“I’ll take it.“
* * *
Sharon stared helplessly at the digital monitor imbedded in the seatback in front of her. There were sixteen hours left until they reached their destination, and she was feeling every minute of it. And that’s a whole lot of minutes. She could handle the physical inconvenience but the actual waiting tormented her. Sharon recalled her talk with Rob on their way to the airport, when he had revealed Kelly’s secret to her.
“Are you sure you want to hear this?“
“Absolutely.“
“Okay. On April twenty-fourth, 1990, sixteen-year-old Kelly Whitesporte was rushed to the hospital and then admitted to the psychiatric ward. She spent a month and a half there after what was presumed to be a suicide attempt.“
Sharon’s jaw dropped, just like in the movies. Kelly tried to kill herself? Why?
She glared at Rob, waiting for him to fill in the blanks.
Rob continued: “She arrived at the hospital battered and covered with bruises, showing deep cuts in her wrists. The report said she had been found unconscious with an initial cut on her neck. Luckily, she most likely passed out before she could finish the job, so the paramedics were able to save her. After two days of medical surveillance, she was transferred for psychiatric observation and stayed there for quite some time. Due to medical confidentiality I couldn’t get the reports from there. I don’t know why she tried to kill herself. And I have no idea who released her and why.“
“Only that the person who did that made a huge mistake . . .“ Sharon muttered.
“Without a question,“ Rob agreed.
“We still don’t know how Gloria McIntyre is linked to all of this and what happened there exactly, but I have no doubt she had a part in Kelly’s suicide attempt, and a very crucial part, if Kelly’s desire for revenge is still blazing after all these years,“ Sharon added.
“Kelly and Gloria went to the same high school. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were to find out they were in the same class.“
“How do you know that?“
“You’d be surprised to know how much you can learn with the help of Google,“ Rob smirked. “Gloria McIntyre has countless fan websites. And guess where she grew up?“
“Winslow, Arizona. Kelly’s hometown.“
“Exactly.“
“We have to find out what the hell happened between them,“ Sharon asserted. “Damn it, Rob, don’t you have any strings you could pull? We’re trying to catch a killer! It’s important for us to know Kelly’s medical history,“ she insisted.
“Do you think I didn’t act on it? It’s just that with all the bureaucracy and those damned warrants the judge has to sign, it will take a few good days that we just don’t have.“
Sharon squinted into the distance. “Then I guess we’ll have to figure it out some other way.“
“How?“
“We’ll just have to ask Kelly.“
CHAPTER 34
Gloria looked out the window and watched the sunrise. The last day of shooting had arrived. She found it hard to believe that she would no longer wake up every morning to this incredible view; that Tom and Libby, the owners, would no longer welcome her with a gracious “good morning“ at the start of each day; that Andy’s door would no longer be a step away from hers, and that she would no longer be sneaking into his room every night and sneaking out of it every morning . . .
It may have only been ten days, but it was, without a doubt, a turning point in her life. She was not returning home as the same Gloria. She was a happier woman now, a woman in love.
Gloria hoped with all her heart that the connection that had formed between her and Andy was not just a passing fling. The thought of it might seem absurd right now, but she had never forgotten the words of Heraclitus, her favorite Greek philosopher: “No man ever steps in the same river twice.“ No one could ever truly know what would happen between them down the road; everything might change; it was just a matter of time.
She knew that in this beautiful place, heaven on earth, it was easy to be captured by love and let it blossom, but what would happen when they each went back to their normal lives? Would they be able to synchronize to a shared life? They may have had a few things working in their favor, like the fact that they both worked in the same field, but still, their lives were entirely different. And there was that age issue. Even though Gloria wasn’t that much older than him, she knew there would always be people who were counting . . .
Secondly, Andy was just at the beginning of his career. He had many years ahead of investing himself in his work waiting before him, and as for her . . . well, she was already past all that. Gloria was well aware that she had already left her mark on the modeling world. She didn’t jump on every campaign offered to her and she valued her freedom dearly. She could see that Andy was a workaholic and wondered how they would made things work outside of work.
And finally, even though she was a mature woman, Gloria still didn’t really know what she wanted from a relationship. She had never been swept away by her previous flames, but now, for the first time, she was having trouble containing all of the intense emotions growing inside of her. She didn't know what Andy expected from her, or vice-versa, and the uncertainty arising within made her feel insecure.
If there was one thing life had taught her, Gloria reflected, it was that she couldn’t plan everything – otherwise, she would still be serving people their coffee. She reached further than she had ever imagined life would take her. So why not jump in and see what happened? Perhaps instead of drowning she would find her safe haven. Therefore, Gloria decided that the smart thing to do would be to ignore all of her sudden doubts and go with her heart. She only wondered if Andy felt the same.
* * *
The last day of shooting was in full swing, and now it was already time for a lunch break. Andy found it hard to believe that by tomorrow they would already have left this special place. It was a bittersweet moment, since the end of the shooting would also symbolize the success of his first major project. He had managed to pull it off.
