Rhodes

Unwinding

I woke up the next day in a hospital bed. My arm was in a cast. There were two people awaiting my return into consciousness-Jasper and Eli. I knew that I had been dreaming. As I blinked myself back into working order I tried to remember it. I remember seeing a demon in my dream, chasing me. A massive statue coming to life to squash me. I mouthed those words to myself so that I could better remember the dream.

“You’re awake?” Jasper said.

“Yeah.” I groaned and tried leaning up. “Where’s Calvin?” I asked.

“Your boy is at school.” Jasper said. “I made sure of that.”

“Thanks.” I swallowed. “How long was I out?”

“About twelve hours.” Eli said. “Your right hand is broken, as is your arm.” He leaned in close. “What were you doing in the woods last night?”

“Trying to find a lead on the Penderton case.” I said. “I was attacked.”

“By what?” Eli’s face went pale.

“There were two people, I’m sure of it.” I said, piecing what happened last night and trying to separate it from my dream. “I think someone is after me.”

“You’ve made a lot of enemies.” Jasper said.

“Not like this one.” I said. “I could have sworn he looked just like Jack Risinger.”

“That’s impossible, Jack Risinger is dead.” Jasper assured.

“Nothing is impossible for the world we live in.” Eli said with assurance.

I sighed at Eli’s mindset. We were best of friends-once upon a time- but his eagerness to believe in the spectacularly impossible made him difficult to work with once I had chosen my profession. Now, Eli worked for the government as a paper pusher. Though, he spent his off days wandering forests in search of monsters.

“We do have more information.” Jasper said to bring the focus back on the more pertinent investigation. “Cause of death for Ms. Penderton was indeed-as we suspected- blunt force trauma.”He seemed uneasy at the thought.

“The metal you’ve recovered is steel.”Eli continued.

“Vanheim surmised that it is consistent with that which is found in medieval knight armor.”

“Great!” I groaned. “So our killer is a psychopath dressing up like a knight of the round.”

“Or it could be from the suits on display at Siren’s Song.” Jasper guessed.”I already have Simmons looking into getting a warrant.”

“I’m still not convinced.”Eli said.

“Stubborn to all things that question what you believe to be possible.”I interjected.

“Ever the skeptic Macdonald.” Eli quipped back. “The metal you gave to Vanheim had blood, blood not matching the victim.”

“I venture the guess that whoever our not-so-chivalrous friend is, used part of the armor as an impromptu weapon.”

“There were signs of a struggle.” I stroked my beard, remembering the details I myself surmised.

“That still doesn’t explain what you saw in the woods.” Eli said.

“I don’t know what I saw.” I sighed.

“Dr. Tsuki did say that there were signs that you had been drugged.” Jasper said.

“The mist.” I whispered. “I knew that amount of fog was unnatural.”

“I believe that may also explain Balthazar’s statements regarding Ms. Penderton.”

“Tell us what you did see.” Eli said as he folded his hands together.

“Now I really don’t know.” My own vision told me one thing. My mind told me another. In my heart I guessed that the truth lay somewhere in between. “I do know this though. What attacked me was not what led Ms. Penderton to her untimely demise.” I stood from my bed. “The ghoul that assaulted me, our tree-leering friend, is a completely different individual than the armored giant of a man whom I saw last night.”

“That means there are perhaps two killers.” Jasper said. “They must be connected.”

“True.” I stated. “Alice had been frightened of our ghoulish friend. But she must have been killed by the one who wears armor.”

“They may have tried doing the same to you.” Jasper said.

“Jasper, you and Eli check the old graveyard. There may yet be another clue to this case. ‘Jack Risinger Lives Again!’ That is what the gravestone said.”

“But if this ghoul has been sighted numerous times over the weeks, how is it possible for it to be connected with Jack?”

“An accomplice.” I guessed. “I may have a clue to the case. An unopened letter addressed to me from Jack Risinger, found upon his timely death.”

“It can’t be a coincidence.” Eli said. “Jack Risinger and Alice Penderton died within a day of each other.”

“And you are absolutely sure this ghoul sparked an uncanny resemblance to Jack Risinger?” Jasper asked me.

“Beyond the shadow of a doubt.” I stepped towards the door. “I’m going to my office to see this letter.” I said with a sigh.

“Macdonald…” Eli said. “If Jack Risinger truly did have an accomplice...this ghoul may be tied to Mary’s death.”

“That doesn’t matter now.” I said solemnly. “We have to catch this killer before he strikes again.”

The first thing I did was meet with Dr. Tsuki. She was an immigrant from the far east who came here to practice American medicine. She had taken quite a liking to my wife, and would oftentimes visit our home. It was that familiarity that made me trust her judgement. She confirmed that I had breathed a hallucinogen the night in the woods. Nothing drastic, but it had put my fear receptors on edge.

I took my time after my departure from the hospital. Doctor Tsuki had warned me not to overexert myself. I was strictly forbidden from the entire medical staff from going into the woods until my arm recovered. And with the perpetrators’ connection to Jack Risinger, it was almost guaranteed that Jack’s doppelganger was coming for me. I grabbed something to eat, and got myself sustenance from a coffee shop run by a pudgy old woman named Mona. I then walked back to the station and into my office. The other officers and detectives asked me questions and I did my best to answer them.

