by David Boiani
He sat up in a terrified panic as the sweat poured off his face and down his neck. He was overtaken with relief as reality came back to him, and he realized it was only a nightmare. He pulled the covers aside, crawled out of bed and headed to the bathroom to urinate and splash cold water on his face. The memory of the night’s activities returned: the party at John’s restaurant, the drinks, taking Alexis home and kissing her goodnight. How he wanted to take her to bed, but he knew it wasn’t the right time. She was much different than all the others. He wanted to build something special, something that would last.
After dousing his face, Ricky stood in front of the mirror, looked at his reflection and searched for answers. Why have the nightmares increased in abundance and intensity? Will they ever subside? Will he ever sleep peacefully again? The images of the nightmare returned to his mind… so vivid, so real.
He stumbled into bed and clicked the television on. He found an old movie that comforted him when he was a child, so he dropped the remote on the bed. No sleep came.
***
John took the following few days off, the first to recover from the celebration, and the second to spend the day with his family. He took them to the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture, a place Gianna had wanted to experience for a few years now. The children had a blast visiting the fantasy, horror, and video game exhibits in the morning and the family was famished by lunchtime. They decided to get some burgers and fries at an outside stand and took the food to a picnic table. When finished, John took the litter to a garbage bin and as he dumped the wrappers, used napkins, and paper cups into the trash, something caught his eye. A fly that had pursued some melted cheese was trapped in a plastic bag. The opening to the bag was folded over so the fly’s only way out was blocked. John watched as the fly panicked, furiously searching for a break in the plastic. It was an anxious hysteria all too common in John’s world. The victim, realizing he or she is caught in a trap, likely to never escape is first confused, then panics, and finally the morbid acceptance of their destiny is realized, cumulating in probable death; the point at which that the prey knows he or she will never see their loved ones again, never smile again, or eat their favorite food. Never hear their favorite song or watch their favorite movie for the hundredth time.
“John, are you okay?” Julie asked as she walked over without John even hearing her footsteps.
“Sure,” he said as he reached into the bin and flipped the bag over, releasing the fly from its prison. It flew away, its wings fluttering frantically, and John wondered if the insect knew how lucky it was to be free.
***
The following day the team met back at the station. Everyone was in a significantly better mood and frame of mind since the last time they were here all together. John, Ricky, and Captain Johnson were all present when Marty walked in with a scowl on his face.
“Marty, you look like someone just kicked your dog. What’s up?” Captain Johnson asked.
“Nothing, just a bad night. Argued with the wife, didn’t sleep, and then this morning I noticed my hair is really thinning out. What the heck’s up with that? I’m only thirty-five. I’m too young to go bald.”
“Nature is selecting you out of the gene pool,” Ricky said.
“What the hell do you mean?”
“Nature pretty much wants you to be fat, bald and unattractive. That way, no female in her right mind would accept your sperm into her body,” Ricky said.
“Nature doesn’t want your crusty, old sperm reproducing,” John said as he winked at Ricky.
“Damn, so nature is telling me it’s time to just sit in a rocking chair and grow old?”
John grinned. “Exactly. Grow old and drink ensure until you die, but for fuck’s sake, don’t spread your ancient seed.”
“But you’re older than me and you have a full head of hair.”
“Yeah, but I’m special… and sexy.”
“Wonderful. Thanks a lot, guys.”
“Hey, don’t thank us, thank nature,” Ricky quipped.
“Are you guys going to get any work done, or just bust Marty’s balls all day?” Captain Johnson said.
“Definitely bust Marty’s balls all day,” Ricky said.
The captain closed the file he was holding and said, “Well in that case, I’ll join you two. Marty, do you realize you blind me when the sun reflects off your head?”
Everyone joined in the laughter, even Marty.
***
The dark figure watched the Corbin children as they walked to the bus stop early in the morning. He noticed how the older child, the female, paid close attention to her younger brother. He studied their routine, day after day, noticing every detail.
The devil is in the details, he thought as he watched the school bus pull away. He studied The Corbin’s schedule, when they work, when they eat dinner, when they go to bed… all that information settled into his mind and he thought the time to strike was almost here.
Let’s see if you give me the finger after this, you son of a bitch, he thought darkly. He drove away with a smug smile on his face. His plan was coming together; a plan that would shake John Corbin’s world to the core.
***
September 23, 2004…
Julie’s water broke as she slowly climbed out of the shower. She froze, looked down, and knew it was time. She called John into the bathroom and together they prepared for the trek to the hospital. Thirty-two minutes later, the nurses were propping her up in a bed and getting ready for the delivery. She decided to have a natural childbirth.
