Entangled

by Stacy-Deanne

  “What?”

  “I don’t care that you don’t love me.” He caressed her arm. “I just love being with you. You’ve awakened something inside of me.”

  “You deserve more than this.”

  “I want this.” He kissed her. “I wanted to ask you something. I’m planning a trip to Rome for a few weeks and I’d like you to come with me.”

  “Rome? You must be crazy.”

  “I think it would be wonderful, don’t you?” He stroked her hair. “We can spend time together away from everything and everyone.”

  “This is insane.” She pulled his hand from her hair. “We’re not going to Rome! I’m on a case and you’re a suspect on that case!” She slapped her hands on her thighs. “I can’t believe you seriously thought that would happen.”

  “There is no evidence that proves I’ve done anything.”

  “Grayson.” She rubbed her nose. “You are not going to Rome and that’s an order.”

  “Well what about after the case?” He pulled her close. “It would be lovely wouldn’t it?”

  “I...I have to go.” She stood.

  “Dee.” He scooted to the edge of the couch. “Don’t run from me now, okay? I like how things are and I want us to keep seeing each other.”

  Her phone rang.

  She got it out of her pocket and answered, “Leece, what’s up?”

  “Misty Kurtz’s car was just found in the parking lot of a grocery store,” she said. “The manager of the store noticed it days ago but thought it was one of the employee’s until he asked around then found out it had been left there.”

  “What?” Dee looked at Grayson.

  “Yeah, and there’s no sign of Misty anywhere. The detectives at the scene suspect foul play, but I think Misty ditched the car when she ran off.”

  Dee exhaled. “Jesus.”

  “Is something wrong?” Grayson whispered.

  “Thanks for letting me know.”

  “All right,” Lisa said.

  “Bye.” Dee hung up. “Shit.”

  Grayson stood. “What is it?”

  “Now this is the cop speaking and not your lover.” She put the phone up. “I need you to be honest with me. Misty’s car was just found abandoned in a grocery store parking lot. Do you know anything about that?”

  “And what would I know? You said she ran off. I haven’t heard from her since.”

  “Please don’t lie to me.”

  “Wait a minute.” He poked his chest. “Are you saying you think I did something to Misty?”

  “I’m reading your manuscript, remember? In Bound to Darkness, that waitress’s car was found abandoned in a parking lot and she was missing.” She glared. “That’s a little close for comfort don’t you think?”

  “Just hold it, okay? I didn’t do anything to Misty! How can you even think I did?”

  “So it’s just a coincidence that this mimics a scene in your book?”

  “I’m a mystery writer, Dee! In murders, people abandon cars all the time! Am I the only writer to use that in a book?”

  “No, but this is different.”

  “How?” he yelled.

  “Because you’re a suspect in a fuckin’ murder, Grayson!”

  “Why would I want Misty dead? I fired her, remember?” He grabbed her. “She killed Edana, Dee. I know she did and that’s why she ran off.” He let her go. “Wouldn’t that be the logical explanation?”

  “Nothing has been logical where this case is concerned.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The Next Day:

  “Okay,” Lisa spoke into the phone at her desk. “Thanks for keeping us posted.” She hung up. “Dee?”

  “Huh?” She emptied a sugar packet into her coffee.

  “That was one of the detectives on Misty’s case.”

  Dee threw the packet away. “They found something?”

  “Misty’s purse was found in the trunk.”

  In the trunk?

  “So they’re sure it’s foul play. Why would Misty run away and leave her purse in the trunk with her identification in it?”

  Dee’s chest pounded.

  Just like Grayson’s book.

  “Holy shit.” Dee dropped her coffee cup on the floor.

  “Ah!” Lisa scooted her chair back. “Dee!” She got a napkin from her desk. “What the...?” She dabbed the coffee up.

  “Fuck, Lisa.” Dee exhaled into her hand. “I think Grayson killed Misty.”

  “What?” She looked up between wipes.

