The Dark Places

by R. S. Whitfield

  “Well, I thought bacon might not agree with you today,” he replied.

  “An excellent observation,” she added, and started eating. “God,” she groaned, “these are amazing!”

  Parker smiled. “Coffee?” He motioned to the machine.

  “Do you really need to ask?” she answered.

  He stood and grabbed a pod, putting it carefully into the machine. “So, last night, eh?” he started, trying to sound blasé.

  Surin put her fork down. “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” she said. “He was drunk, hell, I was drunk, and I let it get a bit out of hand.”

  Parker nodded. “Is that the first time you’ve seen him since the whole, gunpoint incident?”

  “Yes and no,” she said between mouthfuls. “I have seen him once or twice, driving past here, but that was the first time I’ve actually spoken to him.” He handed her a coffee. “Thanks,” she said and held it firmly between her hands, letting the comforting aroma hit her nostrils. Parker sat and waited.

  “He rang Madison, asking about you,” she said casually.

  “Me?” he uttered, surprised.

  “He must have seen you over here a few times and thought that we, well, you know, that we were involved.” Her cheeks flushed.

  “Not that it’s any of his business if we were,” Parker replied. “He rang Madison?”

  Surin nodded and chuckled. “Yeah, she was just as shocked as you are, I think.” She tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear. “She rang and told me to be careful. I’m pretty sure I was awful to her,” she added, shaking her head. “This is why I don’t drink bourbon.” She smiled sadly.

  Parker looked at her uncertainly. “I heard…” He shifted in his seat. “I heard that he had cheated before, is that true?” He hesitated. “You don’t have to tell me,” he quickly added, holding his hands up.

  “No, it’s OK,” Surin countered. “There were three others that I know of.” She put a forkful of pancake into her mouth and chewed appreciatively. “Until Madison, I could ignore it and tell myself that I made him because I was never home, and he was lonely, which obviously was not the whole truth.” She sipped her coffee. “Once I caught him in the act, there were no more excuses. She really did me a favour, I guess, but it all came crashing down that night.” She shrugged. “I just didn’t want to fail. I’ve never been good at relationships, it’s hard being with someone who’s not on the job, as you know,” she added, motioning to him. “I wanted it to work with Grayson, just so I could prove that it could work with someone.”

  Parker nodded. “With the right person, it works, Surin.”

  She smiled at him. “Well, I hope so.” Standing, she cleared both their plates and placed them in the sink. There were piles of dishes scattered across the bench. Typical man, she thought with a smile, uses every available plate, bowl and spoon to make one thing.

  “Right,” she said, snapping out of her daydream. “I have something to show you.” Parker stood and followed her into the lounge room. “I thought we might work from here this morning if that’s OK with you?”

  “Yeah, of course,” he said and sat down, cross-legged, on the carpet.

  Surin crossed the room to her tote bag that she had dropped inside the door earlier that morning and retrieved a folder. Parker immediately recognised it as the one Vector had given them at the morgue the day before.

  “I’ve gone over this and circled items of interest,” she said, hesitantly. “Please be patient and hear me out before you judge.” Parker nodded and took the folder from her hands.

  She returned to her couch and tucked her legs up underneath her. Parker waited, not knowing whether to open the folder or let her talk. She made the decision for him.

  “Open it,” she said, pointing. “These are the itemised personal effects of every girl this guy has murdered starting with Emma,” she continued, her voice small. “This only lists items found directly on them or in their possession at the time their bodies were discovered.”

  Parker briefly scanned the pages, noticing one item in particular had been circled in red pen multiple times. His adrenalin began to surge. He looked up at her, still not fully comprehending the situation.

  “OK,” he breathed, “you’re going to have to break this down for me, Surin.”

  She nodded. “It’s the necklace,” she said, her voice adopting a hushed tone.

  “Yes, I see that. Like the one we got from Lana Beau’s things?” he replied, excitement beginning to leech into his voice.

