by Joanne Ellis
The team also decided not to rule out Adrian Matthews until they obtained a DNA sample, confirming things either way. Peterson and Stewart were assigned canvassing areas and people to interview over the weekend.
After the meeting, while Lucas and Maggie were checking over their notes once more before heading home, Lucas’ phone rang. He glanced at Maggie before answering.
“Hudson.”
“Hi, Lucas, it’s Chelsea.” His heart did a little flutter.
“Hey there, how’re you doing?”
“Better now my family is here,” she replied. “Um, I called to ... talk to you about something.”
“What’s up?” He saw Maggie packing up to leave.
“Um, I’ve been receiving some phone calls.”
“What kind of calls?” he said abruptly, stopping Maggie in her tracks.
“Well threatening ones but I’m not sure how seriously to take them. Probably just someone playing a joke but my family insisted I let the police know, so I’m calling you.”
“What was the content of the calls?”
“I have written them all down and when they occurred. Would you like me to read them out to you?”
“No, I’ll come over. I have to talk to you anyway.”
“Ok, sounds ominous,” she said half joking.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” he said and hung up.
“Was that Chelsea?” asked Maggie.
“Yeah, she’s been receiving calls.”
“Hmm, maybe we are on the mark with her being a target.”
“Unfortunately it’s looking that way,” he said grimly. “Have a good one, see you Monday,” he called over his shoulder as he raced out.
Chapter 14
Stalker
Friday
Almost an hour later, Lucas arrived at Chelsea’s. He’d gone home to shower and change first, and had deliberated over what to wear for far too long. As he stood at her door, he realised how nervous he was about seeing her again. He took a deep breath and rang the bell. He heard a voice call out that wasn’t Chelsea’s, “I’ll get it.”
The door opened to reveal a stunning leggy strawberry blonde, giving him the once over. If his mind hadn’t been so preoccupied with Chelsea, he would have welcomed her in a shot.
“Well, hello there, handsome,” she said in a deep flirty tone. “You must be Detective Hudson.”
“And you must be Charlotte.”
“That I am. Aren’t you just good enough to eat?”
“Charlotte,” Sarah scolded as she came up behind her. “Stop flirting with the man and let him in.”
“Of course, silly me, come in, Detective.”
“Lucas, please.”
“Well you’ve obviously met Charlotte. I’m Sarah Summerville.”.
A beautiful short petite woman with striking green eyes and strawberry blonde hair extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Ma’am.”
“Please, call me Sarah, Lucas.” She smiled. “Chelsea is just upstairs. She’ll be down in a moment.”
As she spoke, he noticed Chelsea descending the stairs. Her jeans hugged her petite curves and her legs were covered to her calf with brown boots. Her deep green flowing shirt brought out the rose in her cheeks and lips. Her long hair was loose and shone under the overhead lights and he felt a compelling need to touch it. Her pure sexiness erased all rational thought from his mind. Desire overcame him as her scent filled the air. As she approached, his eyes locked on hers and he couldn’t pull them away.
Chelsea saw Charlotte mouth ‘wow’ behind Lucas’s shoulder as she walked towards them. She kept her face even as she looked at him and instantaneously her eyes became glued to his. They all just stood there for a moment as the electricity passed between Chelsea and Lucas.
“Chelsea,” said Sarah breaking the silence, “do you have your list there for Lucas?”
She nodded and handed him the list. He scanned down the page reading her small neat writing and then locked eyes with her again.
“I wasn’t sure how seriously to take them but by the look on your face, I’m now assuming I should be.”
He nodded.
“Is this because I resemble the other girls?”
He nodded again, not breaking eye contact.
“Why would someone want to hurt Chelsea?” said Charlotte.
He cleared his throat and dragged his eyes from Chelsea’s and put on his Detective face.
“That’s what I’m here to find out.”
“Charlotte,” said Sarah turning to her daughter, “we should get going if we don’t want to miss the start of the movie.” She dragged Charlotte towards the door.
“Ok, ok,” Charlotte replied before giving Chelsea a wink over Lucas’ shoulder. “I guess you’re not coming then, Chelsea?”
“No, I guess not, Charlotte,” she replied glaring at her sister before returning her eyes to Lucas.
“We’ll be back in a few hours, Chelsea. Can we get anything for you while we’re out?” Sarah asked.
“No thanks, Mum,” she said. “I don’t think we need anything.”
“We’ll see you later then. Say goodbye, Charlotte.”
“Good bye Charlotte,” she said with a smirk and followed Sarah out to the car.
“Can I get you anything?” Chelsea asked him.
“No thanks. Can we sit down so I can ask you some questions?”
“Sure,” she said leading him to the couch. It was as comfortable as he imagined it would be.
“Do you have any ex-boyfriends who might want to hurt you?” Lucas asked getting straight into it, even though he did not want to hear about her relationships with other men.
