Killer Results

Distraction

POV David

I didn't plan to leave so soon. I normally stayed in town for at least a month to settle accounts and plan my next move. I made arrangements before leaving the house to meet with my banker and lawyer around lunch time, until then I just had to keep busy.

I drove to a local lookout point, that is oftentimes frequented by teenagers "going steady" and just parked the car to watch. I used to come up here as a teen and imagine that I was everyone of those boys getting lucky. Then, I would remember that my father would've disowned me if I dared bring home a rowdy woman. I never would've risked it. I saw what he did to the women he brought home. He tortured them.

The memories made my stomach roll. Hearing the screams, seeing the flesh peeled back from their bodies, and the smells after he was finished with them. I gagged and barely made it out of the car to heave the remains of my stomach off the trail and onto the grass.

"I am NOT my father." Taking a breath and calming my racing heartbeat I regained what little composure I hoped I still had.

"Sir? Are you alright?" Walking up the trail behind me was a petite redhead, she stepped to my side and offered me her water canteen.

"Thank you." I quickly took a sip and removed the foulness from my mouth. Handing her back the canteen.

"Didn't mean to startle you. I was just coming up for the view and heard you over here. Just wanted to make sure you were alright." She started to head back towards the trail.     

"I appreciate it." I walked towards her. "My car is not too far from here, just got a little ill being up there. It's been a long time since I took a drive down memory lane."

"I used to come up here all the time." She blushed. "But that was forever ago."

"Couldn't be that long ago, you barely look old enough to be out of high school."

"You're too sweet. I bet your wife tells you that all the time." The red head giggled and started to walk the trail backwards as she flirted with David.

"I'm not married and I'm only in town for a week." David hadn't planned to hunt this week, she wasn't even his type. She was a distraction that would allow him to avoid worrying about Lauren. "Would you consider having dinner with me?''

The red head paused and with a big smile and said. "I would love to." Then she turned and looked over the edge at the view. "My name is Mary."

"Hi Mary, I'm David."

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POV Lauren

Carmen checked in on me hourly, but she left me alone other than making sure I took the pills the doctor left. I had fresh food available three times a day and a clean set of clothing. However, my appetite didn't return, and I didn't want to change or bathe. If I could have avoided the bathroom all together I would've, I just wanted to sleep. I wasn't sure how long David was gone when I woke to a male's voice in the house. For a moment, I was excited, he was finally home. Carmen came to the door and knocked softly.

"Miss Lauren, the Doctor is here to see you." Carmen stepped aside and allowed the older man in the dark suit to enter.

"Good afternoon Miss Lauren." The doctor proceeded to pull a chair towards the bed and sit beside me. "Carmen tells me you have not been eating."

"I'm not hungry." I wanted him to go, but I didn't dare be rude to him.

"You need to eat if you are to fully recover from your ordeal." The doctor reached for my wrist and I quickly pulled away. "I just want to check your pulse."

I released my wrist and tried to steady my breathing.

"Did David hurt you?" The doctor held my wrist firmly while questioning me.

"No, he saved me." I was shocked that this man would ask such a question. David had been nothing but kind to me.

"Odd." The doctor released my hand.

"Why?" I pulled the quilt up against my body, creating a shield from the doctor's prying eyes.

"What happened to you Lauren? Somehow you crossed paths with David, but he didn't harm you? Your body doesn't lie about the hell it has been though. Why do you choose to starve your body after it has been through so much already?"  His voice dripped with judgement and disapproval. My mind flashed to my father's last words to me before he told me to leave home.

"You don't know anything about me." My voice betrayed the hate I felt for the man sitting beside me. How dare he judge me.

"I know you had a child. Where is that child now Lauren?" The accusing tone he used only heightened my sense of flight.

"You need to leave now." I wanted to run, needed to hide from this man who could uncover my secrets.

"As you wish. However, if you choose not to eat, I will return and the choice will no longer be yours." With that the doctor stood up, nodded to Carmen who stood quietly by the bedroom door, and left.

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POV David

I spent the week in the company of Miss Mary. She was every bit the opposite of Lauren and the perfect distraction. We went dancing and laid picnics along the trails we met, Mary was so lively and energetic.  Always asking questions, offering information, wanting to touch and taste everything around her. She had so much joy and life. This woman was unspoiled, untainted and loved throughout her life, she wanted for nothing.

"I hate that you're leaving tomorrow night." The adorable pout on Mary's face was something David had grown accustomed to over the week. This was how she behaved when she wanted something.

"I only wish we had more time." He took her hand in his and she laid her head on his shoulder as they walked along the pathway up to lookout point. The sun had set, now the stars were beginning to light up the night.

"Speaking of more time, I have news." Mary released his hand and turned to stop him along the trail. "I received a job offer in California! I leave tomorrow afternoon."

"Congratulations." I wasn't sure how this was good news, I still hadn't quite figured out how to get her alone, dispose of her body and not have the evidence tie it all back to me.  

"That's not the good news, silly!" Mary giggled and then picking up my hand, she continued to pull me up the trail. "My bus leaves at three, so my family is dropping me off at two, tomorrow afternoon. I didn't tell my parents that I had the bus ticket changed to eight o'clock at night." Mary stopped me again, then said. "If you can get me to the bus station by seven thirty, I'm all yours for the afternoon."

"It would be my pleasure." I could figure out the rest of the details. Pick Mary up after her parents left the bus station, have my fun, then wrap her up and pay a woman down on her luck to ride the bus with Mary's luggage to California. Once there, it really didn't matter what happened, because as far as anyone knew, Mary disappeared after she arrived for her new job. 

I was lost in thought when we reached lookout point. The view was beautiful under the stars. Cars were parked nearby creating a less than moral view of couples exploring each other's boundaries. Mary wrapped her arms around my neck and did her best to kiss me. I bent forward and took advantage of the willing woman before me. I didn't recall the last time I had a partner that wanted to be with me, but my mind drifted back home to the woman I longed to be with and I wondered if she was thinking of me too.