Chosen by a Killer by Laurie Nave (read e book txt) 📗

valuable. My circle is small too. That is part of what makes them valuable.”

“I won’t ask if I am part of that circle. But I like to think I am, even if it is in a strange way.” Tasha smiled. “I suppose friendship with a serial killer isn’t all that attractive.”

“There’s more to you than that label.” Celia held up a hand when Tasha shook her head. “No, it’s true. I admit when I started this process, I thought of it as an opportunity to get the story no one had. But I think the media did you a disservice, reducing you to a killer ice queen. You matter to people. You mattered to your mother, you matter to William, I’m sure you mattered to the couple you saw at the diner every week. And even though he was a controlling ass at times, I have no doubt you mattered to your father.”

For the second time, Natasha reached across the table to grasp Celia’s hand. “Thank you.” Celia thought she saw tears, but Natasha blinked, and they were gone. “I do have one request.”

“What is it?”

“Make me another cake before we finish our interviews?”

Celia laughed. “Of course.”

The two women typically talked until Keith knocked, but today it seemed as if there was nothing more to talk about, at least for now. Tasha seemed quiet. Celia gathered her things, stood, and knocked on the door. Keith opened it, a little surprised.

“I think we’re done for today,” Celia said.

“Sure thing,” Keith nodded.

“I’ll see you next week, Natasha.”

“I look forward to it, Celia.”

“Everything okay?” Keith asked as they walked down the hall.

“I think so. Something is on Natasha’s mind.”

“There’s less than a month until her execution, and her attorney isn’t having any luck with last-minute measures, I don’t think.”

“It’s strange. She’s so controlled and so determined to win. But she seems resigned to the execution. I would have thought she’d fight it until the end.”

“Never let them see fear,” Keith said.

“What?”

“I think Tasha would rather not let them rattle her. That’s her way of winning.”

“She did say something like that a few weeks ago. I guess it makes sense. But I don’t think I could just give up.”

Keith shrugged. “She’s been here at least a decade. Most of that time she’s had almost no contact with anyone but guards, her attorney, and you. Maybe she’s tired of it.”

Keith walked her to her car, and then he watched her drive away. Celia felt unsettled. Was it Tasha’s demeanor, the business with Bart, or something else? Maybe she was going to miss Natasha. The actress was right; being friends with a serial killer was odd. However, it was the most up-close Celia had been with someone who seemed as dispassionate as herself. As uncomfortable as comparing the two of them made her, it was also educational. Besides, being unemotional didn’t make someone a murderer. Natasha dealt with her threats by killing them off. Celia had never done that.

After work, Celia decided to go by her house to check on things. There was still tape on her front door. She pulled into the drive, and as she stepped out of her car, Lucille came around from the back of her house.

“Oh, Celia, dear, I’m so glad you’re okay.” Lucille took Celia’s hand. “It’s terrible, just terrible.”

“I’m so sorry about your cat,” Celia replied.

Lucille wiped away a few tears. “Poor Jerry. He was old, but he was still kicking. Who would do such a thing?”

“I don’t know,” Celia lied. “I’m glad you weren’t here when it happened.”

“I wish I had been. I noticed you hadn’t been back. Are you staying with your friend?”

“You mean Keith, the man who put in my alarm system?”

“No, that other fellow, the handsome one I met when you came home a while back. Brent? Brett?”

“Bart,” Celia replied. “No, we stopped seeing each other.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I noticed he’d been by a time or two.”

Celia felt a chill. “When was that?”

Lucille put a finger to her chin and thought. “Well, I saw him in a car once or twice. He didn’t stop. And then last week he came by while I was out with Jerry. I waved, but I guess he didn’t see me.”

“Did you tell the police about that?”

“Well no,” Lucille said, looking puzzled. “Should I have? Surely he didn’t do this!”

“Lucille, we need to call them. Bart wasn’t very happy when we broke up. I think they need to know.”

“Oh my goodness!” Lucille cried. “Oh my goodness! I didn’t even think of it when I saw him. I didn’t know.”

“That’s okay, you didn’t know. How could you? Can we go inside your house and call them?”

“Yes, of course,” Lucille nodded. “Come in and I’ll make tea as well.”

The police came by about 10 minutes after Lucille called. Lucille held Celia’s hand while she recounted seeing Bart in his car and outside the house over the past couple of weeks. They showed her pictures, and she confirmed that he was the man she saw. They thanked her, and then one of the officers walked Celia to her car.

“It’s good you talked to her,” he said. “This points to him. And since it violates the restraining order, we can pick him up. He isn’t supposed to be on your property at all.”

“Thank God,” Celia said. “Maybe getting arrested will send him the message.”

“Hopefully,” the officer said. “Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. After tomorrow you should be able to go back home.”

Celia thanked him and drove toward Keith’s house. Thank goodness she’d decided to befriend her neighbor. Lucille’s account gave the police what they needed. It was one thing for the police to talk with him, but being arrested would surely deter Bart from going further. He was an attorney; he didn’t need legal trouble. For the first time since the stalking had begun, Celia felt certain it might actually be over.

Chapter 27

Celia had baked Tasha her promised cake, and she was cleaning the kitchen counter when