Forever Mine: A Fun and Flirty Romantic Mystery (Amber Reed Mystery Book 3)

by Zanna Mackenzie

  “Well, he might make something up about me; people often do when you’re famous. I have no idea what he’s going on about or why he’s doing all of this.”

  “And yet, something must have happened, upset him, to make him target Ty. Do you know what it could have been?” Charlie asks.

  I can see he’s well and truly switched in to investigator mode. He’s focused on the case, on finding answers. On finding Amelia’s stalker. This is what he does. He’s even been known to become obsessed with cases.

  Silence hangs heavy in the room.

  “Amelia?” I prompt. “If there’s something, anything, no matter how irrelevant it might seem, please tell us about it. It could be important.”

  “I don’t know how much he’s watching me, where from or how but he might have got annoyed by seeing Ty and me in our private hot tub. If he’s jealous or something, that might have been a trigger.”

  She has a private hot tub?

  “I know I should have been more discreet,” she continues. “I’m used to being the focus of media attention. I know all about paparazzi trying to catch a photo that will make them a hefty pay packet. But I haven’t seen any people from the press in the resort or hanging around my chalet since I arrived. My Oscar win was a few months ago now so I’m probably old news. How does he know when to leave the notes and gifts so only I see them? I don’t know how he’s doing this.”

  “We’ll need to check out your bedroom I’m afraid,” Charlie says. “I can do a search for any hidden cameras and listening devices he might have planted.”

  She nods.

  “You didn’t contact the local police about any of this?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “Of course they know about Ty getting shot but no more than that.”

  “What’s the status with the local police now?” Charlie asks.

  “They think Ty was shot with a rifle but they haven’t found the weapon or the bullet yet.”

  I check the gift bag. “I can’t see another note in here. I thought our original advance info provided by the agency said you’d received three notes. Did one of them fall out in your handbag?”

  Slowly Amelia shakes her head. “I destroyed the other note.”

  “Why?” Charlie frowns.

  “It was too… horrible. Too personal. I burnt it.”

  Charlie shoots me a look which I interpret to mean it’s my turn to lead the questions.

  “Horrible?” I say gently. “I know this must be so uncomfortable and worrying for you but could you tell me a little about what the note said?”

  She looks from me to Charlie and then back to me.

  “Do you want Charlie to leave the room for a minute?”

  Amelia takes a moment or two to think it over and then nods. Without a word Charlie gets to his feet and walks out.

  “How was the note of a personal nature?” I ask.

  She takes a gulp of her tea. “He’s sick. A pervert.”

  “Anything you can tell us, anything you remember, could be the key to catching this man. If he knows things about you, then that will help us to pin down the possible suspects.”

  Amelia brushes away a tear and stares into the flames of the fire for what seems like an eternity. “I have a tattoo. It’s in a place that isn’t visible under normal circumstances. The top of my thigh, near my hips. He knew about it. He said what he wanted to do to me, to it.”

  I get up and move to sit next to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s OK, Amelia. We’re going to catch this weirdo. But we do need to know everything there is about him so please, take a moment, then tell me anything else he’s written or done. Even something you think might not be relevant could turn out to be.”

  She nods and we sit in silence for a while. I assume she’s thinking, dredging up painful memories. “Amelia?” I prompt.

  “He hasn’t given much away.”

  “With the sexual nature of the note you destroyed and you suspecting he might have shot Ty because he somehow managed to see the two of you together in your hot tub, do you think this man might be someone you know? A disgruntled ex-boyfriend perhaps? Or a particularly obsessive fan?”

  “It’s possible. I could do a list of ex-boyfriends from the last couple of years if that helps.”

  “It would, yes, thanks, Amelia. Are there any you’ve stayed in touch with since you split?”

  She nods. “A couple. One of them is staying at the chalet this week actually.”

  My investigative antenna kicks up a gear. “Oh?”

  “Micky Adamson. He’s here with his current girlfriend Pammie.”

