Labyrinth of Emotions – 02.02 – Frightened

            Los Angeles, the city of Angels, of lovely women, of movies and stars on every street corner. For over two years, a serial killer bounced from one coast to the other, taking lives, and leaving chaos in her wake. You read right faithful readers, her. Female serial killers are rare, far in between, but they do exist. I know, I have met one, face to face and the memory will never leave me. I have always thought of myself as a jaded L.A. born and breed girl, oblivious to the death and mayhem that seems to run a muck around us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I met death, and I don’t care to meet her again any time soon. The names are real; the places are real because this story was splashed all over the news, now it’s time to read it from the inside out and not the outside in.

            Her name was Crystal DeMarcus, and she was taken down, as law enforcement officers tend to say, by two very brave women. Jo Wheaton and Alexandria Pezinni, on a perfectly clear day in New York City, you ask how might I know this? I was there, my name is Alice Pieszecki and I’ll be your tour guide today in the warped reality that has become my world.

            Crystal DeMarcus was a talented artist, revered by her peers, loved by her fans and a woman that never took no for an answer. She was known in her circle as the woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. She was also described as being beautiful, and charming. “If you were in her presence,” one source told this reporter, “she made you feel like you were the sole woman on earth. It was a breath taking experience, I’m rather glad she didn’t take mine away as she did with others.” Her art was always surreal, yet the feel of it being ghastly real was always in the fringe of the painting, faint colors, mixed with dark shadows.

            It started on 9/11/2001, on the faithful day that terrorists decided that our wonderful country was now their prime target. On that day, CSI Detective Alexandria Pezinni did what she did every morning, she got up, dressed and went to work. Around her neck the crystal snowflake that had been given to her by her lover. She was one of the first to respond to the tragedy, cutting through the traffic on her yellow Buell. She forewent her usual helmet and when she arrived, only the first of the two towers had been hit.

            She valiantly helped EMS responders to help and remove as many people as she could, as the second plane struck, she was pinned under rubble.  After 18 harrowing hours, she was dug out alive and paralyzed. She immediately arranged to have herself transferred to San Diego, where her sister was living at the time. She tore her necklace off and threw it to her lover, breaking the bond that held them to each other, she was now a physically broken woman, and she wanted nothing to do with her life in New York.

            What you ask, does this have to do with Crystal DeMarcus you ask? Crystal DeMarcus was Alexandria Pezinni’s lover of three years, and on that faithful day, the bond the held Alex to Crystal were shattered sending the artist into a world of chaos and pain. So much pain in fact, that she began to take various women’s lives across the country. She left clues, hoping that someday, she’d be found out and Alex would feel the pain of each death as if she’d perpetrated the crimes.

            All the victims were shy, lesbian woman who enjoyed going out to clubs, but kept their interaction to a minimum, the same way that Alexandria Pezinni had when she’d met Crystal at the bar she was working at. The women were all neatly found in their neat bedrooms, with a burn mark on the back of their necks. Crystal DeMarcus would place the crystal snowflake around their necks and tear it off, as Alex had done. A symbiotic gesture, and one that profiler Amy Astin has told this reporter, “Made Crystal feel as if she were killing Alex, when in fact she was trying to lure her back into her life.” Crystal also left a signature at each scene, though it wasn’t picked up until Alex Pezinni was assigned to the case in LA, a very expensive perfume, that Alex had once given Crystal as a gift. The scent at each crime scene, unnoticed for almost four years.

            In December of 2001 she took her first set of lives in Pittsburgh while she was at an art show. In the following years, she’d do the same thing, going to shows all over the country, viewing her older work, all inspired by Detective Pezinni and taking lives as she did so. In the last weeks, Jo Wheaton uncovered more victims in each city, some of them had been ‘solved’ some had been thrown into the cold case files. The families of these victims no longer need to cry out for justice, Alexandria Pezinni delivered that justice in the form of a .38 bullet.

            In all, twenty nine victims of the Whip Me Beat Me killer have been revealed, in Orlando Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, then finally in LA in August of this year, where Alexandria found herself chasing a killer, one that she had no idea that she’d had a part in creating.

            As the clues mounted, Detective Pezinni came to the realization that she did, indeed, know who the killer was. She enlisted her partner of the moment, Special Agent Jo Wheaton’s help and they embarked on the cross country trek to seek out the truth, the one that might save the life of a dear friend of mine, Elizabeth Porter.

            Bette had begun dating Crystal several months before, as the director of the California Art Center, Bette had gone to NYC to procure a show from the hidden artist. Bette Porter got much more than she was bargaining for as time drew on and Crystal drew her in.

            Special Agent Jo Wheaton of the FBI approached the potential witness as she was calling Ms. DeMarcus until she had proof, armed with information given to her by this reporter, that Crystal DeMarcus had slept with several of the dead women. She was led into the killer’s home, and was then attacked and left for dead nothing short of a miracle could save Bette now.

