Identity Page 7

  "Okay."

  "So what are your plans for the weekend?"

  "I'm meeting Carole for lunch then we're taking in a show."

  "Good, relax. Your memory is coming back. Once this starts, things can happen really fast. Now, I'll have to postpone our next visit because I'll be out of town. Stop by the receptionist. She'll give you my private number and if necessary, you can SKYPE me. Okay?"

  "Thank you."

  "Take care Sam."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHICAGO TRIBUNE February 28, 2012

  WINTER RETURNS

  Chicago braces for another onslaught of winter this weekend. National Weather Service is predicting 8-10 inches of snowfall this weekend. Mayor Emmanual says Streets & Sanitation crews are prepared with all plows available. Every effort Emmanual says will be made to stay within the city's budget.

  ***

  "Are you checking out Miss McLean?"

  "Going to try to get back to New York."

  "I wish you luck. O'Hare looks like it is going to be socked in."

  "I was lucky I got my sample case out earlier today. I just have to get home now."

  The concierge interrupted their conversation to let the saleswoman know that her cab had arrived. She grabbed her carry-on and entered the cab.

  "O'Hare?"

  "Yes, I have a scheduled flight out tonight."

  "I hear the flights are backed up. This snow is coming at the rush hour...worse time. I’ll try to get you there."

  Twenty minutes later the cab had only moved less than a mile from the hotel. Amber McLean checked her iPhone to get the latest flight update on her flight. She gave an exasperated sigh when she saw the results of her inquiry. “ALL FLIGHTS CANCELLED UNTIL 5:00 a.m.”

  "Damn!"

  "Miss?"

  "Change of plans. Can you get me to a restaurant with a good bar?”

  “In Chicago...easy!"

  Another fifteen minutes passed before the cab stopped in front of Marina Tower.

  "Here we are miss. The Tower Restaurant has a bar and grill. A good place to wait out the traffic problems."

  Amber gave the cabbie a $20.00 bill that more than covered the short but long trip. She took her briefcase and overnight carry-on and tramped through snow-covered sidewalk to the entrance. Once inside she placed her cases down, took off her wet coat and sat down at the bar. The bar was dimly lit. Bowls of pretzels sat along the counter waiting for the greedy hands of customers. However, Amber was alone with the bartender.

  "Glad to see a customer tonight. What can I get for you?"

  "Mojito."

  "That ought to warm you up."

  Amber sat at the bar and watched as the bartender switched from channel to channel to get more of an update on the weather. Each station reported the same...there was going to be no let up until morning.

  As Amber sat there her eyes shifted to the doorway where a tall dark haired man was entering the bar. From her seat she easily recognized the tailored look of his clothes. His eyes searched the bar and could see Amber sitting at the end of the bar. He crossed the floor in easy strides and stood next to Amber. She looked up and saw striking blue eyes smiling down at her.

  "Care if I join you?”

  "If you'd like."

  As the two talked Rodney became more familiar with a woman that traveled alone on business. She met his criteria. Plus, she had the added feature of striking red hair. Something that always enticed him to his victims.

  "I have an apartment upstairs. Perhaps, you'd like to come up. I could fix something to eat, and we could just relax while you wait for the planes to start flying out again."

  Amber hesitated in her reply. It wasn't in her nature to go any place with a stranger. This night was different. She broke her own rules. "I'd like that."

  The elevator arrived at the penthouse apartment floor, sixty-five stories above the Chicago River. Amber was feeling quite exhilarated being with such an obviously wealthy individual that did not wear a wedding ring and without any evidence of one. Rodney opened the apartment door. When Amber entered the apartment her eyes silently admired the view of the Chicago River from the panoramic windows.

  She looked around the living room and it appeared sterile. "Do you live here?"

  "This is the corporate apartment. I only use it when I have late night press runs. Or, like tonight, the weather prohibits me from going home."

  Rodney guided her to the kitchen counter bar. Amber sat on the barstool. Rodney turned to the large stainless steel refrigerator.

  "Let's see what we have in the frig? Looks like omelets. That's good, because it is probably the only thing I can really make."

  He winked at Amber while he started gathering the tool and ingredients for his sacrificial dinner. He went to the wine cooler and took out a California Pinot to compliment the dish. He turned his back to Amber and reached into the cabinet for two wine glasses. He turned again and handed one of the glasses to Amber.

  “This should warm us up.”

  Amber smiled gently as she sipped the wine. She was feeling light headed and hoped that the food would be prepared soon to help her regain her senses.

  "I really not feeling too well."

  "Really? Maybe you will feel better after you have something to eat."

  It was too late for Amber as she slumped off the stool and collapsed on the floor.