  “Were the two of you involved for very long? Was it recent?”

  “Micky and I dated for about three months. It was a year ago. He’s an actor.”

  “I noticed that on the list you left for us. Sorry but I didn’t recognise his name.”

  “He’s not terribly well known. We met at the film studios in London. I was there doing a movie and he was there filming a TV series. We hit it off.”

  “And you’re still friends now, after splitting up? Can I ask why you broke up?”

  “Circumstances mainly. We were both based at the studios for about six weeks but then I was abroad on location filming and it became difficult to keep in touch. It just fizzled out between us.”

  “Is there anyone you think might have it in for you? Or be trying, in a sick way, to woo you or something? We have to face the possibility your stalker is someone you know. Maybe even one of your chalet guests.”

  “I’m sorry I honestly don’t think there’s anything more I can say. Now, I should be getting back to the hospital.”

  She gets to her feet then turns back. “Ty was out of it before on painkillers but I think he’ll be more with it today. If the nurses agree then you could maybe ask him a couple of questions about the incident but discreetly. Like I said, please don’t mention the gifts, notes or threats to anyone else, here or at the hospital. Nobody knows about them.”

  “Your other guests haven’t noticed anything going on then?” Charlie asks from the doorway where I know he’s been discreetly listening to everything Amelia and I have said these past five minutes.

  “No. And I don’t want them to either. Which is why I told the agency that I need you two to be just a few extra guests joining us for a bit of a holiday.”

  “Is there any particular reason you want to keep all this quiet from them?” I say.

  She nods. “Yes. Ty is from a very well-to-do family in the UK. His parents aren’t keen on him dating me as it is. They haven’t said as much to my face but it’s clear they think I’m not good enough for him. They have me pegged as some bimbo starlet. If they get to hear about these threats, about how Ty’s incident might have been a way for some stalker to get to me, then they will do all they can to split Ty and me up. I know they will.” She turns tearful eyes on me. “And I honestly don’t want that to happen. I love Ty. I know it’s my fault he’s in that hospital. And I have to live with the guilt of that but I vow I will do everything I can to protect him.”

  “You and Ty are how old? In your mid-twenties? You’re both adults. His parents can’t control your lives no matter how much they might want to,” I say.

  She shakes her head. “You’d think so wouldn’t you but…”

  “Excuse me, Ms Kingston? So sorry to interrupt.”

  We both turn to see Greg standing in the doorway. “I just wanted to say that your car has arrived to take you to the hospital.”

  “I’ll go and fetch my coat and bag and be out in a second,” Amelia says.

  The hospital is still bustling with people who have come a cropper on the glacier skiing or when trying their hand at some extreme sport or other. Men and women limp and hobble all over the place.

  Amelia leads us down a corridor. Stopping outside a door she says, “In here.”

  Ty Dawson is in a private room which looks more hotel than hospital. At the sight of Amelia his face breaks into a grin and
he tries to lever himself further upright in his bed. “Amelia, sweetheart! Boy, am I glad to see you!”

  Amelia leans forward and plants a kiss on his lips then pulls back, turning towards us. “This is Charlie and Amber.”

  He frowns for a moment as if trying to remember something. “Oh right, the friends who are joining us at the last minute. Lovely to meet you both.” He clasps Amelia’s hand. “Any friends of Amelia’s are friends of mine.”

  “Good to meet you too,” Charlie smiles then nods towards one of Ty’s legs. “How’s the leg shaping up? Amelia told us about you getting mistaken for a wild animal in the woods and getting shot at.”

  “Hurts like hell but I’ll survive. I just want to get out of here and back to the chalet. I hate hospitals.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be back at the chalet soon,” Charlie replies. “I’m also sure, right now, you’re exhausted. But I was thinking, maybe at some point we could have a chat about what happened to you out on that hiking trail in the forest. I have a close friend who’s a journalist and might well be interested in writing a story about all of this, but I’d have to give him a bit more info first so he can pitch the story to his boss.”

