Nightcrawler by Mark Gado

Author:Mark Gado [Gado, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7953-2315-7
Publisher: RosettaBooks
Published: 2011-01-29T18:30:00+00:00

www.crimescape.com

Chapter 8: Escape!

“We made our own luck that day.

—Lt. William Siegrist, City of Poughkeepsie Police

Linda Weber was an attractive woman of 21 when she first arrived in the city during the spring of 1998. She was raised in a small town in Virginia, where she occasionally got into trouble in high school for habitual drug use. She decided to move to New York after she became friends with another student she met in a retail store. A slim, likable woman with brown hair, Weber shared an apartment with her friend while she searched for work. The two women fell victim to the allure of crack, a new and powerful drug that swept across America like a typhoon, and soon descended into prostitution in order to make money.

One day in early June, Weber came home to find Kendall Francois in her apartment. He had paid to have sex with her friend, but when Francois saw Linda, he wanted her instead. After some hesitation, she agreed to go with him to his house on Fulton Avenue, which was only a few blocks away. They drove over in his white Camry and slipped into the garage located in back of the dilapidated house. Francois closed the garage door behind them and then got back into the car on the passenger side.

“We’re gonna stay in the garage,” he said. They had sex in the car and he paid her $40, the agreed-upon price.

After that first time, Francois became friends with the two women, who would sometimes call him when they needed a ride or to go to local stores. He never seemed to mind and was always available. Though he repeatedly tried to date Linda, she would not go out with him. On one occasion, Francois loaned her $16 when she wanted to buy some cosmetics.

On September 1, 1998, Linda was walking alone on Main Street near a Dollar Store when Francois drove by in his Toyota. She was looking to get something to eat but didn’t have enough money. When he spotted her, Francois pulled over to talk.

“Hey Linda, where you going? What you been up to?” he said.

“I’m trying to get something to eat,” Weber replied.

“Come over to the house,” he said. “I got some food and we can talk.”

Linda got into the car and together they drove over to Fulton Avenue. On the way, he asked her about having sex again, but she refused after telling him that she was just hungry. Francois again pulled the car into his garage, but Linda was nervous.

“Aren’t we going inside?” she asked.

“Do you have my money you owe me?” he said.

Linda said she didn’t have any cash right then but would have it soon. She could see that Francois’ demeanor had changed. He was becoming visibly angry.

“Well, you’re gonna pay for it now!” he shouted at her.

Francois immediately reached across the front seat and grabbed her throat with his huge hands. Linda tried to push him away, but it was useless. He pressed his thumbs into her windpipe while she resisted with all the strength she had.

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