The Westport Mysteries Boxed Set

by Beth Prentice

  “I’m not telling you to tell everyone. Just her.”

  Riley planted a hard and fast kiss on my lips. “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” I said to his retreating back. As I heard the door slam shut and then waited as his truck motor turned over, I sighed and looked at the clock. It was twenty past seven. Well, I managed to hold him up that long.

  After I completed the morning routine of shower, teeth cleaning, make-up, hair, clothing (geez, no wonder it took me so long to get out the door in the morning), I made the bed, tidied the house and washed our breakfast dishes. I looked at the clock again and realized it was just after eight o’clock. Time to phone Danny.

  Danny and Andrew closed the salon on Mondays, and today Danny was more than happy to meet me in town and have an excuse to get away from Andrew’s mother.

  I stopped by Danny’s and picked him up. I watched as he closed the door behind him and ran down the steps towards my car. He was dressed differently today, in three quarter cut-off jeans and a red T-shirt advertising custom cars.

  “Nice shirt,” I said as he climbed into the car.

  “Thanks. Andrew bought it for me. I told him I’d rather have the car but I don’t think he loves me that much.” Danny smiled. Looking at the car on the shirt and figuring it to be worth quite a bit of money, I thought Danny was probably right.

  By the time we reached the kitchen shop, my blood pressure was reaching dangerous levels, compliments of the traffic and Danny’s monologue about his mother in-law. Now, it wasn’t Danny who was frustrating me, it was the way she was treating him. Sure, I knew my brother could be hard to live with, but he did not deserve to be treated like that and Andrew really needed to defend him a little more.

  “I found a text she sent him,” said Danny quietly. “She said she thinks I’m ruining Andrew’s life.”

  “What?” I yelled.

  “She said I spend too much money and that Andrew would be better off without me.” I heard the emotion in Danny’s voice.

  “Don’t listen to her. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You work hard in that salon and you earn the money you spend. You’re hardly a freeloader!”

  “She also said I need to help out more at home, but Andrew has always loved doing the cooking. And you know me, I could burn water!” Danny pouted. “And I do my share of the housework, but she just thinks I’m hard to live with.”

  “You should send Grandma Mabel over to live with her for a week. She’d soon realize you’re a saint.”

  “That’s the other thing. She thinks our family isn’t good enough. She found out about what happened to you with the stalker and how the Pastor was behind it all, and she thinks you’re the reason the church closed.”

  I felt my stomach flip and a sickness creep in at the memory.

  “I’m sorry, Danny,” I said quietly.

  “What are you sorry for? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Sometimes I wish I’d never bought that house.”

  “Rubbish, it could have happened to anyone.”

  “Yes, but look what’s happening now.”

  “Nothing’s happening now.”

  “Have you ever bought a house that came with as many secrets as mine?”

  “Well no, but I’ve only ever bought one house and that’s the one we’re in now. Anyway, it’s been four weeks since Harper dug up those bones and what have you found out?”

  “Quite a bit, but none of it helps much.”

  “Have you been talking to that really cute officer?”

  “Yes, but he doesn’t know any more than I do.”

  “Next time you talk to him, invite me over.”

  “Why? Do you have information for him?”

  “No. I just want to look at him, that’s all.” Danny smirked.

  “Remember Andrew? God, how does he put up with you?”

  “Of course I remember Andrew, but remember, Lizzie—there’s no harm in looking. It’s not like I’d do anything about it.”

  “Not with Ed Helms anyway.” I smiled. “He’s as straight as an arrow.”

  Danny sighed wistfully.

  I pulled my Mini into a park on the rooftop of the shop, got out and waited for Danny. I smoothed my three-quarter cut-off jeans into place, straightened my red T-shirt and realized Danny and I were dressed like twins. Only he looked much more stylish and ‘together’ than I did.

  “Lizzie, look out,” cried Danny, looking at me over the roof of the car. I stared at him startled, as a flock of seagulls flew over, one of them skimming the top of my head as it went. I let out a small scream as Danny burst out laughing.

