Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series)
Page 14
*.*.*
My answer came when I recognized the road we were on. We’re headed to the cabins in Topsfield. I couldn’t have chosen a better place. The first time we were there it was Christmas Eve. We were lucky to get off the road safely, due to the surprise blizzard. The cabins were just in the right place at the right time. We were forced to stay in the same cabin based on our limited funds. I later learned Mercedes had enough money to get us separate cabins.
I tried my best to be a gentleman that night and the next morning, also being faithful to Lisa. However, the closeness and circumstance got the best of us. We were close for most of Christmas morning. I smiled at the memory of her coming out of the shower almost covered with this tiny bath towel, which left nothing to the imagination. She said something like ‘you will have to forgive the wrapping on your Christmas present, as it was all I had.’ That’s when she removed the towel.
I had to take a deep breath just thinking about it…just like I did before. I’m sure Mercedes, the ‘profiler,’ is already reading my mind. I think she knows me better than I do.
I saw the lighted sign for the ‘Tops Cabins’ which confirmed where we were headed. I couldn’t hold back the smile, looking over to see her smiling at me.
She gunned the car up the driveway, but there wasn’t any snow covering it this time. Mercedes braked, just before she would have hit the same post rail fence. She turned to me with the car still running. “I’m sure there was a point when you knew where we were headed. Scott, I guess it’s something we criminal investigators need to do…return to the scene of the crime.”
She just stared at me. I wanted to reach over and hug her. She sensed it, holding up both of her hands. She looked over at the vacancy sign which made her shirt turn red. “Well Mr. Tucker, I have enough money for two cabins this time, what will it be…one or two?” She studied me for a moment and added, “I can tell, you already know you won the Kewpie doll.”
*.*.*
I registered the same way I did four years ago…Mr. and Mrs. Scott Tucker. The owner recognized me. “Weren’t you the couple that stayed here the night of the blizzard?”
I grinned at him not knowing how to answer. “That’s us.”
“Welcome back. I can guarantee you won’t be snowed in tonight,” he said, with a laugh. “I will give you the same cabin.” He handed me the key.
Walking to her car, I wondered how in the hell he could remember me and the circumstance. I opened Mercedes’ driver door and said, “We’re in luck…we have the same cabin.” I showed her the key and she took it. Without saying a word, she grabbed her large pocketbook, quickly getting out of the car, leading the way to the cabin. There wasn’t any luggage to take in. I was behind her watching her incredible figure. She unlocked the door. Once inside, she was kissing me like I was a soldier just coming back from oversees.
After several minutes, I was more than ready to crash onto the bed. She broke our embrace. “Okay Scott, here’s the deal. You start the fire,” pointing to the fireplace, “over there, and when you’re done I want you naked under the sheets.” She smiled, adding, “I’ll go next door and get us some finger food for later, so we don’t starve to death. We don’t have a whole weekend to enjoy our time together, just tonight, but I want to do all the things we never did the first time. Do you think you can handle that assignment?”
“Mercedes, I’ve played this scene so many times since we were here. I think I can get it right this time.”
“She grabbed her pocketbook, smiled and said, “That’s what you think. You have no idea what’s in store for you tonight. I too have played this scene since we were here, but I’m not as naïve as I was then.” She turned to open the cabin door, but stopped and opened her pocketbook. “Close your eyes.” She was fumbling with her pocketbook. “Okay, open them. She was holding not one, but two pairs of handcuffs and threw them onto the bed. “You keep your hands off these, but this will give you something to think about while I’m gone. Make sure you take care of your assignment.”
Chapter 38
The sun was peeking through the blinds although it had been a sleepless night. Several times Scott had begged, as best he could, for her teasing to stop, but she was rewarded for not giving into his request. He was an incredible lover. Although she regretted Lisa had died in an accident, she couldn’t grasp what it would be like not to have Scott here with her.
Scott didn’t have the freedom to move about the cabin, so she had to tend to the fire herself. She attended to both fires extremely well. However, there was something that concerned her as the hours passed. Scott was enjoying her attention, but she was becoming concerned about her own behavior.
She sensed a strange sensation when Scott was helpless to stop her. At one point, she thought about Melanie and her three friends, keeping those men for an entire weekend. It was to make them pay for their rapes. She knew it became something much more than that to the women. She felt it earlier herself. Oh my God, am I turning into my sister? She knew she could never kill a man, especially one she loved. But, could she kill a man that she didn’t love in this same situation?
She studied Scott as he was recovering from the last sexual workout. His breathing was returning to normal. She undid the blindfold and gag. She leaned over, kissing his eyes and then his mouth. Tears fell on his body, as her sobbing lasted for several minutes. She could tell Scott was confused.
He tried to comfort her. “Honey its okay. I’m okay. There’s nothing to cry about. I love you, and I can tell you love me too.”
She moved off him, using the key to unlock the handcuffs from his wrists.
“Scott, I’m so sorry…I don’t know what came over me.” She started crying again.
