Alice carried a fresh pot of steaming coffee and waddled to the girls. “You want some? Well, of course you do, you’re at a coffee shop.” She poured the coffee and stomped away in a huff.
Blaze slapped her forehead in disbelief. “What have we done to her?”
Jenni pushed her laptop screen where Blaze and Mag could eyeball it. “Not sure; but check this out.”
“What?” A look of shock crossed Blaze’s expression.
Jenni shook her head in disbelief. “Another girl gone missing and not too far from where you live.”
Mag pushed air through her lips. “Things like that only happen in the movies.”
Blaze’s heart raced. “First, it happened to Frances and then to Cristi. I knew something was wrong when she left that weird message. This is the third girl missing in three months who we actually know. It’s the serial killer, it has to be.”
“Alerts are everywhere.” Mag’s heart raced. “Check yours and you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Blaze’s palms turn cold and clammy. “You girls are freaking me out just like a guy I’ve been seeing everywhere. I think he’s following me.”
Mag’s eyes darted to every male in the place. “What guy?”
“Yeah, what guy?” Jenni leaned to listen.
Blaze’s bottom lip quivered. “It’s nothing.” Her voice wavered.
“Then tell us about this nothing of a guy.” Mag sipped her coffee.
Blaze took a reflective pause. “I saw him when Lorenzo and I were at the zoo. He followed us, I’m sure of it. I also saw him when Roth went with me to talk with the vets. Then, I saw him when I was jogging.”
Mag exhaled; her shoulders slumped. “Yep, that sounds like stalking if you ask me.”
“That’s not all. He blocked my path and told me it was dangerous to jog alone.”
Jenni scratched her nose. “Now that’s freaky, we have to call the police.”
Mag nodded in agreement. “The alerts provided the information to call about anyone who looks or acts suspicious. This guy fits the profile.”
Frustrated, Blaze huffed. “It was nothing, now drop it.”
Matthew marched into Perks as Blaze’s heart skipped a beat when she caught a glimpse of him. She covered her mouth to whisper. “It's him.” Her eyes darted toward Matthew and back to her friends.
Jenni leaned closer to Blaze. “Him? Him who?”
“The guy!” Blaze lowered her voice and lifted her brows.
“You mean the serial killer?”
Everyone in the coffee shop fixated on Matthew who put his hands into the air. “Nope. Not me. She’s just kidding.” The crowd returned to their private conversations.
Blaze focused her eyes on the table. “Don't look. He'll know we're looking.” She buried her face into her hands to hide.
“Because we are.” Jenni clenched her teeth.
Alice passed by Matthew. “Sit anywhere you’d like, you don’t need reservations in this joint.”
“Crap, he’s coming this way.” Blaze’s heart crashed against her chest as her eyes darted between the other two.
Mag took a deep breath. “No one panic.”
“Panic, why should you panic? He’s not following you, he’s after me.”
Matthew sat in the chair against the wall where he had a perfect view of Blaze.
She pretended not to notice. “What do we do now?”
Matthew rose. “I’ll tell you what you’re going to do.” He scooted into the booth by Jenni to face Blaze. “I’m Matthew Raymond and I work for a private investigation firm.”
“So, you have been following me? Did my dad pay you to do this?”
“Your life is in danger. Don’t go anywhere alone and keep your doors locked.”
“Why should I believe you? My professor lectured today that a serial killer could look like anyone. I think you look exactly like one.”
“Relax. I’m not a serial killer, but I am trying to capture one.” He pointed to the television above the counter. “Turn around and look at the news. Milo Evans escaped, the Co-Ed serial killer. I think he’s coming for you. Have you ever seen that guy before?”
Blaze didn’t want to tell Matthew Milo once worked for her father and that he saved her life. She turned her head, so he wouldn’t see her guilty red flush form onto her cheeks. “Never saw him.”
Matthew retrieved Livia’s picture from his wallet and handed it to Blaze. “Look at this.”
Jenni and Mag looked at the picture too.