“Julie, my dear, this baby is coming soon. You’re already at ten centimeters. We have an impatient little baby on our hands,” the nurse said.
John held Julie’s hand as the doctor entered the room. “I hear we’re progressing quickly!” the doctor said.
“Progressing? We’re ready,” the nurse replied.
A few minutes later, Gianna Rose Corbin entered the world as a healthy, pink, seven pounds, thirteen-ounce baby girl. Julie handled the delivery as well as could be expected without the use of drugs. John cut the umbilical cord and soon after was holding his own flesh and blood. He felt like he was living in his own movie, a movie about his life. It was surreal, wonderful, humbling, uplifting, exhilarating, and an utterly terrifying experience. With all these emotions present, he didn’t know exactly what he was feeling. Then, little Gianna looked straight at him and their eyes met for the first time; her eyes, big and brown, and full of life. A few tears fell as he was overwhelmed with an emotion he had never experienced before — the love for your own child.
***
John and Captain Johnson were going over some paperwork when Ricky eagerly walked up to them.
“I don’t understand something. Why? Why does he want to go through these silly tactics? Wouldn’t it be much safer if he just killed the people and left them? He’s making himself vulnerable continuing these contrivances. It’s a paradox. It goes against what he’s trying to accomplish.”
John looked up at Ricky, quickly glanced at the captain, then back to his younger partner.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. You’re assuming what he is trying to accomplish. You, a sane and rational man, are trying to decipher what a psychopath is thinking and feeling while looking through your own eyes. It’s a lesson learned from the earliest of alienists and followed by criminal profilers. To understand the insane or the psychotic, we must look through their eyes, and their eyes only. We must become the psychopath. He isn’t just trying to kill… he wants to win the game. He wants to beat us at his own game, and each step along the way he raises the stakes, culminating in his eventual reason for playing.”
“Okay, so what’s reason?” Ricky asked.
“That, we won’t find out till the end, unless we catch him before then and end the game ourselves,” Captain Johnson said.
“Exactly. Your paradox is what makes him tick. He kills to play the game, not vice versa,” John said.
“Well, he’s a sick,
twisted fuck,” Ricky said as he exited the office.
The Captain packed up his things and left for the evening.
John headed through the station to go home when Ricky cut him off at his desk.
“Hey, got a sec before you go?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I wanted to thank you. If it weren’t for your insight and instinct, we may not have found him. I wouldn’t have known how to face Alexis. You saved him, and you may have saved our relationship.”
“Well, first off, you’re welcome. Secondly, are we calling this a relationship all ready? You work fast, Romeo.”
“I am actually taking things a bit slowly with her. I want this to last and to do that, the foundation has to be solid.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” John said.
“How did you know? I mean, how did it come so easily to you? I thought you were crazy with some of your ideas, but I was wrong.”
“Those who dance are considered insane by those who can’t hear the music.”
“Nietzsche,” Ricky said.
“You got it. You are an intelligent, driven detective, Ricky. However, sometimes stepping outside of your box, the box of reason, analytics, of rational thought, can help you understand things that you normally wouldn’t.”
“I understand, and I’m learning. You’re a great teacher and mentor.”
“Thank you,” John answered.
“Oh, I almost forgot, I read your book.”
“The Fountainhead?”
“Yes, I liked it. It made me feel rejuvenated and cleansed when I finished it. It kind of rekindled my faith in humanity and what we can accomplish with integrity and desire.”
John smiled. “I’m glad you felt that way, I did as well the first time I read it, and every time after.”
“How many times have you read it?”
“I’m not sure. I read it every couple of years. In this business, you need to do everything you can to remain sane and pure.”
“Hey, do you mind if I let Alexis borrow it? I think she would enjoy it.”
“Of course not. How did the reunion go?” John asked.
“I think they’re going to have a healthy, long-lasting father-daughter relationship. It couldn’t have gone any better.”
“I’m happy to hear it. After all, he’ll be your father-in-law one day.”
Ricky stood up, winked at John, and walked out.
***
November 1, 2006…
John held his newborn son, Ryann, as a feeling of immense pride came over him. Many of the emotions he felt from this birth were similar to the birth of his daughter two years ago, but some were very different. In both instances, he felt an intense love that he had never experienced before fatherhood. But having a son gave him a strong feeling of pride. He had produced another man to continue the Corbin name. A boy who John would teach to become a man who respects values and women, takes pride in his work, and is faithful to his friends and family. John walked over to the side of the bed and placed his son in Julie’s arms. This time, Julie had been in a prolonged labor and she was exhausted. She glanced up at John and smiled before kissing her baby boy on the top of his head and closing her eyes to rest. John imagined what experiences the following years would bring; playing catch in the yard, spending football Sundays together, teaching Ryann how to knot a tie. His mind turned to Gianna who was outside the door in the waiting area with her grandparents and thought: I now have a family containing everything I have ever wanted.
