Chapter 4

• “Tell you what. I will take you back and you grab a few things and come back here tonight. I have a guest room. I start tomorrow class so you can stay here if you like or I can take you back to your apartment on my way.”
• “I cannot do that to you.”
• “Yes you can and I insist. Besides that area doesn’t look very safe and you being on that scooter at night isn’t safe either.”
• “I do have a gun you know.”
• “No doubt living there I would too.”
• “If I stay it doesn’t mean…”
• “I know. Come on before you change your mind.”
• He put her scooter in the shed outside before they left to go to her place. She didn’t have much as far as he could see and he didn’t show pity on his face or let on.
• “Okay I grabbed a few things so I am ready.”
• “How much do you pay to live here?”
• “Four hundred dollars. Why?”
• “You know my guest room has a lot of space and that could save you some money too.”
• “But here I have my freedom and it’s mine.”
• “True. But you could pay for two hundred living with me and you can save too.”
• “Your sister or even your family would think I would be taking advantage of you though.”
• “Think of it as my house is being opened to you. I won’t bite and you won’t feel unsafe. You would be helping me too so it’s not like you are free loading. Plus you need a phone.”
• After an hour she had everything moved out of her apartment and including the food. She handed in her keys to the building manager and for the first time she wasn’t doubting this move.
• Outside the apartment the guy watched and new his target was slipping through his fingers. So now he was going to look for a new target. He heard the news about himself and he decided that maybe he needed to lay low for a while. The motel needed someone to clean and do handy man repairs. His father did teach him things when he wasn’t drunk off his ass. So he got the job and he could live here free and get paid cash here and there. People who were truckers and folks who was just passing through kept this place busy enough. So he knew no more killings here locally. Until it was time for him to move on. He did wonder what made that girl stop like she did and then she was moved out. Maybe he needed to keep a closer eye on her after all without sounding the alarm. He knew she worked at the bar so he would stake the place out. He was going to need to blend in a little bit better. Look more like working class then a passerby. So tomorrow he was going to buy some jeans and flannel shirts and work boots. This would be the longest time he had ever stayed in one place. So now his skills would be tested and everything was on the line. He went back to his room and drank some more beer and watched the news. This would give him a chance to find out what the FBI knew and maybe start searching online again for his dear mother and sister again. They just didn’t drop off the face of the earth. He knew all about hiding and he knew all about finding.
• “The time is ticking mother. I am going to find you sooner then later. The later it will be the more girls are going to suffer and pain for what you did to me. So come out come out wherever you are dear mother.”
• 4❧
• Karen didn’t take long to unpack when she heard the doorbell and heard Tasha’s voice and two other voices.
• “Hey Tasha what are you doing here?”
• “I was wondering since you have an extra guest room that I could get it.”
• “No. You have a place with mom and you can earn your own place.”
• “Mom and I got into an argument. Since I am not a child I thought I could live with my big brother.”
• “Then join the National Guard and work and save and get your own place.”
• “You know you are rude especially in front of my friends.”
• “You came here without calling me first and expect me to just give you a room. Spoiled much.”
• “I bet if I was Karen you wouldn’t hesitate for me to stay. My brother always taking in strays.”
• “If you were not my sister and were a guy I would so drop you on your ass.”
• Karen came out of the guest room and trying to keep a calm face. Tasha glared at her and then back at her brother, “You choose her over me?
• He blocked Karen, “I think you should leave Tasha. You should grow up and realized that not everything revolves around you or your ego. Go back to mom and pull your own weight. Take your little friends and go home.”
• Tasha glaring at her brother before she and her friends left his home. He and his sister had a major argument years ago because he didn’t go live with their mother. He didn’t want to be caught in the middle so he went to stay with his grandmother who needed the help on grandpa’s farm. He visited his parents but he wasn’t going to drawn into an argument that had nothing to do with him. Though his parents didn’t like the idea of him living with his grandmother they respected him for wanting to help her. He always came home and visited with his parents but his sister felt betrayed and they never were close after that.
• “I am sorry…”
• “Please don’t. It isn’t you. My sister is an entitled brat. She can’t just expect everyone to stop what they are doing and pay attention to her needs. She believes she is more important than the queen of England.”
• “I am the baby of the family; well was the baby of the family. My brother and his wife just had a baby a few years ago. He is a toddler now.”
• ‘How old is your brother?”
• “He is twenty-four years old and he married his high school sweetheart when they graduated. He was working as a trucker but he lost his CDL two years ago. He doesn’t talk about it and I don’t ask about it either.”
• “It’s only three in the afternoon. What do you want to do?”
