Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins (8 page)

THE QUESTIONING OF
the
senator seemed strange to Lon. Somehow the senator appeared overly accommodating
in laying out his reasons for any situation they threw at him. He became very emotional,
and at one point Lon drew an angry response out of him when they informed him of
Marie’s erotic emails they had pulled up on her computer.

Later in the car, Lon questioned his outburst as merely
acting out a response he thought we would expect. Anne, of course, still giving
him the benefit of doubt felt he appeared sincere.

“You have a hang up on this guy, Lon. We have nothing
that ties him to this killing or anything else illegal. I’m aware that most of the
time if there is a spouse involved, they immediately become the main suspect, but
I don’t see it in this instance.”

Lon only grunted to show his disagreement but then agreed
to her request to back off a little in his attitude toward the senator. As he made
the agreement he crossed his fingers and turned away so that Anne would not see
his smile.

“What’s our next move, Lon?”

“We have no choice but to review the victim’s files,
once again, to check every name connected in any way to each of them, where and
when they were selected, and then we’ll recheck them again. There has to be a clue
about this guy in one of them that we’re missing. I hate to say it, Anne, but I
feel our killer has waited long enough and could be in the process of selecting
a new victim. By the way single lady keep that in mind when you’re out running around
at night.”

“I do not run around as you put it, I’ll have you know.
That’s what most married people like you call it. I’m a single woman free to be
who I am; and you’re jealous.”

Lon laughed at her and said, “Okay, I give let’s get
started. Grab the Radford file and we'll work back from Marie to the first victim.”

AFTER CHECKING HER
log
and adding the necessary comments on her final patient, Stephanie was ready to call
it a day. The night nurse, just coming on, called to her and said there was a note
for her on the desk. It was a folded sheet of hospital paper.

“Have a nice night, Doc.” Len

She felt a chill and knew immediately who Len was. Throwing
it in the waste basket, she walked quickly to the side exit of the hospital. She
was excited at the prospect of heading home and meeting her new fantasy guy on the
beach at sunset. Getting dressed in her bathing suit and arriving there ahead of
him, was her plan.

Leaning on the front door of his car, Len watched her
walk out, enter her car, and drive away. He sat in the driver’s seat and pulled
out of the parking lot staying well behind her.

THE FILE OF
every victim
had been reviewed and documented with every pertinent bit of information ascertained
placed on the clue board. It had been a long and stressful day for Lon who had internalized
much sadness as he viewed each photo of the female victims, so he suggested they
knock off for the night.

“You want to stop for a drink, Anne? It’s still pretty
early?”

“If it’s my choice, I say yes. I want you to meet someone
and give me your opinion.”

“Sounds great, but I want you to promise me you will
send my butt out of there after one drink, because I need to spend some time at
home. I hate what I’m about to say, but I’ll follow you to get to your new love
nest, so don’t lose me with that lead foot of yours.”

Anne left the building with Lon and they made a pact
with each other agreeing to put the case out of their mind for the night. She backed
out of her parking spot and without thinking pulled out and headed down the road
while Lon was just starting his car. He managed to catch up with her and she waved
realizing that she had done exactly what he had asked her not to do and figured
he was probably upset with her. Turning the corner, Anne saw his car parked in front
of the bar and felt a tinge of excitement.

This is ridiculous,
she thought.
You’re a
grown woman, acting like a high school girl.
She drove to the parking lot on
the side of the building and parked. Lon pulled in the spot next to her and teased
her about her driving as they walked to the front door.

It took a second or so for their eyes to adjust and then
she heard her name called and turned to see Terry sitting at a table against the
far wall. He stood as they approached and awaited introduction to the man with her
before reaching out his hand. He made no attempt to hug Anne which she appreciated
as she was not ready for any display of affection in front of her partner.

