Nowhere to Run (Stephanie Carovella)

by Nina D'Angelo

  “He was her ex-boyfriend. She broke up with him days before she was murdered. It’s the key reason we were able to get a search warrant for his apartment. We argued it was too much of a coincidence he was dating Katrina, who we assume was the first victim.”

  He smiled apologetically at her. “I’m sorry. I thought Gena might have told you.”

  Stephanie scowled. “No, but then what’s one more thing Gena hasn’t told me about? If she forgot to mention my first husband was murdered, why would she tell me my sick twisted freak of a second husband dated Katrina?” Snorting in disgust, she added, “But it certainly explains Leigh’s obsession with me.”

  Jase scowled, watching her expression turn from one of shock to annoyance before it switched to one of indifference. Her gaze became shuttered, and he growled with frustration when he recognized the polite mask Stephanie always wore when she wanted to hide how she really felt. He’d hoped that after everything they’d shared, she’d let her defenses down a little for him. Obviously, he was wrong.

  “Still think he’s not guilty?” he growled, pushing to get a response from her.

  Stephanie slowly slid off his lap, leaning over to pick up her coffee cup. Taking a deep sip, she sighed in pleasure at the smooth Columbian Blend. “Jase, Leigh may be a fraud, an abusive husband and have a past as tainted as mine, but it’s still hard to imagine him a killer.” She said, adding quickly when he opened his mouth to protest, “Even with all the trinkets and the photos, it’s all circumstantial. Unless you find him standing over a dead body with the bloody weapon in his hand, a jury is going to find it difficult to convict him. You and I both know it.”

  Jase cursed, running a hand over his unshaven jaw. “We haven’t found a murder weapon. Frank will tear the place apart until he finds one, though. He wants to nail Leigh to the wall badly and I don’t blame him. Stephanie, he was Katrina Andrews’ ex-boyfriend and the main suspect in her murder. He had scratches from the fight they’d had. He couldn’t give himself an alibi at the time she was murdered. He was the perfect candidate for her murder.”

  “Then why wasn’t he charged?” she argued back, arching an eyebrow.

  “An eyewitness came forward and said it wasn’t Walker. The police couldn’t hold him. They dropped the charges and Walker dropped off the face of the earth, resurfacing only to find you,” Jase said, irritation creeping into his voice. “Whose side are you on anyway, Carovella?”

  “Yours, Devlin,” she shot back, grinning when he dropped his hand onto her leg, sliding it up her thigh. Swatting his hand away playfully, she said, “Quit it. I’m on your side okay? Your side, Angel’s, Katrina’s and Carolyn’s side, not to mention God only knows how many other victims out there. But I refuse to condemn a man until there’s solid evidence he committed the crime. I just can’t do it.”

  Frowning, she took another sip of her coffee. “You said there was a witness? Who was it?” she asked, her heart beating wildly.

  “The police files didn’t say who the witness was. The report stated a male came forth to say Walker wasn’t the man they were looking for. I looked up the leading Detective on the case - Detective William Foley. He lives in Marina Del Ray. I gave him a call and he’s agreed to sit down with me and discuss the case. He still has all his notes. I’m hoping he can tell me who the witness was and anything else about the case,” Jase said, smiling warmly at her.

  Stephanie bit her lip. She wanted to ask Jase if she could tag along when he visited Detective Foley, but knew it might be pushing it. This was all new territory for her. Usually she did what she wanted and she didn’t give a damn what anyone thought. The only person’s opinion who had mattered to her was Dominic’s. With Jase, it was different. His feelings mattered. She respected his opinion.

  It still stung her how easily Katrina’s death had been glossed over, how she’d become nothing more than just a statistic. She’d never given a damn what Foley thought of her, but Katrina had been sweet and innocent. She’d never deserved to be treated in the manner she had been.

  “If we can find the witness, we can find out why it took him so long to come forth. It’s one of the things I’m stumped about. Why did it take months for this eye-witness to come forward?” Jase asked, exasperated.

  Stephanie drummed her fingers against her coffee cup, processing everything Jase was telling her. “Maybe it’s because he had an ulterior motive. Did you ever think maybe this eye-witness could tell you Leigh wasn’t the killer because he was Kat’s Killer? I mean, was he even checked out or did they take his word for it?”