  “Yes,” she said and unconsciously wrapped a throw rug around her legs. “Silver ball chain and a pendant engraved with the letter E.”

  Parker sat up on his knees. “Are you telling me that every single victim had this exact same chain when they were found?”

  “It appears so,” Surin replied.

  “The killer must have given it to them,” Parker added enthusiastically. “This is the link that we needed. This might finally point us in the right direction.” He looked at her face, expecting to see his excitement reflected in hers, but he watched as she grew paler.

  “Surin? What is it?” he asked, still grasping the papers in his hands.

  “Parker,” she said and paused, not sure how to continue. “That necklace,” she said, pointing a shaking finger towards the papers he held, “I’ve seen it before.” With those words he froze, dread hitting the pit of his stomach as he stared into her deep emerald eyes.

  “Where have you seen it, Surin?” he asked carefully.

  She shifted in her chair. “Fastened around my neck.”

  25

  He felt like he was unravelling. It was as if he were a giant ball of yarn being pulled apart piece by piece. Sitting in his office chair staring out the window, he clenched and unclenched his jaw, enjoying the small stab of pain it produced. Control and patience had never, ever been an issue before and the fact that it was starting to become one now was concerning him more than anything. He had unknowingly been mere seconds away from killing Lucy the other night. Losing himself in the moment, imagining that it was Isabelle underneath him, writhing and moaning, he had forgotten where he was. He had frightened her, and now she would be questioning everything about him. Disgusted with his own lapse of control, he picked up a pen from the holder and started twirling it between his fingers. The phone buzzed on his desk, breaking his train of thought. Pressing the button, he answered sharply.

  “What!”

  “Ah, sir, your ten o’clock is in the conference room,” a shy voice replied from the intercom.

  “Very well,” he said, disconnected and stood up.

  Lucy was now a liability, he concluded. “And how am I going to deal with that?” he said aloud to himself and smiled. Two birds with one stone, he surmised, and picked up the phone again. After the fourth ring, she answered, her voice annoyingly chirpy.

  “Hello, Lucy Mead speaking.”

  He cringed inwardly. “Hi, honey,” he replied, keeping his tone light.

  “Oh, hi,” she said cautiously. “I didn’t recognise this number,”

  “I’m calling from the office,” he said, noting that she probably wouldn’t have answered had he called her from his cell. “I haven’t seen you in a few days,” he continued pouting into the handset. There was a pause before she replied.

  “Yeah, I know, sorry, I have been really busy with work.”

  He rolled his eyes at her meagre excuse. “I miss you,”

  She laughed nervously, her resolve breaking. “I miss you too, sweetie.”

  Her tone was apologetic, so he continued. “The other night, I may have taken things too far,” he said quietly trying to sound embarrassed. “I just, well, you make me so hot, Lucy.”

  She giggled, and he could imagine her twirling her hair around her finger like a teenager.

  “It’s OK. You just frightened me a bit, that’s all,” she added.

  “I’m really sorry,” he said and waited. After a few seconds, she sighed.

 
; “How about dinner tonight?”

  He smiled like a Cheshire cat. She had caved so easily. “Sounds perfect. I’ll cook for you, and I was thinking that maybe after tonight we should tell your family and friends about us.” He heard her gasp.

  “Really!” she said excitedly.

  “Yeah, I think we’re ready for the next step, don’t you?” he asked.

  “Yes, definitely!” she squealed. “I can’t wait to tell them all about you!”

  He smiled. “Let’s talk about it more tonight, OK?”

  They said their goodbyes, and he hung up. The tension he had felt began to dissolve gradually, like salt in water. He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. Tonight, he would tie up all loose ends and regain some much-needed control. It was going to be tricky. He would need to ensure that there was no one that could place them together. She had promised to keep their relationship secret because he told her that he had a complicated ex-girlfriend at work who would make his life difficult if she knew he was dating again. He would first need to confirm that she had indeed kept her mouth shut, go through her phone for any photos, wipe down the apartment and remove all evidence of her. As much as he needed the sweet release that Lana had failed to provide, Lucy wasn’t the right girl for that. It would need to be quick, clinical and, of course, untraceable.