  “What are you laughing at?” I asked. “That scared the hell out of me.”

  “Look at your shirt.” He laughed again. I did, and realized that one of the seagulls had left his breakfast down the front of my shirt.

  “Crap,” I muttered.

  “Yep, you got that right!”

  I glared at Danny. “Well don’t just stand there!” I cried indignantly. “Pass me a tissue or something.”

  “I don’t have a tissue.”

  I sighed and opened my handbag, feeling the moisture seep through the flimsy fabric of my shirt. I shuddered and hunted faster. I sighed again.

  “I don’t have one either. What am I going to do?”

  I looked down at my T-shirt. My choices were limited.

  “Well I’m not walking anywhere with you like that,” said Danny, finally controlling his laughter. “That’s disgusting.”

  I sighed again. “I’m going home,” I said opening my car door back up and climbing in to the driver’s seat. I pulled my seatbelt over my shoulder and stopped. Danny climbed in next to me.

  “Don’t even think about it,” he said, reading my mind.

  “Danny, what choice do I have? If I don’t take my shirt off, this bird crap is going to go all over my seatbelt. It’ll be ruined.”

  Now it was Danny’s turn to sigh.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, carefully lifting my shirt over my head.

  “At least you’re wearing a nice bra.” Thank God, I thought. If Riley hadn’t gotten lucky this morning, leaving me feeling sexy, I would have been wearing my old comfy one.

  “Sorry.”

  “Stop saying sorry!”

  “Sorry.” Shit

  “You’ve said it forty-five times today already.”

  “Is that a lot?”

  “I haven’t said it at all.”

  Yeah, but that didn’t mean much. I put the car in gear and thanked the universe my windows were tinted with the darkest tint I could get.

  When I stopped at the traffic lights, I did notice one guy look twice at me. Obviously my windows weren’t dark enough. Thankfully the light changed to green and I quickly accelerated away. The guy in the car next to me must have been in a little bit of shock as he was nowhere near as fast as I was off the mark. Turns out it was his lucky day.

  As I sped up through the intersection, I noticed a silver Mercedes on my right speeding towards me, completely ignoring the red light it would have had. I didn’t have time to do anything before it smashed into my little car, sending it sliding sideways across the bitumen. I heard the smashing of glass, the scraping of metal and the screeching of tires as Danny screamed in my ear and the airbag in my seat deployed. I was too shocked to react and allowed momentum to take my car wherever it wanted to go. Everything seemed to slow as the world around me disappeared into background noise and my airbag deflated.

  I was vaguely aware of Danny moving in the seat next to me as my driver’s door was wrenched open and voices came into focus. It was only when I heard the sound of sirens in the distance that I felt the tears well in my eyes and the shaking start.

  * * * *

  Unbelievably, it was Allison’s voice I heard as I was helped from my car. My legs worked, my arms worked and I’m sure my voice would work as soon as I could get thoughts together properly, so it appeared I was okay.

  “Lizzie
!” she cried. “Lizzie!” I looked up as a passerby restrained her.

  “Miss, you need to stay back,” he said to her.

  “No, I know this woman,” she replied.

  “But you’re hurt,” he said.

  I blinked as I looked up at her and noticed a small trickle of blood run down her temple. Confusion swirled in my muddled brain.

  “Where’s Danny?” I asked quietly, ignoring her completely.

  “I’m here,” I heard him say. I turned to see him being helped from the car. He moved to the footpath and sat down heavily as a particularly attractive paramedic ran to help him. If he wasn’t fine, he soon would be. An older-looking paramedic pushed his way through the crowd that had gathered, and made his way towards me. It was Paramedic Jim.

  I allowed him to help me to the curb and sat as he tended my wounds. Thankfully my little Mini had saved me from any serious damage, but I felt the tears fall freely as I looked at it sitting in the road, bent and broken.

  “Lizzie?” I heard a deep familiar voice say. Standing in front of me, silhouetted by the sun, was Ed Helms. He moved to kneel, his face coming into focus.

  “Ed?”

