Dr. Wright paused having difficulty finding the exact words. It’s all a lie. It was me who escaped; not freed. She took a deep breath. Everyone sensed the tension and painful memories that engulfed her.
“Excuse me, I need a moment.” She left the podium, sat and reflected.
***
“Red, please don’t hurt him!” Liz, age twelve, lunged for the drill in his hand as he leaned over Dennis, a Caucasian Catholic priest about forty-three.
Encased in a dirty and worn blood stained straight-jacket on the stainless steel restaurant preparation table and restrained by cinch straps and chains across his shoulders, waist, mid-thighs and ankles, Dennis pleaded for mercy. “Please, don’t do this.”
Red secured Dennis’ head between two metal plates on each side of his face and tightened them to keep him still. He picked up the priest’s robe and shook it at is captive. “Did this mean anything to you? You’re a man of the cloth. You made a sacred vow. I’m sure that vow didn’t include molesting your flock.”
“Red, please stop.” Liz jerked the robe out of his hands.
“Liz, get back and sit down.” Red’s tone admonished her. His brows merged into a savage line. “Learn how to do this. You’ll soon enjoy every moment of their last breath.”
“I’ll never be like you, Red.” Tears fell as she remembered why she called him Red. He insisted she addressed him by his first name because he hated the name Daddy. He preferred the crimson poetic name his parents gave him at birth.
“Red, please. Please, stop.” Liz pleaded through her tears.
Red stormed Liz and backhanded her across the face and busted her lip when his Masonic insignia ring made contact.
Dennis tried to free himself from the restraints. “Let the girl go. Kill me if you must. Please let her go free. She’s only a child.”
“It looks like Dennis wants to die in your place sweetie. He must be a family man. I’ll make you a deal. If you don’t scream, I won’t kill the girl.”
“Red don’t. Let him go.”
Red put the priest’s black robe over his head. “How do I look Dennis? Did you wear this robe to feel powerful? I feel powerful. Thank you, Dennis. You will suffer for your sins against boys.”
“I’m begging you to let him go.” Liz pounded her fists against Red’s back.
“Lizzie, have I ever let any of them go?” He leaned in close to Dennis’ face. “I never let any of you live.” His warm breath poured over his victim’s face as Dennis’ eyes blinked rapidly full of fear.
“Why are you doing this?” For the first time Dennis sensed the fear of the boys he abused; almost remorseful for his sins.
“Because you’ve been a bad boy. Did you honestly think you would get away with fucking choir boys? Oh, you fucked the wrong one. You see, your last one was my nephew.” Red secured a two inch round drill bit into the power drill and lowered it about a quarter of an inch to Dennis’ forehead. “Remember, if you don’t scream, the girl lives. Oh, would you like to say a confessional?”
“Run!” Dennis inhaled another deep breath and darted his eyes toward Liz. “Run as fast as you can.”
“I think in your position I might have asked for forgiveness. Then again, I’m not you.”
“You’ll pay for your sins in Hell.” Dennis’ eyes focused toward heaven.
Red powered and lowered the drill onto the center of Dennis’ forehead. Blood splattered throughout the torture chamber as the drill bore down into Dennis’ skull.
Liz covered her eyes as brain matter splashed on her face.
As promised, Dennis didn’t make a sound. Red continued to drill Dennis’ forehead until he broke through the frontal lobe. He powered off the drill and looked over at Liz. “Bring me a glass eye.”
Liz, covered in blood, flowed a flood of tears. She dragged her feet to the book shelf and surveyed the dozen quart labeled Mason jars displayed as if on a grocery shelf and assorted by the color of the glass eyes which filled each one. “What color?” She sniffed.
“Brown.”
Red used a pair of tweezers and pulled the skull plug he created from the center of his two hundred and thirty-sixth victim’s forehead. “Hurry, I don’t have all day.”
