by Sara York
“Could she be killing off women in Juniper?” Tony asked.
“No, we caught her. She was having a quarrel with her regular lover and went out to pick up young lesbians at a bar. This young lesbian has never experienced penetration and one thing leads to another. Our suspect gets angry, takes her anger out on the unsuspecting virgin and kills her. The woman felt guilty and confessed.”
“That’s sick.”
“That’s murder, and your UNSUB is well skilled at murder. From the precision of the first murder, I don’t think this guy, or gal, started his killing spree recently. His anger has been building against you, and now he in a position to strike. Once you’re gone, he’ll up the stakes somewhere else. Maybe there’s someone he hates more. Maybe you’re just a pit stop on his road to death and destruction. Whatever the cause, we need to stop him. Now back to you. Tell me about your life.”
Tony ran his hand over his face as he gathered his thoughts. He was already drained and humiliated, what more could he lose? “I wasn’t always Tony Santos. My parents died in an automobile accident when I was four. You already know that, right?”
“I want to hear it from you. All I have are the facts and figures. I need your take on it.”
“Okay. The neighbors didn’t know if I had any living relatives, no one claimed me, and I moved into the Philadelphia Boys’ Home for Displaced Children. I lived there for a couple of years before the Santos’s adopted me.”
“What was your name before the adoption?”
“Anthony Shepherd.”
“I haven’t run a check on Shepherd yet. Let me put your name into the system and see what we come up with. You can talk while the computer searches.”
“After the adoption, my life was normal. I went to school in Philadelphia for two years. Then the Santos’s died in a boating accident. There were no relatives to move in with. I was forced to move back to the home. I spent the rest of my pre-adult life there.”
“Girlfriends? Any angry women left behind?”
“No, I didn’t really date in high school. In college, Rex usually got the girls, and then Marissa came along.”
“Really? Did that bother Rex?”
Tony hung his head. Spade had brought up a subject Tony had hoped to avoid. Recently his suspicions had centered on Rex. Rex had been jealous when Marissa chose Tony. Maybe he still was.
“Marissa ignored Rex for the most part. She wasn’t rude, just not interested. One of the only women at college who wasn’t interested in Rex. Could you run a back ground check on him?”
“Come to that has it?” Spade questioned as he typed the information into his computer.
“The evidence is squirrelly.”
“How so?”
“When Rex was collecting evidence off of me, he found a hair covered in Latisha Enzer’s blood. The hair was plastered to my leg. Guess who that hair belonged to?”
“Rex Hague?”
“Bingo. But how did it get there? Rex has never slept at my house.”
“You spend a lot of time with him, maybe it was on you when you came home,” Spade countered. His face remained stoic.
“A bag of evidence is missing from Sekorski’s office. It’s too much of a coincidence.”
“I’ll put his name in the database. We’ll do a full background check, send a guy out to question some people, and see what we can come up with.”
“Spade, I didn’t kill the Enzer woman, but how could I have slept through her murder?” Tony’s voice wavered. He was low on sleep and his emotions were strung out. He couldn’t keep the pace he was being forced to follow. According to Spade, someone from his past was stalking him and killing off people near him. A thread of worry worked its way into Tony’s consciousness. A horrible question popped into his mind. Would Marissa be next?
“I pulled the toxicology report from Sekorski. You were given a very large dose of Rohypnol. Loss of motor functions and a dream-like state combined with memory problems and confusion is what we see from Rohypnol victims. It’s no wonder you didn’t know what was happening. You aren’t Superman, and this UNSUB is very crafty. He’s probably spent years perfecting his plan. You most likely aren’t his first target, and if we don’t stop him, you won’t be his last.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better? How can we stop this bastard if we haven’t got a clue where to start?”
“I’m going to sift through the information you gave me. I’ll see if we can come up with something from the boys’ home. Go back to Juniper, keep your eyes open, and I’ll call you when I find something. This person is smart, but he can’t beat the FBI. Trust me. We’ve taken down worse killers than this.”
