SUMMER OF EVIL Read online

  Summer of Evil

  (A Kellie Conley Mystery)

  By Marianne Spitzer

  © October 2014

  Also includes the bonus short story The Haunted Tunnel

  (A Kellie Conley Mystery Short)

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events, locations, or organizations are purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the written consent of the author.

  Acknowledgements

  There are many people I would like to thank for their help and understanding while I wrote this book, but first and foremost, I want to thank God for all His blessings. I also wish to thank my family and friends for their patience when I disappear into my writing world especially my son, Lance, for his unwavering support. Cover designed by the talented Laura at LLPix designs.

  Summer of Evil

  By Marianne Spitzer

  Chapter One

  “Thank goodness you answered,” Taylor said when she heard Kellie’s voice on the other end of the phone.

  “What’s wrong?” Kellie’s eyes opened wide as she pursed her lips.

  “Do you remember Wills Berner?”

  “Remember? How could I forget? He was the neighborhood bully. Uncle Mike told me they had to question him once when people’s garden gnomes began to disappear. I remember how Wills said the gnomes would get us in our sleep. He terrified me. When a squad car pulled up in front of his house to question him about missing cats in the neighborhood my mom called him evil. Didn’t he and his parents move to the other side of the state?”

  “Yes, and while we were in our freshman year at college, he was arrested and ended up in the Graywoods Asylum for the Criminally Insane.”

  “I vaguely remember someone accused of being a serial killer ending up there. Was it Wills? Since it was across the state, I never paid much attention.”

  “Yes, my mom just called and told me the State Police had arrested him for kidnapping and nearly killing a young woman. They linked him to two other killings and two more missing young women. It’s horrible. She never told me while I was at school. His legal name is Robert William after his dad, but rather than calling him junior, they chose Wills.”

  “Oh my God, do you remember how he would taunt us and say he would get us some night. I was happy when they moved.”

  “Me, too, but I had to tell you because mom just told me he escaped.”

  “Escaped? How do you escape from that facility?” Kellie sprang from her chair and headed for the window. She took a deep breath and sat back down.

  “They think he had help from a nurse working there. She’s missing. She could have gotten him a badge and uniform. He may have walked out with any of the delivery people.”

  “Isn’t the hospital part of the prison?” Kellie asked as she nervously bounced her knee up and down.

  “No, overcrowding forced them to move the mentally ill prisoners to the old asylum building on the grounds. It must be why it was easy for him to escape.”

  “You don’t suppose he’d come back to Malone Springs, do you?” Kellie began absentmindedly checking locks on the doors and windows.

  “I hope not. I needed to tell you just in case. Now I wish I had learned to shoot the rifle Hunter’s dad gave him.”

  “It’s not too late,” Kellie said. “I know you don’t like guns. I never told you, but after Drew tried to drag me out of the house, I bought a handgun. If someone else tried the same thing, I wanted to be ready. I practice at the range at least once a week. You should come along. We could go this evening.”

  Taylor answered, “I know you took shooting lessons after Mrs. Casey had you kidnapped in case it ever happened again. You took that safety course in hopes you could overpower a kidnapper, but I had no idea you bought a gun.”

  “After several lessons I grew more comfortable shooting and acquired a great deal of respect for guns of all sorts. I thought it might be a good idea to buy one, and now I’m glad I did.” Kellie drummed her fingers on her leg as Rufus whined at her feet sensing her tension.

  Kellie could hear Taylor inhale deeply. “All right, let’s go after dinner. I’m sure Hunter will want to join us to be sure I don’t shoot my foot off.”

  Kellie smiled the first smile since answering Taylor’s call. “Okay, I’ll call the firing range and get reservations. They’re busy at times, and I’ll make dinner tonight unless you have a meal in the slow cooker?”

  “No, not today.”

  “Great, cooking will give me something to do this afternoon. See you later.”

