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Lady Killer

Donald C. White Jr.

    The first thing he noticed was her neck. It was the first thing Rick Smith ever saw. Her name was Lisa Montgomery and she was the next victim. He scowled, because the sweater she wore partly obscured the object of his attention. So, he contented himself with observing the underside of her chin, and how it proceeded down to her throat. “Hello, Lisa.”
    She stood up from the booth as he approached. “Good evening, Rick.” She was of a slight build and moderate height. Her skin was fair, with the appearance of smoothness. Her breasts were concealed by her form-fitting sweater and the blouse underneath. A flowing skirt reached down to the knee, with stockings beneath to cover her legs. He sighed within. It was cold outside, and he would have to wait to open his present.
    Rick bowed low, offering her a rose, “For a lovely lady on a frigid night.”
    She giggled. “Thank you.” Lisa stretched forth her pretty fingers and snatched the prize from his grasp. She sniffed the soft petals, and then smiled at him.
    He had met her at a party just a few days ago: a mild little dinner festivity, in which the music had hardly a tempo. But it was in a relaxed setting that he did his best work. His trained eye could pick them out... the single girls... from those fresh out of high school to the young businesswomen.
    Yes, there were rival suitors, but he rarely had difficulty gaining the attention of a fair damsel. He was a tall and handsome man, with dark hair and shiny white teeth. His eyes had the power to mesmerize. Rick would introduce himself politely, making contact only to kiss a hand. There was one goal in mind... a date. He would restrain his impulses for that one night. She had to be at ease. She must be separated from the others. And he needed some privacy.
    The authorities had never caught him. This is because he never stayed to face the consequences for his actions. One thing was necessary: do not remain in the same area. Once they find a body, an investigation ensues. He had to leave town before people started asking questions. Rick Smith was a phantom of sorts, and of course, the name was one of many. He would remain concealed for a while, establishing himself in a different place, among other people, with a new name. Friendships were fleeting, and he rarely maintained contact for any length of time. There was one goal, one prize, and one obsession.
    He lived by his investments, usually able to read the market and which direction it was headed. Rick was fully aware that these finances were a means to track him. But first, they needed to link him to the murders. He employed disguises sometimes. Mostly, he practiced the art of evasion.
    And there were other methods to attract victims. From the dating services to clubs, to picking women up on the side of the road, there was always a means to get them alone. But Rick targeted a certain type of female... those with class. Ah, yes. He especially liked young businesswomen, those who would make for interesting conversation before the inevitable. These were hard to find, but worth the wait.
    And now here they were, at her last supper. He chuckled within. “Have you ordered already?”
    “I ordered the wine. And here it is!”
    A waitress came up with a tray and set a few full glasses in front of them.
    Rick took a sip. “Ah: a fine vintage. You have good taste, my dear.”
    She beamed. “You are too kind.” She paused, staring at him. “Rick, your features are familiar. Have we met before?”
    The man pretended to ponder. “Maybe we went to school together.”
    She studied him carefully. “I do not recall.”
    He leaned closer. “You could be confusing me with someone else. I think I would remember a face as pretty as yours.”
    Lisa smirked. “Of course... Rick, you said you were in town on business. What company do you work for?”
    “The only one I can trust, my dear. Myself.”
    She studied him for a moment. “How interesting...”
    Rick explained, “I am heavily invested in numerous companies. So, in essence, they work for me.” He grinned.
    She gave a look of quiet amusement. “You must be quite the investor.”
    He took a sip of wine. “I know a few things.”
    She stared at him. “Mr. Smith, do tell.”
    He held up a hand. “I wouldn’t want to bore you. Instead, why don’t you tell me what it is like to be an attorney?”
    She rolled her eyes. “It can be rather dull at times. It consists of long hours working on cases, adversarial judges, and pleading with a jury to see things my way. But it can be lucrative.”
    He smiled. “You are a powerful woman.”
