Zeke (39 page)

She shrank under his burning gaze.
Huddling against the passenger door, she lowered her eyes to her lap and said
nothing. Trembling, she tightened her jaw to avoid screaming.

“Ah, Susie, you can’t believe how
awesome that was. It was so satisfying, so
tasty,
so
fucking
sweet. If I had it to do over, I’d bring you in and let you watch. Hell, maybe
I’d even let you make a cut or two. I think you’d get off on it.”

Shuddering at the thought of ever
helping Zeke kill someone, Sue barely kept her nausea down.

Zeke dug a cigarette from the pack
on the dash and lit it. “At least I can describe it for you. You want to know,
don’t you? Don’t you, Sue?” Although she didn’t respond, Zeke proceeded to
relive the killing in graphic detail. He was exuberant as he recalled the
terror on the woman’s face, the bucking of her drug-impaired body, the hot feel
of her blood coating his skin in a macabre caress. He waxed poetic for several
miles, using an endearing tone as he recalled the horrific slaughter of his
victim.

The woman’s screams still echoed in
Sue’s brain and she shook her head, trying to shut them out. But they lived in
her memory, would probably live there forever. She forced her breathing to
slow, the pull of the drug working with her as she attempted to retreat
mentally. She tried to picture graduating from college, finding a dream job,
meeting a decent, loving man, and having a baby or two of her own. She’d
eradicate Zeke from her life, pretend she’d never met him. Before she could
sink entirely into the fantasy, Zeke’s voice broke in.

“What’s your damn problem?” His
eyes had turned flat and cold as blue steel. He slowed the vehicle as he stared
at her. “You’re just sitting there like a lump of shit. Sulking. I hate it when
people sulk; it bums me out, brings me down. You should be celebrating with me.
Right when I need you to be supportive, you fail me. You’re ruining my moment
with your suckish attitude, and it’s selfish as hell.” He glanced back at the
road, took a quick drag off his cigarette, blowing the smoke in her direction.

Sue remained quiet, hands in her
lap, pulling nervously on her fingers.

“I’m gonna tell you something for
your own good, Sue. There aren’t many people out there that will tolerate your
shit. You need to get a grip on those moods. They wear on
me
, and I’m a
patient man.” He fixed his eyes on the road ahead, sped up a little, and
continued lecturing her. “Sometimes you really get on my nerves. In fact, I’m
beginning to wonder what I ever saw in you.”

The feeling’s mutual, you
psycho.
Sue turned her head so he couldn’t see her face.

“Did you hear me, Einstein?” Zeke
rolled the window down and tossed out his cigarette butt, sparks flitting
behind them as it bounced on the pavement. “I’m getting
sick
of you.”

“I’m sorry,” Sue mumbled. “I guess
I’m just tired.”

“Yea, right. Whatever. I need to
find a place to wash up.” Zeke turned his full attention to his driving,
watching the signs. The highway was all but deserted at this wee hour of the
morning.

“Right there! Gas station.” Zeke
twisted the wheel, bounced roughly down the exit ramp, and pulled into a
darkened establishment. A few dim security lights shone inside, but the place
was deserted.

“I don’t think they’re open yet,”
Sue said, afraid to get out of the van in this remote location, especially
given Zeke’s current anger toward her.

“No shit! Here’s an idea, why don’t
you shut up.” Zeke slammed the van into park and turned off the engine. He
stomped around the front of the vehicle and opened the passenger door. Jerking
Sue out with one hand, he brandished Big Ben in the other.

He’s going to kill me now.
Sue stumbled along beside him, the cold air whipping her skirt around her legs.
She prayed under her breath as he yanked her toward the side of the building
and shoved her up against the concrete block wall.

She squeezed her eyes shut,
dreading the first piercing stab, hoping he would at least make it quick and
not draw out the torture like he had done with Brenda. Instead of feeling the
knife plunge deep within her as she anticipated, she heard metallic scraping
sounds and opened her eyes. Zeke was prying open the restroom door. It didn’t
take long.

Zeke pushed her into the small
men’s room and closed the door behind them. Without a word, he emptied his
pockets on the edge of the sink, stripped out of his clothes, and turned the
hot water faucet on, letting it run until it warmed up. Using wads of paper
towels, he scrubbed the bloody smears from his skin, tossing the soiled rags on
the floor.

