Necessary Evil

By Janelle Taylor

Multi-award winning, New York Times Bestselling Author, Janelle Tayor brings you a psychological thriller that will shock and entrall you with its intensity as she takes you into the darkest regions of revenge and retribution.

When Justice is blind and helpless, a merciless and cunning vigilante steps in and becomes a Necessary Evil - one willing to go to any lengths to punish the guilty.

1990 - Augusta, Georgia

The public and the media want to know: Is there a serial killer on the prowl? Or is someone just yanking the blindfold off Lady Justice? Who is stepping in as judge, jury and executioner when criminals escape punishment for horrendous deeds? Is a hero or a villain at work in the Garden City?

"The Bible says, 'If men strive, and hurt a woman...He shall be punished. Thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for and, foot for foot, burning for burning, would for wound, stripe for stripe.' I say, Heaven and victims raged as another beast was set free. Taking an eye for an eye was left up to me. If Justice is blind or her hands are bound, Rejoice, Good Citizens, for I am around."

A note left behind at a grisly crime scene was signed - THE AVENGER

Now the grim stalker had a revealing name and motive, and Lt. Dan Mallory and his squad had to stop him from avenging heinous crimes against women. But the lethal predator proved to be smarter and more deadly than any killer they ever tracked.

Warning: this book with its graphic contents and language is for mature audiences only. Not for the faint of heart.

Dark   Gritty   Spell-Binding   Sinister   Intense

311 pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janelle Taylor
• Release date: Mar 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781498956604

Book preview

Necessary Evil

By

Janelle Taylor

Necessary Evil

By

Janelle Taylor

Published by Janelle Taylor

Copyright © 2012 eBook edition Janelle Taylor

eBook Edition Copyright and License Notes

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All of the characters in this book are fictitious.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.  They are product of the author's imagination and used fictitiously

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction, copying, sharing or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. 

Prologue

Friday, April 20, 1990

Upon regaining consciousness, Ted Silverman’s head throbbed, worst headache he’d ever had. He felt weird and stiff, and couldn’t move. As he tried to rub his dry eyes, his cloudy wits cleared fast. He realized he was stark naked, trussed up like a chicken, and blindfolded. Panic and fear snaked down his spine, and he shuddered. Sweat drenched his vulnerable body. He struggled in vain against tight ropes that secured his arms and legs spread eagle across a bed. He was certain this was not a dream or delusion. What the. . . .

Good, you’re awake, the unfamiliar voice whispered from behind him. Now our party can begin. You ready for some fun and games?

Ted didn’t know what kind of sick joke was being played on him or by whom, but he didn’t like it. Fury and cockiness surged through him. He grit his teeth and growled, I’m gonna beat the crap outta you as soon as my hands are free! You’re gonna be sorry for pulling this stupid stunt, you asshole! Who the fuck are you? Who sent you to screw with my head?

Anger and insolence pervaded his helpless body until he heard the intimidating voice again.

It’s a party, Ted, and you’re the guest of honor. You didn’t really think you’d get away with your foul crimes, did you? Yeah, I guess you did, since the courts turned you loose. But thwarted Justice has a friend on her side: me. If her eyes are blind, mine can see. If her hands are full, mine are free. Yep, Lady Justice sent me to find you. I punish those who escape her grasp.

Ted yanked against the ropes again, resolved to get free and take his revenge. He snarled like a rabid animal and snapped, You son of a bitch, let me go! I’m gonna kill you, mother fucker! The voice’s previous and next whispers reached his frenetic brain and sent a chill of alarm and disbelief racing through his body at break-neck speed.

It’s you who’s going to die, Ted. Tonight. But later. Much later. First, we’re going to have some fun.

When gloved fingers brushed his bare buttocks, Ted cringed and vowed, Touch me, you pervert, and I’ll cut off your hand and cock! He wriggled for freedom against bonds that sliced into his wrists and ankles, causing blood to ooze from self-inflicted tears and cuts. He knew he was powerless, in big trouble. His mind screamed profanities at his captor. He opened his mouth—now cotton dry with terror—to yell for help, but his own dirty sock was stuffed into it and locked into place with something tied around his head.

