Mystic Falls

by Vickie McKeehan

  She rolled her eyes at the compliment, but sang three more before the break---Set Fire to the Rain, Strong Enough, and a song by Jewel that might’ve sent the wrong message to Lando’s date---You Were Meant for Me. That last one got Gemma a standing ovation, but seething looks from Jenny. Thankfully Jenny’s glare seemed to be the only negative.

  Gemma left the stage to boisterous applause. While trying to get back to her table, she was slapped on the back, grabbed and hugged, even kissed by a couple of the old-timers. They showered her with praise. There were hoots and hollers, and even comments like, “great job, wonderful voice, you haven’t changed a bit.”

  Lando looked so pleased with himself when he sat down next to Gemma at the table, she leaned in and said, “Did you tell them to say all that?”

  “Sure I did, I have such an iron grip on this town that people say whatever I tell them to say. If you think that, you’re being ridiculous.”

  “Now that’s what I call a welcome-back-to-town gesture,” Leia offered. “Big time. My guess is come Monday, you’ll have a line out the door of the candy store. Wanna bet on that?”

  Gemma picked up the drink Leia had ordered for her and held it high. “Nope. I know better than to bet against a Bonner, especially when this guy holds all the cards.”

  Lando’s mouth curved up. He raised his beer bottle in salute. “Just like old times.”

  If Jennifer hadn’t jumped up from her chair at that moment to put Lando in a crushing hug, he wouldn’t even have remembered that his date was in the room. His eyes were that locked on Gemma’s.

  “You were fantastic up there,” Jennifer gushed. “I’d forgotten how well you played. My boys are begging me to let them take up a musical instrument. I was trying to push them toward the piano but after seeing you up there on stage, I think I’ll buy them a guitar.”

  The flattery went on until Gemma thought she might be sick. She waved a hand in front of her face and declared, “I need some air.”

  Leia stood up when she did and grabbed her arm. “Let’s go outside.”

  The two weaved through the crowd until they reached the front door. The cool night air greeted them in a rush of wind that felt cool to the skin. As soon as she reached the porch, Gemma pivoted to Leia. “That brother of yours is something else. I can’t believe he got me to do that.”

  “But you were great. Your voice always sounded golden and it hasn’t changed.”

  “It did feel good. I haven’t felt that free in years. I didn’t know I even remembered the words to those songs.”

  Jennifer came storming out the door behind them, whacking the wood up against the siding of the bar. “You just can’t leave him alone, can you? After treating him like shit ten years ago, you just can’t help yourself.”

  Gemma rode the wave of self-confidence and stood her ground. “Leave who alone? Lando? He’s the one who latched onto me before I could even sit down. I had no idea he’d ask me to sing. If I had I wouldn’t have come.”

  Jennifer made a grunting noise from deep in her throat. “It’s obvious he isn’t over you. And I came all the way up here from Klamath with my kids in tow just to get dissed in front of my old friends by an asshole. It’s humiliating.”

  “Look, Jennifer, I’m sorry. But…”

  “That’s just it, you’re not, not really. You love the attention he gave you tonight, soaked it up like a pathetic sponge. I’ve got eyes. I can see for myself he’s still enamored with you and you with him. That’s why I’m done here. I’m going back to my parent’s house where my boys are spending the night. I just made that clear to Lando. You don’t have to worry about me, I’m out of here.”

  Jennifer stormed off the porch and disappeared into the sea of parked cars.

  Leia bumped Gemma’s shoulder. “Wow! Lando pissed her off.”

  “Wonder why he did that in such a public way? It isn’t like him.”

  “Are you kidding? I have it from a good source that he did his best to try and dissuade Jennifer from even making the trip down here this weekend. But her parents live here so she had a built-in reason already. I got that from Luke. Don’t you know Lando by now at all? I’m pretty sure Lando will never remarry. Never. That time in his life was just too painful for him to repeat the process. Sorry, but that includes you, too.”

  “Ever? That’s…kind of…sad.”

