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Carol paced the little cell. Why she wasn’t given a bigger area was beyond her, but they said she wasn’t going to be moved or her room enlarged. Not that she had any idea why she was in here, but some officer told her that she was going to stay until her trial. Carol wanted her husband there.

She heard someone coming through the doorway to the area she was in. There were other people around. None of them as important as her, she knew this, but they seemed to have lots of people coming to see them. When an officer stood in front of her cell, Carol didn’t even bother standing up. He would put out the nasty food then come to get it in an hour, he’d tell her. It was the way he did things.

“Ms. Lane?” She told him for the millionth time it was not Lane, but Winslow. “Yeah, that’s why I’m here. There is an attorney here to see you. He’d like to talk to you about your divorce. But he said he won’t if you don’t behave yourself this time.”

“Where is Jake, my husband?” He only rocked back on his heels. “You are the most annoying man I’ve ever met. I want you to tell Jake where I am and that I need him to come here and get me out. I have to get to my house.”

“You’re not going to get out any time soon, and he’s a little busy right now. There has been a shooting at his home.” Carol told him it was her home and asked about the walls. “I’m not sure what you mean. What about the walls?”

“Were they damaged? When I have things repainted when I get home, I need to know if the walls were damaged. They’ll have to be fixed before the painters can come in. I think my husband might have had the walls redone, but they won’t be right.” He said nothing but stared at her. “I asked you a question. Are the walls damaged from any sort of blood or bullet holes? These are things I have to know.”

“Mr. Winslow, Jake’s father, shot and killed his mother. I guess he was aiming at Jake, but I don’t know the particulars on that right now.” She asked about Trina. “I’m afraid that she’s dead as well. Cut her wrists in the bathroom when she was told her husband was being taken away.”

“She didn’t like me either. And with Jenna gone, Jake and I will inherit that old bitch’s money as well. We’re going to be so rich.” She was trying to think how much money that might be with her daddy’s money, and looked at the police officer when he cleared his throat. “Is someone else dead that you know of?”

“No, ma’am, not that I can tell right now. You do know that these people are your relatives, right? That Jenna Winslow was a wonderful woman who was well thought of. Mrs. Winslow wasn’t nice, but she is still a person that is dead.” Carol asked him why she should care about them. “They’re all dead.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that now. Thank you for telling me. Do you think that someone could bring me a phone? I need to set up painters and workers to move into the house now. The downstairs powder room is going to be a challenge. I think people will just want to come over to use it just because they’ll know that someone died in there.” She started pacing again, her mind working on how to best use this to her advantage. “I could play it up a bit. Have the walls sponged in a nice dark red to highlight the things in the room. Perhaps I can use some of the crime scene photos on the walls. What do you think?”

“I think you need to realize how cold you sound right about now. Don’t you think people will think you’re strange for not getting at least a little upset about any of this?” She asked him why they would. “Because not only are both your parents are dead, one of them by your hand, but your in-laws are too.”

“Okay, first of all, Jenna was a royal bitch. Not to mention like eight hundred years old. She looked good for her age, but she had to go sooner or later, and now suits Jake and me better. My mother was a nag and she was kicking me out of their home. Not to mention she really held Daddy back from things. I think she was the main reason that he didn’t treat me as well as he should have.” She thought about Trina. “Jake’s mother wasn’t really a bad person, but Christ, she was depressing as fuck to be around. Crying all the time. Whining about this or that. I just couldn’t stand her, and maybe, had I really thought of it, I might have helped Jacob out with her like I helped my daddy.”

He looked around and she noticed that he was looking at the camera there. Carol had no idea if it worked or not. She wasn’t worried about it, however. There were more important things going on than a stupid camera that might be recording her naked or something. She asked him when Jake was coming in.

“I don’t think he is. I’m pretty sure that he has enough on his plate right now without coming to see you. Tell me again why you think you did your daddy a favor by taking care of your mom.” She asked him if he meant by killing her. “Yes, I guess so.”

“I didn’t, you know. Kill her, I mean. I just beat her up really badly. She should have died, I guess. I lost my temper again.” He asked her about that. “Oh, when I was younger there was this couple that took the last ticket to a movie I wanted to see. I asked him really nicely to give it to me—I am Carol Lane, after all—and he gave me this sob story about how it was his and his wife’s anniversary and that they’d saved and planned this night for ages.” She snorted. “I didn’t have to save, I had the money right on me. So when he didn’t give it over, I had to hurt him for it. I think his wife was hurt too…died, I think. And you want to know something? I didn’t even get to see the flipping movie. The police took me downtown and in one of these cells.”

