She looked at the other walls and notice several other blank spaces that proved pictures once hung.
***
Matthew wore faded jeans and a muscle shirt. He ambled into his kitchen.
Kelly looked at Matthew. “I have to admit, you wear barefoot and faded jeans well.” Her outfit resembled June Cleaver’s. The fifty-style black, white, yellow and red polka dot dress, her yellow pumps and her white crisp apron tied to perfection in the back in a bow portrayed perfection to detail.
Matthew blushed in a rather boyish way. “I thought you had an event this evening?”
“I did. I showed my face and left. I wasn’t having fun and wanted to be with you. I hope you like quesadillas with strip steak. Mexican food isn’t my forte. The next meal I prepare, I promise to make my manicotti.”
Matthew’s grumbling stomach communicated his desperate need to eat. “They smell and look delicious. I’m so hungry I could eat the whole cow.”
“I’m not cooking the entire cow. I do like the way you think though.”
“Thank you for taking my mind off Anna. I needed this.”
“You need to relax and forget about things. So, young man, you’re not allowed to think about her or your work for the rest of the night. They will be there tomorrow waiting on you.”
“Okay, you win. No thinking about you know who and you know what.”
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Matthew looked puzzled because he wasn’t expecting anyone. “I’ll get rid of them.” He strode to the door and opened it. “What a surprise. I thought they deployed you or doing something with the terrorist threat looming over our heads. Come on in James.”
The two hugged bromance style after James entered.
“I came bearing gifts. It’s Cinco De Mayo.” James headed straight for the kitchen and bumped into Kelly. “Whoa!” His eyes widened. “I can see why Matthew has been keeping you a secret. I wouldn’t want to share you either.”
“It’s not what you think.” Matthew crossed his arms over his chest.
“Oh, no. It’s exactly what I think. You go guy. She’s amazing. No wonder you’ve been avoiding me. I get it.”
Kelly batted her lashes aimed at Matthew. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“I’m sorry. This is James. James, this is Kelly.”
She extended the backside of her hand and expected James to kiss it like a gentleman. He took her hand and kissed it. “The pleasure is mine. What’s a girl like you doing with a man like that?”
Kelly gazed at Matthew’s muscular body. “Let’s say, he has something I never could resist that attracted me.”
“I’m clueless. What would that be?”
Beads of sweat formed on Matthew’s brow. “Nothing James. Drop it.”
“You’re a little possessive there Matthew. Is there something going on you don’t want me to know?”
Kelly teased James by her sensual gradual movement toward him, so he could get a whiff of her exotic perfume. “Let’s say there’s always more to something or someone than what the surface reveals. You know the saying, you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
“No matter what, I like the cover to your book.” James lifted his eyebrows, winked at Kelly and sniffed the exotic aroma. Damn she smells good. “Tell me about yourself.”
“Are you hungry? I’ve made plenty.”
Matthew’s cell phone vibrated. He read the text and sighed.
***
The Sweet Melissa, underway on the smooth water of Lake Pontchartrain headed for the rose-gold sunset. Dr. Franklin assisted Debra at the nautical wheel as he stood behind her with his arms wrapped draped around her delicate waist. He loved the way Debra’s body felt against his as he gave her a kiss on her neck. “It’s a gorgeous evening for a sunset cruise.” Dr. Franklin turned the captain’s wheel as he pressed his body against hers.
Debra blushed and grinned with curiosity. “Where are we heading?”
“You’re the one at the helm.”
“Seriously, where are we heading? You’re the one who turned the wheel.”
“I have a special dinner planned tonight, quick and easy. However, we have to eat it in the bed.”
“Now that sounds intriguing.”
“Any particular reason?”
“I think because you had me at the word bed. You plan on dropping anchor soon?”
“I want to go far enough where nobody can find us for complete privacy.”
“I’m a little chilled. I’m going below to grab my wrap. Be back up in a few. Take the wheel.” Debra scooted beneath his arms and headed below.
