“WE begin our broadcast tonight with a story that we first brought you earlier this evening. The body of missing woman Ramona Villanova was discovered this morning on the beach at Whitney Sound, in view of the bridge. While the police are not willing to comment on the connection between Villanova’s death and the still unsolved kidnappings and murders of four other area women, witnesses at the crime scene report the victim was nude with her face covered with a lace veil, just as the others had been. The manner in which Villanova was killed has not been determined, nor has a motive. If you recall from our earlier reports, the South Port woman was reported missing by her family two months ago. She was last seen leaving work after her shift as a night nurse at a local assisted living center….”

The tinny voice of the news broadcaster was forced into the background as the TV volume was lowered. He didn’t need to hear the rest. He knew the story of sad Ramona and her necessary demise. Not that he was callous. In fact, it was quite the opposite. That poor woman surrounded herself with ungrateful, selfish, hateful people. She immersed herself in their filth and despair. He tried to save her from it. Show her that life could be better, easier.  She was willing, at first. His sad, sweet Ramona wept for joy when he asked to take her away and release her of all her sadness. That, of course, was until she realized that he never gave anything of himself freely. She turned on him as the others had. She wouldn’t accept the gift he was trying to give her. She said she couldn’t.

                Scorned, but not having the heart to return her to the wretchedness that awaited her, he gave her something better. He almost begrudged her the peace she now had. He was alone again, restless and tired of searching. He had to focus and stop allowing himself to be led astray by women who only proved to be unworthy of the love he could give them. 

Shrugging into his suit jacket, he studied himself in the floor-length mirror. Not a hair out of place, no detail was left unattended. He had to find the right one. And with renewed determination and concentration, he would not fail.