Page 66 of Her Devoted HERO

“If there is the slightest, the tiniest way you can be of service to get this fucker, I’ll call you back in. You have my word.”

Hazel eyes might have shown relief, but there was also resolve. He was his mother’s son.

“I’ll be on the lookout for Mom or anyone else.”

“Good man.”

He watched the door close behind Austin, then he went back to Warren, Sanchez and the computer. Sanchez had the video queued up.

A man was wearing a black leather mask that was found in sex stores. His eyes and mouth were cut out. His face filled the screen.

“Hello Austin,” he said with the same raspy voice they’d just heard in the police station. “It’s time for a biology lesson. Or shall we call it psychology and anatomy?”

He stepped back from the camera. He was dressed in a billowy black shirt so it was hard to determine his shape. A woman was tied to a ladderback chair. She was wearing a hospital gown. It was torn open; her left breast was exposed. There was blood covering the white garment, it was clear that it had dripped down from slices across her face, neck, and breast. Before Dex had a chance to brace, a whip whistled through the air and sliced through her gown. Blood danced upwards from her chest as she screamed. He took the end of the whip between his hands and walked back to the camera. As soon as his face filled the screen, he licked the blood off the leather.

“I’m doing this because I couldn’t find your mother, Austin. All I wanted to do was see her. I wouldn’t hurt her. I just like looking at her. But because she wasn’t at your house or the hospital, I had to do this.” He took another lick.

“She tastes so good.” He turned and raised the whip again. Hitting her body, her face. More shrieks. More blood. Then Dex watched stone faced as the monster raised the bullwhip and swung it sideways, wrapping it around her neck. Then he yanked hard.

“Mom, no!” Dex glanced over his shoulder. He could see shadows through the green glass door, but it didn’t open. Austin must have held Kenna back.

Dex turned his attention back to the screen. Horror and relief slid through him as he realized the man had broken the woman’s neck.

Casually the monster walked back to the camera.

“Austin, it’s your mother’s fault. It’s her fault. I just wanted to see her walking into your house last night. I like watching her walk. But she denied me even that small pleasure. What other choice did I have? I hope you were educated.”

He laughed. He picked the camera up off the stand and walked it to the body of the woman, scanning in on her feet, her legs, up and up until it reached her face.

“No. I don’t think they’ll be able to identify her. Pity.”

The camera blinked off.

“Motherfucker!” Warren yelled.

The door to the greenhouse smashed open. “What is going on?” Kenna raged.

“Mom, it’s okay.”

“Don’t ‘it’s okay’ me. I want to know what the fuck is going on.” Her hands were on her hips. She looked enraged, but Dex could see fear below the anger.

“It’s not something you need to see,” Sanchez said when her eyes lighted on the computer.

“Don’t piss on me and tell me it’s raining,” she stormed.

“He’s killed another one,” Warren said.

Dex whirled on the man at the same time that Kenna said, “What?!”

“The killer, he sent Austin a video of his latest kill,” Warren said grimly.

“Get the fuck out of here. Now.” Dex was ready to tear Clive Warren apart, and as soon as he said those words, it was like the man came out of a trance.

“Jesus, I’m sorry Kenna, I mean Ms. Wright, I shouldn’t have said it like that. It’s just that video. It took me by surprise.”

“My son saw a video of someone getting murdered?” Kenna all but shrieked.

Austin looked gut shot. It was exactly what he hadn’t wanted to happen.