ANOTHER WOMAN SLAIN OUTSIDE THE CITY
Maria Sandia, hairstylist, was found badly mutilated along an alley just outside the city. Police are investigating, but there are still no leads. Detective Mike Silgan however claims this to be the work of a disturbed serial killer. "There are many similarities in each case." Silgan said, " First, the fact alone that the victims were young hair stylists is one clue, the other is the severe atrocity involved in each of these mutilations and the quotes in blood stating 'Now were even...' and recently, the message stating, 'Now Becky's Dead' confirm my theories" Police are now looking into who Becky is...

The small oblong column was not that much bigger than any of the other stories in the paper that day but the contents of this piece disturbed Sarah a great deal as she cut, what she decided was her favorite client's hair, Karen Richards. A lot older than Sarah, and a little more outspoken, they struck up a tight friendship in the short time they knew each other. Karen always wore her hair cut very short and loved the way Sarah cut it with dexterity and speed, using her red clippers, to shave the nape of her neck clean and tidy. Sarah never knew too much about Karen except that she was no holds barred when spoke her mind. While buzzing the back of her neck, she, in her own way tried to put a smile on Sarah's concerned face.
" I wouldn't worry hon. From what I've read, these women were from the outskirts of town, the last victim had her own shop and worked alone. I mean look at the security in the mall here, I wouldn't worry. If anything, he should be glad I ain't a hairstylist, boy, if he ever tried anything with me, I'd pull out a nice shiny scimitar and SWISH!!! I'd slice his fuckin nuts clean off." She said with confidence. 
A slight smile spread across Sarah's face.
"See? I made ya smile." She added, as Sarah brushed the short hairs from around her neck and shoulders of the red cape, sending it to the floor. Even Sara's friend Kelly chuckled and put her index finger up to her lips. She was in the process of giving an eleven year old boy a crewcut. Being quick about it, she ran her clippers over his head, sending hair tumbling down into his lap, leaving his head with a quarter inch stubble. Both stylists began to take notice of a man who was sitting on the bench just out in the Mall's walkway. Dressed in jeans, black T-shirt and shoulder length hair, they noticed he was sitting there for a while. While they cleaned the shop around closing time, he still sat there reading, leaving when a security guard informed him the mall was closing.
"He sits there and reads all the time, I wouldn't worry." Kelly assured her friend, suggesting they go out for a drink afterwards.
"Y know, that sounds like a good idea." Sarah answered. Tossing the last of the day's shorn hair into the garbage, they removed their shop smocks, revealing two voluptuous ladies in tight jeans and tank tops. They shut out the lights, locked the doors and said goodnight to the guards at the main door. 
"I'll meet you there," Kelly shouted, walking towards her car. Nodding and waving, Sarah proceeded towards her car which was parked a little ways down. Her straight black hair, which was almost to her waist, caught a breeze that made it fly off her shoulders. It was at her car when she saw the man on the bench running towards her. She screamed with fright, despite his assurances that he was not going to hurt her.
"I just want to talk to you that's all."
"Back off now!!"
"I Promise, I won't hurt you." He said, but with no avail. Kelly, having heard her screams screeched over in her car, flung open the door and jumped out.
"Are you OK?" Kelly asked before turning to the man shouting, "Back off asshole! Can't you see she doesn't wanna talk to you?" Security guards, having heard the commotion came over.
"I need to talk to her for ju-"
He couldn't complete the sentence as Kelly doused him with pepper spray, within seconds he was screaming in pain and blinded. Security drove up, and apprehended the man while Kelly calmed Sarah down. Once everything was back to normal, they went to the bar for a few more drinks than anticipated. Realizing Sarah was upset and lived alone, Kelly offered to let her stay at her place for the night.
"I just can't believe I was almost attacked. I mean he sat there all the time, I wonder why he waited so long."
"Probably just waiting for the right opportunity, just be thankful security was there. Oh well, he's probably rotting in a cell, let's have a good time," Kelly urged. And they did, dancing and enjoying the musical mix the DJ was playing including some great Latin songs along with some techno and hip hop music. Soon it was closing time and they both left. Back at Kelly's apartment, they sat and watched a foreign film that was showing on some late night channel.
"Got 93 channels and this is all that's on, interesting film anyway, thank goodness for sub titles." Kelly remarked, followed by a smirk from Sarah.
 
The salon, the next several days were busy, with haircuts galore. On the third of their busy days, a day they decided was the busiest, blonde, brunette, red and many other hair pigments hit their black and white checkered linoleum floor. One particular haircut Sarah had to do, she deeply regretted. It was obvious that her next client, a reluctant young girl of about sixteen was being punished for failing a course from what she caught of their conversation.
"I'm sorry Nancy but your father and I agree, we tried everything and still your grades have not improved." The mother said in a firm but sympathetic tone. This was of no consolation to the girl, who had spirals of blonde hair that snaked down to the middle of her back. Despite her protests, the mother was insistent.
"I'm sorry, but it's coming off...today." 
When her turn came, she could see the trepidation and sadness build inside her as Sarah arranged her hair over the fastened cape. Her eyes began to water when the realization set in the she would have her golden crown for just a few more seconds. Her fears were confirmed when Sarah asked how her hair was to be cut. Nancy's mother then produced a picture of a model with a very short pixie, Nancy's eyes widened in alarm. It wasn't until the first lock slithered down the cape and nestled into her lap before the tears started streaming. Tears flowed constantly as each curl was shorn from her head. When she was finished, Nancy looked into the mirror and gasped at the metamorphosis that took place. Completely shorn, her ears were now showing and were molded around a head hugging pixie. She sobbed slightly until she saw the pile of hair on the floor which made her cry hysterically.
"If her hair grows fast she may have it back in time for 'Mommie dearest' to take her for her first drink," she thought with disgust to herself.
"Bitch," She mumbled under her breath, as they left the salon. Felling sorry for Nancy, she vowed never to do such a drastic thing like that again to another young girl.

