‘I know it sounds crazy but listen…why else would he be so desperate to find her? They’re not that close.’
‘Maybe he thought he was doing something nice for you?’
‘I wouldn’t risk exposing Lila because I got beat up a little. Riley knows that.’
The captain shook his head. ‘No, I’m sorry, Charlie. You got beef with Riley, you two work on it – outside this precinct. I mean it. Any trouble, I’ll suspend both of you.’
Charlie was fuming by the time he went back to his desk, even snapping at his friend Joe Deacon, who came to give him a message. Joe held his hands up and backed off immediately.
Riley never showed up to work. At half past five, Charlie called his cell phone for the twentieth time. The captain, who had been keeping an eye on the desk-bound Charlie, came to the door of his office. ‘Still nothing?’
Charlie shook his head. The captain sighed. ‘Okay, well, why don’t we send a unit over to his apartment, check it out?’
‘I want to go.’
The captain rolled his eyes, knowing it wasn’t worth arguing. ‘Okay, take a patrol, but you stay behind them, Sherman, agreed?’
‘Agreed.’
He rode in the back of the cruiser as they weaved their way towards Riley’s apartment in Queen’s. As they parked outside, Charlie looked up at the building. There were no lights in Riley’s window.
‘Guys, stay vigilant. If he is in trouble, we don’t want to make it worse.’
The two patrolmen, whose names he didn’t know, went in first. They knocked at Riley’s second floor apartment door but there was no answer. Charlie nodded at the door. ‘He’s a cop and he might be hurt or…’
‘Understood.’
The burlier of the two kicked the door in. ‘Riley? Riley Kinsayle? It’s Charlie, dude, yell if you’re hurt.’
No answer. Charlie flicked the overhead light on. Riley’s apartment was clean, tidy, no sign of any disturbance. On the table, a laptop was open and switched on.
Charlie sighed. ‘Jesus, Riley.’ It was Tinsley’s laptop. Charlie shook his head, and then looked up sharply. ‘You guys hear that?’
The other men shook their heads and Charlie nodded towards a closed door, flicking the catch of his holster and drawing his pistol. The other men followed suit and led the way. As the first cop entered the room, he yelled that it was clear, and switched a light on.
‘Holy motherfuck,’ Charlie heard him hiss, ‘Sherman, come take a look at this.’
Charlie followed the other cop into what he saw was Riley’s bedroom. The bed was made, and it wasn’t until he was fully in that he saw what the cop had seen. He sucked in a deep breath as if the shock was palpable. Riley’s bedroom wall was covered in photographs. Every one of them a different scene, a different day. They only had one thing in common.
Every single of one of them was of Lila…
Breathe Me
Part Three
Manhattan
‘Oh my god.’ The words were hissed from between Charlie Sherman’s lips as he stood in Riley’s apartment. Endless images of
Lila assaulted his vision, photographs obviously taken without her knowledge over what looked to be the last few years, since she’d been in New York. Richard was in some of them, and as Charlie looked closer, he saw hazy images taken of the couple through windows. Intruding on private moments.
‘Sherman, take a look at this.’ One of the cops accompanying Charlie motioned at the wall and Charlie shifted to see what he indicating.
‘Fuck.’ Angry now. Photos of Lila in the hospital bed, barely alive, tubes in her arms, down her throat, spots of blood on her skin. Charlie shook his head.
‘How did I not see this?’
‘Kinsayle’s long gone,’ the other cop was rifling through Riley’s closet. ‘Looks like he packed in a hurry.’
‘Dammit, Riley,’ Charlie turned and stalked from the room, calling back to the other, ‘don’t touch anything else, get C.S.I. down here.’
Charlie went straight back to his captain and told him what had happened. This time, the other man took him seriously.
‘Okay. Do we know where Lila Tierney is?’
Charlie gave a quick nod. ‘But I don’t want her scared. Let me go to her, explain what’s happening.’
‘Fine, I’ll clear it. Charlie, if you find Riley…take him alive, if you can. No matter what he’s done, if he’s done anything, he’s still a cop. Due process etc.’
