The Surf Leash Strangler

Chapter 14

Ryan Adams sat in the interrogation room chained to the steel table. He had been there for the past half hour, looking bored. He hadn't said a word since the cuffs had been slapped around his wrists, not one word pleading his innocents, but then he had also not said a single word admitting anything either. Not that they needed his confession; they had DNA and video evidence that showed exactly what he had done. The confession on top was just a bonus.

Veronica walked into the interrogation room and placed down a file. She kept her expression neutral as she pulled out the chair across from Ryan and sat down. She said, "If you think your silence will help you, you clearly don't realise the situation you're in."

Ryan frowned. "I know exactly what is happening. I don't see the need to cry and plead when it won't make a difference."

"Did you want to request a lawyer before we proceed?" Veronica asked.

Ryan scoffed. "Proceed with what? Did you want me to recount for you what I did exactly? Or perhaps you'd like details about how tight their cunts were around my cock."

Veronica wanted to roll her eyes. His use of vulgar language was either supposed to intimidate or disgust her. While it was gross, it wasn't the first time someone she had arrested had tried such tactics. "Let's start with Shelly Pomroy." She pulled out Shelly's photo and placed it on the table.

Ryan twisted his face. "She was a handful. Bitch could shut her mouth. Kept going on and on about her 'Daddy', and blah, blah, blah." He chuckled. "But she had a nice body; breasts were firm but too fake for my liking."

"So you killed her because she spoke too much?"

Ryan shrugged. "I fucked her, sure. But I didn't kill her."

"You killed her because she didn't please you the same way Alice did."

His eyes widened at the mention of Alice.

Veronica opened the file and took out the other photos and laid them out. "And neither did Ebony Smith, Jane Michaels, Stephanie Porter, Delilah Hamilton, Rebecca Coleman, Franny Hector or Ashley Black. They all looked like Alice, but they couldn't give you what she did."

Ryan sat up in his chair. "Alice was special. When I lost her, I lost everything."

"You mean when she killed herself to get away from you."

His body tensed. "No. Alice didn't kill herself because of me."

Veronica said, "Really? You beat her, treated her like crap. Isolated her from her friends and her family. Forced her to perform sexual acts on you."

"She liked to fight back." Ryan grinned. "It was hot when she would scream and beg me to stop. But she'd always cum."

"But none of these women did?" Veronica pointed at the photos. "Was that the problem? You couldn't manage to get them off? You failed to please them, so you strangled them?"

"I was the best they ever had," he sneered.

Veronica smiled and shook her head. "No, I don't think you were. That's why you took the surf leashes from your father's shop and strangled them. Because you had to prove you were a man, but all you proved was that you are nothing but a coward."

Ryan shook his head and laughed. "If you think this pathetic attempt to goad me into lashing out will give you a confession, then you're wrong."

Veronica shrugged. "I don't need a confession. We have DNA and video. And another one of your victims ID you."

Ryan frowned.

"Oh, let me guess. You're wondering who ID you when you killed them all?" Veronica sat back in her chair. "Well, you weren't always so careful when it came down to it, were you. The girl that didn't let you break her, the one who got away.

"That bitch!" Ryan stood but stumbled as the cuffs kept him attacked to the table. "I should've used my bare hands."

"Sit down, Mr Adams." Veronica kept her voice steady. She could see the anger pumping through him. They had what they needed. He was going away for life; she would make sure of that.

Ryan sneered but sat back down. "All you sluts think you're so fucking perfect. Think you're better than everyone else. But you're not. The only useful thing about you is your cunt."

Veronica sighed, collected the photos, and placed them back in the folder. She said, "Mr Adams, thank you for your time. Enjoy prison." She walked out of the room, ignoring the slew of words that followed her out.

Whitaker, Walsh, and Pierce were all waiting for her outside. Whitaker said, "Not a direct confession, but I don't think we'll have any problems with the trial. Good work, Mars."

"Thank you, sir," she nodded.

"Finish off your reports, and then you are free to head back to Virginia." Whitaker nodded and turned to head back to his office.

"Yeah, good work, Mars. You caught the bag guy," said Pierce.

She smiled. "We caught the bad guy. Team effort – like always."

"It's a shame you will be going back to Virginia. I liked working with you both," said Walsh.

"I can't wait to sleep in my own bed," said Pierce.

Veronica nodded but didn't say anything. She couldn't leave, not yet. There was a long conversation that she needed to have with Logan. She wanted him in her life; they just had to work out how it was all going to work if it could work.

"You taking your time off?" asked Pierce.

Veronica pulled out of her thoughts. "Yeah. I have a least two weeks of time off. Figured I should probably spend some time with my dad while I'm here."

Walsh smirked. "And Logan, I take it."

Veronica laughed. "Yeah, him too."

"Logan? What did I miss?" asked Pierce. He looked very confused.

"It doesn't matter," said Veronica.

"He's just her ex. The one who gave her some much-needed attention that gave her the energy and to hunt down Ryan Adams." Walsh nudged her arm.

"Oh, shut up."

Walsh laughed and moved towards her desk. "Drinks tonight, on me."

Veronica nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

"Free drinks, hell yeah."

Ryan Adams had been caught, and the story had hit the news before Veronica had left the field office. She climbed into the SUV and turned the car on to hear the normally stoned – at least she suspected he was stoned – radio host talking about the arrest.

"It's good news for us here in Neptune, California today. It was confirmed, an hour ago, that the man responsible for the eight women that were strangled and found along the California beaches these last few months has been arrested. The FBI hasn't released any further details about the case or the man responsible as of yet…."

Veronica smiled as some of her tension rolled off her body. It felt good to wrap up a case, and by now, she would have normally been ready to pack her bags and head to the airport, but she wasn't in a rush to leave. Veronica had a few stops to make first, starting with Samantha Whitmore.

The hospital was quiet as Veronica made her way to Samantha's room. She had already spoken with Samantha's doctor and was pleased that it seemed Samantha was doing well. The doctor had also told Veronica that it seemed Samantha's Uncle had been in to see her, and it seemed he was trying to encourage her to get help.

Veronica knocked on Samantha's door before she entered. As she stepped in, she found Samantha sitting up on her bed with a man standing beside her; it was her uncle, Geroge Whitmore.

"Agent Mars," said Samantha. She sounded brighter than she had the day before. "Back so soon."

Veronica offered a warm smile. "I have some news for you."

"About…" Samantha trailed off.

Veronica nodded.

"Agent Mars, this is my uncle." Samantha glanced at her uncle and bit her lip.

"George Whitmore." He held out his hand.

Veronica shook his hand politely. "Veronica Mars."

"Sammy explained that you were looking for the man who attacked her."

Veronica nodded again. "Yes, Mr Whitmore. And we have. He has been arrested."

Samantha's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes, really. He will be going away for a long time."

Tears welled in Samantha's eyes as she smiled and let out a sob of relief. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Veronica smiled.

Watching Samantha hug her uncle as she cried in relief made Veronica remember the good things about her job. She had given Samantha some closure knowing the man responsible would never be able to hurt her or anyone else ever again. The relief, the comfort that she was able to bring, gave Veronica the strength to keep going back.

The other stop that Veronica made was to visit Alice Grace's parents. Judy and Walter welcomed her into their home, and she explained everything she knew. Veronica saw the pain flash through their faces as she explained the horrors that their daughter had endured, but she hoped that they wouldn't blame themselves. The real person that was responsible would go away for a very, very long time.

Thank you so much for reading.

I would love to hear what you think. Even if it's as simple as a 'can't wait' all feedback is appreciated.