Hell Town

Chapter Three

They drove back to town, to tell the Sheriff what they had found.

"What do you think killed them?" Lani asked.

"Maybe a chemical spill from that plant up north. Whatever it was we need to warn people not to swim there."

When they arrived at the Sheriff's office, it was already full of people. The Sheriff waved Rick over.

"You heard about the lake?" Rick asked.

Palmer nodded. "Yeah, everyone's freaking out. What time does your shift start?"

"Four." It was after one now.

"I need you to start now."

Rick nodded, "Of course."

He turned to Lani, "Sorry, looks like we are going to have to cut our day short."

"It's fine, I understand. I'll swing by later and bring you some dinner."

She left him to it and headed back to the diner. It was full too. Anyone not complaining to the Sheriff was inside gossiping. Audrey looked up from behind the counter as she came in. She had been hoping to sneak past her.

"Lani, can you give us a hand?" she called.

Lani sighed. So much for my day off.

She tied her apron around her waist and started taking orders. Most people were only here to shoot their mouths off so they mostly ordered coffee.

Audrey tried to trap her as she left the kitchen.

"If you're going to be spending the night elsewhere, I need to know in future so I can lock up, without locking you out."

"Fine, I'll let you know."

Lani knew she wanted to say more but she didn't. She thought of the check that was hidden in her bag upstairs. She wouldn't have to do this much longer. She just needed a bit more time to tell Rick. Last night made it a thousand times harder.

The rest of the afternoon was spent topping up coffee cups and listening to conspiracy theories. Some were plausible - a chemical leak. Some were downright absurd. Leonard Carter believed Marin County had poisoned the water to prevent him from practicing for the upcoming fishing tournament which he had won the past three years running. She also heard global warming, aliens and the hand of God mentioned.

Edgar O'Hare said that he had found five of his sheep dead that morning, most likely from drinking the water.

Lani remembered the scream from the forest last night. She could have been dreaming but what if it was real? What if someone drank the water or fell into it? She was a long way from the lake though, so it probably was just a dream.

The diner began to empty out near dinner time, when no new information came in. Lani was clearing tables as it grew dark outside. She looked out the window expecting to see storm clouds. Instead she saw a flock of starlings swarming towards the diner. Before she could react, they began flying head first into the window. Lani cried out in shock as one after the other they slammed into the glass before dropping to the ground, either stunned or dead.

"Oh my God," Lani whispered as the last one fell.

Audrey appeared from the back, "What was that noise?"

Lani went to the door and stepped outside. The ground was littered with tiny bird bodies, some of them were still twitching.

"Where did they come from?" Audrey gasped.

Lani pointed in the direction they had come from. The Lake. What the hell was going on?

Lani and Audrey spent the next two hours lifting the birds, bagging them up and tossing them in the dumpster.

"Poor little critters," Audrey said, "Maybe they were poisoned too and it screwed up their systems."

Lani shrugged, "Maybe."

"So, we back to one word responses," Audrey muttered.

Lani hurled the bag she was carrying into the dumpster. The sun had set and it was starting to get chilly.

"I have to go. I promised Rick I'd bring him something to eat. See that was more than one word."

"Rick," Audrey said.

Lani stopped walking," Don't even start."

"I was going to say, I like him. He seems like a decent guy."

"He is."

Thinking the conversation was over she walked on.

"Does he know you're planning on leaving town?"

"How do you know that?" Lani asked.

"I'm not stupid Lani. I know you've been saving your money. I saw the map in your room."

She could think of a hundred retorts but instead she said, "What reason do I have to stay?"

"Certainly not me. Maybe Rick? Have you thought about what it'll be like to say goodbye to him?"

That was exactly what she had been avoiding thinking about.

"Don't. Don't try to guilt me into staying by using him. It didn't work on you and you had a husband and a kid. What I do with my life is my choice. You forfeited any right you had to lecture me when you abandoned me."

She ran back inside, grabbed her jacket and the sandwich for Rick and stormed out of the diner.

That argument had been a long time coming. Ever since Audrey had announced that she couldn't handle the stress and responsibility of being a wife and mother. Lani was nine. With her dad gone there were no other living relatives that could take her in.

She could never trust her again. But at least there was one person in this town she could rely on.

The Sheriff's office was deserted and as she walked in the lights flickered and went out. She could see the computer on the front desk was still on so it must have been a fuse. Where was everyone? Out at the Lake?

"Hello?"

She headed into the back. She could see Rick at his desk. He was facing away from her, lying back in his chair.

Is he asleep? she wondered.

Maybe she had exhausted him more than she thought last night. She smiled at the thought but the smile slipped when she saw the woman kneeling in front of him and what she was doing. Rick's pants lay open, the woman had her mouth wrapped around his dick. Lani felt bile rise in her throat.

Rick was oblivious to her presence, his eyes were rolled back in his head.

"Hey!" Lani yelled. She grabbed a law book that was lying on the desk and threw it at the woman.

It struck her in the shoulder, nearly knocking her off balance. She sat back on her heels and glared at Lani. She was in her thirties with blonde hair, amber eyes and full red lips, although the lipstick was now smeared across her mouth.

"What the hell are you doing with my boyfriend," Lani snapped.

The woman wiped the corner of her mouth, "I think that was obvious. You didn't let me finish. Oh well I think it's safe to say he's done."

Lani was literally shaking with rage. How could Rick do this? And who the hell was this slut?

Rick gave a gasping shudder then his head fell back and he stopped moving.

"What did you do to him?" Lani said, moving around the desk to check on him.

She shook him, but he wasn't moving at all. Was he breathing? Pressing two fingers to his neck, she checked for a pulse. There wasn't one.