I was working on the novel about my character talking to god, but realized most people have no desire to alter their paradigm about religion and learn something new and actually constructive about the universe and how it functions along with our place in the cosmos, So while at my writers workshop the other people told me to work on the original short story based on the character of my ex. So I am expanding that into a detailed book about the murder of eighteen men and how killing people is an okay thing for someone to do.
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Chapter 2
I had tried to make the interview room a little more hospitable. Flowers in a plastic vase, glass was out of the question, a pillow for her chair, a sport drink she requested as well as a candy bar. However it was still a plain featureless room with a metal table bolted to the floor and a U-bolt on one side for the handcuffs. Along with the two functional chairs there was a mirror bolted to the wall that I was informed was unbreakable. It was here that I was to interview Lorena and attempt to make her tell me secrets that only she had.
At one minute past two o’clock she was led into the room and a second set of handcuffs were attached to the table and she sat in the chair opposite me with a half smile that hid who only knew what secrets. The guards then left the room with just the admonition, “You have two hours doc, we’ll be right outside watching.”
“Well Lorena, it’s good to see you again. Sorry about the conditions, but your little escapade sort of ruled out any other, more comfortable meeting provisions. I still hope that we can get comfortable here and we can talk, hopefully as openly as possible.”
“Escapade?”
“Well you did escape Lorena.”
“Well, that’s your story. For me, the door was open, so I walked out. It’s just a big hospital Doc, it was pretty easy.”
“Yeah, if you think about it, it was pretty humorous. The staff, the cops, man, you should have seen the DA, it’s pretty funny now.”
“Thanks, that’s nice. You know, I don’t really like the DA.”
“Don’t worry Lorena, not many do.”
She chuckled at that, then began, “So Doc, here we are. Here I am, ready to let you into my world so you can give that horrid man an evaluation of me that will let him prosecute me. Think you’re up to the task?”
“That depends on you Lorena. Are you going to be honest with me? Will you really allow me into your world?”
Looking up at the mirror behind me for the first time, she was quiet for several minutes. Finally she looked at me and smiled. I didn’t know what to think but she started off with, “Sure Doc, I mean what do I have to lose. It’s that David, he’s been a pain since I met him. I understand they have me on video throwing him in the dumpster behind the mall. Normally I toss the bodies into my dumpster at my house, but now we have this recycling crap and they wouldn’t be there to take out the garbage for another 6 days, I couldn’t have him stinking up the garage for a week so off to the mall.”
“Ah, I see. So tell me about David. I assume you were living with him, all his things were found at your house, tell me what happened.”
“Really Doc. He’s just like what we talked about before, unimportant, ephemeral, a man here to serve my purposes. I don’t want to talk about him. Why aren’t you starting at the beginning, the first one, or my childhood, or why I think the way I do about humanity?”
“I dunno, you brought him up. I thought you wanted to talk about him.”
“No, not really. Actually I’ve been pondering all of them. Being here, waiting to talk to you has caused a bit of reflection on my life. I haven’t thought about my past in a really long time. You, well, this whole deal has brought it all to the forefront of my consciousness and allowed me to wonder a bit on how I could have lived my life differently. If I would have or not I guess is the big question.”
“Would you have?”
She looked at the sports drink and tried to reach for it. I opened it, took a straw out of my pocket and placed it in the bottle, she took a long drink then turned her gaze toward me, “Still in the air Doc, regrets come after the trial. So tell me where we are with what the police know about me.” It was more of a command.
“Well Lorena, over the past 23 years there have been 17 bodies of men found in the landfills around San Francisco. Each of them was either strangled or poisoned. Each had sex before their deaths and each of them had DNA and other evidence on them, meaning vaginal fluid, saliva, pubic hairs etc. Each had their own residences, and each, it would appear, were quite well off. Ten were married, the other seven divorced. No money trails were ever found, nothing linking any of them to any individual although each of them had been spending some rather large sums of money before they disappeared. Except for some untraceable emails and love letters to someone named Lorena, there was nothing other than the DNA to link any of them to a suspect. Until now. That’s what they have Lorena, where do you want to start?”
"Well Doc, that's telling it straight and simple. I like that about you. I think you'll give me a fair shake. You were a good choice for this. So, it’s strange, only seventeen. Let's get started."
"Alright Lorena, thank you I think. What, only seventeen, what’s that mean.”
“Nothing, just a little joke of sorts.”
“Let's begin then, tell me where you want to start, and begin."
