CHAPTER Twelve
Shane Simpson sat in his truck, smoking a Marlboro Red, which was almost down to its last draw. He’d ransacked Camille Hargrove’s motel room, stolen her laptop, and thrown it in the lake. He was fairly certain she was at least a little rattled.
Hopefully, that bitch will mind her own fucking business.
Shane’s anger, however, was not limited to Camille.
He was having some trouble with Janelle, too.
He didn’t exactly understand why, but everything she’d been doing lately bugged the shit out of him.
Everything about her that used to turn him on now repulsed him, and she sensed his change of heart.
Her nagging questions about why he didn’t want to have sex with her anymore had finally reached a peak that morning, so he just left.
Deep down, Shane knew his problem with Janelle had nothing to do with her.
She was the same; he had changed. At one time, he thought he could live a normal life with a normal relationship, but that’s just not who he was.
As he drove around, he tried to deny his feelings, but he knew what was about to happen next.
He knew his love for Janelle had cooled because he desired something completely different—something completely depraved.
Whenever he was stressed or felt controlled, he needed a thrill to regain his sense of power.
Shane had lived with this feeling his entire life, and there was no mistaking what it meant.
There was only one thing that could right the restlessness in his soul.
There was no substitute for the awesome sense of power and control a new kill gave him.
Even though he knew better, Shane was about to risk everything.
Shane Simpson was a serial killer, and no matter how hard he tried, his mind always went back to that sinister place inside him that held his prisoner.
Several days earlier, Shane had started looking for another victim and found success with young Marny Weathers.
Even though he rarely struck twice in the same area, Shane was getting sloppy.
So, right in the middle of all the new buzz and mayhem surrounding him, Shane was about ready to rock the lake area to its core once again.
Staring out the window, he fixed his eyes on his new victim, an attractive college coed but somewhat of a loner. Marny liked to read and take walks. On this day, she was planning on enjoying both.
Marny set out that crisp, fall morning with her bookbag and her walking shoes and headed to a five-mile trail around a couple of lake coves.
She parked her car in a little turnaround made for people like her who wanted to explore the trail.
This particular path was quite popular because it started and ended in the same place, allowing hikers to return to their vehicles easily.
Marny planned to make a day of it, stopping at one of the beautiful scenic overlooks and reading her new romance novel.
She also had a few snacks and water tucked away in her bag.
She planned to spend this gorgeous autumn day in solitude, enjoying nature and escaping into the fictional world of the romantic main character in her novel.
Marny locked her car, threw her key ring into her backpack, slung it into position, and took off down the trail.
Over the years, Shane moved from place to place, hunting, stalking, assaulting, and killing college-aged women.
He had always moved on after the crime, and before the body was found.
In all cases except this most recent one, Simpson was long gone before the family was devastated and the community traumatized by finding the girl’s body.
But the lake was an alluring place for many people, and when Shane first arrived, he told himself he was not going to fuck this one up.
Like so many others, he felt a connection to the lake, and frankly, he just didn’t want to leave.
Therefore, when Simpson was charmed by the friendly bartender with natural good looks and a knockout body, he had the excuse he needed to stay and to stay out of trouble.
From the first time he saw Janelle Paine, Simpson desired her and craved her the same way he lusted over the teenage girls he assaulted and killed.
But Janelle was a woman, not a coed, and to him, there was a difference.
With Janelle, having a legitimate relationship was acceptable, unlike the younger girls he desired but knew he shouldn’t.
In Shane’s mind, when he was finished with those girls, he had no choice but to kill them to keep them from talking.
With Janelle, he had a woman who couldn’t get enough of him. However, as Shane feared, things with Janelle had become a bit mundane, and his wandering eyes were back on the hunt.
He first saw Marny Weathers when she was leaving Paulette’s Grocery, wearing tight, black leggings and a cropped sweatshirt.
Shane was only there to get cigarettes and had no other intentions.
