Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins (18 page)

ARRIVING AT THE
hospital,
Stephanie intended to avoid contact with Len, but then decided rather than sidestepping
the situation she would go to him and offer her apology for the preceding night.
When inquiring about his location, she was informed that he had called in sick.
She was disappointed and yet relieved that facing him was delayed.

Walking into a patient’s room, she was greeted with,
“It's really getting scary out there, Doc!”

“She recognized true concern on the patients face.

“What are you afraid of Alice?”

“That maniac is still on the loose out there somewhere.
He killed another woman last night and only about seven blocks from the hospital.”

Stephanie turned to the TV and listened as they gave
details of the previous night’s killing. She listened intently as they discussed
the questions by news reporters on whether this victim was number six or seven?

“It sounds like the police are unsure if the death of
the senator’s wife should be connected to the other victims. There must have been
something different in her death to give them doubt?” She continued to listen to
the concerns of the media as she concluded her diagnostic examination of the patient.

“I guess we have to be extra cautious until this man
is caught.” She finished her exam and patted the patient on her arm.

“You’re doing just fine Alice, so we will be sending
you home tomorrow.”

“I feel a lot safer here, Doctor.”

Taking her hand she agreed with her and walked out to
join several nurses standing at the desk all giving their opinions about the latest
victim and what the police should do to catch the serial killer.

“I walk home from the hospital every night. I wish I
had a gun I'd shoot him if he came near me.”

“That could be a problem, Mary. You might shoot someone
who you thought was the bad man and what if you are wrong?”

“Yea, but what if I was right?”

She stood close by listening to their words and understood
their fears and decided she should be a little more cautious with her nightly trips
to the shore after work.

She knew she had taken chances lately and had unwittingly
set aside the potential threat in the note, “I followed you home.”

A nurse walked over and handed her a slip of paper. William
had called twice. The message said, “Please call me back.”

“No thank you,” she said and wadded up the slip of paper
and threw it in the trash.

There were two more messages from him during the course
of the day and she handled each one in the same manner. The realization that she
would eventually have to see him, played upon her mind heavily. How would she react
to him? He would apologize being the perfect gentleman, but she would never forget
the look on his face and his claim of the relationship he had with her. This must
be a part of his psyche she surmised. A normal person does not change their personality
in an instant over something they thought they heard. She stood a minute longer
recalling the incident then remembered where she was.

“Get back to work Stephanie, it’s almost time to face
whatever is out there to face. Will he be waiting for you in the parking lot? That
could be a better scenario than alone at the beach. Here there will be people all
around you.

“Stop it, she said to herself. Last night you were kissing
this man and falling in love with him. Walk out and face him and tell him you’re
not ready for whatever he envisioned their relationship should be. But, he has been
a perfect gentleman excluding last night. Do I give him another chance?”

“WE SHOULD BE
on the
ground in about fifteen minutes folks. The temperature is a pleasant seventy-eight
degrees and the chance of precipitation is thirty percent. Fasten your seat belts
and we’ll be on the ground soon.”

The flight had been smooth and due to a strong tail wind
they were arriving fifteen minutes early. Lon called headquarters as they walked
through the terminal and was greeted by the chief with the news of the previous
night’s killing.

“We’ll be in shortly, chief. We’re walking out of the
terminal now. What you’re telling me is not good news. It sounds to me like the
coroner’s prediction of this guy becoming more sexually active is coming true. See
you in the office in about an hour.”

Anne listened intently to the conversation until it was
over and then asked, “What’s going on Lon?”

“To start with, he struck again last night. The big guy’s
upset that we weren’t around to handle the initial contact, but he had the crime
scene guys take more than the usual amount of photos to assist us. He said there
was not an angle or view that they did not shoot within a twenty foot radius. Forgetting
all that, here’s the kicker Anne, he has stepped up his MO.”

“What do you mean stepped up?”

“He has become sexually active.”

“Oh my God, did he rape her?”

“They’re still checking on that little detail. This gal
was found totally nude. And get this, there are bruising and bite marks on the breast
area.”

“Lon, we’ve got to find this guy and soon.”

Anne put the flashing blue light on top of the car and
pulled out of the parking lot fish tailing when they hit the roadway with Lon holding
on and trying to fasten his seat belt. When they leveled off he sat shaking his
head from side-to-side.

“I can’t believe that I let you drive again.”

Pushing number one on his phone, he heard the voice of
his wife say welcome home, Lon.

“Ally, we’re on the ground, but I can’t get home for
a while, they need me at headquarters on a newly discovered female body. The chief
is upset that we weren’t here to head up the investigation of the crime scene. I’ll
get home as soon as I can. I missed you and can’t wait to see you.”

“I understand, Lon, we’ll be waiting for you.”

Anne pulled into their designated spot in front of the
station and laughed at the look from Lon. He sat and watched her get out pretending
to have the shakes.

Once inside, his office Chief Brady explained every detail
that they had gathered about the victim and handed them the file of pictures and
descriptions written up by the first officer on the scene.

“I hope you can convince me your trip to Nevada was worthwhile.
You can fill me in later, but now I want you to get over to the coroner and look
at the body. Get his report then go home and get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow
when you both get in here nice and early with your observations.”

They got his meaning and quickly checked in for important
messages. Finding none, they decided to stop for a snack on the way to the medical
examiner’s building.

“You know, Anne, we make a pretty good team. I’m a good
looking, a lot of fun, hardworking, get it done, good looking type, and you’re a
follow the rules, up tight, type that keeps us focused.”

“Good looking, no, but I’ll admit you are kind of cute,
she said.”

