I Think I Love You

By W. H. Beswick

Crystal Blue has it all. Beauty, brains, money, and will soon be starting her internship in Los Angeles. The one thing Crystal lacks is a conscience. Years of abuse by her father killed that a long time ago. She looks forward to her new life in California. Then one night in a bar changes the young lady. The first kill was spontaneous but well-planned. Crystal decides to take a road trip and kill some of the demons inside...along with several men. FBI Agent Wood is not only successful at tracking serial killers, but a bestselling author. If he can catch the serial killer the press has dubbed the Heartbreak Killer, it will be his best book yet. Wood is brilliant but has his own demons. It might take more than his pills to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. H. Beswick
• Release date: Jul 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476188584

W. H. Beswick

Lives in Corvallis Oregon

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I'm sleeping.

Come on, baby, daddy just wants to show you something.

I'm tired. No! Stop it. I don't want to!

Crystal sat up with a loud scream and rolled over. Two years of therapy down the toilet. She thought the bad dreams were behind her. She shook her head and moaned. She felt sick and stiff.

Where was she?

Crystal forced herself up and looked around the small room. Its floor and walls were cold, green tile. She looked up at the light bulb and was confused by the wire mess covering it. Her eyes drifted down to the metal door with the small window of safety glass and no doorknob.

Crystal's head slowly cleared. The last thing she remembered was sipping wine while going over her notes. Now she was here. The wine tasted off. It had been drugged. From the symptoms, she guessed a barbiturate of some kind.

Stupid.

The wine had been on her doorstep with a note from her mother, congratulating her on her internship in L.A.

Okay. Where was she? By the look of the room, she was in a hospital of some kind, a mental institution or private sanitarium. Where ever she was, it had high security, so there would be no walking out. She rubbed her arm and noticed two small pricks in her skin.Her captors had been keeping her drugged, but for how long? There was no IV, so it couldn’t have been that long.

Her first reaction was to start screaming and yelling, but that was what her captors wanted.

Don't panic.

She forced herself to focus on the problem. She was being held against her will. Who was holding her?

Best guess, her dad.

He was really angry that Uncle Harry left her all his money.

How did daddy get her into the hospital? He had to have someone helping him.

A doctor?

A doctor would have access to the drugs and could check her in under a phony name.

Now that was a problem. What were her options? She would be missed. Her mother, and more importantly her lawyers, would be looking for her.She must somehow get in touch with her lawyers. That was one option. She had one other option.

How to escape?

It was too soon to plan. First, find out who was holding her. Study them. Find their weakness, and then exploit it.

Crystal sat back on the bed and crossed her legs into a lotus position. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She would wait. Study the enemy and then strike....

CHAPTER 2

Two weeks later, Crystal was sitting behind Dr. Ross's desk. She slowly turned in the large leather chair, studying the diplomas and plaques. Odd, she didn't recognize any of the schools Ross had attended. Maybe he was one of those mail-order doctors.She stood up and moved closer to the wall to get a better look at the pictures. The good doctor was on different beaches holding a surfboard.

A surfer?

How did a surfer end up in Boston? Maybe he got his degrees off the back of a box of cereal? Crystal's eyes came to rest upon the naked body of Dr. Ross, slumped on his leather sofa. He really shouldn't have shared the wine with her. It was so easy slipping the sleeping pill into the glass. The pill she was supposed to take last night. Crystal shook her head when he let off a low snort and whimper as he rubbed his nose. Crystal walked over and looked down at the doctor, studying his body. She could tell he had a good build at one time, probably from his surfing. Now, too much beer and pizza had given Ross a couple of spare tires. His blond hair was thinning. All in all, not someone she would have wanted to sleep with. The image of what they had almost done on the sofa made Crystal want to throw up. It had only gone as far as kissing and fondling. That alone was disgusting enough. The bland lunch she had eaten rushed up to her throat, but she forced it back down. Now was not the time to be weak. Now was the time to act. Crystal went back to the desk and picked up the phone. She hit the nine and waited for the beep to tell her she had an outside line.

Ross grumbled and rolled over onto his stomach, giving the young woman a good look at his fat ass.

Crystal ignored the great white butt as she dialed. She turned away from the slumbering oaf as the phone rang. She waited two rings and smiled as a cheerful voice sang the words, Law Offices.

