Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins (11 page)

THE LAST GUEST
pulled
out of the drive and the senator watched the gates close behind them. It went well,
he thought. The general theme of most conversations centered on the serial killer
with no hint of the possibility of his involvement in her death. He felt disappointed
that the two overly active detectives had chosen not to attend the after service
gathering to see the respect and concern shown for him at the loss of his wife.
He knew it was their job to be suspicious of him, but it was becoming annoying.

His goal over the next days would be to gain the confidence
of Lieutenant Sanders who seems to have a serious problem with him. He was sure
he had witnessed compassion on the part of the female partner who assumed the pain
he should be feeling. Looking at his watch, he decided it was time to escape and
drive to the coast for sunset and maybe Stephanie.

RESEARCH TURNED UP
information
that Lon requested on the ex-wife of the senator who now resides in Sutcliff, Nevada,
a small town near Reno. She had not remarried according to the information that
came up on the computer.

After telephone communication was completed with her,
Anne had convinced her that they were simply seeking information on some background
issues concerning the senator. So, she agreed to meet with them and a date was finalized
for their meeting.

Anne wasn’t sold on the trip doubting how the ex-wife
in Nevada could provide any information on their case here in California.

“I’m banking on her relating something that might prove
my theory of the senator’s involvement in his wife’s murder. I realize you think
I’m way off base, but as always partner I’m going with my gut.”

It was even harder to convince the chief even with detailed
explanations of what they hoped to discover would certainly justify the expenses.
He reluctantly gave his approval. The dates were confirmed with Beth Radford the
senator’s ex-wife and it was agreed that the meetings would be held at her home
in Sutcliff.

“Well partner in two days we will be in the air heading
to Sutcliff, Nevada. It’s a small western town with a population of three hundred
cowboys and cowgirls. However if I may I would add, you do not have to worry, it’s
very close to Reno and the night life it offers I am sure will fit your night life
requirements?”

Anne ignored the remark and waved goodnight. On the drive
home she made the decision to stop at her nightly watering hole and was disappointed
when she saw Terry’s car parked in front.

“Damn, I guess I’ll have to drink at home.”

Pulling to the right side of the road she made a U-turn.

“I can’t change my lifestyle because of a man I hardly
know. You slept with him and created a problem for yourself, but does it qualify
as a reason to avoid him and give up something you really enjoy?”

“No,” she shouted while pounding the steering wheel.

She was greeted warmly by Johnny from behind the bar
as she entered and then heard in a quiet humble sounding voice.

“It’s nice to see you, Anne.”

Johnny knew by her look that she was not pleased Terry
was there.”

Signaling to Johnny for the usual, she sat on the stool
next to Terry and stared at him knowing he would say something stupid.

“Have you decided to forgive me, Anne? I know our last
time together was a little tense.”

“Let’s let the past stay in the past,” she said, surprising
even herself with her concession, as she raised her glass and clicked his bottle.

“Here’s to the future detective, and wherever that may
lead. Have you made any headway in your case?”

“No and believe me we’re feeling the heat from the press
and the big boys uptown. The pressure is mounting from all levels. We know that
comes with the job. So, what we are have to concentrate on is the possibility he
could strike again, and soon if we don’t stop him.”

She turned and looked into his eyes for a reaction.

His expression was one of a sad, beaten dog as he asked,
“Anne, can we start over? I really enjoy spending time with you.”

She waited to respond fearful of laughing and knowing
that would be cruel, so she picked her words carefully.

“Do you remember our first conversation and my requirement
of putting all the cards on the table? I don’t have the time nor do I want to worry
how you will react every time I don’t pay enough attention to you or when I converse
with another man. If you can back off this let’s be a couple routine, then my answer
is yes.”

He stuck out his hand for her to shake.

“It’s a deal.”

LON STRESSED IN
detail
the necessity of the trip to Nevada to his wife Allie knowing there would be resistance
on her part.

“I’m not sure why an out of state ex-wife of the senator
is important to your case here in Santa Barbara, Lon, but if you’re instincts tell
you there are good reasons then go and see what turns up.”

“Allie, look I know this is hard to understand, but this
feeling is something I can’t shake. There is something about the senator that says
keep after him he’s not what he seems. My partner feels like you, that I’m totally
wrong about Radford and over reacting because I don’t like him. All I know is that
his present wife was just murdered and his first wife left him for some reason and
moved a long way to be rid of him. Her reasons could shed light on the dark side
I'm convinced he’s hiding beneath that cool non-emotional outside shell that I believe
is the typical demeanor portrayed by most politicians. That's as plain as I can
make my reasoning and I hope they become evident to you, Allie, it’s simply based
on my gut feeling.”

The tension was broken by the voice of his son.

“Hey Dad, let’s shoot some hoops.”

“I’ll be right there, Tad.”

“We’ll be leaving day after tomorrow on a Monday and
returning on Tuesday or possibly Wednesday. The ticket is open ended to allow for
unforeseen events.”

With a smile and a reluctant yes he felt assured she
understood, so he headed to the front of the garage for a game of basketball with
his son.

“You’re all mine kid. No mercy this time. I’m all over
you. Oh, and I get first shot because I’m older and bigger than you, so watch closely.”

He lofted a one-handed shot from ten feet and swished
it.

“I think that should be a warning of what’s to come,
my son.”

Tad dribbled the basketball to the site of his dad’s
shot. He turned, looked at the basket and shot. The ball hit the backboard and dropped
neatly through the net.

“Was that first shot your best, Dad?”

