Chapter 7:
The Stalker
Police Station
Early Evening
"The witness is right down here."
Officer Foley led Aaron down a maze of halls towards the interview rooms. Although he'd been in New York only about 6 months, Aaron had been able to secure someone trustworthy on the force who'd be able to give him intel or leads on any of his more demanding cases. Officer Peter Foley had known about the Caulfield Case that Aaron had taken and had promised to let him in on anything that floated by his desk. It was really just dumb luck that Alena had been on the list of acquaintances for Levi, and that she'd pointed out Max as his possible killer. Still, Aaron was thankful that Foley had kept his promise.
Aaron: "Thanks again, Pete. This helps me out greatly."
Foley: "Yeah, no problem." (Sighs) "Just be careful with this one. She's one of those punk, anti-authority types. She's also got quite an attitude and a mouth on her. I had to tell her to calm down more than a few times. She just told me to fuck off each time."
Aaron: "Do you believe her in her accusations?"
Foley: (Shrugs) "Of Max Caulfield? It's a little hard to swallow. Plus the girl she's fingering has a clean rap sheet and a clean bill of mental health. There's also a lack of concrete evidence."
Aaron: "A lack of concrete evidence. That's the bitch about trying to build a solid case, isn't it, Pete?"
Foley: "Ah heard that."
They both entered the interview room and saw Alena sitting at the table, looking worse for wear.
Foley: "Hello again, Ms. Christensen. I have someone who wants to ask you about Levi's possible killer."
Alena: "Possible? Then I guess that means you still don't fucking believe me! This is a matter of life and death! Why would this guy believe me?"
Aaron: "Because I'm already working a case on Ms. Caulfield." (Clears his throat, extends his hand) "I'm Aaron Korey, private investigator."
Alena: (Shakes his hand cautiously) "A private investigator, huh?"
Aaron: (Takes a seat across from her) "Yes, that's correct."
Alena: "Well I hope that you'll take what I'm saying seriously, unlike Dunkin' fuckin' Donuts over there!"
Foley: (Rolls his eyes) "I'll be right back." (Leaves)
Alena: "So how can I help you Mr. Korey?"
Aaron: "Well, seeing as you've met Ms. Caulfield, I was hoping that you could tell me a little about what you've seen with her."
Alena: "I don't like her. She weirds me out. My roommate Steph doesn't feel the same way about her that I do. She's all chummy with Max because they both went to the same school in Arcadia Bay."
Aaron: (Writing in his notepad.) "Interesting."
Alena proceeded to let Aaron know of what she'd observed of Max over the 2 days that she knew her. Aaron seemed fascinated by ever little detail, but Alena just assumed that was just one of his detective traits. Still, she filled him in on everything that she'd seen from Max. After about half an hour, Alena was watching Aaron finish up scribbling in his notebook. As he was re-reading his notes, Alena cleared her throat, getting his attention.
Alena: "Now's your turn, P.I. What'd she do besides kill Levi that has her on your radar?"
Aaron: (Looks around, sighs) "Technically I'm not supposed to tell you this as it's an ongoing investigation but I guess trust works both ways…" (Takes a few moments) "Max's already under investigation for possibly killing 2 of her former fellow classmates, as well as graverobbing."
Alena: (Stares) "Holy shit… that's insane…" (Pauses for a few moments) "I knew that there was something jacked up about her. So, what do you need from me, Mr. Korey?"
Aaron: "I'm going to need you to keep calm and play along, and act oblivious around her, while keeping what you've seen to yourself."
Alena: (Lowers her eyes) "Aw shit."
Aaron: "What's wrong?"
Alena: "I already told someone."
Aaron: "Who?"
Alena: "My roommate Steph."
Aaron: "Anyone else?"
Alena: "Naw, just her and that cop. And you."
Aaron: "Well good. I'm going to need you both to play along with her. If she suspects anything or if either of you talk, then there's no telling what she's capable of." (Sees Alena staring wide-eyed at him)
Alena: "She did see me get hauled off. Your cop friend even mentioned Levi in her presence. I know that she knows that I saw her do it. You could tell just by the way that she looked at me."
Aaron sat back in his chair, lowering his eyes in defeat. He then took a few moments while trying to find the right words to say. After a few more moments, he glanced back at Alena and smiled warmly to reassure her. Alena stared back nervously and sighed.