Hi Fran, this is Crystal Blue...

Oh my God, Dr. Blue, Mr. Nelson has been frantic about you.

Well, let's calm the dear man down and put me through...

CHAPTER 3

STUPID! STUPID! How could he have been so stupid? Sleeping with her? This could wreck everything. What the hell was he thinking? He was thinking about those big tits, long legs, and the face.

God, that face.

It was beyond beautiful. It really was a face that could launch a thousand ships. It had definitely launched his ship. He had followed her to the sofa like a lamb to slaughter.He remembered kissing, and then it all became a blur.

He had woken up on the sofa, and she had gone back to her room.

If she were going to escape, it would have been then. Why had she not tried? Had she known the orderlies were outside his office would have stopped her? Had she accepted her fate?

Wake up Dr. Ross! Glen told himself. You could be in big trouble here. If Crystal told anyone...everything would come out.You would be ruined - not only ruined, but go to jail.

Damage control time.

There was only one thing to do: shoot Crystal full of drugs and stick her back in the maximum-security wing. That would keep her under control and give him time to figure how what to do with her.This was not going as planned.He never expected all the media hype over the disappearance of a medical student.

Of course, how many interns were worth eight-hundred-and-sixty-million dollars?

Tom Blue had left that little detail out when he came to him. Blue told him his daughter was worth only two-hundred grand, and she had no friends so she wouldn't be missed for days, maybe weeks. That’s what Blue said.

More than enough time to get Crystal hooked on something. Hook her on something bad. Something Blue could use to control her.

It seemed so simple.

The very next day, she was missed by everyone in the world - or so it seemed. Every news program used Crystal as their top story. It was then he found out Blue was worth all that money. She was about to start her surgical residency in California. Add to that, she had the body and face of a supermodel.

Blue called him and told him the only way out of this mess was to kill the bitch and dump her somewhere. It would be good if she was raped before she was killed. Make it look like a sex crime. Make it look like something her loving father would never do.

Ross realized that had been Tom's plan all along. Give him a cock and bull story about his daughter to help him kidnap his daughter. Wait for all hell to break loose, and force Ross to kill Crystal. Blue collected all that money. Of course, Ross was in so deep that he would have no choice but go long with it.

The problem was, he wasn’t a killer.

God, what the hell was he thinking, getting involved with Tom Blue? Blue was a full-blown alcoholic, not to mention a real sick son of a bitch. Ross knew the answer. He was thinking about the money. He never had enough money.

Now Blue called three, four times a day, telling him just to do it.

Two weeks of badgering from Blue while keeping Crystal's real identity a secret was wearing him down. To top it all off, Crystal played little mind games with him. Her lawyer was offering a reward, two-hundred-thousand dollars for information on Crystal's whereabouts. It was only a matter of time before someone on the staff put two and two together.

He could have her O.D. and dump her body.

No.

Someone from the clinic would eventually recognize her. The money paid out wasn’t enough to cover a murder. It was only a matter of time before one of the bribed staff members tried to collect the reward.

There would be too many questions. Questions he couldn't answer. Greg knew shooting her up would only stall the inevitable. It was time to run.

But run where?

The phone rang, making Ross almost jump out of his skin. He grabbed the phone.

Dr. Ross.

Hey, buddy.

Ross relaxed when he recognized the voice. It was Tim, a surfing buddy from his college years. Tim had a huge trust fund and the grades to go to any med school he wanted. A year into his internship, he dropped out and became an orderly. Glen asked him, Why? Tim just laughed and said life was too short to have gray hair at twenty-two. Besides, the orderlies got to work right along all those beautiful nurses. Ross found out what the real reason was: Tim had to work in the medical field to gain access to his massive trust fund. His dad had been a doctor and hoped his son would follow in his footsteps. Tim had the brains, but not the passion. So now he emptied bedpans, dated nurses, and got access to all that wonderful money.

Ross leaned back in his chair and remembered how he met Tim, surfing in Malibu.

How did two California surfers end up in Boston?

Ross smiled, put his feet up, and wished he could hit the surf.

Oh hi Tim. I can't talk now, I got a patient coming in.

Just calling to warn you, man, I overheard some sharks talking to Greenly.

Sharks?

