The Dark Places

by R. S. Whitfield

  “Madison,” he started, “I need to hear this and concentrate on what you’re telling me, not on the road.” She nodded. “Please go on.”

  “My source was somehow able to use the dark web and hack in and out of places using the search parameters I gave him in relation to the necklace and pendant.”

  Parker pulled out his notebook and waited.

  “This is the good part,” she said with a sexy grin. “I’m glad you’re going to write it down.”

  Parker shook his head.

  “He pulled out three places where someone had ordered more than one but less than fifty pendants matching our description and only one of those started ringing my bells.”

  Parker looked up. “North East,” he said.

  Madison smiled, looking a bit puzzled. “I really thought you would be happier, you kind of look freaked out.” She paused to brush invisible lint off her skirt. “I mean, talk about connecting the dots and this being Surin’s hometown and all, she must be chomping at the bit!”

  Parker turned his face away and stared at the neon lights flickering through the car window, then turned to face her once again.

  “I can’t take you with me,” he sighed.

  “Like fuck you can’t,” she replied, feeling her voice rise. “I brought you this, I mean this lead is mine!”

  Parker nodded in agreement. “Madison, this isn’t a front-page story. This is someone’s life.”

  Madison stared at him, dumbfounded. “I will be nothing but respectful to those girls. I’m not sure I’m understanding you. We had a bloody deal!”

  Just as he was about to reply, a cell phone started ringing. Parker grabbed it out of his jacket pocket swiftly and answered.

  “Erin?” he asked cautiously.

  “Parker, she’s not home!” He heard sobbing erupt from the other end of the line. “She would never do this!” she continued.

  “Erin, I agree, but please calm down.” He waited until he heard her blow her nose and take a few breaths. Glancing at Madison, he continued cautiously. “Where is Michael?” he asked.

  “Oh Jesus, he is doing exactly what you think he is doing!” she said. “He’s walking the streets like an idiot, trying to find her.”

  Parker swapped the phone to the other ear and leaned away from Madison. “I’m almost there, OK. Now stay put, get Michael home and wait for me.” He paused. “Erin?”

  A loud sniffle crackled down the line. “OK, yes, you’re right, we’ll see you soon then.”

  He said goodbye and hung up. They sat in silence for a few moments until Parker let out a deep sigh and ran his hands through his hair. “I can’t take you with me,” he repeated.

  “It’s Surin, isn’t it?” she whispered as her hand came up and covered her mouth in shock. “What the fuck is going on, Rhodes?”

  “I wish I knew,” he replied, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands and started up the car.

  Madison continued. “Look, I know I’m not her favourite person, but I can sit with the family, I can help search, I can make calls…”

  Parker nodded. “I’ll drop you at the local police station. See what you can find out.”

  Madison nodded, happy that she wasn’t getting left at a roadside gas station.

  “If a single word of this ever prints, Madison, I would go into hiding with your friend if I were you.”

  Madison put her belt back on. “You think the killer would come after me?” she asked quickly.

  “Worse,” Parker added, “Surin Elliott will.”

  36

  Surin’s body melted like hot candle wax. She felt relaxed, and her mind was clear and at ease. Slowly, she turned her head to look over at her captor.

  “What did you give me?” she slurred, blinking lethargically to maintain focus.

  “Oh, just a little something to help you calm down so we can talk.” He smiled, and she realised for the first time since he took her, that there was light. Her mind started whirring like a big computer, wanting her to take everything in, the room, his features, his clothing, but her body did not comply. A solitary pillar candle flickered on the table beside her, casting a lonely silhouette. It allowed her to catch a glimpse of his face, an image distorted by a million dancing shadows.

  “Do you recognise me, Surin?” he asked, flashing a grin that appeared to stretch across his entire face like a psychotic clown.

  “No,” she replied honestly.

  “I wouldn’t expect you to,” he said, but she caught the fleeting tone of disappointment in his voice. “You haven’t changed a bit since high school,” he continued. “So pretty. Eamon was a lucky guy.”

