She turned the key and pushed open the door. Stepping inside the house, she quickly disarmed the alarm. She had no idea how she remembered the numbers Ben only gave her this morning. Nervous energy ran from the tips of her toes to the very top of her head. They should’ve slipped her mind instead of coming out with ease. She popped back into the doorframe with a small smile. “Do you know how long Ben will be? When he called briefly to tell me you were bringing me home, he didn’t really say. He sounded busy.”
Officer Spencer placed his hands around his belt and shifted his feet a little. “I’m really not sure. I do know they got a big lead in those murder cases they’ve been working on. Would you like me to stay for a while? If you’re nervous being alone, I’d be more than happy to stay.”
“Oh, no. That’s fine. I was just curious. I’m okay being alone. If I was nervous, I would’ve went home with Zoe and her dad. If they have a big lead, that’s a great thing. Do you know who the suspect is?”
Officer Spencer shifted his feet again. “No, Ms. Chastain, I don’t know that information.”
“Well, thank you again, Officer Spencer. Good night.” Rina closed and locked the door immediately.
The alarm panel stared her down. What were the numbers again? How could she disarm the alarm with ease and now not remember the numbers if her life depended upon it? She stepped away and glanced around the living room.
A big screen TV sat against the wall atop a black TV stand. On the bookshelf next to the TV was an assortment of movies, even a few children’s movies. In front of the TV was a white plush couch with a Minnesota Twins blanket folded nicely at the end. In the corner near the window was a light brown chest. A doll’s arm stuck out of the top. It wasn’t hard to see that Ben loved his nieces and nephews. It also wasn’t hard to picture her belongings among his.
Last night was the most stressful she had been in a long time. The thought of Thomas behind bars sent her in a panic. She knew what he did was wrong, cruel even. Her father wasn’t always the best father, displaying cruelty to her on more than one occasion. She still loved him. She still forgave him. Thomas was like a father to her. There was no way she couldn’t forgive him as well.
And his admission to loving her father. Yes, that shocked her. When she truly thought about it, it made sense. Thomas was very attentive to her father’s needs. He always stuck up for her father’s behavior, even when there were times he shouldn’t have. You only do that when you love someone. She should’ve seen it sooner. None of it mattered, of course. She didn’t judge Thomas for his feelings. He was her family. She would never push him away.
Her eyes glossed to the family photos lining the walls behind the couch. Photos of a happy family. Photos of a large family filled with children, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters. That’s what she wanted. She wanted happiness. She wanted a family—a large family. With Ben. She could already picture him holding their little bundle of joy and loving that child with everything in his heart. Like he loved her with everything he had.
She understood his job and the reasons behind his refusal to drop the charges against Thomas. She didn’t like it, but she understood it. As much as she wanted it to disappear, she should’ve never asked Ben to compromise who he was. That wasn’t fair to him.
She stood straighter as she walked back to the alarm panel and entered the code. Joy soared around her as she clapped her hands. That was the first step to moving in with Ben. She needed to be able to handle the alarm.
Now, if only Ben would get home. He’d be ecstatic when she told him her decision. At least, she hoped so. Perhaps he wouldn’t want her anymore. So indecisive. So rude last night. She knew what she wanted now. She wanted to move in. Because she loved him. Moving in was the next logical step. He was right.
She walked to his bedroom—soon to be their bedroom—and set her purse on the bed. Quickly changing into comfortable clothes, she decided to make something to eat. Regardless of when Ben got home, she would have a nice, hot meal waiting for him.
Digging through the cupboards, nothing seemed to jump out at her. Something easy would be best. She didn’t need to impress him with anything. But she wanted to. Make up for the way she acted yesterday. She realized how unfair she truly had been.
Now, what would impress Ben? He was a simple man, not needing fancy things to make him happy.
Silly. Trying to overdo herself. A simple meal would suffice.
She pulled some chicken from the freezer and started to grab other ingredients from the pantry as the chicken defrosted in the microwave. It took a few tries to find where everything was located, but she eventually found the silverware drawer and snatched a spoon, and then a bowl from the cabinet near the stove. She took the milk from the fridge and measured a cup.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Milk splashed around the bowl as the cup fell from her hand.
The pounding on the door didn’t sound friendly. Not many people should know she’s here. And the people who did, she trusted. She didn’t trust the knock booming throughout the house.
Slow, steady steps to the front door ceased the moment she heard Anthony yell, “Rina, come on. I know you’re in there. I just want to talk. Let me in, please.”
Unable to help it, also reminding herself she was no coward, she peered through the peephole. Anthony stood with his usual air of confidence, still dressed in a suit and tie. He must’ve come straight from work.
He pressed the doorbell this time. “Rina, please. I just want to talk.”
Biting her lip, indecision battled within. She jumped back from the door when Anthony pounded again, harder this time.
“Rina, I’m not leaving until you open the door. You can ignore me all you want, but I know you’re in there. I tried your house. You weren’t there. So, I know you’re at this damn detective’s house.”
Backing away from the door, her hand covered her mouth to stifle the cries that wanted to escape. Anthony had never scared her before, but this behavior scared her.
“I just want to talk. Open the door before I break it down.”
