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THIRTY-SEVEN
Fear paralyzed Susie as the footsteps came closer. They were the slow deliberate footsteps of someone with confidence. Sweat coated the palms of her hands and she looked around wildly for a place to hide. Black damp walls stared back at her—there was no escape. Her previous bravado melted like last winter’s snow. When the footsteps came to a stop outside her cell, trembling shook her and the need to run gripped her. Panic came in a rush, and she couldn’t breathe. Terrified her jailer would see her fear, she clasped her hands and pressed her lips together. The hatch over the wire mesh peephole opened and the small light set high in the wall illuminated the dark eyes peering at her. The expression held no particular menace and reminded her of her pet Labrador’s inquisitive brown eyes. Empowered by the comparison, she lifted her chin and, folding her arms across her chest, met his gaze. The only defense was attack and he’d expect her to be afraid of him. Dragging up every last bit of courage, Susie glared at him. “Is this the way you treat somebody who tried to help you?”
“One question.” Obscured by the bars, his facial expression was difficult to make out. “Did I hit on you the other day in Aunt Betty’s Café? Or encourage you in any way whatsoever to make you believe I was interested in you, Twenty-Six?”
The fact he’d given her a number was all the proof she needed to know he intended to kill her. Trying to get her head on straight, Susie gaped at him. So many people came by the diner to eat or collect takeout, and she didn’t recognize his voice, but she’d never make a pass at a customer. Trying hard to keep the quiver from her voice, she took a deep breath. “Do you figure I have the time to seduce customers? If you thought that, you’d be wrong. What do you imagine my reputation would be like if I started flirting at Aunt Betty’s? Do you honestly believe townsfolk would eat in my diner if I made them feel uncomfortable?” She stared him down, hoping that her attitude wouldn’t make him fly into a rage and murder her. “It’s usually the other way around. Being a waitress in a diner, we’re often the subject of unwanted attention. I try to make my customers feel at home and I’ve never had any previous complaints. If being friendly was a problem for you, then I apologize, but Aunt Betty’s Café is known for its friendly atmosphere and that’s never going to change.”
As if she flipped a switch, her jailer’s eyes transformed. The pupils seemed to get larger as if his eyes had suddenly turned black. The hatch slammed shut and Susie could hear a bolt slide just as the door swung inward toward her. The smell of cigarettes and male sweat rushed in the cell as the man filled the entire width of the door. He was not what she expected. In his late thirties, wearing coveralls, with a strong build and sour expression. Lines around his mouth turned down and deep frown lines gave him the appearance of being continually grumpy, but it was the eyes that terrified her. He tipped his head one way and then the other as if evaluating her. Chills ran down her spine, but she stood her ground. Where else could she possibly go? If Poppy was correct, cowering in front of him would only make her his next victim.
“You sure are arrogant. Didn’t your daddy teach you to respect men?” He shook his head and observed her for a long minute. “You know I can’t let you go, don’t you?” A sadistic smile curled his lips. “Although, I don’t figure I’d get much pleasure out of murdering you just yet. Maybe I’ll make you watch what happens to the women in here. Or I’ll beat some respect into you. I have all the time in the world to make you obedient. I figure everyone has their breaking point and I’ll just have to be patient until you reach yours—then I’ll enjoy killing you.” He pulled the door shut and slid the bolt across.
Shaking with fear and teeth chattering, Susie dragged in deep breaths to steady her nerves and then pressed her ear to the crack in the door. The cell next to her opened with a whine of rusty hinges, and as he spoke to Poppy, the hairs on the back of her neck rose in terror.
“I’m guessing you know Susie Hartwig from Aunt Betty’s Café?” He cleared his throat. “The manager? I know you were in the diner. I saw you talking to her when you arrived in town.”
“Yeah, I know her. So what?” Poppy’s voice drifted down the hallway toward her.
“I’d do her just to shut her smart mouth, and dump her outside the diner, but it’s too hot in town right now to use a local with the sheriff and the FBI hanging around. The women from other states are rarely identified and the trail stops there.” He was chatting to Poppy about murder as if he were discussing the menu at the diner. “I have a real screamer I’m anxious to get to. On second thoughts, I’ll give Susie to you. I’d like to watch you play out your fantasy—I might even join in. We’ll leave her in the formaldehyde bath for a few days and I’ll dump her in Colorado on my next visit.”
“When are you leaving?” Poppy sounded excited. “If you’re planning on doing another one tonight, and dumping her locally, the cops are going to know you’re in town.”
“I’ll need to check my schedule.” His tone was conversational. “Phew! I can smell you from here and it isn’t nice. I guess you’ve earned a shower. I haven’t time or inclination right now to watch you, maybe later.”
“Do you have to be here? I’m not going anywhere, am I?” Suzie’s voice hardened. “Or don’t you trust me alone in the passageway, even after I helped you.”
Suzie pressed her eye to the crack in the door. Blood spatter matted Poppy’s hair and was smeared over one ear. She stood naked not bothering to cover herself. Dear Lord, she’d helped him kill someone. Trying to stop her knees trembling with fear, she moved her attention to the man. He was rubbing the back of his neck, eyes staring into nothing, thinking.
“Hmm.” He looked around and then shrugged. “I don’t trust you. I never will, but I’m not stupid. I know after you helped me with the last one, you’ll be useful to have around.” He chuckled. “They’re fun for a time, but once they stop breathing I lose interest. If I intend to continue my hobby, the cleaning is essential. I can’t risk leaving my DNA on the trash.” His mouth quirked up at the corner. “I wish I had a bigger garbage disposal. It would make life so much easier.” He rubbed his chin. “Okay. This is a onetime offer. I’ll allow you to take a shower and then go back to your cell. You’ll have to prove I can trust you. Remember, I may not be here, but I’m always watching.”
“I’ll need something to wear.” Poppy moved into the hallway. “A clean dress maybe?”
“I guess so. There’s a bag of clothes next to the desk.” He looked at her for a long moment. “Don’t make me angry, Twenty-Five. I’ll so make you regret it.” His fingers closed around Poppy’s throat. “There’s no way out of the caves. The gate at the end of the tunnel is locked. So, if you want to keep your freedom… partner… don’t mess up, because you know the consequences for trying to escape. Don’t you?” When she nodded, he dropped his hand.
Susie’s teeth chattered as the horror of what was happening sunk in. She leaned against the wall, hugging herself as his slow footsteps moved away. A clang of a metal door and the grind of a key turning echoed up the tunnel accompanied by a low satanic chuckle.