“What the hell are you doing with a picture of me?”
“It’s not you. It’s my sister Livia. Five years ago, Milo murdered her and that’s why I think he’s after you. Now, please tell me your name and let me help you before it’s too late.”
Jenni nodded in agreement. “She sure does look exactly like you.”
“Like twins.” Mag’s eyes widened.
Matthew exhaled. “Please, tell me your name.”
“I’m Blaze. These are my friends Mag and Jenni.”
Matthew extended his hand. “Blaze, I’m glad to finally meet you, the right way.”
Blaze didn’t take the handshake bait but pondered the moment as she bit her lower lip. “You’re a private investigator, right? Prove it or I’ll call the police.”
After he retrieved his business card from his wallet, he handed it to her. She read it and put it away into her purse. “Roth, a friend of mine is missing. I’m really worried. You find him, and we’ll talk more about me.”
“I don’t work for free.”
“Really! Why have you been following me?”
“Don’t you get it? Your life is in danger.”
“I can pay you, my dad is Dr. Garrick Angela. Name your price.”
***
“Well, well, look what we have here.” Judas liberated a grin of mockery from his command center. “What is Matthew doing with Blaze? Deedra, call Milo Evans.”
“I’m sorry Judas. Milo is not answering your call. Would you like to text him your message?”
“Deedra, start Transcendence.”
“I am unable to comply. The Pegasus satellite is offline.”
“How can a satellite be offline?”
“Technicians are making adjustments.”
“Who authorized the adjustments?”
“You did, Judas.”
No, I didn’t. “I made no such order. Deedra, please verify who made the adjustments to the Pegasus satellite.”
“Verification is in process. Please wait. Would you like for me to start your music as you wait?”
“Deedra, locate Milo Evans.”
“I cannot comply until the Pegasus satellite comes back online. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Highjack another satellite.”
“I’m sorry Judas, you do not have authorization for this command.”
“Then, damn it, what can you do?”
“I’m sorry Judas, please rephrase your request.”
“Who has authorization to reprogram the Falcon satellite?”
“The Falcon satellite is controlled by Dr. Garrick Angela and Dimension Global. Would you like for me to contact Dr. Angela for permission to reprogram the Falcon satellite?”
“Deedra, alert me the moment Pegasus comes back online and keep trying to call Milo Evans.”
***
Sam slept on the floor as Milo stood naked at the makeshift kitchen in Roth’s orange and white van. He poured a cup of coffee as his cell phone rang. Not wanting to ruin his Folger’s moment, he ignored the call. He clutched Roth’s university coffee mug, stepped from the van and faced a dew kissed mossy bayou. This is freedom. Can you see me Red? I will kill someone today. Just for you.
Sam leaped from the van as he whined with his tail between his legs and his ears lay back.
Red stared with self-assurance at his cell’s ceiling. Two books: The Communist Manifest by Marx and The Principles of Communism by Engles lay beside him.
A
prison guard passed during his routine morning inspection. “Red, the twenty-seventh is creeping close. You want to tell me where you buried the President’s daughter and avoid your walk down Green Mile?”
“Seventeen and counting. That’s a good number. I think I’ll just go to my grave and keep this one a secret. They’ll never find her body because she’s not on this world.”
“Sure, Red. You know where to find me if you change your mind.”
Red put his pillow over his head not wanting the light to dim his internal vision as he telepathically connected to Milo in the bayou. He focused penetratingly until he connected his mind’s eye with Milo capitalizing on his remote viewing powers.
Milo washed the coffee cup, put it away, then made the bed. Sam pushed his nose against the trundle trunk and barked. Lay down. Milo commanded with complete telepathic authority over Sam.
Sam jumped onto Roth’s bed whining and barking.
Stay.
Milo carried a cup of water and Roth’s toothbrush as he stepped from the van. He gazed into the side mirror at his reflection. He huddled in close to the mirror as he brushed his teeth. It’s time, Red.