“Somehow, I’m not completely comforted by your assurances.”
Chapter 18
Marissa moved through the grocery store, looking over her shoulder every few minutes. She wondered if Tony would show up looking for her. Kicking him out had been a mistake. She had lost her husband, her house, and soon she would lose her dignity. If Tony had murdered that girl, she would be seen as a murderer’s wife. Everyone would wonder how she hadn’t known. Did she really doubt his innocence? Did she believe that he could possibly do something so horrible?
Tony had a dark side. His time at the boys home had scarred him. Losing both sets of parents had left him alone with no one to call family. At night, Marissa heard his fears shouted out in his sleep. Tony didn’t know he talked while he slept, and she didn’t tell him. The pain and anguish he revealed weren’t the kinds of things he would want to share. In the beginning of their marriage, she hoped he would open up, but it had never happened. Tony wasn’t into sharing his innermost feelings. That, more than anything else, had ended their marriage.
Despair pierced her heart. Their daughter’s tiny grave was being exhumed and questions would be asked. Was she drugged? Had there been any past abuses? Did Marissa’s separation from Tony have anything to do with this?
She fought back tears and placed a hand on her belly. There was no evidence yet. She had maybe two weeks before she had to tell him. She let a tear escape before she swiped at her eyes, hiding her pain from the world.
The tickling sensation down her spine returned. People were staring at her. She could feel it. Her husband was supposedly being held for suspicion of murder. Of course people were staring.
Marissa chose a bag of rice and tossed it into her cart. She turned to pick up a package of pasta and Officer Sally Gerrig’s body slammed into her. Anger shot through Marissa’s veins, stiffening her spine.
“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to bump into you,” Sally apologized, ducking her head.
“Are you following me?”
Sally stared at Marissa for a moment before recognition dawned on her face. Her cheeks flamed bright red and she stepped away. Marissa was glad she had the decency to be embarrassed. Marissa wanted to shove Sally into the display of crackers at the end of the aisle. But violence against a cop would get her in jail quicker than she could say ‘bitch.’
“No, I didn’t even know you were here.” Sally backed away from Marissa, knocking into the cracker display, toppling three boxes to the floor. She bent and picked them up, not meeting Marissa’s eyes.
“Really, you haven’t been spying on me? You’re some piece of work.” Marissa grabbed her cart and left the aisle. She picked out a few more items before paying and heading to her apartment.
After putting up the perishables, Marissa dropped onto the couch, wondering where Tony was. She should call him, but didn’t want to encourage him. Soon, she would have to make a decision. A divorce would be quick, but did she really want that?
She was angry. Running into Officer Gerrig had hurt. Tony had said he hadn’t done anything but that letter. God, she wished she’d never seen that note.
Growing up, her sister had told her night after night she didn’t have what it took to catch a man and keep him. Marissa had tried to ignore her sister’s words, but she hadn’t been successful. She tossed the pillow across
the room and jumped to her feet. The club wasn’t busy in the afternoons and she needed a workout. Wallowing in pity wouldn’t do her any good. Later, she would stop by The Purple Patio for a cold chicken salad. She’d go shopping too. Summer would be over before long and she needed some new things before school started in the fall.
Chapter 19
Tony left Spade’s office at noon and stopped for a salad, vegetables, and grilled chicken. He should have settled for a burger and fries on the run. In the hour it took him to eat his meal, a thunderstorm rolled in, blackening the skies and turning the freeway into an oil slick.
A delivery truck full of beer skidded to miss a small Toyota that had slowed to a snails pace. The truck driver lost control and flipped. The trailer flew open, dumping cases of beer bottles on the pavement, littering the freeway with broken glass and foamy beer. Thus delaying Tony’s return even further.
He flipped through the radio stations, searching for news of the storm and for help with an alternate route. All he heard was disk jockeys decrying the loss of all of that beer.
