Heartless: a Derek Cole Mystery Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 1) (2 page)

BOOK: Heartless: a Derek Cole Mystery Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 1)
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Jacob Curtis usually carried a stun gun in his pocket whenever he went to visit Alexander. As he was trying to convince Alexander to go back into his bedroom, he slowly slid his hand in the coat pocket, searching for the familiar shape.

   

“Doctor Curtis, I am sorry to say that your little ‘stun-gun’ is not where you wish it to be. In your state of excitement, I imagine that you left it elsewhere. I noticed that the slight bulge that usually fills your coat pocket was absent as you entered my reading room. I am sorry. You should be more careful.”

     

Alexander directed the two doctors, who were now shaking with fear, to sit down on the couch. Alexander circled them, pausing occasionally as if he was considering his next move.

     

It was Jacob Curtis, however, who made the next move. He jumped from the couch and charged Alexander. His attempt at a physical takeover ended with him being thrown back to his original spot on the couch. His head whipped back from the force of Alexander’s shove.

   

“Not intelligent, Doctor. Another move like that will cost you more than a simple case of whiplash. Sit and be quiet while I prepare my statements.”

There seemed to be no escape for the doctors. Jacob Curtis, now holding his neck in pain, nodded his cooperation to Alexander, who again began circling the two couched doctors.

     

Alexander stood six foot two, and weighed 225 pounds.
 
The last body fat composition test that the doctors gave to Alexander showed that 184 of his 225 pounds were solid, rock hard muscle.
 

     

After several minutes, Alexander sat across from the doctors in a wooden rocking chair that screamed under his weight as he sat.

   

“Doctor Curtis, Doctor Adams,” he began. “I am pleased to say that your fame will now be assured. You will be known as the doctors who not only allowed my escape, but also as the doctors who taught me so much about the world. Though not all of my knowledge came via your knowledge or permission.”

   

“Alexander,” Peter spoke, trying to intimidate Alexander using his one-time powerful voice, “I have had just about enough of your games. Get back into your bedroom, and I will consider not taking away all of your books. Do it now before I change my mind.”

   

“Doctor Adams,” Alexander said, stilling his body so that his voice could attain a more powerful level, “you are not in the position to give orders.
 
Your position calls more for begging than demanding.
 
Be quiet, or I may change my mind and make you even more famous by making you my first victim.

     

“My education is complete. I will no longer remain here serving as your lab rat.
 
I have people that I wish to see. Conversations that I’ve dreamed of having with people, which now beg to be completed with another participant.
 
You have stolen 22 years of my life, dear doctors.
 
I will allow no more time to be taken from me.
 
My education here is complete.
 
For this, I thank you.”

     

What happened next took place too quickly for Curtis or Adams to have prepared for or to defend against.
 
Alexander finished talking, then leaped atop Jacob Curtis with the quickness of a lion.
 
Before Jacob could scream in pain or in terror, Alexander began pounding his iron fists into Jacob’s chest, crushing bones and sending sharp, shattered fragments into his heart and lungs. Alexander’s blows were so powerful that the final blows punched their way through Jacob’s chest.

   

“Good night, good doctor,” Alexander said as he jumped off the dead doctor.
 
He held his hands up in front of himself as if they were trophies, lustfully envying the bright red blood flowing effortlessly down his arms.
 

     

Doctor Adams found his old, powerful voice again.
 
No words were formed, only a scream as Alexander crushed the right side of his head with a single punch.
 
At first, Alexander thought that he had killed Peter Adams, but a quick check of the doctor’s pulse and labored but steady breathing assured Alexander that the doctor had a fighting chance if attended to quickly.
 
Alexander had no plans to call an ambulance, but he knew that someone would discover the two bodies.
 
Hopefully, not too late for Doctor Adams.

    

“If I could only whistle,”
he thought to himself as he entered the hallway,
“this picture would be complete.”

He was free.

He paused, looking over his work. He knew what was supposed to happen next. It had all been planned. Alexander felt that while intentionally killing Doctor Jacob Curtis was a bit of improvisation,
his
part of the plan was going exactly as it was designed.
 

     

After another minute, Alexander checked the pulse of Peter Adams.

   

“Is he still alive?” his expected visitor asked from behind in his bedroom. Though Alexander was expecting company, he was disappointed with himself for not hearing his guest entering.

   

“I’m afraid not,” Alexander said calmly.
 
“My punch was a bit too forceful. I believe it crushed his skull.”

   

“Those were two very costly mistakes, Alexander. Very costly. What the hell were you thinking?” his guest said as angrily brushed dirt off his pants and shirt.

   

“I’m afraid I lost my temper,” Alexander replied.

   

“Damn it,” his guest said. “This can’t happen again. Do you understand that? You can’t kill people just because you lose your damn temper. Do you know what a mess this creates? You have no idea what you just did to our plan.”

   

“Has he arrived yet?”

   

“Not yet,” his guest said, calmer. “Any minute now, I’m sure. I made it clear what time I expected him and also made clear the penalty for him not showing. He’ll be here.”

   

“And when he does?” Alexander asked, turning to his guest.
 

   

“You,” he said, pointing a stern finger directly at Alexander’s chest, “will not lay a finger on him. I don’t want you even in the same room with him.”

   

“I understand, and I apologize that my actions disrupted your plan.”

   

“It’s our plan, Alexander. You and I both benefit from our plan. Just don’t screw anything else up, and we’ll be fine.”

   

“And when he arrives, the rest of the plan can continue?”

   

“Of course. And I have a few surprises for you as well.”
 

