Smoke and Mirrors

by Cheryl Bradshaw

  I returned to James’ house, and no one was there. I figured they were all still at the police station, ironing out Grace’s story. It was hard to know which story offered the truth in its entirety or whether none of them did, but I believed what happened that night came down to two scared kids who thought they were doing what had to be done. I hoped the police would see it that way too.

  My phone rang. It was James.

  “I just received a security alert on the guesthouse,” he said. “Where are you?”

  “I just got back to your place. What kind of an alert?”

  “It happens when the alarm goes off and isn’t reset. I was hoping you’d forgotten to reset it after you went inside.”

  “I just got out of the car. I haven’t made it to the guesthouse yet.”

  “Where are the police officers assigned to you?”

  “They just parked,” I said. “They’re heading over to me now to check on the house before I go in.”

  “Good. Let me know if they find anything.”

  I ended the call and spoke to the officers about the possible security breach. They readied their weapons and opened the door to the guesthouse, telling me to wait outside until they returned. For the next few minutes, all was quiet, and then the officers emerged, this time with their weapons holstered.

  “I don’t know what to say,” one officer said. “It’s all clear. Must have been a false alarm.”

  “All right,” I said. “Thanks for checking.”

  “We’re going to secure the main house, and then we’ll be in the car if you need anything.”

  I nodded, and they walked away.

  Even though I’d been given the green light, I hesitated. James’ security system had never been faulty before. I had a hard time believing whatever happened had been a random glitch.

  I sent James a text, letting him know it had been secured and reset, and I asked when they expected to return. He responded that they were headed back now.

  I walked into the house, tossed my keys into the bowl on the counter, and heard a shattering sound toward the back of the house that sounded like breaking glass. The house alarm triggered again. I ran through the house toward the sound, tripping over something small and hard when I reached the living room. I crashed to the ground, my head smacking against the wood floor. I glanced up, staring at the baseball I’d just tumbled over. My forehead felt hot and sticky. I wiped my hand across it and held it in front of me, staring at my palm. It was bloody, and I wasn’t alone. He was here with me. But where?

  I scrambled to my feet, my head swirling as I headed back to the door. Halfway there, a hand grabbed me from behind, yanking me into the bedroom as I passed it. I was hurled onto the bed. The bedroom door smacked shut, and as I struggled to stand, the knife he was holding tore into me, slicing a five-inch gash down the side of my chest.

  I reeled back against the wall. Blood spilled down my abdomen. I needed to stop it, but I couldn’t. There wasn’t time.

  John charged at me a second time, the knife slashing through the air. I raised my leg, cracking it into his kneecap before he got the opportunity to cut me again. The blow was enough to send him flying backward, but not enough to stop him. He charged me again, shouting, “This doesn’t have to be painful. Stop moving, and this will all be over.”

  “Go to hell!” I screamed.

  I yanked the side-table drawer open, pulling out the trusted homemade remedy I’d made a few days earlier, and as he swung at me again, I showered his face with pepper spray.

  I could hear the two officers running down the hall in our direction.

  “Sloane! You in here?” one of them said.

  “I’m in the bedroom.”

  They reached the door. It was locked. I ran toward it, and John reached for my leg, stopping me. I kicked back, trying to break free, but the grip he had on me was too tight.

  “Come through that door and she dies!” John yelled.

  “Don’t listen to him!” I answered.

  I slammed my foot down on his hand, and he yelped in pain. He reached down, wrapping his arm around my neck and whispered, “To thine own self be true. Isn’t that right, Sloane Monroe?” and as the dagger slashed toward my chest, I drove my knee into his groin. I tried to stand but fell back onto the bed. I was weak and had lost too much blood.

  Outside of the bedroom window, a large figure loomed. Noel raised his gun, gave me a slight nod, and then fired. The bullet tore through the window, piercing the side of John’s neck. He flopped backward onto the ground, dropped the knife, and wrapped both hands around his wound as if he believed he could save himself. But it was far too late for that.

  As the two officers broke down the door, I crawled over to John and grabbed his chin, looking him in the eye as he drew his final breath. I said, “Thou art unfit for any place but hell.”

  I opened my eyes to the familiar surroundings of the hospital, only this time Cade was hovering over me.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I said.

  He wrapped my hands inside his. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

  “It’s over now. He’s dead.”

  “I heard. Looks like you’ll have a few scars from your ordeal earlier today.”

  I smiled. “I’ll just add them to my growing collection.”

  There was a knock on the hospital room door. We looked over. Robert Falstaff peeked in and said, “Hi there, can I come in?”

  I nodded.

  “I’ve just spoken with the police,” he said. “They filled me in on what happened to you. I’m glad you’re all right.”

  “I’m sorry I was so forward when I saw you yesterday,” I said. “If I would have known what would happen, I would not have been so bold.”

