The Iron Room

by Sarah Himebauch

  You’re a horrible friend.

  No, I was just trying to keep her safe. At least that was what I kept telling myself.

  “So, I know I owe you an explanation…” Katie started, and gave me a small smile.

  “Yesterday, I visit my dad at the station and made a fax of all the papers he kept in the file on both girls.”

  “What? Katie you can’t do that!”

  “Well, I did,” Katie said ignoring my outburst, and continued.

  “So, I was looking through the files. Most of what was in there, we knew about. But there was something that my dad never told the public about- there was a witness.”

  A witness?

  How could there be a witness? And more importantly, why would Sheriff Johnson lie? He was always proud of the fact that he was very transparent with the townspeople, and they prided him on that. If the fact that he was withholding a chunk of evidence from the public got out, they would begin to lose trust in him- not that they hadn’t already.

  This could never get out.

  “Who’s the witness?” I questioned, genuinely curious.

  “Andrea Towner.”

  “The lady who likes to booze it up 24/7? I doubt she is a reliable source.”

  “It doesn’t hurt to ask, does it?” Katie said, and climbed out of the car.

  I scrambled out after her and tried to keep up with her fast pace. I knew she was dead set on cracking this case, but why? Obviously, it was a horrible situation, but I was wondering what made her feel she was the one that needed to do so.

  “Wait up, Katie!” I tried to yell, but she kept walking. Then, she turned around.

  “Wait out here, I will only be ten minutes, if that.”

  I stood frozen in my tracks. She wanted me to wait outside. I wanted to help her, well help her away from the case, but both of those proved nearly impossible especially with Katie being stubborn about my help.

  I sat down on the curb and waited for her to finish up her conversation with Alcoholic Annie.

  5

  Katie

  I felt slightly bad about leaving Amy behind. In fact, I had full intent to bring her along with me this morning, but the way she reacted in the car didn’t sit right with me. I knew full well that Andrea Towner liked to drink, but I wanted to be able to get her statement and talk to her without a cloud of doubt and judgement surrounding us. Even if Amy thought she was helping, she wasn’t. She was making this whole situation harder for me.

  I struggled over what I would say to my dad. Surely, he had some excuse lined up already. Knowing him, I knew that it would more than likely be a good one. I didn’t care about what he had to say, he had a job to do and he failed at doing so. I thought he was a great Sheriff, but you simply cannot withhold evidence and witness statements regardless of how baseless you feel they might me.

  You really jumped on the “I hate Sheriff Johnson” bandwagon, huh?

  No, that was not what I was doing. I loved my dad. I just wanted to see for myself what Miss. Towner had to say, and there was only one way to do so.

  I knocked and waited. Silence. I knocked a few more times, and once again was met with silence. I would have thought she was out, but I saw her old beater car parked in the driveway. I decided to ring the doorbell, and this time I heard banging and stomping coming from behind the door. I went to turn and leave, but the door swung open.

  There standing was a very disheveled, obviously intoxicated, and smelly Andrea Towner. Maybe she didn’t just like her wine, but all alcohol.

  She smells like something died in her clothing.

  “Now why the hell are you banging on my door?

  “I’m sorry to bug you, Miss. Towner. I had a few questions,” I stammered an apology.

  “Questions about what? I don’t know anything about anything.”

  “Uh… it’s about the night that Tara was taken.”

  Please know what I’m talking about.

  “She was not taken. I told the Sheriff. She got into the car with that Puntzer boy- by herself.”

  Puntzer? Mark?

  “I’m sure you’re mistaken. It was dark…”

  “And I know what you’re going to say. Yes, I was probably drunk, but I know what I saw. Especially with Mr. Carlton’s big ass security light across the street. I saw that boy’s face clear as day. I also saw Tara get into the car willingly. Now if you will excuse me…”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but had the door slammed in my face. I turned to walk away, and just stared at Amy. Why would Mark pick Tara up that night? I didn’t even know they were friends. Well, Mark was friends with everyone, but Tara? She was so closed off to everyone…including boys, because she was so focused on studies. Why would she go somewhere with him that late? And why did she never return home?

