Billy
Wiles, a bright young short story writer, has not even switched on his computer
since his fiancée Barbara went into a coma some years ago. He lives the life of
a hermit, spending his leisure time alone at home working on his carpentry, and
only leaves his secluded home to work as a bartender. As an orphan, he only
associates with a few individuals, whom he regards as associates rather than
friends.
When
Wiles discovers a piece of paper pinned to his windshield with an ultimatum,
his life takes a drastic shift. He chooses against going to the police and
instead consults with a guy who happens to be in law enforcement. Despite their
reservations, the two men agree that the message must have been a nasty prank.
However,
the next day, a horrific murder is recorded that perfectly matches the
description supplied in advance by the suspected prankster. Two more messages
arrive quickly, and it is only when they get increasingly personal that Wiles
realizes he has not been picked at random by the person he refers to as
"the freak." For example, immediately after getting the mysterious
message "Are you ready for your first wound?" The mask-wearing
murderer assaults him forcefully. When Wiles recovers from the shock and
discomfort, he discovers that the psychopath has implanted three enormous fish
hooks beneath the skin of his brow. Acts of violence, such as the one portrayed
above, cause the third-person narrator to ponder on the society in which we
live (The following three paragraphs are taken exactly from the book; however,
I've changed the phrasing to avoid Copywrite violations.):
"Very
lately, typical everyday nastiness remained fundamentally discretionary during
humanity's history, excluding the wreaked by conflicts. Grudges, slights to
honor, infidelity, and financial disagreements fueled the deadly drive.
"Far
more hostility has become impersonal in the contemporary world, far more than
in modernity, and especially in the postmodern. Terrorists, street gangs, lone
sociopaths, sociopaths in groups, and sociopaths committed to a utopian vision
killed individuals they didn't know, against whom they had no actual complaint,
for the goal of garnering attention, making a statement, intimidating, or even
for the joy of it.
"According
to every piece of evidence, the freak, whether related or unrelated to Billy,
was a dangerous opponent." He was bold but not impulsive, crazy but
self-controlled, bright, smart, and crafty, with a complex and sinister
mentality. Billy Wiles, on the other hand, navigated the world as simply and
directly as he could. His thoughts were not extravagant. His desires were
simple. He simply hoped to live, and he did so with caution." (From 14th
Chapter)
Although
Wiles investigates each of his few contacts, he is unable to determine which,
if any, of them is the freak. He eventually concentrates his attention on one
of his coworkers, Steve Zillis. However, it quickly becomes clear that Zillis
has a solid alibi for the period when some of the crimes were committed, and
Wiles is left in the dark.
Wiles
had very specific reasons for not engaging the cops. From the start of his
nightmare experience, he has a feeling that circumstantial evidence, which may
be placed by the killer, would make him the major suspect: in the eyes of the
police, he will be the culprit rather than one of the victims. In addition,
when additional killings are executed, he understands he may threaten Barbara's
life.
Finally,
Wiles discovers that the psychopath regards his actions as a piece of art
rather than, say, a game (cf. for example Gentlemen & Players). He realizes
that the freak is Valis, the artist, and confronts him. Billy sprays Valis with
Mace and shoots him dead after a brief dialogue. When Billy returns home, he
incorrectly believes that he and Barbara are secure; but, when he replays the
video camera, he sees Zillis enter his house and realizes that Valis and Zillis
were working together. He manages to catch up with Zillis before he can kill
Barbara, and then kills Zillis after driving him out into the country.
The
novel concludes with Billy (now Bill) caring for Barbara in his own house.
Barbara's eyes open toward the end of the book, and she remarks on a flock of
Barn Swallows flying by. While her eyelids close once more, the finale seemed
to point to her quick recovery.
