* * *
The number that appeared on the telephone screen was clearly international. He tried to remember if any of his friends had gone overseas recently, but he couldn’t think of anyone.
“Hello?“
“Hi, Chris?“
He wasn’t sure it was her. After all, he had only talked to her once, and since then she hadn’t answered any of his calls.
“Yes . . . ? Speaking.“
“It’s Sharon. The cop. From the plane.“
“You’d have to be more specific.“
“Very funny.“ Although she tried to sound cynical, she couldn’t keep from smiling.
“So, you’re not dead?“
“Oh, no. We had to print that article as part of a big case I’m working on. I’m sorry I couldn’t fill you in earlier.“
“What are you talking about?“
“The article in the New York Times about my murder. I assume that’s why you asked me if I’m not dead.“
“Actually, I asked you that because you never returned my calls . . .“
* * *
Rob glanced at Sharon while she was on the phone with Chris. She was acting like a seventeen-year-old girl. While talking to him, she toyed with her golden hair, and Rob could see the subtle blush appearing on her cheeks.
She managed to explain to Chris very briefly – keeping full discretion one might add – about all the insanity she had been through in the last few days, starting with the fact she’d been shot and ending with the chase that had brought her all the way to New Zealand. After passing this hurdle, they proceeded to talk about other things. Rob was glad that someone had managed to get Sharon interested in something other than work.
The closer they got to their destination, the more the cellular reception weakened, and Sharon was forced to end the conversation.
“You’re cute,“ Rob teased.
“No, I’m not.“
“I can’t help it. It’s a fact.“
“Why?“
“Because you really like this guy.“
“You’re wrong. I was just being polite.“
“Sharon, it’s not a shame to admit at your age that you like someone.“
“Okay, I do. Are you happy now?“
“Actually, I am,“ he smirked.
She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m trying again to get a hold of Arthur or Gloria or that photographer, Andy. Perhaps now that we’re closer . . .“
She tried calling, but still no answer.
“Don’t worry, Davis. We’ll be there in less than an hour.“
She leaned back, “Finally, things are starting to move along.“
Right as Sharon settled back in her seat, Rob’s cell phone rang. She answered. It was a short conversation, but by the time it ended her face had already gone pale.
“What the hell happened?“ Rob demanded.
Sharon sighed. “While we were on the plane, the forensics team finished sweeping Kelly’s house. They found another body.“
CHAPTER 40
Kelly passed through the heavy, wooden door into the spacious and extravagant lounge. The sound of her footsteps echoed with each stride she took across the pristine marble floor. She looked up and noticed the twinkle of the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. She strolled through the house, admiring the expensive carpets and the art work that adorned the walls. The entire place had been tastefully decorated and looked really impressive. Worth every penny.
Kelly walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. As per her request, it had been stocked in advance with delectable foods. Hunger began badgering her, but she decided to ignore it. More than anything, she craved a visit to the most important place in the house: the basement.
Kelly marched rapidly toward the staircase. She stood in front of a closed door and gripped the handle firmly, eventually shoving it forward. She headed down the stairs, her heart racing more and more with each step down.
The room was completely dark and it took her a few moments to locate the light switch. The space that was revealed to her was almost identical to the one in her own home. Kelly stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by the reflections that appeared in the newly-installed mirrors on the wide wall in front of her. She looked at the woman gazing back at her from the mirror. She could see the wickedness in her eyes. Kelly wondered how she had become the person staring back at her, why had she chosen such a gory path when anyone else, who possessed the same power and influence she had achieved, would have just moved on? Was the heavy cost that she had paid really worth this single moment, when she would finally lay her hands on Gloria McIntyre?
Kelly wondered what she would do the next morning, after she had attained the revenge she had been dreaming about for years. What would she yearn for then? She’d always thought that there was something bittersweet about a dream come true, as if fulfilling the dream entailed shattering it. Kelly had been so engulfed in planning every little detail leading to this moment that she hadn’t thought about what she would do after it. What would be next? What aspirations did she have left? She tried to recall her former self, before the dreadful event that had changed her forever, but her mind went completely blank.
Kelly knew that she could never go back to being “Kelly Danes – Editor in Chief of Inner Beauty magazine,“ and her heart ached. The last few years had been the only ones in which she had felt appreciated and prosperous, and now they were lost for good. The only pleasure that remained was plundering the beauty and lives of those corrupted girls. Would she continue doing that? Kelly had always told herself that although they’d each had it coming, they had merely been practice for the grand finale; but what was the point of training after she had already won the final act?
After the first time, Kelly had known that she could never stop, even if she had tried to tell herself otherwise. Even killing the cop had been exhilarating, despite her guilty conscience.
Kelly looked into the eyes of the woman staring back at her from the mirror. It was a moment of awakening; she had no choice but to accept her destiny, the path that she would follow for the rest of her life.
I, Kelly Danes, am a murderess.
