Dawson's Web (18 page)

This was not her best decision.

Not her best decision, indeed.

Slither brain liked the token of appreciation she showed.

“SSSSSure,” he hissed, then added, “Where to?”

“Oh, go South on PCH. There’s a little seafood restaurant and they have a quiet, well-stocked bar,” she squeaked in a singsong rhythm sounding like a door to an old house that had been caught in a breeze and swayed back and forth crying out each time it had to move.

Jeff started the car and turned left onto PCH. He pulled the knife out of his pocket now and fondled it, opening it up, feeling the sharpness of the blade, closing it again, knowing, in moments, he would use it on this stupid person with the grating voice.

He was done with this bitch, in spite of her token kindness. Her voice grated on his last nerve. Both Slither Brain and Sane Brain were in agreement.

She had to go.

They were ready.

Let the games begin.

As they approached the restaurant, she pointed to the right. “You’d better slow down. It’s right over there.”

The wiper blades were thumping like the beating of a heart but could barely keep up with the downpour.

The snake ignored the command and accelerated, turned to her and smiled.

“We’re going to Gladstone’s. They have much better seafood and they’re on the ocean not far from here. Besides, it’s pouring now and I don’t want to get soaked again. If we drive up the coast, we might get out from under this microburst.

You’ll like it. I guarantee you’ll like it. I know we do. I mean, I do.”  (That unintentional slip where he referred to both of his personalities might have been enough to be a sign to scare her away, but she was too pre-occupied being jealous of her ex and thinking of the possibilities of being with Jeff to notice. That, and coincidentally, it was the same restaurant where she and her ex were going to celebrate their anniversary, except that Emily and Johnnie spoiled her plans.)

“How epically appropriate to start a new chapter,” she mused.

She reached over and hugged him as if to get back at her ex, who wasn’t there and didn’t care anyway. Tonight he was screwing Emily in Redondo and hadn’t thought about her in weeks.

The irony was thick.

That’s exactly what she wanted to do with Jeff.

She wanted to have revenge sex with him.

Pulling herself back into the present moment, she answered.  “Of course I know I’m going to enjoy dinner. Oh, by the way, what’s your name? How lame and stupid am I getting into a stranger’s car without asking?”

The snake laughed inside. “How stupid, indeed? You have no idea how stupid!”

“I’m Jeff. Jeff Dawson.  I promise you’ll have fun.”

Usually, he used a false identity, but what would it matter, she’d be dead in a few hours. He extended his right hand and they pinky-finger promised again, each not saying a word. She was enthralled with the possibilities of a new life. Snake and Sane Brain were ecstatic at the onset and the culmination of their game.

All three were satisfied momentarily.

The authorities found her body washed ashore one mile North of Gladstone’s after being alerted by some early morning anglers there was a “floater” in the surf.

Her throat was slit from ear to ear and there were also several post-mortem stab wounds. Whoever murdered her did it vengefully.

However, that’s where the similarity to the other crimes ended.

Jeff and the snake had indeed carved the signature hole above her vagina to emphasize their rage, but the size of the hole was noticeably smaller and not nearly as deep, extending only one-half inch through the skin.

Later, when she was examined by the coroner, he noted the difference in the file, but because of the vast majority of similarities with the other victims, this one was still classified as one of those of the now named “Blondie Serial Killer.”

After dinner and having to listen to her endless whining, Snakey and Saney had had enough. The similarity to their stepmother was lost on them. The killing didn’t hold the same satisfaction as those before, even though they both were conscious when it occurred, something that hadn’t happened before. It was a new venue for them both, and as such was going to take a bit of getting used to since both of them were present when they made love and both of them knew what the other was thinking. The same thing happened when they finally subdued her and killed her.

It was fun, but not as much fun.

Maybe it wasn’t such a good thing to combine their psyches. Each of them though this, knew it, but ignored and mentally high-fived each other celebrating the first time they had worked together.

The reason the holes weren’t as deep is that during the post mortem mutilation, they both agreed they had lost interest in her.

They quit prematurely and covered their tracks as best they could. Both agreed it would be better to have closer collaboration before doing anything like this again because the risks were too high if they didn’t.

Snake Brain and Sane Brain had both been with her.

They had made sure there was no other forensic evidence, except for one thing neither of them knew: a bank surveillance camera had caught Jeff’s license plate only moments before the duo had done their deed.

Fred McCallister was alerted via text message and was already on his way to view the video surveillance footage even though it was noon, nine hours after the body was found.

The day after Jeff and his reptilian counterpart murdered the clerk, he slept in, got up, ran some errands and then headed south towards Hermosa Beach. He wanted to get the HBYC to see if he could meet up with Stephanie. He had been thinking about her ever since they were together and his previous night’s escapades made him even more excited to see her now.

The box of Clairol was next to him in the passenger’s seat, and he couldn’t wait to use it on her.  Slither Brain and Sane Brain were in synch about that and had agreed on what they would do to her and with her once the dye was cast…. so to speak.

