It was raining steadily when they left the restaurant so they made a mad dash for the car. Jerry cranked up the volume on the car stereo and they sang to the oldies on the way back to Ann’s house. When they pulled into the driveway, Ann hesitated only a moment before inviting Jerry Rankin in for a nightcap, halfheartedly stressing the fact that it was to be for only one drink and afterwards they would be calling it a night. Jerry happily accepted.
Inside, Jerry helped Ann off with her coat and followed her to the family room.
“My favorite room in the house,” Ann declared as she turned on the lights.
“It’s wonderful,” Jerry commented, surveying the room.
Ann went over to the bar and set a pair of wine glasses on the counter. “There’s still a few things I’d like to do in here before it’s all finished,” she remarked. “One is to replace that old sofa and chair. I’ve had them both for a couple of eons.”
Jerry joined her at the bar. “Need any help with that?” he asked just as Ann pulled the cork from the wine bottle. Ann shook her head, poured them both a glass and handed one to Jerry.
“Thanks,” he said as he followed Ann over to the sofa and sat down beside her. He eyed the romance novel lying on the coffee table curiously and picked it up. “Are you reading this?”
Ann blushed and giggled. “Yes, I must confess. I’m a real sucker for a good love story.”
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Jerry said. “I’ve heard that you can tell a lot about a person by what he reads. I, for instance, like a good crime story; especially the ones based on actual events. I guess you could say I’m a sucker for intrigue and suspense.”
Ann laughed. “For a moment there I thought you were going to tell me that you were a criminal!”
He chuckled. “I feel like a criminal sometimes when I land a big, juicy real estate deal!”
“I take it you’re doing pretty well.”
“I certainly can’t complain. I’m trying not to let the money overwhelm me, however. I like to live comfortably but not too extravagantly. I’ve never been a flashy person.”
“I’m really glad to hear that,” Ann said.
“I have one weakness though: I love the great outdoors. And that’s my excuse for the country retreat I just purchased last spring in Hocking County. It’s an A-frame nestled in the foothills complete with a pond and forty acres of nothing but trees and wildlife.”
“Sounds nice,” Ann said.
“It’s beautiful. Maybe you’d like to see it sometime.”
Ann spoke before thinking. “I’d like that.”
“Great! Perhaps we could swing down that way some weekend before winter sets in,” Jerry suggested enthusiastically.
Ann hesitated. “Well, let’s just wait and see how things go in the meantime, Jerry.”
For the second time that night, Ann caught the faint glimpse of hurt in his eyes, which he promptly attempted to cover up. He said, “I’m sorry, Ann. I didn’t mean to be so pushy. Please forgive me.”
“It’s okay, Jerry. I just don’t want to jump into anything right now.”
“And I understand completely,” he said with a shrug. “I guess I was jumping the gun a bit.”
Ann didn’t like seeing him like this. She wished now that she had been a little more tactful. “I hope I haven’t scared you off by that last comment of mine. What I really meant to say was that I don’t want to rush things. I really have enjoyed this evening, Jerry, and I hope we can get together again… soon.”
Jerry Rankin leaned toward her. “I’m really happy to hear you say that, Ann. I feel a lot better suddenly. My problem is that I get a little carried away sometimes and end up sounding incredibly presumptuous. Anyway, I’ve enjoyed myself as well. You’re a lovely lady and lots of fun. So let’s make it a point to go out again soon and just take one step at a time, okay?” he offered, tipping his wine glass toward her.
“All right, we’ll just do that!” Ann declared, tipping his glass. They both took a sip and Jerry said, “So how do you usually spend your weekends?”
Ann replied with a frown, “Housework, mostly. And running errands.”
“Does Amy help you out any?”
She laughed. “You’ve got to be joking! I can’t even get her to keep her room looking halfway decent, much less get any help out of her with the rest of the house. She’s a hopeless case in that category, I’m afraid.”
