“I don’t think her body was that strong.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
Baxton could see the look of guilt on his face. “There was nothing you could have done Frank. Look around, we are in the middle everything you could.”
“And it wasn’t enough.”
Right now Frank wanted catching this asshole. He wanted him to die the same way his victims did. He shuddered at the thought of all this hatred he had for one man.
That night, Frank was drinking himself into a stupor. For someone who didn’t drink, he was having his fill tonight. Captain Mueller had left the crime scene to break the news to Mrs. Silverman. Mueller offered to be the one to tell her and Frank let him. There was no way he could face Mrs. Silverman to tell her about Crystal, especially after he was just there talking with her that day. He turned on the early morning news and the story was on the air. Thankfully, his name was not mentioned. This guy must be watching this too, he thought while he was downing his sixth drink of the hour. He passed out with fantasies of catching that asshole and putting him through hell. Just five minutes alone, that’s all he needed.
of nowhere. You did
something more than David Reese went to work the next day as he had been doing since the day after his release from prison. He hated having to punch a time card in for work. While he was taking his jacket off, he heard two girls talking about him in the next room.
“Why the hell didn’t he tell us David is a rapist?” He felt like he was going to pass out. The only person there who knew about his record was the boss.
“He’s not aloud.” The other girl replied.
“Fuck that! If Glen thinks I’m going to be left alone with that bastard, he’s got another thing coming!”
David’s fists were clenched so tightly that his circulation was slowing.
“Do you really think our boss would put us in danger?”
The other girl started to calm down. “No, I guess you’re right. But I still don’t like it.”
“Just don’t tell anybody.”
“I won’t, unless he asks one of us out or something."
“Stop it.” The girl replied laughing hysterically. “I’m serious, not a word.”
“I won’t, David might kill me.”
“Cute, very cute.”
David heard them walk away. He was incensed. When he started working, the two girls said hello to him as if they never said anything. David went up to his boss mad as hell. What was that parole officer going to do, he thought, arrest me for yelling? He walked into Glen’s office and looked him straight in the eyes.
“Is there a problem David?”
“Yes, Glen, there is.”
“What’s up?”
“I would like to know, how the fuck do you come off telling people I’m a rapist?”
“Excuse me?” Glen sat up in his chair and had a worried look on his face.
“I just heard the two cashiers talking about how they are very angry with you for allowing them to work with a rapist.”
Glen turned red faced. “I’m sorry David, I truly am. The fact is, I was on the phone with the new regional manager, and one of the girls overheard.”
“Great!”
“David, look, I can’t help what she overheard. Trust me, I told her that she or anybody else had nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you for that safety check of me.”
“David…”
“You know what?” He was pacing the floor. “I don’t think this will work out.”
“What? You can’t quit.”
“I just did.”
“David, your parole…”
“Fuck off!”
He stormed out of the office and walked up to the two cashiers. “Hey, you’re safe now!” They didn’t take their eyes off him as he walked out of the store.
Shit, he thought to himself as he was walking home, what the hell am I going to tell that woman? That really didn’t matter of course, considering that Andrea was about to get a phone call. David wanted to get on a bus right then and leave, for good.
Frank didn’t wake up until late the next morning. He woke to the sound of his beeper going off. It was Dr. Baxton. He was lying on the floor with his leg resting on the couch. The television was left on. He got up slowly and the room was spinning. Oh God, he thought as he gulped down some water. He would kill for a cup of coffee but he felt bad enough. He wanted to kick himself for all the drinking he did. His father drank all the time and Frank swore he would never drink that much. Not to mention that he was in agony with the ulcer. He was talking to himself while dialing the phone. “I’m such an asshole.”
“Hey doc it’s Frank."
“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you at the office all morning.”
“I just came out of my drinking coma.”
“Jesus Frank, your ulcer!”
“I know, I know.”
“You better start taking care of yourself.”
“Believe me, when I catch this guy I will be the most health conscious person alive.”
“Well, do anymore drinking like that and you won’t be alive for long.”
“Point taken. So, when will you be ready for me?”
“How about two o’clock?”
“You got it, see you then.”
Frank finished his water, grabbed a bagel and then jumped into the shower. He was wondering how the Silverman’s were doing. He stared at himself in the mirror while trying to shave. The doc is right; I better start taking care of myself. Hecouldn’t tell if it was his ulcer or guilt that was eating away at his stomach.
He looked over at the floor and saw all the empty beer bottles. He was disgusted with himself. Seeing those bottles, one of them broken, reminded him of waking up in the morning as a child and having to be silent in the kitchen so he wouldn’t wake up his father who was always passed out on the couch. On the day that Tony found him, he had tripped over one of the bottles and woke his father. His father didn’t even bother to yell at him, he just beat him. When he stopped, Frank simply got ready for school. That type of scene was normal to Frank. He was running late because he was having trouble with his shirt since his back was black and blue.