Charlie nodded. ‘Duly noted.’
Charlie drove straight to the airport and caught the next flight to Seattle. On the plane, he rubbed his face trying to figure out the story. Lila moves to New York, Charlie with her. He gets Riley as a partner and because he is always around Lila, Riley and Lila spend a lot of time in each other’s company and innocent, joking flirtation occurs. But maybe it wasn’t a joke to Riley….maybe he became infatuated, believed himself in love and when she had met Richard, jealousy reared its hideous and destructive head and Riley’s obsession began.
Charlie narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. Riley had played the waiting game, waiting for Lila to see the rich fuck for who he really was, waiting for them to break up but a few days before the wedding was actually going to take place, Riley snapped. Followed Lila to that wedding boutique and stabbed her viciously. If I can’t have you, no-one can…
Charlie snorted, shaking his head. Oldest play in the book. Crime of passion. And now they were looking for mild-mannered, jovial Riley Kinsayle.
Charlie closed his eyes, exhausted. The sooner he got to Lila, the sooner he would be there for her, being the best friend she always leaned on. He couldn’t wait.
Washington State
Lila smoothed her cotton blouse over the ever-growing bump and grinned. ‘I’m sure I just felt her kick.’
Noah, propped up on his elbow beside her, smiled. ‘Her?’
‘I just have a feeling.’
Noah chuckled and slid his big hand over her belly, and waited. Nothing. ‘I think you imagined it.’
‘Maybe but won’t it be exciting when we know for sure?’
‘It will.’ Noah glanced at his watch and groaned. ‘God, I have to get to work.’
It was still dark outside. Noah’s attending position at one of Seattle’s most prominent hospitals meant a long commute every day to the city and now, as Lila saw the dark shadows under his eyes, she frowned. ‘Baby…you know, I could always move to the city again, save you having to travel every day.’
‘You’d be more exposed in the city,’ he said, kissing her softly on the lips. ‘I don’t mind travelling. Besides, I love this place, it’s a haven.’
She stroked the hair at his temples. ‘We could keep this place for the weekends. I hate that you’re exhausting yourself for my benefit.’
‘For your safety,’ he corrected, smiling. ‘And for your peace of mind.’
Lila lay back on the bed, thinking. What was she so frightened of? It wasn’t even her attacker finding her – it was the Carnegies. If they should find out about the baby before she had a chance to explain…god. She looked at Noah now.
‘Noah, I think I need to reach out to Richard’s family and let them know that…we’re together at least. If they know I'm in a new relationship, maybe I can fudge the dates of my pregnancy. God that sounds bad – I just don’t want them to get hurt, is all.’
Noah nodded. ‘I get it, Lila, I really do. And this is all so new, you, me, us and the little bean. Tallulah.’
Lila laughed. ‘No way, Jose. Anyway, I’m going to do that, get in contact, start rebuilding bridges. Then, how about we stay at your place in the week, come back here for weekends?’
Noah considered then smiled. ‘Does sound tempting,’ he admitted, stroking her face, ‘and think of all that time on travelling I could save…what could we do to fill that time?’
She grinned back at him, then moving, she straddled him, taking his already-stiffening cock in her hands. ‘I wonder.’
Noah
’s hand roamed all over her body, cupping her breasts and stroking her rounded belly. ‘Have I told you how beautiful you are, lately?’
She chuckled. ‘Way too often. I’m getting a big head.’
Noah looked down at her hands working on his cock. ‘So am I, by the looks of it.’ He groaned softly as she moved the tip of his cock up and down her wet sex.
‘Do you like that?’ She whispered, her gaze intense on his. He nodded, his hands on her breasts, his thumbs stroking a rhythm over her nipples. Lila cupped his balls in one hand and gently massaged them. ‘And that?’
‘God, yes…’ Her gentle hands worked his cock until it stood rigid, engorged. She traced a pattern with her fingernail gently on the sensitive tip.
