by Stacy-Deanne
“All.”
“Wait.” She pointed to the bookshelf. “Veronica Wood wrote the Ronnie Pine Series?”
He nodded with a puppy dog expression.
“All of them?”
“Yes.” He put his hands between his thighs. “I came up with the ideas and she came up with the plots and everything else. She created the scenes, characters, everything. The character is even a variation of her name. Ronnie Pine. Get it?”
“So you pay her?”
“Yes, we have contracts for each book. I also made her sign a confidentiality agreement to never disclose the truth.”
“Does...”
Her phone rang.
“Hold on.” She got it from her purse and answered, “Leece?”
“Misty Kurtz’s body has just been found.”
“Shit.” Dee stood. “Are they sure it’s her?”
“A night jogger found her dead behind his apartment building. She was strangled with a belt.”
Dee turned to Grayson. “Holy...shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Grayson asked.
“Hold on, Lisa.” Dee lowered the phone. “Okay, this is very important, Grayson. Did Veronica write Bound to Darkness?”
“Yes. She’s written all the books.”
“Jesus.”
“What’s going on?” He stood.
“Leece?” Dee hollered into the phone. “It’s Veronica Wood.”
“What?”
“The killer is Veronica!”
“Dee?” Grayson moved in front of her.
“Grayson just told me that Veronica writes his books!” Dee yelled into the phone. “She’s his ghostwriter.” Dee huffed and puffed. “Uh, in chapter twelve of Bound to Darkness, the waitress is found behind an apartment building strangled with a belt!”
“Oh my god,” Lisa said.
“Get a unit over to Veronica’s right now!”
Dee hung up and ran out of the room.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dee sped up to Veronica’s two-story and parked on the street behind Lisa’s car. Two uniformed officers walked through the yard. One peeked through the front window while the other went toward the backyard.
“Dee!” Lisa ran across the yard.
Dee got out of her car. “Is she here?”
“Doesn’t look like it.” Lisa tapped her watch. “I got here about ten minutes ago. The unit was already here.”
“Shit!” Dee hit the top of her car.
“I already put out an APB on her,” Lisa said. “You sure it’s her?”
“It has to be.” Dee moved her hand from the top of the car. “That’s why she ran off. She probably figured we were getting close when we spoke to her again.”
“Well, all we can do now is hope she shows up before someone else ends up dead.”
“This is my fault. If I hadn’t been so careless with Grayson then my mind would’ve been on the case and—”
“Shh.” Lisa patted her back. “The only one to blame for this is Veronica. Besides, neither of us could’ve guessed it was her.”
Dee’s phone rang.
She got it and checked the screen. “It’s Grayson.” She answered, “Hello?”
“Did you arrest her?” he asked.
“No, she’s not here.”
He sighed. “I’m so sorry, Dee.”
Lisa went back to the house.
“You’re sorry?” Dee leaned on the car. “I should be apologizing to you.”
“I just can’t believe she’d do something like this.”
“Do you know where she might be?”
“No.” His voice trembled. “I’m scared. You think she’ll come here?”
“Would you feel better if I came back and stayed with you?”
“Yes, please.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
She hung up.
****
The Next Day:
Dee stepped out of Grayson’s shower. “Oh.” She jumped back behind the curtain. “You scared me.”
He held a glass out to her. “I just wanted to greet you with a morning glass of champagne.”
“Are you crazy? I can’t be drinking.” She grabbed the towel off the hamper, wrapped it around herself, and got out of the tub. “I gotta go to work.” She locked the towel under her arms. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I’ve seen so many wonders of the world but none compare to you.”
“Please.”
He put his hands on her waist. “I can’t get a kiss this morning?”
“No.” She headed for the door.
“Well you didn’t mind kissing me last night.”
“I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.” She left the bathroom and entered his bedroom next door. “Besides, Veronica Wood is on the loose, remember? The last thing on your mind should be a kiss.” She started to take off the towel then stopped. “Turn around.”
“Dee.” He sipped from the glass. “I’ve seen you naked, remember?”
“Turn around.”
He did. “Jeez, are you always this grouchy in the morning?”
“Grayson, this is serious.” She got her clothes. “A murderer is out there and who knows what she’s gonna do next?”
“Don’t you think I know that? I’m trying not to think about it because I feel so guilty.”
She put on her bra. “You had no idea she was a killer.”
“I just can’t believe it.” He shook his head. “I’ve known Veronica for years. How can... Can I turn around now?”
She slipped on her panties. “Go ahead.”
He did. “How could she hide this all this time?” He set the glass on the dresser. “She was my best friend.”
Dee grabbed her pants and looked at him.
“How could she have done something so horrible?” A tear ran down his cheek. “How could she hurt Edana and Misty, and no telling who else?”
She walked to him and laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“She knew how much I loved Edana.” His lips trembled. “We didn’t work out but I loved that woman and at one point she meant the world to me.” He sat on the bed. “I can’t believe someone I trusted and thought was my friend could be such a monster.”