  “Yeah. But that’s present-day Lando. That guy you knew a decade ago has changed. If you don’t believe me, you need to take a closer look at him.”

  Gemma let out a huge sigh. “This may sound whacked, but I think I know how he feels. I’ll probably never make that mistake again either.”

  “Is that why you never remarried?”

  “Over the years, I’ve discovered I’m better by myself. And that’s not a bad thing.” Gemma waited a beat before turning to Leia. “While we’re on that subject, why did you go out of your way to make me believe you were…not in a relationship? That story about a dry spell you tried to feed me is bunk. I know you and Zeb are…hot and heavy, and seeing each other on the sly.”

  “What? Who told you?”

  “Zeb.” She crossed her heart over her chest a couple of times. “I swear I won’t breathe a word to anyone. Which begs the question, why aren’t you out there with him tonight instead of hanging around me and trying to fix me up with your brother again?”

  Leia lifted her shoulders in disinterest. “Zeb had a family thing. And with Zeb, family comes before anyone. I mean anyone, Gemma. He’s a loyal son, brother, cousin, third cousin, fourth cousin, and so on. I’m way down on that list.”

  “I get the picture. Are you in love with him?”

  “Like it’s a terminal illness. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot.”

  “Zeb’s a good guy.”

  “Yeah, everybody’s just a good guy who doesn’t want to commit to anyone else. I want a family someday. By the time Zeb and I get around to procreating I’ll be too old to push a stroller.”

  Gemma slung an arm over Leia’s shoulder. “How about we forget this self-pitying stuff? Let’s go back inside and go wild, make our night out something special, just like the old days. I’ll even dance with you. Mojitos on me.”

  “This is the reason I’ve missed you.”

  “Right backatcha, baby girl.”

  Before they could turn to go inside though, a thudding sound out on the little side street stopped them in their tracks.

  “What was that?” Gemma asked, as she took off through the parking lot and around the corner. Following the sound of a car engine revving and then tires squealing out of the parking lot, she darted down the dark alleyway. She peered left and right only to catch a glimpse of Jennifer sprawled on the pavement.

  “Over here,” Gemma shouted to Leia. “Get Lando. I think that car hit Jennifer.”

  Gemma ran over to where the woman lay near the dumpster. She bent down on one knee to check for a pulse. When she saw Jennifer lift her hand, she breathed out a sigh of relief. Gemma latched on to Jennifer’s fingers. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I don’t know. One minute I was approaching my car, getting ready to unlock it, and the next, I looked up and saw headlights coming straight toward me. I jumped out of the way just in the nick of time.”

  “But you’re okay, right? Does anything hurt?”

  “Just my ass when I went down on the pavement.” Jennifer sat up and met Gemma’s eyes. “What’s going on in this town anyway? My mom told me this morning that two women went missing, and now this. I could’ve been killed. I have two little boys who depend on their mommy.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know,” Gemma answered. “But something weird is happening. Leia went to get help.”

  “I think I’m fine. I just want to go back to my parent’s house and get out of here. I want to go back to Klamath.”

  “Want me to drive you?”

  “What about my car?”

  “We’ll get someone to drive it over to your parents’ house. Should we
let the hospital check you out first, though? I mean it, Jennifer. I think you should get an x-ray.”

  Jennifer got to her feet, but winced at the pain in her side. She clutched Gemma’s arm to steady herself. “That might not be such a bad idea after all. ER first.”

  Lando and Leia came running up, bringing a slew of people trailing behind them.

  “What the hell happened out here?” Lando barked.

  “Somebody tried to run down Jennifer,” Gemma explained in shaky spurts. “I think we should get her to the ER and let a doctor check her out. Can’t you see she’s in pain?”

  “The paramedics are on their way,” someone shouted from the back of the crowd.

  “Don’t worry,” Gemma whispered to Jennifer. “Leia and I will get you taken care of.”

  12

  After a trip to the emergency room to get Jennifer checked out, Leia dropped Gemma back at her house around two.

  “Want to come in?” Gemma asked, turning toward the driver.

