CHAPTER 8

Sunday, October 26

And so it begins, he thought as he sipped the scalding-hot tea.

The front-page headline belonged on the National Enquirer and not a newspaper as respectable as the Omaha Journal. From the Grave, Serial Killer Still Grips Community with Boy’s Recent Murder. It was almost as hysterical as yesterday’s headline, but, of course, today’s large Sunday edition would attract more readers.

The byline was Christine Hamilton again. He recognized the name from the “Living Today” section. Why would they give the story to a newcomer, a rookie?

Quickly, he turned the pages, searching for the rest of the story which continued on page ten, column one. The entire page was filled with connecting articles. There was a school photo of the boy. Beside it ran an in-depth saga of the boy’s sudden disappearance during his early-morning paper route just a week ago. The article told how the FBI and the boy’s mother had waited for a ransom note that never came. Then, finally, Sheriff Morrelli had found the body in a pasture along the river.

He glanced back at the paragraph. Morrelli? No, this was Nicholas Morrelli, not Antonio. How nice, he thought, for father and son to share the same experience.

The article went on to point out the similarities to the murders of three boys in the same small community over six years ago. And how the bodies, strangled and stabbed to death, had each been discovered days later in different wooded, isolated areas.

The article, however, made no mention of details, no description of the elaborate chest carving. Did the police hope to withhold that evidence again? He shook his head and continued to read.

He used the fillet knife to scoop jelly and spread it on his burnt English muffin. The stupid toaster hadn’t worked right for weeks, but it was better than going down to the kitchen and having breakfast with the others. At least here in his room he could have the solitude of breakfast and the morning paper without the burden of making polite conversation.

The room was very plain, white walls and hardwood floors. The small twin-size bed barely accommodated his six-foot frame. Some nights he found his feet dangling over the end. He had added the small Formica-topped table and two chairs, though he allowed no one to join him. The utility cart in the corner housed the secondhand toaster, a gift from one of the parishioners. There was also a hot plate and kettle that he used for his tea.

On the nightstand stood the most elaborate of his furnishings, an ornate lamp, the base a detailed relief of cherubs and nymphs tastefully arranged. It was one of the few things he had splurged on and purchased for himself with his meager paycheck. That and the three paintings. Of course, he could only afford framed reproductions. They hung on the wall opposite his bed so he could look at them while he drifted off to sleep, though sleep didn’t come easy these days. It never did when the throbbing began, invading his otherwise quiet life, crashing in with all those foul memories. Even though his room was simple and plain, it brought short periods of comfort, control and solitude to a life that was no longer his own.

He checked his watch and ran his hand over his jaw. He wouldn’t need to shave today, his boyish face still smooth from yesterday’s shave. He had time to finish reading, though he refused to so much as look at the ridiculous articles about Ronald Jeffreys. Jeffreys had never deserved the attention he had garnered, and here he was, still in the limelight even after death.

He finished his breakfast and meticulously cleaned the table, no crumb escaping his quick swipes with the damp rag. From his small, brown-stained bathroom sink he removed the pair of Nikes, now scrubbed clean, not a hint of mud left. Still, he wished he had taken them off sooner. He patted them dry and set them aside to wash the one plate he called his own, a fragile, hand-painted Noritake he had borrowed long ago from the community china cabinet. His matching teacup and saucer, also borrowed, he filled to the brim with more scalding-hot water. Delicately, he dunked the once-used tea bag, waiting for the water to turn the appropriate amber color, then quickly removed and strangled the tea bag as if making it surrender every last drop.

His morning ritual complete, he got down on his hands and knees and pulled a wooden box from under the bed. He laid the box on the small table and ran his fingers over the lid’s intricate carving. Carefully, he cut out the newspaper articles, bypassing those on Ronald Jeffreys. He opened the box and put the folded articles inside on top of the other newspaper clippings, some of which were just beginning to yellow. He checked the other contents: a bright white linen cloth, two candles and a small container of oil. Then he licked the remnants of jelly off the fillet knife and returned it to the box, laying it gently on the soft cotton of a pair of boy’s underpants.

