Retribution: Played, #4

By Candace Dowds

I'm a man who has two sides. The first side is sarcastic, devious, and self assured. That side can't be rattled. But then there's my dark side, the side that kills.

The police are desperate to find 'The Silent Butcher' who's killing people across Hollywood. The Silent Butcher is the name they've given my dark side, the side that kills for comfort.

Yet, here I am, playing myself on a stage for the world to see. They'll never suspect that the man playing the killer is actually the killer they're hunting.

Irony at its very best - Desmond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Candace Dowds
• Release date: May 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393241645

Candace Dowds

Candace began writing after the passing of her son in 2009. It has been an emotional release for her. She is supported by her family and friends. Other than the time she is writing, she sits back for hours reading books by her favorite authors, Tijan Meyer, Rachel Vincent, Richelle Mead, Colleen Hoover, Claudia Gray, Jay McLean and so many more. That or she will go for a calming drive while listening to Eminem, Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers or The Rap God, whichever you would like to call him. Her kids are just like her, sarcastic, but fun loving. The rules she lives by 1 Don't take life too seriously 2 Don't live up to others ridiculous expectations 3 Surround yourself with people who love you for you 4 If life becomes too much, have a stiff drink and start again tomorrow.

Book preview

Prologue

Desmond

NEEDING TO FIND THE Silent Butchers’ copycat so I can stop him from murdering innocent parties, I do my research and I narrow down the search.

Convinced of the fact that Vanessa Kallum’s copycat murder will be one of the next targets, I pull on my black cargo pants, my pair of kill shoes, and my black long-sleeved shirt before grabbing my kill kit and filling my pockets.

Sure, I probably won’t be able to use them tonight, but if the copycat killer does show his face, I will be ready for him.

Since the Silverado is still missing and not an option, I have no other choice than to take my Audi. However, before I left the house I went into the garage and painstakingly covered every inch of the interior with black plastic, taping it in place. I would not risk getting anything on the interior of my everyday car.

When I reached the scene of Vanessa Kallum’s murder, I sat back and waited. My gut was telling me that nothing would happen considering that I have killed well over seventy pieces of shit over the years. But then I thought about the pattern I’d uncovered, and I decided to come out to this place each night from this point on to keep my eye out for the copycat.

Nothing exciting appeared that evening, and being the asshole I can be, I called Amanda at some ridiculous hour and asked her to phone the production crew to tell them that I’d been experiencing an excruciating level of pain and wouldn’t be able to film that day, or for the next few days. I also told Amanda to take the next week off so I could do as I pleased. I didn’t tip her off to the fact that I would be spending my nights away from the house, though. I made her believe I was experiencing pain and that I wouldn’t need her for the week. It did take some convincing, but in the end, she agreed.

When daylight came, I headed home. Before going to bed, I called a car dealership and bought a Jeep Gladiator over the phone using the fake identification I’d acquired just before buying the Silverado six years ago. After all, I couldn't put the new stalking car in my name.

When the car had been paid for, I arranged for them to deliver it to the storage facility close by where I keep some of my belongings, telling them I’d have someone who worked at the facility meet them so they could lock the keys in with my belongings. The storage facility I have is also under an assumed name and has twenty-four-hour access. I couldn’t have it delivered to the house now, could I?

When it was all said and done, I headed to bed so I could get some rest and prepare for another evening out hoping to find and kill the copycat.

After managing to get a few good hours of sleep, and getting the cars swapped over, once again, I headed out to the scene. I waited around until daylight without anything happening, but I would not let it discourage me.

On the fourth evening, at around three AM, and because I was so tired, I believed my eyes were playing tricks on me. But when I rubbed them and focused, I spotted someone dragging something that could have been a body into the bushes in the very spot I’d killed Vanessa just six months prior.

Carefully, I slipped out of the truck and, with light feet, rushed over there, cautious not to step on any twigs, so the killer had no warning of my approach.

Slipping through the bushes, I pull out my knife, ready to free the victim and take on the killer.

When I’ve made it through the shrubbery, I see him. He’s bent over, positioning the body, and I look at the woman on the ground. ‘Fuck, she’s already dead. He must have killed her at another location,’ I think.

Standing with my shoulders back, I exit the bushes and say, Are you so pathetic that you can’t take the time to think up your own crime scenes?

The man's body stiffens, and as he straightens his face comes into view. My heart thumps against my ribs, my mouth is now agape with shock.

Well, hello, dear brother. It’s not that I can’t come up with my own crime scenes, I just knew that if you had a copycat, a copycat who wasn’t quite as good as you when it comes to the killing part, someone you believed was making a mockery of The Butcher’s name... Well, I figured it would drive you out of your fucking mind. I guess it worked. Sebastian grins while shrugging his shoulders.

As the anger swells within me, I hear a rustling in the bushes behind him, setting me on edge and I raise my blade ready to silence whoever it is. Someone’s coming, I whisper hoarsely, but he doesn’t budge an inch, and his hideous smile returns.

Just then, a short woman appears from the bushes. She has blond hair tied up in a bun and she’s wearing all black, but what strikes me as odd, is that my presence hasn’t given her any cause for concern.

Well, well, well. Lookie what we have here. I wondered when he’d show up, the strange woman says as she points her chin in my direction.

With my brows bunched, I ask, Who the fuck are you, and what do you know about me?

Sebastian chuckles, only angering me further. This is Skye Masden. She’s the sister you never knew about.

Chapter One

Desmond

AS I STAND OVER THE mangled, deceased body, my mouth is agape.

Yes, I’m a hard man to rattle, however, as my focus moves to Skye, I can’t help but feel both confused and in a state of shock at the situation taking place before me.

