Chapter 5

7❧
An hour later there was plenty of work do like fixing the roofs and fixing the fences. The grandson helped some as he remained quiet. Which was good for him because the stranger didn’t have much to say to begin with. He work on and end jobs most of his life so doing this kind of work wasn’t foreign to him. Escaping his father’s wrath by working with neighbors helped him escape. By five he showered in the outside bathroom before Taylor brought him a plate of food and sweet ice tea. He didn’t eat with the family he enjoyed sitting outside and being alone outside. He had already cleaned the room that he left earlier leaving everything spotless. It took him a couple of hours going over everything before handed the keys to the motel manager. The girl he had killed hadn’t been missed so before she did surface, he didn’t want any connection around that bar. If he came every weekend the people there would ask questions. If he came here and there he would fly under the radars and that is where he wanted to be until he decided his next move would be. He was actually tired which was something he rarely was. The little apartment didn’t have a television however he had a radio. He turned the channel listening to the news. He could never miss watching he news. He heard on the radio that a body of a local woman had been found at the lake. Someone reported finding a shoe but he got rid of all of her clothing so how did her shoe get discovered. He never missed anything and he made sure to get rid of everything.
He couldn’t take off because the farmer and his family were still watching and he didn’t want them to get suspicious whatsoever. So now he knew he would have to lay low and working on the farm would give him a cover. He wondered who had found the body was if fishermen or someone who went canoing? The shoe being left there did upset him considering how careful he had been. So now he would have to be even more careful next time. He listen to the radio and took notes so that he knew what was going on.
8❧
Karen didn’t want to be there any longer as they got Tabitha’s body out of the water. It was now going on five and she already called the school letting them know she was not going to make it. She didn’t want to look at Tabitha’s body considering they were not exactly friends but she knew her. Alex and Martin arrived after Gretchen had called them and he was yelling wanting to see her body. He was tore up knowing the woman he loved was stark naked and had been thrown away like trash. The deputies were asking him questions and he had an alibi as did Martin. Gretchen stood by Karen who was speechless as she already gave a statement. She hadn’t called Gregory letting him know where she was because her phone had died. Gretchen did and told him what was going on. Right now forensic was trying to gather evidence and people were watching was going on. There hadn’t been a murder here in such a long time that this had brought in local media. Who were trying to find out what was going on. They wanted to find who the girl was. Gregory finally showed up and saw Karen who looked solemn as if she had been crying. He pulled off his jacket and wrapped around her and led her to his truck. Someone told the media that it was Karen who alerted the deputies about the missing girl. They came rushing towards his truck but he lifted the scooter to the back of his truck and taking off.
She didn’t say anything and didn’t know how to explain what had happened.
“Do you want anything to eat? You must be starving.”
“I am sorry I didn’t call you. I just got the phone and I didn’t really get a chance to charge it.”
“It’s okay. What do you want to eat?”
“A pizza would be alright.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“You will think I am crazy. I know because I already had gotten stares while I was there.”
“Can I have a say on what I think. I don’t think you are crazy. I don’t think you’re comfortable with yourself either.”
“I am not comfortable around anyone let alone myself.”
“I can see that.”
She could feel him feeling upset and looked towards the ground not wanting to look up and he finally looked over at her. He just pulled over and parked the truck, “Yesterday you felt odd being at the apartment. You said your intuition something just didn’t feel right. Then Gretchen said you wanted to take your scooter out for a ride and you happen to find Tabitha’s shoe. Apparently her body wasn’t that far from where you were. Last night you were having nightmares and you seem to hide. So I want to clear the air okay. I don’t think you giving me a chance and you are afraid of trusting. I think you are different from others and that I am drawn to you.”
He put her hand on his chest where she could feel his heart, “I am real Karen. I am not here to judge you and I want you to know that you can trust me.”
He kissed her hand before looking to see the way was cleared and then pulled out and headed to the pizza shop in town. Gregory pulled into the parking space and went over to her side and opened the door letting her out. Karen started to relax and touched his back, “You were injured during a football game. You were out for the rest of the year mending. Then while you were in the army you were stationed overseas and while working on one of the jeeps you were shot in the back. They never found the person who shot you and you recovered but you never re-enlisted either.”
He turned to her with wide eyes, “How did you know?”
“I see things and read people. Sometimes being around people I feel their vibe or have strange occurrences that have no explanation. I have been called a freak and I have been told I was weird. So it is easier to stay away from people and not be judge.”
“So you are gifted then?”
“It’s a gift I inherited from my mother’s side. I understand if you want to go.”
“Yes I want to go but inside and get some food.”
