Distortion Control (A Makayla Rose Mystery Book 3)

by Audrey Claire

  “Didn’t anyone tell them they don’t have to dress up?” Susan said at my side. I hadn’t heard her walk up.

  Edna, who had just whisked through the entrance, must have heard the comment. She grinned and hurried over to us. “Oh, those aren’t their wedding clothes. Talia’s dress is a traditional gown. She wouldn’t wear it for Ollie to see before the ceremony.”

  I blinked in surprise and then turned to look back at Talia. Okay, anything was better than what she currently wore.

  Susan balked. “A traditional dress? Hasn’t she been married before? And she is old as dirt. Why go through this big production? How much attention does she need?”

  “I don’t know.” This was Louisa, who had joined us. “How much do you need?”

  Louisa and Susan glared daggers at each other. Then Louisa hooked her arm through Susan’s, and the two of them wandered off. I was at a loss for words, but Edna cackled in amusement.

  “Poor Susan’s jealous over an old lady like Talia.”

  I looked after the woman who had more money than all of us put together now that her husband was gone. “Doubtful.”

  “Sweetheart, there’s more to life than a big house and money.”

  “That I know, Edna.” I thought of Penelope and her manipulations to try to get her husband back. After hearing of her schemes, I realized she had maybe divorced Spencer in the first place as a way to get him to notice her. Susan too had participated in certain activities for her husband. “I’m not sure about love and marriage, Edna. However, I will produce a masterpiece package for the happy couple up front.”

  Edna patted my arm. “I’m certain you will, dear.”

  At that moment, Talia spun around and spotted Edna. The heat of her annoyance could be felt from where I stood. Edna chortled again. I began to wonder if all the laughter was because she was a little delirious seeing the reality of Ollie marrying another. On second thought, I decided I was being unfair to my sweet adopted grandmother.

  “I think I’m being summoned,” Edna said. “We’ll have lunch soon, dear.”

  I watched as Edna strode away and had to give her credit. She had rushed in, obviously being late, but when Talia spotted her, she walked at a comfortable pace to reach the front of the church. Edna wouldn’t allow herself to be bullied no matter how Talia behaved.

  Leaving the happy couple and Edna, I turned my attention to those in attendance at the church. I thought half the faces were there out of curiosity because Talia had selected Edna as her matron of honor. She had also lined up the other elderly ladies in her group to join the processional.

  Spencer sat across the room looking rather impatient and bored. I had told him he didn’t need to come along that morning, but he had insisted, claiming if he didn’t I was liable to get into all kinds of trouble. How rude.

  Talia called and signaled with waving arms to Opal, who occupied a spot on the fifth row of pews. Opal, oblivious and unable to hear, stared at the stained glass windows on her right.

  “Doesn’t she have any peripheral vision?” Talia demanded with a booming voice that echoed throughout the building. “Opal!”

  More flapping of arms, and now Spencer had lost the bored expression on his face. He raised a hand to his mouth, affecting a cough to cover the bark of laughter. I was not so lucky and laughed out right. My own rudeness earned me a sharp glare from Talia.

  At last, Edna left the front of the church to go and bring Opal forward. The small group began lining up and deciding on order. Talia ruled with an iron will about who stood where and who walked in first. She ignored all suggestions.

  “This is my day, and I say I walk in first,” Talia snapped.

  “Your day or not,” Edna argued. “You’re the bride, so you’re last.”

  The emphasis Edna put on last seemed to indicate so much more. Goodness they were like teenagers, but darn if they didn’t entertain everyone around them. Too soon for my amusement, though, they settled down, and I let my attention wander again.

  My focus returned—as it often did—to Spencer. He was still sleeping on my couch, and I was still rebuffing his advances. Sure, I could give in because he wasn’t offering anything we hadn’t shared before. Yet, now that I knew I loved him, I couldn’t take him casually. Doing so would be dangerous.

