When the Night Calls Read online

  Daniel slowed the car down and pulled onto the shoulder. He turned off the ignition and slowly turned to face Victor.

  “What do you mean she was in your back seat?” Daniel asked in confusion, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible.

  Victor began to sob. He wiped the tears from his face and sighed. Staring off into the distance, he sniffled then turned back to Daniel.

  “Her body, her fucking dead body…it was in my back seat. They…they have my car.”

  “Fuck! Fuck! Victor, what did you do? What the fuck did you do!?” Daniel slammed his hands against the steering wheel. “We talked…damn it, Victor you know better.”

  “I…I didn’t do anything. I don’t know how she got there,” Victor whimpered. “Lawson was in the garage that night and I went to get food. She was there…thrown in my backseat. What the hell was I supposed to do? He could’ve put her there for all I know. That asshole has been trying to frame me for years.”

  "You left that night, Victor, and never came back. I thought you were gone with her. Victor, what did you do? You can tell me what happened. I swear I won't get mad, just tell me the truth."

  "I'm telling you the truth. She was just there...there in my car."

  Victor looked at Daniel pleading for an answer that made sense. For the first time in his life money and snide remarks couldn’t solve his problems. Victor was truly alone and all the hookers and liquor in the world couldn’t help him.

  “So, how’d she get back to the office?” Daniel finally asked. "How did her body end up in our fucking lobby?"

  Victor thought about what he should say. He truthfully had no idea how Sherri’s body ended up there, but admitting that he left her in an abandoned building was no better. He cleared his throat and stared out of the window.

  “I don’t know. I, I left her in some office park,” Victor replied as he squirmed in his seat.

  He paused and waited for Daniel’s reaction. When he didn’t move Victor continued.

  “Lawson had just gone up the elevator. He said he had to talk to you. She was in my backseat and I panicked. I just drove off, I don’t even know how far. I ended up in the old industrial district near the refining plants. I pulled her out there and left her inside of one of the offices.”

  “Lawson hasn’t been at the office since that night he came to see us the first time,” Daniel said as he turned and faced Victor.

  “No, no he was there the other night, in the garage. I left to get food and he said he was heading up to see you. The same night Sherri was there, after we finished the nose job.”

  “I didn’t see Lawson at all that night. You left and I waited around, but after we sent Sherri home I closed up and went home myself. Are you sure you saw him?”

  "I'm positive. I dropped my keys in the garage when I saw Sherri's car out there. He showed up out of nowhere. He was there, Danny, I swear he was there."

  “He was there the night me and Tom found that bag that had the bodies in it. I didn’t think anything of it then, but why the hell was he down there. Hell, he found the other murder victim too!”

  “Somebody followed me,” Victor mumbled. “I thought I was just hearing things, but when I left her I swore I heard footsteps.”

  "Why the hell did you move her body at all?"

  "What was I supposed to do? Lawson was in the garage and his dead wife was in my backseat. I freaked out. I ran and by the time I could think again I knew I had to get her out of my car...they're gonna know she was in there. They're gonna give me the death penalty!"

  "Victor, calm down."

  "Calm down? Calm down? Danny, they have my fucking car! You've seen those shows, they're gonna catch me. Lawson is gonna pin it all on me."

  “I need some time to think. I need to talk to Tom,” Daniel replied.

  "Did you hear a word I said? I need your help. I can't go back to jail...I just can't, Danny."

  "Listen, Victor, you're gonna be fine. We'll work it out, but I gotta check on some things, so you need to go home."

  Daniel gave him a half smile then started the car up and pulled off. Victor nervously glanced out of the back window. Sulking, he fidgeted in his seat and fumbled his pudgy fingers together.

  “What if he’s following me? What if he’s gonna kill me too? You saw him; he tried to kill me that night,” Victor jutted.

  "What are you talking about now?"

  "Lawson!"

  “Victor, no one is trying to kill you okay. It could all be coincidence at this point. You’re more likely to be sentenced to life in prison than Lawson showing up to end your life.”

