Storm warning, p.14
Storm Warning, page 14
“Let’s keep going,” I say.
Before we can take another step, the door of Ethan’s apartment swings open. A figure fills the doorway, set off by the faint ambient light that leaks in from outside.
It’s Tyler. Why he’s here, I’m not sure.
Except that as soon as he sees him, Ethan says, “That’s the guy. That’s the guy who came in here and tried to kill me.”
Thirty-Nine
Tyler steps inside the apartment, acting as if he hasn’t heard—or isn’t bothered by—Ethan’s accusation.
Tyler has to use both hands to push against the force of the wind and close the door, blocking out the small amount of ambient light that was spilling into the apartment.
“Jake, you’ve got to do something,” Ethan says.
“Try to remain calm.” I nod to Ethan. “I promise I won’t let him hurt you.” Stanley’s flashlight beam catches half of Tyler’s wet face, causing him to squint. “What are you doing here, Tyler? Why didn’t you stay with the others?”
“I think we need to talk,” he says. “Away from the others.”
“What do we need to talk about?”
“Do you mind not shining that thing in my face, Stanley?”
Stanley shifts the beam of light toward the floor, where it picks up scattered scraps of paper and cat hair.
“Jake—” Ethan’s voice quavers.
My arm tingles where Tyler grabbed it earlier, a reminder of our encounter on the steps. If he was willing to grab me, isn’t it possible he tried to hurt Ethan?
Or killed Dallas?
“What do you want, Tyler? Why are you here?”
“I was talking to the others. I don’t think they realize the gravity of the situation we’re in.” Tyler’s voice is calm, almost professorial. His hands are large, but he moves them with grace, like he’s conducting an orchestra. “It’s not just the hurricane. It’s Dallas too. We’re really in trouble here.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? That’s why we were all holing up together. What else do you want us to do?”
Ethan backs away from us, shuffling toward his bedroom. “I don’t want him in here, Jake….”
Even in the poor light, I can see Ethan’s entire body trembling. He clings to Isaac like the cat is a life preserver saving him from drowning. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone as anxious as Ethan is right now. The way he huddled in the closet was alarming. Like a frightened animal.
I turn back to Tyler. “Come out with it, Tyler: Did you attack Ethan?”
“Of course not.” Tyler shakes his big head dismissively. “I’ve got nothing against him. It’s pitch-dark. How could he know who came in here? If anyone did. But someone hurt Dallas. Maybe the same person attacked this guy too.”
“They didn’t hurt Dallas,” Stanley says. “They killed him.”
“I know that, but—”
“Jake, please—”
“Why did you grab me on the stairs? You acted like you were going to attack me. I had to pull away from you to be able to get to Hazel. What’s going on?”
“Look—” Tyler’s voice finally sounds sharp. He drops his hands to his sides and takes a deep breath. When he speaks again, his voice is softer, much more controlled. “Look, I wanted you to listen—that’s all. I grew frustrated when you were trying to get past me without hearing me out. I understand now you were trying to help Hazel, but I didn’t see that at the time. I thought—hell, I thought you were the most competent guy here. And that together we should try to get a handle on things.”
“You had a funny way of showing it.”
“Look, forget all that, okay?”
“What’s your big plan, then?” Stanley asks. “If you don’t like how we’re taking care of things, what do you propose?”
“Jake?”
“Just wait, Ethan. It’s okay.”
“Okay.” Tyler lifts his hands, conducting his words again. “I came here in a boat. A little dinghy. It’s tied up just north of the building at the water’s edge. I pushed it way back into the weeds so it wouldn’t float away.”
“Are you suggesting we leave in a dinghy?” Stanley asks. “In the middle of a hurricane?”
“Of course not. We can’t go now. But the storm’s going to make a direct hit on this island. That means we’ll be right in the middle of it. And we’ll get a break when the eye goes over us. That’s when we go for help. Tell the cops what’s happening. Maybe get another boat to come out to the island.”