            The miracle came in two waves the first was Alexandria Pezinni’s uncanny feeling that something had gone deadly wrong. The time frame which Agent Wheaton had given her had elapsed and she ventured into the den of death by the back door that she herself, had used hundreds of times. She hoped that she wasn’t too late for her partner, or for Bette Porter.

            The second wave of good fortune came in myself and Christina Kennard, intent on making sure that Bette Porter, our long time friend was safe and out of harms way. We found ourselves outside of the brownstone, with gunshots ringing out into the early morning light. Caught between simply calling the police and trying to save our friends, we did both.

            In a brave effort we found Special Agent Wheaton, and assisted her in freeing herself from the watery grave that Crystal had prepared for her. She’d drugged the FBI agent, then had proceeded in slicing her wrists, and immersing her in cold water; handcuffing her hands to her feet, and leaving her for dead. Little did Ms. DeMarcus know, Jo Wheaton had faced death many times, and is still living and breathing to tell her tales. Bleeding and hurt Agent Wheaton proceeded to find her partner, Alex Pezinni, having freed Bette Porter, saving her from death, and had ensued in a gun battle with the irate killer.

            It ended badly, as all these things do when death is involved. It ended with Crystal DeMarcus being fatally shot by Detective Alexandria Pezinni as she lay on the floor of where she’d once called home, bleeding from two gun shot wounds given to her from her former lover.

            EMS teams responded with rapid fire speed saving Detective Pezinni from the clutches of death, though she still lays in a coma in a private Los Angeles hospital. Ms. DeMarcus, was not as fortunate, the bullet fired from Detective Pezinni’s .38 snub nose revolver struck her high in the face, rending her dead before she hit the cold floor of her own home.

            The legacy of Crystal DeMarcus will forever cling to me and the close knit circle of friends that I call my family. Death has not stopped her from inflicting her unique brand of pain on her last intended victim, Bette Porter. Nor have the families of the other twenty nine women gotten over the loss of their loved ones. Death was only the beginning of her reign of terror.

            Editors Note: Alice Pieszecki has been writing for L.A. Magazine as a free lance writer for three years, and is currently working full time as it’s newest investigative reporter.

            Maura closed the magazine and the phone rang just as she put it down, she’d been fielding calls for Alice for weeks now, the article had stirred something in the readers. Alice was getting fan mail, and fan email, it was outrageous. Maura picked up the phone, and she spoke into the receiver.

            “Yes. I do realize that she hasn’t written anything since that article, yes. I’ll tell her, something in the next issue, I promise.” Maura hung up, and she turned to her computer and pulled up some unpublished articles of Alice’s. Maura pushed back her dark auburn hair and sighed, Alice you need to come back to work soon.

*****

            Dana and Alice were getting Samantha’s house ready for her and they’d been side tracked twice by other events. Mainly kissing sucking and frolicking in the heated pool of Alice’s old friend.

            “What is this?” Dana pointed to something on the list that Alice had scribbled down last night during her conversation with Sam on the phone. Dana squinted, unable to make out the chicken scratching.

            “A word.” Alice snorted tossing the apples into the fridge, not even bothering to look at the list. Dana grunted and slapped her ass Alice swung around and caught her in a hug, her mouth finding Dana’s very tasty neck.

            “It’s the word milk see the ‘M’ and the ‘K’?” Alice muttered, licking Dana’s neck as Dana pulled her towards the living room couch. Alice shook her head, and muttered into Dana’s ear.  “The good doctor is going to be home any minute now, we can wait….” Dana caught Alice’s moving mouth with her own, her tongue sweeping into Alice mouth and rendering her speechless. Dana pulled away and Alice wondered why she’d always thought Dana would be a bad kisser? She just took her breath away every single time.

            “No sex in my house!” Sam yelped from the doorway Lara behind her laughing as Sam turned into a grouch right before them. Sam’s longer hair falling into her grey eyes as she walked into the open kitchen and Alice went over and gently hugged her.

            “I’m all healed, no need to treat me like a china doll Al my girl.” Sam said, pinching Alice’s cheek. Al sometimes forgot how young Samantha really was, and she was looking very young at the moment for some reason. Was it the new heart beating in her chest?

            “Have you two been….?” Lara asked, waving her hands to the house, trying to say it without saying it.

            “Yes, we’ve been fucking all over the house; Sam the kitchen table is way too high.” Alice stated and Sam made a face of disgust as Lara dropped the suitcases and Dana turned away, blushing fiercely.  “I’m joking, right Dane?” Alice asked and Dana nodded, going over and taking the suitcase that was at Lara’s feet, unable to meet her eyes. Lara thought it was going to be hard for her to deal with being friends with a former lover. She seemed to be adapting to having a former friend now being a current lover.

            “How are you really doing?” Alice asked Sam as Sam made her way into the living room, and lying on the couch. Her feet ached, her back ached and she was horny, it was all good, she was healthy.

