The Iron Room Read online

  The roll call continued, and Mrs. Callun began breaking down our next few weeks and what we would be learning. She was a red-haired older woman with kind brown eyes, a lot nicer than Mr. Aryn, and a hell of a lot more interesting. She seemed to genuinely care about our learning experiences, and that she wanted us to take more from this course than just new math skills. Maybe Calculus wouldn’t be all that bad.

  She talked for another thirty minutes, and then decided to do an ice breaker. We had to turn to the person to the left of us and give them two facts about us. I turned to the left and was bummed out. It was Johnny Antin. Johnny was all looks, and no ambition. With dark brown hair that practically hung in front of his eyes like dog and sparkling blue eyes. Unfortunately for me, he was the school loser, who walked around high as a kite every day and who seemed to truly have no interest in school, learning, or pretty much anything.

  This would be fun.

  “Let me guess, you hate school and you hate everything else, right?”

  “Wrong. You all think you know me, but you don’t.”

  “So, I’m thinking of a different Johnny Antin, one who also hates literally everything.”

  “You’re Amy Puntzer, right? Sheriff Johnson’s daughter’s best friend.”

  “Uh, yeah…”

  “Well here’s two facts about me for you. I believe that Sheriff Johnson is incompetent, and I believe that his daughter knows full well where Anna and Tara are.”

  What the hell?

  Why would Johnny even think something like that? Sheriff Johnson has been working so incredibly hard to solve this case and find those girls. Katie told me herself how he has retraced their last known steps about a hundred times and spoke to everyone in the surrounding areas. Nobody saw anything, so they’re no help. How is he supposed to crack this case with no evidence and no clues? Johnny, like everyone else, had no clue.

  “Seems to me like you’re the one who thinks you know everything. You’re like everyone else in this brainwashed town. Here’s an idea- why don’t you find Tara and Anna yourself since it’s so easy?”

  “I’m trying to,” Johnny said and turned away.

  This was going to be an exciting year. I got the seat partner from hell.

  I guess icebreaker time was over. Thankfully, the bell rang soon then after, and I beelined for Mr. Grander’s creative writing class. The best part of my day. I slid into the classroom, and Katie was already waiting at the back with a seat for me.

  My savior.

  I mentally went back and forth over what Johnny said, and was unsure if I should mention it to Katie. She hated hearing negative things about her dad, but Johnny said something about her too. This is what best friends do right? Going against my better judgement, I decided to fill her in.

  “What?! Why would I have any idea of where the girls were? That’s insane.”

  “I know Katie. I’m sorry, but I thought you should know. Don’t worry, I shut him down.”

  “I’m not worried what they say about me. People in this town thrive off gossip. But, my dad? He’s doing all he can…” she said sadly.

  I know he is.

  I was undecided of what to do, so I did the only thing I could, and gave my friends hand a comforting squeeze. People would always talk, especially in a town like this. We couldn’t let it affect us.

  “Hello class, my name is Mr. Grander. I will be teaching Creative Writing. So, first order of business is…”

  I didn’t hear what he said because Katie had mumbled something.

  “What did you say Katie?

  “I’m tired of this. I am going to do my own investigating. I’m going to find Anna and Tara, once and for all.”

  3

  Katie

  Growing up with the sheriff as your dad definitely had its perks. I had a pretty easy school experience, where the other students were concerned. I also reaped the benefit of getting to hear information that wasn’t released to the public. My dad had a habit of coming home every night and unloading the day’s findings onto me. I never knew what to say, but I remembered every bit- especially in this case.

  Now all that information would prove useful. I was going to find these girls myself.

  I had to.

  It was no surprise that people were trashing my dad’s name. But when Amy told me that her seat partner said that I knew where the girls were- I was extremely confused. Is that what the people in this town had resorted to? Not only did they think that my father was an idiot, they thought that I had something to do with it.

  I couldn’t wait to leave for college. I desperately wanted to get away and create a new life for myself. I wanted to start over. But first, I needed to find Anna and Tara.

  I knew the basics of this case. Anna was walking home drunk from a party. That one was difficult, because anyone could have taken her, and all the other kids were too busy chugging beer to notice. Tara’s story never sat right with me. She was in her room, and then gone later? Either the kidnapper forced her out of the house, or she willingly went somewhere.

  Now I knew how my dad had felt. My head was spinning trying to piece it together. While my dad vented a lot about the case, he never told me certain details. I needed to get to the station and read his files on the case. I couldn’t properly solve it or find the girls until I knew all the pieces to this warped puzzle.

  “Katie! You can’t look for the girls yourself. I don’t want you to get hurt,” Amy scolded.

  Too late. I need to do this.

  “My dad is the sheriff, so I am probably the safest person to investigate. Obviously, the person lives here in this town. It doesn’t make sense for an out of towner to come here and kidnap not one, but two of our girl’s weeks apart.”

  “Maybe so, but that isn’t your problem. It is horrible what happened to them, but please, let it go.”

  “I can’t, and if you can’t accept that, then it’s your problem,” I said just as the bell rang.

  I was too busy mentally piecing this together, that I didn’t hear a word Mr. Grander said.

