It Takes a Killer (5 page)

“I’m not sure I understand what that means, officer,” she replied.  “He hurt someone?  And they know what?”

“You,” the tall one said.  His lips were pressed hard together.

“I suppose.  But I'm not going to kill him over a stolen wallet.”  She tried to laugh but it came out strangled.

“You did before though,” the small one stated.  There was no refuting that.  Hannah narrowed her eyes on the officers, the light in the hallway beginning to feel like a dim spotlight.  They were fishing for something, for any kind of evidence that she had done this.

“If I killed him why would I leave a note saying he wouldn’t hurt me again?” Hannah asked.

“So you think the note’s about you?” the woman asked back.  A smile tugged at her lips as if she had won some kind of battle.

“No,” Hannah replied instantly, making the smile fall away.  “But you clearly do.”

“We’re just following all our leads,” the tall one stated.

“Well I suggest you follow them elsewhere.”  Hannah kept her sneer under control but it came out in her next action.  It was a bold and most likely stupid move, Hannah knew, but she slammed the door in their face.  They had no evidence that she had killed Bart, and it wasn’t only
her
wallet found with his body.  They went straight to her because of Belleveau.  She was beginning to curse that name more and more, even though she had caused his grisly end.

After Hannah bought another cell phone to replace the replacement she thought she should see Mariana.  She’d been dodging Mariana for a few days in hopes of avoiding a full out strike at the hotel, and figured it had been long enough.  The odd part was Mariana wasn’t picking up.

It’s the new number,
Hannah thought.  She sent Mariana a quick text and then tried calling again a few minutes later, but again to no avail.  Thinking of her parents, Hannah thought a surprise visit might be best.

Hannah stared at the Lux Hotel for a moment before she could step inside.  It’s old brick exterior was crumbling in some parts, but people always said that added to the appeal.  Hannah didn’t see any appeal in staying somewhere that looked like it might collapse—being fired might have been a blessing.  As she approached the revolving glass doors she caught a glimpse of her bruised face, and became certain that being fired was a blessing.  She touched her nose and felt it sting, wishing Bart had just punched her in the gut instead.  At least that would make it feel like people weren’t staring so much…although Hannah knew her face wasn’t the reason people were staring.

There was an unusual hush in the Lux that evening.  There were no guests anywhere in the dusky golden lobby, and only two girls at the front desk.  One of them was Mariana, and Hannah told herself that was why Mariana wasn’t answering the phone.  As Hannah walked up she caught Mariana’s eye and was on the receiving end of a falling professional smile.  Mariana turned white, eyes unblinking as she watched Hannah approach.

“You aren’t answering the phone,” Hannah said quietly.  The other girl, Alexa, shuffled down the desk to get away; her attempt to look busy was laughable at best, and Hannah did what she normally did; Hannah ignored her, focusing unblinking eyes on Mariana.  Mariana never did well under just the right amount of pressure.

“I’m at work,” Mariana predictably replied.  She pretended to click on the computer mouse, darting her eyes between Hannah and the screen.

“You’re avoiding me.”

“I’m not avoiding you,” Mariana said halfway through Hannah’s sentence.  Hannah arched one brow and pursed her lips, getting more annoyed by the second.  The clock that everyone complained about, the one that sat behind the counter and ticked away each second like a foghorn, began to grind on Hannah’s nerves.  The odd thing was it never had before.  She found solace in it’s constant, unstoppable rhythm as it counted the seconds, just like the rose-gold watch around her wrist.  It kept the world around her in check.  It was…Hannah didn’t know how to explain it.

“It sounds like you’re avoiding me,” Hannah said.  She dropped her eyes to her feet in hopes of playing to Mariana’s mothering side.  “I don’t understand.”

“You wouldn’t,” Mariana replied.  Hannah had to look up at the woman that had used such a harsh tone.  It felt like a flinch, like Mariana had just threatened to hit her and Hannah had no choice but to move away.  Mariana kept her eyes on the computer as she continued.  “I’m sorry but I can’t talk to you right now.  Everyone is talking about…
that
, and
you
.”

