Shadow of Perception (19 page)

The doctor checked something off on her chart, then rested it on her hip. “I asked Ms. Risk about her eating habits prior to catching the flu. Again, she was disoriented, but she told me she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had anything to eat. She also said she drank alcohol last night. Alcohol will dehydrate you, too. Tack on the flu…” The doctor shrugged. “And you have a recipe for moderate dehydration.”

A nurse approach, then whispered something to the doctor. “I have to go. Are you Ms. Risk’s spouse?” she asked.
 

Knowing he truly had no right, legal or otherwise to remain by Eden’s bedside, he decided a small lie was in order. “Her fiancé,” he said.

Lloyd, who had been standing next to him the entire time, coughed.
 

“Well, Mr. Patterson, if you’d like, you can sit with your fiancée until she wakes. We’ll check her vitals when that happens and decide whether to admit her or not.”

When the doctor left, Hudson turned to Lloyd. “I’ve got to call Rachel and let her know we’re at the hospital. If I’m going to be here for a while I’ll need my laptop. Can you go back to Eden’s townhouse, let the dog out, feed him and Fabio, then bring me my laptop?”

“Who’s Fabio?” Lloyd asked.

Hudson released an impatient sigh. “Tell me you didn’t see the enormous cat lying on Eden’s bed.”

“I thought it was a stuffed animal.” Lloyd shrugged. “The damn thing didn’t move once.”

“Then make sure it’s not dead when you go back there,” Hudson said. “Stay with Eden while I call Rachel, and when I get back you can head over to the townhouse.”

“In case another DVD arrives or the stalker tries to make contact, do you want me to stay at her place until she comes home?”

Hudson scrubbed a hand down his face. “Shit. The extra security camera you brought me is still sitting in Eden’s hallway.” He’d planned on installing the camera after his interview with Evan Pope, but he hadn’t planned on Eden taking a trip to the E.R.

“No problem. I’m handy with electronics and will have it up and running for you before I head back with your laptop.” Lloyd checked his watch. “Make your call fast so I can leave. I don’t mind working at dusk, but if it gets any darker…besides I have some calls to make, too.”

“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to boss your ass around. I’m sure you have other assignments—”

Lloyd held up his hand. “No, we’re good. I just want to make sure Eden’s sister and brother know she’s in the hospital. Knowing them, they’ll want to come see her. I’ll give them a head’s up on your upcoming nuptials, though,” Lloyd finished with a grin.

“They’re both in Chicago?”

Lloyd nodded. “Have been for a few months.”

“And how do you know her brother and sister?” Hudson asked, beyond confused as to how Lloyd could possibly be connected to Eden’s family. A family he hadn’t realized existed. Well, the sister he knew about only because she’d mentioned her in passing, but she had a brother, too? Why hadn’t she bothered to mention either of them when they’d been together?

“Long story,” Lloyd said, then moved the curtain and entered Eden’s makeshift room.

Once Hudson found a private area in the hallway off the waiting room, he called Rachel. After giving her an update, he asked if she knew how Lloyd was acquainted with Eden’s family.

“Oh, that’s right,” she began. “You were gone when everything happened with Celeste and John.”

“Kain? Yeah you told me they’d met while he was working a murder case in Wisconsin.” Then it hit him. After putting sixteen and twenty-four together he said, “Holy shit, Celeste is Ian’s daughter.”

“That’s right, super sleuth. And Eden and Celeste are sisters.”

*

With the scent of fresh blood lingering on the maintenance uniform, Pudge entered the house as quietly as possible. Light from the TV screen flickered on the darkened wall of the family room. Uncertain as whether or not Mama still slept, and not in the mood to have the glorious kill ruined by her bitching, Pudge slipped down the hallway to the bathroom.

