Town Slayer

Knight in Shinning Armor

Summary
Janet finds her husband, Bill bleeding on their front room floor. With the evidence piling against her; she was holding a bloody bat and was covered in blood when the EMT's arrive, the cops accused her of murder. Frightened she runs. She gets a ride from a truck driver named Sam, claiming her name is Jackie. Sam sees a news bulletin about her being a murder suspect and leaves. Janet sees the bulletin cuts and dyes her hair and then tries to get a ride with another trucker, who tries to rape her. She accidentally shoots him and flees. Henry, a farmer rescues her. Discovering she's wanted, he calls the cops. Janet/ Jackie overhears him and Martha talking and flees. She hotwires a pickup soon after loses control and wrecks. Ben offers to help. She hesitantly agrees.

The assassin tied up, tortured and killed Beth's abusive husband, Steve. Willy, the motel manager tried to force himself on her. She ties him to the bed, tortures and mutilates him. On her way into town, she hears a couple arguing. She arrives to see Bobby smacking his wife Jen around. Jen flees. The killer punches Bobby. He falls, hitting his head on a rock.
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Ben notices Jackie sobbing in her seat. He then notices a scar that runs the length of her face with several small scars beside it. How could anyone do that to her, how? This gorgeous lady deserves love, and happiness not to be used as someone's punching bag. He notices how she cowers in the corner with her head tilted downward as tears continue to stream down her pale face. I bet she doesn't even realize how beautiful she really is. "Things will get better for you, I promise."

Jackie slowly glances up. "I don't see how. I'm flat broke with no place to go and now I don't even have a vehicle. What was I thinking, leaving like I did? Maybe I should apologize, tell him I'll never do it again," she cries.

"You do and next time he'll probably beat you to death. There will be a next time, I promise you that."

"I don't know what else to do," she sobs.

"Don't worry, I'll think of something."

Ben and Janet pull up to a small log cabin a few minutes later. His rustic home sits on 20 acres that overlooks the Ozark Mountains. It's a breathtaking scene any time of year. Ben fell in love the moment he saw it; claiming it was a dream come true.

Jackie is hunched over in her seat, her hands folded in her lap when Ben opens the passenger door. He really did a number on her both mentally and physically. He takes Jackie's cold shaky hands in his. "You're a beautiful woman, do you know that?"

"Thank you," she timidly replies, her eyes glued to the floorboard.

He lifts up her chin and then gazes into her sad brown eyes. Ben sees her pain, her agony just below the surface. You poor, poor thing; forced to live a life of hell. I bet you've never known true happiness, not even as a small child. "You really are a beautiful woman, Jackie. Any man should be proud to have you by his side."

She lowers her head.

He lifts it up again. "Someday you'll find someone who truly loves you. Someone who will respect you, treat you right," he says as tears stream down her cheek, Ben carefully brushes them away. "Don't cry, honey, it'll be alright, I promise." He gently puts his arm around her shoulder and guides her towards his house.

***
Joe slowly trudges out to his desk. He tried to get some sleep, but this case keeps replaying in his mind. How can I possibly get any sleep, knowing we have four victims and no clues? He plops down in his chair. Figuring out why she's targeting abusers might lead me to her. So who'd go after wife beaters? Their victims or the victim's family members. Joe recalls Janet and Beth's history. That's out. Maybe it's someone who's witnessed her mother being abused, possibly killed and never got the justice she deserves. He types in unsolved homicides. There are six open cases. How many of them have children? Sarah McPhee's name pops up on the screen. I wonder if she's Beth and Penny's mom. He clicks on the link and starts to read.