Before leaving, he had been filled with so many concerns that he could barely enjoy the fact that he had just landed his dream job. Andy had wondered why the editor of Inner Beauty magazine had chosen an inexperienced photographer such as himself. He had refused to believe that it was due to his raw talent alone. Maybe she actually wants the project to fail? Andy pondered, bitterly. No, that doesn’t make sense; there’s no apparent reason for that, he assured himself.
Only several hours before landing in New Zealand had he finally convinced himself that there was no one wishing for him to fail, and that he was perfectly capable of not just doing the job, but doing it well. And now, after the most amazing week of his life, he could say, without hesitation, that he’d nailed it.
However, the satisfaction he drew from his success was dwarfed by his feelings for Gloria.
Andy felt like a love-stricken man who didn’t even know what had hit him. He felt a bit silly, perhaps because over the years he had come to believe that the one true love a person has is that first love experienced during youth, and that everything that follows is merely a cheap replacement. But Gloria did not replace anyone. She was everything he could ask for in a woman and so much more. He hadn’t even included her dazzling beauty in the equation. She was smart and practical, yet spontaneous and adventurous. She was mature, but she also had a childlike side to her that he found charming. They could talk for hours without running out of things to say. Gloria was not afraid of challenging herself and that was why she had gotten as far as she had. And in addition to all of that, she also had a great sense of humor, which was pretty hard to find among her fellow models. What could he say? This woman had charmed his pants off.
But, most importantly, Andy had recognized Gloria’s subtle vulnerability, which she had tried hiding beneath her tough exterior when they’d first met. That glimpse of sensitivity had left him feeling relieved, because he realized that she was n
ot too perfect, that perhaps there was something he could do for her. Reach out and touch her heart, make her happy. From an unachievable ideal she had become a real person, flesh and blood, just like him – even if she did come close to approaching perfection.
Unfortunately, this pure love had been tainted by fears that had emerged as the return date had grown closer. He was afraid that the euphoria they’d been immersed in would shatter in their faces the moment they landed back in New York. He did not care about their age difference or what people might say. He did not care that she was a famous model and that he was still a nobody with a long way to go. He did not even mind accompanying Gloria on her journeys while tracking his own photography projects. But he didn't know how she felt about all of this. Was she ready to let someone like him into her life? He knew that their relationship would require compromises, which he would be willing to make, but what about Gloria? What reason would she have for giving up so much just for him?
His thoughts were interrupted by the touch of soft hands covering his eyes.
“Guess who . . .“
“Patricia?“
“Who?“ Gloria frowned. Luckily, Andy could not see her.
“My secret lover?“
Gloria’s pout turned into a smile.
“Come here,“ he turned around and wrapped his arms around her.
“Aren’t you afraid your girlfriend is going to catch us?“ she teased.
“No, she’s too old. She doesn’t go anywhere without her walker anymore.“
“Andy!“ She gave him a playful smack.
“Ouch! I think I should call the domestic abuse hotline.“
“I’ve got a feeling even they would hang up on you.“
“Okay, you got me there. But don’t gloat, it’s not over yet,“ he said with a mischievous look in his eyes.
“Are you sure you want to lose again? Last time wasn’t enough for you?“ she smirked.
“What can I do, I’m a masochist.“
“And what about me?“
“You're a sadist, of course.“
“Andy!“ She gaped at him.
“But that’s why we get along so well!“
“Oh, really?“
“I like to suffer . . .“
Gloria stared at him, a bit confused.
“And you like to make me suffer!“ he finished with a triumph note.
“Andy!“ She smacked him again, this time a little harder.
“You see?“
“I guess you’re right,“ she smiled. “But what will you say about this?“
Gloria put her arms around him and locked her hands behind his neck. He reciprocated with a warm embrace, securing his hands behind her back. She moved closer and let her lips brush against his cheek, reaching slowly to his lips yet denying them from a kiss. Andy could feel her breathing condensing on his skin and tightened his grip on her waist. Gloria let her lips flutter over his, touching yet not touching, until she finally united them together and swirled her tongue in his mouth.
Andy looked deep into her eyes and smiled. “I guess you won again, because I’m speechless.“
CHAPTER 35
“Rob?“
“Yes, Sharon?“
“There’s no way I’m staying back at the hotel.“
* * *
Kelly Danes was already on the plane to New Zealand. She had adjusted her seatback to her absolute satisfaction and stretched in her spacious deluxe seat. There were just under fifteen hours left until they reached their destination. She felt freedom was closer than ever, but the fact that she was contained in a closed, cramped space, thirty thousand feet high above ground, didn’t really help her claustrophobia.
“Champagne?“
“No, thank you, but I would love a glass of red wine. Dry please.“
“Sure ma’am. I’ll be back shortly.“
Kelly could not understand how people were able to squeeze into the back of a plane like sardines for so many hours. The one and only time she had ever flown coach had been when she’d left her miserable home in Arizona in order to start a new life in New York and leave her past behind. She may have succeeded in the first mission, but the mere fact that she was on her way to kill the woman who had destroyed her youth seemed to indicate that the second mission was yet to be completed.