"I guess that it's pretty cliche to blame it all on an abusive parent, so I won't. I mean lots of people are beaten, molested, abused by their parents and grow up just fine, that wasn't the causative force behind all of my life's decisions. I think that the molesting part sort of opened my mind to sex at an early age and I actually looked forward to nights when he came into my room and had sex with me."
"How old were you then?" I interrupted.
"Twelve, the first time. A couple other times until when I was fourteen, then it was every weekend, that’s after my parents divorce. The thing is, when he showed me how to fellate him, I was thrilled. For me, it was a power thing, I was in control, not him. That's something that carried on into my adult life and for me, every man I was with, I was in control. Sex gives me that power.”
“So you told me previously that men are ephemeral, not real. How did that belief enter into all this, or was it something that came along later?” I asked, intrigued now.
“Well in reality Doc, I don’t think I ever gave it much thought until we talked about it. I knew that I existed, the rest of the world existed as well, but that what I wanted was there for the taking if I just wanted it. My father was the first, both for sex, and to have killed.”
“Your father, how did that happen?”
“My eighteenth birthday. I knew I was going to go see him, I’m sure he had great plans for me, sex wise. But all week I had been collecting sap from the oleanders by my mother’s apartment. I took it with me and gave him a beer mixed with the sap. He spent the next couple hours rolling on the floor, vomiting on himself before he died. I watched the whole thing in a chair in his living room. The power I felt was incredible. All those years of servicing the man, doing what he wanted and only getting the pleasure from the small amount of control I could get was never enough. I felt vindicated when he breathed his last breath.”
“What did you do then?”
“Dumpster. I sold everything in his house, cleaned out his bank account and took his car and moved to Frisco. Been here ever since. Money has never been a problem for me. Men always want me, I mean I have what every man wants, beauty, breasts and a willingness to please. And of course, a desire for sex. That’s what sets me apart from most women.”
I sat there for several minutes, no response to her revelations. I let her ponder a little more what she had revealed.
“Doc, I don’t think you believe me.” She finally said. ‘It’s true though, I’m sure even you see that. Men think about it, they want it. Especially blow jobs. That’s the perfect woman for men, even you I’m sure. Tell me you haven’t thought about me naked and sucking you off at least five times since we met. And be honest Doc.”
“No, sorry to disillusion you, but I have other things on my mind when with you than allow for, well, less productive thoughts. I take my responsibilities quite seriously, and in fact my thoughts about you are more inquisitive about you in totality than any specific act you might or might not be adept at. Sorry.”
“Okay Doc, we’ll leave it at that for now. But let’s get back to these men. That’s what you’re interested in, or so you say.”
“Yes, tell me about Dexter Pope. He was the first one found.”
“Dex, yeah, good ol’ Dex. Dexter Pope. Married, Mid forties, not a bad looking guy, small pot belly, small penis. He had terrible insecurities. Horrific self esteem. I practically had to rape him the first time. He was fun though, always thought of me as a goddess, which is the one thing I require in a man, treat me well. Like a goddess.”
"So he was the first one then?"
"No, not really. The first that made it out to the landfill, but not the first man to provide for me. When I got here I went to the Fairmont and stayed there. I had a fair sum of money and I knew that the way to find men acceptable to me for what I wanted was to be where men with money came."
"So Lorena, even at that time you knew what you would be doing to men. I mean you had plans to meet men, seduce them, take their money and kill them, is that right?"
"Wow Doc, seduce them. Sort of a polite way to say it. But no, not really. I knew that men would give me things. Oh Doc, I don't think I told you but my father wasn't the only man I was having sex with. All through high school I got whatever I wanted. Money, grades, company of the boys I wanted. I had a pretty good education into how to get things. I just knew that I needed to up the ante so to speak and go for a lot more than fifty bucks a pop like a common hooker. I knew I could entice most any man into my world and they would be quite pleased to lavish me with the riches I needed to exist in the way I wanted. Dex was not the first man to give me things, he was just the first that I tired of and couldn't get rid of easily. Well, depending on how you define easily I suppose."
"How do you define easily Lorena?"
"Errracckkkkk" She said as she attempted to make a cutting motion across her throat. "That part really did turn out to be a lot easier for many of them. Some men are just so clingy, they can't take it when you tell them to go away, that you're tired of them and they seem to be broke. At least the gifts and jewelry seem to be getting smaller and smaller."
"Was the monetary aspect of a relationship the main, or only concern for you when you met men and did it determine how long they were with you?"
"Oh Doc, really. I could have sex with any man, why would I want one that didn't give me things. Any man will work, if they have no idea how to, well, perform in a satisfactory manner, they are all pretty eager to learn. I have no illusions as to wanting handsome muscular men that look more like movie stars. I mean why? Who cares, they provide one thing only for me."