  #####

  The doorbell rang, and Kellie jumped. Rufus barked and ran in circles. Glancing out the window, she saw a local delivery truck driving away. Not recalling if she had ordered anything, she turned on the TV and checked the view from the front porch security cameras. No one was on the porch or in the yard.

  She laughed at her foolishness and opened the door to retrieve the package. Once safely back inside, she opened the box and pulled out a tissue wrapped item. Removing the tissue, her eyes opened wide and she took a step back as the garden gnome slipped from her hands and fell to the floor.

  She grabbed the phone and called her Uncle Mike.

  #####

  Detective Mike Stellion assured her they were aware of the situation, and law enforcement across the state was on the lookout for Berner. Her tight house security and Rufus should keep her from any intruders, and he knew she owned a gun and was well trained. He would send an officer to retrieve the package. The conversation did little to reassure her, but she thanked him.

  She phoned Taylor again to explain what just happened. “Just a minute, let me check my security system. Hunter had our security system upgraded so we could check on the house via our smart phones.”

  “Oh my God, Kellie,” Taylor’s frantic voice jumped out at Kellie not expecting the volume. “There’s a box on my front porch, too. I’m calling Uncle Mike from the office phone while I talk to you. They put me on hold. Wait, he picked up.” A few minutes later Kellie heard Taylor’s voice again. “He said not to worry. They’re on it, and an officer is on his way to pick up your package and he’ll grab mine, too. It has to be Wills. He’s coming for both of us.”

  “We know it’s him and we’ll be ready. Call Hunter and let him know, and I’ll see you when you get home.”

  #####

  Needing more information, Kellie looked up the case on the internet. She hoped to find an updated picture of Wills Berner. His prison photo appeared to be a grown face of the nasty boy who used to live down her street. She was sure she’d recognize him if they ran across each other. She read an article about the strangulation deaths of the two young women. The officials were still unable to find the two other missing girls. Their pictures made Kellie shudder. One was a small, black and white photo of a pretty woman described as twenty, petite with red hair. The second was larger and in color. Kellie thought it might be a prom picture. A lovely girl with blonde hair was wearing a peach colored dress with a beautiful corsage of peach roses.

  She grabbed her phone and called Taylor again.

  “I was looking at the same article, Kellie,” Taylor said.

  “I can’t believe she’s wearing peach roses in her corsage. They look the same as the ones in the planter that was sent to me. I knew it was a warning then, and I’m sure of it now. Wills Berner is coming after me,” Kellie said.

  “Us,” replied Taylor. “He always referred to us as a matched pair of brats. We live next to each other. He’ll think we’ll be easy pickings.”

  “No, we won’t. I’ll kill him first. I never thought I would say th
at about a living being, but if he walks into my house in the middle of the night, I’ll shoot him.” Kellie’s hand balled tightly and her arm shook.

  “I agree and am looking forward to the gun lesson this evening. I’ll see you when I get home. Watch yourself.”

  “Will do, everything’s locked and Rufus is here.”

  “I think we need a dog, too. I’m going to talk to Hunter about it.”

  Kellie smiled as she hung up knowing if Taylor wanted a dog; Hunter would agree. He loved her more than life.

  #####

  Wills Berner smiled as he checked into a motel with the fake ID he was able to obtain. Pretending to be in love with the middle-age nurse at the asylum helped him not only with the ID, but new clothes in a suitcase in the trunk of a car registered to Wayne Burke. A five-year-old, dark brown sedan anyone might drive. Cash and other legal papers relating to Wayne Burke were also in the trunk. Everything he needed to start his new life as Wayne, and he smiled again.

  The one thing he didn’t want was to romance the nurse now that he had what he needed. She didn’t need anything. She would sleep forever under the ground at the edge of the cabin property she rented for them. No one would find her. No one would snoop around. The woman had rented it for a month as a honeymoon get-away. She used her name. Mr. and Mrs. Downer rented the cabin. Liz Downer would stay for more than a month. The police would not connect the cabin with either Wills Berner or Wayne Burke.

