by Joan Davis
Conner closed his eyes and said, “Bill, something has happened, and you need to get back here.”
“Risa . . .,” Bill started in a panic, but Conner interrupted him.
“Risa’s fine, and I’m going to hand the phone to her so you can talk with her, but I first want to make sure Jose is with you.” At Bill’s assurance, Conner handed the phone to Risa.
“Daddy, are you okay?” Risa whispered tearfully.
“I’m fine honey. Jose and I are hitting the road as soon as possible. I’ll be home in no time, Sweetheart. Just hold on for me, okay?” Bill asked, trying to sound normal. “I need you to give the phone back to Conner because he has to speak to Jose before we leave. I love you, Honey.” Bill said and waited to make sure Risa did as he asked.
Conner took the phone from Risa’s limp hand and walked out of the office to speak with Bill and Jose and give them the details.
“Samson, I’m going to take a look around before the Sheriff gets out here. Conner and I were just with Chris. He is at Bill’s house and everything is quiet there. Workmen are just finishing for the day. I told him to stay in place. I called in people to back him up and keep watch. They should be there before the workmen leave the site,” Mik said
“No Samson, don’t let him go,” Risa said in a panic.
“Baby, whoever did this is long gone. Mik knows what he is doing. Don’t worry, he’ll be safe,” Samson said soothingly.
Mik nodded as Samson gave him a sign over Risa’s head. He left the room and went out to his truck and grabbed his sniper rifle, camera phone and a flash light. There was only an hour or so of daylight left, so he set out quickly to see what he could find.
Mik instinctively headed straight for the wooded area between the Landau and Knight properties. It was the logical location for surveillance. Being a retired Special Forces sharpshooter, Mik had no trouble climbing several trees in less than half an hour. Each time he went up he would use his rifle’s scope to scan the immediate area around the tree. He was sitting in a tree that sat just inside the wooded area close to Samson’s property. Something was off about the area below him. He had scanned it several times but found nothing until he spotted what looked like some type of rough material half hidden by the foliage. It was the same color as the undergrowth around it, and Mik nearly missed seeing it.
Climbing down the tree, Mik made his way into the foliage and undergrowth. He was forced to crawl the last few feet, but he finally found a small area of depressed branches and brush. Looking closer, Mik located a bloody burlap sack and a few black fibers tangled over a low branch. These are what Mik had seen from above in the tree. He quickly took pictures of the area, being careful not to disturb anything. He cut a small piece off the bloodied burlap sack and placed it in a small sterile bag. The process was repeated with one or two of the fibers that lay over the branch.
Mik slowly turned, lifted his rifle and looked through the scope. From this vantage point, a person would have clear site-lines of Samson’s back porch and deck all the way to the lake dock and water. Mik raged, thinking about how close this bastard had been to every one of them. He could have killed anyone, at any time.
Now knowing what to look for, Mik located two additional sites. Both were older and had not been used for a while. He came across old and new drag marks from tree branches or something that would erase any foot prints. He followed them out to the road that ran in front of both properties. Whoever this asshole was, he knew how to find and set up surveillance that most people wouldn’t even think possible.
He continued to survey the area until he saw the flashing red and blue lights coming up the street. He quickly moved out of the wooded area and met Conner as he waited by the front door. Mik silently nodded to Conner, then quickly went inside to take pictures and survey the living room, porch, deck and the area surrounding the house before the police began their work. Mik now understood why he had been so restless the last few times he had been out here. At any time that bastard could have killed any one of them without warning. Whoever this guy was, he was becoming recklessly bolder and now had started taking risky chances, like today. Hopefully, he would also become careless. When you do, asshole, I intend to be there waiting to take you out, Mik promised himself.
*****
Risa sat on the couch next to Samson. “He’s not going to stop is he?” Risa asked dully. “He’s going to keep coming until he has me back. They said I would never escape, and that if I did, they would track me down and bring me back. He’s not going to stop.” Risa’s face was a mask of terrified resignation.
