The Enemy Outside

by Devine, Dorothy

  “Okay, you two. I summoned you both here about that shameful incident out there.”

  “He was humiliating Davis with his racist remarks.” I said.

  “I can say whatever the hell I want to say in a town meeting, Dawson! If you think that I'm intimidated by your being a big shot detective in the city you're so damn wrong! I ain't afraid of you, and I'm pressing charges of assault and battery for this.” he said.

  He was still covering his nose with his bloodied handkerchief, and he couldn't speak right. I didn't feel sorry for him, the least bit.

  “Bring it on, then.” I said.

  “Now, listen here. You both don't need to do this..”

  “There's nothing to talk about Mayor. He can press his charges anytime.” I said.

  I meant what I said. I had more than enough connections in the force to run rings around the guy if he was serious. His charges were the least of my worries.

  “Now you listen here, Denton! You're supposed to investigate this case, not get into fights with people. I know old Silas here, is a bit rough on the edges and I don't condone his actions or comments. But you can't just let your temper get the better of you, especially in a public venue like that. The people are counting on you.”

  I was silent for a long time. I hated to admit it, but Mayor Toppleston was right. I should have acted a lot more professionally. But I couldn't help it. His remarks were just too much and I couldn't let him just get away with them.

  “Fine. It won't happen again, Mayor Toppleston. You can count on me to continue my investigation into the murders. But I don't want to see this man ever again.” I said, as I stood up.

  To me, the little discussion was over.

  “The feeling's mutual, Denton!” he said.

  I left the mayor's office and Carla and Davis were waiting for me outside.

  “How did the meeting inside go? What did the Mayor tell you?” Carla asked.

  “It went as well, as could be expected. And he really didn't tell me anything of real significance.” I said.

  Davis shook his head, as Carla held my arm.

  “I appreciate you standing up for me like that, Dick. Silas was always an idiot with outdated and very offensive beliefs. However, you really didn't need to go to all the trouble. I could have defended myself.” Davis said.

  “I couldn't help myself, buddy. I don't like people who talk trash about my friends.” I said.

  “Yes, but you caused a major commotion. The whole town's already agitated by these murders. Now, they're almost irrational.” Davis said.

  “Don't worry about it. That's just the way people act in a major crisis like this. I'll get to the bottom of this, somehow.” I said.

  “Good luck. But I can't wait for the results.” Davis said.

  His answer sounded rather cryptic and awkward. It caught me off-guard.

  “What do you mean, you can't wait for the results?” I asked.

  “I can't take this anymore. I'm leaving town.” Davis said.

  Chapter 3

  A Chase Through Town.

  I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Davis leaving definitely affected me, even if I was just taking a vacation in town. He had lived in Tiny Town all his life. Now, after all this tension, he was leaving.

  “Whoa, man. Are you serious?” I said.

  “I'm more than serious. I have to go. The tension's gettng to me.”

  “Davis, you've lived your entire life here. If it's about what happened at the town meeting, it'll die down in time.” I said.

  “It can't just die down, Dick. You said it yourself. Old Silas was a racist. But he's a sign of the times.”

  Davis looked away towards the sky. His mind was thinking about the past, about everything that happened to him in the town.

  “It just got worse because of the murders, but I should have left a long time ago. I never really belonged here, and no one really respected me.”

  “That's not true, Davis. I respect you.” I said.

  “And you left town. Which I can't blame you for. You had to go carve out your own destiny out there. And you did. It's been a long time coming, and I have to carve my own destiny as well.”

  I was silent. Davis had a valid argument. Ever since he grew up, he was bullied by Jason Norris' gang. When he grew up, he became a reclusive scientist who shunned everyone in the town. That didn't do him any favors with the people in Tiny Town and now that the murders were occuring, all their pent up biases and predjudices towards him were coming out. Surely, it wasn't a pleasant position for Davis and couldn't blame him one bit for wanting to get out.

  “All right, man. If you want to go, it's your call. I can't stop you. No one can. Take care of yourself out there. I know you'll succeed. You're smarter than most of the population.” I said.

  Davis smiled and shook my hand.

  “Thanks man.” he said, as he walked away.

  “Do you think that was a good idea?” Carla said.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Just letting him go like that. He is a suspect.” Carla said.

  “Yeah, he is but there's not enough evidence to really keep him here. Besides, I don't have a warrant

  for his arrest and only a court can issue that. I'll just have to continue the investigation and if he's guilty, I'll follow him and track him down. But I don't think he's the killer.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Carla asked.

  “He can't be the one. He just can't.” I said.

  That was when Davis suddenly started shaking. His legs started getting wobbly and he tried to pick up the pace as he walked. He seemed to be unstable yet still clearly in a hurry to get out of where we were.

  “Davis? Davis, are you all right?” I called.

  Davis did not answer but kept walking faster. His legs were still shaking as he walked.

  “What's wrong with Davis?” Carla asked.

  “I'm not sure. But I have to find out.” I said.