CHAPTER 41
“What?!“
“You heard me correctly, another body.“
Rob narrowed his eyes at the road. “What do we know about it?“ he asked crisply.
“Not much. It was found buried under the basement floor, wrapped in a white blanket. One of the floorboards was slightly loose and the cops noticed there was something under the surface. They still don’t know how long it’s been buried there, but at first glance the coroner believes that we’re looking at several years.“
“So it’s possible that Mandy Sheldon wasn’t the first victim?“
“Exactly.“
“Goddammit.“
“You read my mind.“
* * *
When Andy noticed the sign of the gas station, he slowed down the vehicle and turned down the path leading to it. The familiar yet dreary scenery reminded him of a surprisingly romantic moment.
“Why are you pulling over?“ Gloria asked in a drowsy voice, too lazy to open her eyes.
“I promised you chocolate, didn’t I?“ he smiled at her.
Gloria’s eyes opened slightly. A subtle smile crept to her lips.
“What a joy that the photo shoot is over. Now I can indulge without feeling guilty.“
“In that case, should I get you both a Snickers and a Twix?“
“Don’t push it.“
Andy stifled a laugh. “Which one do you want?“
“Do I have to decide right now?“
“Yeah, unless you want us to arrive at Kelly’s tomorrow.“
“Actually, it wouldn’t be so bad spending another night alone with you . . .“ She flashed a seductive smile.
“Are you trying to distract me from the fact that you can’t decide what you want?“
Gloria tilted her head down and chuckled. “You know me t
oo well.“
“If you can’t make up your mind right now, then I’ll just have to choose myself,“ Andy threatened.
“No!“ she exclaimed.
“Why don’t you let me surprise you?“ he implored.
“And if you make the wrong choice?“
“And if, God forbid, you’ll actually be pleased?“
Gloria looked at him with a contemplative look on her face, as if she were seriously considering what to do.
“You know you’re seriously disturbed, right?“ he teased.
“Why?“
“Do you understand how much energy you’re wasting over a little chocolate bar?“
“Oh. When you become a model, you will understand.“
Andy gave her a sidelong glance. “I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.“
“Then surprise me.“
Gloria had been waiting in the car for a few long minutes, staring at the minimart’s front door. It was not a trivial matter for her, letting Andy make the decision for her. She had to make sure that he made the right choice. But how can he do that when I don’t even know what I want? she asked herself, anxiously.
Gloria couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped out of the car and entered the store, hoping to catch Andy in time. She saw him standing in front of the chocolate shelves, at the same spot where they had shared their first kiss.
“I was wondering how long it would take you before you came in here.“ His smile revealed a pair of tantalizing dimples. “Nearly four whole minutes. Congratulations.“
“I see that you’re still debating, too.“
“No. Actually, I already chose.“
Gloria’s heart skipped a beat. “So what did you choose?“ she asked nervously.
“Both of them. We’ll eat one half of each, and that way you won’t eat more than the quantity of one chocolate bar!“ he declared triumphantly.
Gloria looked at him with glistening eyes. She did not say a word.
“You’re not happy?“ A crease of disappointment formed between his eyes.
Gloria threw herself at him with a long, passionate kiss. “I couldn’t have made a better choice myself.“ Her arms remained around him.
On their way to the register, Andy thought to himself that he would never understand what the deal was with chicks and chocolate.
* * *
The two cops had run out of whatever remaining patience they’d had.
Rob and Sharon were just a few miles away from the elusive inn where the famous model was staying, but they couldn't find it. It seemed as though the navigation system refused to acknowledge the existence of the small guesthouse and kept instructing them to drive in circles. They realized that only after they had passed by the same crossroad for the third time. Needless to say, they were not happy.
After they had cursed and sworn at the inventor of the GPS, they decided to forgo their dignity and asked one of the locals for directions. The man told them they were about fifteen minutes away. They drove in silence for the last stretch, resenting the bad cell reception in the area that had deprived them of obtaining additional information on the latest – or, to be exact, the first – victim of Kelly Danes.
The frustrated Sharon tried to recollect all the information they had so far. The primary data suggested that the victim was a grown woman, but there were no identifiable details on the body that could reveal her identity. The forensic investigator promised to call Sharon and let her know as soon as the postmortem autopsy results were in, but she figured they wouldn’t hear anything until they would be back in New York. In any case, as much as her curiosity tormented her, there were more pressing matters at stake: the reason they had come to New Zealand in the first place was to stop Kelly Danes from achieving her final goal – now they were running out of time. The clock hands refused to slow down. She just hoped they were not too late.
CHAPTER 42
The clock hands refused to move any faster. In a few short hours it would finally happen. She would stand face to face with Gloria McIntyre.
Kelly was sitting in an antique velvet armchair. She placed her coffee mug on the table and reached for a pack of cigarettes. She hadn’t smoked in years and missed it tremendously. Today, she decided, was a special day; she could allow herself to indulge, relax, light up a cigarette, and wait . . .
