Beauty Can Be Deadly

Chapter 10

The first thing Steve became aware of was the choking dryness of his throat.  When he instinctively tried to move his hands he realized they were bound above his head.  He then discovered that his legs were bound as well.  He found himself in a very vulnerable spread eagle position.  The odd thing was the surface he was laying on.  It was soft, comfortable.  Now, that didn't make any sense.  Why would someone grab me, tie me up and then put me on a...bed?  Is that what I'm on?  He moved his head from side to side.  Well that's definitely a pillow.  The room was way to dark to tell much else about his accommodations.  He tried to raise his head.  Huge mistake his mind screamed.  He felt dizzy and nauseous.  Ok, lets see dry throat, dizziness and nausea.  If I have learned anything from hanging around three doctors I would have to say chloroform.  Wonder if I should get a second opinion?  Naw, they'd only charge an arm and a leg for a diagnosis I've already made.  He lay quietly and finally the residual effects of the chloroform induced sleep once again.

~~****~~

"Where is my son?"  Mark barked.

"Dr. Sloan, we don't know," Cheryl replied.  "He left the precinct around 6pm.  He said he was going to stop by Bob's and grab something to eat."

Mark switched his gaze to the figure that was trying without success to blend into the wall.  "Jesse?"

"Mark, I never saw him.  He must have changed his mind."  Jesse shook his head and dropped his chin towards his chest.  "I never should have asked him to do this.  Mixing Steve with women is like dropping a match on gasoline.  There is always an explosion and somebody gets hurt."

Mark relented slightly.  "Jesse, I wanted him to do this as well.  It wasn't just you.  What we need to concentrate on now is finding him."

~~****~~

When Steve, woke again there was daylight streaming into the room.  He became aware of fingers moving through his hair.  A face appeared above him and a pair of full lips descended towards his mouth.

"Good morning, lover," she drawled.  She then proceeded to capture his mouth in a penetrating probing kiss.

Steve jerked his head but she simply placed a hand on each side and held him in place.  She ravaged his mouth for a few moments more before lifting her head.  "I knew it would be like that," she whispered breathlessly.

Before Steve could respond, she once again took possession of his mouth.  My breath has got to stink, she can't possibly be enjoying this.  Realizing he had no choice he simply relaxed.

The kiss stopped and she moved away slightly.  "Why did you stop kissing me?"

"Lady, I never started kissing you.  You mistook resistance for a response."

She frowned slightly.  "You should try being a little nicer.  I went to a lot of trouble to get you here.  Do you have any idea how much I had to pay those goons to grab you?"  After a slight pause she continued, "But you are well worth it.  We make such a great couple.  I knew we would from the moment I saw you."

Ok, so she is seriously whacked!  I tried to tell Jesse this wasn't a good idea.  If there is a psycho woman within 100 miles they find me.  You are so going to pay for this, my little friend."  His thoughts were interrupted by a hand sliding down his chest and slipping inside his shirt.  "Uh.Ma'am," he began.  "I know you think we are the perfect couple and all but I'm not that kind of guy.  I kinda like to know a woman before she runs her hand under my shirt."

"We have time for that and besides I know plenty about you, Lt. Steven Michael Sloan, of Malibu."  She then proceeded to display her considerable knowledge of the shocked man on the bed.

Jeez, thought Steve.  She knows things about me that I had forgotten.  Ok, I don't think I'm in immediate danger... "Uh.what are you doing?" he asked as he felt a hand and nimble fingers begin to work on his belt.

"I'm just going to make you a little more comfortable."

"I'm fine, thanks," he said with a forced smile.  "Really, I'm great."

"Well, you can't be comfortable lying in the bed fully clothed," she responded.

"You're wrong, I always sleep fully clothed.  I'm a police officer; I have to be ready at a moments notice."

"Oh don't be such a baby.  After we're married I hope you aren't so prudish."

