Sue Read online

  “Susan Cox.”

  “Please wait.” The woman indicated several seats scattered around the foyer. “I’ll announce you.”

  The lobby was dominated by an enormous Christmas tree, beautifully decorated. Holiday music played softly through hidden speakers. Sue removed her coat and draped it over an arm. Four or five minutes later a well-dressed woman appeared. “Susan?” She held out her hand and Sue shook it firmly. “I’m Ms. McCloskey. If you’d walk this way, please.” She motioned down an ornate hallway.

  Sue almost chuckled, remembering more than one movie where someone said that and the person following mimicked the gait of the person in front. Sue didn’t think she could pull it off if she wanted to. This woman walked with ease in five-inch stilts. Her brown suit fit perfectly and her blond hair was secured in a loose bun at the base of her neck. She led Sue into a large office and indicated a seat. Sue sat, smoothing her coat over her lap.

  Opening a folder with long fingers capped by inch-long nails, Ms. McCloskey scanned the pages. “I see here that your last place of employment was a nursing home. Is that correct?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Actually, that appears to be your only job. Why is that?”

  “Well, I was working while going to college.”

  “And did you graduate?”

  “No, I had an accident and had to leave college for a time.”

  “Accident?”

  “I’d rather not speak of it. It’s personal.” Sue could see her chance of a job here slipping away.

  Ms. McCloskey remained silent for a few minutes, gazing into the folder and tapping her nails on the polished desk. Finally she looked up. “The position available is tending bar. Have you any experience mixing drinks?”

  Sue’s heart fell. “No, I’m afraid I haven’t.” She was about to thank the woman for her time when she smiled approvingly at Sue.

  “Excellent.”

  “Sorry?” Sue asked.

  “We don’t want our lounge staff to have preconceived notions on how a drink should be mixed. We have our own unique repertoire of beverages here. Our clientele are used to our eclectic specialties and wouldn’t be happy with something…ordinary.”

  “I see,” Sue said, not really seeing at all.

  “Are you available to work in the evenings?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “We would start you out at seven dollars and fifty-five cents an hour. This, of course, is before tips; and I’m pleased to say our members are very generous with gratuities as long as the service is good. You would be required to study the book of cocktails and learn the most common ASAP. For more complicated drinks, and while you’re still learning, the book will be at your disposal behind the counter. We will supply one uniform and you may purchase more as you see fit. Your uniform must always be spotless and wrinkle-free. You must be available every Friday and Saturday evening and will pick up at least two nights during the week. Are you interested?”

  “When do I start?” Sue asked, with the first genuine smile since she’d entered the premises.

  “We’ll start you on a Monday. That will give you several days to accustom yourself with your duties before the busy weekend. How about you arrive around four-thirty this coming Monday and I’ll introduce you to your co-workers? Martin is our head-bartender. He trains new employees and helps them adjust. Why don’t you fill out these forms while I get you a copy of the drinks manual?”

  Sue was left alone. She finished the forms, received a uniform, ordered two more, and left with her manual. Life was looking up.

  The first day on her new job, Sue was all thumbs. The other staff members were nice for the most part, but she couldn’t help feeling they somehow knew who she was and ached to question her about Zeke. It was paranoia, she admitted to herself, since there was no way they could guess what she’d been through. Her parents had been careful about how much they told family members, let alone strangers.

  There was so much to learn and she made an effort to remember as much as she could and diligently made notes of everything. She’d been on the job less than a week and was just gaining some confidence when a pair of middle-aged society ladies settled at the bar to wait for a luncheon companion who’d been delayed. One was Edwina Harrington, a wealthy widow Sue had only seen at a distance up until now. The staff loved to gossip about her. The other was Nan Plohsy, a local attorney. Sue had served her before and found her to be a stingy tipper.

  As Sue prepared their drinks, she couldn’t help overhearing their conversation.

  “I’m hiring a new houseboy,” Mrs. Harrington told her friend with a salacious grin. “I put him through the interview process today.” She caressed the pearl necklace at her throat.

