In the Middle of Love's Crime *BWWM Mystery Romance Thriller

by ReNita A. Burgess

  They rode in silence through the highway, driving by some of Columbia’s beautifully styled homes. A few trick or treaters were still roaming the streets into the darkness. Some appeared to be teenagers that had taken their siblings with them.

  Ben looked over at Simona as she drove, she kept her eyes fixed on the road without blinking. She was in deep thoughts, almost too deep. For a moment Ben thought that Simona was in a trance.

  “Where are we going, Simona? I need to know what the hell is going on.” Ben asked.

  They were now on the outskirts of Columbia, approaching a woodsy area. Wherever she was taking him, she sure knew where they going.

  “I love you, Ben. That’s why I had to get you out there. I didn’t want them to lock you away after the trial tomorrow.” Simona said with tear-filled eyes.

  Ben reached his hand to touch her leg. He felt touched at how much she loved him. He felt a sense of guilt over him as he realized that she would risk getting him out of jail in the most dangerous way.

  She wasn’t worried about her reputation or the fact that she could get behind bars for planning his escape.

  “Simona, I love you too. But, babe, you didn’t have to do this. You didn’t have to sneak me out of jail. It’s too much to risk. My trial is tomorrow and my lawyer says there is a chance that I will walk away free. They know I’m not the murderer.” Ben explained. “It’s someone else.”

  He was hoping she’d be excited after hearing that his lawyer was going to help him, but she didn’t seem to care.

  Simona paused before replying, studying the dirt road they were driving on. “I know.”

  Ben searched her face for an expression. “You…you know?”

  “Yes, I know you’re not the killer!” She shouted

  Ben wasn’t sure what else to say. It seemed as if she knew something that he didn’t. He remained silent through the continued ride.

  He turned around to look through the back window, they weren’t being followed. Simona’s new personality was scaring him. He glanced at her again and focused on the road. Simona was completely someone else.

  Chapter 44

  “This cabin belonged to Lewis Mills. I’m sure you have heard of that name.” Simona told Ben as they got out the car.

  An owl flew out the tree from the sound of their car doors being shut. It was dark as hell, the crickets and the crunching of leaves were the only noises heard. They were at an area in the woods of a vacant log cabin.

  Ben looked around the darkness as he followed her. The chilly air caused him to hold tightly to his body. It was nothing he wasn’t used to, especially after having to train with the army in the snow a few times.

  Why was Simona bringing him here? He thought he would have been better off in the jail cell until his trial.

  “Wait…was Lewis Mills the serial killer that murdered his wife and women he had an affair with? They called him the ‘Jack the Ripper of Columbia’, right?” Ben asked.

  Simona’s brown eyes glowed in the night. “Yes, I had to research a news story about him once. I’ve always been fascinated with his story. We’re at the cabin where he hid some of the bodies before they were discovered.” Simona said excitedly.

  Ben gave her a strange look as he listened. He had never seen this side to her.

  The moonlight appeared from behind the clouds, shining through the trees and on her dark face.

  “Ummm okay, babe. Why are we here? Maybe it’s best if we just drive back to the police station. I’m afraid it will make me look bad in court tomorrow. You’re probably going to get in a whole lot of trouble.” Ben replied.

  Simona walked into the cabin and reached for the lantern to light nearby. Luckily, she had a lighter in her back pocket. She turned the lantern on and there was light that brought the little cabin to life.

  Ben looked around the deserted cabin. Books were all around, a dusty rug was beside the fireplace and a dusty coffee table. The small couch looked like it contained dust mites, roaches ran out of nowhere. Ben suddenly felt uncomfortable as he rubbed his shoulders.

  “I really…really just want to spend some time with you, Ben. I missed you. I’m afraid.” She said as she rested her head on his chest.

  Ben didn’t know where to put his hands, he wasn’t sure if he should wrap them around her. He was overly confused.

  “Simona.. I..I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry for what I caused and what I did to you.” Ben replied sadistically. He could tell that there was something wrong with Simona. Something wasn’t likely of her.

  “I just want us to be together. I love you so so much. We were supposed to get married, remember. Why did you have to ruin it?” she sniffled.

  Ben wanted to cry himself, but he held back the tears. He felt so much guilt as he stroked her hair. “Babe, I want to be with you too. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was only afraid and confused. I’m so sorry.”