Milo stomped to the built in trundle box, unlocked it and lifted out a weak, beaten Roth before ditching him to the floor. Roth wore a sexy school girl type uniform. His eyes were bloody and swollen shut creating excruciating pain. Choking bruise marks covered his neck and his broken jaw made it almost impossible to speak.
Sam leaped from the bed and licked Roth’s bloody face.
Milo retrieved a laced doggie treat and fed it to Sam. Forget about Roth. Sam get back onto the bed and stay. Sam obeyed the telepathic command.
Milo snatched the black duffel bag, threw Roth over his shoulder and carried him to the nearest tree on the edge of the alligator infested swamp water.
Milo posed Roth in the same position of the Sorority victims against the tree and slapped him across his broken jaw.
Roth moaned in agony, his eyes fluttered; and he heaved a breath.
“I warned you what would happen if you killed another co-ed, but you did it anyway. Tsk. Tsk. You should have listened. There’s nothing worse in this universe than a pissed off serial killer, and… I’m pissed. You should know better than to piss off the president of the galactic serial killer club.”
Milo squatted eye level to Roth and hurled a wad of mucus onto his face. “You know I will kill you, don’t you? Did you have the courtesy to warn my co-eds they were about to die? Did you fuck them? Because if you did, I’d have to return the favor. I can swing both ways; I really like it that way, it works. How about you?”
Milo paced as he fumed, he didn’t waste a syllable. “I’m going to school you on something. As president of the Galactic Serial Killer Union, the number one rule is… don’t get caught! And… you did. Now, the only quandary for me is whether to let you die slowly, then feed you to the alligators. Or, do I make it quick, then feed you to the alligators? Such a dilemma you’ve put me in. Tsk. Tsk. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, we serial killers have to stick together.”
Red stayed telepathically connected to Milo’s thoughts and vision watching Milo as a remote viewer. As Milo looked at his captive, Red shared every emotion Milo projected.
Milo retrieved the long bladed sharp knife and admired his favorite weapon.
It was five years since Red caressed death, a victim’s last pulse, last heartbeat and celebrated their final jerk as they became floating souls.
Anticipation of Roth’s last breath excited both Milo and Red, they both desired the fresh smell of the warm crimson flow that oozed the moment a soul left a vessel.
For Milo, no aroma equaled the freshness of human blood other than the smell of a co-ed’s stiletto which aroused him.
Red viewed Milo as he positioned the psychology text book across Roth’s lap. I can sense it now. So close, yet so far.
Milo opened the duffle bag and removed fourteen pieces of printed paper from Roth’s archives. He crumbled each one and rammed them one at a time down Roth’s throat, followed by a delete key in remembrance of each victim. He clutched a stick to help jam the items further down Roth’s esophagus and permitted the items to suffocate him. Milo fought his temptation to mentally suck the air out of Roth’s lungs.
As if having an aftershock from an orgasm, Red’s body jerked. I get to feel the moment of death again.
Milo slit Roth’s shirt and exposed his victim’s scrawny freckled chest. He retrieved a red permanent marker from the duffle bag as a creepy grin jetted across his face. He transversely wrote a message onto Roth.
CHAPTER 43
Where in the World is Roth?
Several dozen students gathered to say their farewell to the victims of the Sorority serial killer at the memorial in the center of Loyola’s campus. Jon sang Pink Floyd’s Brick in the Wall as others joined in and sang. “We don’t need no education,” followed by the Alice Cooper’s famous line, “School’s out for summer!”
Inside the lecture hall, Mag, Jenni and Blaze waited for the class to begin as other students entered. They carried poster boards and artifacts of various types for their final presentations. Blaze gawked at the objects her peers carried. “I told you we should have made a poster.”
“That’s old-school. Remember, we have a flashy D-Point presentation with animation and music.” Jenni jetted a proud grin of accomplishment.
“You worked on it. I haven’t seen it.”
“Whose fault is that?” Mag deepened her brow. “You’re the one that didn’t find the time, you were always with Roth or Lorenzo. We couldn’t even get you to work on it with us at the beach.”