Lon sat and listened more than conversed with the pair,
adding an occasional uh-huh, or I see, and waited for the perfect opportunity to
inject a “nice to meet you, but I need to head home. After a few more short stories,
he got his chance, stood up and said “adios compadres.” Anne smiled at him appreciating
his cowboy humor and he felt her look of, what do you think? He gave her a smile
and a wink and left. Terry remained standing and watched the detective exit the
bar.

“So, now I have met my competition,” he said, as he sat
back down at the table.

“That’s a silly observation, Terry! He is happily married
with a twelve year old son.”

“Since when has a family determined whether or not a
man is attracted to another woman? I think he is attracted to you. I understand
the attraction, but I have to admit, it bothers me.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little early for you to be bothered
by my receiving the attention of another man?”

“No Anne, I do not think it’s too early. I believe in
telling you exactly how I feel at all times.”

“I like you telling it like it is, but come on Terry
you’re a little quick with your overly attentive reaction.”

She saw his face change from concern to one of anger.
It was obvious he did not like her response and his piercing eyes made it known.

“I do not like his attitude toward me, so it’s time to
think this over carefully before going any further.”

THE DOCTOR FEELING
relieved
to be away from the hospital parked in front of her rooming house which has served
her purpose, but now she was anxious to purchase a home. She looked at herself in
the mirror and added a touch of lip balm, totally oblivious to the car parked a
short distance behind her. If she had been more aware she would have seen the car
with Len sitting and watching her as she walked up the steps and entered the house.

“So, this is where you live?”

He pulled ahead and drove past her car singing, “I’ll
be seeing you in all the old familiar places.” Pleased with himself, now that he
would definitely be seeing her at locations away from the hospital.

As she stepped inside Stephanie was met by the owner
of the house apparently anxious to talk with someone and after several exchanges
she went up the stairs to her room to be greeted at the door by her little yipping
friend, who jumped into her arms squirming and whimpering as he kissed her face.
She laughed as she attempted to control his excitement.

“Okay Hobo, I’m going to take you for a quick walk.”

Pulling on a pair of shorts, over a one piece swim suit,
she picked up the dog and walked down the stairs still not in total control.

“I’ll see you later, Mrs. Carter,” she yelled. Hearing
no response she assumed she had gone out back.

She lowered the top on the T-Bird and headed out for
their evening adventure. Hobo sat up in the passenger side seat, staring out of
the front window.

“See anything interesting, boy?”

Hobo, hearing her speak, turned, looked at her and then
back to his watch out the front window pose. She laughed as she turned her attention
to the trip up the coast. Leaning her head back against the head rest, she felt
the wind rushing through her hair.

“This is heaven, Hobo, we are in paradise.”

It seemed the trip was even shorter than she remembered
and in no time at all she was turning off onto the two lane heading down to the
water.

“No car, he’s not here.”

Hobo immediately started jumping and whining. “Easy boy,
let me park and you have the beach all to yourself.”

Hobo, too excited to wait, jumped over the side just
as she was about to stop. He rolled in a heap, then jumped up and at a full run
headed for the water. Grabbing her towel and a book Stephanie followed at a much
more controlled pace. She was just as anxious as he was, but for different reasons.

ANNE DECIDED IT
was
time to take control of the situation.

“Look
Terry, this thing you say we’re experiencing,
whatever it is, is fine, but it is a
thing
. Let’s let it take us wherever
it takes us at a nice pace and enjoy the ride. I deal with a lot of men in my line
of work and it requires me to spend time night and day with them. I cannot and most
important I will not worry about hurting someone’s feeling if I stay out late working
on a case with my partner. You say he is attracted to me, I say, ‘So what?’, but
I have not seen evidence of that.”

She watched his face closely, his eyes squinted, lips
slightly twitched, and then a small grin appeared.

“That’s fine with me,” he said, but she had noted the
deep anger in his eyes just before he was able to suppress it.

He signaled Johnny to bring over another round of drinks.

“This will be it for me, Terry. I have to work tomorrow.”
She watched his face turn into a controlled smile.

“I can understand that and I would never stand in the
way of an officer and her duties. Let’s enjoy this drink and the time left in our
evening together.”