  Victor swallowed with a loud gulp and crossed his arms. "I... I just can't go back."

  Huffing, Daniel stomped on the gas and the car growled. He pulled back onto the road and started heading toward Victor's house.

  It was a little past one in the afternoon and a light rain started to fall, peppering the windshield. Daniel’s eyes were glued to the road, but his mind wandered off, replaying every word Lawson had said over the last few weeks.

  Victor sat in the passenger seat frozen stiff. He’d stopped shaking and was now staring straight ahead in a sort of daze. As they rounded the corner and entered his neighborhood, fear and anxiety seemed to boil over in Victor. He’d been sitting still, but could no longer contain himself.

  “That car, that car has been behind us since we pulled off the main road,” Victor said then looked at Daniel, imploring him to do something.

  Daniel looked back and chuckled. “Victor that’s your neighbor’s car, you slept with her three weeks ago. You’ve got to relax man.”

  Daniel pulled into Victor’s driveway and hopped out. He walked around and headed to the front door, but when he looked back Victor hadn't moved.

  “Victor, get your ass out here! Hurry up and come open the damn door, I’m getting wet,” Daniel screamed.

  Victor slowly turned his head and looked out of the window. He glanced around the yard apprehensively, scanning for any movement. After a few seconds he shook his head at Daniel and crossed his arms.

  Daniel waved at him and yelled again. He could see Victor’s frozen silhouette through the foggy window. Cursing under his breath, Daniel marched back across the driveway.

  He angrily banged on the window and almost ripped the handle off the car. He flung the door open and grabbed Victor’s arm, yanking him out into the rain.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming,” Victor griped as he stumbled across the lawn.

  Fumbling with the lock, Victor opened the door and scurried inside. He ran off into the dark and turned on every light in the house. Daniel watched him from the door in disgust.

  “You want a beer, something to eat?” Victor asked pathetically.

  “Victor, I gotta….” he paused and looked at Victor. He seemed so fragile like a helpless lamb being led to slaughter. “Sure,” Daniel conceded.

  He took the beer and plopped down on the couch. Victor took a seat across from him and nervously fiddled with his fingers. He quietly watched Daniel drink his beer, but didn’t say a word the entire time. It wasn’t until Daniel stood to leave that Victor finally spoke.

  “Where you headed?”

  “Victor, I got shit to do. I can’t sit around here all day and babysit you.”

  Victor sulked and stared at the ground. He threw his arms in the air then dropped his face into his hands.

  “Victor, you’ll be fine. I’ll check back with you later tonight.”

  “You’re right, you’re right. I’m just being stupid,” Victor replied.

  Daniel gave him a thumbs up then made a break for the door before Victor could convince him to stay any longer. The rain had let up outside and the sun was starting to slip behind the clouds. Daniel ran across the lawn and hopped into his car. He quickly cranked up the engine and screeched off down the road.

  He needed a place to think. He needed quiet and time to clear his mind and make sense of things. He needed the river.

  ROADSIDE SC
UFFLE

  Daniel cruised down the highway with a cluttered mind. Everything was starting to blend together, to fade into one story and he was losing track of his part in any of them.

  As mile marker thirteen came into view he felt a rush of excitement. He pulled off the road and drove down the dirt path just as the sun completely faded away.

  Daniel parked his car to the side and stepped out to the swish of running water. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The familiar smell immediately put him at ease, like a gentle lullaby sung to a baby.

  In his head he started to replay the last few days. The twisted story line unfolded like a poorly written newspaper article.

  Daniel smiled. Fear is what he should've felt, but instead he gleamed with an odd excitement.

  He ran through every single detail, every strange occurrence. Lawson was there when the first bodies were found. Lawson was leading the investigation. It was Lawson’s wife that had cheated on him with Victor. It was his wife that somebody put in Victor’s backseat. Hell, Lawson had been on the case during the original Rocky Hill murders.

  “What the fuck was Victor thinking?” Daniel said to himself.

