Richard Hale - Frozen Past

Luke shrugged and dialed 911.

“911. What is the nature of your emergency,” the operator said.

“Uh…yes. I’d like to report a killing,” Luke said.

“You want to report a murder?”

“Well…not yet. I mean it hasn’t happened yet. But we think it’s going to.”

“What is your name and how old are you?”

“My name is Lucas Harrison and what does it matter how old I am?”

“How do you know there’s going to be a murder, sir?”

“We don’t know for sure. He told us he was going to kill someone tonight.”

“Who told you?”

“The killer. He calls himself William Smith, but I don’t think it’s his real name. We’re wasting time. He’s moving now!”

“I’m not following you sir. Where is this so called William Smith moving to?” Luke could tell the operator wasn’t believing anything he was telling her.

“We’re not sure, but we can track him.”

“Uh huh,” she said. “How are you tracking him?”

“By his cell phone.”

“Right. You know it’s a felony to prank call 911 don’t you?”

“This isn’t a prank! He said he was going to kill someone tonight. One of our friends.”

“Who?”

“He wouldn’t tell us that.”

“Tell her he’s the swimming pool killer,” Ellie said.

“He’s the one who’s been killing the kids and putting them in the pool at The Woods,” Luke said.

Silence on the other end for a second.

“Detective Jennings told us to call if we had any information, but he won’t answer his phone,” Luke said.

“Alright,” the operator said. “Jaxon is out of town, but I’ll have the officer in charge look at it. Where is this going to happen?”

“He’s currently…” Luke looked at the monitor. “He’s moving through the neighborhood of The Woods toward the pool area. Aren’t you supposed to have some officers in this area?”

“How do you know that?”

“Jaxon and Winston promised my girlfriend’s mother there would be.”

“We’ll send someone to check it out.”

“Thank you,” and Luke hung up. “They’re going to send someone to check it out.”

They all looked relieved. Ellie sat on the edge of the bed and sighed.

“They’re not going to know where he is,” John said, looking at the computer screen.

Luke walked over and looked. “Where is he?”

“It looks like he’s in this house,” John pointed, “but I can’t tell.”

They were all standing around the computer now.

“Should we call the police back?” Ellie asked.

“No,” Jimmy said. “I think we should follow him and see where he goes.”

“We’re the only ones who can see what he’s doing,” Luke said.

“This is stupid,” John said. “We should call them back.”

“We don’t have anything to tell them. We could follow him and see where he is and then you could call the police and let them know.” Luke pointed at John. “You’ll stay here, like before and stay in touch with us over the phones. Me and Jimmy will find out where he is.”

“I’m going too,” Ellie said. “I’m not sitting here, waiting for all of you.”

“No,” Luke said. “It’s too dangerous. He talks to you the most. If he gets the chance, he might hurt you.”

“I’m going and you can’t stop me.”

She was right. What was he going to do? Tie her up or knock her out? Luke could think of nothing that would change her mind so he just went along with her. “Alright,” he said, “but you’re with me.”

“What if he does something?” John asked. “What are you guys gonna do?”

“I don’t know,” Luke said, slowly. “I guess we’ll think of something.”

They all looked at each other, and Luke could see the fear in their eyes. He wondered if they saw it in his.

“Let’s move,” Luke said and stood.

The three of them made their way down stairs and were opening the door when Luke’s mother called to them from the kitchen.

“Who’s going out this late?”

“It’s me Mom.”

She peaked around the corner and then stepped into the foyer. “Why? It’s kind of late to be playing outside.”

Luke glanced at Jimmy who was staring off into the distance shifting from one foot to the other. “We’re going over to Jimmy’s for a minute to grab something,” Luke said quickly. “John’s still upstairs on my computer. He’s gonna wait for us.”

He must have sounded funny because she stepped toward him with that look only she could produce. The look that said, You’re trying to pull the wool over my eyes and I’m not buying it .

“What’s at Jimmy’s?” she said.

“It’s a…” Luke stammered.

“…game.” Jimmy finished for him.

Luke looked at Jimmy and nodded. “Yeah-it’s a game. We’re bored and Jimmy’s got this new game we were going to try.” Luke smiled, trying to look sincere. Ellie shifted closer to him. He could feel the tension in her body. It was like an electrical field around her and it made him feel jumpy. His mom glanced at Ellie and wrinkled her brow.

“Eliana, are you alright?” she asked.

Ellie’s head snapped up and she nodded quickly. “Yes-uh-yes ma’am.”

Luke’s mom stepped to Ellie, reached her hand up and felt her face. “You look feverish,” his mom said. “Are you sure you’re feeling ok? These boys aren’t getting you into any trouble are they?” and she glared at Luke.

“No, Mrs. Harrison-no. I’m fine, just a little hot.”

Luke’s mom let her hand fall to her side and she glanced at Ellie again, quickly, seeming to come to some conclusion in her mind that everything was ok. Her face relaxed a bit and she seemed to lose interest in the three. She turned back to the kitchen and said, “You three stick together. Don’t make me come look for you.” And she disappeared through the doorway.

Luke let out a big breath, not realizing he had been holding it. Ellie grabbed his hand and they went outside.

“That doesn’t give us much time,” Jimmy said. “Your mom will be looking for us soon.”

“I don’t think so,” Luke said. “She’s probably already forgotten about it.”

“I hope so,” Jimmy said.

John broke in on the earpiece, “What are you guys doing?”

“We’re outside,” Luke said. “What is he up to?”

“He’s stopped at that house on the other side of the pool. I can’t tell if he went into it or not. He’s just sitting there.”

“We’re gonna take a look,” Luke said. “Let us know if he moves.”

“Got it.”

The three made their way down through Luke’s backyard and out the hole in the fence. They stayed to the left of the tennis courts and followed a path past the pool and then stopped, staying hidden from the street the front of the pool house faced.

“Jimmy,” Luke whispered, “see if you can cross the street and hide in those bushes.” Luke pointed to a house across the street from them with a large hedge that ran perpendicular to the street, separating its yard from the one next to it.

Jimmy nodded and ran at a crouch to the bushes Luke had indicated.

“John, can you still here me?” Luke said.

“Yeah,” John said. “He hasn’t moved. Where are you guys?”

“We’re right next to the pool along the side fence. Jimmy is across the street from me in the bushes.”

“You guys are really close to him then. I wouldn’t move any more. He’s right across the street and up a little bit. Can you see the house that’s right across from the pool house?”

“Yep,” Luke said.

“I think he’s hanging out at the house right next to that one.”

Luke stood slowly and stretched his neck up looking for the killer. “I don’t see anything. The street and yard are deserted.” He crouched back down. “Jimmy, can you see anything?”