THE SHARK LIVES

The Shark Is Alive Reflections of a Serial Killer

SPOILER ALERT If you don’t want to know the identity of the serial killer in the Cuts Like a Knife until the end, don’t read this interview.

In the first Detective Kristen Conner suspense thriller, Cuts Like a Knife, Detective Conner comes face-to-face with a serial killer that the Chicago press dubbed, The Cutter Shark. In a breathtaking and ferocious closing scene it took every ounce of Conner’s hand-to-hand combat training—a near obsession with her—her incredible pain tolerance, and her love of family to stay alive and do something the Shark didn’t think possible—beat him into submission.

The Shark, Dean Woods, is now a resident of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago where he remains silent. He is on the 27th floor, which houses the most dangerous criminals. His cell has a slit window that is 5 inches wide and 7 feet high.

Conner has moved on to other murder cases in Every Breath You Take and Cold As Ice, but the Cutter Shark’s thoughts remain on Kristen.

When will the FBI profiler realize I will never talk to her? Dr. Leslie Van Guten is one of those women that love to prove she is smartest person in the room. But not my room. She thought she was going to be rich and famous analyzing me. She may be cold, arrogant, and persistent, but it is no going to happen. She is on my list.

Such a clumsy setup. Show some respect and at least try to be clever. My guards were way too cheerful taking me to the break room to watch TV. It was local news. And surprise, surprise, it was an interview with Detective Conner by her sister Klarissa. I was much too merciful to Klarissa. The mark I left on her face didn’t even show up on HDTV. No matter. She’s on my list too.

So Kristen solves another case. He was a big deal in Chicago, a member of the 1% of the 1% Club, but still so much less interesting than me. The press continues to tell my story. Poorly. But despite their deficiencies, my legend grows. My immortality is secured. It is only marred by her. Her awkwardness only serves to charm the media. Her refusal to put herself in the spotlight adds to her allure. I underestimated her. The only god I believe in is me. But perhaps the world is filled with magic. If so, she received more than her share. But it will be no match for me.

My brother always tried to look out for me. But he was mistaken in one regard. He thought it was me that was lost, when all along it was he. I should talk to him and comfort him. But in the end he betrayed me. That is the unpardonable sin in my theology of me.

Detective Conner. Dear Kristen. I confess I underestimated you. My only mistake in seven years of living life in full. I wrote and directed all of my encounters—until you. That is why you are on my most special list. I am saving you for last. Not until you see those you love die at my hand will I grant you escape from the world I create for you.

To think I had a glimmer of romantic feelings for her. Had life unfurled differently, she might be mine. Oh, she will be mine, just not in that way.

My brother tells me she appears to have a love interest. He was already on my list, but he now holds a higher spot in my hierarchy of death.

She is the sweet little church girl. Loves her family and believes in God. Will your faith save you, Kristen? It didn’t save your dad. I will see to it that it doesn’t save you.

I continue to heal. My face will never be the pleasing visage that my victims could not resist, but my strength was always from within. And I grow stronger every day. They think they have seen the last of me— Kristen, the FBI agent that stole her from my brother, the press, those who both idolize and loathe me—but they shouldn’t be so sure. I know I still haunt dreams. As I watch and wait and plan, I am confident I shall be the author of my own story once again.