  Simona snapped her head back to find his blue eyes. She stroked his face and ran her hand through his blond hair. “Let’s just spend some time here and pretend that the past never happened.”

  “But, babe. What about the police department? I’m more worried about you. The cops will be searching for me and they’ve already seen your face. Your record isn’t going to look so good doing this.” Ben said as he cupped her head in his cold hands.

  The tears fell from eyes and down her cheeks. She closed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t care.”

  She walked over to the fireplace and stared at it.

  Ben didn’t want to upset her, but he was worried about the police that would probably be out looking for them. This was bad. This was so bad.

  “It’s kind of cold in here. Would you mind going outside to chop some wood so we can light a fire?” she asked with a chill in her voice. Her voice sounded different, it sounded deadly. It sounded evil. “The axe is on the porch near the door.”

  Not sure how to react to her abnormal behavior, Ben stood there silent.

  “Did you hear me?” she raised her voice, still keeping her eyes on the empty fireplace.

  “Sure.” Ben said slowly. He was afraid. He had no idea what Simona was capable of, but he was about to find out.

  Chapter 45

  Ben walked outside to look on the porch for the axe.

  It wasn’t there.

  The wood was in the distance, as if it were waiting to be chopped.

  The cold night air was blowing from Ben’s nose and lips.

  It was quiet.

  Too quiet.

  Almost quiet as death.

  “I don’t think I see the axe out here, babe.” Ben said.

  There were footsteps behind him. “Don’t worry. I have it here.”

  “Huh?”

  Ben turned around and saw Simona standing there, raising the axe above his head. His eyes grew in astonishment as she whacked him in the head with it.

  He fell to the ground screaming as his voice echoed into the woods.

  Simona went berserk with the chopping. She was a psychotic lunatic. She chopped him up insanely as his blood splattered on the sides of the cabin and on her shirt. The blood splashed on her face and bones crunched loudly.

  She struggled to pull the axe from his chest as she continued to slaughter. Simona wiped the blood from her lips, she paced and stared at the body.

  She laughed and ran her hands through her hair.

  She paced again.

  Ben was no longer screaming, but it didn’t stop her from continuing a marathon of chops on him.

  “THAT’S FOR CHEATING ON ME! THAT’S FOR LYING TO ME! THAT’S FOR USING ME! THAT’S FOR FUCKING ALL THE SLUTS YOU HAD ON THE SIDE!!! DIE!! DIE!! DIE!!”

  The sound of sirens whirred in the distance. Ten police cars with the FBI approached the scene. The woods were completely lit up from the blue and red colors shining from their car lights.

  “SIMONA COX! DROP YOUR WEAPON! PUT YOUR HANDS UP WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!!” the officer spoke into the megaphone. />
  Plenty of officers jumped from their cars and surrounded Simona with their guns.

  Simona looked like a dear caught in headlights as she stood there. She was covered in Ben’s blood and her hair was a tousled mess.

  Drew didn’t go to the emergency room for his arm. He pulled up in the car with his partner, Detective O’Brian. Drew wanted to see Simona once again. He wanted to look her in the eye to see the mental case that she had become.

  It was hard to believe that she was ever a killer. Images of her reporting the morning news and her smile was flashing through his mind. He still couldn’t understand who Simona was anymore. Where did she go wrong with herself? Was it because she was so hurt?

  The police officers arrested her roughly, reciting her rights and led her to the backseat of the police car.

  She kept her eyes on Drew, smiling. She didn’t feel any remorse for what she had done. None whatsoever.

  “All you men are just the same!” she shouted. “All of you are! Just a bunch of sons of bitches!! I’m glad I killed those all sluts”

  “YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT!” said one officer.

  “FUCK MY RIGHTS!” she yelled as they forced her into the backseat of the car.

  Drew still couldn’t keep his eyes off her, his expression showed total shock and disbelief. She looked at him through the backseat of the police car she was in. Her brown eyes were still mysterious and haunting. They were luring, dangerous and sexy, enough to make you feel hypnotized. No one ever suspected her because of her sweet appearance.

  Simona’s wild hair hung over her eyes. She smiled once again at Drew as he stood near her closed window in the car.

  “It’s amazing how some of the most beautiful people end up being the craziest.” O’Brian said as they watched the police car driving down the road. It was disappearing further into the distance.

  Drew shook his head with a sigh. “Don’t judge a book by the cover, O’Brian. Looks can be deceiving.”

