Chapter 3: House Call
1091 Words
Luke Garza was in his sophomore year at Rich Simonson University, a private Methodist college. The school was known for its small class size and professionalism. It taught many majors from education and child development to business and psychology. Luke, however, majored in world religions. It had always fascinated him how religion had been used in multiple countries for political advantage and propaganda - for both good and evil. He saw it as a weapon as well as an instrument for healing. It was both a sword and a shield. It was a dagger and a scalpel.
In his daily life, he was a thoughtful person. Often, he would give what little he had to local charities. He was involved in the social media platforms of the college chapel and would help run the audio-visual equipment at the Sunday services. In every sense of the word, Luke was a good boy.
He picked Alison up from the police station. A few questions from the detectives confirmed Alison’s story that she was with Luke until almost midnight. Luke said that he had driven her home, but stopped shy of the house. He did not want Alison to be in trouble for breaking curfew and was afraid his headlights or the sound of his vehicle would alert her parents. Now, Luke had brought Alison to his apartment. It was simple lodging just outside of the university campus. On clear days, he would ride his bike back and forth between classes. It was quicker than finding parking and also gave him some exercise.
Luke was well-aware that Alison was not yet 21, but after the trauma she had gone through he agreed to get her some alcohol. It was only Jack and Coke, but Alison wasn’t a drinker so Luke figured it would be enough to help her take the edge off. Healing would be a long process. Luke could only wish that he could do more.
“Why did this happen?” Alison asked after a long silence. Luke sat next to her with his arm over her shoulders. He had no answers. “Who could have done this? And why?”
“No one deserves that. Especially not your parents. They were good people.”
“I just keep thinking…. I should have done something .”
“”Ally, no. You couldn’t have done anything.”
“I just slept. My parents were dying and I was f*****g sleeping!”
“Alison, please. You had no way of knowing.”
“And the last thing I told them was a lie. I promised I’d be home before ten. And if I had, then maybe they’d still be alive.”
“Alison…”
Alison pushed him away and began to pace. Luke couldn’t say anything. He felt helpless. He couldn’t begin to imagine what she was going through.
“Alison. I love you.”
Alison looked at Luke through tear-filled eyes. “I love you too.”
There was a moment of shared silence between them. Then there was a knock at the door. They exchanged glances as if to ask each other who it could be. The truth was that neither of them could predict.
Luke answered the door to find Cynthia. He was confused to find this small Native American woman at his door as he had never met her before. “I need to speak to Alison.”
“Uh.. Alison? Do you…”
“Cynthia?” Alison came to the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Can I come in, please?” she asked. Luke looked to Alison puzzled. Alison nodded and they all moved to a small sitting room.
“I’m Cynthia,” she extended a hand to Luke. “A friend.”
“Luke. It’s a pleasure.”
“What’s going on, Cynthia. Why are you here? Is it because of what happened?” Alison was too confused to cry at this moment.
“I am sorry, Alison, but we will need to leave. Take your things with you. If you wish for Luke to come with you, that is fine. But we must make haste.”
“Leave?” Alison asked, but Luke was thinking the same thing. “Am I in trouble?”
“More than you know,” Cynthia answered. “There is much that I have to tell you, but this is not the time.”
“Where are we going? For how long? I have a test Friday,” Luke explains.
“You don’t have to go with us, but I don’t think we are coming back.”
“You expect us to just pick up and leave?” Luke’s words turn to protest.
“Cynthia, what the hell is going on?” Alison asks in frustration.
“A word? In private?” Cynthia asks Alison but looks at Luke.
“I’ll see my way out.”
“Alison,” she began, taking the girl by the hands as Luke makes his exit. “I knew your parents very well. I knew your grandfather too. I know why they were killed, but it’s not an easy matter to explain. I will tell you everything in time. But I fear you are in danger. If I can find you, I’m certain that the killer can as well. I don’t mean to frighten you, but to protect you.”
“How did you find me?” It was an odd question to ask at this moment, but perhaps her logic wasn’t the best at the moment.
“I have my ways, but that is not the important part.”
“And you know who killed my parents? Why didn’t you tell the police?”
“I don’t know who killed them. I only know why. And if I were to tell the police, they would not believe me. I doubt you will believe me if I told you now. That is why I must show you. It is the secret of your family. It is something that your parents wanted me to keep from you, but now…. Now I must tell you. I am sorry to thrust all of this upon you, but you must know.”
“Then tell me. Why hold secrets from me?”
“In time, my dear. This Luke fellow. Can we trust him?”
“Of course,” Alison answered without hesitation.
“Can we really trust him?”
Alison paused for a moment and looked Cynthia in the eyes. “I trust him fully.”
“Then you can bring him with you. I only ask that you trust me. I know we only saw each other occasionally, but I have never done you wrong or caused you harm.”
“I trust you. If you wanted to do me harm, you could have years ago.”
“You remember why your parents first brought you to me?” Cynthia already knew the answer.
“Because of the nightmares. And you helped me.”
“Because of the terrors you saw, but they weren’t merely nightmares. It was… something else.”
- Writer
