Boogeyman - Chapter 1

 

Chapter One

The airport was crowded, people milling about and rushing to catch their planes. Music was cut when attendants announced flights that were boarding or arriving. Lights were bright and natural. The building was clean.

Cody Lawson adjusted his backpack on his shoulder and glanced around. He let out a sigh. As usual there was no one there to wait for him. There was no family. It had become a thing of the past for him to feel the sadness that would appear when he saw people greeting their loved ones with hugs and kisses. It didn't matter anymore. He pushed on passed the people and towards baggage claim.

It was strange being back on the island. It had been 8 years since he had set foot in Oahu. Memories of the past hit hard as he glanced around. The airport was still as familiar as it had always been. The last time he had been in there, it was rushed and he wasn't allowed to do much other than walk and be surrounded by two detectives. But things hadn't changed.

He waited silently for his suitcase to spin around towards him and grabbed it quickly, pulling the handle up and kicking out the wheels. It was natural for him to keep his eyes on everyone and everything. It was something he had been doing everywhere he went. It was a settled in instinct.

"Home sweet home." he mumbled and began walking towards the exit.

"Cody?" the voice of a familiar yet aged man called out. Cody tensed and glanced around quickly. He was ready to bolt if need be.

But he relaxed as he realized he knew the man. He knew him very well.

"Chin Ho Kelly." it was a simple answer to a simple question.

Chin smiled brightly and trotted over to him. He wrapped the 24 year old in a hug, filing away the action of Cody tensing and pulling out of the hug quicker than Chin did.

"Gosh you've grown. It's been what? 8 years?" Chin asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets and leaning on one leg.

"Practically. It's been a while. I see the island hasn't changed much." Cody said, glancing around the airport. Chin could tell that Cody had changed since he last escorted him to the plane 8 years ago and the change didn't seem that much for the better. Cody was jumpy, on high alert with everything that crossed his line of sight. He had a lot of questions for the younger man. But standing in the middle of the airport with people milling about didn't seem like a good idea for the flighty boy.

"C'mon. Let's go across the street to Ilana's for some coffee. You do have time to catch up with an old friend don't you?" he asked.

Cody considered the idea. He wasn't in any hurry to get to that house. It wasn't on the top list of things he ran through in his mind. And if getting coffee with Chin bought him some more time, it was worth it.

"Sure. Just let me find somewhere to put my bag." he said. Chin shook his head.

"Don't bother. My car is parked out front. I was dropping off a cousin to catch their plane. You can store them in there. It'll be easier than catching a cab." he said, indicating with his head which direction to walk. Cody followed him silently to the front of the large building and out the automatic doors. The sun was bright in the sky, a slight breeze blowing. It seemed just like paradise. Or rather the paradise advertised by everyone but him. It hadn't been paradise for a long time. Just a haunting place.

Chin was driving a dark blue truck with back seats. It seemed brand new, seemingly no specks of dust. The older man unlocked the doors and pulled them open, taking Cody's bag from him and laying it in the back seat. Cody then threw his backpack in as well. Slamming the doors, Chin locked it back up and pointed across the street.

"You remember Ilana's don't you?" he asked as they waited for the traffic to pass by. Cars were passing in front of the building faster than they should have and the security seemed to be lacking alertness. They drove by at a slower pace but weren't paying attention enough to do their jobs. Chin caught an opening in the cars and began crossing the street.

Cody grabbed him by the back of his shirt and yanked him back just as a yellow mustang whizzed by, way over the speed limit. Chin could feel the air as it whooshed off the car. He stumbled back to the curb and glanced at Cody.

"I see your instincts have sharpened." he joked. Cody raised an eyebrow.

"What do you expect?" he asked.

After about five minutes, they were able to cross the street and trotted into Ilana's. It was cooler than the outside air which was beginning to get muggy, signs of oncoming rain. There was a new coat of paint on the wall and several new workers that Cody had never met before. He glanced around quickly before approaching a table that Chin had picked out for them. It was slightly to the left of the windows and Cody sat in the seat facing them.

A smiling waitress came over to them with a pad and paper.

"What can I get for you today Chin?" she asked, ready to write.

"The usual Kalea. Cody, what do you want?" Chin asked.

"Coffee, two creams." Cody replied, resting his elbows on the table. Kalea wrote everything down and smiled widely.

"I'll get that right out to you gentlemen." she said before skipping back to the counter.

"Cheerful place." Cody noted. Chin laughed.

"The young ones are out of school and anxious to make some money. Not all of them can make it into college." he said. He rested his arms on the table and crossed them over his chest.

