by M. Stratton
Taking out a piece of paper, Morgan drew a picture of what Nutter had created on Nick. She wanted it. The whole dream. Spending years listening to mental cases was becoming depressing. All the masters were caught at some point. Rarely did any serial killer go unnamed, sooner or later they were caught, and she didn’t want that for herself. She knew what would happen if anyone ever figured out what she’d done, she’d be locked up.
Over the years, she had enjoyed tormenting the patients at Elwood. She’d perfected it so no one knew what was going on. Who would believe a crazy person, anyway? But some of them knew, and some would stay away from her. Nutter took one look at her and knew exactly what was in her soul. The exact same thing as his.
She could have easily medicated him to the point where he’d have lost his normal mental capacity, but she couldn’t do that to him. His mind was so brilliant, and his artwork, beautiful. She needed his love like nothing else she had ever needed in the past. He was the one who was going to make everything sane and in its place. And it was all going to start with this little island he bought. After they’d made love, he’d told her all about it. It was a place he’d purchased years ago; the authorities didn’t know about it. He’d buried the trust so deep, they couldn’t find it. The upkeep had been taken care of for the past ten years. They could go there tomorrow.
She wanted them to be there tomorrow. Not like she wasn’t all about the revenge on Bender and Stormy. A kill was a kill. But his unhealthy obsession with them was what she feared was going to be their downfall. They’d thought and planned through all the different angles, but there still could be something that came up, that someone did that they hadn’t thought of. It would be safer to leave now and start their lives. Besides, to her way of thinking, if Nutter simply disappeared; it would make them on edge for the rest of their lives, which was more satisfying than killing them. That was revenge for her. Letting them live and wonder what was going to happen next.
But he wasn’t listening to her, he was so focused on Stormy. She couldn’t see leaving without him, so all she could do is plan and hope everything would come out like they wanted, with both Stormy and Bender dead. Well, Nutter wanted Bender to live with the loss of Stormy, but she knew better. She knew they had to kill Bender, too. There is no way he wouldn’t chase them around the world if he were still alive. There is no way he’d leave her death unavenged.
Crossing to the refrigerator, she hung her crude drawing of the island on it. She needed a reminder of what they were working toward. She’d given Nutter everything she had for the past ten years, and it was about to pay off. There was no way she was going to let her ticket out of here die with Stormy and Bender.
Fourteen
Bender paced back and forth in his office at The Night Club. His guys were running into one dead-end after another. He made sure he hired the best of the best, there is no way anything should be stopping them from figuring out how the phone numbers had been compromised.
“You’re going to wear a path on the floor, old man.”
Bender froze at the voice and had a flashback to when he used to call Murdoch ‘old man,’ all the time. “What are you doing here, Son?” The déjà vu kept coming.
“I have a long weekend and decided to come home to see my parents. Is that okay?” Donnie’s voice carried more meaning than what he was saying.
“What happened?”
“Nothing. Dad, stop, seriously, nothing happened. But I can’t shake the feeling you both are keeping something from me. I’ve had a sense of impending doom for weeks, now.”
Bender sighed and sat down. “You and your mother. She must be rubbing off on you.”
“Spill.”
Bender hid his smile at the fact the kid was so much like him. “We’ve had a few situations come up, nothing serious, yet, but we’re watching Nutter. We can’t figure out what’s going on, but something isn’t quite right.”
“When is it ever right when he’s in the picture?”
“You got that right.” Bender looked at his son, wondering where the time had gone, Part of him still remembered the skinny kid that always hung around Stormy. The beaten and almost broken kid that was hungry for knowledge and love. So hungry, Nutter had been able to exploit it and threaten to hurt Stormy to get the kid to help him. It only took him a moment to decide to tell the kid everything.
“We have no idea what’s been going on, and the judge that processed Nutter’s release has been reported missing, along with an old couple who publicly shamed Nutter after he was arrested. They are long shots, there is no way he could have gotten them. We have nothing other than that to tie them to Nutter, yet somehow, they are missing. And we are missing a piece to the puzzle.”
“This can’t be good.”
“We have no idea how he’s doing this. We have him under twenty-four-hour surveillance. We have since he was released. Then there’s the fact the Justice Department has a tracking device on him. There is absolutely no way he can go anywhere without us knowing. Yet these people have disappeared and we can only assume they are dead. With the old couple, they could be traveling and just haven’t checked in with their family. We’ve quietly put out an APB on their RV, but so far, nothing. But the judge, she was a wife and mother. She had cases she was in the middle of. There is nothing in her past that would make this kind of behavior normal.”
Donnie’s eyes were narrowed at Bender as he took the information in. “And you haven’t told Mom?”
“Hell no, I’m smarter than that, boy. She already feels something is going on, not that I’m keeping something from her, but that someone is watching her.”
“This is worse than I thought. You should have told me sooner.” Donnie crossed his arms across his chest.
“Please, you have your education to focus on. I don’t need you worrying about this and failing your classes, your mom would really have my hide for that.”
“I can help; you know I can. I have a special skill set that could be really beneficial.”
