11 Final Warning

Julia

Hearing Larry scream, I run to the door to find him trembling in the entryway. His tan face is ghostly white, and his horror-filled eyes are as big as saucers. "What's wrong? I ask."

With a dazed expression on his face, he slowly lifting his hand, and points to the edge of the porch.

I look over to find a bloody figure a few feet from the stairs. Moving a little closer, I realize who it is."Not my daughter. Oh, please, not my daughter, " I cry, falling to my knees. Larry squats down beside me. "They did it. They killed my daughter. Why did they kill my baby? Why?" I sob, falling against him."

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in close. "Who killed her, Julia?"

"Andy's friends. They...They threatened to kill everyone I loved years ago."

***

Rachel

Convinced that Julia isn't our killer, I decided to investigate, hoping to find something that'd prove my theory. Wearing the holiest rags I can find, I head to the streets. Seeing a few people huddled near a fire, I walk towards them."I'm looking for a guy," I begin.

Laughing, the old lady gesturing towards the crowd. "Take your pick, honey."

I see dozens of people snuggling around burning cans. Looking closer, I see small campfires down the entire alleyway. I didn't realize we have so many homeless, I think, scanning the growing crowd.

"I'm sure any of them would be glad to help you out, including myself." A toothless man winks.

I shudder at the thought. "No, no, I'm looking for a specific guy. He's about 5'8; he has dark hair, a skinny build, and he carries an old army backpack."

"You don't want to mess with him, honey," the lady warns.

"Why?"

"He's loco in the Cabeza," she twirls her finger around in a circle near her head.

"He's crazy?"

"He's as loony as the day is long." The haggard man says.

"He slices people for fun and then brags about what he's done." She runs her finger across her dirt-caked neck.

"I heard he escaped from a mental institution," another man adds.

"He was in a mental institution?" I repeat.

"The judge sent him there after he slaughtered his family," another man states.

"He killed his family?" I ask, shocked that he's free.

"Butchered them into tiny pieces, then fed them to the hogs."

"The police claim, there was blood strung all the way from the house to the barn. said it was the most horrific crime scene he's ever seen."

I heard they found Tommy bathing in their blood."

"I can see him doing that."

Vomit rises in my throat as he describes the horrific site. I duck behind a tree hoping to save a little of my dignity..

"I don't think our mama-to-be can stand much more of your description." The lady laughs.

"I'm not...I puke again.

Smiling, the lady smiles, pats my stomach, and says, "I'm afraid you are. It's your second, correct?"

"How... how did you know?"

"I can feel these things."

"What do you want Tommy for, anyhow?" the toothless man asks.

"He has my grandpa's gun, and I want to get it back."

"I bet that's the one he sold to that rich bitch a few days ago," Clyde says.

"He sold my grandpa's ruggar?"

"He bragged about it too, said he's going to do some traveling."

"Did he say where he's going?"

"He didn't go into specifics with me."

"Would one of his friends know?"

"He doesn't have any friends," the old lady says, bringing her finger across her neck again.

"Right." I gulp.

***

Larry

"They killed her. They killed my baby girl," Julia sobs in my arms.

"We're going to get the bastard who did this to your daughter. I promise you that." I'm calling the police when Vinnie walks up the stairs.

"Nice doll, Larry." He picks up the grotesque figure. "I actually thought it was real for a minute." He chuckles.

"It's a doll?"

"Berryville PD, what is your emergency?" I hear a pleasant voice say through the phone. "It's a false alarm."

Hanging up, I grab the toy from his hands.

"Look, Julia, it's not real, see."

She turns towards the figure. "It is a doll." She laughs through teary eyes.

"There's a note attached," Vinnie says.

I pull the piece of paper from the dress. "It's addressed to you, Julia.

"What does it say?"

"You and your family better get out of town while you still can."

"Oh my God, Larry, they're threatening to kill my family. They're threatening to kill my kids."