They clicked glasses and he learned over to kiss her.
Anne was surprised by the action and withdrew, but to show conciliation felt obliged
to partake in this unwanted show of affection. It was a strained effort on both
parties and each accepted it for what it was.

When she stood to leave Terry insisted on walking Anne
to her car, but surprisingly he did not try to kiss her. As she closed the door,
he waved and returned to the front door. Watching him reenter the bar, she felt
confused.

“Did I just get shut out by a guy I hardly know because
he was jealous of my partner? Am I nuts? I don’t need this in my life right now.”

Arriving home somewhat angry and even more confused,
she parked and entered the apartment. Her mood left her felling a bit rejected,
but after a long, hot shower she lay on the bed relaxed and began flipping channels
on the TV.

“No news tonight, I need a Hallmark original love story
to fall asleep to.”

A loud knock on the door startled her.
Don’t
answer it
she thought. Then, a second round of knocks even louder created a
new feeling of curiosity.

Picking up her pistol and moving to the door she asked,
“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Terry. I need to see you, Anne.”

Removing the chain lock and then the dead bolt, she opened
the door and asked what was so important.

“I needed to apologize immediately or I would spend the
entire night tossing and turning. I was way out of line, Anne. I had no right to
be upset with you. I guess I’m a little too struck by you and pushed the envelope
a little too far. That’s the reason I had to get this off my chest before heading
home. So, having said it, I’ll say good-night and I hope to see you tomorrow.”

Closing the door, Anne was relieved by his apology, but
remained uneasy with his earlier display of possessive behavior with a tinge of
anger. She was unsure if she wanted to let this relationship go any further than
it had gone.

SITTING ON HER
blanket
looking out over the horizon, Stephanie was at complete peace for the first time
in over a year maybe forever she thought. Breaking from her reverie she looked over
and spotted Hobo running along the shore attacking the waves. Checking her watch
she estimated the sun was about one hour from setting and assumed he was not coming
when the sound of an approaching car disrupted her thoughts.

She felt a sudden rush of anxiety. How should I act?
Should I act like I don’t remember him when he approaches? I’ll just act natural,
was the final approach she settled on. A car door closing caused her heart to beat
a little faster.

Continuing to stare out over the water trying to act
unconcerned she was unaware of the eyes staring at her back as she sat and waited
for his arrival. He did not appear and when a door slammed she turned to see a car
backing up and pulling out of the parking area onto the road. She could only catch
a partial view of the car due to the lower level of the beach.

Strange, she thought as she remembered that this was
the second time that had happened. The whole scenario gave her a sense of unease.
Was it him and he resented the fact that I was here.
Turning her attention
back to the setting sun, she thought,
as beautiful as it is as it settles on
the horizon I would rather be sharing it with someone.

“Hobo, come here boy and park yourself next to me and
let’s watch the end of the day.”

The sun looked like a large red and orange ball sinking
into the sea. As they sat there and the beginning darkness descended around them,
her contentment turned to the realization of possible dangers the nighttime hid.

Come on girl, get yourself home. Think of the
evil that has been going on in this community. Women are constantly being
warned to be watchful and aware at all times.
Picking up the blanket, she walked
up the hill to her car with her dog leading the way. A small Mercedes pulled in
next to her parked car. It was him.

He gave a wave just before opening the door and stepping
out.

“How was the sunset?”

“It was wonderful!”

“I was tied up with some personal problems and could
not get here in time. I’m surprised to see you still here. It can be dangerous for
ladies to be out after dark.”

“I remembered that and we packed up and were just leaving.
Will you be here tomorrow?”

“That’s my plan, but lately my life has been turned upside
down.”

“Well, if you’re here, I’ll look forward to seeing you,
William. See, I remembered.”

He laughed and complimented her on her social graces.
Then he turned and headed for the lower level. Her desire was to follow, but her
good sense said no, so she started her car keeping his image in her mind as she
drove home.