Ted couldn’t see. He couldn’t speak. He could hardly breathe, as the sock cut off too much oxygen to his frantic brain. I’m hallucinating. This can’t be happening to me! That shit Jackson gave me musta been laced with something bad. He’s gonna be dead meat when I get loose, just like this crazy asshole! Ted jerked as he remembered he had done the bomb this morning and realized all he should have left from it were the shakes and a craving for more.

I’d love to hear you scream, Ted, just as I know Karen screamed. But you didn’t listen to her pleas any more than I’m going to listen to yours. Besides, we wouldn’t want neighbors to spoil our party, now would we?

No, Ted’s brain argued, this can’t be happening! Who the hell is Karen? My bitch’s name is Judy. If she set this up, I’ll beat the crap outta her again and—Pain shot through his prone body and he arched in agony. His back felt as if it were on fire. What the hell was that thug doing to him? He tried again to scream, curse, or threaten his attacker, but all he heard were his nasal grunts and guttural groans.

Does it hurt, Ted? Did Karen scream when you poured scalding wax on her? No louder than you’d like to scream, I bet. But it doesn’t really burn, does it? It feels good, doesn’t it? the ominous voice taunted.

Who the hell was Karen? Did Judy think he was cheating on her? What was that whore’s name he’d screwed yesterday while Judy was at work? Marley, wasn’t it? So who and what the hell was this reckless fool ranting about? Karen. . . Courts turned you loose. . . Thwarted justice. . . Realization sank in as horror filled his stomach and churned it into boiling acid. Karen was that slut who had accused him of raping her two years ago! She’d gone to the police all high and mighty, crying and swearing she’d been a virgin and he’d forced her to have sex. Bullshit! She’d asked for it! He tried to motion to his attacker to reveal Karen had wanted him to fuck her; that’s why she’d been wearing that short skirt and letting those long tan legs drive him crazy. She wanted—Damn, his back was on fucking fire and his bowels were threatening to let loose any second now!

Hot wax dripped searing agony over Ted’s back, buttocks, and legs while the sinister voice razzed, She was so young, Ted. Why would she want to have sex with an old grease ball like you? Then again, why would you want to have sex with me? It’s the same thing, you know. But you didn’t just rape her, did you? You wanted to have some fun first, just like we’re doing. I’m having fun, Ted, are you? Surely you’re enjoying this and wanting it as much as Karen did. That’s what you told everybody.

When he got out of this trap, Ted swore, he was going to torture and kill this motherfucker. His body stilled when he felt gloved hands on the back of his aching skull. The tight strip around his head and over his mouth was loosened. Good. He was going to tell this bastard that he had made a deadly mistake. Somebody grabbed his hair and yanked his head backward, forcing open his mouth. The stifling sock was jerked out. Before he could moisten his tongue and throat to yell curses and threats, a repugnant object was thrust so far into his mouth that he gagged and was about to clamp down on it.

Bite me, you vile scum, and you’ll lose all your remaining teeth. I’ve got a hammer in my hand that will smash your feeble brains to pulp after I’m done with my dental work. Oooh. . . your lips and tongue feel good, Ted. You like sucking cock? I suggest you give me a good blowjob, so I don’t have anything left to shoot up your ass. Yeah, nurse on it good, Ted. Come on, just like Karen was forced to suck your filthy dick. Make me come, Ted. I know you can do it, boy.

Ted was choking, could hardly breathe, even through his nose. His terror had increased as full reality set in: this was no practical joke or simple payback for anything he’d done to anybody. He was in deep shit. Big trouble. He shuddered at the hideousness of the nightmare he was trapped in, scared stiff, forced to do this unspeakable act. He knew he would be beaten and killed if he refused to obey orders. His jaw hurt and his cracked lips bled from stretching them around the slippery monster in his mouth. It was almost suffocating him, along with the aversion that filled his throat with vomit. I’m going to kill this son of a bitch! If it’s the last thing I ever do, I’m going to slice him up and let him bleed to death while I stomp on him and laugh my head off, he told himself to keep his mind off of the indignity he was experiencing. He concentrated on seeing red blood spilling from the bastard’s body so he wouldn’t have to imagine his naked body lying tied across the bed with a large prick thrusting in and out of his mouth. He heard the ominous Voice again.