Liz opened the jar, dug in it until she found the shade of brown close to Dennis’ eyes and brought it to Red. As Red jammed the glass eye into the empty cavity, Liz grabbed a sledge hammer, swung it as hard as she could, struck him on his skull and knocked Red unconscious. She dropped her weapon and sprinted until she reached River Road. Her arms waved to flag down a police officer on patrol.
***
Dr. Wright took a deep breath and returned to the podium. “I apologize for the delay. No matter how much you think you’re prepared to talk about your experiences, it’s more difficult than you realize. Please remember this as you study to become a psychologist.”
A slight murmur in the crowd filled the hall. A dozen or more hands raised.
Professor Faust stepped forward. “Hold your questions until Dr. Wright finishes. Please continue, Liz.”
“If you read up on Lettenberg, he is on death row in Angola. He has received seventeen execution stays because every year he reveals a location to the burial site of one more victim. As for the young girl, they placed her in the witness protection program and given a new identity.”
Blaze bounced in her seat. “Do you have any contact with her? Do you know her identity?”
“No, I do not. That’s impossible as Lettenberg is still alive.”
“Do you want too?” Roth propped his arm onto the back of his seat.
“Of course, I do.”
Mag creased her brow. “I’m confused. What does this have to do with your near death experience?”
Liz took another sip of water as those in the audience remained focused on her lecture.
“I’ll make the connection for you. Lettenberg tortured his victims for several days before his mercy killing. He would suffocate his victims. He enjoyed watching them die as the air depleted from their lungs. When they died, he used a defibrillator and brought them back to life. He asked them to provide him details of what they witnessed and always asked them if they saw Jesus or a bright light.”
Blaze couldn’t contain her emotions. “Is this for real?”
“Blaze Angela. Refrain from interrupting Dr. Wright.” Professor Faust’s scolding remark embarrassed her.
“Geez, I’m just trying to get the facts.”
“Please continue, Dr. Wright.” Professor Faust glared at Blaze.
“Lettenberg used his camcorder to film the moment of his victim’s death and what they described when he brought them back to life. Once I became a forensic psychologist, I gained access to those tapes and studied them.” Liz knew the dark lie she told because she was there. “I listened to their every word. Soon, I believed these victims saw Jesus; or, what they thought was God.”
Blaze stood. “So, you’re telling us there is a God?”
“Blaze, no more interruptions.” Professor Faust pursed his lips.
“It’s fine, Professor. It looks like she’s captivated by my story. I got this.” Liz looked back at Blaze. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Blaze Angela.”
“Well Blaze. I appreciate your interest but do the rest of the class a favor and hold your questions to the end. I think your answers will come.”
Blaze nodded her head in confirmation.
“What I am telling you is what I researched from Lettenberg’s cases; and since then, what I experienced as an adult when I died and brought back to life.”
“You mean he killed you too?” Blaze’s jaw dropped.
The entire class erupted. “Shut up!”
Blaze placed her hand over her mouth. “I can’t help it.”
“To answer Blaze’s question. Not at all. However, I’ll tell you what I saw.”
Blaze interrupted her once again. “How did you die for Pete’s sake?”
Professor Faust leered toward
Blaze as he took in her question fed up to the gills with her blurts. “Blaze! Dr. Wright, please continue.” His exasperation flared in his cheeks.
“It was March twenty-seventh, two thousand fifty-three when I was in a head on collision. The FBI assigned me to the task force in charge of capturing Milo Evans, the Co-Ed serial killer partnering me with FBI Special Agent Harold Billings. It misted that day. We were in pursuit of Evans when a car driven by Isaac Smith pulled out in front of us. We crashed into an electrical pole and knocked down the powerline. Although I was wearing a seatbelt, the impact ejected me toward the dashboard as the crash bag deployed. Suddenly, I saw a blue pulsating light followed by a golden shimmering vortex swirling around me. It transported me to another place. It was a beautiful place. A warm and welcoming place. It was surreal as I viewed my mangled body below as the glass from the windshield shattered in slow motion upward toward me. I looked around. Everything jerked as if caught on a freeze frame camera. The warm radiant blue light surrounded me. Frankly, I wanted to stay. It was as if I had crossed over into a different dimension and witnessed an unusual welcoming universe.”
