Chapter 11: Chapter Ten

2016

Addison stood by the hospital main entrance as she tried to call Fletcher. But he didn’t answer. A patient came out to have a cigarette next to her. She moved away and tried to call Fletcher one last time. But there was no response. She out a small sigh and stuffed her phone into her pocket. Addison headed back inside the hospital and back to the ward where she had been. The doctor had told her that she had mild concussion and to take it easy or she would end up with another nosebleed.

She thought that Fletcher might still be booking Michael Ray into the cells, which could be why he wasn’t answering his phone.

She touched her nose where they placed a small bit of tape over the bridge of her nose where it needed some stitches. It was sore but she was ready to get back out there. She hoped no-one thought she had a nose job, because she liked her button nose.

Addison checked her phone, but she didn’t have any messages or missed calls from Fletcher. She wondered if she should wait for him or make her own way back to the station. She grabbed her things and exited the ward, as she turned the corner, she saw Robert leaning against the counter at the reception talking to one of the nurses. He glanced her way.

“What are you doing here? I thought Fletcher was picking me up?” Addison asked.

“I offered. He’s dealing with Michael Ray.”

“Oh, how nice of you.” Addison said. Robert rolled his eyes and started walking back the way he came in. Addison followed behind him. They both exited the hospital and Addison waited for Robert to unlock his car. She knew he was taking his time to annoy her and the worst thing about it, it worked. He finally unlocked the car and she jumped into the passenger side, while he got behind the wheel.

“I’ll drop you off home, take the rest of the day off to recover. We will interview him in the morning.” Robert told her.

“Fine. Wait, we?”

“Yes ‘we’, that’s including you.”

“Fine.” Addison glanced out of the window, holding back a small smile that tried to escape her lips. She noticed they had entered her road and guided him to her place. He pulled up outside a small building and glanced at it.

“That yours?” Robert asked.

“Yes, it is, it’s small but cosy. Stop judging.”

“I’m not judging.”

“You are about to laugh.” Addison said. She crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow. “Go on then, laugh.”

He tried hard to keep a straight face, but he couldn’t. He finally laughed, and she got out the car slamming the door behind her. She marched up to her front door and glanced back to see Robert still sitting there in his car, watching her. She gave him a little wave and went inside the building. She peeped out of her curtain to see Robert drive off down the road.

Addison took off her shoes and put them on the rack. She slipped her feet into slippers and headed into her living room. She slung her bag onto the sofa and dumped down next to it. She glanced at the mess on her glass coffee table, the old case files of The Silent Killer that she had taken without knowledge along with an empty wine glass. The killer from 30 years ago, the one she remembered her whole life. The files were scattered everywhere, the pictures of the victims lay on the top. She’d forgotten to put them all away the night before.

She took the wine glass from the table and placed it in the sink in her kitchen. She got out a clean glass and placed it on the counter. The bottle was sat to the side where she drank most of it the night before, she filled her new glass with the rest of it. Wine helped her sleep when her medication wouldn’t, she would drink a glass or two every night.

She took back to the sofa in her living room and glanced at the case files while sipping her wine. She had read through the files many times that she knew them ‘off by heart’. She knew she had to put them back eventually. She looked at each of the photos, the murdered teenage girls, seven of them including their mothers. They were gruesome murders and it was one that no one would ever forget, especially Addison. She started to stroke the large scar on her wrist, trying hard to put the nightmares behind her. The memories flashed in her mind every minute of the day, haunting her.

She down the rest of her wine and picked up one of the photos. It was the first victim of The Silent Killer. He focused on single parents and their teenage daughters. ‘By blood, they were bound to him and if they disobey, this was a price they had to pay.’ Addison remembered those words, them very cruel, cruel words. She placed the picture back down and picked up another one. This time it was a picture of her mother.

Addison slammed it back down on the table and got up with her glass of empty wine, heading back to the kitchen for a refill. She pulled out another bottle from her fridge and popped it open. She poured herself another glass of red wine.

She went back into the living room and peeked out of the curtains. The sky was almost pitch black and clouds could be seen moving slowly in the sky. Addison glanced back at the case files on her table, the picture of her mother now on the top. There is one thing on her mind, could this be a copycat killer? There are a few similarities, but she wasn’t sure.

She drained her glass and decided to have a hot shower. After she had finished, she took some painkillers for her nose before heading to bed. Her phone started ringing, she glanced down and saw Fletcher’s name.

“Ads, how is the nose?” He said.

“Ads? And yes, my nose is fine. I’m tough as nails.” She chuckled.

“Ads is my new nickname for you.”

“Was there a point to this call?”

“I only wanted to see how you were doing and wanted the gossip, what happened with Robert? He came back and told me you have taken the rest of the day off. I just wanted to check in and make sure everything is fine?” Fletcher explained.

“No damage was caused, just a mild concussion. I’ll be back in the morning and we will interview Michael Ray. I’ve got a bad feeling about this case.” Addison told him. She glanced at the case files again on her table.

“You and me both, I’ve been looking into an old case of The Silent Killer and thought it was a bit of a coincidence, maybe to have a copycat killer. I’ve not seen anything that says so yet…” Fletcher said.

“The Silent Killer? Are you sure? That was quite a gruesome case and The Silent Killer murdered mainly children. Maybe we should wait and see what happens.”

“Addison, this is a gruesome murder. Anna Willis witnessed her mother dead on the kitchen counter in their own home.” Fletcher reminded her. Addison knew he was right as it had crossed her mind too.

“You’re right, we will interview Ray in the morning and see where that leads us. For all we know, this could end up being a domestic.” Addison hoped. She knew deep down that wasn’t the case.

“That’s a good point. Anyway, I will see you bright and early tomorrow. Get some rest,” Fletcher said. Addison said her goodbyes and then she was left with the dead picture of her mother again. She put her empty glass on the table and headed into her bedroom. She plugged the charger to her phone to charge overnight. Her first case was bringing back events from 20 years ago. At the age of 14 years old, she saw her mother murdered in front of her and the killer was caught. Addison went through counselling and eventually someone adopted her. Her name Addison Scott wasn’t her real name, it was Maddison Reed. She suffered severe depression and anxiety, hitting rock bottom, until her adopted family took her in. Her adopted father was in the police force and she wanted to follow in his footsteps.

She got changed into some comfy pyjamas and headed back out into the kitchen. She grabbed the bottle of wine and took it to the sofa. After reading all the autopsies on the bodies from the Silent Killer case, she had fallen asleep.

Addison woke with a start. She sat upright on her sofa, glancing around her dim lit living room. After finishing her wine, she took empty bottle to her front door. She noticed a letter had been posted, she quickly threw her bottle in the recycle bin and picked up the letter. When she turned it over, it had MADISON REED written on it.

She fell to her knees and sobbed as she held the letter. She was scared to open it and reveal her past that she tried to forget.