Aaron: "This will be over before you know it." (Reaching in his coat) "I'm going to give you my card. I want you and Steph to remain safe and aware of her at all times." (Alena takes it) "If you see or hear anything else suspicious from her, call me on my cell. I always leave it on."
Alena: "Thank you, Mr. Korey. I'm glad someone is finally taking me seriously."
Aaron: "I promise you, we'll get to the bottom of this and stop her."
Alena: "I sure as hell hope so."
Max and Kate's Apartment Building
A stranger wearing a black coat, black gloves and a black beanie exited Max and Kate's apartment building, climbing into their car. They then sat behind the wheel, putting an earpiece in. They lowered then lowered the sun visor and stared at a small picture of Chloe. The stranger then stared back at the photo from under their dark sunglasses, remembering the very day that had prompted their mission to bring Max to justice.
The stranger themselves hadn't been notified of Chloe's passing, or been invited to the funeral itself. Mind you, that was to be expected as Joyce and David had no idea of who they were in the first place. They themselves had gone back to Arcadia Bay when the news of the Mark Jefferson & Nathan Prescott scandal had broke, but it was specifically the name of murder victim Chloe Price that had brought them back, wanting to see her one last time. And they had gone back and had been inside the Price's home on the day of the wake. Seeing Chloe just laying there in her casket was devasting to say the least and had left them reeling.
They were never the same again after that day.
It was when the family and friends were getting ready to move Chloe's body to the hearse to be taken to the cemetery and be buried, that the stranger had seen what had set them after Max. The stranger had been sitting in their car and having a smoke, when they'd seen Max approach the closed casket, open the lid and stare into it for a few moments. Max then leaned over, kissed Chloe's lips for a few moments and then lifted her body out of the coffin, before carrying it over her shoulder out to a waiting white cargo van. She had then hurried back inside and went into the garage. She'd them come back out and emptied a large box of encyclopedias into the coffin, before shutting the lid. She had then spoke with Joyce, presumably to tell her that she'd meet them at the cemetery, and had left in the van to stash the body.
The stranger had then followed Max and the white van for a few blocks, while not taking their eyes off of the van. That was a mistake as the light had turned red and they ran it, colliding with a cop car. The cop had come over to check on them and then immediately recognized them as a former offender who was not welcome in town. As the stranger tried to form a coherent sentence to tell them about Max stealing Chloe's body, but being too injured to do so, so they were removed from the car and promptly arrested. The next day, they were patched up and sent out of town, being warned not to return. Fearing being arrested again, this time for a longer term, the stranger obliged, leaving Arcadia Bay via hitchhiking as their car was totaled.
They then resorted to following Max online when they arrived home, keeping tabs on her.
Now here they sat in New York City, spying illegally on Max and Kate. The stranger snickered to them self, knowing that had a leg up over that useless private investigator Aaron Korey, who could've used today to rig their home with spy equipment, but hadn't taken the opportunity for some reason. So the stranger did themselves. The stranger figured that the private investigator also didn't want the legal backlash of using surveillance equipment without a warrant signed by a judge. His loss, they supposed. But his loss was their gain. The stranger wasn't worried about any legal ramifications as this was a vigilante mission, not some investigation. They were out for blood.
They then watched as Max and Chloe pulled up to their parking spot and exited their vehicle, chatting as they did and carried the black cases labeled: Camera Equipment. The stranger followed the girls through their binoculars as they ventured into the apartment building. Luckily for both girls, they wouldn't find any love-letters from them this time around. But the stranger would have access to the privacy of their home. The stranger then pulled a laptop up from the passenger seat, and accessed the tiny surveillance camera feeds that they'd placed strategically all throughout the girls' suite. All of the cameras were online without any interruption. All that was left to do was sit and wait for an opening.
Max and Kate entered the apartment on one of the cameras, so the stranger enlarged it. They then watched in voyeuristic silence.
Max and Kate's Apartment
Max: "Whoo, what a day! Well, we'll be back at it Monday morning."
Kate: "At least we get the weekend off. Poor Steph and the others will be filming for a few weeks straight."
Max and Kate had hung up their coats, with Kate going into the kitchen and Max plopping down on the sofa. Kate began fixing herself a bowl of cereal as Max closed her eyes and kicked back, sighing in slight exhaustion. Her eyes then flew suddenly open as she heard knocking at the door. She glanced at Kate, who went over and answered it.
