A Cold Wind Blows

I was only eight years old when I found her. My sister. Before that, I didn’t know I had a sister. Before that, I didn’t know I had a brother-in-law, or a mother-in-law, or a father-in-law. But it was all about to change, because it was the day I found her body. I didn’t know it at the time. I just thought it was some lady, lying in the street. Her body was torn to pieces, big parts of it were gone without a trace. Pretty soon, the police came and took her away. Days later, they identified her as Ashley. And a week or two after that, I got a strange phone call. “Hello”, I said. “Hello,” the voice replied. “You’re the one that found her, aren’t you?” I could only nod. “Y-yes.” “I’m her brother.” “Oh,” I replied. “Sorry.” “Thanks,” he replied. “You can call me Jake.” “I’m Sam.” “Hi Sam. What was my sister doing out there, anyway?” “Uh \- I don’t know?” “How did you find her?” “I was going to school.” “When did you usually walk to school?” “Around eight.” “That’s about when I usually saw her. Eight in the morning. And in the afternoon. And in the middle of the night. And whenever else she could.” “She was a restless person?” “Yeah, I guess so.” “Well, that’s all the questions I have,” Jake said. “I guess Ashley doesn’t need a funeral or anything now that they identified the body.” “No, I guess not.” “Well, it was nice talking to you, Sam.” “Yeah.” “Hey, Sam?” “Yeah?” “You haven’t told anyone else about what we talked about, have you?” “What did we talk about?” “You know.” “Well, we didn’t talk about very much, so yes, I told everyone I \- wait, what are you talking about?” “You know.” “No, I don’t,” I replied. “What did we talk about?” “We talked about your sister, and how I found her. And we talked about how she had the habit of walking around in the middle of the night.” “That’s right.” “Well, that’s what I told people.” “Well, did I \- I mean, did she ever do anything weird?” “Well, she had three toes,” I replied, “and her belly button was on her right side.” “What?” “She had three toes, and her belly button was on her right side.” “Well, did she \- I mean, did I ever see anything weird?” “Well, I’m sure you did. You’re her brother, aren’t you?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied. Jake paused. Then he spoke up again. “Well, I’ll talk to you later, okay?” “Okay.” “Goodbye, Sam.” “Goodbye.” He hung up. I hung up. Then I thought about it. Why had I said all of that? Why had Jake reacted the way he did? Did I know more about Ashley than I thought? I didn’t have the answers then, but a lot of questions. So I did the only thing I could think of \- I called Jake back. But when I called, it was busy. So I called again, and again, and again. Nothing. I called every day, sometimes every hour. And Jake never answered the phone. At least, not until he called me again. Weeks later, it was. “Hello,” I said. “Hello \- Sam?” “Yes.” “It’s Jake.” “Oh,” I replied. “It’s nice to talk to you again.” “You too. I’ve missed you.” “Me too \- I mean, I missed you too.” “Well, I have news,” Jake said. “Our family is sorry for what happened to my sister, and they want to talk to you.” “Oh, okay.” I replied. “Yeah. I think they want to talk to you because you’re the last person to see my sister alive.” “Was she alive when I saw her?” “What?” “I mean, she was dead when I saw her, wasn’t she?” “Well, I guess she was. But I mean, you saw her, you know, before she died, right?” “I don’t know.” “Well, that’s what our family wants to talk to you about.” “Well, when can I talk to them?” “How about tomorrow?” It was five o’clock in the afternoon, so I decided to go over there at six. I didn’t know where Jake lived, and he didn’t give me the address. But somehow, I found it anyway. I walked up to the house and rang the doorbell. The door opened, and a man stood there. He was only an inch or two taller than me. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Jake.” “Really? You look like you’re my age.” “Thanks.” “Well, how old are you?” “Twelve.” “Okay. Well, I’m nine.” “Well, how old was your sister?” “Twenty-four.” “Well, how old is your mom?” “Oh, her name is Candice. She’s forty.” “Well, how old is your dad?” “Oh, his name is Jeremy. He’s forty-three.” “Okay. Well, can I come in?” Jake nodded. “My mom is in the kitchen, my dad is in the living room, and my grandmother is in the dining room.” I followed Jake’s finger as he gestured the locations. I walked into the living room. Candice and Jeremy weren’t there. An older man and woman were, though. “Hello,” I said. “Are you Candice and Jeremy?” “No,” the man replied. “We’re Lucien and Tabitha.” “But Jake said Candice and Jeremy were in there,” I said. “Well, he lied.” “Jake wouldn’t lie,” I said. “Well, he did.” “Am I talking to Jake’s grandparents?” “Yes.” “Well, that means that Candice and Jeremy are Jake’s parents, right?” “Yes.” “Well, Jake said they were his mom and dad.” “They are.” “Well, Jake also said you two were his grandparents.” “That’s right.” “Well, if you’re his grandparents, and Candice and Jeremy are his mom and dad, that means Candice and Jeremy are your kids, right?” “Yes.” “Well, if Candice and Jeremy are your kids, that means Jake is your grandson, right?” “Yes.” “Well, if you’re Jake’s grandparents, Candice and Jeremy are his parents, and Jake is your grandson, that means that Candice and Jeremy are Jake’s parents, and you’re Jake’s grandparents?” “Yes.” “Well, they’re not in here, so they must be in the kitchen?” “No.” “Well, then they’re in the dining room?” “Yes.” “Well, Jake said his mom was in the kitchen, and his dad was in the living room.” “Well, he lied.” “He wouldn’t lie.” “Well, why don’t you go ask him?” I walked out of the living room, and into the hallway. Jake was waiting for me. “Jake,” I said, “I thought you said your mom and dad were in the living room?” “I did?” “Yes.” “Well, what did the people in the living room say?” “They said they were your grandparents.” “Well, what else did they say?” “They said your parents weren’t in the living room.” “Well, then where did they say my parents were?” “They didn’t say.” “Well, did you tell me where my parents were?” “Yes, I told you they were in the kitchen and living room.” “Well, I couldn’t find them in the living room?” “Well, then they must be in the kitchen.” “Okay. So what’s Lucien and Tabitha doing in the living room?” “They’re my grandparents.” “I know that. But why is your mom not in the living room?” “She is.” “Well, I couldn’t find her.” “Well, maybe you couldn’t find her because she’s in the dining room.” “But you said she was in the kitchen.” “I did not.” “Yes, you did.” “Well, I lied.” “Well, you said your grandparents were in the dining room.” “I did?” “Yes.” “Well, I lied.” “Well, why did you lie?” “Because sometimes I lie.” “Well, do you ever tell the truth?” “Yes.” “Well, how am I supposed to know when you’re telling the truth?” “Well, that’s your problem, not mine.” “Well, it’s not my problem. It’s your problem,” I replied. Jake didn’t reply. So I walked away from him. I walked into the dining room. Candice and Jeremy weren’t there. An old woman was, though. “Hello,” I said. “Are you Candice and Jeremy?” “No,” the old woman replied. “I’m Agnes.” “But Jake said Candice and Jeremy were in here.” “No, he didn’t.” “Yes, he did.” “No, he didn’t.” “Yes, he did.” “No, he didn’t.” “Yes, he did!” “No, he \-” “Wait,” I said. “What?” “Did you just say Jake didn’t say Candice and Jeremy were in the dining room?” “Yes.” “Well, did you ever hear Jake say that?” “Yes.” “Then Jake did say that!” “Well, no, he didn’t.” “Well, then why did you say you’d heard him say

A Cold Wind Blows

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