“I’ve only ever had one serious boyfriend - well fiancé actually - but I can’t imagine why he would want to hurt me,” she told him. “Wesley left me about a year ago and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”
He noticed the hurt in her eyes and felt a stab of jealousy. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. I thought we were happy, but he simply disappeared and I never saw him again.”
“Were you living together?” he asked.
“Yes, we were living here and then, after he left, Elle moved in,” she said.
“Did you go to the police?”
“Yes, but they didn’t seem very interested in finding him. They said his father was dead and that his mother had left her husband many years ago. They didn’t think anything had happened to him, just that he must have just taken off. They seemed to think I was better off without him.”
“And his friends?”
“I didn’t know any of his friends. I don’t think he had many, he was pretty shy.” This piqued Lucas interest but he had to be thorough.
“Have you had any other boyfriends or high school sweethearts?”
“No, I don’t really date much,” she said, blushing. “At school I wasn’t very popular.”
“Why’s that?”
“In Tidwell, about a quarter of the families are what some people would call well off and ours is one of them. As I told you last night, my family worked very hard to get where they are. We were the minority, so we were singled out.”
“So you’re rich then?”
“Um, if you want to call it that, my family has money,” she said. Her face became guarded and Lucas knew he’d hit a nerve.
“Would you say you’re spoilt?”
“No!” she said indignantly. Her eyes became cool and a flush filled her cheeks. “I have never taken anything for granted. Sure I didn’t want for anything but I am not the spoilt brat I was often referred to as. I have made my own way and bought my own business and do not in any way accept anything from my parents. They own this house but I pay half the rent, well now the full rent. My parents don’t want me to but I do, I would never rely on them for money.”
“Was Wesley – what’s his surname?”
“Robinson.”
“Was he envious of you or your family, or did he ever g
ive you any indication he thought you were spoilt?’
“Not that I was ever aware of. He did seem a little awestruck by our family’s house but he never indicated he was jealous. Why are you asking me about this? How is it relevant?”
“Hey, I’m not having a dig at you. I didn’t really want to have to tell you this but—“
“What? I can handle it,” she cut in and set her chin.
“The words ‘spoilt bitch’ were cut into the chests of all three girls before their throats were slit.”
An expression of horror emerged on her beautiful face and her eyes dropped to her shaking hands. He mentally kicked himself. What made him tell her that?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to tell you but there is a reason I’m asking you about this,” he said softly as he took her small hands in his.
“These murders,” she said with a catch in her voice, “you think they could be because of me? Elle is dead because of me?”
“This is not your fault. It’s this sick bastard’s fault, whoever he is.”
“I hope I don’t know anyone that would do this,” she said in a small voice.
“Me too, I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he assured her, a lump rising in his throat. “We have to be realistic and look at the connections, try to work out who it could be. You only knew Elle and you don’t seem connected in any other way to the others besides your resemblance to them, except via the café. Now that you are getting calls we have to work out why you may be a target.”
She looked up at him. “I really don’t know, Lucas.”
The forlorn expression in her amazing green eyes was too much. He lifted a hand from hers and lightly ran it over her hair and down to stroke her face. Pink rose in her cheeks as he leant forward to kiss her gently on the lips.
His tenderness surprised her and the intensity in his eyes caused her to blush. The touch of his lips sent an instant fire through her body. Wanting more, she threw her arms around his neck and brought his mouth back to hers.
He groaned and intensified the kiss, pulling her up with him as he stood. He hoped she would wrap her legs around him again and she didn’t disappoint. His groin tightened and he knew tonight he was not going to be able to stop.
Chapter 15
Passion
Friday
Chelsea ran her hands across his hard chest and shoulders longing to touch the skin underneath his t-shirt. She groped at it and was rewarded with a smooth taut body beneath. She lifted her hands to bury them in his hair and they became lost in the thick waves. She urged her tongue against his, craving more. She couldn’t get close enough to him.
He could feel her nipples harden against his chest as he carried her towards the stairs. She teased his bottom lip with her lips and tongue as he navigated her upstairs. When they entered her room, he swiftly removed her shirt and explored her soft milky skin with urgent, tender hands. He went with her as he placed her gently on the bed and sought her lips again. Her delicious scent surrounded him and he craved to taste all of her.
Chelsea’s hands roamed his chest and back before slipping off his t-shirt. She lost control of her hands as she explored his honey coloured skin. She craved to touch every part of him.
His hands roamed her body as he kissed her hungrily. He trailed kisses slowly across her jaw and down her neck, inhaling her scent. He took one rosy nipple then the other into his mouth.
She arched her back in response, squeezed his shoulders and sighed out a moan. Her hands roamed to his hair again, gripping it with ardour.
He continued his trail of kisses down her body and removed her pants before removing his own. His mouth teased and kissed her inner thigh. She moaned again as her breathing intensified.
Lucas brought his mouth back up to hers as he slipped his fingers between her legs. She groaned into his mouth and while continuing to massage her, his mouth came down to taste her nipples again.
