by Brenda Novak
“We should be able to get his approximate age from Tati,” he murmured.
Fifteen minutes later, she had a number for a Mark Cannaby in Mesa, Arizona. And Luke was certain they had the right Mark. According to his birth date, which was listed as Ava had promised, he was thirty-seven, exactly the age Tatiana had told them when they called her.
A quick check with MapQuest showed that his address was less than three miles from the mortuary.
“I’d offer to let you get on an extension, but all I have is my cell phone,” Ava told him.
“I’ll lean close,” he said, and she dialed.
Mark answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
“Mark? This is Ava Bixby from The Last Stand, a victims’ charity in Sacramento, California.”
“Why are you calling me?” The suspicion in his voice made him come across as nervous, defensive, maybe even paranoid.
“Tatiana Harter said we should talk to you about a girl named Sarah,” Ava told him.
“I didn’t kill her!” he shouted. “I swear it. That was Kalyna. It was all Kalyna.”
“What would Kalyna want with a girl two or three years younger, Mark?”
“She told me she wanted to try a three-way. That was her big fantasy.”
Ava glanced at Luke. That sounded like Kalyna. “Where did she meet her?”
“She saw her out front. The mortuary’s on a busy road. Sarah was hitchhiking to Tucson. Kalyna convinced her she’d feed her and give her a bed for the night. But she gagged her, tied her up and hid her in the garden shed.”
“Wasn’t she afraid her father might find out what she’d done?”
“I was the one who kept the grounds. Mr. Harter never went back there. He spent all his time in the mortuary, embalming and selling caskets. But I was nervous about it. I kept telling Kalyna she should let her go, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She kept saying, ‘When we’re done.’”
“How long was Sarah there?”
“Three or four days.”
Ava was gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles were turning white. “It ended in murder?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I…” His voice faltered. “I helped dispose of the body.”
Her eyes troubled, Ava glanced at Luke, and he nodded to encourage her. “That’s pretty gruesome, Mark.”
Mark said nothing.
“What happened?” she prompted.
“I don’t want to remember. I’ve blocked it out. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
“You’re facing some serious charges. You know that.”
Silence.
“I suggest you tell us everything you know.”
He muttered something like, “Oh, God.” But once he started talking, he seemed willing to spill it all. “She liked making me do stuff to Sarah. She said I had to prove my love, that I had to obey if I ever wanted to touch her again.”
“Stuff like…” Ava prompted.
Once again, Luke sensed Mark’s reluctance. “You don’t want to know.”
“I need to know.”
He groaned. “I knew it was going to come to this someday.”
“What did you do to her, Mark?”
“We raped her with objects, sodomized her, you name it.”
When Ava shuddered, Luke curled his fingers through hers. This was so depraved he couldn’t believe it was real.
“How’d she die?” Ava asked.
“Kalyna got bored with her. I wanted to let her go, but Kalyna said that would be stupid, that she’d tell the first person she saw about us and we’d go to prison for the rest of our lives. So she told me to electrocute her.”
Ava’s grip tightened on Luke’s hand. “In the shed?”
“Kalyna told me to make her stand in a bucket of water, then run the extension cord I used for the edger out there.”
This seemed too detailed to be a lie. Luke wondered what Ava was thinking.
“Did you do it?” she asked.
“No. Thank God I drew the line somewhere.” His voice dropped again. “But what I did was almost as bad.”
“What’s that?”
“Nothing. I did nothing to help her.”
“What did Kalyna do?”
“When I told her I wouldn’t kill for her, she got so angry she started kicking Sarah—in the head, the face. She was handcuffed to the riding lawn mower, and her feet were tied. She couldn’t escape. I tried to stop Kalyna, but…”
“But what?”
“I couldn’t calm her down. She was so full of rage. I’d never seen anything like it. I was afraid someone would hear and come to investigate, so I left.”
When Ava rested her head on Luke’s shoulder, he knew the details were getting to her. They were making him sick, too. But she kept talking. “Then how do you know she died?”
His sigh was long and loud. “Kalyna came and got me later. She said she’d forgive me for being a ‘pussy’ if I’d carry Sarah inside so we could put her in the crematory. She said it would all be over soon and everything could go back to the way it was before.”
“And you did it.”
There was a pause, but ultimately he confirmed it. “Yes.”
“Then what?” Ava asked.
“Then nothing,” he said. “Kalyna took Sarah’s necklace before we burned her body. Every time we had sex after that, she insisted on wearing it like some…some trophy. I think she enjoyed making me see it, enjoyed lording her power over me. I actually have a picture of her sitting on my bed—”
“Tatiana already sent it to me,” Ava interrupted.
“Then you’ve seen it.”
“Yes.”
Silence again. “I’m sorry,” he said a moment later. “I wish I’d never met Kalyna.”
“Why’d he keep quiet for so long?” Luke murmured in Ava’s ear. “Why didn’t he come forward?”
When she repeated those questions, Mark laughed bitterly. “You don’t know how vindictive Kalyna can be. And she’s such a good liar. I was older, a man. And her parents thought I was a necrophiliac. I was scared of what might happen if I ever opened that can of worms.”
