Chapter 6
“T HERE’S ALREADY BLOOD on this scalpel,” the Butcher said in a throaty whisper meant to scare her out of her wits. “You see it?”
Then he touched his jeans at the crotch. “Now this blade won’t hurt so much.” He brandished the scalpel in front of her eyes. “But this one will hurt a lot. Disfigure your pretty face for life. I’m not kidding around, college girl.”
He unzipped his jeans and pressed the scalpel against Marianne Riley’s throat ? but he didn’t cut her. He lifted up her skirt, then pulled aside her blue panties.
He said, “I don’t want to cut you. You can tell that, can’t you?”
She could barely speak. “I don’t know.”
“You have my word on it, Marianne.”
Then he pushed himself inside the college girl slowly, so as not to hurt her with a thrust. He knew he shouldn’t spend a lot of time here, but he didn’t want to give up her tight insides. Hell, I’ll never see Marianne, Marianne after tonight.
At least she was smart enough not to scream or try to fight him with her knees or nails. When he was finished with his business he showed her a couple of photographs he carried around. Just to be sure she understood her situation, understood it perfectly.
“I took these pictures myself. Look at the pictures, Marianne. Now, you must never speak of tonight. Not to anyone, but especially not to the police. You understand?”
She nodded without looking at him.
“I need you to speak the words, little girl. I need you to look at me, painful as that might be.”
“Understood,” she said. “I’ll never tell anybody.”
“Look at me.”
Her eyes met his, and the change in her was amazing. He saw fear and hatred, and it was something he enjoyed. It was a long story why, a growing-up-in-Brooklyn story, a father-and-son tale that he preferred to keep to himself.
“Good girl. Strange to say ? I like you. What I mean is, I have affection for you. Good-bye, Marianne, Marianne.”
Before leaving the bathroom, he searched through her purse and took her wallet. “Insurance,” he said. “Don’t talk to anybody.”
Then the Butcher opened the door and left. Marianne Riley let herself collapse to the bathroom floor, shaking all over. She would never forget what had just happened ? especially those horrifying photographs.