  “He let me read Bound to Darkness, his upcoming book.” Dee panted. “And...and the thing with Misty’s abandoned car and the purse...it’s exactly the same as the waitress in the book.”

  Lisa threw the napkin into the wastebasket. “Call Grayson and tell him to get his ass down here right now.”

  ****

  Lisa and Dee sat across from Grayson in the interrogation room.

  “Sure you don’t want a lawyer?” Lisa took out her notepad.

  “No.” He clasped his hands on the table. “I didn’t do anything so I’m confident.”

  Dee cleared her throat. “Maybe you shouldn’t be so confident.”

  “What?”

  “There are too many similarities between the waitress in Bound to Darkness and Misty’s disappearance, Grayson. We can’t ignore that.”

  “I’d never hurt anyone, Dee.” He scoffed. “Don’t you trust yourself? Do you think you could care for me if I was a killer?”

  “How I feel about you has nothing to do with this.”

  He sat back. “I don’t believe this. So you think I killed Misty?”

  “It’s one thing to say you get inspiration from things that have happened,” she said. “But how do you explain a scene in your book being just like a scene in real life that hasn’t even happened yet?”

  “If I did something to Misty would I be dumb enough to put it in my book? You think I’m an idiot?”

  “Can you explain these similarities?” Lisa asked.

  “No.” He gripped his head. “I...”

  “No?” Lisa leaned up. “You wrote the book didn’t you?”

  “I didn’t kill anyone!” He let his head go. “There’s no reason I’d want Edana or Misty dead.”

  Lisa raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying we’ll find Misty dead?”

  Dee looked at him.

  “Don’t you dare run game on me.” He pointed at Lisa. “I did not say she was dead. I meant if you think she’s dead then I had nothing to do with it.” He reached across the table and took Dee’s hand. “You have to believe me. Please.”

  “Give us a reason, one reason why the waitress’s situation in your book and Misty’s situation is so similar.” Dee pulled her hand away. “You’ve got to tell us something.”

  He sat back down. “I don’t know what you want me to say!”

  Lisa tapped her notepad. “Did you do it, Grayson? Come on.”

  He rocked.

  Lisa set her pencil down. “Did you kill Edana and Misty? You gotta give us some explanation...”

  He shoved Lisa’s notepad off the table. “I don’t have to give you shit!” He jumped up. “I know my rights.”

  “And do you know that what you just did could be considered assault on a police officer?” Lisa got the pad off the floor.

  “I don’t give a damn, Detective Swanson.” He shifted his gaze to Dee. “Don’t do this to me, Dee.” He walked around the table and stood in front of her. “Don’t believe this madness about me.”

  “I can only believe what I see and feel and something doesn’t feel right. I know there’s

  something you’re not telling us.”

  He bent down to Dee. “You know I care about you.”

  Lisa rolled her eyes.

  “Then you’ll tell me the truth.” Dee stood.

  “I’ve told you the truth.” He got off his knee. “I can’t make you believe it.” He looked at Lisa. “Are we done here?”

  She nodded. “Do
n’t leave town.”

  He glared at Dee then left.

  Lisa reached up and rubbed Dee’s lower back. “You okay?”

  “I’m sorry, Leece.” She sat at the table. “I acted like a fool with Grayson. I’m a smart damn woman, yet with Grayson, I was careless and stupid.”

  Lisa stroked her hand.

  “I didn’t care about making sense. I was just so wrapped up in him.”

  “So you believe he did it?”

  “I’ve been reading that book and I can’t come up with a reason why these things are so similar if Grayson isn’t behind this.” Dee laid her hand on her mouth and exhaled. “I’m the only one who’s even seen the book besides...” She sat up straight. “Wait.”

  “What?”

  “He said Veronica’s seen the book too.”

  “Veronica Wood? So if Grayson did these murders...you think she’d know?”

