CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
After filling Barney in on all that had happened the previous night, Jake returned to his car. He tore up the photograph of Roland. He felt guilty about damaging evidence, but Roland was dead, there would be no trial, and he didn’t want to show the picture around with the naked body parts surrounding the guy’s head. Once the parts were removed, he drove out to the place where he had burned the Volkswagen.
The car had been towed away, leaving only black smears and ashes. Jake searched there first, spreading the ashes with his shoes. He wasn’t sure what he hoped to find. The thing’s charred body? The tiny remains of its skeleton, if it had one?
When he finished there, he wandered around the area looking at the pavement, the grass strip between the curb and sidewalk, the sidewalk. Thursday, the thing had left some blood on the pavement of Latham Road behind the burning van and in the weeds on the other side. Today, there was nothing to see.
Jake told himself that the creature had probably died inside the Volkswagen. Maybe he should go over to the yard, later on, and sift through the remains of the car’s interior. In the poor light last night, he might easily have missed something. Besides, he’d been tense and eager to get home. He needed to make the search again, thoroughly and in daylight.
Picture in hand, he headed for the apartment house on the corner to begin the door-to-door inquiries.
Alison hung up the telephone after explaining to Gabby that she wouldn’t be able to work for the next few days. He’d heard on the radio about the killings and her narrow escape, so he was sympathetic and said she should take off as much time as she needed.
She had another call to make. This one wouldn’t be so easy. It was necessary, though.
She misdialed and hung up before the ringing started.
Her stomach hurt. Her heart pounded. The pulsing of it made her face throb. Sweat slid down her sides. She stood up, took off Jake’s robe, sat again on the sofa, and dialed Evan’s number.
His phone rang once.
“Hello?” He sounded tense.
“Hi. It’s me.”
“Alison. My God. Are you all right?”
“You heard about last night?”
“Of course I heard about last night. Christ. Are you all right?”
“I’m a little beat up, but I’m okay.”
“My God, I couldn’t believe it. You could’ve been killed. I’ve just been sick ever since I heard about it. I didn’t even go to my classes. You should’ve called.”
“I did call. Just now.”
“I’ve been through hell.”
“I’m sorry. It hasn’t been a picnic for me, either.”
“Who was it? Who did it?”
“A freshman named Roland.”
“Some guy you know?”
“I’d met him a couple of times.”
“Was he after
“I guess so.”
“What for? I mean…”
“I guess he wanted to rape and kill me.”
“Jesus Christ. Did he…touch you?”
“He didn’t rape me.”
“Thank God for that. You, what, fought him off?”
“Yeah.”
“Christ, it’s my fault. I should’ve been there. If you’d let me drive you home…you shouldn’t have left, you know. That business was just a mistake, like I said. You should’ve stayed at my place, last night. None of this would’ve happened.”
“Would’ve happened to Helen, regardless,” she said. “And even if I’d spent the night with you, I would’ve gone home sooner or later.”
“You should’ve stayed.”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“Where are you, now?”
“I’m safe.”
“Well, I know you’re safe—the guy’s dead, right? They said on the news he got killed in a fire.”
“Yeah.”
“So where are you?”
“I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”
“That’s a crock. Who told you that?”
“A policeman.”
“Well, shit. What’s the big idea?”
“He thinks I might still be in some danger.”
“I don’t get it. The bastard’s dead, right? So where’s the danger?”
“I’m going to do as I’m told.”
“Since when?”
“Don’t be a creep, Evan.”
“I need to see you.”
“You can’t.”
“Alison. We have to talk.”
“We
“Face-to-face.”
“I’m not up to a confrontation.”
She heard him sigh. For a long time, he said nothing. Alison finally broke the silence. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m okay. I figured I owed you that.”
When Evan spoke again, he sounded weary. “I honestly didn’t know you were asleep last night when I… touched you. I love you, Alison. When I think what almost happened to you last night, it kills me. Please, I need to see you. Please. Tell me where you are. I’ll come over and we’ll talk. Just talk, I promise.”
“I’ll call you in a day or two.”
“No, please. Alison, I’m so wasted. I didn’t sleep at all last night. I can’t do anything except think about you. I promise, I won’t give you any trouble. I just need to see you, to be with you for a while. I’m begging you.”
Alison shut her eyes and leaned back against the sofa cushion. This was worse than she’d expected. Evan sounded miserable, desperate.
It’s my fault, she thought. I’ve done this to him.
“I guess we could meet somewhere,” she finally said. “How about Wally’s?”
Evan said nothing.
“That all right?”
Alison heard a faint sound of ringing. “Someone at your door?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Evan whispered. The ringing came again.
“You’d better see who it is.”
“I don’t care,” he whispered. “It can’t be you, so I don’t care.”
“I’ll hang on.”
“I can’t go to the door. I’m not wearing anything. I just got out of the shower.”
