The Masquerade

The Clues

Mackenzie traveled past the many factories of Hartdale, the midday heat pressing against her pale skin. She held the decaying Encyclopedia of Supernatural Beings under one arm, using the other to occasionally shield her eyes from the almost harsh brightness of the day. She was walking as slow as she could, eager not trying to stretch the usually fifteen minute walk into a twenty, maybe even twenty-five minute walk.

This morning Tony had called her mother saying Mackenzie had lost a charm from her bracelet in his store last night, and that Mackenzie should come pick it up soon. Mackenzie wasn't even wearing her charm bracelet yesterday, so she knew that was utter bullshit. She also knew that Tony knew about her stealing the book.

And as much as she wanted to put off getting in trouble, she needed answers. So by the time Mackenzie had reached the shopping district of town she sped her pace.

The book shop was one of those stores that contained an apartment above it, which was where Tony currently lived. The exterior was brown brick, and there was a sign that read “Caufield Book Shop” over the door that was faded and dated, the product of a long time family business. Mackenzie pulled open the door and stepped out of the sun and into the shop with her head held high. After a second, Tony came out from behind a shelf on the right side of the room, his face unreadable and his arms crossed. Mackenzie took a deep breath.

“It seems you don't just keep porn in your back room like normal business owners,” She exclaimed bitingly. She set the book down on the front counter and took several steps back. Tony uncrossed his arms and balled his hands into fists.

“You're really going to make jokes after stealing from me?” He asked through tight lips. Mackenzie raised her eyebrows.

“I didn't see any barcodes on it, so I didn't think it was for sale,” She snapped. Tony shook his head, walking to the corner and snatching up the book.

“Mackenzie, what on earth made you think it was okay to take this?”

“I don't know Tony, maybe it was the aftershock of finding out there may be some pretty messed up shit out there that I don't know about,” Mackenzie yelled, her voice shaking a little. Tony stared at her, his face softening with some sort of understanding.

“There's a reason for that,” He said, putting a had on his forehead. Mackenzie stepped back and leaned against the wall near the front door.

“Why?” She asked. Tony took his hand off of his forehead and checked the watch on his wrist. Mackenzie normally would have teased him and called him old for having one, but she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that what she had discovered yesterday was real, not just her overreacting to a bunch of fictional books.

“I have a meeting with a very special customer in about four minutes, I'll explain if you stop by tomorrow,” Tony said, stepping away from the counter and slowly moving himself closer to the bookshelves. Mackenzie shook her head.

“No can do, I'm showing the new kid in town around the neighborhood tomorrow,” She said, stepping towards the door.

“New kid in town?” Tony's eyebrows furrowed. Mackenzie raised her shoulders up then dropped them, putting a hand on the door.

“Yeah, Mrs. Addison's grandkids just moved in with her,” Mackenzie said. Tony's expression shifted from confusion to something like fear.

“How old did he look?”

“About my age,” Mackenzie said, “Why, what's wrong?”

“I'll have to look it up again, but I have a newspaper article that says Mrs. Addison's daughter died in Vermont in 1952. From an animal attack.”