They Live Among Us

They Live Among Us

“Promise you won’t tell.” Jazmine whispered, “It would be bad, catastrophic, for both of us, if anyone ever found out.”

“Girl, come on.” Emily brushed off her friend’s concern, “When have I ever told anyone anything you tell me.”

“This is a work thing.” Jazmine reiterated.

“Ok, fine.” Emily confirmed, “I’m familiar with doctor patient confidentiality.” Teasing the obvious; the lifelong friends were both psychiatrists.

“So, I have, Patient X. And he has been a patient for a few years, wait, no longer. Oh, my goodness, it’s been almost a decade.” After a slight hesitation, Jazmine continued, “I think he, committed a crime.”

“What kind of crime?” Emily asked not missing a beat, enthused by her friend’s tale.

“I, I don’t know if I should say anything since, I don’t’ have proof. Even my notes of our sessions are inconclusive.”

“And this isn’t a court of law, so fess up. What do you think he did?” Emily pushed.

“I think he killed someone.” Jazmine blurted.

Stunned, Emily eyed her best friend, blinking occasionally.

“I went through my notes. I think he planned one murder six years ago, at least that one. He used this odd analogy, digging for gold.” Jazmine explained.

“Wait, gold?” Emily asked.

“I think he killed people who wronged him, in one way or another. I know this is all speculation, but I think he has this list. Like a hierarchy of offenses and when someone does something he deems bad, he kills them.”

“Alright, so who did he kill?” Emily questioned taking a bite of her prized chocolate chip cookie. The one steaming from the oven it exited minutes ago. “A child rapist? A crooked cop? A sleezy politician? How bad can this hierarchy be.”

“Emily! I’m serious.”

Before Emily could defend her comment, Jazmine proceeded, “Based on the notes I wrote, he killed someone six years ago. It was someone who out-bid him on a house.”

“A house?” Emily paused bringing her cinnamon latte to her lips.

“He really wanted that house. We talked about it for seven sessions, and he even canceled the day he lost it.”

“So, he killed the house’s new owner?” Emily pondered this patient’s logic, drinking her esteemed latte. “Did he end up getting the house?”

“No!” Jazmine frantically replied, “When the house went back on the market, he didn’t pursue it. It was ruined.”

“Ok, why are you worried now?” Emily plainly said clearing the crumbs from her fingers over a dish. “You said that was six years ago.”

“Emily, I think he’s going to kill me.” Jazmine blurted, barely above a whisper. “He was talking about this co-worker and how he was going to go on a hike with her. He joked saying may even dig for gold.” Jazmine gulped summoning the courage to continue, “That phrase, dig for gold, when he said that, something went off. Like a really loud alarm begging me to pay attention. I questioned his desire to go out with this co-worker. He spoke negatively about her in the past. Patient X was up for a promotion against this co-worker,” Jazmine digressed, “They were both eligible, equally eligible. His words. But he was so angry when it went to her. He went off every time he brought her up. How he thinks she slept her way to the top. How she was given the job because she was a woman and the company wanted to look good.”

“The typical response every guy gives when an equally eligible female gets ‘his’ promotion.” Emily smirked.

“Anyway,” Jazmine huffed, “He looked at me, with this weird look. After I mentioned that he said she was equally qualified, and maybe he can work on the skills of feeling emotions and not have them takeover.” Jazmine paused releasing a forced breath, “Then he said maybe he should take me digging for gold instead of her.”

“Jaz, he sounds creepy. Ridiculously creepy, but murder is a bit of a stretch. I mean drop him, yeah, but…”

“There is no dropping him, Emily.” Jazmine insists, “Do you think I’d tell you this if I weren’t sure. I went through my notes and made a timeline, well, an estimated timeline. I tried to document the things that would make sense, but I don’t think I can do anything beyond that. I’m the one who took the notes. He is clever enough to weasel his way around things.”

“Go to the police. Maybe they can look into the files and build a case to support your notes.” Emily stated gathering her empty dishes and placing them to the side. Her guest had not yet touched her baked goods.

“But then he would know!” Jazmine gasped with shaking hands, “Emily, I worked with this guy for years. I know the inner pathways of his brain. He cannot know I suspect anything.”

“Then, what do you suggest we do?” Emily said matter-of-factly, calm yet resolute, as though her mind was made up about the matter. “He isn’t here, Jaz. You’re safe. What do you think we can do?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Jazmine relented, “I thought telling you would settle my nerves, but now I’m even more worried.”