“Are you a necrophiliac, Mark?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Norma told your girlfriend that she caught you…sexually molesting one of the corpses.”
“Kalyna was behind that, too! She set me up, man.”
“What do you mean?”
“She liked making me do all kinds of shit that would turn a normal person’s stomach. She told me I had to prove my love, but…now that I look back, I realize she just…got off on it. It was an adrenaline rush for her, you know? She’d pick worse and worse things for me to do…I’m not gay or even bi. And I’m not interested in dead people. But…I was so caught up in her. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. I would’ve done anything. Well, almost anything. I didn’t kill Sarah, like I said.”
It was all Luke could do to remain sitting with the anger and adrenaline flowing through him. But if he got up, he wouldn’t be able to hear the conversation.
“You were ten years older than she was,” Ava said. “How could you be at such a disadvantage?”
Luke could hear the incredulity in Ava’s voice—and shared it.
“It’s hard to explain. I don’t have a good answer. She was everything I’d ever wanted. The prettiest girl who’d ever looked at me. And she wasn’t so demanding at first. She seemed sweet, even innocent. It was only after I fell for her and she realized I was in love with her that everything changed.”
“You said she set you up.”
“She did. That’s how she got rid of me. I think she was done with me, wanted to get me out of her life. But she’d been telling me I was everything to her, so she couldn’t just break it off. I knew about Sarah, for one thing. And Kalyna was getting a lot of attention from some of the football players at the high school. She didn’t want to put up with my jealousy, didn’t want me in
the way anymore. So she convinced me to…you know…do an old lady who’d died earlier that day. She told me I could have sex with her after if I’d do it—she’d started putting stipulations on our time together by then—but she must’ve told her mother I was up to something, or got her to come to the back some other way, because her mother never went near the preparation area. And yet, suddenly, there she was.”
“Where was Kalyna when her mother walked in?” Ava asked.
“I don’t know. She ducked out of the room somehow. That’s another reason I think she knew it was coming.”
“And then you were fired.”
“And then I was fired.”
Ava turned Luke’s hand over and spread his fingers wide. “Did you ever see Kalyna after that?”
“I wanted to. Lord knows I wanted to. I thought I’d die those first few months without her. But she didn’t seem to mind the separation one bit. She could’ve sneaked out to see me, but she didn’t. And I couldn’t even call. Her parents were determined to keep us apart because of what Mrs. Harter had seen. The few times I called and actually managed to speak to Kalyna, she gave me the excuse that her parents were watching her too closely.”
“Where was Tatiana through all of this?”
“Tati’s different from Kalyna. She’s a real sweetheart. But she’s not…I don’t know, dynamic, exciting, charismatic like Kalyna. Kalyna knows how to be whatever you want her to be. It isn’t until she feels completely safe that her real personality comes out.”
“How come Tati didn’t see that side of her?” Luke whispered.
“Weren’t she and her sister close?” Ava asked.
“Kalyna pretended to be a loving sister, but she’s never loved anyone, not really. She’d leave Tati with the bulk of the work and slip away with me. Tati must’ve known we were having sex, but it was almost as if she didn’t want to deal with it, as if it was less upsetting to turn a blind eye. She was loyal enough not to tell. But if she’d thought that what we were doing was worse than fooling around, she would’ve come forward. Kalyna knew that, knew what to keep from her and what was safe to tell.”
“How do you feel about Kalyna now?”
He gave a bitter laugh. “I wish I could tell you I hate her. In some ways, I do but…”
“What?”
“Even after everything that’s happened, there are still times I think of her and want to be with her. She was…like a drug for me. I’ve never smoked, but I’ve heard people talk about how hard it is to quit, how after years and years of not having a cigarette, they still crave one. That’s what it’s like for me. But I’d never get with Kalyna again, even if she wanted me. I know she’s sick.”
“I think she has her heart set on someone else.” Ava met Luke’s gaze as she said this.
“Oh, yeah?” Mark said. “Well, you should warn him. If he’s smart he’ll stay far, far away. She’ll be everything he could dream of—at first. But then she’ll turn on him.”
Ava seemed to realize she’d been clinging to Luke and suddenly let go. “Why’d you threaten Mrs. Harter, Mark?”
“That was stupid. I was so angry, you know? I’d finally moved on and was dating a nice girl, someone I thought I could have a serious relationship with. It was the first time I’d cared about anyone since Kalyna. And Norma Harter ruined it for me.”
“You broke up.”
“She couldn’t stand to let me touch her after that, and I can’t blame her.”
“Have you told the police what you’ve told me?”
“Yes. I’m going in tomorrow to make a formal statement.”
“I have one last question.”
“What is it?”
“Why’d you come back?”
“I figured enough time had passed. Kalyna was gone. I’d been in Tucson, waiting tables, and I needed a better job. It’s not as if I love the funereal business. It’s just…it’s all I know.”
“I see. Well, thanks for talking to me.”
He caught her before she could hang up. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What do you think’s going to happen?”