  He wasn’t sure what he’d have done in the same situation, but dumping Sherri’s body wouldn’t have been an option. Some things never change, Daniel thought as he looked out on the winding water.

  Here he was again, trying to clean up Victor’s mess. He’d been picking up the pieces and making things right for Victor since college. The only reason he was even considering helping Victor now was the chance that the sheriff was involved.

  He thought about confronting Lawson, pushing him and seeing what he would say. He was always an overly emotional man, but that could lead to tragedy just as much as a confession.

  He bent down and picked up a rock. He rolled it between his thumb and the palm of his hand. Sighing, he heaved it into the water where it skipped a few times then sunk into the murky depths.

  The water was dark, like it was more mud than water. Daniel couldn’t help but lose himself in it. It reminded him of night, of shadows and secrets never to be spoke of again.

  “There is no help,” the words echoed in Daniels head.

  Was it a dream, or was it a memory? Daniel couldn’t tell the difference anymore. It was like little fragments of a movie floating around in his head that he could never quite piece together.

  Blinking his eyes, he snapped out of his daze. He looked at his watch and sighed, the day had flown by. Monica would be leaving for New York tomorrow and he hadn’t seen her all day.

  Daniel cursed Sandra under his breath. He didn’t trust Monica’s shady agent one bit. Those two were always conspiring behind his back. She really knew how to get under his skin, but on the other hand with everything going on it was probably best if Monica left town for a bit.

  Daniel turned and walked back to his car. He leaned against the hood and stared out at the trees swaying in the wind. The crackling of branches echoed behind him and he spun around. He scanned the night intently, his eyes sweeping back and forth like a spotlight. Something moved and the bushes shook.

  “Who the hell is there?” Daniel asked loudly.

  The moving stopped and Daniel narrowed his eyes and held his breath. He edged closer to the bushes, leaning forward trying to see through the thick foliage.

  The branches rustled and shook again and Daniel staggered backwards. “Who the fuck is it?” he yelled.

  With a loud shriek a possum exploded through the leaves. Daniel jumped as the animal scurried away into the dark. He laughed to himself and shook his head.

  Grinning, Daniel stepped into to his car and cranked it up. He slowly drove down the bumpy path back to the road and then floored it as he hit the highway. With a low groan, the black sedan sped down the road.

  It was early into the night, but the road was completely deserted. A thick fog had blown in from the water and clouded his visibility. His headlights barely pierced the white blanket that lined the streets.

  Daniel hummed along to the radio, his eyes staring straight ahead trying to avoid driving off the road. Suddenly blue and red lights erupted in his rear-view mirror.

  “What the hell?” Daniel mumbled as he glanced down at his speedometer.

  It only read forty-five, but the limit was sixty. Daniel grumbled in exhaustion, preparing himself for the harassment he knew was coming. He slowly pulled onto the shoulder of the road and turned off the ignition. Instinctively, he reached into his glove compartment and took out his registration.

  With the sirens blaring the patrol car pulled up right behind Daniel, so close it almost crashed into the back of his car. Daniel rolled his window down and held out his registration and license.

  “Get your arm back in that fucking car,” a voice yelled out.

  Daniel turned his head and tried to make out who the officer was, but he turned on his flashlight and shined it in Daniel’s face. Daniel squinted and shielded his eyes with his hands.

  “Is this necessary?” Daniel asked in an annoyed tone.

  “Hey! Don’t you move another muscle!” the officer called back.

  Daniel quickly recognized the voice. He’d half expected something like this, if he was being honest with himself. Lawson wasn’t one to let anything go.

  “Sheriff, I’m just trying to get home,” Daniel pleaded.

  “Step out of the car sir and put your hands on the hood.”

  Daniel furrowed his brow and sat up. “Are you serious? I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight,” Daniel snapped.

