A Familiar Star (Romance Mystery)

by Waters, JesseAnne

  “I’m going to be alright Max. I told you I’m fine really. It was a crazy day yesterday. Something that’s going to change our lives forever unfortunately, but we’ll live through it. I think my biggest problem is how it’s changed how I look at that place. I just don’t know how I’m ever going to live in that house again without thinking about what happened. Right now I don’t ever want to go back there again.”

  “I’m glad you said that because I have an idea.” Max looked at her intensely. “Can I ask you a few questions first?”

  “Sure go ahead.” She lay back in the grass, and he laid his hand across her stomach.

  “Do you still have any doubt about me and the murders?”

  “No!” Kylie tightened up.

  “Good, then here’s my second question.” He softly stroked her waist to calm her down. “Do you still feel the same about me?”

  Kylie drew in a breath and held it in for a second. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the one. She would die if she lost him.

  “Of course I feel the same about you; I’m crazy about you…I’m still feeling bad that I doubted you though.”

  “Kylie, I said it was okay and I meant it, it’s forgotten.”

  “I wish I could forget about it.”

  “Is that the only thing that’s bothering you?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Because you haven’t asked me anything about yesterday; their questions, their taking me aside, and I know it’s on your mind.”

  Kylie’s voice faded. “I haven’t thought about it.” She lied. “I know you’re innocent or you’d be in jail. So what else do I need to know? Nothing.” She answered herself then placed her hand over his.

  She obviously didn’t want to face facts so he’d let it go for now.

  “Alright, then back to my idea. When I was thinking of moving and leaving you the place I went looking and found a great house nestled into the mountain up near Barkely. I know it’s further north and more secluded but it’s just ten minutes by car and the mountains are bigger and the view is spectacular. The house comes with three acres of land and there’s a public beach just down the road.”

  “What’s the house like?”

  Max was relieved to see the excitement on her face. “It’s beautiful. You’d love it Kylie. It’s a lot like our place with a wall of windows that looks out over the mountains, the lake and it’s so high up you can see for miles.”

  Kylie was smiling. “Well then let’s make an appointment and go and see it!”

  “Alright.” Max leaned down closer and felt the love and warmth flow back. Thank God she was smiling, he thought to himself.

  “I love you, you know.” He smiled softly then saw her brows fly up in the air.

  “What?” His face lit up with amusement.

  “I’m shocked!” She feigned surprise. “I thought I’d be the one to say it first.”

  “Why?”

  “Because…I don’t know.” She laughed then pulled him down and kissed him gently.

  He stayed there a minute leaving his lips linger over hers. “You haven’t said you love me back.” He said it teasingly.

  “I’m saving it.” Her arms roamed through his hair and down his back as her lips asked for more.

  “That’s not fair.” He teased, pulling her t-shirt up higher.

  “It’s not fair that you’re all warm up there and I’m so cold down here.” She purred.

  “Do you need warming up?” He whispered back.

  “Mmmm.” She moaned as his tongue traced her bottom lip and she felt herself melt into him. As insensitive as it was, this was the exact sort of distraction she needed to take her mind off things. Oh yes, reality was better than fantasy even with all the complications that came with it.

  His mouth finally settled on top of hers and his tongue slid inside. He carefully pulled off her sweater and laid it underneath her then he slipped off her t-shirt and her shorts. The sun was half set and the light was dim as they stripped off their last pieces of clothing.

  “If Lucy comes looking for us I’ll die of embarrassment.”

  “I know, you’re so bad!”

  “I’m so bad?” She hooted.

  “You’re always the bad one.” He teased then returned to his caressing.

  He chose carefully the places to kiss, lingering over her silky cool skin. Kylie lay in the grass and let herself go, her mind completely on the moment. Energy flowed from one to the other as their bodies found the pleasure and promise of love.

  As they lay in the cool night air, damp with perspiration, Kylie’s thoughts wandered. While sharing such an incredible experience they could also share a child if they weren’t careful. She looked up at Max and marveled, what a beautiful child that would be.

  “What are you thinking?” Max smiled at her lovingly.

  “Nothing really.”

  “I want to know.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was thinking that you’re going to make beautiful children one day.” She said shyly.

  “You mean we’re going to make beautiful children. Just look at you.”

  “So you do want children?” She said, thankful it hadn’t put him off.

  “Of course. Lots of them and they’ll each have their own telescope.”

  “That will be fun.” She beamed.

  “I promise you it will be.” He held on to her possessively.

  It will be, Kylie repeated in her mind while staring into his brilliant green eyes. Whatever is meant to be, will be, she thought. It was all up to fate now.

  The week went by fast. Kylie occupied her time helping Lucy out in the shop while Max worked. Even though she hated hairdressing it somehow became good therapy washing and combing out peoples hair. Most people avoided the topic of the recent murder which Kylie was sure had something to do with Lucy. Only now and then would she hear some ladies whispering about it.

  Leslie’s funeral was on Thursday, but Kylie couldn’t bring herself to go. She went to the cemetery Friday morning with Lucy and Max and put flowers on her grave. There she cried a small puddle. Even though she wasn’t very fond of Leslie there was no reason that anyone should die like that.

