Clara Layten- The Chelsea Murders"
Eva Lane Songstress Victim
The applause was thunderous, people in the audience were throwing roses at the feet of Eva
Lane. She looked radiant in her floor length white evening gown.The flood lights brought out
her dark beauty, dark brown hair, large dark brown eyes, her skin the color of ivory, flawless.
This was Eva's last night of her two week engagement at one of New York's famous night
clubs, the Tracadero. The audience went wild , screaming for more. " Bravo ! Bravo ! Eva, We
Love You ! Sing " Ja Regret Rein ( I Regret Nothing.) As she started to sing the song made
famous by Edith Piaf, the audience went wild throwing more roses onto the stage. Eva made
her exit, she turned and blew a kiss to the audience.
She had all of New York at her feet, they loved her.Returning to her dressing room she decided
not to change it was late. She looked at her watch, it was 2:00 AM. She put on her Fox stole
and exited the club looking for a cab. Standing at the curb she opened her jeweled evening bag
to find a cigarette. It took her several minutes to light it, the wind was very gusty and chilly.
Finally after a few minutes she spotted a taxi and hailed it, the cab driver made an illegal u turn
and stopped in front of her. " Driver I would like to go to 555 West 21st Street, that's between
9th and 10th Avenue." She was exhausted from her show , she felt great inside knowing the
engagement was a great triumph. Looking out the window she noticed the driver was going the
wrong way. " Driver, why are you going towards the Henry Hudson Parkway, instead of taking
9th Avenue ?" " Excuse me madam ! I think I know where I'm going. After all I am the cab
driver !"
Eva mumbled under her breath: " Insolent Bastard !" Going through her evening bag, she pulled
out another cigarette and lit it. She took a long drag, slowly releasing the smoke. The cab driver
turned and gave her a dirty look, then he put on the radio full blasted, the channel was playing
a loud hip hop tune. Eva was getting irritated by the loud music. " Driver ! Do you mind ! Please,
lower that music, it's hurting my ears !' The driver looked through the mirror and shouted: I'll
lower it when you decide to put out the dam cigarette. Can't you read English lady ! The sign
" NO Smoking.!" Eva shouted back " I will not ! I have my rights!" The cab driver gunned the gas
then pulled over : " Get out lady ! I refuse to take you any further !" Eva got out and swung the
door open, as she got out she turned and threw a five dollar bill at the cabbie. " I hope you
choke on it!" As he drove away, he shouted out the window : " BITCH !" She looked up at the
Street sign, it read 15th Street and 10th Avenue.
She turned and started to walk up15th Street towards 9th Avenue. Half way down the block
she paused for a moment searching her evening bag for another cigarette. As she put the
cigarette to her lips , a lighted match came out of the darkness. She became startled.
" May I help a lady in distress ?" " You startled me !" The person stood next to her in the
shadows, she barley could make out his features. " May I escort madam to the corner?" From
what she could see in the dim light, his features were sharp and handsome. " First you must
light my cigarette, your match blew out, kind sir."
" Your Eva Lane the singer ?" Eva was startled at what he said and a little nervous this person
knew who she was. " Why yes. How did you know that ? Have you seen me sing ?" As he lit her
cigarette he stared at her with a strange look. " No, I have seen your picture in the society
column It doesn't do you justice." " Thank you." As they walked along 15th Street , she could
feel his hand rubbing her back. " Please don't do that!" As Eva pulled away , he grabbed her by the wrist. She struggled with him, he turned and slapped her hard across the face, stunning her.
She stumbled backwards dropping her Fox stole to the ground. " What are you doing? I don't even
know you, keep away from me !" She started to run, tripping over the old cobblestones and fell
to the ground. As she got up from the dirty wet ground, he grabbed her by the back of the dress
tearing it. She fought him with all her strength, he grabbed her by the wrist, ripping off her ruby
bracelet, it flew across the street into the muddy water.
She kicked him in the groin, he bent over in agony. Tripping over her gown she ran screaming:
" Someone! Anyone ! Help me! I'm being attacked ! Please help !" Her attacker grabbed her by
the back of the neck, they both fell to the ground. He knelt over her trembling body, pulling
out a large butcher knife and plunging it into her chest again, again and again. She let out a
loud moaning sound, her white gown soaked in blood. Her body slowly jerked on the ground,
you could hear the death rattle in her throat. Her arm outstretched, her fist in a death grip.
Her killed stood over her dying body, softly whispering: " Sweet lady. You've just met the Chelsea
butcher " He let out an evil horrifying laugh: " HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"
I hope you enjoyed my latest book published 2010 amazon books, sleep tight...
Sweet dreams....Joe