Tony settled in for the long wait. Turning the evidence over in his mind, he ticked off the points of the case. He wanted, no needed, this to be solved. At around four, the traffic finally started moving.
The storm still pounded the south Texas area, leaving Tony with little choice but to drive under the speed limit. His bed at the motel was calling his name, but where should he go first? He needed to take another look at his house. Marissa’s apartment was on his list of places to go, but first he needed to stop by his motel to change clothes.
The sun hung low on the horizon by the time he made it back to his motel. Sticky from the humidity, Tony hopped into the shower. The warm water cascaded over him, relaxing his muscles and his mind. The cuts on his back felt better and had stopped oozing.
Something felt wrong. A warning. Or maybe it was just his over active imagination working double time. He turned off the faucet and stood in the shower letting the water run in rivulets down his body. Then it struck him. Marissa, what if she was next?
The UNSUB had struck out at Tony. Now would he strike harder? The one person Tony valued the most was Marissa. She was in danger. He felt it deep in the pit of his stomach.
Tony jumped out of the shower, not bothering with a towel. He pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. He grabbed his keys and slid on some flip-flops. He called Marissa on the way over. Her line rolled to voice mail.
Tony saw no lights in her window when he pulled up at the complex. He took two steps at a time. Sweat dripped down his face and his heart raced. What if something had already happened to her?
He pounded on the door. No answer. He pounded harder, calling out to her as he banged. A sound penetrated the thick door. He placed his ear against the solid surface.
He heard something. A scream?
He pulled out his key ring. He didn’t care if she was angry at him for having the key. He needed to get in now.
Fumbling with the keys, he chose the wrong one first. She yelled again. His adrenalin kicked in as the lock released. He pushed the door open. Before he could step into her apartment, a huge hulking form hit him square under his ribs, lifted him up off the ground and threw him against the wall opposite Marissa’s door. Tony sunk to the floor. His breath came in gasps and his vision blurred.
He opened his eyes to see a man, dressed in all black, fleeing the scene. He knew he couldn’t catch up with him, and at the moment he didn’t want to. He crawled through the apartment’s door and stumbled into her bedroom. When he saw her, his breath caught in his throat and for a second he thought he would pass out. Her arms were tied to the bedpost but her legs were free. She’d pulled them up next to her body.
A scream ripped through the room, stunning Tony into action. He leapt towards the bed, but stopped before he touched anything in the room. Maybe there was a fiber or hair follicle somewhere. Screw police procedure, he grabbed her up into his arms and cuddled with her.
He breathed a sigh of relief. She still had her bra and pants on. The bastard hadn’t raped her. Once he knew she was safe he flipped open his cell phone but before he could dial he heard a siren blasting its way closer. A neighbor must have called when she heard him outside banging on the door.
Tony pulled away from Marissa. She whimpered and her eyes filled with tears. He crossed the room, opened the closet door and grabbed a shirt for her. She slipped it on as Dickey Farris burst into the room, his gun drawn.
“Get away from her,” he yelled, his eyes wide with fright. “Get on the floor now.”
Tony complied. The rough carpet pushed into his cheek as Farris cuffed him.
Rex ran into the room, his face soaked in sweat and his shirt untucked. He bent down next to Tony. His breath smelled of Mexican food. “Shit, Tony, what did you do now?”
Shame and anger washed over Tony again. He hadn’t done anything, but telling it to the cops wouldn’t do any good. No matter what he did, his situation kept getting worse, but he’d saved Marissa. They could lock him up as long as Marissa was safe.
Tony heard Marissa speak. Her shaky voice ripped his heart to shreds.
“I came home and he was here.”
“Who was here, ma’am?” Officer Farris asked, his eyes darting angrily towards Tony.
“The man in black.”
“Tony Santos, your husband?”