“Then what happened?” She asked him what he meant. “You didn’t go to prison. You never had a trial. Why is that?”

“Oh. Daddy. He handed out money all the time when I messed up or got caught.” The officer asked her how many times she’d messed up. “Well, if you don’t count Mother, three times. I only meant to make them understand me, but this guy just didn’t want to do things my way. Then there was the teacher at the school. That’s when Daddy bought me Jake.”

“Excuse me?” Carol looked at him. “Your dad bought Jake? You mean he paid him off for something?”

“No. Jake’s daddy sold him to my daddy. For a lot of money too. I’d been in trouble, again, and Daddy said it was marry me off to change my name or I was going to have to move away. I had seen Jake at a friend’s party and I knew that I could get him to do things the way I wanted, so I told Daddy that I wanted him.” She smiled at the officer, thinking this was sort of fun, telling him about how wonderful her daddy had been. “So when he went to Jacob to tell him what he wanted, Jacob said he wanted money. A lot of it. Something about being ashamed of his son for something in college. Anyway, Jacob signed his son over to my daddy, who gave him to me. I need him here. Do you think you can get Jake to come here? He is mine, and I need him to come here.”

“I’ll work on that.”

When he walked away, Carol thought of the other things her daddy had given her when she’d married Jake. Money, sure, but that didn’t last long. He was also supposed to make sure that she and Jake got everything they wanted when they wanted it. But he never did that. Not even giving her credit cards when Jake had told her no. Her mother had caused that, she knew it. Carol decided right then and there that when she and Jake were back together, he was to never say that word to her again.

It was getting dark again, and one more night in this place wasn’t in her plan. And she realized that no one had brought her a phone either, or a computer. How the hell was she supposed to order things for her new home when no one was helping her? She’d have to get someone to help her or she’d never have the house done by Christmas again. That was the time to show off, she knew.

She was just getting up to bang her shoe on the bars that held her in when she saw a man coming toward her. Carol thought it was Jake, but there was something different about him. Then she noticed the man with him.

“I know you.” He bowed before her and she had to smile. This was the way to treat a woman. “If I wasn’t married to Jake here, I’d get someone to make you marry me.”

“Not on your ever loving life would I even entertain the thought of touching you, much less wedding you.” Carol wasn’t sure if he’d just insulted her or not, so decided not to ask. “You requested for Jake to be here. And as his attorney, I’m going to advise him on what to say to you or not.”

“Why would you care if he spoke to me about things? Not that it matters, I guess.” She turned to Jake. “You have to pay them off so that I can get home. I want to get the house ready for the holidays. And I do hope that you got rid of that ugly stuff you brought in when I was gone. Jake, you have no sense of style at all.”

“You’re not coming to my home again, Carol. I think I made that perfectly clear when I filed for divorce.” She waved him off and told him to be serious. “I’m dead serious. I’m not going to allow you to be near me, much less in my home.”

“Jake, I’m not sure why you’re treating me this way, but I won’t stand for it. I want you to go give those people whatever it takes to release me. Mother and Daddy are both gone now, so it’s not like you don’t have the cash to settle things up for us.” Jake just stood there. “Oh, you can’t say anything in front of your lawyer. I get it. Just send him away and we can make plans. I have so much to do. Did you know that they won’t even give me a phone in here? You’ll have to give me yours so that I can get some things done while you’re working on the rest.”

“I’m not going to get you out of here. I’m certainly not going to give you a phone, and when you’re convicted of murder, you won’t be able to inherit anything from the estate either.” She asked him why she’d be convicted of anything. “You killed your mother, Carol. That’s why.”

“Oh no, you have that wrong. Daddy killed her. I just beat her up. I thought she was dead or close to it when I left her on my floor, but Daddy pulled the gun on her.” Carol was starting to get aggravated. “Jake, I don’t have time to sit here and debate this. Just pay them off so I can get home. You have a lot to make up for when we get there. And I’ve decided that there will be no more telling me no. I don’t care for that word at all.”