  As he pulled clothes from the suitcase he had laid on the bed, he smiled once more thinking of another cabin. Remembering back, it was larger than a cabin. His parents no longer used the summer home on the lake. His mother told him they kept it as an investment. It was isolated and quiet. Kellie and Taylor would enjoy the solace, and the isolation would ensure they wouldn’t be disturbed.

  He found the hair dye Liz bought for him. The authorities would assume if he dyed his hair it would be blonde or black to hide his light brown hair. The shade she purchased would darken his hair by two shades, and the contacts would change his eye color from a dull pale blue-gray to dark brown. She had also helped him hide his weight loss from the guards with extra layers of clothes and a bit of cotton for his cheeks. Now twenty pounds lighter, he looked and felt different. He was stronger. Wills was ready to find the two brats that had made his childhood miserable.

  Wayne Burke—same initials, similar name, but different enough not to connect with Wills. Wayne Burke was a name Wills could use with anonymity. No one would remember the name or his new look.

  #####

  Kellie handed the package to the officer that knocked at her door. She watched him cross her yard into Taylor’s and pick up her package. He waved as he got into his patrol car. Kellie waved back happy the packages were in police hands.

  Detective Stellion called the State Police for assistance investigating the two packages. Since Kellie opened hers, and nothing happened, he was reasonably sure Taylor’s would be the same, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Kellie was his goddaughter, and he had known Taylor since she was three. He loved them as his own.

  His phone rang. The desk sergeant informed him that the State Police bomb squad arrived, and the local officer had returned with the boxes. He told the sergeant to let them know he would meet them behind the station.

  It only took a few minutes for the State Patrol technician to x-ray Taylor’s package and determine it didn’t contain an explosive. Donning a white protective suit, he opened the box and removed a garden gnome identical to the one Kellie received.

  A quick call to the company that sold and mailed both gnomes gave Detective Stellion his first clue. Liz Downer ordered them from a local shop requesting next day delivery. Mike knew Liz Downer disappeared with Wills Berner and was thought to be with him.

  He slammed his fist onto his desk. “Why is he terrorizing the girls? He tried when he was a kid. Why now? He’s insane, and there’s no way he’s going to hurt them now.”

  Mike walked out of his office and ordered additional patrols in the subdivision where Kellie and Taylor lived. If need be, he would order a cruiser to station itself near their houses to keep them under surveillance. The mayor would most likely complain about expenses again, but he’d pay for this out of his pocket and he doubted the mayor wanted to deal with Kellie. He smiled knowing she could hold her own with the mayor.

  Returning to his office, he phoned Kellie. “Hi, yes there was a gnome in Taylor’s package, too. I think Berner ordered them, so I want you and Taylor to be extra cautious.”

  “I will, Uncle Mike, I promise.”

  “I’m going to call Taylor and if you need me anytime call. Be careful.”

  “I will and I know Taylor will, too. Tell Aunt Rita I’ll call her soon. Love you.” Kellie dropped her head to her desk and tried to take a deep breath. She felt her heart pound against her ribs.

  “This is not the time to panic,” Kellie murmured. “I need to stay vigilant.” Rufus lay at her feet and she took slow even breaths to calm down.

  Reading about Wills made her tense. She began writing an e-mail to the members of the Malone Springs Children’s Charity about an upcoming meeting. By the time she hit “send” her breathing had returned to normal.

  #####

  Kellie’s cell phone rang. It was Taylor. “Hi, Hunter and I are on your front porch. I was worried if I rang the bell you might freak out.”

  Kellie began to laugh as she walked to the front door. She opened to let Taylor and Hunter in and was also met by a beautiful chocolate lab.

  “Hi,” said Taylor. “Meet Penny. She’s our newest family member.” Taylor grinned from ear to ear. Kellie knew she would get her way, but not so quickly.