  If I wasn’t going to see Spencer, what about dating someone else? Then my thoughts stopped me cold. Thinking of being with anyone else while my feelings were unresolved put a pain in my chest. In addition to that, would Spencer come along on the date if it happened before the case was resolved? I was not looking for that type of drama, thank you very much.

  Sighing, I pulled myself out of my reverie and moved to the far left aisle. As I made my way toward the front, I took pictures in my mind and lined up more shots. To be sure I wouldn’t forget anything, I made notes in a notebook I had brought along and added information like close-up and long shot.

  When I was in position for where I would capture Ollie’s reaction to seeing Talia enter the church, I turned toward the door. From where I stood at the front of the church, I could use a zoom lens to capture Talia’s entrance. However, I would use an assistant in this spot for Ollie and move more freely and closer for Talia.

  I was so caught up with my plans that I almost missed seeing the man who had entered the church. Khaki slacks and a dark brown coat, he didn’t stand out, but it was the fact that he didn’t remove his hat nor look up that made me go on alert. Everyone that I had ever met respected the church enough to remove their hat when they entered. Was he trying to hide his identity?

  I squinted against the brighter light in the lobby. The illumination came in through the wide window above the double doors. Then there were more doors leading into the main sanctuary, which cut off much of the light in the entryway. All I could tell was the man was tall. He may or may not have been broad-shouldered. I couldn’t see his hair color or any other distinguishing features.

  The man’s hands were in his pockets, and he held still just beyond the doors. My heart leaped as if it would jump out of my chest. I took a step forward and faltered. Fear closed my throat. Thinking it better to alert Spencer, I shifted my gaze to him. He leaned against the opposite wall, arms folded over his chest as he spoke with Susan.

  Calling out to Spencer might be a mistake because if I was wrong and this was just a friend of Ollie’s I didn’t know, not only would I be embarrassed but I might cause unnecessary panic. Better to signal Spencer while moving to where he stood. I looked back toward the doorway. The man was gone!

  I decided it didn’t matter what anyone thought. If there was a chance I could identify the killer, I had to try. He might be in the parking lot right now, pulling out in his van. I ran down the aisle toward the exit. From the corner of my eye, I saw Spencer stir. He was coming after me, but I kept moving.

  When I hit the lobby, it was empty, so I pushed through the doors there. A quick scan of the lot produced nothing. No one lurked anywhere. I started toward end of the building but found myself yanked backward. I shrieked and looked up. Spencer towered above me, frowning.

  “What’s going on, Makayla?”

  “I saw someone.” My breath came out in short puffs. Spencer’s hold didn’t lessen although I pulled. He wasn’t letting me go anywhere without him.

  “What did he look like?” His narrowed eyes scanned the lot as I had done, and then he released me. “Stay there. I’m going to check around back.”

  “You didn’t give me a chance to answer your question,” I shouted after him. He kept walking and disappeared from sight. A few moments later, he reappeared, and I jogged over to him. “Anything?”

  “No. He might have used the woods to get away.”

  I hugged myself, and Spencer rubbed my arms. The door to the church burst open, and several people hurried out. Leading them was Talia. “What happened? Did you catch a pervert peeking in?”

  I rolled my eyes, but Spencer just dropped his hands to his sides and moved back from me.
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  “No, Talia,” I said. “I’m sorry to have disturbed your rehearsal. I think I have everything I need as far as photography. Edna, I’ll call you.”

  Edna nodded without a word, but I saw speculation in her gaze. I had no idea if it was that she had seen Spencer’s affection or that she knew we had both avoided answering Talia’s question. Spencer waited until we were in the car before he questioned me.

  “Nothing stood out,” I said in answer. “He was tall.”

  “You sound like Talia,” he grumbled.

  “Well, I don’t have much more to go on than she did. So sort through all your tall acquaintances,” I teased. “Select the one liable to be guilty, and that’s him.”

  Spencer didn’t appear to be amused. “Anything would help, Makayla.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. Just him being so close again has me on edge, and the only way I can relieve the tension and fear is to joke.”

  He reached for my hand. “I’m not going to let him near you.”

