Serial Separation (28 page)

Chapter 77

Lisa could feel Judy watching her as she got hotter and hotter. Lisa had dressed nicely for her date with Scott.

“Lisa, he’ll be here. He probably was delayed by something at the task force office.”

She looked at her watch for about the twentieth time. “I really thought he would be here on time. I can’t believe he’s an hour and a half late. Gee, I hope he’s okay. Maybe I better call him. No, if he was going to be late . . . he should have called me.”

Lisa could sense Judy was trying to find a way to calm her down. “Lisa, you could call him at his apartment. If there’s no answer, it would eliminate him just running late, or oversleeping. Then you could call the office, and if he’s there you could find out when he will be here.”

Lisa looked at Judy for a moment. “I know you’re trying to help, but he promised me his running late days were over. I’m worried. I feel something has happened to him. This was a big date, and he wouldn’t be this late. Not without calling me.”

“Then you need to call him at home, and at the office.” She hesitated before adding, “You can’t wait any longer. You’ll be a wreck when he shows up.”

She felt like crying, but all of her efforts to look exceptional would be wasted. “You’re right.” She dashed out of the room.

When she arrived at the phone, there was someone on it. She paced for what seemed like ten minutes and then exploded. “Would you please tell him you love him and get off the phone? I have an emergency!”

“Get a grip, you street walker.”

“If you’re not off that phone in a minute, you’re going to be walking with it up your butt . . . blondeee.”

The girl mumbled something in the phone and then slammed down the receiver. She was going to say something but turned away and flipped her middle finger.

Lisa was amazed at her new found authority. She quickly dialed Scott’s phone and, after many rings, realized he would have answered by now. She dialed the task force office. She had prepared a punishing verbal scenario if Scott was there.

“Hello Task force office, Mike Miller.”

“Mike, I’m glad you answered the phone. Is Scott there? He’s late for a date.”

“No, Lisa, he hasn’t returned. He’s still checking properties. He was expected hours ago.”

Mike asked, “What time was he due there?”

“Seven. Mike, I’m worried. Scott promised he wouldn’t be late again without calling me. He planned to take me to a nice restaurant, and knew I would have dressed for the occasion. What can we do?”

“Lisa, a lot has happened today. One of the women, we believe connected with the killings, was killed. However, I promise you I will find Scott. I will call you, or he will. Thank you for alerting me that you were also expecting him.”

Mike didn’t hesitate. He rushed up to Paddy’s office. “We’ve got a serious problem. Lisa called a minute ago. Scott was supposed to take her out to dinner almost two hours ago. He hasn’t called, and I think she has a reason to worry.”

Mike noticed Paddy’s worried expression and added, “As you know, he was going to check out the other two property listings. That should not have taken all day and part of the night.”

Paddy considered Mike’s concern. “As we speculated earlier, Carole was expecting us. The police scanner must have tipped her off. If she called one or more of her associates . . . well, Scott could have walked into a trap.”

“We’ve got to find where he was going. Do you have those addresses?”

“No, but I have an idea.”

Mike left at a run. Paddy followed, saying a silent prayer Scott was okay. He found Mike at Scott’s work area.

“I have the addresses.” Mike held up a sheet of paper. Paddy smiled, noticing the pencil rubbing on it. “I would say this second address is where we need to head. Scott would have checked out the closest address first.”

Mike headed to the map to pinpoint where they needed to go. “This last address is way out on Long Island. There’s a long bridge connecting it with the mainland. That’s got to be the building.”

They both went running for their coats. “Paul, you need to follow us in your car. You’ll understand where we’re headed when we call into dispatch, but Scott is way overdue checking out those properties.”

Chapter 78

Mike and Paddy were quiet, deep in their own thoughts as they headed out.

Jason had not been found and was most likely another victim. Carole Daniels had either been killed or took her own life when confronted. Scott was missing, but hopefully still alive. Mercedes was considered a suspect and could be involved in Scott’s disappearance. If there were other women, the task force had no idea who or where they were. They had a potential building where Scott could be located.

Summarizing it all, Mike thought,
if we had a ten pound bag, we have twenty pounds of shit at this time.
“Paddy, do you think tonight is going to be a good night or something we will want to forget?”

“I’ve already said my prayers for Scott. I have a feeling Carole called the other women involved. One or more of them have Scott.”

Chapter 79

I could feel her breath on me. She was so close, lowering me down. What was next? I know this is Mercedes, but she is acting totally out of character. I had loved the fragrance of gardenia but was beginning to hate it.

