Passage 49
Regina was feeling disrespected and needed someone to pay attention to her. She hadn't seen James since his last case before the baby. She had healed up now. She didn't know what to do about Avery . Her brother Ryder was almost cause and Victoria betrayed her making her think she was screwing Roger.
Regina needed someone to coax her ego now it was shattered and bruised from the lack of respect. Even Alexander preferred Victoria to her. She decided to go visit James down at the holding cells. She signed in and waited for him to be taken to their private room . She knew a guard would be an earshot away so she had to keep her voice down.
James came in and lit up as he saw his prize sitting before him as he passed her all he wanted to do was touch her hair and feel the strands fall through his hands. He remembered Kaylee her hair used to do that. He played with Kaylee hair for weeks after he strangled the girl for rejecting him. He didn't like being played with. Kaylee came from a religious family. Her father was a local pastor . Her hair was always in place with a perfect bow placed in her hair like a righteous badge .
He remembered they were lab partners and how she would snicker at the comments made behind his back. He zoned back into view as he saw Regina's sad and ashened face. He remembered when he first met Regina he felt the tingling sensation in his pants as his nerves lit up seeing something he was interested in.
He wanted to wrap his hands around her neck and listen for her breath to hitch as he listen for the windpipe crushed under his hands. He wanted to see that light go out in her eyes . That was the most thrilling part for him . The light dimming. He missed that part with his mother. He felt like he was robbed of his satisfaction with her and he was itching for that moment. But in his mind he knew he would hesitate if he saw his mother's eyes. She would lock him up if she lived.
He couldn't go back to the pin. The memories of his struggles he went through there. He remembered the whistles and cat calls from the walk to his cell and his room mate Yuri . A big burley man that didn't want a roommate . He sweat and smelled of butt . Yuri looked at him like he was a punching bag. James knew to sleep with one eye open. When he threatened to hold down his pretty little teenage wife and make him watch he felt like it was time for Yuri to go. Yuri was not going to take away his satisfaction of killing Jessica . That was his game to have not that sadistic amateur. He remembered how Yuri was set on eating only kosher items in the mess hall.
He also observed he didn't eat any type of wheat or peanuts. It didn't take a genius to figure out his allergies. The dude was huge as big as an linebacker . He was always in the courtyard working out and he was a scrapper. James was assigned to kitchen duty and one day James decided to add a little something to his kosher meal . He grew tired of Yuri threatening Jessica since his release date was a few months from them.
He used to hear from the other inmates how people would take other inmates dates from them as revenge . They make them serve a few more years on their sentences but in James eyes he wasn't keen on serving one more hour with this man little less three to five more years. He couldn't risk Yuri finding out and taking his release date from him. He watched Yuri as he sat down beginning to eat and act like he was a god. Like he was special.
Then he heard it as Yuri stood up and began to convulse . His face began to swell as he knocked over other inmates trays and fell on the floor as vomit began to ooze out of his mouth. The room crowded watching this massive man in distress. James casually walked over and looked into his eyes. The saw the light fading in them as James smirked " got you good. " Thought James.
Regina sat there as James was more thrilled to see his obsession. She spoke to him but the words were like a distance whisper as he took in his fix of her. He looked at her adoringly and smiled as small parts of her reminded him of everyone of his victims.
He saw Jessica's snooty attitude and Kaylee ribbon worthy hair. He saw Gertrude's golden amber eyes and even saw a bit of his mother's nose and mouth in her face. She was like a collaboration of all the woman he had in his life . Even his Aunt Ruth -Anne he particular fashion sense. He regretted not being able to reach his Aunt in the past.
" Regina it is so good to see you again. I have missed you. They got me a real jerk for a lawyer now." Said James as he smiled big as he looked his latest obsession over with hungry eyes .
" I missed you too. I always thought we were closer to friends then colleagues. How have they been treating you?" Asked Regina as she was trying to boost her mood of lately.
" What happened to you and Christopher. Why did I need a new lawyer?" Asked James now annoyed by his current lawyer assigned.
" It's complicated. Christopher wife went bipolar and made him quit the firm and I haven't seen him since. " Gossipped Regina.
" I see. Is that all or was there something more to it? " Quizzed James as he was trying to get inside Regina's head. That was a favorite pastime figuring out his victims secrets and flaws so he can dicsect them peice by peice until he found the the one part that didn't fit. You could say James liked games and puzzles and figuring out his victims vulnerabilities.
He soaked up Regina like he was soaking up the sun on a pleasantly sunny day. Her being around him made him feel alive inside . Like his fingertips were covered in electricity and his veins were on fire from the adrenaline he got from being in close proximity to his victims. He didn't know why he felt this way,but he always felt a stir of electric current flowing through him when he found someone who interested him.
