I was on my computer immediately Googling frantically trying to find anything on this Bo Culpepper. I was striking out everywhere I tried. I decided to go to the library and use their resources (maybe even sort through some microfiches of old newspapers, if I was lucky).
I tried "Who's Who in the USA" for the 1930s and couldn't find his name. Then I started in on the newspapers—Alexandria and Washington D.C. What date did his headstone say that he died? It only had the year—1937. I began with January and read through them all looking for some story or reference to him or his death. Finally a thread of something! An obituary for Beauregard Culpepper! It was a typical staid piece and had no illuminating details except for his actual date of passing. Going back a couple days and scouring those few newspapers got me something tangible.
Buried in the police blotter section, there was a summary of a report of a gruesome death that the Alexandria Police had uncovered. It seemed that Culpepper's body was found in a stream bed, stabbed to death - 100 times! The article then went on to state some of the activities and associations the man had maintained - secretive cult following... encouraging various forms of sexual perversion and "expression"... outwardly questioning religious principles... maintaining residences that would house his own cult members in an open sex community... many run-ins with local community and religious groups...chemistry lab in basement of house...clairvoyance... psychic communications with the living and the dead...
Holy shit. This guy was part sex cult leader and part meth lab cook? He died 80 years ago, though. What is the connection (a powerful connection!) with my mystery woman? I'd uncovered a very strange story, but my research was only just beginning.
It was becoming clear that I had to get inside of this woman's mind to understand this potential mine field of stimuli. I needed to gain access to her apartment and check around for more evidence. What did I know about breaking into homes or apartments? Nothing! There was another way, though and it demanded that I escalate my interaction with her—much earlier than I felt I should. And much earlier than I really felt comfortable or safe(!) doing. I had to expose myself to her desires to be able to be drawn in.
That same day, I was at her apartment building and looking at the lobby. The outside door had an electronic key lock and the apartments' mail boxes were inside. I could not read the apartment numbers or names. I had to try to gain access into the lobby to take any next steps. Having spent a few minutes viewing her apartment windows, I noticed that the drapes were all closed. She may or may not be at home at the moment. Should I wait for her to return or should I confirm that her apartment was empty before I attempted something? My mind was swimming in a pool of dangerous ideas, none of which I was capable of progressing.
Then I saw her drapes move slightly. Someone had just repositioned them so that they were completely closed. She was inside.
Three other ideas, then came to mind. One, was to send her a proper note through the post, since I had her address and we had been "introduced" to one another. Two, was to devote a lot of time trying to trail her secretly and plot her movements, so as to be certain of when she was away from the apartment when I broke in (however I was to do that!) And three, since she was inside her apartment now, I could simply ring the intercom to her apartment number and ask for her to meet me again. Whoa, was I even ready for that? Was I certain of what I would even say?
Beads of sweat suddenly emerged on my forehead, as I realized that I had not planned sharply enough to deal with this - to deal with HER! I turned and walked back away from the building to my post—leaning up against a tree on the street a ways from the building. I wanted to touch myself just thinking of her. Or was it the situation, itself, that was exciting me?
I walked back to the front door of the apartment building, found the number of her unit and pushed the intercom button. Immediately, the buzzer came on to unlock the outside door and I walked into the lobby. Thoughts flooded into my head. Why didn't she ask who I was prior to buzzing me inside? Did she know it was me? She must have. Was there a "lobby cam" for each renter's intercom unit? In any case, I wasn't turning back now.
Knowing where her unit was within the building, it wasn't long before I was standing in front of her door. I gathered myself and knocked at the door. The door began to open and i was greeted by A MAN! He carried a toolbox and excused himself, as he had simply made some repairs for the occupant. He walked away and I exhaled. Whew. Did not see that coming!
Then I saw a female hand pull the door open and my mystery woman met me, by saying, "I give you credit. I did not think you'd be able to hold off as long as you did before coming to my door." She invited me inside.
I had to mentally regain my bearings, as I was, first and foremost, on a reconnaissance mission to learn what I could about this strange perversion with Culpepper. It immediately became hard to focus, however. Her apartment smelled wonderful. It smelled like her—her fragrance permeated the space. She was cool and aloof, but smiled at me (for the first time, I believe). She didn't ask me why I was there, but simply asked, "What can I pour you?" I stammered some response and she went to fix a couple stiff drinks.
She was wearing a black dress that fit her VERY well. Conservative cut, but well fitting. This is how I'd pictured her in every image that I had conjured in my mind. She wore black pumps and a pearl necklace. She was stunning. I snapped out of my trance and quickly had some glances around the room. One thing that I noticed was her decorating style. She had numerous antiques or reproductions of fixtures and items from the Art Deco period - from the 1920s and 30s. A very old book was fixed into a book stand and was open to a specific page. A quick glance told me that it was not a christian Bible. It appeared that the book was hand written.
I remember in our earlier meeting, after the "follow me" walk to the alleyway, that she was very prescriptive regarding how I should act and what I could or could not say. She had demanded control of the moment. In fact, she had had control of every moment—including this one. I told myself to continue this posture and allow her to do the talking.
I thanked her for the whisky and she began. "So, David, do you enjoy watching me? You've been following me for some time, now. Do you know where all of this is going?" That was a very good question, indeed. I was completely taken by this woman. She had dominated my thoughts, since catching sight of her eyes at that fragrance counter. And where did I think this was heading? I had no clue.
"This is a romantic twist of a stranger on a train kind of thing, from where I see it." I said.
She gave me a slight smile and took a deep pull from her drink. "Is it romance, then, that you are after?" she asked. Again, I thought that that was where I was heading, but she had been leading me in strange directions. Our views of the "momentum" were plainly different. "Because, romance may not be what I can provide." she said.