  Surin swallowed back bile as nausea again swept through her. “I’m going to be sick,” she stammered, pressing her mouth into her shoulder.

  “No, you will not,” he warned. “I want to tell you about Eamon, then you and I are going to have some fun.”

  A tear escaped from Surin’s eye and rolled down her cheek.

  “I have waited a long time for this,” he said and bent down, kissing her gently.

  “Those girls,” she choked out, turning her head away. “Why?” Even she hated how pathetic she sounded.

  “Why?” he asked. “Because they were you, but they weren’t you.” He smiled, holding his hands out. “They weren’t even close,” he added and sighed. “Honestly, I thought that looking like you would be enough, but it wasn’t.” He stood up, and the bed creaked in response. “Don’t get me wrong, we had some fun, my girls and me, but then it got old, it got old really quickly.”

  Surin’s stomach rolled at the notion that all those young girls had died, and died violently, because of her. All of a sudden, his face was up against her neck, his wet lips brushing her ear as he spoke.

  “I was there, Surin, you know that now, don’t you?” he whispered.

  She nodded in response, willing him to stop.

  “I saw you. I watched you give yourself to him.”

  Surin sobbed and closed her eyes.

  “At first, you were so open to it, begging for it if you don’t mind me saying.” He chuckled. “Then, ultimate pleasure suddenly gave way to absolute fear.” He let out a whoosh as air passed through his lips. “It was a marvellous vision to behold, one I have not been able to replicate, unfortunately.” He stood up again and walked towards what looked like a wooden chair. “Actually,” he laughed, dragging the chair closer, “I got close recently. I didn’t expect it, and it didn’t end well for her.” He sat and crossed his legs. “Poor Lucy.”

  Surin cringed at the thought of another life lost so senselessly. He leaned in and brushed a strand of loose, straggly hair from her face. “I want you to know that it won’t be like that with you.” She tried to stifle her sobs as he continued. “I am going to keep you, Surin, for as long as I can.” He started stroking her arm. “I am going to own you, do you understand what that means?” he asked genuinely. She didn’t move. “It means I am going to fuck you, body, mind and soul, over and over again, until you like it.”

  Surin could no longer hold in the fear she felt and began to shake, hating herself for showing such weakness.

  “Not just like it, Surin, you will beg me for it just like you did with him.”

  Surin shook her head from side to side, suddenly angry. “I will never beg you for anything, you piece of shit, ever!” she spat out.

  He smiled and grabbed her chin roughly. “By the time I’m finished with you, trust me, you will beg, they always do.” He released her abruptly and sat back down.

  “Eamon,” he started, his tone changing once again, “was a total fucking mess when you didn’t show up graduation day.”

  Surin didn’t want to hear any of this. She squinted, her eyes shut, trying to block out his voice.

  “He was so worried about you, he thought you had been hurt, but your parents told him you had just decided to leave for college early. Well, he was gutted, to put it mildly.”

  As he spoke, Surin noticed her mind was gr
adually starting to clear like fog off a windshield. She prayed he wouldn’t notice.

  “He pleaded with them to tell him where you were, but they were pretty adamant.”

  Surin’s parents had told her none of this. She began to feel a foreboding sense of guilt build in the base of her stomach.

  “Then the drinking started. He hit it hard.” He chuckled. “It made what happened next so easy.” He rubbed his palms together dramatically. “I approached him in a bar, he didn’t know who I was, just some waste-of-space kid I guess, but when I mentioned your name” — he raised his hands in the air theatrically — “woohoo! He became my best buddy.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Surin asked, not wanting to hear any more.

  “How predictable,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “Just like the movies. ‘Why, please don’t hurt me,’” he mocked. “You’re becoming a bit of a disappointing cliché, Surin,” he said, his voice switching from calm to slightly crazed. He stood up and towered over her. She estimated that he was six-foot tall at least, very well built and strong. “Isn’t it clear why?” he screamed in frustration. She cringed under his glare. “I wanted to ask him what you felt like!”

