“Oh, that antique trunk with the elephant lining the top?” she replied. “Yes, that is very beautiful.”
She used her key fob to unlock her car.
She waved at the last vehicle, which began to pull away from the lot.
They were now alone.
“It’s going to be an anniversary present for my wife. She loves antiques and elephants.”
“Then I’m sure she’ll love the trunk. You’ve got excellent taste.”
“I only hope it’ll still be there when I return tomorrow.” He inched toward her.
Another smile as she opened the car door. “Our clearance has been going fast. It’s not usually busy in the morning, so if you’re able to make it shortly after we open, you’ll be in luck.”
He now stood close to her and smiled. He could smell her strong perfume clinging to her body. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re more than welcome. Have a good night, sir.”
She turned to face her door. Reaching for the taser in the back of his jeans, he pulled it out. As she climbed in the car, he zapped her. Her body convulsed, and she only whimpered from the shock before slumping to the side, falling onto the black tar.
He popped the trunk. After double checking that there were no prying eyes, he used the fishing wire to bind her arms and feet together. After she was secured, he carried her to the trunk.
She whimpered.
“I’m sure I’ll have a wonderful night,” he told her. He touched the skin underneath her clothes. She was warm to the touch. She reeled in disgust. “Unfortunately, you won’t be having too much fun. My women never seem to.”
“Please,” she pleaded. Her green eyes blinked at him and a tear slid down her face.
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
He leaned in, cupping his ear as if to hear her better.
“Please,” she said again. “Please don't hurt me. I'll give you anything.”
“Sorry, dear,” he replied with a mock frown. “I’m afraid I can’t understand you.”
He taped her mouth, closed the trunk and climbed into her car.
The night was still as he pulled out of the store’s parking lot to take her to the last place she’d ever see before she died.
25
He watched as she slowly crawled away from him.
He’d already been at work on her for an hour and the shrilling that came from her was like ecstasy. He had an urge to jump, as if he were a kid opening a major birthday present.
She begged him to stop.
So, he did after a while.
He sat on the floor, watching her squirm and sob and beg.
“You’re beautiful when you’re like this, Jane from HomeGoods,” he said. He crawled to her side and put his hand on her cheeks and stroked.
She was ice cold, but that was because he’d set the thermostat to run the cool air. He liked it when the goosebumps appeared on her skin.
“What’s that?” he leaned close to her lips. “You’re having fun?”
He pulled back, pushed to his feet, all the while keeping his eyes on her.
“I’m glad, Jane. I’m also having a pretty good time if I do say so myself.”
“You—” Jane slurred as her words trembled, “You’re i-inane. I-i-insane.”
“But I thought you were having fun,” he said with a mock sympathetic frown. “We’re going to be here all week.”
“Please.” She tried to look at him, but her head wouldn't cooperate.
He looked at his watch. He’d have to leave soon if he was going to make it home in time to read Jamie her favorite bedtime story.
“Okay,” he said. He removed his glasses and set them on the dresser.
He turned her to her stomach, stepped on her head to hold her in place, and gripped the tire iron.
“It’s about time for me to go, Jane from HomeGoods,” he told her. “But I'll come for a visit tomorrow.”
He made contact with her lower back, and her cries were muffled against his foot. He swung the weapon in the air again, slamming it against her leg.
The pain she must have felt.
Just like ecstasy.
After he’d finished with her for the night, he chained her to a table leg.
He touched her again to make sure she was still breathing. She was, but only slightly. He decided to give her a break tomorrow after all.
Give her time to heal.
Of course, he’d stop by to feed her three times a day. After all, he wasn’t a monster, right?
Smiling, he leaned close to her ear. Her body shivered slightly, whether it was from the cold or their closeness, he wasn't sure.
He whispered goodbye and left.
He pulled up the driveway of his house, turned off the car, and entered through the front door.
“Honey!” he shouted. “I’m home from work!”
“Daddy!” Jamie’s feet pounded the stairs and he knelt to catch her in his arms. She was already dressed for bed in a Princess nightgown. “Read me a bedtime story?”
“Of course, pumpkin,” he said, kissing her cheek.
He carried her up the stairs and read her the story of her choice. After Jamie slipped into dreamland, he went into the master bedroom.
His wife lay in bed, thumbing through a magazine.
“How was work, honey?” She closed the magazine and smiled at him.
“Exhilarating,” he told her. He began to undress and then climbed into the bed. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Yeah, about that. I’m going to have to—”
He crushed his lips to hers.
She kissed him back, hungry for him.
“Oh, I love it when you come home like this,” she moaned as he bit into her
