Page 44 of Burn For Me

Dr. Wallace, your time was almost up. I do hope you have your affairs in order.

This was a calling, it was my calling, and I had one obstacle left in my way before I’d be able to complete my task.

Grabbing my trusty bicycle from where it leaned against the crumbling brick wall, I pointed it toward home. Whistling softly, I peddled off into the night.

I finished patting down the dirt around the small orange trees I’d just planted when a metal trailer banged up the driveway. Pushing myself to my feet, I waved to the truck pulling the trailer, and pointed where I wanted him to go. There was lots of open space in the farmyard to turn the trailer around to back the doors up to the field.

“You’re good there,” I hollered and held up my hand with the universal sign to stop.Once in place, I opened the door and pulled it aside to let the cows walk out. The trailer rocked and thumped as the nervous animals hopped out and looked around at their new home. I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face as I watched the black animals make their way across the thick green pasture. I closed the gate and pulled the wad of cash from my pocket before heading to the driver’s side door.

“Hey there,” the man driving said. His name was Rob, a decent enough name, I guessed. He jumped out of the still-running truck. “Good looking herd you have there.”

“Thanks.” I made sure to keep looking toward the field and held out the cash so that he didn’t see the ruined part of my face. As much as Dora kept trying to tell me that I shouldn’t be ashamed, I couldn’t seem to break the habit.

The man thumbed through the thick wad of cash and smiled as he lit up a cigarette. My eyes instinctively flicked to the little flame as my tongue drew a wet line across my lips. My nostrils flared as he blew out the first puff of smoke, and I greedily breathed it in.

“If you plan on getting any more gimmie a call, I got more coming in the spring that I’ll be happy to sell ya.”

“Will do.”

Rob jumped back into his truck, the sweet scent of smoke leaving with him. I watched my new addition for a little while to make sure they were going to settle in stress-free. There was something so peaceful with the way they wandered around and ate the tall grass.

Adalyn would’ve loved this spot. She’d mentioned more than once she wanted to move out of the suburbs and get a piece of property. Picking up the watering can, I finished taking care of my little trees that were only a few feet tall, but after a couple of years, they would start to produce fruit.

My phone dinged that there was movement in the good doctor’s house, and I pulled the phone from my back pocket to take a look.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” I whispered at the sight of Jason’s face as he walked into the doctor’s living room.

I was on the run, stripping off the coveralls and grabbing my discarded hoodie off the porch before I jumped in the old truck. This was not the most ideal stalking vehicle in the world, but it would have to do. Illegal or not, I watched the men on the phone as I pulled the truck down the driveway and out onto the road. It was a solid twenty-minute drive, speeding and without traffic, to get to the doctor’s. I only hoped that they talked long enough for me to get there.

Unable to help myself, I flicked on the sound of their conversation.

“Don’t be an idiot, Jason. The man is dead. They found him in his room with the door locked,” Dr. Wallace said.

Jason paced back and forth across the living room carpet, and I could see the beads of sweat on his brow. He was scared, I liked him scared, and Jason would be a hell of a lot sweatier when I got ahold of him.

“I’m telling you, doc, that crazy fuck is still alive. Jim is dead. The house mysteriously blew up. Do you want me to believe that Dave’s apartment and almost the whole fucking building burning to the ground was also a coincidence? Never mind the fact that the entire fucking asylum burnt to the ground within minutes—who else would have that skill? I don’t believe in that much bad luck.”

“Smart man, I wouldn’t either,” I snickered at the phone.

“Yes, I agree it’s odd, but they haven’t even ruled the fire at the asylum as arson. I didn’t know about Jim, but from what I read in the newspaper, they feel it was a gas leak at the apartment building. Derek didn’t even know those other people at the apartment. Do you really think he’d blow up the whole thing to get to one man?”

“You underestimate my rage once more, Doctor. It’s not a wise choice,” I mumbled as I slowed the truck at a set of lights.

“Doc, I’m telling you that crazy son of a bitch is alive, and he is coming for us. Why did I ever listen to you in the first place? I told you when you had me drag him from his room the first time that he was dangerous and should be sent to prison, but you insisted on the asshole staying there so you could study him.” Jason stomped across the carpet and pointed his finger at Dr. Wallace.

“Jason, get control of yourself. You’re spiraling.”

“We need to hide. We need to run. I’ve been staying at my sister’s cabin to stay out of the city, and you should do the same. Shit, maybe we should leave the country.” Jason broke away from Dr. Wallace and continued to pace.

I could tell it was irritating Dr. Wallace, bringing a warm tickle to my heart.

“If you’re so worried about being seen, why are you here,” Dr. Wallace asked.

“Good question, doc. Why are you there, Jason?” I mocked.

“Because everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I’m telling you, Derek West is alive, and he’s coming for us like the fucking grim reaper. He’s going to burn us to the ground for what we did to him, for what we did to Adalyn.” Jason rubbed his face. “I regret that so much. Fucking Jim, if he weren’t already dead, I’d kill him myself. I never should’ve listened and just walked out of the room. Shit, shit, shit.”

“Too late, Jason. The verdict is already in, and I don’t really care how you feel,” I said, the anger burning bright, making me push the old truck a little faster down the final stretch of road.