The Ghost Face Murders in Fall River

Ch. 27

TW: mentions of r*pe, verbal abuse, emotional distress, end of relationship

"Hey, you heard anything from Jed?" Harold asked poking his head out of his office.

Autumn was slumped down in Danny's chair spinning around slowly. She had been trying to not get worked up over the fact that Danny hadn't messaged her at all and it was coming up on four o' clock. "N-No, I h-haven't..." she replied sitting up.

Harold furrowed his brows. "That press conference should've been over hours ago," he said.

"Yeah, I kn-know..." Autumn said checking her phone once more.

"Well, maybe they got carried away doing some investigative journalism," he suggested. "I'm sure that's it."

Autumn sighed. "I hope..." Something told her that wasn't it though. With everything going on, she just knew something bad had happened to him.

Four o' clock came and the employees began to leave. Minute by minute ticked away until Harold came back out of his office and saw Autumn still sitting there. She was the only one left in the building with him.

"Still haven't heard anything?" he asked.

Autumn looked at him and shook her head. A lump had formed in her throat. "No... I-I t-t-tried calling him mu-multiple times, but... he never answered..."

Harold could see that the young woman was quite upset, she was just trying to hold it in. "Well, would you like to wait here and see if he shows up or do you want me to give you a ride home?"

"I-I guess take me home..." she told him.

He nodded. "Alright. Lemme get my coat and keys."

Autumn hoped and prayed that Danny was alright, but she just couldn't believe that he was. What if Victoria had done something to him? A wave of anger washed over her at the thought of Victoria hurting Danny. Surely he wouldn't let something like that happen, would he? Could Victoria get the upper hand on a skillful killer such as him? Autumn didn't want to think about something like that. She got up from his desk and followed Harold out of the building. He tried to ease her worries as he drove her to Danny's house. There was nothing he could say that could make her feel better.

Once Autumn got to Danny's, she shut the door and locked it. She turned the porch light on just in case it was dark when and if he came home. Again, Autumn called and called. She sent another text to him then sat and waited. After awhile, she ended up calling Kim to ask if she or Richard had heard from Danny. They hadn't. Autumn regretted telling Kim because it put even more stress on the pair, but Kim was mainly worried about her. She told Autumn to call her if he never came home. Richard said she was more than welcome to stay at his house with them. Autumn wasn't ready to do that just yet despite her ever growing fear. She could hear Richard begging on the other end for her to not stay by herself. Poor guy was absolutely traumatized over the loss of his friend. Alas, Autumn wasn't ready to abandon ship, she wanted to be home for Danny if he did show up.

After Autumn got off the phone with Kim, she got Casper and sat down on the couch. Cuddling him and feeling his soft fur against her face calmed her a bit. For awhile, the ball of fuzz distracted her, but when she realized it was completely dark outside, she began to panic. It was after eight and there was no sign of Danny. She was about to call Kim again when she heard a car pull up in the driveway. She scrambled off the couch and made her way to the front door. Autumn peered out the window and seen Danny getting out of his car. Her heart pounded with excitement and relief, he was okay! Autumn unlocked the door and pulled it open.

"I-I've b-been so worried ab-about you!" she exclaimed letting all the anxiety and worry that had built up flow from her eyes.

Danny didn't say anything, nor did he look at her. He just walked to the door in silence. Autumn noticed he looked disheveled and reeked of strong perfume. She stepped to the side to let him in and closed the door behind them.