Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins (3 page)

“IT’S DEFINITELY THE
same guy Lon.”

With this observation tossed out to the detectives Marvin
rose from his knees and continued.

“I did the processing on three of the earlier victims
and everything we see here matches. The placement of the body face down does not
match, but that is due to her last struggle to live. Her being disrobed down to
undergarments and the mode of death, air deprivation all suggest the same killer.
I think we’ll find in the autopsy a crushed larynx from his choking grip.”

He paused appearing to be deep in thought.

“Detective’s I am very troubled about our situation with
this killer remaining out there attacking these women.”

Anne asked for an explanation for this comment.

Shaking his head in an understanding motion, he said,
“Let me explain. This guy is in a constant changing mind-set, detectives. Some deep
hidden anger or demon spirit seems to be highly inflamed inside this guy. He’s expressing
a need to fill a blank in his life caused by some dark scarring incident from his
past. It could have been caused by his mother or a woman or maybe women in general.
Through these acts of revenge murders, he feels justification.”

He looked at Lon and then to Anne watching for their
reaction. Anne showed no change of expression simply continued to stare at him waiting
for him to continue his observations.

“Here’s the kicker; I feel the anger and passion he feels
is becoming stronger with a need to ease the hurt that he carries around inside
him. To ease those pains he hunts these women. I tell you this with complete professional
warnings; we had better find him quickly.”

He paused once again, deep in thought.

“I think he’s like a shark, with blood in the water.
He’s feeding on his ability to kill and it is getting to the point that he is no
longer in control of this evil need and whatever the need is, it’s increasing in
intensity. I predict, based on the evidence here in comparison with the past cases,
he will become more sexually volatile with each new victim.”

An ambulance pulled up before either detective could
ask for further details on his theory. Marvin waved to them and then turned back
to the detectives.

“They’ll transport the body to the lab and I’ll get right
on the autopsy. I’ll call immediately when I have any information for you.”

“That’s great, Doc, we really need a break in this case.
Some kind of DNA has got to show up from this guy. They always make a mistake sooner
or later, but this guy is being real careful.”

They watched as the body was wrapped and placed in a
black bag and then lifted onto a stretcher and carried up the hill.

“How many more, Lon, before we catch this guy?”

Anne waited expecting an answer, but Lon continued to
stare at the departing group carrying the woman’s body.

“You know Anne,” he said, coming out of his trance like
state, “if the coroner’s theory is right, the killer could get careless as he becomes
more sexually active with his victims and may become overly confident in his ability
to evade detection. I think the fact that he left this girl with even a fraction
of life left in her body, proves that theory.”

They walked up the hill to the squad car and the young
hitchhiker who had discovered the body was sitting in the back seat with the door
opened and he stepped out as they approached.

“Hey,” he said unsure of what to expect from them. “This
was some night. I never expected to ever be involved in anything like this.”

“We can understand your uneasiness. Tragedies like this
can be nerve shaking to the toughest of us. Are you holding up, Anne asked?”

“I’m fine, now.”

He realized Lon’s querying eyes were staring at him analyzing
his words for truth or lies and he decided against saying anything further that
might incriminate him.

After the two of them were satisfied he had answered
their questions on the why and how he happened to be in the area of the dead girl’s
body, they took down his personal information and released him. Lon watched him
as he walked away hoping they had not made a mistake by letting him go.

“You had better get home Lon,” Anne said. “Your family
thinks you’re still at a ball game.”

“Man, oh man, I forgot about Tad’s call. Come on, I’ll
drop you off at your car, and listen, I know from experience we can count on being
under the microscope tomorrow when news of tonight’s murder is spread all over the
papers. The big wigs will be looking for someone to sacrifice to the media.”

Lon left final instructions for the officer staying behind
protecting the scene and walked quietly to the squad car. The trip was relatively
quiet compared to their usual banter; instead each remained deep in their thoughts,
trying to make sense of the information they had gathered and where to go from there.

“If you take the next left, Lon, it’s a shortcut to where
you picked me up. Going against my ‘I know better’ side I’m going in and have a
nightcap before I turn in. I’d ask you to join me, but you need to get home and
spend some time in that bed of yours.”

“Hey why don’t you take a little extra time in the morning?
I’ll cover the early calls from the papers, etcetera, and that gives me first choice
on a doughnut.”