  By the weekend she was hoping Max would have some time off so they could go up to Barkely and see the house that he was talking about. The sooner they got away from the lake the better. They would have to take out a loan until the mix up was settled at Forest Hills but she didn’t care. Her parents were also coming back the following weekend, and she didn’t want to leave it until then.

  “It looks like it’s going to be a nice weekend.” Kylie strolled into the living room early Saturday morning.

  “Oh hi Kylie, I’ve been waiting for you.” Lucy’s eyes shot her a foreboding look.

  “What is it, are Mom and Dad okay.?

  “Their fine, it’s something else. Just come and sit down for a minute.”

  Kylie sat across from her and crossed her arms tight. “Tell me, what?”

  “Frank and Paul picked Max up at work this morning to ask him some questions.”

  Kylie’s eyes widened. She knew what was coming next, and it was not going to be good news. “Where is he?”

  “He’s down at the station with Frank.”

  “Wait a second! Are you saying he’s been arrested?”

  “No! Frank is just asking him some questions.”

  “What questions? They have no reason to think that he had anything to do with this! He didn’t even live here when the other murders took place!”

  “Don’t worry, it’s just a formality. He’s one of the only people around the lake they haven’t checked out yet.”

  “They haven’t checked me out yet!” She said defiantly.

  “Don’t do that Kylie.”

  “Well…when are they going to let him go?”

  “Frank said that as soon as he has an alibi for one of the murders they’ll let him go.” Lucy tried to be as gentle as possi
ble.

  “He was with me the night Leslie died!”

  “Not all night he wasn’t.” Lucy bit her bottom lip.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Remember it took him much longer than usual to get home that night.”

  “He was picking flowers!”

  “Those flowers could have come from the ditch Kylie.”

  “Oh my God, I can’t believe you! Whose side are you on?” Kylie stood up and shook her head.

  “I’m on your side Kylie and I trust that Frank will figure this out. I’m sure everything will be okay.”

  Kylie was about to walk off when the phone rang. Lucy picked it up.

  “It’s for you,” Lucy said, “it’s Max.”

  Max seemed fine but tired. He told her not to go down to the station because he would be home soon. “Don’t blame Frank for this, he’s just doing his job. It’s routine, I’ll see you later I promise.”

  Kylie got off the phone and sat back down on the couch.

  “If you come down to the shop with me this morning, it’ll take your mind off things. I’m sure he’ll be back by this afternoon. It’ll be better than just waiting around here.” Lucy tried to sound consoling but her voice was strained.

  “Why doesn’t Frank check Jeffery out again, or Paul for that matter? They were closer to Leslie then Max was.”

  “They have alibis Kylie.”

  Kylie made a face at her but Lucy didn’t flinch.

  “Anyway, look, forget about it right now and go and get dressed.”

  “No. You know what, I think I’ll just go back to sleep for a while and then stick around here till Max gets back.”

  Lucy studied her sister long and hard. She knew Kylie wasn’t a sit around and wait, kind of girl. “Are you sure, I’m really busy today and could use your help.”

  “Then hire someone.”

  “Look Kylie I had nothing to do with this so don’t get nasty. This is not my fault.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, your right.” Kylie loosened her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to take it out on you. It’s just that I suddenly have a splitting headache and now this whole thing has got me on edge again. I really do need to go back to sleep for a while.”

  She got up and started up the stairs, then stopped. “Oh, and Lucy everything will be all right, because I know Max is innocent. And thanks for being here for me. I mean that.”

  “I love you too and I pray that you’re right.” Lucy whispered the last part under her breath as she watched Kylie disappear around the corner.

  Chapter 15

  The lake was deserted despite the beautiful weather. The vacationers had all gone back to town, and the permanent residents were either staying with relatives or locked up behind closed doors.

  Kylie sat in her car and stared at Jeffery William’s house. Paul had told her he was perfectly harmless, but she wasn’t so sure. Some of the neighbors had described the place to her and they’d been very generous. The numerous gothic creatures that stood motionless on the lawn, no doubt, warned of things to come. The house’s sunken windows and dark stone gave Kylie the feeling that she was in an Edgar Allen Poe poem, and the unkempt lawn was straight out of the Little Shop of Horrors.

  Despite the butterflies in her stomach she got out of the car, hurried across the lawn and used the ghoulish winged creature to thump at the large oak door. After waiting for about a minute she turned to leave.

  “Wait!”

  Kylie turned back but couldn’t locate the voice.

  “Kylie Lawrence?”

  “Yes.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I’d like to talk to you.” Kylie spotted the intercom and the camera.

  “I’m busy.”

  “I just need to ask you a few questions. It’ll only take a moment.”

  There was a long pause. “Like I said, I’m busy.”

  “I could come back later then.” She waited.

  “Tonight, after dark.”

  “All right.” Kylie said then heard the intercom click off.

  She turned and stared back out at the front lawn. “After dark?” She murmured to herself, “of course, why not?” She shot a look back at the house as the creeps ran down her spine.

