by Alves, Carl
The corpses of Johnny Gunns and Tina Monterullo looked like extras in a slasher movie. He could relate to their violent ending, but the last two were another case. Their faces haunted him. They seemed perfectly content dying. How could two young attractive women be so happy before they died? Why was there no struggle?
How many more would die? If it could happen to Thuy Pham and Nikki Staretz, it could happen to others. No matter what the cost, he had to stop the killer.
He already spoke to family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers of the victims. No one had useful information. The deceased didn’t have enemies or stalkers or anything typically seen in murder cases. Yet they were dead just the same.
He tracked down Staretz’s co-workers who had gone with her to the Rock Lobster the night before she was murdered. They had not noticed anything unusual, although they said she was separated from them while speaking to an old friend from school. Mark pressed for a name for this old friend, but they drew blanks. To add to his frustration, security cameras at the club came up with nothing revealing.
He snapped out of his daze when Victoria came into view. She had been alarmed when he told her he was working on the case. Not wanting to discuss it in front of their young daughter, Sarah, he told her they could discuss it over lunch at the faculty dining room at Villanova.
Mark put away the photos.
After their food arrived, Victoria sat and stared at him. “So how are you even involved in these vampire killings? What does this have to do with organized crime?”
“I think the person who killed this woman also killed a member of Salerno’s crime regime, but the killings are coincidental.”
“I can’t imagine Salerno is too happy about that.” Victoria took a bite of her grilled chicken.
“Probably not.” Mark’s stomach had been acting up since he took the case. He probably had an ulcer. He did not want to eat anything abrasive, so he had ordered a house salad.
“Is this really a vampire?” Victoria asked. “That’s all my colleagues have been talking about. It started a roaring debate on vampire literature.”
“No,” Mark replied. “We just have a very exotic killer on our hands. Probably looking for attention. He has it now, but we’re going to nail the son of a bitch.”
“I hope so. I know you’ll be able to do it.”
Before long, reporters would find out about the other victims and magnify this story. The media loved shock value, and this case had it in abundance.
Against his better wishes, he went to the Roundhouse after lunch. Detective Brown was a dick, but he might know something useful. He chewed on a couple of Tums, but they were becoming less effective in fighting his stomach problems. Before he had his chance to see Brown, a frantic young man at the front desk caught his attention.
“Come on, you have to get into her apartment.”
The police officer at the front desk rolled his eyes. “Listen, Mr. Zutaut, your friend has not been gone long enough for her to be considered a missing person. I’m sorry, but we have to follow protocol. If you ask me, you’re overreacting. She probably went off with this guy you were telling me about. We see this all the time. Girl meets guy. She falls for him, and they run off.”
The kid shook, his anger visible. “Denise isn’t like that. She’s responsible. She would never miss a performance without letting the conductor know ahead of time. Something must have happened to her.”
The police officer ignored him, jotting notes on a pad of paper.
Zutaut shouted, “I’m telling you, there was something seriously wrong with this guy. I can’t put my finger on it, but he’s dangerous.”
“Did he issue any threats?”
“No,” Zutaut replied.
“Did he say anything that would lead you to believe he was going to harm your friend?”
“No.”
The officer’s vein protruded from his forehead. “Then why are you wasting my time?”
“Because this guy seemed almost, I don’t know, unreal. When I spoke to him, it was hypnotizing, but there was something dark and destructive inside him.”
“If you’re so concerned, then why don’t you get the landlord to open up her door?”
“I already told you, the landlord’s out of town and won’t be coming back until next week.”
“Then wait.”
“I can’t wait.” The kid threw his hands in the air. He appeared as if he was going to grab the officer by the throat.
Mark’s eyes narrowed. From what he could gather, this kid’s friend was probably a young, attractive female. If she wasn’t, then he wouldn’t be so interested. She was missing, just like the other victims. It was probably a long shot, but it was worth looking into.
Mark approached the desk. He flashed his badge. “Special Agent Mark Andrews. Perhaps I can be of some assistance here.”
“Yeah, get this punk away from me.”
“Gladly.” Mark turned to Zutaut. “Please follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Away from here.” Mark led him out of the lobby away from Brown, down the stairs towards the dingy cafeteria. The smells suggested the cafeteria contained something edible, but having eaten there twice, he doubted it. Mark sat at an empty table, but the kid stood. “Take a seat, please.”
He did not move.
“Listen, I’m here to help you, Mr. Zutaut.”
“Troy.”
“Troy, you’ll find I’ll be more helpful than that cop. Now take a seat.”
Troy sat opposite him.
“I overheard part of your conversation. What’s your friend’s name?”
“Denise McKenna.”
“What makes you so sure that something bad happened to her?”
Troy leaned back on the stiff plastic chair and closed his eyes. “You have to know Denise. She’s rock solid. There’s no way in hell she’d run off with some guy she just met. Something about him scares me.”