“I already told the police about Dallas. They refused to send help until Kylie is through with us.”
“But they’ll have a clear window when the eye hits us.”
“How many people can you fit in the dinghy?” Stanley asks in an almost hopeful voice. “Can we all go?”
Tyler shakes his head. “Two, maybe three. But they can get help. I don’t mind doing it when things clear up.”
“So what you’re saying is that you’re willing to go,” Stanley says, “and leave us all behind?”
“You go, then.” Tyler points at Stanley, then at me. “Or you. I don’t care who goes. It’s a chance. That’s all I’m saying. Maybe the only decent one. We’re stuck here. On a small island without power and without real supplies. We’re trapped with a lot of scared people, a sick woman, the old lady, and a nutcase.” He flips his eyes to Ethan.
“Plus Alaina,” I say. “They can look for her.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Tyler says. “If she went in like you said…that current…”
“They can look.” My voice reveals more indignation than I’d like.
Tyler makes soothing gestures toward me. “Okay, sure. You’re right. They can look for Alaina. They can help us all.” I can tell he’s just placating me. It doesn’t matter what he thinks. Or what I think. That will be a decision the police make.
“Jake, please…”
The desperation in Ethan’s voice is unmistakable, and it’s just too much to handle. Adrenaline courses through my body, and sweat waterfalls down my chest and sides. I take a quick glance at Ethan just as he moves farther into the darkness, a frightened rabbit. He’s literally disappearing.
“It’s strange,” I say, turning back to Tyler. “You claim the Bennets sent you here to check on the property. They couldn’t give a shit about this place any other day of the year, but suddenly, in the middle of a hurricane, they sent you to check on everything. I mean, it would be in their best interest if this whole place fell apart, wouldn’t it? They’re going to tear everything down anyway. Maybe it would be easier if the hurricane did that for them. Hell, they might even get some insurance money out of the deal. So you’ll have to forgive me if I’m not buying any of it.”
Tyler sighs. “Look, I just work for them, okay?”
“Just following orders? Not a great defense,” I say. “Certainly won’t hold up in court. Cut the shit, Tyler, and tell us why you’re really here.”
“You have to think about it from the Bennets’ point of view. They’re about to sell and make a windfall of cash. They’re almost there. They really don’t want the deal to fall apart now. So the last thing they need is a lawsuit from some aggrieved tenant. It’s selfish, yes, but that’s how the world works. So they sent me to make sure everyone is okay.”
“Well, now someone’s been killed on their property. Their own property manager. I sure hope that doesn’t inconvenience them too much.”
“I’m sorry about that, Jake. I really am. I just want us to work together to make sure no one else gets hurt.”
I’m caught off guard by Tyler’s offer. Of course I want to make sure no one else gets hurt. Of course I’ll accept his help. “Yeah, okay.”
It’s impossible to get a fix on Tyler. I can’t reconcile the mostly rational man—calmly proposing a way to get help and explaining the logical reason why the Bennets sent him here—with the truculent guy I tussled with on the stairs. The one who loomed over me. The one who grabbed me like he intended to take me to the ground.
The one Ethan is convinced attacked him.
“Okay, let’s go, then,” I say. “But”—I point at Tyler—“you stay the hell away from Ethan, understand? Stay away from anyone who doesn’t want you near them.”
“Do you want me to stand outside in the storm too?”
“Just be cool. You get me?” I don’t wait for an answer, turning toward Stanley and the place where Ethan is hiding in the dark. “We really do need to get out of here. Ethan, we’ll be right by you the whole time—don’t worry.”
Ethan responds with a low whimpering sound….
“It’s all right,” I say. “We need to get off this high floor.”
I move cautiously toward Ethan in the dark. When I make out the outline of his body, I gently place a hand on his upper arm.
He pulls away.
“We’ll be right next to you the whole time, Ethan. But we all have to stick together now.”
