There Was a Crooked Man: A Psychological Thriller

by Katrina Morgan

  Jack opened the door. “You okay in here?”

  Surprised he hadn’t knocked, Katie stood with the mascara wand suspended in midair.

  He watched her in the mirror.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I wanted to see you.”

  Katie kissed him quickly and tried to shut the door, but his foot was in the way. The room grew claustrophobic with his tall frame half inside the doorway. She eased past him, eager for space.

  Jack drove to a nearby Chinese restaurant and introduced Katie to a pot of potent saké.

  “Mmmm. This is so good.” Katie downed her second cup and held it out toward Jack.

  “You want more?”

  “Yep. Saké to me!” She giggled. “Get it? Saké to me?”

  “Yeah, I get it.” Jack glanced around the crowded restaurant. “Maybe you’d better take it easy.”

  His warning embarrassed her, and she mentally searched for a dignified subject. “Your parents? They live nearby, right?”

  “They do. But, as I’ve said, we aren’t exactly close.”

  “But you’ve never explained why.” Katie leaned forward, eager to hear the story

  Jack sampled his General Tso’s chicken, choosing his words. “They were never around much—always headed to some fundraiser or committee meeting. When they were home, they spent their time telling me I wasn’t good enough.” His eyes grew stormy, and his speech quickened as he listed a litany of issues: grades, friends, girls, sports, extra-curricular. “Nothing was good enough, and I was punished for everything,” he said for the third time.

  None of the transgressions seemed overly serious to Katie, but she stayed silent.

  “After I got my job, my parents and I went to dinner to celebrate. They spent the whole night berating me.” Jack rolled his eyes. “They didn’t approve of me reporting my predecessor’s mistakes, but I sure as hell wasn't getting blamed for something he’d done.” Jack flung his right hand in the air. “Whatever.”

  Katie’s brow creased. “Go on,” she encouraged.

  “There’s nothing else to say. I walked out.” Jack scrubbed his neck below his right ear. “Let’s talk about what’s under that pretty pink shirt instead.” He strained to look down her blouse, making her laugh and effectively ending the conversation.

  Katie wasn’t quite steady on her feet as they left the restaurant and clung to Jack’s arm. “Whew. You better take me to bed, Jack, before I change my mind.”

  Once back at his place, he led her straight to his room, lighting candles and turning on soft music. Easing her back on the bed, Jack drew her in for a long kiss, licking her lips, nibbling her neck.

  “God. You’re beautiful. I’ve been dreaming of you here with me. Let me love you, Katie.”

  Smiling slowly, she murmured, “Yes.”

  Remembering her earlier purchase, Katie pushed herself up, looking for her purse.

  “What are you doing?”

  Her cheeks colored, “I brought some protection.”

  Stunned, Jack laughed, “Trust me. I’ve got that under control.”

  Once he returned to the bed, she let him take the lead, sinking deeper into the mattress, and growing accustomed to his weight. He unbuttoned her blouse. “Look at you.” He kissed the top of one breast.

  She stiffened and balled her hands into fists.

  “You don’t like that.”

  “I do. I’m just nervous. If I’m honest, it’s been a while.”

  Jack grinned. “Good to hear there’s no competition.”

  “You’ve seen where I live. Not a lot of fabulous boyfriend choices there.”

  He ran a feather-light caress across her stomach. “So, I’m your Prince Charming?”

  Her hands wound around his neck, fingering his hair. “You are.”

  He undid the front clasp of the bra, and her nipples puckered. Katie sighed, enjoying the feel of his hands on her skin. He caressed down to her belly, moving further and sliding her skirt down. “Ahhh, look at you. Matching lingerie.” He traced the lacy pattern, running his finger under the waistband, making her shiver. He eased the lingerie bottoms off and slid them down the long expanse of her leg so slowly, the entire process was a long caress.

  He slid up her body, and she closed her eyes when he eased inside her. Katie squeezed her thigh muscles in reaction, and it nearly undid Jack. He slid deeper inside her. “Look at me, baby.”

