Diary of the Pirate Killer

by Jenn Vakey

  7/31/09- So I met a guy at the bar last night. It was pretty crowded, so I wanted to make sure to put on a good show. He was already pretty drunk by the time we left. I took him back to my place, then slipped him a little something with the drink I gave him once we got here. Like all the others, it only took a few minutes before he was out cold. It took a little work to get him into my bed and get his clothes off, but I’m sure he will think we had sex when he wakes up tomorrow morning. The last few guys I just made think they passed out before anything happened. I figured this was the best way to go about this one, though. Now if Rilynne does start to suspect me, I will have him to testify on my behalf. There’s no way I would still be hung up on Justin if I’m taking guys home from the bar, right? Oh, I surprise myself with just how smart I am.

  I followed Derek for a bit today. He spent all day at school, then went out to Landers Bar with his girlfriend. He’s lives the most structured life of anyone I’ve ever seen. I swear he does the exact same thing every day. It’s going to make grabbing him really easy. Well, I guess I should get some sleep. Night!

  August 2009

  8/2/09- Detective Butcher REALLY doesn’t like Rilynne. I heard her complaining about her to one of the officers in the ladies room. It was all I could do not to laugh. She just doesn’t like how much better Rilynne is than her. It only got worse when Rilynne found the last vessel. She’s just jealous. I think she liked being the only female on the task force. She’s not as special now. Besides, Rilynne is way hotter than she is. The guys don’t avoid Rilynne the way they do her. A lot of that is my fault, though! I let it slip that I overheard a few of the guys talking about her, so she thinks every time someone talks to her that they are hitting on her. It’s actually pretty funny to watch. I think it’s pretty funny that she dislikes Rilynne so much. I would love to see her face when it comes out that Rilynne and Ben are together. She’s only been here a month and she already nabbed a guy in the department. Brenda’s been here for years!

  8/3/09- I know she thinks she’s better than me. I can see it on her face. There’s a cockiness about her that the other detectives don’t have. I can’t just let her come in here and undo all of the work that I’ve put in. People are finally starting to see the police department as it is... flawed.

  I’ve already tried distracting her. She shot down my idea about dating someone without even giving it much though. She said something about being too busy. I can tell she’s lying. I know she and Ben are secretly seeing each other. If they keep it secret, it’s not going to properly distract her. She must think I’m really stupid not to see it. She hides it a little better, but Ben completely gives it away. His face lights up every time I mention her name. I’ve started doing it just to get a reaction from him. I at least thought he would have told me. She must have told him not to.

  If their relationship isn’t going to be a big enough distraction for her, then I’m going to have to give her another one. More than just that, I want to show her that I’m better than she is. She can’t beat me, no matter how clever she thinks she is.

  8/5/09- I talked to Ben about Rilynne again today. I tried to push him into telling me that they are together, but he wouldn’t budge. He still blushes like a schoolgirl every time I even mention her name, though. It’s really cute.

  So I waited until the security guard of the building stepped out for a smoke last night and I went in to disable the security cameras. It was actually pretty easy. They are pretty old, so all I needed to do was mess with the wiring. Knowing how cheap the landlord it, it will be weeks before it gets fixed. Since there are no cameras on any of the buildings surrounding the apartment building, it should be easy to get him out and to the car without being seen. I just need to time it perfectly. I definitely want to make sure Rilynne is home at the time. I want her to know that I’m better than she is. I don’t want her to be able to make any excuses.

  8/7/09- Ben went to the bar with us last night. It was fun to watch him and Rilynne together. They are trying SO hard to hide the electricity between them. They sat at the bar and talked all night while I made my rounds. It actually helped me out. They were distracted enough to not see me leaving my unfinished drinks sitting on the tables I was visiting. I did spill one on myself, because I wanted to make sure I would smell like I was incredibly drunk. After a while, I pretended to pass out at one of the tables. Ben and Rilynne got me back to my apartment and into bed. I’m guessing he walked her upstairs, because it took him a little while to head back out. I watched at the window for Derek to come back. Luckily, he came home alone. I didn’t really know what I would do if his girlfriend had tagged along. I took the stairs up to the fourth floor and watched him get off the elevator. I waited for him to open his door before running up behind him. I told him my friend was passed out in my car and I needed help bringing her in. It was cake after that. He went with me downstairs, and I drugged him as soon as we reached the car. I just pushed him up against the car and pulled open the back door before pushing him in. That probably wasn’t the smartest move, but it seemed easier than trying to get him into the trunk. Besides, if anyone saw me, they would just think he was drunk.

  The bad part of it was that he came to while we were driving to the cabin. I must not have given him enough, because it only took me five minutes after getting him into the car for me to go upstairs and leave the card on his open door. He started to stir twenty minutes into the drive to the cabin. Luckily I had my crowbar sitting on the passenger seat, so I grabbed it and hit him. He bled a little, but it at least knocked him out until I could get him into the cabin and secure him.

  It wasn’t long after that that I got the message to go in. Since everyone thought I was incredibly drunk, no one will think twice when I don’t report in.

