Content Warning:
The following chapter is part of a novel-length murder mystery with graphic violence and gratuitous non-consensual sex. Since I am writing for Literotica, the story contains more sex than mystery.
This story is in Nonconsent/Reluctance for a reason.
Sensitive readers should look elsewhere for entertainment.
This story took place in 1977. There were no DNA tests, no cell phones, no internet, and computers were scarce.
Chapter 4: The Velvet Groove
I was so excited after acing the Monday morning quiz in Contract Law, I skipped lunch and headed straight to Professor Williams' office. I couldn't wait to tell him that I could now read David's coded notebooks. Luckily his star intern was out of town, and I got in to see him without waiting.
I had no sooner sat down before I bounced up and opened one of David's notebooks in front of the professor. I had spent half of the night decoding the notebooks and had become proficient enough in the process that I could now slowly decode on the fly. He skimmed through the notebook and stopped at a page with a drawing of a beautiful young woman. I read the entry associated with the illustration, but the text gave no indication of any criminal intent. The subject was simply a girl David had observed on the street. There was a sensual quality to the drawing, but the girl was drawn fully clothed.
Professor Williams was disappointed that I did not have the notebook for the day Inesa was kidnapped and murdered.
I said, "I'm afraid that notebook is missing. It was not in David's bedroom, and it is not part of the evidence collected by the police. His aunt insisted he was still using a notebook in the days before the murder. Marian was very definite when she said the third young man who went off with Inesa was writing in a notebook. Later that night the notebook disappeared."
"Jean, I'm impressed that you broke the code, but without the missing notebook, you have nothing relevant to the case."
I could feel the professor's frustration. I stared at notebook wishing I could change the dates on the cover. I remembered something the coroner had said about previous murders with the same modus operandi. I pulled a legal pad out of my floppy purse. Thank God, I had written down the dates of the related crimes before I puked.
"We may be in luck. The coroner said Inesa wasn't the first prostitute murdered with box cutters. These notebooks cover the dates of the two known previous murders."
I quickly flipped through the pages of the older notebook until I found the date of one of the box cutter murders. I was surprised to find drawings of tents, boy scouts, and knots. David had attended a Boy Scout Jamboree near Pittsburgh while a young prostitute was being murdered a mile from his home in North Philadelphia. It was either an elaborate cover-up or David wasn't involved.
The professor said, "If we could prove all of the box cutter murders were performed by the same person then this suggests David wasn't the perpetrator. It's not strong evidence, but it's a start. I think you need to verify that David was at the jamboree. What about the other box cutter murder?"
I searched through the more recent notebook and found the entry for the date of the box cutter murder before Inesa's. The notebook indicated that David had spent the night at home. His comments expressed his anger at Jamel and Youssef for ditching him. It was nearly two days before David indicated the next contact with his nephews. Once again, the notebook suggested David was innocent, or he had covered his tracks.
Professor Williams frowned and shook his head. His attitude made me nervous. I was desperate for his approval. When I started my internship with him, he had made it clear that he didn't give out law school credits unless the intern made considerable progress on one of his cases. He had said I was welcome to work on the case for as long as it took, but I didn't have the funds to last beyond the summer. As it was, I had borrowed from my mother to pay for my summer classes. Even if somehow, I managed to pass Contract Law, I would still be lacking two credits for my law degree. In short, I was desperate. Desperate enough to talk to a vicious psychopath.
When Marian saw Inesa going off with Jamel, Youssef, and David, she said Herod followed them. Marian's pimp had commented that Jamel and Youssef had a reputation for rough play, and, even worse, they were known for stiffing prostitutes. I wondered if Herod had any knowledge of the missing notebook. He might also know if David's cousins had ditched him again.
"Do you think we should talk to Herod?"
The professor said, "I would love to find out what he knows, but Herod is one scary dude. He hates me for refusing to defend him after he viciously battered an underage prostitute. He spent three years in Graterford Prison for the assault where he learned from some of the best professional criminals. He spent a lot of time lifting weights and learning to box, but the main thing he learned was how not to get caught. He is an old-school gorilla pimp who specializes in the rough seasoning of new girls from Eastern Europe. Inesa and Marian were just the last of a long number of girls he has trafficked."
"What do you mean by seasoning?"
"Seasoning is the process of breaking down a victim's resistance to ensure compliance. It involves a combination of psychological manipulation, intimidation, gang rape, sodomy, beatings, deprivation of food or sleep, isolation from friends or family and other sources of support, and threatening or holding hostage a victim's children. From what I've heard he's employed all those techniques. He is particularly adept at beating his victims. He is a small, wiry bastard with lightning fast fists. I don't want anything to do with him."
I had no stomach for a repeat of my disastrous sting operation, but it had helped me win Marian's trust and gotten her to talk. As far as I was concerned, the information that David had followed Inesa only added to my belief he was guilty of the murder. As far as I was concerned, the notebooks were a smokescreen. I hoped that Herod would confirm what I already believed in my heart and put an end to this case. I didn't care if David was innocent or guilty if we closed the case and I got my credits.
I said, "I need to talk to Herod. Maybe Samuel could help set up a meeting. He has street smarts and knows the business as well as Herod. He also hates Herod."
"The hatred goes both ways. At his best, Herod is a powder keg ready to explode at the slightest affront. After Samuel stole Marian from him, Herod lost a knife fight with Youssef over Inesa's murder. If Herod catches a whiff of either Samuel's or my involvement, the whole plan will blow up. You won't have any backup if you manage a meeting with Herod. I guarantee you don't want to be anywhere near Herod if he discovers he is being played."
"It wouldn't hurt to talk to Samuel."
