The Girl in the Wych Elm: Part Four

 

4. The Place Between Two Towers

“I don’t mean to pry into your business sir, but what on Earth brings you out here to Wych Elm of all places?” Hollis told the driver he was there to visit family. “Uh…huh…” Hollis glanced the driver’s skeptical expression in the rearview mirror.

 “Is there something wrong?” Hollis pressed the man. The driver’s eyes returned to the road.

“You’re lying.” The man told Hollis matter-of-factly. “I know what you’re about to say next. ‘What gave my lie away?’” The answer was a simple one: Hollis’ demeanor and manner of speech. “Wych Elm is geographically isolated compared to other towns in this region. Most Wych Elmites don’t talk like you. You grew up in the city or within proximity to one.” Hollis smiled, congratulating the driver on his sharp deductive reasoning.

Even so, Hollis would not divulge his reason for visiting Wych Elm. “Some matters are best kept quiet.” The driver responded with a nod. Hollis was intrigued the man didn’t press him for further information.

“The last outsider that came to Wych Elm was thirty years ago.” The driver told Hollis in an ominous tone. “Unsure of what happened to the fella’. I dropped him off at the bridge,” the vehicle stopped at the bridge, “and never saw him again.” That was the end of his anecdote.

Hollis dismissed the driver’s words as exaggeration. The last outsider probably settled down in Wych Elm and started a family. “You’ll have to forgive me for being skeptical.” Hollis replied dryly to the man.

As the old detective prepared to exit the car, the driver quickly flipped on the Child Lock. Hollis’ face darkened. He locked eyes with the driver through the rearview mirror, glaring hard at him. The driver was an older, frail man and didn’t appear much of a threat to Hollis. Appearances were deceptive, however. Hollis was prepared to fight if called for.

“See…that’s the thing.” The driver turned off the Child Lock. “Outsiders aren’t welcomed in Wych Elm.” When Hollis asked why that was, the driver gave him no answer. “Enjoy your visit. Maybe we’ll meet again.” The driver’s tone gave Hollis the impression their reunion was unlikely.

Awaiting Hollis on the other side of the rusted footbridge was the town of Wych Elm. The wooded area that encompassed the town was eerily quiet. Hollis was unnerved by the lack of natural sounds such as chirping birds and rustling leaves. Even the creek that flowed under the bridge was still. There was something off about the area to Hollis.

“Huh?” Hollis stopped halfway across the bridge. He noticed something carved into the bridge railing. “‘The road to damnation lies between two Towers.’” There was a carved arrow pointed in the direction of Wych Elm. Hollis chuckled softly to himself. “Let’s see where this road takes me then.”

The moment Hollis crossed into town all eyes were immediately focused on him. He felt like the main attraction in a freak show. Their shocked, wide-eyed stares made Hollis uncomfortable. Two sets of eyes watching him constantly were miserable enough; a hundred plus pair of eyes watching him was an utter nightmare. “I’m starting to regret my decision to come here…” He mumbled while shuddering at the same time. An agreement was an agreement, however. Hollis never went back on his word once he gave it (unless there were circumstances out of his control).

Wysteria arranged lodging accommodation with her relative, Juniper. Hollis was instructed to go there immediately once he arrived in town. Wysteria’s relation with Juniper wasn’t disclosed to Hollis by either woman. Not that it was of much importance to him or his task.

Juniper’s house was a quaint, two-story cottage located in a somewhat isolated area of Wych Elm. The description of the house Wysteria gave Hollis was startling accurate. Before he had the opportunity to knock, the door swung open. Hollis nearly stumbled off the porch steps when he laid eyes on the woman in the doorway. “You’re Det. Hollis Alexander, I take it?” She craned her head slowly to the side.