• “Are you sure two hundred dollars is enough for rent here?”
• “The electric bill is little of hundred dollars. I have well water thanks to a spring that isn’t too far. Internet is around fifty dollars and groceries is around two hundred dollars. So yes two hundred is perfect.”
• “I can help here as well. I use to mow the lawn and…”
• “Okay what do you want to do now though?”
• “I noticed you have a game system. Want to kill zombies?”
• For two hours she was smiling as they were killing zombies and he had ordered a pizza for them and she had bought some sodas from the other day. It wasn’t until nearly ten when they realized it was getting dark outside. It had been way too long since she had played video games. She showered and put on a baggy tee shirt and her boxers shorts she had gotten from when she graduated high school. Both were bigger on her now. Tomorrow she would have to call the phone company and close her account. It had been a long time since she had fun even if it was killing zombies. They had left her furniture because it wasn’t worth bringing. She left a few things so that someone else could have it. Hopefully her landlord would still give her back her deposit. She brushed her teeth and hair before telling Gregory good night.
• “I want to thank you for your generosity towards me.”
• “It’s my pleasure. I am in no rush by the way. I just want you to feel safe is all.”
• “What time do I need to be up?”
• “I have to leave here no later than seven in the morning. If you want I can let you sleep and pick you up for lunch.”
• “How far is it to the school from here?”
• “Not long. Ten minutes at the most.”
• “How about I ride my scooter to the gym and I will be at the bookstore till you get out of class.”
• “So you don’t want a ride to town?”
• “I just don’t want you to go out of your way.”
• “It’s not. Rest and enjoy your first day where you aren’t having to work.”
• “I swear you are going to get tired of me sooner then you think.”
• He kissed her on the cheek brushing her hair away from her mouth, “Good night Karen.”
• Her hand pressed on his hand as she smiled, “Good night Gregory.”
• 5❧
• She tossed and turned and kept seeing a girl in the water and then she saw eight other girls and bodies. She kept seeing a girl getting strangled and she woke up and looked at the clock it was only midnight. She didn’t know why she was having these nightmares. She thought maybe it was the zombie game but she was a little too old to be frighten over a game. Again she tried closing her eyes and she saw Tabitha reaching for her and again she woke up and it was now one in the morning. She decided she was going to get something to drink and try to relax. Outside she saw how dark it was and watched as the wind blew. It was too dark to see but closed her eyes and she saw the man at the bar again. She opened her eyes and saw him coming after her and she snapped back to reality to find herself sitting up in bed. It was only thirty minutes after ten. Her dreams were way too real lately. Karen just sat up in bed and just prayed over the whole situation. She knew something was off and the guy from the bar gave her the chills. She decided she was going to call Gretchen again. See if she had heard from Tabitha or if anyone had heard from her cousin’s ex girlfriend. After she made sure she wasn’t having another dream. Karen did go to the kitchen and poured some milk for herself. She heard foot steps and saw Gregory heading to the bathroom but he looked up and saw her, “You okay?”
• “I couldn’t sleep.”
• “New house and new sounds?”
• He leaned against the wall watching her. He didn’t have a shirt on just wearing pants. He did look good from the glances she took. Karen forced herself from from staring at him by focusing on her milk. That was hard for her to not gawk at him he must think she was nuts.
• “Something like that?”
• “Silence makes things worse I think.” He sat down at the table after grabbing the milk jug and pouring a glass for himself as well.
• “Just a lot of things have been happening so quickly and I guess I am waiting for the wall to come up right before I smack into it.”
• “Karen. It’s okay things are going to get better for you. I am hoping you would want to be my girlfriend. I know a good thing when I see it.”
• “What if your family hates me though?”
• “My father has a wife that isn’t too much older than myself. My mother is dating a man that owns half the town. My sister is a spoiled brat. My parents hate each other but they are pretend because they have to put on a show. My mother hates my dad’s new wife and thinks she is a gold digger. The new wife reminds me of you somewhat. She still thinks that her father is coming after her. So she keeps her daughter close to her at all times and I am afraid the little girl is gonna be just as paranoid as my stepmother or worse spoiled like my sister. My dad and I bump headed because he wants me to work with his company full time but I don’t want to build homes. I want to restore the homes that are broken and fix them.”
• “Is that what you think I am broken and needing to be fixed?”
• “Broken people need to know they are not beyond repair. I don’t want push you but I do think you need encouragement. I can’t fix you but I can be your biggest fan.”
• “I wasn’t always broken you know.”
• “Life happens. Somethings are meant to be stepping stones to become a better person. Other things happen so you can see the value of what is in front of you.”
• “Are you broken?”