“Me?” Hannah asked innocently.  She knew the truth.  She knew what this town now thought of her, but she didn’t really care.  In fact, she found herself a little elated at the idea of being on so many people’s minds.  She was an intrusive thought they loved to hate.

A tingle ran through Hannah as she thought of an entire town thinking of her.  Her hands began to shake in wonder at what people might be saying,
actually
saying.  Not the expected unified gasps and pullbacks that Hannah knew they were doing when they heard the news.  When they heard of what she did to protect their little town from a nefarious criminal.  To save them from suffering at his hands.  It was becoming clear after the police visit that they didn’t consider her a victim—not the police, not the people she grew up with, and apparently not Mariana.  She wasn’t sure she herself was thinking of herself in the same way, either.  Shaking out of her head Hannah raised her eyes to Mariana.  “So what are you saying?”

“That I can’t talk right now.”  Mariana went back to the computer, her fingers typing away at some official report that could always wait until later.  She paused and glanced over at something on the desk before picking up a white box with red ribbon wrapped around it.  “This was left for you in the back.”

Hannah looked at the box and the elegant cursive her name was written in.  Her eyes then went back to Mariana, who kept facing the computer.  “Is it—”

“I don’t know who it’s from.”

“Then throw it away.”

Mariana finally looked over and nodded.  She picked up the box and threw it with a little too much force into the trashcan that Hannah knew was hidden at her feet.

Hannah waited for a full ten seconds for Mariana to look back at her.  For a wince or a twitch, a simple head turn to signal that Mariana really did want to talk and this was just pressure from management.  After all, they had just fired Hannah.  But Mariana wasn’t giving her any hope that this wasn’t the end of a lifelong friendship.  There was a pain in her chest that pinched and made it hard to breathe.  Mariana was telling her that they couldn’t be friends anymore.  Just like that.  Hannah stared for another moment but Mariana didn’t give way as she normally did.

Hannah nodded.  “All right then.”  She spun on her heel and left, only giving the revolving door a light shove. 

As Hannah walked away from the hotel it seemed like she was walking away from something she had known her entire life.  Mariana felt like a weight around her neck, the kind that kept her grounded and in place.  An anchor of sorts.  Her cheeks burned with emotion, not embarrassment, but anger at making a scene in the lobby.  Even though only one or two people noticed the scene, Hannah knew it would be all over town within a few hours.  Hannah didn’t understand how Mariana could drop her so easily, but in a way she respected it.  It wasn’t personal, just Mariana’s way of furthering her own fortune.  Still, Hannah’s chin sunk towards her chest.

“Hannah.”

Hannah stopped beneath a cloudy sky.  A clap of thunder echoed above her and travelled through her feet, up her legs and torso, and into her hands.  How she had managed to make them stop shaking was a miracle in and of itself.  She hated that her anger was so easily shown.   Calming her features to a neutral expression Hannah turned towards the voice, a shadow in the small alley beside the hotel.  Her eyes darted to the ground a moment, imagining the pool of blood that had sat there two weeks ago and she shivered.

“You’re shaking,” Dane said.  He stepped forward until he was right in front of her, directly beneath the streetlamp.  It created a perfect circle around them in the evening darkness.  “It really scared you, huh?”

Dane was dressed in black slacks and a white button down shirt, a leather book bag slung over his shoulder.  It was a simple outfit but the shirt was just a little too tight and pulled across his chest.  Anyone would drool over his fit body, but Hannah found herself annoyed by it.  He was purposely choosing to wear ill-fitting clothes, and that had always been a pet peeve of hers.  She’d made Mariana dump four boyfriends in high school because they’re clothes were too loose; in her opinion too tight was just as bad.

Hannah narrowed her eyes and kept her mouth firmly shut.  It felt wrong to admit she was scared, even though that was the logical reaction.  A man held a gun in her face, and to her friend’s head.  Even now she could remember how hard her heart had been beating—it threatened to break her ribs, she’d thought.  Afterwards her entire body felt pained, tiny aches crept out of seemingly nowhere. 