He reached over and hugged her. “Mercedes please stop. Everything’s okay. You just had to get some things out of your system. You can tell I was enjoying things, couldn’t you?”
She slipped in beside him and he wrapped her in his arms.
“Scott…Scott, I’m scared. There was a point during that last session where I felt I was turning into my sister. I had a strange feeling that I could have lost control of myself very easily.” She hugged him without saying anything. “Scott, all of my ‘profile’ studies has never given me the understanding I just learned. I don’t want you to ever let me make you helpless again.” She was literally shaking.
He remembered back when Melanie had him captive. I thought I was going to die, and it was just a matter of time. Just now with Mercedes, I had no fear of any real harm…however, that just changed.
*.*.*
When she looked at the clock several hours later, she realized they had both fallen asleep. She studied Scott as he slept. She was concerned about her behavior, but more concerned about telling him about it. The cabin was chilly now, the sheets no longer covering them. She carefully moved Scott’s arm, getting up to bring the fire back to life. It took several minutes, but she managed to get it going again. She sat on the Indian blanket on the hearth, studying the fire and Scott.
She was so lucky to have met him and now to be with him. So many things had happened to bring them together. She was worried her confession might impact their relationship going forward. She was still trying to understand what happened. It was obvious she had blacked out…or did she? She was going to have to tell Scott about the profile she came up with for the Bermuda killer. Could one woman be kidnapping these men and keeping them for months, or was it more than one?
She looked over at Scott, noticing the red welts all over his body. Oh Scott, I love you…what have I done?
*.*.*
She went into the bathroom and started the shower. The pipes banged as the hot water started to come. She climbed in the shower and started washing her hair. A minute later she felt another set of hands washing her hair and she just let him take over.
They enjoyed their shower and the feel of the spray as they made love again.
She left the shower to dry off, heading to the bedroom.
He went over to her and sat down. “Mercedes, are you okay?
She took a deep breath, looking worried but she didn’t answer.
Her hair was still damp but she looked as beautiful as ever. There was a strong scent of Gardenia, much like he smelled for most of the night, only much stronger. “Mercedes, I know you’re concerned about last night, but its okay. I’m glad we came here, I’m glad we were together, and I’m okay.”
She shook her head. “Scott, didn’t you notice the marks on your body?”
“Yeah, so what?”
“Scott, do you remember what I said to you this morning about not letting me…well…did you?”
“I remember what you said. Mercedes, its okay, really it is.” He studied her, then added, “You’re not your sister…you could never be.” He could see her eyes watering.
“Scott, listen to me. I’m serious about this. There was a point where I don’t remember what I was doing. I can’t remember some of my time with you. I’m scared Scott...I really am. I never had an experience like that. As you know, my sister had a split personality, maybe I have one too. I love you, I know I really do. I have fallen for you and I don’t want to hurt you—but I’m scared.”
He held her. “I love you too. From now on, I’ll be the one tying you up. Okay?”
She pounded on his chest with her fists. “That’s not funny, not funny at all.” She started crying, and soon both of them were letting their emotions out.
*.*.*
I should have called the office, but I didn’t. Mercedes went to the McDonald’s next door and brought back two large coffees. We were consuming the food she purchased last night; although it was cold, it tasted good. After the food was gone, we just sat holding hands, looking out the front window of the cabin.
Mercedes looked over and smiled but a frown quickly appeared. “Scott, I need to talk to you about something important. Please don’t interrupt me…I need to get this out.” I nodded. She let go of my hands and continued, “I have looked at this missing men case and have developed a profile. The kidnapper, now a killer, is a woman. Although she is young, probably in her late twenties, she has not had normal relationships with men. I believe she has been raped. Because of that, she is seeking revenge on men she finds attractive.” She stopped to make sure I was paying attention.
She continued, “Although she was raped, she remembers what it is like to be helpless and at the mercy of her attacker. She has taken that feeling and turned it around to being the assailant. She gets sexual pleasure from her dominance. Getting back to her rape; it was not by a single man, it was by several men, over an extended time period. That’s why multiple men need to be her captives. In a way, she is reliving her rape experience with the roles reversed.”
“Mercedes, it sounds like you’ve found your right profession.”
“Please Scott, I asked you not to interrupt me. Let me continue. Unfortunately, there’s no limit to the number of times she’s going to repeat this process. When she tires of one captive, she kills him and disposes of his body. She replaces that void with another attractive man. Here’s what really worries me…I believe this cycle is shortening. The time between men going missing is diminishing. It looks like the next man will go missing in just a few weeks, or three months from the Nielsen’s kidnapping. I will go so far as to say she has room for four men, but I could be wrong about that.”
I could see the white of her knuckles as she gripped her coffee cup. I didn’t say anything, but pictured her scenario as clear as day.
She finished her coffee and continued. “This woman has established a way of keeping these men alive, going undetected for almost eighteen months. That would mean she has a home private enough to keep the men out of sight and sound.” Her eyes were staring right through mine. “Scott, does this make any sense to you? Does it sound familiar at all?”
