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“This suddenly feels like good-bye.”
“It’s not, I promise.”
When I woke up in his arms this morning, I vowed it wouldn’t be the last time. We still have a lot to figure out, shit to work through, distance to erase, but I will wake up in his arms again. Soon.
Jay’s only response is a pantie-melting grin, his dimple making an appearance, before pressing his lips to mine for a swift kiss.
“I sure hope not,” he finally says, releasing me and stepping back before dropping his towel dramatically to the floor.
If he’s trying to turn me on, the kiss was plenty. Seeing him naked, taking in all of him, every glorious angle, only heightens the growing need I’m feeling.
But we don’t have time for that right now. We really are running late. Not to mention, I want my last memory of him to be pure.
There will be plenty of time to make more memories. Dirty, clean, and every kind in between.
With his bag slung over his shoulder, Jay leads me out the front door of the B&B and to his waiting car. The drive to the police station is short and quiet. There’s not a whole lot we can say about what happens next. Everything is riding on the profile I’m about to present and I need to stay focused.
When we arrive, the chief and his entire force are waiting for us. Being a small town, there are only a handful of cops, including Spencer. They’re seated around a conference room table, eagerly awaiting my presentation.
Jay stands in the back of the room, between Spencer and the chief, who seems to be in a foul mood this morning. With a nod of encouragement, I launch into my speech.
“Good morning. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Andrea Morris. I graduated from GFU five years ago and Samantha Bridges was my best friend. With a degree in psychology and behavioral sciences, I’ve been working as a profiler for the state of California for the last four years. Today, I would like to present you with a profile of the man who murdered Sam with the sincere hope that we’re able to find justice for her, her family, and her friends.”
The eight men and two women sitting around the table all nod at me in unison. I can see the determination in their eyes. They want this as much as I do.
“Please remember that a profile is not a hundred percent accurate. Every murderer is different. From their motives to mental state. Someone you may never expect could be a cold-blooded killer. He knows how to only show you what you want to see. To hide his true self. That’s something I think this particular person has done. He’s mastered the art of deception.
“Yes, we are looking for a man. More than likely he was in his mid-to-late twenties at the time of the murder. And you know him. He is a local of the Great Falls community. He knew Sam. Whether he came here for school or grew up here, he’s part of this town. To better understand who you might be looking for, I need to explain who he is inside first. The person you don’t see.
“There are two kinds of killers … organized and unorganized. This man is organized. He planned to kill Sam. He took the necessary steps to avoid being caught. There wasn’t a detail he didn’t go over. From wearing black clothes head-to-toe to wearing gloves so there was no DNA evidence. He bought the rope and tape in advance, more than likely from another town, and he paid in cash so his purchase couldn’t be traced back to him. He’s also what I’d categorize as a pathological, obsessive killer.
“What that means is he watches, stalks his victims. He knew Sam’s habits. Knew she walked home through the park. Knew her schedule and was a regular at Riley’s. Over time, he became obsessed with her. He would have tried to be her friend first, and in his mind, their relationship was blossoming. He would have asked her out on multiple occasions. Sam was involved with someone else and would have turned down his advances. This would have angered him. It was the trigger for his rage.”
Pausing to make sure I’m not speaking too fast, I tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear and glance around the room. The officers are scribbling notes, completely engaged in what I’m saying.
“This man suffers from PTSD, more than likely from abuse as a child at the hands of his father or male role model. It could have been physical, but more often than not it’s verbal. He was made to feel like he wasn’t good enough, no matter how hard he tried. He may have excelled at some things, but not all. If he was great at school, he did poor with athletics, or vice versa. His father was critical of his inabilities and compared him to others, making him feel worthless. His mother, on the other hand, was his savior.
“As resentful as he is toward his father, he has a great relationship with his mother. He compares every woman to her and has a hard time maintaining a healthy relationship because of this. Sam fit into the tiny mold. In his mind, she was the perfect woman for him, and her rejection was the catalyst for his rage. It was a murder of passion. His intention was to kill her because, in his mind, if he couldn’t have her, no one should be able to have her.
“He did make two mistakes, though, and this is how you’ll eventually be able to convict him once you determine who he is. At some point in time, he inserted himself into the investigation. He needed to know what you knew. He made himself available to help in any way possible. You more than likely interviewed him and then dismissed him as a suspect.”
“We talked to half the town,” an older, pudgy officer states. He looks seasoned, his uniform a lighter shade of navy than the officer next to him. He may have worked the original case.
“I know, and I have a list of potential suspects for you to consider. People who I highly recommend you interview a second time. In his initial interview he would have been relaxed. His arrogance wouldn’t have been noticed, but I guarantee he was smiling without a care in the world while you spoke with him. Because he knew you weren’t onto him. He was going to get away with it and the cocky grin on his face said it all. But you didn’t know it at the time.
“When you interview him again, he’ll be nervous. The entire town is aware the case is still open, that it’s being looked at again. The ones with a clear conscience won’t panic but he will.”
“What else did we miss?” the same officer asks, blowing out a breath of frustration.
“He left no evidence, but he did take some with him. Sam’s apron wasn’t with her body. It wasn’t noted in any of the files, but she would have had it with her. It’s his trophy. Yes, he’ll go back to the scene to relive his crime, but because he’s local, you’d never think twice about him being there. He took her apron and has it stashed somewhere. He’ll want to touch it, smell it. Holding it in his hands will bring him great joy.”
“Sick bastard,” I hear someone mutter.
“That’s the thing, he is sick but he’s also completely normal. He’s the life of the party. Everyone’s friend. Good looking. He fits in with the crowd, but he also knows how to blend in when necessary. One minute he’ll be there and the next he’s gone. You’d never suspect him because he’s constantly around, always pleasant and smiling. He masks his pain and it festers on the inside. Like I said, Sam hurt his feelings and it caused him to snap. He waited until the perfect moment and then struck. There was no advanced warning. No signs anyone missed. If she hadn’t been in the park that night, he would have gotten to her another time. He planned everything out in advance and watched and waited for his moment. It just so happened to be that night.”
“And what do you expect us to do with this information?” This is from the chief. Who’s standing with his arms crossed, a sour expression on his face.
“I promised you I’d give you a complete profile of the person who murdered Sam. I have. I can’t force you to do anything with it, but I highly recommend having a fresh set of eyes look over the case, keeping the profile in mind. Perhaps they’ll see something no one else does. Maybe someone will stand out to them. Because I guarantee you spoke with him five years ago. He’s in the files. He made his presence known and he’s out there, still watching this department. Especially right now.”