  She met his gaze, and the age-old dance commenced. Jack’s pace increased, and Katie matched his movements, arcing with each thrust. With nerve endings over-sensitized, she climbed higher, riding the wave and close to shattering. When Jack collapsed on top of her, Katie's senses were still jangling. She felt as though she’d eaten a fabulous meal but still had room for dessert.

  When Jack lifted himself, she raised herself slightly on her elbows, anticipating a kiss that never came.

  “Katie?” Jack watched her closely.

  She stretched lazily. “Hmm.”

  “I’ll be your only.”

  Overwhelmed, Katie heard only promises.

  Chapter 5

  Susan Garrison adjusted her thick glasses and squinted at the phone. She didn’t recognize the number and answered sharply, “Hello?” Her voice still rasped despite ten years without her beloved cigarettes.

  “Aunt Susan, it’s Katie.”

  “Oh, hello, babycakes. Are you calling me from work?”

  “No. Jack bought me a new cell phone. Can you believe it? My old one was crap and only worked half the time. He calls three or four times a day and got nervous when he couldn’t reach me.”

  The older woman frowned. “Three or four times a day? That sounds over the top, don’t you think?”

  Katie giggled. “He just worries.”

  “That’s more than worrying.”

  “No offense, Aunt Susan, but you’re not exactly out there dating. This is how we do it nowadays. We call, we text, we send emojis.”

  “What the hell’s an emoji?”

  Katie laughed, dismissing her Aunt’s concerns. “Jack’s talking about getting married! He’s even looking at houses to buy!”

  Aunt Susan rolled her eyes. Since meeting Jack, Katie ended every sentence with an exclamation mark. “You know that tingly feeling you get when you meet someone you’re really attracted to?”

  Katie answered with a breathy sigh, “I do.”

  “Well, that’s common sense leaving your body,” Susan snorted.

  “Aunt Susan!”

  “Well, he sounds too good to be true. Maybe I should meet this young man.”

  “We should have dinner together! I’ll cook your favorites and pick you up next Saturday. I work the early shift, so it shouldn’t be any trouble. Six o’clock work for you?”

  “Fine, fine. I can’t wait to see you.” Aunt Susan mentally shoved down the growing trepidation in her gut.

  Jack was even less enthused. “I hardly ever see you, and now we have to give up our Saturday night?”

  “She wants to meet you. She’s my angel, the one who saved me.” Katie waited through a long silence. “Hello?”

  “I thought I was the one who saved you.”

  Hearing his clipped tone, Katie rushed to clarify, “She’s my angel, but you’re my Prince Charming. You two are the most important people in my life. I want you to meet each other.”

  Sighing, Jack agreed to dinner but inserted new parameters, “I’m sure it’ll be great, sweetheart.” his voice oozed through the line. “But let’s do it earlier. Say four or four-thirty? We can have dinner, drive her back to the retirement joint by eight, and still have time for us.”

  “Retirement joint? What’s that supposed to mean?” Katie held the phone away from her face and glared at the screen.

  Jack backtracked again, “Is it wrong to want you all to myself?”

  “Well, when you put it like that…” Katie pulled her shoulders up toward her chin, giving herself a hug.

  On Saturday, Katie scrubbed her ti
ny apartment. Despite her parents having been gone four years, the rooms still held a whiff of hopelessness and gin. Katie drove the shadows away by cooking until her hair was damp and the kitchen steamy. She sang along with the radio and slid across the newly mopped floor in her socks.

  Bubbling with enthusiasm, Katie was early picking up Aunt Susan. The older woman touched her newly permed hair. “Do I look all right?”

  “You’re beautiful.” Katie kissed her leathery cheek and sped back toward the city. She steadied her aunt as they climbed the stairs. “Sorry. The elevator’s out again.” The ladies laughed at their staccato gait--up one stair, stop, regain balance, repeat.

  “I can’t let aging get me down.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “No, it’s not that.”

  “What?”

  “It’s that I can’t get back up!” Aunt Susan snickered at Katie’s pretend swat.

  The women were chatting when there was a knock on the door. Katie bounded from the couch. “Oh, there he is!”

  Jack waltzed in before Katie could answer the door, and Susan scowled at his presumptuous manner.

