Eyes with No Soul

by Sheri Chapman

  “Oh, alright, darling. But be careful!!! Send me a text when you get to school.”

  “Will do, Mom. Have a good day.”

  “You, too, honey. I’ll see you tonight. If you need me, call. I’ll be there. Don’t go back to the mall or be alone. I love my baby so much!”

  “Okay. I promise to stay with friends in Ozark, I promise to call you, and I love you, too. More.”

  “Nope.”

  “Yup. ‘Bye, now!”

  After Mom left, I packed my stuff into my black Escalade truck and headed to school. When I pulled up and parked, I had to gather the courage to go in. I felt like I’d be a spectacle for the world to see. Not everyone would know I bumped into the murderer and was now on his radar, but they’d see my similarities to the victim. That alone would make me an object of attention. You know how high school is: anything for gossip.

  Chapter Two

  I went directly to Officer Heitz’s office. He must’ve been off patrolling some unloading zone for one of our schools. That was okay. I’d just wait for him... And try to breathe.

  Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Julie. “Hey, girl. I saw ur truck in the lot. Where ya at?”

  “In Officer Heitz’s office.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

  I felt consoled to not be in this alone. Support was always welcomed!

  Julie and I didn’t have to wait long for Officer Heitz to show. He issued us into his office. He sat in his chair behind his desk and waited for us to begin.

  Officer Heitz was a fit, fairly tall blonde man in his early thirties. He had inquisitive blue-green eyes. Something about his demeanor was comforting.

  “How can I help you today?” he inquired solicitously. “Oh, boy… how do I begin?” I asked. My face must

  have reflected my frustration because I could see understanding register in his eyes followed by a softening of his features.

  “Are you having difficulty with another student?” he prompted.

  “No, she’s having trouble with a murderer,” Julie interjected.

  Immediately, the officer’s relaxed aura switched to alert. I knew that not only was Officer Heitz a school resource officer, but also that he worked for the police department when school wasn’t in session. It was a small comfort.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  “Yesterday, my friends and I went to the mall,” I began. “I accidentally bumped into this man. He really scared me.” Officer Heitz appeared to relax a bit. I was sure he probably thought I was a silly little high school girl with an over-active imagination after hearing about the only brutal

  murder in the history of our demographics.

  “What did he do that scared you?” he asked.

  “He stalked her. He acted really weird around her,” Julie began. “I mean, look at her, Officer Heitz! She looks exactly like the victim!”

  Officer Heitz did appear to study me more closely, and his eyes widened just a bit.

  “Look, ladies. I’m sure you were scared, but unless this guy did something like threaten you, I’m afraid there isn’t anything I can do. Do you know this guy’s name?”

  “Adam. At least that is what he told us.”

  “Do you have a last name? Can you describe him? I feel it is worth checking out, especially because Ms. Bowman’s appearance is so very similar to the victim’s,” he tried to console.

  We described the man to the best of our abilities. I could recall every last detail. The SRO took notes until we’d finished.

  “I have just a few more questions,” Officer Heitz began. “What age range is he in? Did you see what he was driving?”

  “No, he disappeared after promising to see Laurie again,” Julie said.

  “And he looked late twenties to me,” I added.

  “And you’ve never seen this guy before?” clarified the officer of the law.

  “Never,” we both admitted.

  “Okay. I’ll see what I can do. Just know that my hands

  are tied as far as the law is concerned. I’d give you a strong bit of advice, however, Ms. Bowman. You do resemble the victim. Quite a bit, actually. Don’t go anywhere alone. Use the buddy system. I see you running a lot. Don’t run alone. Keep jogging with your two buddies I always see you with. Let everyone know where you are at all times.”

  “Yes, sir. And thank you.” I shook his hand before I left his office.

  I walked straight to the library with Julie trailing in my wake. I went straight to the couch studying the newspaper and magazine racks and sunk wearily onto its soft hardness.

  “Are you okay?” asked Julie.

  “Not really. Officer Heitz is right. I mean, nothing’s really happened,” I wailed as quietly as I could. “What can be done until he attacks me? Maybe I won’t ever see him again; I hope I don’t!”

  “Laurie, you did everything you could. You gave the police a description of the guy. You can’t prove he did it, but at least your resemblance to that poor girls helps with your credibility. Be consoled and take Officer Heitz’s advice. Be very cautious and go nowhere alone. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I sighed wearily and got up. “Mom does know what’s going on. I talked to her this morning. I guess we need to head to class. Come on. We can get a pass. We should be excused because we were talking to the security officer.”

  The day passed by at a surprising regular pace. The times where I was busy and engaged went quickly, where the times when I had to work independently and had time to think went by very slowly.

  Why should I be so worried? I mean, he doesn’t even know my name! The chances he saw what we drove were minimal. I really had nothing to fear, did I? Still, I would

  take precautions. It was my life I was talking about.