“I wish I could say I’m surprised at this.” Dee put on her pants and buttoned them. “But being a cop...you won’t believe the shocking suspects I’ve come across.” She put her belt on. “Sometimes it’s people you wouldn’t expect in a million years.”
He stared at the carpet. “Do you think she killed Gretchen Trommell?”
“I don’t know.” She got her blouse. “It’s possible.”
“Jesus.” He wiped his eyes. “How do I move on from this?”
She put her blouse on but didn’t button it. “It’s probably going to be the hardest thing you’ve ever dealt with but you’re a strong man.” She kissed his cheek. “And you’ll get over this pain one day.”
“What about my career?” He scoffed. “I’m ruined now. I’m a laughingstock.” He lifted his head. “People on the Internet are having a field day.”
She rubbed his back.
“Everyone’s calling me a fraud.”
“You’re not a fraud.” She stroked his hair. “You came up with the ideas and I believe that you can write them too. You just have to believe that you can.”
“How can I go back, Dee? How can I write with all that’s happened?”
“Because whether you wrote the books or not...it was in you. All of the stories and the ideas are in you.”
He gripped her hand and put it against his face. “So I haven’t lost my biggest fan?”
“No.” She hugged him. “And you never will.”
“Well.” He got up. “Breakfast is ready.” He touched her cheek. “Blueberry pancakes.”
“Ooh.” Dee jiggled. “I love blueberry pancakes.” She stood and got her purse. “Just let me fix my hair and I’ll be right down.” She got her brush out of her purse and w
ent to the mirror.
“Dee?”
She turned around. “Huh?”
“Do you think you’ll find her?”
“We will find her, Grayson.” She winked. “We won’t stop until we do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Veronica stood from Grayson’s couch when he entered the living room. “Hello, Grayson.”
He turned toward the stairs.
“Uh-uh.” She pulled a gun from the pocket of her slacks. “Just stay right there and be quiet.”
“Ronnie.”
“Shut up.” She glanced up the stairs then got in front of him. “Surprised to see me?”
“I’m surprised about a lot of things right now.” He lifted his arms. “I, uh...I know they think you killed Edana and Misty, but I don’t.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Is that right?”
He shook. “I know you’d never do something so horrible.”
“Well then frankly, Grayson, you don’t know shit.” She waved the gun toward the couch. “Get over there and be quiet.”
“Ronnie.”
“Move it.” She poked his arm with the gun. “And don’t think I’ll hesitate to shoot you if you try anything.”
He trembled beside the couch. “Ronnie.” He swallowed. “What are you gonna do?”
She glanced down the hall. “I saw Detective Quarter’s car outside.” She flashed an eerie smile. “So are you two an item? You never run out of women do you, Grayson?”
“Ronnie.” He lowered his arms. “Please.”
“I’ll do her.” She pointed the gun to his face. “And then I’ll do you and leave you both dead on the floor. That would be romantic wouldn’t it?” She cocked her head to the side. “Would be a great way for Ronnie and Ally to die, wouldn’t it?”
“What?”
“Would be a dramatic ending to the series don’t you think?” She squinted. “Oh, I know the fans would be bummed to see them die but...” She slowly pressed the trigger. “It’s time for the story to end.”
“Ronnie.”
“And you know I have a knack for surprise endings.” She licked her lips. “I bet no one is as surprised of this ending as you are.”
“Wait.” He wiggled his hands. “I care about you. You’re my best friend.”
“No, I was your tool.” She inched toward him as he backed up. “I was just something for you to use.”
“No. I—”
“Shut up!” She waved the gun. “I spent years believing your bullshit. You don’t give a shit about me! You just used me to make you famous.”
“Ronnie, that’s not true. I cared about you. I still do.”
“You cared for me as long as you could use me.” She moved closer.
Grayson fell against the couch. “Please.” He kept his gaze on the gun. “Don’t hurt me.”
“You’re the villain in this Grayson, not me.” She shook the gun. “This is payback and what you deserve.”
“What did I do?” He hit the couch. “It was an agreement, Ronnie. I never twisted your arm!”
“You used me!” Tears appeared in her eyes. “You knew how I felt about you! You knew that I only wrote the stories to be close to you!” She spat. “You knew that!”
He took a deep breath. “Are you saying you’re in love with me?”
“You have to ask?” She swatted the gun at him. “Why would I stand around in the background while you used my words? While you got rich and famous off of my words and I got shit!” She lowered the gun to her side. “I did everything for you, Grayson.”
He closed his eyes.
“I gave up my career for you! My own damn books didn’t sell but the ones I wrote for you did!” She leaned forward. “I put my heart and soul into those books because I was praying and wishing that one day you’d want me more than you wanted my words, but you never did!”
He sobbed. “Ronnie.”
She lifted the gun. “Don’t cry now! You’ve ripped my heart out and you didn’t give a shit so don’t cry now!”
“I didn’t know!” Tears streamed down his face. “Ronnie, I had no idea you had these feelings for me. You never told me.”
“What good would that have done?”
“I would’ve known.” He wiped his face. “Honey, I wouldn’t have ever used you on purpose. I didn’t know you loved me.”
