Chapter Nine
Present Day
Doctor Lawson opened up her notebook and file on the Norfolk Butcher case, and I followed suit. My file was pretty bare bones: a lot of empty pages for writing, but all the same reports from the various people involved with the case. I also had copies of all the crime scene photographs and a detailed, itemized evidence list that forensics had gathered from the scene.
“So, what do we know so far prior to this victim, Connor Scott? This is literally my first time hearing about anything regarding this case.” I asked. Doctor Lawson smiled and flipped to the first page in her notebook.
“Well, we do know that our Butcher likes to kill in pairs, and the bodies are dumped for us to find every day for ten days. After his ten-day spree, he will stop for six months and pick up again. This is his second cycle that we know of,” Helena explained as she flipped between a few pages in her notebook before sliding it toward me so I could see.
“Our first victim was a young woman named Amanda Davis, an elementary school teacher. Cause of death was asphyxiation, and we found plastic shards in her lungs from the bag that was forced over her head,” Doctor Lawson flipped to the crime scene photos in my file and tapped her blood red fingernail on one of a shallow grave in a garden.
“She was buried in a shallow grave in a garden, with flowers and herbs growing around her.”
“Because she encouraged growth,” I mumbled.
“Hmm?”
“Oh, sorry, Doctor. I didn’t realize that thought was said out loud. Symbolically, it makes sense to bury her in a thriving garden. Teachers help young minds grow,” I said slowly, while focusing on the crime scene photo of the garden.
“Victim number two was a woman named Dana Marx; no relation to our forensic tech, Desiree. She worked for a pharmaceutical company and oversaw a project where she purposefully mislabeled medication and, in turn, seventy-five cancer patients received the wrong chemotherapy treatment—fifteen of them died.”
Doctor Lawson’s eyes turned dark, angry. I caught a glimpse of her spinning a gold band on her middle finger with her thumb. Once her spinning stopped, I saw a little etching of a skull in the gold.
“I remember hearing about that. Her defense attorney got her off on a technicality,” I said with a sigh, flipping through Doctor Lawson’s notebook. My eyes found her gold ring again; I was drawn to it for a reason I couldn’t explain.
Why would she have a ring with a skull on it? She doesn’t seem like the type of person to wear more gothic-like symbols.
“It’s not my place, but it seems like this killer did the world a favor. Who knows what else this woman could’ve done just to fill her greedy pockets?” Doctor Lawson leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “As a medical professional, it’s disgusting that someone in the field would do this intentionally.”
“It looks like the company is doing the right thing by shutting down their three plants. I’m not sure what is involved with that process, but hopefully they can make it right,” I offered.
“Yes, the CEO has fully covered the victim’s funerals, and paid settlements to the families and the other victims who are still fighting for their lives. Hopefully, it was just an isolated incident and now that Dana is gone, it will go back to how it should be.”
This was a different intensity in Doctor Lawson’s eyes that I’ve never seen before. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was personally impacted by this unfortunate event.
“Well, it looks like the same killer alright,” I said, shaking my head when I flipped to the next page of crime scene photos to find Dana buried in what looked to be a dead garden. Wilted, dead flowers and plants were placed on top of her.
“She encouraged death.” I groaned, covering my face with my hands and rubbing my eyes.
“Victim number three was a sixteen-year-old high school student. Ella Davidson was raped and beaten with a baseball bat, and left for dead on the side of her mother's house next to the trash cans.” Doctor Lawson's very subtle change in her tone caught my attention. My eyes found hers and they looked sad as she traced lazy circles on the tabletop with her fingertip.
“This case was difficult for you,” I stated calmly, my eyes following the path of her fingertip on the table.
“The poor girl. Her mother told me that she was already being bullied for having short ‘boy hair.’ She was a cancer survivor, and her hair was starting to regrow. Wigs were uncomfortable on her very sensitive skin.”
Without thinking, I placed my hand over hers, stopping her circular movements. I blinked hard, trying to avoid eye contact, begging silently that she could feel that I was there to support her.
“Victim four was Raymond Klatz, and he was a child predator.” Doctor Lawson gently slid her hand out from underneath mine and flipped pages in her notebook. “He was on his way to meet a fifteen-year-old girl when he was beaten and sodomized with a baseball bat. His body was found on the side of his house, his top half bent over into a trash can and the bat was, well, you know…”
Flipping to the next photo, I felt my head tilt in confusion, trying to look at multiple angles.