"So how've you been Cody?" he asked. His voice had become much more serious and his face implored Cody to answer.

"I manage."

Chin dipped his head and shook it.

"It's gotta be hard to be back on the island after the only memory you have of leaving was being escorted secretly to the airport to board a plane to LA." he said.

"I've gotten over it. In fact I'm trying to forget but it's pretty hard when everything you look at brings back every single memory of what happened. But I guess that's not something I can change." Cody told him, quieting when Kalea brought out their drinks. They were silent as she sat everything down.

"Let me know if you need anything else." she said, batting her eyelashes at Chin and walking off.

"Someone has a crush on you." Cody reported, a small smile appearing on his face. It was nice to see something bright in the gloom of the day.

"Kalea always takes my order. I stop in for coffee sometimes before work and she's gotten used to seeing me here." Chin said, waving it off. He looked back to the counter before turning a frown to Cody.

"Not to sound completely rude, but why did you come back?" he asked. He stirred some cream into his coffee and watched the steam rise from the heated cup.

"When I got to LA, I finished out high school, graduated almost right away. You know me and my brain. Well, I got into college, the administrators ecstatic that they got the 16 year old high school graduate walking their halls. It's all about prestige you know. Got my bachelor's degree in forensic criminal psychology. I've got one more year of schooling before I get my Phd in it. That's nine years of schooling right there. Anyways, I figured it was time. Time to face my demons, no matter how scary the monsters are." Cody gave the short version.

Chin sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head.

"Cody, why would you choose a job in that field? With everything that happened..." he started but was cut off.

"I chose forensic psychology because I have to know why he did what he did. He ruined my life for one reason or another and the only way I'll be able to let this rest is to know what he was thinking when he massacred them." Cody's voice was wavering. He shut up before any tears could be shed. He brought his drink to his lips and sipped it, ignoring the burning heat that sent fire through his throat.

"I'm not trying to be rude Cody. There's just been so much pain in your life already. I did what I could back then but you can't let yourself go through this again. I don't know how much more I can do this time." Chin said, obviously conflicted.

"I was a kid then Chin. A small scrawny fifteen year old who was scared out of his mind after everything he had seen. You were doing what you could and I appreciate it. But I just don't need anyone right now. I can't need anyone. I've come this far on my own with only school money from distant family members. No one has been let in. I'm sorry but I'm just not about to start." Cody said with a hard edge to his voice.

Chin swallowed the last of his coffee before leaning back in his seat. Cody's words hurt. Chin had been nothing but a friend to him. Eight years ago, Cody leant on him, needed him around for support through the police questioning, the reporters, the trial. But now it seemed that eight years had not changed Cody for the better. This Cody was more distant and hard, feeling that possibly everyone was out to get it. It wasn't a good thing.

"Cody, you have to let someone in. It's not healthy to ignore the support and help that is given to you. Everyone on the island thinks your dead after you disappeared to the airport. You don't even use a real name in LA. It may have been alright with the dean of your college as I would assume you would need the right name on your diploma. But no one knows where you are; it's like you don't even exist." he tried to explain.

"That's the idea. Serial killers can't kill what they can't find." Cody told him quietly.

They were both quiet, taking in information that was given and taken.

"You aren't going to let me help you are you?" Chin asked him. Cody looked at him for a split second before averting his eyes, unwilling to look at the police officer.

"No. Look Chin, it's great to see you again. It's nice that you want to help. I appreciate it. I really do. I just don't...need you right now." he said in finality.

Chin narrowed his eyes but nodded.

"Alright. At least let me give you a ride wherever you need to go." he said.

If Cody didn't want help, that was fine. Chin didn't want to push the subject. But he wanted to see Cody safely to his location, wherever that was.

"That's okay. I would rather take a cab. You must be busy and have to get back to work. Don't worry about it." Cody said.

Sighing heavily, Chin stood up and went to pay the tab. Cody sat at the table, a crestfallen look on his face. He didn't want Chin to be mad at him. That was the least of his needs. Whether he liked it or not, it was a good idea to have someone on his side, as a last resort. And yet he sensed the disappointment in his old friend's attitude. He tried not to think about it. His mind drifted to his destination. It sent a chill through his body and a visible shake came forth. He despised having to go back to the place and yet he knew he had to face it. He had no intention of keeping the house. His idea was just to fix the place up and put it on the market, to put the whole thing out of his mind and to move to the other side of the island. He didn't need any distractions.

Chin reappeared and pulled his keys out of his pocket.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride? No questions, no comments on the situation." he asked, trying one last time.

Cody said nothing but nodded. Chin left him with a final nod and began walking out of Ilana's. Cody followed quietly.