While I was there, I ran through all the information on the case. I confirmed Jasper’s findings with Vanheim and Klein. I read all the reports filed by Simmons and the other members of the team. I read the transcripts of the interviews with the witnesses and everyone else connected to the crime. Then, I went into my office.

I reached in the bottom left-hand drawer of my desk. The crumpled up suicide note was still present on top, right as I had left it. I unfurled the piece of paper in my hand. The font it was made on was frantic and rushed. It was hard to make out exactly what it said. But I was eventually able to make everything out.

“Jason!

If you are reading this than I have ascended upon the fleeting bonds of mortality. I am now unchained by the laws of the Earth. I have risen, like the story of Lazarus I rise but not as a man. I have perfected the art of astral projection. I have tested it on the unsuspecting patrons of Siren’s Song. Your law, the law of man and the law of Earth have failed you just as they failed your precious Mary. You thought it was over but this is just the beginning. Jack Risinger lives again! This time you cannot stop me. No mortal can stop me. I will destroy everything you know and love. Then, when you are truly beaten I shall snuff out your life.”

He can’t be serious. That’s what I was thinking as I read the note. He had to be messing with me. I rationalized it. Even if astral projection was a thing that allowed him to cheat death, the doppleganger I had tussled with was very much a physical being.

“You’d almost think he had a vendetta.” Miranda said. I looked to the door and she was standing there.

“What is it this time?” I asked.

“Hey, I heard what happened.” Miranda helped herself to a seat. “Do you need someone to talk to?”

“Not until this dreadful duo is safely locked behind bars.” I answered. “Do you believe any of this?”

“Me? No. I always suspected Jack Risinger had friends. How else could he kill so many people just for the fun of it?”

“I always figured that no man in their right mind could be friends with him.” I lamented.

“It wasn’t always that way.” Miranda admitted. “Jack Risinger had an unmistakable amount of charisma-a facade of charm for which he hid his malintent.”

“I don’t remember any of that.” I continued. “All I remember was that deranged smile and laugh when he told me about Mary’s death.”

“He tried to break you.” Miranda put a dainty hand on my shoulder. “But people like you are made from tougher stuff.”

“Nice of you to say.” I took a deep breath. “But you of all people should know that I’m not as strong as I seem. If anything happens to Calvin...I don’t know what I’d do.”

“Perhaps you should tell him that.” Miranda said.

“What do you mean?”

“When was the last time you spent honest to God quality time with him?”

“I’ve been busy.” I reasoned.

“I know.” She sighed. “And I’m sure Calvin feels the same way. I just know what it was like growing up with a soldier as a father.”

“I know, I know.” I gave a slight smile. “You’re never going to let me live this life down.”

“I hate what it’s done to you.” Miranda said.

“It’s provided a roof, plenty of food, a multitude of respect and a sense of satisfaction every time justice is dealt out.”

“The more things change the more they stay the same.” Miranda noted with a sigh. “All about Justice. Crime reaping the rewards, the bitter fruit that the seeds of crime create. It’s no wonder Mary fell for you.” She sighed again.

“You miss her too, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.” Miranda said. “We were inseparable back in the day.”

“Back when we were kids getting in trouble in the creek bed.” I reminisced.

“Aye...can’t believe I actually used to like Eli.” Miranda said with a chuckle. Speaking of the devil, Eli and Jasper walked into my office.

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear.” I greeted. Eli took notice of Miranda and nodded towards her.

“We checked out that gravestone.” Jasper said. “It was a fake, made from wood.”

“Someone must have put it there recently.” Eli said.

“It’s clear now more than ever that whoever these people are they’re coming for you.” Jasper said to me. I stepped towards the phone.

“I’m going to call the school.” I said. “I’m picking Calvin up now. He’s not safe.”

“Under any other circumstances I’d say you were paranoid.” Miranda said.

“I still don’t understand how that Alice figures into all this.”

“One question at a time, Eli.” I said as I dialed in the numbers to Calvin’s school.

“Rhodes Elementary School.” The receptionist answered. “How may I help you?”

“This is Detective Macdonald.” I answered.

“Oh, Mr. Macdonald.” The receptionist sounded surprised.

“I’m calling about my son, Calvin.” I said. “I’ll be picking him up from school promptly.”

“Is something the matter?” The woman on the phone asked.

“Just a personal matter.” I said. There was a minute of silence.

“I’m afraid Calvin is not here.” The receptionists words hit my chest like an anvil. “Mr. Aldrich’s fifth grade class is on a field trip.”

“Where?” My voice began to shake.

“A nature expedition to Birch Wood.” She answered. I slammed the phone down.

“ELI!” Mt voice was in a panic. “Get your gun and the car.”

“What’s going on?” Miranda asked.

“Jasper, gather as many able bodied men as you can.” I said as I fetched my revolver from its case. “My son’s class is in Birch Wood. If I was a tree hopping demon of the night this would be the perfect chance to strike.” I jammed the revolver into its holster. “Bring the cavalry. We haven’t a moment to lose.”