Chapter 17: Reunited
Officer McNally sat out in his cruiser, reading his newspaper when Wilson called him. "Hey McNally, you there?" Wilson called. McNally sat up and grabbed his radio. "Wilson, go," he said sitting up. "Have you heard?" Wilson asked. "Yeah, I've heard that Alan met his secret admirer," McNally joked, "He okay?" "Yeah, he'll be fine," Wilson said, "But she's going for the Coleman's. Keep an eye open man. Alan said he'd be there after he's checked up at the hospital." "Alright," McNally said, grabbing his shotgun and cocking it. "Please man, be careful out there," Wilson said, "I'm out."
McNally turned his head, looking in the mirror. He paused as a small hand turned his side mirror so he could see behind his left shoulder. He looked out the window, seeing Esther looking at him with big glassy eyes. He lifted his gun up, but she grabbed his messy hair and rammed his head into the wheel. His nose cartilage shattered, blood pouring out like a grisly fountain. She stuffed a knife into the window as he sat up gasping and it ripped his throat open, blood gushing down over his clean uniform. He hacked and choked, thrashing his arms about, stuck in his seatbelt and unable to move. She closed her eyes as some of the blood sprayed her face. He suddenly fell back into his seat and remained still.
"Here's to Kate Coleman and her beautiful family," Helen said as everyone at their table each held up their glasses, "May they stay as long as they can with us. To our friends, the Coleman's." Everybody did their cheers and drank up. "You know, I can't thank you guys enough," Kate said, smiling at all of them, "You've all been really great to me and the kids." Everyone started clapping for her, making her blush as a few people from other tables looked over at them. She put her arms around her kids and hugged them. She smiled at Colin who returned the gesture. He winked at her and took a sip of his wine.
Esther was up in Max's room, packing her things in a bag for her. She smiled, using her gun to shove a bunch of Max's belongings off the shelf into a huge traveling case. She then grabbed a bunch of Max's neatly folded clothes and placed them into another suitcase, smoothing them out. She then grabbed the shoebox of belongings and put them beside the clothes in the case, closing and locking it. She dusted herself off and grabbed the 2 large cases and brought them both down the stairs, leaving them in the living room. She looked around the house and nodded her head with satisfaction.
Kate and Max were in the restaurant washroom, washing their hands. "They're a really good bunch of people," Kate said. Max smiled and nodded at her. Kate grabbed some paper towels and dried both her and Max's hands off. She then grabbed her daughter's hand and they walked out together. Kate smiled, seeing Daniel waiting outside for them. He looked over his shoulder and jerked his thumb to the table.
"They were wondering what happened to you guys," Daniel told her. "Yeah, sorry," Kate said, "I had to take my anxiety meds. It would be weird to do that in front of them." They all started to walk back to the table, but Kate heard something from the TV on the other side of the bar to her right that made her stop in her tracks. She and her 2 kids turned their heads at it and saw Esther's face on the TV. Reporter Lynn Garner was on the screen, detailing all that had happened that night while they were going about their usual business. Kate stood there in absolute disbelief, not knowing what to do. Daniel squeezed her hand tightly, causing her to jump a little.
"Mom?" he asked, looking up at her. "Daniel, Max," she started, "We have to get out of here." She looked around and saw the emergency exit and went out of it. Her kids followed her quickly to avoid detection. Kate was still in disbelief as they crossed the parking lot and she hailed a cab. The cabbie stopped and they quickly got in. Kate got in the passenger seat and told them her home address. She knew that Esther would find them if they stayed. She wanted something from them. She knew they'd have to pack quickly and leave the town. If the police couldn't catch her before, they couldn't now.
Esther kicked McNally's body down the basement steps and shut the door. She made herself another glass of milk and paced around the place, wondering where she and Max should go. She knew if her and Max kept moving place to place, they'd be safe. She took another sip, seeing a family portrait up and threw her half empty glass up at it, shattering it. She couldn't stand to see them so close together. She knew that this would be the last night Kate and Daniel would see her.
She heard a car pulling up and knew this was it. She smiled and pulled her gun out. She knew she couldn't just surprise them, or they'd run away. She then ran off into the living room and hid out of sight as she heard the cab drive off and the front door open. She heard their frantic movement as they hurried in. Kate came into the living room and grabbed the phone and started dialing a number. Kate looked over as she heard the gun hammer draw back. She stared in the direction as Esther slowly stood up from her hiding place. She smiled at Kate, who stood there in shock. Esther held her finger up to her lips and motioned her to hang up the phone. Kate listened, her eyes tearing up. She shook her head at Kate. Esther had waited far too long for this.
"No, we killed you," Kate moaned, "You're dead." "Hello Kate," Esther said smiling, "Long time no see. I missed you guys. Call your kids in here please." "But how did you survive?" Kate said in shock, "You drowned in the pond." "Call your kids in here please," Esther repeated, smiling at her. Kate shook her head, pointing. "I won't do it Esther!" Kate hissed, "You killed John! You tried killing me and both of my kids! I'm not going to let you do it!" "Call them or you'll die first!" Esther barked, waving the gun at her, "Do it! Call them now! I want to see them!"
Kate's eyes closed slowly as tears poured out of her eyes, and she did. As she heard them both come running down the steps, she hung her head and sobbed.
"What's wrong, mom?" Daniel asked as he and Max rounded the corner. They both stood there suddenly frozen. Esther turned her gaze towards them. "Hello Daniel," she sneered at him. He started to tremble, making a weird noise. She then looked at Max and her face softened. "Hello Max!" she exclaimed, her eyes looking all glassy again, "My little sister, I can't tell you how much I've missed you!" Max made a little noise, her jaw dropping. "It's alright honey!" Esther said, wiping her eyes off, "I'm not going to hurt you. Let's have a look at you."
Esther went over to her and pulled her gently in her arms. She hushed Max as she moaned and caressed her curly blonde hair. Esther had never felt happier in her whole life. She now had her best friend back, and everything was going her way for once. Esther sobbed a little and kissed Max's forehead. She then looked down at her, holding her face with both hands. Max stared up at her frozen stiff. Esther smiled and pinched her cheek lightly. She held her tightly again and laughed a little. As she moved Max away gently, she wiped her eyes off again and aimed at Daniel and Kate again.
"Alright you two!" she barked, "We're going on a little trip! Kate, grab the keys for your van." Kate nodded her head and grabbed them off the desk. "Esther, please don't hurt my family," Kate sobbed, "You can just take the van. Take whatever you want. Please, we can all get through this!" "Not so fast!" Esther said, "I've got a little trip planned. And you're all invited! Isn't that great? It'll be like old times." She reached down and handed Daniel Max's bags, shoving them into him. He looked mad at her. "Don't you try and stare me down!" she snapped, hitting him with the gun. Kate and Max screamed. "Shut up, Kate!" She shouted, holding the gun up to her. She then smiled. "Self defense," she said smiling.
She kicked Daniel as he lay there and he screamed. "Get up!" she hissed, "C'mon, we've got to get going. Kate, you're driving. Let's go family." Daniel got up, grabbing his sister's bags. Max rubbed his back gently. They all headed for the front door and quietly left the house.