Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty
Much later, I’m hard at work in Purgatory, now on the floor with strawberries, chocolate, Cujo, my trusty shotgun, and notecards, all close at hand. My first Cujo was destroyed in a fire. My new Cujo was a wedding gift from Kane. Again, the man really knows me. I haven’t actually kept Cujo this close for quite some time, but I’ve decided that Kane isn’t a paranoid man. If he’s on edge, I’m on edge. Who needs a bodyguard when I have a badass weapon and a box of ammunition?
At this point, I’ve long ago forwarded Tic Tac the case files, printed them for myself, and reviewed the investigations. It’s clear there’s a serial killer at work, but unfortunately, the case is not cut and dry, therefore not easy to solve.
So far, I have managed to create notecards for each victim, who, interestingly enough, are not all students at the university. I review them again now, memorizing names and ages and random details:
Nathan Allen, 21, tonight’s victim, killed Freddy Krueger style, a student, aspiring to be an engineer like his successful father. He lived in an apartment bought for him by his wealthy father.
Miller Johnson, 32, the victim stabbed with a butcher knife, Friday the 13th style. He owned a bar near campus he inherited from his father.
Natalie Smart, 26, who was having sex with another victim, and was stabbed from under the bed, during the act, aka Michael Myers style. She was a real estate agent to the rich and famous.
Grayson Kellerman, 27, who was having sex with Natalie. He was the son of the wealthy owner of the real estate firm Natalie worked for and also her co-worker.
The only student in the mix was Nathan Allen, but they all lived in an area considered a campus haunt. This is why I have a notecard pinned to the board on my wall, that reads “neighborhood connection” as a common denominator and to be considered in all things I review. All of the male victims had wealthy fathers. I don’t know Natalie’s story but she was obviously connected to that wealth. How much so, I don’t know yet. Money and power seem to be possible triggers for the killer, which is why right underneath the “neighborhood connection” card, is another one that reads “money and power.” It’s that card that turns my attention back to Jack Cox who has a card on the board under a “suspects” list.
Natalie and Jack lead to loose ends that I don’t like, as do the mothers of the victims, and I dial Tic Tac to try and clear up any of this I can. “I’d remind you it’s late there,” he answers, “but after reading the case files, I’m guessing you have a serial killer on your hands. Not a good way to come home from your honeymoon.”
“Funny thing how it happened right when I returned, isn’t it?”
“It is a little. What are you thinking?”
“I’m not sure yet, but Jack Cox, this forensic guy who called me to drag me into this place, is bothering me. Check his address. Does he live in an area close to campus?”
“I already checked that and the answer is no.”
“He comes from money, or so he claims. Can you find out if that’s true?”
“I’ll dig around. What else?”
“I need to know about family, friends, and financials for every victim. All of the men had wealthy fathers, but I have nothing on the mothers. I have no idea about Natalie’s family at all.”
“I’m working on all of this already. Natalie doesn’t come from money. Her mother is a nurse. Her father died when she was twelve. He was a family practice doctor, so he wasn’t wealthy.”
“How did he die?”
“Heart attack,” he supplies, always on his game, always ready with an answer.
“Life insurance?”
“I’ll dig.”
“Does her mother work at a local hospital?” I ask.
“No, she’s in Texas. That’s also where Natalie went to school. She moved here with the real estate company she works for now, The Kellerman Group. They have a Texas branch, Austin specifically. Maybe she was at the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“Sleeping with the wrong man,” I murmur thoughtfully, weighing that option, and I conclude nothing more than, “Maybe. Does she live in the neighborhood?”
“Yes. And The Kellerman Group has offices in the neighborhood. I’ll get you a map of where everyone lives and works, including the families of the victims tomorrow.”
“Early, please. I have to deal with my father, the mayor, and the present governor in the morning.”
“I’ll do it before bed. I’ve got information pulled up on tonight’s victim. Nathan’s parents divorced when he was in high school. She’s a teller at a bank, forced to go back to work after the breakup. Obviously, she’ll be ripe for an interview. I’m sending you her address. Moving on to Miller Johnson. His mother owns two restaurants in the city. His father was a well-known chef and had been on the cooking channel a couple of times. His bar was popular because of those connections. I’m also sending you his information.”