Branded for Murder (9 page)

Chapter 24

Before I left the office I had managed to review all the rape case files, and was proud of myself. There had not been any similarities to the Stevens’ case. I was happy to know that, but saddened these women had suffered so much brutality.

I rushed home from the office and called Lisa as soon as I entered. She was very happy to hear my voice and would be waiting for me. I showered quickly, dressed in khakis, loafers and a black turtle-neck sweater. I also tidied up the apartment just in case.
Just in case what, Scott?
I thought to myself.
Are you kidding?

*.*.*

I walked up the few steps that led into the dormitory reception area. A male guard asked if he could help me. I asked for Lisa Anderson. He had me fill out the guest register, studying me while I did so. He asked one of the coeds if she would please get Lisa. He told me to have a seat in the reception area.

There was another guy waiting there and we smiled and nodded to each other. He was a light-colored black man, handsome and well built. We didn’t speak to each other. There was a parade of coeds walking through the reception area.

I looked over and noticed Lisa walking down the stairs. Even at a distance she was just as beautiful as I remembered her. She was dressed in a high-necked turtle neck sweater and tight black ski pants. She was carrying a coat on her arm. I stood as she approached. However, before she said hello to me, she said hello to the other fellow, acknowledging each other by name.

“Hi Scott, how are you? Sorry I’m late, but you know how ladies are.”

“Hello Lisa. You look very nice.” We shook hands, but she held my hand.

“Thanks Scott.” She turned to look at the fellow on the couch. “I want you to meet Jeremy.” She guided me to the other fellow. “Jeremy, this is Scott Tucker. Scott this is Jeremy Johnston. Jeremy is Dottie’s boyfriend. Judy and I are close friends with Dottie.”

I noticed Jeremy was a little taller. “It’s nice to meet you Scott.” His handshake was more powerful than mine.

“Jeremy, it’s nice to meet you also.” He was a nice looking guy reminding me of the models in the magazine I was just looking at. I looked at Lisa who was now attempting to put her coat on. “Here let me help you with that.” I could smell the sweet scent of her perfume.

Lisa turned, and her blonde hair hung down across the side of her face. She was even more beautiful than I remembered. She looked at me and we shared smiles. I just froze for a moment.

Her voice interrupted my thoughts. “Are we ready?”

“Yes, right. Jeremy it was nice to meet you.” We shook hands again.

“It was nice to meet you too. Have a pleasant night.”

I put my arm around Lisa’s waist, escorting her past the guard, out and down the front stairs. When we got outside, she looked concerned about something. “Are you okay Lisa?”

“Yes, I’m okay. It’s nothing. But let’s go. Is your car nearby?”

“Yes, it’s just around the corner.” As we walked silently, I sensed something was wrong. “Lisa, I’m sorry I didn’t call you when I got back into town, but it was too late to call last night. One of the other detectives wanted to get better acquainted last night.”

“It’s not a problem Scott,” she said, not looking at me.

There was definitely something wrong. “Lisa is everything okay?”

She smiled. “Everything’s okay, now.”

I didn’t pursue it further. “Here’s my car.” It was a large white ‘58 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, a tank compared to some of the other cars, but I love it.

“Wow. Nice car.” She moved her head, taking it all in.

I unlocked the door. She turned and backed into the bucket seat. It was probably good she had ski pants on as the leather seat must have been cold. She gave no sign there was any problem. I went around and when I started the car, the V8 engine roared to life and rocked it. I looked over and smiled at her. “Sorry I should have warned you.”

She smiled back. “This is quite the car compared to mine.” She reached for my hand.

I looked at her and she slid closer. She tilted her head and we kissed. It was a quick kiss. The next kiss showed her how much I missed her.

“Now that’s the way to greet a lady,” she said, as she flipped her hair and showed a mischievous smile.

Before long we had the windows of the car steamed up. I had to put the defroster on to get them cleared. “So Scott, what would you like to do?”

I looked at her, wanting to say what was on my mind, but I took the safe way out,
I always seem to do that.
“How about dinner? Have you eaten?”

