Deadly Deception (Deadly Series)

by Beck, Andrea Johnson

  “I mean really, who do I need to sleep with to see those videos,” Casey demanded as she and Anne quickened their pace through the parking garage toward the elevator. “Honestly! This is why they’re security guards and not real police officers. So incompetent!”

  “Casey, they have to get approval from their boss. They can’t just hand them over to you.”

  She rolled her eyes in annoyance at Anne’s response.

  “Well, I pay quite a bit for my space in this building. I have every right to see those tapes. You know I have left the owner of the building at least a dozen messages and he hasn’t returned one of them, the little prick!”

  “Good grief, did you not have your Starbucks this morning?”

  Anne grasped for some pleasantries from Casey but her look shot them dead in the water.

  “I did, but they are ineffectual and I don’t deal with that very well.”

  Casey tugged on her red pea coat in disgust.

  “They will get it when they get it. Stop thinking about it.”

  “Why aren’t you bothered by this? This is for you, you know?”

  “I’m in vacation mode. I’m leaving for the cabin after my patient, spending the weekend by the lake, reading and drinking wine,” Anne replied.

  After a couple of stops, the elevator finally made it to their floor.

  “Is Adam going to be in Duluth the whole time?”

  “I don’t think so, but I’m going to enjoy it either way.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right? The other day you were such a mess and now you are Miss Happy Go Lucky,” Casey asked, stopping Anne right before they entered their office.

  “I can’t deny the fact that Carter was a huge part of my life and I loved him more than anything but that’s just it—was. Yes, I want closure and to know what really happened but Adam is my life now. He’s my future. It’s not fair to him to be wrapped up with someone who isn’t here anymore.”

  “I know this has been difficult for you,” Casey took Anne’s hands, “and we will get to the bottom of this but I see how Adam makes you glow and how much he adores you. You have been through hell and back no thanks to Carter. You deserve to have all the happiness in the world.”

  Anne’s eyes glazed over with tears.

  “Thank you. I appreciate everything you have done for me but no more of this mushy talk,” Anne said, nudging Casey with her shoulder.

  Casey nodded, blinking away the wetness that was starting to form. They entered the office and went to their designated offices to prepare for the day. Anne went through her messages and emails. Shelly brought in the patient folder for her to look over. Anne opened it up, grabbing her mini voice recorder.

  “Patient’s name is Stella McGuire, age ten, experiencing social isolation and destructive behavior since the divorce of her parents last year, and possible molestation by a family member about a year ago.”

  Anne clicked the red stop button. One of the worst parts of her job was having innocent children describe the violation of adult authority. But at the same time she was pleased she could assist in putting that person or persons away for a very long time.

  Shelly buzzed Anne and informed her that her patient had arrived. She gathered all her paperwork, her voice recorder and two fabric dolls, one a boy and the other a girl. Anne had a special room for the children when it came to these types of discussions. Children needed to be able to trust her and feel that they could open up to her, so she created a room that was warm and inviting.

  “Good morning, Mrs. McGuire.”

  Anne extended her free hand toward-the slender, auburn-haired woman.

  “Good morning, Dr. Jamison. Thank you so much for seeing us.”

  Anne knelt down to Stella’s level, giving her a soft, friendly smile.

  “Hello Stella, I’m Dr. Jamison, but you can call me Anne, okay?”

  Stella was a miniature model of her mother, with curly, long auburn hair and fair porcelain skin.

  “Okay,” Stella squeaked out.

  “I have some fun toys in my play room. We can blow bubbles or play dress up—whatever you would like to do,” Anne said in a low, empathetic tone. Stella seemed to be fond of this idea and placed her tiny little hand in Anne’s.

  “Let’s go, shall we?”

  The three of them entered the “play” room as Anne shut the door behind them. A silver-dollar-sized green light illuminated the room’s entrance, indicating the room was in use and others should not disturb the session.

  ***

  Two hours later Anne was wrapping up her dictation notes on young Stella.