As soon as he executed his obsession it would hold him over for a while before he would have a growing urge to go on the hunt again. With him being locked up his fixes and hunting grounds were limited and it drove him crazy at times. He often couldn't sleep or he would see his fantasized thoughts like he was watching a personal movie in his head. He would be just sitting in the dark smiling to himself without a soul to talk too
Just then Timothy Vaughn signed in the form desk to brief James on the case. He looked down to see Regina Zehetii name on the sign in sheet. He tapped his pen and headed to the room. Timothy opened the room as he saw James and Regina in the room together. James narrowed his eyes at the disruption of his time with Regina.
" Who let you in to see my client. Didn't your boss take you off the case ?" Barked Timothy now aggervated she was here.
" Am I supposed to I know you?" She said all high and nighty.
" I'm here to deliberate with my client why are you here?" Snapped Timothy as the room grew colder with the glares between the two.
" well you'll just have to wait your turn . And I don't need to inform you why I'm here ." Retorted Regina now a pitch higher.
Timothy sat down beside Regina as he glared at her . James now looked at him like he was interrupting their conversation.
" Can you give us a moment ?" Said James directed at Timothy . Timothy was killing his buzz that he was getting from Regina . He had almost had his fix of her as he rubbed the inside of his leg as she spoke .
" Who here is representing you? Mrs. Zehetii or me?" Declared Timothy to get Regina's attention.
James stared between the two as they silently glared at each other. The challenge in each other's eyes distracted James. He felt robbed on his fix on Regina . But he didn't feel like be humiliated in front of Regina by challenging Timothy.
" Can't she stay. She might actually help the case considering she knows something about me and the case." Pleaded James .
" No. If she isn't a lawyer or an officer she has no use here but to be a distraction to the case at hand. Either she leaves or I do. But if I leave I hope she can represent you and you don't end up in prison ." Stated Timothy testing the water.
" Okay then Bye than the door is right there ." Said Regina thinking she won. Timothy was testing to see where James mind was with this woman in the room.
" Regina. Can I talk to him for a minute it's important to my case. I know you wanted to talk and all but he is right we need to work on my case if I'm ever going to see your beautiful face anytime soon" He said apologetically as he wanted to touch her silky skin but hesitated afraid he wouldn't have control over himself right now. It had been a few years since his last kill and the urge to satisfy it was overwhelming sometimes.
" I'm important too. I was here first. Why do I have to leave?" Screeched Regina .
" Yes you are very important. But this is also important." Pleaded James as Regina nodded and gave a death glare at Timothy already hating the man from ruining her time with James .
James glared at Timothy . Timothy glared back at James in return.
James glared at Timothy as he ruined his small piece of happiness. Regina made him feel the thrill again. And Timothy ruined it. He didn't like his toys being taken away from him. Especially when he didn't have time to play with them properly.
James had pursued Jessica for years behind glass windows and he even made her fall in love with him. The game was at foot to her ultimate demise until she fell pregnant. He didn't anticipate all the attention she got during the pregnancy it delayed his plans to kill her. He eventually did kill her but then he had to make sure she didn't expose him for the monster he was.
Jessica made herself known to his parents as soon as she started catching feeling for James she took it upon herself to offer to take his mother to see him on visitation days and even invited herself to dinners and accompanied his father sometimes to see Gertrude in the hospital . Jessica was morally invested in James family from the time he showed her the slightest bit of interest .
Kaylee threatened to expose him for his monstrous ways and she died too quickly . He was never really satisfied by her death it was why he kept her longer after death. He wanted more time with her. He remembered petting her hair as it still shiny as he held it and smelled her strawberry shampoo smell. Kaylee wasn't his goal victim . He had been watching her cousin Brittany. They were a year apart and had identical golden hair and blue eyes.
Brittany had guys attention as she was very popular with her shorter than regulation standard plaude skirts she used to exercise her rebellious side. You could say she was a bad girl. She would show up in her sports car she inherited from her dad had and knee high stockings and plaid pleated skirt and a white linen shirt with a crop top jacket. Her hair always in a punk style hair do.
Brittney was an effort . She was never alone to get close to her. When Kaylee was assigned to him as a lab partner he took it as he could since Brittany was out of reach. He planned d to double back for Brittany but when Kaylee parents was quick to notice their daughter going missing he didn't have time. He used this opportunity to practice for his real goal.
James hated the favoritism his dad showed Gertrude. Albert Barry was harsh and punishing raising his son to be a man .Albert and James always boxing up at each other . His mother was oblivious to his father's hate for his son and love for his daughter. He doted on Gurty . Gurty only needed to bat her eyes and the man melted to her will. But James talked back and he got a hard scolding. He hated how he treated his sister. It was like once she was born he didn't exist in the house.