“No I haven’t. What did you have in mind?”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I made reservations at
Durgin
Park
. Have you ever been there?” I asked.

“No, but I’ve heard of it.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but just smiled.

“It isn’t the fanciest place in the world,” I added. “However the food is good and the entertainment is memorable.”

“I’m hungry,” she responded. “I haven’t had anything since lunch time.”

*.*.*

The hostess seated us at one of the large tables. Strangers were sitting beside and opposite us.

“So, what will you have… or do I have to come back when some of you have learned to read?” an elderly waitress announced with a deep voice, breaking the silence.

I was prepared for this, but the look on Lisa’s face was priceless. Since no one responded, I did. “Can we have a couple of minutes to decide? We would also like to see a menu.”

She looked at me and then toward the others. “I suppose you all want one then, right?” she bellowed back.

“Yes.” This time Lisa responded, “Please!”

The waitress mumbled something about who did we think we were, bothering her like that.

Lisa smiled, as she now understood that this was part of the act and entertainment. One couple was talking to another couple, starting to get up obviously disgusted.

I explained about the tradition here. They looked around, watching the various acts, as plates were handed to people at one end of the table and passed down following the waitress’ instructions, which were not the most polite either.

We enjoyed our meal and amusement of new unsuspecting diners, as they were indoctrinated into the overall ambience. I could tell Lisa had a good time, even laughing when I had to sing before the waitress would give me my dessert. The waitress commented after I sung a few bars that I didn’t deserve the dessert, and probably ruined the others’ desserts.

I asked Lisa when we were outside, “Do you have to be back at the dorm at a certain time, or can you stay out later… I mean, is there a curfew for you tonight?”

“No. We all have a means of getting in. Someone is always stationed at the front desk now. The school pays for a security guard, but I think it’s a waste of money. Rumor has it that they’re concerned about the strangling cases and the safety of a whole building of women.”

“I think that is a good idea.” Lisa was quiet and looked deep in thought. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“I better not talk about it.” Even though her coat was buttoned and I had my arm around her, she had her arms wrapped around herself.

I gave her several moments. “Lisa, please tell me what’s bothering you.” I opened the car door and she hopped in.

“Scott, maybe I should tell you. I have an uncomfortable feeling about one of the security guards. More specifically, he makes me feel like I’m naked when he looks at me. He’s the one who was on duty when we left. I’m okay now.”

I gave her a few moments, without replying. “Do you want to go anywhere?”

“You pick it.”

I drove to a parking spot along the Charles River, so we could look at the city lights.

Lisa’s eyes were closed. I wondered what she was thinking. I needed to hold her close. We were soon kissing passionately, although the bucket seats were not conducive to being as close as I wanted.

She was the first to break the silence. “Scott, I really enjoyed the restaurant. I love being with you. However, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I’ve seen enough of the city lights.”

“Okay, we can leave.” I started the car, defrosting the windshield. “Lisa, if I’ve offended you, I’m sorry.”

She laughed, studying me. “You haven’t offended me. It’s late, I’m not that comfortable in the car, and well…I guess I would rather be close to you like we were on the Skywalk. Don’t take me back to my dorm.”

I drove away from the city, heading closer to my apartment. I hadn’t clued Lisa in on where we were going. I stopped for a red light. I heard the faint sound of a siren. I opened my window a crack to listen. The sound of the vehicle was becoming louder. I could see the blue flashing lights in the store windows diagonally across the street.

The driver behind me sounded his horn, as our light had turned green. I was about to enter the intersection when two cruisers went flying through against the red light. We would have been hit if I had proceeded.

“Thank goodness you waited, Scott. They were certainly in a hurry.”

I proceeded carefully making sure nothing else was coming, but wondering if they were responding to another strangling. I didn’t say anything to Lisa.

“Scott we’re in Brookline Village. I love the homes in this area.”

“I live a few blocks from here.” I wanted to tell her I was taking her there, but I was concerned.

“Scott, if we’re that close to your apartment can you show it to me? I would like to see where you live.”