  “Not unless you’re scared to go in there by yourself.”

  Gemma looked up at the old house. She’d left the lights on in several of the main rooms and knew Rufus was in there guarding their interests. “Nah, I’ll be okay. I just can’t help wondering what’s happening here. Did Coyote Wells turn into Sin City while I was gone and I just missed it?”

  “Lando told me about your theory that someone killed Marissa. If that’s true then we have a crime wave going on here that hasn’t happened before, certainly not in my memory.”

  Before Gemma could respond, Lando’s cruiser pulled up at the curb.

  “Oh, look at that, the Lone Ranger’s here,” Leia cracked. “I think it’s time for me to go beddy-bye. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “Thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Gemma said, sliding out of Leia’s Ford Escape.

  Lando waved to his sister as she pulled out of the driveway.

  Night blooming jasmine drifted on the air as Gemma unlocked the front door. “You’re just in time to see me inside and check the house for boogie men.”

  “That’s why I’m here. Just another service Coyote Wells PD provides to its upstanding, taxpaying citizens.”

  As soon as the front door swung open, Rufus came bounding up to Gemma. She put a hand on the dog’s head and hooked her other arm through Lando’s. “I’m glad Jennifer’s okay.”

  “Me too. It’s a sobering thought when a mom with two kids almost becomes part of the pavement. And in my town, on my watch, while she’s visiting her parents, no less. I’m not happy about that.”

  “I thought she was visiting you?”

  “It was a twofer, I guess. She said her kids could come down here and see their grandparents and we’d go out and have a little fun for old times’ sake.”

  “Newsflash, Lando. Jennifer was expecting a lot more than a fun night out.”

  “Hey, I never made those kinds of promises to Jennifer. I’m not exactly looking to date a single mom.”

  “Well, whatever your intent was I’m sorry it ruined your show tonight.”

  “It wasn’t a complete loss. I got to hear you sing again. That hasn’t happened in years. It was worth it. Sort of.”

  “Hmm, I suppose I managed to screech out a lyric without embarrassing myself. But what were you thinking, Lando? What if I’d gotten up there and couldn’t utter a sound? I’d have been humiliated.”

  “I wasn’t going to let that happen. I’d’ve covered for you.” He followed her into the kitchen where she filled up the dog’s dish with fresh water and let Rufus out the back door to pee. “I need to know if you got a good look at the kind of car that almost hit Jennifer or maybe a glimpse of the driver.”

  “Sorry. It all happened too fast. Besides, the driver was gone by the time I reached the back alleyway. Do you think it could somehow be related to the other women?”

  “It seems weird that someone targeted a person who no longer lives here. So my gut instinct says no. Maybe just someone out for a joy ride that had too much to drink.”

  “Some people think it’s relevant. I heard the nurses in the ER mumbling about it while we waited to see if Jenny was okay. Even a few of the doctors were full of wild tales about a serial killer.”

  Lando scratched his chin. “Aside from that kind of weird speculation, why would Vince Ballard want to hurt Jennifer?”

  “Just because you’re convinced Ballard is your suspect, doesn’t make it true.”

  “That’s because he has you fooled.”

  “I see it differently. When he came into the shop that day he seemed to genuinely adore Gram. I find it hard to believe he could murder anyone, let alone an elderly woman he cared about.”

  “He could’ve been playing you for a sucker. Maybe he wanted everything your Gram had.”

  “Sure, I suppose. But he doesn’t look like he’s hurting for money. Does he have any domestic violence in his background, any rapes or other types of violence? You had to have checked him out.”

  “None. No arrests for anything, not so much as a parking ticket. Which might be a big red flag right there. How many times do you hear someone on TV saying what a great guy the serial killer was living right next door?”

  “I suppose. But if it is Ballard, then why would he try to run down Jennifer? He sure wasn’t screwing her because she lives out of town, way out of town. So, what’s his motive?”

  “Woman alone in a dark alleyway, maybe it struck a chord. Maybe he did it to throw us off the track. Maybe Jennifer spurned his advances.”