  “I know.” There went my plans for finding another lover. This wasn’t the time, not when Spencer kept touching me in the most innocent of ways. I could tell him to back off, but I didn’t want to. I relished the comfort, and I know I was being selfish.

  “How about his stance?” Spencer suggested.

  “No, he was like a statue when I saw him, almost like he wanted me to see him to scare me. Boy did it ever work.”

  He squeezed my hand.

  “I couldn’t even tell if his arm was hurting. He kept his hands in his pockets, and when I looked away to find you, he disappeared.”

  Spencer snarled. “He’s bold, and it sounds like he wants to push me. I need to talk to Ash. Where the heck is he? He could be my legs in Virginia since I’m not allowed to leave the state.” Spencer slammed a fist into the steering wheel.

  I covered his hand to keep him from doing it again. “You don’t think he’s involved in this, do you?”

  He took too long to answer. The tightness in his jaw, the way his knuckles turned white, I knew it hurt him to suspect his brother. Ash was missing, and he wouldn’t answer calls. Spencer no doubt believed in him more than anyone else, yet he had nothing to back it up. “No, I don’t believe he had anything to do with it.”

  I looked at him doubtfully, but he kept his attention on the road. We reached my studio, where I intended to work the rest of the day. When I stepped past the threshold, I turned to block Spencer with a hand to his chest. “Why don’t you go get us lunch?”

  “Then come along,” he said.

  “I can work better with no one around, Spencer.”

  “Too bad that’s not an option.”

  I sighed. “Fine. We’ll go to Zekey’s, and you can buy me lunch and a donut.”

  His eyebrow rose. “You’re still addicted to them?”

  “You, sir, are not allowed to comment on my habits. Now let’s get going. I have a client in an hour.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  I was just taking down plates in my little kitchen when someone knocked on the front door. I paused, listening to the shower running. Spencer had stayed over again—on the couch—and he had just risen. Since the water didn’t stop, I assumed he couldn’t hear. While my stomach stirred with nerves, I didn’t figure the killer would knock, especially knowing Spencer was there and it was eight thirty in the morning.

  I checked the peephole and blew out a breath of relief before swinging the door wide. “Ash! Where have you been?”

  He smiled and strode by me into the apartment. “Did you miss me, darlin’?”

  I put my hand on my hip. “Not really, but you have a habit of disappearing. If Spencer can’t depend on you, I can’t either.”

  I found myself boxed in after I shut the door and turned to face him. Good thing I had put clothes on. Ash was tall, just as tall as the man I had seen in the lobby of the church. He stood too close for me to see if his arm was injured. Several days had passed since the incident, so it was possible the pain had lessened.

  “So you’re still in love with my brother?” He stepped even nearer. “Shall I make you forget him?”

  “As tempted as I am—”

  Ash was jerked backward by the collar of his coat and spun around. A crack resounded through the apartment, and Ash landed on his bum. My eyes bugged, and I pressed both hands over my mouth.

  Spencer stood above his brother, fist still clenched, and eyes burning fire. “Start explaining yourself.”

  “Bro, violence isn’t necessary.” Ash ducked his head and pressed knuckles to his lips. I feared he tasted blood right about then.

  I grabbed Spencer’s arm. “Cool down, Spencer. Let him explain.”

  “Oh he’ll explain all right.” Spencer crouched and jerked his brother in the front of his jacket again. The pull was so strong, Ash’s head snapped back, and Spencer bared his teeth. “So that’s your issue! Ash, you know better than this.”

  “Better than what?” I asked, looking from one brother to the other. What, did they read each other’s minds?

  “It’s not necessary to—” Ash began.

  “Tell Makayla that you’re on drugs?” Spencer finished for him.

  I gasped.

  Spencer released Ash and stood up. “I can see it in his eyes. My brother is high as a kite. My guess is that’s why he kept disappearing, when he needed a fix too bad or when he was getting one. Bastard! You’re a police officer. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

  “You know it does,” Ash shot back.