“And I suppose you can’t somehow make her give you hand? Like threatening to cut her allowance off or grounding her?”
“I’ve tried everything, believe me. She’s incorrigible. I don’t like fighting and we get into a quarrel every time I try to discipline her, so I’ve all but thrown in the towel. I just don’t seem to have any control over the child anymore.”
“Did she mind her father?”
“Oh yes, she did. But she was a year younger when Sam and I were still together. I’m not so sure she’d even mind him now, if he were still in the picture.”
“It’s amazing how much difference a year can make, isn’t it?”
“You can say that again,” Ann replied.
Just then the telephone rang. Ann stood up and went over to the wall phone behind the bar.
“Hello?”
There was nothing but silence on the other end.
“Hello?” Ann repeated.
Suddenly she heard heavy breathing. At first Ann thought that who ever was on the other end might be hurt or in trouble; perhaps even Amy. “Who is this?” she asked uncomfortably.
Then a hoarse voice wheezed, “I’m going to fuck you!”
“You what…?” Ann blurted, then slammed down the receiver.
“What was that all about?” Jerry asked.
Ann’s back was still facing him as she struggled to compose herself. “Just a crank call,” she finally answered.
She turned and saw the concerned look on Jerry’s face.
“You’re white as a sheet, Ann!” he exclaimed. He stood up and ran over to her.
“Who was that on the phone?” he demanded.
Ann wasn’t sure why she felt so helplessly terrified right at that moment. Perhaps it was due to the hideous manner in which the caller had breathed those awful words and the fact that it was still giving her goose bumps. Or maybe it was because she now realized for the first time just how mortified she was of living alone in this house with her teenage daughter in a strange town and not having Sam around to protect them…
All she was really sure of was that there was a man there now and that she was grateful beyond words.
“God, Jerry,” she moaned, burying her head in his chest. Jerry put his arms around her as she felt herself trembling uncontrollably in his embrace. Ann felt the urge to cry in her frustration but willed herself not to. Instead, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to be held securely in Jerry’s arms until she finally calmed down enough to face him.
“Thanks, Jerry.” she said weakly.
His eyes were filled with concern and passion as he said, “What happened, Ann?”
Ann looked away a moment, and then replied, “It was an obscene phone caller. He said that he was going to, you know, do it to me. God, it was awful!” she cried. “I’m so stupid! I should have hung up the moment I heard him breathing… just as I told Amy to do.”
“He’s called before?”
Ann nodded slowly. “Last weekend. In the middle of the night.”
Jerry led Ann over to the sofa and motioned for her to sit down. “He talked to your daughter that way?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes,” Ann replied, draining her wine glass dry. “He said the same thing to Amy. I’ll be honest, Jerry, I’m scared to death. Not only have we been getting obscene phone calls but I thought I heard a prowler in the back yard last Saturday night. And to top it all off, I’ve just heard from my ex-husband that the man who murdered my best friend a couple of weeks ago also murdered another woman that I went to high school with! In New York City, no less.�
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Jerry Rankin was clearly flabbergasted by all of this. “Hold on a minute, here. What’s this about your friend being murdered? Is this the same woman you were referring to when we spoke on the phone?”
Ann nodded. “Yes, Marsha Bradley. She was raped and strangled in her home back in Smithtown. She had a little six-year-old…”
Ann burst into tears.
Jerry put an arm around Ann and tried to console her. Moments later, she managed to get a hold of herself.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I just haven’t gotten over it yet.”
“I understand, Ann. I know how difficult it is to lose a loved one,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry I told you all of this, Jerry. I should’ve kept it to myself. Now all I’ve done is ruin what up until now has been a beautiful evening…”
He bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Listen, Ann. I’m glad you told me about this-you did the right thing by getting it off your chest. As for ruining our evening, we don’t have to let that happen if we don’t want to. We’re still together, aren’t we?”
“Thanks for being so understanding, Jerry. Next time, we won’t let anything spoil our date… I promise.”
