Psychotic SKIU Serial Read online

  Psychotic

  by

  Aline de Chevigny

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Psychotic by Aline de Chevigny

  SKIU Serial (Serial Killers Investigation Unit) Series Book 1

  Red Rose Publishing

  Copyright© 2007 Aline de Chevigny

  ISBN: 978-1-60435-102-6

  ISBN: 1-60435-102-0

  Cover Artist: Merris Hawk

  Editor: Terri Morris

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away.

  Red Rose Publishing

  www.redrosepublishing.com Forestport, NY 13338

  Psychotic

  by

  Aline de Chevigny

  Chapter 1

  Kazinsky inhaled deeply of the rich, heady aroma that surrounded his latest conquest. He could smell her fear and it excited him. He looked back at the tart tied up in his back seat and grinned in anticipation.

  “We’re going to have some fun tonight, my little tart. You picked the perfect outfit to capture my attention this evening. You should be proud.”

  The little tart had been prime for the picking. She’d been wearing a short leather mini skirt; a fiery red tank top with most of her assets hanging out than in and her shoes were strapless black stilettos. They had to have been uncomfortable to wear but he admitted they certainly made her look sexy.

  He only had one disappointment with his prize this evening. She wasn’t his usual type. Her hair was too short and she was a blonde. He consoled himself with the knowledge that the next girl would be better, and there would be a next girl.

  He laughed aloud at the thought of the police force’s incompetence eliciting a frightened whimper from his victim at the sound of amusement in his voice, bringing a smile to his lips. He started whistling an eerie tune just for her and returned to his musing.

  The poor police hadn’t come even close to finding out who he was. Well until recently. They had someone new working on his case and she was getting close…very close. He wasn’t sure how or why, but he knew a woman had taken over the search. Finally they’d brought in someone worthy of his time to play with.

  “Don’t worry, my dear. We’re almost home, and then we can start having some real fun.”

  The hysterical sound he received in answer sounded sweeter than champagne to his ears. He would take his time with this one. She’d earned at least that for all the hard work she put into attracting him to her.

  ***

  Amy looked around the room, fighting back the hurt and anger. Women had been brutally raped and murdered.

  Young, beautiful women with their entire lives ahead of them were no longer alive because these men had tried to keep her away. She tapped down her anger, her glare focused solely on the man in charge.

  She’d left Washington, DC and had come home to Canada to get away from lies and betrayal. Yet here she was being lied to all over again. Sure, this time it was different. She wasn’t being cheated on, but unfortunately her heart was still involved. She realized deep down that she’d rather have her heart torn out than to let one more young woman die because these men wanted to keep her safe.

  She felt a little sorry for Officer Tanner. Detective Larry Stevens or Ry as she preferred to call him, had been extremely upset with him for allowing her to tag along. He didn’t have to say anything. The look of pure mayhem Ry was throwing in Tanner’s direction told her the whole story.

  It was time to center the focus on herself and take control of this situation before anyone else got hurt. Taking a deep breath, Amy got straight to the point.

  “This man, detectives, has been preying on these women for nearly eight months now. Why bring me in so late in the game?”

  “Doc, we know how good you are. We’ve worked other cases together in the past. But this one is different.”

  Amy turned towards the detective who spoke and glared at him when she saw who had spoken. “It’s my job Hank. That’s why the department hired me. How is this case different?”

  “Cause, Doc, in this one you’re what I like to call the main dish.”

  Finally, Amy understood their reluctance to call her in and it angered her even more. “So in other words, I’m appealing to this perpetrator.”

  “Him and every other man alive that isn’t gay,” Tanner called out from his corner.

  Amy knew she shouldn’t smile at the backhanded compliment, but she couldn’t help herself. If she played her cards right, she could use his words to her advantage. “Why, thank you, Tanner.”

  “You’re quite welcome, Doc.”

  “Now, who here can tell me the difference between Tanner and this serial killer?”

  Everyone looked back at her with a blank expression on their faces.

  “Come now people. We have a few very obvious distinctions here.” Amy made sure to look at every man there before continuing. “Unless you think this serial killer might be a cop?”

  That statement brought nothing but angry grumbles and denials.

  “No? Good. So you’re sixty to seventy percent positive he isn’t in any branch of law enforcement.”

  “Ninety five percent sure, Amy.”

  Ah Ry, it’s about time you spoke up

  . Amy sat back against the table. “Ninety five percent, is every one in agreement?” “Yeah, Doc, we all agree with Ry.”

  She locked eyes with every officer in the room to verify that, yes, they did agree and they weren’t just going along with the majority vote. “Then put it on the board, Hank.”

  “Doc, would that be a pro or a con?”

  “Put it under observations, Hank I don’t think Amy’s done with that point yet.” Ry pointed out in his usual gruff manner bringing a smile to her lips.

  “So moving on. Age? Any suggestions?”

  “Well the girls are all between eighteen and twenty five, so I’d say under thirty.”

