Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins (6 page)

RELIEVED THAT THE
identification
of Marie was over he felt pleased with his performance at the viewing and now it
was time to get back to being a senator. He walked into his office and was greeted
warmly by his staff.

“Hello Marge, look I’m not going to be around much today,
I’ve received some bad news.”

“I know Senator, I heard the news cast earlier; I’m really
sorry. How could this happen to such a sweet lady?”

“We will probably never know for sure, but the authorities
are working on it. It looks like that madman on the loose has struck again.”

“There are some messages on your desk, but nothing pressing
sir. Mail has been sparse lately, so there is nothing at this time you have to concern
yourself with.”

He entered his office looked through the mail, answered
important phone messages and walked back out to the front office.

“Well, I’m off Marge and I would appreciate it if you
did not call me unless it is a dire emergency; I need to spend some time alone and
pull my plans together.”

Driving out of the office parking lot he made a choice
and headed away from the city. Knowing he would be inundated with the press as the
story spread across the airways he decided to avoid the home site as long as possible.
Looking down at the speedometer, he realized he was driving way too fast and gently
slowed to the speed limit. He was totally at ease heading for the coast and Marie’s
favorite beach hangout.

“Stop it, he said; you have to stop thinking like that.
There is no longer a Marie’s favorite anything. She’s gone and you have to start
remembering that or you’re going to say something stupid to the wrong person.”

His curiosity directed him to drive by the Moonlight
Motel and as he passed, two Police officers were walking out of the motel office.
He assumed they were there closing the crime scene.

The trip to the coast found him filled with an inner
peace and complete confidence that all was working perfectly. This was the state
of mind he needed to maintain to prevent possible anxiety attacks and keep his nervousness
to a minimum. He was aware that he would be facing difficult days ahead fielding
tough questions from the two detectives and his inability to remain calm could generate
an angry outburst resulting in him making a misstatement that would heighten their
suspicions of him.

Now he could forget everything as he turned off the highway
onto the road to the peaceful spot he loved. He became instantly angered pounding
on the steering wheel and cursing when he saw a car parked in the spot he normally
used. His first thought was to turn around and leave. Then he caught himself and
reminded himself of the new demeanor he needed to project.

“Stay calm,” he said to himself and pulled in and parked
next to a small Thunderbird convertible. Following the path down to the beach, he
felt intruded upon and felt his anger rising. This was our favorite spot and he
did not want anyone else there.

“Stop it, there you go again. It’s not our favorite spot
anymore. It’s my favorite spot.”

He continued to try and overcome the ire he felt because
someone was about to infringe upon his opportunity to be alone. Taking a seat in
the sand, he stared out at the rolling surf.

“She should be here,” he said, as he picked up a handful
of sand and let it slide through his fingers. A barking dog broke his thoughts.

Looking toward the noise, he saw a woman walking along
the shoreline throwing something into the water and the dog swimming out and bringing
it back to her.

“I don’t like this,” as she walked steadily toward him
and finally close enough for him to see her face. She is very pretty, he noted and
her figure was petite, with lovely auburn hair. He felt his attitude toward her
changing.

She bent over and picked up her dog apparently to keep
him from running ahead and bothering him. She approached slowly and stopped in front
of him, smiled, and made small talk about the beauty of the sea and the night in
general.

He answered, but showed little interest in her obvious
attempt at cajoling him into conversation.

“I love this spot,” she offered, “I found it by accident.”

“It’s been my place to spend quiet time, especially at
sunset for a few years,” he responded coming out of his sullen mood.

“Have you been here for that time of day?” he continued.

“No, but now I plan to make it an entry on my must do
list. By the way, my name is Stephanie. I’m a newcomer to the Santa Barbara area
and taking advantage of the coast is a priority right now. How about you, what is
your relationship to the area?”

“My name is William, and I’m a native son to this state
and city. I come out here to escape the pressures of the city.”

“Well, it is nice to meet you, Bill.”

“William,” he quickly corrected her.

“Sorry,” she said and started to walk away.

“Wait Stephanie, I should apologize; I’m somewhat off
kilter with some personal problems. I prefer William to Bill, but I was rude to
correct you like that. If it is alright, I’ll walk to your car with you and your
dog and try to make a better impression.”

“Why not,” she responded.

Arriving at her car, she said, “Maybe I’ll see you at
a sunset some evening.”

“I’ll be here tonight and just about every night that
I’m in town.”

He studied her eyes closely waiting for her response
and felt an attraction to her.

“Well William, I may see you here tonight; come on Hobo,
get in the car.”

He watched her wave as she pulled out onto the highway
and then turned and walked back to the beach area smiling. He began fantasizing
about their potential meeting that evening.

“SO WHAT IN
your opinion,
Doc, is it serial guy’s work or someone pretending to be him?”

Marvin pulled his surgical mask down and wiped his brow.

“I’m sure that it’s the same guy, Lon. Now that I have
made you aware of that fact, I have to give you the bad news, that there was not
a trace of hair strands or fibers or fluids found on her body to help identify this
maniacs DNA. I wish I had something to help you stop this lunatic. I will help you
find him in any way I can. Do you have something special planned?”

