Shadow of Perception (27 page)

“M…mine? I…” He turned his head and started at the medical equipment Michael had set near the Creeper, then swallowed hard. “W…what kind of surgery?”

Michael pointed to the Shop-Vac he’d rigged for this occasion. “The vacuum doesn’t even give you a hint?” he asked, then grabbed a handful of Tully’s belly flesh. “C’mon, Doc, if you’re going to tell your patients they need to be skinny, then go ahead and remove the fat from their bodies, don’t you think you should follow your own advice?”

Tully looked between the vacuum and the surgical tools, then back to him. His face pale, and coated with sweat, his eyes bulging with realization and horror, he shook his head. “You’re crazy,” he screamed. “Crazy.”

“No,” Michael shook his head. “I’m not crazy, I’m angry. At you and your fellow colleagues.”

“I. Don’t. Under
stand
,” Tully shouted.
 

“Then let me enlighten you. Do you remember Eliza Morrison?”

Tully closed his eyes and slowly nodded. “Yes. She had been a patient at Cosmetic Solutions and Med Spa. She’d taken her own life, and then her father…” He opened his eyes. “Oh my God, you’re her father.”

“So you do remember me. Good. Yes, I’m Eliza’s crazy father who’d tried to sue your medical group for her death. And lost.” Michael shook his head. “I’m kind of a poor sport and don’t care for losing. I especially didn’t like losing my daughter.”

“But it wasn’t
our
fault. She was an obviously unstable girl.”

“Obviously,” Michael echoed in a soft, quiet tone that belied the rage churning through him. “If her instability was so
obvious
, why would you, or any of your colleagues, perform her surgeries?”

Tully shifted his shit brown, lying eyes. “At the time, we—”

Michael punched Tully’s rotund belly. “Shut up.” He hit the doctor again. “No more lies. No more excuses. I only want the truth. Did you know my daughter wasn’t in her right mind when she first came to you?”

Crying, Tully winced when Michael raised his fist again. “Wait,” he begged. “Her mother was with her. She approved the surgeries, and gave us her permission.”

“Her
mother
,” Michael said with disgust. “That woman had no right. You had no right. Eliza was over eighteen, and not competent enough to decide what she should and shouldn’t do to her own body. You knew that. Her mother knew that. And yet, everyone ignored what was best for
my
child. Why? So her bitch of a mom could ride Eliza’s coattails, and you and your fellow
doctors
could make a fast buck. Now she’s dead.”

“By suicide,” Tully reminded him. “We didn’t kill her. She killed herself. I understand your grief, but you can’t blame us.”

Michael stared at Tully, shocked the crybaby had the nerve, considering his impending surgery, to argue. Either Tully had a bigger set of balls than Michael had first thought, or the man was plain stupid. He shook his head, then said, “You
can’t
imagine my grief or my hatred for you and your buddies. As I see it, you might as well have placed the razorblades in my daughter’s hands the night she slit her wrists.” He cocked his head and looked to Tully’s stomach, red and blotchy from the punches. “So, now I’m going to give you a little taste of her pain.”

Tears streamed down Tully’s cheeks. “You’re going to…slit my wrists?”

“For a doctor worth millions, you’re not all that bright.” Michael tapped the Shop-Vac. “That would be too easy. Use your imagination, Doctor. I did. And I’ve come up with the perfect way to help you understand the pain you’d caused my daughter. So, what do you say? Ready to get this show on the road?”

Michael pulled on the surgical mask, then hit RECORD on the video camera. He reached for the duct tape to seal the man’s mouth shut, then tore off a strip.
 

“Wait,” Tully shouted. “Shouldn’t I get a chance to say something?”

“You mean your final words?”

Tully nodded.
 

He looked over his shoulder at the camera, then back at the man. “You don’t deserve it.” He slapped the tape over the doctor’s mouth. “This is the only thing you deserve.”

Michael raised the scalpel, then stabbed it into Tully’s gut.

