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    Killer in The Woods: A Psychological Thriller
    Killer in The Woods: A Psychological Thriller
    Killer in The Woods: A Psychological Thriller
    Ebook334 pages2 hours

    Killer in The Woods: A Psychological Thriller

    By R. Barri Flowers

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    About this ebook

    In the town of Bluffs Bay, Washington, a serial killer dubbed by the press as “The Woods Strangler” is killing beautiful women in the affluent neighborhood of The Woods.

    In an effort to bring the community together to fight this terror, Selene Herrera, director of a local battered women’s shelter, helps establish a neighborhood crime watch group.

    She is newly married to her second husband, Quinn, who is named the director of The Woods Citizens Against Crime group. A best-selling mystery novelist and nonfiction writer, he too is on a second marriage, having lost his first wife to violence.

    The Herreras’ life together is threatened when Selene’s abusive ex-husband, Michel Giovanni, shows up in town under the guise of seeking the reward money offered for information leading to the killer. But he soon begins to stalk Selene, wanting her back and determined to have her any way he can.

    Selene starts to receive calls from an anonymous caller implicating Quinn as The Woods Strangler. Though she tries to dismiss it, the chilling calls and continued murders unnerve Selene and threaten to undermine her marriage.

    Quinn fights the allegations as best as possible, while keeping secrets that he fears could destroy his life with Selene.

    Selene is also faced with the demands of running a battered women’s shelter, including trying to help a battered policewoman and dealing with a fire at the shelter caused by an arsonist.

    A strong set of supporting characters include:

    Police Officer Ashley Leighton, who hides her dangerous abusive relationship while trying to do her job in pursuit of a killer.

    Homicide Detective Dennis Cramer, who is faced with the realization that a serial killer might be one of his neighbors in The Woods and must be stopped at all costs.

    Marvin and Elisa Bonet, the Herreras’ next-door neighbors.

    Todd Foxworth, a spa owner whose girlfriend becomes a victim of the strangler.

    And Julian McKenzie, a local firefighter.

    Selene tries to keep her head above water as the killer prowls the neighborhood and sets his sights on her to join his growing list of victims.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherR. Barri Flowers
    Release dateOct 9, 2011
    ISBN9781466142589
    Killer in The Woods: A Psychological Thriller
    Author

    R. Barri Flowers

    R. Barri Flowers is an award winning and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of romantic suspense, mystery, thriller and crime novels, with twenty Harlequin titles published to date, such as Honolulu Cold Homicide and Special Agent Witness. Chemistry and conflict between the hero and heroine, attention to detail, and incorporating the very latest advances in criminal investigations, are the cornerstones of his crime thriller fiction.

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      Book preview

      Killer in The Woods - R. Barri Flowers

      CHAPTER ONE

      He hadn’t planned to kill this one. But then she caught his eye. Or more like his ear. A man would have to be deaf not to have overheard the pretty, young Latina yapping away on her cell phone in the booth across from his like she owned the place.

      Can you believe I have to work tonight? She batted obvious fake eyelashes, as if dumbstruck at the notion. I’m gonna be there all by my lonesome just staring at the four walls, girl. What a drag! Oh well, if I get too bored, I’ll just call Andres and he can keep me company...or at least his sexy voice will.

      He pretended to be oblivious to her conversation while eating. Out of his periphery, he watched as she headed for the cashier.

      He waited a bit before following.

      After paying for his meal in cash, he stepped outside and breathed in the distinct smell of late summer in the Pacific Northwest. It was just past seven-thirty and the sun was beginning to set for the day, but it wouldn’t get dark for a while.

      He spotted the object of his attention just as she was about to get into her car. Without drawing attention to himself, he moseyed over to his vehicle and followed her from a safe distance.

      The press had dubbed him The Woods Strangler. He would’ve preferred The Man With A Serious Axe To Grind, or better yet, A Cold, Calculating Killer!

