Lauren (24 page)

Jack couldn't get through to Lauren. His gut told him something was up. He called for a patrol car, to drive by her place. Ten minutes later, they got word that Lauren's unmarked Crown Victoria was parked outside, on the road. They gave the officers the okay to enter the house.

Three minutes later, one officer confirmed that Lauren had been abducted. They found blood on the rug in the hallway, and a bullet embedded in the wall.

Jack called Tom, who in turn called Eddie. There was an APB out on Lauren's car. Thirty minutes later, two officers on patrol found the car, abandoned a few blocks away, in an empty parking lot.

Outside the back of the building, Eddie paced. He had to be alone. No one knew the hell he was feeling, right now.

He'd lost one woman he'd loved to murder. Wasn't that enough? Now, Lauren was being held God knew where. Once again, he was helpless. The thought of something terrible happening to her filled him with rage.

Why was this happening? He had finally opened up his heart to another woman, and was falling in love again. Lauren was special. A strong, independent, and straight-forward woman. She was exactly the kind of woman he needed to help him move on with his life, show him love again. Now, he might never get the chance to tell her he loved her. The same monster who took his Sarah was responsible for abducting Lauren. His mind was going out of control.

"Hey, buddy. How ya doing?” Ken said, as he approached Eddie, and handed him a soda.

"Anything yet?"

"Not yet.” Ken stared at him. He was silent a moment, as he leaned against the patrol car, where Eddie stood. “So, why didn't you tell me about you and Lauren?"

He turned toward Ken. “How did you know?"

"Come on. You couldn't take your eyes off her since the moment you met. You left the department at 9:00 pm. that night, and the following morning, when they found Jillian in Creek Valley, you said you'd get there in a half an hour. Then, the way the two of you tried to avoid one another. It was obvious to me."

"I can't believe this, Ken. How can this be happening?"

"She's gonna make it, Eddie."

"We need to find the vehicle he's been using."

"We're working on it. Remember, Tom and Jack are interrogating that woman Lauren arrested, too. She might lead to a connection. It's gonna take a little more time."

"You know damn well how this guy operates. Time is only gonna bring Lauren...” He couldn't finish his sentence. The thought killed him inside.

Eddie's cell phone rang. They had identified the make of the car.

Ben Silver quickly closed the garage door, and parked the old man's Cadillac exactly where it belonged. Now, he had to get Lauren through the woods and to his house, without anyone seeing.

He threw her over his shoulder, and headed outside. When he was sure it was safe, he made his way across the grass, into the woods, and through the mud.

He was mad as hell. His side was bleeding, dripping, as he walked. He couldn't believe the bitch got a shot off. Never mind the numerous hits to his face. The bruises throbbed. His lip also bled, and his eye was nearly swollen shut.

She was still unconscious, when he brought her through the front door. He sat her on the couch, then peeked through the window. It seemed safe.

He stared at her, slowly absorbing the fact his plan was working. He had his prize in his possession, and the cops didn't know shit. She was beautiful. The bruised jaw, and dried blood by her lips, turned him on.

"Oh, yeah. We're gonna have some fun, Detective Phelps."

Glancing at his battered reflection in the mirror, he cringed at the sight. She had done a number on him. Smiling, he realized he hadn't expected anything less. He was relieved she drank at least half the bottle of tainted water. That would leave her a non-threat while he had a little fun, before tying her up.

Shelly Duvont was a friend of old man Timble. She traveled to his house to check on him, and did this every two weeks.

Shelly entered the development, looking forward to seeing the old man and conversing. She enjoyed the little bit of time they spent together, and felt bad that he had no family around. He only had her visits to look forward to.

She wished she'd made it there in the beginning of the week, but work was hell right now. It was busy, since school started again, and the continued heat waves made everyone feel miserable.

Today was Sunday, and she would enjoy her time with Mr. Timble. Perhaps, she'd take a walk around the neighborhood with him. The temperature was nice for it, right now.

Shelly got out of her car and rang the doorbell.

Mr. Timble didn't answer.