  Jase looped an arm around her shoulder, drawing her to him again when he heard the bitter undertones in her voice. “I know the L.A.P.D really failed you when Katrina died, but I promise you, Steph, things have changed. We won’t let him get away this time.”

  ***

  Gena walked into Leigh Walker’s bathroom, carefully sifting through the contents. Picking up a bottle of his cologne, she read the label, Stetson Black by Coty. Lifting the cap off the bottle, she sniffed it experimentally and wrinkled her nose at the blend of spices. Replacing the lid, she placed the bottle back onto the basin bench and slowly turned around in the bathroom, not missing an inch of the room. From the black and white tiles, cracked and yellowed around the edges from old age, to the orderly way Leigh had lined his colognes alphabetically.

  Her lips quirking, she thought that if this wasn’t an indication of his obsessive tendencies, then she didn’t know what was. Her eyes drifted towards the toilet and she shook her head. She found it hard to believe he would hide a murder weapon inside the top of the toilet water tank. Grimacing, she knew she had to look anyway.

  “Surely he’s not that stupid,” She muttered, lifting the lid of the toilet tank off. Dumbfounded, she stared at what was inside. Gingerly she put her gloved hand inside, pulling out a plastic bag containing a bloodied knife.

  “Now, this is just too damn easy,” she muttered, staring at the knife momentarily. A shudder ran through her, the knowledge she possibly held in her hands the murder weapon to send Leigh Walker on a one way ticket to Murder Row, weighed heavily on her.

  Gingerly holding the bag between her gloved fingers, she walked into the living room, stopping when she saw Delucci flicking through a photo album. “I think I’ve found the murder weapon,” she said quietly.

  Delucci tore his eyes from the photo to fixate on the knife, his eyes lighting up with undisguised delight. “Where did you find it?”

  “Would you believe me, if I told you the top of the toilet?” Gena said, shaking her head in amazement. “Either our killer is a lot stupider than we assumed or someone really wants to nail Walker for these murders.”

  Putting the bag holding the bloodied knife into an evidence bag, she placed it with the rest of their evidence. Stripping off her contaminated gloves, she pulled out a new pair, slipping them on. “Did you find anything else to link Walker to the crimes?” She asked, nodding her head towards the album he held in his hands. She was unable to hold back a gasp, when he flipped open the first page of the photo album. “My God Frank, that’s a photo of Carolyn, Angel, Stephanie and I. It was taken the night we graduated. Another photo, taken the same night, was discovered in the scrapbook we found with Carolyn Mathers’ body.”

  “Still think Walker’s not our man?” Delucci asked, flipping through a few more pages to show Gena the articles within the album. Gena hastily flipped through pages within the album, scanning article after article, growing whiter as she did so. Her eyes scanned each page and she shook her head. “Each page has articles covering the recent spate of murders we’re covering as well as articles dating back to Katrina Andrews’ murder,” Delucci said, leaning over to flip to the beginning of the album. “Recognize anyone you know?” he asked, pointing to an article with a photo.

  “Stephanie,” Gena breathed. Her eyes skimmed the article, reading the title, ‘University student escapes massacre.’

  Delucci flipped it forward a few more pages to art
icles from the San Antonio Express News and San Diego Union Tribute. “My God, Frank, these are articles relating to the murders Stephanie connected to Katrina Andrews’ murder. He kept clippings of them,” she breathed, horror washing over her.

  “He didn’t just keep clippings on these. There are at least a dozen more articles relating to murders that could be linked to Katrina Andrews’ murder. If he kept these clippings as mementos from his crime, we’re looking at a very prolific serial killer,” Delucci said grimly. “And, there’s more. This is only one album. There’s a dozen more albums filled with articles covering murders. All of which could be possibly linked to Katrina Andrews’ murder. The M.O’s are the same. There are also photo albums dedicated to Stephanie’s career and life.”

  Delucci took the album from Gena’s hands and leaned over to pick up an album sitting on the living room table. Gena closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She whispered softly, “He’s been following Stephanie’s career and her life since the murder of Katrina Andrews?”