"That, that's monetary consideration? I asked hesitantly.
"Oh not really, I mean sure that's part of it. But the sex thing for me is the power. I like to be in control, I determine when the man climaxes, how many times, where he does it. They all want it, they crave it. And I do for them what few other women will do. And let's face it Doc, there's two kinds of men in the world, leaders and followers. I don't want the leaders, they don't need me, they don't want some woman to have power over them, they have power. They get what they want. I look for the timid guys, the followers. Geeks, I guess. And like I said before, men with low self esteem. They treat me like a goddess. And a lot of them have money."
So much was falling into place for me now. This woman was more than the horror I had once thought. A very horrific golddigger with an idealized belief in herself and few morals. Still, I needed to find out all I could, so I continued with the questions. "Lorena, I think I'm getting the picture. Tell me how you met Dex, and what happened with him."
She looked back at the mirror again, wistfully remembering a younger self, recalling within her mind the events that led to meeting this man whose life was tragically ended for reasons that only she knew. I hoped to discover them, I waited as she reminisced, "It was winter Doc, I'd been here nearly two years then. Winters are hard for me, I don't like being cold, but men can't see me walk when I wear a heavy coat. Summers are best, see through summers. I garner quite a bit of attention. Still do Doc, still do. But that winter was especially cold and I was walking up Union Square, just doing some shopping. Valentine's Day was coming and I had a couple guys I needed something for. Sure, for the one, a special outfit. The other was a friend, and not really a sexual partner. But a good friend. Believe it or not, he's still a friend. A straight guy and I never slept with him, but then he's one of those leaders, he liked me, but we both wanted to be in charge and it would never have worked out."
"But anyway I went into this store and was looking at some lingerie and he was on the other side of this counter looking at some perfume or something. I caught him looking at me, I had my coat over my arm and was holding a lacy camisole in front of me. I licked my lips and I think he came in his pants right then. I waved him over toward me and just like a jerk in the movies, he points to himself with this questioning look on his face. I nodded yes and waved again at him. He came over and I asked him if he thought I would look sexy in the camisole. I knew right then he was mine. He was wearing a five thousand dollar suit and could barely speak to a woman, he was old money, and my type exactly."
The past came to her in her thoughts and as she spoke, she was back in that shop, meeting the man she had in moments set her sights on. Dex looked at her and gulped, “Yes, yes ma’am, you, you’re very sexy. That’s perfect for you.”
“You think so? I don’t know, I mean most men want red, or black lingerie. But this is for me, to make me feel sexy. Sorry, it’s just another Valentine’s Day alone, I just want to feel good about my self, even when alone. So what were you looking at over there?”
“Oh, that. Just perfume for my wife. You know, Valentine’s Day as well. I, I’m, well, never sure what to buy for her, Well, you know, not just now, but really anytime.”
“Oh, I see, what did you get her for Christmas?”
“Oh, I bought her a Jaguar. She’s been wanting one, so I got one for her.”
“A Jaguar, wow, she’s a lucky gal. How long have you been married?”
“Oh, fifteen years now.”
“Well, again, she’s lucky. I’m Lorena.” And she held out her hand.
He took the hand, “I’m Dexter, people call me Dex.”
“Well Dex, it sure seems like you need some help selecting gifts for this lucky young lady that is such a big part of your life. C’mon, let’s go get her a gift that she’ll love, and better, love you for it.” And with that she took his hand and led him back to the perfume counter. They only stayed there a few moments, but went off to the jewelry area. There with help from the saleswoman she helped select a stunning necklace that was just beautiful in its simplicity. He then paid for her camisole for her as a thank you and as they walked out of the store into the cold they went separate directions. She was about ten steps away when she turned and called out to him. Dex stopped and turned toward her. "Dex, it's pretty cold out here, can I get you some coffee or a hot chocolate before your journey home?
"I don't know Lorena, it's, well, I, well. okay, sure." And he walked up to her where she stood then took his hand and led him downtown. They walked a block and then turned down a side street with Dex completely oblivious as to where she led him. They came to a bakery and on the side was a door that led into a stairway. Up the stairs and there were two apartments in the corridor. Dex stopped short, finally realizing her intent.