  “Christ, I thought that was your car,” he said, taking my hand. He was dressed in his uniform, so I guessed his visit here was an official one. “Are you okay?”

  “Hi Ed,” said the paramedic.

  “Jim,” nodded Ed. “What happened here?”

  “W...well...” I stuttered. Feeling the security of Ed’s large hands holding mine, the focus I had been regaining, started to slip away from me again. “Umm...I was...umm...”

  “Just take your time, Lizzie.” His grip on my hand tightened.

  I took a deep breath and tried to control my breathing, as Paramedic Jim attached me to a monitor. I really hoped it wasn’t monitoring my heart rate.

  “My light turned green and I moved into the intersection when a car on my right hit me, but I know that I had a green light,” I added with conviction.

  “I’m sure you did.”

  “Lizzie,” interrupted Paramedic Jim, “the lady that was in the car that hit you wants to see you. She says she knows you. Is it okay if she comes over?” he asked looking more to Ed than to me.

  “I guess so,” I said quietly, as Ed looked at me with concern.

  Jim stood and moved to his partner, nodding to let the woman through. As the crowd parted, Allison moved into view.

  “Oh, Lizzie!” she cried. I quickly pulled my hand away from Ed’s before she noticed, but I wasn’t quick enough. I saw the look pass through her eyes as she moved to stand in front of me. “I’m so sorry. I just didn’t see the red light.” The tears welled up in her eyes and I may be a bitch, but I’m sure they were fake and put on for show. “Are you hurt?”

  “You know each other?” asked Ed, standing.

  “Yes. I’m Lizzie’s therapist,” she said loudly, holding out her hand to Ed. Ed’s jaw flexed as he took her hand and shook it.

  “And you’re the driver of the car that hit Lizzie?”

  “Yes. I am,” she added quietly.

  “Well, I’ll need to get an official statement from you shortly, but I’ll leave you two alone for a few minutes whilst I speak to my partner and look over the vehicles. Will you be okay, Lizzie?” he asked kindly.

  I nodded and watched as he moved into the road, stopping in front of my car. A lump formed in my throat as the tears fell again.

  “He’s cute,” said Allison, following my gaze, as red and blue lights from the emergency vehicles flashed across her face.

  “I need to call Riley,” I said quietly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

  “Oh, no need. I’ve already called him. He’s on his way.”

  By the time Riley reached us, Paramedic Jim had thankfully covered my semi-naked torso with a blanket, and was strapping me to a gurney. He was pushing me into the ambulance as Riley rushed towards me, torture in his beautiful eyes. As I reached out to him and held on tight, I felt his heart beating fast against his ribs. Pulling me close, he kissed the top of my head and his heart rate decreased.

  “Look at my poor little Mini,” I cried, glancing at it as it was pulled on to the back of a tow truck.

  “We can always get you another one,” he said, his deep voice betraying his emotion.

  “Surely they can fix it?”

  We both looked up at her. Her bonnet was smashed, the side doors were smashed, the headlights were gone, the windows were broken, and I’m no expert on cars, but I didn’t think wheels were supposed to be on the angle that they were at present.

  “Maybe,” said Riley, grimacing.

  “Sorry, love,” said Paramedic Jim, walking towards me, “but we need to get you to the hospital.”

  Fear danced in Riley’s eyes.

  “We just want a doctor to check the knock you’ve got on your head. That’s quite an egg you’ve got growing there.”

  I reached up and felt my forehead and indeed, Jim was right. It felt like someone had put a tennis ball under my skin. In fact, now that the adrenalin had stopped pumping, I actually felt like I’d gone ten rounds in a boxing ring.

  “Alright,” said Riley, kissing me gently. “I’ll follow you there.”

  “Where’s Danny?” I asked, looking at Jim.

  “He’s in another ambulance. We’ll meet him at the hospital.”

  “Is he okay?” Uneasiness snaked through my stomach.

  “He’s fine. We just want to get an x-ray of his arm,” explained Jim as I settled back against the gurney, relieved. I quickly sat back up as Allison’s voice rang through the air.