Kate: (Looking down) "Oh, hello Maisie! You accepted my invitation, did ya?"
Maisie: (Smiling) "Yes ma'am."
Max closed her eyes and sighed as Maisie came in with Kate. She then looked over at Maisie who was talking with Kate as they headed towards Kate's pet bunny Alice's cage. Max and Maisie locked eyes as they passed. Maisie didn't greet her this time.
Kate: (Opening the cage) "I know she missed you, Maisie!"
Maisie: (Smiling) "I missed her, too."
Kate: (Lifting up Alice) "Heyyy, sweetie! Mama's home!" (Pointing to Maisie) "Look Alice, Maisie's come to see you!" (Hands Alice to Maisie) "Here ya go, kiddo."
Maisie: (Takes Alice gently in her arms) "Thank you, Ms. Marsh." (To Alice) "Hello sweet, Alice!" (Cuddling with her) "Awww, I missed you too!" (Kisses her head)
As Maisie and Kate made small talk, Max got up and headed to their bedroom, taking off her shirt before she went in. Maisie quietly gasped. Max wasn't wearing a bra. Kate frowned and stared as Max disappeared around the doorway.
Kate: "Jesus, Max… We just partially saw your boobs."
Max: (From the bedroom) "Sorry, I just wanna change for our night at the club tonight."
Maisie: (To Kate) "You're both going out tonight?"
Kate: (Smiling) "Yeah, in a little bit. We're going out to a nightclub with some friends, called Tripp's. But you can visit until them."
Maisie: (Smiling) "Thanks."
Kate playfully winked at her and began to eat the cereal she'd prepared. Maisie continued to cuddle and play with little Alice and Max continued to look through her closet for something to wear to the club tonight.
Outside:
In their car, the stranger heard the name of the nightclub and quickly googled the address. It came up and the stranger scribbled it down quickly, smiling to themselves. Their quick thinking and acting while the girls were both out had paid off and they were about to finally nail Max and Kate. There'd be no police or private eye intervention. They'd see to that.
Stranger: "Thanks, Kate. I'll be seeing you at Tripp's Nightclub tonight. Both of you skanks."
Inside:
Kate suddenly got a text on her phone, so she checked it. It read: Joyce Price: 'Hello Kate. It's Joyce Price, Chloe Price's mom. We met at my daughter's funeral. Please call me back in private at (Her phone number) Please don't let Max know. It's URGENT.'
Kate: (Reading, then re-reading the text) "What the heck?"
Max: (Peeking out at her) "What's up?"
Kate: (Quickly thinking up a lie) "Uhhh…" (Pauses) "Oh, my parents are in the city on some business! They should've called!"
Max: "Oh God, they're not coming here are they? We don't have any room for them."
Kate: (Slightly offended) "That's rude. No, they're staying…" (Glances out the window at the Bachman Hotel) "They're staying across the street at the Bachman Hotel."
Max: (Sighs) "And let me guess, they want you to come and visit them tonight?"
Kate: "Max, I haven't seen them since I left Arcadia Bay a year ago. They've been worried about me since then, as we've only ever texted or called each other." (Pausing) "It would be nice to see them again, Max. Yes, they want me to spend the night."
Max: "So, I'm going by myself with Steph and her friends tonight? Great."
Kate: "I'm sorry, Max. But I'm sure that you'll be fine."
Max looked Kate up and down, her irritation telegraphed by the expression she now wore on her face. Max disappeared back into the bedroom. Kate nervously chewed on her lip, before getting up and going to the washroom with her phone.
Kate: "One sec, Maisie." (Closing the door behind herself) "Gotta text my mom."
Maisie sat there awkwardly on the floor with Alice in her arms. Maisie then glanced over at Kate's purse, which she'd left open on the coffee table. Maisie could see Kate's house key inside it. An idea occurred to her just then, as she remembered that Aaron had given her his card. Maybe she could help him. If both girls were under investigation, Maisie could probably sneak back in while both girls were out for the night. She could probably then get some evidence for Aaron and help him crack the case. Max would be hauled off and Maisie would never have to stare at those cold blue eyes ever again. But then again, Kate would be hauled off, too. Despite what she'd seen the previous night, Maisie liked Kate and knew that she was still a good, kindhearted person. If Max was busted, so would Kate be, but she didn't want that. In any case, she couldn't have it both ways.
