bad will happen. Well, that’s my thought, anyway.
Usually about this time, I’d be watching a horror movie marathon on TV since it’s so close to Halloween. Instead, I’m lying here with a kitchen knife under the mattress and silly Saturday morning cartoons blaring from the television.
I slept like shit last night, but that was pretty much expected. This whole “sleeping with one eye open” thing is getting exhausting. I can’t seem to shake the fact that not only has Unknown been in my room, but he or she has possibly killed two people in my life. I actually find myself getting nauseous thinking about who the next target will be.
It’s been about two days since I’ve received a text from Unknown, and to say the least, it has me worried. I keep anticipating the next message, with each scenario getting graver as I play them out in my head.
It dawns on me that Alex has her gig tonight. I had completely forgotten with everything that’s happened. My stomach churns at the thought of her being Unknown’s next choice. I decide I have to find a way to get to that concert.
“Shit, she said we had to wear a costume to this thing.” I wonder what I may have stuffed away in my closet that might do.
Alighting from the bed, I hurry over to the closet and throw open the door. Clicking on the light above my head, I proceed to shift clothes around on the racks, searching for my female sheriff’s outfit—complete with dark green hot pants. That one has always been a crowd-pleaser.
After finding all the pieces to the costume, I drape them over my desk chair and proceed to plop down on the bed, realizing it’s still five hours until the concert.
The next hurdle will be convincing my dad to let me go. This will probably prove quite difficult, especially since he’s spent the majority of the morning at the station finishing all the paperwork that’s accrued due to the recent cases. He probably won’t be in the best of moods when he gets home.
I start to feel antsy and, against my better judgment, decide to call him at the station. The first time I dial, the phone just rings and rings, but never goes to voicemail. The second time though, he picks up on the third ring.
“This is Sheriff Marks.”
“Dad, it’s me.”
“This must be important if you’re calling me here, right?” he asks, and I can tell his day has been as annoying as I feared.
“Actually, it kind of is. Remember how you said I need to clear my mind and relax?”
“Yeah,” he replies.
“Well, it turns out that Alex’s band is performing tonight. And before you say ‘no,’ I think it might be a great way for me to let off some steam.” I anxiously await his reply. The grumble that follows isn’t very promising.
“Where is this gig?”
I’m surprised when he doesn’t immediately shoot down the idea. “The Brick House.”
“What time will you be out ’til?”
“Wait, so does that mean I can go?”
“Depends. What time will you be out ’til?”
“What time would you like me home?” I ask, feeling proud that I turned the line of questioning around on him.
“Midnight, at the latest,” he answers.
“Thanks, Dad. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Midnight, Dani. I mean it. I’m trusting you with this,” he says and I can hear his parental tone loud and clear.
“Thank you.”
“Okay, is that all? Because I have a mountain of paperwork to get through.”
“Yep, that’s it. Thanks again, Dad.”
“No problem. Hopefully I get to see you before you head out.”
“I’m sure you will, since I won’t be leaving until around seven or so.”
“Good, see you at home then.” I can hear his smile come through the phone. “Oh, and Dani. I love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
I almost don’t make it out of the house on time due to my father wavering over my costume selection. I never knew that he thought the lady sheriff outfit was too revealing. He says it’s the hot pants that have him unsure about the whole ensemble. I have to remind him that I’ve worn this several times before. I wonder why he’s showing his displeasure now. He finally caves, and with that, I grab my keys and give him a kiss before he has a chance to change his mind for, like, the fifteenth time.
Running to my car, I throw on my sheriff’s jacket to fend off the cold night wind. Thankfully I had