Alex Kava Bundle
alexkavabundle_cov.html
alexkavabundle_tit.html
alexkavabundle_con1.html
alexkavabundle_rev.html
alexkavabundle_acp.html
alexkavabundle_tit01.html
alexkavabundle_ded.html
alexkavabundle_fm001.html
alexkavabundle_fm002.html
alexkavabundle_con.html
alexkavabundle_fm003.html
alexkavabundle_ch001.html
alexkavabundle_ch002.html
alexkavabundle_ch003.html
alexkavabundle_ch004.html
alexkavabundle_ch005.html
alexkavabundle_ch006.html
alexkavabundle_ch007.html
alexkavabundle_ch008.html
alexkavabundle_ch009.html
alexkavabundle_ch010.html
alexkavabundle_ch011.html
alexkavabundle_ch012.html
alexkavabundle_ch013.html
alexkavabundle_ch014.html
alexkavabundle_ch015.html
alexkavabundle_ch016.html
alexkavabundle_ch017.html
alexkavabundle_ch018.html
alexkavabundle_ch019.html
alexkavabundle_ch020.html
alexkavabundle_ch021.html
alexkavabundle_ch022.html
alexkavabundle_ch023.html
alexkavabundle_ch024.html
alexkavabundle_ch025.html
alexkavabundle_ch026.html
alexkavabundle_ch027.html
alexkavabundle_ch028.html
alexkavabundle_ch029.html
alexkavabundle_ch030.html
alexkavabundle_ch031.html
alexkavabundle_ch032.html
alexkavabundle_ch033.html
alexkavabundle_ch034.html
alexkavabundle_ch035.html
alexkavabundle_ch036.html
alexkavabundle_ch037.html
alexkavabundle_ch038.html
alexkavabundle_ch039.html
alexkavabundle_ch040.html
alexkavabundle_ch041.html
alexkavabundle_ch042.html
alexkavabundle_ch043.html
alexkavabundle_ch044.html
alexkavabundle_ch045.html
alexkavabundle_ch046.html
alexkavabundle_ch047.html
alexkavabundle_ch048.html
alexkavabundle_ch049.html
alexkavabundle_ch050.html
alexkavabundle_ch051.html
alexkavabundle_ch052.html
alexkavabundle_ch053.html
alexkavabundle_ch054.html
alexkavabundle_ch055.html
alexkavabundle_ch056.html
alexkavabundle_ch057.html
alexkavabundle_ch058.html
alexkavabundle_ch059.html
alexkavabundle_ch060.html
alexkavabundle_ch061.html
alexkavabundle_ch062.html
alexkavabundle_ch063.html
alexkavabundle_ch064.html
alexkavabundle_ch065.html
alexkavabundle_ch066.html
alexkavabundle_ch067.html
alexkavabundle_ch068.html
alexkavabundle_ch069.html
alexkavabundle_ch070.html
alexkavabundle_ch071.html
alexkavabundle_ch072.html
alexkavabundle_ch073.html
alexkavabundle_ch074.html
alexkavabundle_ch075.html
alexkavabundle_ch076.html
alexkavabundle_ch077.html
alexkavabundle_ch078.html
alexkavabundle_ch079.html
alexkavabundle_ch080.html
alexkavabundle_ch081.html
alexkavabundle_ch082.html
alexkavabundle_ch083.html
alexkavabundle_ch084.html
alexkavabundle_ch085.html
alexkavabundle_ch086.html
alexkavabundle_ch087.html
alexkavabundle_ch088.html
alexkavabundle_ch089.html
alexkavabundle_ch090.html
alexkavabundle_ch091.html
alexkavabundle_ch092.html
alexkavabundle_ch093.html
alexkavabundle_ch094.html
alexkavabundle_ch095.html
alexkavabundle_ch096.html
alexkavabundle_ch097.html
alexkavabundle_ch098.html
alexkavabundle_ch099.html
alexkavabundle_ch0100.html
alexkavabundle_ch0101.html
alexkavabundle_ch0102.html
alexkavabundle_ch0103.html
alexkavabundle_bm001.html
alexkavabundle_bm02.html
alexkavabundle_bm03.html
alexkavabundle_bm04.html
alexkavabundle_tit02.html
alexkavabundle_ded01.html
alexkavabundle_ack.html
alexkavabundle_contents.html
alexkavabundle_pro1.html
alexkavabundle_cha01.html
alexkavabundle_cha02.html
alexkavabundle_cha03.html
alexkavabundle_cha04.html
alexkavabundle_cha05.html
alexkavabundle_cha06.html
alexkavabundle_cha07.html
alexkavabundle_cha08.html
alexkavabundle_cha09.html
alexkavabundle_cha10.html
alexkavabundle_cha11.html
alexkavabundle_cha12.html
alexkavabundle_cha13.html
