Inanimate (22 page)

“
Sheriff Oates.”

“
Hello
Sheriff this is Doctor MacNamee from
Hallcombes Psychiatric, how are you?”

Oates thought
MacNamee’s small
talk was in poor taste but he played along regardless.

“
Just getting things done Doc,
what
can I do
for you?”

“
I
have some information on those murders you
that might interest you.”

“
Ok, shoot Doc.
I’m
listening.”

“
Well, as it
turns out, we had a couple of
incidents here ourselves. I mean nothing on the scale you’re
dealing with but still, pretty big compared to our normal
routine.”

“
Uh-huh.”

“
It turns out someone stole the
toys from Connor Williams’ room, including the ventriloquist
dummy’s he had in there.”

Oates suddenly
perked
up.

“
Stole? Do you
have any
leads?”

MacNamee
was very reluctant to open up a can
of worms by answering this question honestly.

“
Um no, we’re still looking into
it. B
ut I can
tell you that the description you gave me of the suspect in the
picture was dressed the same way as the dolls Connor had in his
room.”

“
Which
means a child was wearing the clothes
of the dummy? The child who committed the murders!”

MacNamee
paused.

“
Um, yes that’s one
explanation
.”

Oates
was by now fully aware that MacNamee
was suggesting the dummy as the killer, the same way Deputy Lynch
did. However, as of yet he still wasn’t buying it, so he pretended
to be ignorant to the theory.

“
What other explanation
could there be doc?”

MacNamee
sensed the games being played between
the two and decided to try and level the field.

“
Look Sheriff, we’ve had a couple
of somewhat frightening facts come to light here recently involving
Connor Williams and if there is any truth to them, which we believe
there is, we could be looking at more than simple
murders.”

“
I don’t understand Doc.
W
hat are you
getting at?”

“
Simply put, we believe someone
was in Connor’s room last night and they took Connor’s dolls. We
don’t know who that person is yet but myself and Doctor Crass both
believe the murders are linked to the death of Andy Williams. Sort
of like revenge killings.”

Oates
looked like he had been put squarely
under the spotlight despite the fact MacNamee could not see
him.

“
Revenge for what? Andy Williams’
death was accident!”

“
I don’t think that
matters
Sheriff. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that your first
double murder in God knows how long was at the site of Andy
Williams’ first stop in your town. Not to mention the fact that
your main suspect is the spitting image of one of his son’s dolls,
a doll that was stolen along with others.”

“
Ok. S
ay what you’re saying is true-that
someone or something was taking revenge for a tragic accident-by
your logic I should expect more bodies…”

MacNamee was quiet a moment before
answering.

“
I believe so, yes.”

“
Well you see Doc; this isn’t
easy for me because I don’t have any suspects to chase. I don’t
even want to involve people in this until I know who or what I’m
looking for.”

“
With all due respect Sheriff, I
think you do know what you’re looking for.”

“
Doctor MacNamee, I understand
what you’re getting at but if I invest time and manpower into
looking for a killer doll I could be ignoring the real killer. And
any blood that is shed while I’m wasting time won’t be on your
hands, it’ll be on mine! You have to understand I have a lot at
stake here.”

“
I know it’s hard to believe
Sheriff and trust me I do understand. I was only convinced an hour
ago myself. But it’s entirely your call; it’s all up to
you.”

Jimmy
relaxed on the couch as his lunch was
brought to him on a TV tray. Sitting down beside her boyfriend Lucy
realized she hadn’t called on Jessica.

“
Jess! Dinner!”

When no response
came from upstairs
she tried to call again but Jimmy interrupted her.

“
Don’t worry sweetie, I’ll go get
her, you just eat
.”

Despite Jimmy’s earlier comment
about her niece
, Lucy didn’t mind him being around her, he would never do
anything bad to her. Besides, she didn’t really want to see that
doll again. Jimmy put his tray on the floor and headed upstairs to
summon the little girl down for lunch. He figured letting Lucy eat
while he went upstairs (despite his hunger) was the easiest
selfless act he could do to get back into her pants. Even though
the act was not selfless, he knew Lucy would appreciate the
gesture. Walking nonchalantly down the hall Jimmy didn’t notice the
pretty layout of the hallway, which was a nod to Lucy’s artistic
side. This was simply one more thing Jimmy didn’t care to learn
about his girlfriend. Lucy was pretty, that was simply all Jimmy
cared to know about her. Anything else he could pretend to know
about, just so long as it got him laid.

