13

                                    

                                          
Carson stood next to the magazine rack as Ethan walked out. Carson's face lit up as their eyes met.
                          
"Hey, how'd it go?" Carson asked, smiling.
                          
"As rough as I expected. She said I'm a disappointment, and that was that. Nothing I didn't already know." Ethan put his hands in his pockets and walked out.
                          
"Hey, wait up! You have a bad habit of just walking out, you know," Carson said, hurrying after him. When they got in the car, Ethan sighed.
                          
"I don't know what I was expecting. I haven't seen my mum in years. It was like she was a different person."
                          
"Time changes people. I've seen a lot of people who I thought were normal but turned out to be very different. She didn't tell you anything new?"
                          
Like me. "My dad. I think she was just fucking with me, but she implied that he didn't die of a heart attack."
                          
Carson pulled out his phone and pulled up an article. "Is this her?" The phone displayed a younger picture of Ethan's mother. She was being arrested in the photo.
                          
"Yeah, that's her. How'd you find that?"
                          
Carson smirked. "I have my ways. Anyway, I remember reading about this a couple of months ago. The police gave her the nickname of Bloody Mary. I could've come up with a better name. She was charged with at least twenty murders. All of them were men. No one knows how long she was active but still. That's one hell of a body count. How old is she?"
                          
Ethan thought for a moment. "She just turned forty."
                          
"I hate to say it, but it's starting to look more likely that she could've..."
                          
"No. Just no. Don't say it," Ethan said, shaking his head. It can't be. He was the only good thing in my life. He was my role model. My family wasn't perfect. Not by any means, but this was getting out of hand. How much of my life was a lie? Was she killing when dad was alive? Did he suspect anything?
                          
"I'm sorry, Ethan. I really am." Carson put his hand on Ethan's shoulder. "If you need anything, I'm here for you."
                          
It's been a long time since Ethan had a real friend. Kyle was cool, but Carson...Carson was different. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. Actually, there is something I need you to do."
                          
"Anything."
                          
"Look more into my mum. I want to know everything. Noah never told me anything about the murders she'd done. Every time I asked, he would change the subject. She must've done some horrible shit. Am I really related to two murderers?"
                          
Carson's silence confirmed what he already knew. "Fuck," Ethan signed. 
                          
"OH SHIT!" Carson yelled.
                          
Ethan jumped. "What?!"
                          
"Head to the mall! Hurry! Something bad just happened. Go!"
                          
Ethan slammed on the gas and raced towards the mall. Paramedics and police cars zoomed past them, heading in the same direction. Over the trees, Ethan could see smoke coming from the direction of the mall. "What the fucks going on?" Ethan asked. He stopped the car a few blocks from the mall. A wall of police stopped any more traffic from getting through. Several fire trucks were let through with their sirens blaring.
                          
Carson got out of the car and flashed his badge at the officer that tried to stop him. After a moment, Carson hurried back to the car.
                          
"What's happening?" Ethan asked.
                          
"The killer. They...killed five people. They started a fire as a distraction. The police found the bodies in the manager's office. They got most of the flames under control. Ethan, two of the victims, were cops. I don't know who."
                          
Ethan's heart was beating out of control. He fumbled as he tried to call Kyle. "Pick up...come on!"
                          
"Hello?" Kyle coughed. "This is Kyle."
                          
Thank god!  "Kyle, mate, are you alright?"
                          
"Barely. Wait, where are you?" 
                          
"Outside the mall."
                          
"Didn't I tell you to stay home? I swear. Is Sam with you?"
                          
"No, she's at home. I'm with Carson."
                          
"Glad you're alright, Kyle. What happened?" Carson asked.
                          
"I was sitting in my car when a bunch of civilians started running out of the mall. Some officers were inside already, so I decided to stay outside just in case. After the mall was evacuated, I was told that there was a fire. Then, they told us about the bodies. Each of them was missing a finger. It was the killer. But, this was different. The pictures this time were posted on...well, just look at the mall's screen. The one on the welcome sign."
                          
Ethan got out of his car and couldn't believe what he was seeing. Images of the bodies were cycling one after the other on the screen. Each was more horrifying than the last. "This is mad."
                          
"It just changed about five minutes ago. Carson, I'll need your help once the smoke settles. I already informed the boss about what happened. Ethan," Kyle signed. "Since you're here, I could use your insight. Just wait until I give you the all-clear."
                          
"Copy," Carson said.
                          
"Y-Yeah, alright. I'll wait. Shit," Ethan said. "Let me phone Sam."
                          
"Don't tell me she doesn't know you're not home," Kyle said. 
                          
"Not now, Kyle." Ethan disconnected and called Sam. 
                          
"Sam? Hey, I-"
                          
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Sam yelled. "I've been worried sick!"
                          
Ethan looked at his call loge and noticed he had several missed calls. "I'm sorry, love. Detective Carson needed me to look at something. Then something happened at the mall."
                          
"Yeah, I noticed!" Sam shouted. She took a few deep breaths and spoke. "The news is all over it. They said there were casualties."
                          
"Yeah, five. Two were cops."
                          
"Is Kyle okay?"
                          
"He had a bad cough because of the smoke, but he's good. I'm sorry for making you worry." Ethan genuinely felt bad. He didn't have many people left who cared about him. He did want her to be mad at him.  
                          
"I'm just glad you're okay. Hurry up and get home. I need to see you. Got that, Miller?"
                          
Ethan laughed. "I got it."
                          
"Hey, Samantha. It's Detective Carson. Sorry for kidnapping your boyfriend."
                          
"I understand. Just bring him back in one piece."
                          
"Yes, ma'am."
                          
Sam disconnected. Ethan ran his fingers through his hair when he got a text from Kyle.
                          
"Smoke has cleared. Time to go."