Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
I pace the length of the living room in the condo I rented in Nashville for the week leading up to Apple Caldwell’s concert. I’ve covered my tracks so that I can’t be linked to the area and am eager for my next kill.
The last ten years have been a thrill, but the next few months are shaping up to be the culmination of all my hard work. I’ve kept tabs on Kyle Gruber and Delaney Jefferson since I eliminated their favorite people in the world. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Kyle has ties to the famous Apple.
As for Delaney… Well, that bitch has been tracking me since the night I stole her twin from her. I left that stupid map at the last scene for a reason. Delaney’s smart. If she can get her hands on the evidence, she’ll know where to go.
The smart thing to do would be to take both of them out while I can, but I never claimed to be a smart man. I want them to suffer through more of my fun. Their time will come soon enough.
My cell rings, startling me out of my murder-fueled fantasies, and I pick it up from the coffee table. Smiling at the name on the screen, I press the green button to answer.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, honey,” she greets. “How’s the research going?”
I roll my eyes at the lie my parents have so easily believed over the years. They think I travel so much in order to write a travel blog. Of course, I don’t write the blog I talk to them about. I do , however, write a true crime blog under a pseudonym, and the blog focuses on, you guessed it… The Phantom Strangler and similar crimes.
“Pretty good,” I tell her. “I don’t know that I’ll make it home this month, but I’m trying.”
“Well, your father’s birthday is next week, so if you could manage a day or two, I know he’d love to see you.”
I sigh. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Oh, wonderful.”
“I’m gonna be off the grid for the rest of the week though, so I won’t be able to let you know until Sunday,” I tell her.
“That’s fine, honey.”
“Okay. Well, I gotta go. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too.”