I felt the rough floor against my naked body and could feel the blood rushing back into my feet. I couldn’t possibly stand, let alone walk or run. Her breathing was labored. It was time to plead.

“Mercedes, you can’t do this to me. You wanted to be friends. I care about you. Don’t you care about me?”

Of course, I could not see her response coming. I felt her well-placed kick and it turned my stomach. I tried to move to prevent another low blow. The next one landed under my chin. Thank God she was barefoot.

She was not responding the way I had hoped. My hope was that she would eventually come to her senses. She liked me. She told me so. She was untying my feet. I thought,
maybe I could run, but to where? Not a chance blindfolded.

When my feet were untied, she stood with her feet between my legs. Neither of us moved, and I didn’t like what came to my mind.

I heard the water splash as she walked around behind me. She grabbed me under my armpits. With more strength than I could have imagined, she had me on my feet. In the process of lifting me, I could tell she was naked also. She held the rope binding my hands and pushed me forward.

I was surprised my legs could move, but they were all pins and needles. We moved at a slow pace and the next thing I knew, we were rising up slowly in what felt like an elevator.

She turned me to face her, and our bodies touched. The warmth of her body was a welcome contrast to the cold I had been subjected to. My body reacted to the contact. The elevator stopped, but she didn’t move.

“Mercedes, we can still be friends.”

Her repeated slaps shocked me, and I tried to withdraw from them. I almost went over the low horizontal rail. She pulled me by my ear, and I followed her blindly.

It was only a few steps before we stopped. She let go of my ear and just stood there. I learned not to say anything. She was behind me now, and I wondered if she was going to push me off a second floor balcony or something.

My nightmare came back to me. It was so similar, but so different. It was not crows hovering over me—it was her. I had wondered if crows would eat a live body, but I know now crows were nothing compared to this viper. I was defenseless, doomed, and I knew she knew it.

* * *

I heard the sound of a light switch. She pushed me flat against cold glass. It was ice cold. She held me there for about a minute, then jabbed her foot behind my knees.

I crumpled to the floor. She held my head against the glass. Her next action surprised the hell out of me, if that was possible.

She pulled up my blindfold. It took a second to focus. It was obviously a freezer display window. What I saw turned my stomach, and I gagged. When I closed my eyes, she smashed my face into the glass. I got the point and reopened them.

What I saw were the partial remains of one of the men—his head, hands, feet, and precious parts. They were arranged like trophies. I tried to look at the reflection to see her, but all I could tell was she was a tall redhead.

It had to be Mercedes, but I wasn’t going to talk to her. She turned the display case light off. She pushed me on my knees a few feet across the rough floor. By the time we reached the last display, I saw Jason, or what was left of him.

I knew what she had planned for me. I couldn’t believe it, but that was why she showed me what was left of these men.

I couldn’t help my feelings for these poor hockey players. I still didn’t understand why they were killed, or why I was going to be next. I could feel the blood running down across my lips. My knees hurt, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. Not really for these men, or my fate, but for what Lisa and I were going to miss.

She must have seen my reaction and replaced the blindfold. She lifted my body slowly, almost like it was something sexual. My hands were in the wrong place, or maybe they were perfect for her. I focused on trying to formulate a plan, but, before anything could develop, we were moving.

We were in the elevator for the slow descent. She was licking the blood from my face. I realized then that this person, if Mercedes, had a side I had never seen before. And never wanted to see again.

She knew she had me right where she wanted me. The elevator had stopped minutes ago; she hadn’t.

Then, with a form of rage, she pushed me out of the elevator onto the floor. I crashed in a lump, and slid across the rough wood floorboards. I stayed right where I was, but I could hear her moving ropes.

I could smell them. She came over, dragging me this time until I bumped into a wall. She lifted me again, turned me around, and pushed me backward. I thought I was going to fall from a balcony, but it was a short fall to a rough wood platform.

She quickly tied each of my ankles and then sat me up and untied my hands. However, with a practiced move, she had new ropes on each hand, and she pushed me flat again. She stretched each of the ropes so I could not move.

I could feel my head hanging over the side of the platform and the edge cut into my neck, wrists, and ankles. This was the apparatus they used to dismember the men. I was sure. I thought the only time I had left was the time between that moment and when she became bored with me.
What else could she want?

I wanted to know before I died if Mercedes would really do this to me? She jumped on me and kissed me. It was unlike any kiss I’ve ever had. The fragrance was gardenia. I remembered Mercedes and my kiss, and this had more passion.

