Casimir pov
4th November 2020
5 pm
She stank, smelling like stale cigarettes, nasty. The unpleasant odour clung like a noxious gas in the air.
Let the ordeal begin.
"Make yourself comfortable. Do you want some water?" I asked, my voice sweet and low.
She hesitated.
"It's only water," I insisted, raising my eyebrows slightly.
"Yes please"
She proceeded to finish the one litre bottle of water, mixed with smoothing. I smiled in victory.
I would dump this bottle later.
"Thanks"
"Now, will you put those on?" I tested the waters.
I saw her panicked slightly at the sight of the handcuffs in my hand. It made her uncomfortable.
One point to be noted.
'Let's move on shall we' my inner voice begged.
"No way. I'm not into bondage or any of that strange kinky stuff" she cried.
"For me," I insisted, calmly.
"I don't do that"
She sat up straight now.
"I thought you liked me Mia," I paused.
Mia Winsley. When you want someone to listen to you and trust you, just use their first name. It creates magic.
"Six hundred"
'Come on. Be greedy and accept your fate'
I watched her, excited as she appeared pensive, struggling with greed, lust, fear and doubt. She would think of all the possible luxury she could get herself with this filthy money. She would think of how I could not possibly hurt her otherwise I should've already done so. I was sure I didn't look like a psycho killer. Her eyes wandered the car for a while cautiously before lingering on the handcuff.
I ain't got the whole night. Maybe she needs some help to decide.
"Forget it" I say, dropping the handcuffs and starting the engine.
She stayed quiet. She's no fun.
"Should I drop you somewhere?"
"No" she squealed suddenly, making me amused.
She has made the choice.
"I don't want to push you into anything" I insisted, pretending to be worried.
"You're not" she gasped right away.
She confirmed it. Now what am I waiting for?
"Let me wear them please" she begged.
The engine died.
She held up her hands, offering her hands.
'She's offering herself to me' the voice echoed through my head.
"Put them behind you" I smiled eagerly, already deciding her fate.
I cuffed her wrists and firmly grabbed a handful of dry blonde hair. I pulled her head back, gently.
"You've sacrificed yourself for the wrong choices. I would've let you go if you'd not be so blind to the evils of this world" Bringing my lips closer to her ear, I whispered.
I pulled her hair tighter as she asked what was this about and so on, wriggling.
"Keep your sodding money but lemme out of here"
A shiver of sweet excitement prickled my senses as she started struggling fiercely. I clumped one hand on her mouth.
"How can I let you go when you offered yourself to me willingly?"
Enraged, I started to punch her around the face and head. She whimpered. I opened the passenger door and shoved her on the concrete. She fell in a heap.
"Want to go home"
Her agonized voice was a melody to my ears. It made me feel exhilarated.
Getting out, I dragged her up. Blood was trickling from her nose and the corner of her mouth. Red has always been my best colour. I flung her against a brick wall where she collapsed, cracking her skull and fell limp.
I stopped and checked for a pulse and admired the striking red on her head, running down her face. Red always looked exquisite and extravagant irrespective of the skin color. It never looked perfect though.
I felt perfectly calm. I unlocked the handcuffs. I took a can of petrol from the boot and doused her with it. The strong smell lingered in my nostrils. I struck a match, tossed it and jumped back. The filthy body was engulfed in a swoosh of cleansing flame, alive. I waited and watched as the flames were consuming her corrupt self.
Killing was a choice and to sin as well. So why couldn't people face the truth?
I chose to free her from this cruel world and feel peace. Killing is an understatement. It's more of a divine work.
I wondered if I must take two consecutive baths and clean the car, putting some disinfectant on the seats.
'Now for the final touch'
I laughed.
I unfolded a paper and half-burned it. I screwed up the paper and lodged it a few inches from her outstretched hand under a couple of rocks. It was a perfect scene.
'Perhaps during a struggle, she could have struck it there herself. I ain't doing anything' I shrugged my shoulders indifferently.
