"Good Night Milton," Debbie Loch called out goodbye to the night janitor. As she locked the double doors of Doyle Elementary she spared a glance for the aged janitor. Shaking her head as she walked to her car, she felt sad for the poor man. A month ago his wife of forty years had died, leaving the once jolly Milton broken and lost.
He'd come to her a week ago, asking to be put on nights. Deb had gone to bat with the school board to convince them to allow it. For the last twenty years Milt had been the day janitor, he'd been so good that there had been no need to have a night man on duty.
Since his wife had died Milton had confessed to Deb that he just couldn't handle the kids. Not wanting to quit when he was so close to drawing his pension he'd asked for her help. Deb had gotten him what he wanted and he now spent his evenings cleaning the school. Deb'd had her doubts about him switching to nights but really he was a grown man and she hoped he knew what was best for him.
Tonight Deb had been working late, catching up on the scheduling for science fair day that was rapidly approaching. It was one of the biggest undertakings of the year and Deb always made sure it ran smoothly.
She was about to unlock her car when she remembered her cell phone resting on her desk. Normally, she would have let it go till morning. Tonight, though she needed a few of the numbers that were stored in it. Dropping her belongings on the passenger seat she turned and walked back towards the school's front doors.
As Deb approached she noticed that the overhead lights in the entrance way were flickering. Making a mental note to call the district electrician, Deb peered through the doors. Not seeing Milton she used her key and unlocked the doors. As she tried to push open the heavy doors she cocked her head to the side listening. For a moment she'd thought she'd heard screaming.
Deb shrugged it off and once again pushed at the door. It wouldn't move, Deb then rechecked to make sure she had indeed unlocked it. It was then in the dim light from the flickering lights that she saw Milton run towards the front door.
Deb saw the blood that poured from his forehead and she struggled to open the door. Milton turned at the last moment, his back against the door that Deb was frantically trying to open. Deb looked up, pounding trying to get Milton to help push, when she saw it moving towards the older man.
In her shock Deb stopped pushing on the door and watched as it came closer and closer to the now screaming janitor.
Deb closed her eyes and waited for a moment sure that her mind was playing tricks on her. It was the sound of silence that finally made her open them again. The door that she leaned against was covered in splattered blood. As she pushed away in horror Milton's dead weight pushed against the door, propping it open. Deb scrambled towards the janitor and frantically felt for a pulse. Not finding one she began CPR pausing only to use the cell phone tucked into Milton's front pocket.
Two hours later found Deb at home, just finishing a shower. Her head felt like it was stuffed with something and her eyes burned. She'd tried over and over again to make sense of what she had seen. Once the ambulance had taken away Milton's body Deb had answered question after question for the sheriff. Finally, he'd allowed her to leave just before she'd climbed wearily into her car she had overheard a deputy confirm that all doors and windows had been indeed locked and there was no sign that anyone else had been in the school.
Deb had wanted to argue, but really what could she say. She still wasn't sure just what it had been that had attacked him. Deb moved through her house into the kitchen, drawing a large bottle of red wine from the fridge she filled herself a glass full. She picked up her portable phone and stared at it for a while. Finally she sank onto her couch and dialed.
She needed to talk with someone and really there was only one person that Deb knew would listen without judging.
Sara had just put the kids to bed and was settling in for the night. She sat before the computer and pulled up her latest story. She grinned as she read what she had written the night before. Picking up the discarded I-pod that lay on the desk next to her she put the tiny white buds in her ear. She was about to turn it on when her phone rang.
Sara felt her heart leap into her chest and warned herself not to be too excited. He had called just about a week and a half ago; it was unlikely that he would be calling so soon. Sara picked up the phone and noted the caller ID.
Sara grinned as she read the name Loch, Deb. Deb and Sara had been grade school friends they had remained close all through school and even later in life. Deb had relocated to North Carolina but still they tried to get together as often as possible. Deb was godmother to Sara's oldest son. Picking up the phone and pushing away from the computer Sara walked into the living room, looking forward to a chat with her good friend.
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Two hours later found Sara sitting at the kitchen table a half-drunk beer in front of her. She'd finally managed to calm Deb. Sara stared once again at the phone and picked it up, dialing a number she knew by heart she prayed silently that he would answer. She hated his voice mail, hated leaving a message that he may never get.