“I’m not putting you in the middle of this.” Bender shook his head.
“You want it all to end, don’t you? Then let me help.”
Bender sat there, looking at his very determined son, wondering where he got his stubbornness from, but in his heart he knew. The kid was just like him, only smarter. Which meant there was no way he was leaving without getting his way and helping to keep his mom safe.
“Fine. But you do exactly as I say.”
“Please, when have I ever disobeyed you?”
“Do you really want me to list all the times?”
Donnie rolled his eyes. “Excluding typical teenage rebellions.”
“You got me there. There weren’t too many other than that.”
“There weren’t any, Dad. When it came to safety, I always followed your orders. Trust me, I knew better.”
“You did, that you did. All right, kid here’s what I’m thinking.”
Fifteen
“Kitten, it’s time.” Nutter’s words were spoken with reverence. The time was finally here to seek his revenge on Bender and Stormy.
“I wish you’d listen to me. I think leaving them alive to wonder where exactly you escaped to is going to cause them more pain in the long run than killing Stormy and letting Bender live. You know he’ll search the world for you.”
Nutter stopped and looked at what was his world. “Mick deserves revenge.”
Kitten crossed to him and placed both hands on the side of his face, focusing his attention on her. “Oh, Lover, I’m not saying he doesn’t, I know what he meant to you. What I’m saying is this could be a way we could start our lives together today, right this minute. We could run away together and let them jump at every shadow, thinking it is you for the rest of their lives.”
Nutter sighed. While he could see the wisdom of her words, something about Stormy still pulled at him. What he didn’t tell his Kitten was, he was hoping that by seeing Stormy one more time, smelling her, touching her; he’d kno
w for sure if she was completely out of his system or not. If she was, then he’d walk away with Kitten and leave Stormy alive, with Bender, and have them wondering where he was. But he had to see her one more time. Had to see if that spark was still there. He still remembered walking into her bookstore and pinning her behind the counter, seeing the panic freeze her. He could have had her right there, but Mick stopped him. He still remembered her naked body lying there as he and Mick cut her and drank her blood. A part of her still lived inside of him. She always would. If he was going to commit to Kitten, he had to be one-hundred-percent sure he could walk away from Stormy.
“Kitten, you have to trust me in this. I know exactly how this is all going to play out. A week from now, we’ll be laying on our beach, looking up at the stars, enjoying our new life together.” He cupped the side of her face with his hand. “I love you, Kitten, you’re mine, forever. Nothing is going to change that.”
“I worry. We’re so close to having everything that something is going to go wrong. I want to leave before anything bad happens.”
“I promise. Nothing will.”
Nutter pulled her close and inhaled her intoxicating scent. The scent that kept him going all those lonely nights at Elwood and in his empty house. Knowing that soon it would just be the two of them, and they could spend each and every night together, from now until the end of time, made him happier than he had ever been.
Sixteen
“Donnie, really, I appreciate spending time with my son, but a little privacy, please.” Stormy paused with her hand on the restroom door.
“Sorry, Mom.” Donnie rubbed the back of his neck.
“Really, what’s up? Are you feeling okay? Usually, the only time you’re glued to me is when you’re sick.” Stormy tried to put her hand on his forehead to take his temperature.
“Stop, I’m fine. Geez, can’t a guy just miss his mom?”
“Sure they can, but between you and your father I’m never alone. Now spill. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Why does something have to be going on? We all know how stressed you are, and we’re just trying to make you feel safe.”
“Is that it?” Stormy used the mom stare on him.
“Yes. Now go on. I’ll be right here waiting for you.” He leaned up against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. At that moment, Stormy saw such a resemblance between him and Bender it made her heart swell with happiness.
“I love you, Son.”
“I love you, too, Mom. Now hurry back.”
“Yes, sir.” Stormy laughed and went into the restroom. They’d had a great day at the mall. Not like the times she had to drag him there when he was a teenager. Even though he was grateful to be with them, he still had to complain about being seen with his parents at the mall. She loved the fact they’d been able to give him a normal life after all of the beatings when he was just a child.
“Stormy? Stormy, it is you!”
She looked up from washing her hands and saw Morgan there and smiled. “Hi, Morgan, how are you doing? We seem to keep running into each other.”
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot after the other night. Are you okay now?”
“Yes, thank you for helping me. I’m much better now.”
Morgan placed her hand on her heart. “I’m happy to hear that. Who did you think called you?”
“Someone from my past I wish would stay there.”
“Must be pretty bad, based on your reaction.”
“You have no idea.”
“So, this guy, I’m assuming it’s a guy, is he gone now?”
Stormy shook her head. “No, I’m afraid I’ll never be rid of him.”
“That’s got to upset your husband.”
“You have no idea. We’re doing everything we can to stop him, but nothing seems to be working.”
“And the police can’t help?”
“Like I said, we’ve done everything we can. He has to make a big enough mistake, in order for anything to change. I’m just afraid at that point it will be too late.”
