LETHAL OBSESSION

by Carey Regenold

  As the door knob turned, He braced himself. Heavy footsteps approached the bed as Rick locked eyes with Gene. For silent moments, nothing was said between the two men. Then Gene took out his revolver, cocked it and shoved the cold, hard barrel against Rick's temple. Rick never flinched or blinked but continued to stare.

  "Brave son of a bitch, aren't ya?" Gene replaced the hammer putting the pistol back in its holster. "That would be too easy. I want to see you suffer before you die."

  "Why, Gene?"

  "Why? The man asked." Gene wore an agitated expression as he paced around the small room. "Are you telling me, Doctor Carrington, as smart as you think you are that you really don't know?"

  Rick remained silent continuing to stare at his brother in law.

  "The only thing I wanted in this world you managed to snatch right out from under my nose with very little effort. Now don't you think that deserves some punishment?"

  "Ellen is the thing you want?"

  "Oh, give the man a cigar. You're damn right, it's Ellen."

  "You're a married man."

  "And that's supposed to stop me?"

  Rick knew this conversation would go nowhere. There was no point in arguing the issue with a delusional man so he held his tongue.

  "Do you have any idea what that little piece is worth? And she has handed you the whole treasure chest without you hardly blinking an eye."

  Rick felt his hackles stand up. He was being goaded into a fight.

  "Ain't talkin are ya?" Gene rounded on him, getting his livid face within inches of Rick's. "Well let me tell you how it is. This is my cabin and only one other person knows about it. Oh yeah, I brought that delicious thing up here one day and she screwed my brains out, right on that bed you got your worthless carcass on. Best piece of tail I ever had, and I don't aim to lose it that easily." He watched Rick for a reaction.

  "You know, I don't give a shit whether you believe me or not because guess what's going to happen now? Our darling Ellen is going to come looking for you because I plan on luring her up here. When she gets here you are going to be treated to a little show."

  Rick felt his gut clench as his face drained of blood.

  "Yep, figured that would get a reaction out of you, but that's nothing compared to how you're going to feel when you see that sweet mouth on my cock. Then I'm going to take her in every way possible and you have a front row seat. Ellen is going to rue the day she turned me down for you. Then I'm going to do a bit of bargaining for your life. Let's just see how much your Ellen is willing to pay to keep you breathing."

  "You won't get away with this, Gene."

  "I already have, Richard. Nobody in this town is going to cross me and you know it. Ellen is going to be totally my slave after she signs over her wealth. I do believe that little gal will do just about anything to keep you alive and unharmed. Looks like I hold the ace card."

  Rick struggled against his bonds causing excruciating pain to shoot up his arms and legs. Surely Ellen wouldn't come up here without police back up.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Ellen's fingers trembled as she held the computer printed note. It was sealed in an envelope and put on her car windshield at the shelter.

  COME TO THE CABIN ALONE OR HE DIES. NO COPS. .

  She looked around but the street was deserted. Anybody could've left this note. Should she give it to the police? Then what? Storm the cabin? Call in a SWAT team? How long would it take for Gene to put a bullet through Rick's head? Ellen folded the note carefully and placed it in her pocket. There was no doubt now where Rick was and who held him captive. Racking her brain Ellen tried to remember where that cabin was located.

  "You're very quiet tonight, Ellen. Is something wrong? Have you found out anything more about Richard?"

  "I'm sorry Martha. I don't mean to be this way. I know you're as worried as I am, perhaps even more so because of Gene."

  Ellen got up and joined Martha on the couch. Taking her icy hands in her own, the two women looked at each other. Ellen closed her eyes. Out of protection for the sweet woman who had become her close friend, Ellen hesitated to get Martha involved in a situation this dangerous.

  "Ellen, I know there is something you are not telling me. I'm not as helpless as I appear. If my husband kidnapped my brother I need to know about it."

  Wordlessly Ellen handed over the note. Martha's hands shook as she silently read it. "Oh my God, what are we going to do?"

  "You mean what am I going to do? The message said I had to come alone."

  "I don't understand any of this. "Why would Gene want to hurt Richard? Why did he take those pictures? I've known this man for twenty years and never thought him capable of something as horrible as this."

  As she started to cry, Ellen took Martha in her arms. She knew the reason but it was not something she could ever share with Gene's wife. Ellen couldn't help but wonder if the unnatural fixation began on the day she lost Mark.

  Out of loneliness she turned to Gene and fueled a fire. It was a decision she would always regret. If she had only been stronger those horrible days after the crash, but that didn't matter now. What's done is done. When Ellen and Rick fell in love, Gene snapped and his obsession with her turned deadly.

  Now Ellen had to make a decision that could endanger Rick and herself as well. Why would Gene, a fugitive from the law, reveal to her Rick's whereabouts? Ellen knew the sensible thing to do would be to notify the police and let them handle it. But if Rick died in the cross fire, she would never forgive herself.

  "Martha," she looked into the woman's eyes that were swimming with tears. "I have to do this."

  "I'll come with you."

  "No you can't. He wants me to come alone and we can't do anything to jeopardize Rick."