  She’d been expecting that answer. These guys didn’t have any real experience with serial killers, which was why she was letting them give her the stats and making corrections when needed. “That would be a good guess, and normally I would agree with you. But tell me, Tanner, you’re twenty six, twenty seven right?”

  “Twenty six, Doc.”

  Amy grinned. “And would you say you got a lot of play?”

  “I get my fair share,” he answered arrogantly.

  “Of women who look like this?” she asked moving away from the table before holding up, then pinning each of the women’s photo’s on the board she’d had Ry bring in earlier.

  Tanner blushed slightly. “Not quite, but pretty enough.”

  Amy gave him an encouraging smile. “Well, let me impart some information you might not be aware of.”

  “This ought to be good.”

  The sarcastic comment had come from the back row, but Amy let it slide. “You mentioned earlier that I was exactly the type of woman this predator is looking for. Does that make me as good looking as these women?”

  Every officer in the room kept his mouth shut at her question, except one. “You’re a babe, Doc,” Tanner remarked flirtatiously.

  “When I was the same age as these girls, the only men who could sweet talk me into doing stupid things like leaving the club with them, were men with experience. Tanner is sweet, but not quite a silver-tongued devil as you’ve
all witnessed. Now, Ry on the other hand is older, more mature and never says anything without first thinking it through. He’s about the right age for our serial.”

  Turning to face the man in question, Amy steeled herself for the answer to her next question. “Tell me, Ry, your current girlfriend. Is she pretty?”

  “Hell no, Doc. Melissa is drop dead gorgeous.”

  Amy smiled sadly. Hank Adams was Ry’s best friend and always answered the questions she asked Ry about his girlfriend. “So, Hank, would you say she is wall worthy?”

  “If this guy liked blondes, I’d say most definitely.”

  Amy tapped down the irrational jealousy she always felt when they mentioned Melissa. “Which proves my point. The serial killer is older. I’d say between thirty two and forty.”

  “As old as forty? Really?”

  Amy laughed; leave it to Tanner to lighten her mood. “You think forty is old, Tanner?”

  She watched Tanner look at Ry in apology before answering. “Well, yeah, a little.”

  “I think of it as experienced.”

  Surprise washed over Tanner’s face, causing her to grin in response. “Doc, would you really date a guy that much older?”

  “I once married a guy that much older, Tanner. I’m not as young as I look or as stupid. Now I want you to go through these files and put together a list of what these girls have in common. I want to know what makes them special.”

  Ry stood up as she made her way towards the door. “Amy, where are you going?”

  Amy stifled her sigh. “I need air, Detective Stevens. Suddenly I’m not feeling so well.”

  “Did you want some compa—”

  Panic seized her; she couldn’t let Ry finish that sentence. “No!”

  ***

  “What’s up, partner? The doc okay?”

  Ry turned the glare he’d kept in check at Amy’s panicked rejection on his partner. “Well, let’s see. I finally break up with Melissa and start putting out the signals to see if Amy might be interested. Then you come along and tell her that my girlfriend, which I no longer have by the way, is drop dead gorgeous. Now she’s reverted to calling me Detective Stevens. Ask me again what’s up, Hank, and we’ll be going to your funeral next.”

  Ry saw the real surprise on Hank’s face and sighed. “You broke up with Melissa? When?”

  “Three days ago. You know how I feel about Amy. It wasn’t fair to Melissa for me to keep seeing her when I wanted someone else.” Ry wished Hank would stop looking at him like he’d lost his mind or grew two heads.

  “How’d she take it?”

  Wiping a hand over his face, Ry sat on the window ledge looking out at Amy in the parking lot. He watched as the wind played with the strands of her hair that had escaped from her tightly woven bun.

  “Really well actually, said she saw it coming. She even told me she thought the woman I choose will be really lucky and hoped she knew it. Then she asked me to spend the night one last time.”

  Hank grinned. “You lucky bastard. Break up sex. There’s nothing quite like it.”

  “I turned her down. Every time Melissa tried to kiss me, I saw Amy slipping further and further away.”

  “You need to tell Doc about Melissa’s new status.”

  Ry turned away from the window angrily. “I tried. She told me she didn’t want any company. Or more precisely my company.”

  Hank ignored the glare. “If she doesn’t know about Melissa, then why did she use you as an example?”

  Ry growled. “She was fishing.”

  “Oops.”

  “Right, oops. I need coffee. Don’t let that woman start without me.”

  Hank watched Ry walk away, his posture stiff and straight, and winced in guilt. He’d never seen him this low. Gotta fix this. Decision made, Hank went in search of Amy. “Tanner, you see the doc?”

  “Not since she gave us our assignment and walked off with Stevens. Man, what I wouldn’t give to have her sweet on me.”

  Hank laughed in disbelief. “You need about five years and two inches first. Which way did she go?”

  “Ask Stevens. He followed her out like a little puppy.” The mischievous grin that appeared at that comment lightened Hank’s mood.