“What kind of morbid ass joke are you playing?” He snapped, turning red with anger. Juniper furrowed her brows, confused by Hollis’ accusatory question. Hollis reacted that way because Juniper’s resemblance to Wysteria was nearly identical. They looked like the same person, which stumped and frightened Hollis. Wysteria had informed him that Juniper was a distant relative with whom she wasn’t all that close with. “You and Wysteria…you have to be twins… There’s-there’s no way!” Juniper's mannerisms mimicked Wysteria's to a T. The only notable differences between the two women were the location of their beauty marks and their hair style. Juniper’s beauty mark was on her chin; her hair was braided into a crown.

A smile stretched across the young woman’s face, though it lacked the warmth of friendliness. “Wysteria and I get that a lot.” She giggled in a childlike manner. “It’s hard to explain. To keep it simple, let’s just say the women in our family have a strong genetic phenotype.” She opened the door wider, inviting Hollis inside. “Please, come in.” Hollis set his skepticism aside (temporarily) and made his way into the house. However, he remained alert around Juniper and suspicious.

“Not a fan of home décor, are you?” Hollis dryly told Juniper as she led the way upstairs. Juniper’s house was dismally plain and bare. She had only the essential things and nothing more.

Juniper’s smile stretched again. “I don’t intend to be here much longer.” She told Hollis she was in the process of leaving Wych Elm for good. She had spent her entire life in that town, and it had been a miserable life. “Once your affairs here are done, I won’t be far behind you.” Hollis then asked the woman where she was headed after Wych Elm. Juniper replied, “to a kinder place.” The answer she gave Hollis wasn’t what he expected.

The room Juniper set Hollis up in was just as bare as the rest of the house. Hollis didn’t mind the near empty space. The room had everything he needed for his stay: a bed, a chifforobe with a mirror, a chair and desk. Hollis didn’t need anything more than that.

He slung the heavy suitcase onto the bed. Hollis was told to make himself at home, but he found himself on the fence about the matter. The man debated on whether to unpack completely or live out of his suitcase. I don’t intend to be here long. He said to himself. But I really hate living out of a suitcase. Hollis decided to unpack; he didn’t bring much with him anyway.

“The bathroom is at the end of the hallway.” Dinner was underway. Juniper informed Hollis it would be another hour or so. That was fine with him. He would scope around town for a little intel. Juniper blocked the way with her arm. “Det. Alexander… It goes without saying but please be careful out there.” Juniper reiterated the previous statement told to Hollis by the taxi driver.

Outsiders aren't welcome in Wych Elm.

“So I’ve been told.” Hollis had also witnessed that statement firsthand upon his arrival. “Before I leave out, I have a question.” He asked Juniper about the body found in the wych elm tree. “I wasn’t sure if Wysteria told you or not. That’s why I’m here. She wants me to solve the girl’s murder.”

Why exactly? Wysteria didn’t tell him. To Hollis, the dead girl was clearly someone important to her.

Juniper replied that she only knew as much as Hollis did. “The tree bordered the estate of the Crimson Hightower family. The body appears to have been dead for a very long time. Supposedly, her wrists and ankles were bound with rosaries.” She and the rest of the Wych Elmites only knew as much as the Hightower family allowed.

Wysteria had told Hollis the High Families, particularly the Hightower families, would be obstacles in his investigation. Juniper cautioned Hollis to tread carefully. In a sarcastic tone, Hollis replied, “Guess I can go ahead and cross ‘Interviewing the High Families’ off my to-do list.” He rolled his eyes in frustration. It wasn’t directed at Juniper but at the situation.

“An ideal place to start, in my opinion, would be the town pub.” Juniper looked over at the clock. It was a quarter till four in the evening. “It’s almost Happy Hour. The men that frequent Sam’s pub are quite boisterous and loose-lipped.” She hinted to Hollis that some of the men there had close ties to the High Families.

Hollis placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Thank you, Juniper.” He promised the young woman he would be careful and would return before sunset. 

Sam’s pub was packed from the door to the back of the house, dangerously over legal capacity. The harsh stench of cigarette smoke, sweat, and musk attacked Hollis’ nose. He quickly switched to mouth breathing, though it brought him little relief. The excessive body heat that circulated throughout the establishment made the air hot, heavy, and humid. “I’d rather deal with the ghosts all day than this.” He remarked in a grossed out, nasally tone.