  I ran towards Davis, hoping that this was not what I thought it was. Unfortunately, I would be sorely disappointed. As I approached Davis, I noticed that he shivering and shaking like a leaf.

  “Davis, what's wrong?” I asked.

  I reached for his shoulder, and he brushed my arm away.

  “Get away from me!” he said.

  He started running really fast. Davis had th behavior of someone who was terrified out of his mind.

  “Jesus Christ, it's happening again! I won't let this happen! I won't!”

  “Got to get away! Get out of town! You're all out to get me!” he said.

  Davis darted forward, heading for the town outskirts. I followed close behind.

  “Davis, stop! Please, I'm trying to help you!” I begged as I tried to follow him.

  It was insanely difficult to keep up with him. Davis ran like a man who was truly terrified of his own shadow. He thought that everyone and everything was out to get him and he would stop for nothing. My legs were beginning to ache just keeping up, and he was already getting ahead of me.

  “Can't stop! I can't stop running! You're all out to get me!” Davis said.

  He ran past other townspeople who looked on in shock. He almost tripped himself and knocked over several items and almost slipped all over himself but he kept on going. I could barely keep up with him. It was clear that fear was a powerful motivator.

  “Won't stop! I can't stop!”

  “Davis, please! You're not well!” I pleaded.

  It was no use. His fear goaded him to keep running. He ran and crossed the middle of the town's small road. A car came directly at him. The car almost ran him over, but somehow, Davis managed to roll with the impact. He still kept going, leaving the car behind him, honking like crazy.

  “This is crazy! He's bound to kill himself sooner, or later. I have to stop him!” I said.

  Unfortunately, I wouldn't stop him. Something else would. As he ran, he did not notice a slippery patch on the pavement. The whole sidewalk was douse
d with water from a leaky fire hydrant. Davis kept running through the patch of water and his shoes did not have enough traction to keep going. The inevitable happened, and he slipped. I heard a sickening thud on the pavement as I heard his skull crack on impact.

  “Davis!”

  I ran towards him but the blood coming from his forehead told me to expect the worst. Davis was not moving.

  “Davis! Davis, please, say something!”

  I crouched in front of Davis and felt for a pulse. There was none, and he was still not moving.

  “Davis! Davis! Somebody call a doctor! We need some help!” I cried.

  This was Tiny Town, where everyone knew everyone else. The bystanders were more than willing to call Dr. Rosenburg, the closest doctor in the area. But it was too late. Davis was gone. I had lost my best friend to this sick plague of murders that had befallen the town. And in my grief, I still did not have a clue, as to who the killer was.

  Chapter 4

  The Face of the Killer

  “Ashes to ashes.. Dust to dust..”

  The priest's words sounded like a distant machine grinding out its tasks in some foreign land. My ears heard them but they were nothing but hollow echoes to me now. My best friend was dead, a victim of

  some crazy killer terrorizing our town.

  I was silent throughout the whole wake for Davis. I was in total shock. His mother was inconsolable. Mrs. Tomlinson cried bittterly and even gave a scathing eugology against the townspeople. She said that the town had driven Davis to his death. I guess it was hard to argue her point. Carla was with me the whole time. She was silent as well, and merely held my hand. That was all she could do, and all I

  really needed.

  “This is all your fault! All of you! Davis was an intelligent and decent young boy, who grew into a good man. And your fears and suspicions drove him to his death! None of you could ever truly respect him! I hate you all! I hate this town!” Mrs. Tomlinson said.

  Some men escorted her down from the podium. There was minimal protest, but she still kept crying. I really could not blame her. Her son was now dead, and the killer still at large. Silently, I swore to myself, that I would find Davis' killer.

  After Mrs. Tomlinson's outburst, the priest gave a sermon and continued the service. He tried to continue the solemnity of the event, but I just could not focus. I was distant and lost in my own thoughts. I couldn't help myself. Perhaps the stress of all the murders had gotten to me, as well. Everything seemed like some sad movie that I watched from a comfortable distance. The priest droned on about Heaven and the afterlife, but I didn't listen. My mind was somewhere else, trying to make sense of all of this tragedy. I fought through the pain and tried to still be logical. I tried to sift through my grief and get to the clues of the case. It was difficult, considering my frame of mind, but I had to try. I had to solve this case now. I would not let this killer get away with this. I needed to give justice to Davis.

  I tried to gather what little clues and facts I had about this case. Like a jigsaw puzzle, there were pieces to put together, but they were all few and far between. The connection with being bullies was now an afterthought with Davis' death. He never bullied anyone, so that angle was out. They all still did go to the same school together in high school. That connection was still present. And all had been killed by a dose of fear-inducing chemicals in their body. I still had all that to work on.

  I thought about it closely. Investigations of the bodies revealed that the norepinephrine had been ingested by the victims, meaning they took it into their bodies. It was not inhaled or injected into their systems. This meant that someone had to get close to them and administer the drug to them. Someone close to all of them must have mixed the norepinephrine into their food or drink, and poisoned them.

