The Mystery of Maple Creek

Chapter 11. The Watching Eyes

Chapter 11

The Watching Eyes

(Perspective: Hellen Mayweather)

I woke up in the morning. It seemed that my dad already left early. The house was so quiet. When I walked into the kitchen, I found a small note placed on the wooden table. He wrote a note for me.

Hellen, please take a good rest. You already work hard yesterday. Let me handle the workload for now.

Love, Your Dad.

The corner of my lips lifted. I felt lucky that he really cared for me. But I still felt like I should be with him in the fish market. I came to this town to help him. But the turn of a terrible event had left me a wound.

I glanced at my shoulder to see the scar. It was not big, but the view of it reminded me of that nightmare. Sometimes, I wondered if the dead man got away somewhere. But it had been a few days already since no one knew about his comeback. Sure, I worried.

But my dad was right. I should take a day off. Maybe I could use a quiet time alone here.

I peeped through the window. The refreshing view of the river comforted me. The idea slightly snapped inside my head. I already pictured myself in a swimsuit. Maybe it was a good thing to do.

I quickly searched for my old swimsuit inside the wardrobe. Without a second thought, I wore it and ready to slide myself in the water.

The water felt a bit cold. I shivered, but in time, I got used to it. It had been a long time since I plunged into the water. I was not an expert, so I couldn’t really swim.

I let my body floated on the water. I was just trying to feel the peaceful atmosphere around here. I breathed the air in and out for a moment.

When I closed my eyes, I could hear voices. The birds were chirping in the trees. The wind blew in the air. But then slowly, I heard something else. When I heard a sneaking sound on the ground, I hurriedly opened my eyes.

I immediately scanned my surroundings well-warily. Our house was established by the riverside and across the woods. So, I thought, there could be someone passing the walking trail.

It was like the watching-eyes effect. It was like someone was watching me. But what if there was really someone sneaking in between the trees and the wild shrubs?

I felt paranoid already. I didn’t know if I heard it wrong. It was like the sound of footsteps on the ground. Since I was just alone here, I should be cautious.

Afterward, I took the towel to cover my wet body. And I hurriedly went inside the house.

I was planning to relax there for around twenty minutes and so. But eventually, I only spent some minutes in the water.

Then I got into my bedroom on the second floor. I quickly changed my clothes and dried my long blonde hair.

When I unintentionally looked at the window, my eyes opened wide. I didn’t know what was that, but I kept seeing a strange movement. My eyes caught a shadow ran in between the trees. I couldn’t tell if that a human or something else. I was not so sure because the shadow moved too fast.

There was nobody around me. And I didn’t believe in ghosts. But my feeling kept telling me, there was something off out there.

I could feel my heart pounded restlessly. With a situation like this, I didn’t feel comfortable being left alone at home.

Soon after I finished drying my hair, I just had to leave the house.

***

I came right at the lunchtime. My dad was surprised when I visited his market. But I didn’t tell him about the shadow I saw.

“I told you, Hellen, you ain’t got the workload here, I won’t let you get tired,” my dad admonished me. But truthfully, I came here because I was a bit terrified at home. I just didn’t like the haunting feeling.

“Yes, and it’s time for the lunch break, Dad. You should eat some food,” I said with a big smile, trying to change the topic. “I will treat you anything yummy in the Dine Club.”

My dad grinned excitedly when I said I would treat him. Thereafter, we went there together.

Once we arrived, I opened my eyes widely. I thought this place only got crowded at night. Eventually, people also enjoyed spending time here during the day.

“Hellen! Ronald! Come here!” we heard Larry called us in. He sat alone at the bar table.

My dad approached him. As they tapped each other’s shoulder, I followed to sit with them.

“How are your sales coming up?” Larry asked while eating his beef beacon.

“We’ve only started a few days in town, the number of sales is still counting. I hope this business will go well,” my dad said confidently.

When an old waitress came to take our order, I quickly read the book menu she gave me.

There were lots to choose from. Most of them were the kind of homemade food I could cook by myself. I was not trying to sound pretentious, but I used to cook a lot in Calgary for my grandma.

“Please give me a hot coffee. I need a fantastic drink,” my dad said funnily. Larry and the waitress giggled along.

Then I picked one also, “I’d like a tuna sandwich, please. And a sweet ice tea.”

“Don’t forget, Megan! Bring me those yummy French fries!” My dad shouted out.

The waitress named Megan nodded. “Like usual, huh?” Then she took the book menu from me and said again, “Coming right up, Boss.”