*

Pudge had finished prepping for the ten o‘clock news segment when the station manager, Rodger Jeffries, ran into the studio waving his arms and motioning to cameraman, David Ito. Curious, Pudge followed David.

ass nice ass

Pudge glanced at David’s ass and agreed. But now wasn’t the time to think about sex. Something had happened. Some big news story had broken, and Pudge wanted to be part of it. This could be their chance to make a name for themselves. Timing and luck. That’s all they needed.
 

luck luck good luck dr dread good luck

Pudge’s skin prickled with excitement. Could the commotion be due to the discovery of yet another Dr. Dread victim? Maybe. Maybe not. Pudge needed to know. If Gretchen had been found, and they’d been given the opportunity to work the story...the irony of the possible scenario made Pudge want to laugh. To report Nurse Gretchen’s murder on the nightly news, stand in front of the camera acting sad and sickened by the tragedy, while knowing every gory detail…
personally
. Fucking hilarious.

“What’s up?” David drawled as the news anchor, Kyle Edwards, moved into their circle.

“Looks like we’ve got another Dr. Dread murder,” Rodger said to Ito. “The CPD’s blackballed our station, but we still need to report the story. Calling Eden in is not an option.”

“She’s the reason for our police problem,” Kyle said with a smugness Pudge loved.
 

Kyle hated Eden as much as they did, if not more. For over a decade, the anchor had been stuck behind a faux desk, reporting the news other people had written for him. Unlike Eden, he’d never been approached by Network, never had his picture on the cover of local and national magazines, never won an award for his reporting skills. While Pudge considered him a pathetic whiner who would rather complain about the wrongs in his life, than take the initiative and make a bigger name for himself, he served a purpose. With Kyle’s help, they would go places.
 

 
Rodger ignored Kyle, then turned to David. “Ryan Anders is too far away to make it downtown in time to air this story on the ten o’clock news. Channel 3 broke the story, so we’re already late.”

us us send us

“I’ll go,” Pudge blurted.
 

Rodger looked at Pudge, then shook his head. “You’re not experienced enough, kid.”

 
“But I reported—”

“No. You’re not ready,” he said, then turned to Ito. “I called Les Sinclair. He’s willing to come out of retirement and do it. Pick him up on your way to the crime scene.” Rodger handed David a sheet of paper. “Here’s both addresses. And make it quick. I want to lead with this story tonight.”

“I’m on it,” David said, and as he left the room, he gave Pudge’s shoulder a quick squeeze. David had known about Pudge’s aspirations, and while Pudge appreciated his concern, he could go fuck himself. They didn’t need his sympathy. Sympathy was for pussies. Pudge was a doer. Doers went places. They didn’t stand around with their thumbs up their asses waiting for an opportunity to land in their lap.

Losing
this
opportunity to Les Sinclair stirred Pudge’s anger beyond control, though. The old fart had long retired, and had been diagnosed with dementia two years ago.
 

Jeffries had made a mistake tonight.

pay make him pay kill him kill him

Killing sounded like an excellent idea, but Pudge had a better plan. When Rodger walked away, Pudge turned to Kyle. “Can’t you talk to Rodger for me? He respects your opinion. If you tell him you’ve been working with me, that I’ve improved, maybe he’ll let me—”

He shook his head. “Not here. Come to my office.”

wants he wants something

Pudge already suspected as much, but didn’t care. They’d give Kyle what he wanted—again—if it meant a chance to report this story or any story for that matter. Pudge had allowed Kyle to think of himself as a mentor. But he was merely a means to an end.

When Kyle closed the office door, he walked to his desk, then sat on the edge. “I know you’ve been working hard, and I know you’re disappointed, but this story in particular is sensitive to Rodger. After what that bitch, Eden, had done to me on air, Rodger had taken a lot of shit from the station owners, the Chicago police, and from our viewers. Honestly, Les was the right choice. Chicagoans love Les, he’s respected and a familiar face. I’m sorry, honey, but I think Rodger made the right call.”

