by Mary Stone
“I thought I told you never to call me at home unless it was an emergency,” I said coolly as I clicked the remote to pause my movie. “We’re not friends.”
“I understand, sir,” the timid man stuttered. “But the girl is snooping around, and I thought you should know.”
I bit back a curse, forcing my hand to uncurl from the fist it wanted to create. He was nothing like my street urchin. I needed to be patient. “Snooping where? On the internet? In the middle of the ocean? For something that has you so vexed, you are annoyingly vague.”
“At the park,” the man ground out.
“Don’t get testy with me,” I chided. “I’ve cut down better men than you for less. Are you absolutely certain she isn’t just visiting the park like thousands do every month?”
“Twice in two days and only the two dumpsites.”
I sat up straighter. “I’m listening.”
“The second time, she brought along someone from the office.”
“Describe him to me.” I wanted to reach through the phone and snatch the details from his lungs.
“Her. Petite, blonde, giggly. She works at Charleston PD. I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying, but I—”
“Jillian Reed. She works in evidence.”
“What was she doing in the park with Ellie?”
“I’d wager they were working, but that is purely speculation on my part.” I drew the words out, toying with him. His feathers were so easily ruffled. “They won’t find anything, so they’re free to traipse around the park at their discretion.”
“You’re not concerned that she’s apparently connected the two cases?” His tone was demanding, and for a moment, I was silent, envisioning the hundreds of ways I could teach him to be more respectful. “Did you hear me? Should we be concerned?”
A burst of red exploded behind my eye. “There is no ‘we,’” I snapped. “I am not concerned. If you’re afraid of young Ellie and her little gal pal playing detective, that’s on you.”
“No one else connected the cases.”
“Arrogance,” I explained. “The previous detective was after bigger fish, and two college girls weren’t high on his list.”
“What if Kline finds out their names?” The man’s breathing was heavy and clearly audible. “If we’re not careful, she could blow the whole thing open.”
“You keep saying ‘we.’ I feel like there’s a fundamental lack of understanding here. None of this is about you.”
“B-but I’m involved. And what if there’s evidence that implicates me…”
If only.
He was dry humping my last nerve. Pinning it all on him would be satisfying, as would watching the live coverage of his inevitable suicide by cop. But I needed him, at least for now. His demise would have to wait.
“There’s nothing for the girl to find. If Ellie manages to name them, it will serve to prove that she’s more than the Kline name. There’s no harm in that.”
“Girl? She’s not a girl anymore. She’s a loose end that needs to be dealt with.”
“Are you serious?” I snapped, jumping up from the couch. “Who do you think you are? Cross me again, and you’ll find that I have better hiding places than West Ashley Park.”
Blessed silence met my ear.
I waited, taking a deep breath and willing my heart rate to slow. It wasn’t often that I allowed one of my followers to unsettle me, and he was pushing his luck. Still, it wasn’t worth my time to deal with him.
Bored with his nonsense, I pushed the play button, and the movie started again. He remained silent, no doubt carefully picking his next words so he wouldn’t give me an excuse to put him in one of my films. The thought made me chuckle. He’d die from sheer terror before I made the first cut of the knife. “You’d be a waste of storage on my flash drive,” I muttered.
“Sir?” His voice was trembling. I could almost taste the fear through the phone. It was delicious.
I shook my head. “Nothing. I don’t have time for your babbling. Leave the girl alone. She won’t find anything worth the stress you’re putting yourself through.”
“Permission to keep an eye on her?”
“Aren’t your eyes on her enough? It sounds as if you’ve been stalking her quite thoroughly.”
He cleared his throat. “I was worried she was getting too close.”
“There is nothing to worry about. I don’t know how else to make you understand, so I’m going to remove myself from this conversation. Keep your distance, and please let me know if there’s anything important happening. Until then, good day.”
I hung up without waiting for him to say goodbye, but try as I might, I couldn’t get back into my movie. Not that I was worried about what Ellie might find. But having the case reopened presented more than a few challenges.
Which meant I would have to make some hard choices, and I was loath to even begin.
Like my office, everything in my home required a fingerprint to access. The painting in the library swung outward on its hinges as I opened it to reveal one of the many safes hidden throughout the house. I put in the combination, then completed it with my thumb jammed to the sensor. The safe clicked open, and I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. I knew it would be impossible for any hint of their scent to actually linger, but the memories that rushed forth were so clear I could smell them.
The bracelets were nestled together on a pedestal, intertwined for eternity. The silver metal was cold in my hands as I carefully picked them up. Delicate script declared a timeless love on a wide metal plate, and on the back, their names and anniversary date were inscribed.
Tabitha’s had Mabel’s name listed first, and Mabel’s was the opposite. Otherwise, the bracelets were identical. The bands were the same width as the plate, simple and plain, but it was the center of each plate that had caught my eye. An oval that resembled an old-fashioned picture frame held an etching of the two of them locked in a kiss.
