Rich Girl (Broken Wishes Series Book 1)

by Joanne Sexton

  Rich Girl

  Book 1 of Broken Wishes Series

  By Joanne Sexton

  Published 2019

  Copyright Joanne Sexton 2019

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover designed by Southern Stiles Design

  The terror in her eyes and the realization she’s going to die is sweet medicine to my soul.

  Her eyes widen, and then concede, when the rich bitch knows her time is over.

  Her blood spills as I carve into her flesh my hate for her perfect existence.

  Oh, the gratifying sound of her last breath.

  She too will taste the feeling of nothingness.

  Chapter 1

  Lucas

  Monday

  Icy water pounded his body prickling his skin. Lucas shook off his nightmare as the water chilled him through. The hollow pain living in his chest threatened to suffocate him and take control of his senses. Leaning forward he rested his hands on the tiles and stuck his head under the spray while their faces haunted his mind. Forcing the torment deep down, back where it came from, where it belonged, he allowed numbness to take over.

  The shrill of the phone broke through his troubled thoughts. He held their images in his mind for a moment before allowing them to fade. As he cleared the haze, they disappeared. Chilled through, he stepped out, his aching body protested with a shiver. Physical pain was easier.

  Throwing a towel over his hips, he ran to answer the insistent ringing.

  “Hudson.”

  “It’s me,” Maggie responded.

  “What’s up?”

  “We got another one.”

  “Dammit. Where?”

  As Maggie gave him directions, Lucas pulled a suit, shirt and tie from his well-ordered wardrobe.

  “I’ll be there in twenty,” he told her.

  Lucas returned to the bathroom and shaved quickly. A glance in the mirror returned eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. He shrugged. What did it matter? Running his fingers through his hair, he took a few deep breaths in preparation for what he was about to face. He threw on his clothes, and after a tedious ride in the lift, he slid into his unmarked car.

  Memories of that day came back with a vengeance. The day he’d successfully put behind him until last week. The visions refused to fade night and day again. With a shake of his head he shoved himself back to reality. He needed to concentrate. During his twelve years as a cop, he’d seen it all, dealt with it before pushing it all aside. Some cases were harder than others, but he’d gotten through mostly unscathed, until now. This case was different. It affected him.

  Arriving at the scene, Lucas parked next to his partner’s car. When he climbed out the humidity warmed his still cold limbs. The oppressive heat would only get worse as the day progressed. Maggie leant against her car, waiting. When she spotted him, she strode over, her frame athletic and expression grim. Even with a scowl she was a stunner. With her short blonde hair and penetrating blue eyes her beauty was unique. She certainly didn’t look like your average cop. Her physique and angular features turned heads.

  “Definitely the same?’ Lucas asked.

  “’Fraid so.”

  A long forgotten yet familiar lump surfaced in Lucas' throat as they flashed their badges at the taped-off scene. An officer directed them towards the dank alleyway in the rear, which was undetectable from the road. The unmistakable stink of rotting garbage assaulted them as they turned the corner.

  The victim laid face-up, naked and brutalized. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties and he could see she would have been beautiful, like the first victim once was. Her wrists and ankles were lacerated as though she’d been bound and at her throat remained a gaping smile. The absence of blood implied she’d been murdered elsewhere. Purple and yellow bruises speckled her body, indicating days of abuse. Her face was battered and swollen. Lucas could see the fear frozen in her unseeing eyes.

  Across her chest the words RICH BITCH was slashed in red - light and dark. Lucas determined the varying degrees of color and congealment indicated the wounds were inflicted over time. Another pretty young woman tortured and left in a dirty alley behind a warehouse, as if she meant nothing. It would not feel like nothing to the people who loved her. Lucas knew this first-hand. Bile rose in his throat. What kind of sick bastard could inflict this horror?

  Techs were walking the grid, collecting evidence and taking photos when the Medical Examiner arrived. David Walker was in his late forties. A short, squat man with pointed features and thinning hair, his compassionate nature complemented his thoroughness. His knees creaked from the strain as he knelt beside her.

  “The chest wounds and cause of death appear consistent with the last victim,” he began. “Ligature marks on the wrists and ankles too.”

  “Similar dump spot as the last one too,” Lucas said.

  “Yes, all too familiar.” Maggie shook her head. “Any ID again, Dave?”

  “Can you help me roll her over?”

  As he crouched, Lucas slipped on latex gloves from his pocket and then helped roll the body from back to side. He held her in place as Dave examined the victim, took her temperature and checked for ID beneath her. Lucas swallowed down the lump still wedged in his throat; handling dead victims never got any easier.

  “Yes, here it is,” Dave said. He passed the ID to Maggie’s now gloved hand, which she bagged.

  “Kate Miller,” Maggie read.

  “Thanks, Dave.” Lucas turned to Maggie. “Same MO.”

