Need to keep up my strength, he thought. He was going to have so much fun with her, but everything has to be perfect.
He made himself a sandwich and got a beer from the fridge. Eating in silence, but he watched her intently. Let her sleep for a little while longer, he thought.
She’s going to need her strength too.
Samantha started to stir. She felt foggy and cold. She was vaguely aware of something touching her face. Opening her eyes she faced her worst nightmare.
He was kneeling over her wearing nothing but a condom. He was brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. She screamed and he gave her another forceful slap. Her scream was silenced.
“There is no one but me around here to hear you scream and I don’t want to hear it. So I suggest you try to remain quiet!” he hissed at her. “If you don’t, I’ll silence you another way.” He shrugged his shoulders to shake off his irritation with her. He began to stroke her hair gently.
“You are so beautiful,” he said. Terrified, she stared wild eyed at his face. She stiffened as she felt him touch her breasts. He took this as a sign of her excitement. He began caressing her. Despite herself, she started screaming again.
He slapped her again, hard. Grabbing a sock from the bed he stuffed it into her mouth. She was, immediately, sickened by the sour taste of stale sweat and dirt.
“I WARNED YOU!” he snarled. She started gagging. Tears were streaming down her face as she shook her head in protest. She pulled against her restraints, but to no avail.
She was helpless against this man. He got on top of her, mounted and roughly began raping her. Her screams were muted by the sock.
When he was finished, he stood and got dressed. “You’d better be a good girl now,” he said, walking to the door. “I’ll be right back, I promise,” he said, stepping outside.
She closed her eyes wishing she was anywhere, but here. She cried and said a silent prayer.
He walked back to the car. He opened the trunk and removed the shovel and lime. Taking these items, he headed to the lake.
Her spot wasn’t ready for her yet. But then she’s not going anywhere right now. He had some time. He selected a spot with a beautiful view of the lake.
“She’ll like it here,” he said aloud as he started to dig.
The minute the door closed behind him, Sam started working feverishly trying to free herself. She pulled on the ropes, but it seemed the knots got tighter the more she struggled. He had tied her well. The knots began cutting into her skin. Realizing she couldn’t loosen them, she ceased her attempt.
By the time he finished digging, he had a hole that was six feet long, two feet wide and approximately four feet deep. That should do it. He stuck the shovel into the dirt and walked back to the cabin.
She was lying exactly where he’d left her. He noticed the slight redness around her wrists.
“Thought you might try that,” he said. “That’s why I used my special knot. It tightens the more you pull.” He walked over to the bed and leaned towards her.
“If I remove this nasty sock, do you promise not to scream again?” he asked. She nodded quietly. He pulled the sock out of her mouth.
“Please let me go,” she pleaded. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise.” He walked over to the table and picked up the roll of duct tape.
With his back still to her, he said, “Oh, I know you won’t.” He tore off a strip of the tape.
Her pleas were silenced as he placed the tape over her nose and mouth. Her eyes bulged as she struggled to breathe.
He watched as her eyes grew wilder and the color drained from her face. She was looking at him, pleadingly, when her eyes closed and she went limp. He walked over to the fireplace and started a fire.
Sitting down in a wooden rocking chair, he stared into the flames. He sat there for approximately twenty minutes before he moved again.
Walking over to the bed, he removed her bindings and the tape. Picking her up, he carried her to the lake. He put her gently and carefully into her special place. He took the bag of lime and poured a generous amount over her. Using the shovel, he replaced the dirt.
Walking back to the cabin he got a leaf rake. He returned to the spot and raked the surrounding leaves over her.
Satisfied, he returned to the cabin. Removing the ropes from the bed he tossed the ropes, tape and her clothing into the fire.
The flames leapt to life with loud crackles. He needed to burn the ropes. She had torn her skin on them. Her DNA would be on the fibers. The tape too, couldn’t have that. He stripped off his clothes as he headed to the bathroom.
Placing his clothing in a small pile on the cold floor, he stepped into the shower. The water felt warm and refreshing.
After his shower he put on an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. He took the small pile of clothing into the living room, burning them, as well, one piece at a time.
He stared into the flames. Something about fire fascinated him.
As the last piece of cloth burst into flames, he re-arranged the remaining wood making sure the logs wouldn’t roll out in the middle of the night. He went to the bedroom and got one of the pillows.
There was an old crocheted afghan lying across the back of the couch. He pulled it over himself as he settled in for the night. He needed his rest.
He had to be back at work in the morning.
CHAPTER NINE
Trish awoke to the strident sounds of her alarm clock. She swatted at the snooze button and hit it on her third try. Just a few more minutes, she thought. She was meeting Shelly today and she had to clean the house.
She had worked late the past few days and hadn’t had the chance to clean lately. When the clock alerted nine minutes later she sluggishly dragged herself out of bed and headed to the shower.
