Pattern

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty One

// Avery //

"About what?" I asked, looking at him doubtfully.

He paused. "About her. Prudence."

My gaze darkened. "What about her, Howard?"

He sighed. "Not here. Come outside."

I followed him to the yard that not many people tended to hang around in this time of year, because it was chilly, but I didn't mind too much. It probably looked a bit weird, so I sat down on one of the benches. Howard didn't. He stood in front of me, awkwardly.

"Talk," I said, and he glanced down at me, looking sick. 

"I .."

"Spit it out," I commanded, getting impatient.

"She's.. I know where she is." 

I gaped at him, the shock hitting me for a second, so hard I didn't know how to react. Then I stood up. "What? Where is she? How do you know? Is she okay?"

"I only saw her this morning!" Howard panicked. "I didn't know.. She's alive, but she's like covered in blood.. "

"Where is she, Howard?"

He looked down.

"Where is she?" I repeated, louder. 

He sighed. "She's in my house."

I paused. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't realise.. My dad's the killer. He murdered the other three girls, he kept them in the basement. I swear, I didn't know until now.."

I ran my hand through my hair. "I'll get Madi.. and we'll go to the station, you can take us to your house.."

"No!" Howard protested. "She said you could pretend it was an anonymous tip-off, so he won't know it's me.. I'll give you my address, just don't let them know I told you."

"Okay," I agreed, not really caring. All I knew was that Prudence was waiting for someone to turn up, and every second that went by could be a second too late.

He didn't move.

"Come on!" I half-shouted. "Write it down, I'm going to go find Madison, so meet me at the school exit in five minutes."

Howard nodded, and I sped off.

--

"Madi," I hissed, approaching her in the lunch line.

"Oh, there you are," She said, unsurprised. "Don't skip, you'll get suspended or something."

I was momentarily distracted. "Have you taken over your best friends' role as my supervisor?"

Madison shrugged. "Maybe. She rubs off on me."

"I know where she is."

Madi looked away from picking a sandwich in shock. "Really?"

"Yes, come on, we need to go to the station."

She put her tray down and jumped out of the line, then jogged with me to the exit. Howard was waiting, looking like he was on death row. He handed me the piece of paper while Madison watched in confusion.

"I'll explain on the way," I said quickly, and she nodded. 

Then we ran.

-- 

We didn't take long to reach the station, which I'd visited more often in the last two days than I had last year. And Robert Knightley had to be found again, but when he appeared, he looked exhausted. I felt a little bad since I was about to suggest a rescue mission, but his whole face lit up when I told him we had an 'anonymous tip' about his daughter's location. 

I read out the address, and he left, coming back with a few different officers. "We're going, right now."

I didn't know if he had the authority to do that, but I don't think he cared. We got into police cars - not my first time, but apparently Madi's - and drove to the address, probably speeding. But we were in a police car, so we were allowed to do this.

My heart was racing, and I couldn't help worry that Howard was joking, that it was just some prank he was playing. After all, he hated Prudence. Why would he help us find her? Why would he give us her location? Madison was visibly shaking beside me. "I'm going to get sick," She whispered.

"You don't have to go in," Officer Knightley said. "In fact, I think it would be better if you didn't. Either of you. This could be dangerous."

"I'm eighteen, I'm legally an adult," I said quickly. "Sorry, sir, but I'm going in."

He opened his mouth to object, but nothing came out. "Fine," He eventually replied.

We ended up on the outskirts of town, outside of a little house that looked a bit rundown. "This is it."

Everyone got out, including the occupants of the car behind us, all serious looking policemen and women.

Madi stayed in the car, looking like she was about to pull her hair out. Prudence's dad was making her stay behind, considering she was a minor and looked the most unsure about going in. None of us knew what was in there, and she probably wouldn't be able to stomach finding her best friend lying dead.

Neither would I, but I had to take the risk.

Officer Knightley knocked on the door, about to announce that it was the police department, but I stopped him. "What if he gets scared and doesn't open the door, and escapes through the back?"

"That's not my worry right now," He muttered.

"But, Prudence would care."

He paused. "I'll pretend I'm going house to house doing surveys or something," I whispered. He nodded, then backed away, calling the rest of the officers off. They hid quickly.

I knocked again, and finally the door was answered. I noticed immediately that he was in his forties, with green eyes, brown hair and stubble. I also noticed the blood stain on his sleeve. It was definitely him.

"Hi," I said quickly. "I'm doing a survey for all residents of Oak-"

"I'm not interested, sorry," The man replied politely, but at the same time he went to close the door. I stopped the door, my eyes narrowing.

He looked shocked. "Excuse me-"

"Where is she?" I said, controlling the anger in my tone.

"Where is who?"

"You know very damn well who," I snarled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," He said, but I'd already nodded to the police and they moved up behind me. 

He saw them, and his eyes widened. Howard's father froze for a second, then bolted. And two officers ran after him, Robert following. "Where's the basement?" He asked.

"I have no idea," I admitted. "Just walk around carefully."

"Jump," He told me.

"What?"

"Jump, you can hear the difference in the floor, if it's hollow, etc."

"Oh," I said, then heard a groan from the kitchen. The policemen had tackled him to the ground, and he was lying there, staring up at us.

"Where's my daughter?" Officer Knightley demanded, but he didn't reply. 

I walked into the next room - the floor was wooden, but almost completely covered in carpet.

Carpet could easily hide an entrance to a basement.

I lifted up the carpet, and sure enough there was a flat door installed into the flooring, with a lock and key. I unlocked it, opening the basement entrance, then looked nervously at Prudence's father. He handed me his torch.

And down I went, with him right behind me.