The Perfect Couple

by Brenda Novak

  “We should break it up, then. We want everyone to complete their routes within a reasonable amount of time,” Colin said. “That way, if we have to search again, we’ll know exactly what’s been covered and what hasn’t. Better to be methodical than overly aggressive.”

  “The police were methodical.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I once saw a show where the missing girl was right in the middle of the park they’d been searching for days. It’s easy to overlook something.”

  “I suppose.” She seemed more relaxed now that dinner was over. Or maybe it was the sedative taking effect. She’d drunk about half the wine Tiffany had brought her after dinner.

  Hurry up and finish, for crying out loud, he thought, lingering over his own glass. Experience had taught him that Rohypnol took effect in about thirty minutes, but she’d been sipping her wine at least that long. Had she drunk enough of it? If so, he should see a change in her fairly soon….

  “I say we go as far as Stanford Ranch,” he said.

  She nodded, and once again he wished she’d finish her damn drink. He didn’t want to wait for Tommy and James to arrive. He preferred to have Zoe to himself first, alone in his bedroom, as if she was his wife instead of Tiffany. Maybe he’d share her later, once he’d had his fill, but he planned on taking hours and didn’t want anyone rushing him. If he was going to kill her anyway, he could do whatever he wanted without fear of hurting her so badly she wouldn’t recover. And that promised to add a whole new dimension to the experience. He generally tried to keep his slaves alive as long as possible, which meant he had to be somewhat careful or he’d destroy the object that was bringing him pleasure. It wasn’t as if slaves were easy to come by. He’d only had four. One was in a coma. And Samantha was passed out upstairs. Four wasn’t that many. At times, he feared the consequences of getting caught as much as Tiffany did.

  But his cravings were growing more and more powerful and so was the thirst for blood and violence. There had to be pain, excruciating pain, or he could no longer achieve the same kind of climax. That was why Rover had finally rebelled. That was also why Colin couldn’t have regular sex with Tiffany anymore. It did nothing for him. Even with the bondage and the hot wax, he couldn’t satisfy himself.

  He remembered his first slave, a ten-year-old girl named Laurie he’d kidnapped from a park only six months after he and Tiffany were married, back in Virginia when he was in law school. Tiffany still believed he’d let Laurie go, but he’d killed her and hidden her body in the woods—hidden it so well he didn’t think it’d ever been found. At the time, he hadn’t been sure that Tiffany would go along with such a permanent solution and hadn’t wanted to tell her. Since then, he’d acted as though he’d been forced by necessity to take the situation further each time. She didn’t need to know he’d been perfectly comfortable with it from the beginning; this image served him better.

  Laurie was back when humiliation had been exciting enough. Now he needed a more visceral high.

  “Colin?” Zoe’s voice, filled with curiosity and confusion, broke into his thoughts.

  He blinked, suddenly aware that he’d been staring past her. “Sorry.” He faked a yawn. “It was a long day at work, and I’m tired. How’re you holding up?”

  “Fine. We’re almost done, aren’t we?” She sat back and drank the last of her wine, and he motioned to the glass as she set it aside. “Would you like some more?”

  “No, thanks.”

  “We’ve already got routes for the ten volunteers I have confirmed—and one extra. But I say we do one or two more, in case someone brings a friend.”

  She leaned over the maps again. “It’s better to have too many than too few. But the railroad tracks are pretty far away. We should focus on this area over here.” She indicated the part of the map that dipped down into Roseville.

  “Tough call. Sam could be anywhere.” Like upstairs…

  “When I talked to Detective Thomas about this, he said we should concentrate our efforts within a two-mile radius of the house.”

  “Detective Thomas knows we’re searching?” Colin felt no fear; he’d expected as much.

  “I told him when I spoke to him earlier. He’ll be joining us, along with some of the other men and women on the force.”

  This shattered the fantasy Colin had been building, but he had to deal with reality, had to know exactly what he was up against. “Did you tell him you were coming over?”

