Riley's Reckoning

by Claire Britain

  “Let’s try this again, Riley. The nose, do you remember the shape, was it like this? Was it larger, smaller? Picture him in your mind. What about the eyes?” Anna asked, as she dragged face parts onto the superimposed image on the screen of her laptop.

  Riley glared at the young woman, who was oblivious to Riley’s discontent. “Christ, I told you, I don’t remember anything. Can we give this a rest? All I see is a blank face, that’s it.”

  Riley was becoming more and more irritated at the twenty-something-year-old artist, as she pressed her about Riley’s attacker.

  “What about his eyes? Were they like this? Concentrate, Riley, there has to be something about him you remember?”

  “What the fuck, I’m getting tired of this. I told you I don’t remember, alright?” Riley said through gritted teeth, banging her fists on the table and getting up from her chair.

  “Let’s give it a rest,” Alex directed to Anna, who just shrugged and snapped her gum.

  Riley saw the disapproving looks on Helen’s and Joanna’s faces from where they were sitting across the great room at the kitchen island.

  “Where do we go from here? I mean without a description, not much to go on. All the leads have dried up from the park,” Detective Carl Tanner asked, as he took another drink from his third cup of coffee. “We could always put a wire on her, have her go back to the park with a tail. See if this guy has the balls to try anything if he’s even still around?”

  “That’s not bad, Carl, he’s desperate and he probably knows Riley can’t ID him yet or his picture would be all over the news.”

  “What do you think, kid, up to doing a little fishing?” Carl asked, as Riley sat back down at the table with an intrigued look.

  “No, you know what, it’s too dangerous. He doesn’t even need to get close. If he’s out there, he’s going to want to make a fast kill,” Alex stated, rethinking her earlier enthusiasm.

  “But you’ll be there, he can’t hurt me if you’re there, I want to do it. What do I need to do?”

  “Absolutely not, I won’t have Riley used as bait. He tried to kill her, for Christ’s sake!” Joanna interrupted angrily, approaching the table.

  “But I want to do it, how dangerous could it be if the cops are following? Obviously, I can’t remember shit about his face. Maybe if he is watching me, I can help and they can catch him this way?”

  “No, Joanna’s right, it’s too dangerous. We need to look at other leads and maybe you’ll remember what he looks like in time. It just may take a few days. We’ll get him, Riley, one way or another, but putting your life in danger is not the way,” Alex stated thoughtfully.

  “Fuck, then I guess I’m pretty useless, aren’t I?” Riley said, getting up and storming into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

  Chapter Nine

  Riley hadn’t left Joanna’s apartment for nearly two weeks. The same nightmares had plagued her every night, waking up in a cold sweat, seeing the face of the dead woman and her faceless attacker. She still couldn’t remember him and the detectives were no closer to finding the killer. Despite Joanna’s best efforts to keep Riley safe and entertained in the apartment, Riley’s mood had been worsening by the day and she was fed up. Joanna had given her some slack because of the attack, but Riley’s behavior was quickly spiraling out of control.

  The last straw had come that morning, when instead of going to Riley’s doctor’s office to have her sutures removed, Joanna had arranged for her father to come to the apartment and tend to Riley instead. Even the doctor’s office would have been like an outing for Riley, so she was disappointed to learn the plans were changed.

  Riley needed to get out, if it was only to the gym. She knew Joanna wouldn’t be happy when she came out of the shower but Riley didn’t care. At least she could see the outside world from the gym downstairs. The whole wall of the gym downstairs was windows that overlooked 5th Avenue. As she stretched, she watched the residents going in and out of the apartment through the window. She felt so stifled, being inside for nearly two weeks. If only she could take a little walk outside. It wasn’t fair, she was stuck inside because of a man whose face she couldn’t even remember. It had been so clear that night, yet the image of his face eluded her. She looked at her watch and calculated she had about thirty minutes before being tracked down by her overprotective girlfriend.

  * * *

  “Who was it, hon?” Helen asked from the kitchen.