      Grinning, he looked in the rearview mirror at his dark eyes staring back, before seeing the woman pull into an office building’s parking lot. For a moment, he considered it might be too dangerous to go after this one. He hated the thought of allowing his inner demons to rise above common sense and survival instincts. But the adrenalin rush, dark impulses, temptation, and opportunistic nature of the prey attracting the predator got the better of him.

      He caught the door to the building just before it closed, but too late to catch the elevator—and her. He glanced about inconspicuously, seeing no one and trying not to be seen. Looking up at the numbers, he saw that the elevator had stopped on the third floor. Scanning the small entryway, he spotted the stairwell and headed toward it.

      * * *

      Sophia Pesquera opened up the Blossom Dating Service and prepared for her routine of answering the phone, working the computer, and greeting those who showed up at their door for assistance in the competitive dating arena. She and a girlfriend had started the business a year ago, eager to cater to the upscale lonely, desperate, and just plain unlucky men and women in Bluffs Bay where it concerned matters of the heart. It had turned out to be a smart move as single, attractive, and highly motivated people were only too happy to use their agency to try to find love.

      This included Andres Hernandez, an advertising executive, who was incredibly good looking though lacking somewhat in his social skills. Sophia had tried to set him up with someone else, but his attention was solely on her. So what could a woman do who had struck out herself in the love department on more than one occasion?

      She went with the flow. Now Andres was her man and she couldn’t be happier about it.

      Sophia sat at her desk and turned on the computer. She decided she couldn’t wait a moment longer to talk to Andres.

      Hey, baby, it’s me, she said, immediately perking up at the sound of his voice.

      * * *

      He passed by several businesses, instinctively dismissing them. Then he came to something called the Blossom Dating Service. Though slightly turned blinds obscured his vision, he saw enough to know he had come to the right place.

      He looked around for any unwanted company. Seeing no one, he took a deep breath and, clutching the doorknob with a handkerchief, twisted till it opened. He entered a small office with two desks. Only one was occupied.

      She was on the phone, probably talking to Andres. The nameplate on her desk read: Sophia Pesquera. When she looked up at him, she seemed more irritated that he had apparently interrupted her conversation than afraid. There was no indication that she recognized him from the diner.

      Good. He wanted to keep things simple.

      Call me back in ten...no, make it fifteen, she said before hanging up.

      Giving him her full attention, Sophia forced a smile and asked, How can I help you?

      He thought about it for a moment or two, before removing the silk scarf from his pocket. Flexing it, he responded, The better question is: how can I help you? I don’t think you want to know—

      When Sophia realized that he wasn’t there to find a date, she impulsively sprang out of her chair.

      He quickly came up behind her before she could react, and draped the scarf around her neck, tightening it in a viselike grip. He enjoyed the feel of her struggling to break free.

      But it was not to be.

      A vein bulged in Sophia’s temple as she gasped desperately for air, her arms flailing. All she could think of was that Andres would never get to know what might have been between them. If only some crazy man had not chosen her to die...

      He literally lifted Sophia up off her feet, which swung helplessly in the air. Her body grew tense and shook wildly, before turning pliable. Her erratic breathing stopped, and he knew it was over.

      For this one anyway...

      CHAPTER TWO

      There’s no evidence the victims knew each other or the killer, said Homicide Detective Dennis Cramer of the Bluffs Bay Police Department. All the killings appear to have taken place in The Woods and each time the victim was alone when attacked. The latest victim was attacked in her office. The victims were not sexually assaulted. Given the seemingly random nature of the killings, with the perpetrator picking targets as they become available, the news is not good for law enforcement or the residents of The Woods—

      Selene Herrera was unnerved by the recent murders. When she and her husband Quinn moved there two months ago, they thought it was a safe, comfortable environment—each having previously experienced violence in their lives.

      But that all changed when the first killing occurred not long after they had purchased their home in The Woods, an affluent community within Bluffs Bay. The relaxed, peaceful atmosphere had been shattered over the summer with the strangulation murders of several local women.

      Selene first heard about the latest victim on the news last night. She had been found lying face down in her office. Like the four previous victims, she had been strangled while apparently putting up little resistance.