“Did you have to remind me of him? Look around. Roth isn’t here, and he has perfect attendance. I feel it in the pit of my stomach something is wrong. I’m calling him, again.”
Blaze retrieved her cell phone from her purse and dialed. Exasperated, she left a message. “Roth call Blaze. Like today.”
Mag glanced at her watch. “It’s five after one, the professor should be here.”
Jon scurried into class and plopped on the seat behind Blaze. “The Three Musketeers ready?”
“We stay ready.” Blaze nodded and made eye contact with Mag and Jenni. “We are ready, aren’t we?”
Professor Faust addressed the students as he entered the classroom. “I hope every group is ready for their presentations.” He rushed to the front of the class and leaned on the edge of his desk.
Jon raised his hand. “Excuse me Professor, my group has a problem.”
“What is it?”
“Roth Bell is in our group and he’s not here. We all agreed to meet up last night to finish our project, but he never showed up.”
Andreas, a green eyed olive beauty stood. “Well, the Sorority serial killer didn’t get him. Like dah, he’s the wrong sex.” She immediately sat.
Blaze’s worry turned to fear. Oh no. What if the serial killer really got him too?
“I’ll allow your group to present last, Jon. If he doesn’t show, do the best you can without him. Everyone in a group should understand the material. Mag, Blaze and Jenni. You’re up first.”
The girl’s gathered their notecards as Jenni grabbed her computer linking it to the projection screen.
Blaze stepped forward. “Has anyone seen or heard from Roth?”
Nobody responded. That’s what I thought. She leaned over to Jenni. “After class we’ll post a flyer announcing that he’s missing.”
“Don’t you think you should report him missing to the police first? Then, put his flyer next to the one we posted for Cristi. That’s what I’d do.”
***
In the conference room at FBI headquarters, Agent Locklear, Agent Mansfield, Dr. Wright and a dozen FBI profilers engaged in a deep conversation during the daily mandatory meeting.
Liz wore a Michael Kors bodycon black dress and a pair of Signature brand high heels designed by whiz kid Nicolo՛ Beretta of Giannico. “Who came up with the monike
r the Surgical serial killer and why am I only hearing about him now? I don’t like it when we give an identity to an unsub. It gives him or her validity and the attention they crave.”
Agent Locklear cocked her head. “Dr. Zeigler gave him the name to separate his victims from the other serial killer.”
Agent Mansfield, exasperated, shook his head. “You weren’t brought in until we found a second body that fit his signature. We didn’t want the press to get this information, his signature must remain a secret to prevent a copy-cat crime. That way, we can be certain it’s him.”
“Very well. Has the FBI prioritized which serial killer we focus our attention to first?”
“That’s why we have extra agents assigned here. They’ll be doing a lot of the leg work as Agent Mansfield and I head up both units.”
Agent Mansfield faced the group. “Now, let’s catch everyone up to speed on both cases. This will take most of the day.” He seized the controller and initiated the D-Presentation. The first frame projected two profiles onto the screen. “We have two unsubs, with two signatures and two victimology patterns. Agent Locklear will discuss the Surgical serial killer first.”
Agent Mansfield handed Agent Locklear the remote for the projector. She clicked it and a picture appeared of a necklace made from human tongues. “This is one of the horrific items found in the home of Ed Gein. As a child, Gein showed feminine tendencies. His preference toward a feminine side only worsened once his mother died. Gein used female body parts from his victims to make items for his house and for himself. He used the nipples to make a belt and skinned their faces to make masks. We profiled the Surgical serial killer, not from Gein’s example, but from data. This unsub’s motivation for removing the tongue and teeth could give us a link to his identity. We believe by removing the tongue he’s silencing these surrogate women. Perhaps, there is a mother figure who talked excessively and abused him. It could even be a Catholic nun who he wanted to silence or a school teacher. He also could be a cannibal who likes tongue. We won’t know until we find him. Keep this in mind as you interview witnesses and family members of his victims.”
The Keystroke Killer Page 34