Maisie then glanced over the couch in the direction of the washroom, to make sure it was shut. It was. She'd then glanced back at the bedroom to see if Max was out of sight. She was. Acting quickly, Maisie reached into Kate's purse and snatched her house key, quickly pocketing it. Maisie then let out a sigh of relief at not being caught.
But someone did see her, and they were peeking through the gap in the half-opened bedroom door. It was Max.
Jamison Motel
A While Later…
Joyce exited the washroom, pocketing her cellphone. Both Aaron and David glanced up at Joyce, who took a seat on the edge of the bed. Aaron had come back to their motel room after he'd spoken with Alena. They were now all back to discussing what to do next. Joyce now wore a relieved expression for a change from her usual sad one that Aaron had seen her wear since the first day that they met.
Joyce: "Ms. Marsh has agreed to come and stay with us tonight." (Pauses) "My God, we've got a lot to talk about."
Aaron: "So, she'll be here for the night with you 2, then?"
Joyce: "Yes. She's concocted a story to Max that she's spending the night with her visiting family from out of town."
Aaron: "Clever. But what about Max? What's she going to be up to?"
Joyce: "She's going out to a nightclub called Tripp's with her new employers."
Aaron: (Nodding) "Then that's where I'm going as well."
David: "What?"
Joyce: "Are you sure about that, Mr. Korey?"
Aaron: "Yes. It's crowded, so I'll be able to get in nice and close. Maybe eavesdrop a little bit. Who knows? If our speculation happens to be on the money, then she may even slip up. Then I'll be there to catch her."
Joyce: (Looks up at him, fearfully) "Please be careful, Mr. Korey! Lord knows what else she's capable of."
Aaron: "I will." (Winks at her) "I still have to get paid."
They all chuckled as he shook their hands and quickly left the motel.
Max & Kate's Apartment
Bedroom
Max had decided on a form fitting long-sleeved, short black dress with knee-length, zip-up high heel boots. She began to get dressed, with Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" playing on her bedroom's iPod docking station. Kate peeked in at Max, who had finished getting dressed and had begun putting on some makeup. As Max sat at the makeup desk and began putting some on, she saw Kate watching her from her peripheral vision. Max ignored her and continued to apply her face. Max knew that Kate herself knew that she was annoyed, but wasn't saying anything.
Max: (Annoyed) "It's fine, Kate."
Kate: "It doesn't sound fine, Max."
Max: (Glancing at her) "Just drop it. Whatever, I'm still going. I just thought that this could be a chance for us to move up in the world, instead of just remaining amateurs."
Kate: "Max, you're far from an amateur. You should have your own studio with your skill."
Max: "That's what I'm trying to do, Kate. I thought you wanted this bad enough, like me!"
Kate: "I do, I just can't help it right now. My family sprung this on me at the very last minute."
Max sighed and continued to apply her makeup. Nothing fancy, just something to liven up her face a bit. Kate came into the room, coming up behind Max and holding her from behind. Max immediately stopped her application and stared at Kate in the mirror. Kate smiled playfully at her and then gently kissed her neck. Max cracked a smile and rested her head against Kate's.
Maisie approached the doorway, now that Kate wasn't manning it. She leaned in and listened.
Kate: "If I didn't want a good life for us, I wouldn't have left Arcadia Bay with you, Max. You remember what you told me the night that we decided to leave together? You said that we'd have to look after each other from now on. And we've been doing pretty good so far. It hasn't been easy for either of us, but we've always found a way to land on our feet. We'll get where we're meant to be, Max. I promise you."
Max: (Smiles up at her) "Well said, Kate." (Chuckles) "I love you." (Kisses her)
Kate: (Kisses her, smiles) "I love you too, Max."
A short while later, Max was climbing in her car and putting on her seatbelt. She now wore a slim black hooded leather jacket, where she kept her silver S&W 4506 automatic pistol, her large bowie knife and her silver brass knuckles concealed. She just hoped that the bouncer wouldn't pat her down and if they did, that they wouldn't get too brave with their hands.
A few moments after Max had cleared a fair distance between them, the stranger's car started up and began to follow after her, knowing that they might have to compete with that private investigator in their pursuit of her. They then looked down at the small black, 5-round Springfield XDs .45ACP pistol that sat in the passenger seat.
The stranger took the small concealed-carry pistol and stuffed it into their jacket pocket, as they followed in pursuit behind Max who was none-the-wiser.