Samson pulled Risa on to his lap and held her tight. “I’m going to stop him, baby. He took a big risk today, and he is going to start making mistakes. Then we’ll get him. Trust me, Baby,” Samson promised and pulled Risa closer to his warmth. He felt a deep rage build inside him. He had let his guard down today. He knew better. As soon as Conner and Mik had left the house, he should have closed and locked all the windows and doors. Instead, he had wanted to be with Risa and had ignored a basic rule of security. It was his fault that bastard had gotten into the house.
Samson saw flashing lights coming through the curtains as Conner returned. “The Sheriff has arrived. I’ll go out and meet them. Jose said it will be a few more hours before he and Bill can leave. There is a big storm moving in, and they would be driving right into it. Jose doesn’t want to take a chance. He said the woman they are working for offered to put them up for the night, rather than having them stay at their hotel. She has high security and people who patrol her property. She told me to tell Risa she would make sure to keep Bill safe,” Conner said for Risa’s benefit, and at Samson’s nod, he left to meet the Sheriff.
“It was wrong. They did it wrong,” Risa said in a small voice.
“What did they do wrong, baby?” Samson asked quietly.
Risa slowly folded and unfolded the material of Samson’s T-shirt. “The cats were never put in the pentagram.” Her voice was quiet and almost trance-like. “They always did the sacrifice on the altar. I was the one who was tied down on the pentagram. They’d start the ritual and the poor little cat would start screaming in pain. I never thought an animal could make a sound like that. It would scream and scream, and they would chant louder and louder. I begged them every time. I begged them not to hurt the cats, but they never stopped, never listened. They just kept chanting, and then the cat would finally stop screaming. That’s when I knew it was dead, but at least they couldn’t hurt it anymore.”
Samson swallowed back bile and pulled Risa closer, trying unsuccessfully to protect her from her past. “They will never hurt you again, baby, I promise.”
Risa continued almost as if she hadn’t heard Samson’s voice. “They would collect the blood from the cat and then they would paint it on my body. I tried to fight, but I couldn’t move. I could never move. I begged them over and over to stop, but they never did. They made me . . . they made me drink it.” Risa’s voice was thin, lost and then silent.
Samson brushed his hand over Risa’s hair and laid his head back on the couch. You’re fucking dead, you son of a bitch. I promise you that. You’re going to pay for every second of pain you have caused my woman. I will find you, and then I will end you, Samson vowed silently.
Samson looked up and saw Conner’s stricken face as he stood in the doorway. Samson realized he had heard what Risa had said. Sheriff Grant, looking grim, stood behind him. They both looked pale and shaken. Conner looked at Samson and then at Risa in helpless indecision.
Samson knew it wasn’t only Risa’s words that were responsible for the looks on the two men’s faces. Samson looked at Conner grimly, “What?”
Conner swallowed and looked at Risa with regret. “They just found Saren’s body in his cell. He’s been murdered.”
*****
Samson was still holding Risa in his arms as the last sheriff’s deputy left his property. It was well past midnight, and Conner and Mik were staying the night and taking turns
walking the property. Conner had called in his security people who were now patrolling both properties and scanning for anything that law enforcement might have missed.
Sheriff Grant had demanded that the forensic team go over everything twice. They gathered samples and made a photographic record of everything inside and outside of Samson’s home. The sheriff had questioned Samson and Risa himself. He didn’t want to take any chances that evidence would be missed. He had put two units on each property and promised to call in more reinforcements. Samson had Conner coordinate with the sheriff so that there would be no confrontation between Conner’s men and Sheriff Grant’s deputies.
