Page 48 of Dark Visions

“I knew he was in trouble. The police, they came to the hospital and brought me in for questioning. The night he shot himself, I confronted him. Told him that I would help him if he would just tell me what happened. I would have, you know. I would have protected him. He was my other half. My heart just doesn’t beat right unless he’s around. I find myself gasping for air.”

Aislinn felt his pain, even without touching him. She felt it when she was consoling him, his deep sadness, the pain, the anger, all of it.

“I know you’re hurting, Christopher,” said Kane, “but if we don’t stop this woman, she will kill again. We believe that she pushed your brother to a place he didn’t want to be, but he was in so much pain from his own loss. He wasn’t seeing clearly.”

Christopher nodded again. He turned to face the three individuals in the room and searched their faces for something, anything that would help him make the right decision.

“I’ll do this. I need to do this. I need to make things right, for Michael. I need to make amends,” he said.

“We understand that you need time to grieve, Christopher,” said Adam, “but we believe she will strike again soon. We have her telephone number if you will call her and at least set something up. It may get her to at least wait a day or two before finding her next victims.”

He nodded in sadness and regret and reached for the phone that Adam handed him. It was his brother’s phone, and he shook his head, wondering how the trio had acquired the cell phone.

“What should I say?” he asked.

“Tell her you had a death in the family. It’s the truth and will help you to keep your cover. Let her know that you’ll be back in town tomorrow and would like to meet up. She most likely has someone already scoped out.” He nodded and called the number on the phone, placing the phone on speaker.

Well, well, well, if it isn’t the good doctor finally calling for his taste of pussy and adventure.

Christopher Krauss winced at the words, unprepared for the crass nature of the conversation and the woman on the other end of the phone. She could not have been more different than his sister-in-law.

“I-I’m sorry,” he said.

What’s wrong with you? You don’t sound like yourself.

Christopher cleared his throat and fought back the tears threatening to spill.

“I’ve had a death in the family. That’s why I haven’t called. I’ll be back in town tomorrow. Can we get together then?” he asked.

Sorry about your family. Yea, tomorrow is good. I have the perfect couple, and they have a playroom in their house. We can meet them at the usual spot.

He looked up at Kane, panicked. He had no clue where the usual spot was. What was he supposed to say? Kane shook his head and wrote quickly on a notepad.

“No, not the usual place,” he said casually. “Let’s meet at Rubio’s first.”

Rubio’s? Well, aren’t we fancy? Okay, that’s fine. I can get a bite to eat before we have our fun. And Michael?

His brother’s name spoken from this woman’s lips nearly did him in. He swallowed and shook his head in disbelief.

Tomorrow night, I get what I want, all of it. From you too. I want the body parts for my collection.

“F-fine,” he said, swallowing. He hung up the phone and dropped to the floor again, his tears flowing faster. “How could this have been my brother’s life, and I not know it? It’s not possible!”

“I know it seems unbelievable, Christopher, but as you’ve pointed out, Michael was in a great deal of pain,” said Aislinn.

“We’ll be with you the whole time, Christopher,” said Kane. “Adam, myself, and another colleague will follow you to where she will have you meet the other couple. I have some friends in the department who will set a sting for the woman. We will do our best to keep your name and your brother’s name out of the papers.”

“Thank you for that,” he said calmly, standing and wiping his hands over the front of his suit.

“We’ll be there, but you won’t see us,” said Adam. He reached forward and handed a small pin to Christopher. “Wear this on your lapel. We’ll be able to hear and see everything that’s happening.”

He nodded again and looked back at the casket of his brother. Walking over to the box, he laid his hand on the smooth wood once more. Leaning his forehead down, he spoke softly and then turned toward Kane.

“I’ll be at Rubio’s at eight.”

Kane and Adam watched as he left the room, his shoulders slumped forward, his head hanging to his chest.

“He’s in so much pain,” said Aislinn, rubbing her temples.

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