Lillian's Love

by Laura Marie Henion

  He finished making the eggs, turned off the flame, then took the pan over toward the dishes. He began placing the eggs onto the dishes when he looked at Lillian. She hadn't moved from her spot. She appeared to be deep in thought.

  Michael placed the pan back onto the stove. He wiped his hands, then pulled Lillian into an embrace. Lillian started to cry. Michael caressed her hair, her back, holding her tight against his body.

  "Aunt Mabel will open up the store on Monday. It's closed today. Tomorrow is Sunday, so why not take advantage of a couple of days off? Let's stay here a while and if you feel up to it, I'll take you by after lunch to check on things, okay?” Michael whispered. Lillian nodded yes.

  She looked up toward Michael as he gently placed his hand under her chin. He was silent a moment.

  "I love you so much. You scared me yesterday, do you know that?” More tears ran down her cheeks. She didn't speak, instead nodded again.

  Michael kissed her softly, pulling her closer against him.

  "We're a team, remember? Now let's start acting like one. Come eat some breakfast while I get you a cup of coffee."

  Lillian smiled, took a seat by the island, picked up a napkin to wipe her eyes.

  * * * *

  Michael and Lillian remained at his house all day. Lillian explained to Aunt Mabel, Justin, as well as Kelly when they met at Michael's house everything that happened. They were all concerned for Lillian. The recent chain of events was frightening and she wanted to ensure her employees they were safe.

  After they left, Lillian and Michael continued to work out of his office. She had tried to reach Brian Gillson several times without success. It became obvious that he purposely wouldn't return her calls.

  She caught up with some paperwork, then her phone messages.

  * * * *

  Michael spoke to Jimmy several times, glad Lillian hadn't asked him about the DVD or what was on it. He had been avoiding that conversation on purpose.

  Detectives Jack and Miller tried to question everyone who was at the restaurant to see if anyone else saw the old man. After canvassing the neighborhood around the restaurant, no one had remembered anything.

  By dinnertime, Michael was tired. It appeared Lillian was getting used to her new residence. She sat, legs crossed, on the couch in the office.

  She glanced up at him.

  Michael wondered if he looked as exhausted as he felt. He had been on the phone, and his computer constantly. His eyes were tired, he couldn't wait to hit the pillow. He needed sleep, so did Lillian. The black circles under their eyes told all.

  He reached a hand out to her and Lillian smiled as she placed her hand onto his.

  They made their way through the house. Michael checked the security system after checking in with the patrol officer stationed outside.

  Holding hands, they made their way up the stairs and through the hallway. Lillian held Michael's arm against her side and leaned her head against his upper arm.

  Michael released her hand to retrieve some towels from the linen closet. It had become part of their nightly routine.

  They showered before heading to bed.

  Michael could see Lillian checked his body out in the mirror as he emerged from the bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror, combing his hair, wearing a pair of navy blue boxer shorts as she tried to focus on brushing her hair. He made his way toward her.

  Michael looked at Lillian as she stood by the mirror brushing her long black hair. She wore one of her vintage negligees, like the negligee from the DVD. The fact he had the instant thought, upset him. He knew it wasn't the one from the video, but the idea that everyone in the room saw Lillian, plus Martin had been watching her for days, deeply angered him. That anger felt enormous. He looked at Lillian. There was sadness in her eyes.

  "What's wrong?” she asked. Of course he couldn't tell her.

  "Nothing. You look beautiful."

  He approached her. She smiled before she put the brush back down onto the dresser.

  His arms were already around her waist, pulling her against him.

  He hugged her close, inhaling her perfume, loving the scent of rose petals. His hand held the back of her head as she laid her cheek against his bare chest.

  Michael rubbed her back, letting his strong fingers get caught in the lace garment. He moved the material off her shoulder and kissed the small, round bone protruding from her shoulder.

  She looked into Michael's eyes just as his mouth covered hers.

