Police were everywhere.
Candy was dressed in her red ski parka and a pair of black sweatpants. She had boots on, and her furry hood was pushed down as she held onto her key ring which jingled in her hand. She stood outside her 1978 forest green Impala, and squinted at the chaos that was happening just a few yards away.
Police cruisers were lined up everywhere, along with a firetruck and three ambulances. News vans were parked there as well as crowds began to gather. Blue and red lights flashed as police tape were going around blocking off the area. Candy felt her heart drop before she ran over, her boots clicking against the pavement.
Further off to the left she saw Randy's jeep still parked in his usual spot.
Something was wrong, something horrible.
She pushed her way past people gathering around and finally made it to the police line before an officer stopped her.
"Stand back lady!"
Candy struggled, trying to push by.
"My fiance' is in there! He works here!"
The officer holding her back exchanged a quick glance at another officer that Candy caught. Right away her expression changed as she stared at them.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
Candy had been woken up by Sally, her neighbor who lived downstairs from her. Sally's husband had a police scanner and said they heard something about the market and how somebody had gotten killed. Candy was half awake when she answered the door, and didn't even wait until Sally finished before running and grabbing something to wear. Sally had offered to drive her but she ran out before she could say another world.
Randy was working tonight, he had the night shift.
Usually Randy got off at seven, exhausted in which he would trudge on in and collapse into bed, and slowly kick off his boots. Candy didn't work weekends, so she enjoyed these mornings since usually she was up by then getting ready for work herself. Randy would always stick of the butcher room in which Candy found both a sour yet comforting smell and laugh and nudge him out of bed before he took a shower.
Most of the time they would take it together. Candy would most of the time just be waking up enough, the hot steaming water hitting her as the two stood together underneath the shower head. Randy would be half awake, but always have that smirk on his face as he put his hands on her hips and kiss her gently. Both would stay in the shower until the water turned freezing cold and then dry off together. They would change into sweats, Randy always telling her anything exciting that was happening with the usual crew he worked with, and finally the two would go back to bed.
By then Candy was always fully awake, but she enjoyed their time together and she would sleep a couple of extra hours for him. They would slip into their warm double bed, put their arms around each other and Randy would set his watch and both would fall asleep. Most mornings, Candy would drift back off, listening to his breathing.
Some mornings, Randy would have a little extra energy and both would have sex, despite how many relationships Candy had been in the past, Randy had been her best lover. No matter how tired he was, he always had enough energy for two people and left her panting and gasping for air. As always once he as finished they would lay back down, snuggled against each other and fall asleep.
Instead Candy found herself here, scared out of her mind.
Another officer, a middle aged man came forward with graying hair.
"Miss, you would mind coming with me?"
Candy could feel eyes on her, feeling her heart pound she ducked underneath the police tape and followed him closer to the building. Somehow Candy knew something awful had happened, she felt as if she was in a weird daze, watching somebody else like a television show move onto the next screen. To her she was an actress just playing her part. She wasn't real...it couldn't be.
She was lead over to a police van where nobody could see. Officers and paramedics were rushing around everywhere. Candy felt dizzy before the officer turned.
"What's your name honey?"
"Candy Utivich, my fiance' Randy Raimi works here...my friends woke me up saying something happened. Is everything okay? Is he all right?"
The words seemed to pour out of her as her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
"Was your fiance' working the night shift?"
"Yes, he's the butcher. He's twenty-four, brown hair, brown eyes...ummm..."
Candy felt her words begin to break apart before she stared at the officers with wide eyes.
"Is he okay?"
For a moment she almost expected the officers to say yes. That it was just a hold up. That somebody had gotten hurt and maybe even worse killed. Maybe Jennifer or Linda since they were the two that were always up front. Candy liked Jennifer and Linda, in fact she liked the whole night crew. They had been working with Randy for the last couple of years and had almost became a second family. She had partied with all of them and thought they were nice enough. Randy got along with everyone and just a few weeks ago a bunch of them went out bar hopping for Halloween.