Ted, you’re not going to make me come like that. You’d better show me how much you’re enjoying this, just like you warned Karen to do.

Ted felt a body pressed against his head as his defiler leaned over to touch his bare ass. He cringed and trembled and gagged as his nose and mouth were obstructed.

Shellac my rod better or you’ll force me to fuck you in the butt. Maybe that’s what you really want me to do. Is it, Ted? Of course it is; that’s what you did to Karen.

Ted felt the large object begin to slide past his lips. No! He couldn’t take that huge snake up his ass. It’d tear him apart. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you! His mind shouted the litany over and over as tears of defeat soaked his blindfold. He shook his head to answer the homo beast and began to nurse vigorously on the soon-to-be-dead stranger’s prick. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, you’re dead meat, you bastard!

That’s more like it, Ted. See, isn’t this fun? I bet Karen liked doing this, too. Did it bring tears to her eyes? That’s just from the sheer enjoyment you’re experiencing, isn’t it? Oh, yeah. You’re a good cocksucker, Ted. Where did you learn to do this so well?

Ted nearly retched as warm fluid filled his mouth and ran down his throat and chin. Before he could spit it out, the dirty sock was poked in his mouth and the band was secured around his head again. His lips were cut and bruised from the brutal abuse his mouth had taken. Thank God, it was over. He heard the voice’s body move away.

Swallow, Ted, or you’ll choke and our party isn’t over yet. Swallow, the voice commanded again from the other side of the bed.

Damn you, damn you, damn you. He was gonna die and he needed to barf. He was gonna strangle either on this mother fucker’s cum or his own puke. His stomach rolled and reversed as he tried to—  Aaaah, fuck that hurt! The searing pain on his back forced his throat to convulse and reflexively swallow as the torture began anew.

You didn’t really think that was enough for a big dick like mine, did you, Ted? Even your small worm needed more from Karen. Wait til your buddies find out what a good cocksucker you are. You’ll be in great demand.

No, no, no! No one must ever find out about this, and they wouldn’t because he was going to kill this son of a bitch soon. Ted felt tears run past the saturated blindfold and down his face. He couldn’t stop them. Please don’t kill me, he thought, as Death loomed over him in the whispered voice that tormented him and claimed his soul. It was all that Karen bitch’s fault. When this was over, he was going to kill her, too. This time she wouldn’t live to spread lies about him; he’d fuck her and beat her til she died. He tasted vomit and semen in his mouth, but bitter fear was the strongest flavor. Agony assaulted his back, buttocks and legs as the hot wax continued to drop.

Yeah, now I’m ready. My cock’s so hard for you, Ted. But you ain’t got no pussy and your lazy mouth bores me. What do you think I should do, Ted? Let’s see, what did you do next to sweet and innocent Karen? Oh, yes, I remember now.

Please stop. Please don’t do this. Ted wanted to scream, beg and die as he felt gloved hands tease over his vulnerable buttocks. Terror and humiliation gripped him. He knew what was going to happen and tightened his muscles as if that action could stop the impending invasion.

Good boy, make it tight for me. This is gonna feel great. You don’t need any wetness, do ya? Just me, huh? Oh, Ted, you really want this, don’t you? You’re just shaking your head no ‘cause you’re supposed to, right? I bet Karen said no too, but she didn’t mean it any more than you do, right?

Two hands grabbed his taut flesh and forced his cheeks apart. He felt the head of the large penis press against his resistant anus. It won’t fit. Shit is supposed to come out of there; nothing is supposed to go in. It wasn’t made for that! Oh God, please don’t let me die. He heard what he thought was a small child whimpering and realized it was him. Intense pain shot through his rectum and groin, traveling up his wax-splattered back to his neck and brain, which told him praying was futile.