  "Well, Red, we're going to have some fun tonight."

  He scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. He sat her on the lounge chair as he stripped the bed covering. He returned to Amber and began undressing her. As he took off each piece of clothing, he neatly placed it in the corner. Amber moaned, but couldn't regain her strength. When he finished undressing her, he picked her up and laid her on the bed. Her red hair fanned out circling her face.

  Details. Details. No searching for clothes thrown around the room.

  He unzipped his pants and pulled out his engorged penis. He rubbed himself as he kneeled over her. His heart started beating faster. His hands moved up and down his shaft until him sperm spilled out of him onto Amber's stomach. He messaged the semen into her chest, rubbing each nipple with sticky fluid. After a short while he felt himself growing strong again. He turned Amber over to her stomach.

  This was the part that confused Rodney. He didn't understand why he had a fixation for anal sex. For some reason, it gave him a feeling of power and satisfaction simultaneously. It started when he was in boarding school. He pumped his penis in and out of Amber's anus with such a force that the shock to her system caused her to awaken.

  She started screaming, "STOP. Get off me!" She was breathing heavily as she tried to wiggle away from him, but she again passed out.

  Rodney knew that the Rohynol should have allowed her not wake up and remember his actions. Something went wrong. Not enough Rohynol? Evidently, she didn't consume a sufficient quantity. Her awakening was going to be the cause her death. He withdrew his penis and turned Amber over. His hands encircled her neck as he squeezed tightly. In less the thirty-seconds and it was all over for Amber.

  Details. Details.

  Rodney knew he didn't have as many options. He had to follow his routine. It always worked. He took Amber’s body to the bathroom and deposited in the tub. He turned on the cold water. While her body was soaking, he cleaned himself and tidied the apartment. He confirmed that there wasn't any evidence that Amber was present in the room. The hospitality cleaning staff would be oblivious what had transpired

  Once things were straightened, Rodney prepared to leave the apartment with Amber's body. Thankfully, it was after 2:00 a.m.

  No one was around and the city slept through the storm. He wrapped Amber in her coat and threw her over his shoulder. He called the elevator. Since no one had called it, the door immediately opened. He dumped Amber on the floor. He returned to the apartment to get her carry-on, briefcase and clothes. He locked the apartment and took the elevator to the parking garage. No SUV this time. Amber's body and he
r belongings were forced in the trunk of the Benz. He left of the garage and drove slowly through the snow packed street. He cursed the snow-covered streets. An hour later he arrived at Lincoln Park parking lot. The wind coming off the lake made it difficult for him to see. After he parked the car, he removed Amber's body and took it to the lakefront. As he the coat off her body, he could see that this was an ideal place for the body. The wind was strong enough to cover his tracks. By morning, there wouldn’t be any evidence that he was the culprit that dumped the naked woman. He continued to follow his routine. He dumped Amber’s belongings in two separate dumpsters on his drive home to Lake Forest.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The North winds came off the lake blowing a snowy mist across the lakefront. The cloud-covered sun was beginning to rise casting light shadows in the tree line. A singular lone jogger maneuvered through the pathway while his dog stopped to investigate a snowdrift.

  "Come on Duke." The jogger called as he snapped his dog's leash away from the drift. The retriever resisted and started barking. The jogger moved closer to the drift.

  "Oh, my God." Even in the cold, a shiver went through the jogger’s body as he slowly saw an arm becoming uncovered by the fierce winds. He reached into his pocket and called 911.

  It seemed like an eternity as the jogger waited for the police to arrive. He jogged in place to keep warm while waiting for the police to arrive. The dog continued barking.

  As the sun rose, more joggers were appearing at the scene. They circled the drift containing the body, stamping down the snow, and destroying any possible evidence. The GPS on the jogger's phone, made it easier for the police to get the exact location of the incident. Two squad cars raced up the lakefront pathway. Any other time, a vehicle on the pathway would be frowned upon.

  At last, the jogger's dog stood silently as the other joggers patted his head telling him what a smart or good dog he was.

  ***

  The morning sun crept through his bedroom window. As Tom rolled over to avoid the light, he reminded himself for the hundredth time to get room-darkening shades. Before he could drift back to sleep, his cell phone rang. The caller identification informed him Steve was calling.

  "Tom, it's happened."

  "What so important this early?" Tom asked in a morning voice.

  "We have another naked victim."

  With those words, Tom bolted upright. "Where, when?"

  "Well, get your ass out of bed. I'll send the GPS location to your phone."

  "Give me a break. I'm technology challenged. Just tell me."

