The killer’s head was pounding, but it would subside with a little therapy. This therapy usually consisted of strolling into one of the many rooms and seizing one of the many women. Their pain would relieve his own.
But something wasn’t right. Not today. His attention was stolen. His ability to focus on his work was jarred. Ever since Logan Fox had given chase, the killer found it impossible to concentrate. It was as if nothing else existed outside of that. Nothing outside of putting his plans on hold and going after the private eye with all the tricks he knew.
It wasn’t an option, however. As much as he enjoyed his musings while he strode the long corridor, his plans had to stay in place. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t combine his two passions. If anything, it would make things real fun.
Stopping outside the farthest door from the stairs, the killer slid back the peephole and peered inside. This one was lying still, her clothes filthy from when she had dared to flee from him. He had caught her easily after she had slipped and fallen down a steep, muddy bank, and now she had to spend her last few days caked in mud. It was her own fault, he thought. In fact, everything that was happening to them now was their fault.
Then came the temptation to punish her. Not just perform the surgery he needed to perform, but really punish her. She would scream and wince and make all the sounds only a real man could encourage while hurting her. This idea made his stomach churn with excitement, and he began to stiffen downstairs.
Before Logan Fox bled back into his mind.
The killer slammed the peephole shut and placed both hands against the wall. He stared down at a single spot on the ground, using it to focus. There was no need to go after Fox – it would actually hurt his plans to stick his own neck out like that – but there was something extremely satisfying about the idea. He considered it for a moment, convinced himself it wasn’t necessary, then considered it some more. It was nuts, he knew that, but it wouldn’t leave his mind. It was like he was desperate to buy something he really didn’t have the money for.
“Oh, snap out of it,” he said to himself while heading for the stairs.
Then something occurred to him. There was a way to have both. Combining his passions was actually a great idea when he stopped to think about it. Sure, it involved a little risk, but what fun was life without risk? No, this way he could complete his work and watch Logan Fox suffer with every part of his being. Not by attacking his body – that was too obvious.
But by attacking his heart.