  He held her neck, her chin in his hands, noting her fragile, delicate skin, her size, shape, weight. He couldn't help but worry. She wouldn't have a chance if Martin got a hold of her.

  In Michael's mind, images of the previous crime scenes, the victims, and the way they suffered, filled his head.

  The monster responsible remained on the hunt for Lillian. She needed protection.

  They parted lips, staring into one another's eyes.

  Michael glanced over the mounds of flesh that held the garment in place. He wanted to focus on Lillian's body, the deep love he felt for her, instead of the visions of horror, and death.

  Lillian rubbed her hand against Michael's arm gliding it down his leg. The lingerie instantly fell to the floor. Michael picked her up into his arms while she wrapped her legs around his waist as they continued to kiss.

  A moment later, he lay on top of her on the bed, touching, caressing every part of her, preparing for copulation.

  Lillian closed her eyes revealing her need for Michael to take her away from this place, her mind, body, and soul. He did just that as he slowly, expertly entered her. They moaned simultaneously. Feelings of relief consumed her.

  Michael held Lillian's hands above her head as they stared into one another's eyes during the slow, deep, rhythmic movement—as if they never made love before or with such deep love or affection than right now, at this very moment.

  Their lovemaking meant more than just lust or desire. Together like this, they were complete. They were one. The bond they formed would never be broken. Michael knew his eyes revealed the same emotion.

  Their gazes remained locked the whole time. He leaned down, kissing her lips in between thrusts. They remained in a trance, a spell as old as time itself, until their ritual was complete.

  Michael laid his face against Lillian's neck, kissing her softly, pulling her against him as he rolled onto his back. Lillian draped her arm across Michael's waist, getting comfortable as she laid her head against his skin. They were content, at peace, staying silent as they fell asleep together as one.

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  Chapter 13

  At 4:00 a.m. Michael awoke suddenly from a terrifying dream. The instant he did, he realized Lillian wasn't in bed. She wasn't in the room. Panic struck.

  He threw on his jeans, grabbed his gun and cell phone as he ran down the stairs. He halted as soon as he saw the figure in the corner on the living room floor. He would have missed her completely if it weren't for the moonlight that highlighted the sequences of the pillows scattered on the beige rug.

  Lillian looked like a small child, huddled in the corner, knees to her chest, crying. His heart broke as he went to her.

  "Lilly baby, are you all right? What are you doing down here? You scared me,” he whispered.

  Lillian tried to dry her eyes.

  "I'm sorry. I stayed away from the window just in case."

  He sat down on the floor next to her.

  "You don't have to be scared. I told you I would protect you."

  Lillian smiled as she reached to touch Michael's cheek.

  "I know that, Michael. I just couldn't sleep. I keep thinking about the DVD, that it may contain some evidence. I know you looked at it. Why haven't you told me about it, Michael?"

  Michael swallowed hard, then sighed. He wasn't expecting to have this conversation in the middle of the night.

  "It doesn't matter.” He reached for her, touching a lock of her hair.

  Lillian turned a
way.

  "No, Michael, you're not doing this to me. No way! I have every right to know what Martin is up to. I didn't have to tell you about the package."

  "You wouldn't have held that information back. You respect the law."

  Lillian rose from the floor. Michael did the same.

  "I don't respect everything about the law. I respect you, Jimmy, the other detectives. That's the only reason. The law allowed a man like Martin to nearly kill me. The law let him go free after a shorter sentence, obviously nonsense counseling. No, Michael, I have little respect for the law."

  Lillian turned away from him, crossed her arms in front of her chest.

  Michael knew she had every right to be angry. He felt that anger, as well.

  "The tape is worse than the letter he wrote you, Lilly. Let me leave it at that."

  Lillian turned back to face him.

  "No, you can't leave it at that. What's on it?"

  "Lilly, why are you doing this? Can't you just leave it alone? If I'm telling you the tape is worse than the letter—"

  "I'm on there, aren't I? He was recording me in my home. That's why there were all those cameras. How long, Michael? How long?"