alexkavabundle_cha14.html
alexkavabundle_cha15.html
alexkavabundle_cha16.html
alexkavabundle_cha17.html
alexkavabundle_cha18.html
alexkavabundle_cha19.html
alexkavabundle_cha20.html
alexkavabundle_cha21.html
alexkavabundle_cha22.html
alexkavabundle_cha23.html
alexkavabundle_cha24.html
alexkavabundle_cha25.html
alexkavabundle_cha26.html
alexkavabundle_cha27.html
alexkavabundle_cha28.html
alexkavabundle_cha29.html
alexkavabundle_cha30.html
alexkavabundle_cha31.html
alexkavabundle_cha32.html
alexkavabundle_cha33.html
alexkavabundle_cha34.html
alexkavabundle_cha35.html
alexkavabundle_cha36.html
alexkavabundle_cha37.html
alexkavabundle_cha38.html
alexkavabundle_cha39.html
alexkavabundle_cha40.html
alexkavabundle_cha41.html
alexkavabundle_cha42.html
alexkavabundle_cha43.html
alexkavabundle_cha44.html
alexkavabundle_cha45.html
alexkavabundle_cha46.html
alexkavabundle_cha47.html
alexkavabundle_cha48.html
alexkavabundle_cha49.html
alexkavabundle_cha50.html
alexkavabundle_cha51.html
alexkavabundle_cha52.html
alexkavabundle_cha53.html
alexkavabundle_cha54.html
alexkavabundle_cha55.html
alexkavabundle_cha56.html
alexkavabundle_cha57.html
alexkavabundle_cha58.html
alexkavabundle_cha59.html
alexkavabundle_cha60.html
alexkavabundle_cha61.html
alexkavabundle_cha62.html
alexkavabundle_cha63.html
alexkavabundle_cha64.html
alexkavabundle_cha65.html
alexkavabundle_cha66.html
alexkavabundle_cha67.html
alexkavabundle_cha68.html
alexkavabundle_cha69.html
alexkavabundle_cha70.html
alexkavabundle_cha71.html
alexkavabundle_cha72.html
alexkavabundle_cha73.html
alexkavabundle_cha74.html
alexkavabundle_cha75.html
alexkavabundle_cha76.html
alexkavabundle_epg.html
alexkavabundle_tit03.html
alexkavabundle_ded1.html
alexkavabundle_contents1.html
alexkavabundle_ack1.html
alexkavabundle_epi.html
alexkavabundle_chb01.html
alexkavabundle_chb02.html
alexkavabundle_chb03.html
alexkavabundle_chb04.html
alexkavabundle_chb05.html
alexkavabundle_chb06.html
alexkavabundle_chb07.html
alexkavabundle_chb08.html
alexkavabundle_chb09.html
alexkavabundle_chb10.html
alexkavabundle_chb11.html
alexkavabundle_chb12.html
alexkavabundle_chb13.html
alexkavabundle_chb14.html
alexkavabundle_chb15.html
alexkavabundle_chb16.html
alexkavabundle_chb17.html
alexkavabundle_chb18.html
alexkavabundle_chb19.html
alexkavabundle_chb20.html
alexkavabundle_chb21.html
alexkavabundle_chb22.html
alexkavabundle_chb23.html
alexkavabundle_chb24.html
alexkavabundle_chb25.html
alexkavabundle_chb26.html
alexkavabundle_chb27.html
alexkavabundle_chb28.html
alexkavabundle_chb29.html
alexkavabundle_chb30.html
alexkavabundle_chb31.html
alexkavabundle_chb32.html
alexkavabundle_chb33.html
alexkavabundle_chb34.html
alexkavabundle_chb35.html
alexkavabundle_chb36.html
alexkavabundle_chb37.html
alexkavabundle_chb38.html
alexkavabundle_chb39.html
alexkavabundle_chb40.html
alexkavabundle_chb41.html
alexkavabundle_chb42.html
alexkavabundle_chb43.html
alexkavabundle_chb44.html
alexkavabundle_chb45.html
alexkavabundle_chb46.html
alexkavabundle_chb47.html
alexkavabundle_chb48.html
alexkavabundle_chb49.html
alexkavabundle_chb50.html
alexkavabundle_chb51.html
alexkavabundle_chb52.html
alexkavabundle_chb53.html
alexkavabundle_chb54.html
alexkavabundle_chb55.html
alexkavabundle_chb56.html
alexkavabundle_chb57.html
alexkavabundle_chb58.html
alexkavabundle_chb59.html
alexkavabundle_chb60.html
alexkavabundle_chb61.html
alexkavabundle_chb62.html
alexkavabundle_chb63.html
alexkavabundle_chb64.html
alexkavabundle_chb65.html
alexkavabundle_chb66.html
alexkavabundle_chb67.html
alexkavabundle_chb68.html