  “I will. Thanks. I’ll be sure to let Ry know what you think of him and the doc.” The look of panic that crossed Tanner’s face entertained Hank to no end.

  “Adams, you wouldn’t dare.”

  “Sure I would. The doc pinned you perfectly. Young and doesn’t watch what he says before he speaks.”

  “She went outside and took her purse with her.”

  Hank wanted to laugh at the totally panicked reactions he was getting from everyone tonight. Walking out of the building, he spotted Amy walking towards the bus stop bench. “Hey Doc, where are you going?”

  “I’ll be right back, Hank. I need to make a phone call.”

  Seeing the sad look on her face made him feel guilty. He got an irresistible urge to make her smile. “We have phones inside and I know you own a cell. It’s the hottest ten digit number in the station. People are offering me a hundred bucks for it.”

  Amy’s lips turned up, but the smile he’d been trying for never reached her eyes. “I need privacy for this call, Hank. Somewhere he won’t be watching.”

  “He? He who… Doc I fucked up earlier.”

  She gave him the saddest smile he’d ever seen. “Telling the truth isn’t fucking up, Hank. I’ve seen.” Amy looked up at the window trying to recall the woman’s name. “Melinda?”

  “Melissa,” he corrected.

  “Right Melissa and, like you said, she is drop dead gorgeous if you like your woman to look artificial.”

  Hank felt his heart go out to her; he’d never known the doc to act petty. She must really be hurting right now to say that.

  “No,” Amy sighed feeling guilty. “That isn’t fair. She’s probably very sweet and quite pretty without her layers of makeup.”

  Hank put his hand on her arm offering support. “That I couldn’t tell you, but she is very sweet.”

  Amy sighed. “I thought so. I shouldn’t be so mean or quick to judge. Maybe the implants make her feel better about herself.”

  Hank was thrown for a loop by that remark. “Implants?”

  “Ask Ry sometime,” she teased softly.

  “Doc, he broke up with her.”

  “Why ever for? She sounds perfect.”

  He could tell she was genuinely surprised by his news. “Maybe, but not for him. Give him a second chance, Doc. He’s crazy about you and he did break all ties before making any moves in your direction.”

  Amy shook her head, her hair falling in front of her face hiding her expression from him. “I’m not his type, Hank.”

  Hank gently brushed her hair out of her face. “How do you figure?”

  “I’m a lot older than anyone he’s ever gone out with.”

  “Well, you don’t look it. Besides, no one knows how old you really are,” he teased.

  “I was married. I am married!”

  He lifted her chin with his index finger so she had to look him in the eyes. “Don’t think he’ll care about that. Besides, we both know the truth of that statement. Anything else?”

  “No part of my body is fake.”

  Hank laughed. “If that’s supposed to be a deterrent, Doc, it’s a bad one.”

  Amy gave him a teary smile. “Why haven’t you ever hit on me, Hank?”

  He flashed her a grin. “That’s easy. For one, I know you have a crush on my partner. For another, he’d kill me for even thinking about it.”

  The look of pure panic on her face startled him.

  “Seriously, Doc. The real reason that I haven’t made a move is because I’m terrified you’ll say yes.”

  Amy slapped his arm playfully. “Would that be so bad?”

  “No, at least not until you realized I’m not really the one you want. Then I’d be devastated.”

  Amy turned away from him in disbelief.
“No you wouldn’t.”

  “Doc.” He put his hand under her chin and turned her head back so that she was looking at him. “Believe this if you never believe anything else. I really would. You are exactly the type of woman I’ve always wanted in my life. And if Ry wasn’t in the picture, I’d snap you up in a second.”

  “But he’s not—”

  Hank frowned at her until she stopped talking. “Come on, Doc. You don’t believe that anymore than I do. The two of you can’t keep your eyes off each other. Case in point, you tell Ry you don’t want him around, so he finds the only window in the station where he can keep an eye on you. You’re so in-tune with him that you can sense he’s there.”

  Amy blushed. “Hank, I know I reacted badly to hearing that he may still have a girlfriend. But I shouldn’t have. I mean technically, I’m still a married woman.”

  “Married as in getting involved would be having an affair?”

  Amy smiled sadly and he knew this wouldn’t be good news. “Married as in, legally separated and husband is refusing to sign the divorce papers.” They went through this song and dance every time she started feeling down on herself. It was Hank’s way of cheering her up and it worked every time.

  “No affair then?”

  Amy laughed like he’d intended. “Sorry to disappoint you, Hank, but I don’t do affairs.”

  “I would hope not! Are you two quite through?” The freezing temperature of Ry’s voice made Hank cringe in guilt. “We have a killer to catch.”

  “How long have you been standing there?” Amy asked breathlessly, proving to Hank she did care for his partner.

  “Long enough.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” The anger behind her words had Hank taking a step away from the explosion about to erupt.

  “Fine! I heard my partner ask you to have an affair with him.”

  Hank stopped walking. “I did not!”