  She nodded.

  Lucas helped ease the body back again and as he stood, tore off his gloves ready to deposit them in the nearest bin.

  “Let’s go,” he said. “See if we can work out what these two have in common.”

  At the station, coffee in hand, Lucas logged onto his computer. As it went through its sluggish loading process, he rubbed tired eyes, ran fingers through his hair and drank his strong caffeine hit, anything to distract his mind. A solitary word became his silent mantra. Focus. He tapped impatient fingers on his desk, while the missing persons’ database loaded Kate Miller’s report. He considered making another coffee when the details materialized before him.

  Kate had been reported missing the previous Monday night, although she’d in fact been missing since Sunday. He searched for the file on the first victim, Libby Greene, from the pile on his desk to scan again with fresh eyes and check any correlations. Libby had been missing for six days before her body was discovered early the previous Tuesday morning.

  Libby had been sexually assaulted several times over the six days, while the letters cut into her chest were also inflicted over time. Her throat had been slashed, leaving the identical gaping hole they’d seen that morning. She too, had been dumped behind a warehouse having been killed elsewhere. ID left with the body but no other possessions.

  “Hey,” Maggie said. As she slid into her chair opposite, she aimed a breakfast roll at him. “Here, you need to eat something.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t know if I can.” He grimaced. “Kate’s been missing for six days. There’s an overlap.”

  “So, he might’ve grabbed Kate before he killed Libby.” She pause
d. “This is one sick puppy we’re dealing with here, Hudson. Holding one girl while stalking another and perhaps holding them both. Can you imagine what they would be listening to?”

  Lucas nodded. “He could have more than one location too.” Frustration shook his head. “We’re speculating until we get Dave’s report.”

  “A lead would be helpful.” Maggie paused. “I guess it’s time to talk to Kate’s family, see to the notification.”

  Maggie studied Lucas as he grabbed his jacket from the chair and picked up his keys without saying a word. This usually indicated he wanted to drive. She noted the tight set of his jaw and the dark smudges under his eyes. He wasn’t sleeping again. She quickened her step as she followed him to his car. He lit a smoke, a habit she barely remembered him having. His dark eyes reflected his far-off thoughts and troubled mind. His self-imposed solitary life was slowly destroying what little light remained. His passionate nature was being torn apart by loneliness. Maggie was well aware of how much this case would be disturbing him. Would this be the case that tipped him over the edge?

  Chapter 2

  Chelsea

  Friday

  With a grunt she sat on her overstuffed suitcase on her bed and forced it closed. Although she’d planned a three-day trip, she’d packed enough for a week. Chelsea thought back to her last visit and realized it had been months since she’d been to her home town. Eagerness to escape from her busy schedule, along with excitement about seeing her family, rose within her. After hopping off the case, she threw remaining items into another bag.

  “I think you’ve packed enough,” said Elle.

  “Probably. I never pack light.”

  Chelsea shrugged before glancing over her shoulder at her friend and roommate. Elle’s tall, slim frame leant against the doorway with grace. She flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder as she studied Chelsea through dark blue eyes.

  “I’d better get going. If I’m late, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Chelsea lugged the suitcase off the bed.

  “Let me help you.” Elle took most of the heavy burden. “Seeing I have the house to myself this weekend, I might ask my new guy over for... dinner.” She grinned.

  “So, when do I get to meet him?”

  “If all goes well, this weekend...” Elle nudged Chelsea with her elbow. “Maybe we can organize something when you get home.”

  “Sounds good.”

  They walked into the garage and Chelsea hit the button to open the automatic door. Elle loaded the suitcase into Chelsea’s sleek, compact car while Chelsea jumped in.

  Chelsea stuck her head out the window as she backed out. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “Doesn’t leave me much,” Elle grumbled before waving.

  Chelsea waved as she drove away before glancing back at her home. It held many memories, happy and painful. The two-story contemporary house with a small colorful garden - which Chelsea tried to keep tidy when time permitted - was welcoming, while the two balconies extending from the front bedrooms added charm and a view. Regardless of the sadness that surrounded her within its walls, she felt a smile tug at her lips at the comforting sight of home.

  Leaning forward she turned the radio up and settled in for the long drive ahead.

  Monday

  Lucas drove in brooding silence while Maggie scanned Libby’s murder file and Amy Miller’s statement about Kate. When finished, she turned to stare at him.

  “What?” he asked and grinned, hoping it would deter her questions.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I just thought...”

  “I’m fine, Mags.”

  “If you want to talk about it...”

  “I know where you are.” He smiled. “Thanks.”

  Their silence resumed and continued for the rest of the journey. It would be useless to probe him further. She knew him so well. When he didn’t want to talk it was best to leave it alone. Lucas parked out the front of the townhouse where Kate Miller resided.

  “Let’s get this over with,” he said.