  Was Mark the last person to see her alive?

  My head was filled with questions, and I knew I couldn’t turn to Amy- or Mark for answers. I also couldn’t lie to my best friend, so I would just bend the truth a little. I would make Amy feel like I thought Miss. Towner was ridiculous. I had to. If I ever put any suspicion on her brother that would sever our relationship- I just knew it.

  If it was Mark, then what is his connection to Anna? I knew Mark was friendly with everyone, but Mark certainly wasn’t a party guy, and that is where Anna spent most of her free time.

  So, what was the connection? How did this all fit into place? Maybe Mark wasn’t the last person to see Tara that night.

  Maybe he dropped Tara off somewhere as favor, and whoever she was really with took her.

  Did the same person that took Tara take Anna too? Get real.

  I needed to find a connection between Anna and Mark, before I pointed any fingers. My thoughts were interrupted.

  “Did she say anything?” Amy wondered, seemingly nervous.

  “Yeah actually. She said she saw Tara get into Mark’s car,” I said half-laughing.

  Real convincing, Katie.

  “Mark’s car? Is that a joke? That lady is so hopped up on alcohol, and God knows what else. She is accusing my brother now?” Amy was pissed off.

  “I don’t think she’s accusing him, but I do think she was far too drunk to recall anything she saw. Mark? She’s crazy, Amy. This is obviously a dead end.”

  My words seemed to calm Amy down enough, to change her mind about marching up there and yelling at poor Andrea Towner. I know Andrea was heavy on the drink, but she recalled those details very easily, and wasn’t slurring her words. Still, it isn’t enough to go on.

  Did Miss. Towner tell my dad the same thing? Did he investigate only to deduce that she wasn’t reliable? Did he talk to Mark? Were Miss. Towner’s claims baseless?

  There was only one way to find out.

  Amy and I got into my car, and she invited me to come inside when we arrived at her house. I passed and made up an excuse about needing to catch up on all the first day homework. Thankfully, she had received a lot too, so it didn’t seem like a lie. I hope.

  She ran inside, and I took a glance at their driveway. Mark’s car was parked there, and I wondered if he really did have something to do with the disappearance of the girls. He always seemed like such a nice guy, but ever since I talked to Miss. Towner, I have had a horrible knot in my stomach. Something definitely wasn’t right.

  As I drive home, I mulled over whether or not to bring it up to my dad. I concocted a plan of how to bring it up, without implicating my indiscretions in the process. I got home, parked in the driveway, and was pleased to see that my dad was home.

  “Hey Dad! How was work?” I said walking through the door.

  “It was good, come in here and tell me about your day,” he yelled from his study.

  I walked into his office, and he had paperwork scattered all around. He must be deep in a case. Maybe the case about the two girls?

  “It was a little weird. I was at the grocery store, and I ran into Andrea Towner. Do you know who that is?”

  “I might. Isn’t she
the town drunk?”

  “I guess you can say so. She talked to me about something.”

  “What was that?” my dad asked suspiciously.

  “Well, she was wondering if there had been any progress after she gave you her eyewitness statement, on the night of Tara’s disappearance.”

  He took a deep sigh and put his head in his hands.

  “Look, I know we said we don’t lie to each other, and I’m sorry. I took her statement, and yes, the alcohol plays a huge role in how reliable she is. She made some strong claims against someone in this town, and I don’t want to pursue it if it’s untrue.”

  “Mark Puntzer?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry, I think she plucked a name out of a hat.”

  I didn’t want my dad to think that I was looking into Mark. Well technically, I wasn’t looking into anybody- yet. I was just collecting facts. But he didn’t need to know that.

  “Look Katie, I am so sorry I lied to you. I don’t know why I did. I promise, from here on out- no lies between us.”

