3 Weeks Later

  Mueller Mobile Home Park

  Madison's Residence- 8:21 p.m.

  Madison returns home from work via a yellow taxicab. She climbs out and politely pays the driver, doleful eyes scanning her immediate surroundings. With a kind smile, Madison shuts the rear driver's side door. Struggling with several bags of groceries, she makes her way up the porch steps. The cab slowly backs out of the driveway.

  A curse word escapes Madison's lips as she is forced to readjust her bags to reach in her coat pocket for the house key. An owl hoots in the nearby woods and Madison jumps almost a foot in the air, placing a hand at her bosom. Gradually calming down, Madison opens the screen and unlocks the front door. She hurries into the trailer.

  With only a single glance at the darkness outside, during the split second it takes to draw the screen closed, Madison slams the trailer door and secures the three locks on the inside. She drops her grocery bags on the floor and leans against the wooden door. A shiver courses her entire body and she begins to cry. How long is this feeling of hopelessness going to last?

  Regaining some measure of resolve, Madison counts to ten and straightens up. She picks up her bags of groceries and heads for the kitchen to put them away.

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  Detective Mackey stealthily pulls up at the edge of Madison's driveway. The lights on his Crown Vic have been turned off for over several blocks. So as not to alert Madison of his continued surveillance. He has been observing her for three weeks now, ensuring she comes to no harm.

  Despite what officials may believe, and despite what the evidence on the dead suspect's chest may suggest; Mackey believes the real Aquarius is very much alive and well. Rarely, have James' instincts about a deadly predator been wrong. The Treble Case had been equally baffling. But Mackey had solved it with time, patience, and a bit of ingenuity. Like the vile cobra tattooed on Team Leader Montel's bicep, the Treble snake had eaten its own tail.

  Henry, raper of lonely elderly women, had been struck down by his own lust and stupidity. Believing Mackey to be a vulnerable old lady, Henry had arranged a meeting--aka a hookup. Before any clothes could come off, Henry was in irons. And ironically enough, Henry's face had met another type of iron. At the hands of a fellow inmate. There hadn't been much left of Henry's face. Most of his flesh had melted into the holes of the industrial sized iron used to bring the former rapist much deserved pain and agony. Henry's just dessert.

  Sitting in front of Madison's new home; Mackey finds himself remembering her frightened eyes, her kind voice, and her gentle touch. His mind goes over the exact details of their first kiss. The quickening of his pulse, the subtle parting of Madison's moist lips, the softening of her delicate features, and how she had gently rubbed the nape of his neck.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Guilt pulls at James' heart as he considers the implications of wanting to make love to Madison. It has to be this damn case. Staring at nude bodies and photographic images of what had once been beautiful young women. Viewing the aftermath of what that horrid beast had done to their faces and their pleasant forms. For James, the discovery of Carmen's body had been the worst. Besides the obvious damage to her face, Carmen could have easily been posing for a magazine. And she had once been beautiful beyond compare.

  While not as affluent or socially adept as the other three victims, Madison retains a strongly feminine aura. Her walk, though humble, is full of womanly swagger. James had watched her rush into the kitchen, to grab his coffee and save the cinnamon rolls from burning, with marked interest. The idea of finding Madison's naked body beside a road, or in a ditch, sends chills through Detective Mackey.

  Madison has been through a lot. Nearly getting raped and murdered by even a copycat killer would undoubtedly have some effect on the poor woman. The short visit they'd had, while Madison was recovering in the hospital, had opened up a new idea in the detective's heart. A need to protect this brave woman, the only known survivor of a prolific serial murderer. In the likely chance that he is correct about the real Aquarius Killer not being dead at all.

  Mackey looks down at his watch and checks the time. Settling back in his seat, Mackey crosses both arms over his chest. Two more hours of this and then he will return to the station. These days, he also has other cases and duties to perform.

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  The Next Afternoon

  Madison applies a thin coat of gloss to her lips and smacks them together. A knock on the front door yanks the young woman out of her present daydreaming. She lowers the tube of gloss to the countertop and strolls out of the bathroom. Reaching the front door, she checks to see who is outside. Her eyes light up when she views Detective Mackey.

  Madison hurries to undo the triple locks and nearly yanks the front door open. She eyes the small bundle of canine cuteness in Detective Mackey's arms. Detective Mackey takes a step back from the screen door and grins.

  "Do you mind if I come in? This dog is kind of heavy," Mackey jokes.

  "No. I don't mind. Come in," Madison gushes, her gaze remaining on the plump chow-corgi mix James is holding.

  The excited woman unlocks the screen and moves out of the way, allowing James to enter the home. He smiles down at her as he passes by. Out of habit, Madison shuts the front door and secures it. Mackey watches Madison's activities with a healthy measure of approval and concern. It is good that she is being proactive about her safety. However, too much caution can lead to hypervigilance or paranoia. Today's gift may help with that.

  "And who is this you've brought with you, Detective Mackey?" Madison coos, coming close and ruffling the hair atop the dog's reddish-brown head.

  "His name is Titus," Mackey says in a soft voice. "He belonged to Carmen Asbury. The last victim of Aquar..."

  Detective Mackey's voice trails off as he considers omitting a few details. A little too late. Madison nods solemnly.

  "I know who she was, Detective Mackey. I understand," Madison says, staring into James' eyes.

  Madison goes back to petting Titus, her eyes filled with sadness. James watches her for a moment before continuing to talk.

  "Mrs. Asbury couldn't handle looking at the poor dog anymore. And I couldn't stand the idea of Titus being adopted out to anyone else...But you," James explains. "Titus has had a hard life. He spent the first months of his life in a puppy mill. Mr. Asbury says...Titus was so scraggly, starved, and flea infested...No one expected him to survive. But he did. With Carmen's love and help. And now, Titus is yours."

  "Detective Mackey, you really didn't have to," Madison whispers, her gaze settling on James' solemn face.

  "I know," Detective Mackey replies. "I wanted to."