  “It was Rosa, flower delivery for me,” Kate replied with a grin.

  “Really, and exactly who is sending my girlfriend flowers?”

  “You mean it wasn’t you?” Kate asked with a wry smile, bringing the vase in to the kitchen as she opened the note.

  “No, it wasn’t!”

  Helen folded her arms expectantly, as she watched Kate remove the card. She watched her face intently, as her eyes surveyed the note. Kate’s face paled and the vase came crashing down in pieces on the kitchen floor.

  “Honey, what is it?” Helen said in a panic, seeing the look of anguish on Kate’s face.

  Kate’s hands were trembling as she handed Helen the note. Helen studied the note, moving it farther away to focus on the small, typed print.

  We have unfinished business, Kate, you can’t hide forever, my little runner!

  “Shit, I think this was meant for Riley, we need to tell Joanna,” Helen said, taking Kate’s hand and leading her across the hall.

  Helen knocked on the door and announced herself, before opening the door of Joanna’s apartment.

  “Where is everyone? Jo? It’s Helen and Kate!”

  Joanna emerged from the bedroom in her robe, towel drying her wet hair. “What is it? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” she asked in confusion, seeing the scared faces of her friends. “Where’s Riley?”

  “Kate got flowers, this was the note,” Helen said somberly, handing Joanna the note. “It could have been for Riley.”

  Joanna looked confused, looking around the apartment. “Shit, and it was addressed to Kate? Riley, where are you? Riley!” she shouted, not getting a response from her girlfriend. After getting no response, the three women looked at each other and began to frantically search the rest of Joanna’s apartment for Riley.

  Joanna was in a state of panic after reading the note and not finding Riley anywhere in the apartment. Her hands began to shake in fear. “Oh, my god, she’s not here!”

  “I’ll call Alex. Kate, call down to Rosa and see if she’s seen her. We’ll find her, Jo,” Helen said, dialing her phone.

  “Rosa hasn’t seen her, she’s going to check with the cop outside. I’ll go down and check the gym and the lobby,” Kate said, heading for the door.

  “No, stay here in case Riley gets back. I don’t want you going anywhere after that note. I’ll go, you two sit tight for Alex, she’s on her way.”

  “I’m not going to just sit here and do nothing, Helen! What if he has her?” Joanna protested.

  “Me neither, we have to look for her, Helen, I’m not staying here,” Kate replied through desperate tears.

  “Stop, the both of you! It’s pretty unlikely he just waltzed in here and took Riley. Now, I’m going downstairs and I want you two to stay right here until I get back,” Helen admonished, hugging Joanna, who was now sobbing in desperation.

  * * *

  Helen checked the fifth floor first to see if Riley was on the tennis court. Riley would often go there and practice on the back wall and Helen wanted to make sure she covered all the places Riley could be, before full panic mode set in. When she didn’t find her, she headed for the gym on the first floor. Rounding the corner, a wave of first relief, then outright anger engulfed her as she watched Riley running on the treadmill, it seemed without a care in the world.

  Helen strode purposefully over and hit the emergency stop button before grabbing Riley roughly by the arm and steering her off the machine.

  “Hey, what gives?” Riley protested, trying to yank her arm away from the
older woman, only to have it secured more tightly, as Helen hissed in her ear.

  “Upstairs now, I don’t want to hear a word from you, Riley!”

  Riley didn’t argue, seeing the anger in the older woman’s eyes, as her nearly six-foot frame towered over her.

  “Ah, good, you find her, Ms. Klein, thank goodness!” Rosa acknowledged in her Italian accent, as they passed the concierge desk, toward the penthouse elevators.

  Helen took a deep breath. “Yes, thank you, Rosa.”

  Inside the elevator, Helen released her grip on Riley’s arm.

  “Do you have any idea how worried everyone was? Do you?” Helen boomed as Riley cowered in front of her. “Go!” she barked, pointing to Joanna’s apartment, as the elevator door opened.

  Riley’s instinct was to cover her backside with her hands, as she felt Helen’s ominous presence behind her. Instead, she looked back at Helen, before knocking on the locked door.