  From the backseat window of the car, Simona looked over her shoulder at Drew.

  She was still smiling… wickedly.

  Epilogue

  　Columbia　City　Times

  　TOP　STORY

  News　Anchor　Turned　Serial　Killer

  By-Beverly　Crawford

  November　15,　2014

  A　former　news　anchor,　Simona　Cox,　31,　shocked　the　city　of　Columbia,　SC　after　she　was　found　guilty　for　viciously　murdering　five　victims.　This　case　has　been　previously　known　as　the　‘Parking　Lot　Murders.’

  　 　Simona　Cox,　used　to　be　one　the　most　influential　people　in　South　Carolina.　You’ve　seen　her　gracing　the　morning　news　with　her　beautiful　face　and　warm　smile,　but　she　became　someone　else.　She　became　someone　that　fooled　many.

  Earlier　last　month,　her　fiancé,　Benjamin　Myers,　was　falsely　accused　for　the　murder　of　the　four　women;　murders　that　no　one　suspected　were　committed　by　Simona　Cox.

  A　day　before　Benjamin　Myers’s　trial,　Simona　Cox　kidnapped　him　from　the　Richland　County　Detention　Center.　She　savagely　　　murdered　him　with　an　axe　in　the　most　inhuman　way　possible.　The　scene　of　the　murder　took　place　in　the　outskirts　of　Columbia.

  The　mentally　ill　Simona　Cox　was　on　a　killing　spree,　murdering　the　four　women　whom　Myers　had　an　affair　with.　Most　of　her　victims　were　killed　followed　by　being　stuffed　in　the　trunk　of　their　cars.

  FBI　Detective　Andrew　Slater　was　injured　with　a　few　gun　shots　from　Simona　Cox.　He　has　chosen　not　to　answer　any　questions　regarding　the　case　and　the　trial.　His　reason　was　that　he　too　had　a　previous　romantic　relationship　with　Simona　Cox.

  　Upon　walking　out　of　court　and　being　escorted　by　the　police,　Simona　Cox　spat　at　the　crowd　of　reporters　and　photographers.　She　showed　no　remorse　to　the　families　of　the　dead　victims.

  She　will　serve　a　life　sentence　at　the　Richland　County　Women’s　Correction　Institution.

  Books By ReNita A.Burgess

  Coffin Rock College

  Girlfriend of a Fugitive

  Girlfriend of a Married Man

  Street Walkers of Myrtle Beach

  Street Walkers of Myrtle Beach: Back on the Strip

  Street Walkers of Myrtle Beach: Black Biker Chic Confessions

  She Was In Love Alone

  She Was In Love Alone 2

  The Morning After: Short Collection of Erotica

  5 Nights with a Rock Star

  Love, Life and Lullabies: Short Collection of Poetry

  Standards: What Everyone Woman Needs Before Dating Men

  The Right Way to Weigh

  A Captain for Christmas

  Girl On Da Block

  Tina’s Temptation

  In the Middle of Love’s Crime

  Children’s Books:

  Banana Bear

  The Adrianna Adventures: Adrianna Goes to School

  The Adrianna Adventures: Too Many Cookies

  The Adrianna Adventures: Adrianna and the Best Friend

  The Mystery of the Mermaids

  Tilly Mae and the Toothache

  About the Author

  ReNita A. Burgess

  At the very young age of 8 years old, ReNita A. Burgess took an interest in writing. She enjoyed coming home from school to write her own stories and read books. Reading books helped her imagination to grow, even throughout her teen and adult years.

  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.. ReNita has received the Editor’s Choice Awardand Who's Who Among Executives Professionals and Entrepreneurs. ReNita enjoys giving back to the community and being a part of the Big Brothers and Big Sister’s Organization, as well as World Vision and the Humane Society.

  Growing up, she enjoyed competing in theater plays and has won many beauty pageant titles. Writing is ReNita’s first love out of all her other talents and interests.

  ReNita has published over 20 books of many different genres. She refers to herself as the chameleon writer; she doesn’t stick to just one writing category.

  She’s been featured on interviews regarding her work for WBTW News and WFXB Fox 43’s Not the News.

  ReNita enjoys 80s soft rock, painting, staying physically active and taking walks with her dog.

  Her idea of relaxing is drinking a cup of cocoa on a rainy day while watching TV Land.