Constant Flow

Everett Dempsey

My worst nightmare had come true. Not only did the killings not end but another one of my Johns appeared on the front page.

This time it was Everett Dempsey. The assistant DA of Dade county. Everett was a special kind of man. And when I mean special, I mean he had extremely particular tastes, with a penchant for pain and blood.

I hid my scars well. He didn't leave many but they were there. The bastard. He paid good money, that's the only reason I let him come back to me time and time again.

I won't say I'm sorry he's gone. Despite his reputation, I knew the man he really was. And he was evil to the core.

A knock on my door brought me out of my reverie. I panicked. Was the killer here? Had he found me?

I crept my way toward the knocking and looked through the peephole to find a badge at my door. Relief surged throughout my body. But tension soon replaced it.

Why was the cop here? Had they connected the dots somehow and figured out that I was mistakenly associated with the victims.

I pulled the door open slowly. The man on the other side was tall and fit. I expected no less from Miami police. With the crime rate up, you had to be in shape.

My eyes connected with the deep brown irises. And I was transported back to a time and place I wanted to forget ever existed.

"Mason?" I asked incredulously.

He didn't answer for a few beats.

"Miss Levine. May I come in?"

I don't know why I expected him to be the guy he was seven years ago. He was now a cop and apparently had a giant stick up his ass.

Opening the door wider, he walked in with a predatory grace. That was new to me. I could tell by the way his feet hit my floor that he meant business.

I shook myself out of the memories I had of us in college. And twisted around to face him.

"Would you like some water?"

"No. Thank you." He was abrupt and short.

"What are you doing here?" I had to know.

"I'm here to ask you some questions."

I moved to sit on my couch. If I was going to be interrogated I would do it comfortably.

"Questions about what exactly?"

Not moving from the spot where I left him gave me a cursory look, "Have you been watching the news or read the paper lately?"

Should I go with the truth or lie? I went with evasive.

"Not really. Why?"

"There have been a few murders. And the victims have turned up at Miami beaches. But the last one happened to have your name and phone number in his wallet."

My heart began to beat faster, but I had to remain cool. "Oh? He did?"

"Yes. Did you know Everette Dempsey?"

I relaxed myself against the couch. Not wanting to show any feeling at all.

"No. Not personally." Which was technically truth. I only knew his bedroom rules.

He rubbed the growth on his face. His sable eyes darkening. "I see. Can you tell why he would have your name and number?"

Think. Think of a good lie.

"Well, come to think of it. I do have a friend of a friend who said they wanted to set me up on a blind date with someone named Everette. But I didn't known his last name."

He only nodded his head and pulled out a wallet sized pen and paper then began writing. After finishing his scribble, he came to stand in front of me, handing me his card.

"If you happened to hear anything from this friend, please don't hesitate to call me. I'm heading the investigation."

"Okay." I said meekly.

I nearly cried after he left. I know now that I'm in a world of trouble. What was I going to do? And was I somehow connected to the killer?

Word Count: 673