  “Oh, really!” Nan snickered quietly. “And how did he perform?”

  “He’ll do. Of course, he’s nothing like Zeke. Now that boy had some special talents.”

  “I remember. He certainly showed me a good time down at Hilton Head.” Nan picked several pretzels from the dish on the bar and tongued the salt crystals suggestively. “Whatever happened to him?”

  “You don’t want to know. Got in some trouble with the law.” Mrs. Harrington rolled her eyes. “Anyway, the new boy is going to work out just fine.”

  With trembling hands, Sue placed their drinks in front of them and stared at Mrs. Harrington.

  “Thank you,” the woman said, then noticed Sue’s intent look. “Is there a problem?”

  “No, no,” Sue stammered, trying to cover her distress.

  “Then, move along; give us some privacy.” Mrs. Harrington’s hard eyes challenged her. “We’ll let you know if we need anything else.”

  Sue pulled off her apron and sought out her boss. “Martin, I need to leave.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “Leave? Are you sick?”

  Sue twisted her apron in her hands. “Not exactly. I just have an appointment I forgot about. It won’t take long and I’ll come right back.”

  “I wish you’d have told me about that when I made out the schedule.” He placed his clipboard on a shelf. “I’ll go cover for you until you get back, but don’t make a habit of this, Sue.”

  She forced a smile. “I won’t. I promise. And thank you.”

  “No problem.” He returned her smile and let his eyes travel over her body. “Hope you’ll remember this if I ever need a favor.”

  Sue gave him a sharp look. “What kind of favor?”

  His eyes were innocent as he met her gaze. “You know, if I ever need you to fill in or something.”

  Relieved, and itching to go, Sue said. “Oh, okay. Sure.”

  She could feel Martin’s eyes on her as she hurried away. Before going through the door, she heard him mumble, “She doesn’t even know how hot she is.”

  Spinning on the spot, Sue demanded, “What did you say?”

  “What? Oh! I said, it’s hot in here. I need step out for a minute.”

  “Oh, okay.” Fumbling with the timecard, Sue clocked out and grabbed her coat.

  All the way to her car, she fumed. There weren’t that many men named Zeke. It looked like her lover had been banging that rich woman the whole time he was seeing her. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together and it dawned on Sue that Mrs. Harrington was the mother who had always demanded so much of his time. So, he’d been cheating on her. Why it should hurt so much now, after all she’d been through, she didn’t understand. But, it did hurt.

  Once again, Sue drove to the police station, guts churning.

  “I have information on my case,” she told the desk officer. “I need to see Detective Sanders.” She drummed her fingers nervously on the counter while she waited.

  The detective seemed tired as she led Sue into the same conference room they’d used before. “Sit down, Ms. Cox.”

  She waved away the offer. “Look, I just started working at the country club. I overheard a woman named Edwina Harrington mention that she had a houseboy named Zeke. I’m sure it wa
s him! You need to question her right now!”

  “Susan, I want you to calm down,” the detective said.

  “No! I mean it. She might know something!”

  “Listen to me for a minute. We’ve already questioned Mrs. Harrington. We tracked the social security number he was using and it led us to her. She’s cooperated completely with our investigation and filled in some of the blanks.”

  Sue stopped and stared at her. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, we know Zeke had a live-in position with her while he was here.”

  “And you didn’t tell me?” Sue gripped the back of a chair until her knuckles turned white. “Were you ever going to share that with me?”

  “First, we are not going to call you every time we receive information on this case. Your part, unfortunate as it was, is over. If we ever apprehend Zeke your testimony will be needed; otherwise, it’s out of your hands. Besides, the whole thing was a dead end.” The detective slapped the tabletop lightly. “We gathered no information from her that will help us find him. He lied to her, too. And, he left nothing behind when he took off with you.”