  Michael explained.

  * * * *

  Lillian covered her mouth with her hand as she began to cry again. Instantly, he pulled her into his arms.

  "Who watched the tape?"

  Laying her head against Michael's chest, she heard and felt the hesitation in Michael's voice as he inhaled a breath before answering.

  "The detectives, Jimmy, only those investigating saw the tape?” She cried harder against Michael's chest. He apparently wanted to console her, make her understand police procedure and the necessity for the investigators to view the evidence.

  "Only a few people were there, honey, Jimmy fast forwarded a lot. The ending turned out to be way more then any of us anticipated. It was horrific, but we did manage to get some information from the DVD."

  "What kind of information?"

  "Hopefully the kind that will help us track down Martin, find the crime scene, the victim who appeared on the tape. Then we can put an end to all of this."

  "He recorded himself murdering someone?"

  "Honey, don't,” Michael warned her firmly.

  Lillian remained silent. She was deep in thought.

  He waited a few moments before speaking. “What is it, baby?” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

  "I just can't believe Martin is doing all of this."

  * * * *

  Michael felt the anger and the tightness in his chest. Again Lillian appeared to be defending the monster. He just couldn't comprehend her way of thinking. His anger at her resistance to the facts and what all the evidence thus far, pointed to, made him question her integrity. Could she possibly still have feelings for Martin Crane, the man who nearly killed her?

  Michael held her by the shoulders, placed some space between their bodies as he looked down into her eyes.

  "Damn it, Lillian! What other proof do you need!” he yelled, abruptly releasing her shoulders, then turned away before he made matters worse.

  He stood in the darkness, wearing blue jeans, his gun, and phone on his hip. He ran down the stairs in a panic so worried about her. Now, he was angry with her again, with her inability to see the intensity of the danger that remained, the evidence that continued to pile up against Martin. He and the detectives were still keeping an opened mind, but the forensic evidence found at the other crime scenes belonged to Martin Crane.

  Michael turned toward Lillian.

  "Look what he did to you, never mind what he's done to these women. I saw the video. He's out of control. He's sick. Yet you're standing here practically defending him!"

  "I'm not defending him, Michael. I'm just shocked, all right? I'm trying my hardest to make sense of this. Don't you dare even think I would defend that man in any way. You have no right to pass judgment."

  Michael stared at Lillian. She started to walk out of the room, still filled with anger. Michael stopped her, held her by her upper arm.

  Their gazes locked, neither said a word, but the intensity, the powerful connection between them filled the room.

  Releasing her arm, he gently took a handful of her negligee in his hand to pull her toward him.

  "How the hell did we wind up fighting?” he asked still holding the fistful of material as he wrapped his arms around Lillian's waist.

  "I think you started it,” she teased.

  He smirked. “Well it's over now. Before the sun comes up, I think we have some business to take care of."

  Swiftly, Michael lifted Lillian in the air, carrying her back upstairs to bed.

  * * * *

  The phone rang awaking them from their sound sleep. It was 8:00 a.m. Back to realty.

  "Hey, Mike, it's Troy. We got some good news on Mrs. Sampson."

  "Great. How is she doing?"

  "The doctors released Eleanor from the general hospital, placing her into a rehabilitation hospital. We've arranged for around the clock security for her. Hopefully, as her speech improves, we can get more information."

  "That is really great news. From what you've told me, she sounds like a really strong woman, a good person. I'm sure she'll pull through."

  "I hope so."

  Michael could tell that Troy was concerned for Mrs. Sampson's safety. The security measures taken were necessary.

  "I got some other news. Late last night, we received a call from a friend of Martin's who said Martin called him in need of some money, and a place to stay. The informant told Jacks that Martin said he was in trouble. He told his friend he was on the run, headed out of the area as soon as the heat cooled down.