  “I’d say fire away with the questions right now, as far as I’m concerned,” Ty replies. “But my worry is that I don’t want any of this to drag Amelia through the newspapers as well. She’s had some hassle with the media, gossip mags making stuff up, the usual. I don’t want to make matters any worse for her.”

  “That’s totally understandable,” I say, taking a seat on one side of the room.

  “Tell them what happened,” Amelia encourages, earning herself a surprised look from Ty. “It’ll be fine.”

  He shrugs. “OK. A few of the guys from our party decided to do some hiking. There’s a guy who lives in the resort who turns his hand to all sorts depending on the season. He’s a ski instructor in the winter, a mountain guide the rest of the year. He also does handyman stuff, you know, chalet maintenance. He sorts that kind of stuff for Amelia’s chalet too. I rang him and asked if he might be free to take a group of us on a mountain hike, on a route of his choice. He was up for it. He seems like a decent kind of guy.”

  Tom Williamson. I recall Amelia telling me about this man earlier.

  “And then what happened?” Charlie prompts.

  I can see him trying to dampen down the investigator in himself. He’s itching to get his notebook out and scribble all of this down for future reference, to bombard Ty with questions, I know he is. But he can’t. Not without arousing suspicions in Ty.

  “We’d been out on the trail for getting on for two hours I’d say. I caught up with Tom, our guide, at the front of the group to tell him I needed to go and answer a call of nature. He said he’d take the rest of the group on up the trail but more slowly so I could easily catch up. He asked me to find him when I came back afterwards so he knew I was part of the group again, for safety.”

  “And it was when you went off alone that you were shot?” I ask.

  He nods. “Yeah. Crazy huh? What are the chances? I suppose that’s what skulking in the forest undergrowth does for you. There must have been some people out hunting and I just got in the way.”

  “You must have shouted out, screamed, or something when you were shot,” I say. “The people hunting must have heard you. How come they didn’t try to find you, see what had happened and call the rescue people?”

  Ty shakes his head then closes his eyes. “I don’t know.”

  “How did you get back to the others once you’d been shot?” I ask.

  “I was in shock but knew I had to do something. The adrenaline I suppose helped me to limp back to the track, grabbing on to trees and bushes for support. It’s all a bit of a blur now but I think I collapsed onto the track and shouted and fortunately Tom and the others heard me.” He shakes his head, the distress of recalling the incident etched on his face.

  “Look, maybe we should get going, let you get some rest.” Charlie stands up. “Amelia would you like to get a taxi back with us or will you stay here a bit longer?”

  “I’ll stay.” She reaches for Ty’s nearest hand and kisses his cheek. “I’ll be back in a second, sweetie, I’ll just show Charlie and Amber out.”

  She follows us out of the room. When we’re in the corridor she whispers, “When you get back could you go and do that looking for hidden cameras in my room thing you mentioned about earlier?”

  She places a hand on my arm. “I’ll sort that other list out for you tonight, Amber.”

  I nod. “Thanks, Amelia. Well, we’ll get going and leave you two in peace.”

  “Thanks. If there’s anything else I can do to help, just say.” She fidgets with the strap of her bag and looks anxious. “I have to admit, much as I want Ty released from the hospital and back at the chalet, I’m beginning to wonder if he might be safer staying in here.”

  “Ty will be fine here or at the chalet now we’re on the case,” I say, trying to reassure her, but secretly not feeling very confident I’m telling the truth.

  As we walk down the brightly-lit corridors towards the main entrance and exit for the hospital Charlie says, “This other list Amelia mentioned. That’s the one with the ex-boyfriends right?”

  “I knew you were outside that door eavesdropping,” I reply, shaking my head in mock disapproval. “Yes, that’s the list.”

  There’s a taxi rank just outside the hospital’s main entrance and we dive into a cab out of the rainstorm which is leaving the roads and paths awash.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  When I wake the next morning Charlie is not in bed next to me. Checking my phone I see it’s just after eight in the morning.

