Excerpt from
Just Love Me By Laura Marie Henion
Coming August 2006
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Chapter 1
Christen Mathews stood in front of her Uncle Victor's casket. It was covered with beautiful bright colored hibiscus, gardenias and an assortment of other flowers native to the Hawaiian Islands. The weather was playing tricks today, never darkening as if a storm would come through, instead the sky stayed bright. A brilliant sun cast a warm pleasant light, accompanied by a gentle mist of rain visiting like tear drops from a distant dark cloud. The people of Hawaii call it pineapple rain and it was both beautiful and embracing. The cemetery was filled with men and women in uniform as well as civilians who came to pay their respects to Christen's uncle. A procession of cars filled the horizon, starting at the winding blacktopped road just outside the gates to the cemetery. Her uncle was well known and the act of bravery, which resulted in his death, was public knowledge. Many people attended the ceremony, despite the attempts by some higher-up who tried to minimize what happened to Christen's uncle.
The glorious sounds of Amazing Grace performed by a single bagpipe, filled the air. It was his wish to be laid to rest with the distinct sound of this particular instrument. The sound was unique and powerful. It echoed through the air. Christen began to sob uncontrollably, her heart ached with such intense sadness the thought of her dying from the pain entered her mind. Although the funeral wasn't the traditional funeral given to an officer who died in the line of duty, it was special and memorable. More friends and family approached the casket placing leis and other flowers upon it and Christen continued to cry, becoming weaker and weaker with sorrow. She wondered how she would go on, continue her life and dreams without her uncle's support and love.
Two Years Later
Captain Dave Nichols entered his office, tossing a black leather briefcase onto his chair. He quickly glanced at the pile of mail on his desk along with the rest of yesterday's work. He then pulled up the metal blinds to open the window a crack. As he glanced back toward the desk, he noticed the blue envelope. He instantly felt a lump forming in his throat. He opened the envelope and the dreadful feelings consumed him as he read the words.DO YOU FEEL DEATH ALL AROUND YOU?
ALL SINNERS
WILL PAY FOR THEIR SINS
* * * *
Christen Mathews put the finishing touches of makeup on her face and slipped into the designer dress she was sure she paid too much for."Today's the day you land the account of your life," Christen commented as she took one last look in the mirror.
Four and a half months of hard work had finally paid off. Christen was about to close a million dollar advertising contract with one of Honolulu's biggest electronic companies. Her boss John Kulani had been so impressed with Christen's performance that he told her if she could get this contract she would be given a higher paying, more flexible position in the firm. Christen had taken this as incentive to get the job done quickly and to perfection. Her office staff was as overworked and as tense as she was. She hoped all would go well as she headed out to the kitchen.
"Okay. How do I look?" Christen asked her roommate Sue who was in the kitchen fixing herself a cup of Kona coffee.
"You look stunning and sophisticated as usual. I wish I had your figure," Sue said.
Christen smoothed out the bottom of her dress as she sat down on the bar stool by the island in the kitchen.
"Like you don't have a date every Friday night with a different guy."
"What can I say but I'm good in bed and I love the men of Hawaii," Sue responded.
"You better be careful just how many people you love, Susie-Q. There are a lot of crazy people out there." Christen knew how much Sue liked it when Christen called her that. She started it while they were in college at the University of Hawaii and the name stuck.
"You could have your choice of men but you're so damn picky. Women would kill for your looks and that body. Damn, girl, you know you have the best pair of breasts on you."
"Sue!" Christen was a lot more modest when it came to such things as sex and her female attributes. Sue, on the other hand, was open, straightforward and unafraid to use her looks or body to get whatever she wanted.
"On that note, I'm outta here," Christen practically ran for the door.
Christen drove her classic 1965, red convertible Mustang, out of the garage. It was her college graduation present from Uncle Victor. As she drove her prize possession down the long driveway, she was still thinking about her friend Sue and their conversation. On the commute to her office, Christen thought how spoiled Sue was. Sue came from a long line of wealthy people. In addition to money, she was a seductive, sexy red head with exquisite taste in everything. At six foot one with green eyes to go with her copper colored hair, most men became speechless around her. She seemed destined for the wild life she led. At night, Sue would get all dressed up in the most up to date, model runway outfit and some handsome rich bachelor would whisk her away for the night to some exotic restaurant or some exquisite four-star hotel.
Christen's other roommate, Liz, was so very different from Sue, yet they had all remained such good friends after college. They had decided to buy a house together. Each of them had great jobs and together could afford to live in comfort and style. There was no better place to live than in "Paradise".
The tropical breezes are caressing and the sweet fragrant smell of flowers fills the air. Oahu is such a diverse island with its cosmopolitan conveniences as well as its beautiful scenery, white beaches and turquoise water. The land is covered with tropical gardens, lush rainforests and an assortment of activities.
Christen thought about all the different activities there were to experience on the island. She could swim with dolphins and tropical fish, kayak in the bays, learn how to surf or hula? It's an awesome place to live and Christen and her roommates felt they made the best decision in staying there instead of returning to the mainland. Hawaii was now their home.
And of course there was the nightlife. At night the place was rocking and Christen and her friends loved every part of it. There were various assortments of clubs playing every kind of music, catering to whatever mood or state of mind they might be in. Life was different here. It was better, brighter and full of opportunity. If Christen were successful at this morning's meeting, she would leave her office later today, promoted and more than comfortable financially.