Ted, you’re so tight. I bet you thought it wouldn’t fit, but luck is with you today. Just like it was with Karen that day nearly two years ago. She didn’t need any lubrication either, did she? You have a virgin ass, don’t you, Ted? Karen did, too. She was saving herself for when she got married. You must have been saving yourself for me. How sweet, your cherry for Karen’s cherry; that sounds like an even swap to me.

Ted couldn’t focus on the words; he only knew the intimidating voice continued to taunt him. The torment was so enormous he felt it in every pore of his body. Fear. Pain. Humiliation. Pain. Sick. Pain. Those feelings flooded his body as more vomit threatened to erupt into his acid burned throat. He tasted the saltiness of it mixed with that of the tears and with the metallic blood from the rips on his mouth. He was going to kill them both: this bastard and that whore Karen would die!

The horrendous experience seemed to go on forever. Damn, how long could this motherfucker hold out? Please come and get this hell over with. He helplessly rocked with the rhythm of the mammoth prick that continued to punish him. He wouldn’t be able to sit down for a whole month. He was sure he wouldn’t be able to take a good crap for longer than that. Shitfire, please let it end.

Ted, you’re the best. I don’t want to stop, it feels so good. Mmmmm, such a snug ass, too. But all good things must come to an end.

Ted felt warm ooze spew inside of him and flow out onto his balls to drip on the bed as the pain eased with the huge invasion completed. His sphincter muscles continued to spasm from the final assault. It was over. He had survived the fierce onslaught. Ferocious anger returned on the heels of relief and swept through his aching body like a raging storm. Now, he was going to get free and show this queer what an ass fucking felt like. He might even bring over a few friends to share in the fun before he slit the bastard’s throat.

Now Ted, it’s time for you to die. But before you do, I want to see your face. I want to see if you have the same look Karen had after you finished with her.

After the soaked blindfold was yanked free, a bleary eyed Ted felt a needle prick his arm, an all too familiar sensation. He tried to beg for mercy, but his throat was too injured and his mouth was too dry. Only a small peep escaped his cracked and bloody lips before he looked up into the glaring face of his malicious attacker, his gaze widening for only an instant. His wicked heart stopped forever and his body gave a final jerk as lethal blackness overcame him.

I know Karen will sleep better now with you punished and burning in Hell, but never as good as before your vicious attack and mutilation. Supplies were gathered and placed in a nylon duffle bag: syringes, bottles, candles, extra rope, matches and other pre-used items. Castration isn’t the answer. A taste of your own medicine is what you vile rapists need and deserve. And death, so it stops here. Yes, Ted, you creep, this is Justice. This is necessary evil.

A careful look around the small room gave assurance that everything was in order and no evidence was being left behind for the police to find: no hairs, no fibers, no DNA, absolutely nothing to even hint at who did this task. You’ll be found naked and bound in a bed of humiliation with putrid smells of vomit and urine fouling the air, just like you did to Karen. Not a single neighbor will view my escape, just as none saw my arrival. I see, hear, and know all, Ted, so nobody will discover my identity. After Tippi has a taste of sweet revenge, maybe she’ll smile again, if only just a little bit. May you rot in Hell, Ted Silverman. Justice has been served.

––––––––

Friday, June 15, 1990

David Crouch struggled against the bonds disabling him as he slowly awakened from a drugged state. It didn’t take long for him to realize there was no way he could free himself. His wrists were tied to his ankles by ropes traveling underneath the bed. He was restrained facedown and stripped as naked as the day he was born. What the fuck! If this is a robbery or—

Finally, you’re coming around. Welcome to our little party, David. I was getting worried you wouldn’t wake up before your wife got home and we finished our business here. Wouldn’t want to hurt her just because she was stupid enough to marry a low-life like you. But I will if she intrudes before we get to your coming out party. You didn’t really think you’d get away with your evil acts, did you? Yeah, I guess you did since the courts turned you loose. Technicalities, loopholes, leaks, bribes, and sleezeball lawyers: screw ‘em all. But thwarted Justice has a friend on her side: me.

