Lonnie Mixell sat at the table in the warehouse, working into the evening as he set up the last element of his plan. The three displays were energized and connected to video feeds from the cameras he had placed the previous day, and he tweaked the angles and played with the zooms, adjusting each camera to the optimum settings.
Everything was proceeding smoothly. His biggest concern had amounted to nothing. Earlier today, he had climbed inside the CONEX box and checked out the equipment. It energized without any issues, and instructions had been provided as requested. He had spent the better part of the day reviewing the procedures. As Futtaim said, the instructions were easy to follow.
The warehouse’s heavy metal entrance door began to grind open, and Mixell turned to find the realtor, Sandy Perry, stepping inside. As he wondered how she unlocked the door, he remembered he had rented and not purchased the warehouse, and Sandy still had a key.
She pushed the door closed, then greeted Mixell. “I hope I’m not intruding. I was in the area and thought I’d stop by. No one answered my knock, but the lights were on, so I thought I’d check to be sure.”
Mixell realized he must have missed her knock as he concentrated on the camera adjustments.
“I was hoping you were available,” she said, “because … Well, you know. I thought we had a great time the other day.” As Mixell rose to greet her, she asked, “Are you busy?”
He was indeed busy, and was also quite irritated at her unrequested return, but his annoyance quickly faded as his eyes swept over her body.
She had come to please. She wore tight jeans, and despite the cold weather, a stomach-baring halter top clinging to her breasts. Her hair was neatly arranged and her lips glinted with freshly applied strawberry-colored lipstick.
“I am busy,” he answered, “but could use a break.” He flashed a smile.
She returned the smile and moved toward him. As she approached, she glanced over his shoulder, then gave Mixell a curious look. Her eyes shifted to the left and she stopped, standing there with an air of uncertainty.
Mixell suddenly realized the displays were still energized, and she had noticed what his cameras were monitoring. There was also a pistol lying on the table.
Sandy Perry had seen too much.
She realized it as well.
“If this is a bad time,” she said, her voice quavering, “I—I can come back later.”
Mixell started toward her.
“Actually, now—now that I think about it, I need—I’ve got an appointment in a half-hour.”
She began backing toward the door.
“I really shouldn’t have used my key. I—I’m so sorry. I—I’ll be going now.”
Sandy turned to leave, but the door was heavy and opened slowly. Mixell closed the remaining distance and placed a firm hand on the door before it opened wide enough for Sandy to slip outside. He pushed it shut as he wrapped his other arm around the woman’s waist and pulled her close. He kissed her on the lips as he let his hand move slowly down her ass. When she didn’t respond to his touch, he realized, with some amusement, that she was too afraid to move.
Sandy’s fate was sealed, but he couldn’t waste the opportunity to toy with her.
“Actually, this is a bad time, and I regret what happened between us the other day. You see, I’m in a committed relationship and it would be unfortunate if word got out that I’ve been messing around. My soul mate is the jealous type, and I’d hate for anything to happen to you.”
“I—I won’t say a word. I promise. No one will find out.”
“You’re right,” Mixell replied. “No one will find out.”
He had no weapon on him—his pistol was on the table—but considering the victim, he didn’t need one.
He spun Sandy around and pressed his body against hers, pinning her against the wall.
“PLEASE! I WON’T TELL ANYONE!”
Mixell grabbed her head with both hands and twisted it forcefully, turning her face around toward his. Her body squirmed as she tried to break free, her neck muscles straining as she fought the rotation. She tried to speak, but the force on her jaw from Mixell’s hands prevented her from talking. He could tell she was pleading for her life, but the only thing he heard was a desperate whimper.
As her head twisted slowly toward him, he saw the pain on her face and the panic in her eyes. He leaned in for a lingering kiss, then pulled back and twisted her head with all his strength until her neck gave way with a sickening sound of shredding tendons and cartilage.
She dropped to the floor when he released her, and he knelt beside her as she stared at him. She was paralyzed but still conscious, and she opened her mouth to scream. Mixell placed a hand over her mouth and nose, suffocating her, watching the illumination fade from her beautiful hazel eyes.