  “Charlie?”

  No reply.

  Has he gone down to breakfast without me? At the thought of breakfast my stomach growls.

  I clamber out of bed and head for the shower experience. The piping hot water is pounding from the power shower and helping to ease my aching head and neck. There’s even classical music wafting through bathroom speakers and, if I’m not mistaken, I can smell roses. Is this what Greg meant when he said shower experience, not just shower? I close my eyes.

  Then I jump a foot in the air as a hand touches my shoulder before snaking around my waist. I wheel round and am caught up in a passionate kiss from Charlie.

  Mmm. Nice.

  This is an even better type of shower experience.

  Later, as I pull on jeans and a sweater, I watch Charlie button up his shirt. “I thought you’d gone down to breakfast without me.”

  He shakes his head. “As if. I value my life too highly to do something like that. No, I went for a run. Try to clear my head a bit.”

  “Did you get any sleep last night?” I ask. Most of yesterday and late into the night we were going over and over the details of the case and the information on our fellow guests. Reading through all of the information we have already plus adding to our ever growing case file with the details we’re still getting back in dribs and drabs from agency HQ on the background checks for all of the chalet’s staff and guests. Charlie has also done the surveillance sweep on Amelia’s room and found no sign of hidden cameras or listening devices.

  “Not really. I think I might have finally managed to prioritise who we focus our investigation on though from our list and background info.”

  “Oh? Who are our main suspects then?”

  “I think, first up, we’re looking at Amelia’s old friend Fran Curran, the actor Micky Adamson, plus the handyman and mountain guide Tom Williamson.”

  “OK. Reasons for choosing those three are?”

  Without even checking the pile of papers and notes on the desk in the corner of the bedroom Charlie reels off the details. “Fran and Amelia go way back. Amelia mentioned that some of the threatening notes said things of a personal nature right? Like the tattoo. Things a person who knew Amelia well would know about.”

  I nod and grab my own notebook to scribble all this down. Char
lie might be prone to untidiness in life when it comes to possessions but he’s meticulous with his note keeping on a case. I, on the other hand, have pages and pages of information about an investigation in my notebooks, often scrawled so hastily that sometimes even I can’t read my own handwriting. I decided to buy a new notebook for each case and despite the seriousness of the things written inside them I always choose colourful sparkly notebooks. It cheers me up a bit and gives me a much-needed boost each time I see a bright orange or deep pink cover.

  “Of course there is still the remote option that it could also be some lovelorn crazed fan that’s done an awful lot of homework and has found out all there is to know about Amelia via whatever means available,” Charlie continues. “But I know we need to look closer to home for now as a starting point, so I’m going to begin with Micky Adamson. Since they split her career has rocketed and his has crashed and burned. Jealousy and revenge always rank highly on the motivation scale.”

  “Plus, they dated, so he would know personal stuff, like about her tattoo,” I say.

  “Yep. The extra research I did last night led to me finding some stuff which makes him out to be a volatile character. He’s got a couple of cautions for drunk and disorderly behaviour. Amelia didn’t mention anything about that yesterday did she?”

  I shake my head. “Nope, she definitely didn’t mention any of that. Why would she keep it a secret though? Assuming she knows about it?”

  “She must know. Perhaps she’s trying to protect him for some reason. Though she must have known we’d find out about his past one way or another. Anyway, I reckon he’s as good a place to start as any. Do you fancy starting working your investigative magic by getting chatty with Fran this morning?”

  “OK. Will do. I was already thinking along those lines after she seemed evasive about her acting career at dinner last night. And what about the third suspect on the top of the list, this Tom guy?”

  “We don’t know much about him yet but he has access to the chalet all the time for DIY and maintenance issues. There must be times when he’s here on his own in the chalet, with nobody else around. That would give him perfect opportunity to check the place out. He’d know which room is Amelia’s. He’d know ways around the security system.”