Today’s the day.
Of course, by “the day,” I mean the one where I try not to look like a serial killer in a Baptist church sweater while baiting an alcoholic through town. Everyone has hobbies.
Planning Nicole’s kill has been more difficult than any I’ve ever done. Sage has been at the forefront of my mind, and it’s been hard to focus. But I just know that after I’m done with this, everything will be right. I’ll be back to normal. I just have to get through this.
The plan for Nicole is to lure her away. I’ve been watching her, and I think I can get her to trust me. Today, I tracked her through the Ingles supermarket security cameras. Right now she is hanging out behind the store, looking through their trash; she’s desperate. She hasn’t had a drink in a few days, and her nerves are frayed.
Before I leave, I replace the live feed with a prerecorded loop so I won’t be showing up on any security footage.
I gather everything I need into the trunk of my SUV and change my clothes. As much as I like wearing my all-black kill suit to lure someone away, I can’t dress like that. I have to look innocuous. I put on a pair of dark-brown khakis, some dress shoes that have the brand name and trademarks on the bottom burned off, and a dark-green sweater.
I look like I could be handing out flyers on a Sunday morning. That’s exactly what I want her to think.
I’ve been focused all day, and I’m perfectly on schedule. I’m dressed, and the car is loaded right on time to head into town and find Nicole. I check the surveillance videos one last time to see that she’s exactly where I want her to be. Right now, on the other side of the lake, a half marathon is catching a lot of attention. People are dressed in silly costumes, and almost everyone in town is gathered around to cheer them on as they run.
That means someone like Nicole is all by herself, with few people around to witness what happens to her.
But as I’m standing in front of my car and thinking about what I’m getting ready to do, something doesn’t feel right. Something’s off, and I can’t put my finger on it. I normally feel excited before a kill. Right now something feels wrong.
The thought of killing Nicole doesn’t even feel good anymore. It’s not doing what it usually does to relieve my homicidal urges.
But maybe that’s because I’m out of practice. My last kill was interfered with by Sage. I didn’t get to live it out the way I wanted to. I need this kill to reset everything. I know that when I’m done with Nicole and her body is burning, I can put the past behind me once and for all.
That thought alone carries me into town. I take the winding roads down the mountain as I go over the plan countless times in my mind. When I get to the grocery store, I park my car and head inside.
I don’t grab a lot. Mostly just the stuff to fill a canvas tote bag and make it look like I was here already. The last thing I need is for Nicole to get in my car and think she’s the only reason I was in town. That’s bound to set off a lot of red flags.
I grab some fruits and vegetables, and a few heavily processed deli meats and cheeses that I’ll probably end up throwing out. I also throw in a random vegan yogurt for good measure. You never know—maybe Nicole’s a picky dumpster connoisseur. I imagine her turning down the ride over a lack of probiotics. Then I check out. I go back to my carand put the bags in the front passenger seat, fluffing them up to make them look fuller.
I take a few deep breaths and walk to the back of the building, where the dumpsters are.
“Hello?” I call out as I slowly walk down to where I know she is.
My eyes land on her as she backs against the brick wall and clutches her hand close to her chest. I look around just to make sure she’s alone, and she is.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to scare you,” I say with the warmest smile I can conjure. “I’ve met you before, haven’t I? Your name is ... Nancy, right?”
She looks me up and down, and I watch as she relaxes ever so slightly. She straightens and takes a cautious step toward me with her hands balled in front of her.
“Nicole, but Nancy is close, I guess.” She laughs under her breath and waits for me to explain why I’m here.
“I work at Lake Lure Baptist Church, and we’re having our annual Lakeside Lunch,” I begin, taking a few slow steps toward her. “It’s for the less fortunate in the area. There are clothes and sanitary products for giving away as well. I was just grabbing a few things at the store to cook, and I know this alley can sometimes have ...”
I trail off to make it seem like I’m nervous about calling her homeless. She nods, and I see her thinking. I know she must be hungry—starving, even. Plus, the clothes she has are tattered and filthy. She needs to eat, and she needs new clothes, but she is calculating the risks internally.
“I don’t know if I have a way to get to the lake,” Nicole says, shaking her head slowly. “Thank you for the offer.”
I nod and nervously stuff my hands in my pockets. I feel the syringe loaded with drugs. I turn around and start walking back to my car, as if I’m going to give up on bringing her.
I stop mid-stride and turn back to her. “I completely understand if you want to say no, but I’m heading up that way now. I wouldn’t mind bringing you back either,” I say with a gentle shrug. “I promise, it wouldn’t be any trouble.”
She gulps and looks down at the little nest she’s made for herself here before taking a deep breath and looking back at me. “Are you sure?”
I force a smile on my face again. “I’m positive.”
She walks over to me with a nervous smile, and I lead her around the building to my car. I open the front door and exaggerate as I roll my eyes.
“I’m a dummy—the passenger seat is filled with my crap. Would you mind sitting in the back seat?”