  Jack pulled a bouquet out from behind his back and walked toward the older woman. “You must be Aunt Susan. Katie talks about you all the time,” Jack held out the flowers.

  “For me?”

  Susan forgave Jack for not knocking and rushed to find a vase. Catching Katie’s eye, Susan winked and nodded once in approval.

  Aunt Susan returned to the living room, eager to know Jack better. Within five minutes, her initial impression faded. Jack said all the right things and sounded interested, but the words never touched his eyes. Aunt Susan straightened her spine.

  Dinner wasn’t as fun as Katie had hoped. Aunt Susan zeroed in on details. She’d been to Savannah dozens of times, and still had friends there.

  Fork in the air as if she’d just remembered something, Susan grilled Jack, “You grew up near Garden City? I thought you said you went to Johnson High School.”

  “I did.”

  “Johnson High School, the one I’m thinking of, is in Midtown. Hmm. I must be thinking of something else.” She smiled ever so slyly. Midtown wasn’t as posh as Garden City, and Susan smelled a healthy dose of bullshit.

  She neatly turned the conversation toward college. “Katie didn’t go to college, but you’ve got a degree, don’t you, Jack?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I went to Strayer University and, four years later, landed myself a job with the zoning commission. That may have been luck since the previous guy died.” Jack laughed, relieved to be a safe topic. “They were still doing their accounting on spreadsheets. I introduced new software, and productivity went up.” He smiled, showing overly white teeth, “I should be getting another promotion soon,”

  Aunt Susan fiddled with the last of her scalloped potatoes. “Isn’t Strayer a two-year college?”

  Katie nudged her aunt’s knee under the table.

  When Aunt Susan looked up, Katie raised her eyebrows. “Please, stop,” Katie mouthed.

  Susan pretended she didn’t understand and turned her attention back to Jack.

  Jack narrowed his eyes, spinning out a lie. “They do specialize in associate degrees, but I stayed for four.”

  Aunt Susan nodded, and Jack pursed his lips.

  Aunt Susan got up to help clear dishes, noticing Jack did not. From the kitchen sink, she looked over her shoulder and asked more questions. “Your parents still living, Jack?”

  “Yes, ma’am, they are.” He offered no other information.

  “You’ve met them, Katie? I bet they love you to pieces, don’t they?” Aunt Susan knew damn well Katie hadn’t met his parents or anyone in his life for that matter. Susan smiled, innocent, and supposedly well-meaning.

  Katie glanced at Jack and shrugged her shoulders. “Not yet. Jack says they don’t get along well. I’m sure I will--meet them, I mean.” Katie wiped her hands on her jeans. “What’s with all the questions? It feels like an interrogation.”

  Jack nodded.

  Aunt Susan’s eyes grew large. “I’m sorry, Jack. I don’t mean to pry. You know how it is, right? No one’s ever going to be good enough for my Katie.” Susan fluttered her hands, making her ever-present bracelets clatter together, transforming herself into a doddering aunt. “I get a little protective, but Katie’s got nothing but praise for you.”

  After dessert, they drove back to Great Oak Estates. Jack accompanied the women to Aunt Susan’s front door. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Aunt Susan.”

  Manners had Susan inviting Jack inside.

  “No,” Jack forced himself to smile. “I’ll let you two ladies have a few minutes together.”

  He walked toward the car with his forehead deeply furrowed.

  Katie followed Aunt Susan inside the villa, flicking on lights as she went. “So, isn’t he great?” Katie asked while turning up the thermostat and closing curtains.

  “He seems to be a nice man, Katie, but slow down. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”

  Katie hugged Aunt Susan and called out, “I love you!” before racing back to the car.

  As summer waned, Katie worked less to spend time with Jack. Donette and Renae began to echo Aunt Susan.

  “Slow down, girl!”

  “Play hard to get, for God’s sake!”

  “Seriously? Would either of you slow down? I’ve got a man who pays attention, comes to see me, brings me flowers. And, here’s a miracle, he has a job and his own place. I could get out of here!” Katie’s arms swept the restaurant, but her tone encompassed the neighborhood. Renae and Donette nodded and grew quiet.

