by Melissa Seal
Lexie reluctantly answered the phone “Detective Fleming, this is Captain Cole, we found the body of young woman in an abandoned building, and the coroner estimated her time of death to be one pm on the same day that your husband was pulled over for speeding in that same area. We now believe Chris Fleming is a person of interest in this murder.”
Cole’s words bounced around in Lexie’s head. First, she didn’t believe it, then shock and anger set in. She couldn’t wrap her head around what she heard. Her thoughts raced, I know Chris has changed over the past few years, but I know him. I have loved this man, I have shared my bed with him, shared my life with him and there was no way he is a killer.
“I am coming to the station now and I want to see everything you claim to have on Chris when I get there.”
“This is a courtesy call Detective and we are under no obligation to share anything with you.”
Lexie was furious as she slammed down her cell phone and looked at her half naked partner. Lexie could not cope with Dani, naked, looking at her for an explanation coupled with the information from the call. She fled the house. Dani jumped up and scrambled to pull on her clothes, but Lexie was out the door and gone before Dani finished. She called her partner’s cell phone and heard it ring beside her. Dani sat on the couch and cried. She was falling in love with Lexie and she didn’t know how to stop. I don’t understand why I’m sitting here crying over another woman. What the fuck is happening to me? I am not a lesbian so why do I feel this way about Lexie? The one thing she knew she wasn’t confused about was the fact that she wanted to be as close to Lexie as she could. Dani needed to talk to someone about this, so she called Ellie.
“Hey El, are you free tonight? I need wine and lots of it.”
“You know I never turn down wine with my bestie. I can be at your place in an hour”
“Perfect, I’ll see you then and don’t forget the wine!”
Ellie arrived at Dani’s condo less than an hour after their phone call. Dani was waiting with chilled wine glasses and a corkscrew.
“So, Dani, what’s going on? Not that I mind an evening of good wine with a great friend, but you sounded kind of sad on the phone.”
“There is really no simple way to explain this, so here goes. I’m falling in love with my partner.”
“That’s great Dani, what’s his name? I thought you were partners with that Lexie chic, the one that didn’t want you there.”
“Yep that’s the one.”
“Well damn, I didn’t see that coming. I thought you hated that woman.”
“So, you are okay with me being with another woman?”
“Dani, we have been friends for as long as I can remember and I love you, if being with Lexie makes you happy then I’m happy.”
Once she had acceptance from her best friend, she felt comfortable telling Ellie everything that had happened between her and Lexie. Ellie was intrigued and curious but never judgmental. They friends drank, talked and laughed for hours until they were both exhausted. Dani called an Uber and went home.
Lexie arrived at the Hampton Police Department forty minutes after she received the call from Captain Cole.
She exploded into the police station, her eyes screaming for answers, “I need to speak to your captain now!”
The desk sergeant, Officer Green, responded cheerfully, “May I ask who you are and why you need see Captain Cole?”
“No, you cannot ask me anything, what you can do is tell me where I can find her right now and please do not tell me to wait!”
Officer Green gave up and took her to the captain’s office where Cole and several of her detectives were going through some photos.
Detective Lockhart noticed Lexie first.” Hey, captain, why is the wife of our murder suspect standing outside the office looking pissed?”
Lexie took their inquisitive looks as an invitation, ignoring the fact that they were in a meeting, she pushed her way through the heavy glass door. She noticed the disturbing pictures of what appeared to be a young woman.
“Is this the woman you think Chris murdered?” asked Lexie with venom in her voice.
A tall, dark-haired, older man who smelled like vinegar and mint stood up from his cushioned chair and gestured toward her, “Everyone, this is Detective Lexie Fleming from the Norfolk Police Department.”
After all the introductions were made, Detective Lockhart turned to Lexie. “Why are you here detective?”
“I am here to see the evidence you people have that makes you assume Chris is the person that committed this unspeakable crime!”
Nate Lockhart and his partner, Detective Gina Dillon, were the first detectives at the murder scene.
“We saw firsthand how evil the person is that committed this murder.” said Dillon. “There was so much blood that we could almost taste the metallic smell.”
“I am sure it was a horrible scene, but what does that have to do with Chris?”
Lockhart chimed in, “The floor was drenched and sticky with not only blood but with sweat, tears, urine and God only knows what else.”
Nate was married and had two young daughters, the oldest about the same age as poor Sophia.
His heart instantly hurt for the girl’s parents, and he knew it was going to be hard to tell them what had happened to their child. “If your husband is guilty, we will stop at nothing to put him away and if you get in the way, I have no problem taking you down too.”
Lockhart and Dillon were not in the mood for this woman to tell them they were looking for the wrong man. What little evidence they had all pointed to Chris Fleming.
“We have surveillance video from a local convenience store that shows a white male about six foot driving a car registered to you, Detective Fleming, with a girl that looked a lot like Sophia Nunez sleeping in the back seat. The video is blurry so there was no way to make a positive ID on either the man or the girl, but having the man driving that same car get pulled over near the warehouse covered in blood is good enough for me. Once the DNA results come back, we will be able to positively identify Chris Fleming as the man who committed this heinous act.”