  Grabbing a file off the desk, he smiled and walked out the office door towards the conference room, feeling like a new man. Tonight, would be fun, he thought. And I deserve a bit of fun, he decided, pouting. I have been good for far too long.

  26

  1998, Town of North East, Cheltenham County, Maryland

  It was her senior year of high school, and she really did have it all. Head cheerleader, top of her class and on track for a full academic scholarship, loving family, the brightest of futures and, of course, the perfect boyfriend.

  Eamon Sutherland was, in the eyes of hormonal teenage girls, a complete demigod. Tall with floppy blonde hair, muscular, with a smile flanked by dimples, he was everything a girl dreamed of — every girl except Surin Elliott.

  Eamon had been pursuing Surin since first spying her in junior year. Her long legs, intense eyes and dark hair had captured his attention and his teenage imagination. Unlike most girls, however, she seemed mostly unaffected by his popularity and easy charm, but in senior year, after she garnered the sought-after title of head cheerleader, he decided it was time to make his move.

  “If anyone has a chance, you do,” Jacob commented at recess as he watched Surin walk past their lunch table with a group of girls.

  “What are you talking about?” Eamon added defensively.

  “Surin Elliott.” He gestured toward her. “Um, we all know you have it for her bad.” The other boys laughed, and Jacob nudged his shoulder playfully. Eamon shrugged him off.

  “So what if I do? She is a dimension above your fucking annoying girlfriend, Jacob.” The others snickered, high-fiving Eamon behind Jacob’s back.

  “True, true,” Jacob agreed, nodding, then spotting his girlfriend across the room, he waved, then whispered, “but Jemma can suck dick like a hoover.” The whole table erupted into loud laughter and whistling, which caused the group of girls, including Surin, to turn around and watch. Eamon smiled as the girls giggled at their silly behaviour, all but her. She shook her head and kept walking. Jacob slapped Eamon’s back.

  “No chance, dude. No chance at all.”

  At the start of the season, a traditional bonfire night was held in honour of the football team’s upcoming year. Eamon knew she would have to be there, and being the quarterback, they would have official duties together. It took more effort than he expected to win her over. She happily smiled and posed for photos with him, cheered with the crowd, kicking her shapely legs in the air and rallied for the team’s success but still seemed to avoid him every time he tried to approach her one on one. At the end of the night, he had to run to catch up to her walking home with her friends.

  “Surin,” he yelled from behind her and jogged casually to be by her side. Eve, her best friend, blushed ferociously in his presence. Eve was indeed gorgeous, blonde, and slim, and fell over herself every time he was around. She would have been an easy target, but he only had eyes for Surin.

  “Oh, hey, Eamon,” she said, with an easy smile. He tried to be innocuous as he scanned her body up and down. She still had her cheerleader outfit on, and it fit her like a second skin.

  “Hey,” he replied with a grin. “I thought I might walk you home?”

  Eve stopped suddenly. “Shit, Sur, I left my swim bag back at school.”

  Surin turned. “OK, let’s go back. I don’t have to be home for another hour or so.”

  Eve looked from her to Eamon who was staring at her, willing her to disappear.

  “Oh no, it’s fine,” she replied. Eamon sighed with visible relief. “I’ll catch you tomorrow, though.”

  As she turned to leave, Surin called out, mildly confused, “Are you sure? I don’t mind coming?”

  Eve grinned at her. “I’m certain, plus Eamon can walk you home now anyway.” She winked and jogged off down the path.

