We stayed and talked for the rest of the evening and said goodbyes. The restaurant was on the beach and we had walked there. As Robert was walking me home he started chuckling.
When I looked over at him he said, “I do believe Freddy has a crush on you. Do I have anything to worry about?”
“Don’t be silly. How old is he anyway, about 17?”
“Actually, he’s 26. It’s the red hair and freckles that fool you.”
“Where is he from?”
“He’s from Augusta. Wanted to be a cop since he could remember. No one took him seriously over in Augusta so he came here. He wanted to live near the beach anyway.
TWOON
Tonight I had to walk the beach for a long time before I found my victim. I was getting frustrated. I needed to see someone hurt.
A young boy of about 15 or 16 was sleeping on the beach, probably a run-away. I nudged him with my foot and he opened his eyes.
“Who the hell are you and what do you want?” He said as he got up rubbing his eyes.
He tried to act tough and I knew this would be my best one yet. He got up and started walking down the beach trying to ignore me. I walked along side of him for a ways and he finally stopped and faced me.
“What the hell do you want? I knew this wasn’t a good place to come. I should have stayed in Memphis. You Georgia Crackers are crazy.”
When I pulled out the knife, he laughed, “What are you, some kind of nut?”
I smiled at him and he smiled back like we were going to be friends. That’s when I grabbed him. It was great. There was no one on the beach and I got off on hearing him scream as I rammed the knife into his thigh.
I threw him down and straddled him. He started crying and didn’t try to act tough anymore.
“Please don’t hurt me no more,” He cried and he looked so much like a baby that I paused, but then he said, “You don’t have the guts, do you?”
I was grateful for the words. It was like it gave me permission to continue. I came right away at the next stab which was on his side. At this point he looked terrified and I started rubbing myself against him and came again.
He was too scared to move and I took my time stabbing. He passed out and it made me mad. I wanted him to make some noise.
I hadn’t stabbed him that much but I couldn’t find a pulse and it didn’t look like he was breathing so I left him for dead.
After I got home I got myself cleaned. Every time I thought about him I came again but it didn’t seem to be enough. He was like an unfinished project. I knew I would have to hunt someone again real soon.
CHAPTER FOUR
Over the next few weeks Robert and I hardly saw each other. We were both busy with our work. There had been another stabbing, a young boy but for some reason the stabber had left him alive. We had a small hospital that had only been open for a couple of years. He was admitted there with a deputy guarding his room.
The boy was in a coma and no one knew who he was. His photograph was put on the front page of the Monroe Gazette but no one had come forward. We figured he was probably a run-away.
Robert said they had taken the boy’s fingerprints and had sent them off to the FBI in hopes of finding an identity in their missing person’s files.
The next day an FBI agent arrived from Atlanta. His name was Simon Carter. Robert called me as I was closing the shop and asked me to meet him at TJs.
When I walked in I saw Robert sitting with one of the largest men I have ever seen. He looked like a mountain of solid muscle and he towered over Robert.
I always thought Robert was a big man and I liked that. It always made me feel safe. Robert looked small next to Simon who was also black.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Robert and Simon would not have had positions of authority in the south but now it was the 21st century.
Simon turned out to be one of the funniest guys I’d ever met. He told jokes throughout the meal and it wasn’t until dessert that he got serious.
“Look, Robert, I don’t want to step on any toes here, but I’m here to help. It’s still your case. I’m not here to take it away from you. I was assigned to this case by my boss because it appears to be a federal case now.
“If you want, I can work in the background doing the computer work and tapping into our data bases. I’m going to let you use me how you want. By the way, has the boy regained consciousness yet?”
“Not yet and to tell you the truth, the doctors can’t figure it out. His injuries aren’t that severe as to cause him to be in a coma. They’re running tests but they’re baffled. They said it appears that the boy has shut himself down.”
“You know what? We had a case in Atlanta of a young woman who had been raped and went into a coma. There were no injuries serious enough for her to be in a coma but she was. I need to look that up because the doctors did figure out what was causing the coma. I can’t remember what it was. If I can find that data, maybe it will help the doctors here.”
After Simon left to check into the hotel, Robert and I lingered over coffee. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to wake this boy up and get him to give us a description of this killer?”
I agreed, “It would be and then maybe I could hang out at the beach without you trying to turn into my daddy.”
He took my hand and kissed it, “I’m only trying to look out for you, sugar. You know that. I love you very much. Would you love me more if I let you become one of this guy’s victims? I’m sorry if I’m overprotective on this one thing but it’s a big thing, don’t you think?”
“I know you’re right, Robert. I feel so pinned down when you start getting protective.” I flexed my muscles. “Look at my biceps and triceps, Robert. I work out all the time, with weights; I do aerobics, and walk on the beach. I’m in good shape.”
“Okay, how about I teach you some self-defense too. Let’s make a regular schedule. How does three times a week sound? Can you meet me at the gym at 7:00 a.m.?”
“Why does it have to be mornings? You morning people are all alike. You want everyone to be just like you.”