  The procedure went well. I had to drug him again for it, but the leg looks good. I should get into work. I really don’t want to, but people will start to wonder if I take the whole day off.

  8/8/09- Today has been a crazy day. I’ll just start at the beginning so I don’t leave anything out. Before heading out, I went up to Rilynne’s apartment. Apparently, Ben made these binders for the task force that go over everything from the new vessel. It has a copy of all of the forensics, photos, and a bunch of other stuff. That’s just further proof that there’s something going on with him and Rilynne. He’s never made anything like that before. He’s just trying to impress her.

  After leaving there, I headed out to the cabin. Derek was awake when I walked in. I must say, I didn’t expect what came next. He was sitting up on the bed when I stepped in to join him. I had just sat on the edge of the bed beside him when he swung out and struck me with the bedpan. I don’t know how long I was out, but he was gone when I came to. I searched all over the house and the woods surrounding the cabin. I don’t know how he could have made it so far after the procedure. Luckily I had the entire day off, so I was able to spend it searching. It didn’t do me any good, though. I looked until it was dark, but couldn’t find him anywhere.

  I was almost too afraid to go back home after that. Unlike the majority of the other vessels, he could actually tell them exactly who I am if he was found. I have a police scanner at home, so I decided to just to play it by ear for now. If a call comes out that he’s been found, I will go into hiding at that point. I know he won’t be able to survive long out there, though, especially with this heat wave. As much as I was really hoping I could find him so I could finish the process, I’m really hoping the elements get to him.

  As soon as I got back to the building, I headed up to Rilynne’s apartment. I really should have checked myself out a little better, because I apparently got a few twigs stuck in my hair while I was out searching for the vessel. She asked about it, but I just shrugged it off and said I fell while I was running. My heart was racing, though. If he’s found out in the woods, I have a feeling her mind will instantly jump to me. Hopefully she bought my story about just being out there running. Derek managed to catch me on the side of th
e head with that damn bedpan, so at least there wasn’t a mark.

  Oh, and get this. Ben was at Rilynne’s apartment when I got there. I may not have a visible bruise, but he definitely does. He wouldn’t tell me what happened when he walked back down to my apartment with me, but I can’t help but think that it will actually help me out a bit. As long as Derek isn’t found alive, it will look like he struck Ben and escaped. I’m sure he will be able to talk his way out of it pretty easily, but it will at least buy me enough time to take care of what I need to.

  My insides are in knots right now. I was in a panic as I was running around the woods today. It’s my own damn fault. I shouldn’t have untied him. With the last vessel, Justin had been in complete control on the second day. They had also been so weak at that point that I never thought it was possible for the vessel to be strong enough to even strike me, let alone get himself up the stairs and out of the house. I can’t believe I didn’t lock the door. How could I have made such a reckless mistake?!

  Back to Ben... I wonder what happened to his face. I know he can have a bit of a temper when it comes to being valiant, but he’s not really the type of guy to get into fights. I know he wasn’t in an accident, because then he would have just told me. He’s hiding something, so it has to be a good story.

  I’m so torn right now. I’m worried about what’s going on with Derek, but at the same time I am overwhelmingly curious about Ben. I wonder is Rilynne hit him. She doesn’t seem the type, but that would explain why he’s being so secretive about it. If she did, it must have been a pretty good whack. It’s not just a bruise... he has a nice little cut, too. I wonder what he got hit with. It definitely looks like more than just a fist. I just wish he would tell me all ready. I really want to know what happened!

  Well, I guess I should get some sleep. I don’t know if I will be able to, though. I have the scanner next to my bed, and a bag packed by the door. I’ll be ready to leave in the event that he’s actually found alive. The cabin probably isn’t the best place to hide out. I think I’ll go to the mausoleum. No one will think to look for me there. I’ll take the radio with me, so I know if he’s alive and talking. I’ll go back out tomorrow and see if I can find him. He surely couldn’t have gotten very far. He hasn’t eaten all day, and it’s unlikely that he found any drinkable water. I already checked around the river, and he wasn’t anywhere around it. The poor sap probably took off in the opposite direction, which will just take him deeper in the woods. Hopefully I can track him down before he either dies or is found by someone else.

  8/9/09- Don’t have much to say. I called in today and spend it out in the woods looking for him. It was ridiculously hot, but I didn’t find him. I don’t know what else to do. Maybe there’s somewhere he would go. I think I’m going to sneak up to his apartment in the middle of the night and have a look around. Maybe that can give me an idea of where to look.

  8/10/09- Crap! I had heard she was good, but she’s even better than rumored. I heard from some of the detectives at the bar tonight that she has suggested they start looking into houses that have basements. I double checked the property records for the cabin and luckily it’s not listed. I’m not sure if they’ll be able to find a record of it anywhere else, though.

  It’s only a matter of time before they find it. I don’t need it anymore. He’s strong enough now. As soon the wedding is over, he’ll be able to have his surgery.

  I’ve been trying to think of what to do with the cabin. As much as it means to us, and as heartbreaking it is to think about, I know there’s only one thing for me to do.

