Richard had been riding the train since twelve thirty and didn’t see the redhead anywhere. He had been looking forward to killing her, and frustration was creeping in. It made him agitated and less picky. He needed his fix, and almost anyone would do. Richard exited the Blue Line at the Loop and waited on the platform for somebody that he could follow to happen by. A decent-looking brunette walked past. From her fishnet stockings, over-the-knee boots, and spandex dress, Richard assumed she was a hooker.
Dirty skank deserves to die. Let’s see where you go.
He rose casually and took up his position thirty feet back. With the number of riders coming and going, she wouldn’t notice him. The Loop stop had connections to every subway line, and people were plentiful. Richard followed her out to the street and down several blocks, then she finally disappeared into an all-night diner.
“Damn it. I’m not having any luck tonight.”
After returning to the platform, Richard took a seat and continued to watch for somebody that would whet his appetite. He finally spotted another woman. She was a mom type, out too late, and appeared distressed. She looked worried, afraid, and obviously out of her element. The woman was the perfect choice and, in a pinch, would serve Richard well. She paced, checked her phone, and studied the subway maps. Richard would offer to help. It was the least he could do.
He approached her with a friendly chuckle. “You look out of sorts. New to Chicago?”
She rattled off her problem—delayed flight, nobody to pick her up, trying the subway route even though she’d never used it before, yada, yada, yada. Richard tuned her out but held his smile.
“Where is it you need to go?”
“South to Forty-Seventh Street.”
“No problem. I’m heading south too. At this time of night, the only train going south is the Red Line, so we have to go to that platform. Come on. I’ll show you the way.”
She hesitated for a second then waved off her doubts and joined Richard. So far, he thought, everything was right on track.
“My husband works the graveyard shift, and my kids aren’t old enough to drive, plus they have school tomorrow. I just flew in from Atlanta.”
“Really? Why were you there?” Richard couldn’t care less but needed to gain her trust.
“For a real estate seminar.” She gave him a quick smile. “I just got my license.”
Richard smiled back. “Well, Chicago is a great city to sell real estate in, and I bet there are thousands of homes on the market. Just be careful. You know how those TV shows warn women agents not to work alone. There are far too many crazies out there, and you can never be too cautious.”
“That’s why I carry mace everywhere I go.”
“Smart.”
Thanks for the heads-up, idiot. I’ll make sure you don’t have a chance to reach into your purse.
“Here we are. This is the Red Line south platform.” He pointed at the digital sign then checked his watch. “It looks like we only have a five-minute wait. The night owl service runs twenty-four seven, but the trains come less frequently. Our timing is perfect.”
“Good to know, and hopefully, I’ll never have to do this alone again.”
Her comment warmed Richard’s heart.
I guarantee you’ll never do this again—period.
“How are you going to get home once you exit the train?”
She shrugged. “It’s only a ten-minute walk. I guess I’ll hoof it.”
“Just be careful and have that mace handy.”
“Thanks for reminding me.” She pointed at the oncoming train. “I’ll put it in my pocket right now.”
They boarded the train and found seats immediately. Richard noticed that the woman was relaxing. Her stiffened shoulders had lowered, and her face had a less-frantic appearance.
“So where to after you get off at Forty-Seventh Street?”
“I live on West Swann.”
Richard feigned surprise. “I know that area well. I used to hang out at Fuller Park as a kid.”
She grinned. “Small world, right?”
“I thought only apartment buildings were on Swann.”
“Not if you turn west off of Princeton. The street is lined with small single-family homes. I live in the fifth one on the north side of the street.”
He rubbed his brow as if to recall that neighborhood. “Yep, that’s right, all houses over there.”
Richard didn’t know shit about the area, but as they rode, he looked on his phone at what surrounded the train station at Forty-Seventh Street.
“I should have taken a rideshare, but I don’t have an account set up yet. By the way, my name is Diana.”
“Nice to meet you, Diana. I’m Richard.” He stuck out his hand and shook hers. They both laughed.
“Are you married, Richard?”
“I was, but my wife died.”
She shook her head. “I’m so sorry. One never knows what’s a proper or improper thing to ask.”
He held up his hand. “How would you? The sad thing is we never know when we’re going to take our last breath.”
Diana nodded. “You’re absolutely right.”
The train ride took only fifteen minutes. Richard mentally counted down the minutes of life Diana had left. He watched the lighted board that showed the stops along the route. South Forty-Seventh Street was coming up next. Richard pointed at the map. “Your stop is the next one.”
She took in a breath and let it out slowly. “Now, to get home safe and sound.”
“I’d advise you to set up an account with a rideshare company to use from now on. The driver could be a kook, too, but at least you have your mace.”
“I guess. Seems like a woman always has to watch her back.”
Damn right you do.
When the train slowed, she stood and grabbed the pole nearest the door. “It was nice meeting you, Richard, and thanks so much for your help.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m happy to oblige, and be safe.”
Richard watched as she exited the train, then he jumped off just before the doors closed. He walked a good distance behind her, knowing she would turn west out of the station. He’d have to be ready to pounce as soon as she reached a dark, unpopulated area since she didn’t have far to go. Richard followed her out onto West Forty-Seventh Street. She walked ahead of him in silence but at a good clip, and he was sure she was nervous about being out at that hour of night.
Her heart must be beating a mile a minute, but I’ll end that soon enough.
Richard saw her make a right-hand turn onto South Princeton and knew she would turn left once she reached West Swann. The moment she disappeared onto South Princeton, he bolted ahead to South Shields. He would backtrack on Swann, find some bushes to hide behind, and spring out as she passed. He’d have to hurry.
Cautiously, Richard looked down Swann before turning onto it. He didn’t see Diana on the sidewalk.
Good, I’m ahead of her. Now I have to find a spot before her house.
He counted houses as he jogged east. Once he passed hers, he crouched behind a bush just as she turned the corner. Richard slowed his breathing. He couldn’t let her hear him pant.
That was close. I bet she feels safe now and has let her guard down. She’s only two houses from her own, and she’s probably forgotten all about her mace.
Richard pulled open his knife, and the sharp blade glinted in the moonlight. He heard Diana’s footsteps approaching—she was getting close. Peeking through the break in the hedges, he saw her, a mere thirty feet away. As soon as she passed, he’d leap out and bury the knife in her back and then, his very favorite part of all, slit her throat.
Clip clop, clip clop, here she comes. Any second now.
Richard was nearly salivating with the desire to kill. He waited until he saw her pass then leapt out behind her. She didn’t even have time to spin before the knife was buried to its handle in her spine. Diana dropped to her knees, and Richard mirrored her every move. On the ground at her back and with his left hand holding her still, he forced up her head and dragged the knife across her throat. Her head dropped precariously to her chest. After pushing her forward to avoid getting blood on his clothes, Richard stood and sucked in a satisfying breath. He looked around—the night was still. He casually fished his phone from his pocket, set the flash, and took two pictures of her from the back. Watching his footing so he wouldn’t step in the blood, Richard flipped Diana over and got the best shots of all—her head nearly sliced off and saturated in her own blood.
Oh yeah, that’s what gets my juices flowing.
Three pictures of her lying in that position were enough. Since Richard wasn’t one to push his luck, it was time to go.