‘That?’
Noah’s answering moan made her smile. She guided him inside of her and began to move, gazing down at this wonderful, gorgeous man. His hands were on her hips then, fingers massaging the soft flesh as she rode him. His cock, so big, so hard, plunged deep into her and she moaned as Noah began to stroke her clit, increasing the pressure as she quickened her pace. God, it had never been this good with Richard, or anyone else. Her body seemed to fit Noah’s perfectly despite the disparity in height between them, his cock fit inside her, stretching her, hitting all the nerve endings in her cunt.
Their movements became frenzied, fucking each other harder and harder until they both shuddered and moaned their orgasms, Noah’s cock pumping thick, hot semen deep inside her. They caught their breaths, laying side-by-side, staring at each other.
Finally, Noah brushed his lips against hers. ‘Lila Tierney…I am crazy in love with you.’
Lila smiled delightedly. ‘You are?’
‘Hell yes.’
She kissed him. ‘Good. Because I’ve been wanting to tell you that for ages. I love you, Doc.’
He gathered her to him, and then slid a hand down to her belly. ‘Family,’ he said simply and she nodded, tears in her eyes.
‘Yes,’ she said softly, ‘family.’
I see you. I see you with him, laughing, loving, fucking.
You whore. You filthy fucking whore.
Whose baby is that? His? I’ll cut that thing out of you, Lila, after I’ve killed you, and send it to him. Here’s your kid, bastard, oh and by the way, Lila is dead, my knife buried deep inside her. This time, you won’t be able to save her, you fuck.
This time my knife will gut the life right out of her.
Soon, Lila, soon.
Lila felt almost giddy, like a schoolgirl getting a date with the best looking boy on the football squad. Noah Applebaum is in love with me, she thought to herself, as she flitted around the bookshop, tidying, repricing books on sale, unpacking new deliveries. It had been a busy morning, a beautiful Washington day outside had brought waves of tourists over on the ferries from the mainland and it seemed that every single one of them had come to the shop. A few locals had said as much, some of them squinting at the newcomers as if they were rabid interlopers. Lila grinned to herself; she loved this little bookshop with its large windows and light wood bookshelves, the airiness of the space, the calm, and the peace. At one end, there was a selection of large, battered couches which patrons could sit and read all day if they wished.
Yeah, if she did move to the city during the week, she would miss this place. Maybe she could work out a new arrangement and she could commute for a couple of days, at least until the baby came. She would be loath to give up on this place entirely.
So deeply engrossed in her thoughts, she didn’t see him standing at the door watching her, a small smile on his face.
‘Hey, Boo.’
Lila looked up startled. Her immediate reaction was joy when she saw her oldest and closest friend standing at the door; then the next minute, she blanched. ‘Charlie…what are you doing here?’
He stood aside to let some patrons out then came to the counter. ‘Got all sorts of answers for that, but the most important one was…god, I missed you.’
Lila froze for a moment then suddenly darted around the counter and threw herself at him. ‘Oh, Charlie, I missed you so much.’
He swept her up and spun her in his arms. ‘Hated every minute without you.’ He put her down and only then seemed to notice her swollen belly. His eyebrows went up.
‘Food baby?
She grinned, flushing furiously. ‘Actual baby. Long, long story.’
Charlie looked stunned. ‘Is this happening or is this a fever dream?’
Her color deepened. ‘Charlie, there’s so much I have to tell you but first…why are you here? Apart from missing me.’
His smile faded and he glanced around at the other patrons – most of who were eavesdropping on the scene. ‘Is there somewhere we can talk privately?’
Lila glanced at the clock. ‘I’m off in an hour…look, there’s a coffeehouse across the road, can you wait?’
Charlie nodded. ‘Okay, in an hour then.’ He looked her up and down. ‘You look radiant, Lila. Oh hey,’ he said suddenly, ‘who’s the father?’
She grinned at his expression. ‘I’ll tell you everything in an hour, I promise.’