  I grabbed my books and headed out of the classroom. I didn’t want to deal with Amy’s negativity right now. I needed something to focus on this year- and this was it. I would funnel all my time and energy into solving this case.

  “Katie, wait!” Amy yelled for me, but I was already turning the corner of the hallway.

  I found my locker, and began to put my books in, and take out the books for my next class, World History.

  Oh, joy.

  “Hey stranger, how’s your first day going?”

  Mark.

  “Surprisingly, not too bad. How is yours?”

  “Oh, you know how it is Katie. I feel like I have been rushing from class to class all day!”

  “Me too. I just don’t understand this warped schedule. One class is on the other side of the school from the next. I might have to start sprinting soon. But, if I don’t leave now, I most definitely will have to. See you later!”

  I jogged, not sprinted to the next class. I slid into the seat right as the bell rang.

  Thank you, God.

  “Hello class, my name is….”

  And so, the rest of the day went as follows: Introductions, a bunch of babbling, and then a healthy variant of either homework or icebreakers. They were predictable, I would give them that.

  When the last bell of the day rang, I felt myself relax. School days seemed to pass by like snails in a race. Each class more boring than the next and followed with disgusting lunches and constant looks. That’s what everyone had been doing all day- staring. No one had dared to actually say anything, but they didn’t need to. I knew full well what they were all thinking.

  Be positive, Katie.

  Right, positivity. That was my new approach. I just had to keep that in mind, and I would be good to go. Thankfully, I didn’t have much homework especially compared to Amy. I decided to pick up some food and bring it to the station to “surprise” my dad. I needed access to those files. Amy
would be fine, as she rode home after school with Mark.

  I knew Amy would come around eventually. She always boiled over at first, but slowly simmered out once she stewed on it a little bit. Truth is, she was probably scared. This whole situation was incredibly frightening. In all our years, we had never had a scandal bigger than “petty theft” in this town.

  I tried to tell myself that fear was the big motivator when it came to everyone in town pushing rumors and spreading mindless gossip, but that could probably be attributed to the lack of things to do around here.

  They loved to spread their rumors, especially baseless ones. I remember once in ninth grade, this boy walked me home from school. Mrs. Gellar saw, and less than an hour later the whole town was buzzing about my new boyfriend. When news got to him, he had to break it to me “gently”. Imagine my surprise.

  I started up my car and headed through the local drive thru. I got my dad’s favorite- bacon cheeseburger with curly fries and a chicken sandwich for myself. Once I paid, I began the quick drive over to the station. A perk of living in a small town like Prairie is that everything is much closer than you would think. It doesn’t take more than fifteen to twenty minutes to get anywhere.

  Soon enough the station came into view. I spotted my dad’s car and snagged a spot right next to him. Once I had exited the car, I was greeted by every officer in sight. I grabbed the bag of food and headed inside.

  I beelined for my dad’s office, much too exhausted from my first day at school to extend an overzealous number of niceties. I saw him hunched over his desk, with his head in his hands.

  Maybe it was a bad day to visit.

  “Hey Dad, how is it going?” I asked while pushing open his office door.

  He looked up abruptly, obviously shocked that I was here, and quickly recovered.

  “Oh, hi Katie. It has been a rough day, let me tell you. How was your day at school though?”

  “As well as can be expected. I’m doing what you suggested. I’m looking on the bright side of things.”

  “That’s good hon. I’m very proud of you. Lord knows it’s not easy, especially when you live in a judgmental town like this,” my dad said, sighing heavily.

  “What happened now?” I inquired.

  “Oh, it is nothing for you to worry about. You brought food, huh? I’m starving coincidentally. Let me go brief one of the officers, and I’ll come eat right now. Make yourself comfortable.”

  He swiftly exited the office and left me alone in my thoughts. This was perfect. I closed the blinds, and the door. I moved over to his desk and the files for the case were right there. I took all the documents, and quickly faxed them over to my home printer. I heard him retreating to the office.

  Now I just needed to get home before he does.

  “Alright hon. I’m starving- let’s eat!” he said, while rubbing his hands together.

  “Uh, rain check Dad? I’m so swamped with homework. The teachers really loaded it up this year. Meet you at home later?”

  “Sure thing, I know how heavy the course work can be. I should be off within the hour and will meet you home. I love you.”

  “Love you too, dad.”

  “Hey hon? Do me a favor and drive safe.”

  “Always do,” I said with a wink. I grabbed my sandwich and headed out of the station.

  When did I become a liar?

  I scrambled into the car and peeled out of the station. Another perk of being the sheriff’s daughter? I didn’t ever get speeding tickets.

  I think I made it home in record time and was walking through my front door when I received a text from Amy.

  Amy: I’m sorry about today. This whole thing is really scary, and I don’t want you to get mixed up in it. I don’t think you should do this yourself. Please reconsider.

  I put my phone down on the couch. I didn’t have time to deal with Amy right this moment. There were more important things to focus on. I headed straight for the printer and sure enough, my papers were waiting for me.