She had a key, but she didn't want to just barge in. She decided to check if his car was in the garage. She peeked into the side window and saw it there, safe and sound. Mr. Timble never went anywhere without it.

Her concern grew, so, she decided to unlock the front door and check things out. As soon as she opened the door, the most horrendous smell assaulted her mouth and nostrils. She couldn't go inside. Instead, she called the police.

Four minutes later, two patrol cars pulled up onto the scene. Shelly watched in disbelief, as the one officer returned and informed her that Mr. Timble was dead. They found Mr. him murdered in his bed. He'd been there for more than a week.

They called in the detective squad, taped off the area, and one of the officers opened the garage door. He walked by the car, assessing the well-maintained Cadillac. The color was bold, shiny, like deep green seaweed. He touched the hood. His hand stopped

"Hey, Jimmy, this car is hot."

"I'd prefer a Mustang myself, but I guess Cadillac's are nice,” Jimmy said sarcastically.

"No, you jerk! It's hot, like it's been used. Run the plates."

Fifteen minutes later, old man Timble's place swarmed with cops. Eddie and Ken showed up and began their investigation. Tom and Jack were minutes away, hoping to find the hideout location. The forensics team found blood in the backseat and the trunk. Eddie was sure it would turn out to be Lauren's.

The sick feeling filled his gut again. It was happening in cycles, the pulling and grabbing of his insides, then the release. He wanted to find Lauren. He knew they had to move fast.

Eddie walked around the back of the car, and followed a trail of blood. There was a back door to the garage that led to the backyard. The blood continued its path across the grass, then disappeared.

Tom and Jack pulled up in front of the house, while Eddie made his way on foot to the woods.

"This looks like the place Salina described. Look at the cul-de-sac, and the woods over there,” Eddie heard Jack say, as they exited the car.

Obviously not wanting to take the chance of calling out to Eddie, they quickly caught up.

"What do you got?” Jack said.

"There's blood, leaving a trail this way. Didn't you say Salina described Silver's place as hidden, like this? In the woods, at the end of a dead end street?"

"Yeah, that's what we noticed, right away.” Jack said.

"Let's move in slowly. See how many doors lead inside,” Tom added.

"We better make it fast,” Eddie said, with his gun drawn.

"You are even lovelier close up. My God, you're as lovely and as perfect as a porcelain doll,” Silver told Lauren, as he sat down on the floor, next to her. He brushed the hair away from her eyes. Then, he touched one of the lifelike dolls that sat beside the mattress.

Lauren was conscious, and she waited for the right time to make her move. This was it. He screwed up by coming after her. There was no way he would get away with it. She needed to think things through, make some kind of plan, but also pretend she'd drank the bottle of water he'd left for her. More than likely, he'd slipped some Ecstasy in it.

Silver had turned on the music, and the old rock and roll song blared through the basement. He untied her hands and feet. She fluttered her eyes open, acting as if she'd drunk the bottle of tainted water.

"Where am I? I feel so dizzy.” She spoke slowly, just like she had seen and heard Lizzy do.

Silver smiled, then dropped the chains and handcuffs he was about to restrain her with.

He turned his head to look at her, blatantly absorbing the state she was in and prematurely celebrating. She attempted to sit up. Her head ached something terrible, and she used that feeling to make Silver think she was weak.

He grabbed hold of her, pulling her to her feet. Lauren continued to pretend she was drugged, and couldn't stand on her own. She grabbed hold of him, and laid her head against his chest. She took this time to scan the room. She was horrified this was where so many women had been tortured and killed.

There was a wall, to the left, containing numerous pictures. She couldn't clearly see the faces, but assumed they were of his victims. The thought that Sarah's picture was somewhere on the wall made her stomach churn.

There were obscene posters on the walls, and photographs of the victims in horrible positions framed, set out in leather frames. Her heart beat rapidly, and she shook.

He must have felt the shaking, and he pulled her back away from him, to check her condition.

She swayed side to side. “I feel sick. I think I'm going to puke."

