Perfect Sinners Read online

  Power held the many appetites of the men and women who possessed it and formed that power to their desires. She’d seen that as well.

  Yet, there was always one intoxicating attribute about power over the other obsessions; one never had enough of that incredible elixir. Never.

  People sought in on every level. In every culture. Most wanted to control their own destinies. Some wanted more.

  The power to control one’s own life was addicting enough, but to control another’s was beyond sublime.

  Ask any politician or dictator what they desired the most and they would tell you. They wanted the power to do what they saw fit, to wield an axe of absolute control over their intentions, lives, and indulgences. Then to take it a step further and control others. All under the guise that they knew what was best for those beneath them.

  She reached for another cigarette, then resisted.

  Make no mistake, that decision came first. The one that said other people weren’t as able to run their lives and needed help from those who could.

  She was no politician, yet, but was no different in that thought, particularly living in the world she had chosen.

  Power held the key and was the source of everything she desired in this life. And come hell or high water, she’d have it.

  Have it? No, she’d take it. Like she’d taken everything else she’d ever wanted. Even if that meant recruiting people she considered more vile and demonic than human. But she didn’t truly care about someone else’s appetites or perversions. Everyone had a cross to bear, even the righteous. Even Clergy.

  Whatever it takes.

  She watched the man and woman finish what they had started on the banks below her as they were joined by two other cops. She then began strolling south on Randolph toward downtown, rubbing the coin and humming an old Bette Midler song.

  Wings beneath her feet indeed.

  In the end, they would all serve to lift her high.

  That was how it should be. It was the nature of true power and who better than her to reap the rewards that power had to offer?

  CHAPTER-5

  “How did it go?” asked Ellen.

  Brice and Bella stood a few feet away from the CPD’s white Forensics SUV while she and Aaron finished loading their freshly gathered evidence bags into the back. The other two cruisers were now gone, the blues duty here complete, so it was just the four of them.

  “About what we expected but we’ll come back and talk to the folks who weren’t home,” said Brice, his chiseled face set to his intense investigative version. “So far, no one in the apartment complex really saw anything unusual last night. A couple of folks thought they might have seen some lights or heard a voice while sitting on their balconies, but nothing that piqued their interest or ours.”

  “Yeah, we had hope for one of the young men until we saw the pot plant on his deck and the empty 1800 bottle on the table,” said Bella. “We could have asked him if he’d seen Mickey, Minnie, and Donald and he would have said yes.”

  “Hey, I see those three once in a while,” said Aaron, grinning.

  Ellen watched as Bella inhaled and began the process of lighting Aaron up with a smartass remark, then she stopped, smiled, and shook her head several times. “You ain’t getting me fired up with that shit this morning, white boy.”

  “Really?” said Aaron.

  “Really.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m a detective and going to act like it, got it? Your weird-ass comments get me off track so I’m not going there.”

  “Weird-ass? I’m just exceptional.”

  Bella raised her eyebrows, turned to Brice, her wide smile still shining. “Is there a department policy against shooting CSIs? Not killing them, but you know, winging them?”

  “Yes. But I can’t testify about something if I don’t see it.”

  “Got it.”

  Bella turned back to Aaron. “So Aaron, want to go have a cup of coffee with me? I’m buying.”

  Aaron’s confident look faltered as he glanced at Ellen then back to Bella. “Ahh, well. I think I’m heading back to the, umm, lab, with Ellie, so maybe a raincheck.”

  “Okay. I’ll look forward to it. I want you to see my new Glock.”

  “I know what they look like,” said Aaron.

  “Not the way I want to show you.”

  “I’m going to be busy for a long time.”

  Bella sighed. “Too bad.”

  Aaron moved closer to Ellen.

  “Done?” asked Brice, shifting his feet.

  “Yep, for now,” said Bella.

  Brice waved his hand toward the evidence bags in the back of the SUV. “Did you find anything that might help at the scene?”

  “That’s a good question. The night crew did a fine job, but we found a few objects, including two identical silver crosses that might lead to something . . .or not. We’ll have to see.”

  “We got the updated files, photos and all, sent to our phones and sort of worked off from what the other CSI unit had found,” continued Ellie, brushing her hair with her hand as the breeze reminded her it was there.

  “That helped us concentrate on other areas within the scene, so we had a little different perspective,” said Aaron.

  “Wow. Matching crosses. That’s weird, I think,” said Bella.

  “Yeah, it is, but we’ll see if we can find out anything that helps with the investigation,” said Ellen. “Maybe someone had them for sale and dropped them. We’ll see.”

  “Any luck finding the hand and foot?” asked Bella.

  Ellen tugged at her earring, feeling the frown cross her face. It was odd, and maybe borderline callous, to hear just how that question sounded. This wasn’t a TV show or a book, it was real life in every aspect.

  “No, nothing yet. We have a dive crew coming over later this morning to see what they can find. We’re sure he wasn’t in the river more than ten to twelve hours, like Ramona, so it makes sense that he was probably dumped near here or maybe east a few blocks. If he had been unloaded west, he wouldn’t have been at this location because the reverse flow of the river would have sent him further west. We’re just not sure yet. At any rate, his limbs should be relatively close unless—”

  Brice interrupted the momentary silence. “Unless the killer kept them?”

