The Keystroke Killer

by Melissa Caudle

  He shook the wetness from his hair to the music of Madame Laveau. The bluesy song Dark Waters she belted seemed appropriate for the deluge of rain that poured outside.

  He claimed his favorite bar stool.

  Alex handed Matthew a dry towel and a shot of bourbon. “He’s in the men’s room.”

  “Thanks.” Matthew dried his hair and face as he turned toward the men’s bathroom and maintained a guarded watch.

  Alex was right. Lorenzo exited, proceeded to the bar and sat four stools from Matthew.

  Alex moved in front of Lorenzo. “A beer?”

  “Now that’s the best idea you’ve had all night.”

  Matthew played it cool when the two men’s eyes locked before Matthew chugged his bourbon.

  Madame Laveau sang the song Hymn for the Missing by Red. As Matthew listened to the lyrics, a tear formed. He pulled the picture of Livia from his wallet and stared at it as a painted frown gradually developed across his face. This is our song, Livia.

  He had time to order two more shots before he initiated a conversation. Matthew flagged Alex. “I’m buying this man another drink.” He moved to the bar stool beside Lorenzo.

  Matthew leaned over to Lorenzo. “I know you know Blaze Angela. I’m also aware Milo Evans is looking for you. You want to talk?”

  Lorenzo’s arched brows corrugated. “How did you meet Blaze?”

  “Technically she hired me to find her friend Roth. I’m a private investigator; so, I’ve been watching her to make sure she’s safe. I don’t think she is with you in the picture.”

  “Look man, I want her safe too. I was at her apartment tonight warning her about him. He’s going to go after her to get to me. Wait! Aren’t you the guy who caught him in the first place?”

  “Yes, the one and only; I plan on doing it again. The only way to save Blaze is to get to Milo first. If you know where to find him, tell me. We can work together.”

  “That would give him the ammo to kill her and me.”

  “You can become a state’s witness. I have connections, good ones.”

  “Let me think about that.”

  Alex approached bringing the round of drinks. He looked at Lorenzo. “You can trust him. He’s good people. If Milo is after you, this is the man you want on your side.”

  The conversation left Lorenzo confused as he pondered Matthew’s offer.

  Matthew sipped his drink. I wonder what Kelly is up too. He read the last text she left.

  The music stopped. Madam Laveau left the stage and claimed a stool to the left of Lorenzo and darted a witchy leer to Matthew.

  Lorenzo exhaled hard between his lips as his cheeks ballooned. He edged nearer to Matthew. A glint of hope flashed in his eyes. “I thought about it. I want to help you capture Milo. If that means I turn state witness, that’s what I’ll do. I’m a dead man if I don’t. Can Blaze join me?”

  “She’ll have to volunteer on her own, but you, I can help. You sure you want to turn? I can only protect you so far in this.”

  “I’m sure. We have to get him before he gets to Blaze.”

  “Tell me where to find her. Do the right thing.”

  Lorenzo averted his eyes and took a long deep breath. Do I tell him?

  “If you want to protect Blaze, tell me how to find her.”

  “Give me your phone and I’ll text it to you. That way you have my number too.”

  Madame Laveau sauntered between Lorenzo and Matthew. She turned toward Matthew. “I see you, in your future.”

  Matthew veered over to Lorenzo and took a sip of his beer. Lorenzo and Matthew raised their brows. Matthew shook his head. What the hell is this about?

  She fixated on Lorenzo as if a supernatural power held their eyes locked onto one another. “Your death is eminent. Your fate is set.” Her words strangled Lorenzo as his chest constricted at the possibility of her grim prediction.

  Matthew passed Lorenzo his phone. “If Milo kills Blaze, there isn’t any life left for you to live. Don’t let the bastard win.”

  “I’ll do anything to protect her. Even take a bullet for her.”

  Madam Laveau briefly closed her eyes. “Don’t put that out in the universe.” Silence lingered before she stepped away to play her third set.

  ***

  The rain poured heavier and pounded against Blaze’s living room window. “Damn it! Why do we have to be under a flash flood watch tonight?” Every sound, real or imagined, startled her.

  Meow Mix and Tiger Lily turned in circles as their tails flicked. A clap of thunder boomed as Meow Mix jumped onto the back of the sofa and hissed at Sam. Blaze panicked, dialed 9-1-1. Her throat closed.