      Fearing she might become a potential target of this serial killer, Selene had taken it upon herself to bring the community together to try to fight the monster who had left them all on edge.

      A sense of outrage and panic threatened to boil over inside The Woods Community Center on this warm Saturday afternoon. While there was heated debate over whether the killer lived amongst them or was a stranger who took advantage of easy entry into the gateless subdivision, most residents agreed that the problem was too serious to ignore or leave to the authorities to resolve alone.

      Detective Cramer looked pained as he said, We’ve gotten dozens of calls with descriptions and other information on possible suspects. We’re evaluating all leads and take each one seriously. I ask for your patience while we conduct our investigation. In the meantime, the best thing any of you can do right now is use common sense to protect yourself. Stay off the streets at night, keep doors and windows locked, and your eyes and ears open for anything or anyone suspicious; and women should not be alone, if at all possible...

      He was interrupted by a boisterous voice. How can you expect us to be patient?

      Selene watched as Marvin Bonet stood up two chairs over from her.

      Someone is killing our women and you don’t seem to be doing a damn thing about it! Marvin pointed an accusing finger at the detective.

      Dennis’s head snapped back as if he had run into a wall. Look, I understand your irritation, he said. But we’re not the enemy here. The department is working round the clock to stop this killer before he strikes again.

      Well that’s not good enough, Marvin persisted. I think every man and woman here should arm themselves to protect their families.

      I knew he was going to embarrass me, Elisa Bonet whispered in Selene’s ear, referring to her husband. Marvin just had to make a complete fool of himself—and me by association.

      He’s only expressing what a lot of people feel. We’re all frustrated, Selene whispered back. She put a reassuring arm around her friend’s shoulders before refocusing on the detective.

      That’s probably the worst thing to do, under these circumstances, Dennis cautioned. An inexperienced person with a loaded gun is only asking for trouble.

      Selene watched and listened as the two men went back and forth; each holding his own, before Marvin wisely relented and sat down.

      Dennis said a few parting words and then nodded at Selene. That was her cue to take the podium. She rose, standing directly in front of Quinn, who flashed an encouraging smile. They had been married for a little more than two months now and it was the second marriage for both.

      Selene’s first marriage had lasted five years. She had been a victim of domestic violence and suffered through the classic battered women’s syndrome. Her ex-husband’s abusive behavior had been blamed on a lifelong drinking problem; then the stress of making bad business decisions. Selene had attributed the battering to her being too stubborn for her own good and not jumping whenever he told her to, causing him to lash out in anger.

      Soon it became apparent to Selene that she wasn’t the cause of the abuse—he was. He had long harbored resentment towards headstrong women who reminded him of his domineering mother, who had been abusive towards him. When that was compounded with his drinking and an inferiority complex, it gave her ex more than enough excuses to hit Selene as often as he pleased.

      After one serious beating that landed her in the hospital with a concussion and broken ribs, Selene had had enough. She finally got the courage to leave the man she’d once loved while she was still able to stand on her own two feet.

      Selene’s prayers for being able to pick up the pieces of her shattered life were answered twofold. One was using her experience to help other abused women when she became the director of a local battered women’s shelter.

      The other was when she met Quinn Herrera eight months ago. He’d immediately impressed her as a man of principle and conviction, along with being handsome and charming.

      They hit it off right away. Quinn was a bestselling author of mystery novels and nonfiction books on the Pacific Northwest. A year earlier, he had lost his wife tragically in a drive-by shooting that was a case of mistaken identity.

      Selene believed adversity had made her and Quinn that much stronger and was the propelling force behind their meeting, falling in love, and getting married. They had both been given a second chance at love and had taken it for all it was worth.

      She smiled at Quinn, trying not to show how nervous she was.

      He winked and patted her hand lightly. You’ll do just fine.

      Taking him at his word, Selene strode to the podium.

      Selene stood before her friends and neighbors. She had never been particularly comfortable as a public speaker. But with the practice of speaking to women’s groups in the fight against domestic violence, and Quinn’s encouragement, she had become more at ease in the role of speaker. And, in light of the recent wave of murders to hit The Woods, she was determined to do her part to fight a common enemy.

