A few hours after Max had found the cache of electronic equipment planted in his home, the police had cleaned up and taken all the evidence with them. The sun had not long ago receded behind the buildings and set for the night. Max now sits on his couch, beer in hand. The TV is off and he just stares off into the distance. There’s dust covering everything from the search for fingerprints. He initially enjoyed reminding them that his brother’s fingerprints were burnt off but after a while repeating himself just became annoying and stopped. Dusting for prints was 'standard procedure' they would say as though he didn’t know it.
The dusty lounge room is no more than just a distraction from the constant thought of Tahlia being alone with his brother. When would he have accessed the apartment? He’ll have to speak with building management and get answers. Was she here by herself with him?
He grabs his phone and dials his wife. He doesn't think she'll answer but he needs to hear her voice. As he scrolls through to find her name in his contacts list, the screen alters and the phone starts to ring with a call from an 'Unknown Number'.
He answers it with a statement, “You came into my home.”
“I'm sorry,” is Heath’s less than heartfelt reply.
“You’ve been spying on me.”
“Yes.”
“What have you heard?”
“Everything. Every little moment that seemed insignificant. Every big moment. I know it. I heard it all.”
“How long have you…?”
Heath interrupts, “Years.”
“How did you get into my home?”
“I’ll tell you. It’s amazing how little attention people pay to maintenance workers. No one knows whether they’re supposed to be there or not so they walk on by without giving them a second thought.”
“Someone let you in?”
“I think I’ve shown myself to be proficient with electronics. Getting past the security system in your building didn’t require much effort. Neither did getting my hands on a copy of your key. Let’s clarify that I’ve won another point. Yes, I put the electronics in your apartment but that was years ago. I was in your home just the other day. I tried to time it so neither of you were home but Tahlia came back while I was hiding on the balcony.” Heath takes a deep breath and continues, “She smells exactly as I remember.”
“You put my wife in danger.”
Heath responds like a defensive teenager, “No I didn't! I wouldn't have hurt her!”
“I don't believe you.”
Heath is angry that he has to repeat himself, “I wouldn't have hurt her!”
Max screams into the phone, “I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!”
“And now you can see I won another point! I sat on your couch and laid down on your bed. I’ve lived as a stranger ignored by everyone. I’ve lived as the one society says isn’t important. I’ve been rejected and pushed to the side but now I’ve turned this country upside down and everyone knows my name.”
Max changes his tone to a very cold rumble, “This isn't a game, you child.”
“Yes it is. Don’t you see? It always has been. It started when we were boys and has yet to end.”
“Is there any part of you that can understand what you’ve done? You go on about how hard done by you are but can you stop and think of the lives you’ve ruined? The child you murdered? His parents?”
“No. I take solace in knowing someone else shares my pain. This is a game. The life and death stakes of survival-of-the-fittest. I’m winning. This is a game and it will be until the end. But, speaking of the end, I think we can agree this has now gone on long enough.”
Max is sarcastic, “You think so?”
“Just know I’ve spent too long planning every detail of this game and none of it is up to chance. But we agree this has run its course and should end. So I’ll do you a favour since none of you can do your jobs; I’m going to tell you where I am.”
“No. I’m not going on another chase. I don’t care anymore. I’m telling them everything.”
“You do care, Max. You care ‘cause you haven’t won yet. I promise I won’t run. I’ll be here enjoying the final act.”
Max leans his head back and rubs his eyes with a sigh. He feels like he could sleep for days. “I’ve spoken with the families of your victims.”
Heath speaks softly, “I imagine you did. So?”
“That young guy you left in the park. He was an only child. He was all his mother had left after her husband died. He was diagnosed as dyslexic just before his twentieth birthday. Spent his schooling thinking he was stupid. He just needed a little encouragement.”
Heath is emotionless but Max tries to believe his brother is just hiding how he feels, “That’s quite a loss.”
“She’s lost now. She used to help him get ready for work. He wasn’t too outgoing, but you probably remember that from when you kidnapped him and forced that poison into his stomach. Did you burn their hands before or after you killed them? Don’t answer that. What exactly do you learn about someone when they cry for mercy? Don’t answer that. Not that you cared, I’m sure. His mother asked me what she should live for now that her world is gone.”
Heath is impatient, “Why are you telling me this? I can’t cry for these people!”
“No, I know. You remember the woman you dumped in the alley? Like she was nothing. Like she didn’t matter. She had two little boys. You left her husband to not only raise his boys alone but to find a way to tell them their mother won’t be coming home…”
“You can stop this…”
“They’re too young to understand. They’re going to think she left them. They’re going to think she didn’t love them enough to stay.”
“Yes, OK. Thank you…”
“You’ve killed more than just the people you fed poison to. You’ve scarred more than just the people you burnt, more than just the people you cut my name into.”
“And I can’t change what I’ve done.”
Max thinks he finally hears emotion. “Would you? Do you have anything in you that feels bad?”
“I’m telling you where I am aren’t I! I’m going to be here so you can stop me! You come here and all of this hurt ends. You kill me and they can drag my body behind a car through the city for all I care! They can dance on my grave. You just have to come here!”
“You think I won’t just ring someone working the…”
“No you won’t!”
“You don’t know me!”
“I know you Max!! Better than you think! I know that you will come here yourself just like I knew you wouldn’t tell them about our calls and like I knew you would finally get that I was behind everything. I. KNOW. YOU!”
“You’re a child!”
“Maybe so... but I will win this.”
“You’re going to jail!”
“Not if you kill me.”
“Then I win!”
“Maybe. Not necessarily.” Heath speaks through the tears rolling down his face. “For years I chased you brother. I wanted you to love me but you never did. I wanted to be your best friend. I never was. I looked up to you. You looked down on me. I thought it was my fault though. I thought I wasn't worthy of your love. I thought I had done something wrong and for years I didn’t know what it was. But now, you chase me. You see? Now you go where I lead. Now it’s about me. I don't need your love. I don't want it anymore. I didn’t do anything for you to hate me. You are just a hateful person.”
Max is taken aback by this display of emotion and isn't exactly sure how to respond. “You’ve killed people.” He says quietly.
“YES!! But I only wanted you to notice me!”
Max tries to give words to his thoughts but remains silent. Heath speaks up, “I always did the right thing. I didn’t hurt people like you did. I didn’t ruin everything like you did. But you’ve got it all. You've got everything I deserve for doing the right thing.”
“What!?”
“You have everything that should be
mine. You stole Tahlia from me!”
“WHAT!
“She was mine. She liked me. She wanted a good guy and that was me! But you took her!”
“She was never your girlfriend!”
“SHE WAS!”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“YOU STOLE HER!!”
“You’re not making sense and I’m not having this argument.”
Heath’s sudden explosion of emotion calms, “Hudson Road. Spotswood. Pick the warehouse.”