Dane smiled at her, that same charming smile that made her warm.  She never thought she would be one of his select few, but now that she was she didn’t know why he hadn’t made a move sooner.  Hannah lifted her head and stared down her nose at Dane.

He said, “I’ve heard not many people are talking to you—I’m sorry these small town people are so close-minded.”

Hannah furrowed her brow.

“I don’t mean you, of course,” Dane added quickly.  He smelled of cigarettes, his body only a half a foot away from Hannah.  She resisted wrinkling her nose at the unsavoury scent.  She hadn’t noticed it before because she was too distracted by the coffee he’d made for her, but now it was obvious.  Despite wanting to, she didn’t move.  She watched him, unblinking.  His unease became obvious in his slight step back, his right hand moving to rub the back of his neck.

“Of course,” Hannah agreed, putting Dane more at ease.  “I have noticed that people aren’t…acting like themselves.  But that’s understandable considering nothing like this has happened here before.”

“So I’m told,” Dane replied.  The charming smile never faltered, never failed.  His lips didn’t even twitch downwards.  There was a slight tremor in his hand as he lowered it to his side.  “I’m just heading out.”

Hannah dragged her eyes up and down his body, enjoying the view just as much as she hated it.  “I can see that.”

“Would you like to join me for a drink?” he asked.  The tremble in his voice crawled across Hannah’s skin.  Down the street something metallic clattered against the sidewalk and she turned her head to see the source.  A small red soda can rolled towards the street, pushed by the heavy breeze that swept over the lake.  Dane didn’t seem to notice, and when Hannah turned back to him he was still watching her.

“Is a drink all you want?” Hannah asked, tired of this game.  She wanted him to admit he wanted her.  Suddenly she’d never wanted anything so badly in her life.  She could already feel his lips on her skin, the way he would taste like the mints he was always popping to hide the stench of cigarettes, and how his hands would hold her perfectly against the wall of the alley.

Dane wasn’t one to be tripped up by snarky banter.  “Why don’t we have a drink and find out?”

Hannah looked back towards the soda can as it teetered on the edge of the sidewalk.  It threatened to fall over into the street, on the verge of getting crushed by a car passing by.  Mariana stepped out of the Lux, her eyes falling immediately on Hannah and Dane.

Mariana had always had a thing for Dane, but she’d never tried anything after discovering Dane’s type.  Still, she lusted after him something awful, and nothing Hannah said had made enough sense in her chemical filled brain to stop.  Dane followed Hannah’s gaze to Mariana, and Mariana blushed hard.  They were twenty feet away and Hannah could tell what had happened.  What she wanted to know was
when
this had happened, and she hadn’t known.  The pinch in her chest became a full-blown punch.  Hannah ground her teeth before smiling at Dane.

Hannah placed a hand on Dane’s chest and pushed him gently backwards.  She followed him with small, careful steps until his back was against the wall, and she made sure to take another one forward until she was leaning against him, propped up onto her toes.  She could feel his heart racing in his chest, feel his breath begin to accelerate as well.  She leaned in further until their lips were nearly touching.

“What if I said I don’t want a drink first?” she asked.  Dane raised his eyebrows at her.

“Pardon?” he said, caught off guard.  Hannah found it hard to believe Dane didn’t get hit on occasionally, but she knew he preferred to do the chasing.  It wasn’t much of a challenge if you were the one being chased.

“You heard me,” Hannah replied.  She didn’t want to move her hand from his chest, enjoying the affect she had on him, but she did.  She lowered her eyelids to her hands and then glanced at Mariana, who still watched on.  Slowly, she slid her hand up over his should and then down his arm until their hands met.  She gripped his fingers and moved towards the alley.  “I don’t want a drink first, and I have a feeling you’re after something…different.”

Dane followed Hannah into the alley as if he were dazed.  By the time they were in the shadows, the only light coming from the small bulb that hung over the door to the kitchen, Hannah didn’t care at all how Dane made her feel.  She wasn’t warm between the legs anymore for him, but instead warm in the head.  Hot, she knew,
hot headed
.  Furious.  At Dane and Mariana.  At whatever tryst they had had while she wasn’t around—at how they’d managed to keep it from her.