Bouquet of Lies

by Smith, Roberta

  “Nope. I figure guys like that want you to lose your cool. It makes them think they’ve won. So I just smiled and said, ‘I don’t know what planet you’re living on, but any similarity between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.’”

  “What?”

  “I read that somewhere.”

  “Yeah. Because it doesn’t sound like you.”

  “I’m not sure he got it.”

  “I’m not sure I got it.”

  Jake laughed. “Well. Whatever. At least he looked confused.”

  Lacey smiled and then looked at him thoughtfully. “I think you need to stay longer than the summer.”

  “Yeah?”

  She moved to the counter and leaned her back against it. “Darla’s going to need someone once this is over.”

  Jake didn’t say anything.

  “She’s going to need you.”

  Her phone rang and she checked the caller ID. It was Randy. “Speak of the asshole. Hello?”

  “Listen,” Randy’s voice was urgent. “Where are you now?”

  This was it. For Randy to call her and ask her that, he was about to make his move. It was probably best to lie. “I’m out. I needed to go for a drive.”

  “Well, get back there. I’ve been thinking. I don’t want Darla left alone. She should be awake by now.”

  Lacey thought about making a snide remark about having Randy’s permission to speak to her sister, but decided against it.

  “Sure,” Lacey said.

  “Good. How long before you can get there?”

  “Not long.”

  “Ten? Fifteen? I need to know.”

  Why did he need to know? Lacey frowned. “Twenty minutes, I guess.”

  “Okay. I should be there in twenty-five.”

  It sounded like he wanted her to be alone with Darla. Good. If she was awake, it gave her time to talk to her. But it also gave Randy time for his plan.

  She hung up and put the phone back in her pocket. “I have to go,” she told Jake.

  “I’ll come with you.” He started for the front door.

  “No. That’s not a good idea.”

  Jake stopped and turned toward her. “Why? You’ve got something up your sleeve.”

  Lacey stuck out her arms. “I’m not wearing sleeves.”

  “Funny.”

  “So much so, you didn’t laugh.” She stared at him. Then she reached out and gave him a hug.

  “What’s that for, Miss Priss?”

  “Last night. Watching out for Darla. Being there when we were kids. Take your pick.”

  She pulled back. She didn’t look him in the eye. He might see the tears starting to form. “There’s just one more thing. If you hear something loud like a bang coming from the house, don’t worry.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t worry.” She realized something. “And now that I think about it, you can help me.”

  “Sure. Anything.”

  “When Randy drives up, call me. Let the phone ring twice and hang up. But don’t come in the house.”

  “I don’t like the sound of this.”

  “Just trust me. Please.”

  Darla stared out her bedroom window while she listened to her husband on the cell phone.

  “I screwed up, Darla. I screwed up. Your sister called and I don’t even remember what she said that made me see red. I told her we were on to her. It was the worst thing I could have said. She’s on her way home.”

  “Home?” Darla frowned. She could see Lacey’s car parked in the motor court. Why did he think she wasn’t home?

  “She’s out driving around. But she’ll be at the house in twenty minutes.”

  Darla watched Lacey exit Henry’s apartment and start down the stairs. Oh, she’d been talking to Jake. Darla felt a twinge of jealousy. Why should she be jealous? She was married to Randy.

  “I can’t get there soon enough. She’s coming to get rid of that mask and wig. You’ve got to stop her. Do you understand?”

  “You’re scaring me.”

  “Good. I want you to be scared if that’s what it takes. Now tell me what you need to do.”

  “I’m supposed to stop her.”

  She watched Lacey cross the motor court until a projection of the house hid her from view.

  “Remember what we talked about. Lacey is dangerous. Lacey is greedy. Lacey is a murderer. I shouldn’t have left you alone with her.”

  Yes. Why did you leave me alone if she’s so bad?

  “Let that fear drive you to action. Do what you have to do. You have the gun.”

  “I have the gun.”

  “Protect yourself.”

  “Protect myself.”