He opened the door for her and they settled down by the booth. He ordered a beer and she ordered sweet tea and water. She looked at the menu and saw the cheese calzone. When the waitress came back he ordered a meat lover pizza and Karen ordered the cheese calzone. She didn’t look up but then she did and he was watching her. He appeared to be tired but he had gotten up pretty early as well.
“Okay so you were born with a gift. You and your mother share this as well.”
“Yes and no. Her gift is a little different then mine. She can see things through dreams but she can draw things when she is shown things. I can see things and feel things.”
“What about your dad?”
“My dad knows about my mom and I. My brother hated it cause my mom knew when he was up to something. Sometimes my brother and I have a connection but it’s not a very strong link.”
“It doesn’t work when it comes to the lottery though.”
She chuckled with him, “No. It doesn’t work like that.”
The waitress came back and set their food on the table. Karen saw the waitress smiling at Gregory but when she turned to Karen the smile disappeared. The ticket was place on the table and the waitress walked away and headed to the back. She watched the two eat their food and she turned to the cook. How is good looking guy with that cow?
The cook and the other waitress started laughing and the waitress started making cracks until they realized they had gotten a little too loud. Karen face felt hot as she put the food down and left the restaurant. They scattered when Gregory asked for a manager. The guy who looked to be right out of high school came out and Gregory snapped and told him what had happened.
“I am sure they didn’t mean anything by it sir.”
“They called my girlfriend a cow and you didn’t hear what they were saying?”
“I didn’t hear them. However I will have a talk with them. I will take care of your ticket and I do apologize for their rudeness.”
“I think they owe her an apology. Not you.”
He went outside and saw Karen standing by the truck.
“Come back inside Karen. You need to start standing up for yourself. Come on.”
“Can we just go?”
“No. You need start finding your voice. You are not a cow and you are gorgeous. Come inside and stand up for yourself. You are stronger then you realize.”
She took a deep breath and followed Gregory back inside and the staff lined up except the waitress she didn’t feel like she owed anyone an apology. Karen walked up to her and smiled, “I forgive you. You obviously have lower confidence about yourself or else you wouldn’t need to degrade anyone to lift your own self up.”
Karen went back to the table and ate some of her calzone and Gregory sat down next to her.
9❧
The night manager walked up to the waitress, “I am not going to fire you. However, you are paying for their meal. If you do it again you will be fired.”
He turned to the others, “Paying customers deserve to be treated better than joke puns. They pay your checks and keep this building going. There will be no next time. Okay.”
The night manager went over to the table and looked at Karen, “I am deeply sorry please don’t let one rotten apple spoil your experience here.”
The food was delicious and they took the leftovers home. The waitress came by the table and cleaned up and under the lady’s plate she found a five dollar tip. Now she felt rotten because the lady could have left nothing and she would have been out twenty-five dollars. The night manager came by and saw the waitress holding a five dollar tip.
“I guess some people can over look your stupidity little sister. You know who he is right?”
“No. His mother’s boyfriend owns this place. That is Mrs. Steele’s son. You better hope and pray our boss doesn’t fire us.”
She took a deep sigh and knew that she really had screwed up.
Gregory pulled into his driveway pulled into the garage. Tonight from the looks of things it would be best to park out of sight in case the media went looking for Karen.
He sent his instructor a message saying he would be coming in later. Then went to take a shower before settling in for the night. She already went into her room and plugged in her phone and called her mother. Hopefully her mother didn’t already go to bed. After a few minutes her father answered he phone it had been his day off. He and her mother had just got back from shopping.
“Hey sweet pea, we are hoping you can come down for Thanksgiving.”
“I like to. Seriously miss y’all.”
“Look little girl we just got in and we are beat. Can we call you in the morning?”
“Yes daddy that is fine.”
“We have your nephew with us because your brother and sister-in-law are working all the over time they can get.”
“I understand that.”
“Alright sweet pea. We will call you tomorrow.”
She looked at her phone and she thought about home and wondered if maybe she should move back. Karen heard Gregory getting out of the shower and she walked outside her door waited for him to get out of the shower. He had on some shorts and tight shirt when he saw her standing by her room door.
“I want to thank you by the way.”
“For what.”
“For everything. Letting me stay here and counseling me. I just want to say thank you.”
“There are still some good guys out in the world Karen. Want to watch a movie?”
“A comedy perhaps.”
“I have just the one.”
