Homecoming Homicides (23 page)

“Are there any other rooms?”

“The auditorium.”

“You have an auditorium in the house?”

“It’s in the back of the house. Rodney built it. Sometimes he lets me watch, if I’m good. That’s where he brings his girlfriends.”

Flippy’s stomach lurched. She’d already sensed she’d made a mistake by coming here. She had stumbled onto a House of Horrors, the home of a monstrous serial killer. She was sure of it. And she needed to get out of here as fast as she could, make it back to the bus before the killer came home.

“Show me the auditorium, and then I really have to go.”

Donny went to a drawer in the living room and got a key. They walked down a long, dark hallway, and he used the key to open the auditorium door.

Flippy couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was a duplicate in miniature of the Performing Arts Center auditorium where the homecoming pageant took place, complete with spotlights, a hardwood floor stage, and a backstage dressing room, even auditorium-style seating. No money had been spent on the front of the house, but this room must have cost a fortune.

“What does Rodney do in the auditorium?”

“This is where he takes his girlfriends when they visit.”

“Are there any other rooms I should see?”

“There’s Rodney’s workshop, but I don’t have a key to that. Rodney says that room is off limits.”

Off limits. Was that where the killer tortured and burned his victims, in the privacy of his “workshop?” Where no one could hear their screams? Was that where he had killed Traci?

All right, this was her opportunity. Sure, she was scared, and she knew she was stupid for coming here alone, but she was here, so she forged ahead.

“Can we see Rodney’s workshop? I want to see your brother’s workshop.”

“Rodney’s workshop is strictly off limits.”

“Well, can’t you make an exception?”

“Only Rodney’s girlfriends can go there. Are you Rodney’s girlfriend?”

Flippy was repulsed at that thought, but she answered weakly, “Yes.”

“Well, then, I guess it’s okay. But he won’t be happy. Rodney said his workshop is strictly off limits.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Luke ran into the office and shook Misty’s shoulders.

“Where is she?” Luke shouted. “Has she shown up yet?”

“Luke, you’re hurting me.”

Luke was desperate, but he colored as he realized what he had done.

Luke paced the office. “I’m sorry, but I’m worried sick about her. I should never have left her alone. If she’s not at DaVinci’s and she’s not at home, where is she?”

He bounded into her office. Her purse was on her desk, along with the manila file. The file that had been missing since last night. The file Flippy had taken from his condo.

There had to be a clue here as to her whereabouts. He rifled through the file until he came to a circled name. Rodney Willis, maintenance. Then he found the crumpled newspaper article about the fire, the beauty queen mother, and the older brother, and he began to put it together. Holy shit. Flippy had found the killer. The address in the article was the same as the house Kate had described, the one at the end of the bus route. Luke rubbed the back of his neck. He had a terrible feeling. Katherine had been right. The killer was focused on Flippy. Surely Flippy couldn’t be stupid enough to have gone there on her own. Without her cell phone. And without contacting him. Or had Rodney Willis kidnapped her from outside her office? Neither of those scenarios made him feel any better.

“Anything else?” Luke snapped.

“This fax just came in from Ajax Production Company, the one Philippa has been waiting for. Ajax is the company that produced the homecoming pageant video. They sent over a list of people who purchased the video and the name of the man who shot it.”

Misty stomped back to her desk.

Luke scanned the list and compared it to the list of employee names in his file. The name stood out like a neon sign. Rodney Willis.

“I’m calling it in,” Luke said to an empty office, as he picked up the phone and dialed police headquarters to give them the particulars.

“I’m sure,” he said over the phone. “I’m goddamn sure. I’ll meet you over there. Contact Director Beckham. And get someone over to where Rodney Willis works. I don’t know exactly where he is, but find him and find him fast. He’s got Philippa Tannenbaum.”

He sprinted into the outer office. “I want you to call me if you hear
anything
from her. Pray to God we do hear something from her, and soon.”

“I’m sorry, Luke.”

Luke relented. “It’s not your fault.” He bounded outside and walked over to the rosebushes. “Matt, are you in there?” He told Flippy he’d sent someone over to spell him. Matt Bauer, his partner on the force. Matt was supposed to pose as a homeless man and keep an eye out for Flippy, but he was gone, too, and Luke couldn’t reach him on his cell phone.

