Chapter 73

Chapter Seventy-Three

I ’m still annoyed at those stupid detectives for actually letting Ezra go again and refusing to re-examine the motel room or her body for his DNA. I’m sure they would dig deeper and find something if they weren’t so convinced it was a tragic accident.

But that’s probably how Ezra always got away with it. There were eight other girls besides Jenny and Sarah whose cases remained unsolved, but Ezra was always somehow involved and never faced prosecution. Either the bodies and murder weapons were never found, or, like with Jenny, he made the deaths appear as tragic accidents. I’m certain he was involved in all these cases. I need to find a way to prove what a dangerous psychopath he is and that he’s a danger to society. Ezra can’t just get away with all these murders!

My thoughts are in turmoil, and I’m struggling to come up with a plan, let alone figure out how to catch him.

“Don’t worry your head like that, sweetheart. I understand you’ll feel safer when he’s behind bars. But we’ve done everything we can,” Kelly sighs, shrugging apologetically as I look up at her.

She hands me a large glass of wine, which I’m only too happy to accept as she joins me on the couch I’ve been stuck on for days. I can’t look at these files any longer. They’ve revealed nothing new and only reinforced how sick and disturbed Ezra is. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s connected to these cases. I just know it!

The front door opens and closes again a little later, and I see June slip past us and immediately hurry upstairs without a word. I’m irritated by her strange behavior, especially since June has pulled her hood low over her face. I get up to intercept her.

“Hey, love. Is everything okay? What’s the rush?” I ask her, stopping her from disappearing upstairs.

She slowly turns to me and grins broadly as she pulls the hood off and shows me her new hairstyle. June dyed her hair dark brown and curled it. I look at her, stunned because, with this hairstyle, she looks just like me when I was younger. You dirty asshole!

How could I not have noticed that she was with him and not at college? She seemed completely normal when she came home in the evening. The accusations, and above all the anger that Ezra dared to make a pass at June, overwhelm me.

“June… you… you were with Ezra! I told you to stay away from him! He’s dangerous!” I yell at her, so upset that she didn’t listen.

But really, I’m just angry at myself for not noticing and furious that I brought this sick bastard into our lives in the first place. But most of all, I’m angry at Ezra for daring to get so close to my daughter to do what? Replace me with her?! That’s sick!

“Come on, Mom. It’s just a new haircut. I knew you were going to freak out. That’s why I didn’t want to show you. But it looks so good, says…” She quickly bites her tongue to stop talking, but she’s already given herself away.

“Says Ezra? June, I’m not kidding when I say he’s dangerous. That young girl who was found dead in the motel room, that was the girl in question, who told me all those things about Ezra. You went to law school, honey. Even you should know that can’t be a coincidence. It was Ezra! He’s dangerous! You can’t get involved with him or let him get too close to you!” I try to talk some sense into her.

June bites her lower lip guiltily, which tells me she’s already let him take her to bed. That’s when I see red. Dark red! That’s enough! You’ve gone too far, Ezra King!

“You will not go near him again, June! And I won’t repeat myself. But don’t worry, I’ll clarify it for him to understand!” I hiss rabidly and send her upstairs with an insistent nod.

June slumps her shoulders, resigned to her fate, knowing she can’t argue with me now. I won’t let Ezra use my daughter to manipulate me. I’d rather make it easy for him and confront him directly. The most important thing is that June is out of harm’s way.

“Cora, you’re not serious, are you? You’re going to go see him? And then what? What if you’re next? There’s no way I’m letting you go alone!” Kelly tries to stop me, but no one can stop me, not regarding my daughter’s well-being!

I refuse to be deterred and grab my keys, determined to drive to his place.

“Yes, you will let me go because I need you here to keep June safe. Watch her closely and don’t let her leave until I get back,” I insist.

Kelly’s concern deepens. “That’s exactly why I’m scared. What if you don’t come back? Cora, no! I can’t let this happen!” She grabs my arm and looks at me with genuine worry, her eyes pleading with me to reconsider.

But it changes nothing. I’m leaving!

“If I don’t come back, promise me you’ll go after him with everything you’ve got. Make sure the cops don’t let him get away with it if something happens to me!” I urge Kelly.

Her eyes well up with tears, and she shakes her head with resolve. I gently cradle her face, wiping away her tears with my thumb, and look into her eyes with a steady gaze.

“I’ll be back, I promise. But I can’t let him manipulate June. She doesn’t see the danger, and he’s counting on her naivety. I can’t let him get away with this. Even if I can’t stop him myself, I have to make it clear that he must stay away from my daughter. Would you forgive yourself if something happened to her because you stopped me now?”

She bites her lower lip and shakes her head slightly. I nod and give her another hug. I don’t want her to worry about me, but I must do this! For June!

After breaking away, I leave her house in a hurry, not wanting her to stop me again and talk me out of it.

Sitting in my car, I debate whether to call Thomas. If something happens to me, June needs her father. I dial his number, but, of course, it goes to voicemail.

Frustrated, I leave a message, hoping he’ll get back to me quickly.

“Thomas, I know things aren’t great between us and that the separation is inevitable, but I really need your help right now. It’s about Ezra. His past… it’s a threat to our daughter. Please call me back as soon as you can. I need your support. At least this once.”

I end the call with a heavy sigh, hoping he will respond before it's too late.

A little later, I find myself in front of Ezra’s house. The sun has long since set, and the light from inside confirms he’s home. He rarely stayed in after dark, so either he’s been here all evening or he’s been watching me, making me think he was out. I can’t trust anything I thought I knew.

I get out of my car and step onto the porch. Before I can even ring the doorbell, Ezra opens the door. Leaning casually against the doorframe, he greets me with a grin that sends chills down my spine.

“Hello, Beauty. There you are again,” he greets me as if he had been expecting me.

Anger surges through me, and I’m ready to lash out. He used my daughter to lure me here, and I want to make him pay. My hand shoots out toward his face, but he’s quicker. Grabbing my wrist mid-air, Ezra pulls me close, forcing me to slam against his broad chest. I look up at him, panting, my heart racing as I meet his gaze.

“Careful, Beauty. Do you think it’s wise to make me even angrier?” he threatens in a dark voice, his grip on my wrist tightening dangerously.

My pulse shoots up and my breath gasps, even though I want to hide it. But I’m scared shitless of him.

“Why? Will I end up like Sarah, or will you make it look like an accident for me, too? Like poor Jenny or all those other girls? You’re sick!” I spit in his face and tug at my wrist so he’ll release me.

But instead of letting me go, Ezra drags me into his house and closes the door behind me, then spins me around and presses me against the wood. He hasn’t released my wrist for a second. My heart is pounding so hard against my ribs that I’m worried it might jump out of my chest. My adrenaline is pumping and I can feel my senses sharpening, but I know I can’t do anything against Ezra. He is entirely superior to me in terms of strength.

“I got Jenny out of the way for you— for us— because what she says isn’t true! I haven’t done anything to anyone! I loved Sarah, and she loved me too! My best friend took her away from me! Jenny didn’t know shit! And you just believed her! Do you know how much that hurt? Your betrayal?” His voice is so dark and ominous that I close my eyes for a moment in fear as he looks at me with an insane gleam in his irises.

“You… you’re just sick! How could anyone love you?” I spit at him and kick him in the balls with my knee so that he finally lets go of me. I have to get out of here!