• “Life is not perfect. I left the Army because I want to start living. I ran to the military to escape my family. Their drama is not my problem. Either my family is going to accept you or they won’t and oh well. I am not here to please anyone. I just want to live my life without damaging anyone. I grateful my parents met otherwise I would not be here. But they are toxic together. They don’t seek to repair each other but are good at destroying each other. They don’t realize they have different lives and realize what happened in the past is done and over.”
• “Seem to have it all together though.”
• “I am driven. Not prefect and far from it.”
• He held out his hand and reached for her hand, “I hope we can build on this. Take things as slow as you need to take things. In the process I hope you realize that no matter what I am here. I have only two conditions. If there is a problem talk to me and let me know what is wrong. If you want out fine I dislike cheaters. I never ask from anyone things I can never met. I hold myself to certain standards and I will never lower them for anyone.”
• She took his hand as his fingers rubbed her skin. He looked at the clock and already it was a little after one. He hated he had to go to sleep otherwise he would have opened a bottle of rum and made a drink for them.
• “If you want you can sleep in my room. I will not do anything. You have my word.”
• “No. You go on ahead. I know you have to get up in the morning early and I am keeping you from sleeping.”
• “If you change your mind. You know where my room is.”
• He kissed her hand and went back to his room and went back to sleep. She grabbed their cups and rinsed them before trying to go back to sleep. The house maybe too quiet and she decided to put on her head phones and turned on some music. She closed her eyes and finally was able to go to sleep.
• In the other room Gregory sat up taking a drink from his small fridge then finally he too fell into a deep sleep. He thought about Karen and in his dreams he held onto her tightly. He knew deep down she was the one for him as he smiled as sweet dreams invaded his thoughts until the alarm went off at 7:30 in the morning. He had over slept as he rushed to take a shower and his coffee maker had the coffee done. He went by Karen’s room and he saw her sleeping soundly. He watched her for a moment before hurrying outside and leaving in his truck. It was ten and Karen finally was up and moving around. The is was the latest she had slept in a long time. She made herself some coffee and then making her two phone calls. She quickly took a shower before going to the storage building. There was her scooter as thoughts of her old truck came into memory. She missed her truck but one day she would replace it. Yesterday she was living in old apartment and today she was staying in a bungalow with a guy who wanted her as his girlfriend. Life seemed to be going great and that actually was freaking her out. She put her backpack on and turned on her scooter. She had already locked the doors as she headed towards town. She heard her name being called and she pulled over. She looked around and seeing the old graveyard that seemed to be from before this town had been founded. The iron fence surrounding needed to be replaced as she felt little fingers touching her. She knew it was a little girl playing hide and seek. At times her she felt her gift was a blessing and other times it was a curse. She felt so much like a freak and an outsider. As another chill had her turning around. The man on the motorcycle was watching her. The little girl whispered into her ear, “That’s a bad man.”
• She walked over to her scooter and was about to leave.
• “I seem to have gotten turned around miss.”
• “Where are you going?”
• “I am actually looking for….”
• She heard a truck running and she saw Eric who was dating her friend Gretchen.
• “Hey Karen. Gretchen has been looking for you.”
• Eric was in his uniform he must have worked the night shift.
• “Yeah I moved out yesterday with Gregory.”
• “Hello sir? You are new in these parts aren’t you?”
• “Why yes officer. I was looking for some work actually. There was a farm nearby that was looking for handyman.”
• “Oh yeah. My girlfriend’s neighbors are getting up in age and can’t do a lot on their own. I know where it is if you want me to show you?”
• “I don’t mind to follow.”
• Of course he hated following a cop because the hunt for the serial killer was on. Now he knew where the girl had move to. It was by luck he saw where she was and now he knew where so when it came time. He knew where to strike.
• 6❧
• He decided that staying at the motel wouldn’t be good enough so he saw in the papers where a farmer was looking for a hired hand and the person could stay on the farm. Room and dinner and he would get paid a lot more than what he was getting living at the motel. He watched the girl leave and as the deputy was watching him as well.
• “You got a name?”
• “Carl. Carl Evans.”
• “The farm is two miles from here actually. Mr and Mrs Bell are good country folk. Their son was killed eighteen years ago to a drunk driver. They did adopt the son’s child. They could use all the help they can get.”
• “I look forward to helping them out then.”
• Karen didn’t want to stay around. She headed towards town after she no longer saw the little girl who had called her name. She didn’t want to think about the man on the motorcycle for the little girl who called him a bad man and remembering how she felt the cold chill yesterday. She wondered if he was stalking her or was her imagination getting the better of her. Karen went over to the bookstore and paid for her book she had been waiting on and sat down and enjoyed a cup of coffee. Once she finished her book she then went to the phone store and getting plan that fit her budget. She called her friend Gretchen letting her know she had moved.
