GRUESOME END
26th January
Toothless earned extra cash by working as a taxi driver. At 4 p.m. on an unusually hot day, he was driving his Nissan Almera and occasionally checking his mirror. He drove at 60 km/h to avoid drawing the attention of the cops. He had a small ice box with a few drinks in front, on the passenger's seat. His shirt was soaked wet because the AC in his car refused to work.
Images from earlier that day kept flashing through his mind, as if he were watching a movie. He saw himself in the car, laughing and conversing with Layla, a neighbor's daughter.
He had taken an extra dose of antidepressants just before picking her up to deal with his anxiety and anger outbursts. As a result, as he talked with Layla, he felt relieved and at ease.
She showed him a photo of her son that she kept in her wallet and told him about his academic achievements. She was on her way to the Shopping Centre to purchase gifts for his birthday.
She eventually started fanning herself with a booklet.
"Can you please let down the back window? I'm boiling over here," she admitted.
With a smile on his face he opened the window. Then he took out a drink from his ice box.
"Gyal, why don't yuh drink dis. You'll feel better."
He removed the cap from the bottle.
Layla snatched it away from him and drank it all.
"Thank you very much. This is exactly what I needed."
She leaned back and looked out the window. They were passing through the governmental houses.
"Is there any news on your house?" she inquired.
Toothless looked in the mirror at Layla.
"I'm still waiting for approval."
"You'll get it. Don't be concerned."
Layla began to feel sleepy and relaxed. She yawned a few times before falling asleep.
Toothless smiled as he looked at her in the mirror. He shut the windows. When he saw she was unconscious, he exited the highway and drove onto a road flanked on both sides by sugar cane. Then he pulled over to the side of a gravel road and dialed Candice's number.
She was in a taxi with two other people. She looked at the phone's screen and answered the call when she saw Toothless' name.
"Yes, Toothless."
"I'm all set to go," he said.
Candice's gaze moved from left to right, taking in the people around her.
"What are you talking about?" she asked in hushed tones.
"You have a bad memory. Didn't you ask me to murder a woman and pass her off as Sheila?"
Candice again looked at the travelers, making sure that they hadn't heard anything.
"Call me later. It's not a good time."
"Listen, I'm proceeding with the plan. Put $7,000 in an envelope and drop it off at the designated location tomorrow."
"All right, you'll get it once the job is finished. Do not call this number again!"
"If you try to play games with me, I'll come after you!"
He put away his phone and got out of the car, making sure to scan the area beforehand.
Not seeing anyone, he tied Layla's hands. He slid her into the car's trunk and started the engine.
He felt bad for her. She was his neighbor after all, but he needed his seven thousand. He ultimately decided to follow Candice's suggestion. The question was, what to do next?
Where should I take her? Oh—Grande Forest will do.
His thoughts were interrupted as he drove his maxi taxi down an unpopulated road by noises coming from his trunk. Layla was kicking the trunk's lid in an attempt to open it.
She's making a lot of noise.
He pulled off the road and drove to Grande Forest, where he parked his car near the trees. He pulled his gun from beneath the seat and cracked open a can of beer. He sat there drinking it for a while.
"Help me! Somebody please let me out!"
"Stop it right now. It won't help you!" he exclaimed.
"Please release me! Let me go to my son!"
He got out of the car with a roll of wide masking tape and a pair of pliers from the glove compartment. He stuffed the pliers into his pant pocket. Toothless looked around suspiciously, pondering his surroundings. Then he slipped his gun into his pocket, walked over to his trunk, and lifted the lid.
Layla looked up at him, wide-eyed.
"Are you going to murder me? We've grown up together!"
He ripped a piece of masking tape off. He pushed her back and then taped the tape across her mouth when she tried to sit up.
Toothless drew her out and slung her over his shoulder. He then removed a canister of gasoline from the trunk. He walked to the forest, carrying both. Layla kicked and writhed trying to escape.
"Ow! Stop now or I'll take your life right here!"
He moved deeper into the forest, sweating and in pain. He came to a halt and dropped her to the ground once they were surrounded by trees.
He just stood there staring at her. Toothless felt gratified by being around helpless and lonely women. He found them to be easy prey. He only had to pay them a little attention or be gentle with them, and they fell for him like fools. Their cries were like a lullaby to his ears as he raped them, and he felt powerful and in command.
Layla was his fourth prey. He'd released the previous three, but he'd planned something heinous for Layla.
Layla sat up, unable to move. Her lips and chin trembled as she looked around.
Toothless knelt and yanked the tape from her mouth. He then took the gun from his pocket and pointed it at her.
