In The Garden

Chapter 12

" Back to Alice's?" asked Darren as the three of them walked to his car in the Library parking lot.

" Alice's?" asked Anna.

" Yeah you told her we'd pick her up on our way to the station to see Veronica," explained Darren, " I assumed that's where we were headed next."

" Oh right," said Anna, " yes but first thing tomorrow I want us to go to Zelda Martin's house."

" Sounds like a plan," he said.

" Yes I'm very interested to talk with her also," said Marcea.

They pulled up to Alison Cooper's house it was a very different scene than the first time. It was now fully dark outside the moon was high in the sky and there was not a single light on in the house. Several of her cats were at the door meowing intently wanting to be let in. The two detectives got out of the car.

" Marcea just wait here," said Anna.

" Alright," replied Marcea.

Anna and Darren walked up to the house and Darren knocked. They waited for several minutes but there was no answer. Anna tried ringing the doorbell they heard the noise of it echoing in the house and waited again. A couple of the cats starting rubbing up against Anna's leg the black cat was not among those outside. After several moments there was still no response from inside.

" Maybe she's out," suggested Darren.

" I don't think she's gone anywhere," said Anna, " these cats aren't used to being left outside. I don't think she would go anywhere without letting them in."

Darren knocked on the door harder than before.

" Ms. Cooper, its' Detectives Matthews and Marx are you there?" he called.

There was no response or sign of life from the house. Anna tried the door and found it unlocked she turned the knob and pushed open the door slowly. The cats that had been circling her feet darted into the house. The house was black and eerily calm the moon's light offered little help inside the house.

" Ms. Cooper," called Anna.

" Is everything alright? Are you here?" asked Darren as he tried the door.

"The door was unlocked so we let ourselves in, Ms. Cooper," called Anna.

" I'll try to find a light switch," said Darren and he began fumbling in the darkness, " here's one."

He flicked the switch and light filled the front room several cats scattered when they saw the strangers.

" See that's why you have dogs," said Darren.

" Ms. Cooper," called Anna again.

There was a noise upstairs Anna looked over at Darren and then reached for her gun. Darren saw her and followed suit. Then the two detectives climbed the stairs. When they reached the top of the stairs they could see the open door of Alice's bedroom. They could see someone was moving around in it and talking to themselves, as they slowly drew closer. When they were right outside her door Anna peeked in. She could see the figure in the dark but not enough to make out who it was. She signaled to Darren he looked in and saw the figure as well. It was walking back and forth at the foot of the bed and was still talking to itself.

" I'm going to reach in and turn on the lights," Anna whispered.

" Alright," said Darren.

Anna slowly reached her hand in the door and felt along the wall for the light switch she found it and flicked it on. The figure didn't even flinch didn't notice at all that the lights had turned on but they could now see who it was. It was Alison she was pacing there at the foot of her bed talking to herself totally asleep.