She expected them to say Randy was fine, he was inside answering questions. That they would allow her inside or call him out. There he would be, dressed in his favorite plaid shirt and his butcher apron. He would look tired but go to her quickly and wrap his arms around her squeezing her tight and lifting her off the ground. He would kiss her head as he always did and tell her he was okay.
Then he would go back to their apartment and everything would be all right.
Instead a detective, walked over beside another officer.
"Ms. Utivich, would you please come over here with us..."
Candy looked from each face, she could tell from their eyes. Panic began to rise in her.
"Where is he? Is he all right?"
"Please Ms. Utivich..."
Almost in a daze, Candy was lead around the van where nobody could see her. Suddenly she felt very cold, she remembered Randy getting ready earlier that evening and telling her how he thought they might be getting snow soon. How he put on his jacket, smiled at her and kissed her goodbye. She remembered him grabbing his cigarettes and how she rolled his eyes before he laughed.
"Hey you remember our deal. You decide to get pregnant, I'll quit."
He had been teasing her about this ever since they got engaged. Candy never knew if he was serious or not. Both were working full time, living pay check to pay check and barley making rent. They were comfortable and had been saving up for the wedding which was planned for next year. They were typical blue collar young kids in love, but they made it work. Randy had been talking about putting some money aside soon so they could save up for a log cabin by the lake just outside of town. Randy had always been good with his hands and told her they could save a lot if he did most of the restoring himself.
A baby was the further thing from her mind.
But she always suspected it wasn't from Randy's. His sister had a son who had just turned two and just last month they drove up to visit her. The whole time Randy laid on the floor playing and amusing the baby. Both of them looked in laughing, not being able to believe how good he was with him and how much of a kid he was himself.
She remembered how she laughed and playfully punched him in the shoulder and how they kissed again.
That was the last time she ever saw him.
Candy eyed both men with wide eyes before clearing her throat.
"Is...he okay?"
The detective sighed before lowering his eyes for a moment.
"Mr. Raimi had you down as his next of kin on his emergency contact sheet. We're afraid that earlier this evening..."
"Is he hurt?"
Candy interrupted. Both officers exchanged a look before Candy shifted her feet.
"Is...he hurt?"
"I'm afraid it's worse than that..."
Candy felt tears fill in her big brown eyes.
"Is he...dead?"
The officers exchanged one last look before the detective sighed.
"Yes, I'm sorry."
Those words echoed through Candy's head before she slowly shook her head and took a step back.
"No!"
The officer tried to take hold of her arm but she shook it off.
"NO!"
"Ms. Utivich please..."
Candy shook her head, her eyes wild and wild.
"No, I don't believe you...where is he?"
"Ms. Utivich..."
"I want to see his body."
"What?"
"You heard me, I want to see his body. That's what I'm supposed to do, ID his body right?"
"Ms. Utivich, his wallet was on him including his ID..."
"I want to see his body damnit."
Candy nearly growled. Both officers looked at each other before the detective sighed and stepped closer.
"That really isn't a good idea Mrs. Utivich."
"I want to see his body or I'm going to start screaming. Now you show me him damnit."
Candy said in a perfectly clear yet cold voice. Shock had settled in and instead of breaking down she no longer felt herself. She felt far away, half way there watching from afar as she spoke to these two men. She wouldn't nor couldn't believe it. Just a half an hour ago everything was all right. She was working as a restate agent, taking night classes, and wearing her diamond ring she knew Randy had saved up five paychecks for.
She was in love and perfectly happy. Nothing bad could ever happen. Nothing.
Now these men, these strangers were telling her Randy was dead.
Another officer came over and the four of them began walking out back where the loading docks where. This area was completely blocked off. It was colder out now, her breath was coming out in tiny little clouds. Walking with them, the sound of her boots echoing, she went to where the ambulances were along with the phone booth which was knocked out. Shattered glass was everywhere and police had taped off that area and taking photos.
Candy saw blood.
Before they reached one of the ambulances, Candy stopped and looked at them.
"What happened? Was it a hold up?"
The detective cleared his throat.