  “Come in. Let’s see how well Penny and Rufus get along.”

  Rufus backed up as Penny entered the living room. She walked up to him and sniffed. They walked around each other sniffing and made quiet yips and whines. Then they dropped to the floor next to each other like an odd set of bookends.

  Kellie smiled, “Rufus has been neutered. It’ll make their friendship tame.”

  Taylor nodded, “The shelter spayed Penny so no problem. They look like old friends.”

  Penny and Rufus slept while the three friends enjoyed a quiet dinner. Kellie had made Swiss steak, mashed potatoes and glazed carrots. It was one of Hunter’s favorite meals, and he ate with gusto while Kellie and Taylor did their best to make small talk. Their lack of conversation said more than words. Both were afraid for each other and themselves, but determined not to be victims again.

  After dinner, they were ready to head for the gun range. Hunter said, “The shelter told us that Penny does well alone, but I’m going to keep an eye on her with my iPhone app to be sure she doesn’t tear up the house. I can always come home during your practice.”

  “Great idea,” Taylor added. “You don’t need the practice. You just want to watch me.”

  Hunter stared at her trying to hide his amusement. “You know me too well. Come on Penny; let’s go check out your new home.” As he clipped on her leash and led her to the door, Rufus began to whine.

  Penny stopped short at the door and wouldn’t move. She was whining and pulling on her leash. Hunter laughed, “I think this is love at first sight. Come on, you can play when we get home.” He was able to get Penny out the door while Kellie held on to Rufus’ collar.

  “You need to stay here and guard the house, Rufus. There’s a crazy man running loose.” She heard Penny bark outside, and Rufus ran to the front door and began to howl. “Poor Rufus, you’ll be okay, but I have to leave now.”

  She retrieved her gun and case from the locked cabinet in her office and peeked at Rufus before she left through the garage. He had stopped howling, but was lying in front of the door. Kellie mumbled, “I hope he’s not so lonely that he ignores any strange sounds.” She slammed the door to the garage to check and heard Rufus bark and run into the laundry room’s garage entry.

  “He’ll be fine,” she laughed as she climb
ed into her SUV.

  Chapter Two

  Wills stared at the face in the mirror. “Nice job, darker hair and a thinner face. I don’t look like myself.” His laughter would have made anyone’s skin crawl if he weren't alone. He slipped a deep burgundy t-shirt over his jeans, pulled on leather boots, and strode with confidence out of his motel room to the café across the street.

  The pretty waitress smiled at him when he sat at the counter. “Coffee?” she asked.

  “Thanks.” He returned the smile thinking, “This is your lucky day. You might be beautiful, but a brunette. I need to find a cute blonde or red head.”

  As he ate a burger and fries, he checked out the place. No one was looking at him. His heart began to pound like a jackhammer when a local police officer walked in for coffee to go. The officer glanced in Wills direction, but paid for his coffee and left. Wills saw the police cruiser disappear down the highway and forced himself to relax. Not hearing sirens or more police cruisers pull up; he finished his dinner, paid his bill, and left the waitress a nice tip. Not too much so she would remember him, but not too little that she’d call him cheap.

  He strolled back to the small motel and felt invincible. No one had noticed him. They must be looking for him. If he could fool the waitress and cop, he was going to be able to fool anyone. He bought a paper from the machine in front of the motel, and his picture was on the front page. It was his original prison mug shot. No one cared to take candid pictures at the asylum. He could easily pass as Wayne. Feeling a new sense of freedom he took the stairs two at a time back to his room.

  #####

  The tech hurried into Detective Stellion’s office and said, “Just as I suspected. None of the prints on the gnomes or packages matches Berner’s. No unusual chemicals or residue. Since it shipped from the store, I doubted we’d find anything. I sent my assistant to get the original order form. We won’t get prints, but maybe a clue as to when they ordered it. I need to know the credit card number so I can track it back. I also need to be able to trace the phone call.”