  As the priest droned on, and the service wound to its close, the clues about the case were slowly revealing the truth to me. The case was getting clearer and clearer now. I realized that whoever did this had to be close to all the victims. This was the only way the killer could administer the drug without giving himself away.

  This seemed to give me a little more direction. I looked through the crowd of mourners. Steve Kiefer and Jason Norris were both still alive. Both of them went to the same school as the victims, and both were known associates of all the victims. Both could have poisoned them. But why? Both Kiefer and Norris, seemed to have reformed from their past lives as schoolyard bullies. Both seemed commited to their present lives and did not seem inclined to cause any trouble. What would be their motive for poisoning the victims? Something just didn't add up. Whatever the case, I decided I needed to probe deeper into Kiefer and Norris.

  “What's wrong, handsome? You seem lost in thought.”

  It was Carla. She whispered sweet words to try to console me through the grief. But the grief was giving me motivation to solve all this. The grief was becoming a genuine catalyst to solve this case once and for all. I sensed the answers were there. I was almost almost there and this case could be solved. But I had to dig a little deeper to get to the bottom of it.

  “Nothing. It's the case. I was just thinking about it. Who could have done these terrible murders?” I said.

  Carla held my shoulder and embraced me.

  “Don't pressure yourself. You can't do everything all at once by yourself. You're just one man.” she said.

  “I know, but that killer's here somewhere. And he's killing people. Some eve close to me. I can't allow this to go on.”

  “You can only do so much. You should relax. Maybe you've forgotten about the get-together at Jason's place?”

  I looked at Carla with surprise.

  “Is that still on for tomorrow? I can't believe that we could still have drinks after this.”

  I still remembered the get-together that Jason Norris had arranged for all of us. It was supposed to be a kind of reunion of old high school classmates. Even Davis was invited, but like the other guests, now he couldn't make it. Permanently. After everything that had happened, I couldn't believe that Jason was still going to hold it. We were now down to just four people going. Me, Carla, Jason and Steve.

  “If anything, I think that it's even more important now that it push through. You need to relax, to unwind. And they all need to see that life still goes on, despite these horrible tragedies.”

  Then it finally hit me. The realization came all at once. It was so sudden and just came so quickly, that even I wondered if it was really true. I could not be certain, but it was a possibility. It was there. And like all possibilities, I had to see this through. I realized that I had a real chance of nailing the killer now. I had to verify my theory, but I thought I finally knew who the killer was. I suppressed all the emotion that came with the realization. After all, it still wasn't verified. I still had to know for sure.

  “I guess you're right. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe I'll even have a good time. God knows, I need it after everything that's happened. I'll be there tomorrow.” I said.

  Chapter 5

  Caught in the Act

  It was just like Jason to organize something like this even with so much death all around. I sat uncomfortably with Carla and Steve beside me. Jason was seated beside us.

  “I'm glad you guys could make it.” Jason said.

  “I still think this is a rather, well, inappropriate get-together.” Steve said.

  “I've got to agree.” I said.

  “Our friends are dead. Kenneth, Chet, David, and now Davis. Someone's out to get us.” he said.

  “I know. We should be trying to catch the killer. I should be doing more.” I thought.

  “Nonsense! It's not everyday that we all get together. And I'm sure that they wouldn't want us to mope about such morbid stuff. I say, it's a great idea to drink to their honor. It's what they would have wanted.” Jason said.

  “That's a rather creatve excuse even for you to get a drink.” Steve said.

  “Nonsense! Come on, let's drink! I'll get the drinks!”
<
br />   Jason was about to stand up and get the drinks when Carla stood up.

  “I'll get them. Your kitchen's close to the bathroom. I need to take a leak anyway.” she said.

  “All right. But don't take too long. I want to drink!” Jason said.

  Carla disappeared into the other room. I stood up from the couch.

  “Excuse me, guys.” I said.

  “Gonna hit the washroom too?” Jason asked.

  “Yeah. Wait a second.”

  I moved silently to the kitchen. I made sure my footsteps weren't noisy but I also tried to move fast. I reached the front of the kitchen. The door was slightly open and I took my camera out and used the video recorder. I quietly recorded everything I needed. When it was all over, I silently placed my phone into my pocket and stood in front of the door.

  Carla walked right in front of me with a tray of beer glasses. She was surprised to see me standing in front of the door.

  Jesus! Dick, what are you doing standing in front of the doorway?” she asked.

  She was so startled, she almost dropped the tray and the beer glasses. But it didn't really matter now. It was really all over now.

  “Why Carla? Why did you do it?” I asked.

  “Jason? What are you talking about? I don't understand.” she said.

  “Don't play coy with me! I know what you've done! I've figured it all out now!”

  I raised my voice. There was a mix of anger, frustration, but worst of all, there was so much hurt.

  “Why did you kill them, Carla?” I asked.

  My voice was almost cracking now.

  “Dick, I don't know what you're..”

  “I recorded it all on my phone!” I said.

  I took out my phone and played the video.