by C. S. Won
“Of course. You love me, don’t you?”
“Why did you tell Jae that I slept with you? Why did you lie to him like that?”
Through the rearview mirror, she saw how confused he was by the question. “Lie? I didn’t lie to him.”
“Yes, you did. I’ve never slept with you.”
“You don’t remember the night we spent together?”
Anger rose in her chest. “What kind of fantasy world are you living in? I never spent the night with you, you disgusting creep.”
“You really don’t remember?”
“How can I remember something that never happened?”
He looked hurt by that, which she was glad about, and then he sighed. “I suppose that makes sense. You were pretty out of it that night, so I guess your memory would be a little foggy.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Two years ago, Gabe held a party as his house to celebrate his birthday. Everyone was invited so naturally you were there with Jae, as was I. I really wanted to make my feelings known to you that night, but since Jae was always close by, I had to content myself with just admiring you from afar, much to my disappointment. But as the night reached its conclusion, things took an interesting turn. Just as you were about to leave, the two of you got into a heated argument. I don’t remember what it was about, but I assume a lot of terrible things were said because once the fight ended, you were slumped on the ground, crying your eyes out. Jae had already departed, leaving you behind.”
He continued on. “With most of the guests already gone or in the midst of being too inebriated to be of any help, you turned to the bottle for comfort, and went searching for whatever alcohol was left in the house. Drowning your sorrows, I suppose. It was obvious you were distraught from your fight with Jae, so I took it upon myself to make sure you were okay. I had no other motive than to make sure you had a shoulder to cry on, and you took to me very quickly—the moment I came to you aid, in fact. There were no more tears in your eyes and no more anguish, only a smile. All your sadness disappeared once I stepped into the picture. You were very kind and very warm to me, receptive to my presence. You were not shy about being physical either, touching my knee, holding my hand, brushing against my shoulder whenever you laughed at one of my jokes.” A smile found its way onto his lips. “You could probably imagine how happy I was because it was like a dream come true. It was as if you were finally reciprocating my feelings for you.”
Madeline said nothing.
“I did not want to take advantage of you. I knew what kind of state you were in. I was tempted, trust me, but I held strong. My number one priority was just to make sure you made it home safe. So, when I offered to take you home, you said yes. Back then, you and Jae were still living in separate places. You were living in an apartment complex right off Cumberland Boulevard, correct?”
She gave him no answer.
“After I took you home, you asked me if I wanted to come inside for more drinks. I didn’t think it was a good idea, but I agreed nonetheless because I didn’t want you passing out on your living room floor. We never got as far as drinks. Before I could even get the front door closed and locked, you threw yourself onto me, kissing me and telling me how much you’d always wanted me. I gave in. We made love all night, forging memories I will never forget. I took you on your bed, on your couch, on your dining room table, against the wall—everywhere. We ran the gamut from slow and passionate to furious and hard.”
Madeline wanted to laugh but dared not to, not with this deranged maniac behind her, but she knew it was a lie the moment he began his story. The whole thing sounded like bad fiction. Did he really take her for a fool? She could recall everything that happened that night with acute precision, from everything prior to her supposed blackout to everything after. Nothing was a hazy, nondescript blur. Yes, she and Jae had a fight that night, and she did have someone drive her home, but it was a female friend, and her enmity with Jae did not last long. They made up a few days later. She remembered Adam being at the party, but he never approached her. No words were exchanged, let alone passionate sex.
“I left in the morning, before you woke,” he went on, continuing the farce. “In the days that followed, I waited for news of your break up with Jae. I was excited because it would mean we could finally begin our relationship in earnest. But the news never came. Surprisingly, I wasn’t angry. Disappointed? Yes, because I really wanted to spend more time with you, but angry? No, because there was some part of me that knew that you only slept with me as a way to get back at Jae. I was merely a tool for your revenge scheme, and you know what? I was fine with it because I benefitted greatly from it too. However, I won’t lie; I sat next to my phone and waited for that call. I really wanted it to come, even if I knew better.” He frowned at that but immediately brightened up. “But it doesn’t matter anymore, does it? Because here we finally are, fated to be together for the rest of our lives.”
He really did take her for a fool. But she saw opportunity here, and a plan quickly followed. She hoped she could goad him into doing something stupid.
“You . . . you raped me.” She said it with great strain, as if she had to force the words out. “You raped me.”
“Our night together could be our little secret, our one fleeting moment of passion. I like to think that you enjoyed the time we spent together, and that there was a part of you that truly loved me,” he said.
“You raped me!”
He pulled away from her, looking as though a ghost had sprung out to frighten him. “Raped you? I didn’t rape you. We made love.”
“I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing! How could you do that to me? I thought you loved me?”
“You were the one who invited me into your home. You were the one who initiated contact. You knew who I was and what we were doing. Don’t give me this rape nonsense.”
“No, I refuse to believe we made love. I refuse to. There’s no way, no possible way,” she said. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
“It’s the God honest truth. I’m sorry that it’s come as a shock to you, but I promise you enjoyed it as much as I did. It will get easier in the future. You’ll look back to that moment and be thankful that it happened.”