In Lockhart’s mind, Chris Fleming was a monster, and his wife wasn’t much better. There is no way she could be married to someone that evil and not know anything. The two detectives told the captain they were going to check on a lead, and they would update her as soon as they found out anything. Lexie asked if she could tag along, and Detective Dillon said that would be a hard NO my friend.
While Lexie demanded information from the Hampton Police, Dani was home taking a shower while trying to piece together the last few hours, what the hell is going on? Who called Lexie and what did they say to make her run out of here like she did? It must have been serious for her to leave without her phone. Should I just go back to Lexie’s house and wait for her, or should I wait and see if she calls when she is done doing whatever it is, she is doing?
All her thoughts ran in circles. She felt better after talking to Ellie, but she was exhausted, and it was pouring rain outside, so she went to bed. It had been a long day, and she figured tomorrow would be too. After tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, she finally fell asleep. She was having a great dream when the doorbell awakened her. She stumbled to the door. Lexie stood on her stoop in the rain. She was drenched and frozen in place. Dani led her inside. Lexie followed like a lost little child. Dani got her some dry clothes, helped her change, and they went to bed. Silently, Dani held her partner as she cried herself to sleep.
The alarm went off way too soon, and the two detectives begrudgingly separated from their nocturnal embrace.
Lexie called Chris again while Dani made coffee.
They didn’t speak until Dani offered, “Do you want any breakfast?”
“I don’t feel like eating right now, but I will take the coffee, thank you. I need to go home and get some clean clothes; I will see you at the station.”
She drove home somewhat comforted, I am so thankful I have Dani in
my life at this moment. I have no idea if the man I loved for ten years is a vicious murderer, I am not sure I will ever know the truth. I have no clue how I am going to make it through this mess, but the one thing I do know for sure. I am falling in love with my female partner, and that scares me more than anything else!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Chris had been back in Florida for three days stalking Tiffany. He had calmed down since the first day and reevaluated his priorities. He intended to kidnap Tiffany and force her to make that last phone call, but he had to be smart about it. The police all over the country were looking for him and going to prison was not an option. Chris decided to lay low in a rented room in Key West for a while. He paid in cash with a fake name. He dyed his hair blonde and wore colored contacts to change his eye color to blue.
Chris spent the next two weeks on the beach getting tan and lived like he hadn’t a care in the world. Chris hung out at the beach by day and local bars by night. He never picked up women even though he wanted to. He was focused on Tiffany, and he was not about to risk being caught before he was able to finish what he started. Chris had assumed an entirely new identity in Key West. He enjoyed it there and wasn’t in a hurry to leave, until one day when he was hanging out at the hotel pool and heard his name on the radio. They announced Christopher Fleming as a person of interest in an ongoing murder investigation. They described him as about 6-feet-tall with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a medium build. It was time to get Tiffany and head west. He laughed at the fact that the police had no idea he had been vacationing in the Florida Keys for the past three weeks.
Chris needed a car, but he wouldn’t steal one, because it would be reported stolen and every cop in Florida would be looking for it. He hatched a plan.
Chris went to the bar that night and flirted with several women until he found the perfect victim. Brenda Swanson was a twenty-year old who was visiting Florida from Atlanta, Georgia, where she was a junior at Georgia Tech. She had driven down to the Keys by herself after a bad breakup. Her family had vacationed in Key West every summer when she was growing up, and it was her happy place. She met Chris a few minutes after entering the bar and thought he was handsome, sweet, and charming. She knew he was only trying to get her into bed but what was the harm in that? After all she was single.
Brenda was alone, and she had a car, that was good enough for him. Chris bought her a few drinks and then invited her back to his place. She was eager, so the pair left, and he asked if he could drive her car since it would be easier than giving her directions. She tossed Chris the keys to her silver Nissan Altima. Once they were in the car and driving away from the bar, Chris pulled over and told Brenda he couldn’t wait any longer to kiss her. As he leaned toward her, he took out his trusty chloroform and covered the young woman’s face until she was out cold.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
While driving home, Lexie was nauseated thinking about what Chris may have done to Sophia Nunez. All the times Chris stayed out all night, and all the trips to Florida, what was he doing? I know he is not a monster, I feel disloyal to Chris, but there are too many holes. And so much I really don’t know about Chris and his comings and goings over the past few years. Her gut warned her that some of the answers she was looking for could be found in Florida. After all, that is where Chris spent a lot of his time.
Dani showed up at the police station at 9 am, but Lexie was nowhere to be found. She wondered if she should call her partner, but instead, waited to see if she showed up. Two hours later, Lexie finally showed up and flew past Dani into Captain Harris’s office.
A few minutes later she came out, “Hey partner, you up for a road trip?” “Always, where we are going?”
“I have to warn you if you come with me, you could be putting your job at risk. Harris told me to stand down and not to investigate Chris at all. He said I was too close to the investigation and it was against department policy to have an officer on an investigation that involved their family members.”