“No. Tony saved me. A man was in my apartment. He attacked me from behind. I never saw his face. He hit me and pulled me into this room. He had my hands tied to the bed before I knew what had happened. I kicked him once. Oh God, he asked me to hit him again. I couldn’t get away--” Marissa’s shoulders shook violently as her sobs filled the room.
“Hey guys, could you take off the cuffs and let me up?” Tony asked.
“Tony, I’m sorry man. The neighbors said you were acting like a maniac out here, breaking down the door and stuff.” Dickey Farris apologized as he took off the handcuffs.
“Thanks.” Tony ignored the pain in his wrists, taking Marissa into his arms and holding her close. Her body shook against his chest. He pulled her tighter, placing her on his lap. Marissa curled up like a child, hiding her face against his neck and drawing her legs as close as she could.
“Tony, I think we need to take a quick trip to the hospital,” Rex interjected from the other side of the room.
“Marissa, you up to it?”
“She needs to be checked,” Rex insisted, his phone already open, ready to dial for an ambulance.
Marissa’s large eyes reminded Tony of a helpless puppy. He pulled her closer, wanting to protect her from harm. “Marissa, if you say no, then you don’t have to go right now. I’ll take you to your doctor tomorrow.”
“It’s okay, I’ll go.”
“You sure about this?” Tony asked. His wife hated hospitals.
“Yes, as long as you ride with me.”
“Sure, I’m not going to let you out of my sight.” Tony ran his hands through her hair. She winced as he touched the right side of her head. He pulled his fingers away and found blood. Clenching his teeth, trying desperately not to blowup, Tony held onto his wife. He had almost lost her today.
Tony tossed Rex the keys to his car. “Get it there for me.”
“No problem.”
The ride to the hospital was bumpy but quick. Sirens still worked wonders in south Texas. Cars cleared the road, making way for the ambulance and two police cars.
The admitting nurse asked Tony to leave but he held firm. He wouldn’t leave Marissa’s side until he knew she was safe. The nurse began asking medical questions and Marissa seemed to withdraw. Tony feared the worst. What if this guy had achieved penetration then pulled her panties back on? He squeezed Marissa’s hand, encouraging her.
“Tony, could you get me something to drink? A bottle of water.” Marissa eyes were moist with tears.
“Sure, baby, do you want me to wait until after the nurse finishes?”
“No, could you go
get it now?”
“I’ll be right back.” He smiled and kissed her on the head before he left the room.
Tony pulled a dollar out of his pocket as he wound his way through the halls and out to the reception area. After purchasing two bottles of water, he headed back into the heart of the ER. He paused outside Marissa’s room and breathed in deeply. He needed to be solid for her. He couldn’t fall apart now. With his hand on the door ready to push through, Tony heard the nurse speak and paused to listen.
“Don’t you worry, darling. We’ll get an ultrasound up here and check for the baby’s heartbeat. That does mean the pain medication we were planning on giving you is going to have to wait. The doctor will use a mild local anesthetic if he has to stitch up your scalp. It’ll be all right, you just wait and see.”
Tony’s vision blurred. He ran a quick hand over his face, steadying himself before he digested the news. Marissa was pregnant. Inside her, his baby grew. A sliver of fear wormed its way into his thoughts. What if the baby wasn’t his? He leaned against the wall and pain erupted from his back and over his shoulder blade.
Tony jerked away from the wall and grabbed his arm. Disturbing thoughts ran through his mind. He couldn’t go in there and face Marissa. How far along was she?
He walked away. He wandered around the halls, head down, unable to look other people in the eye. How could Marissa not tell him? She was the love of his life. He needed her. He wondered if she would have ever told him. A beat of fear thrummed in his chest. The killer could get in here, and he could take Marissa away from him forever. The problem about her pregnancy could wait.
Chapter 20
Tony rushed back to the ER. Marissa’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling. His heart clenched. Why hadn’t she told him?
“That took a while.” Marissa smiled, reaching out for the bottle of water.