Page 125 of Sinister Legacy
“We might get sufficient evidence to put King away for good. A rock-solid conviction.”
Riveiro is thinking the same thing I am; this is the boost we both need for our careers.
To be the officers responsible for catching the second most prolific serial killer in Blackwoods’ history.
We’ll be classed as national heroes and get to feature in future documentaries.
We’re so close to solving this case. I can taste it.
It’s Saturday, and Madison takes me to the movies to cheer me up. I haven’t been since I went with Liam, but Madison goes almost weekly. It’s her happy place, hiding away at the back with a bag of popcorn on her lap.
She’s in a pair of boyfriend jeans, a knitted, black-and-white sweater, and a pair of chunky-soled white sneakers. I have already sneaked a peak at her crotch, and there’s no strap-on today. I’m sure the twinge inside me is not one of disappointment. My mind is simply looking for ways to escape reality.
I feel like the killer is watching and waiting. Somehow, he has made me the main player. And now he’s waiting to see what I’ll do next.
Nothing.
That’s what I’ll do.
I’m in limbo, waiting for King to be released.
The air is thick with the smells of popcorn and cheesy nachos. A candy bag rustles behind me over the sound of the movie.
Madison sits with both of her feet on the seat in front of her, her eyes wide as she stuffs more popcorn into her mouth. She offers me the bag, and I shake my head before rising to my feet. “I need the bathroom.”
She nods, watching the movie, her fingers back inside the bag of popcorn to grab more.
I walk out, shuffling past strangers’ legs in the narrow aisle. The movie music rises in crescendo just as I exit the movie theatre. It’s empty out here beneath the dim spotlights. Stray popcorn surrounds an overfilled trash can.
I walk down the carpeted hallway, past the movie posters on the wall. As I enter the bathroom, I check my phone. I have one missed call from Cassie, but that’s it. My mom hasn’t tried to message me since she threw me out.
Pocketing my phone, I go to use one of the toilet stalls. The hot tap doesn’t work, so I have no choice but to clean my soapy hands with cold water. I bang my hand on the dryer. Same story. Doesn’t work. There aren’t any paper towels, either. I return to one of the stalls and pull off sheets of toilet roll to dry my hands with. It’s thin and breaks easily.
Tossing the wet tissue into the toilet, I pick stray pieces off the top of my hand before reaching out to flush.
A warm hand clamps over my mouth when I straighten up, and the heart-clenching smell of bergamot, leather, and peppermint surrounds me.
Fuck, I’ve missed him.
So fucking much…
“Missed me, baby?” he whispers in my ear, echoing my sentiment.
I nod eagerly, pressing my ass against him.
His nose drifts down to the crook of my neck, and he breathes me in, his arms wrapped around me. “I told you I’d come back to you.”
I want to ask him how. If they’re still suspecting him. But the prickle of his beard on the side of my neck has my full attention now.
“Have you been good?” he asks, nipping me as he lowers his hand from my mouth. The sharp bite of his teeth draws a gasp from my lips.
My first instinct is to lie, but the truth flows from my lips. “No, King… I haven’t been good.”
He stiffens, his hot breaths fanning the slender curve of my neck. “What did you do?”
“I fucked Madison.”
Well, Madison fucked me.