A little tug on his arm and he still didn't move. "Dex, I make a fantastic hot cocoa. Relax, it's just my little way of thanking you for buying this little gift for me." She knew that if she squeezed his hand he would run, but she just smiled, let go of his arm and walked the three steps to her door and proceeded to unlock it. "The hall isn't heated Dex, the apartment is." And she went inside and took the tea kettle over to the sink. Her back was toward the door when she heard it close. With the kettle on to heat, she then removed her coat and hung it in the closet across from the door. She then went over and took his coat and laid it across the arm of the sofa. This was a move to set him at ease, so he knew he could leave at any moment. She then walked back to the kitchen and waved him over to her. "Come watch and see how a great cup of cocoa is made Dex. You'll want to learn this, your wife will be amazed. It really is a simple thing, but life with a woman is all about the simple things. But then I think you already know that." And she could see his interest was peaked.
Dex timidly approached the kitchen and watched as she heated the cream and shaved the bar of chocolate onto a piece of paper then measured the grated lusciousness into the cups. Dry cocoa powder on top, then half full of boiling water, then fill with warm cream. A dollop of real whipped cream from a covered bowl in the fridge and a grating of nutmeg on top. She handed him a cup then took hers and sat on one end of the sofa and watched him as he debated what to do next. "Dex, you really don't know much about women do you? I think buying a gift for your wife was pretty difficult for you wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it always is." and he gave in and sat on the other end of the sofa facing the wall and not looking at her.
"Don't worry about it Dex, pretty much every man in the world feels the same way. A few lucky ones, no, smart ones, have figured it out. And their wives love them for it. The thing is Dex, is that it's so simple, so unbelievably easy."
"Really? I mean how do I do it? I, I, I mean I don't have a clue."
"Look at me Dexter, look at me." was her command, and he did, he turned his head and looked at her. "It isn't about buying her a Jaguar, or diamonds or things you think are fantastic. It's all about paying attention to her. Always. All the time. When we were at the store, if your wife was there with you, would you have noticed me?"
Looking flustered, he stammered again, "I, well, I, don't know. You, you're quite noticeable."
"Sorry Dex, wrong. I'm not the one you've committed your life to. When you're with your wife, you need to focus on everything she does. And here's the secret, remember everything she looks at and smiles. This is the woman that allows you to have sex with her Dex and I'm betting that doesn't happen very often anymore now does it?"
"Um, well, no."
"Dex, believe me, this is stuff that all women want their man to do for them, it's just that in our society asking for what you want is frowned on. I mean except asking for a car or a new vacuum cleaner for the house,"
"We have a maid."
"Oh Dex, you're so silly. That's not what I mean. But I can bet that your wife didn't want that Jaguar, what she really wanted from you is to pay attention to her. When she looks at something while you're out at dinner, then says how nice it is, remember that, buy that. She probably has a box full of jewelry she rarely wears because you bought it for her thinking it was nice, not ever thinking that she's not you. The best advice I could ever give you Dex, on Valentine's Day tell her you want to please her, you bought something, but that you want her to pick out something that she loves. Take her to dinner, look at her, I don't care if I or some other gorgeous woman walks right by you, you need to pay attention to her and her alone. That will make her feel special. And the big thing, when she talks about something, later in the evening, mention it to her, let her know you paid attention. I'm pretty sure you'll do a lot better in the bedroom if you take that advice."
He was facing her on the sofa now, looking directly at her with intense interest. "Really, do you think so?"
"Of course Dex, it's not rocket science."
"Well, it's hard, you know. I mean, we hardly ever make love anymore. I do look at women, everywhere. I'm just so, well, you know, horny all the time."
She stood up and picked up his coat and held it out for him. "Well with that I think it's about time for you to head out. I need to start dinner. It doesn't make itself and I'm quite hungry now. I skipped lunch and I don't mind eating early."
"Oh, you want me to leave? I, I thought."
"You thought what Dex?"
"Well, you know, I thought, well, I, I thought you were a prostitute."
She started to laugh. "Oh my god Dexter, that's hilarious. You came up here, oh my, that's why you were so nervous. Look Dex, think of me as a friend that will give you help when you need it. Actually my father passed away a few years ago and I am quite well off, not rich by any standard, I don't even have a car let alone a Jaguar. But I live here, I have friends, no boyfriend, but some friends. I cook, I clean my house, and I do need a new vacuum hint hint, but other than that, I don't pray on horny men trying to buy stupid gifts for their wives."
"Oh god, oh god, I'm so sorry Lorena, really I am, I'm so embarrassed. Here let me go." And he grabbed for his coat and headed for the door.
"Oh criminy Dex, don't worry about it. I've probably been thought of as worse than that before." And she stood between him and the door. "You've been watching too much porn. Porn gives an unrealistic view of women to all men. Life isn't like that Dex. Let me tell you a little secret, I once slept with a married man. He never told me he was married, so I don't think I could be blamed for it. It happened like ten times before I found out he was married. He wanted to keep seeing me, but, well, I just couldn't. Not that he was married, but that he lied to me so much, that's what hurt." And with that she handed him his coat and went back to the sofa and looked away from him. "And I cared for him too Dex, I mean sure he was older than me, he seemed so mature, and I did just like being with him. It was, well you know, just nice."