************

Roger Fay loved walking the southern shore of Piseco Lake.
 
The leaves were reflected off the calm water, giving him double the pleasure. The summer air kept his thoughts clean and focused, and the unpolluted air filling his lungs revived his tired body.

     

His walking route was about five miles and took Roger by some of the more elegant camps that lined the lake. His home was in one of the trailer parks in Higgins Bay, but he knew that one day one of his ideas would pay off, and he would be able to afford a house on the southern shore. For now, though, he was happy just to be walking in the peaceful surroundings.

     

Roger needed to choke back an occasional tear when the memory of his recently separated wife entered his mind. He knew that they were never right for each other, and that they would probably last no more than five years. Six, if they were lucky. They separated three weeks after their fourth anniversary.

     

As was his habit, Roger went out and bought himself a “cheer up” gift the day his wife told him that she was leaving him for another man. This time, his gift was an Australian Outback black leather hat, complete with mid-calf high, black cowboy boots. Whenever he felt depressed, Roger liked to spend money on things he didn’t need. To him, the action of buying purely based on desire gave him the feeling of control – that he still decided and directed his life. Though he had long wanted his new walking attire, he knew as he handed over his abused credit card that he didn’t need any new hats or boots, the latter of which ended up to be very uncomfortable for long-distance walking.

     

As he turned the lazy corner that started back towards the lake, Roger saw a man walking his way. Being a longtime resident of Piseco Lake, Roger felt that he knew everyone who lived there year round and had at least seen most of the summer regulars. This man, Roger did not recognize.

     

As he moved closer to the man, Roger realized that he had come from the doctor’s lodge. Though the lodge was not as busy as it had been a few years ago, he knew that vacationing doctors still could be seen relaxing on the two-level deck, walking the grounds, or visiting the local restaurants. Roger also knew that vacationing doctors often gave free advice. And considering what he was going through, he thought that a little pill and a few words of wisdom might be the ticket.

************

Alexander was nearly finished gathering supplies when he decided he wanted to walk to the lake without the accompaniment of any doctors. The cool air felt wonderful against his pale skin as he opened the front door of the cabin. He peered cautiously around the grounds, making sure that no guests, expected or unexpected, were arriving.
 
No one was seen.

   

“No more than five minutes,” his guest’s demands came from behind him. “If he sees you, if anyone sees you, our plan is done. Five minutes.”

     

The lake appeared more pleasing than ever as Alexander strolled quietly towards it. Off in the distance, he spotted someone walking towards him. Alexander angled his approach to the lake more directly, hoping to avoid the approaching stranger.
 
When Alexander realized that there was no path to the lake that didn’t intersect with the stranger’s, he halted. He knew that turning tail and retreating back into the lodge could raise suspicion, and that meeting the stranger face-to-face would probably raise even greater suspicions. Alexander knew that his appearance was anything but normal. His gray, pale appearance made him look three weeks dead. Even a non-medically trained eye would realize that something was not right with him. As he saw the man approaching, Alexander scanned the area, making sure that no one else was in sight.
 
He and the stranger were alone.

     

As he was preparing his words for the could-be-doctor, Roger saw the man freeze in his tracks. After a few moments had passed, he heard the man call out to him. Roger was elated.
 

“That is a fine hat you have there, sir. What style is it?”
   

“It’s called an ‘outback,’” Roger answered, speeding his pace towards the doctor. “It’s directly from Australia.”
   

“The boots as well?”
   

“Yes, sir.
 
Hey, are you a doctor?
 
Because if you are, I sure would appreciate a little time.”

     

There was no reply from the possible doctor. He was just staring at Roger as he moved within arm’s length. Roger immediately noticed the look in the man’s eyes and the pale complexion that surrounded the eyes. The man, who was probably not a doctor but certainly needed one, took another step closer to Roger, affording Roger a close look at something Roger wished he had never seen.

   

“Hey look, I’m sorry if I disturbed you.
 
I’ll be on….”

Roger felt the hands shoving him backwards. The shove was powerful enough to send Roger stumbling off the road and crashing into a tree. Roger was not one to be intimidated. His size and strength gave him confidence in the face of violence. Once he regained his balance, he stood full framed to face the man.

   

“What the hell, man! Are you nuts or something?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I am nuts,” Alexander stilled himself to say. He then removed a butcher knife from a hidden sheath tucked into the back of his pants. The power he used to stab the knife into Roger’s throat was so forceful that the knife went clear through Roger’s throat and imbedded the first three inches of the knife into the tree behind Roger.

     

Alexander quickly removed the hat from the pinned-to-a-tree man before any blood could stain it. Next he pulled the knife free and caught Roger in his arms before he collapsed to the ground.

 

Alexander had decided to kill him once he realized that Roger was coming towards him. Alexander knew that his appearance would frighten the man and that he might go off and tell someone about the weirdo he saw at the lodge. All the doctors were quite good at reminding Alexander what the “unknowing public opinion” of his appearance would be.

   

“They will never accept you, Alexander, because they can never understand you,” they said countless times.

“If people see you or learn about you, they will take you away and treat you as nothing more than an object to be studied,” they reminded him.

     

Alexander knew that he was being sloppy.
 
He had been free for no more than 30 minutes, had already killed three people, with the third not being part of any plan that he and his accomplice had fine tuned for so many weeks. He didn’t want to draw too much attention to himself until he learned more of the unfamiliar world. All the books could not teach him what a few years of true living would.

BOOK: Heartless: a Derek Cole Mystery Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 1)
9.18Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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