“Thanks for the offer partner, but it’s my day to drop
Tad off at school so I’ll be there on time. We know that my phone’s going to be
ringing “Dixie” most of the morning.”

Anne leaned over and pointed. “That’s my car over there
on the corner. You can let me out on this side and keep going up University to Broadway.
See you in the morning.”

“Right partner, tomorrow it is. Good job out there at
the scene. You were very observant with the ability to perceive using both your
senses and your mind.”

He smiled at Anne waiting for a smart response from her,
but she merely shook her head in disgust. He then reached over and grabbed her arm;
“Be very careful who you choose if you decide not to go home alone. Remember, he’s
out there on the loose looking.”

“Don’t worry. It’s one drink and this gal’s homeward
bound sober and alone.”

Lon noted that her favorite hangout was exactly as she
had described it—a typical neighborhood bar, with a corner entrance door, no windows
along the front, and a red flashing open sign. He watched to be sure she crossed
the street and was safely inside before he pulled away from the curb and started
his trip home with a mind racing with questions he had no answer for.

“Who is this guy?” he asked himself. He must appear harmless
to his victims. Probably a guy women are attracted to and everybody’s friend. He
is apparently aware of DNA criminology success rate and is careful to prevent any
from remaining at his crime scenes. He’ll make a mistake sooner or later, he thought.

Pulling into his driveway he turned off the engine and
decided it was time to forget the case and just enjoy the family waiting for him
to be home.

TERRIFIED TO THE
point
she was whimpering through the ever tightening tape across her mouth praying that
his compassion would appear and save her from the death she feared was minutes away.
She watched him closely as he opened the small leather case. He pulled out a small
stack of newspaper clippings and removed the paper clip binding them together. Then
pulling the chain on a small table lamp, he sat down and began separating the items
displaying them across the desk top.

“What is he reading at a time like this?” she wondered.

She continued to watch him as he stood up and turned
on the main light in the room and after looking at each piece of newspaper he placed
them back into the case.

He looked over at her and removed a sheet of paper containing
a handwritten list of methods used by the serial killer at each of the five published
murder scenes. His plan was to follow them in exact detail to try to link his wife’s
death to the serial killer. After carefully studying each step, he was satisfied
that he was ready and placed the list back into the case.

Marie continued watching his every move, using every
instinct to remain calm. She knew she needed to be ready to take advantage of whatever
opportunity was accorded her to save her life. She thought of her husband and wondered
if he had returned home ready to apologize after his angry blowup. She knew he would
note her absence and assume she was still at her meeting and simply sit and wait
for her.

Turning her attention back to the man, she remembered
how law enforcers always said to observe your attacker and look for anything unusual
about the man, like a mannerism, a tattoo, a piece of jewelry a strong scent or
memorize the tone of his voice to help identify them later. Marie refocused on the
man, but this time with a definite purpose.

A frightening chill went through her as she realized
she was analyzing the man that was in all reality preparing to murder her. She had
never gambled, but now she wondered; what would the odds be that on the first time
in her life she decided to take a chance on a wild night out she would communicate
and agree to meet with a serial killer. She who had asked her husband on several
occasions since the killings began, how could women be so stupid as to take up with
perfect strangers?

Her attention drifted back to the man standing nearby
with his back to her. She watched him check his watch, then turn and walk to the
window and open a small slit in the curtains apparently checking to see if anyone
was in view. She recognized a change in his movements from slow and deliberate to
quick steps and she feared his intentions were about to be made known to her.

He glanced over at her from the window and knew every
action from this point on was extremely critical for him. He turned and faced his
wife on the bed and said with a firm voice, not caring if she heard.

“Follow the plan and you will be home free with no possible
connection to you.”

Walking to her, he focused his attention directly on
her face. Her eyes were open wide and staring directly at him, but he recognized
that her facial expression had changed. The look of fear had been replaced by a
perplexed stare as if she was attempting to analyze him or determine his intentions.

“How strange,” he thought.

He looked away needing to concentrate to prevent from
being side-tracked by feelings of compassion for her or letting the fear of being
caught affect his actions. After one final look around, he walked to the desk and
said to his image in the mirror loudly in a voice meant to create fear in the woman
lying on the bed.

“It’s time Marie.”