  “I’m sorry I’m not there.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her mind was cloudy, dull.

  “It’s up to you now. It’s all up to you. Darla, your sister means to hurt you. You can do this. For us.”

  “For us,” Darla repeated.

  “I’ll be there soon.” He hung up.

  Like a zombie, Darla went to the dresser and took the gun from the drawer.

  For us.

  She walked out of the room and as she headed down the stairs, she found Lacey coming up. They both froze. Darla clutched the gun close against her side.

  “What are you doing here?” Darla spoke softly.

  “I live here, remember? And I was coming to check on you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you were sleeping when I left.”

  Darla looked to the side, thoughtful. “You were here earlier.” She remembered the feeling of being held. She remembered Lacey’s voice.

  Twinkle, twinkle, little star . . .

  “I was here and Randy went somewhere.”

  Here is Lacey. Here is Dar.

  Darla looked at her sister again. “Where did he go?”

  “He didn’t say.”

  “It’s up to me,” Darla said.

  “What’s up to you?”

  “I’m supposed to stop you.”

  “Stop me from doing what?”

  “You know.”

  “I don’t know. What’re you talking about? Tell me.” Lacey stepped closer and spotted the gun. “What do you need that for?”

  Darla looked down at the weapon.

  “Darla, what are you doing with that gun?”

  “I have to stop you from going into your room.”

  “Why? What’s in my room?”

  “Proof.”

  “Proof?”

  “That you killed Father and Grandfather.”

  “You think I killed them?”

  “Randy said you killed them. He said it wasn’t me.”

  “He’s right about that. It wasn’t you.”

  Darla put her fingers to her mouth. “Then it was . . . ? You don’t have blond hair.”

  “Darla, neither of us killed anyone.”

  “I killed Mom.”

  “No. Our mother is alive.”

  What had she just heard Lacey say? No, she couldn’t believe that. If she believed that, if she didn’t do what she was supposed to, she’d have to go back to the hospital. Her body shook.

  “I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

  “Who said anything about the hospital? You’re not going to any hospital.” Lacey took another step.

  “I’m not?”

  “I won’t let anyone put you in the hospital.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise. I love you.”

  “Randy loves me. I’m married. Did you come here to kill me? Does money mean that much? Randy says . . .” She swallowed.

  “I could never hurt you. You know that. Down deep I know you know that. It isn’t me you need to worry about. It’s Randy.”

  Anger exploded in Darla like an old fashioned flashbulb. She raised the gun, the barrel aimed at Lacey’s head. “Don’t say that.”

  Lacey put a hand up. “I won’t. I won’t. Be careful.”

  Darla gripped the gun. A thousand th
oughts ripped through her brain. Finally the song became dominant. Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

  She began to sing aloud. “Here is Lacey. Here is Dar. Up above the world so high. Watching children from the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Here we are. Here we are.”

  Lacey stepped even closer despite the gun. “That’s right. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. You heard me.”

  “Randy wants me to shoot you.” She aimed the gun. A couple of seconds passed in silence. “But I can’t.” Darla turned the gun on herself.

  “No, Darla.” Lacey raced to her and put her hands on Darla’s hands.

  Jake paced the living room and occasionally looked out the window. Miss Priss. Why did she have to be so cryptic? He wanted to go to the mansion and pound on the door and make her explain. But he didn’t. She had her reasons for doing whatever it was she was doing and he didn’t want to mess things up.

  Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Twenty. Twenty-two. He heard the motor of a car and looked out. Randy was pulling in. He called Lacey just like she’d asked. He let it ring twice and hung up.

  Five seconds later he heard a gunshot and jumped out of his skin. What the hell? She’d told him not to worry if he heard a bang. But that was more than a bang!

  He ran outside and down the stairs and saw Randy taking his sweet time walking toward the back door.

  “Did you hear that?” Jake shouted at him.

  “I did. I’m just going to check.”

  “Yeah? Next week?”

  “I thought I told you to get the hell out of here. You’re trespassing,” Randy snarled.

