Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(72)

“The description was the same. Balding man, tall, thin, with a knife. Not much for the police to go on. None of the cases have been solved lately. Several of the women had been drinking. None knew the name of the attacker or where he lived.”

Dave was silent. “I’ve been reading the records. Only two crimes in the same county. Or at least only two recorded. When you think about the fact that less than half of the rapes are reported, no telling how many we’re looking at.

“First cut is usually just below the collarbone and the second’s on the breast. Several women commented that he liked to tell her what he was going to do.” Dave took a long breath. “If I’m following the same man, he’s cutting more and more. It’s like the rape isn’t important, it’s the cuts he’s going for.”

“What about the women? Do they follow a pattern?”

“They live alone. He followed some home; others he caught getting in their car or walking. Most were women who hung out at bars. One was a secretary in the building across the street from a popular bar.

“Some disappeared after they gave their statement. They never followed up with the police, and the cops had nothing to tell them anyway.”

“Thanks, Dave. If you find anything else, call me. I’m off tomorrow. I think I’ll stay around Honey Creek.”

“Yeah, I’m off too, thanks to our all-nighter.” He laughed. “I think I’ll spend the weekend here in the office. Unlike you, buddy, I don’t have a life. Maybe one day I’ll ride along with you to Honey Creek. I lost my wife for what looks like a month. She went to Galveston to plan her sister’s wedding. I may never see her again. I might as well drop by Honey Creek and look for a date. The mayor have a sister?”

“No, but she’s got a grandmother.”

“Great. I like older women. After we marry and you marry Piper, I’ll be your grandfather.”

Colby didn’t want to mention that he was no longer with Piper. It seemed every time he showed up late, they were off again. “Sounds like a great idea, Grandpa Dave. I’ll get you nuts and socks every Christmas. See you Tuesday.”

When Colby put the phone down, he felt a chill. Leon was close. He could feel it. Piper might think she was safe, but he planned to stay on guard.





Chapter 45


Leon


Leon Newton lay in the weeds across from Mr. Winston’s house in Honey Creek. Marcie’s car was not parked in the drive. Which meant she was running around somewhere. Probably out drinking and going wild, like tramps do.

He’d tried the trailer every night, thinking she’d come back like he told her to, but she hadn’t. Then Joey told him she’d packed up and moved to Honey Creek.

But Leon looked in her windows. It looked like her stuff was still there. She’d be back. If he couldn’t find her here in Honey Creek, he’d find her in Someday Valley. It would be a better place for their date anyway. So many people had moved out of the trailer park, it was almost a ghost town. Nobody would hear Marcie’s screams.

Thinking about her screams made him smile. He could almost smell her blood, warm and dark as he smeared it over her hot skin.

He patted the knife in his pocket as thoughts of what he’d do flashed in his mind. He’d started cutting his women deeper, thinking it would leave a wider scar. The first cut would be on the inside of her thigh. A few weeks later, when he circled back for another date, he’d get a kick out of examining the scars forming before he cut again. Most of his dates disappeared, but now and then he found one still around. They never screamed as loud the second time.

Leon would bet Marcie would be a screamer every time. He’d take it slow with her. One, maybe two cuts a night after the first time. She had nowhere to run. No one would believe her or help her. They could play his little cutting game again and again.

Leon moved a few feet closer in the grass. The big old house she’d rented a room in was silent and dark.

Who knows how late she’d stay out tonight, but when she came in she’d probably be too drunk to fight much. If she parked across the street, he’d grab her and take her back to Someday Valley. If she went to the trailer, he’d find her before dawn. Either way he’d have a date with her tonight.

On a night this dark, she’d be no problem to catch. He’d simply push a knife into her side, deep enough to bleed, and make her drive him back to her old place. Or better still, they could go back to his place. He could keep her all weekend there. But then, no one would notice or care what was going on at the last trailer, and he wouldn’t have to clean up the blood. He’d leave her tied up for a few days and just drop in whenever he wanted to play. If no one came by, it wasn’t his fault if she died.

In his mind she was the cause of all his troubles. His fishing buddies weren’t hanging out with him anymore because they blamed him for them being hurt.

Wayne, that nosy bartender, must have seen her shiver when he stopped to talk to her the last time she sang. The barkeep told him not to come back to Bandit’s, which meant he had to drive all the way to Honey Creek to buy beer.

He’d applied for two jobs yesterday. One look at his bruised face from the fall over Joey, and he was turned away. That wouldn’t have happened if Marcie had cooperated.

Leon took a gulp from the bottle of whiskey he’d stolen from the gas station. It was almost gone. He was shivering, and the tramp had stood him up. Tonight was supposed to be the night.