  Okay, well now I feel bad.

  We hugged, and I retreated into the kitchen to fix something to eat. I mindlessly flipped through the fridge until I settled on a classic- peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I grabbed the peanut butter from the pantry and started on my sandwich. When it was done, I loaded everything back into its place, took a seat in front of the television, and took a big bite.

  I always forgot how good these were. Mmm.

  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are incredibly underrated. I sat there for a minute, devouring my sandwich, and felt my mind shift to Mark. I had no clue what I would do. Did I think Mark was capable of orchestrating two kidnappings? Absolutely not. Did I think something weird was going on? Without a doubt.

  What to do… what to do.

  Where the hell would I start to look? In the file, there was no witnesses about the kidnapping of Anna. There were a few people who said they saw her leave around 12 in the morning. No one decided to walk with her or give her a ride home. Although, most of the people at that party were completely drunk so maybe that is a good idea.

  I knew that Mia Anders said that she saw her stumble out. Maybe, Mia remembered more than she thought- or more than she said. I needed to talk to her.

  Surprisingly, I had her number back from middle school. Let’s hope it’s still the same one. I took a chance.

  Katie: Hi Mia, it’s Katie. I wanted to talk to you about something. Are you free tomorrow?

  Mia: Omg, Katie Johnson! It has been forever. Of course, what time?

  Katie: 10 a.m.?

  Mia: That is so early, girl. Okay coffee is on you!

  Whew. I hoped Mia would be forthcoming, but I wished more that she would remember something. I needed to know what she saw or didn’t see the night that Anna went missing.

  I sat in front of the television for the rest of the night, finding Desperate Housewives reruns a welcome distraction for my restless night.

  I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten until my dad popped his head in the living room to let me know he was turning in for the night.

  I opted to go to bed as well, even though I truly did have lots of homework. Another problem for another day, I guess. Plus, I had to meet Mia at 10. I was out within the minute.

  6

  Amy

  I had no idea what was going on with Katie these days. It was nice to see her finally start to come out of the shell and break down the walls she had built all summer. I would call her endlessly, always met with voicemails. Her dad reached out to let me know that she was going through a rough time, and to not take it personally.

  That I could understand. But this, this endless pursuit to find Anna and Tara- I didn’t understand it.

  Sure, they were nice girls. Well, Tara was. Anna was always kind of a bitch. Needless to say, she was still pretty popular and very well liked.

  When Anna went missing, and Tara followed soon after, it sent the town into a frenzy… that was still going on. Fingers have been pointed in so many different directions. One that didn’t even make sense. For a while, the townspeople were convinced that my dad was in on it. My dad, the kindest man in this town who was always helping everyone out- sure. It was so fruitless and baseless, and so it made sense that accusation blew over in no time.

  Still, in a small town like Prairie, things like this didn’t happen.

  Until now.

  Katie has an investigative streak in her, she gets it from her dad. Any type of curious bone she inherited from her father is only further enhanced when he comes home and babbles on and on about cases. It’s not good for a young girl to have to hear stories like that, stories like this. I have no clue where those girls are. I would like to believe that they made it out of here. That they left this god forsaken town on their own accord.

  I don’t want to believe they’ve been taken… I can’t.

  Ever since this afternoon, Katie has been really cold towards me. She doesn’t seem willing or wanting to share any information with me, and her interaction with the drunk only seemed to further that. That woman accused my brother of being the last to see Tara. I knew that Tara and Mark were friends, and she had helped him study a few times here and there.

  But they were only friends. Tara didn’t have boyfriends, and Mark was always slightly awkward around pretty girls- especially Katie. He’s had a crush on her for as long as I can remember.

  I know for sure Mark didn’t even know Anna- well personally that is. Truth is, everyone knew Anna- they knew of her bubbly laugh, charismatic personality, and iron first she used to rule the social hierarchy at our school. Other than that, she wasn’t too bad.