"It appears Jennifer Ross and Craig Peterson..."
"Whoa wait Jennifer?"
"She was a co-worker with your fiance' right?"
"Yeah, I know her...is she dead?"
The officers looked at each other again.
"They were taken in for questioning, Jennifer and her ex boyfriend are suspects..."
"Wait, they did this?"
"Mr. Peterson was out on prole, it appears he came by the market earlier harassing Ms. Ross. The police were called but by then Mr. Peterson had taken off. We received several 911 calls around three in the morning, when police finally arrived on the scene they found Ms. Ross and Mr. Peterson with weapons and covered in blood. Mr. Roberts, the owner had been attacked and said they were the ones who did it. Mr. Roberts is in critical condition and taken to St. Micheal's hospital."
"What exactly did Jennifer do? Where is everyone?"
The detective sighed before Candy's eyes widened.
"Their...all dead? Dave? Bub? Tim? What the hell happened?"
Candy's voice was raising before the detective gently touched her hand.
"It's bad Ms. Utivich, please if you come with us we can take you to the station..."
Candy pulled free of his grip, now angry.
"I want to see him."
The officers nodded to each other before they lead her over to the back of one of the ambulances. There was a black rubber body bag on a stretcher. Sighing, Candy felt sick as she walked over.
The detective nodded before the paramedic slowly unzipped the bag. Candy stood there, arms crossed and feeling dizzy. She held in her breath before finally she saw him.
Randy laid there, his eyes closed and his skin pale. Drying blood was running out of his nose and closed mouth. There was an ugly gaping wound underneath his jaw bone. As if he had been stabbed. He laid there still.
Candy stared at him and screamed.
Right away the paramedic looked uneasy, fumbling to try and zip Randy back up. The detective tried to turn Candy away but she threw him off and hurried over to Randy.
"Randy! Randy! Please wake up!"
Throwing herself onto him, Candy gave a horrible devastating moan before burying her head against his blood stained shirt. Crying loudly, everything began to fuzz over and darken.
Later...
"Candy?"
Candy's eyelids fluttered open and she found herself back in her cozy apartment. Laying in the double bed she had been sharing with Randy for years. She blinked a few times before hiking herself up on one elbow and looking up.
Randy sat there.
He had dragged over the chair she used near her vanity whenever she was blow drying her hair or doing her makeup. He was in his gray jeans and plaid shirt. He was smoking a cigarette and looked perfectly happy and fine. There was no blood...he was alive.
Her eyes widened.
"Randy?"
Randy grinned.
"Hey babe, you okay?"
Candy took a second before looking around, suddenly she felt tears begin to string her eyes as she reached forward, touching his knee.
"Oh Randy, I had the worse dream...the police were at the market. They were saying Jennifer and her ex boyfriend killed everyone, I saw you...you were dead..."
Randy leaned forward gathering her up in his arms before holding her tight. Candy buried her face against his shirt, smelling tobacco and his aftershave. Two scents she found comforting and reminded her of him. He held her tight.
"Shhhh, it's all right...I'm okay...I'm right here with you..."
Candy?
Candy's eyes fluttered open before her vision cleared. For a moment she couldn't see anything, the lights were all much too bright and she shut them right away. She tried her hardest to hold onto that faint image of Randy holding into her.
She was in the hospital.
Taking a second she saw the detective standing over her bed, a worried look in his eyes.
Candy felt like her head was a million pounds, trying to sit up her vision blurred for a moment.
"Randy?"
"Shhhh Ms. Utivich, you need to relax...you fainted."
He was by her side, gently holding her as she looked around. An I.V and a monitor was hooked up to her. Feeling dizzy, she stared up at him. She saw out the window it was light out. Her throat felt dry and her head heavy.
"Where...am I?"
"St. Micheal's hospital, you fainted...the doctors think it's shock."
Candy looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot.
"Did I dream it?"
Sighing, the detective shook her head.
"I'm sorry..."
Candy shut her eyes and began to weep, she could kill Jennifer and Crag for what they did to her Randy.
Kill.