Murderer's Mockery

Making a quick decision, Rachel dashes to her right. She's more exhausted than she's ever been in her entire life. Which is saying a lot seeing how she often works twenty four and sometimes forty eight hours straight. 

The sun dipped below the horizon hours ago, leaving the landscape bathed in the ethereal glow of the full moon's light. The deciduous trees blocks the soft gleam making the road difficult to see. I hope I'm going the right way, she thinks glancing back the way she came. She hasn't seen a single structure, house nor barn for what seems like forever. 

He'd found me by now if I hadn't done what I did, she thinks. She deflated the two front tires with a sledge axe. She initially only planned on doing one, but decided on two in case he had a spare. She recalls the SUV and adds, If it was an older model, I could've hot wired it and been home by now. 

She's midway up a steep hill when she sees headlights heading her way. Finally, she thinks. Moving to the center, she waves her arms around. She sees the red and blue lights mounted on the roof as the cruiser continues to race down the hill. She blinks, hoping what she's seeing is real. "I've been saved." She smiles, waving her hands through the air. 

The squad car pulls up beside her and stops. She tries to open the passenger side, the officer shakes his head and then thumbs behind him. Confused, by his request, she glances in to find stuff scattered across the seat. Nodding, she hops in the back. Closing the door, she scoots to the center's edge and says, "I'm Sergeant Bower with the Berryville PD, and I need a lift back to the station." 

The bearded man smiles, and says, "I'm well aware of who you are, Sergeant." 

"So, you'll give me a lift home then?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"I guess you can't leave your tour mid-shift. So, can you take me into town then and I'll catch a ride from there, or you could call my husband and have him meet us somewhere?"

 "Kevin would be very upset with me if I did any of those things." 

"Kevin isn't who you think he is. He's a serial killer, a kidnapper and a rapist. We have reason to believe he's responsible for the victims we found at the chicken plant, and the park." 

"He warned me about your imagination, what wild stories you might tell. Said it's the side effects from coming off the drugs delusional thinking and that."

"I've never used drugs in my life, see?" She shows him her arms.

"Acceptance is the first step to recovery, sergeant. You of all people should know that." 

She reaches for the door to find it's locked. She leans to the other side and finds the same. She pulls herself towards the cage and says, "Open this door right now, before I report you to the chief."

"You'll thank us some day." Smiling, he pulls away.

***

Joe sees Jerry on the corner shaking his head. Kirk is busy on the computer trying to figure out the next steps.

That can't be good, the captain thinks, as he continues across the lot. "Did they tell you anything?",

"Nothing useful. The clerk says he comes in once a month, grabs a few basic essentials and leaves." 

Kirk glances up from his computer and adds, "Everyone I talked to said they've seen him around town, but don't know much about him. Said that they just figured he was one of them mountain men who likes to keep to himself. And the officers I spoke to said they've never had any dealing with him. That they'd see him around for maybe an hour once maybe twice a month but never really spoke to him. A few pleasantries here and there through the years is about all."

Joe glances at the station and says, "The captain wasn't any help either. Said pretty much the same thing you two just did."

"What do you want to do now, boss?"

He pulls up a map on his phone and says, "The only thing we can do, go house to house." He glances around and adds, "He'd have to be somewhere off the main grid." 

"You do realize we don't have jurisdiction over here, meaning we won't be able to get a judge to sign off on a warrant, making anything we find illegally obtained."

"We don't, but my friend at the sheriff's office does. So if we find something, we'll sit on the house until they get what they need."

"You don't think the captain will help us if we do find something to substantiate our claim?"

Joe rolls his eyes and says, "I doubt it, seeing as I had to jump down his throat just to get him to make a few calls."

"You don't think he's in on Kevin's kidnapping spree, do you boss?"

He looks over at the station one last time, shakes his head and says, "Nothing will surprise me at this point, Jerr."

 ***

Rachel and the officer pull up to the house a few minutes later to find Kevin is waiting for them on the porch. A smile on his face. 

You won't be so happy in a minute she thinks, giving him the evil eye. Exhausted or not, she knows the only way to put an end to this is to take him down. 

Walking over, the kidnapper exchanges a few pleasantries with his friend, opens the door and says, "I was so worried about you darling, taking off like that in the middle of the night." 

"Rachel pulls her legs close to her chest as she swings around. Once she's turned sideways, she extends her legs out, driving her feet into his midsection."

Being knocked off balance, Keven stumbles backward, tripping over a yard ornament. His feet slip out from under him causing him to tumble to the ground. Air whooshes from his lungs when he lands. His head smacks the edge of the sledge axe she propped against the stump. Blood begins pooling all around him as he lay motionless on the cold, hard ground. Seeing his friend hurt, the officer dashes to his side.

 Rachel jumps into the front and locks the doors. Pushing the start button, Rachel throws the cruiser in reverse. Dust flies all around her as she speeds out of the drive. 

Hearing the door slam too, the rookie races towards the car. "Get back here," the officer yells, as she drives away.

Rachel glances in the rear view to find the officer on his radio. A standoff suddenly comes to mind. I've got to let Joe know what's going on, she thinks. She's reaching for the radio when she sees a cell in the cup holder beside it. She calls her husband's number and waits. Come on, come, pick up, pick up, she thinks. 

"Captain Bower."

"Joe, it's Rachel. I had to take an Alpena squad car to escape. The officer has reported it stolen, so I'm worried I might be ambushed soon."

"Where are you?"

She glances around and says, "I' m not exactly sure. Wait, I have an idea. Pulling up the google maps she types in Alpena and then start. "According to the map I'm six miles south of Porter road twenty minutes from town. She pushes a couple of buttons and adds, "I just sent you my location."

"Sit tight and I'll see what I can do."

"Joe, in case this goes south, the officer and kidnapper are in on this together." 

Gulping back the emotions, threatening to escape, In a quivery voice, Joe says, "I love you Rachel, see you soon."

"Love you too." She says, watching the cruisers surround her.