Refreshed, she put on an old pair of jeans and a sweat shirt. It was already 9:00 a.m. and she was meeting Shelly at O’Malley’s at 1:00 p.m.. She had so much she needed to do so she found a rock station on the radio.
She needed something fast and upbeat to get her going. The faster, the better.
******
Shelly awoke well rested and ready for the day. She got up and grabbed a suitcase from the shelf of the closet. She placed several articles of clothing and her toiletry items in the suitcase.
The two of them had a lot of catching up to do and she was going prepared to stay the night, just in case. She needed to run some errands and she grabbed her keys as she headed out of the door.
******
David sat at his desk looking at his notes from the interviews in the Willow Brook neighborhood. He had come up empty so he looked through Gary’s notes.
Gary had one neighbor listed that thought he might have seen her. He thought he saw her run past his house and he completed a statement to that effect.
Other than that, they had nothing. He closed the file folder and rubbed his eyes.
******
Trish arrived early at O’Malley’s and got a table. Shelly arrived right on time. If you could say only one thing about Shelly it would be that she’s punctual.
What else would you expect from a Teacher? She hugged Trish and sat down. Looking at Trish, she gushed, “Girl you haven’t changed a bit. I have missed you so much.”
“We have so much catching up to do,” replied Trish. The server arrived and they ordered their drinks.
******
He was sitting, at a back table, in O’Malley’s. He saw the blonde he had been watching, come in. What was her name?
Oh yeah, it’s Trish. She is such a beauty. It was hard for him to just watch, but he had to be patient. He was eating his lunch when she was joined by yet another gorgeous lady. The two of them could pass for twins.
He finished his meal, paid his tab and left his tip on the table. He nodded and winked as he passed Trish’s table.
The two of them hardly noticed. They were too engrossed in their own conversation.
******
Trish paid the tab f
or both of their meals over Shelly’s protests. “Hush,” Trish said, “I invited you here and it should be on my dime. At least for tonight. Maybe I’ll let you treat tomorrow. You are staying the night, right?”
“I was hoping you’d ask,” said Shelly. “I’d love to.”
“Done,” replied Trish, “You can follow me home. It’s not that far.”
They got up and walked to their cars. He watched from his car as they crossed the lot and drove away. The new blonde with Trish reminded him of someone from his past. Someone who would always hold a special place in his heart.
He let his mind drift, momentarily, to a time long ago. To his first beauty. He shook his head to clear those old images. Have to stay in the present, he thought.
All that is important is the here and now. He knew what he wanted and how to get it. He just needed to be patient.
Leaving the restaurant, he headed to the cabin on Wildfire Lake. He needed to think and that was his quiet place. A place where his thoughts made more sense. He arrived, but had no memory of the drive. It was almost as if his car was on autopilot. All he knew, now, was that he needed to rest. He went straight to bed. He lay down and within minutes he was sound asleep.
He started dreaming.
He had never seen this extent of rage in his father’s eyes before. Cecil had a liquor bottle in his left hand and it was half empty. His anger was always intensified when he had been drinking.
“TRAVIS!” he screamed. “You better get out here!” Travis entered the room against his better judgment. He knew, all too well, his father’s temper when he had been drinking.
Cecil Conrad was usually a gentle man, but became a monster with alcohol. “I told you that you better get your chores done after you got home. What ya been doing besides goofing off? You ain’t done squat!” Cecil slurred as he drew back and struck Travis solidly on his right jaw. Travis went down in a heap.
“Please daddy,” Travis pleaded, “I just forgot. I’ll do it now. I promise.”
“Too late boy!” Cecil hissed at him, “You done had your chance and you blew it!” Cecil grabbed his belt from the back of the couch and took Travis by the arm, dragging him into the back room.
“I’ll teach you a thing or two!” Cecil hissed. “When will you learn boy? You’ll never amount to nothing! You just gotta deal with it!”
Travis struggled against Cecil’s grasp, but couldn’t break free. His father struck him repeatedly with the belt. He took the blows, but silently plotted his revenge.
I will amount to something, he thought. People will know who I am. They will remember me. I’m only fourteen now, but I’ll show you. Everyone will know my name, he thought. His father struck him again and again.
He awoke with a start and drenched in sweat. These memories had been haunting his dreams for months now.He couldn’t even remember the last time he had slept through the night. He ran his hand through his damp hair.
His father had been such an abusive alcoholic. It hadn’t taken much to make his temper flare.
Cecil haddiedwhenTraviswastwenty-two. Cirrhosis had damaged his liver due to his alcohol abuse.
Although his father was dead, he still had the scars from his rages. Most of them, though, didn’t show. Cecil had made sure of that.
He got up and went outside. He went for a drive to clear his head.
******
Shelly followed Trish to her two bedroom apartment. Trish liked the extra space it afforded.Shelly carried her luggage to the guest room.
She didn’t even bother to unpack. She and Trish settled into the living room with a glass of wine.
“Do you , by any chance, remember Sara Whitehead?” asked Trish, “Whatever happened to her?”