She moved backwards slowly, her gaze fixed on the barrel.
"Please don't do it, Toothless. You used to visit us at our house. To me, you were like a brother."
"And then what? I've been to a lot of houses. Yuh real dunce and naïve woman."
His gaze darted around, doing a quick scan of the surroundings. He then pointed the gun at her temple.
She cried and kept pleading. "I beg you, don't kill me. I have a son. Don't leave my child motherless."
Her pleadings brought back a memory from his childhood:
Once when he was only eight years old, he had woken up at night feeling someone's touch on his groin area. He opened his eyes, and right before him stood his Uncle Dylan, who was living with them after returning from the US.
Toothless had tried to get out of bed, but Dylan had pushed him back. He had wanted to scream, but his uncle had covered his mouth with his hand and whispered, "If you make a sound, I will kill your mummy."
Toothless' body had shuddered with fear. His face had paled, and his legs weak. Dylan had pulled down his underpants and said, "Lie down on the bed and do what I say, and everything will be fine."
Layla managed to grab Toothless' hand and stared at him with teary eyes. "Caleb please, don't do this."
He made a fist and kicked her a few times.
"Oh, God, I'm going to die. Please stop it!" she pleaded, as her body moved jerkily.
"You will not hurt me anymore. You hear me, Uncle? This is your end!"
He knelt next to Layla, who was crying loudly, and held onto her chin. He stared into her face—but it wasn't Layla he was seeing. It was his uncle's face.
His hand slid down to her neck.
"I hate you, Uncle."
As he stared at her, his eyes flashing hatred, another past event popped into his mind.
He was in his dark bedroom, being choked by his uncle because he had refused to follow the monster's demands. How Toothless wished to be rescued by his parents, but they were never at home when he needed their protection.
After work, his father stayed out late messing around with his lady lovers. His mother was too busy with gossiping and partying with her own friends.
As his uncle let go of his neck, Toothless stared into his eyes and pleaded, "Uncle, please stop hurting me. I don't want to do this any longer." The poor child's eyes ran with tears, which poured down his wet cheeks.
Toothless' memories were interrupted by Layla's voice.
"Caleb, I beg you, take me to the hospital. I won't tell anyone anything about what happened."
He pulled her up to a standing position and pushed her towards a tree, all the while seeing his uncle's face. He turned her around and silently stared into her eyes. Toothless then moved aside and took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. As he did so, some money rolled out of his pocket. He leaned over and picked it up.
Layla took the opportunity and ran, holding her tied hands in front of herself.
Toothless looked up. He grinned as he watched her flee.
"Oh, she wants to play hide and seek now. What a waste of time!"
He walked in the direction, slowly and purposely, giving her more time to run.
"People always run somewhere, but the end still comes," he mumbled. "Can't cheat death."
As he chased after his victim, his mind brought back new images of his past.
He recalled a time when he was thirteen, getting up at night and rushing to the toilet. As soon as he had finished urinating, Dylan came in. Toothless had tried to pull up his pants, but his uncle had stopped him and began touching his groin area. He had managed to push Dylan away and had run out of the room. He had dashed into his parents' bedroom and had hidden under their bed. As he lay there teary-eyed, his heartbeat increased, and his palms became clammy.
"Stop hiding. Come out or you'll regret it."
His uncle had walked through the house searching for him. Toothless could hear him coughing.
He had stopped in Toothless' bedroom, out of breath, and had looked under the bed. Then he had entered his brother's bedroom.
Dylan's coughing had worsened; he was having an asthma attack. He had knelt on the floor, breathing heavily. As Dylan looked in the bed's direction, he had noticed Toothless' legs under the bed.
"Son, please help me. I know you're under the bed."
Dylan felt a stabbing pain in his chest as he gasped for air.
Toothless had gotten out of his hiding spot and stared at his uncle from afar.
"I am not your son."
Dylan' s face had become pale.
"Go and get my inhaler from the top of my chest of drawers."
Toothless hadn't moved a muscle. Dylan's eyes became watery as his chest wheezed loudly.
"No, you did terrible things to me." Toothless' body shook as tears appeared on his eyes.
"Please, go. I promise I will never touch you again."
Toothless looked over at the door and then at his uncle.
"You were putting your thing in my mouth. I begged you not to do it. But you didn't listen."
Dylan spread himself on the floor, lying on his left side.
"Go and get dat damned thing before I dead."
Feeling sorry for him, Toothless ran out of the bedroom and in a few minutes came back with the inhaler.
He approached his uncle who, upon seeing Toothless, had reached for the inhaler. Toothless stretched his arm out to pass the inhaler to his uncle. However, even then Dylan had touched him inappropriately.
