort more than she knew.
They pulled up to the diner and Sam and Aubrey got out to go inside while West drove to Brady’s place to drop off their gear. He was going to swing by the hospital and give them an update and then would be back to help the two of them start the clean-up. Opening the door, Aubrey walked inside and immediately her chest closed up and it became hard to breathe. Grief filled her as she thought back to when she was trapped in the library fire and how Autumn was even unluckier and was trapped with a bomb. Realizing this was a terrible idea, she turned to flee and slammed into a hard chest. Thinking it was West, she snuggled in. When his arms didn’t encircle her like they usually would, she looked up and a scream trapped in her throat as she saw the ski-mask.
Hands then grabbed her from behind and held her steady, preventing her from running. Twisting her head, she saw that it was Sam. “Sam, what are you doing? We have to get out of here! This is the Matchstick Man! He’s the one responsible for all the murders!”
Sam released her one arm to pull his own ski mask down over his face. “You’re wrong, Aubrey. We’re both responsible.”
Aubrey stared at him in horror, unable to believe her eyes. The man in front of her draped a chloroform cloth over her face and held it there until the darkness claimed her.
The sound of someone snapping their fingers pulled Aubrey from the darkness. She was tied to a chair, unable to move. Terrified, she looked around, trying to remember where she was. As the diner came into clearer focus, everything came rushing back. The Matchstick Man. Sam. God, Sam had fooled them all!
Her chest felt heavy and when she looked down she let out a strangled scream. Strapped to her chest was a live bomb. The countdown had been activated and it was set to explode in twenty-nine minutes. “Oh, God. Oh, God.” she whispered. Fear gripped its claws into her and in that moment, she knew exactly how her sister had felt being trapped in the basement of the theater. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed for the both of them.
Sam and the other man entered her line of sight. Sam had removed his ski-mask and looked just like the same man that she’d met and had come to like as a friend, but the other man still wore his; concealing his identity from her.
“So you’re awake. Bet you’re wondering how I fit in to all this. We don’t have much time, but I thought I’d offer you an abbreviated explanation. You see, my wife was murdered two years ago by a sick and twisted duo of killers. They tortured her beyond belief and then discarded her like she was nothing but trash. And do you know what I was doing while this happened to her? I was following the orders of my trusted best friend and Sheriff. I believed him when he said we would get her back safely. I believed him and it cost my wife her life.” Sam’s hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.
“Sam. I didn’t lose a spouse, but I did lose my sister, so I do understand what you’re feeling right now,” Aubrey sought to create a relatable connection with him. Anything to get him to disable the bomb.
Sam ignored her and continued. “A few weeks after Hailey died, Gwyn was also abducted. I was horrified. Hailey loved Gwyn and would have hated it if anything happened to her. We searched and searched and you know what, we found her. We rescued her; but not my Hailey. My wife. My wife died, but not Gwyn. No. She was found and brought home safely. I couldn’t handle it. I left town and fled to Florida where I let the days and nights pass me in a fog.” As he told his story, the other man was circling Aubrey, getting closer to her with every step. Sam noticed as well.
“Oh, yes, he’s pretty pissed at you for evading him at the library. Showing everyone that he’s not as skilled as he thinks he is.” The other man snapped his head towards Sam in anger.
“Watch it. Don’t piss me off,” he said to Sam. He pulled out a box of matches and lit a flame, lowering it closer to Aubrey’s arm. She started to shake watching as it got too close for comfort. Unable to resist, the man touched the flame to the upper part of her arm, sighing when it quickly burned a hole through her sweatshirt and then met her skin.
Aubrey screamed and cried. “Please, Sam! Please make him stop, it hurts!” Sam just shrugged and didn’t move a muscle.
“I told you, he’s pretty pissed at you. Now where was I? Right, so while I was in Florida, I had a surprise visit from none other than Mila, the woman responsible for Hailey’s death. As you can imagine—I was pretty furious…and well, I killed her.” Aubrey forgot the pain for a moment and looked at him.
“You—you killed her?”
“Well, I thought I had. Unfortunately, she must have nine lives or something because that bitch jumped right back up again. It was then, in that moment, that I realized the darkness I have in me. That I’m destined to live in a world of depravity. My life in the light and the good ended when Hailey died. I’ve been with Mila ever since, learning to embrace those feelings and be more like her. And that’s where you come in, Aubrey. You’re going to be the greatest masterpiece in our finale.”
Aubrey screamed as the masked man lowered another flame to her skin.
* * *
West and Theo arrived at the hospital at the same time; West having called him when they got into town. “Long time no see,” Theo joked as they headed down the hall to Gwyn’s room.