  The informant Mathew, told my partner that Martin said he'd call tomorrow to set up a meeting time. Martin threatened to kill Mathew if he called the cops."

  "So where is this meeting supposed to take place?” Michael asked Jacks as Lillian arose from the bed. Michael watched her intently as she crossed the bedroom and headed towards the bathroom.

  "We'll find out when Martin calls Mathew. There's just one thing that's bothering me about all this. It's the way Mathew said Martin sounded."

  "What do you mean?” Michael asked.

  "In the video, also in the letter, Martin acted in control, obviously from his ability to set up the cameras in Lillian's apartment, and evade capture. He doesn't seem to need much help. Why suddenly would he be in a panic or in need of Mathew's help?"

  Michael thought about it for a moment.

  "The heat is on just like he told Mathew. We have Lillian guarded. Maybe he's feeling the heat, losing confidence ... I don't know. Either way, until he's in custody, until we're sure he's connected, Lillian is under twenty-four-hour watch."

  "How is she handling things, Michael?"

  "As well as can be expected. She's having a hard time believing Martin is capable of all this."

  "That's got to be tough. Did you tell her about the video?"

  "Yeah, she gave me no choice, but that seemed to clarify things a bit. Her safety is the most important thing. Martin Crane will never ever get his hands on her again."

  "We'll all make sure of that. I'll touch base with you later. As soon as we hear anything new, I'll call you,” Jacks said before he hung up the phone.

  Michael thought about Troy and Willy. It was funny how relationships form between cops when they're working a case. Fortunately, all those involved wanted to work together, so they got along great.

  Michael never had any problems with any fellow detective in his investigative career. It didn't matter where the investigators came from, what jurisdiction, state, department, or agency. There seemed to be an unwritten code of ethics or rules in homicide investigation. When a case needed solving, they pulled together, joined forces, combined their training and expertise to solve the crime. This case was no different.

  "Michael.” Lillian yelled seductively from the bathroom. Michael smiled as he go
t out of bed, crossed the room and joined her in the shower.

  After breakfast, Lillian would be spending her Sunday off with him and Carla.

  * * * *

  Rockland County Sheriff's Department B.C.I. Unit

  "So what do we got so far on the crime scene location?” Miller asked Brian, one of the technicians.

  Jimmy and Jacks had been there for a while and began to update Miller.

  They sat in a small room dissecting the video. The images were brought up onto a large screen for their viewing. Brian, a B.C.I. investigator and expert technician, focused on analyzing one particular scene. With their high tech video equipment, he was able to zoom in, magnify, and clear an image otherwise appearing blurry and shadowed.

  "This is impressive. You were able to clear up this one scene from the video, even zoom in past the window and darkness?” Detective Miller asked.

  "Yes, sir. With this type of equipment, I can clear up areas on a video that would otherwise be bypassed by the naked eye and assumed unclear. I can highlight, magnify, brighten, the entire recorded video, so that I can view everything."

  "This system is amazing. Just last week, the Spring Valley P.D. had that hit and run during a summer concert event. A camera crew was on the scene. Their video camera technician was able to record the vehicle leave the scene of the crime. It was practically pitch black, we couldn't make out the vehicle or the license plate until we entered the info into this system. Within the hour, we had a clear view of the license plate, the make of the car, and an arrest followed. Here we go. This is what I wanted to show you."

  "Looks like an apartment of some kind. Brick on the walls, Nyack? I've been in a bunch of apartment buildings down there. They all use a lot of brick inside. That's if the crime scene is in the county,” Jimmy stated.

  "Well, Jimmy, I think Nyack is the place. Look at this,” Brian said as he focused on the window first. There was a sign on the building across the street. Brian zoomed in closer, brightened up the scene revealing what appeared to be an abandoned building and a ‘For Sale' sign. The address below the sign stated, Nyack.

  "That's awesome, now lets locate the building. Can you figure out what floor this one's on?” Miller asked.