When I looked around, I didn’t see Noah’s cousin. I wondered if he only had the night shift when working here.

A few minutes later, our drinks were served on the table. While we waited for our food, Megan changed the television channel. She stopped clicking the remote once the screen showed the local news.

Everyone paused from whatever they were doing. All eyes immediately were on the screen. The young female reporter was interviewing Sheriff Clark at the time.

The female reporter continued to ask him, “Tell us, Sheriff, is there any news regarding the incident in Maple Creek? Do we already have the result from the blood test?”

Sheriff Clarke immediately glanced at the camera and said, “We’ve just received the report from the forensic team today—”

He paused for a second to glance cautiously at the reporter.

“It may seem this case is not an ordinary one,” and right after he said that, everyone in the room grasped the air. Of course, they would wonder what was actually happening.

I exchanged a slight glance with my dad. He also looked worried.

“We have to forward this case to the FBI for a quick review,” he said, frightened people in here.

“The FBI?” The reporter also raised her eyebrows wonderingly. “Was it really a deer attack? Or something more terrible—”

“The bloodstain we found in the woods—belonged to Marion Stanley. This may not be an animal attack,” his dark voice made people jittering restlessly.

“Then, is it possible that Marion Stanley was murdered? But her body has not been found, Sheriff,” the reporter asked curiously.

Sheriff Clarke nodded to agree. “Yes, it’s very possible. We still gather people to look for her whereabouts. We also received a confirmation statement from Miss Hellen Mayweather—”

I held my breath for a second. I didn’t expect him to mention my name on TV.

Some people automatically glanced at me. I tried not to care as I stared up again to watch the television screen.

“She witnessed this attack involved a human being. But we still have to gather evidence for proof,” Sheriff Clarke informed us.

Before the reporter gave a closing speech, Sheriff Clarke spoke firmly again, “I have to warn the folks while we will be working along with the FBI; please take care of yourself. Lock the doors. Don’t leave home if not necessary. And stay safe.”

Everyone in the room instantly muttered. They feared whatever danger might be awaited them out there.

Megan let out a heavy sigh. And she muttered peevishly, “Is that why Sheriff Clarke give up the case to the FBI? Because our local cops are lacking the skill to investigate further.”

“They may want to look up the detail investigation with the FBI,” Larry talked. Although his voice sounded calm, his face looked frightened like everyone here.

My dad added, “There must be important information that the sheriff can’t share with us—the folks here.”

“Like what?” I asked. The three of them quickly turned to look at me. “What kind of information it would be? We all know FBI rarely get involved, except if there is something crucially dangerous or unique—”

“Well, unique in that department, Hellen—it is not very fancy,” Megan nailed it. “But you had seen his face, right?”

I stared dumbly at her. I wasn’t aware of what she was asking at first.

But when she snapped again, “I mean, the killer. The one who tried to hurt you in the woods.”

I finally flinched.

My dad pretended to clear his throat and shouted out, “Oh, Megan. Give it a rest. Don’t make my daughter feel uneasy. She’s still recovering from a trauma.”

Megan sighed heavily. Without saying anything, she left us to the kitchen in the back room.

For a moment, I noticed the elders at the table sat restlessly. They looked at each other and held hands to seek comfort.

I could feel the uneasy atmosphere in this room. Some people started losing their demeanor. I knew this kind of incident made people panic.

Larry followed my gaze. And then suddenly, he lowered his voice as he said to me, “They fear the evil creature from the past has come back. People are panicking.”

I instantly froze when he said that. What kind of evil creature that he meant?

A tap on my back distracted my focus. When I looked back. I was surprised.

“Noah—”

 “I’m worried about you,” he murmured.

I didn’t know he was here the entire time. When I glanced at his back, his cousin, Ronnie just returned from the bathroom.

“If what Sheriff Clarke said on TV is true, the serial killer may be wandering in town right now,” he kept on pinching his forehead when talking. “I want you to be careful.”

I was surprised that Noah cared for my well-being. I immediately nodded.

I saw my dad stole a weird glance at Noah. I hurriedly pretended to clear my throat to distract his attention.

When Noah had to go sitting with his parents at the table, then my dad giggled at me.

“What’s so funny?” I demanded curiously.

“Well, nothing. It’s just, I see a boy on the corner of the little town has an interest in my daughter,” he said with a funny tone. “So, I should keep my eyes wide open.”

“Really, Dad? You don’t have to be so possessive,” I replied to his joke.

When Larry heard our conversation, the three of us immediately giggled along.