• “I was worried about you. I found out through Alex that Tabitha hadn’t moved in with her sister yet. He went by her apartment and her cat food bowel had been empty.”
• “What about her vehicle because it wasn’t at her apartment and on the camera it didn’t really show the person who came and got it either. So the sheriff department is searching for Tabitha and her sister is coming down to file a missing person’s report.”
• “Where is Alex then?”
• “He and Martin are searching places that he knows Tabitha would visit.”
• “I was going to the gym but I guess I won’t be.”
• “No. You should go and work out. Don’t you go to class later?”
• “Yes. I will call you later okay.”
• Karen went to her scooter but something felt like water against her skin and she looked and didn’t see rain clouds. Again she felt water brushing up against her flesh. Something told her to go to the lake which was not too far from here and that was where she headed. The area wasn’t busy because this was mainly a hotspot for teens looking to make out at night. And those who fished early in the morning. However right now the water was so calm. She placed her hand on the water and she could hear a faint voice. She looked around and didn’t see anyone around her but she kept looking until felt a sudden rush as though she was seeing flashes of a rape occurring and she saw Tabitha being choked. Karen fell to her knees feeling the pain around her neck knowing that it was ghost pains. When she finally was able to stand back up she knew Tabitha was here somewhere. She combed the area until she one of Tabitha’s shoes. She didn’t touch it but she called Gretchen, “Hey I found one of Tabitha’s shoes here at the lake.”
• “What are you doing near the lake?”
• “I didn’t feel like going to the gym and I just wanted drive my scooter around.”
• “Stay there and don’t touch anything. I am going to call Eric and let him know to meet you at the lake okay.”
• “Yes ma’am.”
• Sure enough the farm was two miles from where he had found his target. The older man came out to greet the deputy and then saw the stranger on the motorcycle. Eric smiled, “This feller got turned around and I was showing him where y’all lived. He said y’all were looking for a handyman and you’re the only ones I know that were talking about needing the extra help.”
• “Yes sir that would be us.”
• The old man reached out to shake the newcomer’s hand which was something he didn’t want to do but he did anyways so he would not stand out. Eric heard his phone buzzing and excused himself as he headed back to his truck. He watched as the old man was showing the stranger around and that was his cue to leave. He saw that Gretchen was calling him and he called her back once he got to where he had signal.
• The old man showed the newcomer where the apartment was located which was above the tractors and other equipment. There was a teen probably their son’s child. He looked to be fifteen.
• “Our grandson Taylor takes care of the animals but the boy goes to school and only can do so much on weekends. My wife is Susan. She has breakfast done at six in the morning and lunch at twelve and at six is dinner. You can eat with us or you can cook your own meals. In the apartment has a small kitchen. However the bathroom needs a little work.”
• “I can fix it if need be.”
• “Well there is outside bathroom with a shower and toilet and small sink. You can use that especially working outside. No one uses it so you can use that if you prefer. We start our day at the crack of dawn and end at five except when it’s time to harvest.”
• “Sounds like a plan.”
• “How long do you plan on staying?”
• “However long you need me or when it’s time for me to move on.”
• “You mind getting paid once a month always on the first.”
• “Well the first is around the corner so I better get to work then.”
• “Days off are weekends. Our grandson takes over because one day this will be his.”
• “When do you want me to start then?”
• “In an hour if you like?”
• “Sounds like a plan then.”
• Down the road he finally got a hold of Gretchen, “Hey babe what’s up?”
• “Karen found one of Tabitha’s shoes by the lake.”
• “You told her not to touch it right?”
• “Yes I told her to wait for you and not to do anything or go anywhere until you got there.”
• “I am on my way over there. Why did she go to the lake to begin with?”
• “She said she wanted to ride her scooter around.”
• “You don’t believe her do you?”
• “The girl has a talent I put it that way. Once I told her I was going to the casino and she told me to wait another day. Well that night there was a wreck and if I had gone I would not be here. I think well I think she is a psychic.”
• “You believe in that kind of thing?”
• “I use to think it was a bunch of bullshit. But Karen just something is different and I think that is why she stays by herself. I really think she has that gift.”
• “I did see her by the graveyard that is rundown. No one really stops there and she was kneeling near one of the headstones. Well I am almost there and will call you in a few alright.”
• “Keep an eye out for her. I know she is an adult but…”
• “The mother in you is showing.”
• “She is like the little sister I never had.”
• “You have my word I will be watching out for her while I am there.”