While the warm smoke spread down her throat, she couldn’t help but think about that dark day, one that had started like any other day, but its ending had changed her life forever. She had tried to repress it for years, but now, so close to the long-awaited end, the memory threatened to possess her.
Kelly gazed at the clouds of smoke she exhaled, slowly fading into nothing, and took another long breath in the hope that what would go in could drive away her memories.
Too late.
The course of events from the darkest day of her life, April 24, 1990, started to unfold in her mind.
The opening day of the Spring Carnival.
* * *
Usually, Kelly did not attend social events that were crowded with people, such as Winslow’s annual Spring Carnival, but this time was different. At the beginning of the school year, she had gotten to know the person who would later become her one and only friend, Vicky Hermont. Vicky’s family had moved to Winslow after her parents had stumbled into financial difficulties; they’d had to sell their old home and move in with Vicky’s grandmother. Like Kelly, Vicky also was ostracized by her schoolmates, and the two had no trouble finding comfort in one another; loneliness had brought them together. That was the first time they each had gained a true friend.
Both of them were good students, even exceptional, but that was where any resemblance ended. While Kelly was often pushed aside due to her quiet nature and bashfulness, Vicky lashed out at her classmates and acted in a patronizing way that often aroused hostility. She was a misunderstood girl. If Kelly’s name was one that not many could remember, Vicky’s name was the object of ridicule. But no matter what, Vicky always stood beside Kelly, even at her own expense. When Kelly recalled the torment her young friend had faced, her heart ached as if it were her own. In all of her life, Vicky was the one person that Kelly had truly loved. My guardian angel.
The grand opening of the carnival had been scheduled for that day, and Vicky had suggested they go.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,“ Kelly hesitated.
“Why not? It will be my first time at the carnival!“ Vicky used an imploring tone that revealed her disappointment.
“Yes, but everyone is going to be there, including you know who.“
The two girls may have been social outcasts, but one group of boys had taken things a step too far. They were one year older and notorious as the town troublemakers. Practical jokes and harmless pranks were just not enough for them, and their gags many times bordered on cruelty. The two girls were not the only victims of their antics, but Vicky, who always proclaimed that she was too good for this place, was their favorite target of abuse. Kelly, as far as they were concerned, was just collateral damage. In their eyes, no one was off limits, except for one girl.
Gloria McIntyre.
Gloria was a year younger than Kelly and Vicky, and she was the perfect, beautiful girl, loved by the entire town. Gloria’s mother was a nurse at the local hospital and had helped deliver many of the town’s children. That year she had become ill and Gloria, whose father had abandoned the family when she was only a child, had to carry the burden on her own. Ever since, as if admiring the little bitch hadn’t been enough, her status had been elevated to that of an angel. The neighbors, who knew that Gloria’s mother could no longer work, made sure to send over casseroles and food. Even Kelly’s mother had sent over a few trays of her famous oatmeal cookies every now and then.
God, how she hated oatmeal cookies.
Even the troublemakers treated Gloria’s mom with respect, mostly because the gang’s leader, Jerry Dunwood, was hopelessly in love with Gloria. He pranced around her an
d tried to impress her with his pranks, but she seemed rather appalled by them. However, her best friends back then were actually attracted to the bad boy’s image and had managed to persuade Gloria to hang out with them, knowing she was their entry ticket into the group.
Vicky couldn’t stand Gloria. She had seen right through her for who she really was, beyond her phony façade. Vicky had always suspected that Gloria was the one who had turned Jerry against her, since they had never liked each other. Kelly remembered how she used to dismiss Vicky’s conspiracies. It was true that Vicky and Gloria weren’t friends, but Kelly did not believe that Gloria could be so malicious.
Boy, was she wrong.
* * *
She remembered that awful day as an out-of-body experience, as if she had been watching from afar all the wrong that had been done to her.
On that bitter day, Kelly had been nervous about going to the carnival. She didn’t want to run into Jerry and his friends, but Vicky had convinced her that the boys would be too busy pursuing the town girls and getting drunk, so they wouldn’t have time to hassle them. With that in mind, Kelly and Vicky had decided to go to the carnival.
This was the worst decision Kelly had ever made.
Kelly and Vicky had been walking around the carnival booths, enjoying the liveliness that had been brought into their small town. Suddenly, they’d noticed Jerry’s gang and decided to take precautions. A mere glance was enough to plan their escape route. They decided to split up, knowing that Jerry would rather look for girls in pairs. Afterwards, they would meet at the entrance and go to the meteor crater, which would be empty for the two of them while everyone else was at the carnival. They had parted in silence, stepping away from each other.
If only I had stayed with Vicky, nothing bad would have happened, she sadly thought to herself.
Kelly could not remember what exactly she had been doing when she wandered off alone; probably just walking around, enjoying the nonsense around her, attempting to stretch out time like a chewed piece of gum between her fingers until it was time to meet her friend at the entrance. But then, only God knows why, she went into the house of mirrors.
Dark Illusion: A Psychological Thriller Novel Page 16