[Sign Behind the Crime 01.0] Gemini

by Ronnie Allen

  He hesitantly entered the morgue.

  A solemn-looking doctor approached him and shook his hand then escorted him over to a table that held a body covered by a white sheet. He nodded to the doctor, who pulled the sheet down to the woman’s neck revealing her identity. Ralph collapsed in tears and anguish over the body of his once beautiful Sandra, who had been mangled and disfigured after being mowed down in a hit and run in downtown Brooklyn earlier that morning.

  Now Ralph snuggled next to Kellie on the bench. He told her Mommy went to heaven to be with God. Kellie didn’t understand that Mommy wouldn’t be holding her and loving her anymore, but she knew Mommy wouldn’t be coming home today. She cried as a reaction to seeing Daddy so distraught, but not because she comprehended what had just happened. All that concerned her was who would do her hair?

  Barbara cried in her sleep but still didn’t awaken...

  It was six months later. Kellie and her daddy walked, in the middle of the night, down a dark alley in between two large apartment buildings. Garbage pails were filled to capacity without covers and dark black torn garbage bags surrounded them, so the rats had a glorious feast. He let go of her hand and motioned for her to stay there. Barbara heard herself screaming, “Daddy. No, Daddy, don’t leave me!”

  He pulled away from her, pushing her down onto some garbage bags. She landed hard.

  Barbara wrenched in bed, screamed out loud, “Daddy, don’t leave me!” In the distance around the corner, four-and-a-half-year-old Kellie heard a gunshot. She ran to where the sound came from and discovered her daddy with a gun in his hand and a bullet hole in the side of his head. She attempted to waken him, pushing and pulling on him. His blood smeared all over her.

  A female officer lifted her off him and removed her to the side, isolating her from the chaos.

  “Don’t come near me! Kellie screamed, You’ll get dead, too!”

  ***

  Police and ambulance sirens roared in her dream and on the main avenue of the hospital.

  John entered her room, stood by the doorway, and observed her heart-wrenching pain.

  She screamed out loud. “Death to all those who come near me! Death to all those who come near me!”

  CHAPTER 25

  Three Years Earlier:

  John opened the door to Vicki’s house. “Wow, smells good in here. You had the door unlocked. What would your brother think of that?”

  “I just unlocked it. Dinner’s ready. Come in, darlin’.”

  “What did you make?” He made himself comfortable at the kitchen table. The soft suede like fabric on the oversized chairs conformed to his body perfectly. He relaxed on the armrests, glad they weren’t narrow feminine chairs.

  “You’ll have to wait and see.” Vicki placed a salad on the table with fresh green lettuces, home grown grape tomatoes, cucumbers, green and yellow peppers, sprouts, avocado, red onions, topped with croutons, and tossed with light homemade fat-free Italian vinaigrette.

  She served the salad with tongs matching the stoneware. All of the dishes, serving pieces, and platters coordinated in the varying shades of green, gold, and with a hint of red in the same geometric pattern.

  John noticed and appreciated the visual effects. This woman knew how to put things together. “This looks great.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “Please start. I just want to take the rest out.”

  “You’re doing all the work. Need any help?” He plucked a piece of green pepper from the salad and tossed it into his mouth.

  “No, sit there, please. It’s my kitchen. I like to do it myself.”

  He laughed at her possessiveness, studying her every move, quite impressed with his wife to be. Vicki pulled a tray of oversized orange-brown pumpkin muffins with crispy tops out of the oven. The aroma filled the air with sweet cinnamon and nutmeg. She gingerly placed them on a matching platter and put them onto the table. She scooped mashed cauliflower and spaghetti squash from pots on the stove, and put them into a two-in-one sectioned serving stoneware, topping both of them with a pat of butter. Then the main course, a sizzling almond-crusted baked tilapia, came out of the oven.

  “This is amazing. And you cooked all of this in an hour?”

  “Yes, darlin.’ I love, love, love to cook.”

  “Ah domesticated? I can get used to that.” He enjoyed the salad. “And this stoneware pattern, it’s nice.”

  “I love everything to match. That’s why I need so much cabinet space. I extended the kitchen into here.” There were eight feet more of cabinets, top and bottom with a counter in the middle, extending one foot out from the wall right in the dining nook.

  “I’d like this stoneware for my place. But in a different color,” he said, delving into a muffin. “Wow, these are amazing,” he moaned with delight. “Oh man! You can spoil me with dinners like this.”

  “That’ll be my pleasure. What are the colors you’d want?”

  “Black, gray, with yellow.”

  “It does come in that.”

  “Really?

  “Yes, darlin’ and if you’re a good boy, you’ll get this set for Christmas.”

  “Chanukah.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Not at all. Jaimie’s Jewish. With your last name it didn’t sound...” She served him the fish and veggies. “It’s cauliflower, not potatoes.”

  “Never had that before. My dad converted after he and my mom got married. Are the boys going to be bar Mitzvah?”

  “I honestly don’t know. They do celebrate both holidays though. Does it matter to you that I’m not Jewish?”

  “No, not at all. This is fabulous. Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  He devoured everything on his plate. “I’m going to need to do twenty laps to burn this off.”