Who is this crazy fool and what’s he yammering about? Why’d he strip me and tie—

You like pain, David? Lisa liked it, don’t you think? A steel pipe was slammed against the man’s right thigh. Then, his left thigh. Then, his side. Each time a blow landed with a thud, the victim writhed and moaned. Lisa wanted to be beaten with a rod, too, didn’t she, David? She needed to be brought down a peg or two. Just like you.

As the hard weapon continued to strike his body, David tried in desperation to get away from it, but he couldn’t move more than an inch or two. He was gonna kill this bastard the instant he was freed! David planned to give him the licking of his life, especially since his attacker would be dead when he finished with him. Women liked rough sex. They always pretended to say no when they really meant yes. They liked their men to be strong and in control. Sometimes a man had to convince the stubborn ones that they were gonna obey, but then they usually went along with his sport. Lisa was the only one who had called the police. That troublemaking slut was gonna get the shit kicked out of her for sending someone over to treat him like this! After he knocked her senseless, he’d fuck her three ways to Sunday and leave her in her own blood for someone to find. But first, he was gonna get this bastard. He heard ribs crack before knifing agony took away his ability to breathe without causing sheer torment.

I think I heard some bones breaking, David. Maybe I’d better move to another area for a little bit. Wait, didn’t you keep hitting Lisa in the same spot until she needed to have her spleen removed because it ruptured and she nearly bled to death? You must like it that rough, so let me give you some more.

David jerked against the confining ropes as he tried to curse through his gag. He tried to elude the pipe that was causing him great pain, but he couldn’t do that either. After his gag was removed, David felt his attacker’s hands pull his hair to jerk his head back. He reflexively parted his lips to shout threats and profanities, but was prevented from doing so when a large object was jammed into his gaping mouth, following a grim and horrifying warning.

Don’t bite me or I’ll smash all your teeth, nose and skull with this hammer in my hand. Show me how much you want me, or I’m gonna use this pipe to beat your cock and ugly face to bloody pulps. Don’t bite, and obey me, or your own mother won’t recognize the mess I make of you. Now, lickspittle me good, you sorry pile of horse shit!

This ain’t happening, David tried to convince himself. When his wife came home from the bar where she danced, she would help him kill this asshole! He groaned as he envisioned her face if she were to see him like this, bound naked and giving a blowjob to a faggot. She would have to die, too. He couldn’t let her tell anybody about this humiliating incident, or rib him about it later. He would tell the police this bastard had killed her, and he had taken a beating while trying to defend them. No one must ever know the truth. As David planned his assailant’s demise, the steel pipe was still striking his bruised and broken ribs. He heard the chilling voice again.

David, I said for you to suck me off, just like you made Lisa do to you while you beat her with a pipe. You’d better do as I say or I’ll flip your ass over and grind your meat for some dog’s dinner. During that warning, the pipe was slammed into David’s hip to reinforce its message.

David began to cry as he obeyed the repulsive command, the rough invasion of his mouth tearing at his dry lips without mercy. He felt bile ooze into his throat. Blood began to trickle down his chin. He was tempted for one moment to chomp down hard on his molester’s salami, but he believed the daring brute would do as it had threatened. And he was going to need his dick for years to come. His stomach heaved as warm fluid was squirted onto his tongue. He tried to spit it out, but the gag was poked into his mouth before he could do so. Mother fucking bastard! I’m going to kill you and Lisa and that bitch of a wife when this is over! She’ll regret being late tonight!

David, you’re a slut. A whore. You just sucked my cock and you don’t even know me. Wait, you carved the letters S-L-U-T on Lisa’s cheek to brand her for what she was, didn’t you? Well, you’re a whore now, so I guess we need to mark you up, too. A scalpel was pulled from the nylon duffel bag and its blunt edge was traced along David’s cheek. I need to find the perfect spot to do this, so I do it right the first time. You wouldn’t want me to mess up and have to start over on the other cheek, now would you? So hold real still and I’ll try not to slip.