***
The bright sun starting its early morning rise on the eastern horizon as the dark figure stepped out into a warm breeze coming off Elliot Bay. He raised his head to take in the scent of the ocean and feel the sun’s rays on his face. Today is the day, he thought as his mind focused on his plan. Good timing and flawless, efficient execution were what he needed to make this day a success. He checked his watch and locked his door. You can never be too careful, he thought. There are many dishonest criminals around the city of Seattle. He double checked the door to make sure it was secure, then headed to his SUV, entered and drove away, looking forward to the task ahead.
He arrived at his destination early, as he was always punctual. Nothing irritated him more than someone being late for an appointment, as it showed a lack of respect for others. He sat back and meditated for a bit while he waited for his prey to arrive. He knew there would be a short window of time when the target would be alone. He had watched this day unfold many times, noticing the movements, scouting the timing of the actions.
“Efficient execution,” he whispered to himself as he patiently awaited his chance to strike. The time had come. There, up ahead, his prey had become visible. He exited his vehicle and paused.
Just wait for the perfect time, a few more seconds.
Now!
***
Julie poured her second cup of coffee, settled on the couch and clicked on the television. She had just gotten home after working third shift at the hospital. The children had already left for school before she arrived home and John was at the restaurant going over the sales numbers from the previous month with Red. She sat back and turned on a daily news program. The Seattle Slayer case was being spotlighted on the show, as the national intrigue had increased with each abduction. She saw John and his new partner Ricky on a video showing the rescue of Brian Simmons. Though she didn’t like the idea of John still working as a detective, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride when she saw his handsome face on the national news. She was listening to an interview with Captain Johnson and an FBI agent when her cellphone rang. She saw it was the school calling.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mrs. Corbin?”
“Yes.”
“Neither Gianna or Ryann came to school today and we have no record of a parent calling. Our policy is to call the guardian by this time if we haven’t heard from them.”
“What? They aren’t in school?” Where…? I have to go.”
She hung up the phone as an instinctive feeling of panic came over her.
***
Captain Johnson entered his office, sat down, and clicked on his email. There was a new message with a lone hyperlink. He closed his eyes, said a quick prayer and clicked. A video came to life. It showed a long, dark tunnel-like structure. As the wind kicked up, he noticed two kids back to back on what seemed to be a platform. He zoomed in. He could hear the children crying now as the wind died down. He zoomed in even more and noticed the children had nooses around their necks attached to the ceiling.
“What the fuck…” he said aloud as one of the children turned towards the camera.
“Oh no. Oh no, no, no…”
CHAPTER SIX
24:00:00, 23:59:59, 23:59:58…
The captain couldn’t believe what he was seeing: John’s children, Gianna and Ryann, both secured on the platform with nooses around their necks. He zoomed in enough to see the trapdoor they stood upon. In less than twenty-four hours, John’s children would be hung. He picked up the phone and hit Ricky’s extension.
“Ricky, get in here,” he said hoarsely, “I’ve got another video.”
“I’ll be right in.”
Captain Johnson leaned back in his chair as Ricky entered the office and walked over to look at the screen.
“Children? What the fuck.”
“Not just any children. Those are John’s kids.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me?”
As Captain Johnson zoomed in on the children’s faces again, Ricky brought his hands to his face, shook his head and bent over to regain his composure.
“Where’s John?” Captain Johnson asked.
“At the restaurant taking care of some paperwork with Red.”
“We need to tell him, but I don’t want him to see this feed… that’s enough to drive any man insane. I also want him off this case. I want you take lead.”
“Captain, you know he won’t accept that — it’s his kids.”
“He won’t do us any good with an overload of emotion, and there is no way in hell for him to control that. We need to save them, and having someone make bad decisions based on emotion isn’t going to help us do that.”
“I agree, but how are we going to convince him of that?”
“I’m the captain. He has no choice but to follow my orders. He can hate me all he wants for now, but I need to do what’s right for him, us, and those children.”
“Do you want me to talk to him? I can—”
“No,” The captain said curtly, interrupting him. “I’ll head over there and handle this myself.” The captain got up and headed out the door.
Ricky just stood there, watching the scene in disbelief.
23:45:03, 23:45:02, 23:45:01…
John sat in his office with Red, entering the sales and overhead costs into his computer when his cell tone went off.
“Hold on, Red, it’s Julie. Hey babe, what’s up? You should be sleeping.”
“John, are the children with you?”
“No, why? What do you mean with me? They went to school.”