  “It’s all good. I’m feeling much better now.”

  “I’m also sorry about your son. No matter what John did, he was still your child.”

  I glanced at Cade, who had just put together whom I was talking to. He moved closer to me, standing so close he was like a human shield.

  I squeezed his hand. “Cade, it’s okay.”

  Cade stared at Robert. “I know it is,” which was his way of letting us both know he wasn’t budging.

  “I wondered if I could talk to you for a minute,” Robert said.

  “Sure,” I said. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I wanted to tell you something I should have before. It’s something I should have dealt with a long time ago and didn’t. Maybe if I had, my son wouldn’t have turned out the way he did. Maybe he would have had a chance.”

  “Okay.”

  “When he was young, his mum had been stepping out on me, you see, with my brother. At some point, John must have found out about it, but he never said anything to me. I’m not sure why. Maybe he was trying to spare my feelings. What I do know is that my wife had planned on leaving us and running off with my brother. John must have overheard them talking about it, and it upset him.”

  At such a young age, he was about to be abandoned by a person who was supposed to love him. I couldn’t imagine what he must have felt.

  “One morning, my brother and I went for a hike,” Robert said. “We took John. At a point during the hike, my brother got his camera out to take a photo. He got too close to the edge and slipped over the side. I ran to help him, but John got there first. He leaned toward my brother and told him he hated him and that he wouldn’t let him ruin his life or his family. Then John did something I didn’t expect—he kicked his uncle in the face. My brother lost what little grip he had, and I stood there, watching my brother fall to his death, knowing my son had killed him.”

  “What did you do?” I asked.

  “I knew then something was off about John, but I think I’d always known. I just hadn’t wanted to accept it. I could have told the police what really happened, but I didn’t. I said my brother fell over the side, and that was the end of it. When my wife found out what happened, she killed herself. John was devastated. I thought eventually he
’d be okay, but he was never okay after that. Some people might say his actions aren’t my fault, but in a way, they have always been. And I just thought it was time to tell the truth. Probably sounds crazy, but it’s what he would have wanted.”

  “Did you ever talk to John about what happened?”

  “I didn’t. It’s one of my biggest regrets. Anyway, I just wanted you to know.”

  He nodded and walked out of the room.

  “Do you think if he would have told the police what really happened back then, John would have turned out differently?” Cade asked.

  I shrugged. “It’s hard to say.”

  Noel, James, Victoria, and Grace entered the room. Grace was carrying a giant stuffed koala in her hands that had balloons attached to it. She ran to the bed and threw her arms around me.

  “I picked the koala out myself,” she said. “I hope you like it.”

  “I love it,” I said.

  James held a hand out to Cade, and they shook.

  “You must be the husband,” he said. “It’s good to meet you.”

  “You too,” Cade said.

  “How are you feeling?” Victoria asked.

  “A bit beaten up, but otherwise all right.”

  While the men talked, she bent down and whispered, “I talked to James.”

  I smiled. “And?”

  “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Noel walked over and patted me on the head. “Glad you’re going to be okay.”

  “Thanks,” I said, “for saving my life.”

  He winked. “Oh, I don’t know about that. The man was far worse off than you were when I saw him. I just made sure he stayed that way.”

  James looked at Cade and said, “We’d love for you two to stay longer. I’d be happy to be your tour guide for a few days.”

  Cade looked at me. “What do you think?”

  I sat up, pondering the idea. “I’d like to take you up on that sometime, but for now, it’s time for me to go home.”

  ***

  Thank you for reading Smoke & Mirrors, Sloane Monroe book 8, and for heading Down Under with Sloane as she searched for the mysterious man responsible for the death of Senator James Ashby’s sister. I hope you loved reading the story as much as I loved writing it and that it had you turning pages from beginning to end. I particularly enjoyed bringing my love of Shakespeare to the pages of this story. Be sure to follow my Facebook author page or my newsletter to find out the release date for the next book in the series, coming 2020, and check out the Pinterest page for Smoke & Mirrors to get a visual of some of the inspiration I drew from as I wrote this book.

  In the meantime, be sure to check out the other seven books in the series or my newest stand-alone novel ROADKILL

  “I love this book. If you love suspense thrillers, I highly recommend it.”— Addicted to Books, Amazon Top Contributor

  Suburban housewife Juliette Granger has been living a secret life ... a life that’s about to turn deadly for everyone she loves.

  Fearing for her life after witnessing a gruesome murder, Juliette Granger whisks her two-year-old daughter Nora away in the dead of night and flees, planning to start a new life in a small, forgettable town under an alias. An hour into the escape, headlights flash behind her. A vehicle pulls alongside, and a deadly game of cat and mouse begins.

  One-click ROADKILL now! Reviewers are saying:

  “Skillfully plotted, keeps you riveted until the end!”

