Rick Mofina - Into the Dark

“I am reaching out from the darkness to warn the world that I have kept my word…I am back…I will soon unleash fear unlike anything the world has ever known…I decide who lives and who dies…”

He went to his office, turned on his computer, got online and searched for the story. News sites everywhere ran the same story. All of them quoted his letter. He went back to the kitchen and made breakfast-scrambled eggs and hash browns. As he ate, he reread the story, dimly conscious of his surroundings, basking in what he’d achieved.

People around the world now knew and feared the Dark Wind Killer.

I’ve been exalted. I’m in control and I will claim my place in history, alongside Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac. They never caught them and they’ll never catch me. You can’t stop the wind. I’m on the path to glory.

As Bowen ate, he remembered the sweetest moments of each mission, savoring how Esther had pleaded, actually prayed, “Hail Mary full of grace…” How Monique had begged, “Please, don’t let me die, oh, please!” to the point that she was incoherent in the final moments. And Leeza’s soft cries had been operatic as if arising from a requiem. Each one of the five was a piece of craftsmanship, inspiring him now to do his best work ever.

Bowen glanced at the microscopic bits of dirt under his clean fingernails, a reminder that he had projects in progress and needed to move his work along before his next trip. He sat in the morning quiet a long time, thinking before the light in the kitchen diffused.

Claire kissed his cheek.

“Good morning.” She went to the fridge for a glass of orange juice. “Are you nervous about the hero’s banquet tonight?”

“I’m no hero.”

“Ruben Montero’s community association thinks otherwise.”

“I don’t know about this, Claire-all this attention.”

“Come on. Be gracious. It’ll make Ruben happy, and we’ll have a nice time.” She smiled. “And thanks again for bringing my laptop to the break-in the other day. It was a big help.”

“How are things going with that?”

She allowed a few seconds to pass, as if she had opened a door to a room of unsettled things.

“We managed to rejig the schedule, and I got a call from police last night when you were out. They checked on my patient who’d been assaulted by her partner, to be sure everything was okay. They said she was fine.”

“You must be relieved.”

“I’m concerned, given the situation.” Claire got a muffin from the cupboard and sat at the table with him.

“How are police doing with the investigation?” he asked. “I thought they said the bad guys were going after gold fillings.”

“The detective had theories that the burglary was disguised to look like that. He thought that maybe a vengeful ex might’ve been going after files in my office, especially since my patients have suffered abuse and attacks, you know.”

Chewing on a piece of her muffin, she took a moment to shape her next question, aware that two new magazines about babies and pregnancies were on the far side of the table.

“Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

“I got another trip coming up, Chicago and Toronto.”

“Okay.” Claire broke off another piece of her muffin, swallowing her disappointment, her focus shifting through the glass patio doors to their backyard and two planter boxes by a mound of fresh earth next to one of her large flower beds.

“I see you’re still working on my boxes. They look great, by the way. Is that what you were up doing last night? You were up late.”

Bowen followed Claire’s gaze to the yard.

“Yes, I want them to be just right.”

“You’re such a perfectionist. What time did you come to bed?”

“I don’t remember. I have to take a new plane for the next trip, so I went out to Van Nuys to check it out.”

“You drove to work in the middle of the night to look at a plane?”

“I couldn’t sleep. You know how my job plays havoc with my body clock.”

“Yes, it just seems unusual.” Claire shrugged, then turned to the Star-News headline about the killer surfacing. She read a few paragraphs before tapping her finger to it. “Scary stuff.”

She stood, cleaned up and kissed him. “Gotta go. Remember, Ruben called you a great hero, so just be yourself tonight.”

Claire left, taking a parting glance at the newspaper then the backyard, thinking how the boxes looked like coffins next to a fresh grave. She held that grim observation briefly before shifting her attention to the day ahead.

San Marino, California

Claire drove to her office, contending with traffic and a million worries.

Focus on the positives and count your blessings, she told herself.

It had become her mantra.

Robert was a wonderful man, the man who’d rescued her from hell. He’s a good husband, a caring and loving man. He was going to be a fantastic dad. She smiled to herself.

He paid attention to the little things.

She’d only casually mentioned how planter boxes would be nice for the yard and he set out to make them for her. He rushed to her aid when she needed her laptop. You could count on him. He’d saved the lives of two strangers, a mother and her baby, for which he was going to be publicly honored tonight as a hero.

Robert was perfect.

Wasn’t he?

Claire came to a red light.

Wasn’t he?

She pounded her palms on her steering wheel and bit back her tears.

Face the truth.

She was haunted by doubt and suspicion.

Does he really want a baby?

He’s never asked me about the treatments, not really. He avoids the subject. He never wants to talk seriously about the future. He balked at the idea of selling the cabin for a college fund. And what about Cynthia?

The questions consumed Claire until a horn sounded.

The light had changed.

Claire resumed driving and grappling with her unease.

Maybe it’s all me? I’m overreacting again to everything: the treatment, Robert’s issues, Amber’s assault in the parking lot, the burglary.

I’m just going through a rough time .

Claire began counseling herself. She knew she was compartmentalizing, putting up a wall of psychological self-defense. She didn’t approach Robert directly because she wanted to avoid conflict with him, because deep down she was afraid she’d learn a truth she couldn’t bear. She was rationalizing to maintain a consistent belief system-that while her relationship might not be perfect at this time, the positives outweighed the negatives and things were going to be fine.

Claire adjusted her grip on the wheel.

Let’s leave it there for now.

At the office, matters had nearly returned to normal.

Claire got right to work at her desk, installing her flash drive to review her updated patient notes. Alice brought her fresh coffee, the day’s patient list and a smile.

“Everything’s back on track,” Alice said. “You’ve got April and Madison this morning, then only Dorothy this afternoon. I’ll make the appointment reminder calls for Vanessa and Amber. They’re scheduled for tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Alice.”

“Oh, and the insurance guy is coming back today to drop off some papers. I’ll handle that, if you’re busy.” Alice caught herself and concentrated on Claire. “Are you okay, dear?”

“Oh, sure, thanks. Just a bit tired,” she lied.

“You’ve been through a lot lately. Want me to look ahead? Tomorrow looks light. I can shift things around so you can take a day.”

“No, no,” Claire said, appreciating the offer. “I’ve got Amber coming. I won’t put any burden on my patients. Thanks, Alice. It was thoughtful.”