“So, partner, I guess this means we are going rouge!” exclaimed Dani
The detectives hopped in Dani’s jeep and left for Florida. They didn’t stop to pack bags. Dani suggested they buy what they need as they needed it. They knew it was going to be a long trip to Tampa, and they planned to drive straight through. However, after about seven hours on the road, their plans changed as they were both in need of a hot shower and sleep. The ladies drove for another two hours until they made it to Jacksonville, FL. It was almost two in the morning when they stopped at the first hotel, they found off Interstate 95. The area seemed a little sketchy to the detectives, but they were exhausted. There were some men hanging out by the hotel entrance who approached the ladies as they were entered the hotel.
The youngest man had drops of sweat falling off his forehead as he informed them, “Ladies, you will need to pay the parking lot fee of twenty bucks if you want to stay here.”
The man smelled rotten, and Dani wanted nothing to do with him. “I’m sorry, but that’s ridiculous and we don’t have any cash.”
Another man with long, dirty, knotted hair stepped up, “It’s ok, we take credit cards.”
Lexie was way too tired for this bullshit, so she pulled out her badge and gun, “Do you still take credit cards? Or would you rather just move on?”
The guys ran off so fast that they tripped over each other, and one fell into the ditch. Dani laughed at them as Lexie followed them out of the parking lot. The detectives got to their room and Dani showered while Lexie sought the ice and vending machines. Dani had been in the shower for a few minutes when she heard the bathroom door open and saw Lexie opening the shower curtain with nothing on but a towel.
She regarded her suggestively, “Want some company?”
Dani’s heart raced, her temperature rose as Lexie dropped her towel and joined her. Dani had shampoo in her hair, so Lexie soothingly guided the younger woman under the water and rinsed her hair. Running her fingers through Dani’s hair and watching the water snake down her body aroused Lexie. There was nothing to interrupt them this time. They both stood in the hot shower, unsure of what to do next. Dani initiated by kissing Lexie. They spent over an hour in the shower exploring each other’s bodies. Afterwards, weary, yet content, they climbed into bed and slept in each other’s arms. They spent a remarkable night at the awful hotel.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Brenda woke up a few hours later tied up in the back seat of her car. Chris drove and sang along with the radio focused on one thing, getting his hands on Tiffany Decker. They were only a few hours from Clearwater, and he had not decided what to do with Brenda. He had to do something with her before he got to Tiffany. Since she awoke questioned him, it was time to ditch her.
Chris had driven Florida roads all his life. He knew exactly where he wanted to take the terrified college girl tied up in the backseat. He drove for a few more miles to the side road he sought. He turned down a long dirt road lined with trees and overgrown bushes. He drove five miles until they reached a cabin by a lake. The cabin had not been used in years and was falling apart, but it was the perfect place for Chris and Brenda to say their goodbyes.
Pulling up to the cabin, Chris gazed off into the distance, “Brenda, my dear, I am sorry about the condition of this place, but you will be happy to know that you will not be alone. This cabin has been in my family forever, and I used to bring my wife here before we moved to Virginia. Lexie loved the lake, you could not keep that woman out of the water. Kayaking was her thing. Anyway, enough of that crap, let me tell you why I love this place so much.
“I killed my first victim, Janice Everett, at this cabin, and this is where I discovered the thrill of holding a person’s life in my hands, and snuffing it out whenever I wanted. Janice was a high school classmate that went missing during our senior prom. You see, Brenda, I found sweet Janice outside the dance falling down drunk and being the nice guy that you know I am, I offered to give her a ride home. After leaving the prom, I turned off on
a dirt road and tried to kiss her. She laughed at me and told me there was no way she would ever be drunk enough to let me touch her.”
He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.
“Can you believe that Brenda? I always had a bad temper, so when she laughed at me, I flew into a rage and dragged her out of the car. But she was fighter and a runner. She got away and ran, but I caught up with her and that was when I saw this cabin for the first time.”
Chris got off telling Brenda about his first murder, so he continued, “The old broken down cabin seemed to be abandoned, so I dragged Janice kicking and screaming into the cabin where I tortured her all night. I did not mean to kill her at first, but I must admit, I was relieved when I realized she was dead. I mean come on Brenda, what was I going to do with this used up bitch after all, I certainly could not let her go. So, I threw her body in the lake and went home. The funniest part of this whole evening was my mom and dad were still awake when I arrived. They asked how prom was, I told them I had the best night of my life. I never once worried about the police catching me or anything. I killed that poor girl and went on with my life as if nothing had ever happened, like I am going to do with you! Now don’t feel bad for me sweet Brenda, I wasn’t abused as a child or unloved, truth be told, I had a very happy childhood. I enjoy killing people, it’s no one’s fault. I guess I was just born defective. Time to say goodbye.”
He wanted to take his time killing Brenda, but he needed to get to Clearwater as soon as he could. I will just have to settle for watching her drown! Chris dragged Brenda out of the car and down to the lake. He checked her hands and feet to make sure they were secure before he threw her in an old rowboat. He rowed her out to the middle of the lake. Chris was torn between needing to watch this young girl suffer and getting back to Tiffany. He slit her throat, threw her into the lake, and watched her slowly sink. He stayed on the lake until he was positive Brenda was with Janice, then he rowed back to shore, got in his car, and headed for Clearwater. Nothing is going to stop me now! I will have Ms. Decker all to myself soon.