  “Stella will need intense bi-weekly sessions. She’s almost to the trusting point but not quite there yet.”

  She placed the recorder down, looking at the clock.

  “I better get going,” Anne said, cleaning up loose papers on her desk.

  Her goal was to arrive there before nightfall and hopefully shower and beauty up a bit before Adam returned to the cabin. He had sent her a sweet text message before heading in to court this morning.

  I missed you last night. I didn’t sleep well at all.

  I can’t wait to move into our new place. Waking up

  without you feels wrong. I love you my angel. Please

  drive safe and text me when you arrive.

  Anne’s lease was ending in less than two months and Adam was selling his townhouse. They had found a stunning classic colonial overlooking Lake Of The Isles. Anne thought five bedrooms was a bit much for their first home but he assured her that they would fill the rooms with children’s laughter. Adam came from a large loving family, unlike Anne who was an only child and now parentless.

  “Shelly, is Casey still here?” Anne asked while locking up her office.

  “Yes, but she is in with a patient.”

  “Okay well, I’m outta here. If you need me, call my cell. Sometimes the service isn’t all that great, so if I don’t answer, call the cabin’s landline. I’ll call and check in tomorrow though.”

  “Have a wonderful time, Dr. Jamison.”

  Shelly never called her Anne. It was always Dr. Jamison. She did the same to Casey, which drove Casey crazy. That was how she was raised in Louisiana. Good ole southern manners.

  Anne left the office and was officially off until the following Monday. She wanted to change her clothes before leaving. Anne didn’t want to be traveling in the car for almost four hours wearing black trousers, a silk blouse and six-inch heels but she just wanted to get to the cabin, pop open a bottle of merlot and relax by the fireplace.

  Traffic on Interstate 35 heading north wasn’t too horrendous. A few pockets of clustered cars slowed her progress, but the farther away from the city she got the more open it became. She left Adam a voicemail informing him that she was in the car and would be arriving around three-thirty. The early afternoon sunshine beamed down on her engagement ring, setting off lively prisms that waltzed above her on the ceiling. Anne’s phone began to ring, startling her out of her daydream. It was Casey; she placed the phone on her lap, putting it on speaker.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Anne asked.

  “I just saw the surveillance tapes after shoving a Ulysses S. Grant down their throats and they did catch something.”

  Anne felt a rush of blood surge through her veins.

  “What?”

  “It was a guy but he had a baseball cap on so you can’t see his face. He kept it hidden quite well,” Casey replied.

  “Do you think…”

  “I don’t think it was Carter. This guy looked too short and stocky, plus he had on a wedding band.”

  “Who could it be then?”

  “I don’t know, honey. I wish I had more for you. You’ll have to look at it when you get back. Maybe you will recognize who it is.”

  Casey’s voice trailed disappointment.

  “Thanks, Casey, for doing that for me. Just more questions, I guess.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know. Well
, I’m getting closer so I’ll call you tomorrow,” Anne said trying to keep her focus on the road.

  “All right, drive safe and please try to enjoy yourself. This changes nothing. Adam is still your future and whoever this guy is, he’s just screwing with you.”

  Casey’s words were stern.

  “I know, Dr. Alder, message received.” Anne wanted to end this conversation before it became a white couch session.

  Every turn led to another dead end. Whoever delivered the envelope didn’t want to be known, Anne thought. Why? She was trying to take mental inventory of Carter’s friends and family who would have had those pictures. All at once her purpose for retreating to the cabin diminished.

  Chapter 6

  Anne was reaching the homestretch to the Whitney cabin. She had driven through Duluth roughly forty-five minutes earlier and it was an hour to the cabin from there. The splendor of the open wilderness in northern Minnesota was much more pleasing to the eye than the concrete jungle in which she resided. Though there was still quite a chill in the air, she still opened her windows to let the crisp movements fill her lungs.