  Dee pushed away from the table. “It sure as hell wouldn’t hurt to find out.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “Similarities?” Veronica moved from her ottoman and walked to the window. “That’s crazy. You’re actually saying because things in Grayson’s upcoming book match Misty Kurtz’s disappearance, he did something to her?”

  “That’s a possibility.” Dee sat on the couch beside Lisa.

  Veronica turned from the window. “So you think Grayson killed Misty and Edana?”

  “Grayson told me that you’re the only one besides me who has read his book.” Dee crossed her legs. “You have any reason to want Misty dead?”

  “Of course not.” Veronica moved from the window.

  “Well Grayson might, right?” Lisa asked. “Just because he fired her doesn’t mean there wasn’t ill feelings on his part. Who knows what really went on with them?”

  “I never wanted him involved with her in the first place.” Veronica sat on the ottoman. “I’d heard troubling things about Misty and told Grayson to stay away.” She rubbed her hands. “The first time I met her she gave me the creeps. She’s crazy.”

  “You’ve read all of Grayson’s books?” Dee asked.

  “Of course.” Veronica hunched her shoulder. “I know them like the back of my hand.”

  “You’ve read Moon Day then,” Lisa said. “You heard of the Gretchen Trommell case?”

  “Yes. She was murdered last year wasn’t she?”

  “So didn’t you notice the similarities between Melanie’s death in Moon Day and...”

  Veronica held up her hand. “Stop it, Detective Swanson. I know what you’re getting at and it’s ridiculous. Are you trying to implicate Grayson in Trommell’s murder?” She grimaced. “Maybe you’re the one who’s insane.”

  “I spoke to the detective on the Trommell case. She confirmed that some of the similarities Grayson used in the book are things only the police or killer would know,” Lisa said. “How do you explain that?”

  “This is crazy! Grayson didn’t murder anyone!”

  “How do you know?” Dee asked.

  “I know him!” Veronica ran her hands through her hair. “He...he wouldn’t kill anyone. He probably used Gretchen’s murder as inspiration. That’s all.”

  “What about the similarities between Misty and the waitress in Bound to Darkness?” Dee asked. “How can Grayson get inspiration from something that happened after he wrote it?”

  “I...” Veronica dropped her head.

  ****

  That Evening:

  “Dee?” Winston ran up behind her as she entered the stairwell.

  “Shit,” she whispered. “What in the hell does he want?”

  You’ve already embarrassed me to death. Why twist the knife?

  “Hey.” He stopped beside her with the goofiest smile she’d ever seen. “Going home?”

  “Well let’s see.” She gestured to her purse. “I got my purse. It’s seven o’clock.” She moved her hand around. “Yeah, I guess I’m going home.”

  He turned a pencil between his fingers. “Do you always have to be so sarcastic?”

  “When people ask me stupid questions...yeah. What do you want?”

  He felt his hair. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry about Grayson. You think he really did it?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Can you imagine how big this will be if he really is a killer?”

  She adjusted her purse strap on her arm.

  “I know you care about him so I can imagine how hard this is for you.”

  “Look, Grayson and I were just fuckin’ okay? We weren’t planning on getting married or nothing like that.”

  “I don’t get you.”

  “Well I’m sure there are a lot of things you don’t get, Winston.”

  He started turning the pencil again. “So is this what you do? You treat people like shit to avoid your feelings for things?”

  “Oh, wait a minute.” She held out her arms. “Whoa. Slow your roll there, buddy. You don’t know me as well as you think you know me so don’t try this analyzing shit on me.” She patted her hair. “And if you don’t like my attitude then...oh well.”

  He started to turn around then stopped. “How have you been?”

  “Excuse me?”

  He stood closer. “Well just wondering how you’ve been feeling since...you know.”

  “Winston.” She stepped back. “Let’s not do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “This. I know you’re trying to be nice but you’re making me feel even more uncomfortable. Just treat me like you always have.”