  “Apparently not enough.”

  “Boys, stop it.”

  I rested my hands on Spencer’s chest. He let me push him back, but I felt the charged energy rolling off him. He was spoiling for a fight, and he wanted to make Ash his opponent. From the way Ash looked, I had the impression the man would let himself be a punching bag, maybe from guilt.

  “Let him get up, Spencer,” I begged. “He might be able to explain himself.”

  “There’s no way he can explain this away.”

  “Come off your high horse!”

  Spencer stared at me. “You’re okay with him doing drugs?”

  “No, of course not. I’m just saying being his judge and jury isn’t going to get him better.”

  Spencer made an impatient sound and strode across the room to sit on the couch. He’d thrown on clothes, probably hearing his brother’s voice. His skin was still damp, and so was his hair.

  Ash took his time rising. “So the two of you are together again. I’m glad.”

  Spencer flared his nostrils. “Why don’t I believe you? You were coming on to Makayla when I walked into the room. I’m assuming you also neglected to tell her you’re married?”

  I gaped, mouth hanging open. “Married?”

  Not that I had seriously entertained seeing Ash, given my feelings for Spencer, but really, did I have a magnet for all married men in the world? I know I was being dramatic, but I couldn’t help it.

  Ash dragged a hand over his mouth, and this time I saw the stain of blood when he brought it away. “Jeez, you know how to bring a man down.”

  “You’re doing that all by yourself.” Spencer had backed away physically, but he still wasn’t willing to give an inch. I looked at him, but rather than the superior expression I expected, I saw sharp disappointment and sadness. He wasn’t judging his brother. Finding out Ash was doing drugs devastated him.

  When Spencer noticed me watching him, he schooled his features to a blank expression. Too late, I thought. I’d seen the look and knew the truth. In a way, it comforted me to know he was not as cold toward Ash as he had sounded.

  Then I recalled Spencer’s claim that Ash was married, and feeling sorry for Ash’s weakness was the farthest thing from my mind. I folded my arms over my chest and pursed my lips. Ash sighed and moved toward the doors leading to the balcony. “My marriage is in trouble…because of the drug use.”

  Spencer leaned forward. “You’re not getting a divorce?”


  Ash chuckled, a humorless sound. “Is that a demand or a question? I don’t know. I came here to help you. Instead, I ended up in an old cabin in the woods…”

  We knew what he had been doing there and didn’t need it spelled out for us. Disappointment and anger tightened my gut. Spencer had desperately needed Ash’s expertise as an officer of the law, and he couldn’t be there.

  “Where did you get the drugs, Ash?” Spencer asked.

  “Around.”

  “Where?” Spencer slid to the edge of the couch, and I worried he would go after his brother again.

  “Stop acting all high and mighty. You’re not the law anymore.”

  Spencer stood up. I took a step toward him, ready to cut him off if I needed to. This was too much excitement for early in the morning when I hadn’t even had a donut and coffee yet.

  Ash shrugged and named someone I didn’t know. I imagined it was the man I had seen him with.

  Spencer frowned, and I wasn’t sure if he recognized the name or not. He was as new as I was to the area, but probably had reason to interact with more of the citizens. “How did you know he would sell you drugs when you’re here for the first time?”

  “An addict can pick it up like a sixth sense.” Ash didn’t sound proud of the ability but stated it matter-of-factly.

  “I’ve got to make a quick phone call,” Spencer said. He stabbed a finger in Ash’s direction. “Don’t leave!”

  When Spencer disappeared into my bedroom and shut the door, I turned to Ash. “Did you really have an affair with Penelope, or did you tell me that to cover the real problem you have?”

  Ash’s silver eyes were duller than when he had come in. He turned away from me to look out onto the grassy area behind my apartment. “No, I didn’t. I’ve done a lot of cruddy things, but I wouldn’t betray Spencer like that. I suppose he doesn’t think a lot of me now.”

  “I’m sure he still loves you.”

  His shoulders shifted as if he were uncomfortable with what I’d said. Men.