    She glanced over at him, “So good of you to notice.”
    A waiter approached and they ordered dinner.
    While they awaited their food, Rick started to chuckle.
    She peered questioningly over at him. “What amuses you?”
    “You do, my dear: a powerful woman ordering a salad?”
    She pursed her lips. “Mr. Smith, I shall not make excuses for the extent of my appetite. Suffice it to say, that I ordered that which I will consume. And what of your order: can you really ingest filet mignon, with two different vegetables, bread and a bowl of soup?”
    “I guess I have a bigger appetite than you do this evening.”
    She smiled, “Perhaps.”
    He held up his glass, “A toast, to powerful women: may their other appetites be far greater than the physical ones.”
    Lisa lifted her own, “And to charming men: may their other appetites live up to the physical ones.”
    Rick grinned, thinking. “My dear, you have no idea.”
    He was driving now, along the city streets. Lisa sat on the passenger side, staring out into the night. The man got an even better look at her neck this time. How the underside of her chin curved downward to her throat. Neither her coat nor her sweater could fully conceal the tender flesh underneath. He imagined the blood now pumping through her arteries, capillaries and veins. Her heart beating incessantly within her chest... Soon the great pumping would cease. The vessels would grow empty. All of the body’s work would come to a grinding halt. He could feel a tightening in his loins. The man was becoming aroused. The time was drawing nigh.
    “Rick?”
    “Yes, Lisa.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “To a special place, my dear: a quiet, little hill where we can be alone.”
    She gave a look of annoyance. “Why do you not take me to a hotel?”
    He glanced over at her. “Would you rather spend the night in a stuffy hotel room, or up on a hill underneath the stars?”
    Lisa gave a sigh. “I certainly hope you do not expect to lay me on the ground on such a chilly night as this. I’ll catch my death!”
    He stifled a grin, “No, my dear. We will stay warm inside my car. But the hillside view is not to be missed.”
    She pondered for a moment. “Someone might see us.”
    He snickered within. “Don’t be afraid. I will protect you.”
    Lisa grew indignant. “I said nothing about being afraid. But I would be embarrassed if someone were to be watching us.”
    Rick thought for a moment. “How do you know the hotel staff doesn’t have hidden cameras in the rooms, to watch their guests?”
    Lisa stared at him. “They cannot. Such unwarranted surveillance is illegal.”
    “Yes my dear, but what does it matter as long as you don’t get caught? Then, the law is powerless.”
    She frowned at him, and then her expression softened. “Of course, you are right. Even if they were caught, their manager could hire a good lawyer and save them from prison. Still, they would lose their jobs for such shenanigans.”
    “Again my dear, only if they get caught.”
    She gave a look of sullen resignation, “Very well. We shall see if this hillside view is worth the drive. But if I remain unimpressed, then you will take me to a hotel and we shall sleep properly.”
    At first, he was irritated, thinking, “Does she actually think she has a say in the matter?!” But Rick knew he must remain calm. The time was approaching, and he did not wish to do anything that might alert his victim to her fate. Finally, he replied, “Very well. Your wish is my command. If you don’t like the view, then I’ll take you to a hotel. Hopefully, no one is manning the cameras tonight.”
    Lisa bore an expression of smug satisfaction.
    Rick’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel and he uttered within, “Soon my dear, very soon.”
    Shortly, the car came to a stop at the top of a hill. A beauteous expanse spread out before them, with evergreens filling the horizon. The moon was a mere sliver. The sky was dotted with stars, which forced their way into view. It seemed so tranquil, and yet so lonely. As if the heavens were struggling for attention.
    Rick turned to Lisa. “Here we are.”
    She peered out through the windshield, saying nothing. Lisa merely studied her surroundings inasmuch as the scant light would allow. “Quite an interesting place Rick, quiet and secluded... Perhaps, I was too quick to dismiss it.”
    He smiled. “I’m glad you like it. I found this location recently. It is a good place to sit and think.”
