The sun had nearly reached the horizon, and Richard was still watching the upstairs windows. The downstairs neighbor had left hours earlier and headed toward the subway station. Gina Adams was all his and worth the wait. Seconds later, the light facing the street went off. It piqued his curiosity.
Is she leaving?
He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, although the timing couldn’t have been worse. People were out and about. It wasn’t late at night, the way he liked and needed it to be. Richard wanted that quiet, intimate moment that was meant only for him and his prey.
He watched as the front door opened and Gina stepped out into the early evening. He would let her get a few houses ahead then catch up to her as if by accident. They’d talk, and he’d ask questions. He’d get to know her plans for the future now that she was alone.
She was almost to the end of the block when he called out to her.
“Miss Adams.”
Gina stopped and looked back. “Officer Milstead. You’re still hanging around?”
“Yep. I work a split shift, from two until ten. Where are you headed?”
She pointed to her left. “To the Chicken Shack. It’s only a few blocks away, and I’ve already called in my order. I’m going to pick it up.”
“I’ll walk with you.”
Gina frowned as she looked up and down the street. “Where’s your police car?”
“About five blocks from here. I’m a beat cop. I’m used to walking the streets. Not this neighborhood, normally, but I’m doing a favor for the detectives. Plus, if anyone suspicious was lurking around your apartment, I wouldn’t want them to see my car. It’s all about taking people by surprise, you know.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.” Gina turned the corner, and Richard continued at her side.
“So, what are your plans now that you’re living alone? Are you going to stay there or move in with someone else?”
“I don’t really have anyone that I’m close to.”
Richard nodded. “Sorry to hear that.”
“There isn’t much I can do until I get Leslie’s death certificates. Detective Mills told me to come to their precinct at nine o’clock tomorrow morning and pick them up.” Gina walked up to the Chicken Shack’s front door. “This is the place.”
Noticing the cameras, Richard kept his head down. “I’ll wait outside for you.”
She was back out in five minutes with a white paper bag in hand. “I feel bad that I have food and you don’t.”
“Not a problem. Even though it doesn’t look like I’m doing anything, I am on the clock.” He tipped his wrist. “I had dinner an hour back, but I do have a fifteen-minute break coming up.”
“Good. Then you can come up with me and have a soda while I eat, can’t you?”
He grinned. “Yeah, I suppose I can.”
Back at the apartment, Gina unlocked the door and they entered. As soon as she closed the door at their backs, Richard had every opportunity to kill her. It would have been just as easy as it was when he’d taken Bradley Risack’s life. Nobody saw or heard a thing. Getting past that doorbell camera was the problem.
In the kitchen, Gina plated her dinner and they sat at the table together.
“You do have a back exit, don’t you? Being on the second floor like this is dangerous in case of a fire. City code states all second-story units need a fire escape.”
Gina laughed and took a bite of the fried chicken drumstick. “Man, you’re just like Detective Mills. He’s such a worrywart, and yes, there is a back exit.” She pointed over her shoulder. “It’s that door just beyond the washer and dryer.”
Richard crossed the kitchen and walked to the door. He opened it, flipped on the light switch, and looked down the stairs. To his surprise, he saw that the stairway was enclosed.
“That’s convenient.”
“What is?”
“The enclosed stairs to the alley. No snow, ice, or rain on the steps to deal with in the winter. Plus, it’s just another means of security. Nice place, Gina. You should stay here.”
She scooped up a glob of ketchup with her waffle fry. “Yeah, Leslie liked it here, and it makes me feel close to her. I think I will stay. It’s nice that Detective Mills is going to walk me through everything I need to learn too. He even got me information about schooling in a field I might enjoy so I can get a decent job.”
“Sounds like he’s really fond of you.”
“Yeah, it’s like he’s the brother I never had. I hope we’ll have a long-lasting friendship.”
Don’t count on it.
Although Richard was prepared to kill her right then and there in the privacy of her own apartment, another idea came to mind. Taking her with him and taunting Detective Mills could be even more entertaining. First, he would have to disable that doorbell camera and make sure he took Gina’s phone along when they left.
He stared at her from across the table and smiled. “How’s your dinner?”
“It’s delicious. Want a waffle fry?”