by Ink Blood
“No. He was unconscious when he arrived. I believe Dillon didn’t wake up again.”
Andrew walked into the office and came out an hour later. He handed a parcel to Yvonne with strict instruction for the lab technician.
“A courier will pick up the parcel soon. Get Davis to take down this drunken man’s statement at all cost. He might forget. I want to know what I’m accused off.”
Andrew left the office and headed to Martin’s old house and met Tom, Helen and Mr. Craft.
*~*~*
*XI*
Andrew reached Helen’s house and noticed a hive of activities. Tom was helping Mr. Craft to gather equipment that he needed to installed in Helen’s house. He parked next to the house and walked to the kitchen door. The door was standing wide open. Helen was amusing Olivia in the lounge with a cartoon video about a donkey and an ogre.
A coloring book and crayons were on the coffee table where Olivia was coloring while watching the movie. The donkey and ogre were bumping heads over land. Andrew smiled wondering if Christopher was with her, but it didn’t seem like it.
“Afternoon, how are things going with the investigator?” Andrew asked as he met Helen.
“He seems nice. I don’t mind him taking over here for a while. I was thinking of staying in the guesthouse to keep Olivia away from the equipment, it looks expensive.” Helen whispered.
Andrew sat down in the lounge. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ve done just about everything I needed to do here. I’ve even tracked Martin to a farm, owned by Janet’s family in Ohio. I was going to leave tomorrow morning before sunrise.” Andrew informed.
“What should I do while you’re gone?”
“I was hoping you would be able to help me with a little problem.” Andrew started embarrass.
“What’s the problem?”
“I’ve called for a forensics technician to come to the house and look around, he’d probably do a few tests on the floors and walls to see if anything happened in the house. It could be the house’s the crime scene. The technician would also need my vehicle to do tests on it, seeing it’s the vehicle Martin had used last and the most.”
“Do you think he did something in the house?” Helen asked more surprised than shocked.
“It’s possible, I won't argue that. But it’ll be better if the technician checks just to make sure. Then there’s another problem.”
“You have to leave your vehicle here for the technician to look through it while they’re busy with the house.”
“Yes, but that’s not the real problem. Martin knows my private vehicle and would recognize it long before I get to him. I can’t rent a vehicle because the town’s getting too close to election and the mayor’s tightening the budged.”
“So I get the feeling you’ve already worked out a solution.” Helen said smiling.
“Yes. How would you like to come with me? Naturally you wouldn’t be in any danger and I’d like the company, besides two heads are better than one.”
“What about Olivia? It’ll be difficult with her, especially on such a long trip.” Helen paused, and then stood up. “Give me a minute.”
Helen left the room. Andrew watched the movie and often looked at Olivia’s reaction to it. As soon as a part lost her interest she would picks up a crayon and scratch in her book. Occasionally she would glance at the TV, favoring the donkey and his smart remarks, and then she would laugh again. Helen entered the room and sat down.
“I‘ve phoned her father, he agreed to spend some time with her while we’re on the trip. We can drop her off on the way and it’s just a few miles out of the way.”
“Thank you. I’ll fill Tom in on the events to come and leave the vehicle keys here with him. I can pay for gas and meals on the trip. If we take turns driving, than we can keep moving and get there faster, if you’re okay with that?” Andrew offered.
“I’m sure it would work out better than stopping every few hours just to sleep. I’m just glad you’re taking me with.”
“I have one or two thing to sort out today. I will be here very early.”
“That’s fine. It’ll give me time to get ready. See you in the morning.”
*~*~*
*XII*
Andrew left the house and found Tom at the panel van. After a short conversation Tom promised he’ll be at the house before sunrise to collect the vehicle keys. Andrew got into his vehicle and drove to town.
He stopped at the mayor’s office and walked in without an appointment. To his surprise the mayor spoke to him and didn’t protest about him leaving so soon. He greeted and left. He passed the trailer park on his way home.
A brief search of the park revealed the woman that had been at Martin’s house wasn’t at home, according to neighbors the woman, Vanessa McPherson had left town to visit in the city. He’ll pay her a visit when I got back.
He drove himself home and packed for the trip, ate supper alone and went to bed to catch up on sleep lost the last few days.
*~*~*
Chapter Five
*I*
Two gas stations later they traveled on the highway toward Ohio. Olivia finally fell asleep on the backseat. She had been playing with her toys and listening to music on her headphones. At times she would sing out loud to her nursery rhymes. It’s clear she would never become a professional singer, but at least now the silence was soothing to the ears.
Four hours into the trip Helen pulled off from the highway. She continued onto a smaller road leading to a small farming community still some distance away. Just over an hour they had dropped off a very excited Olivia at her father’s farm and were soon back on the interstate. They started discussing their thoughts on the case freely. Andrew dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
“I believe that Martin’s not a good man. From all you’ve told me he sounds too good to be true. My mother always told me, if it sounded too good to be true it usually is. If he’s a good man, why did he do this? How could he take the life of his own child? I think he’s a raving lunatic that deserves what’s coming his way.” Helen started with a strong tone of anger in her voice.