    Lisa rolled her eyes. “I hope you did not bring me here to ponder.”
    “No,” he reassured, “I did not. I wanted us to have some privacy.”
    She nodded slowly, just staring out into the night. “It is quite an alluring scene, very nostalgic.”
    He looked over at her. “Have you been here before?”
    Lisa gave him an irritated glance. “I mean that it reminds me of other places and other times.”
    Rick chuckled, “As long as you’re not thinking of someone else.”
    She smirked. “Right now, you have my attention.”
    He nodded. “Good. Then, maybe you could help me.”
    Lisa stared at him.
    He said, “My lips are chapped. Do you know a way to moisten them?”
    She leaned towards him, her lips hovering in front of his face for a moment. “Perhaps I do.” And then, she started licking around his mouth. She brought her lips in contact with his, and then her tongue shot between his teeth seeking out his taste organ.
    He jolted from her sudden actions, thinking, “She sure doesn’t waste time.” Then, he grew troubled, wondering if she really was thinking of someone else. But the woman seemed to be lavishing all her attentions on him. Their tongues joined, and a strange dance ensued, with one following the motions of the other. He had yet to undo his seatbelt, while she was free, her body moving closer. The man could feel the pressure in his loins. He clicked the button, and the seatbelt slid away from between them. Rick was glad for the cold; it meant that he could be wearing his gloves already.
    Lisa writhed upon him, applying suction to the lip-lock. She was pressing against him, her pert breasts rubbing against her brassiere. Her hands gripped his shoulders and then the nimble fingers began to pull at his shirt.
    His mind was flooded with sensation. How far should he let it go? “It has to stop, before it is too late... Just a little longer. Please?” He grabbed at her sweater.
    She leaned back, and pulled it up and off, revealing her thin blouse. She must have removed her coat while they had been talking. Now, she just stared at him, undoing the buttons one by one. She hesitated, shivering despite the warmth of the car’s interior.
    He could see her trembling, and was aroused all the more. “Yes. She is not so sure. Her confidence has melted like candle wax. We are alone, and she is vulnerable.” He could not suppress a vicious grin.
    Then, she pulled the blouse away from her, and let it fall. She bowed her head, undoing the brassiere.
    Rick’s eyes lit up, as her twin orbs bounced ever so slightly into view. This was it. The time had come. Any farther, and he could be compromised. The evidence would be unmistakable. But she was so beautiful, and helpless. He must force himself to act. Now, before it is too late. He pulled her into a deep kiss, feeling her bare breasts against his chest. The man longed to be free of his hindering garments. For a moment, he regretted what he must do and merely basked in her warmth. And then, the moment passed.
    His hands had been caressing her shoulders. Now, they worked their way inward. And finally, his gloved hands surrounded her throat!
    She choked, startled from her lovemaking. She was being pushed backward, and she could not breathe! Her hands went instinctively to his wrists, struggling to release the crushing grip. Lisa grew dizzy, her movements becoming unfocused and spasmodic.
    He forced her backward against the side door, staring at her but not at the eyes. His gaze was on his hands around her neck. He stopped applying pressure when he realized that he had cut her air completely off. Now, he just needed to hang on. Too much force would cause damage. Rick wanted her intact.
    In a desperate motion, she began to claw at his gloved hands. She did not have the energy to swipe at his face. The burning sensation was growing within her chest. As she grew weaker, her movements grew that much more ineffectual.
    Soon, the woman fell limp. But Rick had been deceived before. So, he held on for a few more moments. She was not moving. Her gaze was vacant. But still, he held on. Her lifeless fingers lost their purchase and one arm slipped down to the floor.
    Finally, he let go, trembling in spite of himself. He felt euphoria and disgust. It was always like this. Why couldn’t he just enjoy this one thing? Why all of the drama? Everybody dies. Why should those deaths be in vain? Sure, he had all his excuses. But none reassured him.