One particular client of Kelly's that was in her opinion quite strange but not the strangest was, she decided, just out for a cheap thrill.  Explaining he had a business meeting he asked her to cut his hair off the collar. At first he appeared normal, but as she was cutting his hair, she noticed that he was eyeing her and studying every move, from when she flipped her red shoulder length hair to when she began cutting the front. He looked in admiration at the short black leather skirt and sleeveless striped turtleneck she was wearing. He was getting excited and she knew it, so she decided to play along with it. She brought out a set of red clippers and clipped around his ears.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. oooooooohhhhhhh that feels good honey." He remarked with a savvy tone. She began to clip his nape when he said, "Oooooo yessss baby take me all the way."
Giving Sarah a slight grin, which she returned being that she heard part of what was going on, Kelly removed her smock revealing her full figure. It looked as if her outfit was painted on her. She watched as the shape of a circus tent took shape underneath the cape in the man's lap. She then turned on her clippers.
"OK sweetie, going all the way," She purred, running the clippers over his entire head, leaving him with a half inch crewcut and also quite shocked. Later, he still appeared surprised, constantly rubbing his head as he paid for the haircut.
"You said, you wanted me to take you all the way, I thought you meant a crewcut," She explained sweetly. All he could do was grin as he left. With another busy night ended, and knowing they were off the next day, they decided to go down to the club for a few drinks and some socializing.
 After several hours, and a few drunken propositions, they decided to call it a night.
"Think you'll be OK?" Kelly asked, offering to let her stay at her apartment again.
"Nah, I'll be fine." she answered with confidence. Kelly told her to call her when she got home and headed for the door. Sarah got up and went into the lady's room, when she returned, Karen Richards was sitting at her table.
"Let me buy ya a drink," she offered.
"I was just leaving, but OK just one more."
"Sure just one, I want to get outta here too," She told her. Karen approached the bar and returned with two beers and two shots.
"Here's to lockin' up that fuckin' weirdo that tried to attack ya, hope his ass rots forever." With a clink of the glasses, and a few quick gulps Sarah told Karen she had to leave, and Karen followed her out the door.
The parking lot outside was almost empty and with the exception of a dim, buzzing, pink halogen street light, everything was pretty dark. It was here that Karen began talking about her family, explaining both her parents had died. 
"Had a younger brother who also died." She said in a low mournful tone.
"I'm sorry to hear that, how did he die?" she asked quietly.
"Killed himself, he couldn't bear the humiliation any longer so he took his life. During his junior year in high school, a girl he was enamored with, shattered his spirit. Do you have any idea what he went through... Becky?"
"Becky? But my name is-"
"Becky!!" she grimaced, revealing a devilish maniacal grin as she pinned her against a wall. All Sarah could do was gasp in horror as a crazed Karen produced a knife, and leered at her with a satanic glare. He mind screamed, she heard it scream, unfortunately the world couldn't. Her voice was frozen, paralyzed by fear. Her words silenced by panic, listening only in sheer terror to the accusations of something she never did.
"You always used beauty, mixed with guile to play on people's emotions. Convincing my brother to cut off all his hair and playing him a fool was the last move you ever made. Now you will pay." She snarled plunging the knife into Sarah's chest, watching with mirth as her life drained from her. How many "Beckys" did she see in the faces of all her victims before? There were in fact countless other "Beckys" that fell victim to her unmerciful idea of retribution after she murdered her brother's beguiling paramour three years prior. She held her close, looking into her eyes which faded like candles being suffocated inside an inverted jar.
"You don't deserve to live, to destroy people's lives...you must die...Good bye Becky." This was her final farewell before letting the lifeless body fall to the pavement. She wrote her usual macabre message in blood, then left the cadaver in a puddle of blood that was still widening.

Two Hours Later:
"I tried to warn her, in the parking lot," Mike lamented back at the station.
"You did the best you could," His friend and officer said, consoling him. "How's your eyes? Her friend got you good."
"Sure did, if only I could have warned her."
"You can't keep reflecting on what could have happened. Look at it this way, she was apprehended and will definitely pay for what she did, that I can assure you."
When she was brought in and processed, she showed no remorse, only agitation. As far as she was concerned, Becky was dead, but others were out there, and they had to be stopped. In her cell she sat waiting in a silent fury.
Her trial was not a lengthy one, and within months her own head was shaved by the woman guard at the prison. Finishing a delectable meal, she was led to the chair, a chair with leather serpents that would grasp her and hold her steadfast. As she was strapped in and about to be electrocuted, the only fear was not of dying but that now her brother was no longer safe, and Becky was still out there waiting to deceive him, once again.