  Ever since Katie dropped me off yesterday, I had felt like my head was spinning. Not only did I question my friendship with her as of late, but I was worried about her. I mulled over all the possibilities and the consequences if I were to go to her dad about what she was doing.

  Sheriff Johnson wouldn’t like it. I knew he was all for discussing cases with her, but I knew he would never want her to actually throw herself into the investigation. Especially with his wife’s death, he had been extra protective of Katie recently.

  She was so hard-headed, and strong willed. Usually, she would listen to reason when it came to me. However, after the past few days I had no clue if she would listen to anything I had to say. She was elbow deep in all of this detective work.

  There was only one person she would listen to usually- Mark. I only hoped that he could get through to her, and that she wasn’t suspicious after those stupid claims Miss. Towner made yesterday.

  Fingers crossed.

  I decided to talk to Mark first and see if he thought it would be a good idea. Mark was always really good at being able to bring me clarity, especially when it comes to Katie. I pulled myself out of my warm bed and walked across the hall to his huge bedroom.

  I knocked and waited for him to answer. Mark was always someone who enjoyed sleeping in late but was also a very light sleeper. I knocked louder, and the door swung open.

  “Amy, do you know what time it is?” Mark looked disheveled like he just woke up.

  “I do, Mark. Most people wake up before noon. We need to talk.”

  He moved aside and motioned with his arm for me to come in. Mark’s room was huge. He made mom and dad get him the California king sized bed, and seventy-five-inch flat screen tv. The room was complete with a royal blue paint on the walls, and a small white couch accented with a mini fridge by the bed. Jesus.

  I made my way over to the sofa and laid down. My head was hurting with all this passive aggressive drama from Katie. Mark closed the door and took a seat on the bed across from me.

  “What’s up baby sis? You seem upset.” Mark asked, face looking both concerned and nervous.

  “Katie picked me up yesterday, and she went to talk to Andrea Towner,” I explained.

  “Miss. Towner? The drunk? Why would she go and see that alcoholic?”

  “Okay, you have
to swear to keep this a secret. I don’t want it to come back and hurt Sheriff Johnson.” I looked at Mark, waiting for his confirmation to keep quiet.

  “I swear. What is it?”

  I continued, “So I guess Sheriff Johnson kept a secret eyewitness account private. The night that Tara went missing, Andrea had told him that she saw Tara getting into a man’s car… your car.”

  I expected my brother to be outraged and irritated with these false claims. Instead, he was silent.

  “Mark… what’s going on?”

  “It was me.” Mark said and looked at me somberly.

  “What do you mean?” I could feel my heart beating out of my chest.

  Was my brother admitting to kidnapping?

  “I saw Tara that night. But I didn’t hurt her, and I definitely didn’t kidnap her.”

  “Tell me everything, Mark.”

  “Tara was smart, we all knew that. She studied all the time, but it wasn’t enough. Her mom had her in so many extracurricular activities, that she was starting to crack under all the pressure. Even though it was summer, she knew that senior year was a big year. She wanted me to go in the school system and change her grade in math before the grades got sent out.”

  What the hell?

  “Wait, what? Grades got sent out in June.”

  “They did, but she hid hers. She was waiting until the teachers had turned in for the summer and figured that would be the safest bet. She needed a perfect score for college. Once this year started, the teachers would never notice. They would have new classes, new students.”

  “Why would you agree to something like that? You could be expelled. You don’t need the money.”

  “I don’t, but I always thought Tara was cute. I thought that maybe… but she wouldn’t go for it. It doesn’t mean I kidnapped her! Please tell me Katie doesn’t think I did.”

  I don’t know Mark. She played it off really well yesterday. I can see right through her after all these years. That means she probably believes it at least partially and is still investigating.”

  “Well, we can’t have that. She will get hurt. You need to stop her. And please get the idea of me being a kidnapper out of her head, please. I would hate for Katie to think of me like that.”