As she arched her back and cried out, he lingered for a moment, teasing her with his fingers before removing his hand. He brought his mouth back to hers as he plunged inside her. She gripped his shoulders while he cradled her head. Their mouths remained together as he eased into a leisurely rhythm.
“Oh Lucas,” she breathed out her pleasure as he gradually increased the intensity.
He brought them both to the brink and back, wanting to prolong the feeling of her. When she arched up to meet him, he slowed the pace so he could bring her to the peak of desire once more. He kissed her neck and face as she gripped his back. Gradually he intensified his movements and when, for the third time, she tensed, arched her back and cried out with intense pleasure, he groaned along with her, as they united in pleasure.
He lay beside her, pulling her in close as he attempted to reclaim his breath. Her pleasure-filled panting almost had him wanting to start again.
“Now that was much better than I imagined,” he said huskily.
“Yes it was,” she said with a contented smile, her eyes melting into his.
“I aim to please.”
“I’m very pleased,” she said, running her fingers over his chest and stomach.
He lay for a few moments enjoying her gentle touch, before sitting up. He took her hand, grabbed the covers from the bed and led her outside onto the balcony. He sat down on the chair and gestured for her to sit on his lap. Once she did, he wrapped the covers around them.
“It’s so beautiful up here at night,” she said.
“You’re beautiful.” He kissed her tenderly.
“You’re not too bad yourself.” She smiled.
He cleared his throat. “Chelsea … ”
“If you need to ask me more questions, you can. I’m feeling pretty relaxed right now.”
“I know it’s not the best time but we have to find out who might be doing this.”
“Please ask and get it over with.”
“Are you absolutely sure that Wesley wouldn’t be doing this?”
She nodded.
“Do you know much about his family - why he may have been envious of you and your family life?”
“The only things I know about his family are what the police told me. I really can’t imagine it could be him. He was sweet and never seemed to be bothered by anything. Like I said, he was a little in awe of my family’s house but never gave any indication during our three years together that he was jealous in any way. We were getting married, what was mine would have been his. I believe he left me because either he couldn’t go through with the wedding or perhaps he just didn’t actually love me. Besides it’s been a year, if he really felt that way, wouldn’t he have done something before now?”
“Resentment builds over time and a lot of planning would have gone into this.”
“I still think you’re looking in the wrong direction.”
“Well, alright, what about people you went to school with or grew up with? Was there anyone in particular that seemed to have singled you out?’
“No, it wasn’t just one person, and it was a long time ago.”
“Like I said, resentment and hatred builds over time.”
“There is no-one in particular I can think of.”
“Okay, what about people you work with?”
“There is Lauren, my part-time employee who is a student and a girl...”
“Go on.”
“Gavin, my pickup and delivery man. He doesn’t actually work directly for me but for a courier company. He does all my deliveries and picks up my orders at different set times each day.”
“What does he look like?”
“He’s married,” she said, looking up at him.
He gave her a stern look.
“Okay, he’s got short sandy blond hair, he’s in his late thirties with two kids and, like I said, a wife.”
“Is it possible he could have something against you?’ Lucas immediately jumped on the fact he was blond.
“No, he’s lovely and I find it hard to believe that he would be behind this. M
ove on.”
“Well hopefully there aren’t any other men in your life besides me,” he said with a crooked grin. “So the only people left could be customers or someone you don’t know who has formed an opinion about you for some reason. However this is unlikely and I tend to think it was someone who knows your family has money.”
“Not many people do. My customers wouldn’t and Gavin certainly doesn’t, so maybe I’m not really a target and it’s a coincidence after all.” She paused. “I’m sorry, I’m not much help, am I?”
“No, not really.” He smiled. “You’re right, it could be a coincidence but I’m not taking the chance. The phone calls also suggest that you may know this person and they know where you live. He did use your name. I’m glad you’re not here by yourself.” He ran his knuckles across her cheek and chin before pulling her in closer, cradling her head against his chest and playing idly with her hair.
“Yes, when he used my name it scared me, along with the fact that when each call came in I was either leaving the house or had just walked in. As I said to Mum and Charlotte, it’s like he knows when I’m home. The call this afternoon came in while I was home for lunch, which I don’t normally do.”
“So maybe you’re being followed. Have you noticed anything?’
“No.”
“I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she said. She lifted her head up to nibble on his ear.
He groaned. She twisted her body around to kiss him before straddling him.
“Now it’s my turn.”
He groaned his assent as she slowly moved against him, her body pressed to his. He buried his face in her breasts and sucked hungrily on her nipples. When she knew he was ready, she eased herself onto him and slowly rocked. As she picked up momentum he met her movements. She threw her head back and her tempo increased once more. It took all his self control to wait for her. Watching her wild abandonment sent jolts of desire through his veins. He held her hips and met each thrust. When she cried out, he couldn’t hold out any longer and their groans mingled.