CHAPTER THIRTEEN (INTO EVERYONE'S LIFE...A LITTLE RAIN MUST FALL....)

"Your father sexually abused you."

Haley felt her skin crawl, wincing inside from the carelessly stated 'fact'. It took everything she had to keep her features perfectly composed, her eyes steady on her captor's gently inquiring ones.

"So you said before." She reminded. "Shit happens in life. You do one of two things." She wasn't going to play into his mind games. "You scrap it off your shoe and move on, or you carry it around with you until it's all you can smell. Me? I think I'd wash it off somehow."

"And have you, Haley?" He seemed to doubt the possibility. "Washed it off?"

She gave the question due process of thought, which in the woman's case, was a good two seconds. "Ya got any ovaltine?"

"I have anything you would ever need, child." She was assured patiently.

"I like marsh mellows in mine."

He drew in an even breath. "Are you hungry? It has been a while since last you ate."

Haley wondered just how long. She had no concept of time in this place. Had she been here a day..two? Longer?

"For some odd reason.." She feigned confusion. "My appetite seems non-existent."

"You must allow yourself time to acclimate to your new environment." The man shrugged his slender shoulders regally. "You will feel better in the morning."

Was it night outside? "Something to look forward to..goodie!"

"You are never at a loss, are you." He chuckled his amusement. "What am I to do with you?"

"The question of the day." She nodded amiably. "There are a few things which puzzle me." She would own up to the fact. "Donald Trump's hair for one, and..." Her eyes turned cold, her manner frosting over instantly. "Why you felt you had to kill those women."

The silence was brittle, at least for Haley Meadows. "...I mean..on the surface, you appear to be somewhat normal, in a 'I'm a serial killer in the making' sort of way. Why couldn't you just...do the sex thing with them and let them go. You have money..." She motioned to the lavish furnishings and expensive clothes he sported. "This place attests to that. You could have moved on..we might have caught you sooner or later but...Jesus! What the hell is in your head?"

He cocked his head slightly, continuing to study her evenly.

"Did they piss you off somehow? Did you lose it with them?"

"I never...lose it, Haley." He scoffed at such a notion. "You simply do not understand, do you. And it is imperative that you 'understand'..isn't it. It is part of your make-up..Why is that, do you think?"

"I was dropped on my head as a kid..I'm pretty sure that did it."

"I could not convince them of my sincerity, no matter how hard I tried." The man got the conversation back on track. "They feared me. I could see it in their eyes..their body language. "

"Well..DUH." Haley grimaced accordingly. "Ya think??"

He smiled slightly. "One expects a little fear..it's human nature, but I truly did attempt to put them at ease."

He cut his eyes to her. "You do not fear me..do you."

"I'm not normal..." She dismissed then..upon consideration. "In..THAT..." She explained hastily. "I've had training. I am used to dealing with assholes like you. Hell..I work for one!"

"Duvalier." He nodded, choosing to ignore the insult. "Yes..an interesting man..but, not for you, I do not think. Although he very much wishes such an eventuality, I believe."

"First of all.." She lifted stylish brows. "Ewwww..and 'B'...he WISHES!"

"Yes, he does. But, you chose Captain Brass, didn't you."

"He chose me..after the battle." She grinned. "Which I won."

"I shall weed all that promiscuity out of you eventually. I require exclusive devotion, Haley. I am not..the average male. I am..different. You can not possibly know what it means to be..me." There was a sadness to the words.

"I know you crossed a line.." She refused to allow any hint of empathy. "You hurt people. That is not acceptable, no matter the cause."

"I never hurt them..ohhh..." He dismissed airily. "Perhaps I was a bit rough during intercourse a few times. I was swept away by the moment but no..none were injured seriously."

"You murdered them you stupid moron! What do you mean they were not 'injured seriously?"

"Do not..." his eyes turned to her. They were empty..devoid of any emotion what-so-ever. Haley shivered involentarily.. "Speak to me in that manner."

She rethought her statement, realizing it was in her best interest to keep on his good side as much as possible. "Well...it was a stupid thing to say and you know it."

He..settled. "I did not...murder them. I object to that term. I..allowed them to ..cross over to me."

Haley kept her opinion to herself on that one. She had to keep this creep interested somehow. Keep him occupied until Duvalier got off his ass and found her location.

"It's complicated." He explained. "You will see in time, how it is to be, Haley. Be patient, please. In time you will grow to..accept me."

"If I 'put out'..can I have my cell phone?" She needed to take his mind off serious things. "If I don't 'twitter' at least once in a twenty-four hour period, I go into withdrawal and die. I'll give it right back..promise."

"In answer to your unasked question..I left it behind." He mocked her with his expression. "Do you think I do not know it can be traced? How remiss of you, precious."

"Then forget the 'putting out' part."

"You are not really ready for something like that, at any rate."

"It's my time of the month..you know how we women get." She nodded sagely.

"There are drugs, of course." He reminded. "But, I hate to resort to such bourgeois tactics with you."

"It IS beneath you." She agreed. "The honey is sweeter when given freely and two birds in a bush gathers no moss..just a gentle reminder."

He laughed his delight. "You amuse me."

"You tickle the hell out of me too."

"You must conform now and replace the cuff. I will prepare you a repast."

"Not hungry."

"I insist you eat something however." He scolded. "You must keep up your strength. How will you execute your escape plan if you grow weak?"

"Good point but there are those pesky drugs with which to contend, remember."

"I shall taste your food and drink beforehand."

Haley could not believe that she..actually would trust him to do so. The thought knocked her on her ass. "....What the hell made you..what you are? Where did you go wrong?"

"Already you begin to see a certain merit in me." He smiled happily. "To question my..foibles suggests an 'interest' of sorts in my mental make-up. A good sign."

"Yeah, well...I got your 'sign'." He was assured.

"A lady would never be so crude." He tsked. "Now, if you will?" He motioned to the shackle laying dormant on the carpet to her right.

She debated her options. "You're watching me. We both know that. This room is obviously secure. Why do I have to put that damned thing back on?"

"While I permitted the others to 'roam freely'..I do not think I trust you to do so just yet. I am sorry." He seemed to be.

Haley..hesitated. "This has NOT been a fun 'first date'." She crossed, picking up the object, clicking it about her wrist. "Wanna check?" She lifted innocently bright eyes.

"Would you like a novel to read?" He pointed out the shelves on the lined the opposite wall. "They are all quite entertaining."

"Where's the tv?" She asked, glancing around. "I want to see if CNN has a description out on you yet."

"They do not." He ..smiled. "Television is not good for you."

"Yeah, rots the brain and then the aliens on HuLu scoop it out for dessert."

"Something like that." He scowled at her 'wit'. "I shall not be long. I trust you can amuse yourself in my absence? Perhaps conjuring up ways to murder me upon my return?"

"That will work."

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