  “Oh, thank god!” Joanna said in relief as she took Riley in her arms. “I was so worried something happened to you. Where were you, Riley?”

  “I was at the gym on the treadmill, what’s the big deal, Jo?”

  “I told you not to leave the apartment, and you sneak off while I’m in the shower!” Joanna said, holding Riley by the shoulders at arm’s length. “Well, you’re safe now, thank goodness!”

  “Well, I’m back and in one piece, sheesh.”

  Helen just stood back with her arms folded, while Kate glared at her friend.

  “Are you going to tell her what happened?” Kate said in disbelief that Joanna was acting so calm. “While you were thinking of yourself again and down in the gym, your psychopath attacker sent flowers!” Kate began, obviously angry at Riley’s blatant lack of concern. “Here, read it, this is the note that came with it.”

  Riley studied the note with a frown, before tossing it on the counter.

  “Well, it was obviously meant for me, somehow he’s got our names mixed up!”

  “Damn it, Riley! What the fuck were you thinking? You had us all scared to death something had happened to you!” Kate stated angrily, rounding on her friend.

  “Kate, that’s enough!” Helen admonished her angry girlfriend.

  “Yeah, give it a rest, Kate. You’re being a little melodramatic, don’t you think?” Riley dismissed, rolling her eyes.

  Riley’s words cut Kate to the core. “You just don’t fucking get it, do you? And what’s with the trail shoes…”

  “That’s enough, Kate. I want to speak with Joanna next door; you two, wait here for Alex. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Joanna looked nervously back at Helen, who was studying her coolly. “Call us when Alex arrives. And if either one of you…” Helen didn’t finish her sentence, she just nodded to the door. “Lock it!” she directed back at Kate, before following Joanna over to the penthouse across the hall. Once inside, Helen began to pace, trying to collect her thoughts before looking purposely at Joanna.

  “Sit!” Helen directed.

  Joanna sat down on Helen’s couch and gave her a steely look that was a little more self-assured than Helen would have liked.

  “What the hell is wrong with Kate going after Riley like that?” Joanna said, trying not to waver at Helen’s stern demeanor.

  “Oh, cut the crap, Jo, you need to focus on Riley. For the last two weeks she’s been pushing and frankly crying out for attention and you do nothing!”

  “Helen, she was attacked, for god’s sake! She’s fragile right now. I can’t just come down on her like a ton of bricks. She’s under a lot of stress. And the nightmares?”

  “Jo, do you hear yourself? She’s acting like she didn’t even care that he sent the note! Look, I’m not going to tell you what to do, you already know what she needs. She’s come to rely on the structure you’ve given her, Jo. That’s what keeps her centered and grounded and right now she’s spiraling out of control!”

  “I know you’re right, Helen, but she’s been so withdrawn lately and I don’t want to push her away by being too hard on her. I don’t know what to do!”

  “Yes, you do, and treating her with kid gloves is not helping anyone. You need to be strong for her right now. She’s on a roller coaster and you’re the only one who can keep her on the rails and give her the stability she needs. She trusts and relies on you for that. I hate to say it, Jo, but the one thing she desperately needs right now you’re denying her!”

  “But Helen, she only went to the gym, she has been cooped up here for nearly two weeks, can you blame her?”

  “Jo, I’m only going to say this once. You better do something to rein her back in before she does or says something she can’t recover from. She needs you now, you know her limits but right now, she’s walking all over yours!”

  Chapter Ten

  Kate raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap to Riley’s left cheek, just as Helen and Joanna came back into the apartment.

  “What the fuck, Kate?” Riley asked in a wounded tone, reaching for her cheek with both hands.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Helen boomed, rushing over and grabbing Kate by her arm.

  “Why don’t you tell them what’s going on here, Riley,” Kate seethed.

  “What happened between you two?” Joanna asked, as she moved Riley’s hand to look at her cheek. A steady stream of blood was coming from a small cut on Riley’s cheek just below her eye.

