Branded for Murder (Scott Tucker Series)

by Dick Waters

  She was sitting on the couch opposite the front door, waiting for him to enter. She was also glad to see the female guard on duty tonight. She was starting to worry if Scott was actually going to do anything…she shouldn’t have dared him. She knew she would be upset if the other coeds got to see his body, but it was too late to do anything about it. Well, actually she could go outside and wait for him on the steps. Is it too cold outside?

  She headed for the door, smiling at the guard who noticed her strange outfit. When she got outside, she spotted Scott walking down the sidewalk towards the front of the building. She noticed he was dressed. She went down the front stairs, jumping into his surprised arms. She almost knocked him down, she was running so fast.

  “Hi Lisa, I didn’t expect you to greet me out here.”

  She kissed him passionately and felt her excitement building. “It’s nice to see you too.”

  She pushed him away from her. “Well some outfit you have on, why are you wearing your ski cover ups?” She realized she didn’t have to worry about the girls in the reception room seeing him.

  Scott unzipped his ski jacket and she noticed he had nothing on under it. She looked over her shoulder.

  She smiled at him. She had secretly unbuttoned her coat, and undid her belt. She took one step back, and opened it. “I knew you were going to chicken out, but how’s this?”

  His mouth dropped open and he grabbed her by the arm pulling her to the car.

  “Wait. Don’t you want me to close the coat?”

  They were both laughing when they reached the car. Scott opened the door for her, went around and got behind the wheel. She was kneeling on her bucket seat holding the coat open for him. She decided to unzip the side zipper of his cover up pants. She realized he hadn’t chickened out after all. Fortunately, no one was walking on the side walk, or they might have had an interesting show.

  *.*.*

  We decided to skip eating out, taking our chances with what I had in the pantry. She had been nibbling on my ear since we left her block, and her hand reminded me of our ride to northern New Hampshire.

  “Scotty I like your choice of outfits. I was getting concerned that I had dared you to come into the reception area. I thought you just might surprise me. That’s why I decided to meet you outside. I didn’t think it was fair to have you creating a scene without doing one of my own. I can tell you really like my outfit,” she said with a squeeze of her hand.

  “Well I’m glad you didn’t just put your pea coat on…at least you’re mostly covered, or were. I wondered what we would do if we were stopped by a policeman. However, I wasn’t going to ruin one of life’s memories doing anything about it.

  I decided I was going to wait to tell her about questioning her mom. We were at my apartment before I knew it.

  “So Scotty…should we streak up the stairs like this, or do you think it might be too much for Mrs. Abbott?”

  “Why don’t we give her the benefit of the doubt by making ourselves more presentable?” She was taking her time zipping my cover ups. “Lisa, I really have to hit the little boys’ room.”

  She pouted, opening her door. When I came around to her side of the car, she stated, “You’ll just have to close this yourself.” And she wasn’t talking just about the car door. I did my best to close her coat and tie the belt around it. We held hands, trying to run upstairs as quietly as we could.

  *.*.*

  Hours later we had both had our fill of love making. If I was honest, I just needed to take a break. I was hungry, my stomach talking loud enough for both of us to hear. Lisa put on another one of my white shirts, which she wears much better than I ever could. I reached for my ski cover ups. She smiled at me while zipping them up.

  “Are you going to wear these when you drop me off?”

  “I guess I could, but you’ve seen how they fit.”

  “I like it, and I think the girls might also.”

  I made us peanut butter sandwiches and opened a couple of cans of beer. “Lisa, I have something important to tell you.”

  “Oh, that sounds ominous. Are you going to propose again?” She was leaning against the kitchen counter. I wish I had a camera to capture the pose. “I take it you really like this attire as well.”

  “You know I don’t need to answer that.”

  “I can see. It looks like you’re going camping…your tent is already up.”

  “Hon, I have something serious to mention to you.” She went over to the kitchen chair and sat down. “We were in New Hampshire earlier today, investigating the most recent strangling cases. Mike and I wound up talking with your mother.”

  Before I could say anything, she questioned, “Why did you do that? Oh my God Scott. I haven’t even introduced you to her…how am I going to do that now?”

  “I don’t think it was bad. Here’s the story—“

  “Scott, it better be a good one.” She covered herself as best she could with the white shirt.

  “The two murdered women knew each other. They both attended your mother’s camp growing up, becoming camp counselors. That’s why we needed to talk with her, to see if she could tell us anything about anyone wanting to kill them.”

  “Well did she?”

  “No, she doesn’t have a clue as to why they were killed. We also talked with another friend of the murdered women. She couldn’t help us either.” Lisa was shaking her head, and obviously upset about the meeting with her mother.

  “Scott I’ve got to go.” She headed into the bedroom, coming back into the kitchen before I even moved. “Can I borrow this shirt and a pair of sweats?”

  I started to answer, but she had already turned to go into the bedroom. “Lisa, I need you to listen to me for one more minute.” Entering the bedroom, I saw her putting the sweat pants on. She put her hands on her hips, but didn’t say anything.