Once the door had been locked, Pudge dropped the backpack, shrugged off the heavy wool coat that hid the bloodied uniform, then stared at the reflection in the mirror. Twisting from side to side, Pudge smiled. “We made more of a mess than I’d planned.”

worth it worth it slice dice worth it

“Yes, and when the agency calls to replace Nurse Gretchen, I’ll tell them we’ve already found a new nurse.”

good good good bye dr dread hello nurse nancy hello

“Nurse Nancy?” Pudge grinned. “Clichéd, but the name does have a nice ring to it. Nurse Nancy it is,” Pudge finished, and began removing the uniform. Once naked, Pudge eyed the mirror. “I had fun with you this evening.”

 
fun i want to have fun with you tonight pinch your nipple pinch

Pudge did as ordered, and sucked in a deep breath. “So good. So
very
good.”

more more harder more harder

Pinching harder, Pudge’s knees buckled with arousal. “I need sex,” Pudge groaned.
 

Killing excited Pudge. More than an adrenaline rush, feeling the life seep from their victims’ bodies had become an aphrodisiac.
 

Foreplay.
 

With each cut made into Nurse Gretchen, Pudge’s body had throbbed with the need for sexual release. Her blood had reminded Pudge of a lubricant, the knife’s blade, the way it slid in and out of Gretchen’s flesh, of a sexual tool.
 

bend bend over bend over and show your ass

Pudge’s face grew warm at the seductive command. “Let me finish cleaning myself first. Then I have to check on Mama.”

sleep sleep let mama sleep let me love you
 
 

Arousal coiled through Pudge’s core. Need and desire fueled Pudge to work quickly. Within minutes, any remnants of the maintenance worker had been washed away. Pudge left the bathroom wearing a towel and, carrying the bloodied clothes, quietly headed for the bedroom. After stowing the clothes in the “Dr. Dread suitcase,” Pudge slipped into a pair of flannel pajamas, then tiptoed to the family room to check on Mama.

Mouth dangling open, Mama lay on the hospital bed, snoring. The entire room reeked of shit, which meant Mama’s colostomy bag needed another changing.

Pudge didn’t want to clean up shit, not now, not when they could disappear into the bedroom and have sex. “Damn her. Damn the helpless bitch.”
 

leave her come with me come for me

“In a minute,” Pudge whispered. “Let me take care of Mama. If she wakes up, I don’t want any interruptions.”

mmm so smart so smart

Ten minutes later, Pudge had changed Mama’s colostomy bag, and had even left a fresh sandwich, new bag of chips, can of soda, and more snack cakes on her tray. Now in the bedroom, Pudge undressed, then, propped on elbows, lay on the bed in front of the mirror. Legs spread, sex reflecting back, Pudge shivered with arousal.

sexy so sexy let me love you love you

“Mmm,” Pudge moaned. “Too bad it’s just you and me. I wouldn’t mind trying a threesome again.”

toy edens boy toy play with boy toy

Positioning to all fours, Pudge turned and eyed the mirror again. Ass high, Pudge imagined Eden Risk’s sexy boyfriend naked and in bed with them, and groaned with pleasure. “Yes,” Pudge hissed. “Even if we have to strap him down, we’ll make him ours.”

now now make him ours now

Pudge rolled from the bed, then retrieved the dildo hidden between the mattress and box spring. “Soon,” Pudge began, and climbed onto the bed again. “I promise you Eden will be dead by the end of the week, and my gift to you will be her boy toy.”

promise promise precious promise

Pudge inserted the dildo and released a low groan. “Mmm, yes. I promise. Now hush and love me.”

*

“Did you hear who was admitted tonight?” Laurie, the receptionist from the OR, asked.

Michael Morrison continued to review the chart the on-duty anesthesiologist had given him. He could care less which celebrity had been admitted to St. Mary’s. Located in the heart of Chicago, the hospital was no stranger to local politicians, actors or sports legends.
 

“No, but I have no doubt you’ll tell me,” Michael said with a smile. While he had no interest in hospital gossip, he’d worked at St. Mary’s Medical Center for fifteen years, first as a nurse, then as a nurse anesthetist, and genuinely liked his coworkers. Laurie, like many others from the hospital, had attended his daughter’s funeral. These people had also been staunch supporters afterward, when the heads of the hospital had tried to make him take a leave of absence. He’d understood why the administration had suggested he take time off of work. Hell, even some of his coworkers had needed counseling after they’d witnessed his ex-wife blowing her brains all over his daughter’s casket.
 

