No Ordinary Killer

NO ORDINARY KILLER

by

Rita Karnopp

ISBN: 978-1-927476-13-0

Books We Love Ltd.

(Electronic Book Publishers)

192 Lakeside

Chestermere,
Alberta, T1X 1C2

Canada

http://bookswelove.net

Copyright 2012 by Jamie Hill

Cover art by Michelle Lee Copyright 2012

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under
copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by
any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise)
without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above
publisher of this book.

CHAPTER ONE

“
Johnathan Berry slowly entered the
kitchen. The smell of dying flesh immediately assaulted his senses. This had to
be the killer’s sanctuary. Johnathan paused at the stove and fought the rising
bile. Nothing prepared him to see a heart boiling in a pot of water. What
appeared to be entrails sizzled and snapped like bacon in a hot, cast iron pan.
Tightening his grip on the glock, he moved slowly toward the hall. Was it
instinct that warned him the killer was still in the house?”

Thunderous applause filled the room. Megan smiled,
taking it all in. One glance at the pale star talk-show host, Kari Winslow,
added to the moment.

 
“My, this is
graphic. Looking at you, I’d never guess you could write something so …
shocking.” Kari pressed her palm against her chest.

 
“Murder happens
fast. That’s what Cooper, my ex-husband, always said. He’s a police
investigator, you know. We used to sit up half the night talking about killers
and why they did it.” Megan drew in a slow, steady breath. Her heart pounded so
hard against her chest she feared the small microphone clipped to her jacket
would pick up the thunderous thump … thump … thump.

What was she doing here? She hated talk shows, but the
exposure this interview would give her book was mammoth. Sales were picking up
and she had to admit, she loved the spotlight.

“Yes, and rumor has it, Ms. Reynolds, that you got
your information from your ex’s case files for your book. Is that true?”

“I wrote
Malicious
Intent
with information I researched and pulled together. Now, some say
it’s fact and others don’t. Maybe that’s the thrilling part about the book. No
one really knows except me.” Meg smiled, pleased Kari Winslow struggled with
the interview.

“Wouldn’t that be confidential information? If you
stole a police case file you could have broken—“

“I didn’t say I stole any files. In fact, I didn’t
steal a thing. I’m not stupid, Miss Winslow.” Her relentless pursuits wore on
Meg’s nerves.

“Let’s move on, shall we?
Malicious Intent
has been number one on the New York best sellers list for an incredible
ten weeks now. Do you think that’s because it’s a thrilling story or is it
because it’s believed to be based on true events?”

“Back to that, are we? I think
Malicious Intent
is a well-written book. It’s intriguing and it’s
graphic. People are sick of wishy-washy books that never let a reader truly see
what a crime is all about. I get into the nitty-gritty. The public is surprised
by my honesty and bluntness. That’s why it’s number one.” Meg leaned forward
and flipped a handful of long, blonde hair behind her shoulder.

“We have to go to a commercial break right now. When
we come back, I’ll read another honest, blunt page from the number one,
best-seller,
Malicious Intent
. Please
stay with us, you won’t be sorry.”

Meg dropped back in her chair and allowed a steady,
slow breath pass between her lips. “Came at me kinda hard, don’t you think?”
Meg didn’t miss the slight smirk that flashed across Kari’s face before she
pasted on an innocent smile.

“No, I don’t think I was intentionally hard on you. I
happen to think you’re not as honest as you want people to think. You could be
placing your ex-husband in some serious trouble here. I heard he could lose his
badge if they can prove you got your information from him. You do realize if
you did base your book on true facts from real murders … well, I’d hate to be
you. You’ve exposed all the facts and evidence. You’ve put the killer way
ahead. Do you realize your actions could get others killed?”

“Excuse me, Kari, but if they suspected or, should I
say had proof, that my information was obtained from my ex’s case files, they’d
have already arrested me. Fact is, they can’t prove a thing, because my
information is fiction. You keep forgetting this is a novel. Did it occur to
you if my murder resembles a closed case that the killer is already in prison?
Be careful what you accuse me of.” Meg’s dislike for the too-pretty, brown-eyed
beauty increased. She had no idea what living with Cooper had been like … and
Meg could care less what happened to him.

“We’re back.” Kari flashed a white smile that contrasted
with the black wedge hairstyle that framed her small face. “As promised, let me
once again read to you from Malicious Intent.” Her pause caused an electrifying
silence from the crowd.

“Johnathan pushed open the
door with the tip of this shoe. Stairs led to the basement. Fourteen years
should have warned him … should have prepared him to wait for backup. But, this
case was different, it had cost him a marriage and a partner. Step-by-step he
descended into the dark abyss. The sweet stench of blood filled his nostrils.
This had to be the devil’s den. Having reached the cold, concrete floor, two
steps sent him sliding out of control, his gun flew from his grip. The hard
landing jarred his elbow and hip. Flexing his fingers, Johnathan quickly
concluded … he had landed in a pool of blood.”

Deafening approval supported Megan’s work. She wasn’t
surprised the pale Kari didn’t share in the overwhelming consensus.

“My … my. This isn’t exactly the type of book I
generally read.”

 
“
Malicious Intent
isn’t a love story,
Miss Winslow. It’s about the psychology of killers. But you knew that, didn’t
you?” Meg took great delight in Kari’s discomfort.