I pressed the bracelets to my chest and closed my eyes. They’d been one of my favorites, though they hadn’t reacted in a way I’d expected. But they’d been brave, and both had been defiant until the end. I so loved it when they struggled. The fight in them gave me life like nothing else did.
It was so interesting to watch. To witness. To examine and tear apart.
The bracelets had been in my wall safe since that day. I’d read dozens of books sitting in the chair beneath the oil painting of a crane picking its way through the shallows of the Ashley River. Their screams echoing in my mind were the most divine background music. Now though, I was going to have to make some changes. I couldn’t risk the mementos being found in my house. They were the only thing that connected me to the women.
One by one, I gathered each item and carefully wrapped them in velvet cloths. I didn’t need to catalog them. I had each one memorized so clearly that if I stopped to indulge, remembering was like a movie playing in my mind.
Next, I picked up a feminine tennis bracelet made entirely of cubic zirconium and indulged myself for a moment, closing my eyes. I could see the raven-haired vixen clearly, hear her voice as she demanded I kill her roommate the first time I’d asked the question. A record that had yet to be broken.
Would it ever be broken? Time would tell.
The stones dazzled, though it was fake. I’d considered presenting my raven girl with a real one before her death. But she was a coward and her friendship with her roommate as fake as the bracelet. I always told them right away that all they had to do to end the suffering was order me to kill their friend. So many balked and tried to avoid what was destined to happen, but not the raven-haired slut. As soon as I’d said the words, she’d blurted them back at me, forcing my hand. What had made the encounter special was all the juicy details she’d spilled as soon as her friend was dead.
I boxed everything up in a small ornate wooden box and set it on the passenger seat. Once behind the wheel, I couldn’t help reliving the flood of confessions that had spilled
from her ruby lips. That was the best part. And her video had sold for far more than expected. Fans of snuff films didn’t like death to come so swift and merciful as her friend’s, but my darling vixen had spent hours spilling her secrets.
The bracelet had been a gift from the roommate’s boyfriend, who she’d slept with until he dumped her roommate. Once he was available, however, she’d lost interest and moved on. The roommate never found out.
I’d mourned the possibilities that were never realized. Had I known the little tramp held so many secrets inside, I would’ve forced her to confess each and every one to her poor roommate before killing them both. But my raven earned herself a fitting death that had stunned even the most rabid fan.
She’d spilled her guts for hours on tape, and when she was done, I slashed her belly and spilled her guts a bit more literally. I could still feel her fear as she tried to scoop her innards back into their proper position. Still smell the erotic tang of blood as they slid through her fingers and tumbled to the floor.
My body quaked, bringing me back to the present. I forced my mind to less stimulating things, pulling into the bank parking lot, and adjusting my clothes to hide my growing excitement. Then I carefully picked up the box and walked into the lobby, catching the manager’s attention.
I didn’t have to spell out my needs, which was one of my favorite things about this branch of Charleston Bank and Trust. He led me to the safe deposit room, used his master key to release the box I’d had for over a decade, then whisked me into a private room with no cameras and left me alone with my treasures.
One precious prize at a time, I took every item from the wooden container and placed them in the safe deposit box. I spent a few minutes with each memory, promising my pretties that I would return often. Then there was only one piece left. My hands trembled as I reached in for it.
The necklace was the standard heart-shaped locket on a gold chain, but this one opened up to reveal Helen and Daniel Kline much younger than they were today. Ellie’s first name was engraved on the front while a short message of undying love from her parents was on the back. She’d worn it religiously until she was fifteen, and then, it was mine. For twelve years, I’d held the locket against my throat, closing my eyes to remember the sound of her angelic voice from so long ago.
“I won’t do it,” she declared, glaring at me with eyes greener than the purest emeralds.
“She will suffer until you do.” I gestured to the girl bound and sitting across from her. “Look at her. She’s going to die anyway. Why would you force her to suffer?”
I’d worked on Ellie for what seemed like an eternity, increasing her medications until she was suggestable. She’d fought harder, but finally, I’d won. That moment had been pure sweetness. Twelve years later, I could still hear her innocence and the pain that pushed through the haze of drugs and exhaustion.
“Kill the bitch,” she’d finally said, looking the other girl in the eye, just like I told her to, the words so sweet bursting from her full lips. “Die, Bitch. Die.”
17
Jillian looked up when Ellie walked into their shared basement office Wednesday morning, cutting her eyes toward Ellie’s desk. “Fortis left you a note. He’s been down here already this morning.”
Ellie handed Jillian a cup of coffee as she whizzed by without missing a beat. “It’s not even nine yet,” she grumbled. “Did he say what he wanted?”
“Nope. He just told me to let you know as soon as you walked in the door.”
Ellie snatched the sticky note off the monitor and turned it around so Jillian could read it, rolling her eyes and slumping like she could fall asleep standing on her feet. She pitched her voice low, in a horrible impersonation of Fortis. “‘As soon as you get here, come to my office.’”
Jillian giggled and covered her mouth, her eyes going to the door and widening.