Lon had no answer for him. They both stood there side-by-side
staring at the sheet covered body.

“This may sound strange Marvin, but I’d like to stay
with the body for a short time alone. I have learned or rather created the habit
of studying the situation in my mind as I view the victim and then I ask her a few
questions.”

Marvin glanced over at Anne, who by her expression was
also confused by this request, but agreed and he and Anne walked out of the room.

Lon lowered the sheet uncovering her face and stared
directly into her eyes.

“What is the story you need to tell me, Marie? Why did
you, a lady of society and high financial means feel the need to get involved with
this guy? Talk to me, Marie. Help me catch this guy.”

He stared at her and continued to ask her mental questions.

“I know the answer is in you, he said to her.”

“Talk to me Marie.”

He stood in a trance like state and was no longer observing
the woman’s body on the autopsy table, but was seeing her lying on the bed in the
motel room. The scene changed again and she was sitting at a computer next to the
bed. The computer image brought him back to the body on the autopsy table.

I understand now. She must have been communicating with
him via the net.

“Thank you Marie,” he said aloud, as he covered her face
with the sheet, “I need to spend some time with your computer.”

They all doubt my theory, but there is something beneficial
to talking to the deceased, he thought as he walked out to the main lobby to rejoin
the other two. Maybe it’s just being quiet and really putting your mind to work.
Whatever it is, it always seems to work. Anne looked at him as he walked out of
the autopsy room and was surprised that he was smiling.

“She helped me, partner. It works every time.”

She did not question his strange statement as she had
learned early on his sixth sense seemed very strong.

Anne was feeling mental drained after the autopsy and
a meeting with Lon and the Chief on the day’s findings. So, she headed for her favorite
hangout. With a day like they had just gone through, she felt she deserved a nice,
greasy meal and a dozen vodka tonics.

“How is my girl tonight?” greeted Anne as she stepped
inside the bar.

“I’m feeling old tonight Johnny, so set me up a vodka
tonic with another one beside it and a hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes
and drown it with gravy.”

“Sounds like you need your friendly bartender’s ear.
Sit down and I’ll get you your requested medicine.”

She looked around the room and noticed a scattering of
couples sitting at tables. An elderly gentleman sat at the far end of the bar. He
was heavily whiskered and was bent over the bar staring at a half empty glass of
beer. He appeared so sad and lonely.

“I don’t want to end up like that,” she thought. Spinning
around on the stool, she noticed a man sitting at a corner table. His face held
a diabolical stare that projected a look of evil.

“What are you thinking and what are your plans, she wanted
to ask him?” Spinning back around to the bar, she thought, “Why am I interested?”

“Hey, Anne, are you with me?”

She apologized and raised her glass and toasted Johnny
for a long life and sipped her drink.

“This is a perfect drink, my friend. Now I’m ready to
bare my soul to you.”

Johnny listened intently interrupted only by an occasional
refill request by a customer. She had grown very fond of Johnny. They had bonded
and became very good friends since she began frequenting his bar; besides
which, she enjoyed conversing with him.

Taking a sip of her second vodka tonic, she had the feeling
someone was staring at her. A quick glance to her left and she was looking into
the face of the man who had offered to drive her home on an earlier occasion.

“It’s nice to see you again, he said walking toward her.”
He raised his glass to her and sat on the stool next to her.

“Okay now that you’re sitting next to me, let’s put our
cards on the table. My name is Anne. I’m a detective on the Santa Barbara police
force. I’m single, but I’m not looking for a longtime relationship. I do not want
anything to do with a married man or an unmarried man with kids. If any one of those
describes you, there is nothing else to talk about.”

I have an ace in the hole, speaking of cards, Anne. I’m
not married nor do I want to be married. I have no kids, nor do I want to have kids.
The ace I referred to is the fact that I like strong women, and you seem to fit
that bill. Now, do you want to have a drink with me or are you going to sit there
and drink alone?”

Anne smiled and said, “Let’s sit at a table.”

When he did not sit down until she had taken a chair,
she thought “He’s not as tough as he pretends.”

“My name is Ryan, Terry Ryan to be exact. I’ve been coming
to this bar every night since I last saw you, hoping to run into you again.”

“Tonight, I thought was going to be my lucky day and
you proved it true with your not so angelic speech.”

Anne laughed politely at his attempted humor, but knew
they could become friends or maybe, more than friends. Time passed and several rounds
began to show their effect on Anne. She knew it was time to put a halt to the drinks
before her judgment became impaired.

“Johnny, I need that hot turkey sandwich now and I’ll
take it with me.”

“Anne, where is your home base? I’d like to follow you
and make sure you make it home all right.”

“I’ll be fine, Terry. I have done this many times and
I don’t live far away from here.”

They split the tab, less the turkey sandwich and walked
outside. He walked along with her offering little conversation as they walked to
her car. She turned to thank him, and he took her in his arms and kissed her. She
was totally caught off-guard and backed up awkwardly.

“What was that about?”

“It was something I needed to do after being with you
all evening. Sorry if I offended you, but I’m not sorry I kissed you.”