Hollis caught several vicious glances from the patrons around him as he made his way to the bar counter. “Can I get a glass of Bourbon, please?” He yelled to the first bartender that crossed his sight. She was a greasy-haired woman with a round face and unflattering eyes. Hollis was promptly ignored by her. He tried again with the next bartender. The man was on the shorter side; he had a thick unibrow and a few missing teeth. The short bartender man told Hollis to give him a minute.

A minute passed. The bartender never took Hollis’ order. Every time Hollis said something to the man, he had an excuse and then scurried off. It was painfully obvious to the old detective that the short bartender didn’t want to serve him. Hollis tried one last time. If he was ignored again, he would return to Juniper’s cottage.

The third bartender, another man, coldly dismissed Hollis by turning his back to him. He eventually moved to the opposite end of the counter to serve other patrons. Hollis pushed up to his feet. “A town full of assholes-”

“-Jonah.” Hollis looked over and saw a hand waiting for him. The friendly Wych Elmite repeated his name a second time to the bewildered Hollis. “My name is Jonah.” He said with a warm kindness Hollis would never again encounter during his stay in town.

Hollis reached out and shook Jonah’s hand. “The name is Hollis.” He told his new buddy in a cautious tone. Hollis was uncertain about the man’s friendly demeanor. Nevertheless, he put on a front, acting as if Jonah had won his trust.

Jonah called out to Daisy, the first bartender that ignored Hollis. She and Jonah appeared to have a good relationship because the woman’s face lit up when he called her name. Daisy came scurrying over to where Jonah sat at the bar. She leaned over the counter. The shirt she wore was too small for her large bosom. Hollis saw down into her shirt. “What can I get for you, babe?” She asked, batting her long lashes at Jonah. Daisy was secretly smitten with Jonah, but her feelings had gone unrequited for years. Her desperate attempts at flirtation were embarrassing to watch from Hollis’ perspective.

“I’ll have my usual.” Jonah looked over to Hollis. “And get my cousin Hollis here whatever he wants.” Daisy’s smile faded away when she laid eyes on Hollis again.

She shifted to her left side. “Your cousin…huh?” She squinted at him. Daisy knew that Hollis being Jonah’s cousin was a complete lie. She had known the man for years. Jonah didn’t have a cousin named Hollis. Regardless, she wouldn’t argue the matter. “So, whaddya want?” The woman’s tactless question had Hollis rethinking his decision about a drink.

She looks like the type of woman who would spit in my drink then turn around and serve it to me with a smile. Hollis thought to himself. “Bour-” Daisy stalked away before Hollis had a chance to get his order out. She returned seconds later, still wearing that sour expression of hers.

Daisy slammed the bottle and glass down on the counter. The people near the bar counter all turned around to see what the noise was about. “Enjoy.” She rudely slid the objects over to Hollis before walking off again.

“What a delightful woman…” Hollis remarked sarcastically, pouring a full glass of Bourbon. He took two huge gulps. Without warning, Hollis spat the liquid back into the glass. “Urgh… What kind of shit Bourbon is this?!” Hollis had never tasted a Bourbon so…foul in taste. “Prison Hooch tastes a lot better than this.” Jonah curiously raised his eyebrow at Hollis over the statement. “My neighbor across the street… He did a couple years in Federal awhile back.” Jonah simply nodded. Hollis pushed the bottle and glass away from him. “I’m having a fantastic evening so far. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for me.” Hollis, in fact, was not having a fantastic evening.

Jonah downed his pint of beer in almost one go. He gently placed the glass on the bar counter. “So, what’s your reason behind this unwarranted visit, cousin?” Jonah slyly motioned to the three men sitting to his left. The trio were listening in on their conversation and couldn't have made it any more obvious. It appeared they wanted Hollis and Jonah to know they were listening.

Hollis exhaled. He leaned onto the counter. “I’m here to see Julia. You remember her, right? She lived two houses down from me. I heard she wasn’t doing too well. So, I came to visit. I wanted to see how she was doing.”

