Lies Come True

by Emerald O'Brien

  “When was the last time you saw your mask? The one we believe looks similar to this one?”

  “I don’t know. I wore it one time at a Halloween party.”

  Mrs. Kent glared at Charla, but when her husband didn’t answer, she gave them her attention.

  “I think it was back in eighty-eight. Or maybe it was eighty-five?”

  Mr. Kent shook his head, but his wife stared back at Charla, who sat across from her dad at the table.

  “And you never saw it again?” Noah could tell by Ethan’s voice that he was exasperated by the Kent’s.

  “Charla seems to be the last one to have seen it.” Mrs. Kent poured coffee into a few mugs.

  “I told you mom, I’m pretty sure we just put it back in the garage.”

  “I don’t know,” Mr. Kent threw his hands in the air. “Maybe we sold it in a garage sale or something?”

  “Hmm,” Mrs. Kent tapped the spoon against the mug, “I think Maggie might have pictures of it. That’s my sister. We used to go over to her place for Halloween. She always had real fun parties, and we’d make it every year… before we had Charla.”

  Noah caught Charla rolling her eyes, and looked away when she noticed him watching her.

  “Are these photos on Facebook?” Noah asked.

  “No, Maggie’s not on that thing. I don’t think she is anyway.” Mrs. Kent pointed at Charla. “She’d know better than me.”

  “No, Aunt Maggie isn’t on Facebook.”

  “Could you call her and see about getting those photos?” Ethan asked.

  Mrs. Kent nodded, and went to the phone after she placed their mugs in front of them.

  Mr. Kent slurped his coffee, but no one else took a sip.

  “Maggie, you got a minute?” Mrs. Kent leaned against the wall.

  “Could the killer have taken the mask from us somehow? Gotten into our garage?” Charla asked Ethan.

  “I can’t say. It might not be the same one, but we haven’t found any masks resembling the one in the police sketch. If we can get…”

  Mrs. Kent raised her voice over Ethan’s. “The police are here Maggie. It most definitely cannot wait.”

  Ethan lowered his voice. “It’s important we find this mask.”

  “I’ll hold while you look.” She pushed the speaker of the cordless phone against her chest. “She’s not sure if she’s got them. She’s gotta look around.” She put the phone back to her ear.

  “Charla’s not in trouble is she?” Mr. Kent asked.

  “No.” Ethan barely turned away from Mrs. Kent.

  “You know how kids can be Officer Manicotti.” He smiled at Owen.

  “Fine. Hold on.” Mrs. Kent tipped the mouth of the phone away from her. “Should she call me or you if she finds the pictures?”

  “Please have her contact this number.” Ethan handed her his card. “We’re done for now. If you remember anything, or find anything, please call that number.”

  Mr. Kent stood, and led the men to the door. “Hope you catch that sicko.”

  When they got to their cars, Owen suggested getting some drinks, but Ethan declined.

  Noah followed him in his car to their usual watering hole, and they took a seat in their back booth.

  “Missy mad you’re staying out?” He asked, as the bartender set two pints in front of them. “Thanks Joe.”

  “I might not be on the clock, but this is still a business meeting, of sorts.” He took a long chug of his beer, “I gotta relax before I go home.”

  “She’s gunna know you’ve been drinking.”

  “I won’t lie if she asks.” Owen shrugged. “But she won’t.”

  “How’s Fiona doing?”

  “The docs wanted to keep her sedated, but she won’t take the pills. Ralph’s on duty at the house right now, but she still doesn’t feel safe. She hasn’t come right out and said it, but I can tell.”

  “When were you last over?”

  “With Ethan this morning.”

  “Can’t really blame her for being afraid. The killer shot her and chased her through the park. When did she go home?”

  “She was only in the hospital for a week. I’m sure you heard, but the bullet tore right through the side of her leg. Missed the major arteries. No infection either. She’s lucky.”

  “She using her crutches yet?”