  She slowed down to an upcoming gravel driveway on the right side of the road. She passed a large wooden mailbox and made her way down the long curved driveway. Ahead of her was the cabin in all its red timber glory. It had been featured in Midwest Home last year.

  It had two stories with a lower level that opened up to the cobblestone beach. The forepart of the cabin presented an infinite wrap-around porch which in the warmer months was decorated with polychromatic potted flowers and hunter-green rocking chairs. Anne was ecstatic to finally get out of the car and stretch her dormant muscles. She inhaled so deeply a wave of dizziness swept over her. She placed her hands on her hips as she viewed the hushed secluded property. Most of the trees were still barren except the thick pine trees which lined the front of the acreage.

  Opening her trunk, she hauled out the matching luggage, then dropped them with a thud as small rocks kicked up under the rubber wheels. Anne pulled out the key to the front door to let herself in. Adam had dropped it off right before he left. At first he was going to have Anne retrieve it from Victoria but she quickly rebuffed that idea. Adam found his fiancé’s jealously charming but reassured her that Victoria had never made a pass at him. Anne knew better. Men were oblivious. Now she was positive Victoria had made a pass at him at some point.

  The aroma of pine and apple-cinnamon lofted through the entry of the wide fortress and into Anne’s senses. It appeared much more open with all the Christmas decorations packed away. The grand staircase curled up to the second floor, showing off its polished wooden features.

  She entered into the living room where a magnificent bay window featured the picturesque landscape of Lake Superior and its grey stony shores. The furniture, simple crafted pieces with red, green and white plaid linen coverings, stayed within the typical cabin theme. The fireplace was the most impressive piece in the room, besides the view. The gallant multi-hued stones extended to the loft above her.

  There sat a pyramid of firewood ready to go. Anne walked into the kitchen to check out the delicious edibles in the refrigerator and pantry. Adam had stocked it full. She took out a bottle of merlot. The wine glasses were stashed in the formal dining room hutch. Anne took a sip of the burgundy liquid, letting it envelope her throat with warmth. She sauntered out onto the three-season porch that connected to the deck. A shiver crept around her body as the feathered breeze bounced off the water and over her skin. She gave one last glance at the lake and made her way back into the warm cabin.

  She managed to haul her luggage up the stairs and into the master bedroom which was decorated in french country chic. The patina-cloaked metal bed was neatly made except for the yellow decorative pillows that sat stacked on the warped wooden chair next to the window.

  Adam’s clothes were hung in the walk-in closet and were wafting his fresh masculine scent. Stopping at one of his white dress shirts, a sly smile stirred on her lips. She began to undress leaving on only her pale pink lace bra and panties. She slipped her arms into the oversized oxford shirt and buttoned it mid-breast.

  Anne walked into the bathroom, gazing at her reflection and giggling; a rush of crimson covered her cheeks. Adam’s shirt hit mid-thigh, revealing her toned legs. She bent to the side and began fussing with her long blonde tresses. She sprayed a subtle amount of floral-laced perfume on her wrists and neck. She waited in anticipation of Adam’s arrival. Grabbing her phone, she saw that it was close to five o’clock. She tried calling Adam once again but it went right to voice mail which meant he was still in court. She left him an enticing message, hoping he would hurry up.

  Anne spent the next couple of hours thumbing through magazines and sipping merlot. The sun was beginning to stroke the horizon. As it began to cast shadows amongst the rooms, an anxious feeling fluttered through Anne. She flicked on two lamps in the living room and the overhead Tiffany chandelier in the kitchen.

  The cabin was beginning to cool down from the day’s heat; Anne thought it was time to start a fire. She watched the fire-withered newspaper tickle the bottoms of the logs. Closing the metal frame, she gazed at the growing heat as it began to swallow the timber.

  “Now that’s a fire.”

  Anne was quite pleased with her fire-making abilities and brushed off a few stray pieces of bark that clung to the crisp shirt sleeves.

