The Serial Killer of Kennoxie

Part 15

"I have some wine chilling. If you don't want wine, Baylor has beer or I can get you water."

"Just water for me," Jim said as Rose invited him and Ashton into Randy's house.

"I'll take the wine as long as it's white." Ashton said as Rose shut the door behind him.

"I'm afraid it's Stella Rosa Black."

Ashton shrugged. "I'm up for trying new wine."

Rose laughed as she ushered them into the living room. "Randy is helping Baylor man the grill. We are having shish kabobs, until I brought some olives, feta cheese, and homemade bread to eat. Do either of you want any?"

"I'll have some," Jim said as he sat down. "I'm sure Mr. Royce would too."

Rose hummed as she poured their drinks and filled a wooden platter with olives, cheese, olive oil, and bread. She brought it out to them before she headed back into the kitchen for her drink. Rose curled up on the opposite end of the couch that Ashton was sitting on. She slowly sipped her wine and chatted with the two men while they waited for food.

Randy hollered at Rose as he came into the kitchen. "Where do you want the food Rose?"

"Just put it on the counter," Rose hollered back as she stood up. Her left hip grabbed suddenly about dumping her on the ground. Ashton caught her by the forearm and kept her from falling.

"Are you okay?"

Rose worked on moving her hip. It kept grabbing on her refusing to pop. "I am fine. My one hip has given me problems since it was dislocated when I was 10. I'll be good once it decides to pop."

"Did it happen at another party?"

Rose blinked at Ashton before she gave a slow nod. Ashton's nostrils flared in anger as he let go of Rose. Rose gave him an apologetic shrug before she headed towards the kitchen. Her hip gave a loud pop as she walked into the kitchen. Baylor looked up and blinked at her four times before he brought his right knee up. He set it back down and cocked out his hip slightly. Rose answered by running her hand over her hip. Baylor grunted as he began setting the table.

"People should go to jail for what they did to the two of you."

Baylor gave a dark chuckle. "It would be nice, but the statutes of limitations are over Jim. The only justice that we can get is through whoever the serial killer is. Several of their victims were those who frequented the parties."

Randy brought the shish kabobs and sat them on the table. Rose brought over the grilled sweet corn. A bowl of fruit was pulled from the fridge and sat on the counter to warm up slightly. Drinks were refilled and then everyone tucked in.

"These kabobs are delicious."

Randy puffed out his chest in pride at Jim's praise. "Rose came up with the idea when we were in high school."

Baylor gave a soft grunt as he slid a piece of pepper off of the stick. "Randy knows how to make them to perfection."

The rest of dinner passed with light conversation. Rose brought the fruit over. Things turned serious once the table was cleared and they were all sitting nursing their drinks.

"We still have no body," Jim began solemnly. "But we had a hit on the fingerprints we found."

Rose swirled her wine. "Who?"

Jim patted his pocket and sighed. "I left my notebook at home."

Ashton spoke up. "The prints belonged to a woman named Claire Kent. Does the name ring a bell?"

Rose and Baylor looked at each other.

"Any idea what she looks like?" Randy asked.

Ashton pulled out his phone. "I have a picture of her that I found at the historical society."

Baylor took Ashton's phone. Rose leaned against Baylor and studied the woman in the picture. She was blonde and beautiful with a slight sneer that said that she was better than everyone else. Randy poked his head over their shoulders so that he could study the picture.

"She looks familiar." Randy commented. "Isn't that the lady who was always checking you out when we were in high school?"

Rose frowned at Baylor. Baylor shrugged. "I don't remember."

Randy grabbed the phone and brought it up to his face so that he could study her more closely. "I do. Her eyes were always on you. She had the look of someone who had the chance to have you. Every time she saw you she would bite her lip and run her fingernails down her arm."

Rose straightened so suddenly that she almost gave Randy a bloody nose. She blinked multiple times as the image of a blond woman wearing a mask with red lipstick and black nail polish popped up in her mind. Rose looked at Baylor who was giving her a clueless look.

"Do you remember that one lady who always wore a playboy bunny mask? She always came in a tan trench coat that she wore over a black body suit."

Remembrance sparkled in Baylor's eyes as his face twisted into a mask of disgust. "Yes I remember. She was into role playing. I always hated it whenever she showed up to the parties."

"Does she still live around here?"

Randy handed the phone back to Ashton. "She left shortly after their parents were killed."

Rose fiddled with her wine glass. "You think the serial killer is hunting people down that have left Kennoxie."

"It would be outside of their comfort zone, but it's plausible," Ashton said. "Has it ever happened with any of the other serial killers?"

"Not that Rose and I know of."

Jim shifted in his chair. "We'll do some more digging and see if we can find anymore out. Since her fingerprints are on that bloody rock, then I am positive that her body is stashed somewhere within the county."

"It'll turn up soon then," Randy murmured.

"Baylor and I will be on the lookout."