“Yeah, there's a handle of a baseball bat just shoved right up in there.” I sucked in a breath as I studied the crime scene photos.
“The exact same bat was used for both murders, down to the brand and paint color.” Doctor Lawson said, barely audible, as she had her eyes glued to Ella's crime scene photos.
Forcefully, she slammed her notebook closed, standing suddenly. The chair she was sitting in was pushed back with so much force that it tipped over harshly, making me startle.
“Doctor? Are you alright?” I asked cautiously, watching her move to the window. She embraced herself, leaning her side onto the glass and stared at the stream below.
Standing from my seat, I approached her slowly, cautiously. Her chest was heaving in ragged breaths and I recognized that look in her eyes. She was staring off into nothing, into darkness. Just like I do when I’m struggling to remain grounded.
Before I realized what I was doing, I gently pulled one of her hands to my chest over my heart, holding her palm in place.
“It helps me to have something to focus on that you can feel.” Her hand was tense against my chest, but her thumb was barely touching my skin. The few buttons I had undone earlier, was showing the smallest flash of skin that her thumb found.
Immediately, a mixture of heat and electricity invaded my body. Her eyes found that patch of skin and her head tilted slightly as she studied her thumb there. When our eyes met, I knew that this woman would be mine. Maybe not now, not in this instant, but she would be—she had to be.
“Camden, I…” Her voice was barely a whisper, and as if I was moving on autopilot, my free hand reached forward, tucking some of her silky brown waves behind her ear.
My hand lingered in her hair until I was cupping her cheek. The hand on my chest trembled ever so slightly, and she fisted the fabric of my shirt, her intense eyes never leaving mine. She leaned into my touch ever so slightly and brought her other hand to my chest.
I wonder if she could feel my heart racing. I wonder if she could see in my eyes how desperate I am to please her, to have her.
As soon as it began, it was over. As if a switch flipped, she released my shirt and stepped backwards, out of my gentle hold.
“Oh, Camden, I’m sorry,” she said, trying to hide her trembling voice as she smoothed out my now wrinkled shirt. “I have my own demons. I didn’t mean to do that. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Doctor. Trust me, I understand, truly.”
“Helena,” she whispered with a sniffle.
“I’m sorry, Doctor?”
“Call me Helena,” she offered a vulnerable smile, and her intensity dimmed slightly.
“Of course, Helena.”
Fuck, it felt so good to say her name, to see the way her nostrils flared and her pupils dilated. I was able to keep eye contact with her.
“So, um, the victims of these, um…” Helena stumbled over her words and seeing her react this way to me made my cock twitch in my slacks again.
“Okay, let me try that again,” she said, taking a deep breath. “These ‘victims’ that were killed by the Norfolk Butcher. Half of them were bad people.” I followed her back to the table and picked up her fallen chair so she could sit again.
Taking a seat and scooting myself in again, I leaned over as she pulled her notebook in between us again and flipped back to the first victim of the Norfolk Butcher.
“Yes, you’re not wrong there. These people were scum,” I scoffed, looking through each killer’s victims' criminal records. “Domestic violence, armed robbery, DUI, conspiracy to commit murder? The Norfolk Butcher is killing criminals. A vigilante? But why kill the innocent, then turn around and kill the guilty?”
“Yes, interesting indeed,” Helena said, tapping a fingernail on the table, deep in thought.
Because the Norfolk Butcher didn't kill the guilty. His copy cat did.
“Do you mind if I borrow this notebook tonight, and return it tomorrow? I’d love to look through your notes so I can get caught up,” I asked, flipping to the next page. I had to keep my copycat idea to myself until I could prove it.
“Of course, Agent.”
“Camden.” I grinned.
“Of course, Camden,” she said as she subtly bit the inside of her cheek. “We should head to Portsmouth.” Helena stood from the table and tucked her chair back in.
“Would you like me to drive? I’m parked at the meters, so I’ll need to move anyway.”
“Sure, if you don’t mind dropping me off before giving your report to Jacobs?”
“Of course not. I don’t mind at all,” I said with a shy smile.
Helena sauntered back up to me, reaching up and buttoning my top two buttons and tightening my tie. Smoothing out the fabric of my shirt on my chest with her palms, she grinned at me.