    The man sat there for a moment, just staring at what he had done: the beautiful young woman, reduced to a corpse. They had been talking only a short while ago. And now, she was gone. And he was alone.
    He did not dare look into the eyes, but had ceased to feel anything from them. He placed his ear against her chest. The beating of the heart was not there. The machine had stopped.
    Rick hurriedly inspected his leather gloves. Her fingernails had stretched the material but had not damaged them. But then, he saw a dot of red, and grew concerned. Swiftly, he grabbed her lifeless hand and saw where the nail had been pulled up slightly. And there was blood! Some of it was on the floor mat. A few drops were on her chest.
    “No!” He became angry. Blood was never good. They can track it. They can find me! He struggled to remain calm. “Burn the gloves. Burn the floor mat. Dump the body. They’ll never know.”
    He reached under his seat and found a plastic bag of sufficient size. “Everything is fine. I can fix this. No problem.” He shoved his gloves into the bag and tossed it on the floor.
    Then, he stared out the rear window. No movement back on the road. He studied his surroundings. Nobody was around to see him, he hoped. But then, Rick was always struggling with these fears. Should he put her in the trunk, or just drive? Take her to the river? Yeah, the river... It is not yet cold enough to freeze. Besides that, it is moving water. The current will take her... like it took the others.
    Not all of them. But rivers had more than once served his purposes. Digging holes was harder work, and there was always the chance that he would be seen. Sometimes he left the bodies at his lodgings. But only when he was confident the proprietors would not recognize him. Only a few paid attention. And he had good instincts.
    But this time, it would be the river. Rick knew where it was. He had studied the location. There was very little traffic this time of night. Drop her off and then get moving. Just disappear, like he always did.
    He studied the body, noting the twisted, unnatural pose. Should he put her in the trunk? Or just leave her there. The man noticed one of her legs was pressed against him.
    With a look of annoyance, he gripped the limb and forced it over onto the passenger side. Suddenly, another wave of anxiety struck. He searched the floor for her brassiere and sweater. The former was hanging off the seat, and the latter had managed to fall where the blood drops had not. He took a deep breath, “Lucky me. Very well, time to drop her off.”
    He reached the bridge. There was no traffic on the road, and at this time of year, it was unlikely anyone would be fishing. He pulled off to the side, extinguishing all lights, and just watched.
    The moonlight seemed to set the bridge aglow. He stared over at the dead body in the passenger seat. “If I heave her over the side, my silhouette will be easy to spot.” Rick strained to see the shadowy banks. Maybe he should move over there, and carry her down to the water. “No, the current might not catch her. She could wash up on the bank, too soon. And the sooner they find her, the fresher my trail.”
    Compromising, he moved closer to one end of the bridge. The light did not seem so bright there. He stared off down the road, realizing that he would see any headlights, before they were upon him. If discovered, he would drive away as quickly as possible. Rick gritted his teeth. “The longer I sit here with the corpse, the more danger I am in. It’s time to move. Get out. Toss her over the side. Then, leave.” He repeated the instructions, as if this were a sacred mission. But he must succeed. Failure was not an option. A few brief moments were all it would take to lift her up and out and over.
    Rick Smith opened the door and stepped out into the night. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets, to conceal them from the cold. The man stared around anxiously, keyed to any movement, the faintest glimmer of a light or any sign that he was being watched. He scowled up at the crescent moon, cursing it for its brightness. And then, he was standing by the passenger door. Taking a deep breath, he started to open it. Suddenly, there was weight pushing against him! His eyes grew wide and he braced himself, peering through the window. Rick gave an exasperated groan. The corpse had been leaning against the door, so when he opened it...
    He cursed himself for a fool, and then carefully opened the car door enough that he could grab hold of the body. Pushing the door outward, he managed to cradle Lisa’s form and lift her out into the night. She twisted!