“No, I meant 7:00 p.m.”
I poked him in the ribs. “You did not. You’re always making up excuses to try to get me up early.”
We were both laughing when we left the restaurant and it felt good. I hadn’t realized how much pressure I’d been under.
TWOON
I keep seeing in the paper that the boy I stabbed is still in a coma. Why didn’t I stab him in the heart and make sure. I made a mistake and I don’t usually. I’ve got to, somehow or other, get into that hospital room and finish the job. I could possibly dress up like a doctor but they probably know all the doctors. I’ll find a way.
I walked the beach tonight and found an old man. He was walking his dog, an ugly sausage dog. I hate dogs. I should have killed the dog but he can’t talk. I’m safe.
The dog whimpered while I did the old man. If you’re going to have a damn dog, why wouldn’t you have one that would protect you? I would have a Doberman if I was stupid enough to walk the beach in the middle of the night.
The old man wasn’t as satisfying as the boy and I have to finish him. If I don’t things will never be the same.
CHAPTER FIVE
The next night I met Robert at the gym. He looked so angry he scared me, “While we were having a good time last night, there was another murder. After I teach you how to fall tonight, I’ve got to meet Simon. He said he’s got something for me.”
“Can I come too, Robert?”
“No, I’ve already included you too much. Simon thinks the less you know the better.”
“So, what, now he’s your boss?”
“No, I just happen to believe he’s right. You don’t need to know all the gory details. But I will tell you this. The stabber is getting more and more violent.”
“Then, can I have a gun now, Robert?”
“I’m considering it, but I’ll need to take you to the firing range.”
I was so sore when we finished I went home and had a long soak in the tub. Robert was going to come by when he finished with Simon.
After my long soak, I put on my pajamas and curled up in bed with a good book. I was reading a mystery. I started dozing and then I had to pee. On my way back to bed, without turning on the lights, I parted the blinds and looked down on the beach. I saw Freddy down there. He was dressed all in black and was moving from post to post under the pier.
It looked like he looked right at me and I moved back. I got down lower and looked through one of the holes in the blind where the cord is threaded through.
As I watched, he came toward my condo but stopped on the other side of the sand dune and stooped down. I watched for awhile but he didn’t move.
I heard the lock turn in my door and waited to make sure it was Robert. He didn’t come into the bedroom but silently closed my door. I went to the door and put my ear to it. Robert had brought Simon home with him and I could hear them talking.
“So, tell me again what this is called.”
“It’s called a psychogenic coma. It is brought on by extreme trauma. I found the case I was talking about. It was a fifteen year old girl who had been raped, but the perpetrator had used a lead pipe and had torn her up pretty badly.
“When he was caught the defense tried to claim insanity but the jury didn’t buy it. He got the death penalty.
“Damn, I got so much sand in my shoes from walking on the beach, I feel like I’m walking on sandpaper.”
“I told you to take your shoes off,” she heard Robert say. “That way you can wipe your feet off afterward and put your shoes back on. Sarah taught me that.”
“Well, next time I will if there is a next time. But I think we should be able to find a private place to talk other than the beach.”
I came out laughing, “Don’t tell me you tried walking on the beach with wingtips on.”
Simon grinned from ear to ear. He had a beautiful smile. “I’ll do better next time,” He said.
I kissed Robert on the cheek, “How about some coffee?”
Simon looked at his watch, “I’m going back to the hotel and play on the computer some more. I’m going to try to find the name of that antipsychotic drug that’s supposed to help the boy come out of his coma, but the doctor might already know about it. Never hurts to be prepared.”
Robert slapped him on the back, “I’ll see you at around eight a.m. tomorrow at the hospital.”
“Did y’all see Freddy down on the beach? He had on dark clothes and was acting kind of sneaky.”
They both looked at each other and shrugged. Both said they hadn’t seen him but didn’t act too concerned. That didn’t mean anything. Robert would probably keep an eye on him from now on.
I wondered if he could possibly be the beach front stabber. He had been in town for about the same amount of time.
CHAPTER SIX
I didn’t open the shop the next morning until eleven a.m. I had slept late. After Simon left, Robert and I had made love and, for the first time in my life, I had had an orgasm. I can’t describe how wonderful it was.
It excited Robert so much he was able to do it several more times. Once I had one orgasm, it seemed to be easier and easier and we kept it up most of the night.
Robert said that he felt like our relationship had moved to a new level. I just hated it when he started talking about our relationship, I don’t know why.
I got up this morning and made him breakfast, something I had never done, then went back to bed after he left. That was why I overslept.
As I was walking by my car on the way out of my condo, I looked inside to see if there were anymore cigarette butts. There weren’t.
Robert had told me to write down my mileage so we could tell how far someone had driven if it happened again. I checked the mileage and saw the car hadn’t been anywhere.
When I got to the shop there were several customers hanging around outside looking at the new swimsuits I had just put in the window the day before. One of the people was a really small guy of about thirty years old and he was studying a pink bikini.