  “Not while I was there. Ralph says she’s been in her room since she was told about the first murder— the girl before her— and now Wendy O’Connor.”

  “Listen, you don’t think Mr. Kent might…”

  Owen shook his head. “He’s not our guy. Mrs. Kent fits the profile better than him.”

  Noah coughed, and choked on his beer. “Tough as nails. You see the way she looked at her daughter?”

  Owen nodded. “It could have been that someone took the mask, a friend or family member, but I doubt it.”

  “So what do you think?” Noah sipped his beer.

  “I think Mrs. Kent’s sister better get us those pictures. It’s our only shot at some sort of a trail, unless…”

  “Unless he kills again.”

  Noah thought about Fiona, and how she barely got away. He was sure another victim wouldn’t be so lucky, and an uneasy feeling swept over him when he thought about Avery.

  They both sat, listening to the music for a while, before the bartender looked their way. They were the only patrons in the bar, and had been since they arrived.

  “She didn’t want to go in the program?”

  “Fiona? Nope. Stubborn girl.” He took another swig of beer, “Avery, she’s a pain in Ethan’s ass, but she’s pretty isn’t she?”

  Noah smiled, sipped his beer, and hoped he wouldn’t have to say anything.

  “Charla too.” Owen shrugged and laughed. “Girls like that are trouble. I know— I’ve got one of my own.”

  “I think Joseph’s waiting on us.” Noah looked toward the bar again.

  Owen swallowed the rest of his pint. “I better call Missy before I leave. She’ll probably be having cravings about now.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Olives.”

  “Huh.”

  “Of course it could be different. That’s why I’ve gotta call first.” Owen laughed. “The joys of being pregnant.”

  “Hey, she’s the pregnant one, not you. You’ll call me if Charla’s aunt finds the pictures?”

  “Sure buddy.” Owen took out his wallet.

  “Naw, this one’s on me.” Noah threw a few bills down on the table. “Say hi to Missy for me.”

  Owen smiled and clasped his hand on Noah’s shoulder.

  “Will do Noah.”

  Chapter 20

  Avery grabbed the phone from her nightstand and checked the time. She’d barely gotten any sleep, and was feeling guilty about kicking Josh and Sadie out. She knew she overreacted, but she didn’t think she was any more scared of the dark than the average person who lived alone.

  She got up from bed and shuffled down the hallway toward the kitchen.

  She couldn’t see more than a foot ahead, and her heavy steps were the only sound. She was thankful for the quiet nights without the neighbour’s baby crying, but as she got halfway down the hall, she heard a noise. It sounded like it came from her balcony, and she rushed into the bathroom.

  She shut the door behind her, her hand hovered over the lock, and turned on the light.

  When she looked in the mirror, her face was pale, and she stood still.

  She waited to hear the sound again, and when it didn’t come, she began to giggle.

  They were right. Sadie usually was. I’m a chicken.

  She made a mental note to try to remain calm when things made her nervous, turned off the light, and opened the door.

  There was nothing there.

  She started toward the kitchen, while mentally reprimanding herself for giving into fear, and promised to apologize to Sadie and Josh.

  When she got to the living room, she felt chilly, and her attention was im
mediately drawn to the breeze she felt.

  The sliding door curtains blew in the wind and cast shadows from the moon into her living room.

  Avery gasped, took a step back, and then she heard whistling.

  Was it coming from the hallway, she asked herself, as she began to back up to the door.

  Or the balcony?

  When she turned to look through the peephole, she realized it was coming from her bedroom.

  Her hands flew to the top lock, and she turned it to the left. Onto the third as the whistled tune continued.

  Six locks in total, only four actually locked. She learned the trick from a TV show, but now the locks slowed her down, and the whistling grew louder.

  She fumbled with the last lock as she looked down her hall and saw it.

  The man in the mask from her nightmares was back for her.

  He turned the corner and strode down the hallway toward her. The hair from his mask flew behind him, his face streaked with blood.

  Avery turned the door knob, and as she pulled to open it, the man slammed his hand across it.