“There, perfect.” Her hooded eyes were going to drive me fucking insane.
I followed her toward the coat closet and opened it for her. Reaching inside, she grabbed her lab coat and put it on over her blouse. The image of her wearing nothing but that fucking coat flashed in my mind, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. She lifted her hair out of the coat and flung it backwards so her waves fell down her back, gifting me with her soft scent.
Patting my hip to make sure my gun was secure, I pulled my suit jacket out of the closet and quickly put it on.
“Would you like your coat, Helena?” I asked, with my hand reaching for her peacoat.
“Yes, please.”
Sliding the coat off the hanger, I offered it to her, guiding her arms inside and she pulled it on, adjusting her hair again.
“Thank you, Camden.” She smiled a genuine smile before reaching to the bottom of the closet for her bag.
After pulling on my trench coat, I turned toward the mat with our shoes and slipped my feet into my dress shoes, kneeling to tie them. Helena stepped into her signature black pumps and sighed contentedly.
I stopped for a moment and ran through my usual mental checklist to make sure I had everything. I patted my chest, feeling for my badge in the pocket of my suit jacket, patted my hip for my gun, walked back to the table to gather my file and Helena’s notebook, and patted the jacket of my trench coat for my keys.
Badge, check.
Gun, check.
File, check.
Notebook, check.
Keys, check.
I could feel Helena’s eyes on me, watching and observing as I paused at the table, feeling like I forgot something.
“It’s on my desk, Camden,” she said calmly, and I quickly turned toward her desk to pick up my own notebook.
“Thanks,” I chuckled nervously and followed her out of her office.
“We are heading to the Portsmouth Medical Examiner’s office. I will return shortly,” Helena said to Elaine as we approached her desk.
“Yes, Doctor. Drive safely,” Elaine said, giving us a polite smile before returning to her computer screen.
We rode the elevator down in a comfortable silence and approached my car at the metered spot outside of her building.
“I always knew you’d be a muscle car guy,” Helena said with a grin as I opened the passenger door of my 2022 Ford Mustang for her.
I offered to take her bag and placed it in the backseat with my file and notebooks after closing her door for her. Closing the driver’s side door behind me, I settled into my seat and fastened my seatbelt. Gripping the steering wheel, I couldn’t help the smile on my face as I pressed onto the brake and pushed the button-start ignition. Hearing the engine roar to life gave me a dopamine rush, and feeling the vibrations of the car calmed all my anxieties.
As if my car was hers, she reached to my screen display and input the address for the Medical Examiner’s office and started the GPS. We were looking at a quick five-minute drive on highway 264 and over the Berkley Bridge.
Once again, sitting in a comfortable silence, I pulled away from the curb, following my GPS.
Having her in my car was the most amazing thing. It was hard to maintain my composure, hard to keep my hand resting on the shifter, and hard to not reach for the silky skin of her thigh. Her soft jasmine scent filled my nostrils, and I took a deep breath, breathing her in.
She sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap, looking out the window as we approached the Berkley Bridge.
“I’ve always loved the water,” she said softly as she gazed out the window. “I miss being able to spend time at my cabin in Bridgewater. I have property on the North River, I have just been so busy I haven’t been able to decompress there.” She sounded sad, her voice full of longing.
“I have to admit, I’m not familiar with Bridgewater. Most of this side of the country is new to me.”
“Ah, yes. My apologies. I forgot you were from the west coast.” She offered me a soft smile before looking back out at the water. “It’s about three and a half hours northwest of Norfolk. Beautiful woods and just… quiet.”
“Another admission,” I chuckled nervously. “I’ve never seen or been to any real wooded area. Arizona is just desert, at least where I lived, anyway.”
“Well, we’re even. I’ve never seen or been to the desert.” The sound of her soft chuckle sent a shock straight to my dick.
Fuck.
Images of Helena in the smallest bikini, stepping into the infinity pool at my family’s vacation home, immediately captivated my mind. I began imagining myself following her into the pool, swimming to the edge where we had the perfect view of the painted sunset. My hands roamed her body under the water, untying the flimsy straps on her bikini top and letting it float away in the water. Her naked chest pressed against mine as she wrapped her arms around my neck, nipping and kissing a path up to my ear. I’d scoop her up so her legs could wrap around my waist, my hard cock pressing into her through my swimsuit as we—
“We’re here. Camden?” Helena asked, a curious eyebrow raised and a smirk forming in the corner of her mouth. “We’ve been parked for two minutes now. Where did you wander off too, hmm?” She purred.