“Yeah, no kidding. No offense, dude. But I hope I don’t see your ugly ass for a long time after all this is said and done.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve had about as much of you as I can take so we’re in agreement there,” Theo teased. Theo knocked once on Gwyn’s door and opened it, laughing when Brady jumped back from k
issing Gwyn like he was a guilty sixteen year-old kid.
“Dude, seriously? She’s barely out of surgery and you’re already trying to get a piece. Well colour me impressed. I woulda been tryin’ that in the damn ambulance on the way here.”
“Shut the fuck up, you idiot,” Brady ordered. He looked at Gwyn and then pointed to West.
“Sugar, this is Lieutenant Weston Hunt. The firefighter from Stockton Crossing that I was telling you about.”
“Nice to meet you,” Gwyn croaked. Her throat was still sore from Lawrence choking her.
“You too,” West started to say but was interrupted by the sound of Brady’s phone ringing. Brady mouthed an “I’m sorry,” as he answered the call. His face went pale as he listened and he disconnected the call without saying a word. He glanced at Gwyn, who understandingly, waved him out the door, letting him know she would be fine.
The three men moved out into the hall. “What is it?” West asked, dread starting to coil in his belly. Whatever was causing that look in Brady’s eyes was not good news.
“It was one of those automated voices. Said that we needed to get to the diner now if we didn’t want anyone else to die.”
“Do you think it’s a trap? A lure to get us away from here so someone can get to Gwyn?” Theo asked and Brady gave him a blank look.
“I honestly don’t know. I’ve got men stationed here at her door, I think we need to go check it out. If this fucker is holding Sam and Aubrey there, we need to do something.” He placed a call for back-up to the station and the three headed for the main entrance at breakneck speed. They got in Brady’s car and sped towards the diner. About a block away, West spotted something in an alleyway. “Stop, Brady, stop!” Brady slammed on the brakes and West leaped from the car and ran down the alleyway. He caught up to the lone figure and grabbed her by the hair, spinning her around to face him.
“Mila. What the fuck are you doing here? You’ve been involved in this the whole time haven’t you?”
Mila let out a laugh and shot him a look that showed just how stupid she thought he was. “West, you truly are an idiot, you know that, right? This town, this godforsaken town that robbed me of everything that I wanted, I’m going to watch it burn. Watch every last blade of grass go up in flames and I’ll be fucking standing by roasting marshmallows while it does. And you know how that’s possible? Why, it’s all thanks to you, West. You are after all, my greatest accomplice. The kind that doesn’t remember a damn thing and can deny truthfully until everyone is forced to believe you’re being honest.” She patted his chest. “Thanks again for everything,” she called over her shoulder as she started to stroll away.
He caught up with her and grabbed her arm. “Not so fast, you fucking psycho. I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, but we are getting to the bottom of all of this right now. You’re coming with me.”
Mila let out a giggle and stopped fighting to get free. “Oh, what the hell. I’ve always enjoyed front row seats anyhow.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
There was no need for them to drag Mila into the diner, she waltzed in with her head held high. She marched straight to Aubrey and leaned down to have a look at the countdown. “Alright boys and girl,” she said, winking at Aubrey. “We have sixteen minutes before our girl here goes boom and sorry, but I’m not going to be around when that happens. I did just get a fresh wash and style, after all,” she said, fluffing out her dark hair.
“Sam, are you alright?” Brady asked, spotting him standing behind Aubrey.
“Of course he’s alright,” Mila answered for him. “All my boys are. Isn’t that right, Sam?” She motioned at him. He obeyed her silent order by withdrawing his gun and holding it to Aubrey’s head.
“Sam, what the fuck are you doing?” Brady burst out.
Mila giggled. “Oh, Brady. Always the last to figure things out, aren’t you? He’s holding a gun to dear Aubrey’s head here so that y’all don’t shoot me or my other acquaintance.”
“You aren’t getting away this time, Mila. None of you are. I don’t know what the fuck is going on here but you better start talking fast if you don’t want me to shoot you all in the fucking head right now,” Brady said.
“Fine, fine,” Mila sighed impatiently. “These three are members of my team. They work for me. Yes, Brady. I played you from the start. All part of my plan to get back at you for ruining the life I had planned out for myself in this town. Though God knows why I was so hell-bent on staying here,” she added as an aside. Brady glanced at Theo and saw him counting Sam and the ski-mask man, obviously stumped at who the “third” person was that Mila mentioned.
Mila grinned, noticing Theo’s confusion. “West,” she called out. “You didn’t tell them?” All eyes turned to West who was locked in a staring match with Aubrey. He watched as the light dimmed in her eyes and she got even paler if it was possible. Horror flashed across her face at Mila’s words and West knew what was going through her mind.