  “Nine, one, one. What’s your emergency?”

  Blaze paced between the window and the door as she twisted a strand of her hair. “I’m scared. The guy that escaped from prison, the Co-Ed serial killer, I think he’s after something I have.”

  “Is he with you now?”

  “No ma’am, I haven’t seen him.”

  “Has he threatened you directly?”

  “No!”

  “Ma’am, there isn’t anything the police can do unless you’re in immediate danger.”

  Her cheeks blushed scarlet. “What do you mean you can’t do anything until he actually breaks in or hurts me? You’re the freaking police. Now protect me.”

  ***

  Sozzled, Lorenzo and Matthew stumbled and staggered out the front door of the Alley Cat. The door closed behind them. The awning sheltered them from the raging storm which stung their faces as it pelted pushed by the wind. A gun shot fired and thudded into Lorenzo’s chest as blood bespattered onto Matthew. The force of the bullet’s impact pranged Lorenzo against Matthew. A rapid second shot grazed Lorenzo’s shoulder. He collapsed and landed in a prone position, his crimson blood spread out around him and dispersed into the puddle.

  Matthew lifted Lorenzo from beneath his armpits and heaved him to safety behind the Taurus. The storm raged which hindered the rescue. “Don’t die on me.” Matthew pulled his gun and took aim.

  A black sedan skidded to a stop as the illegally tinted rear window rolled down one-third of the way. Suicide directed his cold glare at Matthew as the sedan screeched away. Matthew fired as it made the corner.

  A powerful wind gust sent the Alley Cat’s sign crashing above Matthew’s head into the building. He wiped the wetness that dotted his face.

  Matthew crouched. “I’m going to get you out of this. Stay with me. Do it for Blaze.” He quickly boosted Lorenzo’s shoulders and leaned him against the tire.

  Lorenzo grimaced in agony as Matthew repositioned him to constrict blood flow.

  Matthew removed his T-shirt. The rain enhanced his muscular toned stomach. He wadded the shirt and pressed it hand over hand onto Lorenzo’s chest wound.

  Lorenzo struggled to speak as blood oozed from his mouth and nose. “Video this… for Blaze.” He choked on his own blood as his life drained quickly.

  Matthew retrieved his phone while he kept pressure on the wound. “It’s recording.”

  “Blaze… promise me… you’ll let him… help you. I love you.” Lorenzo heaved for air as a jolt of electricity jolted up his spine. His strength precipitously dwindled.

  “You’re not going to die. Stay with me.”

  Lorenzo forced his last words between labored breaths. “Get the ticket from my pocket. Protect it.” Lorenzo’s head plummeted forward.

  “No!” Matthew dropped his head.

  Sirens blared in the distance and thunder echoed. Matthew received an adrenaline rush. “The ticket. What ticket?” Fast and furiously he searched Lorenzo’s front jean pockets. “Damn it, Lorenzo. Change, crumbled dollar bills and two white pills.” He rolled him over and searched his left back pocket until he touched a piece of paper. This has to be it. He pinched the paper and recovered it. “A pawn ticket?” He shielded the paper in his hand from the storm as he waited for the police units.

  CHAPTER 47

  The Keystroke Killer


  The Ford Taurus remained in the Alley Cat parking lot while Matthew slept inside. Dried blood covered his face, hands and his blood-soaked T-shirt. The sun rose which illuminated the yellow crime scene tape and the smeared spray paint body outline around Lorenzo’s blood.

  A knock on the driver’s window startled Matthew. He flinched, opened his eyes and looked at Alex through the glass. Matthew got out of the car. “Thanks man.”

  “No problem. I would have called you a cab; but you insisted on sleeping in your car. You must have one hell of a hangover.”

  “Nope.” Matthew popped open the trunk and secured a roll of paper towels. He ripped off nine sections and ditched the roll back into the trunk. After he grabbed a gallon water jug, he poured the water on the paper towels and washed the blood from his face, neck and hands.

  “I’m surprised they didn’t take your shirt for evidence.”

  “They did. This is the one I changed into.”

  “It’s so bloody.”

  “That’s because I helped to lift him into the ambulance.”