Anger roared through his brain.
"No, Uncle. You get it yourself."
He had thrown the inhaler and it had rolled under the bed. Dylan had attempted to get up.
"Go and get it, stupid boy!" he had ordered.
"No, you get it yourself."
"You're an idiot. I'll get you!"
Dylan managed to sit up. The scared boy had run out of the room like a bullet.
Layla ran into the overgrown foliage, which scratched her face and hands. Her leg hit against a branch that had fallen from a tree, and she fell facedown.
Her sobs filled the air. "Ouch! Help me! Why is no one helping me?" She tried frantically to get up a few times and failed.
Finally, she was able to get on her feet. She took off again, running for dear life. She paused once and looked around, trying to see where to run, but was surrounded by trees. There didn't seem to be a way out.
Then she heard the sound of gushing water and ran towards it.
It was a river. Afraid of being drowned by Caleb if he found her there, she ran back into the woods and hid behind a huge tree. She stood very still and peeked out from behind it. Feeling worn out, she slid down to a sitting position against the tree.
Toothless kept walking, patiently and relentlessly, holding the gun in his hand and ready to shoot.
"Where are you? Come out! There's nowhere to go."
He looked at the ground and saw the grass that had been crushed under her feet. After a few minutes of following the trail, he came to the river. He stopped and gazed toward the other side.
"No, she couldn't have crossed it," he said.
He stared at the ground, looking for footprints.
She must be here somewhere.
Hearing his voice, Layla tried not to move or to breathe loudly. She closed her eyes.
Please Lord, don't allow him to find me.
Toothless looked at the trees suspiciously. Then he walked slowly towards them.
A huge black centipede crawled up her leg and bit it. She jumped up, screaming.
Hearing her voice, Toothless ran towards the tree. As soon as he found Layla, he grabbed her blouse. Then he pushed her against the tree a few times, bashing her head.
Blood gushed down her scalp. Toothless let her go and moved aside. She took a few steps, then fell on her belly. Yellow lights flew before her eyes, and her head was spinning. Slowly she crawled forward, trying to get away from him.
Toothless let her crawl little bit further, and then he kicked her all over her body. She grabbed his leg and lifted her head to stare at him, unbearable pain in her eyes.
"Please shoot me and end this."
He stopped kicking her and sat on a rock. He lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth.
As blood oozed from her nose, ears, and mouth, Layla raised her head and gazed at Toothless.
"Why Caleb?"
"Don't take it personally. Your death will earn meh cash."
"You're a monster. You'll burn in hell," she whispered, and then coughed out a gob of blood.
Toothless glanced at his watch. He threw his cigarette on the ground and then stepped on it.
He walked towards her and gripped her neck with both hands. She held onto his hands, trying to free herself. As he squeezed her neck, her face became blueish pale and she let go of his hands.
Toothless let go as she became still. He put his finger on her wrist and checked her pulse. She was dead.
Toothless lit another cigarette. He inhaled the smoke as he stared into her wide-open, dull eyes. He flinched and dropped the cigarette on the grass. Stepping on it, he walked to Layla's lifeless body and closed her eyes.
He picked up the canister and doused her with the gasoline. Then he lit her blouse with his lighter and stood aside, watching the fire slowly spreading over her body. Flames rose, making Toothless move away further. He sat on the rock, staring at the fire. When the flames got smaller, he began pulling out her teeth with the pliers. One by one, he removed them all and put them in his pocket.
No one will be able to identify her.
Then he doused her with gasoline again. As the flames rose, he looked at his watch.
Didn't expect this would take so long.
He dialed Candice's number.
She was at her friend's house in the bedroom, going through some clothes. Her friend was selling them, and Candice had come to buy some.
Her phone buzzed nonstop. She looked at the screen and then answered.
"What now?" she asked, with annoyance in her voice.
"It's done."
A frown formed on her face. "What are you talking about?"
"I killed a woman as you asked. I'll be waiting for my seven thousand tomorrow. Since the work took more time than expected, make it nine thousand."
Candice looked over at the door, making sure that her friend wasn't nearby.
"Are you insane? I can't pay you that amount."
"I don't care. If I don't get my nine thousand, I'll call Miguel and tell him everything."
Candice closed the bedroom's door.
"I swear I have no cash right now. Give me a week."
Toothless spat on the ground. "Why don't you ask your pimp, Teller?"
"He's struggling himself."
"Fine. No more than a week!"
"What did you do with the body?" she asked in a low voice as she stared at the door.
"I burned it and dumped it in the forest."