  The police station was buzzing with people. Agents from the city were scurrying about the offices. Kylie found Frank and he brought her to see Max who was sitting in a small room with a black leather couch and two hard chairs. There was another officer with him that Kylie didn’t know. The officer got up and left when Frank nodded at him then he closed the door behind him.

  “Hi!”

  “Wow, it’s good to see you!” Max jumped out of his seat.

  “Are you alright?” She wrapped her arms around him.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just haven’t slept much and I’m a little lightheaded.” He grinned.

  “Can you go?”

  “Unfortunately not. They seem to believe that I have motive.”

  “What?”

  “They’ve devised some cock-a-many story that I went around killing people so someone around the lake would sell me their house because it’s an area where houses are hard to come by.” He rolled his eyes. “Then when you bought the house first, I coerced Mr. Gibbons into selling it again.”

  “That’s crazy. Where did they come up with that, from Paul?” Kylie made a face.

  “I’m not sure if Paul had anything to do with it. Frank said that they caught up with Mr. Gibbons and he told them that I’d threatened him. He told them I said that if he didn’t sell me the house I’d kill him and after that he was too afraid to go to the police.”

  “So the bastard made double and he’s trying to pin it on you. Unbelievable.”

  Kylie stared at Max’s tired face. He looked worn but not defeated. “Look I’ll go and talk to Frank. I’m sure they can’t keep you here much longer. Frank’s too smart to fall for a stupid story like that. They’re just pushing you around a little to see if you crack.”

  Max smiled his gorgeous smile. “All right.”

  “What’s the matter?” Kylie couldn’t help but smile back.

  “You’d make a good Lawyer you know.”

  Kylie’s face dropped. “Did they say anything about a Lawyer?”

  “Why do you want the job?” He teased.

  “No I’m serious.” She backed up a step and stared at him.

  “I asked Frank and he said at this point it wasn’t necessary.”

  “Good, that means it’s like I said and you should be out of here very soon.”

  Kylie grabbed her sweater and purse that she’d thrown on the couch.

  “Where are you off to?” He frowned.

  “Nowhere in particular. I’m going to get a bite to eat then I’ll go back to Lucy’s and wait for you.” Kylie said with a light smile.

  “What’s the hurry then?” Max stared at her hard.

  “No hurry.”

  “Kylie?”

  “What?”

  “You look much too serious, like you’re up to something.”

  “I’m concerned, that’s all.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him goodbye.

  “Anyway, this is serious and frankly I’m very pissed off.”

  “It’s going to be okay.” He held her tight.

  “I know it will be, I’ll see you later then.”

  Kylie went out to talk to Frank but he didn’t have much to say. He told her not to worry and that he’d figure it out. Yeah right, Kylie thought. Twenty years since Leslie’s mother was killed and nothing. Obviously Max was not responsible for that so then who was? There was something missing, something that held the key to all of this. Kylie could feel it in her bones.

  There was nothing striking about the Troy dwelling. It was a simple white stucco structure with bay windows and blue shutters. It did, however, possess the Forest Hills charm. The gardens were tidy and bright and there were bird feeders all over the lawn. The birds took off in every direction as Kylie ap
proached the house.

  Mrs. Troy and her two sisters answered the door together for security reasons, Kylie imagined. Then they received her in their bright floral sunroom and served her tea.

  “Oh yes dear, we did hear about the terrible thing that happened on your grounds. Are you still staying there?”

  “No, I’m staying with my sister.” Kylie answered their barrage of questions while watching the afternoon sun weaken in the sky.

  It was almost 6:00 o’clock and she had to be on the other side of the lake in a couple of hours. The thought of going back over there was causing her a great deal of anxiety, but she knew what she had to do. Something was driving her. And if she’d learnt anything in the past few weeks, she learned that you shouldn’t question what you felt, and that you should always trust your instincts. So she decided to cut to the chase.

  “Mrs. Troy, I really came over to ask you a few questions about Leslie McKenzie and Jeffery Williams. I know this is very forward of me but you said, at the party, that you thought they were the ones committing the murders.”

  The three sisters looked questioningly at each other then back at Kylie. Mrs. Troy looked the most confused of all.

  “Oh, I’m sorry dear, you must have been hearing things. I would never have said a thing like that.”

  Kylie sat back in her chair and almost laughed. She was at the end of her rope and didn’t need another mystery. Could it be that Mrs. Troy simply didn’t remember, or was she hiding something from her sisters?

  “I’m sorry Mrs. Troy, I could have sworn that’s what I heard you say.”

  When the old woman looked blankly at her, Kylie got up and grabbed her purse. “I have to get going but I’ll come back and visit again soon.”

  “I’ll walk you out dear. No need to get up sisters.” Mrs. Troy said but they both came anyway. There was an extremely uneasy look on the sisters’ faces.

  At the door Mrs. Troy looked determined to say something. Kylie thanked them and hesitated for a moment.

  “I guess it was silly of me to think it was them committing the murders, Leslie was such a nice person and of course it couldn’t be her anymore. I’m sorry I mentioned it.”