Mystery Story

Wired Forecast
By Irene Lin

“She’s gone.”

The door swings shut and with a soft click the latch falls into place. James slows to a halt in front of the gate and watches as his stepmother’s red wrinkled mouth falls open.

“What? How? I gave Elsa the day off, I told Lilly I’d take her tonight!” Melissa, with shopping bags hanging along her arms, has always been better at juggling credit cards and love affairs than children. James knows of her indiscretions and it’s no secret from his father either (who is likely doing the exact same thing half way across the country).

“Her class started at seven. I took her two hours ago.” James flicks through the music on his phone, flying by one song after another. Seven years ago, Melissa was the shameless mistress James’ father paraded around during his separation with James’ mother. Now she’s his wife. Worse than anything, James knows she’s the reason his real mother won’t see him or his sister. He knows that this poisonous woman is to blame.

“James! You should have waited for me!”

“If you wanted to take her then you should have been on time,” James spits back.

“You just don’t want me spending any time with your sister!” You don’t deserve time with her. “I know you don’t want me to. Every time I suggest we go out you find some way to stop us! I am your mother!” Stepmother. “ You give me no respect!” You’ve earned none. “I work day and night to make this fami–”

On that note, James tunes out Melissa completely. He diverts his full attention to his music player and chooses a recording of rain. The pitter-patter of the droplets –repetitive and predictable– fills him with peace. If James could have his way he would never have to endure Melissa’s voice again.

The pavement moves beneath him and he begins to float away with the sound of water in his head. So much peace. He doesn’t hear Melissa call to him from the gate, or her screams from inside the townhouse.

• • •

Riiiiing. Riiiiiing.
Click.

“Hey, Lil! I know I’m running a bit late, but I’ll be there to pick you up in a minute.”

“James!”

“Lil?”

“James! James, oh God. You have to hurry back, oh God. God, oh God, oh God.”

“… Melissa? Melissa, how are you­– ”

“I didn’t do anything! I didn’t do anything! I didn’t do anything!”

A sharp click sounds.

The line is dead.

• • •

From a block away, James sees flashing blue-red lights of police cars flickering on the side of buildings and crowds of people gathering behind a bright yellow tape. It unsettles him how excited they all look.

As he approaches the line, a man steps out to greet him, “Hey, kid. Are you James Rester?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Alright, you come with me, kid. Your mom’s over by the ambulance.” And as if right on cue, Melissa lets out a high pitch sob, turning all heads her way. The policeman beside him sighs, “Poor thing. She’s shaken up bad. They must have been close. Your mom and sister, I mean.” James remains silent. “My name is Officer Bill. I’m in charge of your sister’s case, so if you need anything come look for me, alright kid? We’ve contacted your dad. He says he’ll be flying out to see you two in the…” The man continues to ramble, but James is no longer paying attention. Instead, his focus is on the door of the townhouse. Two paramedics carry out a stretcher. On it, a slender body rests, covered by a white sheet. Tight little knots form in James’ lungs.

• • •

            “Carl! Carl, be nice. I’m sorry, officers. He’s a good guide dog but has always been on the feisty side.” Phillips laughs nervously before dragging in a wheezy breath and coughing. “Yes, I was here the night Lilly died. I knew her you know. Nice girl. Always has lots of friend always stopping by. ‘Had’, yes. I’m sorry. I remember the day she and her brother moved in. Nice people. What? Oh, yes! I’ve lived here almost my entire life.” He pulls his wire glasses off the bridge of his drooping nose and wipes them down with his sweater. He misses a large black spot, dead centre of the right lens, but his glossed over eyes don’t register it. The two officers sitting on his sofa scrutinize his every move.

The Gullan family, to the right of the Resters, has been away on a Church retreat and isn’t scheduled to return until Sunday. Phillips, to the left, was nearest to the scene of the crime as it happened.

“I had planned to visit the pharmacy that night, ahem, for something to help with my cold. Ack, aaackk.” A wet wad falls into Phillips’ napkin. He clears his throat one more time before continuing again, “Ahem. Pardon. Uhhh. Yes, medicine. I reconsidered at the last moment though, when I heard the rain. It was coming down heavily. So loud! I could hear it through every wall in the house! Any sound from next door? Even if there was someone running about I wouldn’t have been able to make it out.”

The two officers look over at each other. Poor, old man. Their eyes seem to say. On the night in question, the two of them had gone to Big Al’s for a drink with buddies. The hostess had seated them on the roof, advertising a good clear view of the city line. It was a lovely clear night.

            After a few more questions, they thank Phillips in unison, pet Carl and leave with no usable information.

• • •

“Sixteen. Yes, sixteen... A few small bruises on the neck, but no other signs of struggle or sexual assault.” The man on the other end of the line pauses for a second before continuing with his questions, “… The machines found a high level for potassium and chloride in her body, yes… No, ingested… Okay, I will. I’ll let you know if I find anything, Bill.”

After a short goodbye, the mortician returns his phone to its resting place and glances over at the covered body of Lilly Rester on his examination table. What a mistake. Such a waste.

• • •

            “What did you do?!”

            “What you told me to. I even left your rain player on so she could die knowing it was you.”

            “You think that matters now?! I told you to switch the bottle in the cabinet –her cabinet– but you killed my sister instead!”

            “Hey! I didn’t kill nobody. I did what you paid me to do.” The phone line crackles for a second and threatens to disconnect. “–ttle angel isn’t as lovely as you think she is. I was heading out back when I saw her slinking up to some guy. If I knew she was so easy I would have made a move on her–”

            “Screw you!”

“–Myself. Someone must have forgotten his condom, huh? Maybe sweet Lilly thought she could snatch one of momma’s pills!”

            James recoils from his phone in disgust. He had wanted his stepmother gone from his life, from his sister’s life, so badly that he hired someone to dispose of her –to fight poison with poison. He never once entertained the idea of it going so awry. Now Lilly is dead in Melissa’s place and James is left with no peace.