Furious, Pudge turned away.

hurt hurt him he used us used us hurt him kill him

Although right, Pudge ignored the voice. Hurting or killing Kyle would only hinder their opportunity for advancement. He might be using them, but he didn’t realize they were using him, too.

“I understand,” Pudge responded. “I just wish Rodger would recognize my talent.”

“He will,” Kyle said. “Actually, I heard that Rodger needs someone to report the upcoming dog show. I know it’s not the hardcore story you’re looking for, but it’s a start. Would you like for me to recommend you?”

A fucking dog show?
 

no no way tell him no

While reporting about a dog show wasn’t exactly the same as the Dr. Dread story, it was a start. Pudge needed more on-air experience if they were going to earn Rodger’s respect.

lying lying hes lying he wont help using us using us wont help
 

Pudge suspected the same, but nodded anyway. Until Rodger noticed their talent, they needed Kyle’s influence and guidance.

“Good. I’ll talk to Rodger about it tomorrow.” Kyle glanced at his watch, then rubbed his palm over his crotch. “We’ve got about ten minutes before we need to be back in the studio. Why don’t you come here, and let me make things better.”

Pudge knew what he meant by
better
, even before he began to unzip his trousers and pull out his dick. But Pudge wasn’t in the mood to give him a blow job. Not when the Dr. Dread story had been dangled in front of them, then torn away. Still, Pudge needed to maintain the ruse with Kyle in order to use him for their success. Besides, they’d enjoyed their time with him a few nights ago. Right?

The voice didn’t respond, and Pudge hesitated. Maybe hooking up with Kyle had been a mistake. Did they really need him? Look at how far they’d come on their own.
 

Kyle held his dick by the base, then nodded to his crotch. “C’mon, baby, I know you want it. And if you swallow every last drop, I’ll make sure I talk to Rodger about you tonight, right after the show ends.”

The lure of on-air time forced Pudge to move toward the desk. Pudge stared at Kyle’s dick then knelt in front of him.
 

“That’s it,” Kyle coaxed. “And next time, when we’re not on a time crunch, I’ll make sure I fuck you properly.”

While Pudge would like to be fucked properly, Kyle wasn’t the man for the job. Eden’s boy toy came to mind, and with his image on the brain, Pudge demeaned them, and sucked Kyle’s dick. With each suck and lick, Pudge formulated a plan. Once they no longer needed Kyle, he would pay a high price for using them. Leaking a video of him screwing one of his co-workers just might be the right start.
 

Chapter 15

Eden snuggled her bottom against Hudson’s groin, his erection pressing against her. She hadn’t even crawled out of bed yet, and the day already seemed brighter.
 

He palmed her breast, gave her nipple a seductive tug, then slid his hand along her belly until he slipped his finger between her thighs. Yes, she thought as she sucked in a breath and spread her legs. Today would definitely be a good day. Waking up to Hudson’s hard, hot body, and then morning sex...? Other than a strong cup of coffee and a gooey cinnamon roll slathered in butter, she couldn’t imagine a better way to start the day.
 

After years of sleeping alone, after years of
being
alone, she loved this moment. Last night had been an awakening for her. The whole day had been, really. She’d realized she had health issues in need of attention. She had family issues that she also needed to tackle. Most of all, she’d realized all of the issues she’d thought she’d had with Hudson were of her own making. He’d been there for her in the past, willing and ready to explore a future. But she’d sabotaged their relationship out of fear. She’d been afraid of having her heart broken, afraid of becoming too close to him only to have him reject her once he came to know the “real” Eden.

After last night, those fears seemed ridiculous. Hudson had showed her he cared deeply for her, with his words and his touch.
     

With the way he touched her now, she focused on him, on their pleasure, and reached beneath the sheets for his thick arousal. Her body hummed with need and anticipation as she guided him inside of her.
 

His warm breath puffed against her neck, as he slowly, sensually rocked his hips. She pressed against him, eager to feel every hot inch of him. He grabbed her hip, then positioned her until she was on her hands and knees. Pressing on the small of her back with one hand, and cupping her ass cheek with the other, he quickened his pace.