  “Not just Stephanie’s,” Delucci said, studying the woman in front of her. He had seen a softer side of Gena Evans in the past few days, a side he never thought existed. She’d shown him she loved her friends and was loyal to them. She’d shown him she would protect them no matter the costs. He watched her open her eyes, confusion written on her face. “What do you mean, Frank?” she asked, stopping when he silently handed her a photo album.

  Gena took the album he offered her. With trembling hands, she flipped through it. Silently, she studied the photos and the articles, a lump developing within her throat. “My God, these are…”

  Delucci took the book from her and tossed it onto the living room table. “Articles on you, yes I know. Stephanie may be his prize, Gena, but you were right all along. You were also in this maniac’s sights. His feelings for Stephanie border on obsession, but his feelings for you aren’t any less.”

  “Frank, I wasn’t even at the university at the time of Katrina Andrews’ murder. I didn’t even know her,” Gena protested.

  “Maybe not, but somewhere along the line you crossed his path and caught his attention. It could be because you’re Stephanie’s friend or it could be much more. Walker went to university with both of you. Is it possible you came across each other at one time or another and didn’t realize it?”

  Gena shook her head, unable to speak. “Frank, I don’t know. University was a long time ago. I took a lot of different classes. I can’t remember everyone in them. I just don’t know,” she said, exasperation evident in her voice.

  “Either way, I’m not taking any risks. I’m putting out a warrant for Walker’s arrest tonight. The sooner this son of a bitch is behind bars, the safer you and Stephanie Carovella will be.”

  Chapter Forty

  Jake Carlisle watched Gena climb out her car, smiling at the confident way she walked. Gena always walked like she was on a mission. She hadn’t changed much since university. Feeling his heart skip a beat, he acknowledged neither had his feelings.

  Scowling darkly, he turned his head to see Rafe studying him intently. Meeting his gaze head-on, he arched an eyebrow at the anger flaring in his friend’s eyes before Rafe concealed it. “She still does your head in, doesn’t she?” Rafe said, jerking his head towards Gena.

  “Gena’s Gena, she’s not going to change for anyone. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I was never going to be the centre of her world. Her job has, and always will, come first,” Jake said bitterly.

  Rafe nodded, watching the woman approaching the house. He couldn’t see the appeal himself. Gena Evans was too cold. His gaze hardened, recalling all the pain she’d put Jake through. No, Gena Evans was definitely not the type of woman he envisioned himself spending the rest of his life with.

  Gena walked up the pathway to Jase’s apartment, stopping at the bottom of the apartment steps when she noticed Jase and Rafe sitting at the top of them. “What are you doing here?” she asked in confusion. “Why aren’t you at Jesse’s keeping an eye on Stephanie?”

  “She’s here,” Rafe said, his voice clipped. He grunted in satisfaction at Gena’s surprised look.

  “Here? At Jase’s? Why?”

  Jake shrugged. “Hell if we know. She took off with Devlin while Rafe and I were doing our hourly run of the perimeter. She left a fucking note again, can you believe it? She’s got a serial killer obsessed with her, and she prances off with Devlin.”

  “I’m. Going. To. Kill. Her.” Gena gritted out.

  “You might have to get in line. Pretty sure you’re psycho serial killer wants to be first,” Rafe half-joked.

  She shot him a filthy look. “I thought Jesse said you two could handle her. So far, you’re doing a stellar job of it.”

  “Jesus, Gena, I’ve baby-sat some of the worst war criminals in history, and they’re pussycats compared to Stephanie. You know as well as I do, she will continue to go along her merry way and to hell what everyone thinks. This time’s no different,” Jake snapped.

  “Jake, that’s not entirely true. Something freaked her out,” Rafe interrupted.

  Gena glanced from Jake to Rafe, waiting patiently for Rafe to continue. “And?” she prodded.

  “She said she’s not going back to Jesse’s house. I think Rafe’s right. Stephanie wouldn’t explain her reasons for leaving, but she made Rafe and I pack up all her stuff and bring it over to Jase’s.”

