***
The wee hours of Saturday morning began slinking along the city streets. A chilly seasonal wind brushed against the brick buildings and concrete skyscrapers as it howled through the exposed alley ways.
Anne unlocked the door to her apartment, which was toasty compared to the blustery conditions outside. Retrieving the two suitcases out of the hallway, she rolled them into the small alcove to the left where her desk and laptop resided. Most of the flushness from the martinis had left her but exhaustion had begun to settle in. Before Anne could flip the switch to the kitchen to illuminate her surroundings, she heard a faint voice come from the living room. Hearing only the beat of her heart, she took a slight step forward.
“Anneliese, leave it dark.”
Carter’s voice trailed through the shadowy space. A volt of shock traveled through her body.
“Jesus, Carter, how did you get in here?”
Squinting, she could see a silhouette standing by the fireplace; the sheers on the patio door placed a soft orange glow from the street lights onto Carter’s face.
“So, did you tell Casey all my dirty little secrets?” he asked, ignoring her question.
She choked on her own intake.
“Why do you assume we were talking about you?”
Even in the darkness she knew Carter was raising an eyebrow to her.
“Because you tell Casey everything,” he replied.
“She wanted to know why I wasn’t wearing my engagement ring so I explained to her my conversation with Adam, and I guess your name came up a few times.”
Only a couple of feet separated them.
“You are making this difficult. You know she can’t keep her mouth shut.”
“Listen, she isn’t going to say anything to anyone. Your precious secret is safe and don’t talk about her like that.”
“I understand that I have put you in a precarious situation and I’m sorry for that and I’m also sorry that you are in such pain. I love you so much and I’m just trying to protect you,” he said in a soothing baritone.
“I don’t need protection. I need the truth and not some construed version—the actual truth because I know there’s more going on.” Anne’s voice was beginning to tremble.
“If I tell you the truth then you will need more protection. The less you know right now the better. Please, Anneliese, you need to trust me on this,” Carter asked, sauntering toward her. “I need to touch you,” he whispered, reaching out for the curve in her neck.
His fingertips slid across her skin, running along the cotton collar. They stopped at the V of her dress hovering over the metal button. In the silence, she could hear uneven breaths and she was certain he could hear the thunder that echoed in her chest, rumbling through her ribcage. Anne shuddered while her hairs stood on end, tickling the already sensitive flesh.
Without realizing it, their bodies had molded to one another, and a familiarity shifted between their arms, chests, hips and legs. Carter’s heat seeped through their fabric, spreading a fever through their embrace. Anne laid her head in the crook of his neck, tasting his aroma that engulfed her senses. She had missed his smell.
The more their limbs explored, the more their ache grew. She craved his kisses, his embrace, and this made her a fool. In the darkness they stood feeling the fury gathering between their bodies. Restraining her desire that held tight within her was maddening; she feared all the cells in her body were going to implode at any moment.
Her moral compass was spinning out of control and before she could gain any type of willpower she was indulging herself in an all-consuming kiss. His lips formed to hers so perfectly; though it was wrong, she didn’t want to stop his strong hands from undressing her right there in the middle of her living room.
Their naked flesh crumpled to the floor as they felt each other in pure rapture. Breathing in each the fire that immersed them, panting and groans filled the still dark air. Anne remembered every stroke, every caress and every grip. They clawed into one another feeling the hunger and yearning of the past three years. They may have been thousands of miles apart but their souls had felt their unyielding passion.
“I belong here,” Carter moaned filling Anne with flourished heat.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Anne lifted herself into the frenzy, begging for it to never cease. Feeling her body surge high above the earthly lights, she allowed Carter to take her away from all the pain and confusion. The elation she felt was enough to sprout tears; they trailed down into her hairline. Carter quickly placed his lips on each damp stream, transferring them to his satin lips.
“I’ve ached for you. Can you feel my love, Anneliese?” he asked.
“I can. Please.” She gasped for air.
“Please what?”
“Please stay tonight.”
This simple request thrust Carter over the edge. Her heart called to him, pleading with him to never let her go but she knew better. She knew he would leave again. She just didn’t know when.
Draped on her sofa they remained intertwined; the only movements were their shared breaths and small touches. They laid there embracing the quiet. Anne listened to the sweet symphony of Carter’s beating heart. She smiled against his chest as she ran her fingers through the dark curls that designed his Herculean chest.
“My sweet Anneliese, you’re so beautiful. I’ve dreamt of your ivory skin draped across mine for so long.”
He ran his fingertips down the sides of her arms leaving a trail of heat behind them.
“Look what you do to me,” Anne replied.
She heard a soft chuckle echo in his throat.
“You should try to sleep, Anneliese. The sun will be up soon.”
She knew what he was trying to do. Once her eyes surrendered to the sandman he would creep out, leaving her alone once again. She tightened her arms around him, willing them to remain this way so he couldn’t move but a handful of hours later she would discover that that tactic didn’t work.