Please, Mercedes, don’t do this, I thought. Please, God, don’t let this happen to me.

This must be male rape.

I was at her mercy. There was nothing I could do.
Should I beg for my life?
My body was reacting to her advances.

I considered my fate.
If I extend her interest, would I benefit, and possibly live longer? This, after all, is Mercedes.

She acted swiftly.

Chapter 80

She was kneeling on the platform with her lower body against mine. She lifted the blindfold quickly.

I blinked several times and her image came into view. She was a redhead. I could see that clearly. I smelled the sweet smell of gardenia. I blinked some more and saw her smiling face. It was Mercedes.

* * *

My heart was beating wildly; I could hear it in my ears. I blinked again in disbelief, staring at her face—and stared some more.

It
wasn’t
Mercedes.

I hesitated acknowledging it but felt that was what she was looking for.

“You’re not Mercedes.”

She shifted her body, waving the long knife blade in front of my eyes running the back of the blade down my body, stopping dangerously close to vital parts. She moved the knife and replaced it with her hand. “I saw your name in your wallet—you’re Scott Tucker, and, I might add, a very fine specimen.” I felt her strong grasp.

We were nose to nose. “I’m not Mercedes. I find that very interesting, because my younger sister’s name is Mercedes. She’s the smart one in the family. I’m Melanie . . . but we’re both named ‘Strong.’” She tightened her grip, and my stomach turned again.

“Appropriately named, but you know that at the moment, don’t you?”

She removed her hand and fondled me with the knife. “Scott you saw those trophies upstairs. Well, I’m about to cut these parts off. We do that before we kill the men. That’s when they really learn to regret what they’ve done.”

I saw my chance. “I haven’t raped anyone. I don’t deserve to die this way. I’m in love with a woman, and I want to marry her,” I said, thinking I might be able to stall her.

“Tell me some more, Mr. Tucker, but don’t you lie, or you will regret it.”

I was quick to get it out. “I love Lisa Anderson, whom I met the day President Kennedy was killed. It didn’t take us long to fall in love. I even saved her life.”

“That’s very heroic. Do you like what I’m doing to you now?”

Her hand was on my body. I remembered what she said about lying. “Yes, your hand reminds me of your sister.” It wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t know how she would react.

“That’s very good, Mr. Tucker. There may be hope for the male race yet. How do you know my sister?”

“We both work on the task force, trying to find who’s killing those men.”

“Did you rape her?”

“No.”

“Did you make love to her? Remember what I said about lying.”

“No, but we spent the night together. We were very close, but we didn’t make love. I thought you were her.”

Her hand was back. “We both love the same perfume, Gardenia Mania, which is why you thought I was her. You must be wondering why we killed those men. I’m going to tell you the details before I cut you but then I must kill you. I’m sure the longer you listen, the longer you’ll live, and the more I can enjoy these moments. I have the power, you know.”

It didn’t take much to remind me that she had more than my life in her hands. I was silently praying for a way out, but I knew I only had a few minutes left.

* * *

I noticed she resembled Mercedes, but the years had not been kind to her. Her features were rougher.

“I’m going to tell you our stories. Each of the men was told why they were being tried and punished. We didn’t consider it killing. We thought of it as revenge for what they had done. We were their day in court; unfortunately, we were their jury, and their executioners.”

My mind was on Lisa while Melanie continued to entertain herself.

“Jean Jensen had been raped continually by her stepbrother Paul Maloney. He and his dad lived with them. He used something Jean and her girlfriends did with him to blackmail her into having sex with him. He was the first to be tried by our court and found guilty without question. His was the first display, or trophy, you saw upstairs.”

I was glad she was talking, but she was now hurting me.

Her voice seemed far away. “Sandra Sangello was raped by her cousin, Tony Sangello. It seems, during one of Sandra’s more frisky moments, she posed for some explicit pictures. He used the pictures against her, threatening to go to his parents if she didn’t have sex with him. Since their dads were related, it would have gotten back to her parents. He was also tried and convicted . . . and separated. He bawled like a baby just before she cut him here.”

She stopped talking to pay more attention to what she was doing to me. Then she moved back to my face and kissed me passionately. I tried to give her the impression that I was interested, but she could tell, I’m sure.

She resumed talking to me, but more softly now. “The younger sister of Carole Daniels, who called me earlier to alert me that her apartment building was the target of a police visit, was about fifteen when Jason’s gang caught her and raped her for a whole weekend.”

I thought I heard something in the distance.