“No.” She stomped her foot. “No, I am not going to bail you out, even if there was bail set for you. No, I’m not giving you my phone so you can order whatever is in your sick mind to do to my home. And I will most certainly tell you no, that you are not ever going to have me pay anyone off for a dammed thing you do from now on. You are on your own.”

“Daddy said you were to take care of me. This is not taking care of me at all, Jake. Get the fucking money here and get me out of this place. I’m much too smart and pretty to be locked up like this.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “You’re really starting to piss me off. Do what I say now or else.”

“Or else what, Carol? Are you going to hurt me?” She said that she would. “Well, that’s the reason you’re in here. You’re not getting free. You’re going to prison.”

“I don’t want to go to prison. Damn it, why are people being so fucking mean to me?” She wanted him to answer her, but he looked over at the man next to him. He was smiling that sort of smile that didn’t go all the way to the eyes. “Who the fuck are you and why are you here? There is no reason for Jake to need a lawyer. Go away.”

“No. Wow, that word is pretty nice to use when someone tells you not to use it, isn’t it?” He laughed. “I’m here, as I told you, to advise Jake. Not that I think he needs it, but in the event you get stupid…or in this case, stupider. Also, it’s because I want to see your face when he tells you of our good news.”

“What good news? And Jake, don’t think I’ve not noticed that you’ve not given me your phone yet. I have some places to call before I move back in with you, so I want to get a good start on those places in the morning.” He just stood there. “You have no right to treat me this way. My daddy said you’d be a sap and do what I want when I want. Well, you’re not doing anything like you should.”

“And I won’t either. I wanted to come here to tell you, first of all, that my grandma has been murdered.” She tapped her foot. “You really are a cold, heartless bitch aren’t you? Anyway, I’ve also found someone to love. For the rest of my life.”

“Who? No one that I know would dare touch what is mine. Jake, you’re not marrying material, you know that, don’t you? I mean, I hate to break it to you, but you are a dumbass, as well as a prick at times. No one is going to ever love you.” She smiled at him. “Did you hear me? I said that you’re not going to find someone to love you, not unless they want to be dead too.”

“I’m his lover.” Jake smiled at the man, a smile that not only reached his eyes but seemed to be a part of his body. Carol looked at the other man and asked him what he was talking about. “Jake is my lover. We’re partners.”

“In your law firm.” He told her that as well. “I don’t understand. Lovers? You mean you like him. That the two of you are going to be law partners.”

“We’re lovers as in being in love with each other. We’re going to live together as lovers, die together as them as well, I guess. And yes, we’re also law firm partners.” Carol was still confused. “Jake and I are gay.”

“No. I don’t think so. No, he’s my husband and I’ll say what he is or not. And he’s not gay. I won’t have it.” The man laughed again. “Look, I don’t know what sort of games you’re playing here, but Jake is my husband, not some lover of yours. Not that he’d do that sort of thing, but he belongs to me. Daddy said so.”

“Well, your father is dead and I’m gay. A homosexual. And Forrest is my mate.” She stepped back from the bars, shaking her head. This wasn’t right. “And when you go to trial next week, I’m going to testify against you. By the way, the courts granted me an early divorce due to the fact that you’re a murderous bitch, and as your ex-husband, it’s my right to go on living without you interfering in my life; my new one.”

“You think you’re happy now, you just wait.” She looked at the two of them and noticed that they were holding hands. “Let him go. What is wrong with you? Do you want someone to see you like this? Daddy would be appalled. Christ, Jake, what will the neighbors think?”

“I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. And I certainly don’t give a fuck what you think. I only came here to let you know that as of this very moment, I’m done with you.” She told him that he wasn’t until she said so. “You see, Carol, that is where you’re wrong. I don’t need you in my life, nor do I need your permission for anything I might do. Believe it or not, I’m a grown man who can and will make my own decisions.”

When he turned to walk away from her, she saw red. The fucker wasn’t going to get off that easily, and Carol told him to get back there. He just kept walking, holding hands with that other man.

“Jake, when I get out of here, you’re going to pay for this. I’m serious, you’re in deep shit with this, and I won’t have you embarrassing me like this. Get back here right now, you fucker. Jake, come back here.” When she heard the door shut she felt sick to her stomach, she was so angry. As she made her way to the bed again, she nearly screamed when she saw a man standing in the corner. “Who the fuck are you? You know, I don’t care. If you can get me out of here, I’ll pay you whatever you want. My daddy was rich.”