Silver grabbed her face. “No, no, no. Shhh ... You're going to be all right, because we have games to play,” His thumb and finger pinched her cheeks. He kissed her lips, then licked them. She shuddered in disgust.

He pulled her back against him, making her dance to the music, and that song he insisted on playing “
You're mine ... and we belong together. Yes, we belong together ... for ... eternity ... eternal ... eternity
."

"I have the perfect dress for you. It was my mother's dress,” he whispered. His hot breath brushed her ear. He continuously rubbed his hand over her hair, and down her back.

She could feel the muscles in his arms, and his torso, while they danced, and he held her close to him. He was more than physically fit. He was stone hard, and getting away from him would take more than just strength.

They swayed back and forth, side to side, to the music. He placed his mouth against her neck, inhaling her scent, as if imagining what it was going to feel like to take her, and do everything he fantasized about doing to her.

Lauren couldn't take it any longer. She had to try and escape, but strength-wise, she would be no match for Silver. Instead, she continued to wait. Silver pulled her with him, and toward the wall, where a blue poodle skirt waited on a hanger.

"Put this on,” he told her.

She refused, still swaying, and pretending to be off balance. He put the skirt on the floor for her to step into. She grabbed a hold of Ben to steady herself, still pretending Ecstasy was in her system. She placed the skirt right over her pants, and was thankful he didn't argue. He gawked at her, looking pleased with what he saw. He reached out his hand to touch her face gently, at first, then he glided his hand over her skin.

Lauren dropped her gaze and swayed a little. As she did, she didn't see the hit coming. Ben smacked her across the cheek, and she fell to the ground. Before she had a chance to stand up, he pulled her up by her hair. She shook, and was about to attack, when he grew gentle again, slowly running his fingers through her hair.

Still, she waited, while he took a light blue scarf and tied her hair in a ponytail with it. He took her by the hand and twirled her around, while the music blared from the speakers. The sound echoed off the walls, her ears vibrated and ached from the volume. It was so loud. She put her head down a moment, and as she looked toward the floor, she saw bloodstains. She was sure that's what they were.

Her heart beat faster, her breath caught in her throat, and images from each crime scene flashed, like photographs, through her mind. Each victim, each location they were found in, every disgusting description, and injury, now blurred her vision.

Silver was going down, and she would be the one to end it.

Lauren pulled it together, and prepared for action. Silver reached for a pair of handcuffs, and started to undo the buttons on her blouse.

This was it. She knew she had to take the chance, before he got those metal handcuffs on her.

In one swift, hard motion, she pulled Silver down by his shoulders. At the same time, she brought her knee up, knocking the wind out of him. Then, she forearmed him over the head and neck. He hunched over, staring down toward the floor.

Silver was in obvious shock and pain. Lauren ran for the stairs. She was nearly at the top step, her hand on the doorknob, when a blow came to her legs.

The long, thick chain whipped against her calves, as her body tumbled down the steps. The skirt ripped on the railing. She covered her head, trying to protect it from injury.

Silver grabbed hold of her hair, but Lauren wasn't giving up, despite her odd position on the staircase. She scratched at his eyes, then gave him a forearm to the face. He yelled at her, but she continued to fight for her life. There was no one to rescue her.

They tumbled the rest of the way down the stairs. She banged Silver's head against the railing, at the bottom. He continued to wrestle with her, holding her down as he grabbed hold of her throat.

Lauren lost her breath. She reached around with her hands, trying to find something, anything, to fight him off of her.

She felt the metal handcuffs, grabbed them in her fist, and lunged at Silver's head. He rolled to his side, grabbing his temple in pain, when they connected. He scrambled for the gun that lay on the table.

She ran after Silver, determined not to allow him to get the gun.

The door to the basement opened. Eddie, Tom, and Jack headed down the stairs, as Lauren tackled Silver. Silver had the gun in his hand. Lauren wrapped her body around him, pulling him down to the floor.

"Stop. Police!” Tom yelled.

Silver pulled the trigger.

The shot rang through the basement, and it hit the wall behind Eddie.