Sue looked away, repulsed. After
washing up to his satisfaction, he cleaned Big Ben and dried the blade and grip
meticulously.

“Need to pee while we’re here,
bunny?” Zeke’s voice was pleasant again, solicitous even. “I doubt there’s
another stop before St. Louis.”

Sue stared at him in amazement. The
mood shift stunned her.

“Well?” He smiled at her in his old
tender way.

Sue nodded. “But don’t watch.”

Zeke laughed tolerantly. “Feeling
shy all of a sudden? I swear, you’re just precious, Sue.” But he gathered his
possessions from the sink and turned his back.

Sue lifted her skirt and sat on the
toilet. When she finished, he escorted her gently back to the van, seemingly
unabashed by his nudity. He stopped at the large green trash bin next to the
building and tossed his clothes in, then stretched, arms upraised.

With dull eyes, Sue regarded his
perfect form. She could see what had attracted her to him, but she hadn’t known
his true mind then, hadn’t known he was evil.

He unlocked the van and settled Sue
into her seat before opening the side door to rummage around for a fresh set of
clothes. They were back on the road in no time.

Traffic increased as they neared
the outskirts of St. Louis. The pink light of dawn stained the horizon like
watered-down blood. A few thin clouds rushed over the sky. Sue rubbed her eyes,
dry now, and sore from crying.

“You hungry, honey?” Zeke patted
Sue’s leg.

Although she didn’t answer, he
pulled into the first fast-food joint he found and ordered breakfast. Sue
surprised herself by salivating over the aroma of the food when it arrived.

Zeke found a parking space on the
other side of the restaurant and they listened to the radio as they ate. When
Sue was almost finished, Zeke fished something out of his pocket and handed it
to her.

“Take a pill, Susie. You look like
you need one.”

“I’d rather not.” Her voice was
timid. “I finally feel like I’m waking up.”

“Come on, now,” he cajoled
good-naturedly. “Open your mouth.”

“Wait a minute. That’s not Xanax;
what is it?”

“Don’t worry about it; just take
the damn thing.”

She did as he ordered, knowing to
resist would only invite trouble. He placed a pill on her tongue and she
swallowed quickly, washing it down with her soda. Still, it left a bad taste.

“Let me see.” Zeke took her chin in
his fingers.

She opened her mouth so he could
check. Satisfied, he smiled at her and stroked her hair. She recoiled from his
touch, but he didn’t seem to notice.

As she waited for the effects of
the medicine, she stared out the window. Looming in the distance was the
Gateway Arch, sun glinting prettily off its surface.

Zeke followed her eyes. “Quite a
sight, huh?”

“Yes.”

“They condemned and demolished
neighborhoods, including historical districts, to make room for it. It’s okay,
but hardly worth the sorrow and cost.”

“I think it’s beautiful.”

“You would,” he said, his tone
indulgent, as if he were humoring a child. Zeke powered up his laptop, attached
his camera, and uploaded the contents. He hummed as he scrolled and clicked. “I
got some great pictures of last night. Wish the flash had worked a little
better. Still, you can see quite a bit of detail. Want to see?”

Sue shook her head. Zeke shrugged
and returned to his task.

“Delete that one. Keep that one.
Keep. Keep. Delete,” he mumbled to himself. “Oh, wow. Keep that one for sure.
Whoa, that’s graphic! What a shot!”

Sue’s stomach churned. She
swallowed hard to hold down her food.

He finally completed the project
and put the camera away, but he stayed glued to the computer’s screen. Just as
Sue felt a numbing
 
relaxation creep
over her, he spoke again. “Guess what, Sue? We’re going to church.”

“Church?” she managed. Was he
experiencing remorse? Ready to confess his sins and seek forgiveness?

“The St. Mary Basilica,” he
announced. “Closed down in 1978 and sitting vacant ever since. Ready to be
explored. It’s got a big fence around it, but that won’t stop me. The place is
supposed to be magnificent still, even in its derelict condition.”

He tucked away the laptop and put
the van into gear. Sue sank down into the seat as he traversed the city
streets. It seemed he knew just where to go.

Zeke reached over and shook Sue.
“We’re here.”

Sue yawned and looked around. They
were on a street lined with old cars, some of which sat on blocks, their tires
long gone. On one side, houses in ill repair were fronted by yards bare of grass.
On the other, the massive St. Mary Basilica towered above them, occupying the
entire block.