“There now, that’s the spirit!” he said. His expression suddenly turned grave. “Ann, I am very concerned about all of this. Have you spoken to the police about the prowler and the phone calls?”
“Yes,” Ann nodded. “They suggested that I get an unpublished phone number if the calls persist and told me that they’d keep an eye on the house. Until tonight, the only other time he’d called was last Saturday.”
“Well, you should go ahead and get a new phone number as soon as possible, then. Nip this off at the bud before it gets out of hand.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’ll call the phone company on Monday.”
“Now I want to say something else and it’s very important, Ann. If you ever, and I mean ever, need me for anything at all you call me, okay? I’ll be there for you, anytime, any day. Will you promise me you’ll do that?”
His voice was emphatic, almost forceful.
“I don’t want to bother you with my problems, Jerry,” Ann said.
“Please, Ann. Don’t shut me out. I want to help you in anyway I can. As a friend, if nothing else. Let me help you.” he persisted.
Ann smiled, grateful and relieved at Jerry’s offer. “Okay, Jerry. That’s very kind of you.”
“Do I have your word on it?”
Ann nodded. “Yes, you have my word.”
“Excellent. Now what’s this about your friend? Do you feel like you can talk about it? Talking helps, you know.”
Ann sighed and took a deep breath. “Marsha was my best friend. We practically grew up together. She was the kindest, most out-going person you could ever know. Anyway, she was found murdered in her home one night by her husband, Dave. She’d been raped and strangled to death. Her little boy, Tommy, was found upstairs locked in a closet-so terrified that he still hasn’t been able to speak to anyone since. The police are totally stumped and don’t have a clue as to who did it.”
Ann swallowed hard before she continued. “This afternoon, Sam called me. He told me that the police in New York City had just confirmed that a woman who was found murdered there a few weeks ago was murdered by the same person who had killed Marsha. The woman, Sara Hunt, used to live in Smithtown and had been a casual acquaintance to both Marsha and I back in high school.”
Jerry’s eyes widened. “Good Lord, Ann! No wonder you’re so concerned! Do you think there might be a connection between these murders; a common motive?”
“That’s what has been so baffling, and frightening. There haven’t been any motives established in either of the murders according to Sam. And I guess the police in New York are just as stumped as the local police in Smithtown are.”
“And no one ever saw the murderer in either instance?”
“Apparently little Tommy Bradley is the only one who might have seen who killed his mother; and he hasn’t been able to speak a word. As for Sara Hunt, Sam indicated that there haven’t been any leads in her case either.”
“That’s incredible. This character must be as clever as he is deranged. Do you think you’re in danger?”
Ann shook her head in frustration. “I don’t know, Jerry. Sam is worried about me of course, but that doesn’t surprise me. He’s always had an overactive imagination. That’s probably from his being a journalist. I’m more realistic than he is, and I honestly can’t think of any way I could possibly be involved in any of this. Marsha just happened to be my best friend. And I barely knew Sara Hunt. My relationship ends there. It is frightening, though. And it really makes one think just how vulnerable we all are nowadays. Until this bastard is caught, no one is really safe.”
Jerry fell silent a moment as he took Ann’s hand in his. Then he said, “I’m here for you, Ann. I just want you to remember that. I don’t feel too good about all of this to be quite honest, and I don’t like the fact that you and Amy are living here all by yourselves. So please don’t hesitate for one moment to call me if anything suspicious occurs. I know I’m being a bit redundant, but I want to be able to leave here tonight assured that you’ll call me if you need me.”
Ann smiled warmly. “I will, Jerry. I promise.” She leaned over, kissed him on the cheek and said, “I’m afraid we’re going to have to call it a night, though. I think I drank a little too much wine; I’m suddenly feeling very sleepy.”
Jerry stood up. “I could use a little shut-eye myself. I worked out at the gym this afternoon and it’s starting to catch up with me.”