The main highlight of this show would go to Gasper Hillary, my old pal.
"La justice est servie" I muttered under my breath.
I stretched my arms and hands, satisfied and pleased with my art.
Back in the car, I suddenly felt sick and exhausted. I was sweating and my hands trembled on the wheels. I leaned my head back, closing my eyes, I counted to ten slowly. It was just a reaction. I had had it before. Murdering another human being was not nothing, even a low life like this filthy woman. I should gain control over myself again and get back to Paradise quickly.
My phone rang disturbing my thoughts. Annoyed, I picked up the phone.
"Where are you at?"
"I'm attending a funeral pyre" reminiscing the dozed off pyre not long ago.
"Whose?"
"A mouse died. It stank nevermind"I scoffed, knowing he wouldn't get the humour.
"What's going on there?"
"All quiet"he answered, too quickly.
"Not for long. Keep me posted" I ordered.
"Sure"
I was still a little nervous and could not stop shivering.
"Don't get spotted"
I hung up, started the engine and drove off.
I knew I had to keep a grip on things though I was already under so much pressure. At times, I felt I was losing it. On the phone yesterday, Rose had sounded too nervous, throwing excuses about her phone being down and no flirtatious comments around.
'She also seemed afraid and frightened people are unpredictable and dangerous' my beast warned me.
When I asked about a possible dinner meet up, she mumbled yet another pathetic excuse about work overload. Her being reluctant to accept my invitation to dinner made me suspicious about her. She had always been ready to dump herself all over me. Moreover, she hadn't mentioned about the last murder case of Sherry Crane at all as if she was desperate to avoid her. She knew something. Her deliberately ignoring this subject bothered me and enforced my suspicions. She had been doing rather more thinking than was good for her wellbeing. She could do nothing but think. Otherwise she'd land herself in serious trouble as she profited from my illegal shipments. That made her a pimp. It wasn't her fault entirely since she must have thought about her two fatherless sons, Ryan and Bryan, the twins. Let's face the truth. She had to stick up for herself and her own luck, her own money. Nobody would do it for her.
However, this woman might become a risk, a liability I can't afford. Especially not at the moment. I insisted she'd come to dinner. We'd have interesting things to talk about this evening for sure. I felt a surge of excitement.
8 pm
She had questions for me in her eyes but wouldn't voice them out in fear for her life. I looked at her pale, freckled skin and black hair twisted into a small bun. Though she put dark red lipstick on, she still looked tired. She had worn a black lace dress and yet instead of wearing heels, she chose a pair of heavy and chunky platform shoes. She couldn't be anymore obvious.
"Ask me whatever you've been meaning to"
I was growing tired of her being all silent and giving curt replies which had continued throughout the whole dinner.
"Do I have something to do with the murder of that scrubber Sherry Crane? I assure you I don't"
"No" she stared at me, shocked.
She cleared her throat nervously.
"Well, I've been sick with worry that three scrubbers died in a row and earlier one similar case occurred. You also happen to have been the owner of the clubs they all perform in"
Panic started to wash over her, darkening her expression as she tried hard to speak.
"Coincidence. Life's crammed with coincidence. Don't you think so too?"
I paused, studying her frightened face.
"What's wrong?" I asked casually, smiling at her.
She was shivering and sweating too. I was annoyed by a new and alarming idea. She definitely knew I was the culprit.
"Didn't you think about sharing your concerns with me? I could've helped"
"I wasn't too sure"
"D'you realise that you believe I've killed those people? It's upsetting you'd have such a cheap opinion about me"
"No" she looked pale and sick.
She was holding something important back.
"I needed to think. Don't get angry, Cas" she hesitated.
Cas was not my name. Why she'd given me a pet name? I frowned every time she'd shorten my name. She clearly dismisses my annoyed reaction. My name was Casimir. I felt her grabbing my hand on the table gently, pulling me out of my trance. I was close to losing my cool but stayed still, watching her.