Everything hangs in the balance for a moment. I fear Ethan will refuse to leave. That he’ll insist on staying in his own apartment. I hate thinking of Ethan riding out the storm alone.
After what feels like an hour, Ethan nods. “Okay.” He shuffles forward. “Okay, Jake. I trust you.”
“That’s cool,” I say. “All right, Stanley, why don’t you lead us down?”
But Stanley has the flashlight beam aimed at Tyler’s squinting face again. Alongside the flashlight, he holds up the gun, which is also aimed directly at Tyler’s face.
Tyler’s hands are raised, his head slightly turned, as if he can simply turn away from a bullet.
“I don’t trust this guy one bit,” Stanley says. “He’s not holing up with us. No way, no how.”
Forty
“Come on, Stanley,” I say. “You don’t need to do this.”
Stanley doesn’t waver. He’s rock steady. The gun is still pointed directly at Tyler.
“No, Jake. We do need to do this.”
“What the fuck, Stanley?” Tyler looks and sounds surprisingly relaxed for a man who has a gun in his face. “This is incredibly unnecessary.”
“It’s not. You’ve been sneaking around here. Even before today. I’ve seen you looking around the island, checking up on all of us. Then you’re here tonight, using the storm as a cover. Dallas is dead, and you attacked Ethan.”
“I didn’t—”
“He did,” Ethan says with sudden composure. “I agree with Stanley. Thank you, Stanley. At least you’re looking out for me.”
“Now, hold on.” I reach up and wipe a film of sweat off my forehead. My skin has grown clammy and hot. “Just wait. We don’t know for sure that was Tyler. And even if it was, I don’t think we should be pointing a gun at anyone. Stanley, I’d feel a lot better if you put that thing down.”
“I won’t, Jake. You can’t tell me what to do on this one.”
Tyler gives me a pleading look, as if he’s counting on me for help. “Well?”
The wind rattles the hurricane shutters loudly. It feels like a warning. Then I hear something grinding. It sounds like metal rubbing against metal. I’ve never heard anything like this before. What the hell is it?
Ethan looks determined, his spine rigid.
I decide to ignore Tyler. “Okay, Stanley, what do you suggest we do now? And remember, we’re running out of time. The storm is getting worse. Everybody’s waiting for us. Can we figure this out in Lloyd’s apartment?”
“No way.” Stanley shakes his head without taking his eyes off Tyler. “No way he’s coming into the apartment with us.”
“Sheesh,” Tyler says.
“We can’t leave him out in the elements, Stanley.”
“Says who?”
“We can’t be that heartless.” Ethan’s words come back to me. “We’re not bad people.”
Stanley takes a step back. His hand, the one holding the gun, swings my way, almost like he wants to direct it at me. He stops before he gets to me, but I flinch. A second later, Stanley points the gun at Tyler again.
“We don’t have evidence of any of this, Stanley.” My mouth is dry. My lips stick together when I speak. “We can ride the storm out and then let the police figure everything out.”
“He’s going to bail on us, Jake. He’ll take the boat and leave all of us to the storm, right?”
“Why don’t we wait until tomorrow to ask these questions, Stanley? When all is clear.”
“If we let him into the apartment, we’re letting the fox into the henhouse.”
“Then what do you suggest we—”
“I know.” Ethan’s voice is louder than I’ve ever heard it.
We all turn toward him, even Stanley, who still manages to keep the gun trained on Tyler.
“You have an idea?” I aim my own flashlight beam at Ethan. He looks pleased to have our attention. He doesn’t even squint in the light.
“Yes, I do.” Isaac yawns in Ethan’s arms, the cat’s jaw opening almost as wide as his head. Ethan scratches his ears. “If he’s guilty, if he’s the guy who attacked me and maybe even killed Dallas, wouldn’t there be something on him? Some evidence, as you say? He was rifling through my desk, touching everything. Maybe he stole something from me. Or from Dallas.”