I unlocked the door and everyone came in including the small guy. He had blond hair and gray eyes. His hair was curly and long, covering his ears. He had a dark tan.
He walked over to where the bathing suits were and started fingering them. I walked over and asked him if I could help him.
“I’m just looking,” he said and turned and walked out.
I saw several customers go to the window and look out at him and I heard one say, “You know he could be the stabber.” I shivered.
We got a lot of vacationers in Monroe Beach but I didn’t know if this strange man was one of them or a local. I knew I had never seen him before.
I asked some of the local folks if they knew who he was but no one did. Later that afternoon, I saw him walking down the beach. He was wearing only a pair of cutoff jeans that were very old looking.
He walked up to the window of the shop and looked in like he was looking for someone. I was alone by then and I picked up the phone to call Robert. The man saw me and walked on.
Brenda, the dispatcher at the sheriff’s department said Robert and Simon were at the hospital. I decided to close early and head over there.
One of the nurses in the ICU stopped me at the door and said I couldn’t come in there but Robert stuck his head out and motioned me in.
“It’s okay,” he said to the nurse. “I need her help.”
When I went in the cubical I saw a teenage boy lying there with an IV in his hand. He was looking around like he was confused.
“See if you can get him to talk, Sarah. He won’t answer any of our questions. He acts like he’s terrified,” Robert said to me as he led me over to the bed.
“Do you know what happened to you?” I asked.
He looked at me and I saw nothing but confusion in his eyes. I took his hand and he let me but kept looking at the two big black men.
“Robert, I think he’s scared of y’all. Why don’t I try to talk to him alone?”
Simon and Robert looked at each other and Simon nodded, “You know, I think she’s right. You need to record the conversation, Sarah.”
He handed me a tape recorder, “If you get nothing else at least try to get his name.” He turned on the recorder and they left saying they would be in the cafeteria.
I asked the boy, “What’s your name?”
“Dennis Sikes. I’m 15 years old and I’m from Memphis Tennessee.”
“Great,” I said. “What brings you to Monroe?”
He started crying, “Nothing at home was as bad as this.”
“You’re a run-away?”
“Yes. I thought it was bad at home. My mom married a man I hate. He’s a bully. He tells everyone what to do even though he’s not my daddy. I thought I would be better off if I left. So I hitched all the way here. I’ve been sleeping on the beach.”
Once he started talking it seemed he couldn’t stop. “I’ve been sleeping all day between sand dunes and at night going through people’s garbage to find something to eat. Would you get me some water? My mouth is so dry I can’t hardly talk.”
I got up and poured him some water from the little pitcher and put a straw in it. I held his head while he drank. He didn’t pause for a breath until the glass was empty.
“Thank you,” He said. “You’re very kind.”
He took a deep breath, “You want to know what happened the other night? Wait a minute, what day is it?”
“It’s Saturday. You were brought in Thursday morning. They think your were attacked sometime during the night Wednesday night.”
“So, I’ve been asleep all this time?”
“You were in a coma. They called it a psychogenic coma caused by severe trauma. Do you remember what the guy looked like who attacked you?”
“All I know is that he was short. He had on one of those stocking type caps pulled down low and covering his hair, so I don’t
know what color his hair was.
“I didn’t feel threatened at first. I had just gotten something to eat, almost a whole hamburger and fries and I had laid back down and gone to sleep. He nudged me with his foot.
“At first, I was just mad that he had woke me up and I started walking down the beach. I kept asking him what he wanted and he never said a word.
“When he pulled the knife, I just laughed. I mean, he was so short, I thought it was a joke. Then he threw me down and started stabbing almost as soon as I hit the sand.
“It seemed to go on a long time with me begging him not to hurt me no more. I don’t know if I can tell a nice lady like you this part, but he acted like he was having sex every time he stabbed me.
“At one point he actually rubbed himself against me and acted like he came.”
Poor Dennis, his face had turned a bright red. I patted his hand. “Is that all you remember?”
He nodded his head because by this time he was crying so hard his shoulders were shaking.
A nurse came in and ran me out. I headed for the cafeteria. Robert and Simon were sitting at a table having coffee. I went through the line and got myself some coffee.
When I got to their table I handed Simon the tape recorder and summarized what was on it.
Robert looked at Simon, “You know if he did come while he was sitting on top of Dennis, we may be able to find some semen on his clothes.”
Simon was staring off into space, “I always thought these attacks were sexual even though he didn’t rape any of the victims. When I took the profiling courses, I learned that sometimes a perpetrator can’t achieve an erection with someone. The plunging in of the knife represents for him the thrusting action during intercourse.
“I doubt the perpetrator understands this but he is symbolically raping all these victims.”
I spoke up, “Today there was a strange small man who came into the shop. He kept fingering the bikinis and when I asked if I could help him, he said he was just looking and left.
“Later on I saw him staring into the shop window. I tried to call you, Robert but Brenda said you were over at the hospital and that’s why I came over here.
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