James remember keeping Kaylee in the boiler room . There was a room that was behind a shelf he used to use when he hide from his father. He would spend many hours sitting next to Kaylee talking to her decomposing body as he shared his day with her after school. He pretended like she was sleeping . He kept the room highly perfumed to cover the smell. No one went to the boiling room unless the hot water heater went out in a unit.
Only James knew about the hidden utility closet. He smiled knowing Kaylee body was still there. He almost put Jessica with Kaylee . But the space was too small for the spot. James wondered if they finally found Kaylee during the complex investigation. He grinned ear to ear about his inner revolutions of his past sins.
" James ." Clapped Timothy in his face bringing back his focus to the room.
" Are you going to daydream all day and waste my time today" Snapped Timothy not losing his patients.
" James ." Shrieked Timothy to bring him back to the fold.
" Yes. I was just thinking about how sweet Regina would sound." He sang in a hopeful tone.
" James , right now we need to focus on your case and hope nothing else just pops up. Regina isn't a concern. The last man she was with ended up dead . So I think she might be hazardous to your health." Scolded Timothy .
" Did he now. Now now this is something new." Said James disregarding the rest of the conversation. James thought how he never met a female monster like himself. Perhaps she would be his greatest conquest. The others were far too easy to kill. Maybe a challenge was needed to fill his needs.
" James I'm here today because something else developed. " Timothy shook his head now like he had a massive headache.
" The four bodies were accounted for. But . Well besides Jessica they found two more bodies . One found in a wall and another under the floor boards in the apartment that was next to your mother's unit. The way I was briefed the one under the floor boards was older than the other Jessica's body. This is looking really bad for you. The four in the upper apartments were by the fire but the others .James I told you to be honest with me. Who is the other two bodies?" Demanded Timothy now ferious over the new development. The rate James was going the case was not winnable.
James smiled at the one in the wall, then frowned at the one he almost forgot about under the floor boards. He reached as he remembered what has happened in his father's office apartments. He knew he wasn't supposed to be in there and he snuck in one day when his father left it unlocked. His father had a bookkeeper who caught him in the act. She was a young thing right out of college barely twenty years old . James was fifteen at the time.
Liliana how could he forget her. He remembered how his father was trying to train someone to help him with the complex since he was still juggling the complex and his actual job. His mother was the one who ran the complex but his father worked outside the complex as a real estate agent. He was gone to summits and seminars a few times a year and hired a finance major college student to get some work experience for her field of interest.
Only Liliana had the key to the apartment outside of his father when he was away on business. It was that one day he was caught stealing from the safe his father kept the money waiting for monthly deposits . Liliana threatened to tell Mr. Barry about the stealing. James remember he hated her and grabbed the decorative shovel that was used in community ground breaking ceremonies his father used for publicity shots for career development projects. He remembered the girl tried to run away but James hit her knocking her unconscious.
The woman was too big for him to drag her body through the complex hallways. So he pulled up the floorboards and shoved her body inside of it. He fabricated a story she took all the safe money and skipped town. James took all the rent money and hid it in a ceiling panels above his room. He knew she would tell his dad and they would punish him for her.
" James this was already a case of one murder has now become a multiple murders in the complex. They are all pointing to you . It's not looking good for you at this point. The rate of bodies that's showing up man I doubt you get out of solitary confinement. Shit man it's looking really bad for you at this point. " Panicked Timothy.
" Well your my lawyer get me out of it. The last guy just for disassociation disorder. Where ill serve a minimum of four years on happy pills and get released." Said James like he didn't care as he picked at the cuticles on his finger nails .
" I'm a lawyer not a miracle worker. At this point you better start praying for favors with the man upstairs for some divine intervention to save you butt right now. You don't realize how screwed you are right now. Three bodies James you'll be lucky if they let you see the light of day again." Cried Timothy.
" Well the way I see it the fire burned up any really damaging evidence. Kinda hard to find DNA of extra crispy skin." James said looking directly at Timothy.
" Your insane you know that. Absolutely bonkers. They crazy house has nothing on you. Shit James your not even taking any of this seriously." Timothy said throwing his hands up in the air.
" Now you finally getting it. I'm glad you finally get it. I've been trying to tell you the entire time I'm bound for a straight jacket and electric shock therapy." James admitted.
" And Regina. Is she one of your obsessions ? You know what the less I know the better. You have to stop this . " He said now not wanting to know . He felt like his words were wasted at this point .
James sat back and smiled.
Meanwhile Regina was sitting in Rogers office as she was waiting for him to tell her why she was there. Ryder had developed a mentor relationship with Roger and was filling him around like a son trying to get his father's approval. Victoria became more of an advisor to him . He made her stand next to him to signify her rise in her importance. Roger was still mad about getting knocked up and losing Christopher as a lawyer.
