“You’re such a dick. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to see your expression when I told Ms. Bennett.”
“Who is she and how much money did she transfer into your account?”
“That’s a matter of confidentiality.”
“Well then, case closed.” Debra stood and stretched.
Peterson crossed in front of Matthew’s desk. “For now, anyway. That doesn’t mean he won’t replace her, apparently, he can’t stay away from whores and prostitutes.”
“Watch your tongue. This woman is neither a whore nor a prostitute. She’s very refined and an intelligent woman.” Matthew’s body tensed defensively. “She’s an emergency care nurse.”
“Well, if your mysterious woman winds up dead, we know who killed her. Now, won’t we?”
“Shut up Peterson. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Debra retrieved the list of women associated to Congressman Thompson. “I think Peterson has a valid point.” She held up her hands, which were closed into fists. As she counted, her dainty manicured fingers popped up. “Monica, Loraine, Nancy, Tracy, Phyllis, Frances, Anna Conda, Roxy and Kara.” She looked at her fingers. “That’s nine dead girls.”
Peterson smirked in disgust. “That’s a lot of women dead or missing if you ask me. Your mysterious woman could be next.”
Matthew’s chest constricted at the thought. “Then, I’ll keep a closer watch on her to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
From his glass office, Mr. Hammer pushed himself using the cane to stand. “On whose dime? Ms. Bennett didn’t pay you for finding the killer. She paid you to get the whore out of his life.” He plopped back down.
Matthew shifted in his chair. “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll do it without compensation.”
“Look, a word of advice.” Debra nodded and took a deep breath. “Stop digging around. You haven’t exactly been away from dead bodies either. Remember Roxy and Anna Conda? The last thing you need is to be seen hanging around a former mistress of a Congressman and her ending up dead leaving you as the number one suspect.”
Peterson’s eyes widened. “At least we’d know who she is.”
“I guess you’re both trying to look after me, but I know what I am doing.” Matthew texted a message to Kelly as he spoke. “Keep working, I’ll be right back. I have to go to the bank and make this transaction happen.”
***
Kelly lay in bed as she smoked her long-filtered cigarette and gazed at her lover as he dressed. Her cell phone vibrated.
Congressman Thompson tucked his starched white shirt into his unzipped pants.
Kelly’s cell phone vibrated again, and she read the message.
“Are you arranging for another date?”
“Suppose I am? Why would it be any of your business?”
“Because, I want you all to myself.”
“An exclusive? I would have to think things over on that one. Besides, what would you do with your current wife?”
“She’d never find out.”
“So, you want me exclusively, but you still get to bed her? I don’t like the way this sounds. What’s good for the gander, is good for the gander.”
“Don’t you mean what is good for the goose is good for the gander?”
“Not until my reassignment surgery.” Her phone vibrated. She gleefully perused Matthew’s second text message.
Oh, he wants to see me tonight. Tingles spread throughout her body.
CHAPTER 44
Somebody is Watching
Matthew and Liz sat on her elegant white leather couch. The television aired Liz’s latest interview given at KWNC with Samantha Breland.
Matthew’s cell phone vibrated and read the text message from Kelly.
Exhausted, Matthew forgot he asked Kelly to make her Italian specialty. He guzzled his beer and focused on the details of the Sorority killer crime scene.
Liz took a sip of red wine. “After what I saw today and heard Blaze reported Roth missing, I believe she was in danger. You can quit worrying about her now that the Sorority serial killer is dead.”
“You’re kidding me, right? Knowing Milo is here in New Orleans, she is in more danger than I thought. He’s coming after her. Killing Roth and writing that message was his way of making his announcement.”
“What do you think he’s announcing?”
“He’s saying I’m back, and he’s taunting me. The message Milo wrote was meant for me to see and not for the FBI. It’s a game to him and he’s winning. He’s always three steps ahead of anything you or the FBI come up with. You may be a forensic specialist, but I know Milo Evans.”