Someone had contacted District Attorney Addison, who had arrived earlier in the evening. Samson made it very clear that Risa had nothing to add to what had already been shared with Sheriff Grant. He had also asked if they had been able to check the jail’s security video feed yet, to see if they could identify Saren’s killer. The D.A. had looked uncomfortable. Apparently, Cloverdale’s mayor and city representatives had denied funding for updated video surveillance at the town’s jail. It had been deemed cost-prohibitive, and the money had instead gone to town-beautification projects. The current system was intermittent, at best, and had not been functioning on the day Saren was murdered. Samson had given the D.A. such a look of disgust that there was no doubt as to his opinion of the man and his office. Risa’s therapist had also called, having been contacted by Bill Landau. She had convinced Risa to come in to see her later in the day.
The press had tried to gather, but the sheriff and D.A. had given them a vague accounting of Saren’s death, and very few details about the home invasion. They eventually pulled back and left as well.
Later in the evening, Mik had returned from tracking the property. He had quietly told Samson that he would update him later with what he had found. Mik and Conner had also made sure all traces of the pentagram were removed after the forensic team had collected the dead cat and samples of the debris. They had also cleaned and mopped up every room until the house smelled of lemons and vanilla.
Once everyone left, everything had been locked down and all the outside lights shone brightly.
Samson sat up and Risa looked up at him sadly. “We need to get you fed and then get you to bed.” he said quietly.
“Saren’s dead. I should feel safer, right?” Risa asked. “You think it was the same man that attacked me, don’t you? He killed Saren.”
Samson sighed, “Risa, we will get this bastard. Saren deserved what he got, regardless of who did it. Good riddance. I promise you we will get whoever is behind all of this. D.A. Addison is checking the records for everyone who signed in to the jail last night and today. Maybe they’ll find something,” he said doubtfully.
Risa nodded but stopped him when he started to stand. She put her hand against his chest and said, “They don’t have the right to do this to me.” She shook her head when Samson started to speak. “No, listen to me. I’m so tired of being scared, Samson. I’m so tired of being afraid of them getting to me again. I’m tired of worrying about everyone’s safety. The people I love shouldn’t have to worry about mine. Those animals just kept telling me over and over that I would never be free, and that they would always find me if I escaped. They drilled that into my head every second I was with them. I finally started to believe that was my fate, and that I had no choice. They don’t have the right to do this. I didn’t do anything to deserve this much hell. I have sat here all day paralyzed by fear and made you sit here with me. How sick is that to let someone control me like that? I can’t do it anymore. I’m done being a victim. I deserve to have my life back. I may not be good at it at first, but I’m going to try and live my life without fear. I’m so tired of being a victim,” Risa finished and took a deep shaky breath.
Samson leaned down and kissed her softly. He cupped her cheek and said, “Baby, you are anything but a victim. I think you have already proven to be one brave woman, but I will stand with you on any decision you make, as long as you let me keep you safe. I’ve got your back, baby, and I have an army coming in to help. I had Conner call my family, and they are something to behold. We will get this jackass, and I will make sure he never hurts you or anyone you care about again.”
Risa hugged Samson tightly and got off his lap and stood up stiffly. “You would think with all that muscle you have it would be more comfortable to sit on you for hours on end, but not so much,” Risa teased, trying for humor.
Samson played along and snorted, “Try having a bony-assed woman sit on you all day long, and then come talk to me.” Samson hugged her close, and then led her to the kitchen.
Risa hesitated when they reached the entrance to the living room, but she made herself continue to walk into the room. Everything was back to normal. It was as if nothing had ever happened. Risa breathed a sigh of relief.
Samson squeezed her hand and said, “Mik and Conner took care of everything after the sheriff’s people were done with their investigation.” Just then, Mik opened the front door and stepped inside the entryway.
Risa slowly stepped up to Mik and kissed his cheek before hugging him. “Thank you, Mikhail,” she said simply and then turned back to Samson and took his hand.
Mik nodded and seemed a little dazed. He cleared his throat and said, “You’re welcome. Anything for you, Risa.” He looked at Samson, and then said, “I think Conner is warming up the leftover chili, if you guys want to eat.”