As the sharp blade was pressed into his face, David felt his bladder let go and he urinated on the bed. Shit! Damnit! Fuck! The searing pain sliced through the agony of his other wounds and focused all attention on his face. He would be scarred for life! He wouldn’t be able to keep this blowjob a secret! Everybody who saw him would know what had happened to him! He tried to scream, but no sound escaped his terror filled throat. He felt blood dripping from his chin and imagined the red stains on the carpet. Now, he’d have to think of something else to tell the cops and doctors, but he sure as hell wouldn’t tell them everything. This was nobody’s business.

The attacker continued to slash David’s back and legs and taunt him. Did Lisa urinate on herself when you razored her cheek? How about when you cut her here? What about here? Did she try to scream, too? She deserved what you gave her, didn’t she? She was so pretty and so young. She had no right to look that way when you were around and not give you what you wanted.

The scalpel suddenly stopped and David let out the breath he had been holding. Surely, this nightmare was over. Fucking bastard! From the moment of silence, he thought the stranger was finished and he was going to be set free. Until the next words he heard uttered sunk into his horrified mind.

Just as you have no right to be lying there with your bare and tempting ass poked up in invitation to me. You slut. You want me to slide my big cock in your ass, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be offering it to me like this, would you?

David felt gloved fingers stroke his buttocks. Fucking bastard! No way was this homo going to put a prick up his ass! He shook with all his might until a steel pipe began to unleash its destructive force on his body. Minutes later, he couldn’t move if he wanted to; he feared that most of the bones in his body were broken. Damn that bitch; he should have killed her. This was all her fault!

No wonder Lisa was so black and blue; you must have had to teach her the same lesson. I know you’re just shaking your head no because you’re supposed to, but you really want me to fuck you up the ass, don’t you, David? Lie still and it won’t hurt much after a little while. You want any lubrication? No? Well, okay. Lisa didn’t want any either, which explained the tearing and bleeding she had. I guess you believe the same way she did—the rougher, the better. Well, hang on to your balls, David, because this ride might get a little bumpy.

David’s horror and humiliation increased to such heights that they drowned out the pain from his other wounds. Every nerve ending seemed to focus on that one part of his body. Fucking bastard was going to pay for this! Lisa was going to suffer for it, too. It was all her fault this was happening to him. He was going to teach them both a lesson they would never forget. The agony reached every area of David’s body as he tried not to focus on what was happening, but on his future revenge. He couldn’t take this torture much longer. He felt as if his insides were bursting and blowing his life to hell. Then he felt warmth inside his ass and on his testicles as liquid ran over them and dripped to the urine-soaked bed. He was going to kill this bastard soon.

Now, David, it’s time for you to die. But before you do, I want to look at your face to see if you have the same expression Lisa did after you finished with her.

The blindfold was lifted as he felt a sting on the inside of his arm. He looked up into the sneering face of his brutalizer. His heart lurched in his chest before his body jerked one last time and his degraded soul passed into dark oblivion.

Now, Lisa has her justice. I know she’ll sleep better with you dead and buried.

A hasty shower washed away all blood spatters on the vigilante. The tub and tiles were dried to prevent that action from being noticed by the police. The damp towel was stuffed into the nylon duffel bag along with the objects brought for the punishment of David Crouch. Better hurry before the slutty little wife comes home. I wouldn’t want her to catch me here. That would ruin my future plans if I killed her.

A final visual scan of the bedroom was taken. I’d like to give all sick assholes a taste of their own medicine, but that isn’t possible or smart. I have to stick to my strategy. No detours. No diversions. No inessential risks. No careless mistakes. I can hardly wait to tell Tippi and hope she hears me even in her coma. If only you would regain consciousness, my dear, sweet, innocent Tippi, so you could enjoy these glorious moments with me, especially the destruction of our main target. For now, at least I know Justice has been served and this was necessary evil. ‘Bye David, may you burn in Hell forever.