He arrived at HBYC at noon.

Stephanie got there with her husband and Todd, their sailing instructor, nearly an hour earlier having finished an early morning sailing lesson where they went over the basics of setting the sails, backing up, tacking and jibing.  It was exhilarating learning how to operate their new toy. During the lesson, they actually seemed to be getting along with each other. Not only that, they both sailed the boat single-handedly boosting Todd’s ego about his ability to teach them the basics.

It helped that John and Stephanie were very intelligent. Both caught on to the subtleties of sailing quickly: feeling the wind and being able to adjust Arachne’s course to take advantage of it; tacking quickly so the boat didn’t stall half-way through the turn; and bringing the boat “in irons” to lower the sails safely.

At one point, Stephanie had the boat heeled over almost twelve degrees, which made Todd proud, but scared her husband, John, because he was seated on the low side and could reach out and, if he wanted to, put his hand in the water.

Overall, it was a good lesson, which deserved a celebratory drink or two.

Charlene and Randy were behind the bar when Jeff came in.

The surfers, who usually occupied their normal seats, were there too. They were arguing about what the weather was going to do and bragging about who was the better surfer.

It was Friday and everyone was in the pre-weekend mood. Drinks were flowing like those at a fraternity party at USC on any given weekend during football season. The entire crew was ready-set and well lubricated, even though it was only noon.  They were so tipsy, in fact, before Jeff’s arrival Stephanie, John and Tom invited Randy and Charlene for an impromptu trip to Catalina on Arachne that very afternoon. Both were feeling that competent in their ability to sail.

All agreed it would be an opportunity that couldn’t be passed.

The weather was forecast to be perfect for the weekend. The Santa Ana winds were going to be blowing offshore from LA creating a downwind breeze making the normal five-hour trip to the Isthmus nearly an hour shorter. The water temperatures were supposed to be in the high 70’s, something that hadn’t occurred in SoCal for over twenty years: the result of a strong El Nino setting up in the Pacific.

The water was so warm several species of fish like Wahoo, Dorado, and Blue Marlin were being caught off the East End of Catalina. The warm ocean waters were bringing scores of anglers and they were bringing their cash, fueling the Island Economy, much like an early snowfall at Mammoth or Big Bear fuels those popular California Ski Resort towns. The Catalina locals were enjoying the windfall. Profits and spirits alike were on the rise.

Jeff walked into the bar and Stephanie immediately waved to him to join them.

Jeff felt somewhat awkward because John was there, but Snake Brain kicked in, told Sane Brain to take a back seat and let him handle it, which he did.

Jeff sat down and Stephanie and he locked eyes. They were both thinking the same thing: “let’s get outta here and go down and finish what we started on Arachne.”

“Well, Mr. Real Estate, what brings you down here on a Friday afternoon?” Stephanie asked, ignoring her husband, who was talking to Charlene at the bar. She stretched her hand across the table and gave Jeff’s hand an impromptu squeeze emphasizing her willingness to be with him.

The feeling was mutual.

Jeff squeezed her hand back.

Snake and Sane Brain liked the injection of electricity, which ran up their arm when their hands touched.  It was good they were in such close communication now.

(When they both lived apart, Snake Boy and Sane Boy could only exist separately. But something had happened over the course of the previous two months and during the latest murders.

They were separate, but becoming one on occasion.

This was one of those times.)

“I was working a deal in Brentwood. It was close, so I thought I’d take the chance to see if you might be around.” Snake said.

He leaned into her.

“I brought you a presssent.”  (Hissing)

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the Clairol.

“I want to see you as a blonde. You are sssooo beautiful as a brunette, I’d bet you’d be even more ssstunning as a blonde. We’ve already made love. I want to make love to you assss a blonde.  I want to feel as if I’m cheating on you with you.”

He waited for an answer.

The reptilian hiss was over the top, but effective.

Stephanie liked the snake.

Todd was drinking his fourth “Todd water,” which was straight vodka on the rocks He was oblivious to their conversation.

Stephanie responded. “You’re silly. But I like the way you’re thinking.” She reached over and picked up the box of Clairol, put it up next to her face and tried to mimic the smile on the model’s face on the box. She wanted to impress him. She was infatuated with him because he was the first one she had feelings for in a long time.  Her marriage was that stale. She hated her husband and she saw Jeff as her ticket to a more pleasant alternative than her current humdrum life with John.

She had dealt with John’s insanity for so long she was about to burst. Had it not been for them agreeing to get the boat and giving her a way out of her insane relationship she didn’t know what she would do.

“Really, you want to see me as a blonde?”

She was teasing, but inside she thought it might be fun. She had never colored her hair before because she saw herself perfect in every way. Why change it now?”

The question Jeff asked sparked an internal evaluation of her motivations. Inside, she knew she needed a change and the change needed to come soon. She was weak-kneed when she thought about the possibilities with Jeff.