Frank’s mother would take him to school on her way to work, and on that day, he was making her late. She grabbed him by the arm and he heard a pop. Frank started crying and quickly stopped to keep from being hit again. His mother had dislocated his shoulder. His parents left him in the house while they went off to work. Then, Frank took off and passed out somewhere in the alley a few blocks from the house. Thankfully, Tony was skipping school and found him. Frank was trying to focus on the job at hand and not his guilt. He was told to wait for Dr. Baxton so he was pacing the hall. With his nervous energy, he couldn’t stand still. Jerry Slomin came out of a room and Frank rolled his eyes. What a fucking day and I haven’t even talked with more than two people.
“Hello detective.”
“Hi. Were you in there with Dr. Baxton?”
“Yes. I’m sure he’s ready for you.”
“Good, I’ll be in touch.”
“Wait a minute.”
Shit, I almost made it. “What is it?”
“Two victims is unacceptable detective. If you can’t do this case by yourself I’ll assign another detective to work with you.”
“That won’t be necessary."
“Did you catch the news this morning?”
“I heard it.”
“That’s the last thing I need Frank is this case all over the news and not one suspect. Am I making myself clear?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good.”
Slomin walked away in a hurry. Frank hoped that he would be able to keep calm the next time he spoke with him. He knocked on the door of the autopsy room. “Hey Frank, come in.”
“Thanks. I see our friend was here.”
“Oh yeah. Did he give you the third degree?” “Yup.”
/>
“Me too.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s no physical evidence to help the investigation. He probably thinks I’m not looking hard enough.”
“He’s an asshole.”
“No argument there.”
“So what do you have for me?”
“I got the toxicology report back, and there’s no poison in her system and no drugs of any kind.”
“No ecstasy, like Kylie?”
“No.”
“Okay, what about sexual abuse?”
“No, and unlike the first victim, she lost weight. Apparently shewasn’t forced to eat.”
Frank was staring at the welts covering Crystal. He felt sick. “What uh…” he started stammering, “what is your cause of death?”
“Her lung is bruised, from a hard hit. With her asthma, the death was quicker. That along with the beating did it. These wounds were inflicted minutes before death.”
Frank stared into Crystal’s eyes, feeling guilty and useless. “So you think she was left in the box the entire time and bea..beaten once?”
“Yeah. Frank, are you alright?”
“Uh-hu, I’m just a little…a little dizzy.” Frank fell to the floor but he was still conscious. Baxton was kneeling besides him and checked his pulse.
“Hang on Frank, I’m going to get you out of here.” Dr. Baxton ran to get a gurney and Frank was left in the autopsy room on the floor. He looked up towards Crystal and passed out.
This is exhausting, Buddy thought as he was setting up the bed. It was an old queen-size bed that was lying out in front of someone’s house. He put a special sheet on the mattress that covered the entire mattress and zipped closed. He was excited about how well their dungeon was coming along. They were going to have a few girls at once. It was going to be heaven. He also brought some film equipment. He couldn’t wait to put his tortures on film. It was going to be fantastic. He laughed to himself while he remembered all the people in his life who thought they had him figured out. They were in for a surprise. He had cleaned the floor pretty well. He wouldn’t be able to have much fun if his hostage choked to death from breathing in dust.
Angel came home and went to the basement. “So, she didn’t last long, did she?”
Buddy turned around slowly. “Meaning?”
“Did you honestly think she was going to last with the asthma?”
“I should have known. She was just too perfect.”
“Um hum.”
“Alright don’t rub it in. It was a minor setback. The next one will be healthy.”
“Who is she?”
“You’ll see. I’ve planned each of the girls to perfection, don’t worry.”
“Good, I like surprises.”
“Trust me, this girl is the one.”
“Don’t jinx yourself.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Just remember it’s both our asses if the slightest thing goes wrong.”
“This is why we have our own place.”
“Genius.”
They both laughed as they worked. What Angel didn’t know is that Buddy had no intention of protecting him if something went wrong.
One look at Andrea and people knew that she had hardly slept the night before. For the first time in months she wore jeans and a sweatshirt to work. John Healy knew she had a rough night when he walked into her office.
“Hey, I figured you could use this.” He handed her a cup of coffee.
“Oh yes.” Her voice had that crackling sound, like right after waking up.
“Late night?”
“Yup. What’s going on?”
“I just got a phone call before you came in. It was David’s employer.”
She was already aggravated. Andrea was in no
mood for any problems. “What happened?”
“David quit after he screamed at his boss.”
“WHAT?” She was now wide-awake.
“Well, he told me that David came into his office ranting and raving about two girls who work there found out about David. One was very upset that she had to work with him. David went off on his boss, even though Glen said that they overheard him on the phone with the new manager. He didn’t right out tell them anything.”