  “Go ahead, Riley, tell her, or I will!”

  “You’ll go next door and find a place in the corner, that’s what you’ll do. You never strike anyone in anger, young lady!” Helen fumed.

  Kate saw the blood and her angry look turned to one of concern. “Shit, sorry, Riley. I didn’t mean to do that! My ring must have caught you, I would never…” Kate trailed off, tears starting to form in her apologetic eyes.

  “Helen, Kate shouldn’t be alone, let’s all just take a breath,” Joanna replied after retrieving and holding a piece of gauze to Riley’s cheek to stop the bleeding, then applying a small butterfly Band-Aid over the cut.

  The drama that was unfolding in the living room was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Damn, Riley, what happened to you?” Alex asked, pointing to her cheek after Riley opened the door.

  “Nothing, it was an accident.”

  “Riley?” Alex asked seriously, looking at Joanna and pulling Riley back toward the door.

  “Jesus, Alex, it wasn’t Jo. Kate and I got into it and her ring caught me, that’s all!”

  Riley noticed Alex’s inquisitive looks, no doubt from the tension still in the room.

  “Look, if I’m interrupting something here, I can come back at a better time?”

  “No, it’s fine, this can wait. Your news is more important. Please.” Joanna gestured to the living room. “Can I get you something, Alex? Coffee, water?”

  “No, I’m good, Joanna, thank you. Do you have the note?” Alex asked as the women sat down.

  “Yes, here,” Kate said, handing Alex the typed note card, which she deposited into a zip lock bag.

  All five women sat down in the living room anxiously waiting for Alex’s report.

  “We spoke to the flower shop, no cameras. They said a woman paid cash, gave them the note to go with the flowers. Probably a hooker or tweaker, looking to make a buck. He didn’t do it himself. We’re pulling video around the area of the shop and around the apartment. He most likely got Kate’s name from a resident who knows or knows of Kate. Until we know for sure, I think it’s best that you both stay out of sight. This guy is definitely ballsy. I don’t want anyone, vendors or otherwise, up here. I don’t want to take any chances. Rosa said we can disable the freight elevator as long as I talk to the fire chief and explain. I want the only way in or out of here to be in full camera view. Can I get one of the flowers? They may be of significance.”

  “You can take them all, as far as I’m concerned,” Kate replied.

  Helen left to go and retrieve one of
the unwanted blooms from the trash can in her apartment. Alex opened another evidence baggie and Helen dropped it inside when she returned.

  “Lilac, I think. Any significance? Color or anything?” Alex asked, studying the flower inside the clear bag.

  “Not to me,” Riley shrugged. “Alex, let me wear the wire and go to the park. If he’s really watching the building for me, then we can get him if he’s really out there!”

  Riley didn’t miss the look Helen gave Joanna. Whatever they had been discussing in the penthouse across the hall, Riley was sure it was about her and as if on cue, Joanna addressed her.

  “Riley, did the flowers and the note not even faze you? I think I do need to whip some sense into you! I don’t want to hear any more talk of this, understand?”

  Alex’s cell phone rang, as Riley rolled her eyes again.

  “It’s Carl, he may have something. Yeah, Carl, what you got? Riley? What? Shit! Face, can you see his face? Keep looking, I want all the cameras checked. One of them must have his face!”

  “What is it, did they spot someone? Where was he?” Kate asked.

  “Oh, they spotted someone alright, and yes, it could well have been the killer. Only it wasn’t the only one they spotted, was it, Riley?” Alex said, narrowing her eyes at Riley.

  All of a sudden, Riley turned a deep shade of red and her hands became the most interesting thing in the room to her.

  “It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” Kate exclaimed, sitting back on the couch with her arms folded.

  Alex crossed her arms in front of her, as all eyes in the room went from her to Riley.

  “You went outside, it was you they saw on the camera, wasn’t it, Riley? What the hell were you thinking? We can’t protect you if run off on your own, dammit!”

  “Riley, what is Detective Denton talking about, were you outside? Just what the hell is going on here?” Joanna asked in confusion.