NIGHT WAS UPON
him before
he reached his destination, but he loved the darkness of the night. It hid all the
impurities of the world around him. He could use the night to see the hidden cruel
and demonic creatures walking that the daylight hid. He was equal to them in the
darkness and knew his weaknesses couldn’t be seen and taken advantage of. He did
not have to be something he was not, when surrounded by the cloak of darkness.

Most important of all, he could be evil and cause fear
in the strongest of them. In the daylight, he felt vulnerable, so he tried to show
strength as a masquerade. But, inside he craved, since early childhood, the ability
to become invisible. He parked and shouted out loudly in the interior of the car,
“Tonight, I am once again in control and ready to show them the dark side of me
that none would ever believe was there.”

LEANING ACROSS THE
table
Anne touched Terry’s hand.

“I think we’re at an impasse here. Forgive this inquisition,
but keeping in-line with my profession, I need to get a little more information
from you. I know I’m a little slow on the uptake, but before we continue this relationship,
or whatever it turns out to be, I need to know more about you, like who you are.
Where did you come from? What do you do for a living? What happened to your first
marriage? What did you see in me that made you begin this so called fling to be?”

He smiled at her and raised his glass in salute to her
concerns.

“Let’s begin with, I’m Terrance Riley Ryan. That name
tells you my heritage. I’m from a little town in Virginia called Staunton located
in the Shenandoah Valley that was the site of a lot of important history. You know,
Stonewall Jackson, as an example, and the Citadel, the military academy of the south,
are both located there.

“I left the Shenandoah Valley after graduating from the
University of Virginia and was lucky to land a job with Monumental Investments and
Northern Virginia and Washington, DC became my territory. How am I doing so far?”

“Nothing out of line so far, Anne responded.”

“My position in Northern Virginia proved to be a very
lucrative opportunity because I was dealing with high end professionals. I was making
a name in the profession and found people were seeking me out.

A woman investor contacted me searching for investment
opportunities and I began a working relationship with her and that relationship
led to something more and eventually it led to her becoming my wife. We were living,
as they say in the south in high cotton. She was heavily involved in high dollar
commercial real estate and was very successful.” He paused looking at her. “Any
questions so far?”

“No, Anne said, but let me guess, her income exceeded
yours.”

“Yes, her yearly income had more zeros than mine, so
after we married she tended to call the shots and I became part of the high society
life she thrived in.”

“Not a scenario for a strong marriage, Terry.”

“You’re very astute Anne. The firm she worked for was
very demanding of her time, but this was acceptable because they paid her extremely
well.” He paused again as if in a semi trance recalling a particular incident. He
looked at Anne and smiled.

“Her job also required frequent out-of-state business
trips.”

The look on Anne’s face, told him she was way ahead of
him and knew where the story was headed and what he was about to reveal.

“I found out, through a mutual friend, that she was having
an affair with the owner of the company and many of her out-of-state trips we’re
not business related. I was totally caught off guard and remained in disbelief.

“When I confronted her about the affair she confessed
that the accusation was true. I agreed to forgive and after attending counseling
we decided to stay together under the condition that she would leave the firm. She
refused, but agreed to be transferred to the office here in California.

“When the transfer was approved, I agreed to the arrangement
and transferred my license to California and here I am in Santa Barbara.”

“It sounds to me like everything was fine between you,
so I guess something went wrong when you moved west.”

“You’re right; everything was fine for a year until I
found them together one night coming out of the hotel in which I was attending a
company seminar. Her boss was back in her life again.”

Anne saw the hurt come through as he began the last segment
of his story.

“I stood across the street and watched them kiss goodbye
and then went into the hotel for my meeting. I asked them to call his room for me
and was informed he had checked out. Later that night, at home, I confronted her
with her actions and she once again admitted it with no sense of guilt or regret.
That’s when she very nonchalantly informed me she was leaving me and going back
to the home office.”

He picked up his drink and stirred the ice with his finger
then continued. “Well, that little episode was two years ago and now, here we are.
Now, I hate all women and I’m filled with rage and hell bent on getting revenge.”

He waited for her reaction and it came too quickly making
him realize that with the killings and her profession his try at humor was not apropos,
so to prevent a confrontation he smiled and said, “I’m kidding Anne, I love women.
I especially love cute women who are sure of themselves and yet remain honest and
pure. You fit that bill and that is why I started this
fling
, as you called
it.”

“I may be cute or even pretty, but where did the pure
come from? Remember, we slept together on the first night.”

“Don’t worry, I definitely remember and took that into
consideration.”

LEN, FOR SOME
strange
quirk of luck, had not run into the Doctor at all in his duties over several floors.
Now that it was time for the next shift, he stood staring at her and smiling as
she approached the desk. She had picked up on his presence as she entered the hallway.
Once she had acknowledged him she quickly looked away engaging the nurse on duty.

“If there are no special requests for me, I’m going to
head this tired body home.”

“Good night Doctor, have a nice night.”

“Thanks Gayle, I’m heading to a special little section
of beach beside the ocean with my little dog.”

“Would you like some company, Doc? I like dogs, Len said
looking directly in her eyes.”

“Thanks for the offer, but no.”

“I can be good company, Doc.”

She reached out and grabbed his name tag.

“I really appreciate the offer Lenny Boy, but I will
do fine with just my little dog friend.”

“My name is Len, not Lenny he said very sternly pulling
her hand away.”

“Oh, most Len’s are short for Lenny. I will try to remember
that if we ever have an occasion to speak to each other again.”

She turned, winked at the lady behind the desk and walked
down the hall.

“I think she’s starting to like me, Gayle.”

“That’s not the way I read the conversation, Lenny boy.”

He glared at her and then smiled knowing she was just
being cute. He stepped out of the side door, as the Doctor’s car was pulling out
of the lot.

“I know where you live, Stephanie, and I’ll be waiting
for you.”