      Selene sucked in a deep breath. Thank you all for coming, especially on such short notice. It’s a tough way to get to know each other better, but circumstances haven’t left us much choice. Everyone here has a responsibility to band together when someone—especially a killer—threatens the safety of our families...

      CHAPTER THREE

      The meeting lasted more than three hours. There was plenty of heated debate and opinions on keeping The Woods safe. Local firefighter Julian McKenzie stood at the podium.

      The husband and father of three cleared his throat. I just want to say that I support the actions the police are taking to catch this killer. I know they probably haven’t done enough to ease anyone’s fears that this thing could just go on and on, but we need to stand behind them.

      Are you sure you aren’t secretly on their payroll? Marvin asked.

      Julian chuckled. Not unless you know something I don’t. And if you do, don’t tell my wife or I’ll be in the doghouse for sure!

      Selene, who was standing beside him, grinned. Julian, I’m sure your secret, if there is one, will be safe with Marvin.

      Right, and about a hundred others, Julian said, before growing serious again. Anyway, I may not be a cop, but as a fireman I know we all share the same concerns for doing what’s best for our community and the people who live in it. I applaud Dennis Cramer and everyone else on this case for putting their personal lives on hold till it’s solved.

      Next up was Todd Foxworth who represented The Woods Business Association. The spa and salon owner gave Selene a friendly pat on the shoulder.

      I think every business owner in this room would agree that having a serial killer in our midst is definitely bad news for business, Todd said. And I can tell you that women in and around The Woods are thinking twice about getting the spa treatment and their hair worked on these days—

      The news is bad for business and our personal lives, Selene said, so as not to exclude the residential establishment. Our community is being affected in every way by this.

      You’re absolutely right, Selene, Todd said. And it was good of you to organize this meeting. He turned back to the gathering. I don’t mean to diminish the threat to any woman living in The Woods. But I’m here to speak on behalf of those of us who are trying to make a living in this part of town and counting on the dollars you folks bring in to stay afloat. We need to get past our fear and show this killer that we’re not going to just lay back and allow him to destroy everything we’ve worked for.

      There was a spatter of applause.

      Well I think we should offer a reward to help catch the killer, Elisa said. If someone knows something, it might be a way to encourage them to come forward—

      Selene thought it was a good idea. Reward money had worked successfully elsewhere in the country to solve crimes. And even if she suspected that most of the people in attendance were inherently cheap, she felt the community could afford to offer a nice reward, if it meant catching this serial killer.

      How much money? Selene asked Elisa.

      Elisa shrugged. I don’t know. I suppose something that won’t put us all in the poor house, but enough to make a strong statement that we’re determined to end this nightmare.

      * * *

      Fifty thousand sounds like a good starting point, Quinn Herrera said, as though bidding for a painting. It didn’t seem unreasonable, and was certainly something the well-to-do people of this community should have no trouble coming up with.

      But Quinn’s suggestion was more than simply being a good neighbor. He wanted to show Selene that he was just as serious about fighting the forces of evil in their midst as she was.

      It wasn’t so long ago that Quinn believed his life was over for all intents and purposes. He had lost the only woman he thought he’d ever love in such a cruel way. And he’d blamed himself. Then an attractive, sweet woman named Selene entered his life and taught Quinn what it meant to live and love again. Marrying Selene had been the smartest choice he’d ever made.

      Forking over some of their savings for a cause they both deemed more than worthy seemed like a small price to pay.

      Why not make it a hundred grand? suggested Todd. I’m sure The Woods Business Association would be happy to kick in half the amount.

      Two hundred thousand would be even better, Marvin said. A similar crime happened last year in Portland, Oregon. A couple hundred G’s got some people talking pretty fast—and the police ended up getting their man in no time flat!

      In the end, they settled on a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer.

      A citizen patrol group was established to walk and drive around the neighborhood. The belief among many was that the killer must be from outside their community, finding it difficult, if not impossible, to accept that he could be one of their own.