  She slid her glass toward the center of the table. “No, why?”

  “Just wondering if we should’ve invited him. He’s got to be more experienced at organizing a search than we are. And he’s already been through there.”

  “But like you said, we need to look again. You’re doing a fine job,” she said with a grateful smile.

  She was so sincere, so anxious for an escape from the situation he’d placed her in. It made him feel incredibly powerful to be the person in control of her happiness.

  He couldn’t have James and Tommy over tonight, he decided. They’d just get in the way….

  “Besides, I don’t get the impression he’s had to deal with many child abductions,” she was saying.

  “What about your private-investigator friend?” Colin asked. “Should he be here?”

  She glanced at her empty glass as if wondering when she’d finished it—or why she was feeling so light-headed after only one glass with dinner and one afterward. “He couldn’t have come, even if we’d invited him,” she said.

  “Why not?”

  “He had some interviews tonight.”

  “Who’s he meeting with?”

  “Sam’s best friend and her parents.”

  Perfect. “Jonathan” was preoccupied. “Does he know who you’re with?”

  She closed her eyes and gave her head a little shake. Sure enough, the Rohypnol was starting to work.

  “Zoe?”

  She opened her eyes but squinted at him. “Hmm?”

  “Does he know you’re here?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “He does?” he prompted. “You told him, Zoe? You told Jonathan you were coming to our house for dinner?”

  She nodded. “He said…to come over to his place…later.”

  Too bad. It would’ve been easier if she hadn’t told him. Her car was parked across the street, not in Anton’s driveway, but it was a familiar enough sight that none of the neighbors would think twice about it. They’d probably assume she was visiting Anton even if they’d heard about the break-up.

  But Colin could cover his tracks.

  “Where’re you going?” she asked, her words slurring.

  He hoped one tablet was the right dosage. He didn’t want her unconscious. He preferred to witness her reaction to his ministrations. That was the fun of it.

  “Just helping Tiffany clean up.”

  “You have a…really nice wife.”

  “Except for when she’s helping me murder someone.”

  Tiffany had come to stand behind them. She gasped at this, but he laughed and waved her off. Zoe was too out of it to realize he was serious. She even laughed with him.

  “I’m getting cold feet,” Tiffany whispered, pulling him close.

  “Are you kidding? Look at her! She’s helpless!”

  Zoe obviously wasn’t listening. She was too busy trying to figure out what was wrong. She got to her feet—and staggered back into the chair.

  “Watch it,” he said. “I think you should sit down in the living room.”

  “S-s-sorry. I…I don’t know…I can’t…I must be drunk, but…”

  “You’ll feel better once you rest,” he told her and guided her over to the couch.

  “Colin…” Tiffany’s voice was a warning. “You heard her. That P.I. guy knows she’s here. If she goes missing we’ll be the first ones they question. And that could get us in trouble for Sam, too.”

  But everything else was lined up so perfectly! He couldn’t let the opportunity slip past him. “I can take care of that.”


  “How?”

  “Do you have your cell phone in your purse?” he asked Zoe.

  “What?” She squinted up at him.

  “Your cell phone. Where is it?”

  Although her movements were awkward and uncoordinated, she managed to get her phone from her purse. “What are…you doing?” she asked when he took it from her.

  “I’m sending a text to Jonathan.”

  “Oh…good. Have him…pick me up.”

  “Don’t worry.” He ran his fingers down the side of her beautiful face. “You’re safe with me.”

  “Colin, this is crazy.” Tiffany hovered over his shoulder.

  “Shut up. I told you, I’ve got a plan.”

  “It’s too risky!”

  “I said shut up! And take off your clothes.”

  “What?”

  “She’s taller than you, but with a pair of heels, you could pass for her from a distance.”

  “I don’t understand….”

  “You will.” When he took Zoe’s purse, Zoe didn’t even protest. She lay on the couch staring up at the ceiling as he emptied it out on the floor and sifted through the contents. “These will help,” he said and handed Tiffany a pair of sunglasses.