  The girl who answered their knock was a younger version of the photo they had of Kate. There was no doubt they were in the right place.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’m Detective Hudson.” He showed the girl his badge. “This is Detective Johnson. We’re here in relation to Kate Miller’s disappearance.”

  The hopeful smile that greeted them disappeared from her face.

  “Did you find her?”

  “Yes, Ma’am, we believe so,” Maggie said. “May I ask your name please?”

  “Amy, Kate is my sister. Is she okay?”

  “Are your parents at home?”

  “Only Kate and I live here. Please will you tell me? What is it?”

  “You might want to sit down. Can we come in?”

  “Please, where is she?”

  Amy’s anxiety-filled eyes darted between Lucas and Maggie.

  “We believe we found your sister this morning.”

  “Where is she? Is she...?”

  “Perhaps it would be better if we came in.”

  “Okay.”

  She led them to the sitting room and perched on the edge of the couch. Maggie sat beside her, and Lucas took the chair opposite.

  Amy stared at them wide eyed for a moment before asking in a broken voice “Please, where is she?”

  “We’re really sorry... your sister has been murdered,” Maggie said gently.

  “Oh no, please no,” Amy whispered as the blood drained from her face. “Kate...”

  Tears streamed down her face as she sat rigid, her face full of shock and disbelief. She buried her face in her hands and broke into wrenching sobs. The two detectives glanced at each other; they hated this part of the job. Several heart-breaking minutes passed before Amy’s tears subsided and her composure returned. She took a deep breath and with a determined set to her chin, looked at Maggie.

  “We’re very sorry about your sister but we do need to ask you some questions, so we can find out what happened to her. Would you like to call someone? We could continue this later.”

  “I want to help.”

  “If you need time,” Maggie said.

  “No, I want to do it now. What do you need to ask me?”

  “When was the last time you saw Kate?” Lucas began.

  “On Sunday night as I was leaving to go out with friends. About six, I think. The movie started at seven.”

  “Was she here when you got home?”

  “I don’t know. It was about eleven and her door was closed.”

  “When did you realize, she was gone?”

  “The next day. She’s usually home from work by six, so when she wasn’t home by eight, I began to worry. I rang her work and they said she hadn’t been in...” Amy’s voice trembled. Grabbing a tissue from the box on the table, she dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose.

  “This was when you reported her missing?”

  “I rang her phone first and heard it ringing from her bag in her room.” She paused. Lucas and Maggie exchanged another glance. Libby’s possessions had been left at home too. “I rang everyone we know, and no-one had seen her... so I reported her missing.”

  Amy picked at the tissues scrunched in her shaking hands while chewing on her lower lip.

  “Did she say if she was going anywhere or meeting with someone?” Lucas asked.

  “No.”

  “Do you know if she was having anyone over?” Maggie asked.

  “Um, she mentioned she’d met this guy, but she didn’t say if she was meeting him.”

  “Did she tell you his name?”

  “No.”

  “Perhaps she had him over or he came to pick her up?”

  “I doubt she would have invited him here. She’s really... cautious. She might have planned to go out, but she didn’t say anything. Kate would have told me if she was seeing anyone special. We are…I mean were, very close.
” She bit her lip again and fresh tears welled in her eyes.

  “Could there be anyone who may have held a grudge against her?”

  “No! She’s a kind, beautiful person. I don’t know why anyone would want to do this.”

  The tears Amy held back now ran down her face. Maggie had seen this despair too many times to count. Every time they had to notify family dread filled her. Today was no exception.

  “Just a few more questions and then we will leave you in peace,” Maggie said.

  “Do you or your sister have a lot of money?” Lucas asked.

  “What?”

  “Is your family well off? Are you rich?”

  “No. Why are you asking me this?” Her brow furrowed, and her eyes narrowed.

  “There was a... note left at the scene.”

  “No, our parents are working class. We rent this apartment. We pay our own way... I... I don’t understand.”

  “Can you think of anything else about the man she was seeing?” Maggie asked.

  Her gaze dropped to study the tissue in her hands. She shook her head. Amy didn’t bother wiping away the flowing tears.

  “We don’t want to make this any harder than it already is, but we need to send over some crime scene investigators to check for fingerprints and evidence, in case she invited someone in.”

  She nodded her assent.

  “We appreciate it.” Maggie paused. “We also need someone to come down and identify her. Would you like us to arrange for your parents to do it? We would have gone to them first, but we didn’t have any contact details.”

  “It’s okay, I’ll ring my parents. I don’t know how I’m...” She stopped and took a shaky breath. “Can we do it later?”

  “Yes, when you’re ready. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  She nodded.

  “Again, we’re sorry,” Maggie said as Amy showed them to the door.

  Once in the car, Lucas and Maggie sat in silence for a few minutes, both lost in their own thoughts.