What the hell are you talking about, she’s our sister? How? It’s not possible. The woman standing before me must be mistaken, she cannot be our sister, it simply isn’t possible. She is far too young looking for it to be true.

My parents were killed in a horrific car accident thirty years ago now, and this woman doesn’t look as if she’s a day past twenty-five.

And then there’s the fact that she is fucking stunning, with her perfect curves, her silky long blonde hair and her sexy as hell features. She is the perfect specimen of a woman.

Skye Masden is our half-sister. She’s thirty-one, it’s not all that hard to figure out, Sebastian mocks, only feeding my anger and hatred for him.

I’ve seen all the paperwork, she ‘is’ our sister. Our whore of a father strayed from his marriage, and his name is on her birth certificate, he announces rather smugly.

Letting go of a huff, I smirk at him, That doesn’t prove shit. Absolutely anyone can be named on a birth certificate without DNA proof that they are the real father. They don’t go out of their way to compare blood samples, and as you also know, birth certificates can be doctored. I call bullshit. Part of me is hoping she’s no relation of mine because if we aren’t bonded by blood, then I can without pause bury my dick deep inside her without a hint of remorse or disgust.

It’s now Skye’s turn to smirk, Believe me, after all the shit this one told me, she nods her head in Sebastian’s direction, I ‘know’ we’re related.

My brow crinkles, my eyes squinting, And what by chance have you been discussing with this complete stranger, you moron.

It’s clear she is apprised of my brother’s doings considering she’s standing here with a dead body lying before her. However, I must discover if she’s been informed of the fact that I ‘am’ ‘The Silent Butcher,’ because if she has, I will need to dispose of not only Sebastian but this Skye woman too.

At this moment, my dark side would be ever so grateful for not only one kill but rather two. It’s been far too long.

I know ‘everything’, she snickers. But don’t stress your pretty little head because I’m not so innocent myself.

If you pair wish to discuss this further, I urge you to make a day of it, but for now, I have a body to set up, Sebastian tells us sounding rather annoyed.

Fuck me, he’s right. I should ‘not’ be here. Whatever. I’m going. You, I point my finger in the blonde's face, and to my surprise, she doesn’t flinch, Shut your fucking mouth or I ‘will’ kill you, got it? I threaten in a menacing tone.

The corner of the cow’s mouth etches upwards into a slanted smile. You were right, Sebastian, he really does underestimate our talents, doesn’t he?

The rage within me bubbles to the surface, and my need to kill is yearning.

This isn’t over, I warn.

Oh, I’m really scared, she mocks while Sebastian chuckles.

My hands ball into fists at my sides, and my eyes only see red but the logical side of me tells me I can ‘not’ just kill on a whim. No, that would be the very thing that would have me caught.

Taking the high road, for now, carefully, I make my way back through the bushes. When I emerge on the other side, staying cautious as to not be spotted, I make haste to my new black Jeep and I head on back to my home located in a gated community in Beverly Hills.

Once I’d made it back to my home, I took a seat outside in the backyard beside the pool under the moonlight and surrounded by stars, and as I chain-smoked a packet of cigarettes, I impatiently waited and watched for any movement out in the guest house where Sebastian resides, but much to my dismay, neither Sebastian nor Skye made an appearance.

After I had retreated to my bedroom and I’d managed to get a couple of hours of sleep, I head back downstairs where I find my assistant Amanda standing in the kitchen wearing a tight, long-sleeved black dress that cuts off at the knees and she’s making a fresh pot of coffee.

Why didn’t you wake me? I question as I approach, and I rest my stunning ass down on a stool at the white marble island counter.

Amanda turns to face me. You’ve had a shitty few weeks and since you asked me to call Wayne and tell him you wouldn’t be able to film today, I figured you probably needed some extra rest, she shrugs.

Thanks. I have had a couple of sleepless nights, of late. So, what did Wayne have to say? Wayne is the fat, obnoxious director on ‘The Silent Butcher’ series. The man has driven me to drink on many occasions. He’s a pure, annoying suck up, and he couldn’t be further up my ass if he tried.

Wayne was Wayne. He wants you back to being one hundred percent before you attempt to go back to work. If that man was any further up your ass, his head would come out of your mouth, she states rather accurately.

I was thinking the same exact thing.

The coffee pot dings. You want a cup?

Am I the greatest lover/actor that ever lived? I question. Yes, yes I want some coffee, is the answer.

Amanda rolls her eyes before turning to open the top cupboard and pulling down two mugs.

Once they’re filled and in our hands, I ask, Can you get Buddy on the phone for me? I’ve got a few questions for him I would like some answers to. Buddy Meddy is one of my lawyers, and if there is anyone out there that knows of a good private investigator that can be trusted to keep their mouth closed when it comes to my private life, then Buddy is definitely the man to see.

Is everything okay? This isn’t about the Tessa bullshit is it? she questions concerned for my safety.

Tessa Masters ‘was’ the captain in charge of The Silent Butcher taskforce. She was also detective Sammy’s nemesis.

From the very moment she took over as Captain, she made Sam’s working environment a pure nightmare. The women detested one another.

All Sam wanted to do was get on with her job, the job of capturing ‘me,’ but Tessa continued to get in her way.

The moment I met the sexy captain, I realized I knew her from somewhere, where? I had no idea at the time, so against my better judgment, I took her out for a drink. The plan was for me to get her liquored up and while she was drunk, I was to drag information from her. I wanted to know why she detested Sam the way she did from the very moment they’d met.

As it turned out, Tessa was a colossal whore and she hated dear Sammy simply because Sam had approached Human Resources and she went ahead and reported three of the most sexist assholes to walk the halls of the precinct.

Once I had gained the information on Tessa, it all