Skeleton in the Closet

Bailey visited her friend, Ryan to watch the episode of Lakedale. She worked with him, but she knew very little about him. She wondered why he invited her.

The show went on a commercial break.

“I’m gonna head to the bathroom,” Ryan said.

Bailey decided to look around. She opened the hall closet and a dead man’s body fell onto the floor. Am I next on his hit list?

She shoved the guy back into the closet. She couldn’t let him find out she found this. She rush back to the couch before he returned. What am I gonna do? Call the police? I have to get outta here.

Ryan walked back to the living room feeling refreshed. The second part of the episode already in progress.

“Sorry, Ryan, but I have to go.”

“So soon, but don’t you want to finish the episode?”

“I can watch the rest of it online.”

“Alright, but I just wanted to give you this as a thank you for coming.” He handed her a little box in red wrapping paper. “I’ve asked everyone at the office to watch Lakedale at my place, but they all said they were busy.”

She started to rip the wrapping paper.

“Wait, open it when you get home. I want it to be a surprise.”

“But you giving me this gift is a surprise.”

“You’re silly. That’s why I like you. Too bad — ”

“Too bad what?”

“Too bad you have to go.”

“Yeah — bye. See you at work on Monday.”

“I’m won’t be at work that day.”

“Why not?”

“I’m going to a funeral.”

“Alright, I really do have to go. Bye.

“Bye.”

Bailey drove home with the box in the passenger’s seat. She pulled over, she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to know what was in that box. She unwrapped it and found a dried severed thumb. She carefully picked it up in disgust and saw a thumb ring on it. She recognized that thumb was her boss’, Mr. Edin’s thumb. He hadn’t been in the office for a few days last week, so she was filling in for him. She was the assistant manager, so she had to. She thought he was sick. But now that she knew about his thumb, she wondered where the rest of him was.

The next day, she called a few of the local hospitals and asked if he was there. He was at Memorial Hospital downtown. She visited him at the hospital with his thumb in a plastic baggie.

She asked the receptionist where Adam Edin’s room was and she said, “Room one-twelve.”

Bailey walked down the hall until she found her boss’ room. She knocked on the door, “Mr. Edin?”

“Yes? Is that the nurse? I need more water.”

“No, it’s Bailey Rollins. Your assistant manager. How are you doing?”

“How do you think I’m doing? My thumb is missing.”

“Well, I’ve got good news. I found your thumb.” She showed him the ringed thumb in a baggie.

“What? Where did you find it?” He snatched the baggie from her.

“Let’s just say it was a gift.”

“What? — Oh, it doesn’t matter.”

“I’ll get the nurse, so they can reattach it.”

“Don’t you think it’s too late? It looks a little dried out.”

“I’m sure it’s fine.” She took the baggie back.

Bailey walked over to the receptionist’s desk and she leaned over the desk. She showed the receptionist the baggie.

“What is that?” the female receptionist asked.

“It’s Adam Edin’s thumb.”

“What do you want me to do with it?”

“Tell the doctor to reattach it!”

“Alright, but he’s in surgery. I’ll tell him when he gets out.”

“Thank you.”

She walked back to her boss’ room.

“Well, the doctor’s in surgery, so the receptionist will tell the doctor after.”

“Good.”

“I just have one question. What happened? How did you lose your thumb?”

“All I remember is waking up in the middle of the night in pain. It was too dark to see, but the moonlight hit came through the window. I saw the person with my thumb in one hand and a knife in the other. He jumped out the window. I live on the first floor.”

“Oh my god.”

“Then I called an ambulance and I was rushed to hospital. I’ve been here ever since.”

“Well, I have to go.”

“So soon? No one’s come to visit me.”

“What about your wife and kids?”

“I’m divorced and my daughters live across the country.”

“I’m sorry, but I have a few errands to run today.”

“I get it, your a busy woman.”

“Just hold onto that thumb.”

“I will,” Mr. Edin said as he held the baggie close to his chest with his left hand.

Bailey drove back home and thought about this conundrum. I should call the police, right? He killed a person and de-thumbed Mr. Edin. But what if he hides the body and lies about the thumb? What if it was an accident? I don’t think Mr. Edin would lie. I need to get evidence.

The next day, she went into the office and remembered Ryan wouldn’t be in today because he’s attending a funeral. She walked into Mr. Edin’s office and sat in his chair. She wondered who’s funeral Ryan’s attending. Could it be for one of his victims or even his latest victim? I have to find out.

She tried to call him, but it went straight to voicemail. It was like he knew she would call him, so he turned off his phone. She couldn’t leave the office until after work.

Five o’clock rolled around, the end of the workday. Bailey left and drove to Ryan’s apartment building. A fog rolled in. This was a bad idea. I can’t see anything. She put her high beams on, but the fog reflected it.

Then the light from the sunset lifted the fog.

She continued to drive and parked in front of his building. She opened her car door and spotted him walking up to the building. He turned his head and looked behind him. He ran when he saw Bailey. She chased after him. She followed him into an alley. Dead end. He was cornered.

“I got your little gift and I gave it back to Mr. Edin,” Bailey stepped closer.

“How did you know it was his?” Ryan asked.

“I recognized the ring. I know you cut it off.”

“How do you know it was me?”

“You gave me the thumb.”

Bailey stepped even closer.

Ryan pulled out a gun.“Don’t come any closer. I know how to use this — I think.”

“I’m not afraid of you. You would never shoot me. I’m the only one you like at the office.”

“If I don’t, you might call the police.”

“I would never,” Bailey lied, but it sounded sincere (at least to Ryan).

“You wouldn’t.” He shook his head. “I don’t believe you.”

“You used to be a great co-worker. What happened?”

“I changed. I got sick of you people not inviting me to things. I even tried inviting you guys to little get-togethers at my place, so we could hang out and get to know each other. But no one, except you, wanted to go.”

“So? You should’ve quit and found a better job with better people.”

“No, I’ve been working there for ten years.”

He pointed the gun at her forehead.

“You don’t have to do this!”

“I do!” He closed his eyes and shot the gun. His hand shook from nervousness and the bullet grazed past Bailey’s head. He opened his eyes and found Bailey still alive. He ran out of the alley and Bailey grabbed him by his hood.

“You’re not getting away!”

“What are you, a cop?”

“No, but they are.”

A concerned neighbor must have called the police when they heard the gunshot.

The police officers cuffed him and got a warrant to search his apartment. They found weapons hidden all over his apartment.