“Her parents didn’t want the publicity of a trial, so nothing was ever done. Jason painfully recounted so many rapes, we lost count. He was a no-brainer. Carole’s rage was real scary stuff. I shutter every time I remember what she did to him. Carole worked her knife in slow motion.”

She stopped talking and went back to her diversion.

Shortly, she resumed talking. “My own situation brings it close to Mercedes. She was threatened by Bob Sullivan. That was his biggest mistake. However, he and I were lovers earlier for a period of time.”

Her touch became much gentler.

“My parents and Mercedes would go away weekends, and he would visit. Bob was a jock. One weekend, he had a party at his house, and he came to visit. I got carried away and allowed him to tie me up.”

The emotion was now coming out in her touch.

“His friends joined him and enjoyed me the entire weekend. The rape was bad enough, but their taunts at school afterward were unbearable. Bob just laughed when I asked whether he cared about me. I enjoyed making him regret he was a man.”

I was getting more uncomfortable with what she was doing. I had to do something to break her attention. “Would that killing have been the end?”

“It’s funny you asked that question. We talked about whether we would continue to wield our form of justice, or call it a day. We never answered the question before all of this happened. You know I can’t let you live. You said Mercedes and you wanted to be friends? How does that stand? Not that it matters now?”

“I love Lisa and explained that to Mercedes. She asked if we could be friends.”

“You said you saved Lisa’s life. Tell me that story; remember, I’m the jury here.”

I thought I was doing a good, if not an uncomfortable job of extending my execution. “She was going to be killed by Jimmy Ballou, who had killed some camp counselors. It was what he considered a revenge for a branding they did to him, when they were all younger with raging hormones.”

“Jimmy got Lisa because her mother owned the camp. I helped to rescue her.”

* * *

There was a loud crash, and I had to check to see if I was still alive. I was.

The next thing I knew, someone charged across the room and took Melanie off me down to the floor with a flying leap.

It was Mercedes. Somehow, she found me and was fighting for me. I strained to see them rolling on the floor. Melanie lost the knife when she was knocked down.

Mercedes was having a hard time holding Melanie since she only had her by her long red hair, but Mercedes had a firm grip and was striking Melanie with her fist.

However, Melanie was able to escape Mercedes’ grasp and pushed her back against one of the columns. It took her breath away, and she slid down the column. Melanie knocked her head with the handle of the knife. I could tell Mercedes was out cold. Melanie rubbed her own neck, assessing the damage.

She got up quickly and grabbed some rope. She stood Mercedes against the column and tied her to it. It took her a few minutes to make all of the ties. Mercedes was alive, but not going anywhere.

Melanie came over to me. “Well, Scott, is this the first time women were fighting over you? I have to admit, Mercedes and Lisa know how to pick them. You’re as fine as any of the trophies upstairs.”

She picked up where she left off like nothing had happened.

“Scott, I’m really sorry I don’t have days to entertain you, but I have a lot of work to do. I have to dispose of the body parts upstairs, and then take care of you and Mercedes.”

“We were never that close after I was committed. Trying to burn Bob’s parents’ house down next door was the final straw, they said.”

I looked at Mercedes, who was coming to.

“My ‘other’ got me out of the institution—she knew how to talk to people. She fortunately doesn’t pop out much anymore. I can’t stand her; she’s too good.”

I could see Mercedes was observing my situation and listening to Melanie. I wondered if she remembered my naked dream . . . here it was, with just some minor changes.

“Scott, here’s what happens next. She grabbed me again, taking my breath away. I cut these off first, which makes you not care about the next part.”

I couldn’t hold the gasp back.

“Up over your head is what we call the ‘Guillotine.’ It takes care of the other parts. Do you see that thing hanging near the ceiling?”

I didn’t answer. She made me regret that. I choked out an answer. “Yes.”

“Well, I throw some switches and the weight that lifts the elevator does its magic, and the body parts go flying. Very bloody and messy; that is mostly why we don’t wear any clothes. That hole in the floor over there is very convenient. The ocean is right there, which makes it handy to roll the remaining torso right into the blue sea.”

Mercedes was struggling against her restraints. I felt the pressure of Melanie’s hand and knew what must be coming next. I closed my eyes and braced for the pain.

There was a loud crash. I was confused about what was happening. When I opened my eyes, I saw Melanie run to the open hole in the floor and jump in.

Mike and Paddy rushed over to me and Mercedes. Mike took off his coat and covered me while he untied my ropes. Paddy untied Mercedes. The other officers were pointing their guns down where Melanie had gone, but they were shaking their heads.