While the hush of dawn filtered through the window casting a warm glow over her body, she shifted under the blanket, feeling nothing but cold fabric. Damn him, she thought.
***
Anne was caged in on Interstate 94 heading away from St. Paul. A sea of automobiles filled any empty space that was around her. This was typical Saturday morning traffic in the Twin Cities. She was actually starting to form a foot cramp at the constant brake tapping. She had just left Stella and her mother. Anne began recalling the haunting words that came from innocent lips.
“I wanted the nightmares to go away.”
The hairs on Anne’s neck had stood straight up. Stella stared out the window and played with her blue hospital gown. She didn’t go beyond that one horrid statement and Anne didn’t want to push her luck with such a fragile little girl who had endured more than most adults. She was still looking into various mental health facilities for Mrs. McGuire but since it was the weekend, she had a feeling it wouldn’t get fully accomplished until Monday morning.
Adam had left numerous voicemails on her phone, pleading for a returned call. He didn’t specify whether he was still up at the cabin or if he had returned to the Cities. Anne could feel the guilt rise in her throat. The consequential thoughts made her insides flutter and not in a good way.
She would step into that wasps’ nest in due time but for now she was off to meet someone else, someone who could possibly shine some light on the precarious situation that Carter had shoved her into, the last person to have seen him before he disappeared—Sam Goodman.
It was amazing how easily people could be found simply by the click of a mouse. Sam had returned from Asia with a bride and a toddler. They resided in a quiet community in Woodbury. She entered Carver Lake Park which also had a pleasant beach that was full of activity during the summer months. The sun’s rays were bursting with warmth that soothed the once-hibernated public. The timber playground equipment buzzed with children of all ages while parents conversed with one anothe
r about the joyous break of the winter blues.
Perched on a nearby bench hiding behind a black baseball cap and blue hoodie was Sam. Anne walked up to him guardedly but once he saw her, he jumped up and hugged her. Quite taken back by his enthusiasm, Anne returned the gesture. His blue eyes twinkled with the early afternoon sun.
“Anne! It’s so good to see you!”
She scanned the playground.
“It’s great to see you too Sam. Are your wife and daughter here?”
“No, it’s best that I keep them out of harm’s way. I think I’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime.”
She knew exactly what he was referring to.
“Why did you do it?”
Sam’s chipper demeanor became apprehensive. A shadow etched over his fair freckled face.
“Carter helped me get my wife out of Hong Kong minus the red tape so in return I kept a close eye on you. I’m sorry, Anne, I know I should’ve told you but there are so many elements to this and he didn’t want you getting involved.”
“But you risked your family’s life for him? Who are the Montgomery's? And what is Adam’s involvement in all this?”
“Wow, you just get right to it, don’t you?”
Sam shifted uncomfortably.
“Look, whatever it is I can handle it.”
His face looked doubtful.
“No, you can’t, but I will say this: tread lightly. The Montgomery's have people everywhere and they mean business.”
Sam quickly glanced around the park.
“What about Adam?”
He covered his mouth with his hand, pretending to cough.
“He has history with Carter and his family but don’t tell him about Carter. Do you understand me? Adam’s expertise is elimination.”
The seriousness of his manner made Anne feel anxious. She knew she was walking right into a minefield.
“I need more than this, Sam.”
He shook his head in protest.
“I have to go. Take care of yourself and remember what I said.”
Sam patted the top of her hand. He smiled and walked away. She watched him get into his teal Suburban and drive out of the parking lot. Not too long after he left, she couldn’t help but notice a silver BMW with tinted windows following closely behind him. They were indeed being watched. A violated sensation swept over her body, bringing a wave of nausea to her stomach. Sprinting to a nearby plastic trash bin, she released all her distress with a large heave. The acid-laced bile burned her throat, bringing tears to her eyes. After searching for a napkin in her purse, she patted the corners of her mouth. She hurried to her car and sped out of the parking lot. It was time for her to face Adam.
Chapter 9
Speeding down the interstate, weaving in and out of traffic, she exited 35W onto the road that would lead her to the uptown area near Calhoun’s Square. Pulling up in front of a row of three townhomes, she threw her car into park and approached the covered walkway. Her brown ballet flats made a slight echo on the wooden enclosure. Anne peeked inside the garage; Adam’s car was not there. With his house key in hand, she slid it into the lock and opened the white door. The shades were drawn and all was quiet.
“Adam?” She called out just in case.
Closing the door behind her, she gently stepped into the living area, listening for any signs of his or anyone’s presence. Climbing the beige carpeted stairs, she mutedly looked around the corner where the master bedroom was. The king-size bed had been untouched; the comforter, sheets and pillows were still neatly made. Across the hallway was his office. She knew right where his personal documents were located.
The two-drawer black metal filing cabinet was cold to the touch. Opening it made a slight squeak; she turned her head toward the door. Still silent. All the multi-colored file folders were alphabetically labeled. Did she think she was going to look under C for Corrupt? She rolled her eyes at her thought. She didn’t know what she was looking for except anything that linked him to the Montgomerys or to Carter.