“When you return, bring a bottle of red wine and two glasses. It’s lady’s choice.”
“I’m on it.” Debra left for the main cabin below.
“Deedra, play the song by Kool and the Gang called Its Ladies Night.”
***
Debra opened the master bedroom closet and retrieved her black cashmere sweater. She reached for a box of syringes tucked away on the top shelf but stopped as she glanced at a medicine vial. It’s none of my business. He’s probably diabetic and doesn’t want me to know. She closed the door.
***
Mag carried a trash bag over her shoulder and headed for the front door. “This is the last bag. We’ll take it out on our way.”
“Thanks for helping to clean my apartment. I feel blessed.”
Jenni wiped her hands on her jeans. “What are friends for? That’s the least we could do for you hosting such a great party.”
“That’s what I do, party central. Call me tomorrow. Both of you.”
“Will do.” Mag grabbed her purse. “Let’s fly Jenni.”
“See you tomorrow Blaze.” Jenni hugged her.
Blaze shut the door and looked around. I’m exhausted.
She collapsed onto her couch, grabbed her cell phone and thumbed through the pictures of the party. Damn it, Lorenzo.
Meow Mix jumped onto her lap and made baby kitty biscuits. Her purr comforted and relaxed Blaze as she stroked the cat’s back. “Deedra, call Lorenzo.”
“The call is connected.”
“You reached Lorenzo. I’ll call you back. Leave a message.”
“Hi Lorenzo. It’s me, Blaze. I guess you know that. Where the hell are you? You didn’t make my party. I’m getting worried about you. Please call me back.”
Tiger Lily scurried out of the bedroom squeaking like a squirrel. “Okay, I hear you. You both are probably hungry.” She made her way to the bar, grabbed the cat food from the lower cabinet and filled each cat bowl. “I've been partying all day and left you two to fend for yourselves. Turn me over to the S.P.C.A. already.” She placed the cat bowls onto the floor where both cats waited as they flicked their tails.
A sudden knock sent Blaze scurrying to the door. “Yea! It’s Lorenzo.” She opened it immediately without peeping to see who it was. “You’re not Lorenzo.” Blaze stepped backward.
Milo disguised in a black business suit, a very expensive hair piece and black-rimmed glasses winked at Blaze. “No, I’m not.” His homeland German accent was perfect. “But, whoever he is, he’s one lucky man.”
“I’m not buying anything, and I don’t talk to Jehovah Witnesses.” She pushed to close the door. Milo slid his foot next to the door jamb and blocked it.
“I’m Ralph Morales, your neighbor down the hall. This may sound cliché, but do you have any ketchup I can borrow? I can’t eat fries without ketchup.”
“You can take your foot away. Wait here. I’ll go get it.” She stepped to the kitchen and looked inside the refrigerator.
From the door, Milo watched her. “Thank you very much.”
“Did she recognize you?” Milo secured his com linked to Judas’.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” Blaze grabbed the ketchup from the pantry.
“I was talking to one of your cats. It was about to get out.”
Blaze grasped the ketchup bottle and raced back to
the door. She handed it to him. “Keep it. I have two. Thanks for stopping my cat.”
“Enjoy the rest of your night and be safe. By the way, you shouldn’t open your door to strangers.”
Blaze shut the door. That was weird. Nausea controlled her next move. She fumbled for her phone and called Jenni. It seemed like it took her forever to answer.
“What is it Blaze? We just left you.”
“Jenni, I’m kinda scared.”
“It’s Lorenzo, isn’t it?”
“No. My neighbor asked for a bottle of ketchup for his fries. I’ve never seen him before.”
“Did he say or do anything that scared you?”
“I don’t like him. He made my skin prickle.”
“Get real. I can’t eat fries without ketchup either.”
“What if he’s the Sorority serial killer?”
“If he was a serial killer, you’d be dead by now. So, relax.”
“I guess you’re right. Thanks for listening. I’ll call you tomorrow. Where is Lorenzo when I need him?