Liz took a deep cleansing breath, grabbed the remote and powered off the television.
“Why did you do that? I wanted to hear what you had to say.”
“I don’t like watching myself. Besides, the FBI is tracking Milo, we’ll catch him before he kills again.”
“Tell that to Roth. Blaze asked me to find her redheaded friend and I didn’t. I can’t help but feel guilty.”
“Roth Bell was a serial killer. Milo was right, society owes him a big thank you for taking him out.”
Matthew reached for the remote, but Liz pushed it out of his way. “I want to see what she asked you.”
“A lot of things. Samantha was very interested in my near death experience.”
“Me too. What did you say?”
“I told her if you ever have a near death experience, you would never question the reality or truth of what these people experienced.”
“These people? Aren’t you a part of those people?”
“You know what I meant. Samantha is a reporter and is looking for her next big story.”
“Then at least tell me what you talked about.” Matthew’s cell phone vibrated. He received another text message from Kelly.
Matthew put his phone down. “Go ahead I’m listening.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. You can understand that can’t you?”
“To me, you deny your experiences more than you admit them, you’re hiding something. Something life transforming, I feel it when I’m next to you.”
“You believe that? You really feel this way about me?”
“It has nothing to do with my feelings or what I believe. Who am I to judge? I talk about a sister who I have no proof of ever living or dying. Except for Milo, he knows the truth. Screw Milo, I’ll die before I quit looking for the answer.”
“You have her picture.”
“A picture not even my mom or dad acknowledges. Sometimes I think I’m going insane. Maybe I ought to go see a doctor… Oh, yea, you are a doctor.”
“Not that kind of doctor. But I’d be willing to have you lay down and talk about it.” Her tone flirtatious and velvety.
“Yes ma’am. You don’t have to ask me twice.” He took the opportunity and adjusted himself in a horizontal position.
Liz stroked his thick hair. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”
“I was born in the year twenty twenty-seven in Jefferson Parish Louisiana.”
Liz scrunched her nose and smirked. “Not that beginning. The day your sister called you for help.” Goosebumps formed; and she shivered. She looked around as if someone watched her and recognized the feeling from her childhood when forced to connect with Red.
***
At his command chair, Judas sat intrigued. “Getting cozy Matthew and Liz?” What an interesting pairing.
On monitor two, Blaze paced back and forth in her living room as Mag and Jenni observed.
Monitor eight, Liz’s office, revealed a dark figure who rested in her Victorian chair.
Judas glanced at the monitor for Dr. Angela’s office. “Well, well. A robbery. Who are you three?”
Judas stretched and yawned. He ambled to the tesseract and ogled it. Such a thing of beauty to be so destructive.
“Deedra, is the Pegasus back online?”
“No, Judas. I target my software to communicati
on with the Pegasus. There are several more hours before the update is complete. Please be patient. I will notify you as soon as it is operational.”
***
Lorenzo jimmied Dr. Angela’s desk drawer and pulled it open. He grabbed the fine bourbon, three shot glasses and made himself comfortable in the CEO’s chair. “Time to celebrate Angela style.” He poured the brown liquid gold and handed the glasses to his homies. “Salute, here’s to having a profitable night. Fill your bags boys.”
The three chugged the bourbon and Lorenzo wiped off any fingerprints before putting the glasses and bottle back in the drawer.
Jorge kicked Dr. Angela’s desk. “Man, how did you know that would be in there?”
“Easy. I used to work for him years ago, that’s how I met Blaze. The bastard had me keep an eye on her; so, I did. I made my job easy by becoming her boyfriend.”
Santiago averted his eyes. “Dude, that’s sick.” He scowled at the picture of Blaze who wore her charm bracelet. “Wait, that’s the bracelet you pawned with my tio.”
“Blaze trusted me with it. She told me her father desperately wants it back. I promised to keep it safe for her. The safest place is in a pawn shop. They’re like Fort Knox.”
Jorge bounded out of the room. “Four minutes and we roll.”