Gregory made some popcorn and put in one of the classic something his grandmother watched when she was a child and she later would watch it with him. Karen sat in his lap as he pulled up a blanket over them so they could watch the movie. Probably an hour into the movie they both fell asleep. He woke up seeing that it was nearly two in the morning. He scooped her up and went into his bedroom and laid her down as he cuddle alongside of her. She was a deep sleeper when she did sleep. He held her close and he too closed his eyes and finally went back asleep. She didn’t move much as she slept and for once she didn’t have any nightmares. Karen found herself in a wedding dress and Gregory was dressed in his military attire. She smelled roses and saw beautiful butterflies around them. Then in the shadows she saw a dark shadow creeping along. Then she saw Tabitha running from the shadowy figure. Tabitha trying to tell Karen but then she woke up. What started as a wonderful dream ended with her terrified. She knew Tabitha wasn’t at peace. She also knew the killer hadn’t left the area. She laid back down and saw that she was sleeping with Gregory in his bed as she rolled over looking at him. Her finger tips moving along his facial features and then he was staring at her.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Just a bad dream.”
He pulled her close letting her head rest on his chest while his hand rubbed her back. She could hear his heart beating in a steady pace and soon she closed her eyes again. He wanted to love her but he didn’t want her to feel that was rushed and wanted to wait. He wasn’t a virgin but she was. He held her and he could feel her hand moving through his medium cut hair. They went back to sleep and for the rest of the night she didn’t have anymore nightmares. By morning he gave her a kiss before going to his bathroom and brushed his teeth. She woke up and heading to her bedroom where her bed was still made and she too brushed her teeth after showering. She put on yoga pants and workout sweater because today she was going to the gym. Especially after yesterday’s event. She had put on her new sneakers and started making a protein breakfast of eggs and bacon and fixed some coffee to go with everything. She cleaned up the mess and then made some toast when Gregory came into the kitchen. He was already on the phone letting the school know he wasn’t coming in today. They must have been on the same wavelength because he too was dressed in his workout clothes.
“This is a surprise.”
“Figured it was my turn to cook something.”
“Bacon. A way to any man’s heart.”
He took the jam out of the fridge and spread some jam with the butter but she only wanted butter on her toast as she piled as much as she could in one slice of toast.
He saw the black yoga pants she wore when she got up to pour some more coffee for herself and brought some over to him as well.
“Those pants are very sexy on you.”
“We didn’t even do anything.”
“Well you do look sexy.”
“I think you had too much bacon.”
He got up leaned downward and kissed her with passion. Though she had never been kissed he put her fantasy kissing to shame. It wasn’t until the phone rang did they stop making out. It was her parents calling like her dad had said they would.
“Hey baby girl how are you?”
“Hey mom. Doing good about to go to the gym. How are you?”
“We are good finally got most of everything taken care of and back on track. I see you got a cell phone about time.”
“Yes. Dad mention something about thanksgiving.”
“Yes we want you to come home you and the new you are seeing.”
“How do you know?”
10❧
“I knew you were acting funny so I called Gretchen before I called you and she told me my baby girl is seeing this guy. So I hope you bring him down so he can meet us.”
“We only just started dating recently and I don’t know if…”
“I think he would love to bring you home and darling you deserve to be happy. And I am happy you moved out of that apartment. That place seemed to be a little dark especially recently.”
“You know we cannot stay very long down there right?”
“Three days won’t kill you. Plus it would be good for you to get away from there. I almost wished you would move back but I think you should finish schooling.”
“Mom can I ask you something?”
“Yes go ahead.”
“Have you been drawing anything recently?”
“I sent you my sketches. I don’t want you to ride that scooter anymore. Do you carry your spray and taser still?”
“Yes. And I got dad’s .38 also.”
“I think you should consider going to school during the day again. I know you found that shoe and that wasn’t there and I just don’t like the man in the shadows.”
“My nightmares are more vivid.”
“Just don’t be alone for a while child. Twice you already have been close to death. That child was right.”
After few minutes of having a conversation with her mother and saying hello to her nephew. She was finally off the phone and staring back at Gregory who was sipping his coffee.
“My mother and my dad have asked me to come down for Thanksgiving. I would also like for you to join us.”
“Of course. I will attend Thanksgiving with your family.”
“Can we swing by the school on the way to the gym?”
“Yeah. I don’t see why not.”
She pulled her into a ponytail and then grabbed her satchel before joining Gregory in his truck. He drove them to the school while he went to talk to his instructor and handed in some of his work he done at home. Karen requested to be put on full time and this would start tomorrow. She hoped this would fast track her so that she could graduate a lot quicker. An hour later they were at the gym and she began doing light weights. After doing circuit training she jogged on the treadmill for at least fifteen minutes. Gregory was lifting weights and working out his arms and stomach. The workout did them both some good when his sister called him.