  Clutching her glass of wine, she placed her iPod in the stereo that sat inside the built-in cove above the hearth. With remote in hand, she shuffled through her eclectic carousel of music until “Silver Lining” by Rilo Kiley crooned through the surround sound.

  Anne sunk into the back of the plush couch, staring out into the pastel-swathed sky. The sun slowly lowered itself behind the earth and the moon emerged ready to greet the night with all its man-on-the-moon enchantment.

  The sky eventually draped itself in black. The fire roared with intensity, flickering with hues of blue and yellow; the firewood pulsated crimson. Anne walked back into the kitchen to pour herself another glass of merlot. Turning off the light, she took a slight step down into the three-season porch. In Adam’s white button-down shirt, she walked out on to the deck. The bitter wood stung the bottom of her feet; the cold etched up her legs.

  Anne gazed upon the blemished full moon that engulfed her in its floodlight. It reflected off of the still water and into her bright green eyes. But that wasn’t the only thing in her reflection. Down on the ebony cobblestone beach towered a dark silhouette. Electrified static surged through Anne’s entire body, igniting each and every cell.

  After all the horror films she and Casey had watched, her subconscious was shrieking at her to run, lock the doors and call the police. Her stagnant gesture caused the silhouette to creep toward the stairs that led up to where she was standing.

  “Run Stupid!” Her brain roared to the nerve impulses that were connected to her legs, but they remained unresponsive, as though some magnetic pull was holding her there. Her breathing ceased. Her heart thrusted blood through her so quickly the cold she had felt earlier dissipated. Her chest was on the verge of splitting in two. The menacing figure grew closer, lifting up its hands, pushing back the black shroud that was covering most of its face; revealing its true identity. The moonlight unveiled the truth in those familiar sapphire eyes.

  “Hello, my Anneliese,” Carter said.

  The wine glass fell from her hand, shattering into a million pieces at her bare feet. This wasn’t real; it was one of her crazy dreams. She would reach out to him and he would fade away in to the night air. Then she would wake up to a tear-stained pillow and haunting memories.

  Extending her hand slowly, she could feel her muscles become rigid. Her trembling hand reached the curve of his jaw. Her fingertips felt the heat from his skin. He was here, standing before her in flesh and blood. Tears sprung from her eyes and she launched herself into his outstretched arms.

  “Carter, is this real?”

 
; His arms enfolded around her as she wept in his embrace.

  “Yes, my Anneliese, this is real. I’m here,” Carter whispered into her tangled strands.

  He placed a kiss on the top of her head, inhaling her lilac scent. She clutched onto the back of his sweatshirt, practically clawing at him. She couldn’t consume his presence fast enough. Her mind rapidly spun; his warmth enraptured her. But then her reality snapped back into place. Pulling away, she peered up at him wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

  “Oh my god, I can’t believe this! What the hell?” Anne stammered.

  Carter bent down to kiss her lips but Anne quickly backed away. When doing so, her right foot stabbed through a shard of broken glass. Screaming from the excruciating pain, she began to lose her balance. Carter quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her up in to him.

  “Let’s get you inside.”

  He cradled her quivering body into his arms as he opened the screen door that lead into the dimly lit cabin.

  “I’m losing my mind or I need to dump that wine!”

  Carter placed her on the gleaming brown granite, placing the open wound into the sink. The gash was oozing blood into the steel basin, causing a small stream to flow down the drain. Carter grabbed a yellow dish towel and turned on the faucet. Anne let out a shriek, for her heart was pounding in her heel.

  “I’m sorry. I’m trying to stop the bleeding.” Carter was holding the dish towel to clot the gash. “Why the hell were you out there with just a shirt on and no shoes? It’s thirty-five degrees out there!”

  Anne was in disbelief. He had been missing, presumed dead for the past three years. He shows up on her fiancé’s deck alive and now he was going to stand there and lecture her about proper dress code.

  “W-what the hell is going on? You’re supposed to be dead.”

  She yanked the dish towel from his hands, holding it on the clotting puncture wound. Carter moved closer to her.