    Rick struggled to remain calm. “It was a convulsion. You’ve seen it before. Even when they’re dead, the body goes through its own shutting down process. Come on, man. Pull yourself together. How many times have you done this?” He sighed, exhaling a puff of steam into the frigid air.
    Draping the body over his shoulders, he carried her over to the side of the bridge. And this time, he heard something behind him! Ducking low, he placed the corpse on the concrete. Lying down on top of it, he tried to make the most of the car’s shadow. Feeling her beneath him, he once more felt the longing that had possessed him earlier. He did not look at her face, but could see the marks on her neck. They were very slight, but he could see them. Rick lay there for a moment, listening.
    He heard water flowing below. There was a slight breeze moving through the trees. But these were not the sounds he was awaiting. The man was listening for movement... or searching for lights. Or something!
    The waiting was unbearable. Any moment, someone would peek around the car at him. Or a flashlight would shine into his face. Or a hand would grab hold of him; or maybe just headlights approaching on the road... But there was nothing but the waiting. It seemed as if the moon was smiling down on him, in its own lop-sided fashion. Would the great shining mouth begin to laugh, showing its celestial teeth? It was mocking him, and he did not like it. “Damn you,” he hissed. “If I could tear you from the sky, I would.”
    Finally, he could wait no longer. Crawling off the body, while hiding behind the car, he crept closer to see around it. There was the night, the bridge with hazy shadows at either end. No movement there, no lights, nothing.
    Behind him, Lisa sat up.
    Rick was preoccupied and did not notice her shivering against the cold. Nor did he see her holding onto her sore finger. His eyes frantically searched the night. He knew he had heard something. It could not have been his imagination. It was distinct. It was certain. It was real.
    And then, he did hear something... next to his ear. It was a rasping whisper, but he heard it. “Riiiccckkk.”
    And before he could react, he felt teeth against his neck! Something was biting him. He could barely make out the feminine shape behind him... but he knew who it was!
    Rick struggled to move, but a pair of arms had wrapped themselves around him. How could her grip have become this strong?! The man twisted and writhed, as something warm dripped down his neck. She was not just biting, he realized. She was feeding!
    And Lisa was not being gentle. The teeth were gnawing and tearing at him. Rick tried to power his way out of her grasp. But was swiftly growing weaker. “No,” he mumbled. But his strength was gone. She had him. For the first time, a woman held him helpless.
    She wrapped her legs around him, biting and sucking, drinking his life as if he were a bottle of wine. And she was thirsty... very thirsty.
    Rick fought to remain conscious. He struggled to keep his eyelids from falling, plunging him into darkness. He was light-headed and exhausted. Every breath became a labor.
    And then, she was speaking to him, in a rough and raspy tone. “I have been waiting for you, Rick. All these years, I searched for someone like you. And I found so many. Predators, not knowing they are prey. So very like the creature that took Elizabeth Montgomery from the world of the living. He was the first. But I swore that day he would not be the last.”
    Rick softly replied, “How?”
    There was a titter. “I have been dead so long it has become an easy thing for me. I am a hunter, like you. I seek out my prey, much like you. I give them the chance to show what they are. And then, I can feed in peace... without remorse. Those whom I have misjudged may have me at their pleasure. But they never see me again. They are not my prey. They are free to live.”
    The man gurgled out a plea.
    She snickered. “Perhaps I shall grant you the mercy shown to me.” She sunk her teeth into him once again.
    Rick could not move. His limbs were useless fixtures. But the pain on his face was evident. Soon, he had the vague sensation of being hoisted up in the air.
    She stared into his fading eyes. And then she rasped, “You will be pleased to know you have sated my appetite, Rick. It is time to leave. But first...” And then, he was falling. So far down, it seemed. He numbly felt the cold water, realizing what she had done. The man took one more gasping breath, as the water poured in all around, engulfing him. Soon, he could feel a slight burning in his lungs. The light dimmed, and he drifted into darkness.

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