He came back over to the sofa, coat in hand and sat next to her. "I'm so sorry Lorena, really. I never should have thought that about you. And for me thinking I would, well, do that. It's the first time I ever thought about that. I, I love my wife, I really do. I didn't mean to hurt you."
She stood, turned and looked him in the eye, "Well then, I forgive you. But let's both put on our coats and YOU get to take me out for dinner so I don't have to make it. How's that sound, a nice dinner and I will completely forgive you for thinking I'm a lady of the night. Which if I think about it, it's still afternoon, why would you think that? Can't you tell time young man?"
"Oh, yeah, hunh. Oh. Okay, I guess I'm sort of hungry as well. Sounds great." And as he put his coat on she took the mugs and put them in the sink. Then both bundled against the cold they went out the door, down the stairs and out into the cold. They walked a short distance and he hailed a cab for them. "I know a great place over on Columbus, you'll love it." They talked about Italian food on the ride.
Arriving at the restaurant he held the door open for her and she leaned close to him and said, “This is practice for you Dex, look only at me, only look at others when it’s required. We’ll see how you do.” Knowing full well that he could barely keep his eyes off her as it was. She did wish she had changed into something low cut to insure his attention.
They ate, they talked, and Dex looked at no one else in the restaurant the whole time. As they were leaving, she congratulated him, and he smiled. A taxi to her apartment and she hugged him and said goodnight. Only then did she tell him her phone number and tell him to call anytime to talk, and let him know how things go.
Valentine’s Day she spent with her married suitor and marveled at the diamond necklace and earrings he brought her before leaving at 6 to go spend the evening with his wife. He was learning, he was better in bed than when she first took him some 4 weeks previously. Sadly, she was alone, and wondered about her life choices because of that. She thought about her new target Dex and wondered how his evening was going.
The very next afternoon her phone rang and it was a number she did not recognize. She answered, and it was Dex. “Lorena, I’m, well, I’m downstairs, can I come talk to you?”
“Of course Dex, come on up. “
In minutes he knocked on the door, and letting him in she took his coat. Sitting on the end of the sofa he looked terrible, tense, distraught and scared all at the same time.
“What’s wrong Dex, didn’t you have a good time last night?”
“No, no Lorena, it was terrible, she was so mad at me. I told her I wanted to spend time with her shopping even though I had already bought her a necklace like you said to do. But she told me I didn’t put any thought into a gift and the necklace was cheap and, well, she said I didn’t love her enough to buy her nice things. My god Lorena, that necklace was three thousand dollars. I, I, just don’t know what to do.”
“Did you have sex after dinner? I mean she couldn’t have been that angry if she made love to you.”
“No, we didn’t even make it to the restaurant. She wanted to go home, she said she had a headache. She went to her bedroom and didn’t come out again. I didn’t even see her this morning before I left to go to the office.”
She sat next to him and put an arm around him, “I’m so sorry Dexter, really I am. I had no idea anything like that would happen. Really, I would have been thrilled to spend time with you. I just don’t get it. She, well, I’m truly sorry, I never thought you would end up alone yourself on such a special day.”
“Oh, thanks, but it isn’t the first time. I just can’t seem to please her at all.”
“Well, I think there’s something else wrong in your marriage Dex. She seems like she doesn’t love you anymore. I mean, that should have been the perfect evening.”
“Yeah, well. I don’t know. Thanks. But hey, what did you do last night?”
“Oh just what I said, I wore my new camisole, ordered Chinese and had a nice quiet evening. But most of my evenings are quiet. Want to hear something naughty?”
“What do you mean?”
“Naughty. Really naughty. I wore the camisole and when the delivery guy came, that was all I was wearing. He got a helluva shock.”
“I can’t imagine you doing that.”
“You can’t? Well hang on a minute.” Then she stood and went into the bedroom. She took off all her clothes, even her panties, and put on the camisole. It was sheer and all of her was quite visible through the material. She was short so the bottom came just below her pubic area. She walked out into the living room and watched as he gasped when he saw her. She sat next to him and could see he had a visible erection. His wife made her task pretty easy.
“Do you think I’m sexy Dex?”
It was a moment before he could answer her. He stared at her breasts, then looked down and saw her shaved pubic area. She spread her legs when she noticed where he was looking. Finally he said, “You, well, god Lorena, yes you’re sexy. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
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