They found Conner in the kitchen fixing a salad. He looked up and said, “I have a smorgasbord here. I warmed up Risa’s amazing chili. But just in case you didn’t want something heavy, I made a few grilled cheese and ham Panini’s and a salad. We can just fill our plates and eat here at the island.”
Risa smiled at Conner gently and walked over to hug him in gratitude.
Conner slowly hugged her back and looked over her head at Samson. “Damn man, if I had known that cooking and cleaning was a way to steal a woman’s heart, I would have opened a Merry Maid service and hired all my friends,” he said. Hearing Risa’s laughter, he grinned.
Risa turned her smiling face towards Samson, and his heart lightened just a bit. “Get your hands off my woman, you lecher.” Samson gave him a mock growl and pulled Risa into his arms. She fit easily against his body.
Risa looked up at Samson, batted her eyes and said, “I like big ol’ burly construction men, anyway.” She squeaked when Samson squeezed her tightly in revenge.
They all prepared plates and sat around the bar while they ate. Risa looked over to Mik and spoke quietly. “I know you want to tell Samson what you found when you went outside before the police got here. You can go ahead tell us. I want to know as well. I won’t fall apart. I’m not letting these people control my life any longer. I need to know what I’m facing.”
Mik hesitated, but Samson said, “Risa is right. She has the right to know everything. Let’s go into the living room and get comfortable.”
Risa was glad that she didn’t feel repulsed or strange as she walked back into living room. She didn’t want Samson’s home, a place that she had come to love, to be tainted by the evil that stalked her. Risa and Samson sat next to each other on the big leather couch and Mik and Conner each took one of the leather chairs.
Mik brought out his cell phone and queued up the pictures he had taken outside and passed it to Samson. “I found the place where he gathered up the dirt he used to make the pentagram. I also found a burlap sack where he must have kept that poor cat.” Mik hesitated when Risa closed her eyes, as if in pain, but he went on after a moment.
“There were no footprints, but I found drag marks where he wiped them out.” Mik waited until Samson indicated he found the picture showing the drag marks, and then went on speaking. “Actually, he used an old-fashioned broom instead of a natural branch. I found broom straws in two different places. I followed them out to the road, but the trail went cold there. Also, I did find a few fibers that appear to have come from black clothing. I foun
d those in 3 different places where the foliage was pressed to the ground. He seems to have used those areas to hide and keep track of our movements.” Mik saw an understanding of the implications spread across Samson’s face. “I showed all of this to Sheriff Grant’s men, but I kept a small amount of the evidence back to give to Conner.” Mik looked at Conner and nodded.
Conner still looked worried about talking in front of Risa, but said, “I have someone coming by tomorrow, or I guess it’s today, to pick up those fibers and the piece of burlap bag that Mik cut away.
Samson was studying the picture on Mik’s phone and asked, “Where exactly was this area?”
Conner sat forward in frustration. “Samson, the area where Mik found this stuff was in the middle of dense underbrush located just inside the wooded area about 20 feet from your side yard. The other sites Mik found were almost halfway between your house and Bill’s. Someone would have to crawl into them on all fours. Even at my height, it would reach my shoulders with me standing up straight. The only reason Mik found the first spot was because he climbed just about every fucking tree in those damn woods and used his rifle scope to look down at everything. It was only by chance that Mik spotted the strings from the burlap bag lying across a branch. Those eagle eyes of his come in handy every once in a while,” Conner said sardonically.
Mik shrugged and said, “Once I knew what to look for, I found the other two sites pretty quickly.”
Samson nodded, feeling sick with rage at how easy it would have been for this bastard to hurt Risa any time she had been outside the house. Handing Mik his phone back, Samson said, “Well, he had to know we were going to go into lockdown mode when he did this. I don’t expect him to try and return to those spots.” Samson pulled Risa closer, and she laid her head against his chest. “I told Risa earlier that he is going to start making mistakes and leaving behind evidence. Everything Mik found is proof of this. I don’t want to give him a chance to regroup.”