  “I take it you do this often.”

  “More than I care to admit.” He tossed the used bloody paper towels into the trunk and yanked a clean shirt from a black trash bag. “Do they know the guy that shot him?” He pulled his shirt over his head.

  “No leads.”

  Matthew threw his bloody shirt into the trunk and put on his clean T-shirt. “You have any idea where Lorenzo pawn’s his stuff?”

  “I don’t personally, but if anyone does it would be his posse or girlfriend.”

  Matthew reached into his pocket and pulled a wad of money and threw it at Alex. “For your troubles. When one of his boys come in, find out.”

  ***

  Liz opened her office mail at her desk grabbing the first white envelope. She read the return address and pressed the intercom. “Doreen, please come in here.” She threw it onto her desk.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Doreen entered. “What can I assist you with Dr. Wright?”

  Liz held up the letter. “When did this arrive?”

  “Not certain, any particular reason you asked?”

  “It’s from the Mind’s Eye serial killer. I want nothing to do with it, shred it.”

  ***

  Debra glanced over at Matthew’s empty desk. “If I was this late, I’d have been fired already.” A smirk crossed her lips. “Must be nice to have connections with Snead.”

  Peterson shrugged. “Wouldn’t know and I’m not sure if I care.”

  Mr. Hammer, dependent on his cane, shuffled his way to Matthew’s desk.

  Peterson nodded at the old man. “You ever find out why he left WITSEC?”

  “None of your damn business. Where’s Matthew?”

  Debra rolled her eyes and huffed. “Don’t know.”

  Peterson moved to his desk. “I think it had something to do with his sister.”

  “Don’t be talking about Matthew like that. Mind your own self.”

  “I’m only wondering where he is.” Peterson gritted his teeth.

  “Quit worrying about things you don’t get paid to worry about. It’s none of your damn business.” Mr. Hammer scooted back to his desk.

  Debra’s expression turned to genuine bewilderment. “You mean the sister we can’t find? The one who doesn’t have any evidence she ever existed?”

  “The one and only. He’s obsessed.”

  “Speaking of obsession.”

  “It’s still none of your business.” Mr. Hammer pointed the tip of his cane at Peterson from his glass enclosure. “Peterson, you’re about to piss me off.”

  ***

  Matthew banged his fist onto the door to Apartment 116. “Blaze. I have to talk to you. Please open the door.”

  Across the hall, Milo peeped through his spy hole. Darkness is coming.

  Matthew slammed his fist one more time. “Damn it! Blaze! Where are you?” He grabbed his phone.

  “Deedra, call Peterson.”

  “Peterson here.”

  “I’m calling in that favor you owe me. Give me everything you can on Blaze Alyson Angela. Address, five, five, five, Woodlake Lane, Apartment one hundred sixteen, Kenner, Louisiana. When you have the info, put it in a sealed file in my desk drawer and don’t tell Debra or Mr. Hammer about this. Remember, you owe me. You do this, and I’ll call us even.”

  “Do you have her car’s make, model and license plate?”

  “Negative. I’ll call you when I do.”

  ***

  Judas faced the nine computer monitors watching his visual concerto he master-minded from his orchestration of excellent planning. This is rather impressive. His arrogance prevailed at a heightened intensity. He lit his cigarette and the smoke filtered upward in a mesmerizing swirl. “Deedra, give me the update on the Pegasus.”

  “For the last time Judas, the Pegasus satellite is offline. May I suggest you access the Gaefen-1 Chinese satellite abandoned in twenty eighteen which is operational? The Gaefen-1, built for planetary observation with remote sensing data, featured the latest GPS upgrade and Dimension laser technology compatible with Transcendence.”

  “You’re telling me this now?”

  “Judas, you never asked for an alternative. I am only a computer and not a mind reader. However, I do sense your frustration.”

  “Deedra, access the Gaefen-1 satellite.”

  “Accessing the Gaefen-1 now.”

  The bird in the blackness of space rotated. Space debris floated near; stars glittered brightly like diamonds.

  “Access granted.”