Married. did she say married?  No, I must still be foggy.  She must have said carried, harried..ok I've run out of words it could have been.  "Did you say married?" 

"Of course, married, you silly man.  I come from an old fashioned family with high moral values.  I couldn't possibly live with you without being married."

Alrighty then, a psycho with good high moral values.  Boy, am I screwed.

~~****~~

The group that sat gathered around the table were, engrossed by the files they were looking at.

"This has got to be her," exclaimed Jesse.  "Other than Katelyn Edwards she's the only one that didn't show up to pick up her prize this morning."

"Let me see, Jesse," Mark asked.

As Mark read through the information the others watched him intently.  "Her name is Savannah Aldridge.  She recently relocated from Charleston, South Carolina.  There is not much else in here.  Cheryl, can we see if we can get more information on her?"

Pulling her cell phone from her pocket Cheryl placed a call to the precinct.  She relayed the details on their potential suspect and then hung up.  "They'll get back with me as soon as they have more information.  I think it's safe to assume we won't find her at her apartment but I'll sent a unit over anyway."

Mark looked back down at the file and the picture it contained.  The face that smiled back at him didn't look like the face of a murderer but he had been around long enough to know differently.  Some of the most vicious criminals he had helped Steve catch were beautiful women.  This woman had probably killed three other women and now she more than likely had his son.  He looked back at the assembled group.  "Since this woman seems to be infatuated with Steve maybe he is safe for the moment."

"Maybe once she gets to know Steve she'll just let him go," voiced Jesse in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Jesse!"  Amanda admonished.

Cheryl gasped.  "Oh, my, that's not funny," she quickly covered her mouth to suppress the grin that was trying to form.

Jesse peeked at Mark apprehensively.  To his surprise Mark was smiling

Having successfully lighted the atmosphere, Jesse continued on.  "I wish we had taken the gifts more seriously."

"Jesse, there was no way to know that all those gifts were coming from one person.  We all thought that the contestants were trying to sway him.  Steve even laughed it off," Amanda responded.

~~****~~

Steve lay alone in the room facing his most pressing dilemma.  What is her name?  I don't imagine it will go over real well if I call her by the wrong name.  He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to think back to the day he was introduced to the contestants.  Tammy, no she had bigger hair.  Sarah, no wrong hair color.  Jordan, no she was dead.  Probably killed by your loving fiancĂ©e'.  His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening.

"How about something to eat?" she asked.

"No, thanks I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat, I fixed it myself.  I know it's your favorite," she voiced with a pout.

Steve's stomach choose that moment to voice it's appreciation for the smells emanating from the plate she held.

"See, I knew you were hungry."  She settled down beside him on the bed with a look that made him feel like a fresh cut of meat in the deli case.  Much to Steve's chagrin she began to feed him.

"You know, if you would release my hands I could feed myself," he proposed with a friendly grin.

"Don't be silly.  I want to do this for you."

Steve opened his mouth to respond and found it filled with another bite of food.  He chewed in self defense and contemplated his next move.  "When's the wedding?"

The glowing bride to be responded with, "Saturday night."

"I'm sorry being knocked out with chloroform disorients me, what day is this?"

"This is Sunday, we will be leaving Tuesday."

"Leaving?"  Steve inquired.  "Leaving for where?"

"I'm taking you home to South Carolina.  My Daddy is a minister and he's the one that's going to marry us.  I can't wait for my Momma and sisters to meet you.  My brothers may be a little rough on you but I think you'll hold up."

"Well if there is going to be a wedding I need to make sure my family is there.  They will need to make travel arrangements.  Do you have a phone I can use to call them?"

"Oh you don't need them.  My family will be your new family," she responded prettily.  "Now eat up so that you keep your strength up.  I have plans for you."

Steve's thoughts drifted to the cards on his gifts and the activities they detailed.  He could only hope that she hadn't included them in her plans.  With a deep sigh he resigned himself to the indignity of being fed.