  “Great,” Gena groaned, tapping her car keys against her leg. Taking her sunglasses off, she slid them up to rest on her head. Putting her hands on her hips, she muttered, “This is just like Stephanie. She decides she doesn’t like, or want to do, something and to hell with what everyone else thinks. What does she think she’s going to do? Move in here with Jase?”

  Jake grinned, knowing Gena was only beginning to wind up. He had the feeling once she realized just how close Jase and Stephanie were, she’d blow a fuse. He knew she’d notice the change in their relationship, just as he had. It wasn’t anything they’d said or done, but the dynamics were different. There was an intimacy between Jase and Stephanie, one which hadn’t been there before.

  His grin turned into a grimace. He didn’t want to be around when Jesse and Ben found out. Realizing Gena was waiting expectantly for a response, he cleared his throat.

  “Gena, I don’t think Jase will feel like she’s imposing.”

  Gena raised an eyebrow questioningly, turning her head to stare through to the apartment’s front window. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted Stephanie sitting on the kitchenette bench talking to Jase, their heads bent closely together. Jase had his hands on both sides of the bench and was leaning into Stephanie’s body. She didn’t miss the way Stephanie looked at Jase beneath swept eyelashes, her lips curved into a smile. Gena’s own lips twisted into a snarl.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? Please, don’t tell me they’ve hooked up?” she spat, anger contorting her features. “Surely Jase wouldn’t be that fucking stupid? God damn it, I told him about what she’s done to every guy she’s crossed paths with. She’s got your brother in knots, confessing his love for her - and Ben’s like a pathetic lost puppy trailing after her. She destroyed Dom when she left him. Hell, she’s even got a serial killer with a major hard-on for her.”

  Rafe choked back his laughter and Jake grinned, asking her, “Gena, since when has a guy ever thought rationally around Stephanie Carovella?”

  “Thanks for stating the obvious, Jake. She’s toxic to men, a real walking disaster. She’s been this way for as far back as I remember. Dom was the only one who settled her down, and even he couldn’t keep her for long. If Jase has fucked her, she can be his problem from now on. After we catch this bastard, I’m done with her drama.”

  Jake crossed his arms, standing up to lean against the apartment’s stairway railing. “Before you burst into the apartment all guns blazing, you might want a heads up; Stephanie’s after your blood. I don’t know what you’ve done but if you’re looking for a battle, you better put on
your big girl panties because she’s ready to start World War Three with you.”

  “What else is new?” Gena spat, rolling her eyes. Glancing at her watch, she craned her neck to look behind her. “Delucci is supposed to be meeting me here. When he arrives, can you tell him to come on up to Jase’s? I need to sort out these two before he shows up. If Delucci finds out they’ve hooked up, all hell will break loose.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s going to anyway, when Stephanie sees you,” Jake murmured.

  Gena ignored him, stomping up the stairs. She stiffened her back, when Jake laughed as she brushed past him. Stalking into the house, she slammed the front door behind her. Putting her hands on her hips, she watched Jase lift his mouth from Stephanie’s.

  “Gena,” he began, pulling apart from Stephanie.

  “Tell me you didn’t sleep with her,” Gena interrupted angrily. “Jase Devlin, tell me you did not fall for her sweet and innocent act.”

  Stephanie slid off the kitchenette bench, stalking towards Gena, until they were only inches apart. Jamming her finger into Gena’s chest, she spat, “Who the fuck do you think you are, Gena Evans? How dare you come in here and judge us. How the hell do you dare judge me? I’m sick of this shit. I’m sick of you. You come in here, acting all high and mighty, acting as if you’re better than me. You have always treated me like I’m a piece of crap on your shoe, an irritation. If something goes wrong, blame Stephanie; it’s bound to be her fault.”

  Gena stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “Maybe, that’s because it’s the truth. You’ll excuse me if I don’t want to pick up another one of your victims. You’re just like the serial killer chasing you. You leave victims behind in your path, and you don’t look back to see the chaos or devastation you’ve caused. Hell, are you that selfish you don’t even notice the pain you inflict? Don’t you think Jase has been through enough dealing with Angel’s murder without getting caught up in Hurricane Stephanie? A murder, incidentally, caused by yet another man obsessed with the almighty Stephanie Carovella.”