"Did you leave Sheila's ring near her?"
"Oh no, I forgot. I'll do it now."
He put his cell in his pocket, then took the ring, which he'd put in a fire the day before, out of his pocket and went over to the corpse. He pondered a moment, wondering where to leave the ring. Finally, he bent down and slid it onto Layla's burnt finger.
"I wish I hadn't had to spoil that ring. Oh well—maybe I can steal it off her before she's buried."
Then he picked up the canister and walked out of the forest.
As he sat in his car, Toothless heard a cell phone ringing somewhere. He looked at the back seat, but it was empty. Then he got out and searched in his trunk.
There he found Layla's cell phone. He picked it up and looked at the screen. The word "Mummy" appeared on the screen.
Damn it, her mother is calling.
He turned off the phone and slipped it into his pocket. Then he got back into the car and drove away.
The next day, at 8 a.m., two police officers sat at the desk in Monrel police station. One of them was talking on the phone and the other one was reading a report.
A plump 60-year-old lady walked into the police station. She went to the desk.
"Excuse me?" she said.
One of the officers looked up at her. "Good morning. How can I help you?"
"My daughter has been missing since yesterday. I came to make a report for a missing person."
The officer picked up a huge journal of entries and a pen.
"What is your name, Aunty?"
"Indriani."
"Your daughter's name and age, please."
"Her name is Layla, and she's 29 years old."
The officer kept taking notes.
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"Yesterday. She left the house at 7 a.m., for work."
"When was the last time you spoke to her?"
"She called at around 4.30 p.m. and said that she was waiting for a taxi."
"What was she wearing?"
"She wore a white blouse and a black skirt."
The officer closed her journal and put her pen down.
"Why don't you come back in a few days. She might be somewhere with she man or having a good time with friends."
"No, she never stays away from home. Can you please search for her?" Indriani pleaded, putting her hands on the desk.
"Please don't panic. I'm sure she's fine. Go home and come back in two days if she doesn't show up."
"But she…"
"Aunty, we will look for her."
Layla's mother slowly walked away.
"Are you going to do anything about it?" asked the other officer.
"No, we should wait for two days. She's probably somewhere having fun with she lover."
"What if you're wrong? I'll make some calls and see what we can do," said the officer, as she lifted the phone receiver.
Indriani drove home. She went straight into Layla's bedroom. It was a cream-colored room with a queen-sized bed, two bedside tables, and an oak dressing table.
She opened the drawers of the dressing table and searched for Layla's phone book.
In her search, Indriani found a huge photo album. She took it out and sat on the bed, where she spent some time looking at every picture in it. On one of the photos, Layla was standing with a bunch of children. Everyone was smiling except Caleb, who stood near her. He looked dejected.
Where are you, my child? You never stay away without telling me. Are you hurt?
Her attention shifted to a picture of Layla taken in a restaurant. She sat next to her boyfriend, radiating joy.
Stop it. Nothing wrong with she. She probably with her boyfriend.
A tall, thin boy with a short haircut came into the bedroom.
"Granny, when is Mummy coming home?"
Indriani glanced at him, not knowing what to say.
"Granny, why are you ignoring me?"
"Sorry, I got lost in thought. I don't know, okay?"
"Why don't you call her?"
"Go and do your homework, and I'll try to get her."
Indriani's grandchild left. She put away the album and searched the rest of the drawers.
She found a telephone book and looked at the names in the book. Then she picked up the phone and called Layla's friends.
The first call was made to her boyfriend, Jason.
"Hello."
"Hi, Jason. This is Layla's mother."
"Oh, hi, Aunty. What happened?"
"Layla didn't come home yesterday. Did you see her?"
Jason sat up on his bed.
"Yesterday she called me and said that she was boarding a taxi to go home. Something might have happened to her."
Fear filled Indriani, making her tremble. "No, not to my sweet daughter. She's my only child."
"Aunty, stay calm. Maybe there's a rational explanation. I'll come over in a while and help you to look for she."
Indriani hung up and, for some time, sat unresponsively. Then she dropped the phone on the floor.
Someone might have captured her and is holding her against her will.
She picked up the phone and made a few more calls.
"Hi, Karissa. Did you speak to Layla yesterday?"
"No, Aunty. Why?"
Brick by brick, her wall of hope was crumbling. She broke down, sobbing.
"She went to work yesterday and didn't turn up. I feel that something horrible has happened to her," she said through sobs.
"Aunty, take it easy. She probably went out with friends and stayed with one of them."
"But my child doesn't do that. She always calls me."
Indriani put down the phone as tears escaped her eyes.