Blaze scooted to the edge of her seat. She placed her hand over her mouth and anxiously wiggled in her chair.
“A fourth dimension I believe is the term Stephen Hawking applied to this phenomenon. The impact ejected Agent Billings from the vehicle. I watched him die below me as I floated above the wreck site. I could hear the sirens and voices around me. Lots of voices. The strongest voice I heard was from a woman who kept repeating ‘I’m alive. I am here.’ Honestly, I couldn’t tell where the voices were coming from except that one woman. I couldn’t see her or anyone else. I wasn’t there that long, not even a minute before a jolt of electricity forced me back into my body. Everything turned black. The next thing I remembered was opening my eyes in the hospital with FBI Agent Locklear standing over me. She told me I had flatlined. I had also been in a coma for eight days. For the first time, I realized what Lettenberg’s victims experienced at his evil will and what they described during their near death experiences were actual events.
Blaze raised her hand.
“Blaze last question.” Professor Faust scowled toward her.
“Are you afraid to die, again?”
“No, I’m not. It was a beautiful warm and peaceful place I’m not afraid to go back when God decides it’s my time to die. Thank you for your attention. If you have questions, I can stay for a minute.”
Loud applause boomed throughout the room as Dr. Wright received another standing ovation.
Professor Faust went to Dr. Wright and shook her hand.
The students filed out of the classroom.
Blaze remained seated.
Mag tapped Blaze’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go.”
Jenni gathered her belongings. “We’re going to Perks to study for our English exam. Shakespeare here we come.”
“I can’t leave now. I have more questions.”
Roth stood and stretched. “I’ll bring her.”
“Ya’ll go. We’ll meet you at Perks.”
Mag darted her eyes between Blaze and Roth. “Have it your way.” She and Jenni left.
“Thanks, Roth. You’re one of the sweetest guys I know.”
“No problem. Now go ask your question. I’ll wait right here.”
Blaze power walked onto the stage. “Excuse me Dr. Wright. Do you have a second for a question?”
“Sure, I’ll be glad too?”
“Well then, you two, I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Professor Faust shook Dr. Wright’s hand. “Thanks again for speaking today. Let’s have dinner soon.”
“It’s a date.”
Professor Faust left the stage.
“Now Blaze, what is your final question?”
“What do you mean about the fourth dimension? I thought it was a conspiracy theory.”
“Looking back on Stephen Hawking’s M-Theory, he believed it was possible to not only see several dimensions; but also, one day travel there. According to his theory, light or more specifically laser light, holds the potential to allow us to cross planes. He also believed there are eleven dimensions in our universe. Why the question?”
“My dad is Dr. Garrick Angela.”
“The Dr. Angela from Dimension Global?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I grew up listening to him talk about the fourth dimension and watching his determination to find a way to reach it. He believes my mother is in there somewhere. I thought it was a bunch of hogwash. Now you’ve piqued my interest. I want to learn more.”
“If you’re interested in the topic, check out Hawking’s books from the library. I recommend A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes and his book The Grand Design that covers M-Theory. They aren’t light reading but are worth reading for such an inquisitive student as yourself.”
***
“Dr. Langford, you realize what this means don’t you?” Dr. Angela grabbed the inventory spreadsheet and glanced at the research subject’s identification numbers.
“Of course, I do. There’s only one explanation to explain why one sample you requested vanished.”
“And you’re positive you haven’t misplaced it? It has been twenty-six years.” There was a misgiving tone to Dr. Angela’s inflection.
“You pay me extremely well not to lose research samples.”
“This confirms that Project Dimension worked five years ago when we sent Livia Raymond to the fourth dimension. When she vanished, everything about her vanished. Even her DNA sample. Amazing discovery.”