            “Tired, I feel like I’ve had my heart ripped from my chest, literally.” The flat toned remark from the doctor and Dana let out a sharp giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as she did so, Lara laughed too and Alice stood with her hands on her hips.

            “Samantha Leigh Vance….”

            “Jesus she’s using my middle name…” Sam countered and Alice continued, her dark eyes digging their way right into Sam’s soul.

            “You will cease and desist with the dead jokes, heart jokes and all around death jokes, you are understanding me?” Alice gave Sam a stern look and she nodded, pulling the blanket on the back of the couch down and covering her face.

            “Yes mom.”

*****

            “I don’t know when she might wake up Vanessa.” Dr. Abby Keller told Vanessa, who was sitting in Alex’s room, holding her hand. That lifeless lump of flesh that was attached to her sisters equally as lifeless arm.

            “What should I do?” Vanessa asked her emotions betraying her as she watched Alex’s chest rise, then fall in equal and steady beats.

            “All you can do. You do understand that she’s being well taken care off, she is in no pain and is comfortable as much as she can be?” Abby asked and Vanessa nodded, brushing Alex’s dark blonde hair from her forehead it was so long. How could it grow like that, and she wasn’t talking or moving?

            “I know. I just really want my sister back she keeps getting ripped away from me, everyone I love keeps dying.” Vanessa stated softly, caressing Alex’s hand, tears splashing down on Alex’s alabaster skin.

            “I’ve been instructed to tell you that we’ll be moving her to another facility in the next week or so. A nursing home that can take care of her….”

            “Whoa, why?” Vanessa asked nursing homes didn’t have doctors, or rehabilitation people that would stretch her limb and talk to her she’d just become another room number.

            “The state won’t pay for rehab if she’s not responding; I’m very sorry Ms. Pezinni.” The doctor said, walking out of the room and looking back at a fallen hero and a sister who loved her very much.

*****

            “It has been boggling my mind for two days now Kit all of this happened while I was away?” Marina asked, sipping on a few blend of coffee that Kit was serving, and it was heavenly. Kit nodded, she then asked.

            “Did you get everything you needed sorted out?” Kit asked Marina, and she too nodded with a small smile gracing her lips.

            “Oh yes, all sorted out and taken care of. I am very pleased that you came up with the funding to buy the Planet. I was worried for a while, but other things too precedence.”

            “I have Bette to thank for that and my father of all people. Ivan helped a lot too, without him I’d be lost right now.” Kit admitted and Marina nodded seeing Jenny walk into the Planet with Carmen in tow.

            “Is that Jenny’s new girlfriend?” Asked Marina setting her sights on some adventure.

            “Uh huh. Don’t you be causing any trouble, Carmen is a sweet girl, Shane broke her heart but Jenny’s mending it. I see that look in your eyes Marina.” Kit threatened and Marina met her eyes, smiling.

            “What look might that be Kit?” Marina asked very innocently.

            “The hunter look.” Kit shot back, and Marina smiled a bit.

            “Oh that look.” Marina sat back with her cup of coffee and pondered.

*****

            Oscar handed Tina the file she’d asked for and Tina’s cell phone rang she snatched it up and was about to speak.

            “Why aren’t you at the club?” Jo’s voice came to her ear and Tina sighed, that club was a handful. So was Jo for that matter, sexy French speaking Californian who’d have thought.

            “I’m at the Center, Jo it’s all good trust me. I have something I’m working on right now, can we talk in the morning. We have some repairs to look into the Spears wedding party tore the place up I mean literally.” Tina said balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder, juggling the file and pushing a chair into a desk with her foot.

            “Oh merde, sure I’ll call you in the AM, the early AM woman. Say Hi to Oscar for me.” Jo hung up, and Tina dropped the phone and sighed heavily. Jo was on odd woman, but Tina loved working for the free spirited woman. How had she known that she was with Oscar?

            “Tina, did you call Ro?” Oscar asked, and Tina gave Oscar a blank look, she made a face and asked.

            “Who’s Ro? Do I know a Ro? Row, row, row ya boat, gently down the stream….” She sang and Oscar blocked his ears and grimaced, pretending the song hurt his ears.

            “I didn’t tell you, who did I ask to do that? I’m going to call Ro’s got the rest of these files….” He was muttering and Tina chuckled at him as he walked away.

            “Row, row, row ya boat….” Tina continued to sing as she went about putting the rest of the files in the boxes in an almost giddy manner.

*****

            Bette sat silently in her room wearing a pair of pristine white pajama’s, there were her favorite. She felt innocent again in this color she was crossed legged on the bed, her hands cupping her face and her chin in her hands. She kept staring out the window from across the room. Marty had come earlier, and she still didn’t have anything to say. She was inside of herself, and that was ok for now. She didn’t care about work, about being ambitions, about her father, her sister or her life. She just ‘was’. Welcome to existence, nice and quiet in here with just me.


*****