“
Jessie
!”

Jimmy
called out in a high-pitched voice,
as if talking to a small, excitable dog. Pushing open the door he
tried calling her again from the doorway. Jessica sat, ignoring
him, engrossed in her tea party.

“
Jess
, lunch!”

T
he right to call her Jess was normally
reserved exclusively for family but Jimmy called her it anyways.
Still in his high pitch he called again.

“
L
unch sweetie!”

After another zero response he used a
little more force.

“
Come on now, don’t be a
little brat!”

As frustration
set in his voice
returned to normal.

“
Fine! You can starve for all I
care!”

Turning to walk out he
stopped; thinking
better of it. What would Lucy think of him if he came downstairs
empty handed, he was only just getting out of Lucy’s bad books and
he actually wanted to “get some” today. There would be no chance of
that if he couldn’t even persuade a seven year old to come down for
lunch. Marching over to the little girl he stood over
her.

“
Jessie I’m not going to ask
you again!”

The empty threat
rung in deaf ears
and his frustration got the better of him.

“
Look you little
bitch...”

Yelling, he
grabbed for her arm. This
volatile act would trigger a reaction. A reaction he did not
expect. Betsy and Jessica turned their heads towards him in unison,
as if one mind. However, Betsy’s was the face that frightened him.
Letting go of the little girl’s arm he stood up rigid, looking down
curiously at the doll that reacted so quickly to his assault. While
Betsy’s eye’s followed his, her body (as if it was a separate
entity) swiveled round to match the alignment of her head and she
stood up.

“
What the fuck?”

Jimmy gasped
as he took a step back, being
matched move for move by the doll. Suddenly Betsy stopped still.
Jimmy copied, transfixed by her actions. She outstretched her arms
and tilted her head a little. As a glint of red flickered in her
eyes, Jimmy’s stare was instantly broken by a slam behind him.
Jolting round, he saw Jessica standing in front of the closed door.
She smiled fondly at Betsy.

“
I don’t like you…neither does
Betsy…but she’ll still play with you…”

Jimmy
turned rapidly back to Betsy, who
lowered her arms and smiled.

Lucy
decided to have one more bite of
chicken before she waited for the other two to come downstairs. She
always felt it was best to eat hot things hot. Picking up the fork
with a little piece of oven cooked chicken breast on it she blew
gently to cool it down. A dull thud beat down on the floorboards
above her causing her to stop what she was doing and look up. The
TV tray clinked as she set it down beside her and headed to the
foot of the stairs. Calling up first for her niece, then for Jimmy,
her tone was representative of her feelings’ for each of their
safety. After no response she walked slowly up the stairs, changing
from her usual jog. Cautiously moving down the well decorated
hallway, the sound of the strange thud coupled with the lack of
response made her wary, and therefore slow walking down the hall.
Pushing open the bedroom door she saw nothing strange, except for a
lack of Jimmy. Jessica was sitting with her dolls, seemingly still
enjoying her tea party. Stepping into the room, something felt off
in the air and as such Lucy remained cautious.

“
Jess?”

“
Yes Aunt Lucy
?”

“
Did your Uncle Jimmy come
up here?”

“
Yes”

Lu
cy glanced around the room, still girly in
its decor. Although Lucy was in her twenties she never quite got
out of the pink motif.

“
Where
is he?”

Jessica
lifted her head and pointed across
the room.

“
He’s in the toy box.”

Lucy’
s head spun round to the toy chest
the size of a small coffee table, a remnant from Lucy’s youth still
covered in stickers. Lucy kept this as a memory of times past and
also for some of Jessica’s toys. Always neat, Lucy liked to keep
things stored away tidily. But now, there was nothing neat about
this situation. Lucy turned back to her niece in
confusion.

“
What?”

“
Betsy didn’t like Jimmy so
she put him in the toy box!”