***
Blaze continued to pace in front of her two best friends. “OMG! I’m really freaked out. I liked him, I trusted him, and I reported him missing. Holy freakin crap, he’s the fucking Sorority serial killer!”
“We know Blaze.” Jenni comforted Blaze with a pouty look. “We didn’t think he was a killer either.”
“A fucking serial killer!” Blaze, panic-stricken, bulged her eyes as her heart raced. She took quick breaths. “Seriously! I came close to becoming his next victim. Holy shit! He killed Frances.”
Mag stood and slapped her thighs. “She deserved it, she was a real bitch to him. No doubt about it, a real bitch in every sense of the word.”
Blaze narrowed her eyes. “Now that I think about it, Gayle threw her drink in his face and called him a pimple head at that frat party. Now, she’s dead.”
Jenni shook her head and paced. “Well, it was a good thing I was nice to him. Your dad will be so pissed, have you told him?”
“No, and I won’t. You both better not tell him either.”
Outside in the hall, Sam barked and scratched his nails against the door.
The girls jumped as Blaze bolted to open it. Sam scurried into the apartment wagging his tail rubbing against Blaze’s legs. “Sam, you’re muddy. You need a bath?”
Mag stepped backward. “Looks like Roth sent you his dog from the grave.”
A cool breeze swept the room and Blaze shivered as goosebumps prickled her skin.
“I’m sorry.” Roth’s apparition slowly made its presence.
Blaze glanced around. “Did ya’ll hear that?”
“Hear what?” Jenni shivered as goosebumps formed.
***
The local bars neon signs illuminated Bourbon Street. A stag party, drunk, zigzagged through the packed street. They spilt their beers more than they drank it.
On the other side of the street, seven Asian executives gazed at a hologram image of a stripper created by a drone above.
Suicide and Halo marched in front of the Asians as Milo passed. Suicide’s eyes widened when he recognized the Co-Ed serial killer. “About face.” He changed his direction to follow his suspect, Halo copied the turn and followed in formation.
Milo darted into The Nest, a sleazy club, whose ties to the Columbian Medellian Cartel propagated.
Suicide followed as if he hunted an enemy combatant in a war zone while Halo followed his path.
Milo pushed through the crowd toward a red curtain guarded by a Columbian body-builder body guard clutching a machine gun.
Suicide sat at the bar and looked at Halo. “Go over there and listen in on their conversation. Then, report back.”
The guard patted Milo as Halo stepped in between them.
“Have you seen Lorenzo Garcia?”
The guard continued to body search Milo. “Turn around.”
“I haven’t had this much contact since prison.”
Halo stepped out of the way.
Milo turned around.
The guard grunted as he patted Milo’s backside.
“I’m not packing. Now, do that hand signal thingy and have the bastard unlock the door. I’m not here to kill her.”
The Body Guard, S.W.A.T. style motioned with two fingers toward the floor and pulled open the crimson curtain. The huge heavy vault door clinked and opened. Milo entered the guarded room.
Griselda Quintero, a drug dealer known as the Cocaine Fairy Godmother sat behind her desk in front of a floor to ceiling bulletproof glass case. The showcase displayed ultramodern weapons. She observed the porno action in the adjacent room to her left through the one way mirror.
Milo nodded his head. “Nice office. I especially like the antique library Dewey Decimal card cabinet and the live action window.” He stepped to the cabinet and read the labels on the drawers. “White snow, gummi blow, coca puff, suppository. Nice collection of coke and smoke.”
“Do you need something?” Griselda pressed a red button causing the crimson curtains to close across the side show.
“Nothing that’s in these drawers.”
“What brings you to my nest?”
“Your connections. I’m looking for two things, a bracelet and Lorenzo Garcia. Can you help?”
“Lorenzo isn’t welcome here, he’s lucky I haven’t ordered a hit on him.”
She’s lying. “Well, after I find him and get what I need, I’ll kill him for you if you find me that bracelet.”
