Like Father, Like Son - 6

For the next three years Declan did his best to find out more about his father while playing the perfect son to his mother and stepfather. He made it through high-school with a 3.5 GPA and was accepted by the three universities he’d applied to. Much his mother’s dismay he chose the University of Minnesota’s offer, intending to major in business with a minor in restaurant management. The campus was in Minneapolis, where he’d been born.

His mother attempted to dissuade him, even to the point of telling his stepfather he was not to pay Declan’s tuition if he went there. For once Reginald had sided with him against her.

When he got to the University and began his classes he concentrated on his studies. During the first year there he also spent as much time as he could spare searching for more information about his father. The hospital records were no help, which he’d sort of figured would be the case if his mother had told the truth about his father walking away when he learned she was pregnant. The cemetery was no better in that the people who worked there were unwilling to give him any personal information about Gerald Hill, Crispin’s and presumably Bryant’s father. Finally he decided he was beating a dead horse and gave up.

Being a personable young man, and good looking as well, Declan easily made friends while he was at the University. He had his choice of women, and men, when he needed to seek some relief from the tensions of college life. He dated often and indiscriminately, sleeping with a few who caught his fancy momentarily.

Then he met Nicolette. She was tall, slender, and blonde. In some ways she reminded him of his mother with her attitude, which said she deserved the best and wouldn’t settle for less. And she considered him ‘less’.

At first he found her excuses for turning him down when he asked for a date amusing. Then, slowly but surely, the all too familiar rage began to build. How dare this woman who was no better than him treat him like some pesky kid who wasn’t worth the time of day? So he tried to relieve his anger as he had since he was a child, finding and mutilating a small animal. This time it did nothing for him.

It was then he understood he had to move on to something that would help. Something larger, like Nicolette. He planned it well, holding in his rage while seeming to have given up on her. He found another young woman to date, plying her with flowers and candy and trips to the movies. All the while he plotted.

Late one evening he stood outside the campus library. Nicolette came out just before closing, accompanied by two girlfriends. He followed them, waiting until they split up, each heading to their respective apartments off-campus. As Nicolette walked down the street he trailed behind, waiting for the perfect moment. It came when she took a shortcut down a dimly-lit area between two buildings. She walked faster; obviously aware she shouldn’t be there but unwilling to take the long way around.  

He was right behind her. Moving swiftly but silently, he caught her, one arm encircling her throat while he held his knife to her side. He tightened his choke-hold until she passed out. The rest was easy. He searched her bag for her keys before throwing her over his shoulder. After checking to make certain no one would see him, he carried her to her car which was parked in the lot behind her apartment building. Dumping her in the backseat, he got in and drove away.