He described their first outing when they went back to Troy’s apartment following their performance of 42nd Street. “This guy had a mystical quality. I was like in a trance when he spoke. The same with Denise. Time just flew by that night. I thought we had just arrived, and when I looked at the clock, a few hours had passed. We were supposed to get together again the next night, but I had the flu. A couple days later Denise is gone. Nobody’s heard from her. I have this cold feeling that the man harmed her. Whenever I think about him, I break into a sweat.”
On its face, the story had no merit, but Zutaut radiated intensity as he spoke.
“All right. Tell me more about this fellow. What’s his name? Where’s he from?”
“His name is Alexei. He told some wild stories. It’s like he’s been everywhere and has done everything. He’s charismatic. Talking to him makes you feel at peace. It’s like he could get you to do whatever he wanted by suggesting it.”
That last statement caught Mark’s attention. That could explain how the last two victims failed to put up a struggle. He had not considered the possibility of hypnosis. Even if they were in a trance, it should break once they were in physical pain and their lives endangered.
Mark heard enough. “Let’s take a ride. We’ll poke around and see what we can find.”
“But I said that…”
“Let’s just go and take a look. You never know what’s going to happen.”
“Okay,” Zutaut said.
They drove to the apartment. Zutaut fidgeted in the passenger’s side. He was a nervous bundle of energy. It was obvious his feelings for Denise McKenna went beyond friendship.
They walked to the third floor. The only noise in the building was Zutaut’s heavy breathing. Sweat dripped down his face. If they found Denise’s corpse, he doubted the kid could handle it.
“So now what do we do?” Zutaut bounced from foot to foot, staring at Mark.
“I’m going to see if the door is open. I know you tried before, but maybe I’ll have better luck. Why don’t you
go down the hall? I think there’s a window. Get some air.”
He nodded and walked to the end of the hall. Mark knocked on the door. When there was no answer, he went to work. He was skilled at picking locks, but this was ridiculously easy. It took less than a minute. He cracked the door open and called out to Zutaut. “Hey, what do you know? I was able to open it. Knob’s a little tricky. You might not have turned it right.”
“Thank God.” Zutaut took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Would you like me to go in alone?”
Zutaut closed his eyes. “No. I’ll go with you.”
“Okay, stay close behind. Don’t touch anything.” Mark entered the apartment. The living room was in perfect order, but based on the last two murder scenes, that didn’t mean anything. A half-filled teacup was on the kitchen table. It looked cold. Unwashed dishes covered the sink and uncut strawberries were in a strainer. Not good signs.
Mark approached the bedroom. Zutaut followed, not saying a word. The door was slightly ajar. Mark pushed it open. Inside, Denise was underneath the covers of her bed. She had no visible clothes and a dreamy look on her face.
“Hey Denise, it’s Troy. Wake up.”
He walked toward the bed, but Mark grabbed his arm. “Stand back.”
Zutaut’s brow furrowed. “Why? What’s going on?”
Mark felt Denise’s wrist for a pulse. She had none. He then lifted her head and found puncture marks in her neck. He took a brief look under the covers. Like the other victims, her abdomen had been mangled. This had all the markings of his perp, and now he had a name for the killer. Alexei. Soon, he would have a face to go along with the name.
Tears streamed down Zutaut’s face.
“She’s dead,” Mark said. “I’m sorry.”
He dropped to his knees and wailed. “No. Please no.” He inched toward Denise on his knees. Before he could reach her, Mark intercepted him.
“This is a murder scene. I’m going to have to ask you to step back.”
Mark gave the young man a few minutes to grieve before he asked him once more to back away. He helped Zutaut to his feet and led him out of the room. He then called Rick Carroll. Another victim, but at last he had a break in the case.
Chapter Thirteen
Magnus had a hard time concentrating on the keys as he played the baby grand piano. He would never be a great piano player. He played competently because of his experience, but he did not have the natural talent he needed to excel.
He could hardly take his eyes off Ursula, who did a ballet routine to the music. He remembered those days in Prague when he first discovered her. Ursula won him over before they ever spoke. She had been so timid at first. Now her personality was vibrant and infectious. She was one of his favorites.
When they finished their routine, Magdalena, the dark haired vixen, kissed Ursula lightly on the neck. “That was beautiful. Don’t you think, Magnus?”
He smiled. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Magdalena pranced toward the piano and sat on Magnus’ lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know what would be funny? If she joined a ballet. She could do the Nutcracker. That would be something to see. A vamp in a ballet. Think of what the newspaper critics would say.”
Magnus frowned. With the Daily News article implying that the vampire killer murdered Thuy Pham, he had to do something. Alexei’s path could only lead to destruction. He had been reckless in the past, most notably in Lisbon, but he had never gone this far. Some elder vampires would have killed Alexei in the past, but this was a different era, and vampires did not kill one another. Gabriella had thus far persuaded him not to confront Alexei, but he could no longer stand by and do nothing.
Last night, Kristoff, who still resented Alexei for converting and then abandoning him, told Magnus that the vampire killer was a popular topic of conversation around town. Kristoff frequented clubs and other social gatherings. He also attended meeting groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, claiming to suffer from the same ailments as these individuals. Because of his frequent contact with people, he had his finger on the pulse of society. Whereas Magnus relied on the wonders of the Internet and other modern media, Kristoff stayed plugged in the old fashioned way, by talking to people.