Rina didn’t need any more confirmation. She remembered what happened to Zoe last year and refused to let that happen to her as well. Running to the bedroom, she spilled the contents of her purse onto the bed. Her hands brushed over everything but her phone. Where was her phone?
Chapter 17
Ben leaned back in the chair and stretched his arms. “I could say we have all night, but we don’t. I want to go home, and I know so does my partner. The only place you’re going to is a jail cell. You could help yourself by telling us why you did it.”
Timothy leaned back in his chair as well. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Detective. I can say I’m thoroughly embarrassed by the way you showed up at my work and arrested me as you did. Murder charges? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Well, let’s paint a picture for you since you seem a bit confused. We had a visit with your mother. She likes scarves. Actually, she likes almost anything from Little Red’s Boutique. She recently bought a white scarf from there. Do you know what she told us?” Zeke said, standing near Ben with his arms crossed.
“I have no idea. But yes, you’re right. My mother does like Little Red’s Boutique. It makes it easy when her birthday and Mother’s Day comes around. I know exactly where to go to get her something.”
“She likes to update her wardrobe and accessories, quite often, is what she said. She also likes to donate her things when she’s done with them. She asked you to drop two bags to the donation center for her about a month ago. Did you?” Zeke asked, although his smirk indicated he already knew the answer.
“Do I need a lawyer? Murder charges sound like I need a lawyer,” Timothy said with a smug smile.
“Sure. We can get you a lawyer. Do you want a lawyer?” Ben asked patiently.
“I’m not sure. Are you charging me with murder?”
“Yes. We are. Since you avoided my question earlier, I’ll answer it f
or you.” Zeke opened the folder on the table near Ben. “You did drop off two bags for her, but before you did, you went through it and took out five scarves. Each scarf was a different color. One red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Do you recognize these three scarves?”
Zeke laid the photos of the red, orange, and yellow scarves used to murder each woman. He didn’t just show the scarves themselves. He showed them wrapped around the neck of each victim.
Timothy’s eyes lit up with excitement. His face stayed neutral, but there was no mistaking the excitement in his eyes. “Those could be anyone’s scarves. What makes you think they are my mother’s? And that I took them?” Timothy said calmly, like he didn’t just look at three women who were brutally murdered.
“Good question, Timothy,” Ben said, pulling out another piece of paper from the folder, pushing it near him. “You know the place where your mother likes to donate her things. Well, they catalog each item. Your mother clearly remembers putting each scarf into one bag. The donation center does not have any scarves listed on the receipt when you dropped off those two bags. So, somehow, those five scarves went missing from when your mother put them in the bag to when you dropped them off at the donation center.”
“Go on, Timothy. Take a look at the inventory list they made when you dropped off the donation. No scarves listed.” Ben pushed the paper a little closer to him, noting the way the muscles in his cheek started to twitch.
“I don’t believe my mother made a mistake. I guess the donation center miscalculated when they did their inventory.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. Kerry was a very nice woman. Superb manager, if you ask me. She’s very meticulous and doesn’t miss things like that. You took those scarves so you could kill those women. Did you plan it? Or was it an impulse that took over?” Ben asked, tapping the inventory list with his hand. “We found two of those scarves. Green and blue. Did you have someone in mind that you were planning to use those on? Or do you randomly pick your victims?”
“So you bought some scarves and now claiming they are mine? Is that how you make arrests around here, by framing innocent people?” Timothy asked with a crazy laugh.
“Detective Stoyer wasn’t done. We found those scarves in your house after we got a search warrant to search every nook and cranny in your place. We found them tucked away in your closet. On the top shelf in the way, way back in a box. Guess what else we found in that box? No, you don’t want to guess,” Zeke said with a wide smile.
Ben couldn’t help but enjoy the way Timothy’s face started to form into fury. He knew he was screwed. That he made a huge mistake. Ben also felt the biggest relief. Rina was safe. Finally. Now if only he knew how to repair their relationship. Of course, now was not the time to think about that.
“I think it would’ve been better if you didn’t take souvenirs. Cutting off a piece of your victim’s hair just seems kind of dumb for a man who almost got away with murder. Three murders, at that.” Ben took another photo out of the folder. “See. You cut a lock of their hair after you raped then murdered them and tied it with a ribbon. And because they all had the same color of hair, you tied a ribbon around the lock of hair using the same color of ribbon as the scarf you used to kill them with.”
“You know when the lab confirms the DNA with all of that hair it’ll come back to all three women. Plus, we found a hair fiber at Beth’s house. You were sloppy. Now, you have blonde hair, and the hair fiber we found is brown. But you know what? It looks like you need another hair appointment. You dye your hair, don’t you? You normally have brown hair. Don’t worry. The lab will confirm that as well. Why don’t you tell us now why you wanted to kill these women? Why would you kill your sister’s best friend and then tell her own parents she died? What kind of sick son of a bitch does that?” Zeke asked, leaning closer to him with the rage displayed on every corner of his face.
“I have no idea. If I ever meet someone like that, I’ll ask them for you. I loved Beth. She was a beautiful woman.” Timothy grinned at Zeke, then glanced at Ben. “These other women were just as beautiful.”