I think she knew where I was taking her, but her asking made it so much easier. “I can do that. Are you sure you want to see it? It’s really not that much of a place.”

“I’m sure if you live there it will be very nice.” She paused, adding, “I’ve thought about you a lot since we were at the
Skywalk
. Did you think of me?”

I looked quickly at her. “I can’t get you out of my mind. Things aren’t the same. I feel like being with you is what I’ve been waiting for. Does that sound corny?”

“No Scott. It sounds very nice.” She closed her eyes again, putting her head back against the headrest.

Within a few minutes I announced, “We’re here.” I drove down the driveway to a building set behind those on the main street. “It’s not much, but it fits my needs and its quiet enough in this neighborhood to get some intense studying done…when time permits.”

“It looks quaint.”

“My apartment is on the second floor, so let’s be a little quiet going up the stairs. We don’t want to wake Mrs. Abbott.”

Although the wooden stairs were covered with an oriental carpet, we sounded like we were wearing combat boots. I opened my apartment door, holding it for her. She stood at the entryway, looking around. I mirrored where she looked. Not much to see, a large single room containing the kitchen and sitting area to her left, and the living space in front of her and to the right. There was a small hall with another room. It was the bedroom with a white spread partially in view.

“This is very nice,” she said, “and so clean. I’m impressed. However, right now I need to visit the little girl’s room.”

“It’s to the right off the hall. Let me take your coat and hat.”

She removed them quickly, heading straight for the bathroom. I hung her coat and hat. I was starting to get nervous about her being here. I don’t even know if she drinks. I decided to pour two glasses of white wine. I rushed over to the stereo, putting on a
Platters’
album. I set the volume on low, so as not to disturb Mrs. Abbott downstairs.

I heard the bathroom door open and was greeted by Lisa’s pleasant smile. It also looked like she might have been blushing slightly.

“I poured us a glass of wine. I hope that’s okay.”

“That’s fine, I don’t think anyone will tell and I’m not driving.”

I handed her one of the glasses and held the other in a toasting position. “Here’s to a bright future and wonderful times together.”

“I’ll drink to that,” she said, as she touched her glass to mine, then both of us tasted the smooth sweet nectar.

I couldn’t hold back my smile any longer. “Can you tell I don’t know what I’m doing?”

She didn’t answer my question but offered, “I like the Platters too.”

I put my glass down on the end table. “May I have this dance?”

Lisa put her glass down beside mine, holding out her hand. We both couldn’t hold the laughter back any longer. It helped break the ice. I held up my finger to my lips as I didn’t want Mrs. Abbott knowing I had company.

Lisa’s hand was soft but chilled from the glass. I put my arm around her lower back, starting our first dance. I tried not to hold her too close at first, but as the song progressed, she had her head resting on my shoulder. We moved together like we had practiced this for years. Soon the song ended but we continued holding each other, not moving.

As the next song started, we started moving again to the music, but very slowly. I could feel her warmth. Lisa leaned back, looking at me, but continuing to dance. I lowered my lips to hers and we kissed holding each other tightly, like we had on the
Skywalk
.

I felt her body against mine, the sweet aroma of her perfume was even better than I had remembered. I stopped dancing, putting both of my arms across her lower back, repositioning her body against mine. She reached up, putting her arms around my neck. We kissed longer than we should have, but neither of us wanted this first private kiss to end. It was hard to stop.

I broke the silence. “That was very nice.” I realized my voice showed I was out of breath.

“Thank you, that’s nice of you to say,” she said, as we continued to hold each other.

I could feel my excitement stirring like at the
Skywalk
. “Do you like to ski?” I asked.

Lisa broke the hold she had on my neck, walking over to my bookcase to examine the books. “Yes, I love to. However, I don’t get the opportunity to go very often.”

“How about we go skiing over the holidays?”

“You know, that sounds wonderful,” she said, with a big smile, adding, “I’d love it. You’ve got a date if you’re serious.”

“I’m serious, I’d love to go skiing and have you with me for the day.”