  “Lisa the name of the camp was the Knotty Pine Camp.” She nodded, like I wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know. “Well you can’t share this with anyone…the murdered women were branded with their initials. We think it ties into the camp’s name, which is synonymous with their first initials.”

  She was listening to me. “The third woman is Charlotte Williams, which is the third letter of the camp. We think she could be the next target. What we don’t know is why they are being killed, but we think it relates to the camp…possibly something that happened years ago when they were camp counselors.”

  Chapter 57

  This was his third visit to her home. He was fortunate the road followed the peninsula which stuck out beside her house. He knew from earlier visits if he followed the small path which led down to the water, he could get an unobstructed view of the back of her house. He also knew there were no window coverings, because of the privacy provided by the lake.

  It was cold outside but he would soon be warm. His first visit allowed him to gain access to her home. They must have been away for the holiday. Even the dog was elsewhere. He enjoyed the time he spent in her house, looking at family photos displayed on the walls and piano. He left her a small token which will make an impression in the future.

  His second visit was worth the long drive from the city. He speculated after this visit, that she must have a nightly routine. She played with the dog, did her exercises, followed by a shower and bed. She was alone that night, as there was no car in the driveway. However, while he watched her, he heard a car stop on the road above him. He heard muffled young-male voices, deciding they came to watch her as well.

  Tonight he brought binoculars, to get up close and personal with her. It was so cold outside, the binoculars were fogging, so he decided to walk down to the frozen lake and over to the back of her house. He was soon in her back yard, watching as she finished in the kitchen. She went into the bedroom and began undressing. He did the same. She was soon nude and so was he. He thought about joining her now. Why wait any longer?

  He sat on the snow covered picnic table while she started her exercise routine. She�
��s still as beautiful as he remembered her. He felt the scars from his last encounter with the girls. He didn’t feel the cold on his body anymore. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hooting from the hill. He couldn’t see them, but heard their laughter. He hoped they couldn’t see him. Helen was still doing her exercises, but the dog heard their noise and came to the slider barking.

  He watched Helen get up and come to the back of the house. He tried to hide behind the table. The backyard was soon filled with the bright lights from several spotlights. If she couldn’t see him, she must have seen his clothes piled on the picnic table. He heard the sound of the slider, knowing what was coming next. He couldn’t wait any longer. He stood, grabbed his clothes, and started running toward the lake. The hoots from the hill filled the night air. He looked back to see the dog running towards him and Helen trying to cover herself.

  His feet hurt from the ice covered snow still on the lake, but he kept running toward the path leading back up the hill. The teenagers must have realized they could also be seen. He heard doors close and the car speed off. He wondered why the dog hadn’t followed him onto the lake and up the hill, but he was thankful. He knew Helen had seen him and would be calling the police by now. His only chance was to make it out of the lake area before the police arrived.

  He was now on the peninsula road. He could see the bright lights of her back yard, the dog standing there looking towards him, barking his brains out. His heart was beating so fast he could hear his pulse beating in his ears. He put on his pants, shirt and shoes, skipping the underwear. He knew he didn’t have time to get fully dressed.

  He got in his car, taking off without his headlights, until he was far enough away to feel comfortable. He heard sirens in the distance, knowing he only had a few minutes before they would see his car. There were small cabins and mobile homes along this section of road, but only a few driveways were shoveled out. He switched off the headlights, turning into the next plowed driveway. He shut off the car and ducked down.

  The flashing lights of a police car lit up the area and he heard the police car zoom past. He started to get up, but saw the lights of another police car approaching. He ducked down again, and that car roared by. He sat up and looked around. The blue lights were headed in the direction he came from. Then the area was lit up with bright lights from the mobile home. He could see a man looking out the front door. He started his car, turned on his lights and backed out the driveway, hoping the guy didn’t see his license plate.

  He was breathing fast, his heart was still racing. He was in the clear, with about a mile to go, but it required snaking his way out of the maze that was Baboosic Lake Road. Before he reached the main road, he saw flashing blue lights reflecting off the snow and the trees. Slowing down, he knew there was nothing he could do at this point but hope not to attract any attention. The blue lights were brighter. He figured there was a road block around the corner.

  Rounding the corner, he saw the police car blocking a portion of the road. The police car spotlight was shining on another car, where four young men were being questioned by the police officer. He drove around the police car, watching heads turn as he passed. He could feel his head throbbing, looking in the rearview mirror to see if the cruiser was coming after him. About five minutes later he was on the main road, not seeing any cruiser.

  Driving several miles over the speed limit, he wanted to get as far away from this area as he could. I’m damn lucky I wasn’t caught by the dog or the police tonight. I can’t chance doing that again, but I have to thank Helen for the super show. It will give me something to think about when I’m alone. The teenagers might not want to tell the police about seeing him which would prompt some questions about what they were doing. But Helen is sure to report seeing a naked man in her back yard. Maybe now she will find the present I left in her nightstand.