But when he saw Marny’s jet- black hair cascading down her back and her tan midriff peeking out from under her top, Shane felt that familiar growl of depravity influencing him.
Although he knew pursuing another girl would jeopardize his freedom and his relationship with Janelle, Shane didn’t care.
He learned a long time ago that this addiction was stronger than his rational mind, and now that he had seen Marny Weathers, he knew she was next.
Shane followed Marny for several days, waiting for the right opportunity.
Finally, her decision to enjoy some solitude in nature was the break Shane needed.
After Marny was long gone down the trail, Shane exited his truck and began walking down the opposite side of the path where he would eventually meet Marny somewhere in the middle.
At first, Shane thought he would stay close to the end of the trail, so he could hightail it out of there.
But after a couple of hours and no Marny, Shane got impatient and began walking, knowing he would meet her eventually.
About a mile farther into the trail, Shane spied his goal.
Marny had stopped at the overlook to read as planned, and when he first saw her, that deep, dark desire he knew was wrong consumed him.
At first, he watched her, unnoticed, and then he heard faint voices far in the distance.
Shane was startled. Although he should have anticipated others on the trail that beautiful day, he’d overlooked that possibility.
Now his plan was more complicated than he had hoped for.
Shane had no choice but to head back toward his truck, but he was not giving up. He would wait for Marny to emerge from the trail, and hopefully, by that time, a better opportunity would present itself.
It was nearly dusk, and everyone else had vacated the area when Marny appeared at the edge of the woods.
Shane had quite a boring and frustrating day, but seeing his prey sauntering up the trail, looking so tempting and so unsuspecting, made it all worth the wait.
There wasn’t a single car left in the little lot except Marny’s, and Shane knew he had to get to her before she got near it.
Surprisingly, Marny stopped right in front of Shane’s truck, dropped her bookbag to the ground, and began rustling around for her keys.
Shane couldn’t believe his luck. She was wearing earbuds and in a vulnerable position.
Shane took full advantage of her oblivious state and snuck up behind her, put one hand over her mouth, grabbed her around the waist, and carried her off into the secluded woods.
Marny, completely ambushed, was shocked and scared.
Her survival instincts immediately kicked in, and she was fighting back and trying to scream.
Shane’s hand over her mouth was now not enough, so he stuffed his handkerchief inside.
Her screams were muffled, and her efforts to break free were useless.
A terrified Marny was at the mercy of a wicked man with lust and murder on his mind.
Once he carried Marny far enough into the trees and brush, Shane looked into those pleading doe-eyes, but her fear only fueled his purpose.
Even though Shane had sex with his victims, his obsession was more about watching their struggle and then fixating on that look in their eyes right before they died.
Shane had a trail of victims from across the country with the same MO.
And after he was done with them, he left their bodies lying naked in remote areas. Marny Weathers was no exception.
Shane stripped his victim and violated her.
And when he had taken all he wanted, it was time to kill her.
Shane kept his hands around her neck, exerting pressure, watching her desperation.
And then he saw the tell-tale signs that she was gone, but he kept a firm pressure for a few extra seconds, just to make sure she was dead.
He dragged her body a little farther from the trail and deeper into the woods.
He took one last look at what he had done, but there was no remorse, just a sick satisfaction that gave him peace.
It was dark by the time Shane got back to his truck, and he put Marny’s clothes in a plastic bag and stuffed it into the console.
He was about to leave when he saw Marny’s bag right where she’d left it before he grabbed her.
Shane threw his truck into park, got out, and looked inside where he saw half of a peanut butter sandwich and an apple.
He grabbed them before hurling the backpack and the rest of its contents out into the woods.
Getting back into his truck, Shane’s fiery urge was satisfied once again.
As he pulled out of the little lot, he unwrapped the sandwich and stuffed half of it into his mouth.
He was grateful for this unexpected snack, compliments of Marny Weathers, and he couldn’t suppress the nasty, little grin forming on his face.
Number fourteen, and a snack too. Thanks, darlin’.