  "How do you know where the cabin is?"

  Ellen closed her eyes. "Gene took me there, but he didn't betray you, Martha. I wouldn't let him."

  "I believe you."

  "I'm not sure I can find that cabin. I've only been there once." Ellen couldn’t bring herself to tell Martha about the second time when Gene literally kidnapped her.

  "I know where it is. Gene doesn't know that I know but I followed him a few times. I had to know where he went when he disappeared. We can draw the map together."

  "That's a great idea."

  Martha and Ellen put their heads together and tried to construct the route from memory. Only a few roads went up that high on the peaks. They were private and unmarked. Ellen would be totally lost in the dark.

  "Okay, here's the plan. I will have my phone hidden in my bra. If you don't hear from me in an hour, something is wrong. Get the police out there."

  "I think you should take the police with you now."

  "I can't."

  "Then take me with you."

  "Martha," she put her hands on her friend's shoulders. "You know what the note said. We can't take a chance on Rick's life."

  "You're right, but I'm so furious with Gene I can't see straight. I never thought him capable of something like this."

  "Hopefully he will release Rick when he sees me. Then he'll have a choice to run or turn himself in. Any way we look at it, your life will be changed, Martha. Rick and I want you to be part of our family and we will help you through this mess."

  "Go before it gets dark." She gave Ellen a gentle shove.

  Holding her copy of the map, Martha watched until Ellen's car was out of sight. Moving quickly, she got in her own car and headed to the house she had once shared with her husband. Walking into the deserted home, Martha was on a mission. The first two drawers were empty. She figured Gene would arm himself but she wasn't looking for his guns. What her dad gave her years ago should still be in the place where she hid it.

  Standing on a chair, Martha found the shoe box hidden under wool scarves and hats. The pistol belonged to her father and Gene never knew she had it. He also was unaware that Will Carrington taught her how to shoot, turning Martha into a sharp shooter. She still had her secrets.<
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  The pastor told her not to hide anything from her husband. Now Martha was glad to have not listened to that piece of advice. She checked for bullets and put the pistol in her purse. A tiny tape recorder sat on the bureau. Martha picked it up and saw there was a new tape inside. It might come in handy so recorder joined the pistol.

  From there Martha went to the garage. She looked around not sure what was needed. A roll of duct tape disappeared into the large purse. She remembered an episode of Miami Vice where an armed man was totally subdued by a group of women and they used duct tape.

  A can of wasp spray caught her attention. There was an article sent to her in an e-mail. A church secretary always kept a can in her desk to protect her from possible robbers. They say it can disable a person better than pepper spray. The can joined the duct tape and pistol. Martha hauled the now bulging purse over her shoulder.

  Well, she's either totally prepared to rescue Richard and Ellen or she's a blooming idiot. Either way it didn't matter because Martha was heading up to that cabin.

  She had just started the climb into the hills when she heard the siren. Eyeing the speedometer she slowed and pulled over. Crap. Martha grabbed her purse and placed it on the floor. She knew the young deputy who was getting out of his patrol car.

  "Hello Martha. Where are you going in such a hurry?"

  "Hi, Darrel." Martha gave him a tight smile. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention to my speed."

  "It's not safe to be speeding around these mountain roads you know. I realize you have plenty to be upset about with Gene and your brother missing."

  Martha couldn't stop the flow of tears and they were genuine. "Yes."

  "Well okay then. Why don't you go on home and relax."

  "I'll do that, Darrel. Thanks."

  Ellen stopped the car, got out and looked around. Darkness was descending fast. A wind whipped chilled air through the trees making a noise that sounded like a thousand banshees. Ellen wrapped her arms around her shoulders and shivered. Did she take the wrong road? Where was the cabin? Her heart started pounding with mounting panic. In a few minutes it was going to be too dark to see anything. She had to find it now. Rick's life hung in the balance. Ellen took a deep breath struggling to rein in her terror and not dissolve into a helpless heap of tears. It was imperative she calm herself if she was going to save her love.

  A small side road, no larger than a dirt path caught her attention. It was barely illuminated by her headlights but something about it looked familiar. Ellen wasn't sure the car would fit but going on foot was out of the question. Getting lost up here with no vehicle was madness.

  She steered the car through the brush and onto the tiny road. Another quarter mile and a dwelling came into view. Ellen stopped the car. The place was dark and looked deserted. Was this the right place? She got out of the car feeling sick with dread. Touching her cell phone her heart felt like it was going to leap right out of her chest. Maybe this was a bad idea. Ellen was totally alone and defenseless. What would stop Gene from killing them both and hiding their bodies? Nobody would ever find them up here in the wilderness.

  Obviously Gene was mentally deranged or he would never have kidnapped Rick and lured her up here in the first place. Being a wanted man he was capable of anything. And he was armed, she wasn't. There was no choice. Ellen had to come alone.

  Ellen moved slowly, feeling her way in the dark as she started up the rickety steps to the porch. She spied the broken swing and knew this was the right place. She went to open the screen door and found herself yanked inside so violently she almost fell. Holding brutally to her upper arm, Gene looked around outside making sure she was alone.