“I don’t think I talk like that.” With the unmistakable voice of Fortis behind her, Ellie froze, her shoulders rising so they were almost even with her ears.
“I guess I should’ve looked behind me before I opened my mouth.” She treated Fortis to a dazzling, albeit apologetic smile when she turned to face him. “I just walked in the door.”
“I know. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“My shift starts at nine.”
He checked his watch. “It’s a quarter ‘til. Didn’t your parents teach you if you’re early you’re on time and if you’re on time, you’re late?”
“And if you’re late, you’re fired,” she finished. “Yes, they did. I’m…on time?”
“My office, now,” he ordered before turning and walking out of the room.
“That went well.” Jillian’s lips were pursed together, her brows in a worried line.
“You can laugh.” Ellie took a long swig of coffee. “I can’t believe I did that.”
Jillian shrugged, raising her coffee in a toast. “If that’s the worst thing that happens all day, it’s not that bad, right?”
“We’ll see if I still have a job when I’m done explaining myself.”
Jillian crossed her fingers on both hands, turned back to her computer, and went to work.
Filled with dread, Ellie dragged herself into the hallway, taking the back staircase instead of the elevator. Maybe if I give him a few minutes to cool off, he won’t still be mad, she thought, cringing. But if delaying by a few minutes backfired, and he was angrier when she got there, that would be bad too. Groaning, she took the last few stairs two at a time, hurried through the door, and rushed down the hallway.
She was out of breath by the time she burst through the door of the Violent Crimes Unit and caught sight of her reflection.
Five chairs swiveled in her direction, a few of the detectives stopping mid phone conversation, staring at her in surprise.
“Everything’s fine,” she said, smoothing her hair back from her face and willing her skin to return to a less mortifying shade of pink. “I’m just here to see Fortis.” Resisting the urge to clap her hand to her mouth, she instead pressed her lips tightly together. She was a detective with Violent Crimes, so of course, she was there to talk to Fortis.
Everyone went back to work almost as quickly as they’d stopped, and when she dared look up again, no one was watching her. Placing one foot in front of the other, she took a few deep breaths through her nose. Her breathing was calm again when she wrapped her fingers around the cold brass handle of Fortis’s office door.
Phone tucked under his chin, he pointed to the chair in front of his desk then turned back to the computer monitor. He nodded a few times, typing with only his index fingers, pecking at the keyboard with astounding speed. Then the conversation was over, and it was time to face the music.
Ellie sat ramrod straight in the chair, hands folded on her lap, ready to apologize.
But Fortis started talking before she could open her mouth. “Where are you with the Coggins case?”
“Coggins?”
His eyebrows came together over his nose. “The one on the top of my list. Did you have a chance to look at it yet?”
“Sir, it’s only Wednesday. I still have the rest of the week to work on my Jane Doe.”
To her relief, he nodded his agreement. “You have new information on that one?”
“Not much, but I’m making progress, and I think if I can just finish out this week, I can—”
“You’re going to drive yourself into an early grave obsessing like this. It’s one case. There are hundreds. You’ve already spent more than a week on it, it’s time to let it go.”
Taking soft, even breaths, she kept her voice measured. “You gave me until the end of the week, sir.” Despite her best efforts to stay calm, she could feel the heat crawling up her neck.
“I figured you’d get bored with that case by now and move on.” He shrugged, waving his hand.
“You were humoring me?” Ellie sat forward in the chair. “She’s a human being, and somewhere her family is wondering what hap
pened to her.”
He placed his elbows on the desk, leaning in, obviously enjoying the debate. “I wouldn’t count on it. A lot of young adults set out to make their mark on the world and disown their families in the process. We don’t even know if this female was from Charleston. She could be from anywhere.”
“That doesn’t mean she isn’t worth the effort.”
“You’ve put in effort,” Fortis countered. “Quite a bit of effort. If you haven’t found anything by now, what makes you think you’re going to do better than Detective Jones did? He was one of the best and—”
“And he put this case on the back burner in favor of one that would bring him more attention when it was solved.” Her lips were parted, chest heaving, sweat about to break out on her forehead. “If he’d been more focused on his job than retiring with honors, then he might’ve actually solved this case the first time around.”
And the other one, she amended silently.
Fortis arched an eyebrow at her, and he didn’t speak for so long, she was certain the next words to come out of his mouth would be the end of her career. Then a smile slowly spread across his face, and he shook his head. “Jones was a pompous ass who thought he could do no wrong, but you didn’t hear that from me. I have no idea who gave you that information, but I don’t doubt it’s true. You have until the end of the week, but first thing Monday morning, I want you on the Coggins case.”
“Yes, sir.” She started to stand up, but he held up his hand, coming around the desk to sit on the corner, his expression softening.
“I’m not kidding about driving yourself into an early grave. You can’t live for a case. Look into it, see if you can find new information, then move on. Otherwise, the stress will eventually get to you, and you’re looking at putting your health at risk. I’m saying this from experience. I worked cold cases for a long time. You’ll lose more than you’ll win. If you can’t set healthy limits, you’re going to burn out.”