Chasing Tomorrow

Tracy flashed back.

She was in Joe Romano’s house in New Orleans. She was twenty-two years old, pregnant with Charles Stanhope’s baby, and she’d come to avenge her mother’s death, to force Romano to admit the truth: that he and his Mafia buddies had killed Doris Whitney, killed her with their lies and greed and arrogance. But it had all gone wrong. Joe Romano overpowered Tracy easily, laughing as he pushed her down, ripping her blouse away and pinching her nipples.

“Fight me, baby! I love it! I’ll bet you’ve never been fucked by a real man.”

Tracy had reached for her gun and shot Romano, leaving him for dead. But her gun was gone now. She was powerless. Daniel Cooper was on top of her, grunting like a pig. Tracy heard him unzip his fly. Terror overcame her. I can’t do it! I can’t fight him off!

She forced herself to focus. There had to be something else, another way to stop him.

What did she know about him?

What were his weak spots? His fears?

He’s the Bible Killer. He hates prostitutes.

His breath was coming faster now.

He hates immoral women. He believes he’s on a mission from God.

Cooper pushed up her T-shirt. His wet lips were on Tracy’s breasts, sucking at her like a baby at its mother’s teat. Tracy sobbed, squirming away from him, aware that her struggling only heightened his excitement. Ripping off her jeans and panties completely, Cooper straddled her, forcing her thighs farther apart. His erection, tiny but rock hard, pressed against Tracy’s stomach.

For God’s sake, Tracy! Think of something! Make him stop.

And then it came to her.

“We have to stop.” She spoke firmly, like a schoolteacher admonishing a child. “Daniel! We have to stop NOW.”

Her tone made Cooper hesitate for a split second.

“We’re not married yet.”

Cooper froze on top of her like a statue.

“What?”

“I said we’re not married. This is against God’s law and you know it. We’re not married and we can’t marry. Not while Jeff Stevens is still alive.”

Reluctantly, Cooper slid off Tracy onto his knees. She was still pinned underneath him and the gun, her gun, was still pressed against her skull.

“What makes you think Jeff Stevens is still alive?” Cooper sounded petulant.

“Well, isn’t he?” Tracy masked her fear as best she could. She kept her voice steady but her legs had begun shaking uncontrollably. Please let him be alive. Please don’t let all this have been for nothing.

“I don’t know.”

This wasn’t the answer Tracy had expected. She knew she had to think quickly.

“You know where he is, though, don’t you, Daniel?”

“Of course I do.” Cooper laughed, a high-pitched, oddly feminine giggle. Tracy remembered it well.

“The lamb is at Golgotha, my dear. The sacrifice has been made. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

Golgotha. Place of the skull. Tracy’s mind raced. Wasn’t Golgotha on a hill? Or perhaps Cooper was speaking purely metaphorically.

“I asked the Lord to spare him until you came. I wanted you to see. But you took so long, Tracy. He may be dead by now.”

“Take me to him, then,” Tracy blurted.