“It’s not what you think. I don’t know what she’s talking about. I’m not part of this. I’m not,” he insisted.
Mila stalked forward purposely. “Oh, but you are. You’re the biggest part of everything that’s happened. Don’t believe me? Well why don’t you ask him?”
As if on cue, the man in the ski-mask pulled away his disguise revealing a horribly disfigured face. The left side was a mass of deformed scar tissue from his hairline all the way down his face and neck, disappearing under his shirt. His eye bulged out where his eyelid was missing and the corner part of his mouth held a long scar. He was terrifying to look at. He was also familiar.
“Bennett?” West whispered. “It can’t be. You’re dead. You’re dead.”
“It’s me, brother. I should be dead after you left me behind to burn, but lo and behold, here I am. I got out that day, no thanks to you,” he spat.
“I tried to go back for you! I saw the roof collapse and I fought like hell to get to you but I couldn’t get through the fire, Bennett.”
“Well, I made it through the fire. And look what happened to me while doing it. When I came out the other side, I was a changed man. A monster. You’re right about one thing, West. I died in that fire, the brother you knew—he’s dead. I was reborn into what I am today.”
“Bennett, you shouldn’t be mixed up in this. Come with me, we can get you some help and figure things out. This isn’t you. This isn’t how we were raised,” West pleaded.
“You’re forgetting that you’re involved in this too, West. Oh wait, I guess that was the whole point wasn’t it. You and I, we did all of this together—you just don’t remember it because of this,” he held up a syringe. “One little pump of this stuff and it was off to lala land for you. You awoke every time with no recollection of what we did hours earlier. You’re the perfect accomplice. One who can never talk because he doesn’t fucking know anything.”
West staggered back and hit the glass windows. The blackouts…the missing blocks of time. It all made sense now. “No,” he whispered, shaking his head. He had a sudden flash of a woman hanging from a hook. Another of dumping a large man into a box. And finally, a terrified Autumn pleading with him for help. It was true. He had been there, he’d been there for every single murder, Autumn included.
No one in the diner moved, shocked to the core by the revelations. Mila yawned and checked the clock on the bomb strapped to Autumn’s chest. “Well if that covers everything, there’s only ten minutes left, so I’ll be going. You boys might want to do the same.” She turned to Aubrey. “Sorry that I can’t say the same for you, honey. That bomb is pressure activated as well as on a timer so if you try to stand up, you’re gonna go boom a lot faster than ten minutes and I’m sure you don’t want to do that and cost these people their chance to get away, right?” She patted Aubrey on the head. “Well, boys, it’s—” BANG. A gunshot split the air and a pool of blood formed on Mila’s crisp white blouse. She stumbled forward onto her knees and then collapsed onto her back, her han
ds clawing at her chest.
Sam stepped forward and stood over her, aiming the gun at her face. Bennett raised his own weapon, intent on taking Sam out, but West rushed him, tackling him around the waist. Mila’s mouth formed an ‘O’ of pain as she stared up at Sam. “My son. My son,” she whimpered, locking eyes with Brady. Brady stared coldly back at her, not giving her any reassurances at all that he would look after the boy; regardless if he was the father or not.
“That was for my wife, you fucking bitch.” Her eyes widened in shock at Sam’s words. “Oh, I know. You thought you had me, you thought I was under your thumb. Well I fucking played you. It took me a year and a half but I fucking did it. This is the end of the line for you, Mila. You fucked with the wrong people when you fucked with my family. Good riddance. See you in hell.” He raised the gun and fired a shot right through her forehead. Ending her reign of terror and mayhem for good.
On the floor, Bennett and West were still wrestling while Brady and Theo were working on getting the bomb off Aubrey. “Go help West, I got this,” Theo told Brady as he pulled a tiny knife from his pocket.
Brady nodded and rushing past Sam grabbed Bennett by the scruff of the neck halting the punches he was raining down on his brother. West gained his feet and the two squared off, each with a handgun trained on the other. “Bennett, just put it down. Don’t make me do this.”
“Fuck you. You always thought you were the big man, and that I was just some kid trying to follow in your footsteps. Well I’m the man now! I’m the one everyone talks about. ME! You’re irrelevant, West. I don’t need you. No one does.” He raised the gun a little higher. “I’ll be doing everyone a favor. Goodbye, brother.” He snapped off the safety of his gun but West fired first, just one shot straight through the heart. Bennett crashed to the floor in a heap, right next to Mila. West hung his head and a tear rolled down his cheek. No matter the reason, he’d just killed his own brother. The brother he’d grieved for years. He’d been out to destroy his life and by the sounds of it, he may have succeeded with what he’d been forced to be a part of.
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