  In the halls, I met a few strange or curious looks, but as a whole, I was relatively left alone as far as gossip went. I needed to give credit where credit was due.

  After school I met up with Julie and Kim.

  “Are we running today?” Kim asked.

  “I need to. Nothing is better for stress relief. Are you guys in?” I asked.

  “Definitely!” my friends responded in unison.

  We dressed out and put our things in our cars. We took off to run our typical five miles. The trees swayed seductively over the edges of the sparkling Finley River waters as we jogged by. A bird sang a melody to the rhythm made by our feet, and an angry squirrel scolded us for interrupting the peace. All couldn’t be so bad in the world. Could it?

  “So what happened today?” asked Kim.

  Julie and I filled her in. We also told her what Officer Heitz suggested and how I would use the buddy and texting system to let others know where I was at all times.

  “Not to be the devil’s advocate,” I began, “but you know you guys were all there with me, too. He could target you as well. Kim, I’m not trying to scare you, but if he tried to see what we were driving, we were in your car. I want you to be as careful as I’m going to be.”

  Kim had the decency to go pale. She nodded her head in comprehension. This was very serious stuff to all of us. I only hoped we were over reacting.

  “I think we need to have a slumber party this whole weekend,” I said. “I think it’ll help us all to be together and think this thing through. We can prepare if we have to.”

  “I agree,” Kim said. “My house is perfect. Mom won’t care. Come crash with me!”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Julie piped in.

  “Okay. When we end our run, I’ll let Angela and Janice know.”

  After we finished, I texted our other friends about the details and went home to shower as well as gather the stuff I’d need for the weekend. We planned to stay in Ozark. We didn’t want to risk going to Springfield again, even though passing time at the mall was a favored recreational thing to do. We decided to see Channing Tatum’s latest movie at the B&B Theater in Ozark.

  Before I headed over to Kim’s house, I waited for Mom to come home from
work. I wanted to make sure she knew my plans for the weekend and that it was okay with her. I also wanted to let her know what Officer Heitz had said.

  For a surprise, I decided to cook a nice dinner while I waited for Mom. I knew I wouldn’t see much of her since I planned on being with my friends, so some nice time together would be welcomed.

  I began boiling water for spaghetti noodles while slicing up French bread to butter then season with garlic salt and sprinkle with cheese. I loved my bread toasted, so I turned on the oven to preheat. I tossed together a garden salad.

  By the time Mom got home, everything was prepared and set neatly on the table. Her pleased surprise was evidenced on her face.

  “Oh, baby! What a nice surprise! Thank you!”

  I loved doing things for my Mom. She was the best parent anyone could ever hope for. I liked to show my appreciation for her.

  She was a paralegal for an extremely nice lawyer. She had a great job, and I realized how hard it could be when you had to be a parent and the sole provider; I did what I could to help.

  We always enjoyed sitting down to a nice family dinner. Mom filled two bowls with the salad and placed garlic bread topped with bubbling cheese on napkins while I spooned noodles onto our plates and topped it with the aromatic home cooked sauce. The onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes mixture was chunky yet somehow smooth. My stomach growled in anticipation.

  While we ate, I explained my plans to my mom. She was on-board because she was helping her boss with an important case, and she had to work a lot over the weekend.

  “I feel bad, baby,” she said, “I shouldn’t be leaving you alone in a time like this.”

  “Mom, I won’t be alone. I’ll be at Kim’s with her parents, Julie, Angela, and Janice. I think we’re going to the movies tonight in Ozark. I’ll keep in contact with you. Promise.”

  “Thanks, hon. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter.” “And I couldn’t ask for a better mother.”

  She kissed me bye and left at the same time I did so that she could do more research for her case. I went directly to Kim’s.

  The drive there was pleasant. Ozark was a suburb of Springfield, yet it had a small-town feel. It wasn’t too “citified” for my tastes. I found that the nature contained in her frame was a great distraction.

  Ozark was nestled in hilly country where trees were abundant. Oaks of many varieties, maples, elms, walnuts, and more deciduous trees congregated amongst the pines and cedars. Flanking them were many varieties of flowering trees. The pink and purple blends of peach tree blossoms, red bud trees, pink dogwoods, and lilacs were serenaded by the whites of still more dogwoods, lilacs, and other varieties.

  The vegetation gathered to whisper around the profusion of lakes, streams, and rivers. Water ways were already being invaded by kayaks and canoes. John boats were perched on lakes and ponds of all sizes. I smiled at the simple beauty of the natural landscape already tolerating the anxiousness of people wanting to be free from the claustrophobia of winter time jail.

  “It’s about time you got here,” I was admonished as soon as I walked in the door.

  “Sorry. I had to spend a little time with my mom. She’s got a busy weekend planned – of work. I won’t get to see her much for that reason and because I’m staying here with you all.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Kim agreed.

  “I say let’s head out to the movie. The one we want to see starts at 9:30. Let’s get there in time to get good seats and refreshments.”