As I heard her questions, the hair stood up on my arms. “It sounds similar to what your sister was doing; only in this case, the person is alone.” She clenched both hands, turned her head and stared out the window. I watched her nostrils constricting and her chest heaving.
“Scott, if I didn’t know better, this profile fits my sister so well, I could almost see her doing this. However, she’s dead, right? We all witnessed her jump into the freezing ocean years ago. She couldn’t have survived, to be doing this now. However, when I picture the person…I see Melanie’s face.”
“Scott, I have to go into the office. Max and Ralph have probably already arrived. My boss will be wondering where I am. We need to give an update of our trip to Bermuda. We’ve got to go…I’m sorry.”
I looked at her. I know she was torn between staying and leaving. “Mercedes, it’s okay. I have to get to work also. Thanks for kidnapping me.”
I think I just said the wrong thing.
Chapter 39
Holly looked at Jules asleep beside her. He’s such a large man, but so gentle. She feels so comfortable with him. They fit nicely together, but that’s not what this is about. She has never felt like this…is this, what she has been waiting for all of her life? It’s strange no woman has laid claim to him…am I missing something?
Her norm is to do a thorough investigation, which is why she is such a great investigator. Why am I not checking him out in more detail? Why? Miss Compton, do you have plans that go beyond just sharing a bed?
For some strange reason, she knew the answer to that question.
She carefully climbed out of the bed, pulling Jules’ very large Bermuda T-shirt over her head. Since it came down to her knees, she was smiling at how she must look. She started the coffee and then the; toast, eggs and bacon. The smell in the small galley was pleasant. She wondered if it would wake Jules. The tight quarters of the galley made everything within arms reach. She filled the coffee cups and made two plates. She carried the plates to the small portable table near the stern. The sun felt warm on her back. Then a shadow appeared.
“Well Holly, look at you. Were you expecting company, or is one of those plates for me?” Jules said, standing just behind her.
“Good morning Jules. Did you sleep well?”
He put his arms around her waist and kissed her on the neck. “I had a wonderful sleep and dreamed about a princess. When I woke up she had also made breakfast.”
She could feel the strength of his arms, his body pressing into her back, and his soft lips on her neck. “If you keep up what you’re doing and don’t sit down and start eating…we’ll be having this for lunch.” She turned quickly, moving out of his arms, and sat down. She looked at him. “Maybe you should put some clothes on first.”
He returned having donned a pair of cutoffs and a sleeveless white dress shirt. “Holly thanks for breakfast and last night.” He smiled, sat down immediately, picked up the coffee cup and took a long sip. “You’ll have to tell me your secret.”
She looked at him, wondering if he was referring to what she thought about earlier. She didn’t respond to his comment.
He laughed. “I guess I might have hit a nerve…I was talking about how wonderful the coffee tastes. I need to know your formula for it…my attempts always give me the impression I could use it as motor oil.”
She was relieved and laughed. “Maybe I’ll show you tomorrow morning.”
His wide grin showed his white teeth. “That sounds promising.”
While they ate in silence, she had time to think about her presence on the boat. I know almost nothing about this man. What are you doing Holly? Am I making the biggest mistake of my life? She was thinking with her heart and not her head. Maybe I need to go a little slower and find out more about Jules.
He broke the silence. “Holly, you looked concerned. I should have told you the breakfast is incredible. Are you concerned about something? Ca
re to share?”
“Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. I’m just concerned about being here. I mean here in Bermuda, and finding something that will help find these missing men. I need to focus on why I’m here.”
He studied her and then asked, “Why are you here?” He spread his arms out, with a concerned look on his face.
She let his question sink in, and then left quickly to get dressed.
*.*.*
They were both silent as Jules rowed the skiff to the dock. Once inside his cab, he broke the silence. “Me lady, what will thy desire be t’day?”
She could tell he was upset, and he didn’t deserve that. Don’t be a fool Holly…you know you like this man…don’t ruin it. “Jules, you will have to forgive me. I’m normally not confused about things, but I have to make some progress on this investigation. Please bear with me.”
He laughed a soft laugh. “It’s okay, but I thought we did that last night.”
She realized the double meaning in what she said and hit his arm. “That’s not what I was talking about.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss. “Now, let’s get some progress made, okay?”
He laughed again. “I thought we did that last night too.” She was going to hit him again and he just held up his arms. “I give up…we’re going to make some progress on the case today,” he said with a deep artificial voice.
She was feeling more comfortable. “Okay Jules, for starters, I want to find out more details about the dive cage in which Mr. Elliot’s body was found. Where do you get those things? We need a more detailed description of the cage. Then, do you have any idea where to start looking once we know the details?”
“Well, those cages are not that common. I’m thinking they’re used for studying, or filming, shark habitats. I can think of a few places where we need to investigate, but I think that might be something the authorities might have overlooked. Let me take you to talk with Chief-Inspector Hughes.”