The walls were painted beige, a border of vintage dressed bears both girls and boys, surrounding the entire room.
The girl bears wore long floral dresses trimmed in cream or white lace. Some held roses while others sat smiling. The boy bears wore overalls beige, brown, or navy. They held little toy trucks or baseballs in their paws.
There were toys scattered around the room as well as a magnificent solid wood rocking chair with padded seating that matched the wallpaper.
She couldn't define how she felt. There were absolutely no words to describe it.
"Oh, damn it! I wanted to surprise you."
Lillian jerked her head to the right as Justin entered the hallway smiling. Instantly, he was at her side massaging her shoulders.
His hands felt solid, large, cold. She hung her head in disgust.
"Do you like it, Lilly? Tell me you like it,” he whispered as he kissed her head, holding his lips there moments after the kiss. His hot breath and demanding words sent a knife through her heart. She felt herself shake.
She needed to keep her cool.
"You've been busy. It's beautiful,” she told him as she glanced back toward the nursery, pretending to be touched by his sick, perverse display of affection.
He began to untie her hands from the chair. Did she dare to make a move? Was it the right time? She waited to let fate decide.
"I'm so sorry about not letting you use the ladies’ room earlier. I had other things on my mind. Now we can concentrate on us.” He took her hand, holding it tightly while she rose from the chair. Her back ached. Her thighs were sore from using the muscles to carry the chair on her back.
He led her to the bathroom door.
"Why don't you freshen up? Inside the closet, you'll find a dress. I want you to wear it. Put it on. I'll be waiting,” he told her as he stared at her.
"What did you do with Carla?” she asked.
"I dropped her off,” he replied, laughing.
"What did you do with her? What do you mean?” She raised her head, moving toward him aggressively. Quickly, he spun her around, shoved her against the wall in the hallway. His strong, enormous hand covered her throat just enough to warn her.
"If she survived the fall, she's alive as I promised. You swore to stay here with me forever. That's the plan. Don't defy me, Lilly. I would hate to have to discipline you so soon in our relationship.” He squeezed her neck a little tighter. She held onto his wrists squeezing as hard as she could. She even tried digging her nails into the thin skin on his wrist, but it didn't lessen Justin's grip one bit.
He leaned in closer, gently kissing her nose.
"You haven't even given me the chance to explain the rules. You have to know the rules, the punishments for disobeying. Now get in there, clean up, put on the dress. I'll give you five minutes. I'll come in to help you if you're not ready. Do you understand?” he asked firm but softly.
Lillian couldn't speak, his hold so strong, she blinked her eyes, barely nodded her head ‘yes.'
He let go of her neck, pulled her into an embrace. His lips covered hers. She wanted to hurl. His hands groped her body while his tongue invaded her mouth to the point where she couldn't breath. Her reaction was only natural as she used all her strength to push him away. When she raised her knee up hard, he expected it, caught it midway. She didn't give up as she slapped his face and punched him in the stomach.
The fierce smack to his face was direct but not as painful as the double punch to her ribs. Left, right, she fell to the floor in pain.
Angry, he pulled her up by her hair. In one swift pull, he had lifted her whole body off of the ground, sent her flying into the bathroom. Her body slammed onto the marble tiled floor, but her head hit the ceramic toilet. She must have lost consciousness. Minutes or more could have passed. She opened her eyes in time to see Justin down on the floor next her, touching her face, kissing her cheek, wiping the blood from her head.
"I'm so sorry, Lilly. We really do need to discuss the rules. I thought you were smarter than this. Do you really want to suffer more? I wouldn't recommend it.... Now get dressed, so we can get started.” He smiled before leaving the room.
Lillian cried as she pulled herself up while holding onto the toilet seat and vanity.
She wished the blow to her head had knocked her out or killed her. Her first attempt at using her self defense moves had failed miserably.
She finally stood up, holding her ribs, her breathing strained. She looked into the mirror, saw the gash on her head. Her cheek was already bruised a deep purple, black, and red. She focused on the next step. She needed to obey his orders for now. Next time, she wouldn't be so quick to let her anger make the judgment. She needed to gather her strength.
With Lillian's mind, body, and soul full of fear, she did the inevitable. She washed up as instructed, dressing in the clothing Justin had set-aside specifically for her. The burgundy, vintage-style dress fit Lillian like a glove.
There were no medicine cabinets or cabinets below the sink. Everything was empty. There was nothing to use as a weapon, not even cleaning chemicals or something to throw in Justin's eyes.
"Are you ready yet?"
She jumped when she heard Justin's voice. “Almost,” she replied, hoping for more time.
"Put your hair up in that style I like. The one I always complimented you on."
She didn't know what he meant. She tried to think harder. He would surely hurt her if she couldn't remember.
"You do remember me complimenting you, don't you, Lilly?” he asked. She searched her mind thinking of the numerous ways she had styled her hair. There were so many because her hair was so long. She concentrated, thought about the bookstore and Justin. The Justin she thought she knew. Between the pounding in her head, she remembered one particular style where she brought all the hair to the top of her head, rolled it into a bun, letting a few strands of hair fall softly against her neck. That had to be it.