CHAPTER 34
Reaching the Fourth Dimension
Judas pressed his com ear piece. “Congratulations, Milo.” He leaned back onto his command chair. “She didn’t recognize you.”
“Not in the least.”
Judas looked at monitor two. Milo left the building. “Where are you going?”
“I’m heading to the House of the Rising Sun to snoop around.”
“I’m removing my com. I’m fine tuning Transcendence tonight.”
***
Marge briskly strode to the front door of the white gingerbread shot gun house located in the Marigny District in the French Quarter. She touched the rusted iron sculptured handrailing stepping onto the stoop. I have to do this. She made a fist, pounded on the door and waited. As she leaned over the iron rail, the light flicked on. The wooden floor creaked inside.
Professor Faust opened the door. “What brings you here Mrs. Greenberg? After you visited my classroom, I’ve been waiting for you to call for an appointment.”
“I apologize. It has taken me this long to get up the courage again. May I come in? Our lives depend on it.”
The Professor slammed the door shut.
Marge looked at the cracked paint on the shutter and pondered her next move. “Please, Professor.” She pounded her fist on the door. “Please, allow me five minutes of your time.” She waited and listened. As she turned to leave, he opened the door.
“You have three minutes and not a second longer.” He stepped backward as he held the door open and motioned for her to enter.
Marge gazed through the entire house; the shot gun style made it possible. “A very open space.”
He slammed the door shut. “Now you have two minutes and forty-eight seconds.”
“Judas made Project Dimension work.”
“Did Dr. Angela recruit him back into the fold?”
“No, he turned our garage into a lab. He’s been working on the prototype for years. It’s almost the same design and technology of our Project Dimension harnessing the energy using a tesseract instead of an orb. He named it Transcendence.”
“Judas was always a Da Vinci man. What does this have to do with me?”
“Don’t you get it? It’s a weapon of mass destruction and everything you and I fought against when you sabotaged the program twenty years ago. With one press of the delete key, the target dematerializes to the fourth dimension. You realize what this means?”
“You mean he figured out a way to target a specific individual? How?”
“He tapped into the Pegasus satellite when he designed the solar sail for the U.S.S. Dimension. He programmed that damn starship to release a transmitter he built to power Transcendence. That’s how he harnessed the power and taps into the GPS software.”
“Frankly, I’m thrilled that Judas figured it out first. He’s a genius. Dr. Angela deserves to rot in Hell.”
“You’re missing my point. This thing is changing him. Something is controlling him and will kill him.”
“There shouldn’t be side effects. Our protocol research proved that.”
“It’s no longer the same project. The power he harnessed might be equal to five nuclear bombs.”
“Mrs. Greenberg, that doesn’t sound likely.”
“Do you remember last March when the entire city had a blackout? That was Judas. He powered Transcendence creating a power surge causing the transformers to blow. The power surge hit him hard; it was like a lightning bolt shooting from the device going straight into him. He’s changing into something I don’t recognize - a monster.”
“Aren’t you exaggerating?”
“Not at all. That’s why I left him. I’ve been staying at a hotel. I’m filing for divorce the first thing in the morning.”
“That’s none of my concern.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. He can delete you too. You’re the only person who knows this research and how to stop it. You sabotaged the project before. This time you must destroy it.”
“Are you saying, Project Dimension works?”
“This is more powerful. Transcendence vaporizes a person, deletes their DNA and data stored on D-Net. Nothing remains.”
***
Judas leaned back in his chair and watched the nine screens to determine the one that provided the most entertainment.
“Deedra, zoom in onto monitor two.” The image zoomed and featured Blaze on her couch petting her two cats. She watched videos on her laptop from her party people posted on the D-Net social site. “You’re out of trouble for now.”
“Deedra, zoom in onto monitor seven. You’re such a good son.” He watched Milo as he searched through Dr. Angela’s desk and files. Several times, Milo snapped a picture of a document using his cell phone and one picture of Blaze wearing her charm bracelet.