Lawyers, dude, lawyers. I was upstairs when I walked by the big man's door and noticed some lawyers talking to Greenly. I picked up your name.

What were they saying?

Don't know. I just heard your name as I cruised on by. Be careful, dude, these sharks had on Armani suits. Those are the worst kind of lawyers.

How would you know an Armani suit?

Trust fund kid, remember? Have you got yourself in trouble again?

Tim had bailed him out before with a quick loan or advice. He thought about telling his buddy everything, but decided against it. Tim was too good of a friend to drag into this mess.

No, I'm fine.

Oh, here comes Nurse Baxter. Gotta go. Hey, let's fly to L.A. and catch some waves this weekend. My treat.

The phone clicked off. Glen leaned back and tried to remember which nurse was Baxter. Oh yeah, the cute redhead with the nice ass.He sat up and smiled at the thought of going to California and catching some waves.

Wait a sec; L.A. was close to the Mexican border. Tim would give him enough cash to live on for a while. Yeah, a dollar went a lot farther in Mexico. Maybe he could get out of this mess.

The door opened and she came in. Even in the frumpy hospital gown and robe, you could tell the woman had an amazing body. But it was the face that caught you off guard.

If there was ever perfect beauty, this was it. The chestnut-colored hair, so long and silky it reminded you of one those shampoo commercials.

Ross suddenly felt his manhood begin to throb. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. She slipped into the chair in front of his desk. Her robe slipped open, revealing her leg. She tugged the robe closed and pushed it down over her knees. Ross studied her face. She had shut it down. He had seen her do this before. No anger. No sadness. No love. Yet he could feel those dark brown eyes studying him, like a cell under a microscope. No, more like a hawk studying its helpless prey.

Good morning, Crystal.

Good morning, Dr. Ross.

She was using a heavy French accent. Crystal was playing one of her games.

French today?

I'm in a romantic mood, she smiled wickedly.

French today, Swedish yesterday, Russian Wednesday. I thought we agreed: no more games.

I enjoy games. It makes my stay here less boring.

Ross had to admit, the woman had a talent for accents. If you didn't know any better, he would swear she just flew over from France. He would just have to play along until he figured out what she was up to. He had to be careful. Last time he let his guard down, they ended up naked on the sofa. He remembered the feeling of her wonderful body pressed against his. Ross pushed the image back and took off his glasses. He began to chew on the stem.

Crystal watched him and forced herself not to smile. He was chewing on his glasses again. He always did that when he was nervous.

Good.

It had come down to a waiting game, a game that took patience. Crystal had patience. She had learned how to wait and how to hold her tongue.

Ross could almost see the wheels spinning in her head. His eyes drifted down to her well-turned ankle.

Focus man, focus.

Are you sure it is boredom and not anger?

Why should I be angry just because I’m held here against my will?

Your father has valid reasons for committing you.

Millions of them, and all them green with dollar signs on it.

You still believe your father is after your money?

Ah, it is true. It is the same reason you are helping him to keep me locked away. I cannot even call my lawyers.

Your father only wants you to get well.

There you go again. Every time I mention my lawyers, you change the subject. Tell me Dr. Ross, how long before this plot falls apart? My lawyers are looking for me. Most likely they have hired private detectives who are the best in their field. The nurses and orderlies are looking at me and wondering, who is that woman? I think they are having doubts about whatever lies you have told them?

You're not a prisoner. You are a patient.

If that is true, let me call my lawyers and tell them where I am.

They already know. Your father has met with them. You have to realize that your father has your best interests in mind.

I know what my father wants, she snapped coldly.

You still want me to believe he abused you? I have found no evidence of that.

Ross felt his face flush. He was not a good liar.

Crystal knew Ross was lying but decided to play along.

All those mysterious injuries and late night visits to the emergency ward - all in my imagination? Tut, tut, my dear doctor. And let's not forget how he used me to satisfy his own perverted sexual appetites...of course, you know about sexual appetites.

That was her game.

Blackmail. She had seduced him to give herself leverage. A simple plan. Let me go, or I'll ruin you. Screw it. The sooner he got her shot up the better.

Crystal, that was a mistake. It should have never happened.

Yes it was, for you. While you happily slept, I took the opportunity to look through my file...do I really have a genius I.Q.? Oh yes, I hope you don't mind I called a friend.