Chapter One

Saturday morning, June 16th

Lieutenant Dan Mallory grimaced after he walked into David Crouch’s bedroom a few hours later and saw the mutilated corpse. An unpleasant mixture of odors assailed his nostrils and told him plenty. A less experienced officer would be running outside to retch, or backing out the door white-faced and wide-eyed. Maybe he was too accustomed to gore and evil. If only the proverbial walls could talk, he mused, his job would be a lot faster and easier. A full size bed was centered on the rear wall with the victim’s body strapped across it, to the right of where he was standing. A nightstand sat on the other side of the bed, beneath the only window. On it, there was a green lamp and a clock radio that was flashing the time: 2:30 AM. A dresser had snapshots covering almost the entire surface of its age-mottled mirror. Clothes were strewn over the floor, mounded upon an old wooden rocking chair, and tumbling out of the closet doors. A poster of a scantily clad girl with the Hooters emblem across her large breasts was pinned to the left wall with round tacks. The den he had just passed through didn’t look any better than this messy scene.

Dan wondered if the victim was a male prostitute who’d picked up the wrong john. Had a homosexual encounter gotten out of hand while they were high on drugs, and his partner fled in fear? Or was this a matter of revenge, as the poor bloke appeared badly beaten and sodomized? He wanted a closer look but was waiting for the CSI team and ME to give him the go head and a COD.

He remembered his Captain’s warning which had awakened him at two this morning: Dan, from the preliminary report, we’ve got a new case that sounds strikingly similar to a murder that occurred two months ago. I want you and Mory to look into both of them and make sure we don’t have a psycho on our hands. We don’t want the kind of public pressure and panic a case like this would cause. It could make our life a living hell. The victim’s wife found him a little before two this morning when she got home from work. Call me before you write your report and let me know what you come up with. A voice behind him interrupted his thoughts.

Makes your skin crawl, doesn’t it? I didn’t think there were that many sickos in Augusta, but this is the second time I’ve seen almost this same thing in two months. Harold Bates chattered on, I’ve been working in the lab for almost five years, so I’ve seen a lot. I even worked on a woman who’d been mutilated similar to this a couple years ago. But I’ve never seen a man tortured this way. What a horrible way to die.

Dan looked at Bates, one of the special crime scene investigators, who was trying to capture the macabre sight on film before he bagged evidence. Harold was tall and slender with light brown hair and an odd shade of green eyes. His face was scarred from a bad case of teenage acne, but he wasn’t ugly or self-conscious. Dan noted that he seemed to be gentle and caring when investigating a crime scene. His glasses made him look like the classic nerd, but he was good at his job. What do you remember about the first one? It look like this?

Kinda like this, Lieutenant. The first guy was tied to his bed spread eagle style, hands and feet to the bedposts, but rope like this was used. We figured that one was a junkie or male prostitute. He had needle tracks on his arms and his legs from frequent shooting up. His name was Ted something or other. The friend that found him claimed he wasn’t a homo, said he was some kind of stud with the ladies. But there he was, tied to the bed with lots of wax drippings and... you know, sex at both ends, some pretty strange sex. I’ve done rape kits and gathered evidence from many women, but I’ve never seen anything as awful as this. Now I’ve seen it twice in two years. First a female and now a male. Harold walked to the other side of the bed to make sure he had pictures from all angles. We’ve got evidence over here. Seems he was gagged and blindfolded at some point, just like the other man. I’ll bag these later.

Dan glanced to his left as the medical examiner returned from the bathroom. He had been told that the auburn haired woman was in her mid-fifties and had served on the local police force for almost ten years, until she got fed up with the system for letting criminals go free and for ramming new rules down the policemen’s throats. The rights, Dan fumed, which were now misused to protect the guilty and to blame a policeman for something he had failed to do or had done wrong in order to arrest and convict a criminal. He knew that Henri, short for Henrietta, had returned to school and earned a medical degree, certain she could be more helpful in another capacity and at least bring some part of the evil deed to resolution.

Mornin’, Henri. Got us a real gut twister here. Dan greeted the first female in the history of the city to become the chief medical examiner. Though she’d been at her new job for only a month, he already had decided from prior work together that Henrietta Harper was going to be the detective’s gift from heaven. Henrietta was tough but, having been a police officer, knew they were on the same team: the last ME had been territorial with information gathered in his investigations.

Yeah, looks like Ed got out just in time to leave the weirdoes to us. We’ll be taking the body to the lab soon where I can run some tests and do a rape kit. I’ll know more once I’ve completed the autopsy, Henrietta stopped and smiled. But I assume you want my first impressions, so I’ll tell you what I’ve put together so far.