“To what?”
“To me?”
“That depends on the case the D.A. constructs. But if it looks like you’re going to prison, you could turn state’s evidence and your stay will be a lot shorter than Kalyna’s,” she said. Then she told him goodbye and disconnected.
“What’s your take?” Luke asked as she put her phone on the table.
Ava turned to study him. “I believe him.”
“So do I,” he said. “Which means…”
“Which means Kalyna is the most evil individual I’ve ever encountered.”
“And she’s obsessed with me.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “That’s always good to hear.”
He was being flippant, but she remained earnest. “Normal rules don’t apply anymore, Luke. You have to watch your back every second until the police catch her and put her behind bars.”
He scowled. “I’m not going to run from a woman!”
Ava got to her feet. “That’s exactly the kind of macho bullshit that could get you killed! You realize that.”
He stood, too. “But waiting for the police to put Kalyna behind bars could take a long time. There’s no guarantee they’ll ever be able to gather the evidence they need. I can’t let her—or anyone else—disrupt my life indefinitely. That’s bullshit! If she wants me, she can come and get me. A fight, I can deal with.”
“You don’t understand. If Kalyna is what Mark’s just described, she won’t fight fair.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Would you quit being so cavalier? She killed an innocent girl for the entertainment value! She killed the woman who adopted her—probably for gas money. She’s not like any other woman you’ve ever come across.”
“Those victims were both vulnerable to her. They were weaker, unaware that she was dangerous. I won’t make that mistake.”
“But she has no conscience.”
“What do you want me to do? I have a job, Ava. I’ll stay here tonight and maybe tomorrow if it’ll make you feel better. As long as I stay in the area, I can take some leave. But when that leave is up, I have to report to work whether they’ve found Kalyna or not.”
Anger sparked in Ava’s eyes. “You’re an asshole, you know that? You’re going to get yourself killed!”
Surprised by her harsh reaction, he grabbed her arm. “Whoa, what’s going on here?”
“I’ve dealt with this type of thing before, seen women murdered because they couldn’t escape the men who were tormenting them. Do you think I want to see that happen to you? Just because you’re a man and feel you shouldn’t be frightened of a woman?”
Why was she so upset? Nothing had happened to him yet. “What’s the matter, Ava?”
“You’re not taking this seriously enough!”
“And I think you’re taking it too seriously. Why?”
She glared up at him without answering.
“Are you beginning to care about me?” he asked softly.
“No,” she snapped, but she couldn’t maintain eye contact. Jerking away from him, she walked out of the room.
A few seconds later, he heard the cabin door slam.
25
Ava had overreacted and she knew it. The lack of sleep, the stress of putting in too many hours and dealing with such high-stakes cases, the knowledge that Jane Burke would be starting at TLS and was ill-equipped for the job, the constant fight not to succumb to her attraction to Luke—it was wearing her down. And what Mark had said about Kalyna…God, it was so dark, so sick, so upsetting—terrifying. She couldn’t stand the thought of Luke in harm’s way.
But Ava’s problem ran even deeper.
Are you beginning to care about me?
Yes. She was falling head over heels despite her best efforts to keep some emotional distance. And she didn’t want to get a call telling her he’d been killed, espe
cially when they’d had what so many other victims never had—plenty of warning.
The door opened, and Ava heard Luke come out. Hoping the long grass on the bank of the river would hide her, she scooted back away from the water. She needed a moment alone to collect her thoughts and her energy.
I might’ve overstated the level of my disinterest….
That was hardly an admission of burning desire. She was female and convenient, nothing more. She’d be better off sleeping with Geoffrey again. Maybe she wouldn’t see fireworks—she never had before—but she wouldn’t be left sad and broken, like her mother.
“Ava?” he called.
She didn’t answer. Go back inside. I’m too emotional to deal with you right now, too tired to shore up my crumbling defenses. She didn’t want to think, be cautious, take care. She wanted to abandon all reservation and grab the pleasure that was within reach. But acting that impulsively was almost always a mistake. And that kind of mistake almost always came with a high price.
“Ava, you might as well answer me. I’ll just keep looking until I find you.” His footsteps made hollow thuds as he strode to shore on the pier. But when he reached land, he turned the opposite way, so Ava took off her shoes and slipped down to put her toes in the river. It wasn’t the cleanest water in the world, but she was tempted to dive in, anyway. She swam in it quite often, and she wasn’t alone in that. Water-skiers used it all the time.
Maybe the cold water would act like a slap in the face—give her some more fight.
“Ava! Damn it, don’t make me root around like some idiot.”
It was childish not to respond. So, as much as she preferred to be left alone, she called out to him. “Go to bed, Luke.”
Hearing her voice, he came toward her, eventually dropping down by her side. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, really—just the story of that hitchhiker, I guess. It was so depraved. It brings back the clients I’ve lost.” That was partially true. Bella’s situation wasn’t the same as Sarah’s, but her death felt close right now. So did the fact that Ava could’ve helped prevent it simply by offering her some support.
“You’ve got a tough job,” he said.