Thumbing through piles of paperwork, she came across absolutely nothing. She sighed with frustration and rotated her head back to stretch out the muscles that had become tense. She looked off into the corner of the room and spotted a pair of gloves. Quickly she began opening doors to her memory vault, knowing those gloves looked familiar. All at once a picture of Carter flashed in front of her—the picture from the camping trip with Ryan and Sam. There had been a man in the photo that had hidden his face. The symbols on the black gloves were identical to the ones in the photo.
“Adam was there.”
In a tight breath, Anne gasped.
“Find what you were looking for?”
Twisting her body, she backed up into the corner of the hushed office.
“Adam, you scared me half to—” she suddenly choked, rethinking her choice of words. “Well, you scared me.”
Adam’s discontented expression said it all.
“What are you doing here?”
A tremble in her throat made it almost impossible for her to verbalize her intentions.
“I…was looking for something.”
He stepped closer to her.
“I can see that,” he said, examining at the strewed papers that lined the floor. “Did you find it?”
Still clutching the gloves in her hand, she tried to inch herself out of the corner.
“I know the truth, Adam.”
He smirked.
“You know nothing, but for fun let’s hear your version.”
“You were hired to kill Carter and when the Montgomery's suspected his death was phony they wanted you to watch over me in case he came back or he told me anything about their illegal dealings.” She held up the gloves. “I know you were there the day he disappeared. I have a photo of you wearing these.”
He took another step closer to examine her evidence.
“Hmmmm, so your theory is that I’m a contract killer on the side and was hired to kill your beloved Carter and now for the past three years I’ve been playing it off as your loving and adoring boyfriend and fiancé, so I could lure him out of hiding and finish the job. Did I miss anything?”
The calmness in his voice frightened her; it shook her right to her bones.
“It’s not a theory, Adam—it’s a fact. You should know that when there’s evidence there’s a warranted case.”
“Beyond a reasonable doubt is my stance, and I’m not going to continue indulging in this psychological warfare. I’m more than willing to tell you the truth but not right now.”
She shook her head and threw down the gloves.
“You know, I’m becoming increasingly fed up with these games, Adam. I’m begging you, if I ever meant anything to you, please, tell me what happened!”
This time, Anne moved closer to him, waiting for a reaction to her plea.
“You don’t know how much this pains me to see you so hurt and confused. The truth will reveal itself in due time.”
He stroked her cheek. She flinched.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I love you, Anne.”
“If you loved me you would admit to what you did.”
“You mean what I didn’t do. The death certificate read accidental drowning, but I guess that doesn’t matter now, since he’s not dead.”
Without another word she pushed past him and flew down the stairs like he was chasing her, but he wasn’t. Dashing from the house and to her car; she pushed the accelerator to the floor; a high-pitched sound echoed against the pavement. The smell of burnt rubber seeped into the car. Anne had no way of warning Carter of Adam’s knowledge of his existence. She could only hope he would reach out to her before it was too late.
Chapter 10
Anne tucked herself into the plush olive sofa, wrapping her body in a fatigued ball. Her eyes blinked heavily and wearily. The background noise of the television played in the distance as she drew closer to the dream realm. With all the madness circulating through her mind, the dreams quick
ly became nightmares.
Adam stood before her; his face distorted in rage, his shirt soaked with blood. He stepped closer to her and then pointed to his right. There laid Carter, dead, covered in blood. She screamed but nothing left her mouth and then Adam came toward her, placing his hands over her throat, choking every bit of oxygen out of her.
Anne threw herself up as she was coughing, gasping for air. She clutched her throat and looked around the dim room. Shadows swayed along the walls from the vivid glow of the television. Anne stood up and made her way to the kitchen to get a drink of water in hopes to recover a steady breathing pattern. Gulping down half a bottle of water, she inhaled deeply a few more times, gathering her composure. Almost hoping that Carter was lurking around, she peered out of the kitchen window but saw nothing except a couple walking toward the building, laughing, holding onto one another.
Early evening was setting in and the five o’clock news was starting. Anne placed her water on the table beside her and turned up the volume on the television. On the bottom of the screen it read BREAKING NEWS; a petite brunette news anchor was standing outside a two-story brick home that had been roped off by yellow police tape.
“Police say that thirty-three-year-old Sam Goodman was gunned down outside his Woodbury home shortly after four o’clock this afternoon. Neighbors say that a white or silver sedan stopped in front of the house while Goodman was outside. The gunman opened fire, shooting six rounds, and then sped away.”
Anne could still see the anchorwoman’s mouth moving but it was all moving in slow motion. They flashed a picture of Sam on the screen with his wife and daughter.
“Goodman is survived by his wife and eighteen-month-old daughter. Police are still here at the scene investigating and questioning his wife and neighbors, trying to find out who would want to brutally murder this quiet suburban family man in broad daylight. Back to you, Chris and Marsha.”
Deadly Deception (Deadly Series) Page 7