An hour and fifteen minutes later, Charlie sat back in his seat, running his hand through his dark hair. ‘The good doctor, hey?’
Lila nodded. ‘I’m crazy about him, Chuckles. He is the person I was meant to be with…you’ll like him, I know it for sure.’
‘Hey, the few times I met him, he seemed like a stand-up guy,’ Charlie agreed, ‘and he helped you recover so I’m always going to owe him one. So when…’ He gestured to her burgeoning belly and Lila flushed again.
‘A few days before Richard died. At our last physiotherapy session.’
Charlie threw back his head and laughed. ‘Wow, Lila…’
She tried to smile. ‘I know, so unlike me and just…I don’t want to call it wrong but it was probably not the appropriate time. But, god, Charlie, I’d just come back from the dead and I wanted him.’
Charlie leaned forward, taking her hand. ‘Hey, hey, I’m not judging you. I say good for you. After all those years with that – ‘
‘Charlie, no. Richard’s dead, let’s not…’ She choked up, tears in her eyes. ‘The reason I left New York was the baby. I knew it had to be Noah’s and that fact alone made me want this baby so much. I had fallen in love with him almost as soon as I met him – not that I told him that.’ She grinned shyly. ‘In fact, when I came here, I told no-one, not even Noah. I didn’t want him to think he was trapped. Lucky for me, he tracked me down.’
‘And now you’re making a go of it?’
‘We’re making our family. That you’re here makes it even more of a family. How did you find me, by the way?’
Charlie frowned. ‘Your letter, remember? You told me you were going back to the place where we met. You probably meant Seattle but I remember I first met you here. The children’s home had brought us here on an outing – you came along later that day with Susanna…remember?
She shook her head. ‘No…god, I don’t.’ She gave a small laugh. ‘Well-remembered, though.’
Charlie grinned. ‘The rest was easy, just asked around at the grocery store, the local medical center. Strange how a cop’s badge will get you the information you need.’
Lila rolled her eyes, laughing. ‘Yes, it’s a mystery. Guess my well-laid plans fell through if it was that easy to find me.’
Charlie’s smile faded. ‘For a cop, yes, and that’s another reason I came. Lila, I have some bad news, shocking news really.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Boo, I think we know who it was who stabbed you.’
Lila began to tremble, her hands shaking and she put her tea cup down. ‘Who?’ Her voice was low, almost a whisper.’
‘Riley.’ He watched her expression go from shock to horror to fear.
‘Oh my god…’ Lila closed her eyes. ‘Oh god, please no.’
Charlie frowned. ‘Lila, is there something you haven’t told me about you and Riley, something you’ve kept from
me?’
She shook her head but didn’t look at him. ‘No. God, how do you know?’
He told her about the incident with Tinsley and then what they’d found in Riley’s apartment. ‘As soon as I saw that wall of photographs of you, I knew. He’s obsessed, Lila. Dangerously so, we think.’
‘Then why haven’t you arrested him?’
Charlie looked at with soft, dark eyes. ‘Sweetheart, because we can’t find him. Riley’s missing.’
Lila still felt sick as they drove back to her cottage. Riley…She couldn’t believe it and yet when she thought back to that awful day in the bridal boutique, when she’d opened the curtain and her attacker had driven that knife into her belly over and over…it made a strange kind of sense. Her stabber had been the right size for Riley, certainly, tall and well-built but that didn’t mean anything. Richard, Noah and Charlie were all of a similar height and build as Riley.
But there was another reason it made sense…one that she always looked back on with shame…
…she had cheated on Richard with Riley.
Manhattan
Then
It was after Paris, after they’d travelled around the world backpacking and when Richard had finally gotten his way and treated her to the most luxurious Parisian dream vacation. After that.
They’d gotten back to New York and returned to their everyday lives; Richard running his billion-dollar corporation and Lila back at school and at the bar. Now that school was coming to an end, her schedule was light and she had more time to think and hang out alone.
Which was proving to be a big mistake. She had been triggered by a photograph in a society magazine of Delphine’s.
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