Morgan looked around and leaned in close to Stormy. “I don’t want to alarm you, but I did see you walking around the mall with some young guy, and there was someone else following you.”
The blood drained out of Stormy’s face and she reached out to grab Morgan’s arm. “Tell me,” she hissed as she tried to think back. Was there someone lurking? Did she feel something strange, like someone was watching her? Did she remember seeing anyone that might have possibly been Nutter, but her brain blocked it out for some reason? Could she just have become complacent after all of these years?
“I…I didn’t get a close look at him. He was tall and thin, dark hair, almost black. Kind of a GQ handsome, rich looking guy, if you go for that type.”
There was a roaring in Stormy’s ears that made it hard for her to concentrate. “I have to get out of here.” She squeezed Morgan’s arm tighter. “My son, I have to get us out of here.” She pushed her panic alarm on her bracelet. Bender’s men should be here in a few minutes, but the urge to get far away from the mall kept replaying in her head.
“Stormy wait, I worked at this mall for a bit. I can get you out of here without being seen. But your son can’t come in here. I’ll hide you in the hallway, go out there, tell him to meet us at the restaurant across the street, and this guy won’t know what to do.”
“Okay, but hurry. I don’t want him to get my son, either.”
“I’ll make sure he calls someone, your husband maybe, for backup.”
“Yes, please. Promise you’ll keep him safe.”
“Like he was my own.”
“Thank you. Now get me out of here.”
“This way.” Morgan opened the service door with a key that led down a maintenance hallway. There was a laundry cart. Stormy quickly climbed into the bin and Morgan covered her with discarded clothing.
“I’ll be right back, stay here.”
“Okay.”
Stormy laid completely still, barely breathing, waiting for Nutter to come in and take her. She started counting the seconds in her head, waiting for Morgan to come back from telling her son the plan. Her eyes began to get heavy and she was having a hard time keeping them open. By the time she realized something was wrong; she was too weak to move. When Morgan uncovered her and smiled before taking the panic button off her limp wrist, she knew it was too late. Nutter had a helper. They should have known. Everything faded to black as a tear escaped her eye.
*****
Morgan clipped the badge to her shirt and pushed the cart down the hallway. She’d left the panic button on the back of one of the toilets. Once there was distance between herself and the bracelet, it would start working again. After she’d learned Stormy wore one, she did her research and found a device that would block the signal. Barring the service door from the other side, anyone who went into the restroom would think it had been locked the whole time. The entire operation had only taken four minutes. Too soon for anyone to start worrying about where she was. Since Stormy was out, it was easy enough for Morgan to tie up the bag she was in, making it harder for her to get out if she happened to wake up.
At the end of the hall, she quickly made a right and went down to the receiving dock, where the delivery truck she had rented was waiting for her. Easily enough, she loaded the cart and got in. Without looking back, she drove away from the loading dock and out of the mall.
Driving behind an office complex, which was closed for the weekend, she stopped the vehicle and got out to remove the decals she had purchased before changing out the license plate. Once that was done, she got back behind the wheel and proceeded to drive around in no pattern and not going home. Then she went to one of the indoor carwashes across town. This time of the day, with the weather the way it was, there weren’t too many people around. Using the brush, she washed off the dusty brown to reveal the white paint underneath. She then did the same thing with the license plate, which slightly changed the numbers, before g
etting back in again and finally starting her zigzagging pattern back to her house. Once there, it was easy enough to park and bring the large bag of laundry into her house. Her neighbors knew she took in washing to help with the expenses of her large house. This was nothing usual to them.
Going downstairs, she dropped the bag on the cart and started pulling it through the tunnel to Nutter’s house.
This was going to be the hardest part, but again they had planned it perfectly. Nutter was having a meeting with his board-appointed psychiatrist. He had to have weekly sessions to make sure he wasn’t going to lapse back into his killing ways. They knew what would happen. The officials would come over, he’d have an alibi and then be cleared. Once everyone was gone, they’d have their fun with Stormy.
Seventeen
“What the fuck do you mean she’s gone? What about her tracking device?” Bender shouted questions to anyone who happened to be standing around. “Is anyone actually looking for her? How about checking the surveillance cameras? Any-fucking-one?”
“Dad, this isn’t helping.” Donnie tried to get his dad to calm down, but in his heart, he knew it wasn’t looking good, and he was responsible. He was the one who was supposed to keep her safe. She was with him. His mom. She’d spent all these years making up for the horror that was his, first with his biological parents, and then his mom and her boyfriends. She was the first woman he’d fallen in love with because she was so kind. And he’d failed her. Anything Bender, his dad, sent in his direction was completely justified. Even after all the years, and knowing Bender never laid a hand on him, he still waited for the blow to come. When it didn’t, he looked up into his father’s eyes that were filled with tears.
“I’d never hurt you,” Bender whispered to him.
“Old habits.” Donnie shrugged and tried to slow his heart, but the thought of Nutter having his mom was almost too much for him. He tried to remember all the training Bender had given him. He had to keep his head in the game, and his emotions out, if they were going to get his mom home safe.