  Surin dry retched loudly, throwing her body forward as her stomach spasmed. He ignored her, sat down and continued as if nothing had happened.

  “All I had to do to get him in the car was show him this.” He held up the necklace, the light from the candle reflected off the pendant’s face just like it had done the night she gave it back to Eamon.

  “How do you have that?” she spluttered, trying to piece things together.

  “I followed you home that night and watched you put it in his mailbox,” he said with a shrug. “I took it, you see. I needed it, do you understand?”

  She looked at him and shuddered. Her eyes began to focus, and his features started to realign.

  “I wanted what he had. I wanted you.” He kissed her bare shoulder. “I needed to put this around your neck so you would be mine and it’s finally happening.” He giggled like a schoolgirl as he looped it over her head. She lay there, knowing there was no point in fighting him any more.

  “I told Eamon you needed to see him and that you gave me the necklace to prove it was you.”

  Surin knew what was coming next, and she started to cry silent tears for the boy she had once loved.

  “He was so excited, talking about proposing to you, blah, blah, blah. I grabbed the wheel, undid his seatbelt and ran us into the nearest tree.”

  Surin was trying to concentrate on his face, trying to place it.

  “I got a nasty little head wound which left a bit of a mess, but wow, he didn’t come out of it well.”

  Surin didn’t want to hear any more. “Please, stop,” she said.

  “Stop?” He laughed. “But this is the best part!” he continued. “He had no face left.” He held his arms out, smiling. “That perfect, pretty boy with tousled blonde hair and ridiculous dimples, there was nothing left.”

  Surin turned her head away from him as tears streamed down her face. He reached over and touched her cheek, almost tenderly.

  “I couldn’t let him live, Surin,” he explained, “not after he had touched you,” he added, his voice darkening. “And don’t think I haven’t seen that stupid fucking Parker Rhodes trying to slime his way into your pants either.”

  Surin’s head whipped back around at the mere mention of Parker’s name, and a flicker of hope started burning deep inside her. “He has nothing to do with this,” she said through gritted teeth, feeling her fear evolve into anger.

  He stared at her for a moment and tilted his head. “You like him?” he stated carefully.

  Surin swallowed the lump in her throat. “He’s my partner and nothing more,” she replied, but the tremor in her voice gave her away.

  “Oh, no, no, no,” he responded, clicking his tongue. “If there is one thing I will not tolerate, it’s competition.” He stood. “Maybe I should deal with Mr Rhodes first?”

  Surin bucked against her restraints. “Please,” she whispered.

  He smiled down at her with a face she still did not recognise. “Begging me already, Sury? How delightful!”

  ***

  Parker dropped Madison off at the station as promised and then made a beeline for Surin’s parents’ house. When he arrived, both Erin and Michael were waiting at the front door.

  “Where is she?” Michael asked, his voice calm and low.

  “I don’t know, Michael,” Parker replied honestly. “I need to find out where she went this afternoon.”

  They all walked inside and sat down in the family room. Parker tried to avoid staring at the framed pictures of Surin.

  “Make some coffee please, love, if you don’t mind,” Michael asked Erin gently. She nodded and started busying herself in the kitchen. “What’s going on?” he asked as soon as she was out of earshot.

  Parker sighed. “The serial killer we have been after?” Michael nodded. “Well, I think he’s fixated on Surin, and I have no clue as to why.” His elbows rested on his knees as his head fell into his hands. “What I do know is that it seems to be connected to Eamon Sutherland,” he added as Erin re-entered the room carrying a tray of coffee cups.

  “Eamon Sutherland?” she echoed. “What on earth?” They each took a cup, cradling it carefully.

  “Sury broke up with Eamon right before college, literally the day before graduation.”

  Parker placed his mug down and took out his notebook. “Please, Erin, go on.”

  She glanced at Michael, who nodded his head in encouragement.