Because of his superb record with the hospital, and a glowing report from one of St. Mary’s lead psychologists, he’d remained on duty. Months after Eliza had committed suicide though, and after Michael had lost his fight against the plastic surgeon group from Cosmetic Solutions and Med Spa, he’d realized he’d need to take justice into his own hands.
 
He’d needed a plan to execute the punishment no court system in this country would ever allow. As a means to his revenge, he’d decided to become a nurse anesthetist. With the slight career change, he’d been able to remain at St. Mary’s, had been allowed access to the necessary drugs, and given the opportunity to view multiple surgeries. His coworkers would never suspect that while he’d viewed surgeries, he’d created new means of torture to practice on the patients who would eventually visit his private OR. Not that he’d needed new ideas. He’d discovered through his plan of vengeance that he had quite the imagination.

 
Laurie held the coffee mug between her hands. “Well, if you don’t want to know…” She shrugged.
 

“You’re not going to bait me this time,” Michael said with a wag of his finger.
 

“Fine,” she began, “Then I guess I won’t tell you that one of Chicago’s hottest reporters was admitted earlier this evening.”

While his heart rate skyrocketed, he pretended to go back to reading the chart. “I guess you won’t,” he said, playing along. He could easily check the hospital records to discover if the reporter happened to be Eden, but he’d rather have Laurie give him the information. If all hell broke loose, and people began checking, they would be able to see his computer activity. No paper trails, real or electronic. He hadn’t finished with his death wish list.

He just hoped to God nothing had happened to Eden. The unknown person he’d seen lingering around her townhouse had him worried. No one lurks around another person’s home—cloaked by darkness and dressed like a burglar—unless they’re up to no good. Besides, he liked Eden. In some ways she reminded him of Eliza. Always pushing to be perfect, and unwilling to accept her own personal flaws. When she’d caught his attention with her Beauty Pageant Queen Bees series, she’d gained his respect. He’d witnessed her kindness. Watched her work hard to serve justice for the little guy. Hell, she even rescued disfigured animals. Anybody who liked animals was cool in his book. After all, look how he’d been taking care of the coyotes.
   

“Right.” She tapped her nails on the coffee mug. “So I guess I won’t tell you that Eden Risk is on the third floor recovering from dehydration.”

He stopped and looked at her. “Eden Risk?” he asked, playing dumb. No one needed to know he’d researched her, and knew her better than she knew herself.

“You know. The investigative reporter on Channel 5 News.”

“Oh, that’s right. I’ve heard of her. Sorry, I usually watch Channel 3,” he said.

“Well, you’re missing out. Eden is awesome.”

“Hmm, you don’t say?” Michael hid his relief and pretended to review the chart. While dehydration could be bad, and lead to complications, being a victim of an unknown assailant would be worse. If his
patients
hadn’t been ripped to shreds by coyotes, they could certainly vouch for that fact. “Well, I have to run. Try not to gossip too much,” he said to Laurie. “I’ve got a surgery in an hour and need to check on a few patients before I begin prepping. Page me if you need me.”

Leaving Laurie behind, he made his way to the break room. Blessedly alone, he allowed his thoughts to race.
 

Eden Risk.
 

In the hospital.
 

On many occasions, he’d been very close to Eden without her knowing. He could do this again. After all, she lay in a hospital bed on the floor below. Drumming his fingers on the table, he considered his options, then came up with a plan.
 

After slipping on a pair of Latex gloves, he tore a piece of paper from a notepad lying on the table, then began to write. Minutes later, he folded the paper, then slipped it into his pocket. He poured coffee into a Styrofoam cup, grabbed his chart, then left the room. As he traveled down the hallway, he nodded to coworkers he knew, then once alone, opened the door to the stairwell. No one would think anything of him traveling to other floors. Side effects from anesthetics were not uncommon, and part of his job was to check on patients recovering from surgery.