“Why don’t we go over your notes together,” Emily added trying to comfort the only person she had known since childhood. Jazmine was more family than her own family members, and they were all deceased now. “If you don’t want me knowing his name, cover it up. Maybe we can put our brains together and come up with a solution. Even if we don’t go to the police, we at least get you off the gold-digging list.”

Breathing in unison as they stood up, Emily insisted her friend have some of the cookies she baked especially for her. Jazmine admitted she felt better chewing the chocolate-filled masterpiece. Emily was always the one person Jazmine turned to for help. The calm, level headed friend everyone deserved, but only Jazmine had. Surely the night would be a restful one knowing the following day would bring the end of Jazmine’s torment.

The next day’s alarm left Emily rubbing her eyes and stretching. She groaned with every groggy step to the restroom. Thank goodness the coffee machine was on a timer. The scent alone awoke Emily’s tired body. Brushing her teeth, sticking to her daily morning routine no matter how late she and Jazmine were the night before. Emily went over her work day’s agenda and any overnight notes from her secretary.

Emily sent the text ‘We are definitely not as young as we used to be. Late nights are awful’ as she got dressed. Picking her color for the day from a chart Emily had on her vanity, she moved on to play her morning playlist. Finally, Emily picked up her phone as the rest of her tasks required her full attention.

Body frozen, eyes stuck open, and her breath caught in her lungs, Emily was immobilized. Emily’s secretary reported the police were on-sight, at Emily’s clinic. Their questions regarding one topic exclusively.

The smart TV in the living room played in the background announcing a local travesty. A woman was killed in her apartment late the previous night. A revered woman who was loved by all members of the local community was found by her landlord. Her mutilated body badly beaten, broken, and unrecognizable. Local authorities were scattered throughout the affluent neighborhood, investigating the odd and strange crime.

Jazmine was who they were reporting. It was Jazmine who was brutally attacked. Jazmine was dead.

The vibrations in her hand snapped Emily out of her dazed state. She answered her worried secretary, “Do not allow the police to do anything without a warrant. And if they show you one, listen to me Livie, read it first. I’m sending my lawyer now. He will be my point of contact with the police, not you. Distance yourself immediately and get a lawyer.”

Where were those damn session notes? Emily cursed grabbing her purse. The cheap one, no name brands to be noted, and changed out of her business casual clothes. She slipped into plain bland simple into shoes. Emily removed a hidden compartment from a drawer in the bathroom cabinet. A drawer never used frivolously. After some minor adjustments, the blonde wig was on.

As far as anyone could see, Emily was a very ordinary woman walking around a bustling city wearing large sunglasses with a messy bun under her cap and baggy black tracksuit.

“Traveling anywhere special on this lovely fall day?” The twenty-something year old said handing the keys over to Emily. The car rental office was a small one, in a quiet suburb of the city. No cameras, nobody to notice her.

“No.” Emily said not smiling although he continued his friendly demeaner. “I’m not traveling. My car is being repaired and I need to get around.”

“Solid.” The eager young man nodded though Emily was still not entirely sure why. “Just to confirm, you don’t want any insurance for the month you’ll have the car?”

“No.” Emily flatly replied, “My card covers that.”

“Of course.” He politely said smiling for the millionth time before showing Emily the door.

Full tank of gas. Car was clean. It was small. Dark grey exterior. It will do.

Emily locked the car manually avoiding any sounds or clicks. Professionally avoiding the cameras with intentional body sways or conveniently adjusting of her cap. Emily made her way to the air-conditioned storage room numbered 2319. After a soft click of the locked door, Emily shed she disguise. Pulling her borrowed hair off, she pressed a button to turn on the espresso machine. This was going to be an all-nighter and Emily welcomed the challenge.

Removing the many folders from a leather shoulder bag she collected from Jazmine’s condo, Emily took in a deep breath. The upcoming days were going to be ones she wanted to remember with all her senses. Her heart ached flipping through her late friend’s notes.

In less than 24 hours, Emily went from comforting her best friend about a maniac among her patients to hunting who ruined her life. The swirls of Jazmine’s cursive handwriting rang too loudly. For that one moment, Emily gave in to her humanly limitations and allowed a tear to fall.

Jazmine was all over local news channels, discussed across the state and even made national news. The current state of the investigation was not being disclosed which meant Emily had to get creative. Now, Emily formulated her plan.

Emily’s phone had hundreds of messages, hundreds. Everyone wanted to know what she thought. Like a swarm of gnats these pesky people buzzed about for no apparent reason. Emily only responded to her lawyer. She maintained her innocence and that no accidents occurred while she and Jazmine worked late.