  Aunt Susan, for the first time, had to initiate calls to Katie. “Katie? Are you all right? You said you’d call yesterday.”

  “I’m sorry. I was running errands before heading to Savannah.” Katie balanced the laundry hamper against her hip, still trying to do two things at once.

  “Wait,” Aunt Susan injected with force, “Savannah? Are you going again? You can’t keep missing work, honey.”

  Katie’s boss, Ricky, had said the same thing that morning.

  Consumed by Jack and his promises, Katie ignored them all.

  Chapter 6

  Even if Katie had wanted to slow down, Jack had other ideas. Without including her in the decision, Jack bought a house. His county job gave him early access to foreclosed homes and properties in financial trouble. When the listing for a house, near Forsyth Park, came across the back-tax report, Jack drove by the address after work. Seeing the prestigious neighborhood, he called a realtor, toured the house, and placed a contract on it the same night.

  Jack called Katie to share the exciting news.

  “You bought a house? Where? When?” Katie asked.

  “Consider it an early birthday present.”

  “But I’ve never even seen it,” Katie protested.

  “I had to act fast. Do you have any idea what houses in that neighborhood typically sell for? Seven, maybe eight hundred thousand! Even the foreclosed ones are half a million. Three-seventy-five is cheap.”

  “It doesn’t sound cheap to me. Can we afford it?”

  “Are you saying I don’t make enough money?”

  Katie heard the change in tone and panicked. Old habits rushed to the forefront, and she worked to defuse the situation. “I didn’t say anything close to that. I have no idea what your salary is, or if you’ve got money saved.”

  “Trust me. I’ve got it under control.” He would, of course, never admit he’d exhausted his savings, demanded five-thousand- dollars from his parents, and taken out a first-time home buyer’s loan, which teetered on the brink of financial disaster.

  Katie tried one more time, “But I’ve never seen it. What if I don’t like it?”

  “I’ll show it to you this weekend. You’ll love it.” With that pronouncement, Jack dismissed Katie’s concerns.

  Katie hardly noticed. What do I know about buying houses?

  As soon as Katie ar
rived at Jack’s apartment early Friday evening, Jack scooted her into his car. He drove the cobblestone streets of historic Forsyth Park, and past the famous fountain, enjoying Katie’s awe. After making a few more turns, he pulled up in front of a skinny, yellow house. The tiny circle of light afforded by the gas lamps edging the tree line was more ambiance than practical, and Katie peered through the windshield.

  Jack sat in the driver’s seat, beaming.

  “This is it?” Katie craned her head further. The house was two and a half stories, with a neglected widow’s walk sitting cautiously on the slate roof. A few upstairs windows were broken, and vines wound through the porch rails, sending reconnaissance tendrils up the side of the house. The home had once been a showcase, and Katie could see it in her mind, freshly painted, with flowers blooming.

  “Wow,” she said softly, and Jack was pleased.

  “It needs a lot of work, doesn’t it?” His smile slipped.

  “You didn’t mention it was so big! She was halfway out of the car. “Can we get inside?”

  “Well, not technically.” Jack shot her a wicked grin. “However,” he tapped his head twice. “I memorized the code when the real estate lady was here last time.”

  “Can we get in trouble?”

  “Not if we don’t get caught. I’ll move the car, so we don’t attract attention.”

  He left her to wander the outside, and she trailed her hand along the overgrown bushes. A downspout, missing its last two feet, oozed slimy green algae. Katie bent her neck back, scanning the roofline, and wondering if there was water damage inside.

  Jack jogged toward the porch. “Stay to the left. There’s a big hole.”

  Katie laughed at the one-foot gap and skirted around the waiting disaster.

  “Hold my phone by the lock.” The meager cell phone light illuminated the three-digit lockbox, which Jack worked quickly. The key dropped into his hand, and he was through the door, pulling Katie inside.

  Standing in the dim foyer, Katie let her eyes adjust. Dust and spider webs clung to all surfaces and congregated in corners. “I guess it’s been vacant a while?” She headed towards the curved staircase, head swiveling back and forth to take in the details.