“I don’t care.” He moved to her, close enough that she had to step back or he’d touch her. But he still did, running his fingers over her cheek to her throat. “You’re such an ugly person, aren’t you? Inside and out. I will enjoy this, I think.”

“I don’t want you here.” Her blood was pounding in her ears and she could almost taste her own fear. “How did you get in here?”

“I can move very quickly and transport myself wherever I want to go. And even though I’d rather not be here, I think I must be.” He wrapped his fingers around her throat, and even thought it wasn’t tight, she could feel her breaths being cut off. “You are going to do just what I tell you, Carol Lane. I have no desire to have you turning up in the lives of my friends again and destroying their happiness.”

“I don’t know what you mean. Let me go.” She stood there, her body stiff with fear as he took her sheet from her bed. “What are you doing?”

“Tear this into strips for me. They don’t have to be even, just nice ones that you can use. Do it.” It was as if she had no choice. Taking the sheet from him, she started tearing it into strips. “Very good. Now tie the ends together into a long rope.”

“I don’t want to.” He only smiled at her and she fell backward. “You have fangs. I can see them; you have.... Are you a vampire?”

“I am indeed. I’m not going to tell you again to make a rope. I shall have to kill you myself if you don’t comply. And you need to suffer for the lives that you’ve ruined. Don’t disobey me again, Carol Lane, or I will end your miserable life.”

Carol did as she was told. Not that she knew why she was doing it, but she did. And when she had all the pieces together, she held it to her like a long blanket. He took it from her and slipped it over the top railing of the bars. Just raised up and wrapped it there.

“What do you think I’m going to do with that? It’s not going to free me.” He told her that in a way it would. “I’ll be able to go to my home? I have a lot of work to do there.”

“You’ll not have to worry about that at all. But I do have something to tell you. A promise I made to a dear friend of mine. Would you like to know what it was?” Carol told him that she didn’t care to hear about his friends. “Too bad. Jenna told me that should she die before you went away, that I was to come here and take care that you never got out to bother Jake again. She made me promise her that, even though I would have done it anyway. So here I am, fulfilling a promise to someone I loved dearly.”

“Jenna hated me.” He laughed at her. “Look, my daddy was really well off. If you just walk away now, I’ll give you a lot of money. Jenna is dead. It’s not like she’ll know if you did it or not anyway.”

“I’ll know. And I have no use for your money. I have more than even you could spend in several lifetimes.” He told her to wrap the rope around her neck. “Do it, Carol. The hour grows late, and I need to be gone from here.”

Carol wrapped the rope around her neck. Even stood up on the bed where he told her to. It wasn’t right, him doing this to her, but she knew that in the end she’d win out. She was Carol Winslow, after all, and was now very wealthy. When he stood back to look at how she was positioned, Carol tried once more to get him to set her free.

“I’ll even let you fuck me. I don’t care for you, but if you’ll let me go, I’ll let you fuck me. Any way you want.” He laughed. “I’m not being funny here.”

“Oh, but you are. To fuck you, as you so crudely put it, would be the worst thing to happen to me. And trust me when I tell you that I’ve fucked some pretty disgusting things in my life.” He laughed again. “Yes, that would never do. Now be a good little human and wrap the rope around your neck so that I can see you pay.”

The rope was heavy; her body felt leaden by what she was about to do. No amount of begging would make him stop this. No matter how much she offered him he turned her down. This wasn’t right. She had things to do.

“Stand on the bed there and I’ll help you out.” She told him no and he touched his finger to her cheek again. “You have no choice in the matter, Carol. Your crimes, all of them, deserve a good justice. And I’m here to make sure there is one.”

He told her to step off the bed, and when she did the bulkiness of the rope tightened. Her air was getting harder and harder to suck in. She began to claw at the rope, trying her best to take it away, if only to loosen it so she could breathe, but the vampire told her to put her hands down.

Bright sparks of light began to blind her. Her chest hurt, her neck burned. Then as she was ready to close her eyes, she opened them when the man said her name. It took a great deal of focus to hear him.

“I shall see you in hell, Carol Lane.” Carol closed her eyes then, thinking that was just too much. Then nothing.