Level Zero by Dan McDowell (debian ebook reader .txt) 📗

my place to anyone else yet… I prepaid the last three months in advance. Why don’t we take a night to ourselves and enjoy the comforts of home tonight and catch up tomorrow? Dinner and drinks sound okay?”

Katrina smiled at Todd. “That sounds great! That’ll give me time for a fresh cut, a long hot shower, and a chance to don a little black dress just for you.” She poked him in the stomach.

“Sounds like a plan. That I would like to see,” Todd said. “I know it might seem a little strange for me to propose it given where we’ve been, but I think Bridgewater would be kind of special.”

“Alright. Well, take care of yourself. Get some rest, and we’ll meet up tomorrow night. What time?”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“See you then,” she said. “Kiss me goodbye?”

Todd leaned into Katrina, embracing and kissing her as they carried their discharge papers toward the hospital exit.

Katrina hailed a cab, and Todd watched her ride away as Livewire also exited the hospital.

“Hey, Todd.”

“Hey, Livewire. You’re looking better already.”

“Thanks. What’s on the agenda now that you’re back up and at ‘em?”

“I suppose I’ll go clean myself up and reorganize my apartment. I’d like to give the pickup a good washing. That’s assuming I can find it. I’m sure they impounded it by now.”

“Yeah… Good luck with that.”

“And you?”

“I don’t know,” Livewire said. “My old lady still wants nothin’ to do with me. Julie was always psychoanalyzin’ me. It pushed me to my limits. We were separated a while. Imagine that, even a dad-gum therapist can’t fix the problems of the world. As for what’s next, I’ll probably take a vacation. Chris left me a pretty decent payday before I… we disappeared.”

Julie? What are the odds? It’s a small world.

“Alright. Well, all the best,” Todd said, extending his hand to shake Livewire’s.

“Likewise. See you around… or if I don’t…. that’ll be okay too… not the fondest of memories we have together.”

“Good luck. If you ever want to get investing in the markets, I’ll probably try to get my job back at Riverton Financial.”

“Maybe so. Take care.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

CHRIS WILKERSON laid on the floor of the Creepy Nights basement. He remained immobile as his mind continued.

I’ve been stuck here a while. I just have to come to grips with it, but why am I still here?

Detective Penske and Officer Abram Markel came into the basement as he stared up at them.

“Chris, Chris? Are you okay?” Penske said as he checked his pulse. “He’s gone. I guess the guilt was too much for him to handle.”

“What was his goal with all this?” Markel asked.

“I don’t know. This… he takes from the cradle to the grave.”

You don’t understand. It wasn’t my doing. It never was.

Penske bent over and patted Chris on his cold shoulder. “I always had a feeling that there was something a little off about this place, certainly, with this guy. Was that your doing?”

Of course it wasn’t. Can’t you pick this place apart a little before jumping to conclusions?

Penske stared at Chris as he remained motionless.

“It’s kind of weird, isn’t it? That glow in his eyes.”

“Yeah. You make a good point,” Markel said. “When I look at him, I don’t see life, but I don’t see death either.”

Control yourself. It’s just a phase. It’ll pass. You’ll move on to greener pastures. Just give it some time.

“I’m not going to call this in yet,” Penske said. “Let’s barricade the basement with some caution tape.”

“Why not?” Merkel asked, brushing some dust bunnies off the back of one of the old pews. “You should never leave a dead body to rot. I learned that at the academy on my first day.”

No, you shouldn’t. Maybe the embalming ritual will seal the deal for me.

“Don’t get smart with me. We’ll come back in a few minutes. Did you want to see the control room?”

“Sure.”

They walked toward the area and studied the empty tunnel on the monitors, kicking a bunch of Flitz beer cans to the side.

“What a slob,” Merkel said.

“He watched all of them like some kind of freak…some of them for months.”

Channel your emotion before you can’t anymore.

“Too sad. Are they going to shut this place down?”

“I guess it’s up to the ex. She was one of the victims. Somehow I don’t see it opening back up anytime soon…” Penske said. “Let’s go grab a bite. We’ll come back in a bit. Wrap the basement with caution tape, would you?”

I’m still here. Don’t forget.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

TODD ADAMS drove the extended driveway toward the Reinhold estate in his once impounded pickup.

Wow! This place is nice.

Katrina stood out front, waiting for him as he approached.

He honked the horn in a playful rhythm, climbing out to open her door.

“Curbside pickup… for the most beautiful woman in all of Riverton.”

She donned a huge grin as she leaned in to kiss him. He was clean-shaven, fresh-faced, and his hair swooped and coiffed neatly to the side, sporting a three-piece suit saved for weddings and funerals.

“Thanks for picking me up. You look handsome.” They both climbed into the truck and Todd wheeled the vehicle around toward the gate.

“Thanks,” he said. “Look at you! Those legs hadn’t seen the light of day in ages, and you’re still breathtaking.”

She punched him in the arm as they exited the driveway. “Was that a compliment or a jab?”

“There are many layers to Todd Adams. You’ll just have to wait and see.” He leaned across the seat and kissed her as they arrived at the gate.

Why do I feel nervous? It’s not my first rodeo.

“You really look gorgeous tonight. This is quite the lovely property you have.”

“Thank you.”

“I watched the ten-o’clock news last night. I’m sorry to hear about Chris. Are you sure you still want to go? I should have called earlier. Do they know what happened?”

Katrina shook her head. “Yes, I still want to go. They don’t know what happened. They found him in the basement. They’ll clean him up as best