Lucy
looked down at Betsy (heart rate
pounding) but the doll didn’t flinch. Convincing herself this was
some elaborate joke conceived by Jimmy to frighten the wits out of
her she decided she had to check it out. Aiming her body squarely
at the box she moved closer. She looked at the box; there was no
way a grown man could fit in there. Deciding she had had enough
games for today, she was just about to turn around and demand
Jessica tell her the truth when she spotted something. At first she
thought it was paint but, looking closer, she was horrified. Blood
leaked from the corner of the box. Her body frozen, Lucy’s eyes
sailed up to the top of her childhood toy chest; stopping her gaze
on tiny hand prints in blood around the handle. Confusion turned to
fear as little tears streamed involuntarily down her pretty face.
She was drawn to the box now. She had to find out what was in
there. Moving forward one step at a time her brain tried to picture
a best case scenario, but unfortunately there were very few of
those. She grabbed the handle and quickly glanced over her
shoulder, spotting Jessica still enjoying her tea party.

“
Jessica, this had better be a
joke!” she said desperately.

“
I would never lie to you
Aunt Lucy.”

Lucy
didn’t know what to make of her
niece’s behavior; instead she tried not to think about it and
pushed on with opening the box.

“
Just like taking off a Band
Aid”
she
thought to herself.

Fear told her to open the box as
fast as possible.
Tears dropped, dodging sniffles on their way to the carpet
as Lucy screwed her eyes a little in preparation, and pulled up
hard. As if pushed by some invisible force, the sight repelled
Lucy’s body to the floor where she landed on her hands and knees,
vomiting profusely. She only got a little glimpse of what was
inside but that was enough. The sight she just witnessed was now
flashing into her mind. The brutal image of Jimmy, bloodied and
contorted, stuffed into the little wooden box, his face frozen in
horror. The full sadism of Betsy was lost on Lucy however. The fact
that there was no blood on the carpet meant he was bludgeoned after
being stuffed in the box, but Lucy was in no frame of mind for
forensic analysis. Wiping her mouth after one last hurl her
maternal instincts kicked in. She looked up to the table, hoping to
see Jessica so the two could flee but the little girl was not
there. Turning the other way, still on her hands and knees, she saw
Betsy standing in front of her. Behind Betsy, Jessica stood giving
her a mildly sympathetic look before turning and walking out the
door, closing it firmly behind her. Lucy tried to call to her
niece, but her throat was so hoarse through vomiting that only air
came out. Not that it would have done much good; Jessica simply
left her alone with the murderous doll. Betsy smiled menacingly and
walked towards Lucy, who was still sobbing on her hands and knees.
Grabbing her by the hair and pulling her head towards her, Betsy
jammed her little porcelain arm down Lucy’s throat and splayed out
her fingers. Lucy’s gag reflex kicked in but she had nothing left
in her stomach to bring up. She tried desperately to fight off the
maniacal doll as her brain was slowly starved of oxygen but Betsy
was too strong. Using up all her strength, Lucy fell to her back
and thrusted the doll sharply upwards in an attempt to release her
hold. Unfortunately for Lucy, her fate was already sealed. As soon
as Betsy thought she might have been overpowered by the push she
gripped some flesh before her arm was wrenched out. That torn flesh
was now bleeding profusely, filling Lucy’s throat with blood,
effectively drowning her. Crawling to the door in vain, Lucy
coughed blood while desperately trying to steal some precious
oxygen from the air. Calmly, Betsy walked to the tea party table
and picked up the little steel chair she was sitting on. Lifting it
with ease she carried it back towards Lucy. Rolling onto her back,
Lucy tried one last time to fight off the demon doll but it was no
use, her energy had been completely sapped. Scaling the pretty
blonde’s toned body; Betsy raised the chair above her head with
both hands, allowing only one last splutter from the dying young
woman before she drove it down into her face. Two legs pierced
either side of the mouth, and two pierced just above the eyes with
so much force they also pierced the hardwood below, nailing Lucy’s
head to the floor. Twitching as Betsy dismounted her, Lucy’s brain
sent the last of its signals down her body.