  “There’s that,” said Ellen.

  “Sick bitch,” said Bella.

  “There could be other possibilities, like trashing them in a dumpster somewhere else or putting them out in the morning garbage,” said Ellen.

  “Or maybe this killer is a cannibal and is a foot and wing man,” said Aaron.

  “Seriously? That’s an educated guess?” asked Bella, scrunching up her face.

  “Hey, all possibilities are on the table. Do the names Jeffery Dahmer and Alfred Packer ring a bell?”

  “You know, I lied. I can’t work all professional. I’m going to ring your dumbass bell,” said Bella, moving toward Aaron.

  Aaron scrambled behind Ellen, laughing.

  Brice grabbed her by the arm. “It’s far-fetched, but until we have the evidence analyzed, we won’t be ringing any bells, got it?”

  “I got it, Superman. But a woman can dream.”

  Bella then shook loose from Brice, brushed the imagined wrinkles from her jacket, and stepped back beside Brice.

  “You’re lucky, this time, Cub Boy. Brice and Ellie won’t always be around. Then you and me are going have a good old fashioned Latina prayer meeting, comprende?”

  Bella then turned and walked over to the squad car, a bit more wiggle in her walk, thought Ellen.

  Brice shrugged, his eyes shining. “You do have a talent for reaching her inner-self, Aaron.”

  “I do my best to help people reach their potential,” said Aaron, giving Bella one more look.

  “Yeah? Well, be careful with that one. She runs a little hot sometimes. Potential double murders of young people don’t help her mood. Mine either,” he said softly.

 
“Got it. Let me load the rest of this evidence and we can get back to the lab,” said Aaron.

  Brice then reached for Ellen’s hand, flaming that excitement she hoped she would never tire of feeling. He kissed her on the lips, taking that excitement up a notch. They kissed again. She wondered if there were ever a better place in the world r than right there in his strong arms.

  He pulled away, a little more color on his cheeks.

  Damn job.

  He smiled. “See you for dinner, I hope. We’ve got a lot of work to do on this case. We’re going back to the office and get Bella started at going over any video footage we can find. I’m not sure how many accessible cameras are turned toward the river, but there has to be something. It might help that there was almost a full moon last night.”

  “Sounds like a start and I know what you mean. It could be a long day in the lab. But we still have to eat.”

  Brice reached out and touched her hand, smiled, and then walked back to his car. A moment later, he and Bella drove off.

  She turned to pick up the last of the evidence bags and saw Aaron standing, arms reaching in her direction, his lips puckered. “That kissing thing is still weirding me out a little, you know? But I’m willing to learn to handle it if you’ll help me out here.”

  She rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. “Get over our kissing, and in your dreams. And why in hell do you do that to Bella?” asked Ellen, gently pushing Aaron back toward the SUV.

  “Aww come on. I was just messing with her. Besides, I could be right.”

  “About the cannibal speculation? We’re a science team, remember? Tell me why that’s even a possibility?”

  “I know what we are, Ellie. And on what is any scientific theory built?”

  “Don’t quiz me, buddy. But, I’ll play along. Basic theory, without getting too complicated, is built on the ability to use our senses to observe, gather facts, and then draw rational conclusions from those facts.”

  “Yep. So, since we don’t have a foot and a hand in our possession, I’m throwing out possibilities based on my observations.”

  “You can’t do that because we haven’t examined all of the evidence, right?” asked Ellen.

  “Maybe, but can you think of any other theories than the ones I’ve thrown out there?”

  “I don’t do theories without evidence, remember? So get in the SUV, we’ve got work to do back at the lab, okay?”

  Aaron bowed deeply. “Yes, my queen.” He then moved quickly to his side of the truck.

  Ellen sighed. That queen reference would always remind her of Oscar because her ex-partner had coined the phrase. She still missed the way he had said it, full of mock reverence, sprinkled with respect. She’d love to hear him say it one more time.

  “Let’s go, FT Harper,” said Aaron, hanging out the passenger window. Science awaits.”

  “Coming.”

  Ellen picked up her case, looked back toward the river, and then hesitated.

  Could Aaron be right? Could her city have a cannibal on the loose? After that last case that had exhibited bizarre human behavior of category five levels, she supposed anything was possible.

  Some things, even in this business, weren’t meant to be dwelt upon for too long. She had enough nightmare fodder.

  Ellen opened the door to her truck and immediately jumped back as a clear, wrapped package fell to the asphalt. “What the hell?”

  Ellen gawked at the package, then felt her heart drop deep into her stomach as realization made its customary visit.

  Through the transparent material, a bloodied human hand and foot screamed for her complete attention.

  CHAPTER-6

  The knock on his door brought a quick smile. They were on time. At least that basic human respect was still intact for them.

  He rose, the rickety chair squeaking its protest, as he moved across the room and opened the door to two nervous smiles. He used his best relax-this-won’t-hurt-a-bit grin. It seemed to help them.

  “Good morning. I’m glad you are punctual. That shows character and willingness toward obedience,” he said.

