Branded for Murder (19 page)

Chapter 46

We heard the update about Vincenti being arrested, and that there had been another strangling victim. Colleen let us know Mike had called Paddy, who was still with the AG, to inform him that we had another strangling, and potentially a new killer.

We were all in the conference room awaiting Mike and Paul’s return from the latest murder scene. The state police had been contacted by the Attorney General’s office to bring Vincenti to their Topsfield Mass facility for further questioning.

Earlier, I was thinking about Jackie and the fact we had captured the strangler. Now I didn’t really know what we had. I was anxious to hear what Mike would tell us about the latest strangling. I looked around the conference room. The excited faces I had seen earlier about the strangler being arrested were all replaced by dejected ones.
How do these guys do this day after day? Do I really want this to be my life?

*.*.*

Soon, Mike and Paul returned from the murder scene. Paddy arrived shortly after them from the AG’s office.

Mike was standing in front of everyone in the conference room. The only one not present was Colleen. Mike seemed to always have a smile on his face, but he looked like the pressure of the world was on his shoulders at the moment. He said something briefly to Paddy, privately.

He broke up the silence that had overtaken the room. He spoke up saying, “Good morning, everyone! As you know we have some good news and some bad news. Our prime suspect, Arnold Vincenti, is in custody with the state police at this time. However, we have another strangling on our hands.”

He continued with, “We need confirmation of what I’m going to tell you, but I’m pretty sure the autopsy will confirm our crime scene observations. Our latest victim, Karen Kellerman, who was thirty-nine, with a husband and two teenage daughters was found strangled in her home. She was found by a neighbor after the husband couldn’t reach her. The husband and two daughters were skiing in Vermont. Wilmington is normally a small quiet community, so this is very much out of the ordinary. At first observation, the murder scene looked similar to the other strangling cases, but was indeed different.”

I noticed Mike was not drinking coffee. That was very unusual for him.

“Mrs. Kellerman was found naked and tied to the bed. The ropes holding her were tied with hangman knots. This was not the case with the other strangling cases. She had been strangled with panty hose. The Medical Examiner found semen on her body and also in her vagina. There were two other things distinctively different; she had been oiled head to toe with baby oil, and branded in the pubic area.”

He looked around the room, adding, “Gentlemen, we have a different strangler. I base this on the differences at the crime scene and the unlikely ability for Vincenti to drive forty miles round trip after visiting Mrs. Stevens around midnight. It looks like we’re going to be continuing our investigation, to help solve this new case, but my real fear is we have another killer on our hands. Pray this is just
one event,
and not the start of a new series of stranglings. Do you have any questions?”

Phil asked, “Mike, has Vincenti said anything about either the visit to Stevens’ apartment last night, or anything else?”

“He hasn’t confessed anything, if that’s what you’re referring to. However, his fingerprints were obtained. The state police lab will check his prints against the partial print we have on file. Patricia Stevens, and the cab driver, are going to view a lineup and hopefully ID Vincenti. He has altered his appearance slightly, from the sketch, and has started a mustache.”

“If he is picked out of the lineup, the State Police will confront him about his visit to her last night. Hopefully, that will loosen his tongue about his earlier visit and possibly any of the other stranglings. The first impression we have from the State Police is he doesn’t look like the type who will be hard to break. In my opinion, we should be ecstatic we have captured our strangler. Hopefully, we do not have another serial killer.”

I thought about my commitment to help catch Jackie’s killer—
Jackie we may have finally caught the guy who killed you. If we have, I should be thrilled, but why do I feel so remorseful? Do I want to stop my involvement with the task force, or continue to participate? I didn’t understand what I was feeling.

Chapter 47

“Lisa, you should not be upset with Scott. Yes, he did help catch his cousin’s killer. I can understand why he wants to help catch this new strangler,” Judy said, trying to console her.

“Judy, he hasn’t spent much time with me since Thanksgiving when they captured the New England Strangler. I can understand his personal commitment to help catch his cousin’s killer, but why is he so involved with that other strangling? I tried to talk with him about it but he didn’t really answer my question. I don’t think he understands it himself. I just hope it’s not to spend time away from me,” she said, starting to tear up.

“Lisa, we’re going to go skiing this weekend. Neil can’t fit all of us and the ski equipment in his car comfortably, so why don’t you have Scott drive his car? That will give you four hours or more to have him alone to yourself. I’m sure you can get him to open up to you.” She went over to hug Lisa.

She was glad she had a friend like Judy. They were soon laughing about what she said she would do to get him to pay more attention to her.