  Eamon turned to face her and shrugged his shoulders. Surin continued walking, hugging her bag to her chest. There were a few awkward minutes of silence before Eamon spoke.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, and without waiting for a reply, he removed his varsity jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

  “Thanks,” she said. “You guys all looked great tonight,”

  “Thanks,” he replied, not knowing what else to say.

  Surin stopped suddenly and turned to face him. “Eamon, can I ask you something honestly?”

  He nodded. “Sure.”

  She smiled and looked down at her hands. “I know you have been trying to get my attention.” A delicate blush crept up her cheeks, and he fought the urge to kiss her right then.

  “Have I been that obvious?” he replied, with a sexy grin.

  Surin laughed, a rich, deep sound that did things to his body he didn’t expect.

  “Well, you’re not an easy person to ignore,” she added. “I guess I’m just wondering why?”

  He looked at her, confused.

  “Is it because I’m head cheerleader?”

  Now it was his turn to laugh, and she found herself smiling with him. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “No, it’s not. I have been trying to get your attention since junior year, Surin.” He continued, “I have never had any problems getting a girl’s attention before, so you’ve been very challenging!” He raised his eyebrows.

  “So, it’s the chase then?” she said defiantly. “You think there’s some kind of prize at the end of this race?” she added, feeling her temper begin to rise.

  He stepped back and grabbed one of her hands. “I like you,” he said simply, “a lot.” He smiled. “I just want to be with you, you and no one else.”

  She watched him carefully.

  “Why do you find that hard to believe?” he breathed.

  “Because you’re Eamon Sutherland,” she replied, with a shrug.

  He realised then that maybe she wasn’t so unaffected by him. He took his time and unashamedly let his eyes travel over her face, her hair and neck, he noticed the pulse at the base of her throat beating quickly. He stepped back in towards her, carefully, like he was approaching a wild animal.

  “So, is that a yes then?” he whispered, running his hands up to her waist. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. “Yes, you will be mine?” He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers gently.

  She opened her eyes, and they were ablaze with need. He smiled again.

  “No,” she panted.

  He chuckled and let his hands run over her taut midriff, his thumb skittering under the small crop top. “Your skin is like silk,” he murmured, “you say ‘no’ Surin, but your eyes tell me a different story,”

  Her lips parted involuntarily, and he moved in, clasping her neck gently
with both hands, his thumbs running over her mouth. She dropped her bag to the ground and held onto his strong forearms.

  “I’m not going to kiss you until you tell me to,” he teased, savouring the moment he finally had her in his arms.

  “I’m no conquest,” she breathed.

  He smiled, knowing he had won. He leaned in closer, and she closed her eyes. He could feel her breasts pressing against him, and it was almost enough to send him over the edge.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  He groaned and finally claimed her lips with his own. The kiss was slow, deep, and he explored her mouth with his tongue. She moaned loudly and reached up, running her hands through his hair, pulling it gently. He stood back suddenly and stared at her. She was breathing heavily — her eyes brimming with desire.

  “God, I have wanted you for so long,” he said. “I knew it would be like this,” he added and reached for her again. Losing control, he kissed her hard, but she matched his urgency. He wrapped his arms around her and lowered her to the ground. Lying down, he moved his mouth to her neck, inhaling her scent. “You smell like heaven,” he whispered and reached up under her top, cupping her breast through her bra. “So beautiful,” he continued and moved down to take her in his mouth. She threw her head back as his lips found her nipple and sucked hard.

  “Stop,” she breathed.

  He smiled, ignoring her, and continued to move his hands down her body until he reached the band of her underpants.

  “You want this, Surin,” he said and slipped his fingers under the material until he felt her. She was warm and wet and ready for him.

  “Stop, please,” she repeated.

  He looked up, and she was staring at him, her lips red and swollen from his kisses.

  “Really?” he breathed.

  “Yes,” she added sternly.

  It took all he had to remove his hands from her. He crawled back up her body and held her face between his hands. She tried to look away.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, still trying to catch his breath.