      Selene was surprised when Marvin, Julian, and Todd nominated Quinn as the director of the newly formed group called The Woods Citizens Against Crime. Quinn looked equally taken aback, but dutifully accepted, as no one else volunteered for the job.

      The gathering had already begun to disband when Selene thought of something else.

      Just one more thing... Selene said, catching everyone’s attention. Although the killer has only targeted adult women, no one knows if he will start to go after others he considers vulnerable. So, just to be on the safe side, I think everyone should drive their kids to school or at least make sure they get on and off the bus safely. And there should also always be an adult present when children are outside playing, especially when they’re at The Woods Park.

      She wondered if they could ever feel safe in their community again.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      Detective Dennis Cramer drove away from The Woods Community Center feeling like he had aged at least twenty years these past few months. He hated that a serial killer was tormenting his community. He had a wife and teenage daughter who could have just as easily been his victims. And they were still in danger, even though he was doing everything in his power to protect them.

      Dennis ran a hand through his hair. As the lead investigator on the case, there was tremendous pressure on him to make an arrest. But these things did not always come together quickly and cleanly like they did on CSI or Law and Order. He couldn’t magically bring the culprit to justice by snapping his finger and all would be right with the world, especially when this killer seemed as lucky as he was elusive.

      That won’t last forever. It’s only a matter of time before we get you.

      Dennis knew time was running out to make an arrest before there was a shakeup in the department. The last thing he wanted was to be taken off the case and reassigned to something beneath his capabilities as an investigator.

      Maybe the reward money would help flush out the killer. Three hundred and fifty grand should be enough to make someone talk.

      He pulled into the diner parking lot, which was the place the latest victim of The Woods Strangler was last seen.

      * * *

      Officer Ashley Leighton waited in her squad car in the small parking lot of The Woods Diner. Technically speaking, it was not actually in The Woods, but it was close enough so they could use the name to possibly attract a better clientele than in Bluffs Bay proper.

      According to credit card records, Sophia Pesquera had charged a meal at the diner less than an hour before she was murdered. The thought of dying by strangulation gave Ashley the chills. Of course, she realized there were equally bad ways to be hurt and killed. She just hoped her number would not come up anytime soon.

      Ashley turned her thoughts to her desire to move up in rank. To do so would mean she’d have to climb over the backs of some sexist men who would prefer that she stay a patrol officer. It would also mean she’d have to defy her husband. She knew he loved her, or so he kept saying. Yet that didn’t stop him from resenting her decision to go into law enforcement and bringing it up in her face every chance he got—including sometimes using his fists to get his point across.

      Ashley cast aside her concerns for the time being when she spotted the familiar Ford Crown Victoria department-issue vehicle approach. She got out of her car and waited for him to do the same.

      * * *

      Dennis got out of his car and approached Officer Ashley Leighton. She wasn’t that muscular or tall, but what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in determination. He was impressed with her work ethic and believed she could be a detective someday, so he encouraged her to pursue it.

      Hey, Leighton.

      Good evening, Sir.

      Dennis frowned. It could be better.

      Ashley blinked. I know what you mean.

      Let’s go see if Ms. Pesquera left here with anyone.

      They went inside, and Dennis immediately got a whiff of onions and grease. He noted the place was small and had booths close enough to listen in on someone else’s business, perhaps without the person even knowing it.

      Dennis showed his badge to the cashier, Rosemary Walters, and identified himself and Officer Leighton. We’re investigating a homicide.

      Oh? She fluttered her lashes.

      He showed her a recent photograph of the victim they had obtained from a family member.

      Do you remember seeing this woman in here yesterday?

      Rosemary flinched. Sure do. She looked up. Is she the one just killed by the Woods Strangler?

      It looks that way, Ma’am, Ashley said. Her name is Sophia Pesquera.

      Oh, no... The cashier put a hand to her mouth. I feel so sorry for her and her family.

      Do you know if she came in here with anyone? asked Dennis.

      No, she was alone.

      She leave alone, too?

      Yes, I’m sure of it, Rosemary responded.

      Did anyone leave right after her? He peered at the cashier,

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