Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins (28 page)

“TERRY WAS SURPRISED
to see Cassandra Jones reenter the bar as he exited the parking lot. He was tempted
to go back and join her, but he had put up with enough of her pushy ways for one
day. It was time to regroup as his plans were not working out according to his liking.
He would play along with her for pure personal gain and let Anne stay on the back
burner for now. He felt an urge for some company.

“Don’t be a fool, get home. You know she’s going to call
you. She may even stop by to be sure you are at home.
Don’t blow this with
your lack of self-control,
his inner conscience told him. He said out loud,
“Okay Cassandra, you win this time, I ‘m going home.”

LEO TRENT WAS
both embarrassed
and angry that Stephanie had told the detectives he was sleeping on the side of
the road. He looked at Lon and said that he had followed her to her new house to
explain, but never got the chance due to the phone call from Anne just as he had
arrived.

“Relax Leo the Doctor was just concerned about you. She
thought you may have been overcome with carbon monoxide. Anybody could have assumed
that.”

“Besides Leo, she doesn’t care if you pulled over to
take a nap,” Anne threw in for a tease.

“I was not sleeping, Anne!”

He saw the smile on her face and realized she was ribbing
him. He grinned and said, “You got me,” then turned and left the restaurant.

“That was nice of him to come and tell me about my ex
being around.”

“You sounded really frightened when you heard he was
here. Do you have reason to be afraid of him?”

“Yes, I am terrified of him. He was abusive and when
I finally filed for divorce he became extremely angry and beat me severely. He spent
time in jail and the judge issued a restraining order preventing him from following
me out of state when I accepted the position here in Santa Barbra.”

“If he turns out to be the one leaving notes on your
car, it would make no sense for him to scare you if he is trying to win you back,
Stephanie.”

“It sounds to me he wants to get even with you, Lon injected.
You need to stay extra alert. He is obviously watching you. He knows where you live,
he knows where you work, and it appears he now knows where you play.”

IT BECAME APPARENT
that
he could not put the evil off to wait for her. It was becoming stronger and he knew
that he could not fight the dominating strength of the urge that he knew was coming.
It was important for him to create a timely opportunity and prepare carefully for
the act certain to happen soon to prevent any mistakes. As much as he did not want
to give in to it he knew it was useless to fight it. He needed to get home as he
felt the heat beginning to surge stronger than he had ever experienced. He feared
it was too late and it had progressed beyond his ability to slow the demanding force
within him that was requiring her to become his final triumph.

He was aware that his last encounter had been the catalyst
for this new out-of-control eroticism. It had been her skin, the warm softness of
her breast that had brought him desires that he could not understand, but the overwhelming
need for that feeling was burning inside his chest that felt like it was about to
explode. He would have to delay his plan for her and satisfy this longing with someone
else.

LON ASKED DR.
Wearing
if she would drive Anne home to save him some time he needed to spend with his family.
He stood by his car and watched them drive out of the parking lot.

On the way across town Anne suggested they stop in at
her favorite oasis before calling it a night. Stephanie declined, but after prodding
agreed, realizing she needed to create friendships, She felt sure Anne could, in
fact, become a good friend. So, she agreed to the stop for one quick drink.

Anne was disappointed when she learned that Johnnie was
not there for their friendly conversation. Sitting at the usual stool at the bar
she ordered a gin and tonic and a glass of red wine for Stephanie. In the midst
of their conversation a tap on Anne's shoulder caused her to turn around on the
stool.

“Hello detective.”

“Well hello Miss Jones. I thought you left with Terry.”

“No, I sent him on home and decided to come back and
see if you would show up. I was just about to leave when in you walked. Who’s your
friend?”

“This is Dr. Stephanie Wearing. Stephanie, meet Cassandra
Jones.”

“Can I buy you a drink, Miss Jones, Anne asked?”

“Oh by the way, before we go any further, if you’re intentions
are to talk about Terry Ryan with me, please don’t bother. There is nothing for
you and I to discuss; I want nothing to do with him, he’s all yours.”

HE KNEW WHO
his next
victim would be. Her name was Sherry and she had made it very clear to him where
she was most nights. He knew she would welcome seeing him again and it would be
an easy conquest if she was there. She would be eager to get into his car and resume
their previous time together.

“Remember, this is a spontaneous act that you did not
plan. So, you must be very patient and extra careful!”

The back parking lot was just as he remembered and the
timing appeared perfect. With only the few cars parked in the backlot he knew the
crowd would be small making it easy to locate her if she was inside. He looked around
and then got out and walked to the front entrance staying in the shadowed part of
the walk close to the building. The lighting was poor in the front area and he was
rewarded with a large uncovered window making it easy to scan the barroom filled
with tables.

His heart almost stopped when he saw her sitting there
with a man and woman. Did they come together? There were several bottles on the
table which meant that they had been there a while. It being a weeknight she probably
would be leaving soon, he surmised. Staring at her he could picture her softness
in his mind and the urge began growing. It became stronger quicker than he had previously
experienced. That scared him and he thought of running for fear he might act too
quickly.

“Don’t just stand there peeking fella, go on in.”

Startled by the voice he turned to see a woman holding
open the front door and smiling at him.

“I’ve decided to just go on home, I think.”

“What a shame, and the night is still young. Do you have
a wife with a curfew for you?”

He gave a fake laugh to put her off.

“No curfew, but I have a big day tomorrow.”

“Well, just to give you the heads up, honey, I’m a one-man,
one-drink woman, so if you change your mind I’ll buy you one drink and the second
option will be left to you.”

She smiled seductively and disappeared inside. He watched
her sit at the bar, turn, and smile at him through the window.