  “She was only eighteen, no, this is crazy!”

  Parker tried a new tack. “Did they have a fight?”

  Erin shook her head. “She was in love with that boy and if you know Surin, you know she doesn’t fall easily.” She held eye contact with Parker, and he felt his cheeks flush. She pretended not to notice and continued. “Something happened that night. She left home a happy, carefree girl and came back different.” She sniffed. “I asked her if they’d had a fight, but she said with college coming up she knew it wouldn’t last and it was best to end it.”

  Parker nodded.

  “It sounded so sensible at the time, but now that I think about it, she was so in love with that boy, and she was only young, she should have been gushing over about how they would make it work, not how it had to end.”

  Michael leaned forward and placed his hand on her knee. “The next day, she asked me to skip the graduation parade and drive her straight to college to get settled.” He shrugged. “It sounded like a smart idea to me, so I did it.”

  Parker picked up his cup and took a cautionary sip. “Did she see him again? Eamon?” he asked.

  Erin shook her head sadly. “He was so worried about her. He tried to get her number off us, but we told him nothing. Nothing.” She started to cry. “That poor boy died not long after. His heart was broken, and I don’t think his mother has ever quite forgiven Surin for breaking it.”

  Parker looked up. “Wendy?”

  Erin nodded. “That boy was her whole life.” Michael patted her hand gently. “Surin was so angry when I told her about Eamon’s accident earlier, that I thought she was going to leave,” she added.

  “What do you mean?” Parker asked, his heart rate picking up a notch.

  “She didn’t know about the necklace and how Wendy thought Surin had been in the car with him that night.”

  Parker shut the notebook and stared at Erin. “Why would she think that?”

  Michael took over. “There were two types of blood found in the car, but only one body. The police wrote it off as a coincidence, but Wendy was adamant.”

  Erin shook her head. “Poor woman, she desperately wanted to believe that her son wouldn’t do something so reckless.”

  Parker nodded. “Do you think Surin might have gone back to talk to Wendy this afternoon?” he asked.

  Erin sat forward quickly. “Well, yes, that makes sense!�
� Parker stood up and pulled out his cell phone as Erin continued. “They only live four blocks away, which explains why she didn’t take the car.”

  Parker put his hand up, gesturing for quiet as he waited for the phone to be answered.

  “Mrs Sutherland?” he said politely. “It’s Detective Parker Rhodes. We met earlier. Yes, I’m good, thank you.” He smiled reassuringly at Erin. “I’m just wondering if Surin has visited you today, I’m trying to track her down.” He quickly reached for his notepad and nodded. “She did? Excellent. About what time did she leave?” He quickly jotted the details down. “If it’s not too much trouble, can I pop over for ten minutes to have a chat? I appreciate it. See you then.”

  He hung up the phone and turned to Michael and Erin, who were holding hands on the couch.

  “She was there five hours ago, and she left on foot. I’m heading over there now.” He grabbed his bag and walked quickly to the door. “As soon as I know, you will know,” he said and pecked Erin on the cheek.

  They nodded and watched him jog over to his car. He got in, started the engine and tore down the road, heading to Eamon Sutherland’s home.

  ***

  Madison sipped the god-awful coffee, then placed it back on the table’s scratched laminated surface. She was sitting in a sticky orange plastic chair in the waiting room of the North East local police station. It had been twenty very long minutes since she last spoke to someone, and she was growing increasingly impatient with every tick of the clock. Just as she stood up, intent on making a scene, the door swung open with a squeal and in walked a deputy with a carton full of files.

  “Ma’am,” he said with a nod of his head. Madison smiled back at him. “Not sure on whose authority, but you must have friends high up,” he smirked, taking in her tight skirt and neatly buttoned top. “These are the files you requested.” He dropped the box from an unnecessary height and let it bang on the ground loudly. Madison looked at his perfectly creased pants and manicured hands and decided that this man had never seen a day of action in his entire life.