Murderer's Mockery

The night creatures are singing in the distance as Joe steps off the porch. The full moon casts a glow across the sleepy town. A gentle breeze adds a chill to the evening air. The captain shivers as he hurries to the cruiser. He's climbing inside when he hears one of his officers calling his name. He looks over to find Jeff darting out of the woods. Closing the car door, he turns and waits.

"We found this next to a trail of blood." He hands over a torn piece of clothes and then continues. "The track leads to the clearing on the other side. So we're thinking the perp might've had a vehicle waiting there. Bill is looking at surveillance cameras of the surrounding businesses now." 

"Where's the sergeant?"

"I'm not sure, sir. She and Kirk took off the opposite way."

"Rachel never caught back up with you?"

"I didn't know she was supposed to." 

Pulling out his phone, the captain dials Rachel's number. The call forwards to voicemail on the fourth ring. He tries a second time and gets sent to her messages again. Where could she be? He feels a tap on his shoulder, turning he sees his detective behind him holding his wife's cell.

"I found this on the side of the road," Jerry breathlessly says, handing Joe her device. 

The captain glances down at the cracked screen. Panic causes his heart to race as her past close calls run through his mind. Terror etched across his face when he asks, "When did you last see her?" 

"When we left the house."

"Maybe her call log will tell us where she went." Jeff suggests.

Joe pulls up the list. He feels the weight of the situation, squeezing every ounce of calm from his body as he stares at the screen. 

"What is it, boss?"

His voice cracked when he said, "The last number she dialed was to 911, Jerr." Pull yourself together for Rachel's sake, he thinks. He pushes his fear aside, turns and says, "Jeff, I want you to get me all the information you can." 

"I'm on it sir." Pulling out his cell, he dials the station. "Dispatch, this is Detective Higgins. You received a call from Sergeant Bower five minutes ago. The number is." He puts the phone on the speaker.

"501 212-1929." Joe finishes.

"I was the one that answered."

"What can you tell me about it?"

"A woman called saying she's being kidnapped. I hear screaming in the background, and then the line goes dead. I tried to trace the location, but the connection wasn't long enough and she didn't answer when I returned her call."

Rachel's phone rings. Joe sees it's from a private number. "Hello?"

"Good evening Captain. Is your lovely wife around by chance? I wanted to give her my condolences. I know how much Roy means to her, how important he was in her life. He was like a second father to her, but I'm sure you're well aware of that."

Realizing who it is, Joe presses the phone tightly against his ear and says, "You killed the wrong man."

 "I assure you, captain, I didn't. I saw Jason taking the girls from their homes. He's also the one who caused your detectives to wreck and threatened her life." 

"He must have an accomplice then, because two eight-year-olds were taken from their yard, and Rachel is gone. You need to tell me everything you know if you don't want them to end up dead." 

The man clicks his tongue then says, "My time would be better spent looking instead of wasting it telling a simpleton about a perp he can't seem to catch. Goodbye, cap."

Joe puts a death grip on the phone. "Listen here, you pompous ass."

"No, you listen to me, and listen carefully. I will not be ordered around like I am a common crook. Especially not from a civil servant who has lucked his way up in rank. I am a hundred times smarter than any thug walking the streets. More intelligent than you and your crew combined, the reason you'll never catch me. I'll figure out where he took our precious Rachel. Know, I am doing it for my love and not for you, and captain, I'd watch your back if I were you." 

Hanging up the phone, he turns and says, "I'm going to find that arrogant SOB if it's the last thing I do." 

God help him when you do, Jerry thinks, watching his boss storm away.

****

The full moon bathes the sleepy town in a soft, silvery light. A gentle breeze stirs, bringing a slight chill to the evening air. Sammy and Joe Jr. were pushing the stroller across the parking lot. Lulu is singing the baby shark song for what seems like the hundredth time, and Samantha's baby, Jasmine, is sleeping in the carrier against her mother's chest. I need to get these two fed a bath and then to bed, she thinks. She hadn't planned on staying at the park that long, but she and her best friend Betsy got to talking the next thing she knows it was nearly dark. 