He was more pathetic than she realized. How could he believe his delusions so easily? Was he that desperate for her?
“You are still so stunning. Just as beautiful as the day I first laid my eyes upon you.” His hand went back to her shoulder, giving her gentle squeezes. She tensed up, holding her breath. He gave her a little rub and then slid his hand down her chest, grazing over her breasts. “We should have been together from the very beginning.” His nervous breath pushed against the back of her neck. Madeline clenched her steering wheel harder and did her best to move away, but his hand held a firm grip as it went farther down, over her hips and onto her thighs. “I love you, Madeline. I always have, and I always will. I hope our nights can continue to be full of passion, just as it was two years ago.” His fingers curled over and between her legs, slow and careful. Madeline pushed her legs together in an effort to seal him off, but his hand was strong and slipped through, rubbing the inside of her leg.
He jerked his hand away, gripping the back of her seat.
“Stop! Stop the car!” He shouted.
She slammed the brakes. The car jolted to a halt, tires nearly hydroplaning over the wet pavement. Adam slammed against the backseat. Two police cars were parked near the front of a small, compact house in the distance. Yellow tape circled the perimeter.
“Damn it, they’re still here?” Adam said.
She realized that they were posted to oversee Adam’s home, just in case he ever showed up. It appeared as though the police hadn’t noticed her or Adam, as no one exited their vehicle to investigate. She thought about leaping out of her car and making a run for it, but it seemed that the same thought had occurred to Adam. His glowing hand came into view, burning bright orange.
&n
bsp; “Turn around, slowly, and drive away. You do anything funny, and I will hurt you,” he said.
How could he threaten her like that if he loved her? What kind of love was that supposed to be? But she obeyed nonetheless, scared of the hand that hovered so close. She put the car into reverse and backed out into the street, watching the two police cars disappear behind a curtain of rain.
“Shit!” Adam slumped back into his seat, striking the upholstery with an open hand. “Shit!”
She huddled over the wheel. She had grown weary, beaten down by the heat in the car and by the shadow cast by Adam. His presence sapped her strength, and as he continued to curse his bad luck, thrashing about like an ill-mannered child, she continued to drive on in silence through the pouring rain to destinations unknown. She had to think of something, anything, to get out of this predicament. No one would be able to help, not even Jae. Or could he? She had her phone in her pocket. If she could somehow contact him and let him know what was happening and where she was, then he could come and save her. But Adam was watching like a hawk, with one eye settled on her and the other on the road. He would confiscate the phone as soon as he realized she had taken it out. The risk was too great, especially in such a small, enclosed space. And, she couldn’t afford to lose her phone, her lifeline to safety.
She had to rely on herself to plot her escape. But what could she do? Where could she even go? All that surrounded her was a thicket of trees and the occasional gated home, poor choices to seek help. Then what? She looked around, taking note of where she was—going east on Lullwater Road—and brought up the geography of Atlanta in her mind. If I went a mile down this road and took a left on Ponce De Leon Ave., then . . .
A police station was nearby, she realized. But did Adam know that? If she could get there without him realizing it, then she had a shot, long as it was. She took another look in the rearview mirror. He had his head down, brooding, no doubt formulating a new plan of action. She had to distract him and make him lose focus just long enough to make it to the station.
“This can’t continue, Adam,” she said. He looked up at her. “You’ll never get away. The police will hunt you down until they find you, and once they realize you’ve taken me as a hostage, the search will only intensify. Turn yourself in before things take a turn for the worse. End this before any more people get hurt.”
“I’m not turning myself in,” he said.
“Please, Adam, do it for me.” She softened her voice. She had to appeal to his emotions, use his lust for her and turn it against him. “You’re not a killer, Adam, I know you’re not. This is not the man I made love to two years ago.” It made her sick saying that, but she continued. “He was sweet and gentle, with a deep affection for those he cared about. When I had you in my arms I understood that; I see that now. But what you are now, that’s not you sweetheart. It’s not the man I fell for two years ago.”
He shifted in his seat. “So, you do love me?”
“Yes, with all my heart, and that’s why it pains me a great deal when I say that you have to turn yourself in. It has to be done. It’s the only way to stop this madness. As long as you are out here running free, the police will never stop looking for you, and the longer this goes on . . . I might even end up getting caught in the crossfire. Is that what you want, for me to get hurt?”
He folded his arm, looking conflicted. Was it working? She didn’t know for sure, but what was certain was that she was only about two miles away from the police station. As long as she kept this up, she had a chance.
“Adam—”
He pressed himself against the back of her seat, bringing his glowing hand close to her face.
“I have a better idea,” he said. “Instead of going to the police, how about we go to your place instead?”
Chapter 16
Jae saw the smoke rising up in the distance in a thin, ashen streak but thought nothing of it. His mind was elsewhere, occupied by his fight with Madeline, replaying the words that he’d spilled. Even hours after the fight had concluded, it still affected him, like an aftershock of sorts. Now he found himself twisting in the wind, unsure of what to do or how to proceed. He tried calling Madeline shortly before he left for work, but her phone was off. His call went straight to voicemail.