“They are calling the workers for a meeting about what had happened to Tabitha.”
“When is the meeting?”
“Like now.”
“Well no one called us.”
“They called everyone but Karen.”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
Karen looking at her phone as she received a text message from Gretchen about a meeting.
“I forgot to give my uncle my new number.”
“Yeah I kind of figured that. My sister wants to make it into something that it isn’t.”
“So much for taking a shower.”
“Well, they may hurry up after they smell us.”
She laughed as she reached into her bag and sprayed to make sure she didn’t stink. He reached into the console and sprayed himself as well. They walked into the bar where everyone else was sitting. Tasha glaring at her brother and then at Karen. Karen tried not to let it bother her as she sat down and he sat right behind her when her uncles were standing.
“Karen, Gretchen told us you have a new number. Don’t leave here till we get the new number okay.”
“Yes sir.”
Alex and Martin were standing near Eric. Who was standing next to two well dressed men in suits.
Richard and Harold and Richard’s wife, Carol were standing in front of the group.
“You all know about Tabitha Moore. Gretchen and Tabitha’s sister are getting the funeral arrangements so just letting you know when everything is set up I hope you all will attend Tabby’s funeral. There are two Federal Agents here wanting to talk to all of you. If you can remember anything the night Tabitha left the bar please help them with everything you know.”
Tasha raised her hand, “Why don’t they ask our psychic about what she saw. I mean she finds the shoe and just so happens where she finds the shoe there is Tabitha’s body.”
The agents looked directly at Karen who was now blushing. Harold glared at Tasha who didn’t get the hint to shut up. Too late though the agents were taking notes. Karen looked up, “I was just riding my scooter out that day. That was it.”
She got up and headed outside and sat on the crates as she started calm down. She needed to calm down. She looked up and saw flashes again and seeing Tabitha getting on the motorcycle without having a care in the world. She looked towards the park which wasn’t where they found her body. She walked over to the road and again the flash of the motorcycle heading towards the park. Her mother’s words crept into her mind about staying alone. She looked up to the motel and she saw darkness flowing to the back of the motel room. Around her was gray and nothing was in color until she turned her attention to the park where she could hear gasping sound.
She felt a pull to go to the park something wanted her to go there but then the little girl from the graveyard was shaking her head no.
“Hey come back inside Karen.” She looked up and saw Martin.
“I feel like a freak show now in there.”
“Tasha is jealous because her brother no longer putting her needs first.”
“Is Alex hating me too?”
“Actually cousin. After the agents leave. You, myself, Gregory and Alex are going to let you use your gift. Watching you out here, I know you see something. The agents have no leads.”
“They won’t believe me. They go by science and what they can see and feel and etc.”
“They have been following this serial killer for a while and they have no leads or witnesses. Right now they are willing to try anything.”
“I really was just riding my scooter yesterday.”
“Yes something was driving you too. Look I can remember you as a child saving my life and finding aunt Carol’s dog. Look we the family knows what you can do. Gregory we all know will not let you get hurt. So please let’s help the agents.”
“I thought they were not going with us.”
“They don’t have to but they want to ask you a few questions and then they will go from there.”
“Okay. But they are not going to believe me you know that right.”
“You do you. Either they will or they won’t. Hopefully they will take this seriously and you could put them closer to finding Tabby’s killer.”
She followed her cousin back into the bar and the agents were in Richard’s office. She went in the room by herself and the two agents were stoned face but she sat down and looked at the file.
“You have six fake pictures and you think I am full of shit.” She took a deep breath, “Tabby’s body was cleaned and no evidence found on her basically who ever done this isn’t a fool. Agent Calhoun your wife left you because you are too much of a workaholic. Agent Rogers, you were brought in because you are a profiler and you are not off but this guy is different then other serial killers. Oh congrats about having a new baby girl.”
They looked at her and didn’t say anything and put the file away because there were six files in there that was all faked.
“You have our attention. What do you feel or see with Tabitha’s death?”
“She wasn’t killed at the lake. Her body was cleaned with bleach. The serial killer had never taken any trophy’s until this one. I know the killer is still in the area. He only kills those who remind him of the one he is truly searching for. He tried changing his MO. He strangles the female victims but he shot the males involved except one.”
“Anything else about Tabitha’s murder?”
“He raped her and took his time cleaning the body. He always cleans up after himself.”
“What are we off about with it comes to profiling him?”
“The age; he isn’t as old as you believe. His first murder wasn’t very cleaned. He was abused growing up but he wasn’t always like this.”

A total of 23 chapters

Chapter 5

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