*.*.*

“Scott, tomorrow night is New Year’s eve! I wonder what festivities the
Balsams
will have to usher in 1963.” She noticed the ski ends flapping on top of Neil’s station wagon as they crossed over the New Hampshire state line.

I replied, “I’m sure they will have quite the celebration. I have heard stories of how elaborate they decorate the ballroom. The brochure said they will have a twelve piece orchestra playing music until the wee hours of the morning. I thought we talked about that.” I looked over at Lisa, who was staring out the passenger window.
Something wasn’t right, I could sense it.

She adjusted herself in the bucket seat to face me. “Scott, you haven’t been yourself since the strangler was caught. That was over a month ago. We see each other, but it’s not the same as when we first met,” she said softly, bowing her head. “Scotty I love you. I feel lately that you’re somewhere else. Are we still okay?” She looked over at me. I could see the tears in her eyes.

“Lisa, you mean everything to me. I’m sorry if you feel I haven’t paid enough attention to you. I want to spend all of my free time with you. I guess…”

She interrupted me, complaining, “You don’t make the time for me like you used to. You just said it yourself; ‘free time’ isn’t what it used to be as far as I’m concerned.” A few seconds later she apologized by saying, “I’m sorry Scott, I shouldn’t have said that.” She quickly turned away, curling her body up against her car door.

I wanted to stop the car to show her how much I love her. However, following Neil and the others wasn’t going to allow it.
I had hurt her more than I knew. I was glad she was sharing this with me and not holding it inside. I need to show her how much she means to me and how much I love her. There was something about the new strangling that even I didn’t understand. Why was I so involved with the case? I was spending considerable time trying to help understand why Karen was a target of the new killer. However, nothing made any sense. We had really nothing to go on. I went over all of the other rape cases, noting nothing similar.

*.*.*

We were several hours into our drive to northern New Hampshire. Lisa had fallen asleep after her outburst, giving me time to think about what she said and what I had done. I knew she was correct about my not making as much time for her, but it wasn’t that I didn’t love her. She meant everything to me.

Vincenti confessed to his visit to Stevens’ apartment. Hours later he confessed to her earlier rape. Within a day of confessing to that, he confessed to being the New England Strangler. He said in some cases, he gained access into the women’s apartments dressed as a woman detective and in others he posed as a delivery person. The newspapers and TV stations had reports every day about him and his exploits.

They gave the task force credit for solving the strangling cases and putting this guy in jail. However, they were quick to bring up the new strangling and whether we could expect another series of stranglings. Women were not as relieved as we had hoped. However, things had been quiet since the Kellerman case. We were all shaking our heads trying to understand if it was a random killing.

Neil signaled he was turning off the highway, so I followed him up the exit ramp. Lisa must have felt the change in motion and woke up. She didn’t say anything noticing Neil’s car pulling into the gas station. He was pulling up to the gas pumps, so I decided to do the same.

The girls got out of Neil’s car, and Lisa followed them without saying anything to me.

As I approached Neil he offered, “Scott, I thought it best to fill up before we get off the highway. We might not find anything open this late at night. The girls have been sleeping since we got on the highway. Jeremy asked if I wanted him to drive, but I told him I would rather drive.”

“Lisa has been sleeping as well. Are you tired, or are you okay? I’m not tired at all, but I’m sure I will be by the time we arrive. I’m glad it’s not snowing, it could be an ugly drive from here since we get onto back roads soon.”

I started toward my car. Neil answered, “I’m not tired, but I should get a coffee, or maybe several. Do you want me to bring you one?”

“Yes that would be nice,” I replied. I needed to go pay and visit the men’s room.

I finished filling the tank, and noticed Lisa talking privately with Judy. I was either in more trouble or they were chatting about our talk. I smiled as I passed both of them. I wondered if she would be riding with me the rest of the way.

*.*.*

Shortly, we were back on the highway. Lisa was watching the road. We hadn’t spoken to each other since we left the gas station.

“Scott, I’m sorry I said those things to you. I know you’re doing what you think you need to, and I shouldn’t try to change your focus. I won’t bring it up again,” she said, moving closer to kiss me. When she leaned against me, I put my arm around her. It was easy to drive with my other arm, and I was glad she was close.

“I love you Lisa. I’ll do my best to pay more attention to you. Really, thanks for letting me know I was not doing a good job.” She put her finger to my lips.

She moved back to her bucket taking off her coat. She looked nice in her white cotton turtleneck jersey. “You look great Lisa. Is it too warm in here?” I asked.

“Its fine, in fact you can turn it down slightly,” she replied. Moving over, she leaned across the console against me, putting her hand on my thigh.

“Are you comfy?” I asked.

“It will do for now.” She blew in my ear.