“I think more fear-provoking is the word I’m searching for.”
“The looming question remains. Why did it work before and fails now?”
“That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?”
“Keep researching. Review every protocol used on the Raymond girl. Search weather patterns of that day. Tell me the pollen count. What was the barometric pressure? Were there any UFO sightings? Any goddamn thing you can uncover.”
***
Milo searched every cubby hole in the Angela limousine. You’d think he’d have peanuts or at least Tic Tacs. He found a pack of Juicy Fruit gum, unwrapped a piece and chewed it throwing the wrapper to the floorboard.
As Dr. Angela approached his limousine, the chauffeur who leaned against the front of the car hurried onto the passenger door. “I hope your visit was as productive as you intended.”
Dr. Angela’s face hardened. “Save the chit chat.”
“Yes, sir.” The chauffeur took Dr. Angela’s briefcase and opened the door.
Dr. Angela stepped in and sat. “Son of a bitch. I wasn’t expecting you.”
The limousine door slammed.
Milo smacked the gum. “What? I’m surprised. I was on the river for life. You’re the one that busted me out. Where did you think I’d go?”
“Anywhere but here you damn fool. Are you asking to get caught?”
“I need money to keep my distance and get tucked in somewhere.”
“Agreed.” Dr. Angela pulled out his wallet and handed Milo a stack of bills. “This should hold you until I arrange something better.”
“What is so damn important that you need my services?”
“I need you to find my daughter’s charm bracelet.”
“A bracelet! You broke me out of the slammer for a fucking bracelet?”
“It’s not valuable because of the gold. One charm holds the code to Project Dimension. I placed a chip inside years ago for safekeeping. Now, I need it back.”
“You’re her father, ask her for it.”
“I’ve tried. She says a link broke; so, she put it in the jewelry shop for repair. She’s lying. Find the bracelet. When you do there is three million dollars waiting for you.”
“Consider it done. I want to return to Germany. I’ve outgrown New Orleans.”
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2058
chapter 22
EpSos.de
Peterson and D
ebra sat at the conference table in Hammer and Snead Private Investigations. A pitcher of water and six glasses occupied the center of the conference table. Debra sipped from a bottle of cranberry juice.
Peterson cleared his throat. “Where’s Matthew? My patience with him is running thin.”
“I think he had an errand to run.”
“Errand my ass. He’s chasing a ghost that doesn’t exist.”
“Not our problem, Peterson.”
“It is when it affects our jobs.”
“You need to relax and get laid.”
“How’s your man toy?”
“What makes you think I’m seeing anyone?”
“By the smile on your face and the fact you’re drinking cranberry juice.”
“He’s no toy. He’s authentic, strong, handsome, sexy and wealthy. He’s the ideal man. The marrying kind.”
“Is somebody falling in love?” Peterson found fun in teasing his colleague.
“Let’s say, it’s none of your business.”
Mr. Snead, an overweight elderly man wearing a homburg hat entered the conference room. “Where’s Matthew?” His bayou boy drawl reeked Cajun. “Damn that boy. He knows better than to be late.”
Mr. Hammer shuffled into the bullpen propped by his cane. “I guess I owe you a hundred bucks. You bet me he’d be late.”
“Split it fifty-fifty between these two youngins. Then find out where that boy went. We have important business to discuss.”
Debra glanced at Mr. Snead. “Sir, it’s rare that you make an appearance and I think it’s rude of Matthew not to show. Will you tell us what you came to share? We can fill him in on the details.”
“Suppose I could. Changes are going to happen around here. Now I’m retired, and Hammer is on his way out, somebody has to run this firm. I’ll be deciding that in the next couple of days.”
***
Matthew stormed into the records department at New Orleans City Hall. Why haven’t I thought to come here before? He waited for the older African American woman to look up from her computer as he drummed his fingers on the counter and shifted his weight. “Excuse me miss. I need to get a printed copy of a birth certificate from twenty thirty-three.”
The Keystroke Killer Page 22