  “I thought I was.” He tapped the pencil against his palm. “Dee, I admit I don’t know how to act with you now. I mean...I didn’t know that you had those feelings for me.”

  “Well I guess it’s hard to know things when you keep your head up Lisa’s skirt all the damn time.”

  “Wait a minute—”

  “Surprise, Winston.” She wiggled her fingers in his face. “There is a world outside of Lisa.”

  “I don’t know why I even bothered to talk to you.” He turned to leave.

  “I don’t know either.”

  He stopped.

  “I sure as hell didn’t ask you to talk to me did I? And I damn sure don’t need your fake ass pity.”

  He swung around. “It’s not fake, Dee. I care about you.” He pointed the pencil. “You know that. I... Jesus, you should’ve told me how you felt.”

  “And what would that do, huh?” She glanced down the hall. “You want Lisa and not me. So why even go through with this?”

  “I thought we were closer than this. I thought you knew you could come to me with anything.”

  “And what did you do when I came to you, Winston?”

  “You didn’t come to me!” He pointed down the hall. “I heard it from Connie. You’re upset because you’re embarrassed, well I feel like a fool because everyone knew you liked me except me.”

  “Well you know now.” Her voice shook. “You said you didn’t feel the same, right?”

  “Dee—”

  “Can we just forget all of this ever happened?”

  He bent down to her. “I’m flattered.”

  She fought tears.

  “I am. I think you’re a wonderful woman I just...”

  She looked into his eyes. “You just don’t feel the same, right?”

  He straightened up. “I’m sure I don’t deserve you.”

  “That’s funny.” She walked backwards down the hall. “I don’t think you deserve me either.”

  ****

  An Hour Later:

  Grayson opened his door. “Thank you for coming.”

  Dee walked in. “I almost didn’t come.” She went into the living room and stood by the bookshelf. “But you said you had something important to say so...”

  He rushed to her and took her hands. “I never killed anyone, Dee. You have to believe me.”

  “I want to believe that.” She let go of his hands and walked across the room. “But if you were in my shoes...what would you thin
k?”

  He scratched over his goatee. “That I might be a murderer. But I’m not.” He sat on the couch. “I didn’t kill Edana and I had nothing to do with Misty’s disappearance.”

  She inched toward the couch.

  “You think I’m a killer because of the content in my books but...” He looked at his hands. “I didn’t write my books.”

  “What?” She sat beside him.

  “The shit you’ve been hearing about me using a ghostwriter is true.” He scratched his shoulder. “I’ve never written a word of any of my books.”

  “What the fuck—?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t set out to deceive anyone.”

  “You didn’t?” She turned toward him. “Grayson, you’ve been passing work off as your own. You’ve won the hearts of readers all over the world based on a lie.”

  “That’s not true,” he said, finger raised.

  “It is true.” She set her purse on the table. “You lied to everyone. How long did you think you could keep this up?”

  “Many writers use ghostwriters, Dee.” He exhaled. “It’s not a crime.”

  “You lied!”

  “Look, I don’t write them but they’re still my ideas.” He scooted close to her. “It’s hard to explain but I have a hard time putting my ideas into words.”

  “Then you’re not a damn writer.”

  “I have to argue with that.”

  “You can argue with it.” She crossed her legs at the ankles. “But writers write. If they didn’t then they’d just be people who don’t write.” She rolled her eyes.

  He shook his head. “I get these blocks. I have no problem coming up with an idea, but I can’t execute.” He rubbed his head. “I actually get afraid to write. I think it’s psychological. I can’t explain it because it doesn’t make any sense to me either.”

  “I don’t believe this. I became enamored with you through your books. Your words touched me. I became attracted to you because of your writing.”

  “They’re still my words.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “It was me touching you. It didn’t matter who wrote the words. It was still me.”

  “Who is this ghostwriter?”

  He moved his arm from her shoulders. “Veronica.”

  She leaned back. “Veronica writes your books?”

  He nodded.

  “She wrote some or all?”