  “But it’s dark,” she argued. “No one wears sunglasses after dark. That’ll draw more attention to me.”

  “You don’t know jackshit! She’s been wearing them a lot lately, to hide the fact that she’s been crying. After what happened to Sam, no one in this neighborhood will question it.”

  Tiffany gaped at him. He could tell he was pushing her a little too far, but he had no patience left. “Come on.” He snapped his fingers to get her moving. “If you do as I say we’ll be fine.”

  Reluctantly, she began to disrobe while he stripped Zoe.

  “Wai…what’s goin’ on?” Zoe fought him when he started to peel off her pants. “Anton?”

  Leaning close, Colin whispered lovingly in her ear. “That’s right, baby, it’s me. I’m just trying to put you to bed. You need some rest.”

  After that, she didn’t balk. Her breathing grew slower, shallower, and her mouth hung open. He would’ve laughed at how messed up she was, but he was in too much of a hurry to enjoy it.

  A moment later, she looked like a life-size rag doll tossed on the couch in her bra and underwear. “Hey, where’s the fancy lingerie?” he asked as he eyed her simple white underwire bra and pink polka-dot bikini panties. “I expected more of you.”

  “Colin!”

  He turned to see a pout on his wife’s face. “Quit worrying! I love you, and you know it. Now get dressed. Then move her car.” He threw Zoe’s clothes and keys at her. “Honk and wave if one of our neighbors is out or driving down the street. Try to be seen leaving the neighborhood, if you can do it without being too obvious or getting out of the car.”

  “Where should I go?” she asked.

  He shook Zoe’s shoulder. “Hey, where’d you stay last night?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Where’s your room?”

  No response.

  “Zoe!”

  Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she started to giggle.

  Somehow her inability to respond enraged him as much as it excited him. He was going to rape her for hours, then kill her. He’d never done anything like that before. He’d always held back. But he wouldn’t need to tonight. He could fulfill whatever fantasies he dreamed up, no matter how extreme.

  “Where should I move the car, Colin?” Tiffany asked again.

  “Drive it to a motel.”

  “What motel?”

  “One at least a half hour’s drive away. A chain that deals with lots of people so you can go pretty well unnoticed.”

  She looked at him, wide-eyed. “Why does it have to be so far away?”

  “Because when she disappears, we don’t want it to happen anywhere around here.” And he wanted some time alone with her, without Tiffany standing jealously by.

  “Oh.”

  “Leave the sunglasses on when you go in to rent the room, and use her credit card and driver’s license. Keep your head down in case there’s any cameras around.”

  “How will I get back home?” she asked.

  “Take a taxi to any gas station within a mile or two of here. Go into the restroom, change into your own clothes and bury hers in the trash so they won’t be found.”

  “Then what? Do I call you to come and get me?”

  “Are you a complete idiot?” he said. “We can’t have one of our cars seen leaving the neighborhood. They have to stay in the driveway.” Besides, and he knew this was the part that worried Tiffany, he planned to be far too busy enjoying his latest prize.

  “So I should walk?”

  “It won’t kill you.”

  “But what about James and Tommy?” She glanced at the clock. “They’ll be here in an hour.”

  “I’ll cancel with them.”

  Tiffany looked even more stricken. “But you promised you’d pass her off to them!”

  Unwilling to let her ruin the fun, he whirled on her. “I’m going to kill her, okay? That should be good enough for you! One night. I’m only asking for one night! So unless you want me to kill you, too, I suggest you do exactly as I say. Now!”

  Her chest rose, then fell in quick succession. “Kill me?” she echoed. “I know you didn’t mean that.”

  He shook his head. “Just get out of here.”

  She didn’t move. A tear rolled down her cheek, so he made himself give her a hug because he knew he’d gain her compliance more quickly that way. “I’m sorry, babe. Work with me here, okay? I’m stressed out. We’ve gone too far to stop now. We have to prepare for the worst.”

  She sniffed as he pulled away. “Okay. I’m gone. I’m going right now,” she said, but didn’t actually leave. “What about the private investigator?”