“I know better. You think I’m attractive and would be
all over me if I let my guard down for one moment. Now let me hear you deny it.”

“On the contrary, I think it could be very rewarding
if you ever let your guard down, how about you?”

Her answer confused him. Was she challenging me or actually
agreeing with him. He decided it was safer to let her win this one.

STEPHANIE WAS SURPRISED
to see Len leaning against her car.

“Look Doc. I want you to understand that I never intended
for last night to happen. I thought you were alone and I simply wanted to sit and
talk with you. I’m determined to be your friend since you made it known from the
beginning that nothing else was possible. You’re new to the area and there aren’t
a lot of people around for you to talk to and I feel we can get together at work
or even outside of the hospital as friends. That’s it, nothing more.”

“Len it is I who owe you, an apology. I was caught totally
off guard with his reaction to you. I’m going to see him and make it clear that
you and I are friends and I want nothing more to do with him.”

“Well, you’ll get your chance. If I’m not mistaken that’s
him in the car that just pulled up. You want me to hang around until he leaves?”

“No, I’ll be fine, but thank you. I have to face him
sooner or later and it may as well be now. See you here tomorrow.”

Stephanie was not sure how she would react when he spoke
to her. She prepared herself by trying to show the agitation she still felt inside
for his show of arrogance. Either way, her feelings toward his being there, put
her at odds with herself. Walking to his car, she tried to appear amiable when he
lowered the window.

“Hello, William. I received your messages, but thought
it best to ignore them and see you face-to-face here after work.”

“Stephanie, I truly am sorry for my actions last night.
I was totally out of line. I felt sure our time on the beach, had created a bond
between us and that I had made it clear the extent of my feelings for you.”

“I do not feel exchanging a few sensual moments on a
blanket are a commitment in any way, William. You have assumed way too much on your
end.”

“I see. It appears that I have misjudged you and perhaps
over-rated you. I presumed that for you to offer the moment of passion we shared,
marriage was a goal for us.”

“Marriage? My God William, we have only seen each other,
what twice now? I was infatuated with our attraction to each other, but never did
I ever begin to think of marriage.”

“I can only draw from this that you have had similar
situations with other men. You have lowered your prominence in my eyes Stephanie.
I have to reconsider our relationship.”

“We have no relationship William and any chance of their
ever being one ended last night.”

She turned and walked away.

THE CORONER WAS
expecting
the two detectives and was ready with reports and prepared answers for their questions.

“What can you tell us Doc? Anything that might help us
nab this pervert?”

“I took it upon myself to ask the profiler from the state
department to examine this victim and the details of the six previous ladies and
give his analysis. He’s going to execute a profile on this guy. When he’s reached
a conclusion he'll call your office directly.”

“That’s great! I’d like to have an understanding of the
mind-set of this killer even if only a speculative one. Can we see the body now
and get your conclusions on what went down?”

“He definitely decided to go a little further with this
lady. This was his first time to fully undress the victim. His first sexual exploration
of her body appears to have caused him to become inflamed, either sexually or in
anger. That explains the bruising around the left breast. If I had my choice I would
hope for anger. If he is becoming sexually hungry, I think his victims will be increasing.
One other thing, she has a cut under her chin which one would assume is from a watch
or ring worn by the killer. Find a sharp watch or ring on a suspect and there will
be her DNA on it.”

HE WAS FEELING
fully
satiated as he viewed himself nude in the full length mirror. He could find no scratches
or marks of any kind. This examination was an important key to his remaining unknown
to those who seek him. Feeling confident that he had been perfect once again, he
went to his closet to dress.

Recalling the feeling that energized his body when he
was touching her overtook him once again. The heat began to surge as it had the
previous night and he leaned against the side wall for support. He closed the closet
door and walked to another room where he removed the picture from the wall and removed
the under garments he had collected from the special lady of the previous night.
He placed them under the pillow and laying down he began to fantasize her being
there. He could not concentrate on her as all of his girls began appearing in his
fantasy all at once.

They seemed to flash in and out of his mind and he felt
panic setting in, and then the urge over rode his fear as he fondled the items under
his pillow. He felt the sensation subside and he slept.

He awoke later in a sweat and total exhaustion. When
he rose from the bed he was wobbly and his knees felt weak as he walked to the cubicle
to place the trophies and re-hang the picture.

“It will be even better next time with her. I have her
identity deeply embedded in my mind and know her nightly patterns, and I have a
plan ready to carry out. I’ve waited long enough for her.”

TERRY WAS FILLED
with
anticipation knowing Anne had returned from her trip to Nevada. I know she’ll be
expecting to see me at the usual spot, but my plan is to stay away for a day or
two and in so doing make her wonder why I haven’t been around. His desire to see
her and to hold her was strong and he knew it was going to be a struggle to keep
from giving in to his desire.

A knock on his office door startled him.

“Terry, your appointment is here. Her name is Cassandra
Jones.”

“Thanks, Jill, give me a minute.”

Opening the door, Jill ushered in an attractive middle
aged lady. Terry was delighted.

“Mr. Ryan, I am Cassandra Jones. I made this appointment
with you because of the conversation we had at a party one evening. I do not expect
you to recall such an occasion, however you impressed me with your knowledge of
investments.”

“I must confess I do not recall our conversation, but
I assure you I do remember you, he lied.”

“Sounds like flattery to me, Mr. Ryan. However, I will
accept it graciously.”

“Now to the point at hand, I inherited a sum of money
and need advice.”

“Can I get you something to drink, before we start?”

She recognized the appreciative glances he was giving
her crossed legs. This can be to my advantage and I will take those advantages as
far as I can, she thought.