  “Okay. I’m not hungry at all, but I’ve gotta have some popcorn saturated with butter!” I exclaimed.

  We headed out to the movies, parked, and went in. The time with my friends was perfect. The popcorn was terrific, and the theater was amazing. Of course, we loved the movie. All too soon, it was time to go.

  “Wait just a minute. I need to use the facilities,” I revealed as soon as we left the theater room. My stomach suddenly was clutched in a vice. Fleetingly, I wondered if I’d consumed too much grease. I went to the ladies’ room to splash water on my face.

  Within a few minutes, I returned. My stomach pain had eased, but I still felt a bit off.

  “Laurie, are you okay?” Janice asked. “You look pale all of a sudden.”

  “Um, I feel kind of funny. I’ve got a weird, tingly feeling. I don’t like it.”

  “Do you need to sit down?”

  “No, I think I’m okay.”

  We headed for the door, but the closer to the exit we got, the funnier I began to feel. Immediately, I felt like I was walking through invisible quick sand. Each step pulled and sucked at my feet as I tried to approach the exit. A wall of tiredness built itself up around me and a blanket of goose bumps wrapped me in its folds. That’s when the premonition hit me.

  “We’re being watched.”

  My statement was met with no skeptical looks this time. We began to nervously glance around. There were people trickling out of the theater here and there, but it certainly wasn’t crowded. The majority of movie goers were home at 11:30 at night. I didn’t see anyone paying us any undue attention.

  “Well, I’ve been wrong before,” I said doubtfully, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling.

  “Let’s go. There’s safety in numbers,” Julie said.

  “I say let’s cruise by the police station. If we’re being followed, that would surely discourage them,” Angela mentioned.

  “That’s a GREAT idea!” I agreed.

  We quickly scurried into the parking lot and piled into Kim’s SUV. No one had to tell Kim to hurry. She turned the engine to life and shot out of our parking spot like a dove released from a magician’s sleeve. While we were in line to pull out onto the main road, I saw the lights flip on in a blacked out ’69 Dodge Charger.

  Dukes of Hazzard, look out, I thought.

  The Charger squealed its tires when it pulled out of the lot, leaving a trail of rubber burned into the pavement as it

  hurried to catch us. It was merely seconds before it zoomed up behind us as we turned onto the main road.

  “You know this nut?” I asked Kim.

  “No, but I don’t like the way he’s tail-gaiting!” she said with aggravation.

  “Uh, neither do I,” I said gritting my teeth. “It’s kinda scaring me.”

  He was really close, nearly on our bumper.

  “Do you know anyone at school who drives that car?” asked Angela. “It’s pretty noticeable if you ask me!”

  “I agree. And no, I don’t,” Julie said, “but he’s got a road rage problem! We didn’t even do anything to piss him off.”

  “Oh, boy!” Angela exclaimed. “We’ve found who was watching us, haven’t we?”

  “How about that police station?” I reminded in a breathless tone.

  Kim’s SUV was picking up speed, but so was the black car. He zoomed on the left side of us, revving his engine for effect, and squealed his tires as he rushed into the on-coming passenger’s lane.

  “What is he doing?” yelled Kim.

  “I don’t know!” I answered. “I’m hoping he doesn’t try to ram us!”

  Kim swerved to the right just after the words left my lips. All of us stifled screams because precisely at that moment, the black car slammed into our SUV. If Kim hadn’t anticipated his move, we’d have been tuna in a can. Kim’s reflexes had allowed us to narrowly miss a pole. I believed that the driver’s intention had been to crash us into the supporting column. In between moments of panic, it made me wonder vaguely if he’d been a Demolition Derby driver.

  “Oh, God!”

  “Try to be calm, Kim,” Janice soothed. “We can’t let him run us off the road. Who knows what he’d do to us? We can’t tell whose driving or how many people are in the car with his windows blacked out like that.”

  “He’s blocking our way to the police department,” Kim said in a scared voice.

  “If you can turn around, head out toward Branson. Cops always sit between Wal-Mart’s exit and Highway EE. If we speed, we’ll g
et a cop’s attention. If there isn’t a cop, we’ll take the EE exit and drive to town the back way. If he’s not from Ozark, he won’t anticipate that move.”

  “Yes, that’s a good thought,” answered Janice, “but I don’t like driving away from a higher concentration of people.”

  “I agree,” said Julie.

  Everyone was quiet, gripping her seat with white knuckles and saying prayers.

  “Hey, I’ve got a great idea! None of us are using our brains because we’re panicked. I’m calling 911!” Julie whipped out her phone and pushed the corresponding buttons.

  Kim had managed to spin the SUV in the opposite direction and fishtailed onto the exit ramp. The jerk in the car was right on our tail. Our vehicle had the bigger mass, but his was faster. He showed us this by ramming into us a few times. Every time he hit us, we’d scream and pitch forward.