alexkavabundle_chb69.html
alexkavabundle_chb70.html
alexkavabundle_chb71.html
alexkavabundle_chb72.html
alexkavabundle_chb73.html
alexkavabundle_chb74.html
alexkavabundle_chb75.html
alexkavabundle_chb76.html
alexkavabundle_chb77.html
alexkavabundle_chb78.html
alexkavabundle_epi01.html
alexkavabundle_tit04.html
alexkavabundle_ded2.html
alexkavabundle_contents2.html
alexkavabundle_ack2.html
alexkavabundle_chc01.html
alexkavabundle_chc02.html
alexkavabundle_chc03.html
alexkavabundle_chc04.html
alexkavabundle_chc05.html
alexkavabundle_chc06.html
alexkavabundle_chc07.html
alexkavabundle_chc08.html
alexkavabundle_chc09.html
alexkavabundle_chc10.html
alexkavabundle_chc11.html
alexkavabundle_chc12.html
alexkavabundle_chc13.html
alexkavabundle_chc14.html
alexkavabundle_chc15.html
alexkavabundle_chc16.html
alexkavabundle_chc17.html
alexkavabundle_chc18.html
alexkavabundle_chc19.html
alexkavabundle_chc20.html
alexkavabundle_chc21.html
alexkavabundle_chc22.html
alexkavabundle_chc23.html
alexkavabundle_chc24.html
alexkavabundle_chc25.html
alexkavabundle_chc26.html
alexkavabundle_chc27.html
alexkavabundle_chc28.html
alexkavabundle_chc29.html
alexkavabundle_chc30.html
alexkavabundle_chc31.html
alexkavabundle_chc32.html
alexkavabundle_chc33.html
alexkavabundle_chc34.html
alexkavabundle_chc35.html
alexkavabundle_chc36.html
alexkavabundle_chc37.html
alexkavabundle_chc38.html
alexkavabundle_chc39.html
alexkavabundle_chc40.html
alexkavabundle_chc41.html
alexkavabundle_chc42.html
alexkavabundle_chc43.html
alexkavabundle_chc44.html
alexkavabundle_chc45.html
alexkavabundle_chc46.html
alexkavabundle_chc47.html
alexkavabundle_chc48.html
alexkavabundle_chc49.html
alexkavabundle_chc50.html
alexkavabundle_chc51.html
alexkavabundle_chc52.html
alexkavabundle_chc53.html
alexkavabundle_chc54.html
alexkavabundle_chc55.html
alexkavabundle_chc56.html
alexkavabundle_chc57.html
alexkavabundle_chc58.html
alexkavabundle_chc59.html
alexkavabundle_chc60.html
alexkavabundle_chc61.html
alexkavabundle_chc62.html
alexkavabundle_chc63.html
alexkavabundle_chc64.html
alexkavabundle_chc65.html
alexkavabundle_chc66.html
alexkavabundle_chc67.html
alexkavabundle_chc68.html
alexkavabundle_chc69.html
alexkavabundle_chc70.html
alexkavabundle_chc71.html
alexkavabundle_epg1.html
alexkavabundle_tit05.html
alexkavabundle_contents3.html
alexkavabundle_ack3.html
alexkavabundle_ded011.html
alexkavabundle_epi1.html
alexkavabundle_chd01.html
alexkavabundle_chd02.html
alexkavabundle_chd03.html
alexkavabundle_chd04.html
alexkavabundle_chd05.html
alexkavabundle_chd06.html
alexkavabundle_chd07.html
alexkavabundle_chd08.html
alexkavabundle_chd09.html
alexkavabundle_chd10.html
alexkavabundle_chd11.html
alexkavabundle_chd12.html
alexkavabundle_chd13.html
alexkavabundle_chd14.html
alexkavabundle_chd15.html
alexkavabundle_chd16.html
alexkavabundle_chd17.html
alexkavabundle_chd18.html
alexkavabundle_chd19.html
alexkavabundle_chd20.html
alexkavabundle_chd21.html
alexkavabundle_chd22.html
alexkavabundle_chd23.html
alexkavabundle_chd24.html
alexkavabundle_chd25.html
alexkavabundle_chd26.html
alexkavabundle_chd27.html
alexkavabundle_chd28.html
alexkavabundle_chd29.html
alexkavabundle_chd30.html
alexkavabundle_chd31.html
alexkavabundle_chd32.html
alexkavabundle_chd33.html
alexkavabundle_chd34.html
alexkavabundle_chd35.html
alexkavabundle_chd36.html
alexkavabundle_chd37.html
alexkavabundle_chd38.html
alexkavabundle_chd39.html
alexkavabundle_chd40.html
alexkavabundle_chd41.html
alexkavabundle_chd42.html
alexkavabundle_chd43.html
alexkavabundle_chd44.html
alexkavabundle_chd45.html