“I had no idea killers were that sick. One wonders if
it’s necessary to reveal such horrid details.”

“The public has a right to know what goes on in the
big, bad world. It’s nothing new, other than I’m a female writer and it’s
shocking the hell out of everyone. Maybe they’re shocked that a woman can write
about—” Meg paused, catching a glimpse of the director’s waving hand, indicating
time for a break.

“We’ll be right back to discuss just that.” Kari’s
voice waivered slightly.

Meg waited until Kari relaxed back into her chair, no
longer finding it necessary to lean her cleavage toward the audience. Kari’s
manager, Jack Felton, hurried toward them with a piece of paper. Excitement
exploded across Kari’s face. Meg wondered what the shallow woman was up to now.

* * *

Seething, Cooper Reynolds watched his ex-wife on TV
and slammed his fist into the couch cushion. Anger, disgust and resentment
pushed him to the brink of explosion. She’d already made millions on her book,
a book he’d talked to her about writing himself. He’d never have had the balls
to put in all the gruesome details. Obviously the public wasn’t objecting …
they were eating it up. He hadn’t given her any particulars on the murders … so
where had she obtained the information everyone was talking about?

A knock at the door caused him to jump. Damn, his
nerves were on edge. “Who is it?” He shouted from the living room.

“It’s Josh, let me in.”

“Doors open,” he countered, not moving his gaze from
the TV.

“See you’re watching. Megan has managed to come short
of admitting she got her information from you. She ever does and you can kiss
your badge goodbye.”

“Think I don’t know that?” He gave Josh Arnott a quick
glance. “I’m beginning to understand why a killer does it, as she put it. That
bitch is going too far. I’ve never wanted to be anything but a detective. She
fucks this up for me and I swear I’ll kill her myself.” Cooper leaned back and
stared at his best friend and partner.

“Don’t like you talking like this. You never gave her
the information, so don’t worry. We’ll find out who this bastard is and set the
record straight.”

“And what if Megan found a way to open my locked briefcase
and got the information from my files? I was responsible for the
confidentiality of those crime scenes. Megan’s an idiot if she thinks no one
would have remembered those high-profile murders.” Cooper pushed the volume
button up.

“It has come to our attention, Ms. Reynolds, that the
police just discovered a house with, shall we say, an identical crime scene you
described in your book.”

“What? You serious? Which one?”

“Oh, I’m quite serious. I’m sure you remember the Stevenson Mansion murders. Do you feel
responsible?”

“Shit! A copycat killer?” Josh asked.

Cooper gave Josh an anxious look. “Maybe we’re dealing
with the real killer, reborn by Megan’s bullshit novel. All this publicity, who
could miss it. Maybe Stevenson is innocent like he claimed.”

“Who would believe that?”

“Christ, Josh, you know I’ve always had doubts about
that case. I know it was a step-ladder case for us. We did get noticed for that
one. But—”

“But what?”

“Well, I think
maybe the real killer has resurfaced. He’s a celebrity now. Most killers want
and need notoriety. They want to be remembered. Megan has awakened the monster.
Damn that woman!” Cooper jumped up from the couch and slammed his right fist
into his left palm.

“We need to find out who’s working the case. I’ll bet
we can get assigned. Hell, we were the first team on the case.” Josh shook his
head. “If you think Megan sold a lot of books before … that won’t be anything.
She’ll sell millions now!”

Cooper thought about Josh’s comment and his spine
stiffened. “Damn that woman! I’m going to go see Clarence Stevenson. He’s had
two years to think about things. Maybe he’s thought of something new. Maybe he
can—“

“Maybe he had a partner!”

“What the shit you talking about, Josh?” Cooper rubbed
his temple.

“You know, some guy he met in prison. He could have
talked him into doing the copycat killings for him. He’d have all the details …
especially some that weren’t in Megan’s book. It would be a way of proving he’s
innocent. Everyone would point-out he couldn’t have committed the crime if he’s
in prison? That’s the first thing you thought of, isn’t it? It’s brilliant.”

“I don’t think so. I’ve always had a bad feeling about
Stevenson’s conviction.” Cooper slipped his gun into his shoulder harness, then
reached for his coat.

“Yeah, you did. But, remember a jury found him
guilty.”

“Maybe the jury was wrong.” Cooper snatched his keys
from the tray. “Come on, let’s get moving on this. The longer it drags out, the
more momentum Megan has. I’d love to prove her a farce and failure.”

“Unlikely, Coop. She’s already rich and anything you’d
try to do to discredit her will look like sour grapes.”

“Not if I can prove she tampered with files during an
ongoing investigation. I kept that case locked. It’s a felony and you know it.
If she has resurrected a killer, the public just might not think her so high
and mighty.”

The only way you can prove that is with a confession.
I doubt she’s going to give you one.”

Cooper hurried down the hall and a flight of stairs,
leaving Josh to run after him. “Don’t underestimate me, Josh. I’ll bring her
down … you just watch me.”

The words sounded sour and hollow even to Cooper. He
didn’t like how she had turned him bitter and cold. Maybe if she hadn’t gone to
court to get custody of the twins, leaving him only with visitation rights.
Maybe if she hadn’t farmed Tina and Tucker off to her mom in Oregon,
miles away from him in Montana,
while she did her book tour. And, maybe if she hadn’t written that damn book
out from under him … there were too many maybes. Whatever she was up to, Cooper
knew it wasn’t good.