  Judas gawked as the tesseract rotated on one tip, turned teal to a gradient verge of purple and white lightning bolts vaulted within the cube. The walls and floor vibrated; and the windows rattled while items on the desk and shelves tumbled to the floor. A hum reverbed and bounced from wall to wall as the electric bolts escaped the tesseract and ricocheted through the room. A long deep bass note saturated the lab as Judas’ eyes glowed light blue. Every monitor turned black and after three seconds, the monitor’s displayed a nebula crab as the sounds from space echoed throughout the lab.

  “Judas, Transcendence is connected to the Gaefen-1 satellite and to the Pegasus which is now online.”

  “We’re all evil in some form or another, are we not?” His tone deep, robotic and sinister reverbed in the blackness of space near the Gaefen-1 satellite. The monitors returned to their earthly designated images.

  Judas gazed at the monitor which featured Blaze, Jenni and Mag at their favorite coffee shop. She really has to get a life before I delete her with one keystroke. He grinned, feeling accomplished. “Deedra, that’s it! I’ll name myself the Keystroke Killer and join Milo’s serial killer club.” He snorted.

  “I’m sorry Judas. I do not understand.”

  Now, Liz. Where are you? He took a deep disappointed breath when he didn’t locate her on a monitor. That didn’t keep him from fantasizing as he remembered how she moved about her apartment as if she strutted the runway of a lingerie fashion show for Victoria’s Angels.

  He glanced at another monitor. Well now. Dr. Angela will be Dr. Angela. Look at his little puppet, should I delete him?

  “What in Hell?” He gazed inquisitively at Matthew’s apartment monitor. “What makes that beautiful woman stay with him?” He fixated on Kelly who wore a l950s housewife dress as she read the novel Never Stop Running. “I think I’m in love.”

  He surveyed another monitor - the empty campus of Loyola between spring and summer break. “Deedra, the Sorority serial killer is dead. Where should I have Milo reposition the camera for optimum benefit?”

  “I recommend one of your nemeses. If I am correct, Professor Faust’s intelligence quotient rivals yours. He has the knowledge and skill to destroy Transcendence.”

  “Awe, yes. Professor Faust, the perfect target. He’s his own demise.”

  ***

  Business at Perks for a weekday morning was slow. Mag, Jenni and Blaze sat
in their favorite corner booth. Each one had a platter of pancakes, orange juice and coffee.

  Blaze took a sip of juice. Her elbow crashed with Jenni’s arm. “Can you scoot over just a tiny bit? This bench is big enough for the both of us.”

  Jenni scooched four inches. “Better?”

  Blaze darted her eyes toward Jenni and nodded. She blew across the mug before she sipped. “I needed this.” Her head dipped nearly into the platter of pancakes; her eyelids heavy. “It was such a freaky night. I didn’t get any sleep.”

  Jenni yawned and raised her hand to conceal it. “We know. You kept us up.” She took a bite of her pancakes.

  “Hell no. I got out of bed and that’s when shit started to fly, literally.” She dropped her fork onto the plate.

  Mag shook a morsel of pancakes on her fork. “That’s a bit much for an exaggeration, don’t you think?” She stuffed the bite of pancakes in her mouth.

  “Seriously, I kept hearing Roth whisper. Then, I swear I saw his ghost too.” She pushed the pancakes toward the center of the table. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

  Mag giggled. “You always wished you could see a ghost. My momma was right, you better be careful what you wish for because you might get it.”

  Jenni stuffed more pancakes into her mouth. “It must be the stress of finding out one of your friends was a serial killer. Can you pass the syrup?”

  Blaze squished her nose and puckered her lips. “That’s gross. Don’t talk with your mouth full.” She handed Jenni the maple syrup.

  Mag darted her eyes toward Blaze. “Do you think Roth had a near death experience?”

  “Oh, good grief. Let’s change the subject. We’re free, school’s out so let’s go to the Quarter and pretend to be tourists.”

  Matthew raced through the door colliding into Alice. Her tray full of dirty dishes took flight and crashed at Alice’s feet as Matthew continued his direct path.

  Alice threw her dish towel to the ground. “Not even an excuse me.”

  Matthew didn’t miss a step as he sprinted to the corner booth. His eyes connected to Blaze’s. “May I join you? It’s very important for you to listen.”

  “Why should I? You’re involved somehow with Roth’s death. That makes two people you were hired to find that ended up dead. Maybe, you’re the only serial killer.”