  Ushering the two young women into the room, he motioned for them to sit in the chairs against the tattered inner wall at the back of the room. He then went to the solitary window facing the street and closed the blinds.

  With a reassuring look that exhibited genuine concern and care, he pulled up another chair and sat across from them. Both women stared at the floor, the one on the left, the one with the flowing red hair, desperately trying to control her shaking left hand with her right.

  “My children, does anyone know you are here?” he asked. His voice soothing, but tinged with an air of authority. Practice made perfect.

  “No, we came just like you asked,” said the dark haired beauty on the right, her bosom heaving.

  The redhead shook her head.

  “Good. The first step to absolution and reconciliation is obedience. Do you understand the strength of that statement? Does the meaning of that word dive deep into your souls and reside there to the point that you will not question me?”

  Again, there was no hesitation as they answered him in unison.

  “Yes.”

  “Shall we test that obedience?”

  “Yes.”

  The echo of their response was already different than their last. They were excited. He suspected in more ways than one.

  “Hold out your hands, palms up, and look at me.”

  Two heads raised quickly, wide eyes glistening with emotion. Four hands then shot toward him, this time both women were struggling to hold their quivering hands still.

  He almost laughed out loud. What was wrong with them? Did they not see what was coming?

  Yet, his internal question was rhetorical. Of course he knew what was wrong with them. Or perhaps right, depending on one’s perspective. Their reactions were a door into their past.

  They had never been told they were beautiful, not even as young children. Nor had they heard that they had done good things and had enormous potential to succeed. That they possessed talent and gifts no other held. That they could live a dream and fulfill a destiny that was theirs alone.

  Instead, and for as long as they could remember, they had gone to bed in fear, insecure, alone on the inside, wondering what they had done to alienate their mother and father to the point that these children hadn’t mattered to the people who had brought them into this shithole world.

  It hadn’t taken long for their pain, their isolation, their anger to burn like hot coals deep in their hearts. Soon, they sought different sources of acceptance and intimacy.

  Older men, drugs, alcohol, even crime. Anything that could bring them desperately craved attention that would help them to discover a sense of meaning and instill a fraction of genuine life.

  Anyone’s attention.

  That’s where men of destiny, like him, came into the picture. Their pictures.

  He spoke words of love and kindness. Of acceptance and forgiveness. Even though they were sinners, they could be free, if they let him help. He would lead them and they would follow, just like the dozens before them. They would find purpose, if only for a time.

  Standing, he pulled the horse whip from behind his chair, raised it in the air, bringing it down with the entirety of his strength. The whip stopped an inch from their upturned hands. Neither woman had so much as flinched.

  Dropping the whip, he bent and kissed each of them on the head.

  “You are to be praised! You’ve done well, so far. I am most impressed.”

  “Thank you. You are kind,” said the dark-haired woman, bowing her head.

  “Yes, thank you,” followed the other.

  Walking over to the dark curtain that hid the bubbling hot tub, he yanked it open and then pointed to the women. “Remove your clothing. We must cleanse you on the outside as well, purging you from the sickness that rots you from the inside.”

  Both women rose immediately and began to disrobe.

&
nbsp; He could hardly contain himself.

  CHAPTER-7

  Ellen reacting on instinct, despite her rapid heart rate, quickly scoured the area, hoping to get a glimpse of who may have dropped off this gruesome gift and how.

  She always locked the door. It was one of her rituals. No one got into her evidence. Not after the fiasco those eight years ago when a street lady got into her van looking for anything of value.

  “Aaron.”

  “What is it?” asked Aaron, quickly bolting from the passenger side of the SUV.

  “You need to see for yourself.”

  She scanned the area again, then bit her lip realizing that her impromptu search would be in vain. Whoever did this wasn’t about to be discovered that easily.

  Aaron stopped, his eyes widening. “Damn. That’s not something you see every day,” he said softly.

  “No, you don’t.”

  He stared over her shoulder as she bent closer to what she’d already assumed was the remnants of missing limbs from their male victim.

  “Call Brice and Bella and have them get back here. Also call dispatch and tell them we need half a dozen cruisers to help canvas the area in at least a five-block radius.”

  Aaron’s response echoed her previous thoughts.

  “Will do. But will that help? Whoever put this in the truck has to be long gone and was probably pretty subtle about what they were up to, right?”

  “Maybe. But we could get lucky.”

  She felt Aaron’s intense gaze on the back of her neck and turned to look down at him.

  “What?”

  “Why, Ellie? Why are these here now? Why on your side of the SUV? Is—”

  “I don’t know. Just make the calls, we’ll figure that out later. Come on man, time is wasting.”

  She felt the unpleasant edge in her voice as she wrestled with her infamous quick temper. It was much longer in between incidents these days and she’d learned, at least in part, what triggered her reactions, yet it didn’t always help. Brice helped her control it too, but. . . .

  Aaron stepped away from her and began making calls.

  He had been right, of course. The questions had stormed her mind as well, and far before Aaron had run around to her side of the vehicle. But she’d meant it when she said they could deal with forty questions when the detectives got here.