I took a deep breath. “Okay, it’s going to be a long drive or a very short one, if you keep that up.”

“You love it, and you know it,” she said, playfully.

“Yes I do, but it’s not fair.” After some thought, I said, “Let’s play twenty questions.”

Lisa responded, “You’re going to be sorry, but if that’s what you want to do, you will ruin my surprise.”

“What surprise is that?”

“That’s one,” she announced.

“That’s not fair. I didn’t know we had started. Are we doing yes and no questions?”

“Yes, and that’s two already. This wasn’t my idea. My idea was to surprise you.”

“Okay, is it something we can’t do in public?”

“Can’t is the operative word here, and we could, but no, and that’s three.”

“Is it related to sex?”

“You naughty boy, yes, that’s four.”

“Is it something I will like?”

“Yes, that’s five.”

“Is it something that will be quick?”

“No. That’s six.”

“Is it something we have done before?”

“No, seven.”

I looked at the gauges, everything looked fine. She was still blowing in my ear and nibbling on my ear lobe.

“Is it what you’re doing right now?”

She moved her hand between my legs, leaving it there. I looked at her briefly. She had a big smile. “No to that and the next question, and that’s eight.”

I was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable, needing to adjust things. “Lisa, would you see if you can find a new station on the radio?” It worked.

“Interesting development?”

“What?”

“Down here, and that’s nine.”

“That’s not fair, you’re tricking me.”

“Are you asking me if it’s a trick?”

“No.”

“Good,” she said, as the Platters played. “Do you remember this song?”

“Yes, it was the one we first danced to, right?”

“Yes, you’re right again, and wasting time and questions, that’s ten. You had better get serious or you’re going to have to come up with a surprise for me.”

“Okay, is it something in the Jacuzzi tub?”

“No, but our room has one, that’s eleven.”

I took a deep breath. “Am I exposed?”

“Yes, that’s twelve.”

“Very interesting…I’m naked, am I blindfolded?”

“Yes, but how did you know?” That’s thirteen.”

“Am I free to move about?”

“You are, but you might not want to, fourteen.”

I was getting uncomfortable with these questions.
“Are you entertaining yourself?”

She squeezed me. “Does that excite you?”

“Can’t you tell?”

“Yes, I certainly can and my love that’s two more, sixteen.”

“You’ve played this game and you’re tricking me.”

“Not entirely true,” she said, licking my ear some more.

“Are you tickling me with something?”

“No seventeen.”

“Are you blowing on me like you’re doing now?”

“No not really, eighteen, and only two more. Some Harvard detective you are.”

“I’m finding the other questions hard to express.”

She moved her hand, making me more comfortable. “Is it what you’re doing right now?”

“You’re so impressionable; I knew you would ask that. You really don’t have any imagination, and that’s nineteen.”

“Lisa, this is all so new to me, especially talking this way.”

“You’re a detective; you see all kinds of sex, including the brutal kind. We’re having experiences together. Its okay, you have to roll with it. I’m trying to loosen you up for a wonderful time together. Just roll with it. You have one question left!”

“Let me have some time to think about it, without embarrassing myself.”

“What does every guy fantasize about?”

“Let me think.”

“Build your courage is more like it,” she said, teasingly. She had me right where she wanted me, and she knew it.

“Lisa let me have your ear. I want to whisper to you.” She moved closer, and I blew the words in her ear.

“No, not exactly, but close and that’s twenty. Now you have to figure out some special surprise for me.” She smiled, knowing she had the upper hand. “We have almost two more hours to go before we get there, judging from your heavy breathing I don’t think you’re going to make it much further. Let me relieve some pressure down here.” She unzipped my fly while blowing in my ear.

I smiled at her, feeling the perspiration on my forehead.

“Scotty, you make me so comfortable. I feel like a caterpillar that has finally blossomed into a butterfly. Please don’t be upset with me. I just want to be close to you like when we first met. However, you’re not escaping the fact you now owe me a surprise.

“I couldn’t be upset with you. I love what we have. Let’s always be close, open and honest with each other.” I smiled at her, hugging her close. “I will indeed get even with you.”

“Good. Then let me fulfill your most special fantasy, you’ve earned it.”

There was a rush of cool air, and then the contrast of her hot lips, mouth and tongue.

*.*.*

I was fighting staying awake, but Lisa was enjoying her new found power. When we pulled into the Balsams parking area the Inn was lit up like a winter wonderland, the many lights reflecting off the new powder. It looked like a scene right out of Switzerland.

“Lisa, this is like you. Just shine a little light on you and you’re a gorgeous sight. I promise I will shine my light on you more often.”