Her breathing slowed. “You didn’t care. You didn’t even stop to think about me because you were too busy enjoying the ride.”
“No.”
“You forgot about me fast when you got the glory didn’t you, Grayson? Oh yeah, it got easy to play the part. I bet you started to think you actually wrote those books.” She spat in his face.
He turned his head away.
“It was so easy to forget how you got all this wasn’t it?” She gestured around the room. “And all that time I was hanging on to a dream that would never happen.” She stared at him. “I watched as you dated other women and married Edana. What did she ever do for you? She cheated on you!” She threw her head back and looked at the ceiling. “Yet she got the ring and the last name and I got a contract.” She laughed. “Oh, I kept getting contracts from you and nothing else.”
“Why did you kill Edana and Misty?”
She stepped back. “To show you that I not only control your books, but I control your life as well. And your life is going to begin and end the way I say it does.”
He gripped the armrest of the couch. “Please don’t do this.”
“Why would you wanna live, huh? Everyone knows you’re a fake. You’d have to be a hermit for the rest of your life.” Her finger tightened on the trigger. “Let me put you out of your misery, Grayson.” Her mouth curled up in one corner. “It’s time to end this story.”
“Veronica!” Dee stood on the stairs with her gun aimed at Veronica. “Put the gun down!”
“This isn’t your business, Detective.” Veronica turned her head toward Dee while keeping the gun on Grayson. “He made his own bed, so why don’t you let him lie in it?”
“I’m not gonna say it again.” Dee moved down a step. “Put the gun down or I’ll
shoot.”
“You can shoot me.” Veronica faced Grayson. “But if I’m going to hell then I’m taking him with me!”
Dee shot.
“Ah!” Veronica wobbled from the wound to her arm. “Fuck you!” She aimed at Dee.
Dee blasted again.
“Oh!” Veronica dropped the gun and fell to the floor. “Ah...” She gasped and tugged on her blouse, gurgling as blood flowed from her mouth.
“Veronica?” Grayson knelt beside her. “Veronica?” He lifted her head. “V...”
Her head fell back, her eyes staring at the ceiling.
Dee ran downstairs.
“Veronica?” Grayson shook her. “Veronica!”
Her head fell to the side.
“No.” Grayson pulled her limp body into a hug. “Oh!” He sobbed. “Veronica.”
Dee knelt beside him.
He looked at Dee with a face full of tears. “She was my friend.” He caressed Veronica’s hair. “She was my friend.”
“I’m sorry.” Dee laid her hand on his back. “I’m so sorry.”
THE END
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READ CHAPTER ONE OF TWISTED BOOK FIVE BELOW:
CHAPTER ONE
“Ugh olives?” Baltimore Detective Dee Quarter grimaced. “How can people eat those nasty things?”
“Well, they’re not for you are they?” Her best friend, Detective Lisa Swanson, grabbed a jar of olives from the grocery store shelf. “Jake loves olives so I’m gonna put them in the meatloaf.” She read the nutrition label and set the jar in the cart on a package of ground meat.
“Jake won’t know what hit him with this dinner, huh?” Dee scoffed, laying a container of dill pickles in her handbasket. “You’ve been talking about cooking for him for a week.” She flicked her long, wa
vy brown weave off her shoulder. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“It means a lot because I get to pamper him.” Lisa strutted through the aisle, patting the side of her Halle Berry haircut. “He’s always doing so much for me that cooking him a romantic dinner is the least I can do.” She stopped the cart in front of the seasoning section. “We haven’t had much time together in weeks due to the Gilbert case.”
“Oh, god.” Dee rolled her eyes. “Thank goodness that’s over with. I didn’t feel like myself when we were on it.”
“I know.”
They went to the next aisle.
“That’s the first murder case I ever worked with where I thought everyone involved was guilty.” Dee huffed. “Shit, for a while there I thought you were the killer.”
Lisa nudged her, grinning. “And what about your boyfriend?”
Dee stopped and glared at her. “Who?”
“Armando.” Lisa teased.
“Girl, don’t even play like that.”
“But he likes you.” Lisa grinned. “Since the case is over why don’t you give him a chance?”
“Lisa.” Dee raised her hand. “Don’t play.”
She laughed. “You’re single again so why not?”
“Maybe because he’s only twenty-two, and I’m thirty-seven. What do I want a boy for?”
Lisa cackled. “So you can teach him how to be a real man.”
“I don’t have time to be teaching nobody nothing. I need a man who already knows what he’s doing. Besides, I quit Grayson barely a month ago. Dating someone is the last thing on my mind and even if it wasn’t I wouldn’t be interested in Armando Urena.” Her cellphone rang, and she checked the screen. “Unknown number,” she mumbled, answering.
Lisa stopped the cart in front of the peanut butter section.
“Hello?” Dee spoke into the phone.
Someone cackled and hung up.
“I tell you.” Dee shook her head as she put her phone back in her purse. “Some folks have nothing better to do.”
“What was that about?”
“I don’t know.” Dee twirled her finger in her hair. “Some fool’s been calling my phone and hanging up.”
Lisa scanned the different brands of peanut butter. “How often?”