Chasing the Chaser

The killer sprints down the alley. Her brother-in-law is right behind her. Penny starts to dart left but decides to make a quick right instead. Ducking around the corner, she raises the knife above her head. Controlling her breathing, she listens and waits.

I have to be ready, she thinks, adjusting the grip on her knife.

Sweat streams down her forehead, trickling into her eyes. She looks up to find the sun blazing above her. I would pick today of all days to start my hunt. She thinks, wiping the sweat from her brow, she resumes her stance.

She hears footsteps plowing toward her. readjusting her sweaty grip, she takes a deep breath and waits. Four, three, two. She counts in her head.

The tall, beefy man rounds the corner.

With all the strength she can muster, Penny plunges the knife deep into Larry's chest. Jerking her weapon out, she shoves it into his chest again.

The man collapses onto the cold hard ground as he gasps for much-needed air.

Pulling her weapon out, Penny stabs him over and over as memories of what he did to her fifteen years ago replay in her mind.

She, her husband, and her brother-in-law decided to spend the Christmas, New Year holiday living it up in Vegas.

The first night there, Penny partied a little too hard. Larry, the gentleman he is, offers to escort her upstairs. Safe in her room, Penny decides to have a little nightcap to finish celebrating their first night there. Larry had other plans.

Rolling his rounded body off her, he turns and says, "I expect the same tomorrow and every night after for the duration of our stay. If you don't do as I ask or mention this to Steven, I will tell him about your illicit affair with the boss."

"He won't believe you, not without proof." Larry's lied to his family so often that they have a hard time believing anything.

He shows her a few pictures, smiles, and says, "Lee has copies. He will give them to Steven if something happens to these or me. So, same time, same place tomorrow, got it?"

"You can't blackmail me anymore, you worthless piece of shit." Penny is showered in blood as she mutilates Larry's bloody corpse. Bending over, she spits in his face and says, "Rot in hell, you sick S.O.B.

Their lovemaking was normal at first but quickly progressed into S and M.

The sun glares high in the clear afternoon sky as she heads back the way she came. She's about to turn the corner when she sees two more figures heading her way. Penny immediately recognizes them as the oldest two of the Calahan clan. He brought his brothers to help.

Penny is searching for a place to hide when a childhood memory comes to mind.

---

"I'll kill you, you brat," her father yells, chasing after her as blood seeps through the crotch of his pants.

Fed up with his abuse, Penny stabs him in his nuts. I bet he won't shove them in my face again. She snickers. She looks back to see he's only a few feet away. I didn't think the old man could run this fast. She thinks, picking up speed.

A little further down, she finds her friend, Jimmy, waiting for his bus. "Help me, Jimmy, help. My dad is threatening to kill me." She screams. Jimmy is one of the few people who knows about the ongoings at home.

"Follow me." Jimmy leads her down the alley. "Go, go." He orders, pointing at some rickety stairs.

More terrified of her dad than the dark unknown, Penny sails down the stairs.

Following behind her, Jimmy pulls its cover over top. "He won't find you in here," Jimmy reassures.

___

"Thanks, Jimmy." Making a quick left, she darts around the piles of trash. I hope it's still there. She thinks as she sprints down the last little bit.

She sees the old dumpster up ahead, with the piece of tin underneath. That's one way to conceal the hideout, she thinks.

She tried to shove the dumpster aside, but it wouldn't budge. What's wrong with this thing? She pushes it with all her might. It moves a little and stops. "Come on, come on. Roll, damn it, roll." No matter how hard she tried, the dumpster wouldn't go.

Penny looks down to find a cement block behind the back right wheels. She tried to move the cinder block, but it wouldn't budge.

She looks up to find Larry's brothers heading her way. She tries again without success. It's useless, she thinks, falling to her behind.

"Need some help?"

She looks over at the tall beefy man beside her. "Please."

"Why do you want to move this anyhow?" he asks, moving the cement aside.

"I have two men after me, and I need to get somewhere safe."

A perplexed look crosses his face as he tries to figure out her plan. "Ok?"

"Penny glances over her shoulder, then back at him. "This too, please." She says, pointing to the bin.

The man gives the dumpster a shove. Its wheel slowly rolls away from the tin.

"Thanks." Penny shoves the metal aside, straightens up, and says, "You didn't see me, got it?" Wanting reassurance, she pulls her knife out of her pocket. "Got it?" she screams.

Raising his hands, the man nervously takes a step back. He shakes his head and says, "I got it, I got it. You were never here."

"Good boy." Patting his head, Penny darts down the steps and then pulls the tin across.

The man turns to find two burly men barreling toward him. Now I know why she was so scared, he thinks, leaning against the bin, hoping to block the metal from the men's view.

"Which way did she go?" The larger of the two asks.

Penny's helper glances around. "Who?"

"The lady, where did she go?"

"I haven't seen a lady; wish I had. If you know what I mean." He rubs the front of his pants. Walking toward the smallest of the two, he strums his finger down the side of the man's face. "You're kind of girlish."

"Get away from me, pervert." Pushing him away, he darts down the alley.

Shaking his head, his partner follows.

"I knew that'd make them leave." He chuckles.

~~~

The Berryville detectives are at their desks, trying to figure out where Penny might go and who she'll target next.

"Here's the list you asked for, Sergeant." Rachel hands him her paper.

"The first page is domestic violence calls from 2000 to 2013, the years Penny worked. The second page is from 2014 to now.

Joe quickly glances over it. "Great work, detective."

"Thank you, sir."

He looks through it again. Now we need to figure out who Penny might know."

Hanging up the phone, Jerry says, "I put an APB out on her. The TV station agreed to run her picture on the evening news, and the editor said he'd add her picture to the morning paper."

"Have you checked all the motels?"

"Everyone except Willy's, but his is closed."

"Why would he close this time of year?" Joe asks, running his fingers through his hair.

"The message says there's been a death in his family."

"Expand your search. I want you to go as far south as little rock and north up to Branson."

"Do you know how many motels there are in Branson alone?"

"Stop your damn bickering and do it," Joe yells, slamming his fist on his desk.

Rachel glances over at her boss. "I'll help you, Jerry." She volunteers.

"Thanks." Jerry mumbles under his breath, "I wish he'd get some sleep."

Rachel nods.

Joe spins around. "What was that?"

Jerry jumps. "You look like you need a little rest, sir."

"I won't rest until we find our perp."

The captain walks towards them. "Guys, we have another victim in that little alley off of Main."

"Jerry set up roadblocks, Rachel, get our canines out to the scene; see if we can end this manhunt once and for all."