Spoilt (20 page)

“
I’m sorry, Lucas but I don’t think I know him.”

“
That’s okay, babe. Um, there is one other thing.”

“
What is it?”

“
As much as I dislike hearing about you with Robinson, I need
to know what he did for a living.”

“
Oh, he was a law student and worked part time at a sports
store.”

“
He’s not a chef?”

“
Not when I was with him.”

“
Ok thanks, babe. I’ll see you tonight.”

“
I can’t wait.”

When Lucas returned to his desk, he updated Maggie.

“
I guess now we should divide up the victims’ families and
friends and ask them about Chad,” suggested Maggie.

“
Yeah, hopefully someone remembers him.”

“
We got lucky today with the bakery. Maybe we can get lucky
again.”

“
Let’s hope so, for Lindsay’s sake.”

They divided who was going where and they knew it would take
the rest of the afternoon to interview everyone, so they decided to
compare notes after the funeral the following day.

Chapter 21

Saying Goodbye

Monday

After going home to change and pack extra clothes, Lucas
eagerly drove to Chelsea’s. He chatted briefly at the door with
Officer Lewis who informed him there had been no-one suspicious
hanging around the house. Lucas asked him to be back early in the
morning and sent him home.

He enjoyed another Summerville family dinner with Charlotte
divulging all of Chelsea’s secrets, which in turn merely
strengthened Lucas’ already growing love. Charlotte also divulged
that Chelsea was in fact ticklish, just in a different place to him
and he vowed to obtain his revenge later that evening.

After dinner, they all curled up on the couch to enjoy a movie
from Chelsea’s collection. Until that very moment, Lucas had
forgotten how it felt to belong to a family and the warmth
comforted him. Listening to her unrestrained laughter evoked
thoughts of replicating it later when he carried out his tickling
revenge, which led to thoughts of what would follow. Concentrating
on the movie from this moment on became impossible as he waited
with impatience for it to end.

Later that night, as they lay in each other’s arms, Chelsea
broke their contented peace. “Did you get anywhere
today?”

“
You had to ask, didn’t you?”

She nodded and remained quiet.

“
Kate Miller’s sister, Amy, recognised Chad’s name. Kate
mentioned him once in passing after she’d met him in the café. It
doesn’t actually lead us anywhere as we still don’t know where he
lives. We could be totally off and looking in the wrong direction.
We’ll see what happens when we go and see him on Wednesday. Anyway
enough about that,” he said lifting her chin so he could look into
her eyes. “I believe a just punishment is required for bringing up
work and breaking the moment.” He picked up one of her legs with a
devilish look in his eye.

“
You wouldn’t.”

“
It’s only fair. You tormented me this morning.” He lightly
brushed behind her knee until she was writhing with uncontrollable
laughter. He took pity on her and let her go. She exacted her
revenge immediately.

“
You’re unbalancing the scales, beautiful. I believe a severe
punishment is coming your way.”

Sadness abruptly entered her eyes and tears welled up,
threatening to spill over.

“
Honey, why are you crying? Did I hurt you? I’m
sorry.”

“
It isn’t you, Lucas.
Elle used to tickle me whenever she wanted info
from me. She was amazingly strong for a girl and I was always
helpless against her.” She smiled weakly. “The memory reminded me
of tomorrow. It’s a good memory, one of many I’ll always cherish,
but it made me sad. I don’t want to say goodbye, Lucas. I barely
said hello. I miss her so much.” The threatened tears now streamed
down her face.

He pulled her close and stroked her hair until her tears
subsided. “Are you going to be ok tomorrow?”

“
I have to be. Megan, Elle’s sister, was here today and my
mum helped her pack up Elle’s things. It hit me today I’ll never
see her again. She was a sweet, beautiful friend and had so much to
look forward to. She was only twenty-four years old, Lucas. I just
don’t understand,” she said. Then she stopped, realising the misery
she felt was nothing compared to what he had suffered. “Are you
going to be ok? You don’t have to come, if you don’t want, if it’s
too hard.”

“
Funerals are hard for everyone and I know how important it is
to have support from people who care about you. I want to be that
person for you.”

“
Thanks,” she whispered and kissed him tenderly. The only
thing she wanted to think about tonight was how good it felt to be
in his arms.

* * *

Her chest rose and fell in the rhythmic breathing of
slumber as she lay snuggled against him. Lucas buried his face in
her hair to take in her intoxicating aroma as she lay spooned
against his body. His heart lurched when she began to make tiny
moans as though she was dreaming something pleasant.

He believed she had finally and unexpectedly healed the last
of his wounds and repaired the heart he thought had been broken for
good. There was little chance of turning back now as he was totally
and unconditionally in love with her. The thought of losing her
terrified him and, in the past, he would have walked away long
before this moment, but there was no running away from Chelsea, not
now.

The feelings she evoked in him were ones he’d never come close
to experiencing before. Loving and protecting her had become his
sole priority in life, his only purpose. Shielding his fragile
heart was no longer an option because it belonged to her and for
the first time in thirteen years was whole again. Contentment
filled his soul as he drifted off to sleep and the last thought
that ran through his mind was that since meeting her his nightmares
had gone and, he believed, this time for good.

* * *

When
Lucas’ phone rang and woke them, they looked at each other
and then the clock, and realised that at this early hour it could
only be bad news. When Chelsea saw the expression on Lucas’ face,
she knew he didn’t liked what he’d heard. Lindsay Anderson was
probably dead. He finished his call and looked at her. She took one
of his strong, lean hands in hers to offer her support.

“
I may be a little late for the funeral but I promise I’ll be
there as soon as I can.”

“
Is it … is she?” She really didn’t want to know.

“
Yes, someone just found a girl who we assume to be
Lindsay.”