Ross’s head exploded. What! Oh God, no! The lawyers wearing the expensive suits that Tim saw.

Ross swung his chair around and stood up. He tried to look out the window, but the clinic grounds were a blur of colors. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the throbbing in the back of his head. He put his fingertips to his temple and began to rub, but the pain only increased. He had played right into her hands.

Stupid.

W-who did you call? Ross asked, knowing the answer even as the words left his lips. He didn't believe in God but found himself praying for some kind of miracle.

Crystal watched him squirm. It was all so satisfying.

The best friend money can buy. A good lawyer.

Ross could feel the hot sweat drenching his clothes. Worse, he could see Crystal's icy smile slowly spreading across her full lips. She had won. She had been playing him like the fool he was. It wasn't over yet. He could still stick her in the maximum-security wing. It might buy him enough time to...to do what? Find Tim and beg him to help. Tim could get him down to Mexico. First thing to do was to get Crystal tucked away.

The phone rang.

He let it ring a few times before turning and picking it up. He held the phone close to his ear but couldn't speak.

Ross? Ross? Dr. Ross, you there?

The doctor's mind cleared as he turned and stared at Crystal.

Dr. Ross! Are you there?

Yes. I'm here.

Greenly here. Look, you better come up to my office.

I-I'm with a patient right now.

I realize that. Dr. Crystal Blue. I was surprised to find out a woman who has been missing is a patient in my clinic.

Dr. Greenly, I assure you, there have be no improprieties with regard to Dr. Blue.

Really? Then you can explain why I found her file under the name C. Logan and why there is no record of her being admitted?

That was at Dr. Blue's request. She has...has a...

Ross' mind went blank and his tongue seemed to fill his whole mouth.

Has what?

Problems...mental...

Oh stop it, Ross. I have a pretty good idea what you are up to, and let me tell you this: I did not start the Greenly Clinic to have you pull some sort of scam. What the hell were you...?

Ross didn't hear the rest of Greenly's words because of the crashing sound filling his ears. His world was crashing around him.

Ross! Ross! Are you listening to me?

Yes, sir, I am. I was just trying to say...

I would advise you to keep quiet until you talk to an attorney. Needless to say, you are terminated. I might as well tell you, the police are outside your office, along with Dr. Blue's attorneys. I don't how you got yourself into the mess, and I really don't care. I can tell you are upset, and rightly so. Now, pull yourself together, and go out and take your medicine.

Ross smiled at those words. His father used to say those exact words as he pulled off his belt. He put the phone down and stared at the smiling woman.

You look so sad, my dear doctor. Bad news?

Apparently, your lawyer has arranged for your release...

Ah, this appears to be goodbye.

Crystal...

Please, no long goodbyes. I'll find my own way out.

Crystal slowly stood up, pushed back her long hair, gave him a very small smile, and turned.

Hot or cold, revenge was sweet.

Ross just sat there and watched her walk out. This woman had just ruined him, and he still wanted her. He pulled open his bottom drawer and took out his pistol. He remembered the words his father said when he gave it to him.

You never know when you gonna need a gun, boy, keep it close.

The last thing Ross saw as he put the pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger was Crystal closing the door.

CHAPTER 4

Tom Blue staggered around the cabin. He took a long swig on his bottle and looked around the log walls decorated with deer that he or one of his kin had killed. His great granddad had built this place. The uncomfortable furniture had been built by him, too. He stared down at the bearskin rug and smirked. He wondered where the hell his old man got that. There were no bears around here. Tom stopped in front of an old cracked mirror and looked at his balding head and bloated face.

Too much booze.

He had the face and body of an alcoholic but convinced himself it was just old age, and he hadn't been sleeping that good. Tom emptied his bottle and threw it into the fireplace. He leaned his head down on the wood mantel and watched the flames dance around the logs. The phone ringing brought him back to the real world. He lumbered over to it, stopping to grab one of the three bottles of Jack Daniel's out of the paper sack sitting on a side table. He opened the bottle, took a long drink, and picked up the phone.

Yeah?

It's Nathan, man. The cops are at your place. They're tearing it apart.

Why?

Haven't you seen the T.V.?

Nat, I'm at the cabin.

Your face is all over the news.

What they saying?