“Her brothers won’t be excited to hear you’re back in town. You did break Julia’s heart all those years ago.” Jonah sipped at his beer. Daisy refilled the glass on her way down to the opposite end of the bar.

Hollis smiled. Jonah had caught on to his game. “I haven’t forgotten. That’s the other reason why I came back to Wych Elm. I owe her a long overdue apology.” Jonah shook his head with disappointment. The smile on Hollis’ face dimmed when he peeped the man’s body language.

“Can I give you some advice, cousin?” Hollis shrugged. “A long overdue apology isn’t worth trouble with Julia’s brothers.” Jonah told Hollis to go back home. “Julia’s brothers…” He shook his head. “They’re a different kind of dangerous.” Jonah told Hollis in a foreboding tone. The fear in the older man's eyes shown brightly like a star in a dark sky.

Hollis looked down at his palms. “I made a promise, cousin.” He clenched his hands. “I have to see Julia one last time. She deserves to know why I broke her heart.”

Jonah picked up the glass refilled by Daisy a third time. “Nothing about you has changed since we were children. You’re a stubborn jackass as ever.” He chortled. Maybe it was the alcohol but for a split second, Jonah saw a younger version of himself in place of Hollis. “Your mind is made up, I see.” And that worried Jonah terribly. Hollis confirmed with a nod. “Let’s go take a walk.” Hollis pulled out his wallet, but Jonah said the drinks were on him. “You can pay the next time we see each other.” He winked. Hollis tipped Daisy a twenty, even though the foul woman didn’t deserve a cent from him.

The same ocean of eyes watched Hollis as he and Jonah headed for the exit. The three men who watched them at the bar remained where they were, which Hollis found rather suspicious.

“You don’t want to cross the High Families, son.” Jonah grimly told Hollis when they were out of earshot of nosy ears. “You’re better off cheating the Devil in a game of chess.” Jonah wasn’t exaggerating about that either. Enemies of the High Families always vanished in mysterious ways. “I’m telling you one last time. Go home.” He said, almost pleading with Hollis.

Hollis remained unrelenting. He told Jonah not to worry about him. “I’m certain the High Families are no eviler than the people I’ve encountered in my past.” Jonah stared at him with a blank expression. Hollis was a fool; noble but still a fool. 

“You’re an intelligent man, Mr. Hollis. It shows in the way you speak and carry yourself. But you’re barking up the wrong tree here.” No pun intended. Hollis told Jonah he wasn’t leaving Wych Elm until he settled his affairs. Jonah silently prayed and grieved for Hollis’ well being. “Well…this is where we part ways.” Before Jonah disappeared under the cover of night, he disclosed to Hollis the names of the men who discovered the body in the tree.

Hollis offered Jonah his hand. “I appreciate the intel.” They shook hands. “If we meet again before I leave town, I’ll buy the first two rounds.” Jonah was unable to force a smile. He knew he would never see Hollis again. The High Families were more than likely alerted to an outsider in town. As Jonah and Hollis spoke, the High Families had their minions looking into Hollis' background. Jonah anticipated Hollis would be dead before sunrise.

Jonah placed his other hand over the man's hand. “Be well, Hollis.”He forced himself to smile even though there was nothing about the situation worth smiling about.

“And you also, Jonah.” Their first meeting also became their last. Hollis never saw Jonah again after that night. He never learned what became of Jonah either. However, Hollis had a pretty strong idea as to what happened to him.

 

About an hour before Hollis and Jonah parted ways, another visitor arrived in Wych Elm. Addy Banks was her name. She was a budding journalist from East Bend; a small city situated ninety-five miles northeast of Wych Elm. Like Hollis, Addy came to Wych Elm to solve a murder. She was vibrant and hungry. She wanted to know who the girl in the tree was, what happened to her, and her connection to the infamous Hightower family. 

Through Hell or high water, the young journalist would shine light on Wych Elm’s darkest secret.