He followed Ann to the living room and turned to face her at the front door, his eyes showing regret for having to leave her. He put his arms around her waist and said, “Take care, Ann. Do you mind if I call you tomorrow?”
“No, not at all,” she replied. “Thanks, Jerry… for everything. I had a wonderful time.”
“So did I.”
He balked for a moment, obviously deciding whether or not to kiss her. Ann stood for what seemed a very long time before he finally brought his lips to hers. The kiss was brief and tentative, much like her very first kiss when she was in junior high school.
“Good night, Ann. I’ll call you tomorrow. And remember…”
“I know, Jerry. You have my promise.”
Jerry Rankin turned and made his way to the BMW.
Ann waited until he had backed out of the driveway before closing the door. She heard him toot his horn as he pulled away and it dawned on Ann that she regretted his leaving a lot more than she cared to admit to herself.
CHAPTER 10
Sam was two-thirds of the way to La-La Land when he awoke. He had no idea how long he’d been hearing the incessant pounding on the front door before it finally brought him to his senses, but he had a feeling it had been a very long time. It was one of those deals when you think you’ve been dreaming something was happening before you suddenly realized that it actually was happening.
Sam opened his eyes and saw the snowy test pattern on the television screen. The static was loud, but not loud enough to drown out the beating on the door. He sat up on the couch and gazed squint-eyed at the half dozen or so empty beer bottles on the coffee table in the foreground and let out a gasp of disgust when he saw the huge mound of cigarette butts in the ashtray. His head felt like lead as he forced himself up onto his feet, wondering who in the fuck would be banging on his door in the middle of the night.
He stumbled out of the room and headed toward the front door like a drunk being forced to run a marathon at gunpoint. The racket grew incessantly louder as he neared the door, as did the throbbing in his head. He flicked on the front porch light and pulled open the door.
When he saw who it was, Sam thought for sure he was still dreaming.
“Jesus, Sam! I didn’t think you’d ever get here!” she exclaimed.
There in front of him stood Shelley Hatcher: soaked to the bone
and her normally thick and lustrous blonde hair clinging limp and lifeless to her blanched but beautiful face.
“Shelley! What the hell..?”
“Let me in, Sam! I’m freezing!” she whined impatiently.
“Sorry,” Sam said, opening the storm door.
She stepped in and stood on the mat, wringing wet. Sam peered out through the pouring rain and saw nothing but his Jeep parked in the driveway.
“How’d you get here?” he asked, stupefied and in shock at this unexpected visit from his former one-night-stand.
Shelley Hatcher stared at him with a pained look. “Well, I drove myself most of the way. Until my car got stuck in the mud, that is. Your driveway is like a river bottom, Sam! Why don’t you get it paved?”
If she didn’t look so pathetic now, Sam would have burst out laughing and said something like, Gee, I would have gotten it paved had I known you were going to show up unexpectedly like this in the middle of a fucking monsoon, Shelley.
Instead, he replied, “Sorry about that. How far is your car?”
“About a hundred yards from the highway-I sure hope my portfolio isn’t ruined. I knew I should’ve left it in the damn car!” she exclaimed as Sam noticed the expensive-looking leather portfolio case that she was holding.
Sam said, “I have to admit that I’m a little speechless right now, Shelley. What are you doing here, anyway? How did you find out where I live?”
Sam could tell that he’d put her off with this line of questioning and he suddenly felt bad.
Shelley looked away for a moment then replied, “I found out from Bill Marshall… He was at the Hi-Light. I just came to say hi and to show you my portfolio… but it’s obvious that you aren’t interested, so I guess I’ll just go now…”
She reached for the doorknob.
“Hold it, Shelley!” Sam said, grasping her by the arm. She peered at him questioningly. “I’m sorry I seem so rude-it’s just that I’m still in shock that you’re here. I was also passed out on the sofa and haven’t quite joined the living yet. Here, let me help you off with your jacket.”
The May Day Murders Page 11