  “Riley!” she called, touching his arm as she moved close to him. “I’m so sorry, Riley,” she said, tears welling, as her eyes got wide. “I just didn’t see the red light.” As she spoke, I noticed she started to shake and the tears spilled over her lashes and down her cheeks. As she looked at Riley, her crying turned up a notch. She leaned forward and fell into his arms.

  Jim chose that moment to push my gurney into the back of the ambulance. The last thing I saw was Allison burying her head into Riley’s chest, as he put his arm around her shoulders and held her tight.

  Chapter Fourteen

  A few days had passed since my run in with Allison but my body still felt sore from the impact. I will sadly report that little Mini could not be fixed, but the girl at the insurance company assured me that the money would be in my account in the next few days. Then I could go shopping for a new car. Somehow, I just didn’t share her enthusiasm.

  What’s that saying? TGIF? That’s all I could chant as I closed my computer on the accounting file I was working on, and headed down the stairs. I’d actually lost track of time, and I was now running late for Friday night get together. Bugger.

  Work had slowed on my renovation due to Riley spending quite a bit of time at Allison’s, apparently making her house habitable and safe from any intruders.

  I was actually quite proud of the way I’d been behaving about it. I’d been very mature (If I say so myself) and only swore and punched the furniture when Riley wasn’t around. It hadn’t stopped us arguing a few times about it, though.

  Sure, I understood he needed the money and apparently she was paying him a very good rate. I just wished she was an ugly hag and that Riley hated her.

  I tried to distract myself from that thought as I packed Cat into his box. I opened the front door, about to step out when I remembered I should check the lock on the back door. I put Cat down, and went to the kitchen, flicking the light switch on as I went. I was about to make a quick dash across the room when I froze.

  The blood was back. And this time it was double the amount we usually saw.

  I felt the scream strangle in my throat as the wind blew the back door open, slamming the front one shut.

  Time stood still as it whistled through the old house, and the hairs on my neck stood to attention, my breath stuck in my lungs. Cat howled from his box.

  I spun aroun
d, grabbed the keys to my loan car and Cat, and got the hell out of there as fast as I could, dialing Ed as I ran.

  * * * *

  The sight of the blood had freaked me out and my heart rate skipped outside the normal range, but Ed’s words played on my mind. Was the blood real? I practiced some deep breathing and calmed myself with the knowledge that Ed was going to find out.

  I pulled into Riley’s drive and maneuvered past all the cars, realizing everyone had beaten me here.

  “Hello,” I called as I walked in, throwing my bag on a nearby chair. “Sorry, I’m late.” I put Cat on the floor and opened his box. He immediately high-tailed it to the stairs and straight for Riley’s bed. “You’ll never guess what happened as I was leaving, though.”

  “What happened?” asked Riley, greeting me with a quick kiss. He moved past me to the refrigerator, opening it and retrieving two beers. I watched him as he moved back and handed one to Matt. Riley finally had another beer drinker to share a beer with. Molly moved to me and handed me a glass of wine.

  I took the wine and drained the glass in one go, in the hope that the alcohol would settle my anxiety. Everyone was looking at me, waiting for an explanation.

  By the time I had recalled the scene in the kitchen, everyone was draining their glasses and demanding a refill.

  “I called Ed about it. He’s on his way over there now.”

  “You didn’t wait for him?” asked Danny.

  “No. He didn’t want me there alone, so he told me to leave. He’s going to do his thing and lock the doors behind him.” I shrugged. In the car listening as Ed told me to get away from the house I’d felt more freaked out than ever before. But sitting here with Riley and my family, I felt safe. Riley’s house played a part in that feeling. Now I’m not an overly religious person. I do believe in God, but I’m more of a casual participant. However, I did wonder how I would feel living in an old church. Sure, I knew it was previously a house of God and surely he didn’t stop protecting it once he’d upgraded to something bigger, but I did think of how many funerals would have been held here in the day. Funny though, all I felt when I was here was safe and secure.