Anne stepped forward and kissed him, this time as the
pursuer.

“Now we’re even.” She turned and opened the door, slid
inside and was gone in an instant. He watched her disappear into the night.

“She is perfect,” he thought as he reentered the bar.

LON LAUGHED WHEN
he
saw Anne walking into the squad area the next morning.

“You don’t look so good partner! Did you experience one
of those four martini nights?”

“No, four vodka tonics and I’ll be fine with a little
bit of coffee and an overdose on head clearing pills. What’s on our agenda today?”

Lon laid out the plans most importantly the securing
of a search warrant for the senator’s home. “We’ll attempt to gain entrance with
the senator’s approval first to prevent overkill on proving his involvement. If
he does not agree then we’ll rely on the warrant and really do a radical search
of the residence.”

He smiled as he looked at his partner rubbing her temples
and took pity on her.

“Get your coffee and relax while I go over and talk to
the chief. I want his stamp of approval on every move we make concerning the honorable
William Bradford the third.”

After two cups of coffee, Anne was feeling better and
was ready to start the day when Lon returned. She stood to prove her steadiness
and they walked out with unnecessary taunting from Lon.

“I’ll drive, if it is all the same to you, partner? With
your lead foot and hangover, I would not be able to relax with your hands on the
wheel.”

He laughed, but Anne did not and entered the car and
leaned back on the head rest.

The drive was interrupted by frequent dispatch messages
over the radio and a personal call for Lon from Allie. They arrived at the senator’s
estate pushed the button and waited for the gate to open.

“Nice place. The senator is doing okay.”

Lon parked behind a small Mercedes and next to a mile
long Lincoln Town Car and they both seemed mesmerized and just sat taking in the
magnificence of the surrounding grounds.

“We can with certainty assume he hires a landscape company
because no one could keep this under control without help.”

Anne was the first to break the spell and stepped out
of the car. She looked up at the large brick structure dotted with numerous windows.
She was sure she saw a curtain open and close in a second floor window, but thought
nothing of it.

Lon called in their location to headquarters and then
they proceeded to the front entrance and were met by the senator immediately and
after a very pleasant greeting he invited them in. He could see the admiring glances
by the two detectives of his home and took it as an opportunity to delay their questioning.

“Look around if you would like; I’ll order iced tea to
be ready for us in the study.”

The senator’s study was an unbelievable example of what
money can do. A wall of books from ceiling to the floor set in a room of polished
walnut walls was almost impossible to comprehend. Next they walked across the hall
and entered the dining room, with a magnificent table highlighted by fresh flowers
in the center and twelve chairs around it.

“Dinner is served MY LORD,” Anne said in jest in an almost
inaudible voice. Lon disappointed her by not appreciating her attempt at humor.
He was totally locked in on the senator and his desire to prove his involvement
in the wife’s murder. They looked in one other small side room then headed back
to the study to locate their host and found him standing with his arm resting on
a leather arm chair.

“Senator, I’d like to go over the evening events one
more time. We have to be sure we understand your actions to be able to totally piece
together what took place. Take a seat and we’ll get this over with.”

The senator sat and seemed too calm, to Anne.

“It all started with a tiff between us. I had planned
a nice dinner and movie night out. I wanted to spend some time with Marie before
the next Senate session began. When I told her my intentions, she said that she
already had plans and she refused to change them. I became very angry and this is
where I went wrong, like a child who had his feelings hurt, I screamed at her and
then left in a fury of angry threats. If I could relive the incident, I would have
been a little more persuasive and slower to anger.”

“I needed to relieve the tension so I drove to the coast
to a spot that we designated as our special place. I sat on the beach, for some
two hours just watching and listening to the waves. They are hypnotizing, to say
the least and somehow make it easy to forget your problems.”

“Do you have any questions to this point?”

“Not yet, came from Lon.”

“I then drove back to the house and of course, Marie
was gone. I made myself a couple of drinks sat in a chair and waited for her return.
Around midnight I started getting tired and not wanting to give her the appearance
that I was overly concerned or apologetic I went to bed. You know how we men are,
detectives, we sometimes play games instead of being real.” He received no response
from Lon or Anne with his remark.

“I awoke after four o’clock and at four-thirty she had
not returned so I called the police to inquire of her possible report being involved
in an accident. I was told nothing had been reported to that point. I then reported
her missing. Later that morning, I drove to the station and you know the rest.”

“So, you didn’t stop anywhere like a gas station or for
coffee so someone could confirm your time line.”

“No lieutenant, I went directly to the shore and directly
back to this location.

“Okay Senator, thank you. I know this stuff is hard,
but we have a job to do. We would like to see the bedroom where she slept. We’d
also like to take possession of her personal computer.”

“I have no problem with any of that, detective. Marie’s
room is at the top of the stairway to the right and her laptop is on the stand next
to the bed. I would prefer to remain here while you search.”

They were amazed at the collection of family photos on
the wall as they climbed the stairway. They spent considerable time in the room
and found nothing of significance, so they picked up the computer and went back
down and thanked the Senator for his time. As they left Lon turned to him stating
that they may be back again and they departed.