alexkavabundle_chd46.html
alexkavabundle_chd47.html
alexkavabundle_chd48.html
alexkavabundle_chd49.html
alexkavabundle_chd50.html
alexkavabundle_chd51.html
alexkavabundle_chd52.html
alexkavabundle_chd53.html
alexkavabundle_chd54.html
alexkavabundle_chd55.html
alexkavabundle_chd56.html
alexkavabundle_chd57.html
alexkavabundle_chd58.html
alexkavabundle_chd59.html
alexkavabundle_chd60.html
alexkavabundle_chd61.html
alexkavabundle_chd62.html
alexkavabundle_chd63.html
alexkavabundle_chd64.html
alexkavabundle_chd65.html
alexkavabundle_chd66.html
alexkavabundle_chd67.html
alexkavabundle_chd68.html
alexkavabundle_chd69.html
alexkavabundle_chd70.html
alexkavabundle_chd71.html
alexkavabundle_chd72.html
alexkavabundle_chd73.html
alexkavabundle_chd74.html
alexkavabundle_chd75.html
alexkavabundle_chd76.html
alexkavabundle_chd77.html
alexkavabundle_chd78.html
alexkavabundle_chd79.html
alexkavabundle_chd80.html
alexkavabundle_chd81.html
alexkavabundle_chd82.html
alexkavabundle_chd83.html
alexkavabundle_chd84.html
alexkavabundle_chd85.html
alexkavabundle_chd86.html
alexkavabundle_chd87.html
alexkavabundle_chd88.html
alexkavabundle_chd89.html
alexkavabundle_chd90.html
alexkavabundle_chd91.html
alexkavabundle_chd92.html
alexkavabundle_chd93.html
alexkavabundle_tit06.html
alexkavabundle_ded4.html
alexkavabundle_contents4.html
alexkavabundle_ack01.html
alexkavabundle_pt101.html
alexkavabundle_c0l.html
alexkavabundle_pro.html
alexkavabundle_c02.html
alexkavabundle_che01.html
alexkavabundle_che02.html
alexkavabundle_c03.html
alexkavabundle_che03.html
alexkavabundle_che04.html
alexkavabundle_che05.html
alexkavabundle_che06.html
alexkavabundle_che07.html
alexkavabundle_che08.html
alexkavabundle_che09.html
alexkavabundle_che10.html
alexkavabundle_che11.html
alexkavabundle_che12.html
alexkavabundle_ptl02.html
alexkavabundle_che13.html
alexkavabundle_che14.html
alexkavabundle_che15.html
alexkavabundle_che16.html
alexkavabundle_che17.html
alexkavabundle_che18.html
alexkavabundle_che19.html
alexkavabundle_che20.html
alexkavabundle_che21.html
alexkavabundle_che22.html
alexkavabundle_che23.html
alexkavabundle_che24.html
alexkavabundle_che25.html
alexkavabundle_che26.html
alexkavabundle_che27.html
alexkavabundle_c04.html
alexkavabundle_che28.html
alexkavabundle_che29.html
alexkavabundle_che30.html
alexkavabundle_che31.html
alexkavabundle_pt03.html
alexkavabundle_che32.html
alexkavabundle_che33.html
alexkavabundle_che34.html
alexkavabundle_che35.html
alexkavabundle_che36.html
alexkavabundle_che37.html
alexkavabundle_che38.html
alexkavabundle_che39.html
alexkavabundle_che40.html
alexkavabundle_che41.html
alexkavabundle_che42.html
alexkavabundle_pt04.html
alexkavabundle_che43.html
alexkavabundle_che44.html
alexkavabundle_che45.html
alexkavabundle_che46.html
alexkavabundle_che47.html
alexkavabundle_che48.html
alexkavabundle_che49.html
alexkavabundle_che50.html
alexkavabundle_che51.html
alexkavabundle_che52.html
alexkavabundle_che53.html
alexkavabundle_che54.html
alexkavabundle_che55.html
alexkavabundle_che56.html
alexkavabundle_che57.html
alexkavabundle_che58.html
alexkavabundle_pt05.html
alexkavabundle_c05.html
alexkavabundle_che59.html
alexkavabundle_che60.html
alexkavabundle_che61.html
alexkavabundle_che62.html
alexkavabundle_che63.html
alexkavabundle_che64.html
alexkavabundle_che65.html
alexkavabundle_che66.html
alexkavabundle_che67.html
alexkavabundle_che68.html
alexkavabundle_c06.html
alexkavabundle_che69.html
alexkavabundle_epi2.html
alexkavabundle_aut.html
alexkavabundle_cop.html
alexkavabundle_ata.html