  “I don’t care what you told me. Something’s going on. Something’s happened.”

  Randy put his key in the lock. “Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it.”

  “I’m calling the police.”

  “You do that.” He slipped inside.

  Seated on the stairs, Darla kept one arm stretched over Lacey who lay face down on her lap. Red liquid soaked her slacks and white blouse. She rocked back and forth singing, “Twinkle, twinkle. Twinkle, twinkle . . .” Her other hand rested on the stair, the gun loosely in its grip.

  Randy appeared in the foyer below. He looked up at her.

  “Darla.”

  She stared at him. “Are you proud of me?”

  “Darla, what happened?” He ran up several steps and paused.

  “I did what you said.”

  Randy climbed the rest of the way. He reached for Lacey’s pulse. “Well. Not quite.” He took the gun and stood erect. He aimed and calmly fired at Lacey’s head.

  Darla screamed and fell over her sister’s body, hugging her tight.

  “But you tried.” Randy sighed. “Your pal should have already called 911. But just to be sure.” He took out his cell phone, pressed 911 and sounded excited. “There’s been a shooting. I don’t know. I don’t know what happened exactly. It looks like my wife has killed her sister. Yes, hurry.”

  Still hugging Lacey, the side of her face against Lacey’s back, Darla felt Randy take her hand and put the gun in it. He reached for Lacey and she pulled her away from him. “No! Don’t touch her!”

  He stood erect. “All right.”

  Darla raised her head and watched Randy walk past. She heard the pipes and knew he was washing his hands in the hall bathroom. Tears wet her face and she wiped them away, streaking her cheeks red.

  Twinkle, twinkle. Twinkle, twinkle . . .

  The call over the radio said that shots had been fired. And when Dan heard the address, his heart bolted like a racecar at the starting gun.

  “Lacey,” he said.

  His uncle was at the wheel. He glanced at him. “We’re almost there.”

  Dan had talked Uncle Carrick into swinging by Lacey’s house before heading to the station. The way she’d been acting all morning bothered him. And now what he’d heard from dispatch . . . “Do you think she shot him?” Dan’s heart pounded.

  “As in better safe than sorry.”

  “As in I’ll sacrifice my life for my sister.”

  Of course, he could have shot her. He stopped himself from thinking about that.

  They were the first to arrive. The front door was unlocked and when they walked in they saw Randy two steps below the stair where Darla sat with Lacey draped across her lap. His hand was outstretched and his voice begged, “Give me the gun, Darla. Give me the gun.”

  Darla was shaking her head.

  “Lacey!” Dan made a dash for the stairs.

  “She has a gun,” Randy warned. “I wouldn’t make any sudden moves.”

  Dan froze. Terror flowed through his veins. Not because of the gun, but because of the way Lacey was lying there, limp and motionless.

  “Darla!”

  Dan looked behind him. Jake had entered the front door. Uncle Carrick had a hand on Jake’s arm, keeping him from running to her.

  “Mr. Barber. Why don’t you come down here and stand beside me,” his uncle said.

  Dan locked eyes with Randy. “Yes. Why don’t you do that?”

  “Darla will listen to me. I don’t want anyone else to get shot,” Randy said.

  Dan kept the urge to punch Randy in check. “Downstairs.”

  “Here, Mr. Barber.”

  Reluctantly Randy stepped toward the big detective. “I have to say I didn’t expect the two of you, but I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Lacey. Lacey, I’m scared,” Darla said.

  Dan moved closer. Was Darla off her rocker or could Lacey possibly be able to hear her? He put out a hand. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said.

  Darla stared at him. He’d never actually looked into those pale green eyes. They were filled with heartache.

  “Be careful,” Randy called. “She isn’t stable.”

  Darla looked at her husband and then she looked back at Dan.

  Dan put out a hand. “I’d like the gun. Can you give me the gun, Darla?”

  A tear trickled down the girl’s cheek. She looked like a waif. Frail. Scared. Dan kept his hand extended.