Because of their heritage, Alexei and Magnus shared a kinship, something he could not easily dismiss despite personal feelings, but he had to do what was in the best interest of his brood. They looked to him for leadership and guidance.
Maybe the difference between the two was that Magnus was more cognizant of his own origins and the time he was able to walk in the daylight.
The Kingdom of Norway – est. Tenth Century A.D.
Magnus glimpsed his homeland for the first time in many months. He had sailed to edge of the world, crossing the great ocean. Just like his father before him, the red men across the sea greeted him upon arrival. His friends told him he was crazy for undertaking this voyage. His mother begged him not to go. Undaunted, he had the journey of a lifetime.
He turned around when a strong hand gripped his shoulder.
His cousin Oddi wore a wide smile. “We must make a return trip.”
Magnus’ brows furrowed. “We haven’t set foot back home yet.”
“I know and I already want to go back.”
Magnus grinned. “I see that the red woman Chipoya has put you under her spell.”
Oddi crossed his arms. “You’re mistaken. I merely enjoyed the adventure.”
“You could have brought Chipoya home.”
Oddi looked forlorn. He turned and walked away.
Magnus would return, but for now, all he wanted was to see his family.
He told his crew to unload their bounty. It would take all day, so he and Oddi rode on horseback to the family manor. As a child he spent countless hours in the summer wandering around the sprawling estate. His father, a Viking chieftain, amassed a sizable fortune raiding and plundering lands across the Black and Caspian Seas. As a young boy, he accompanied his father on these expeditions.
He called out, but the manor was unusually silent.
Oddi frowned. “Is there some festival that we did not know about?”
Magnus shrugged and continued to call out. He expected his mother and his sister, Rakel, to throw a grand celebration for his return. The last thing he expected was an empty house. He was about to ascend the stairs when he spotted his mother. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair tangled, and her face appeared to have aged ten years.
Magnus’ heart began to pound in his chest. “Mother, what’s wrong?”
She put her hand to her face and sobbed.
Magnus ran up the stairs and hugged her. “What is it?”
“Oh, Magnus, you’ve returned. It’s Rakel. She’s missing.”
Blood rushed from Magnus’ face. “What do you mean missing?”
“She’s been gone for a week. Your father and brothers are searching for her, but they haven’t found her.”
Magnus held onto the rail of the staircase for support, his hands trembling. “When was she last seen?”
His mother wiped tears from her face. “Rakel and a servant left one morning last week to visit a friend. She never reached the friend’s house, and the servant was found dead. She had been decapitated.”
Magnus stepped back, his body shaking. “I have to find Rakel.”
He forgot about Oddi until his cousin put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s find her.”
One afternoon, months later, rain poured on Magnus’ covered wagon.
Oddi scanned the horizon. “We should stop at the nearest inn. It will be impossible to find Rakel in this weather.” Oddi’s face was raw and unshaven. Normally, he was vain with his appearance. Magnus could only imagine how he looked. For the past three months, he and Oddi scoured the countryside in search of Rakel. They had been to hundreds of towns, villages and outposts talking to constables, townspeople and farmers, but no one had seen her.
Magnus closed his eye
s. “We must keep searching.”
“I realize you’re close to Rakel, and I’ll go with you to the ends of the earth if necessary, but I don’t think we will find her.”
Magnus clenched his fists. “I can’t accept that.” He took a deep breath. “My head tells me you’re right, but I can’t bear the thought. When we were young, Rakel used to go hunting and fishing with me. Mother scolded her since these weren’t womanly tasks, but Rakel never cared. I love her.”
The wagon shook and careened off the road.
“What happened?” Magnus called out to the driver. When he didn’t receive an answer, he peered up front and gasped. The driver had a gaping wound in his chest.
There was no way he could grab the reigns in time, so he clutched Oddi’s arm. “We’ve been attacked. We have to get out now.”
They jumped out of the wagon and rolled onto the dirt road. Magnus limped to his feet and reached for his axe, which he had strapped on to his back. Meanwhile, the horses collapsed and the wagon slammed into trees.
On his injured ankle, he hobbled to the horses. Blood spurted from their necks.
Oddi ran after him, his sword drawn, his face pale. “A demon has attacked us.”
Magnus scanned the area. Something moved in front of him like a blur. He held his axe with two hands, ready to strike. A long-haired phantasm with a white face appeared in front of him. Before he could react, it struck him. He had been in many fights, but had never been hit so hard. He fell backward, wincing in pain. It felt as if his whole face had shattered. Before he could get up, the thing kicked him in the ribs.
Another appeared. This one looked more like a man, but there was something unnatural about his appearance. He stared in revulsion as the thing bared fangs and bit Oddi’s throat, killing his cousin. Magnus issued a muffled scream that was cut short when his attacker kicked his ribs again.
The demon or phantasm or whatever it was, grabbed his throat and squeezed. Magnus choked under its grip, blood spurting from his mouth.
The world went dark until a familiar voice penetrated his head. “Stop it, now.”