  “No, you won’t. It’s low carb. But save room for dessert later.”

  “Dessert has no calories but burns over three hundred an hour.”

  She scowled at him. “You actually know the statistics?”

  He hiked his eyebrows, winked, and shot her a wickedly sexy grin. “Yeah. So you do know the kind of dessert I’m talking about.”

  “John! Well, I’m talking about apple pie. But I made it with sugar replacement.”

  “Sounds great. How late is the pool open?”

  “You want to go swimming now?” Finished eating, she cleared the table.

  “Let me help you. Yes, why not?”

  “Okay.” As she put dishes in the dishwasher, he noticed there was much more food on the stove.

  “You made so much.”

  “Actually, on the way to the pool we can drop this at your parent’s house, and they can have dinner, too.”

  “You cooked for my parents? Trying to score points are you?” He hugged her.

  “Absolutely, why not? I’ll show them one of my many talents.” She packed the food up in stoneware with pop on lids.

  “Many talents?”

  “Well, the others are personal. But you know about them already.”

  “Ah, yes, do not tell them about those.”

  “Does your mom cook?”

  “Yes, she’s an excellent cook. But I think she’s met her match with you. If her fangs come out, it’s because she approves.”

  “Ah, jealousy. Let’s go before it gets cold. I hope they haven’t eaten already.”

  “They usually eat about now, so I don’t know.”

  “Let me put on a suit.”

  He held her around her waist. “Do you have a real sexy one?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  ***

  John and Vicki carried in the trays to Esther and Sam’s house, to find his father standing in front of the immense refrigerator with the door open. Vicki took it all in with envy. It was a huge modern space with rich dark mahogany cabinets and a luxurious expensive brown-grained granite island in the galley style kitchen. There was every up to date appliance.

 
; “Dad, what are you doing?”

  “You didn’t want to go to the country club for dinner, so I’m trying to figure out what Mom should make.”

  “Problem solved. Vicki made you dinner. Where’s Mom?”

  Esther entered from another room. “What smells so good?”

  “Vicki made you dinner, too. I’m going to get a suit and towel. We’re going to the pool.” John dashed into his master suite.

  “Oh, how thoughtful, sweetheart. Thank you.”

  His father set the table and Esther examined Vicki’s every move. Vicki positioned everything on the table carefully and removed the lids.

  “Oh, my! This looks wonderful. You better not be as good a cook as I am.”

  So that’s what John meant by fangs coming out. No, Esther darlin’, I’m definitely a better cook than y’all.

  “Enjoy.” Vicki laughed at Esther’s comment as if she accepted it teasingly. She already knew she had his father where she wanted him, now she had to work on his mother.

  John called her from the door. “Vicki, I’m ready.”

  “I’m coming. Bye, see you soon.” She scooted off to John, but not fast enough.

  “It’s a very nice salad.”

  “Yes, it is and these biscuits are fabulous. Melt in your mouth delicious. Try one.” Sam urged.

  She accepted begrudgingly. “Oh, my God. These are wonderful.” She tasted the cauliflower and squash. Then the fish. “This is very, very good. Okay, so she’s a balabusta. I’ll give her that. John needs someone who’s a fine homemaker too.”

  ***

  The pool area was empty. Perfect. It was dark and there were very few lighting fixtures around the pool. John was confident no one else would show up this late. He couldn’t have asked for anything better. They strolled hand in hand over to the lounges on the far corner, away from the main entrance, so they could enjoy the serene peacefulness and privacy.

  “That was a brilliant move.”

  “What?”

  “Dinner for my parents.” At a lounge, he flipped down the back to make it flat and took off his tank and shorts. “Now, show me. What do you think that I think is sexy?”

  “Okay.” Swaying her body to excite him, she performed a belly dance for an audience of one. She removed her shorts to reveal a skimpy black bottom, an inch more coverage than a G-string. Then she removed her tank, revealing a black-lace, strapless top with a lot of cleavage showing, and her firm breasts held up just the way he liked them. She spun around for his approval. “Well?”

  “That passes with flying colors.” He lay down on the lounge. “Come here, lie on top of me.”

  “Here?”

  “We’re the only ones here. Come on. And I got us coverage.” He unfolded the oversized towel. She lay down on top of him, giggling, and he threw the towel over them covering them from head to toes.

  “Oh, my God, you’re crazy. But it’s so comfortable.” She laid her head on his chest. His warm hands caressed her back and slid down to her bottom.

  “Come here.” He scooted her up a little, and their lips interlocked in utter passion, with him showing her how much he was enamored with her. He unfastened the back of her top and then slid down her bottoms. She pulled her feet out of them. Next, he removed his trunks. Her arms wrapped around his neck. They were sucked into each other and couldn’t be pried apart. The moans and groans of intense arousal emanated from the both of them.

  He squeezed her bottom. “Just go with me here.”

  “Whatever you say, your highness. Oh, my God. Your hands are so warm.”

  He adjusted her hips and raised her up. She spread her legs. He was hard and warm. She was satiny soft and wet.

  He repositioned her hips, sliding forward and back while he massaged and tickled her bottom and base of her spine. “Just slide, just like that.”

