Deep, silky brown hair cascaded down her small frame. She had wide eyes and soft pink china doll cheeks. Sparkling on her right ring finger was a ruby red ring with a gold band. 21-year-old Ruby began packing for her second trip to Boston.

“This is a great thing you’re doing Ruby. Grandma is so lonely in that studio apartment without Grandpa. Christmas time should never be spent alone,” said Ruby’s mother Betsy.

This was Ruby’s second time seeing Grandma. Grandma refused to leave her beloved Boston and Ruby’s mother didn’t make enough money to travel often. The last time she saw Grandma was when Ruby was five. Grandma gave Ruby a family heirloom of sorts – that ruby red ring. She hadn’t taken it off since. Along with weekends worth of clothes and heavy L.L Bean winter gear, Ruby packed a special bottle of Casa do Valle rose wine Grandma and her would share upon arrival.

“Ruby, your Grandma lives near the Fens. It’s been known to be dangerous, especially for young woman. Be sure to never wander alone at night. Use busy streets and well-lit routes. Never walk around with your ear buds on or your head buried in your cell phone. Most importantly, trust your instincts and don’t talk to strangers for too long,” said Betsy.

Ruby gave a shrug. How dangerous could it be? She hugged Betsy and boarded her flight.

Ruby landed at Boston Logan airport at 10:30pm and made her way to the taxi stand. The airport smelled of stale food and Pledge.

99 Park Drive, please” said Ruby to the cab driver. They began their journey and hit a red light near the Esplanade at the Charles River. A young man hailing a taxicab entered her ride because they were heading in the same direction. Ruby didn’t mind. She was looking right at his beautiful face. His rosy cheeks, thick, tousled brown hair, fiery eyes and tall build struck her.

Ruby was in a daze when he said, “Where are you off to, beautiful? Stumbling over her words, she blurted out, “99 Park Drive. I’m here to visit my Grandma for Christmas time. I haven’t seen her since I was five… Uh… My names Ruby, what’s yours?”

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me how to get to 99 Park Drive from here? I don’t have enough money for another cab,” asked Ruby.

With a subtle wink he says, “If I told you I’d have to kill you”. He continued, “Ya know, if your Granny likes chocolate you should stop by Max Brenner’s on Boylston Street. It may be a special treat you ladies could share. It has the best hot chocolate in the city” The cab then dropped Ruby off at Max Brenner’s.

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me how to get to 99 Park Drive from here? I don’t have enough money for another cab,” asked Ruby.

“Walk up Boylston until you hit Hemenway St. Take a left and walk down Hemenway until you see the tall reeds. Take a right and walk next to the reeds. It will dump you on Park Drive. Be careful now”. The cab peeled away in an instant. Ruby hoped she would see him again soon.

Ruby picked up chocolate macaroons and triple layer chocolate cake to split with Grandma. She followed the directions the friendly cab stranger had given her and practically skipped home. She was riding an infatuation high. She could barely remember what he looked like now because she was so nervous. It was 11:30pm. Ruby reached the tall reeds and could see Park Drive on the other end. She started to feel anxious. She was so close but the street was so dimly lit and no one was around. She began to hear rustling in the tall reeds and hurried her pace. Her palms were sweating and her heart began to pound. Her instincts were telling her to run. Right before she started to run a dark figure jumped out of the reeds and ran right towards her. He tackled her to the ground and dragged her into the reeds of the fens.

In the dim glow of a street lamp she could make out the face of the stranger in the cab.

“STOP, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” screamed Ruby.

Ruby was so enthralled by the face of the stranger in the cab she didn’t notice his ripped clothing or his foul odor. His fiery eyes now looked menacing. He looked so desperate. It was clear he was a thief.

“Give me that ring, stupid girl!” said the stranger

The stranger was pulling and twisting Ruby’s finger, growing impatient. The ring wasn’t coming off.

““I can’t take this ring…so I will take your life!” he yelled furiously.

Ruby thought of her mother’s warnings, her poor lonely grandmother, her stupid ways. She was trapped under his tall frame. The stranger stuffed a ball of Nike socks in Ruby’s mouth. He took her winter coat, gloves, hat, scarf, socks and shoes. He tied her wrists and legs and put her live body in an abandon trash bin in the middle of the Fens. He wrapped the bin in locks and chains. No one was curious about an abandon trash bin in the tall reeds of the Fens.