“Ma’am, here is the wine you ordered.“
“Thank you.“ Kelly took a sip of the wine and swirled the intoxicating liquid in her mouth.
The mansion she had rented had already been prepared for her arrival. As per her request, it had been left empty, without the housekeeping staff that usually maintained it. She had paid a substantial amount of money to make sure the basement would be renovated with wall-to-wall mirrors, lighting, and, most importantly, a new door with a lock. Kelly had explained that her niece was a professional dancer and needed a space to use as a dance studio, but considering the amount of money she’d spent there, no one would have even cared if she had said that she needed it for committing a murder.
About three months ago, when she had not been accused of anything other than working too hard, Kelly had contacted a weapon shop in Christchurch that was located on the way to her new mansion. She had ordered a stylish silver-plated hand pistol that had cost a small fortune, and she had used one of her overseas accounts to make the payment in advance. Kelly had notified the shop when she would be arriving to collect her special purchase, and promised to add a generous tip if everything went well, without any unnecessary questions asked.
“Would you like anything else ma’am?“ the flight attendant asked while clearing Kelly’s empty glass.
“Actually I would. This wine is just splendid. I was wondering if I could purchase a bottle. I have very special guests coming over this evening.“
* * *
The overnight flight from New York to Christchurch landed at 8:22 a.m., on schedule. Rob and Sharon hadn’t bothered to bring additional luggage so they wouldn’t lose even a moment of precious time. They marched in rapid steps to Passport Control, preparing in advance all the necessary documents.
After the customs officer at the window had given up his poor attempt at flirting with Sharon and stamped her passport, they proceeded quickly to the exit doors.
The world outside was unaware of the race against time that Rob and Sharon faced. Around them, life progressed as usual. The airport was crowded with people: relatives welcoming their loved ones, chauffeurs holding signs with the names of their wealthy clients, and cab drivers searching for tired tourists.
Along the side of the road was an endless line of cabs waiting for the newly arrived passengers. Sharon hurried to the nearest taxi, letting Rob lag behind her. He was yelling something at her, but the adrenaline pumping through her body prevented her from hearing it. She slid right into the backseat, waiting for Rob to catch up. He opened the door, his face a bit reddish from the sudden run.
“Sharon–“
“There’s no time!“ she interrupted him. “Get in! We can rest later.“
“But–“
“Get in!“
“Okay . . .“
“Driver, you can go!“
“Where to?“
Sharon froze. She had no idea what to tell him.
“Come on, Rob. Where do we need to go?“
“That’s what I was trying to tell you. I don’t know.“
CHAPTER 36
It had been over an hour since they had landed and the situation remained unchanged. They were still stuck in the airport, helpless, exhausted, agitated, and mostly confused.
They had been so busy following Kelly’s tracks that they had forgotten to confirm Gloria’s whereabouts. While they were still in New York, Rob had instructed one of the officers to look for Gloria McIntyre’s agency, but the search had yielded nothing. Apparently the world’s most successful model did not belong to any modeling agency! The only person who could connect them to Gloria was her personal manager, Arthur Cohen, but he had left for New Zealand wi
th her.
Rob had asked the young cop to track down anyone related to this Arthur Cohen since he was not available by phone, probably due to the poor signal in the area. With all this pressure, Rob had forgotten to call Arthur’s wife, Evelyn Cohen. He felt like a rookie on his first day with the force. How could he have forgotten such a basic thing? Perhaps Rob could have tried to forgive himself in light of the fact that the young officer had obtained her phone number only a few hours before the sudden flight to New Zealand, which he’d had to account for in front of the budget committee. Or due to the fact he’d had to explain to the police commissioner that his beloved friend, Kelly Danes, was a suspected serial killer who had also tried to kill a cop. Perhaps even because he had tried to explain, somehow, to his wife why he wouldn’t be able to celebrate their seven year anniversary and mentioned casually that the reason was a trip overseas with another woman, a blonde nonetheless. Or trying to convince the airline to let them on the next available flight to Christchurch, even if it meant delaying it for another couple. Or since he had to explain to the doctor why someone who had just been shot needed to fly to the other side of the planet. Oh, Rob had almost forgotten, in addition to everything else, that he’d had to find Sharon’s passport in her messy apartment and pack her a few essentials for their trip, because she wouldn’t be released from the hospital until they left for the airport. So he definitely had justification for forgetting one detail.
But he would not forgive himself.
They had left the cab and called Arthur’s wife, but she couldn’t help them much. She had given them another phone number that they could use to reach Arthur, but repeated that he was in a low signal area. Evelyn did not even know where exactly the photo shoot was taking place. She offered them the number of the photographer, Andy Swain, but they already had it, and it still went straight to voicemail. Evelyn had promised to go through Arthur’s documents and contact his lawyer for a copy of the contract. There might be more details there, she had explained, but it would take some time.
Dark Illusion: A Psychological Thriller Novel Page 14