  “Surprises throughout. The characters are well written.” —Marsha Jo, Vine Voice

  “Intense writing, and the plot was very grand.”

  “I love how the author interweaves the mystery and has complex characters you just want to stand up and root for!”

  “I was glued until the last page.”

  “Gritty characters that I just loved.”

  Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author writing in the genres of mystery, thriller, paranormal suspense, and romantic suspense. Her novel Stranger in Town (Sloane Monroe series #4) was a 2013 Shamus Award finalist for Best PI Novel of the Year, and her novel I Have a Secret (Sloane Monroe series #3) was a 2013 eFestival of Words winner for Best Thriller. Since 2013, seven of Cheryl’s novels have made the USA Today bestselling books list.

  Sign up for Cheryl Bradshaw’s Killer Newsletter today and receive a FREE eBook.

  Learn more by clicking HERE.

  Enjoy the Collection?

  You can show your appreciation by leaving a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, or Goodreads. If you do write a review, please be sure to email Cheryl HERE so she can express her gratitude.

  Sloane Monroe Series

  Black Diamond Death (Book 1)

  Charlotte Halliwell has a secret. But before revealing it to her sister, she’s found dead.

  Murder in Mind (Book 2)

  A woman is found murdered, the serial killer’s trademark “S” carved into her wrist.

  I Have a Secret (Book 3)

  Doug Ward has been running from his past for twenty years. But after his fourth whisky of the night, he doesn’t want to keep quiet, not anymore.

  Stranger in Town (Book 4)

  A frantic mother runs down the aisles, searching for her missing daughter. But little Olivia is already gone.

  Bed of Bones (Book 5)

  Sometimes even the deepest, darkest secrets find their way to the surface.

  Flirting with Danger (Book 5.5) A Sloane Monroe Short Story

  A fancy hotel. A weekend getaway. For Sloane Monroe, rest has finally arrived, until the lights go out, a woman screams, and Sloane’s nightmare begins.

  Hush Now Baby (Book 6)

  Serena Westwood tiptoes to her baby’s crib and looks inside, startled to find her newborn son is gone.

  Dead of Night (Book 6.5) A Sloane Monroe Short Story

  After her mother-in-law is fatally stabbed, Wren is seen fleeing with the bloody knife. Is Wren the killer, or is a dark, scandalous family secret to blame?

  Gone Daddy Gone (Book 7)

  A man lurks behind Shelby in the park. Who is he? And why does he have a gun?

  Sloane Monroe Stories: Deadly Sins

  Deadly Sins: Sloth (Book 1)

  Darryl has been shot, and a mysterious woman is sprawled out on the floor in his hallway. She’s dead too. Who is she? And why have they both been murdered?

  Deadly Sins: Wrath (Book 2)

  Headlights flash through Maddie’s car’s back windshield, someone following close behind. When her car careens into a nearby tree, the chase comes to an end. But for Maddie, the end is just the beginning.

  Deadly Sins: Lust (Book 3)

  Marissa Calhoun sits alone on a beach-like swimming hole nestled on Australia’s foreshore. Tonight the lagoon is hers and hers alone. Or is it?

  Addison Lockhart Series

  Grayson Manor Haunting (Book 1)

  When Addison Lockhart inherits Grayson Manor after her mother’s untimely death, she unlocks a secret that’s been kept hidden for over fifty years.

  Rosecliff Manor Haunting (Book 2)

  Addison Lockhart jolts awake. The dream had seemed so real. Eleven-year-old twins Vivian and Grace were so full of life, but they couldn’t be. They’ve been dead for over forty years.

  Blackthorn Manor Haunting (Book 3)

  Addison Lockhart leans over the manor’s window, gasping when she feels a hand on her back. She grabs the windowsill to brace herself, but it’s too late—she’s already falling.

  Till Death do us Part Novella Series

  Whispers of Murder (Book 1)

  It was Isabelle Donnelly’s wedding day, a moment in time that should have been the happiest in her life...until it ended in murder.

  Echoes of Murder (Book 2)

  When two women are found dead at the same wedding, medical examiner Reagan Davenport will stop at nothing to discover the identity of the killer.

  Stand-Alone Novels


  Eye for Revenge

  Quinn Montgomery wakes to find herself in the hospital. Her childhood best friend Evie is dead, and Evie’s four-year-old son witnessed it all. Traumatized over what he saw, he hasn’t spoken.

  The Perfect Lie

  When true-crime writer Alexandria Weston is found murdered on the last stop of her book tour, fellow writer Joss Jax steps in to investigate.

  Hickory Dickory Dead

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  Roadkill

  Suburban housewife Juliette Granger has been living a secret life ... a life that’s about to turn deadly for everyone she loves.

  Non-Fiction

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  Arise is a collection of motivational stories written by women who have been where you may find yourself today. Their stories are raw, real, heartfelt, and inspiring.