“Just great!”
“Then…”
“Then?” She raised her voice.
“Then he screamed at the two girls on his way out.”
“Jesus Christ this never ends.”
“Calm down, you’ve been through this before.”
“I know, I know. I just need a reassurance from you that when I lose my temper with him and his family, you’ll understand why.”
“Just calm down before you go.”
She sighed and put her head back. “I will.”
John turned to leave, and then came back. “What about his family?”
“I hate them.”
“Andrea!” He raised his eyebrows.
“What?”
“I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“John, I do the best I can to supervise everybody and make sure they don’t fall back into a life of crime. But lately, it seems pointless.” She started pacing her office. “I had to arrest one of my parolees, another is pregnant, and every time I make a house visit to David, he gives me an attitude. Not to mention that his mother talks about how unfairly he’s being treated and his brother looks at me like I amthe spawn of Satan.”
John started laughing. “I’m sorry for laughing, but you always did have a way with words.”
“It’s alright.” She finally cracked a smile. “It’s not just that. Then I get the phone calls from rape victims demanding to know why their attackers were let out and the cops accuse me of not doing my job when somebody on parole gets arrested. Then, I take all this home at the end of the day and I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything.”
“There’s only so much you can do Andrea. We are notresponsible for people committing these crimes.”
“I know.”
“Listen, do yourself a favor. Take care of everything with David and then take the rest of the day off. All your parolees will be here tomorrow.”
“That sounds good, thanks.”
“No problem.”
Andrea was on her way to see David when she ran into Brandon.
“Hey, where’s the fire?” He jumped out in front of her.
“Another problem, I’ll see you later.”
“Want some coffee first?” He was making it difficult for her to leave.
“No.” She commanded.
“You know, if you’re this tense Andrea, maybe Tony isn’t doing his job.” He was looking her over.
“You’re such a fucking pig Brandon!” He laughed at her while she stormed away.
Andrea wasn’t going to take any crap from the Reese’s. She walked up to the front step and the adrenaline was already pumping. Louise answered the door. Andrea knew she was there somewhere behind all that make-up.
“Mrs. Reese I’m here to see David.”
“Come in.”
“Thank you. Where is he?” She asked flatly.
“Upstairs. David, come down here please!” She stared at Andrea. “So what now?”
“Excuse me?”
“My son lost his job because of those girls. What are you going to do about it?”
“Mrs. Reese, David did not lose his job, he quit.”
“What would you expect him to do, stay there and be bad mouthed? How could you allow people to find out about his parole?”
Andrea was telling herself to stay calm. “His boss did not do anything on purpose. As far as those girls are concerned, they have every right to feel the way they do.”
David came downstairs and sat on the couch next to his mother. “So what do I do now?”
“That’s it?” She was shocked. “That’s all you have to say?”
“What do you expect me to say? I was treated like…”
“A criminal?” She asked sarc
astically. He looked at her right in the eyes.
“I was released.”
“It doesn’t change what you did.”
“He didn’t do anything!” Louise chimed in.
“Mrs. Reese please excuse me but I’m not speaking with you.”
“Please excuse me, but don’t speak to my mother like that.” David snapped back.
“David, we can continue this discussion in the police station if you prefer.”
“No thanks.”
“Good. I am going to work on getting you another job and in the meantime…”
“Could you please make sure the entire place doesn’t know about my past?”
“Don’t interrupt me again.” David and Louise were silent. Andrea took in a deep breath. “In the meantime, you are not to leave this house.”
“What?”
“Not under any circumstances. If you accidentally cut off a finger, you call me before you go anywhere. I will be checking up on you.”
“For how long?”
“Until I find you another job.”
“Jesus how long will that be?”
“David I don’t know.” She was fuming. “And one other thing, if you do what you did today again, you’ll be going back to prison quicker than you can blink. Just remember, youare not the victim here.”
With that, she left. As she was on her way home she felt great, like all the frustration she had was gone. Maybe now David knew she meant business.
Chapter 31
Michael came to the office late that afternoon. John caught up with him on his way to his office. “Michael, where have you been?”
“I was at the police station all fucking night. Two arrests in one night, do you believe it?”
“Yes I do, actually.”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing much. I need you to take on two more people….”
“John come on, there’s no way.”
“Look I don’t have a choice. Everybody here is overloaded not just you."
“Who are they?”
“One is a guy for rape and the other is a woman for theft.”
“I can’t wait.” John could tell by Michael’s tone that he was more than annoyed. They walked to the coffee machine together and passed Andrea’s office on the way. Tony was standing by her chair.
“Tony?” John asked as he walked in.
“Hey John, how are you doing?” Tony looked over at Michael. “Michael.”
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