Then he saw the sirens flashing, a swirl of color in the rain, and all thoughts of Madeline faded away. As he pulled closer to the fire station he saw several police cars, ambulances, and news vehicles parked in the driveway and along the sidewalk. Men and women, dressed in long, black raincoats, streamed in and out of the garage doors in separate lines. Sitting on the pavement, with the rain pattering against their slumped heads, a few coworkers were huddled close together, faces sagging and grim.
What the hell is going on?
He parked his truck behind all the other vehicles, by the far edge of the sidewalk. Pulling the hood of his jacket over his head, he made his way toward the garage, rain drumming against his coat and shoes squishing against the softened, wet grass. He thought he caught the faint whiff of burnt meat somewhere but wasn’t sure if it was that or something else. A few of the police officers nodded and tipped their caps to him as they passed by, while others looked at him in an almost apologetic manner. A reporter jumped into his path, struggling to hold both umbrella and microphone, but a police officer swooped in and shooed her away before any questions could be asked.
Thunder growled somewhere behind Jae.
Two EMTs emerged from the garage, wheeling out a body bag. Jae’s heart sank. No, no, no, no, no. He ran over to them, feet splashing and making a mess of things, and held out a hand out for them to halt. They looked over at him and stopped.
“What’s going on here?” Jae asked, pointing at the bag.
The EMTs exchanged glances but did not say anything. Jae took one end of the bag and unzipped it, and immediately was hit by the foulest stench he had ever smelled. A ghastly face stared up at him, disfigured by the most terrible of wounds. So thorough were the burns that Jae had a difficult time identifying who this person was, all distinguishable features melted away. He unzipped the bag farther and saw the patched emblems on the victim’s uniform, marred but still intact, surprisingly. One of ours. His heart sank deeper. He bent over the corpse, squinting to read the shield on the chest.
Atlanta Fire Dept. Chief McAd—
Jae pulled away, slipping on the wet concrete. No, that’s impossible. He grabbed one of the EMTs, yanking him closer.
“What the hell is this?” He demanded. “What the hell happened here?”
But before the EMT even had an opportunity to speak, Jae already knew what the answer was. Adam. He released his grip on the EMT and pushed him away. The EMT fell back on his ass in the mud. His partner came to help and asked if he was okay, and he nodded stupidly, staring wide-eyed at Jae. They resumed the corpse handling, zipping the bag up in haste and carting it away to a waiting ambulance. Jae watched them insert the body of his chief into the vehicle and drive away into a sheet of rain.
He knelt down on the ground and struck the pavement with his fist, drilling a crater into the concrete. This was all on him. His failure to act was beginning to cost him dearly. He cursed himself for his weak resolve, at his inability to do what was necessary. He struck the pavement again, sending out a web of cracks streaking through the ground. I won’t let him get away with this. I’ll make him pay!
He stood and stepped into the garage, the cold rain dripping off his back. He looked around, eyes adjusting to the light, and froze. Two more EMTs were off to the side, heaving another body bag off the ground and placing it on a gurney. Gabe and several of the others surrounded them. Many of the firefighters had their faces buried in their hands. Others gazed at the ground, unable to look.
It took every ounce of Jae’s extraordinary strength to even move. He made his way over to the EMTs and let them know he wanted to see who was in the bag. They nodded without a word and stepped aside. Jae unzipped the bag. Some of his coworkers turned away
, grimacing.
Another immolated face stared back at him, with eyes that were no longer there. The stench that emanated from this one was also strong. It took a tight clenching of his guts to hold onto what was in them. He leaned in for a closer look, but just as it was with the chief, unique features were scrubbed away by the fire, making identification impossible. He unzipped the bag in its entirety and studied the name on the blackened shield pinned to the chest.
Atlanta Fire Dept. Diego.
Jack Diego, one of the rookies. Jae had only been back for about a month, but Jack had made an impression. He was a good man, hardworking and committed, possessing all the traits one needed to become one of the best. He had a bright future.
Jae stood up, choking back the tears that wanted to spill, anger and sadness mixing in his heart. “This was Adam, wasn’t it?” He asked of those who were gathered.
“Yeah,” Gabe answered, a sullen look on his face. “He showed up, demanding to know where you were. When we told him you weren’t here, he threatened us. The chief came out with a gun, ready to end things.”
The EMTs zipped the bag back up and rolled it out into the rain.
“Adam dared him to shoot but the chief couldn’t do it, or rather, wouldn’t do it.” Gabe wiped away a tear, growling as if he was angry at his show of hurt. “Then Adam killed him. Burned him to a crisp with that godforsaken hand of his.”
“Why did he kill Jack?” Jae asked.
“Adam was going to kill Stephanie, but Jack stopped him before he could. Gave him a good beating too, but ultimately Adam was able to . . .” Gabe trailed off.
“Christ.” Jae shook his head. “Stephanie—is she okay?”
“A bit shaken up but she’s fine. She’s in the back, in the break room.”
Jae nodded.
“I could have stopped him. I had the gun in my hand. All I had to do was pull the fucking trigger and he’d be dead. But I couldn’t fucking do it. And now he’s still out there, somewhere, doing God knows what.”