  “Well, that’s just great.” Sue jerked her purse strap up over her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry.” Detective Sanders shrugged apologetically. “You just have to understand how the system works.”

  “Yeah, right.” Sue turned toward the door. “I wish you’d realize how important it is to me that he be found. Stopped.”

  “We do understand. We want that, too.” She followed Sue from the room. “Like I told you before, you need to work on rebuilding your life and leave the police work to us. Understand?” Her voice was kind but firm.

  “Sure. Whatever you say.” Sue walked out without a backward glance.

  That night she dreamed of Zeke again. This time he taunted her with talk of his mother and how well she took care of his needs. “All my needs, Susie,” he murmured with that slow, sexy smile of his. “It’s all good.”

  She woke up the next morning feeling sick to her stomach.

  Chapter 13

  “He told me I belong to him, that I’m his and always will be. At first, it made me feel good, special. He said it many times and in my mind it seems real. I can’t escape it; it’s my destiny whether I want it or not.” Sue glared at Dr. Camden, chest out and head high.

  The doctor remained calm, flipped back through the notes in her file. “I see here where he also told you that you love mocha cappuccino. Is that true?”

  “No. I hate it.”

  “And let’s see...” The therapist paused to read. “You said he told several people that you and he were photojournalists from New York. Are you a photojournalist?”

  Sue shook her head, face hot with embarrassment and anger.

  “Are you from New York? Have you ever lived there?”

  “No, but he did!”

  “Or so he said.”

  She turned a page in her notes. “He claimed to live with his mother. But you found out he had a live-in position with a woman here in town. No relation to him.”

  Sue’s defiance evaporated and she slumped in her seat. “Okay, okay. I get it. He said things that weren’t true. But did it ever occur to you that maybe in his mind they were true?” She rubbed at an invisible spot on the arm of the chair and spoke so quietly it was almost inaudible. “Maybe he’s got multiple personalities or something. Maybe that’s why he was so sweet and tender sometimes and so angry and cruel other times.” She sat straight up, facial expression guileless as a child’s. “I mean, if that’s the case, then he’s ill and can’t be held responsible. It’s a sickness; he can’t help it.”

  The doctor made a note, then raised her head to look at Sue. “What you’re talking about is Dissociative Identity Disorder. From what you’ve told me, Zeke does not exhibit symptoms of this condition. Where did you get this idea?”

  “The internet.”

  “May I make a suggestion?”

  Sue nodded.

  “Next time you’re researching diagnoses, look up Antisocial Personality Disorder. I’m sure you’ll recognize Zeke.” She removed her glasses, set them on the desk, and rubbed her eyes lightly. Then she turned her gaze to Sue. “I want you to listen to me. I mean, really listen. THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE FOR ZEKE’S BEHAVIOR. It’s that simple.”

  “I know.” Sue stared down at her hands. “It’s crazy because by the end of our time together, I couldn’t wait to get away from him. I was repulsed by him, disgusted with the way he treated me, and terrified of dying. After he killed Brenda, I just assumed my life was over too. And if he’d had his way, I would be dead. So I don’t know why my mind wants to remember the way he was in the beginning and just wipe out the bad memories. Sometimes it feels like I’ll never be free of him.”

  “You are free of him, Sue. It’s just taking a little while for you to accept it.”

  “I’m trying. But sometimes it feels like he has some kind of power or something.” And, he’s coming for me. But I can’t tell you that because I want it to happen. And I’m afraid you’ll prevent it.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, they haven’t caught him yet.”

  “It’s only a matter of time. They’ve got a DNA profile on him by now.”

  Sue’s smile was cynical. “He’s smart. He’ll figure out a way around that.”

  “Chances are he’s not as smart as he’s led you to believe.” Dr. Camden wiped her glasses with a tissue and put them back on. “Tell you what; we’ve got about half an hour left. Let’s have a look at your journal.”

  Sue pulled the notebook from her bag and placed it in the doctor’s hand. She chose a recent entry in which Sue had written about her self-defense class. They didn’t return to the subject of Zeke for the rest of the appointment.