John had hurt her so many times over the years by not doing everything she asked for and needed. Even if her demands were nonsensical, he should have met them. Because, after all, she was worthy of having each demand she made met and done so without question.

But he had not met any of them.

In fact, over the past three years, he had done everything in his power to distance himself from her, because, quite frankly he hated her.  The only reason he hung on as long as he did was for the inheritance, and now that her parents were near the end, his tolerance for her had even grown less by the day.

Their relationship was dead to both of them, but neither had the courage to admit it.

She was not entering this affair with Jeff because of only one instance of feeling hurt, but because the hurt had been growing over so many years.

She felt justified.

She was doing it, not so much to spite John, but to validate herself as a woman, a woman whom men would cherish and obey.

She knew she was worthy of love.

She knew she was worthy of passion and in spite of her Christian morals, she decided it was worth it to take the plunge.  The risk was certainly worth the potential reward.

She needed this affair with Jeff for one reason: her own self-esteem.

She didn’t need it for anyone else.

John and she didn’t have children.

It was a mutual decision not to have them. Neither of them had the patience to raise them, nor the desire to care for them. They were both too selfish.

That wasn’t any part of what she felt for Jeff right now.

She wanted intimacy. She wanted to be loved and cared for as John cared for her when they first met.

But that ended. Their passion died, and, as a result, she was where she was thinking about Jeff.

She was rekindling what she had before him with John when she felt loved.  She turned her attention back to Jeff, now firmly convinced she wanted him.

He answered the question about him seeing her as a blonde “I certainly do want to see you that way. Your eyes have the same shape as the model’s eyes do.” Snakey responded.  He didn’t allude to the underlying reason for wanting to change her hair. She wouldn’t understand. Best to let her think it was simply a request that had to do with sex or the promise thereof.

Charlene, Randy, and John approached the table. They arrived so quickly Stephanie couldn’t put the Clairol away quickly enough.

John reached out and took it from her.

What’s this?” He said looking at the box, catching Stephanie on the spot.

She hesitated but was quick with her response. “I don’t know I thought I’d try and introduce a little bit of fun into our relationship. With the new boat and other things we’re trying to make our marriage work, it might be nice to spice things up a bit. I thought going blonde might do it. I sometimes think you find me boring, or at least that’s the impression I’ve gotten recently.”  She was hoping her quick answer would elicit some positive response and get her off the hook.  She was not a convincing liar, but it seemed to work.

He wasn’t ready for her response.

“What? Me find you boring? Of course, I don’t find you boring. You’re my wife. I love you the way you are too. (He was lying through his teeth). But, I’ve always had an affinity for blondes. You do know that, so I’m all in if you are. I really like the idea.”

He hugged her to emphasize it. (Secretly he didn’t care what color her hair was. She would look just as lovely with an anchor around her neck whether she was blonde or brunette. Maybe he could make it happen during their trip to the Isthmus, but there was the complication of their other guests being aboard. But that brought with it the promise he might be able to get together with Charlene, something he had been thinking about for several days.

No, he would have to wait to get rid of Stephanie. He would use the weekend to shore up the case he would make to the cops about her future accident.

All Charlene, Randy, Todd, and now Jeff would see is how much he cared for her.

He would be the perfect husband on the trip, tending to her every need.

He would cater to her.

He hated to do it, but the promise of the large inheritance, which loomed close on the horizon, was motivation enough.

He would do it.

He would do it for the money, not the love, but for the love of the money.

Sane Brain and Snake Brain were listening to John and Stephanie’s conversation and both were getting ill. Snake Brain was also getting angry. So was Sane Brain. But, they held their respective tongues.

Randy butted into the conversation. “Okay, I’ve cleared it with the owner. We can close in 15 minutes and can head to Catalina right after we pack.

This came as a shock to Jeff. He knew nothing about the trip and was not prepared at all. He was still dressed in his business suit.

Stephanie spoke up. “Hey Jeff, we’re all going to Catalina on our new boat, Arachne.  It’s really beautiful.” (She knew he knew how nice it was. She said it to hide their tryst from John.)

“You think you could play hooky this afternoon and come over with us for a night at the Isthmus? We would be there for the 5 o’clock cocktail hour.”

Snake Brain and Sane Brain struck at the idea.

“Sure, but I don’t have any clothes.”

John spoke up.

“That’s okay, partner, the more, the merrier. You’re about my size. I have plenty of jeans and sweatshirts you can wear. I think it would be fun. Besides, I’d like to get to know you better anyway. I’m about to come into an inheritance and I’d enjoy the opportunity to talk to you about real estate. We’ll have plenty of time on the way over there to do that.”

(John was thinking about Stephanie’s parents, how close they were to death and getting rid of them and Stephanie would set him up for life!  Maybe he could learn something from Jeff how to make the $100 million last well until he died.)