  He pushed it shut, and as Avery struggled to hold the knob, he grabbed her before she could turn around. He covered her mouth, and pushed her to the ground.

  Her body collided with the tile, and she gasped for breath. The man mounted her, each leg on either side of her torso, and she tried to scream.

  No noise came out.

  She saw dark eyes through the holes in the mask, only visible as he lowered his face to hers, and she grunted as he covered her mouth once more.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a silver glint. The man pulled a knife out of his pocket, and when she saw the large blade, she bit his hand.

  He yanked it away and it came back just as fast to smack her across her face.

  Her cheek stung, and he wrapped his hand around her neck. Her eyes opened wide as he raised the knife and she scrambled beneath him.

  The choking sensation flooded her with fear, and for a moment, she was frozen in his grasp.

  She turned her head to the right to look for something. Anything to get her away. As she turned to look to her left, he eased his pressure on her neck, and she lost sight of the knife.

  He lifted her tank top, revealed her stomach, and she felt the side of the cold blade as it ran along her skin.

  She let out a muffled scream, and the dark eyes flickered to her face for a moment, as a deep chuckle escaped from behind the mask.

  She jabbed her knee up toward him, but it didn’t connect, and he brought the blade to her neck. He shook his head and tears rolled down her cheeks.

  He started to whistle again, just before the knife sliced into her stomach for the first time.

  She howled until he guided the blade out of her flesh and she tried to cover her stomach with her hands. He grabbed them both together, held them tight above her head, and focused on her stomach again.

  He pushed the knife into her stomach and sliced through the flesh again and again.

  The pain ripped through her, and the whistling pushed her over the edge, as she cried out into the dark.

  Her stomach muscles clenched, and warmth ran down her sides as the blade cut into her.

  Avery screamed and cried so hard; she wasn’t sure when the sirens had come. She felt him cut her so many times, she couldn’t take it anymore. When the sirens grew louder, he released her hands, and suddenly, she felt lighter as her eyes began to close and the pain faded away.

  Chapter 21

  Noah shot up from his pillow when his cell phone chirped. It was a text from Owen.

  Charla’s aunt, Maggie, found a picture.

  Noah rubbed his eyes, looked at the time, then texted back.

  Have you seen it?

  She’s bringing it in tomorrow at nine.

  I’ll be there.

  Noah slid his phone onto the side table and sat still. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to get back to sleep, and his mind raced, as he wondered if the mask was the same.

  He got out of bed, put on his slippers, and shuffled down the hall to his office. He sat in front of his laptop, and checked his email.

  His dad emailed, no doubt asking when Noah would be back home to visit. He began to read, when his cell phone rang.

  “Cotter.”

  “Listen Noah,” Ethan huffed, “There’s been an attack. I’m not positive yet, but I think it’s Avery Hart.”

  “What?” Noah sat up straight and a lump formed in his throat.

  The killer. It had to be.

  “EMS unit’s taking her to St. Andrews.”

  “Is she alive?”

  As the words left Noah’s mouth, he ached to be told she was going to be alright.

  “She was when they got there, but she’s lost a lot of blood. I don’t know anything else. I’m on my way.”

  Noah ran his hand over his face. “I’ll meet you there. Wait, Ethan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Is it him?”

  “I don’t know. Get down here.”

  Noah snapped his phone shut and bolted to his room. His mind raced with the possibilities of what happened, but he was sure he knew why.

  The killer attacked her because she involved herself in the investigation so publicly. Whether he knew about her before then was only a slim possibility, and although she didn’t understand at the time, she called him out from a place of fear.

  He had asked her why she went to the news, and her reason seemed valid enough to her. As Noah got dressed, he wished he could have saved her from that, and from the domino effect she had caused.

  When he left his apartment, he slowed down to check his phone for an update. When there was none, he sped to the hospital.

  Chapter 22

  “Avery?”

  She could hear a soft voice, and as she opened her eyes, a blurry figure came into focus.