  Darla didn’t make a move. Dan thought about snatching the weapon, but nixed the idea. No point in getting himself shot. Precious seconds were ticking away though. If Lacey was alive they needed to get her to a hospital.

  “If your sister is alive, Darla, we need to get help. Every second counts. Give me the gun. Give me the gun.”

  It took what seemed like an eternity, but finally Darla reached out with the firearm. Gently, Dan took it.

  He heard the police arrive as he knelt down to Lacey to feel for a pulse.

  Her eyes opened and he jerked with a start. She mouthed a “Shh.”

  “Is she alive?” his uncle asked.

  “I’m dead,” Lacey mouthed.

  “No need for an ambulance,” Dan called. He gave Lacey his dirtiest look. She could have told him what she was planning—if this was planned. He looked at Darla. Was she together enough to have helped with something like this?

  Lacey closed her eyes. Dan looked down at the group in the foyer.

  “She’s dead. I felt for a pulse,” Randy said.

  “God dammit,” Jake responded. “You son of a bitch.”

  “What happened?” Uncle Carrick asked Randy.

  “I was driving up when I heard a shot.”

  Jake didn’t miss a beat. “There was a second shot. When you were inside.”

  “She shot her twice.”

  “I didn’t shoot her!” Darla cried.

  “It’s okay,” Randy called to her. “Everyone will understand.”

  “Why do you say that?” Darla asked.

  “They have to know,” Randy said.

  Dan glanced at Darla. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  Randy continued. “I found her like this. She kept saying, ‘Lacey came at me. Lacey came at me.’ And then she said Lacey admitted that she killed their father and their grandfather.”

  “You’re full of shit,” Jake said, taking a step toward Randy. A uniformed officer p
ulled him back.

  “Thank you.” Randy nodded at the officer. “She dressed up like their mother to kill them. To disguise herself and to frighten Darla.”

  “You’re nuts,” Jake said.

  “If Darla got committed, wouldn’t Lacey be in control of Darla’s share of the money?”

  “But Darla married you,” Jake pointed out.

  “And that had to throw a wrench into her plans.”

  “The whole story’s ridiculous.” Jake shook his head.

  “No. I think, if you check, you’ll find a blond wig on the stairs. I noticed it trying to get the gun from my wife.”

  Dan found a wig and a mask tucked behind Darla. He raised them into the air.

  “Lacey didn’t count on the gun I gave her sister for protection,” Randy said.

  “I didn’t shoot her,” Darla said.

  “Oh, sweetheart. I love you. But you did. And I’m afraid there’s no escaping that hospital now. Or maybe prison,” he added softly.

  Lacey let a sigh escape from her lips and rose from Darla’s lap. “That’s about as much as I can stomach.”

  Randy’s jaw dropped. His eyes grew wide.

  Lacey offered a smile filled with hate and a whole lot of satisfaction. “Don’t look so surprised. Sisterly love is stronger than any bullshit you can deliver.”

  Randy’s eyes narrowed.

  Lacey continued, “You really thought by killing me off, and getting Darla put . . . somewhere, that you’d get everything?”

  “No. She shot you.” Randy pointed at Darla.

  “You shot me! After you knew I was still breathing. Too bad for you, I filled that gun with blanks. Blanks I found in Daddy’s room.”

  “What?” Randy looked at Darla, his expression changed to a puppy-dog appearance of love. “Darla. I was only trying to protect you. Remember? We talked. We found those things in Lacey’s room.”

  “I think you put them there,” Darla said.

  “See. Here’s what you don’t know about my sister,” Lacey said. “She’s really, really smart.” She took Darla’s hand and smiled at her. “People underestimate her. Have all her life.”

  Randy made a move for the stairs.

  “Stay away from me!” Darla shouted.

  “See what I mean?” Lacey said. “Smart.”

  Dan blocked Randy from reaching the two sisters. “I think you should cuff this guy,” he said to the cops.

  “Like hell. I haven’t done anything.”