I was gripping the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles were white and I quickly released my sticky palms from the leather, snapping back into the present.
“Just, yeah, um, thinking about home…” I managed to stammer.
“Well, perhaps we need to visit this memory in our next session,” she said almost in a whisper as her eyes trailed down to my evident hard on in my lap. My eyes found hers, and the way she subtly bit the bottom corner of her lip had me ready to come in my pants like a horny teenager.
Helena exited my car with a sly grin, and I quickly followed, taking a moment to adjust myself in my slacks before circling to the rear passenger door. I opened it quickly and handed Helena her bag and grabbed my file and notebooks. Closing the door, I opened the front passenger door and unlocked the glove compartment, swapping my files and notebooks for a palm sized spiral top notepad, and my voice recorder. After locking everything up, I faced Helena.
“Shall we, Agent?”
“Yes, ma'am. Lead the way.”
Following her into the building, I walked protectively by her side as we approached the front desk.
“Good afternoon, Sam. Doctor Arellano is expecting us,” Helena said with a soft smile.
“Go ahead, Doctor Lawson, Agent. He's already in the exam room.” Sam smiled back at us both, and I nodded a thank you, turning to follow Helena down the hallway.
“Ah! Doctor Lawson! It’s been too long!” A friendly, boisterous voice called out as we entered the room.
“Doctor Arellano. A pleasure to see you again,” Helena said politely in reply with a smile.
“Please, help yourself to the coat rack and we can begin,” Doctor Arellano said with a nod toward a metal coat rack behind us.
“Here, let me help you, Doctor,” I said as she placed her bag on a nearby table.
“How kind of you, Agent.” The way she accented the “agent” sent a shiver down my spine again, and—you guessed it—arousal straight to my cock.
I’m not sure where this confidence came from, but as I helped guide her coat off, I let my pointer finger barely trail down her side, touching her ever so gently. The way she sucked in a subtle but sharper breath upon feeling my touch was making me even more starved for her.
“Thank you, Agent,” she said after clearing her throat softly. Her piercing green gaze roamed up and down my body as she turned to walk toward Doctor Arellano. Taking my notepad and recorder out of my pocket, I took off my trench coat and hung it on a vacant hook. Placing my recorder in my chest pocket of my suit jacket, I picked up the notepad and joined them at the wall of cold lockers.
“Do you mind if I voice record our exam, Doctor Arellano? I will only record our discussion about the body, and no other private medical information,” I asked as I approached him and Doctor Lawson.
“Of course, Agent. But if you don’t mind, I can do the recording so I can pause when necessary.”
“Yes, of course.” I handed him the recorder, and he looked at it, impressed.
“I have the same one. You have good taste in technology, Agent…”
“Sullivan. Camden Sullivan. Nice to meet you, Doctor Arellano.” I reached out to shake his hand, and he gave me a firm handshake.
“Looks like you finally got yourself a good one here, Helena,” Doctor Arellano chuckled.
“The last agent that worked with me before you was, for lack of a better word, inadequate,” she said with a look of disgust. “He spent more time ogling over dead bodies than actually helping.”
“Strange one, that kid was,” Doctor Arellano added as he opened Connor Scott’s cold locker and pulled out the table, revealing his body.
“Well, I’m glad I’m here to help solve the case. I can assure you, I have no interest in drooling over dead bodies or… body parts.” I nodded toward Connor Scott’s body with a chuckle.
“Good on you, boy.” Doctor Arellano clapped a friendly hand on my shoulder. “Call me Tony.”
“You got it, Tony,” I smiled, and met Helena’s gaze as she put on a pair of exam gloves.
Flipping open my notepad to a blank page, I was ready to take notes. Tony put a pair of exam gloves on and handed me the box to get my own pair.
“October twenty-eighth, twelve fifteen in the afternoon, Portsmouth Medical Examiner Tony Arellano, Doctor Helena Lawson and Special Agent Camden Sullivan beginning our autopsy of the body of Connor Scott,” Tony said flatly into the recorder before clipping it onto his exam coat.
“Alright, let’s begin, gentlemen,” Helena said as she approached the edge of the table next to Tony, scalpel in hand.