“Deedra, where is Marge Greenberg?”
“Marge Greenberg is on Saint Roch Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.”
“What address?”
“I’m sorry, I do not have that information for you.”
“Who owns the building?”
“The property was purchased in twenty forty-one by Shannon J. Faust.”
“Damn you Marge. Why?”
Judas bolted out of his chair to the center lab table.
“Deedra, initiate Transcendence.”
“Transcendence has commenced.”
A loud hum radiated throughout the room as the blue plasma cube powered and rotated on its tip. Judas placed both hands around it to harness the energy. “I’m sorry Marge, you leave me no choice.”
The tesseract spun faster on one tip as an electrical pulse bounced radically inside. Judas’ hair stood on end from the static electricity and his eyes glowed blue. “Deedra, target Marge Greenberg.” The starch in his voice stiffened.
“Pegasus is aligning. System Aligned.”
The faster the tesseract spun and gyrated, the more Judas’ body shook.
He stumbled to the command center and pressed the delete key.
***
“Professor, you…” Marge’s voice faded; her body inert. Each word was an enormous effort. She turned opaque. Her eyes darkened. Professor Faust froze in time. Marge faded away into obscurity inside the blue shimmering light. Professor Faust unfroze and looked around.
“What was I doing? I must be sleepwalking. Oh, well, back to bed.” He whistled an ascending C scale as he locked the front door. He looked at the baby grand piano and flashed a fuzzy sort of grin. He sat down onto the piano bench, opened the keyboard, played and sang. “Doe, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Doe.”
***
Judas stood peacocked in his living room. “Transcendence works.” A vainglorious smirk crossed his twisted lips. It worked. Nothing of Marge’s remains. No more damn antiques. He rushed to the fireplace and grabbed the altered family portrait of just him. Nice headshot of me.
CHAPTER 35
Fortune Cookies
The song
Strange Love by Koop set the mood in the Sweet Melissa’s master cabin. Dr. Franklin grabbed a fortune cookie from a mixing bowl. The warmth of Debra’s soft skin against his chest as they leaned against the headboard provided the perfect comfort for the lovers. Debra’s body warmly tingled as she released a grin of sexual anticipation. “This is by far the best way to read fortune cookies. Where did you get the idea to say, ‘In the bed’ after each fortune?” Her eyes sought his.
“My mother has a dry sense of humor. You break open the next one.”
Debra dug in the bowl, pulled one, cracked it open and gingerly removed the printed fortune paper strip. She discarded the cookie and the wrapper into the bowl. She read the fortune cookie to herself and laughed. “This one is hysterical. I’m about to pee on myself.”
“Read it aloud. Let me in on the fun.” He gleamed a grin of mischief.
She held the fortune strip. “Anyone can start. Only the thoroughbred will finish… in the bed.” They laughed. “This is very true and so funny.”
“Well, I’m glad you think of me as a thoroughbred.” He lifted her hand and delicately kissed it.
“And, then some. Your turn.”
Dr. Franklin picked the first cookie he fingered and opened the fortune. “A man’s dreams are an index to his greatness… in the bed.”
Debra envisioned Dr. Franklin’s shaft. “Now, I finally know what to call a penis. It’s a man’s index… in the bed.”
“Very funny Debra. However, a lot of my greatness is done in bed. Last one and it’s your turn.”
Debra picked out three cookies. “The one that lands closest to my body, I’ll read.” She threw them straight into the air and one landed between her cleavage.
Dr. Franklin playfully brushed his finger along her breasts before retrieving it. He handed it to her. “We have a winner.”
Debra opened the cookie and hid the fortune from Dr. Franklin’s view. “Do or do not. There is no try… in the bed.”
“It’s final. We must do and not try.” He placed the bowl onto the nightside.
Debra adjusted her position as Dr. Franklin positioned himself over her. He leaned in for a soft and passionate kiss.
The Keystroke Killer Page 30