Sue felt breathless anticipation as
she stared up at the spires and buttressed gables. It wasn’t a pleasant
sensation, more of an uneasy foreboding.

“Damn.” Zeke peered at the ten-foot fence that surrounded the
property. “There wasn’t any mention of the concertina wire on the website.” He
chewed his bottom lip as he drove around the corner, looking for a way in.
Finding an alley that led to the rear of the monstrosity, Zeke drove along the
fence, searching for a weak spot. What he found was a gate.

He pulled right beside it, checking out the padlock that
secured the gate to the fence.

“Ahh,” he breathed softly. “My luck just goes on and on. Some
idiot didn’t get the shackle down into the locking bar.”

He turned to Sue, grinning. “Hold my hand, sweetie. I
wouldn’t want you trying to run off while I’m hanging out the window.”

Resigned, Sue slipped her hand into his. He reached through
the window, leaning his upper body out, doing something she couldn’t see.
Popping back in, he opened the hand he’d been holding and dropped a padlock
into it. “Bingo, baby!”

Backing up, Zeke aimed the van toward the entry, pulled
forward, and nudged it open. After driving onto the church’s property, he
peered in his rearview mirror, frowning. “Okay. I have to shut the gate. You
stay right where you are.”

He took the keys from the ignition. In a move that scared Sue
badly, he squeezed past the ice chest and hovered over her in her seat.
Grabbing her butt, he pulled her up to meet his crotch, humping her as he
kissed her deeply. “Damn, I want you. But first things, first.”

He opened the door and jumped out, pulling Sue behind him.

They moved to the gate, swung it closed, and Zeke put the
padlock back the way he’d found it. Unless you were right on top of it, you
couldn’t tell it wasn’t latched. He escorted Sue back to her seat, swatting her
on the ass as she climbed in. “I’m going to tap this before long.” He threw her
a lewd wink and returned to the driver’s seat.

Zeke pulled the van through tall weeds and found a ramp
leading a short distance down to a loading dock. He parked there, effectively
hiding the vehicle from view. He grabbed his camera and handed Sue a plastic
bag with the top tied shut. “Carry this.”

Sue took the sack, which she discovered was heavier than
she’d anticipated. She cradled it against her chest, not asking what was
inside; she didn’t think Zeke was in the mood for questions.

After trying half a dozen doors,
they finally found one that had already been broken into. It was obvious
immediately that no one had entered the door for a while; spider webs
crisscrossed the opening in several layers.

Zeke pushed Sue forward. “Knock
those down.”

Sue squealed, stumbled several steps
away from the doorway, and dropped the bag she carried.

“Easy there. That’s fragile.” Zeke
laughed good-naturedly and broke a dead limb from a nearby tree as Sue picked
up the sack. He swept the branch through the webs and used the stick to pull
the door open. Seeing the way clear, he steered Sue into a huge kitchen. Tall
cabinets lined the walls, but the appliances were all missing. Peeling tiles,
dirt, and leaves littered the floor.

They explored both wings of the
great building, discovering a large cafeteria, what appeared to have been study
rooms, a vestry, and a small chapel. In another room, curled and yellowing
announcements festooned a brittle bulletin board, reminders of the church’s
former vitality.

Zeke’s footsteps echoed as he
strode about, taking photos, kicking up dirt and debris. “It’s in pretty damn
good condition, considering,” he remarked.

Sue silently agreed. There was a
surprising lack of graffiti and vandalism, although the large wooden cross
behind the altar was upside down and marked with black pentagrams.

“I
said
, it’s in good
condition,” Zeke repeated impatiently, expecting a response.

“That’s because people know they
shouldn’t do bad things in a church,” Sue whispered.

Zeke scoffed at her. “People do bad
things in churches all the time, Sue.”

“Well, they shouldn’t. It isn’t
right.”

“I didn’t know you were religious,
Susie.” He squinted at her.

“I’m not,” she said softly. “But I
believe.”

“You sure don’t act like it.” He
took a quick picture of her standing forlornly in the aisle, dust motes
swirling about her. “I haven’t seen any evidence of morality issuing from you
on this trip. In fact, I’ve never seen any. And I have the pictures to prove
it.”