“Which says you knew them, saying shit like that,” Ben said with disgust.
“Of course not. You showed me a picture of them. That doesn’t mean I knew them,” Timothy said, pointing to the pictures on the table.
“Only a sick bastard would think a picture of a strangled woman is beautiful.” Zeke swiped the papers and photos on the table into a pile, shoving them back into the folder.
“What was the meaning of the notes you left under their bodies?” Ben shuffled through the folder, trying to find what he needed after Zeke made a mess of everything. “Here we go. Red for the heat, I love so deep. Orange for the glow, that hangs so low. Yellow for the sun, I only have one. What does this mean? Or does it just confirm you’re a sick bastard?”
“I’m no poet, but they are beautiful messages. What do you think they mean?” Thomas countered.
Just then, the door swung open. Captain Ganderson nodded his head at him. “Stoyer, out in the hallway.”
Ben barely glanced at Zeke as he walked out of the room. “What’s up, Cap?”
“There’s a situation at your house.” Captain Ganderson laid a hand on his shoulder when he started to walk away. “Rina’s fine. She called nine-one-one because you didn’t answer your phone. Officer Spencer is the closest. He’s heading back there.”
“He’s not there yet? How do you know she’s fine?” Ben asked, feeling his belt for his phone. Shit! He left his phone on his desk.
“She told the operator the alarm is set and the doors are locked.”
“What’s the problem?”
“She said some man was trying to get in. Anthony Tollhorn.” Captain Ganderson shook his head as Ben rushed past him. “Keep your cool, Stoyer!”
***
Ben slammed his door shut and ran up the driveway to the porch where Rina stood by Officer Spencer. He didn’t wait for any explanations. He grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her fiercely into his embrace. She was okay. Thank God, she was okay.
“I’m fine, Ben,” she whispered, holding him tightly.
“Nothing’s fine when you have to call the police. I’m so sorry I didn’t have my phone on me. Shit, Rina. I’m so sorry.”
“Really, I’m okay. Officer Spencer wasn’t far away. It took him less than five minutes to get back here. I promise I’m okay.”
Ben loosened his hold, but still held her to his side as he turned to Officer Spencer. “What happened?”
“I dropped her off. I made sure she closed the door and locked it before I walked away. Just like you told me. Less than ten minutes later, a call came in for a disturbance from this location. I arrived to see Mr. Tollhorn pounding on the door. I even saw him kick it once.” Officer Spencer pointed to the right where Anthony sat in the front yard, hands cuffed behind his back. Another officer stood by him. “He wouldn’t tell me his business for being here. Ms. Chastain said he kept saying he just wanted to talk and to let him in. He also threatened to break down the door if she didn’t open it.”
Ben kissed the side of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of vanilla. “Did you talk to him, sweetheart?”
“No. I was too scared to say a word. I just ran to the bedroom to get my phone. I couldn’t find it at first. When I finally found it, easily enough on top of everything, I called you. You didn’t answer, so I just called nine-one-one. He really scared me, Ben. I didn’t know what else to do.”
He kissed her again. “You did the right thing.”
“Is he…did he…kill those women?” she asked in a small voice.
He turned her slightly, grasping her face and rubbed a soft thumb to soothe the fear away. “No. He didn’t kill those women. We arrested our killer earlier this evening. We have enough evidence to put him away for all three murders. You’re safe. I’m going to have a word with Anthony.” Ben dropped his hands and kissed her lightly on the lips. “You’re not going to ask me to forget about what he
just did, are you?”
She lifted her lips with what could be considered a small smile. “No. Throw the book at him.”
“Good. I plan to.” Ben looked at Officer Spencer. “Thanks, Spencer.”
“You’re welcome, Stoyer.”
Ben walked over to Anthony, gesturing for the officer to make him stand up. Anthony struggled at first, but dropped his eyes when he met Ben’s glare.
“Care to tell me why you’re banging on my front door threatening to break it down? Why are you scaring the life out of Rina?”
“I just wanted a word with her,” Anthony said through clenched teeth.
“Pounding on my door and making threats isn’t the way to do that. What did you want to say to her?”
“None of your damn business. Let me talk to her.”
“You made it my business when you came to my house. You’re not getting within a hundred feet of her. You’re going to stay the hell away from her or I will make your life a living hell.” Ben got closer to his face. “Do you understand me, Mr. Tollhorn?”
“I’m sorry for my behavior. I just wanted to tell her I’m sorry. That’s all. I didn’t mean to hurt her in any way. I’m sorry for everything.”
“So because you’re changing your tactics, trying to sound nice, I’m just going to say, “Okay, Anthony. We’re good.” Not gonna happen. Officer Dorscher is going to bring you down to the precinct and charge you with harassment and trespassing. I might even tell him to throw in attempted breaking and entering. You did threaten to break down the door.” Ben looked at Officer Dorscher with a smile. “That sounds about right, doesn’t it?”
“Sure does, Detective,” Officer Dorscher responded, grabbing a hold of Anthony’s arm a little tighter when he started to move.
One Taste of Love (A One Taste Novel Book 2) Page 21