“I didn’t take anything from you,” Tyler says. “Like I said, I wasn’t even here.”
“That’s good, Ethan.” Stanley nods. “Real good.” Stanley tilts his head toward Tyler. “Jake, go check him out. See what’s in his pockets while I keep him covered.”
Tyler lets out a small laugh. “This is ridiculous.”
“Will this make you happy, Stanley?” I ask. “If there’s nothing there, can we all go back down to Lloyd’s? Including Tyler?”
It takes Stanley a few seconds to answer. But eventually he nods. “Okay, sure. Okay. If he’s clear.”
“I won’t do it unless you agree, Stanley.”
He waits even longer than before, but finally he says, “Okay, yeah.”
“Tyler?”
He vigorously shakes his head. “You are so full of shit, Jake. A guy has a gun pointed right at me, and you’re acting like I have a choice in the matter.” He raises his arms in the air. “Go ahead. Search me. You’re not the only one who wants to get downstairs. The big bad wolf is out there trying to blow this place down.”
“Okay, fine.” I start across the room toward Tyler. “Stanley, are you sure you’re being careful? I don’t want my brains scattered all over Ethan’s apartment.”
“I got you, Jake,” Stanley says.
When I reach Tyler, who still has his hands in the air, I hesitate.
It feels…To be honest, it feels…weird to be reaching into another person’s pocket.
I had to do the same thing with Dallas—after he was murdered—and this doesn’t feel any less strange.
I slowly slide my hand into the wet front pocket of Tyler’s jeans. My fingers bring out a small, damp wad of money—about twenty-three dollars—and a crushed pack of gum.
“Are these yours, Ethan?”
“No.”
I stuff them back in. Then I go to the other side. My fingers strike something metal. Keys.
It feels like a lot of keys, but when I jangle them in the air, there are only two. “A car key and a house key.”
“What else is in there?” Stanley asks in an accusatory voice.
“Lint, I’m guessing.”
“That’s it,” Tyler says.
“No.” Stanley points his beam at the pocket. There’s a tiny outline of something. “See that, Jake? You didn’t get everything.”
I’m surprised to see Stanley is right. I slide my fingers deeper into Tyler’s pocket this time. It takes a second, but I finally reach something metal and canvas.
Tyler remains still, hands in the air.
I bring the object out—a thick industrial key on a Chicago Bears key chain.
Forty-One
My hand trembles so much I can barely hold the key without dropping it.
Stanley illuminates the object in my hand with his flashlight, like it’s a holy relic meant to be venerated. But what we’re venerating is Stanley’s worst suspicions come to life.
The trembling spreads from my hand throughout my entire body.
“It’s the passkey,” Stanley says in a loud whisper. “Dallas always kept it with him.”
“Where did you get this?” I ask, shaking the key in Tyler’s face.
“I found it. Downstairs. In the parking garage. It was on the ground, and I picked it up. I honestly forgot I had it.”
“Do you make a habit of going around and picking up random keys?” Stanley asks.
“I thought someone might have lost it. Might need it.”
Ethan takes a couple of steps forward, moving closer to Tyler and me. “I knew my door was locked. I thought maybe I didn’t shut it tight enough, or maybe the wind blew it open, but I bet he used the passkey to get in and attack me.”
“I didn’t attack you. This is crazy.”
Stanley’s eyes land on me. “We can’t let this guy into Lloyd’s place with the rest of us. You see that now, right? We need to make sure he’s someplace where he can’t hurt anyone else.”
“What do you want to do with him?” I realize I’m talking about Tyler as if he weren’t standing right in front of us. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’d like to turn him out into the storm,” Stanley says. “But that’s too good for him. Then he’d take the boat and get out of here when the eye hits. That’s exactly what he wants.”
“So what, then?”
“I say we put him in one of the storage units. Down in the parking garage. Tie him up and only let him out when the cops get here.”
“What?” Tyler’s voice betrays his horror.