  “Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, John...”

  “Ssh. Now imagine what it would feel like if my tongue was there.”

  Her body quivered against him from head to toe. He breathed deeply, squeezing her tighter as waves of trembling spiraled through her. In response, he felt himself explode with energy, from his core up to his head.

  “Oh my God, what are you doing to me?”

  He slid her harder and faster and faster.

  “I’m going to, uh, so fast. Oh my God!”

  He breathed harder. “Oh, yeah, oh, Vicki...”

  Their passion reached its peak as they attempted to contain their moans. Sensations still rippled through them. He felt her climax, again, as her head collapsed onto his chest, her messy hair going in different directions across her face. He let go. The warmth of his discharge came between them on their stomachs. They were both breathing heavily. Suddenly, without a moment to recoup and without any warning, the towel was yanked off from their heads down to their necks.

  “What the--” John demanded.

  “Daddy!”

  CHAPTER 26

  Present Day:

  “That’s nice, real nice. Should I be forewarned?” John approached Barbara with caution watching her come back to reality. He focused, looking right through her to her very empty core. What a disturbed and tormented woman. He almost felt sympathy for her, but just for a fleeting moment. Feeling sorry didn’t do his patients any good. Being tough was a necessity to push them forward. No enabling from him. No empathy. Not for this murderer, he reminded himself.

  Barbara jerked up, terrified. She wrung her trembling hands together and hyperventilated as she stared at him with vacant eyes. “What did I say now?”

  “Death to all those who come near me. Repeatedly.”

  “Oh my God.” She shuddered and clutched her throat. “How much am I going to reveal to you?”

  “Well, your unconscious is telling me a lot. Maybe it’s telling you it’s time to confront your demons. Now what does that mean?” He sat on the chair next to her bed, leaned in toward her, and cupped her hand in his. “What does that mean?” He expected, or rather hoped for, a truthful answer.

  “What?”

  “Barbara...”

  She took a few moments. “Everyone that I get close to, everyone who I have feelings for, dies. My mother gave me up for adoption and I don’t know why. I tried to find her, but couldn’t. My adoptive mother died--”

  “From cancer.”

  “No, that wasn’t the truth. Sorry.”

  He sneered, letting her know he knew that already.

  “From a hit and run when I was four. They never found the driver. Then my father went ahead and shot himself in the head six months later, dumping me on a pile of trash in an alley.” She sniffled. “I never found out why.”

  John assessed her aura and tone the entire time and noticed a change when she spoke the last sentence. Her aura sent out jagged waves of a grayish color. That was a definite lie. She did know why and this could be a major clue. A clue he’d investigate with fervor.

  “How about telling me something new.”

  She averted her eyes.

  “Everything you divulged sounds like a rehearsed scenario and you told me this already. You have it down to a science. How about something spontaneous, from your gut?”

  No response. Not making a dent.

  “You never found out why?”

  “No.”

  “What did you do to find out?”

  “I hired a private investigator.”

  “Name?”

  “It was eighteen to twenty years ago. He passed away.”

  “Name?”

  “I don’t remember.”

  “How did he die?” He looked at her with focus and intensity, trying to read her response.

  She became frustrated. “For Christ sake! I don’t know!”

  She killed him. Got to be it. Max, give me a signal.

  At that moment, he felt Max jumping into his crown chakra.

  Damn! Now to prove it.

  “Why are you looking at me like that, Dr. Clairvoyant?”

  “I
haven’t gotten a straight answer from you in three days.”

  “Too fucking bad.”

  He was immune to the expletive. “Who else does that refer to? Sounds aggressive, like you’re warning people to stay away.”

  “I’m not. But isn’t that enough?”

  “No, actually, it isn’t.” John stared her down but she wasn’t budging. He knew she was cognizant of what she was hiding and he’d collected more information than she realized.

  “What’s in the envelope?”

  “Changing the subject? Okay, I’ll play. Let’s see what you tell me about this. Truth or lie.” He pulled out the photo of Clancy and placed it on her lap.

  Barbara looked down to her left, took a deep breath, and swallowed, her tell that she was about to lie.

  “Who is he?” He smiled because he’d caught her. “Don’t recognize him?”

  She stared at him, wide-eyed. “No.”

  “Clancy Davis. Visited your school this morning looking for you. Mrs. Bennett gave the detectives a composite. She was so observant and detailed it took the department less than sixty seconds to identify him. So who is he? Your stalker or partner?”

  “Partner? Partner? You actually think I’m involved in something sinister?”

  He laughed at her naiveté.

  “Just tell me already. When am I getting out of here?”

  “You’re not.”

  “What? The seventy-two hours are up, you bastard!”

  “Quiet! Yes, the seventy-two hours are up, but I can keep you longer since you’ve been uncooperative, and you’re in protective custody until we find him.”

  “Dr. Trenton, okay, I admit it. I know him. Not personally--” She looked down to the left. “But I’ve seen him before. He came onto me at Zodiac. He’s not a serial killer or anything. He’s just obsessed with me. His tormenting is an obsession of something he can’t have. He’s just like any of the other losers that go there.”