"I remember, Justin. Just give me a few more minutes,” she asked, styling her hair. She used the hairbrush and bobby pins that sat in a small basket on the vanity. They were hers. He had taken them at some point before kidnapping her. Her heart sank again.
She finished up just as Justin opened the door.
Justin stood staring at her. Eyes wide, smile enormous. She had been successful in fulfilling his fantasy thus far.
"My beautiful Lilly. You look perfect,” he told her as he eyed her body “Turn around for me?” he asked.
She slowly turned.
"Stop right there!” he yelled.
She froze, her back toward him as she faced the mirror.
Justin let the back of his fingers caress Lillian's skin, glide down the numerous buttons that trailed down her back. His hands were against the material.
"You missed one, my darling,” he whispered as he fastened it, fixed every single button on her dress.
Justin stood taller behind Lillian, dressed in black. He placed his hands on her shoulders before placing his mouth against her cheek.
His hands rubbed against her arms as he watched her cringe in the mirror, closing her eyes.
"Don't be afraid of me, my dearest Lillian. I'm going to take good care of you and our family."
"Justin, why are you doing this? Let me go please. I don't love you I.... “He turned Lillian around abruptly. She nearly lost her footing.
Justin grabbed her face. “Your Michael, the archangel, isn't coming. He's dead to you now. You concentrate on loving me,” he whispered, his lips against her cheek.
"Now kiss me,” he demanded.
Lillian tried to pull away, but Justin held her wrists behind her back, pulled her body against his.
"Kiss me!” he demanded one more time. Reluctantly, she brushed her lips against his softly.
He took her hand, looped it around his arm, then abruptly led her toward the living room.
* * * *
Michael had everyone in the Stony Point Police Department as well as the sheriff
's department working the case. Their evidence came together linking Justin to each of the murders. They had B.C.I. go through Justin's car. They found forensic evidence left behind from the other two victims. There were fibers from the rug in Allison Loyd's apartment, a card written from Justin to Thea Rose with his partial fingerprint.
"This is right out of Geberth's book ‘Practical Homicide,’ Jacks stated.
"The perpetrator will take away traces of the victim and the scene just like the victim will retain traces of the perpetrator,” Jacks added.
"You bet, because of that, we have established a link between the crime scene, the victim, physical evidence, and the suspect."
"The Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide, you can't properly investigate a crime scene without it,” Michael said. The others agreed one hundred percent. A well-known Homicide commander from New York City who also wrote ‘the book’ on Homicide Investigation created the field guide. Every law enforcement agency around knew about it and used it.
"Hey, Michael, they found Carla!” Jimmy yelled from the doorway. Everyone looked in that direction.
"What? Where? Is she all right?” Michael asked meeting Jimmy by the door with the others.
"She sure the hell is! Let's go,” Jimmy yelled. They headed to the location. Jacks and Miller followed. Michael hoped they were close to finding Lillian.
Ten minutes later, they were at Chuck Wilkox's small house, in the woods near Cedar Flats Road in Stony Point.
The place swarmed with patrol cars. An ambulance sat outside.
When they entered the house, the paramedics were wrapping Carla's wrist, tending to her wounds.
"Oh, my God, baby, are you all right?” Jimmy asked.
Carla began crying.
Michael joined Jimmy at her side touching her leg thankful his baby sister survived.
"Justin's the killer! He's insane. He's got Lillian tied up in some basement."
"We know about Justin. How did you get here?” Michael asked.
Carla began sobbing.
"Lillian saved my life. She promised Justin she would do whatever he wanted. He drove me toward the embankment and pushed me out,” she stated between sobs.
"That sick bastard isn't going to get away with this,” Jimmy said.
"I tried counting from the time we left the place he kept us at until he pushed me out. I think I know how far away it is. I counted on my fingers for every minute."
"So you counted about five minutes in that direction?” Michael asked pointing toward the back of the house, through Cedar Flats, onto a private back road.
"Yes. You guys have to hurry. He's got the whole place set up from the Victorian era. He wouldn't stop touching her, Michael, kissing her, making her promise to stay there with him forever. She gave her life for mine, Michael. She told me to tell you she loves you and goodbye.” Carla began crying again.
Michael's eyes filled with tears but none escaped.
"Let's get a map of this area. Since you guys grew up around here, let's see if you can figure out where the house is,” Miller stated knowing Lillian needed them.
"You go with them, Jimmy. Bring back my best friend alive,” she told her brother. Jimmy kissed Carla on the cheek before leaving the house with the others.
Fifteen minutes later, they had three possible locations. Michael, Jimmy, Jacks, and Miller were checking out the last location when they saw a vehicle parked in an old beaten-down garage port next to an abandoned house.
"This has to be it. Carla said it had no windows inside. Everything is boarded up. No one would expect people to live inside.” Michael looked at the house through the woods.
The moon illuminated the front overgrown grasses around the house while the four men gathered between pine trees.
"How do you want to do this?” Miller asked as he checked his weapon. The others did the same as they prepared to enter the house.