"I just need to know if you're involved in any way. Look, it's important that we're honest with each other so we could benefit more. You know that, don't you?"
She was seriously expecting me to confess mass murder or involvement in the murders to her. She was a police officer, even a corrupt one who took my money. Was she wired up beneath those clothes? My anxiety about that possibility mounted by the second.
"Since when do I need to go around murdering people. You're being really stupid" I rolled my eyes, pulling my hand away.
"No"
Suppose her colleagues or anti-corruption squad had rumbled her and offered a deal, she wouldn't think twice before sacrificing me. She would try to save her neck. She was careless at times, she would get caught sooner or later.
"You're not going to like whatever I gonna tell you"
"I don't like lots of things. Nothing unusual"
She pressed her lips, stricken with silence until I spoke.
"Go on please"
"Mr Jones. He says you've killed his wife and suspects maybe you've killed the others as well"
So that was where she got thinking, joining the dots and finally concluded this awesome theory in her head.
"He told me and my sergeant. I couldn't stop the talking among everyone"
Useless bitch!
So she chose to sacrifice someone else so my attention would be shifted from her since she'd imagine me going ballistic over this news. She would definitely betray me to save her skin. The last thing I need.
My mind raced. She was trying hard to get me to confess. The possibility was that she'd get me to confess and then secure herself a better deal by betraying me.
She'd betray me!
I fought the anger threatening to surface and smash the glass lying peacefully on the table in her skull. I wanted to shred the skin on her face.
I noticed she shared a third flickering glance to her handbag which laid on the floor near her foot. Perhaps she brought something to protect herself. A gun!
So, she had already decided to try to do me for the murders of the scrubbers and she was wearing a wire.
"You killed those three women and fitted Gasper up so that the police would assist you to get to him"
I felt surprised. She wasn't that lame after all. She could ruin everything. I smiled angrily.
"Brilliant theory but it's completely wrong. I've never killed any of those women. For all I know, you could have tipped Gasper off. And he silenced the witness as well"
"No. For Christ's sake. Why would you say that?"
I've got to stay friendly and sweet to her, dreading that she may have wired taped to her. My heart thudded unpleasantly. She glanced around anxiously.
"You have a silly evening cloth there" she said, clearly uncomfortable, yet attempting to make small talk.
It was of no use. I had already rumbled her.
"My colleagues have got a mind of their own. I can't control everybody"
My hands clenched, I glared at her. The useless creature she was after all the money she fed on.
"The general consensus?"
"You'll be questioned"
Chaotic emotions surged inside of me.
"So far there's no evidence to back up his claim"
I'd need a watertight alibi. I tried to conceal my unease. After a long silence, she spoke.
"There's nothing I can do to get you out of that. I'm sorry Cas"
This is not my name.
"If sorry worked, you uniform people wouldn't be needed"
"Try to be positive and take it easy"
"What's positive about this situation"I roared, breathing hard.
"Allow me to say sorry to Mr Jones then. Would that be enough?"I laughed angrily.
"Can we just be honest with each other?"
"You haven't been exactly honest with me, have you?"
"Listen, I can help you if you'd just tell me the truth"
She was obviously desperate to get me to confess to something on tape. My anger mounted.
"You wanna pin this on me"
"I'd never grass you up Cas"
Again, I hate hearing this pet name in her voice. I exhaled loudly.
"Wanna throw me to the wolves so perhaps you could save your own skin"
"You know that's not true. We're partners. You've got nothing to worry about"
'Not really! We're not partners. I've only used you. Dumb woman! But I've gotta stay sweet to her.'
"I've never killed anyone. What you think about me matters to me! Please trust me Rose"
"I didn't want to upset you"
She hesitated before leaning forward slightly and grabbed my hand again, her fear slightly dissipated.
"Alright this dinner is over"
I hissed under my breath, narrowing my breath at our intertwined hands. She flinched.
She has got time to bid farewell to her acquaintances. I don't forgive those who'd betray me, stab me in the back.