“The mayor told me that I shouldn’t let my friendship with him cloud my judgment. I think it’s because I’m trying to make too much sense of this. All I can come up with, knowing him as well as I do is that I think it’s an accident.” Andrew admitted.
“Maybe you should think about the victims, concentrate on that. Did they deserve what happened to them? I mean they were close to you too.”
“Nobody deserves something like this. No one really has the right to harm anyone no matter what the reason.” Andrew fell silent. “I’m over thinking this too much.” He admitted after a brief silence.
“Well, I think you should take this one lead at a time and see where it’s leading. If he’s guilty you’ll be able to prove it. If we don’t then the community won’t know and your reputation will stay good.” Helen advised thoughtful. “A lot of things don’t make sense to me.”
Andrew cleared his throat softly. “Like what?”
“What would make him do this? What would possibly drive a man to kill? Did the child leave the towel on the bathroom floor? Didn’t he clean his room or did he make too much noise? People don’t just fly off the handle like that and kill children. Yes they abuse children, I won’t deny that but to kill and dump the body in the lake. I don’t know that’s beyond me.”
“What’s his motive you mean?”
“Yes. Maybe it’s for money or maybe his wife really wanted to leave him. Maybe he was jealous, that’s a common one isn’t it?”
“I don’t believe that they had those serious problems. Janet would’ve told me and at any rate if he wanted to kill her for money, but then why kill Christopher? He loved that child more than most parents I’ve seen.” Andrew grew silent again and stared out of the window thoughtfully.
“Maybe it was something completely different? Could he have cheated on her or maybe Janet on him?”
Andre
w remained in thought. Helen pulled into a gas station and stopped at the pump.
“If we need to make up for lost time we need to make fewer stops and travel harder. I’ll drive a while if you’re tired.” Andrew changed the subject and wiped a tear out of the corner of his eye. He needed to get his mind of Janet and Christopher for just a moment.
Helen walked into the small shop and paid for the gas. She topped up on snacks and drinks, after using the rest room. They continued their trip thoughtfully listening to the music from the radio. Andrew was driving as lazy country scenery passed by slowly.
*~*~*
*II*
Vanessa McPherson had a very strong bond with her family and returned to her mother’s home in the city for a short visit. She didn’t just visit because Martin had suggested it. He had even paid for the trip just before he left Hazy View days earlier.
She was sitting in the kitchen and sipped on coffee and snacked on a sandwich her mother had made. Her mother always had the opinion that she wasn’t eating enough. She hadn’t picked up much weight. She left home to work in Hazy View more than six years ago. Maybe her work in the department store, as Vanessa told her numerous times, had kept her slim and trim. It looked like men had no interests in a girl who was too skinny. Since she had left home she had not mentioned dating nor had she spoken about any man. This worried her mother, what if she preferred the same gender. Luckily she hadn’t mentioned that either.
Her mother was sitting with her and started with idol conversations, leading to the more pressing matters. She would like to meet her grandchildren before she died. It was always the reason to discuss men.
The kitchen had limited space but was warm and cozy. It was the average city apartment kitchen. Wooden cabinets all painted in a cream color with brass handles. A four-plate gas stove, a few appliances, a fridge and simple tiled countertops. The twin sink were different, other kitchens held just one. One large window made the kitchen cozier in the winter and cooler in the summer. The floor’s covered in cream colored stick on tiles that had a few corners missing, showing the concrete beneath. The short counter only allowed for three chairs. There was no doors and conversations traveled through the apartment with ease. A short florescent light was enough to give light to the kitchen on a dark night.
“Good heavens is that the time. Sorry mom we’ll chat later. I’m supposed to meet my friend at the mall ten minutes ago.” Vanessa started and swallowed the last of her coffee.
“Is it a boy?” Her mother asked hopefully.
“Mom…” She moaned and got up and left the kitchen.
Vanessa headed for the door and paused. She ran back to her mother and landed a warm kiss on her forehead before darting for the door again, before her mother started on the subject of men.
“A mother can hope can’t she?” She said and smiled innocently.
“Later mom, don’t wait up.”
Vanessa left the apartment hastily and darted to the elevator.
On the pavement she didn’t even bother to try to stop the taxies that rushed by. She walked briskly into the parking lot of the mall only a few blocks away. She entered the mall and skipped the steps up the escalator to the coffee shop on the second floor. She glanced through the customers. She spotted her friend and moved quickly platting through the tables and joined her.
“Sorry I’m late, but my mother’s going off her rocker again. What am I, a baby making machine?” She complained and sat down.
“She’s not letting up?” Her friend Debra asked finishing a strawberry milk shake.
“No. All she wants to do is marry me off and sit back while I pop out babies just to make her happy before she dies.”
“What about that guy you told me about?” Debra teased.
“You must be joking. Martin’s too old and bordering on crazy.”
“I thought you said he’s such a good guy.”
“You sound like my mother. By the way he was, now he’s insane. Thank God he left and went back to his wife.” Vanessa shuffled around in her chair getting her sitting when the waiter walked over.