"I think the police need to know about this," I say, pushing the redial button on my phone.

***

Rachel

Seeing more homeless lying in the dark alley, I walk over to them. They scramble to their feet when they hear footsteps heading their way. I see each has a weapon in hand when I get a little closer. Guess you have to be on the constant defense when you're living on the street. Stopping a few feet away, I say, "Have any of you seen Tommy?"

"He hasn't been around in days."

"He told me he's going to Florida," another one says.

"Florida?" I ask.

"That's what he said. He claims that things will be a lot better for him down there."

"When did he leave?"

"The day he sold the gun. Said he was headed for the bus once he takes care of a few things." The man shivers. "I didn't ask what he meant."

"Thanks."

I see Jerry wandering the streets when I walk out of the bus terminal. Not wanting to be teased about my appearance, I duck out of sight.

"You, behind the bushes, come out nice and slow, with your hands above your head," Jerry orders walking towards me.

I'll never live this down, I think. "Don't shoot. It's me, Rachel," I say, lifting my hands in the air.

"Sergeant?" he laughs, moving closer.

I pull the wig off my head.

"Why are you wearing that getup?"

"I was doing a little undercover work, hoping to find something on Julia's case."

"Did it work?"

"Julia is telling the truth. The guy who sold her the gun is named Tommy, and he's headed to Florida in the morning. So I'm going to get a team together before he shows."

"I better get that," he says, pulling the phone from his pocket.

"Jerry here...They threatened Julia and her family's life?" he asks, glancing towards me. I nod.

"The sergeant and I will meet you there."

~~~

Rachel

Larry is waiting for us on the porch when we pull into the drive. I notice him taking a second glance at my straggly appearance.

"Nice getup, Sergeant," Larry chuckles.

"I was doing some undercover work when we got your call," I explain, self-consciously adjusting my baggy clothes.

"So tell me what happened tonight, Larry," Jerry says, pulling his notebook from his pocket.

"We found a bloody doll lying by the front door with a note attached to its dress." He hands me the evidence.

"Did you see who left it?"

"They were gone by the time I answered the door."

"Did you see any cars?"

"I was so shaken that I didn't think to look."

"I imagine it would be quite a surprise to find this lying on your porch," Jerry says, inspecting the life-like doll closer.

"Where's Julia now?" I ask.

"She's in the house."

"Can I talk to her, please?"

I see the house is decorated in several bright colors when he opens the door. Guess he's trying to bring the 70's back too. I laugh. Joe's apartment was done in neon colors when I first moved in. It still has a bright appearance, but it's not as blinding as it once was.

"The police want to talk to you, Julia."

"I still can't get a hold of Bill," she says, stepping on the porch.

"We've already sent someone to check on him."

"I appreciate that, ah, sergeant?" Julia gives me a strange look.

"She was doing undercover work." Larry laughs.

"Oh."

"Do you know anyone who wants to harm you or your family, Julia?" I ask.

"I can't think of a soul. Well, besides Andy's friends, but their threats happened years ago."

"I need a list of names." I hands her a pen and paper. "So who touched the doll and the note?"

"Me and Vinnie."

"We need to get your fingerprints, so we can eliminate them from the ones we find on the doll."

Sticking his head back in the door, Larry yells again.

"Vinnie, the cops need your prints."

"Again," he protests.

I see a scraggly character step out on the porch.

"It's so they can eliminate them from what they find on the doll."

"Since your prints are already in the system, I won't need yours, Vinnie, but I still need Larry's."

Larry rolls his eyes."Lucky me."

Jerry chuckles. "Let me get the kit out of the car."

"I need to take this." Turning towards the street, I answer my phone.

"Sergeant Bower, he did. I'll let Julia know, thank you."

"Julia, Bill took the kids out of the city late yesterday evening. He told his neighbors that he's selling the house and moving to the East Coast."

"The East Coast, no, he can't do that to me, he just can't," she cries, falling into Larry's arms.