Lucky Damnation Read Free Page A

than he wanted.
    Reaching into the backpack again, he took the backup pair of boots he insisted on bringing. They were a match for the shoes she was wearing. He made some footprints over the area he had disturbed. Then dragging one shoe forward across the dirt, he gave the appearance she had slipped and fallen.
    “Amelia!” He screamed at the top of his lungs. “Be careful! Oh my God! No! Someone help! My fiancé just fell. Someone please help!”
    He then waited to see if anyone rushed to his side. But only the warm Arizona wind crawled through the area. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the burner phone he had purchased. He had used it exclusively to communicate with the dead woman on the side of the hill. Now he’d use up the rest of his minutes on one final phone call. He wanted them to find her body. To begin the investigation. To have it look like an accident and to once again, get away with murder. He had never killed in Sedona before. He’d hit other small towns that had limited resources, where he knew he could just leave the bodies behind and the cases would grow cold.  Sedona was a rich community and the resources for the police department may be enough that they could potentially catch him. That would be an end to the fun he was having.
    “9-1-1, what is your emergency?” An annoyed voice asked over the phone.
    “My name is Carl Wilson.” The man lied. “My fiancé Amelia Richards just fell off the side of the trail at Cathedral Rock. I need help right away.”
    “Is she still moving?” The operator asked. “Can you see any visible bones or fractures?”
    “She tumbled down the mountain, I’m not sure.” His voice grew quiet. “I just hope she isn’t dead. I love her so much. I need her to be okay. Please hurry.”
    “I need you to stay on the phone.” The operator urged. “The more information you give us, the more likely it will be we can help her.”
    “My signal is weak.” He lied again. “But I will do my best.”
    “How far up the trailhead are you?” The operated asked.
    “We are only halfway to the top of the trail.” He struggled to not laugh. “She had wanted to pose along the side of the trail with the view in the background. I didn’t see the harm in it.”
    He looked down at the trail. The pair had nearly made it to the top of the trail. Unfortunately, she had rolled more than he had hoped for. She was far enough to the side of the trail, that it would take them hours to find the body. By the time he made it halfway down, they would be running up the trail. He’d be out of breath and could claim he came from the top and didn’t see anyone else if asked. It would serve as a logical cover, if they ever got suspicious.
    The operator said something else and the man rolled his eyes. Instead of responding, he disconnected the call. Reaching into the backpack, he pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol, he drenched the phone in it. Then taking out a cloth he wiped the prints off of it. Drawing back his hand, he flung it hard over the edge of the trail, away from the body. The cheap phone burst as it hit rocks on the terrain.
    Gathering everything up, he returned the contents of his bag and then tossed it on his back. Turning his attention to the trail, he began the trek down the side of the mountain. The hot Arizona sun felt good on his skin. It was a great day to be alive. Once again, he felt the thrill of getting away with murder. Best of all, he had the chance to start over again. As he worked on getting closer to the woman who had destroyed his life. Marisela Gomez.
     

Chapter Three
    Marisela stood at the front door of Mama Clifton’s Diner and impatiently tapped her foot waiting for a waitress to seat her. The diner was always crammed full of people and while some of the food was incredible, the daily special was usually an experiment in terror as the owner was trying to create a new memorable meal to join her other “classics” on the menu, and she almost