Free Haunting Refrain by Ellis Vidler

and thought you might join us.”
    “I can't. I'm meeting John at the Black Forest at seven.”
    “Meeting him? He isn't picking you up?”
    “It's not a date, Venice . He wants to talk about Kelly Landrum again.”
    “ Hmmpf . It's high time you started going out and having fun. I will come by and help you get ready. Martin can pick us up at six, and we'll eat at the Black Forest before your meeting.”
    Venice rarely used her no-nonsense tone. Kate touched her fingertips to her forehead, knowing she was wasting her time by arguing. “No. I am not dressing up, and I want to take my car so I can leave when I want to. You and Martin may not want to stay and talk to John.” That was a joke— Venice not wanting to talk to the reporter?
    “Of course I will. And so will Martin. We'll take you home afterwards. I'll see you at your house at five.” She hung up before Kate could say anything else.
    So much for John's request to leave Venice behind. There was no point in calling Venice back. Kate knew she wouldn't answer. She slung her leather bag over her shoulder and left, looking forward to soup and cornbread, today's special at Gene’s Restaurant. She wondered what else could happen.
    * * *
    He heard it on the radio on the way home. They had found her! How? How could that be? That lake was so deep, and he'd been so careful to put her in the deepest part. Even if he had missed the exact spot on that rainy, moonless night, he knew the water was too deep in that section for her to be found.
    He snatched the newspaper off the driveway and ran into the house with it. Unfolding it, the first thing he saw was the banner: COED'S BODY FOUND IN JOCASSEE .
    Frantically, he scanned the story. How had they discovered her? A fisherman, it said. A fisherman! No one fished on the bottom of the lake in that part. He didn't believe it. Rubbing his worry stone, he thought back to that night. He had been so careful this time. It wasn't right that she had been found.
    He forced himself to sit down and read carefully so he wouldn't miss anything. It must have been Kate and Venice again. They must have seen the body and told the police where to find her. The police had said it was a fisherman only to protect the women. He wondered if Kate could have picked up something, some insight, when he saw her. Seeing her was risky, but he couldn’t help it.
    He had to stop them. If they hadn't identified him yet, they would. He had to get rid of them. He couldn't take any more chances on their knowing he was the one.
    Keep calm, he told himself. Can't let anyone see me. Have to plan this time, no impulsive actions like the other night on the mountain. Even then, if Kate hadn't been driving that damned Mazda, she would have gone over the edge and straight down to hell, but that little road hugger had held and Carson’s truck couldn't keep up on those curves.
    His car was too easily recognized. And even though it had been dark on the mountain, Kate might recognize Carson 's truck. He would have to borrow his bookkeeper's old Buick again.   But not yet, he thought. Even though he always returned it with a full tank of gas, Polly had made several pointed comments about the number of times he had borrowed it recently—and how much he had been out of the office. Nosy bitch.
    At least he had figured out Kate's routine, knew where she went, what she did. Venice didn't seem to have one, but she did live alone in that big, secluded house. She would be easy.
    Kate had made it very convenient, living in that rough area. No one would think twice about anything that happened there. He thought about her, pounding down the pavement the other morning. She was the type who would fight back if she were mugged. Maybe it would be better if she had an accident. With the cops tracing hairs and fibers and doing DNA tests, it was better to keep his hands off her, not take chances.
    The warehouse where she had her studio was another good place. He had checked that out, too.