  "Glad you could make our little party, Princess.”

  Ellen struggled to break his hold. "Where is Rick," she gritted between her teeth?

  "Hey, what about me? Aren't you glad to see me? I've been missing too."

  She stared at Gene like he had two heads. Ellen had nothing to say to him. Even if he was a crazy killer, she was not in a pacifying mood.

  "Are the cops out there hiding?"

  "No."

  "Ellen..."

  She broke away from Gene and ran toward the voice. Rick sounded weak but just hearing him made her hopes soar. Somehow together they would find their way out of this mess.

  Even handcuffed to the bed they managed to embrace each other. Ellen just held him and sobbed unable to speak. Gene left them there slamming the door. Ellen wasn't going anywhere in the middle of nowhere in the pitch of night. She wasn't that stupid.

  Gene laid his gun on the table and poured himself a liberal glass of bourbon. He sat at the kitchen table and downed half the glass. Now that he had them, he sure the hell better have a plan. If the law caught up with him at this point Gene knew he was looking at several years in the pen. Killing them would be murder one and a life sentence with no chance of parole. He turned up the glass drinking the rest of the liquor. Of course if the bodies were never found, could they get him on circumstantial? Letting them go would not be an option at this point. Those two would turn state's evidence against him in a heartbeat. Well Ole boy, you're really into it now. There's no turning around in this tunnel, nowhere to go but straight ahead. Gene closed his eyes. When he opened them again he looked around startled. Damn, he'd best not fall asleep now.

  He picked up his gun and headed for the bedroom. "Okay kids, the reunion is over. Ellen, step away from the bed, now."

  She looked up and found herself staring down the barrel of his revolver.

  Martha, quiet as a mouse, opened the front door and peeped in. From her vantage point she could see her husband holding a gun on Ellen. Richard was on the bed his hand cuffed to the brass head board. Getting the gun away from Gene was top priority. Martha turned on the recorder and carefully placed her purse on the doorstep. She forced her mind into a state of calmness so she could formulate a plan. The gun and the wasp spray came out of her purse with utmost silence. Gene still had his back to her.

  Ellen said, "Gene, have you totally lost your mind?"

  "Actually I lost my mind the day I met you. Now I do believe I have found it again. You really don't have a clue, do you?"

  "You were stalking me, taking pictures. No I don't understand any of this."

  "We were close at one time, Ellen, very close. Do you recall that much? You walked right by that broken swing out there, remember?"

  "You were married to Martha and I made it clear to you that nothing would happen between us. Do you recall that much?"

  "Well something happened for me. I fell in love with you," he growled. With lightning speed Gene pulled her against him and kissed her roughly. "Remember now? I was willing to give up my marriage for you. I would've done anything to have you in my life."

  "I'm sorry, Gene."

  "If you were that sorry you would've waited for me to get free. But no, you met asshole over here and fell in love with him. Did you really think I would stand for that?"

  "And you think kidnapping Rick is going to solve this situation?"

  "I think the three of us being here is going to make for a very entertaining evening. Oh yeah, Richard will even get the privilege of watching."

  "So you're going to rape me then kill us both."

  "I haven't decided yet, but I will definitely enjoy your sweet ass tonight, Princess."

  Ellen's heart began to hammer. She looked at her love shackled on the bed and then at the gun. Gene was going to force her to commit unspeakable horrors and nobody would be here to stop it.

  Gene moved to the bed placing the cocked barrel against Rick's temple. "I never liked this piece of shit anyway. Do you realize how easy it would be for me to blow his brains all over this wall? But I don’t want to do that yet."

  "Come here, Princess. Kneel down and unzip my pants. I've always wondered how those luscious lips would feel on my cock. Gave me some mighty amazing dreams, ya know that?"

  Ellen was trembling as she fought back nausea. With halting steps she
went to Gene and knelt. She closed her eyes knowing she would do anything to keep Rick alive.

  "You don't have to do this, Ellen," said Rick.

  Gene turned on him with a vengeance. "You, shut up if you want to keep breathing."

  "Even if I do what you want, Gene, will that stop you from killing us?"

  "Well, it's for damn sure I'll kill your lover right now if you don't."

  Three shots were heard at close range causing Gene to duck for cover and Ellen to throw her body over Rick.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  "Damnation, who the hell is that?" With gun pointed, Gene stood and began to walk slowly toward the kitchen. Suddenly he was hit in the face with a stream of liquid that set his eyes on fire.

  "Agh...I'm blind, I can't see." Hands protecting his face, Gene's gun hit the floor and Martha was right there to pick it up.

  "Martha!" Ellen said breathlessly.

  "Oh my God, Sis."

  "Martha?" Gene held his hands out. "You fired those shots, you blinded me?"

  "Yes and yes, you sorry excuse for a husband. I disarmed you to save my brother and my best friend and now I'm going to tie you up."

  She threw the duct tape as Ellen caught it. "Come on Ellen, let's finish this job. Then maybe we can think about rinsing his eyes out."