  “I’ve already taken care of him.”

  “How?”

  “I used her phone to text him, saying she’s leaving our place and getting a room for the night, that she’ll call him in the morning. Eventually, when she doesn’t check out of the motel tomorrow, someone will find her car, and they’ll connect it with the room rental. We’ll be fine.”

  “That’s smart,” she said. “You’re so smart, Colin.”

  “I’m a lawyer, babe. Would you expect any less?”

  “No. Nothing less.” The door slammed shut as she went out.

  “Zoe?” Colin grabbed her chin and jerked her face toward him. He was looking into her eyes, but he wasn’t sure she was really seeing him. “Zoe, can you hear me?”

  His words didn’t seem to register. “Damn. That stuff hit you harder than I thought it would.” He shouldn’t have used it. He should’ve just dragged her upstairs and tied her up. But he’d been planning to put on a show for his friends. And he’d never attacked an adult before, hadn’t wanted to underestimate what could happen. If she got loose long enough to scream or throw something at a window, it could attract the attention of a neighbor. Maybe even Anton.

  Rolling her forward, he unhooked her bra so he could stare at her while he canceled with his friends.

  “What do you mean you can’t do it tonight?” Tommy cried. “We were all set, man!”

  “Sorry, Tiffany has the flu.”

  There was a slight pause. “Okay, so we’ll get together at my place. Leave her at home to recuperate.”

  “I can’t leave her when she’s sick.”

  “Why not?”

  “What kind of husband do you think I am?” he said and hung up. Then he scooped Zoe into his arms and carried her upstairs.

  CHAPTER 22

  To stave off his exhaustion, Jonathan took a big gulp of the coffee—now long cold—in the cardboard cup he’d left in his car. He’d just finished visiting Marti Seacrest and her parents. If not for the boy in the hospital, which could turn the situation around, Jonathan would’ve thought Sam’s case was hopeless. There just weren’t any leads. He’d n
ever confronted a missing-person situation where he had less to go on. Even his interview with Sam’s best friend hadn’t yielded any new information. Just as he’d been told before, Marti insisted that Sam hadn’t acted any differently in the week leading up to Monday. She hadn’t met anyone new, wasn’t talking about a particular boy or an Internet pal or an adult who’d befriended her since she’d been off school.

  Once he mentioned that Zoe and Anton had split up, she did elaborate on Sam’s dislike of her potential stepfather. Marti said Sam called Anton a “control freak.” But that didn’t come as any shock to Jonathan. He’d already sensed her disdain for Anton from the way she’d hidden his face whenever he was in one of those pictures on her bulletin board.

  An image of the Simpson boy appeared in his mind. Would Toby regain consciousness? Would he ever remember?

  Jonathan’s BlackBerry vibrated. Putting down his cup, he leaned back so he could retrieve it from his pocket and found a text message waiting for him:

  * * *

  Not feeling well. Getting a motel. Call u tomorrow.

  * * *

  It was from Zoe. Surprised that she’d decided not to come over, and that she hadn’t called to hear whether he’d managed to uncover anything new today, he tried to call her back but got her voice mail.

  Obviously, she was avoiding him. And even if she wasn’t, he was crazy to keep pushing for more contact. He was setting himself up to get burned. Again. But she needed friendship and support; she shouldn’t be alone in some motel room in the midst of such a crisis.

  Or was that his libido talking?

  He tried to reach her again, with the same result.

  Sighing, he put his phone on the console and started his car, but a call came in just as he left the neighborhood—and this time the number brought a smile. “Finally,” he muttered and pushed the Talk button.

  “Now that you’re Mrs. Fornier you don’t have time for your old friends?” he teased.

  Jasmine’s laugh made him miss her all the more. “Sorry. Romain and I were out on the bayou.”

  “The same bayou that has those crocodiles you’re so scared of?”

  “Boy, you’re a real nature buff,” she said with another laugh. “They’re alligators.”