He moved slowly to the bed removing the wig and the horned
rim glasses anxious to enjoy her feared reaction as he did so. Her eyes reflected
the fear and confusion that he desired before she rolled away from his rapid approach.
His plan was for her to see familiar traits in him and slowly step by step realize
his identity.

She watched his hands and recognized the gold ring her
husband had been presented for his service in the senate. But, how and when could
this man have obtained it?

LON STEPPED OUT
of the
car and going against his better sense walked to the mailbox at the end of the drive
and pulled out a small stack of envelopes.

“I’m sick of bills and junk mail,” he said loudly.

He looked around sheepishly to see if anyone was close
enough to have heard his outburst. Safe, he thought as he walked up the steps and
entered the front door. The aroma coming out of the kitchen was fabulous and immediately
his mouth began to water.

“Lucie, I’m Home,” he called. He felt someone staring
at him. He turned and there standing on the stairway in a sky blue negligee that
hid none of her womanly attributes stood his wife.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

He realized immediately the game she was playing, He
asked, “Have you seen my wife?”

“She left town for a few days.”

“Where is my son?”

“Your wife decided that he needed to spend the night
at his grandmother’s house.”

“I see, and what is your purpose for being in my house?”

“Your wife felt you needed someone to welcome you home
and comfort you while she was away.”

“She has always been very considerate that way. What
do I call you? It would not be a good thing to call you by the wrong name. I know
my wife wouldn’t appreciate that, so I’m sure you feel the same.”

With a very sexy saunter, never taking her eyes off him
she continued down the stairs and approached; stopping directly in front and placed
her hands on his shoulders.

“My name is of no concern to you at this time. I am here
to serve you as I was instructed. How can I best serve you, Master? I offer you
two choices; the first is a dinner and a bottle of white wine being chilled, or…”

The second choice was never offered as Lon reached out
and picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to the bedroom.

“Lon, what would your wife think about this?”

It was apparently a game they both needed to play. Their
love making was spontaneous and purely physical, absent of normal love making habits
they had established over the years and further enhanced by expressed fantasies
they hoped to carry out with each other.

Their dinner was eaten later and the chilled wine never
tasted better. Before falling asleep, they made love again and Lon asked, “How can
I ever repay my wife for this unbelievable night?”

“I’m sure she is aware of your gratitude Master,” was
her response.

ANNE, SITTING ALONE
at her favorite stop off spot was finishing her second gin and tonic when she heard
the familiar sound the front door made when opening and watched a man enter. As
he approached the bar his eyes fixed on her immediately.

“Here we go,” she said to Johnny the bar tender, rolling
her eyes and expecting him to walk over and sit next to her.

“What will his opening line be, Johnny? Can I buy you
a drink? What’s a nice girl like you, doing in a place like this? Or, hey good looking,
what are you doing here alone?”

Johnny just laughed and watched the man to see if her
prediction would come true.

To her surprise and somewhat disappointment he sat at
the far end and ordered a draught and paid little attention to her.

“Well, I guess he showed me,” she said to the grinning
Johnny as he drew a draught and walked it to the man at the end of the bar.

He lifted his beer and before taking a drink looked at
her and smiled. Catching her by surprise she smiled back. She tried not to appear
interested in him but noticed him surveying the room and paid no further attention
to her, which put her in a “what’s wrong with me” mode.

Coming to grips with her actions she realized she was
playing a dangerous game with a stranger and decided it was time to go home. He
could be the very one she was trying to put in jail and she was playing right into
his trap if he happened to be the killer. Placing a twenty dollar bill in front
of her, which more than covered her tab, she stepped down off the bar stool and
headed for the door.

“You okay to drive, Anne, the bar tender asked?”

“I’m fine Johnny, I don’t have far to go.”

“I’ll gladly drive you,” came from the man at the bar.

“Thanks, but no thanks. My mother told me to avoid strangers.”
Not that I would mind,
raced through her, I should know better. She had been
working so hard lately on the unsolved murders that her social life had suffered
badly.

Noting his rather rugged, but handsome face, she thought
why not?

“Maybe next time,” she replied.

“I’ll look forward to the next time, he replied.”

She smiled and found herself fighting the desire to stay;
she continued out of the bar. Outside she told herself, “Relax, you have to be more
careful. You’re a cop, and you’re acting like a typical victim that takes a chance
and winds up dead. Get yourself home.”