“Shit.”

“She took the bus,” said a voice from the bushes. “Miss Tannenbaum took the bus.”

“Who are you?” Luke grabbed the man by the scruff of his shirt.

“My name’s Chuck. I was stretching my legs and I saw her get on the Number 5.”

“The Number 5?” Luke pulled out his cell and dialed the office. I need the route for the Number 5 city bus.” Then to the homeless man he was still holding he said, “Have you seen any strange people here lately?”

“There’s a new man who showed up here yesterday. He got on the bus with Miss Tannenbaum.”

Luke breathed again. It was Matt. Matt had followed Flippy. Matt was armed, but why hadn’t he called in or answered his phone?

“Are you going to find Miss Tannenbaum?”

“Yes. I hope so.”

“I’m coming with you. You could use me.”

“Yes, I can use all the help I can get. Thanks. My car’s over here.” The two got into Luke’s car and drove off. Luke was waiting for a call-back to confirm the route, but he knew what the answer would be. 5555 Skyline Road would be on that route, and that bastard Willis had Philippa.

His cell phone rang. It was the call he was expecting, with the answer he was expecting. And he got some more information that made him sick. Rodney Willis had not come to work today. He’d called in sick. He was sick all right, Luke thought. And he had taken the only thing that mattered to Luke. “We don’t have much time,” he said to Chuck, muttering to himself, “I hope we’re not too late.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Flippy was about to enter Rodney’s workshop when the spotlights went on. Then a disembodied voice that sounded as smooth as a radio DJ’s floated over the loudspeaker. What she heard sent a chill down her spine.

“Philippa Tannenbaum. Step up to the stage. So glad you could join us. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Flippy staggered backwards. She was trapped.

“Were you thinking of leaving us? I wouldn’t advise it. We’re waaaay out in the woods at the End of the World, and nobody knows you’re here. So relax. You’ll find your wardrobe in the changing area in back of the stage. I’m sure you’re familiar with this room. I built it for you.”

Flippy wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

“Yes, I know what you’re thinking. But it’s true. I built this room with you in mind. That’s right. I saw you in last year’s pageant. You should have won the pageant. You are much more beautiful and poised than the bitch who took your title. You’re no runner-up. I wanted to tell you myself, but I thought of another way. A way that would get everyone’s attention. Then in this year’s pageant, when I saw you were the pageant director, I thought of the perfect way to honor you. You know my mother, Gracie Willis, she was Miss Graysville, and then the next year she was up for the county title and someone stole it from her. She was first runner-up. I couldn’t help my mother, but I can help you. By eliminating the competition, literally.”

Flippy shuddered.

“Where are you?” she called out. Disoriented, she couldn’t see the man speaking because he was shielded by the blinding lights.

“That’s none of your concern. You know what I’m capable of, so, please—don’t waste my time. Go and change into the first outfit I’ve laid out. In my mother’s day, before all this women’s lib nonsense, they hadn’t banned bikinis from the pageant. I know they don’t do this anymore, but it’s my pageant. I love a good bathing suit competition. Don’t you? All that beautiful, smooth, bare skin.”

Flippy tried to run for the door when she heard a shot ring out and saw the wood next to her head splinter. She ducked.

“You don’t want to do that, Philippa—or should I call you Flippy? I think I’ll call you Flippy. It’s so much more personal. And we’re going to get to know each other very well before this week is over.”

“Donny, take a seat. You’re going to love this show. All the others were just preludes. I was just warming up.”

Flippy walked up the steps on the left side of the stage and walked into the dressing area. She saw three outfits laid out, marked “#1,” “#2,” and “#3.” The first was a skimpy bikini, the second was casual wear, and the third was the evening gown.

Shaking, Flippy undressed behind the curtain and put on the bikini. What choice did she have? If she could keep him talking, she could stay alive. She could get answers to her questions, and maybe somebody would figure out she was here. But nobody knew she was here. Nobody would put it together. She knew this was the end. She was going to die here, just like the other girls. Just like Traci. She reached into the pocket of the skirt she’d been wearing, fished out Jack’s ring, and put it on her right hand. If she didn’t survive this ordeal, and they found her body, she wanted Jack to have his ring back. Then she lifted Traci’s bracelet from her pocket and fastened it around her left wrist—the last keepsake of her best friend.

