Page 32 of Serial Love

Bart nodded and immediately headed out into the night. An hour later he was back, a grin on his face. “Easiest bar to break into I’ve ever done.” Seeing Jack’s face, he added, “Already sent to Luke.”

Finishing their meeting for the night, they planned the next couple of days. And Jack knew they were going to be long ones.

He taped the latest pictures up on his wall, adding them to his collection. “I told you that you should have stayed a good girl. But no, you had to become a slut. So now, you join the others.” Standing back admiring his wallpaper, his eyes roamed over the macabre collage.

His fingers trailed along the wall, touching the photographs almost lovingly. Reverently. The memories of each one flooded his mind. He was at peace. The urge had been assuaged, leaving only satisfaction in its wake.

His cell phone vibrated, and he grimaced at the interruption. Pulling it out, he read the text, sighing.

Collecting his things, he readied himself to go back home. Using a large bucket filled with water and bleach, he quickly wiped down the tabletop and splashed the remaining liquid on the floor. With an old broom, he gave a few sweeps to send the bloody water out of the door.

He never spent too much time on cleaning the room…it was just a place to make the sluts pay. But the knife was different. Carefully washing, bleaching, and then drying the instrument, he tucked it back into his case.

With a last glance around, he stepped out into the night air and locked the door behind him. He smiled, humming a tune as he drove away.

12

“What do you think?” Bethany asked, twirling around breathlessly, allowing the jewel-blue jersey dress to flare out around her. “Do you like it better than the green one?”

Sally and Gram clapped in approval for each dress she had tried on, deciding to plan ahead for the date with Jack. When he left, he had said to be prepared for this next Saturday. He had been gone for almost a week, with no contact, but she knew he was working. It stung a little that he had not called or texted, but she reminded herself that he said his work was unpredictable.

She had stayed busy and now was playing dress up with Sally and Gram helping her to choose her best date clothes.

“Oh, darling, they all look so pretty on you,” Sally enthused. “Don’t you think so Ann?”

Bethany looked over at her grandmother, knowing that she was slipping farther away from reality. Gramdid not reply but offered a smile instead. It was all she could give, and Bethany would take anything offered, wanting to hold on to every memory with her grandmother.

“Why haven’t I seen you in any of these dresses before?” Sally asked. “Have you had them here all along?”

“Yes,” laughed Bethany, “but there’s hardly been a reason to wear them here. How can I chop wood in a dress and high heels?”

“Well, no matter which one you choose, you’ll be beautiful,” Sally remarked. She looked at Ann and said, “Let me help your grandmother to bed while you change.”

Smiling, Bethany agreed, then moved back to her bedroom. A few minutes later, dressed in her pajamas, she checked in as Sally was just getting Ann into bed.

Leaning over, she whispered, “I love you, Gram,” kissing her cheek.

Sally and Bethany quietly left the room. “She’s getting worse, you know,” Sally said.

Bethany sighed, “I know. I called mom and dad the other night and they were checking on the closest facility to here.” Tears filled her eyes, but she dashed them away quickly.

But not quickly enough. Sally walked over, offering her a hug and said, “You’re a good woman, Bethany.”

Soon afterward Sally left, and Bethany locked up the lodge. Climbing into bed, she looked at the dresses hanging on a hook on her closet door. Smiling, she thought of the date she and Jack would finally be able togo on. Saturday was only two days away and she had the perfect pampering day planned for tomorrow.

The next day, Bethany drove into the city for an early appointment at a spa and salon. Starting with a massage, she felt the kinks smoothed out of her work-tired muscles, followed by a hair trim and style. She loved the feel of someone else drying her hair while brushing it out. It reminded her of the times when she was a little girl, and her mother would sit for a long time running the hairbrush through Bethany’s thick tresses. Then lastly, she sat getting a pedicure while reading a trashy magazine, checking out the latest Hollywood couples.

Laying the articles down in her lap, she leaned her head back against the chair. She heard about the new college girl’s murder on the television and assumed that Jack was involved.How does he do what he does?Glad that someone like him was on the case, she still hated that he had been gone for days.

Her mind rolled back to the last time she was with him on his deck. The memory of his lips on hers before they moved to her breasts as his fingers had worked deep inside of her. She could still remember the tingles from the orgasm that had rushed over her body?—

“You coming ma’am?”

Her eyes jerked open in surprise as she saw the small Asian pedicurist standing with his hand held out to her, waiting for her to step off the chair. Jumping up, she could feel her blush heating her face as she placed her hand in his. “Yes, yes, I’m coming,” she replied as sheallowed him to assist her down so as not to mess with her pedicure.

Driving home, it was hard to contain her excitement as she sang along with the radio.Jack calls me beautiful when I’ve been out chopping wood. I wonder what he’ll say when he sees me all fixed up.Smiling to herself, she pulled into Mountville and parked in front of the lodge.

Roscoe walked by, coming from the shed. “You look real purdy, Miss Bethany,” he called out.

---