Henrietta took a deep breath and looked down at her notepad, her short reddish-brown locks dropping toward her brows. Vic’s name is David Crouch, age thirty-one. Lives here with his wife. She was at work at a strip joint at the time of death. He’s been dead approximately four hours. Liver temp puts T-O-D at about ten PM. His wife left for work about eight o’clock. The perp must have arrived soon after that because it took hours to do this much prep, damage and clean up. He has a lump and bruise on the back of his head, but I don’t think he was struck hard enough for that to render him unconscious. My guess is the blow only stunned him enough to be overpowered, stripped and bound. There’s sperm in his mouth and rectum indicating oral and anal sodomy. We’ll send samples to LifeCo for testing. I’ll also be looking for any pubic hairs that don’t belong to the victim. Let’s hope at least one of the attacker’s hairs got caught in his teeth or a rectal crease.

Henrietta took a breath and continued, You know the standard rape kit. Judging by the condition of our victim, the man you’ll be looking for is both well endowed and very rough. The ropes used to hold him to the bed extensively burned the victim’s wrists and ankles. Henrietta paused and looked directly at Dan. He put up a fierce struggle like you or I would under the same circumstances. I don’t believe he was a willing partner in this. Tearstains on his face and a wet blindfold. Vomit in his mouth, on the bed and floor. Multiple cuts and bruises on his back, legs and buttocks. Slashes are deep and thin, so they were inflicted by a very sharp instrument. I’m betting on a scalpel or fishing knife. See the elongated bruises on his legs and back? Judging by the weapon pattern, I’d say it was round, smooth and blunt. Killer obviously took it with him.

Dan hurriedly jotted down the meat of what she had said before Henrietta coaxed, Come over here and let me show you what else we found. I’m sure you’ll find it interesting. Oh, I overheard all the details Harold gave you, so no need to repeat them.

Dan and Henrietta walked to the edge of the bed on which lay David Crouch’s body just as the killer had left it, side stepping the discarded gag and blindfold. The covering was a cheap green quilt, which had twisted and bunched beneath the man as he struggled with his attacker. A rope that went underneath the bed tied his left arm and left leg to each other; his right appendages were likewise secured. David’s back, leg and buttocks were covered in blood from the blows and cuts he had sustained. Darkened bruises and whelps were visible, attesting to pre-death injuries.

Dan could almost visualize the fierce struggle this man had given his assailant by the rope burns which maimed his wrists and ankles. He quickly drew a stick figure diagram of the victim’s position so he could check for similarities to the other incident his boss and Harold had told him about earlier. If this started as consensual sex, it went south fast, or it was a ruse to get Crouch immobile. He was getting an uneasy feeling about this entire scene. He shuddered as his own repressed memories of torture and violence were reincarnated in the dead man’s room. Remembered screams of others were blocked out by sheer will as he focused on what Henrietta wanted to show him.

Dan watched as she turned the man’s head and brushed his long, greasy black hair aside so he could see the victim’s left cheek. S-l-u-t? Slut? What does that mean? he asked, looking at the bloodied word on the man’s face.

I thought you’d find that interesting. Even the kinkiest of men wouldn’t willingly allow someone to letter female slang or anything into his face. Especially someone who lives his life as a married man and wouldn’t want secret homosexual desires exposed. Could be the work of a cold-blooded monster. But to me, it looks like someone wanted some serious revenge.

Revenge for what? Dan mumbled.

Oh, no, Henrietta said as she shook her head. That’s your job. I put together the pieces of how they died; you decide who did it and why. That’s the way our jobs work together, she joked, then went on in a more serious tone. I’ll have the prelim ready tomorrow afternoon. Considering the time, I mean, this afternoon. Crime lab and LifeCo should have their results in by Thursday or Friday. And yes, I know you want them yesterday. I’ll put a rush on it.

Thanks, Henri. What do you know about the other incident two months ago that Harold mentioned? Dan asked, hoping she would know if the two