  I grabbed the entirety of them and headed into my room. I sat cross legged on the bed, and one by one read each document. Just as I deduced earlier, I knew a lot of the information already in these files. It was just a simple overview of what both girls were doing the night they went missing, and witness accounts from who saw them last. I don’t know what I was looking for, but I had really hoped to find some answers.

  I knew there was something here.

  I continue to mindlessly flip through the pages, until my eyes landed on a word: eyewitness.

  Eyewitness? My dad said there was no eyewitnesses to either girls going missing. I began to read the testimony. The eyewitness was a woman named Andrea Towner, and she lived right next door to the Brooks residence. She claimed that on the night that Tara went missing, she saw her climb out of her window, and get into a man’s car- willingly.

  What the hell? Why was this information never released? Why didn’t he tell me?

  She saw all that, but didn’t get a license plate number or even a partial? I kept reading. She claimed that she didn’t call the police at the time, because she just figured Tara was having a little fun or blowing off steam. After all, Tara did get into the car willingly.

  Maybe Tara had a secret boyfriend, and they are together right now. But that doesn’t explain Anna’s disappearance. In a town like this, two missing people within weeks of each other seems unlikely to just be a coincidence.

  I wondered if this Andrea Towner had seen the man’s face. In a town this size, surely, she would recognize whoever it is, but with it being late at night, I highly doubt it. Everyone in Prairie knew that Andrea loved her wine, so who knew if her testimony was even plausible.

  Perhaps that’s why my dad never released this information. Upon further investigation, he probably deemed it useless or not reputable.

  One thing that is for sure, is that I need to find out for myself is Andrea Towner’s eyewitness that night is baseless or actually reputable.

  I needed to talk to Andrea and see what else she saw that night.

  4

  Amy

  “You don’t understand, Mark. She is conducting this witch hunt all on her own!”

  “That’s not a good idea. Did you advise against it?”

  “Of course, I did, but you know Katie. She’s stubborn and set in her ways,” I let out a long sigh.

  I didn’t know what to do. If Katie continued down this wormhole, she would end up getting hurt. I didn’t want her to experience any more pain. She had to be stopped, before it was too late.

  “If you want to put a stop to Katie’s sleuthing, there is one option…” Mark said, with a sly grin plastered on his face.

  “And that brilliant plan is?”

  “Tell Sheriff Johnson what Katie is doing. There is no way on Earth he would allow that.”

  I don’t want to get her in trouble.

  If I told Sheriff Johnson, then Katie was surely be on the hook. From what I understand, he takes great measures to ensure that Katie never got too wrapped up in police business. He had a job, but always wanted her as far away from his world as possible. He saw firsthand how dangerous the job could be. Katie didn’t have the badge like her dad, but she had the investigative nature at heart.

  Someone who enjoys investigating as much as her, without the years of training, badge, and gun to back it up- created a disaster.

  I didn’t want to get Katie in trouble with her dad, especially since the two of them had been really getting on these past few weeks. I think the situation ended up bringing the two of them closer than they ever were. Katie would never forgive me if I threw a wrench in her plans and got her in trouble all at the same time.

  I decided what to do.

  I would offer her my help and steer her in the other direction. If Katie got too close, she would get hurt.

  I decided to text her.

  Amy: Hey Kates. I’m sorry about yesterday. I wanted to lend a hand, if you will have me.

  K
atie: I’m so glad to hear that. You’ll never believe what I found. Meet me at 564 Auburn Rd.

  Amy: Auburn Road? Tara’s street?

  Katie: I’ll explain later.

  “Hey Mark, can you drive me to meet Katie?”

  “Sure thing, but what’s going on?” my brother seemed suspicious, but I didn’t want to worry him.

  “We’re going to hang out, and talk.”

  Mark agreed, and he headed out to his car. I really needed to get my license. Then, that sweet Mercedes in the garage collecting dust would become mine.

  We got into his car and turned towards me.

  “Where are we heading?”

  Don’t let him know you’re going to Tara’s. Lie.

  “Carrington Park. We’re meeting there.”

  “You got it,” and he turned the car onto the road.

  Carrington Park was few-minute walk from Tara’s street. I would wait until he dropped me off, and turned the corner, before I would start heading over there. I know what it seems like. But Mark never enjoyed sneaky or secretive behavior. He always felt strongly that being upfront and honest with someone was the best way.

  Delusional.

  We arrived at the park in no time, and he let me out of the car.

  “Where is Katie?”

  “Oh, I just got a text. She’s in the bathroom.”

  I ran off, before he could ask any more questions. I made it halfway into the park and turned to see his car going around the corner. Thank god.

  I started back towards the entrance of the park, and practically began sprinting over to Tara’s street. I made it there within three minutes, but nearly died from my asthma. Worth it.

  I pulled my inhaler out of my bag, and took a few puffs, and spotted Katie. She was sitting in her idled car across the street from Tara’s house. She looked up, saw me, and motioned me over to sit in her car with her.

  I took my time walking over, simply because I didn’t think that my lungs would allow me another run.

  I opened the door and was met with a friendly face- as always. That was simply who Katie was. She was so full of light, optimism, and warmth. I was glad I was beginning to see a tiny bit of who she was finally come back to her.