“Two choices,” he said as he walked back to the parking
lot with his mind telling him to leave and forget his plan for tonight. He put aside
the danger warnings and sat in the driver side seat and began the waiting period.

His car was parked at such an angle that he could see
anyone leaving front or back. Now, he could be patient and keep his wits one step
ahead of the urge and wait. He wondered which of his new friends would exit first.
He knew which one he preferred, so he decided to concentrate on her until reality
proved him wrong.

The back door opened and music filled the air, then disappeared
as it closed. A woman approached as his heart raced, but she was neither of his
choices. He watched her get in her car and drive off.

“So many to choose from; and they’re so easy,” he said
to her tail lights. Then, “There she is!”

ANNE WATCHED THE
angry,
ready to fight, expression fade from Cassandra’s face. A smile took its place as
she continued to stand and stare at Anne as if she was deciding whether to believe
her or not. Anne began to feel uncomfortable and decided to break the silence.

“It seems to me the important question is, how is your
relationship going with Terry?”

There still came no response, just a stare that defied
logic and then she turned saying nothing and left the bar.

Watching her walk out into the night Stephanie was confused
over what she had witnessed said, “That was a strange situation, Anne.”

“Those two deserve each other, both are extremely strange.
I met this Terry here at the bar and found him unpleasant and self-centered. The
problem is, she can’t get through her head that I want nothing to do with him. In
fact I want nothing to do with either of them.” She saw the perplexed look on the
Stephanie’s face.

“Hey, sorry you had to witness this messy situation.
But listen, we had better get out of here, remember you still have to drop me off
at home and we both have to work tomorrow. You were really nice to go out of your
way like this for Lon and me. I owe you one.” Just before closing the door Anne
called back, “Angie, tell Johnny we missed him.”

HE CONTINUED TO
sit
waiting and then smiled as he watched her walk out of the rear door of the bar.
As she neared her car he called to her in a subdued voice and her face broke in
to a smile.

“Well Rob, I’m surprised to see you here! I wasn’t sure
if I would ever see you again.”

“Hello Sherry. It’s nice to see you too. Are you in a
hurry or can you spend some time with a lonely man who has been sitting and waiting
for you.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I peeked in the front window.”

“Why didn’t you come in? We could have had a drink together.”

“Bashful I guess. I know it’s late, but would you like
to go somewhere?”

She hesitated and then said, “Sure, let’s go for it.”

He reached across and opened the door for her and she
quickly got in.

She was prettier than he remembered and he smiled at
her to suppress any doubts she might have. “I’m glad that you were here Sherry.”
He started the engine and drove cautiously out the front exit.

He was looking at Sherry as he was driving out and did
not see the other woman step out of the door and stare in his car as they passed.
She recognized him from the earlier encounter.

“You would have liked me better,” she said to the passing
car.”

Sherry wasn’t sure where they were heading and began
to feel a little bit of concern as, “Am I safe?” crept into her mind.

“We have been driving for quite a while, where are we
going? I figured we were just going back to the drive in for burgers, Rob.”

“I thought we could head for the coast and maybe look
at the surf and count the stars, Sherry. Then we can let nature take its course.”

CASANDRA, STILL NOT
totally sure of what had just transpired gathered her varying emotions as she left
the bar for her trip home. The ideal scenario she surmised would be to trust that
Terry, in fact, went straight home as he stated. The other choice was not to trust
him. She could call or drive by his place and check. She chose the latter and headed
for a one-time drive by. It was out of the way for her, but she had to know. She
hoped that she would find his car parked in front of his home.

As she pulled around the corner of his street her heart
sank when she did not see the car. Driving on by and picturing him someplace she
did not want him to be, she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt until she
could face him. Speeding up she passed the house once again, drove to the corner,
and turned for her trip home with mixed feelings.

SHERRY LIKED ROB,
but
in spite of that she was feeling uneasy driving this far out of town with him. It
was extremely dark with low clouds and little or no stars. She felt in her pocket;
it was there. Her fear was relieved to a degree as she clutched the pepper spray
in her hand. She relaxed and remembered that she really liked him and had been completely
at ease with him the last time together. He was attractive and he was very pleasant
to talk to—so why are you worrying? She looked over at him and he turned and smiled
at her and touched her hand easing her doubts.

“Here we are, he said, pulling off onto a dirt road.
This lane leads to a nice place for us to sit and talk.”

The car began to slow and stopped on a rise overlooking
the shadowed shoreline. The head lights caused a shimmering effect on the rolling
water and with the brightness of the moon it created a picturesque scene.

“Oh wow, this
is
really nice. I can see why you
like to come here.”

Now what,
she thought,
where is he going
with all this? Is he going to kiss me, or like the first time, simply need
someone to discuss his life with?

As if he sensed her thoughts he reached over grabbed
her arm and pulled her to him and kissed her. She was pleased at the answer to her
question and responded eagerly to his obvious passion. Her hope was that this night
would be the beginning of something lasting.

He felt her surrender and assured himself that he had
become a different man. He thought, at this time and in this place, with this lady,
he could be patient and enjoy his new feelings. He was confident he would be able
to touch her warm skin now with his new found strength. He could overcome the evil
one to prevent the urge from over taking his will. He lowered his hand from her
shoulder to her breast. She reached for his hand to remove it and then gave in to
her desire and let him continue to explore. When he felt the warmth he became incensed
with new cravings and felt his loss of control. He knew that the evil one wanted
more and he could not stop him. He was no longer himself, rather a distant observer
of what was taking place.

“Slow down, Rob, you’re pushing way too fast and you’re
scaring me.”