“Would you like to place an order?”
“No thanks we’ll be leaving soon. You can bring me the bill.” Debra informed and turned her attention back to Vanessa. “Wasn’t he the sheriff or something?”
“Yes but after his wife left him he changed for the worse. It nearly broke him. He battled to deal with it shame the poor man. It was so heartbreaking to see him go through that alone. He almost drank himself to death, I mean every waken moment he would suck on a bottle or glass until he couldn’t stand anymore. He didn’t pay as much attention to his work and he hardly slept. He only slept when he passes out from all the alcohol, then he still had nightmares. I do believe that’s why he didn’t want to sleep anymore. How he’s still alive I don’t know it’s truly a miracle. Totally off his rocker, that’s why I am glad he left. I don’t think I could deal with him anymore, he started to drag me down the same road, and I can’t keep up with him anymore.” Vanessa complained again.
“I can’t believe it’s that bad. Men, whose wife’s leaves them, get a girlfriend and moves on very quickly.” Debra said she spoke out of experience.
“Whatever his problem was he needs serious help and fast. Thank God it’s not my problem anymore.”
“Maybe he did something else that he doesn’t want anyone to know about. Now that he couldn’t handle it anymore he ran away like a dog with his tail between his legs. This world is full of crazy people, more than you might think. If you look at them you’d never guess they can do terrible things until one day they crack.” Debra snapped her fingers.
The waiter brought the bill. Debra paid it and got up. As they left the coffee shop they walked towards the cinema.
“That can’t be, nuts are one thing but he wouldn’t break the law. It runs in him like blood. Besides we’re here to have fun. I’m going back tomorrow, let’s not talk about men, babies or anything depressing like that.” Vanessa said and paid for the tickets at the kiosk before getting sweets, drinks and popcorn.
“Great I’m with you on that.” Debra said walking into the cinema.
*~*~*
*III*
Mr. Craft still needed to check the equipment. Finally he walked out of the house to meet Tom at the coffee shop. He pulled the door closed. A light breeze played through his hair, the sun’s brightness had faded, and rain threatened. Not wanting to leave the equipment or become a victim he drove away heavy hearted.
Janet appeared in the upstairs passage moving toward the stairs. Christopher ran circles around her, disappearing and reappearing. To him the ability was fun. He couldn’t get enough of his new found speed, as long as he wasn’t in the lake, its bitter cold and too dark, it scared him. It was a small comfort to be home again, seeing his old room although it was different. But its home, it had toys, bedding and a bed. He avoided the bed. He stared at it briefly then ran around again, into the passage and around his mother. In the house he could at least move, he wasn’t cold as in the lake and he could see. He ran playfully into his old bedroom and then into the bathroom. Laughter broke the silence and fell silent before it would flair up again.
Sensors sounded as temperatures plummeted.
The sound didn't faze Janet as she wandered around echoing a soft mournful weep. She had reached the stairs and descended slowly. Now and then she released an ear deafening screech and fell silent for just a moment, then continued with the mournful weep.
Christopher still padded through the upstairs, water squeaking from under his feet as little wet footprints remained. Cameras recorded their every move, sound and temperature change.
Janet moved through the lounge and dining room, turned and released a horrid rage filled scream. She swept at a chair standing half out from under the table and flung it across the room reducing it to firewood and splinters.
A hoarse stalker kind of breath, a more spooky taunting sound echoed through the house.
Another
chair rattled as it vibrated, tilting to its hind legs and spun around before sliding across the tiled floor and stopped in the kitchen.
Silence fell hard for about a minute as she expected some kind of response, nothing happened. Laughter burst into the upstairs area and a loud thump and dragging of something heavy echoed.
Down stairs kitchen cupboards rattled and appliances switched on and off while vibrating. The kitchen taps rattled, blowing out air and splashes of water. Walls creaked. Windows cracked and shattered, the sound carried for some distance although the glass remained undamaged. A mug vibrated and shot off the dry rack and smashed into pieces against the far wall.
A sudden uneasy unearthing silence fell. The echoing moan stopped. All activities seized, temperature returned to normal.
Cameras stopped sounding and returned to a hibernated state. Janet and Christopher vanished echoing from the far corner of the lawn, heading toward the rock face.
*~*~*
*IV*
Martin was weary, unable to sleep. His eyes were red and sagging, bags hung heavy under them. He stumbled through the house, bumping into furniture and walls. His ears were dull and the bumping sounds muffled. He reached out for the light switch, clicked it on and waited for power to light his way.
Nothing happened.
The house remained dark and it made him nervous. The darkness had finally engulfed him. He stumbled to the kitchen bumping into the center counter sending dishes and pots to the floor as it fell with a loud clung and shatter of glass. He aimed for the fridge, its soft hum now silenced by the lack of power. He opened the door and fumbles inside for more beer.
The fridge was empty.
He slammed the door.
A glass fell off the top and broke. He stumbled out the kitchen into a short passage. He wondered through the dark house upstairs and down, back and forth, looking for light.