  Chapter 58

  I was reviewing material when Mike came in the office area. “Scott we have a new development. Want to take a ride?”

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “Get your coat and I’ll explain on the way.”

  I could tell by his animated movement that Mike was excited. As soon as I was seated in the car he backed out of the parking space behind the office, quickly heading away from Harvard Square. “Here’s what happened. Last night Helen Ryder had a visitor in her back yard.”

  He continued, spitting out the words, “She was being watched by a naked man in her back yard. Helen was doing her normal exercise routine, which she admitted to police she does sans clothes. She heard something and her dog Harry heard it as well and started barking. She went to the rear slider and turned on the light. She witnessed a naked guy grab his clothes and take off running toward the frozen lake. She also saw a group of boys on the road beside her house, running to their car and speeding away. She immediately called the police.”

  He looked at me while shaking his head, continuing, “The Amherst and Merrimack police departments dispatched units to her house. They intercepted a vehicle fleeing the lake area with teenagers inside. They questioned the teenagers, who after their parents were called, finally admitted drinking and watching Helen. More importantly, they witnessed the guy sitting at her snow covered picnic table. The guy was stark naked. The police never knew about the guy until later, not seeing anyone but the teenagers.”

  “Where are we headed?” I asked.

  “We’re stopping at the Amherst police station to get a copy of the report. Then we are going to Helen’s house. She told the police we had visited her and asked questions about the recent murdered women. She gave them my number. She is very concerned about the incident, not so much about the teenagers as she is about the guy on her property. The police did a quick process of the scene, and noted there were two sets of footprints in the snow, one with bare feet and the other set with either boots or shoes. The police are concerned he may have gained entrance to her house several days prior.”

  “Wow. Do you think it’s the strangler, Mike?”

  “Given her two friends being murdered, I would have to say I think it’s our guy. Why he was doing what he was doing is beyond me, but if it was him, she’s very lucky.”

  *.*.*

  Mike stopped at the Amherst police station, which wasn’t much of a facility. He introduced himself and talked with the chief. The chief gave him copies of the officer reports from both towns.

  “Chief, we appreciate your timely call to our office. We’re concerned this might have been the guy who committed the two recent strangling murders in Massachusetts. Mrs. Ryder knew those two murdered women and may be the next target. We’re going to talk with her when we leave here. Do you want to accompany us?”

  “Mr. Miller, I would say under the circumstances Mrs. Ryder would be more comfortable talking with you. She was pretty upset last night. I think the appearance of more uniformed police officers could be unproductive. However, if you need our assistance in the future, we would be happy to assist. You can expect the same from the Merrimack authorities. Good luck.”

  *.*.*

  Less than ten minutes later, I was helping Mike maneuver his way to Helen’s house. He stopped at the top of the hill beside her house, checking out the view.

  “Scott, I can see how the teenagers could have stopped here to observe Helen. They might have done this on a regular basis, or when her husband’s car was not in the driveway. Any view down the hill to the lake would have improved the view.”

  “Mike, I don’t understand what possessed him to do what he did last night? Do you think he would have entered her home had things been a little different?”

  He looked over at her house again and down the slight hill. “I can’t say for sure, but we should be thankful regardless that we’re just asking questions today instead of something else. Let’s go talk with Mrs. Ryder.”

  We pulled into the driveway. Harry came bounding over to greet us. Helen yelled to him, he stopped short, and went walking back to her looking over his shoulde
r at us.

  “Mrs. Ryder we’re glad you’re okay. Thank you for alerting the police to our visit. We would like to talk to you about last night if we can.”

  She held the door open for us. Harry ran in first and we followed. “Mr. Miller you can call me Helen. Would you like some coffee, it’s already made. How about you, Scott…right?”

  Mike responded, “You know a cup of coffee would be great. I’m sure Scott would like one also. Please call me Mike, if that’s okay with you.”

  She smiled, went to the kitchen, and came back in just a few short minutes with a carafe, cups, milk and sugar.

  Mike and I prepared our cups while Helen reiterated what happened last night, and then asked, “Do you think he was the strangler?”

  Without hesitation, Mike answered immediately, “Well, Helen it seems too much of a coincidence not to be the guy. I think you might be very lucky.”

  We were seated on the sofa, but she was still standing with her arms clasped around her chest. “Mike, are those copies of the police reports?”

  “Yes they are. We stopped at the Amherst police station and talked with the chief.”

  “Well then it makes it a little easier to mention I was exercising in the nude. I don’t know if this was the first and only visit by this guy, but he knew enough to bring a pair of binoculars. Oh, I forgot to tell the police, I saw him running with his clothes in one hand and the binoculars in the other.”

  “Yes we know about how you were doing your exercises. This is your home and you’re free to do as you see fit. However, now that you know people can observe the back of your house from the lake or the hill over there…well you might think differently about it. I would like to ask you about what the police say are two sets of footprints. What can you tell us about that?”

  “Two sets? I don’t know about any of that. I saw the guy was naked, obviously enjoying the view, but I don’t know anything about what they found.”