They’re talking about how you got that doctor to drug Crystal then stuck her in a clinic. Everyone is talking. The orderlies you bribed. That old lady who saw you and the doc carrying her out of her condo... I guess she don't think you can hurt her now.

I should have killed that old bag.

Don't say that, man. You're in enough trouble. What you gonna do?

Blame it all on the doc.

Forget that. Ross is dead. He stuck a .44 in his mouth and blew his brains out. The news shows are saying that the cops have enough to put you away forever.

What a pussy. If he had the balls to kill that bitch like I told him, we would all be rich.

Hey, I told you I never wanted anything to do with this. I told you it was a stupid thing to do. Did you really think you could get away with kidnapping her? Jesus, what was the plan? Drug her? Brainwash her? Oh man, you were gonna kill her. Tom, you better get out of town. It wouldn't be long before the cops find your cabin...oh man, they’re coming over here. I'm telling you now, I'm gonna tell them all I know. You been warned.

Tom held the phone to his ear and listened to the dial tone while sipping his whiskey. The only way out was to get a hold of Crystal. Killing her was out of the question. He had to break her. He didn't need no doctor to do it. He just needed to get her alone. Yeah, maybe bring her up here. It would be like old times. Tom smiled at the thought of getting his daughter into the bedroom. He had been doing her since she turned thirteen. But how was he going to get her? She was probably surrounded by a million cops.

Good evening, father.

Tom whirled around and tired to focus on the tall woman standing behind him. He took a long drink and savored the sight of his beautiful daughter. She was wearing tight jeans, a black turtleneck sweater, and a leather jacket. Tom felt his crotch stiffen and smiled.

Well, well.

I thought we should talk. We haven't talked since Uncle Harry left me all that wonderful money.

That money is mine!

Not according to his will, or the policemen looking for you.

Tom took a few steps toward her but stopped when she didn't back away. She always backed away from him. Then the begging would come. Then the crying would start, and then the screams. This time, she stood her ground with her hands behind her back. What did she have in her hands?

Maybe she had a gun?

It took all the courage Crystal possessed not to back up. She rubbed her thumb up and down the cool metal of the scalpel. It gave her strength.

Tom took another drink and saw the small grin on her face. The bitch was mocking him. This was going all wrong. Tom took a step back before he caught himself.

That money is mine! Did you hear me bitch!? That money is mine! You've gotten pretty damn cocky since you went away to that school. Doctor! Doctor, my ass! You're nothing but a whore. We both know that.

I know what I am. You made me what I am.

Yeah, and now it's time for another lesson.

Crystal squeezed the scalpel with all her strength, trying to pull more power from it. She watched him stagger over to the door that led to the bedroom. He pushed it open and began to unbutton his shirt.

Come here.

No.

What you say?

I said no.

"Are you forgetting who you are talking to you?

I know exactly who I'm talking to. I am talking to the sick son of bitch who raped and abused me for as long as I can remember.

Oh, you are really gonna get it tonight.

Tom rushed toward his daughter but tripped over his own feet. He slammed face-down on the hard wood floor. He let off a yelp and tasted blood.

Crystal brought out the scalpel and stared at her shaking hand. She was losing her courage. Now was not the time to fight the devil. Her heart told her to run.

Tom rolled over and pushed the smiling bear's face out of the way. He grabbed onto the sofa and pulled himself up. It was only then he realized his nose was bleeding. The old man wiped the blood off on his shirtsleeve as he spun around, but she was gone. He heard a car engine start and ran to the door. He got the door open just in time to see two red taillights disappear into the night. Tom fumbled with his keys and started down the stairs. He slipped on the icy steps, fell on his ass, and tumbled down into a pile of cold wet snow. Tom cursed as he struggled to his knees. No way was she getting away. He would chase the bitch to hell and back. Tom stopped when he saw the four flat tires on his prized 1955 Chevy pickup. As he moved closer, he spotted the scratches all over the hood and door. Tom looked the tires and scratches. Crystal had hurt the only thing he ever cared about.

Tom's drunken brain slowly realized his daughter might not put up with his lessons any longer.

A dim thought entered his foggy brain. Why did she come here? A cold chill ran down Tom's spine when he realized that he might have to start watching his back.

CHAPTER 5

Stanley Irving Watershaw lay back on his cot and looked around at the small cell that had become his world. He spent twenty-three hours a day in here. He got out