Serial Separation by Dick C. Waters Page B

still had to pay attention to it.
    “Weren’t you scared?”
    I had put the details of that event
out of my mind, but her question brought the images back.
    “I wasn’t thinking about being
scared or the danger. I needed to act quickly. It all happened so suddenly,
it’s a blur now.”
    “Do you think about the recent
murders?”
    “As a matter of fact, I can’t seem
to get the images out of my mind. I think about what these guys went through
and the horror of it.”
    “Why, do I make you uncomfortable?”
    Her sudden change of topics threw
me. It took me a moment to answer. “Mercy, it’s hard for me to talk to you
about this. My only—what’s the word I’m looking for—intimate relationship has
been with Lisa. I fell in love with her almost from the moment I met her. We
first met the day President Kennedy was assassinated. We were more vulnerable
that day, but I guess in hind sight it was meant to happen.”
    “You still haven’t answered my
question.”
    “I know, and I’m trying to get to
it.” I felt exposed without answering her question.
    She studied me. “I know the answer,
Scott. I guess I like pushing your buttons. I’m like a hunter and you’re my
prey. Seeing you react . . . is like the thrill of the hunt.”
    Her frank words concerned me, so I
reached for another log. She grabbed my arm, and when I looked at her I could
see tears in her eyes.
    “Scott, I’ve had no one to love. I
was so focused on getting into Harvard and getting good marks that I missed
growing up. I had one infatuation period, but that passed like a bad dream.”
    She let go of my arm, and I added
the log to the fire, and the sparks flew in all directions.
    “Why are you sharing this with me?”
I asked.
    She looked like a lost puppy, but
she didn’t answer. I gave her more time.
    “Now it’s you asking the tough
questions.” She fiddled with the corner of the afghan. “Let me try . . . this
seems so right . . . you’re a caring person. I guess I feel if I didn’t talk to
you now, I would miss my chance to tell you. Right now, I feel like the hunter
who is staring at his game, regretting having ever hunted . . . I wish I could
change so much, but it is too late.”
    I put my arm around her shoulder
and pulled her to my chest. I just held her tightly, and I could feel her
quietly sobbing. Bizarrely, I didn’t feel that uncomfortable.

Chapter 26
     
    The announcer interrupted the TV
broadcast:
     
    We interrupt our normal
programming for the following. This is WBZ TV reporting that investigators were
at the scene on the North Shore, where a body was found in a fishing trawler’s
net. Investigators speculate the body is related to the two other recent torso
slayings but they failed to comment further. We return you to our regularly
scheduled programming.
     
    Mercedes regained her composure and
was sitting staring at the fire.
    I thought they would have reported
more, but I guess that was enough. I knew it was Bob Sullivan. I couldn’t
imagine what it would be like for his family to receive this news on Christmas Day.
    I placed another log on the fire,
looking over at Mercedes. She no longer resembled a woman who had control of
everything. It was peculiar, but I felt sad for her. I might be feeling the
same way if I hadn’t met Lisa.
    I was lucky to have Lisa. Jimmy
could have taken her life, as he had planned. He killed two women and had
nothing more to lose. I was lucky to save her.
    What was I doing here with this
woman? I hadn’t planned this. Was it just an accident, or a twist of fate? I
missed Lisa. She was not only away from me now, but she had been away from me
for months. It was also a twist of fate that we were not together on Christmas
Eve, nor would we be on Christmas. Maybe she’d miss me more this way, and hopefully
get over whatever has been bothering her.
    Mercedes hands were clenched, and I
could see the white of her knuckles. Was she mad about sharing things with me,
or was she mad that I