  I never thought all of that research Ben made me do last year during that arson case would actually come in useful. I’ll go out tomorrow after work to get it all set up. I have to move quickly, though. I don’t know how long it will take them to find the vessel. It’s been two days now.

  So I looked through his apartment last night. I couldn’t find anything useful. On my way up, I shoved a piece of metal in the door to Rilynne’s floor. After looking around, I started making noise to see if I could get her attention. As soon as I heard the elevator moving, I climbed out the window. It was further proof that I’m better than she is. That’s twice in a week that I was able to get in and out of there without her catching me.

  8/11/09- So guess what I saw when I was on my way out this morning? I saw none other than Ben leaving the building. There’s no way she will be able to deny it now. I don’t care what she says, there’s only one reason for a man to be leaving early in the morning. I cornered her outside of the station today to talk to her about it. She insisted that he just stayed on the couch, but I know that’s not true. Then she tried to push the questions off by asking if I had any interest in him. It was so hard to keep from laughing in her face... well, laughing much. She still didn’t crack, though.

  So I found out last night that Derek has been found. I freaked because I was at the station and couldn’t really slip away without someone noticing. It took everything I had just to put on a calm face for everyone else.

  I didn’t really breathe until news came in that he was found dead. I actually really slept last night for the first time in days.

  I still knew that I needed to take care of the cabin, though, so I did that today. After talking with Rilynne and heading upstairs with her so she would think I was there all day, I headed out to the cabin. I used the generator to power a trigger I rigged up last night and filled the place with gasoline. After making sure I had it wiped down and the combination lock was removed from the door (it’s rare and could have been traced to me for sure), I headed back to the station. I made sure the trigger had just enough of a time delay to let me get there before the place went up. I really lucked out on it. Apparently, the search dogs found the cabin just moments before it caught fire. I definitely made the right call there! It still sucked to see it go.

  I’m going to head over to Rilynne’s in a little bit. Detective Wilcome is issuing another statement, and I would really love to see it. I’m also going to suggest we play the game I used to play with my dad. I don’t know if she will go for it, but it will give me an idea of where things stand with the case.

  8/12/09- He’s alive. They told me he was dead. Why would they tell me he was dead if he was really alive? Are they trying to keep him from me? They can’t keep him from me!

  I don’t even know what to do right now. I was worried enough when I realized I forgot to grab the bedpan from the basement. I didn’t even think about the fact that it had my blood on it. Luckily, it got back to the lab before Ben did, so I got to process it. The chief was breathing over my shoulder, so I wasn’t able to destroy the evidence. It’s not going to be hard to alter the results when they come in, though. All I need to do is change the sex for now. I can worry about changing the complete report later. I had actually started to relax when I was at the bar with Rilynne and Ben and it came on the news that Derek was actually alive. I was completely freaking out. If it hadn’t been for some guys who went after Rilynne at the bar, she might have noticed how shaken I was. Ben ended up knocking one out and restraining the other. If I hadn’t been so freaked, it would have actually been pretty enjoyable. I couldn’t even talk after that. I tried to remain as calm as I could until I finally got up to leave a little while later. I ran home. I was shaking when I walked into my apartment and turned on the police scanner. There wasn’t anything on there. He must not be conscious, though. If he was, they would at least know they weren’t looking for a man. I’m too freaked to even think. Part of me wants to run, but I don’t know if that’s smart. If I just disappear, they will know something’s up. Oh, I just don’t know what to do.

  Well, I just saw Ben leaving the building, so I called him to see what he knew. I shouldn’t have done it, because I know I sounded pretty worried on the phone. I tried not to, but that didn’t work. He must have been preoccupied, because he didn’t even seem to notice. He said that Derek is in a coma and isn’t talking. I’m still pretty freaked, but at lea
st I know I’m safe for the moment.

  8/13/09- It’s only a matter of time now. I could tell by the chatter in the station today that the task force is onto something. Even if they weren’t, it will only be a matter of time before Derek wakes up. I need to silence him for good, as well as start with plan B.

  I’ve made sure that everything will tie back to Ben. I still wish there was another way, but it has to be him. He will gladly do it, though. I know he will. With the department on his trail, it will give me enough time to get Justin taken care of. Ben will understand. He’ll be glad that I did it. It’s the only way to save Justin’s life.

  I made sure Rilynne was going to be at the station today before heading to the apartment building. I picked the lock on her apartment door and went in. You know, of all the things that Justin taught me, that is my favorite. I was just planning on getting her dress size so I could pick up her bridesmaid dress, but I kind of lost it when I was there. I guess it was just the frustration and stress from everything going on. At first I just flung the stuff off of her dresser onto the floor. I couldn’t stop after that. By the time I finished, the entire apartment was trashed. I almost feel bad, but then I think of everything she’s kept from me. She’s lied about her and Ben, and she lied about Derek being alive. She deserves it. It should also distract everyone for a bit. It’s a good thing I’ve spent a lot of time in her apartment, because I didn’t even think to wear gloves. I wasn’t planning on her even knowing I was there, though.

  I didn’t go out there when the call came in. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep the grin off of my face. Something must have happened there, though, because Ben was strange when he came back. He was really quiet, and wouldn’t really talk to anyone.