The pair worked together all time. They shared hypothetical patients and cases, passing on difficult work to one another. They intentionally worked in separate clinics with Emily choosing a private company to work for. Mostly for the pay; the hours were better too.

Rinsing out the mug she used, Emily strategized her endgame. She carefully placed the folders she brought with her in a locked cabinet. No one will ever know what the psychiatrists deciphered. No one will know how Jazmine and Emily cracked Patient X’s code, his digging for gold. Although it was a fun game to play.

They, through Jazmine’s thorough notes, were able to make an accurate timeline of all the people he killed and for each, a dubious reason. It would be impossible to determine an actual reason without the heathen corroborating their findings.

The two friends were intelligent women who figured out his code. ‘Probably angering him’ Emily shrugged as she cleaned up her special hidden thinking place. She fixed the tilted sign ‘personal’ on the side gray cabinet before turning off the coffee engineering masterpiece. Emily tapped a taller, wider cabinet. It too had a sign, ‘necessary’. She winked at the inanimate object like it was a friendly pet, “I’ll be back. I promise.”

Through the cover of her baggy clothes, a blonde wig draping loosely over her shoulders, and peering from round large sunglasses, Emily sat in the rental car looking at a single bistro. Waiting for him.

The key to laying a perfect trap and catching an insect is the delicate silky, sticky, seemingly invisible web. The intricate work of making the tread was only one part of it, the material was essential but it needed a plan. Adding a cunning, quiet, meticulous, methodical spider who is trained to wait for the kill is the catalyst that provides a meal.

The web was laid out and Emily sat in her rented car watching.

Binoculars were flashy so Emily used her phone. Pretending to be filming or having a call to zoom in and observe the details around the bistro. A blue scarf here, a red napkin there. Little sprints of color popping about. Gently folded beside her in passenger side was a coat. A long men’s coat with ample pockets and room for any gizmo Emily would need. The hunt began.

Finally, the target was on the move. He stepped out of the door cheerfully thanking the young boy who held it open. Emily moved her car to follow his rather slow pace around the corner. The man fixed on looking forward. A cobblestone road was ahead but Emily did not care. She got an electric car for this exact purpose, for being discrete. Pedestrians were few. With the police’s presence fewer people walked around. Although, Emily was sure eyes lurked from up above.

Swiftly, the man turned into an ally. Behind a historic building that seemed out of shape but stood the test of time. Knowing she had no choice but to follow on foot, Emily grabbed the coat then jolted from her seat. She could not risk him escaping. Not now, not ever.

Emily looked at her captured victim. The way he slumped in the chair was perfect, peaceful. Peace that would soon be gone. The sedative’s effect would be wearing off. His initial tug on the triple bound restraints was followed by repeated forceful thrashes.

The peace turned into music. His rapid breathing and sweaty brows pure artistry.

“How did?” He sputtered regaining his faculties, “What did you do?”

“For a man who prides himself on being careful,” Emily replied sitting nonchalantly in her chair, “You’re awfully trusting of the people who handle your food.”

“My food?”

“Well, drink if I’m being accurate.” Emily smirked, “That espresso you have after dinner is bitter enough to cover almost anything.”

“I don’t know how you drugged me,” he argued, “Let me out or you’re gonna…”

“I will give you one chance to answer, Patient X.” Emily said walking toward him.

With every step she took in his direction, an additional light flared further illuminating the dark storage room. When she stood, close enough to hear his thudding heart, the entire space was lit. There were no chairs, no tables. The only thing in the room was him, tied down to a hard wooden chair, and of course Emily.

“How did you kill her?” Emily asked, “I’ve studied brains like yours and the phrase digging for gold holds meaning to it. How did you kill her?”

“Why?” He shivered, “So you can kill me too?”

“You’re going to die, Patient X. You’re here for that singular purpose.”

Emily looked at him with a glare that spoke words no one else could hear. She took a long drink from her cinnamon latte.

“I banged her over the head, to knock her out. Then, I took out her heart.” He said shaking in his seat. “I beat up the face and body to confuse the police.”

“You keep the hearts?” Emily asked inquisitively like she was having brunch with this man.

“Yes.” He declared.

“In the warehouses off route 456?” Emily asked again.

Patient X froze at her answer.

“Building 12? The lockers in the back, row 13, right?” Emily confirmed. “Yeah, not a really good place. Too big, too flashy. But that’s how you do things, you’re just flashy.” Emily waved her hand in disgust.

“How do you know that?” Patient X asked, a terrified whine in his voice.

“Because Patient X, you are not the only serial killer here.” Emily replied with an evil quarter smile.