  “It’s me.”

  Avery jumped, but when Sadie grabbed her hand, she relaxed.

  “I should go tell the nurse you’re awake again.”

  “Again?” Avery whispered, and her dry tongue brushed across her lips, which felt like sandpaper.

  She felt an itch on her stomach, and went to rub it, but Sadie pulled her hand away.

  “Don’t.”

  Avery cleared her throat and licked her lips again. “Did they get him?”

  “Who did this to you?” Sadie whispered, and squeezed Avery’s hand.

  Avery stared back at her, as the night came back to her in flashes, and a tear slid down her cheek.

  “The man in the mask. Did they… they didn’t catch him?”

  Sadie shook her head, and a nurse came into the room followed by Inspector Ascott and Noah.

  “It was him.” She croaked, as the nurse bustled around them, and checked the machine to her left.

  “The killer with the mask?“Ascott asked, and stood at the foot of her bed with Noah beside him.

  Noah looked over her body, and met her eyes with a look that made her heart flutter.

  “The man in the mask, only it wasn’t exactly the same. The blood. There was so much blood.” Avery looked down at the bandages around her stomach, and pressed her hands over it. “He cut me.”

  “You were in surgery dear,” the nurse smiled down at her.

  “Am I okay?”

  “Honey, you’re gunna be just fine. How are you feeling?”

  An image of the blade shining in the light came to her. “I feel sick.”

  “The medication might do that. You’ve had a lot of stitches. You’re a lucky girl. It’s mostly superficial. The doctor can tell you more when he comes. Miss,” She looked at Sadie. “You need to leave while the inspectors talk to Ms. Hart. Remember, only two people at a time.”

  Sadie looked from the nurse to Avery. “Do you want me to stay?”

  Avery saw the nurse put a hand on her hip, and she shook her head. “No, it’s okay. Wait outside for me?”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” Sadie smiled. “Your pa
rents should be here soon, alright?”

  Avery nodded, and watched Sadie follow the nurse out of the room.

  “What happened?” Ascott asked, as Noah came to her side and took Sadie’s seat.

  “I got up to get a drink, and I saw my curtains, they were open.” Tears flooded her eyes. “My sliding door was open. I knew someone was in my apartment, because I always lock it.”

  “What floor do you live on?”

  “The fifth.” Avery took a deep breath, and wiped at her eyes.“I tried to run, but I had trouble at my front door, and then I heard him. I heard him whistling. Next thing…he’s coming at me.” Her voice quivered, and the tears took over.

  “You’re doing good Avery.” Noah smiled at her, but she could tell somehow it was fake. She felt self-conscious, helpless, and struggled to get a breath. “Should we get the nurse?”

  Ethan shook his head. “Avery, just take your time.”

  “I…I…” Avery knew she was hyperventilating, and tried to catch her breath, but the deeper she breathed, the more her stomach ached.

  Noah touched her arm; his fingers cool against her skin. “Let’s call the nurse.”

  “No,” Avery choked. “I can do this.” She shook as she tried to take shallow breaths. “When he was on top of me, he smelled bad. I can’t describe it, but it was hard to breathe, and when I could, he smelt bad. He cut me. I kept screaming, and he just kept cutting me. Then I heard sirens.”

  As soon as she had it all out, she stopped shaking, and rested her head back on the pillow. She looked down to see Noah’s hand still on her arm, which continued to cool her skin and warm his fingers. He glanced down to the place where she watched him, and pulled his hand away.

  “Was it the same mask you saw when you were younger, that day in the woods?”

  “I think so, except…maybe that’s why he smelt bad?”

  “The blood.” Ethan finished for her, and she nodded.

  “Did he say anything to you?”

  “No. He was just whistling, and I think he was laughing…when he cut me.” She started to cry again at the realization that he took so much joy and amusement out of the torture he inflicted on her.

  “Okay, Avery. That’s all we need for now. I’ll be back to question you later. You work on getting better alright?”