  The sheriff reached down and unbuttoned his holster. He placed his hand over his gun and took a step back. Daniel felt a rush of emotion overwhelm him, from complete shock to absolute anger. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

  “I’m gonna tell you one more time, step out of the car and put your damn hands on the hood. You make me repeat myself and I’m gonna mace your ass,” the sheriff said with a dark and disturbed voice.

  Daniel wasn’t sure if he had gone mad because of his ex-wife’s death, or if he planned on killing him there on the side of the road. Regardless, his guard was up and he’d be damned if he let a sorry bastard like Lawson get the better of him.

  Daniel pushed the door open and slowly stepped out into the darkness. He turned and put his hands on the hood then looked back at the sheriff. Lawson edged over to him, his hand still resting on his gun.

  “Where you headed tonight?” the sheriff asked as he started to pat Daniel down.

  “Home,” Daniel responded.

  The sheriff made a grunting noise then ran his hands along Daniel’s torso. He shoved him in the back with one hand and moved his other hand towards his pocket.

  “You got anything in your pockets that’s gonna stick me?”

  Daniel shook his head and rolled his eyes. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take. He was already fighting the urge to break Lawson’s neck and toss his body in the river.

  After patting Daniel down, Lawson took a step back and spit on the ground. He tapped his shoe on the pavement eyeing Daniel while he contemplated his next move.

  “You and that buddy of yours think you got it all figured out don’t ya?” the sheriff grumbled.

  Daniel didn’t respond. He stared down at the hood of his car in a daze. He was hoping the sheriff would finish insulting him and let him go on his way.

  “Yeah, the two hotshot doctors fucking everybody’s wife. Not a care in the world. Well, I got you two figured out. I don’t give a shit how many judges you got in your back pocket. You hear me?” Lawson took a step forward and poked Daniel in his shoulder

  Daniel had drifted off and hadn’t heard a word Lawson was saying. When the sheriff poked him he suddenly whipped around knocking Lawson off balance. The sheriff stumbled backwards and tripped over his own feet. With a thud he fell into the road.

  Lawson looked up at Daniel with murder in his eyes. Steam rose from his head like a tea kettle.

>   “Now, Lawson…that was a damn accident. You know that!” Daniel said as he half raised his hands.

  The sheriff scampered backwards and reached for his gun.

  “Lawson, don’t do anything stupid,” Daniel spoke slowly as he moved towards the side of his car.

  Lawson shuffled to his feet, his eyes fixed on Daniel like a laser. He pulled his gun out and aimed it directly at him without saying a word. His hands trembled furiously, his finger shaking just over the trigger.

  Daniel could tell that he was beyond reason and he needed to act. He continued talking to Lawson, trying to distract him as he slowly stepped towards him.

  “Lawson, let’s just…let’s just get in our cars and head home. It’s a rough time for everybody.”

  Daniel moved closer, inching forward until he was almost in arms reach of the gun. The sheriff snarled and started to back away. The gun rattled in his trembling hands, then he slowly lowered it just a bit.

  “That’s it, Lawson,” Daniel continued towards him. “Let’s just stay calm.”

  “Fuck you! Fuck you and your buddy!” Lawson shrieked. He jabbed the gun in the air and pointed it at Daniel’s head.

  Daniel froze. He raised his hands and swallowed back the anger that had been incubating inside of him.

  “You think you’re so goddamn smart," Lawson continued. "Yeah, you’ll just pull one over on old, dumb Lawson huh?” the sheriff stammered as he took one hand away from the gun and wiped at his face.

  That was all the time Daniel needed. He stepped forward and charged Lawson, but as he moved a pair of headlights erupted from the darkness down the road

  Lawson looked over his shoulder as a horn wailed into the night. All he could see were the blinding lights barreling towards him, but instead of moving he simply stood there in shock.

  Suddenly, Daniel slammed into him and they fell over onto the curb. An eighteen-wheeler sailed by them, the tires missing them by inches.

  Lawson's head smashed into the ground as they tumbled over one another. They rolled backwards in one giant heap of tangled legs and twisted arms. With a thud, they crashed into the embankment then landed in a muddy ditch.