“
I’m so sorry, Lucas.”

He shrugged. Lucas didn’t want Chelsea to know exactly how
worried he was. They’d done everything they could to find the
monster killing these beautiful young girls but it wasn’t enough
and frustration tore through him. He dragged himself out of bed and
attempted to wash away the visions swirling around in his mind with
a refreshing shower, without reward. After he dressed, he kissed
Chelsea goodbye and, with a grim face, braced himself for the task
ahead - another brutalised body.

Chelsea went downstairs. Sarah and Charlotte were both up –
the latter not totally awake. They’d heard Lucas leave and were
concerned.

“
Someone found a body which will probably be Lindsay
Anderson,” she said.

“
Oh how awful,” Sarah said quietly.

“
I don’t know how much more of this he can take.”

She told them about Lucas’ parents and how seeing these
victims brought back memories he didn’t want to
remember.

“
That explains the tough guy act,” Charlotte mumbled, still
half asleep.

“
Yeah but the Lucas I know is doing it tough,” she
said.

Chapter 22

Lindsay

Tuesday

Thoughts swirled through Lucas’ mind as he sat in his car at
the scene, waiting for Maggie to arrive. How much longer was this
going to go on? Was Chelsea a target? To even allow the thought to
enter his mind was driving him crazy. It would be too much for his
heart to endure if anything were to happen to her.

When Maggie pulled up, he jumped out of his car and they
walked towards the back of the warehouse, to the now all too
familiar scene. She had been brutalised and discarded identically
to the others before her, and the ID confirmed what they’d already
assumed.

Once they’d given the unpleasant news to Lindsay’s mother,
Lucas told Maggie he was going to Elle’s funeral.

She decided to join him.

* * *

The service was moments away from starting. Chelsea and her
family were just about to go in and take their seats in the small,
quaint chapel when Lucas and Maggie arrived.

“
I’m glad you’re here,” she said, hugging him
tightly.

“
You need me, I’m here.”

He tried to ignore his rapid beating heart and the lump lodged
in his throat. Lucas took her hand once they were seated and
wrapped his other arm around her. Glancing around the room and
seeing people in various stages of grief sent his already thudding
heart into a flurry. He nodded at Maggie who stood at the back of
the chapel surveying the mourners. Was the killer there, sitting
amongst the family and friends of the girl he mutilated? Could they
be that lucky?

Sarah sat beside Chelsea, a comforting hand on her leg while
Charlotte’s arm went across their mother’s lap to hold her
hand.

The service began and each person took the podium to speak
about Elle’s short life. Their faces transformed into the ones who
had stood and spoken about his parents. He was there again, the
pain acute as he remembered his sister crying beside him, clutching
his arm as he’d sat rigid, waiting for it to be over. Although he
was aware he should be thinking of Chelsea, his selfish heart and
haunting memories refused to allow this to happen.

As though sensing his unease, Chelsea squeezed his hand and
guilt became the paramount emotion. He felt weak for allowing his
feelings to come before hers. Her compassion for him only
exaggerated it further. Disgusted with himself, he drew her close
and kissed the top of her head and hoped he was providing her with
enough. How, after all these years, could this still affect him and
so much? Guilt continued to overwhelm him even after they’d left
the chapel.

“
Are you going to be alright?” he asked after the
service.

“
Yes, go to work; find the monster who took my friend away.
I have Mum and Charlotte with me
.
I’ll be fine.”

“
I’ll come by later but it might not be until
late.”

“
I’ll be waiting.” She kissed him before heading to the car
with her family.

* * *

Lindsay was moved on the whiteboard from missing to
deceased and they noted down the location where she’d been found.
There appeared to be no set pattern to the dump sites. They were
spread out all over the city. Whilst the girls who were similar to
each other were all left behind warehouses, Elle was found behind a
shop close to home and they speculated on the relevance of
this.

“
Wait a minute,” Lucas exclaimed. “Where Elle was dumped is
significant, as is her difference in appearance. I think it’s his
way of telling us Chelsea really is the target, to mock us again,
like the IDs. The scene was right around the corner from their
house. He left Elle there to send a message, to show once again he
thinks he’s smarter than us. We were right. I’m glad we have
someone on Chelsea’s house.”

“
You could be onto something, Lucas. The other girls weren’t
left near where they lived or nor near where Chelsea lives.
Everything about Elle’s murder is different yet it is connected to
Chelsea, just like the other girls who resemble her.”

“
He seems to know Chelsea’s movements, which suggests he’s
either following her or lives close by.”

As they continued to discuss possible places to canvas, one of
the lab techs brought the DNA results for Matthews and handed them
to Maggie.

She looked over the results and glanced up to see Lucas
staring at her impatiently, waiting for the verdict.

“
No match.”

“
I hoped it would be but my gut told me it
wouldn’t.”

“
We now have to consider looking closer at this Chad guy when
we go and see him tomorrow. He seems to be all we have
left.”

“
Let’s hope it’s that easy and he’s our man. There’s still
Wesley Robinson too. We’re waiting on his file.”

“
I’ll head over to the café again and see if anybody recalls
seeing this Chad guy. I wish we had a picture of him.”

“
While you do that I’ll stay here and go through the notes
Peterson and Stewart wrote up regarding their canvassing and the
results from the hotline calls.”

Maggie left and Lucas pulled out the file containing the notes
taken by the other two detectives over the weekend. Scanning
through the document he noticed a trend amongst Chelsea’s
neighbours. No-one saw anything the weekend Elle disappeared. They
were all devastated that someone in their street had been kidnapped
and murdered and most were disappointed they didn’t have any
information. No-one noticed a blond man living close by who
appeared strange or kept to himself. It was amazing how little
people noticed about their surroundings and the people they lived
close to.