Christopher had open a small private practice and a few of Rogers colleagues had moved to his firm. Roger was not happy three of his lawyers went to Christopher's new firm. Making Rogers legal team decrease in their average intake. With that the clients were also moved to that firm as well.
Regina was still hurt that Roger and Ryder let that woman beat her up and left her in the floor. The room cleared out as Victoria took Alexander as the door closed behind them . Roger looked at Regina like she was the biggest disappointment in his eyes.
" So I hear you took it up on yourself to go visit James after I specifically told you that you were off the case." Said Roger leaning against his desk with his arms crossed.
" Yeah. I went to see a friend." She scoffed .
" A friend . Hmmm. I see. Regina that man isn't a friend he is a client . A time consuming guilty client. Me and you both know you don't have friends. You have opportunities. " He said scolding her .
" You don't know what I have. Recently you've been to far up that woman's butt to notice anything . You don't want kids and then you do ? " She sighed now aggervated.
" No I don't want kids with you. Not her. I know she didn't screw everyone on the way to conception. Shit Regina you didn't even know Alexander's father until he was born. You are like a jack in the box. Forever turning that crank to see who it pops open for . The prize is eighteen years commitment of a being a parent .For a minute there I wasn't sure if the child was mine , Gregory,or even Ryders' how fast you move on." Said Roger plainly.
" I wouldn't have to move on if you just choose me. Not her. Not my mother. Not any of those harlots" She screamed.
" Isn't that ironic. You calling them the name your infamous for. It's okay for you to sleep around but none of them. What makes them and less of a Harley than you? " Asked Roger not mad she disrespected Avery .
" Besides. I never chose you in the first place. You were a bad investment. You blackmailed me into being your lover and when you realized that's all you had left you tried to catch feelings. I'm sorry you caught them . Because it was rather one sided. There were nights I was with you that I had to think of someone else just to get it up. What does that tell you?" He said now feeling like he had a disgusting taste in his mouth .
Regina's eyes looked hurt as her eyes brimmed in red anger and hurt. She wanted to claw his eyes out and hurt him at this point.
" But I suppose your used to people thinking of others why they are in bed with you." Roger chucked as Regina realized Gregory told him about their wedding night and his admission to Regina about Bethany.
" You bastard . You . You." She teared up now. " Why do you hate me so much I do everything for you and you still treat me like I'm worse than scum." She said tears running down her face.
" Darling in order for me to hate you I have to care about you first. You don't even register for me to even care. So hate is a bit strong . It implies that I actually care. What I don't like is your attitude. Your sneakiness. Your need for constant attention. Your need for validation. Your bitter jealousy over anything or anyone that isn't you. Your very exhausting to be around. " He said staring right at her.
" But I love you. I always have . I need you." Whimpered Regina.
Roger began to laugh as she said it like a comedy joke. Regina looked severe at Roger.
" Didn't you use the same line on Gregory to get him to marry you. To save your family from destitute . The same family you sent to live on the streets . Remember I was a witness to your marriage agreement." He said tapping his head .
" I never loved him. I only loved you. Ryder was just a fling. " She said trying to persuade Roger.
" Isn't that what you told Ryder when I was in jail for the murder of your husband." Said Roger annoyed by her antics now.
Regina screamed in frustration. No matter what she said he cut her with her own words.
" Regina there isn't much that goes on that I don't know about. I'm a lawyer. Confidentiality is part of my thing. So let's try a new line . Something you haven't used before. Because I'm not convinced you even cared. You just want something you know you can never have. On that note if your done wasting my time do run along and try not to get knocked up this time. Your pretty to look at but that's all you have going for you." He said walking to the door to open it to dismissed her.
Regina hated him right now. She hated him so much right now. She wanted to ruin his life he ruined hers. She screamed as she picked up a weighted object and tossed it at him hitting the window as the office glass fell and shattered on the floor behind him. The secretary ran to see the commotion. Roger glared at Regina as his nostrils flared.
" Your going to pay for that. I'm tired of you acting like an entitled brat. Wake up and smell the coffee Regina no one wants you . " He yelled as he was fed up with Regina .
" You pay for it. Since you take half of what we earn anyway. " She said in heated anger.
" Lacy , call security. I think Mrs. Zehetii needs a few days to cool off downtown." Roger ordered as Lacy nodded to call the police .
" You bastard. You dare call the police on me. I will sing if they take me. I promise you I will sing." Yelled Regina.
" Then sing my little song bird. I'm sure they love to have an entitled brats like you in the holding cells. Your crimes are far worse than mine." He said as he stepped over the glass and left to go wait for the police by the elevator.
Moments later Regina was cuffed and being escorted to the cruiser . Regina glared at Roger at the insult he did to her right now . She sat in the cruiser as he talked to the police. She couldn't believe he called the police on her. It was just a damn window.
Roger smiled as he waved to Regina as the cruiser pulled off with her in the back seat.