Arthur's car stood at the square for some time, as if Arthur expected the killer to make a return. "How he could lose him so easily," he moaned. He looked left and then right and then more longingly on the road ahead. He did not know what to do now? Where to go?
He was as purposeless now as before, but then he started to drive again. He could go and check back at the pharmacy. But there was no guarantee that Arthur will find the killer there and it was a long drive. Arthur decided to go back to the motel and sleep.
While he drove to the motel, he thought if he will follow the killer tomorrow night too and then what are the odds the killer will get find a target tomorrow. "Maybe he won't kill for a long time now," Arthur sighed. He drove sadly in the night as stars kept swaying by his windows.
He parked his car in front of the motel. The place was completely silent. Owner must be asleep by now, it's pretty late he thought. Some crickets chirped in the silent night, only to be disturbed by the tip-tap noise of Arthur's leather boots tapping on the wooden floor.
Arthur walked to his room, turned the knob and opened his door. The room was dark, maybe the owner had turned off the lights to save on the bill. Arthur had stepped one foot in the room when he noticed the silhouette of a girl on the bed. "I'm sorry, I thought this was my room, I'll just leave," apologized Arthur and stepped out of the room.
Arthur stood outside and checked the location of the room. He was sure it was his room. The owner was not here or else Arthur would have asked him. Arthur moved forward and check the adjacent rooms. They were locked. He thought maybe the girl has got in her room by mistake.
He walked to his room and knocked. Nobody replied but somebody opened the door a bit. "Okay! I'm coming in," Arthur shrugged and went in. Arthur looked at the girl on the bed and said, "I think you have made a mistake, this is my room, maybe your room is some other one."
The girl did not reply but seemed to be shaking her head violently. Arthur stood there confused, "what I can't hear you." The girl was saying something but it was inaudible. Arthur turned towards the switches, "let me turn on the lights first."
As he turned on the lights and faced towards the bed, he could not believe his eyes. There was a girl on the bed but her hands and legs were tied and she had a tape on her mouth. She was trying to say something. Through her eyes the girl pointed Arthur to look behind.
As Arthur turned, he saw the killer standing behind the door with a butcher knife in his hands. The killer locked the door with his other hand. Arthur knew he was trapped. He was a strong man but there was no way he could make it to that door without getting seriously injured. Arthur felt like shouting, sure in this silence he will be heard to a distance, but he will be dead by the time someone comes to help him.
And he was not stuck here alone. Arthur looked at the girl again, she might be the girl the killer picked from outside the party house. Arthur had not been able to see her. Arthur's observations were obstructed by two metals clanking behind him. Arthur turned to see the killer tapping the butcher knife on his metal rings.
"Which precinct?" growled the killer. "What?" Arthur asked confused and terrified. "You are a cop; you must be working in some precinct. Which one?" Arthur was stumped, "I was a cop, not anymore, how do you find out?" The killer smiled like Arthur was his friend and he had said something funny.
"I'm the one with the butcher knife in hand, I'll ask the questions?" said the killer swinging his knife like a conductor moving a baton. Arthur obliged, "Ok! What do you want to know?"
"Why are you following me?" asked the killer a straightforward question. "Uhm… you wouldn't understand that," said Arthur timidly.
"Are you implying I'm not smart enough to understand your motives? I run a pharmacy store Arthur!" said the killer. "No, it's not that, it is just that…wait you know my name?" said a shocked Arthur.
"Your name, your house, your family, Nadia and what was it Daniel, the bad thing about following someone is, you never know who is following you, btw my name is Brian Key!" said Brian with authority and no hesitation of hiding his identity.
"You are not going to include my family in this, please do not do that," pleaded Arthur. "That depends on, if you think I'm smart enough to understand your answers," replied Brian coldly.
"I am an Author, I have this deadline to finish a novel about this very violent killer, my publishers told me to finish it within a month and it had to be perfectly researched. So, I decided to follow you, learn from you," blurted out Arthur.
"That's a hell of a backstory for an undercover cop," said Brian clinking the knife against his fingers. "It's not a story, I can show you, my contract. It's in my car." Explained Arthur. "A fake contract, not a tough job, but I must say the cops are working hard to catch me," laughed Brian.
"I'm no undercover cop, I… can show you my last book," said Arthur. "I do read books; Arthur and I haven't read anyone by you." Scuffed Brian. "I have written only one," said Arthur hesitantly.
"Okay show it to me," demanded Brian. "I don't have it with me, right now," explained Arthur. "Don't play games with me, Arthur!" said Brian slyly.
"The motel owner has one copy, I can bring it in to show you," requested Arthur. "If you don't come back soon, this girl dies in a room booked in your name and then dies your family. And don't think you will run away with them, by tonight you know how well I know the roads," threatened Brian.
"They wouldn't come with me even if it was D-Day," said Arthur sadly walking to the door. Brian gave him way.
Arthur walked to owner's office, he put his hand through the wooden window and grabbed the copy that Martin the owner had showed him earlier. Arthur brought back his book into the room.
Today his writing will either save his life or leave him in a pool of blood. Brian sat down and started to read the book. He was a quick reader, Arthur noticed. After reading a few pages and seeing Arthur's picture on the cover, Brian said -
"Ok Arthur! I'll teach you," and extended his hand. Arthur took his hand and they Shaked.