  Thirty minutes later, Tom met Steve at the crime scene. The scene was already taped off. Investigators were wasting their time taking statements from the on lookers who had no knowledge of the crime. The various TV new teams had arrived and were jostling to interview the jogger who found the body. The corner’s wagon had unloaded the cart and transported the frozen body to the vehicle. As it drove off, the crowd remained hoping they would appear on the evening news.

  Tom looked around the scene trying to see if there was something the investigation might have missed.

  He turned to Steve, "Now we valid investigation. It makes it easier when the perp is in our backyard.”

  "What about Samantha? This guy could be a real danger to her if he finds out she's alive."

  "Right now we have the advantage that she isn't even unrecognizable to herself. Once the memory kicks in on full cylinders, we will be able to catch this guy. Let's get to the coroner’s office and see if there is any thing that can help us."

  ***

  Samantha arrived at Robinson—Williams shortly before 9:00 a.m. When she rode the elevator to the third floor, her eyes scanned her fellow passengers. Everyone held the same tired expression of arriving late from the harrowing trek through the snow to get to work.

  As she sat down at her station, Alice rushed to her. "I'm so glad you got here today. Our department is three people short handed. Guess they didn't want to challenge the elements."

  By the end of the day, both women were eyeing the clock to signal it was time to make the tedious trip home.

  "Before you leave, Sam I have something I want to give you." Alice handed Sam a hard cover book.

  Sam looked down and read the title... GOING HOME

  "I think you're going to find the heroine very interesting. I've finished it so there's no rush. Take you time reading it."

  "Thanks."

  Each woman left the third floor and headed home. Sam trudged through the slushy sidewalk to the Red Line and waited at the station for the next "L" to take her back to Carole's stop. Once she boarded the train, she was able to find one of the few remaining seats in the car. Not wanting to engage in any conversation with her seat partner, she took the book Alice gave her out of the lunch sack and started reading it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Chapter 1

  "It had been seven years since she was home. She wondered if they would welcome her or would they shun her. The day she left her father told her that she had shamed the family name. He would never recognize her as his daughter.

  "Now her father was dead. Would her mother carry on her father's hatred for her and her little girl? Sam decided that the time was right. It was time that her daughter knew her grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins."

  ***

  Sam looked up and saw that the train was nearing her stop. She closed the book and packed it away, promising herself to do some more reading later that evening.

  After dinner, Carole and Sam sat in the living room watching TV. The WGN news promo announced: 'Murdered woman found on lakefront. News at 9:00.'

  "Oh my God. What's happening in this city?" Carole asked.

  Sam sat their quietly wonder the same thing.

  The two sat quietly as the program they were watching finally ended and waited for the news. The endless commercials before the news only enhanced their anxiety. When the news finally started, the news commentator sat poised at the news desk and began reading the script.

  “Earlier today a morning jogger found a woman buried in a snowdrift along Lake Michigan's jogging path. Presently, the identity of the victim is unknown. The cause of death is still under investigation.”

  The scene split and video of the crime scene played as the commentator finished reading.

  "Well that didn't say too much."

  "I think I saw Tom in the background. Do you think there's a connection with me?"

  "If Tom was there, I would say there is a strong possibility."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Later in the evening, Sam sat on the bed and decided to continue reading GOING HOME.

  "Mom, do you think grandma is going to like me?'

  "Honey, how could she not love you."

  The old Subaru traveled through Lewistown to Sam's childhood home. As she drove through town, it was easy to recognize familiar family sites. Goodrich Realty; Goodrich Pharmacy; Goodrich, Attorney at Law.

  Sam reread the paragraph two more times. The heroine in the book was Samantha Goodrich! Her mind started spinning. Was this book written about her? How did this book's heroine relate to her?

  "Carole!" Sam called out.

  Carole rushed into the bedroom hearing Sam's panic call. She could see Sam's hands shaking while holding a book.

  "I, I, I can't believe what read." She handed the book to Carole. Carole took the book and sat on the side of the bed and read the paragraph Sam pointed to.

  "We're going to have to talk to Tom first thing in the morning. This is more than a coincidence."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Rodney sat at his library desk. The lighted cigar sat in the ashtray as he turned on the evening news. He watched the local news commentator read the news of the body found along the lakefront. The corner of the screen played the video of the scene. A familiar face caught his eye. He pressed the pause button. Yes, there in the background was the detective that he’s seen in the Williams building last week. He gav
e a sneer as he looked at Tom's face.

  "Think you're going to find me?" he said in a whisper. "Good luck. I'm too smart for all of you."

  He turned off the television. He scrolled through his phone until he found the number of United Airlines. He pressed the call button. A friendly operator answered.

  "Welcome to United Airlines. How can I be of service to you?"