Christen arrived at her office with moments to spare and hoped the meeting would go smoothly.
* * * *
Lilly Spencer arrived at her apartment after working the late shift at Bob's Bar and Grill. Her feet were killing her and she smelled of sweat and chiliburgers. If she didn't reek so badly she would skip the shower and just collapse into bed. She dragged herself toward the bathroom and began to unbutton her red waitress uniform when she heard a knock at the door. Lilly cursed at the interruption, re buttoned her uniform and headed through the living room. She opened the door and instantly a man she recognized swiftly pushed her inside."What are you doing?" Lilly demanded as the intruder closed the door and grabbed her by the arms.
"What do you want from me? I told you at the bar I'm not interested," Lilly yelled at him. He had the most evil look in his eyes and Lilly instantly realized she was in trouble.
Lilly tried to break free from his grasp but he was way too strong for her. In a flash she wished she had taken those self-defense courses her friends had taken. She wished she didn't work the night shift. She wished she wasn't a waitress working like a dog just to pay for college. So many thoughts went through her mind especially what she would do differently if she survived this attack.
* * * *
"Stop it! Please, stop it," she yelled at him. He didn't respond with words but with a backhand across the cheek. Lilly fell to the floor only to be pulled up by the hair and dragged to the bedroom."You've been a bad girl Lilly. Daddy's not going to be happy with you."
Lilly struggled to get free but it was no use, her attacker was too strong.
He took out a large knife letting the tip of the blade glide softly across her chest. She tried to breathe, but he was on top of her now, and so heavy. She could smell his cologne, the sweat from his skin and the scent of beer on his breath. He began to methodically cut the buttons off her blouse as she tried to fight him again and then he cut her. She was so scared she wasn't sure of the sudden pain and she struggled again only to be punched in the face. Lilly was hit so hard that she passed out and as she regained consciousness she was aware of the fact she was being raped and hoped and prayed he wouldn't kill her. Lilly didn't want to die, not this way. She thought of her father and their differences. She called to him for help and the attacker laughed, did he know who her father was?
Lilly was tortured for what seemed like hours. She couldn't breathe anymore; he was choking her, strangling her. All Lilly could do was look into those evil, evil eyes. Now she was praying to die and finally…she got her wish.
* * * *
Commander of the Homicide Detail, Keono Kuai, and Detective Dan Phillips entered the apartment complex. They passed under the yellow tape and headed toward the door where a patrolman stood guarding the entrance."Good morning Commander Kuai, Detective Phillips." The two men acknowledged the officer with slight nods. Both Keono and Dan noticed the woman crying and giving her statement to another detective as they entered the apartment.
The apartment was intact, which made the men think there wasn't an immediate sign of a struggle. Their first thought was perhaps the victim knew her attacker. There was no sign of forced entry, no overturned furniture, nothing broken. But as they headed toward the bedroom and panned the room with their eyes, their thoughts changed.
The victim's clothing appeared to have been ripped and torn from the body. That clothing now lay scattered around the room on the light beige rug.
There was blood everywhere, the walls, the bed and floor, which led the seasoned detectives to believe that the victim had suffered.
A white ceramic lamp that once decorated the bedside table was knocked over onto the rug and broken into many jagged edged pieces. There was a bloodied imprint of the victim's head on the wall above the headboard. Visions of the young, tortured victim being thrown against that wall numerous times now entered the Detectives' minds.
Upon Keono's initial evaluation at the scene, he believed that the victim had been raped and tortured. This would be confirmed later by the medical examiner.
"Holy Christ, Keono. Who the fuck would do something like this?" Dan asked as he pulled on his rubber gloves and bent down near the body.
There were other officers around dusting for fingerprints and collecting evidence. The officers were finishing up taking video as well as both black and white and colored pictures. Others were completing a full search of the apartment for any forensic materials or other evidence that might provide a clue to the identity of the killer.
Keono glanced around the room all the pictures had been taken as the technicians completed their job. The first responding officer was continuously filling out the crime scene log and noting everyone who entered the crime scene. Homicide investigation was difficult and everyone involved in a crime scene needed to do their part professionally and with out error.
As the Commander of the Homicide detail, Keono always told his detectives that when they enter a crime scene to be sure to follow all the procedures and to not take any shortcuts. "Do it right the first time, you only get one chance," is what he told them. It was something he learned from a well- known retired Homicide Detective from New York who now traveled around the country better educating and training law enforcement personnel in homicide investigation.
Keono was upset and, by the look on his partner's face, Dan obviously was, too.
"I don't like this, Dan. Not one bit. I have a bad feeling," Keono said as he looked at the body of what appeared to be a young woman.
He looked at the badly beaten body: the swollen shut eyes, blood covered lips and cut cheeks.
"Possible cause of death may be strangulation," said Keono also noting the heavy bruises around her neck.
Keono carefully pushed open her eyelids to see the broken blood vessels around the white of her eyes.
Further examination of the body revealed the multiple stab wounds and Keono realized either of the injuries could have been what finally ended her life.
"Sick son of a bitch," Dan said as the men rose and the coroner arrived.
* * * *
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