"Let's get some back up here, have them wait on my command. We'll each take one of the entrances. We'll have to be quiet about removing the wood. He may have the place wired with an alarm or something. If he does, and one of us sets it off, let's go in running. Don't shoot unless you've identified Justin. Be sure Lillian is out of harm's way. It's going to be tight in there. I don't want us shooting at each other,” Michael said.
The guys nodded their heads affirming his message. In situations like this one, it wouldn't be surprising if an accident like that happened.
Slowly, the others arrived on the scene staying clear of the view from the house, preparing to enter on Michael's command. They checked their communication devices, their ammo before heading on foot through the woods, down the hill, into the moonlit fields of overgrown grass. Minutes later, everyone sat in position, then slowly began removing the wood on the doors.
Michael found one back entrance that looked to be expertly sealed closed, but actually opened. He silently tiptoed inside. His eyes were wide in amazement at the sight. Carla's description was precise. The place looked like something out of a movie scene. Now where the hell were Justin and Lillian?
* * * *
The music played softly in the background as Justin held Lillian close, towering over her. Her ribs were aching, her head throbbing. They had been dancing for so long.
Exhaustion set in, her head lay against Justin's chest. He had explained his rules to her, which were basically, ‘Defy me and die.'
How the hell could she regain enough strength to fight him if they kept dancing?
She tried to lift her throbbing head up, felt the blood ooze from the wound. The nausea and dizziness consumed her body. He put something in the drink he gave her or in the food they ate.
He had made her sit across from him to share a meal. ‘Their first meal together as husband and wife,’ was what he told her.
She resisted once again when he touched her chest. His words lingered in her head. “You belong to me. Every part of you is mine. I will take what I want from you.” He kissed her again. She tried to pull away, fight him. In doing so, he ripped the top of her dress. She screamed in anger.
The backhand across the face would have gotten the message across, but he took the punishment one step further, kicking her in the legs and ribs as she lay on the floor crying.
Now, he held her close, dancing with her as if the beating he had given her had never taken place. With the time passing, so did her desire to live along with hope of survival as he twirled her past the old fireplace.
Her eyes felt heavy, her body weakening until she saw the wrought iron poker by the firewood. If she could get to that, use it on Justin, she may just have a chance.
With the thought in her mind, she suddenly felt the spark of hope rekindle the flame. She stayed limp against her captor.
Justin stopped dancing while Lillian's body continued to move as if they hadn't. Her mind spun, her vision blurred, as Justin pulled her close.
He stared deeply into her eyes, whispering words of love, moving the rest of the ripped material from the dress off her shoulders.
He kissed her neck, her shoulders. He would take her right here, right now. She needed that poker.
She grabbed onto his shirt, pulling his body against hers, back against the wall next to the fireplace.
The poker sat there leaning against the stone, but she couldn't quite reach it.
Justin ripped the dress from her shoulders the rest of the way, crushing her body with his against the wall. She tried to move a little to the left to better position herself to grab the poker. Justin apparently felt her pull her head to the side in resistance to his kissing, so he grabbed it hard, banging it against the wall. She cried out in pain.
"I know you want me just as bad, but I am in control, remember? Don't move again,” he warned her before covering her mouth with his own.
Suddenly, they heard an alarm go off. A loud siren whaled through the room, Justin pulled back turning toward the doorway.
Lillian made her move grabbing the wro
ught iron poker just as Justin turned back toward her.
She saw triple of him, opted for the middle one to be her target. With little strength, she slammed the poker against Justin's side, cutting through his skin as he tried to grab it from her. She pulled back just in time, swung again cutting his shoulder before falling to the floor off balance.
She lay flat on the ground, no more strength. Exhaustion consumed her.
He yelled at her, grabbed for the poker, lifted it above his head in anger.
Lillian couldn't see, couldn't focus. Her vision blurred. She was about to lose consciousness and she didn't care anymore.
This is it ... I'm going to die.
* * * *
Two gunshots rang out as Justin stepped backwards dropping the poker onto the hardwood floor. The sound of metal hitting the hardwood flooring echoed in the basement.
Justin turned toward the doorway, tried to reach for the poker again, when two more shots rang out, hitting him in the stomach and the chest.
He smiled wide at Michael, Jimmy, Jacks, and Miller as he fell to the floor.
Michael ran to Lillian's side along with the others. Justin lay dead as Jacks called for assistance over the radio.
The whaling sound of the alarm still filled the air.
Lillian remained bleeding, had multiple injuries, and was non responsive to Michael.
"We need an ambulance,” Michael yelled. Jimmy had already called it in.
They looked around the room in shock at the sight. Michael wondered how Lillian had survived this long, whether or not she would make it.
"She's one tough cookie, Mike. We'll get her to the hospital. She'll be all right, Mike,” Jacks said as he patted his shoulder.
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Epilogue
Lillian slowly opened her eyes, instantly feeling the pain that seemed to cover her from head to toe. The tears streamed down her face. I'm alive. I made it.
"Don't move, honey. Stay where you are. You're safe,” Michael whispered as he stood from the chair. He looked tired, his face unshaven, his eyes bloodshot.
Lillian's Love Page 22