“She married Bobby Howard right out of high school. They had two kids, but I think they’re divorced now.” Shelly answered.
They talked for what seemed like minutes. When Trish looked at the clock on the wall it was well past one in the morning.
She said, “Wow, I didn’t realize how late it was getting. I guess we should call it a night.”
Shelly yawned, got up and headed to the guest room. “I am kinda tired. It’s been a long day for me. Thanks for letting me stay tonight, but right now I have to say good night.” Shelly said, reaching the door to the guest room.
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Good night,“ said Trish as Shelly closed the door.
CHAPTER TEN
David looked at his notes again as he rubbed his chin. There has got to be something I’m missing, he thought. These women could not have just disappeared off of the face of the earth. Someone must have seen something.
He had interviewed all of the people on the streets where the women disappeared. Only one remembered seeing or hearing anything.
Today he was going to concentrate on the Sky View Mall.
Specifically, he would visit the shops facing the dental office. He was going to be interviewing the owners and staff of those shops.
Starting with the one closest to the entrance, the Beautique counter inside Stacie’s. Maybe someone in there saw something even if they thought it was insignificant.
He hated grasping at straws. At this point it seemed straws were all he had.
******
Trish awoke the next morning to the smell of fresh coffee. Shelly was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
“Perfect timing,” said Shelly, “All that’s left is the toast and then we’re ready to eat.”
“Thank you,” said Trish, “It smells heavenly and I’m starving.”
“Too bad you have to work this afternoon,” said Shelly as she stirred the eggs.
“You know, I found this quaint little antique shop on the way in. I was hoping we could visit it and maybe do lunch. Oh, can you hand me a bowl?” Shelly continued. Trish walked over to the cupboard and removed a medium sized glass bowl.
“Is this alright?” she asked, handing it to Shelly.
“Perfect. Yeah, I guess, but we’ll have to take a raincheck, since you have to work,” answered Shelly, spooning the eggs into the bowl. Carrying the bowl to the table she placed it in the center.
“Thanks for the invite anyway,” said Trish, “But I have to be in at 1:00 p.m. Thank you for making breakfast.”
As they finished their meal Shelly said, “I might just stop by that shop of yours on my way home. You never know.” Both women got up and carried their dishes to the sink.
“Oh, no you don’t. I’ll clean up,” said Shelly, “You go make yourself even more beautiful for that job of yours.” She started running the water in the sink as Trish headed to the bathroom.
“Thanks Shelly,” said Trish, “You’re awesome.”
“I know,” said Shelly as she added the detergent to the water. Picking up a sponge she started washing the dishes. This trip was fun. I hope we can do it again real soon, she thought.
Shelly had finished the dishes by the time Trish came back into the room.
“Gorgeous as always,” said Shelly.
“Not that you’re bias or anything,” said Trish, sarcastically.
“Not really,” said Shelly, drying her hands on a dish towel. She went to the guest room and started getting her things together.
Shelly came back with her luggage. “I really enjoyed our visit,” she said, giving Trish a big hug. “Maybe you can come to my place next time.”
“Next time, I’ll take Friday through Sunday off,” said Trish.
“Sounds like a plan,” said Shelly, “Just let me know when.” Trish walked Shelly to her car and helped her with her luggage.
“You be careful on your drive home,” said Trish, giving Shelly another hug.
“You can call me anytime,” said Shelly, getting into her car. Trish waved as she pulled out of the lot and drove away.
She walked back inside and closed the door.
******
He watched the other blonde drive away. She wasn’t the one he was interested in. He wanted Tri
sh. He loved just watching her, for now. Learning her routines and her schedule.
He was in the research phase of his hunt. This was his favorite part. He decided to wait outside her apartment a little longer.
Maybe he could get another glimpse of this angel and the thought excited him.
******
Trish had finished getting ready for work and grabbed her purse. Her keys were lying on a table near the door. She grabbed those on the way out. She locked the door and headed to her car.
Halfway there she stopped and looked around. She had the strangest feeling that someone was watching her.
“Oh, Trish, get a grip,” she said aloud, shaking her head and continuing to her car. She got in and headed to work.
With all these recent disappearances, I’m just being paranoid, she thought.
******
He watched Trish get into her car and drive away. So beautiful, he thought. Punctual as well. Right on schedule. He loved her punctuality.
******
Trish braked as traffic slowed on Lexington Avenue. She saw flashing lights up ahead. Oh great, she thought, an accident.
“Just what I need!” she said aloud, as she came to a stop. Picking up her phone she called Janelle.
She answered on the second ring. “Beautique, this is Janelle,” she said.
“Hi Janelle, it’s Trish,” she said, “Just letting you know I’m on my way. There’s a wreck on Lexington and I’m stuck in the resulting traffic. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Well, I guess you can’t control that,” replied Janelle, “It’s slow right now, but just get here as soon as you can. I’m alone here right now.”
Hidden Angels: Wildfire Lake Book One Page 4