Joe Jr. stops, glances up and asks, "Can we go again tomorrow, Aunt Sammy? 

"If you eat all of your veggies and are good for mommy and daddy tonight."

The lad crinkles his nose as he pictures the nasty vegetables. "All of them?"

"Every last one, and don't think about feeding them to the dog either." She sees the shocked look on her nephew's face, chuckles and adds, "I saw what you did the other day."

A look of horror crosses the lad's face. "Does mommy and daddy know?"

"No, and it will be our secret if you promise me you'll never do it again."

"I won't."

"Good. Why this sudden interest in the park?"

"Brock and I are going treasure hunting tomorrow. He has a map and everything," he excitedly replies. 

"It's nice you made a new friend."

The lad crinkles up his nose and says, "His sister wanted to come too, but girls are icky." 

"You just keep thinking that, little man." She laughs, patting the top of his head. She starts up the stairs when she hears her mom calling her name. She turns to find Bonnie beside her. "I'd like to take you guys out to supper and maybe dessert after?" 

"Ice cream." Joe Jr. exclaims. He jerks the car door open and hops inside.

"I don't have to ask you twice, do I, bud?" she laughs.

"I cream I cream," Lulu says, bouncing in her seat.

Sammy chuckles. "You said the magic words, mom." 

They're getting everyone buckled in when a detective pulls up beside them. "The captain told me to tell you to go to the station." 

Bonnie looks over to find two more squad cars pulling into the lot. An overwhelming fear sets in, making her feel faint. She grabs the door for support, then asks, "What's going on, Jerry?"

"I'll explain when we get there."

"I want Ice cream," Joe junior says, crossing his arms.

"We'll do it another time."

"You promised, nana."

"How about if you ride in the squad car with me?"

"Can I do the lights and sirens?"

"Sure."

****

The bright morning sun shines through the cracked cement. Rachel is struggling to free herself from the restraints when the stairs squeak. She glances up to see a tall, lanky man dressed in black descending the steps. His head is concealed by a ski mask, and leather gloves cover his hands. She frantically tries to pry loose as he continues her way. 

"Don't worry, pipsqueak, I'm not here to harm you. I am here to take you home."

"My family is in danger," she cries.

"Everyone is safe and the two little girls you were looking for are too." Recalling what he did, he smiles and adds, "I took care of him before he could hurt anyone."

"What did you do?" She gasps.

"Jack, like his brother Jason, is dead." He strums his finger down the side of her face, gazes into her beautiful brown eyes and says, "I always dreamed we'd be husband and wife someday, but sadly, you wouldn't give the time of day to a nerdy, string-bean of a kid with coke-bottle glasses and curly carrot top head." 

She recalls her school days, and says, "Kevin?"

"Yes, darling, it's me." The one who admires you from afar, he thinks, gazing down at her beautiful face.

"I've always thought of us as friends."

"Then why wasn't I invited to any of your parties?"

"I didn't think you'd want to go." 

"Or maybe I'm not good enough for you and your snooty girlfriends."

"We never said that."

"No, but you were thinking it."

She hadn't because she was afraid he'd be made fun of the way he was in school.

"None of that will matter after today." He pulls the syringe from his pocket and adds, "I know you'll learn to love me if you give me half a chance."

"You can't force someone to have feelings for you. It just happens, no real reason as to why."

"That's where you're wrong, I can and I will make you fall head over heals for me, wait and see." Seeing the fear in her eyes he strokes her face and adds, "Don't worry sweetheart, I'll take good care of you, treat you like a queen."

"You are no better than Jason or Jack if you go through with this and you don't want to be classified with them, right?"

"You're wrong again, my beloved. What I'm doing is for love, not for retaliation or revenge which makes me different from them." 

"I will never feel the same as you do me. You are my friend, Kevin, but that's all it'll ever be."

"All I ask is that you take a chance on us, and you'll see we were meant to be." He uncaps the needle as he steps closer.

"Please don't, do this, she yells, struggling to break free, but being secured to the bed, she couldn't move far.

He plunges the medicine into her arm and adds, "I'll make you happy, sweetheart. I promise I will."