“Do you have a picture?”
Milo thumbed through the pictures on his phone until he found the one of Blaze with the bracelet. He pinched the screen and zoomed to the globe charm. “I’m looking for that specific charm on that bracelet.” He handed her the phone. “Do you know its whereabouts?”
“Sorry, I can’t help you. I’ll ask around.”
***
Matthew slept on the couch; his head rested on Liz’s lap. Her cell phone vibrated, and she put her wine glass on the side table and answered the phone. “This is Dr. Wright… You have an update.” She listened as she stroked Matthew’s hair. “I see… You’re positive?... Okay, I can do that. Thank you for keeping me informed.”
Liz opened her laptop and began a D-Search. She typed in the search bar and pressed enter. “Here we go. I got a hit.”
She tapped Matthew on his shoulder. “We have a lead on Milo.”
“Where’s that son of a bitch?” He bolted upright, his cheeks flushed scarlet.
“Get this, a homeless guy called the FBI hotline. He followed him inside a bar and overheard Milo ask the security guard if he knew where some guy was. The FBI and S.W.A.T. have deployed to the location.”
“Let’s go.”
“No, they can handle it. I searched for Milo’s known associates. We find them, we find Milo. I waited for you to wake before I opened the results.”
“I have to think about this. Okay, let me see the results, then I’ll go.”
Liz pressed the first result – the FBI’s Most Wanted list and Milo’s profile popped open.
Matthew leaned closer to Liz and skimmed the poster from the Most Wanted list. “Do you recognize any of these men?”
“Only because I have seen them on this list. Why do you ask?”
“Well, it’s about time they put Milo on there. He’s a dangerous and sick guy.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that with him. Between you and me, I don’t know who has seen more death and trauma.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing, only commenting.”
“Son of a bitch! The fourth guy is Blaze Angela’s boyfriend.”
“You recognize Lorenzo Garcia?”
“Not personally.”
/> “It won’t do you any good to lie. I’m a profiler, remember? I read microfacial expressions to tell when someone’s lying.”
Matthew grabbed his gun, his leather jacket and bolted from the apartment slamming the door shut.
“Unbelievable, is he an asshole or what?”
Matthew opened the door and peeked his head in. “I forgot to say bye and let’s do this again, real soon.” He slammed the door.
“Yep. He’s, an asshole.”
Liz closed her laptop and took a sip of wine. She removed the red fluffy blanket from the back of the couch, covered herself and closed her eyes.
***
Red sat on the edge of his cell spring mattress gazing at the mold infested ceiling. He extended his arms fifteen degrees from his hip, took a deep breath and held it in. Do, you, hear, me, Liz? He exhaled and projected his thoughts to his daughter in a staccato rhythm. “Liz.”
Liz, asleep on her couch, bolted upright.
“Matthew? Is that you?”
Lizzzz. Red taunted her until she accepted his connection as he tapped into her mind’s ability to receive.
Red! Tension throughout her body increased. I will not do this with you. Just stop! She blocked his mental connection to her. You didn’t think I could do that, did you? She grabbed her purse, keys and bolted from the comfort of her apartment.
***
The moonlight dimly lit Blaze’s bedroom. Blaze, Mag and Jenni cuddled together in Blaze’s bed for a grieving sleepover as Sam rested on the floor at the foot of the bed.
“I’m glad ya’ll stayed.” Blaze adjusted her position to give Mag additional room.
“Me too. None of us wanted to be alone.”
Jenni nodded and yawned. “I agree.”
Blaze pulled the covers up to her chin. “Okay, let’s try to go to sleep for real this time.”
Mag tapped Blaze’s leg. “We could if you quit waking us up thinking you’re hearing Roth.”
“I must be stressed out, good night.”
The girls closed their eyes. Blaze pulled the covers to the top of her nose as if she viewed a scary movie. Her eyes darted, and she bolted upright. “Did you see that?
The Keystroke Killer Page 36