  “I don’t know. That sounds like you’re reaching. It doesn’t sit well with me. Not to mention, why would Ballard ask me to stick my nose into all this? I was minding my own business at the store that day when he came in and dropped this bomb about Gram. Although…if it isn’t him, then maybe it’s someone who wants us to think it is. Maybe what we should be doing is finding out who hates Ballard enough to make it look like he’s a murderer.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt to find Collette’s body or Marnie’s either,” Lando concluded. “I could make my case if I had a body.”

  The dog pawed at the back door, and Lando let the pooch back in, like he was used to doing it all the time. “Look, do we have to discuss this tonight? I’m beat. Couldn’t we pick this discussion up in the morning?”

  Gemma eyed his body language and recognized that look in his eye. “Are you suggesting we spend the night together?”

  “Yeah.” He moved to where she stood and took her chin, tilted her mouth up to meet his.

  She draped her arms around his neck. “Is this really a good idea?”

  “You want to argue the merits now? Okay. How about two old friends reaching out to each other for comfort?”

  Leia’s words earlier echoed in her head. Lando’s not looking to get serious with anyone. He’ll never remarry. “Are we friends?” she asked as if to confirm where his thoughts were heading.

  “We used to be, all the way back to kindergarten.”

  “Yeah, I remember you stole my crayons.”

  “You were eating the blue like you were trying to make it a snack. And I needed that color to finish my sky. Besides, I probably saved you from toxic wax poisoning.”

  “As if. You were just thinking about your picture.” She nibbled down the side of his jaw. “I could use some comfort since I’m way overdue.”

  “How overdue?”

  “Years.”

  “Gemma…”

  “I want you. Tonight. It’s just for tonight, right? It’s just two old friends reaching out to each other in need.” Eager, too eager, she didn’t wait for his reply or think about consequences. Instead she grabbed his hand and led him toward the bedroom.

  13

  Gemma was sound asleep nuzzled next to Lando when she heard a muffled cell phone ringing. The sound was coming from somewhere in the room. She poked Lando in the ribs and then felt him launch straight up like he’d been shot out of a cannon.

  “It’s your cell
phone,” Gemma mumbled, trying to drift back to sleep. “I left mine in the kitchen.”

  Lando stumbled to his feet and staggered over to a chair, butt-naked, to pick up the phone from his jeans pocket. “Bonner here,” he groused in a husky voice. “What? Wait. Slow down. Repeat that. Okay. Okay. Don’t move anything or touch anything. Got that? I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  Gemma lifted her head. “Where will you be in twenty minutes?”

  “That was Payce Davis. Some Boy Scout troop out picking up trash along that abandoned part of the old Coyote Highway found what they think is a human skull.”

  “Oh, my God.” Gemma tossed back the covers and bounded out of bed. “I bet it’s one of the missing women.”

  “Probably.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “That’s not a good idea.”

  She went over and put her arms around his bare chest. “Come on. Please.”

  Having a curvy, warm female pressed up next to him was usually a good thing, but now it was distracting. “That’s unfair, using your body like that to change my mind.”

  She squeezed up against him, nipping his shoulder with her mouth. “I can do more than that and you’ll love it. Please let me come with you. I’ve never been to a crime scene before.”

  “Fine. But move your ass because I’m leaving in five minutes.” He picked up his clothes and headed into the bathroom. A few minutes later he came back out with his shirt on but it wasn’t buttoned and his jeans weren’t zipped.

  “Want me to make coffee?” she asked as she pulled a sweat shirt over her head and yanked on the pair of jeans she’d worn out to the stables yesterday. She slipped her feet into the same pair of sandals she’d worn the night before.

  “Coffee will get you another five minutes.”

  Not wanting to waste another second, she darted out of the room heading to the kitchen.

  Trailing after her, he felt the need to give her the same spill he’d given his patrol officer. “When we get to the scene I want you to stay back and out of the way. Is that understood? Because I’ve already got a rattled bunch of twelve-year-olds on their way to church. They thought they were doing a good deed and now....”