“And now we have Miss Philippa Tannenbaum, looking saucy in her very sexy two-piece. Flippy, front and center. Come out on stage and strut your stuff.”

Flippy walked hesitantly onto the stage.

“Model the suit for us. You know the drill. My, my, who knew what was under all those layers.”

Flippy’s body shook uncontrollably. Not just from the cold. The auditorium was ice cold, but fright had taken hold of her barely-clad body.

“Now, now. I can see you’re shy. Just a case of stage fright. My mother was shy, too. Or at least I thought she was. She hid it well behind miles of eyelashes, when all along my mother was nothing but a tramp.”

Flippy shuddered. This man was seriously disturbed.

“All right, now, Donny. You can take the picture now. Usually I do the makeup first, but you don’t need makeup. I wouldn’t change a thing about that fabulous face of yours. That’s right, Donny. A nice close-up on Miss Tannenbaum’s best assets.”

A flash went off and blinded Flippy. She almost tripped in the high heels Rodney had supplied for the outfit.

“Lovely. Lovely. All right now, hurry, hurry, and go change into your casual wear outfit. The black leather bustier with the black silk taffeta skirt. And don’t forget the black leather gloves. They’ll round out the outfit quite nicely.”

Flippy teetered back to the changing area, put on the second outfit, and stepped out onto the stage.

“Splendid. Now show us what you’ve got. That’s right. Work it. Donny, did you get that? Did you capture the moment? I picked out those outfits myself.”

Flippy walked the runway, first hesitantly, then more confidently. She wasn’t going to let this bastard get the better of her. When the time was right, she’d strike back. She wasn’t going to end up like Traci.

“Now you’re getting the hang of it.”

Flippy faced her adversary. “Why don’t you show your face, you bastard. You killed my best friend.”

“Actually, Traci Farris was just collateral damage. I was there that night for you. That little twit just got in the way. I’ve been watching you for a long time. That girl stole your man. What do you care about her? I killed her for you, saved you the trouble.”

Flippy choked. “You’re sick.”

“She was nothing but a little whore, just like my mother. Okay, now for the evening gown competition.”

“Rodney, did you hurt Traci? I thought you said she’d gone home.”

“Don’t listen to anything she says, Donny. Women can’t be trusted. How many times have I told you that? They turn everything around to deceive and confuse us. Remember the story about Adam and Eve and the Original Sin, from the Bible?”

Donny nodded.

While Rodney spewed his hatred of women, Flippy went to the changing room. The gown was gorgeous. It was a pure white silk, seeded with pearls, almost like a wedding gown. It was a vintage gown, and it was a perfect fit. She came out of the dressing room.

“Brava. You look magnificent in that gown. Just like my mother did. That was her gown. The gown she wore when she won Miss Graysville.”

“Why are you killing all those girls?” Flippy demanded.

“Oh, that’s all going to stop, now that I have you. I’ve saved the best for last. You’ll be my best work of art. Now, model for all you’re worth. Model as if your life depends on it, because it does.”

Flippy walked up and down the stage several times until she heard the voice.

“Donny, let’s capture this for posterity. Beautiful. This will make a nice addition to the photo gallery. And be sure the video camera is rolling. Philippa, I can’t wait for you to see my photo gallery and my new video. It’s right in the next room. You haven’t seen my workroom, but that’s our next stop. It’s where I do my finest work. And I have just the final resting place for you. It’s one you never even thought of. You and that new man of yours. Yes, I’ve been watching you. I know all about Officer Luke Slaughter.”

Flippy raised her head, but she still couldn’t distinguish the face of the speaker.

“You’d better not hurt Luke.”

“Oh, I will, but not physically. But when he sees what will happen to you, he’ll be devastated.” Then Rodney Willis began to laugh and his voice resonated around the room.

Flippy was shaking.

“All right, you can keep the gown on, and go ahead, grab a stole from the dressing room. I know I keep it cold in here, but it’s better for my burns. That’s right, you can’t see my face. If you did, you might be frightened. And I don’t want you to be frightened, yet. When I decide to show myself, we’ll be all up close and personal, and we’ll have plenty of face time.”