  That evening when she and Melvin went to the gym, she tried to work off her frustration on the elliptical.

  Melvin kept looking over at her; he finally stopped his machine and approached her. Sue reduced her pace in order to listen to him.

  He wiped his face with a towel then fixed his earnest gaze on her. “You need to go into it gradually, Sue. You should warm up first.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” she panted. “I’m doing fine.”

  “You can hardly breathe,” Melvin pointed out. “I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  Sue bristled but acquiesced. “Fine. I’ll slow down.”

  “Just until you get used to it. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “Okay, okay.” Sue clenched her jaw to avoid snapping at him. The aggravating thing was that he happened to be right. Her muscles ached, the soles of her feet stung like crazy, and she felt as if her lungs would explode.

  Before their next visit to the gym, Melvin gave her a fitness magazine to peruse. Flipping through the pages as he drove, she couldn’t suppress a smile when she found one article circled in black marker and starred several times. It’s title: The Wisdom of Warming Up Before A Workout.

  “What’s this?” She held it up so he could see it.

  He shrugged, returned his eyes to the road. “Told you so.”

  She punched him playfully in the arm.

  “Ow,” he said, feigning pain. “You’re mean. I’m going to tell on you.”

  “Who you gonna tell?”

  “That big body builder.”

  “Which one?” she teased. “Helga or Bruce?”

  He pretended to think it over. “Helga, I think. She’s tougher. Plus, she likes me better than she likes you.”

  “How do you know that?” Sue tried not to giggle.

  “She told me so,” he lied, as he pulled into the gym parking lot.

  Sue rolled her eyes and smirked. Still, when they got inside she went through a warm-up before her workout.

  Chapter 14

  Each meeting, Dr. Camden had given Sue rein to choose which topic they’d address, at least to a point; though, sometimes she’d steer her in certain directions. “I’ve been wait
ing for this memory to fully emerge. I know it’s one of the most painful we’ve delved into so far,” she said, referring to the murder of Brenda.

  “I don’t know how to find absolution. It haunts me.” Sue overrode her fear and allowed the sickening memories to surface, knowing it was safe to do so here in this office. Still, she curled her feet under herself, tried to push deep into the cushions surrounding her, and spoke in a shaky voice.

  “Why don’t you tell me about it,” Dr. Camden said, laying her notepad in her lap.

  “See, Zeke decided we were going to find him a woman. He pretty much told me how it was going to go down.” She shot a sideways glance at the doctor. “You know, it’s like you told me, a lot of the control he had over me was mental. But some of it was also situational. I didn’t think I was going to live at this point, so I decided to try to protect as many other people as possible.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That night, we went to a bar so Zeke could scope out the women, find one to his liking. I had planned to make a scene, scream for help, somehow get away. But Zeke seemed to know what I had planned. He threatened to kill all the people in the place if I didn’t cooperate and told me it would be my fault if that happened. He told me he had a gun in his pocket. He’d threatened me with it several times, in fact. The first time was when we were in the internet cafe, then with an elderly woman outside the public bathroom, and again with a convenience store clerk. Anyway, even though I never saw a gun, I couldn’t take the chance.” Sue took a deep breath, a light sheen of sweat glistened on her brow.

  “As it was, we didn’t even get inside since I didn’t have my purse; you know, no ID. By that time my mind was so screwed up and foggy from the pills he kept forcing on me, I wasn’t tracking all that well. The truth is, when I agreed to help him pick up a woman, he wasn’t really giving me a choice.”

  “Anyone would be intimidated by a gun.”

  “That’s true, but I’d found out the hard way that Zeke was dangerous, even without a weapon. I was personally more afraid of his knife. A gunshot would be quick, but he could take his time with the knife. He loved that thing; gave it a pet name. Big Ben. That’s what he used on Brenda.” Sue tried to suppress a sob but was unsuccessful. “And eventually on me.”