Worried eyes were fixed on Detective Travis.
‘Isiah Jackson was ten years older than Sarah; he was studying law at Yale University and one of their brightest alumni. But he put his life on hold when he found his sister dead. Only the week before Sarah’s death, he received a letter from his little sister saying that she wasn’t sure what to do with her friend, Mary Ann Leigh. She had become frightened of her. Sarah Jackson felt Mary Ann Leigh had become possessive by making plans for their future.’
Cecelia hid her mouth with her hand, the coincidence was frightening.
‘It’s getting to prove that Sarah, Isiah Jackson's sister was killed by Mary Ann Leigh. He knew it was never going to be easy, he wanted justice. He made it his life’s business to keep an eye on Mary Ann Leigh by tracing her around the country.’
‘She went to England to study acting at RADA.’
‘She went briefly to England, the Brits didn’t accept her, she wasn’t good enough. But it looked good on her c.v. She lived in L.A. when Isiah Jackson tracked her down. He needed proof that Mary Ann was his sister’s murderer. He was building quite a profile on her. He followed her from job to job. Jobs which included waitressing, billboard walker, money collector, she was also on a show with a lot of other young women as a hostess wearing a skimpy red dress. But she didn’t last long because she didn’t want to do the low work, she found it demeaning.’
It was hard to believe that the well-mannered Mary Ann did any of these things. It must have hurt her vanity immensely.
‘It was during this time when she was a game’s hostess that one of the women on the show went missing. She was going out with a man called David. David disappeared and two weeks later, Merrilee’s badly decomposed body was found. Merrilee’s suicide notes said that she thought she was pregnant which was why she killed herself. The poor girl was found hanging in a motel, but the bruising around her neck was inconsistent with the hanging. It still remains one of those unsolved crimes. Now all evidence points to Mary Ann as being her lover and murderer.’ Detective Travis shrugged; she had been through this evidence some fifty times before.
It was difficult to believe what Detective Travis was saying.
‘When Isiah Jackson heard you screaming, he banged on the door. He had seen lights go on then off, he imagined what was happening to you. He rang the station, and the rest is history.’
‘So, I’ve got Mr. Jackson to thank for my life?’
‘To a great extent, yes, but don’t forget, Cecelia, it was you who kept your head together. Mary Ann Leigh was certain that you were the one for her. We kept records of every moment she had with you. There were also tape recordings of the last minute of each of her victim’s deaths. She always got them to tell her that they loved her. It was important her victims told her they loved her; it was a part of her M.O. Once they had told her they loved her, Mary Ann was able to kill them satisfactorily.’
Cecelia had to know because she would carry this for the rest of her life. ‘Mary Ann recorded every one of them telling her they loved her?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did Phoebe tell her that she loved Mary Ann?’
‘Yes. It was what secured her death.’ Detective Travis watched Cecelia catch her breath. ‘I sooner you didn’t know, Cecelia.’
‘I’m glad that I killed Mary Ann now. I wish she had taken her longer to die—I wish I could have tortured her.’ Imagining how Phoebe died again brought fury and rage chased with guilt. Someone had to die, and these were the hands which had killed.
‘You did torture Mary Ann, Cecelia. She loved you and jealousy drove her to hatred. She had a passion for you like no one else,’ Travis smiled at the irony. ‘I believe that if you had become her lover, she would have stopped raping and murdering. Everyone she had tried to court turned against her which was why she killed them. She couldn’t stand to be rejected. Unfortunately, she never loved Phoebe; she killed her because of you. Mary Ann believed that you were having an affair with Phoebe…’
‘Me? Having an affair with Phoebe? She was my friend.’
‘Mary Ann was incapable of distinguishing a lover from a friend.’ Travis’s elbows lay on the table, fingers linked together. ‘You’ve got to get on with your life, Cecelia. Take a holiday from this—enjoy yourself and put this all behind you.’
Detective Travis watched Cecelia’s changing expression on her face. From bafflement to confusion and then to anger that all of what happened was pointless. It was so sad. There was nothing that could be done, but to pick up on one’s life and go forward.
But she will write this piece and write it honestly about the victims of the Alandra Slasher.
Other Books by Kate Mitchell
She Lies Beneath Book One – Beneath Trilogy
Beneath the Lies Book Two – Beneath Trilogy
Beneath the Conflict Book Three – Beneath Trilogy
Girl in the Middle - A Sinister Psychological Romantic Thriller…
A gripping story of conflict, lies, and deceit, with lots of twists…
Third Child – A Psychological Thriller… A Clara Tinder Thriller…
Angel – A Psychological Suspense Thriller
A story of sinister deception played out by two cunning women…
Tinker Tailor Conman – A Psychological Thriller…
Read this rollercoaster of a psychological thriller and find out.
Children of the Mask – A Psychological Crime Thriller…
Who can she trust when she doesn’t even trust herself? Read this thrilling book and take a peek inside the world of the mega-rich.
Sixth Victim Page 26