The Roman Lee Series "Beneath Devil's Lake" ...... The email........

THE ROMAN LEE SERIES

"BENEATH DEVIL'S LAKE"

 

The icy cold moisture still covered the lawn of the campus as we walked back toward the ramp.  Giving way to a reprieve of deep blue autumn skies the late fall storm now replaced with warm angled rays from the sun above. 

Marybeth Larkin lived at the end of a street lined with single story homes.  A few of them had rental signs out front while others looked abandoned.  It appeared that most of the neighborhood autumn leaves had congregated on her lawn leaving wavy piles of yellowish orange hues among dotted patches of long bending blades of green grass.

The sounds of the television could be heard through the walls as we approached the steps to the small cement porch.  Knocking on the door gave way to pounding when our introduction was not initially addressed.  A small bedroom window slid open to our left.

“Who is it?  If you’re a process server, you can fuck off and if you’re those assholes from the rental store we get paid next week and you’re not taking your shit today.”

“Ms. Larkin, this is Detectives Lee and Temple here about Melissa.”

“Just a minute.”

The front door opened slightly.

“Sorry about that, you can come inside.”

We walked inside to find a small living room overwhelmed with a large flat screen television.  Room was scarce as the rest of the space was taken up by a small couch and recliner.  Every home has its own unique smell.  This one smelled like sweat and Kool-Aid.

Marybeth Larkin was in her late twenties with short spiked blonde hair and scattered pink highlights.  About five foot four she wore a nose ring complimented by additional facial piercings.  Several decorative tattoos covered arms and legs.

“You said you’re here about Sarah.”

“We’re sorry for your loss Ms. Larkin.”

Water that had been running in the bathroom down a short hallway stopped.  A faint creaking sound of the door opening.

“Who is it Marybeth?”

“No one, just get ready for work you’re gonna be late.”

“We just have a few questions if you wouldn’t mind answering them.”

“Do you want to sit down?”

“We’re fine Ms. Larkin this won’t take long.”

“You know I warned her, kept telling her but she didn’t listen.  Bragging about how she was going to make $45 an hour as some test subject.  I told her it was a scam.  She said it looked legit because it was from a Psychological Institute or something like that.”

“Do you remember how she was contacted?”

“She said it came in her email.  We shared a computer.”