Burned by Deception (The Dark Side of Springwood Book 2)

by Jennifer A. Brown

  She’d totally freaked out. She could remember getting the call from Dan to pick him up, and then getting that package she didn’t remember ordering—after that, nothing. She didn’t even remember getting in her car, just being in it—then next thing she knew, she could hear Dan crying out in pain, and she was in the driver’s seat of the car careening toward the credit union.

  “Miss Barnes?”

  She managed to look up at the same officer who had tried to calm her earlier. He introduced himself, but she didn’t even remember his name. He seemed nice though.

  “Are you okay enough to get wherever you’re going?”

  She blinked. The Christmas festival. She was supposed to meet Brian there and work on their story. “Oh, no.” She reached for her purse, trying to find her cell phone. She frantically took out everything else but. “My cell phone! Where is it?”

  ****

  Dan watched Lyn sadly from where he stood, eased against the police cruiser, talking to the other officer who had responded to the crash.

  “So there’s nothing else you want to add? You say she swerved to avoid a stray dog in the road?”

  Dan nodded, glancing at the officer. “That’s right. She just doesn’t remember because her other personality was driving.”

  The officer gave him a suspicious look. “Tammy?”

  He nodded, looking from the officer back to Lyn. She was saying something about her cell phone, starting to get upset again. He watched as the other officer tried to reassure her unsuccessfully.

  The officer questioning Dan just shook his head. “Whatever. Neither one of you appears hurt, but I can’t promise the president of Springwood Federal won’t want to press charges against her of some type. I’ve just issued a citation for failure to control.”

  The officer closed his little book, ambling over to his partner who appeared to be helping a nearly hysterical Lyn look for her phone as Dan stood back and watched, sadly…and now troubled.

  ****

  Brian tried to ignore where it felt like the hot cocoa had scalded him on his stomach and groin area as he reassured Camryn he was fine.

  “Oh my God. It is such a mad house here. I was trying so hard not to run into anyone. I got some on my shoes too.” She complained, looking down at her boots.

  Brian sighed, scanning over the crowd once more. That’s when he finally spotted Jacob. He felt his heart rate rise a little, seeing his expression.

  ****

  Jacob and Brian were back at Jacob’s house an hour later. Brian helped Lyn into bed, and they now both sat in the living room in silence. Jacob tried to unsuccessfully hold back a burp. Brian glanced over at him. He looked sick with worry, nausea and tension.

  Jacob must have felt his eyes on him because he looked up. Brian closed his eyes, releasing a sigh.

  “This night was nothing like I imagined.”

  Jacob let out a short sarcastic laugh, sitting up. “You can say that again.”

  Brian frowned. “What do you think happened?”

  Jacob hiccupped, holding his stomach. “What do you mean? Dan said she swerved to avoid hitting a dog.”

  “He said Tammy did. Jacob I’m sorry, but when Lyn didn’t show up on time, I had to suspect Tammy was involved. She was really looking forward to tonight and working on a story with me.”

  Jacob sat back, sighing wearily. “What are you suggesting? That Dan lied?”

  Brian bit his lip as Jacob stood up.

  “Look Brian, I know my friend. If he said Lyn—or Tammy—swerved into the credit union to avoid hitting a dog, then that’s what happened. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bit of an upset stomach, so I’m going to bed.”

  Before Brian could reply, Jacob headed out of the room. He tried not to snicker when he heard what had to be Jacob passing gas, before hearing a door shut. He then put a hand up, massaging his neck which had grown stiff.

  He wanted to stay out of pure concern for Lyn. But Jacob had not implied that he could. Of course, it was obvious he wasn’t feeling good.

  Brian glanced down at the stain from the hot cocoa on his jeans and white dress shirt. He had to wear white, he thought dismally. Of course, the way that night went, getting a hot beverage spilled on him had sadly been the best part of it.

  Brian kicked his tennis shoes off before lying back on the sofa, gazing up at the plaster designs on the ceiling. He closed his eyes, remembering Dan relaying the story to Jacob as he took him to his place. Dan had insisted he needed to be back at home for something. After some mild argument from Jacob, he agreed to take him back to his place, an apartment on the East end of town near the mall.

  Brian had been in the backseat still trying to comfort a shook up Lyn. Hell, she even seemed to believe what Dan had said happened.

  But Brian didn’t.

  When Brian had become a reporter, his first big story was interviewing a young man whose house had caught on fire. His parents, two cats, and his three year old little brother had all died in it. The police considered him a primary suspect, but he swore up and down in the interview with Brian he hadn’t done it. Five months later, they found evidence linking him to the crime.

  In his entire reporting career, Brian had never forgotten the story and expression on Lance Brinker’s face when he talked to him. It was a haunting expression. Something haunted Lance behind those blue eyes.

  ****

  That night, he saw the same look in Dan Nixon’s eyes as he told his best friend that his sister swerved into the credit union, eight feet from the road, to avoid hitting a stray dog.

  Chapter 6

  “Cat got your tongue, Danny?”

  He was back in Lyn’s car with someone—but it wasn’t Lyn. This girl had blonde hair, and she was wearing pink panties and a pink bra.

  Now she stood before him. They were no longer in the car, the scene changing as quickly as one in a movie. She was slowly unhooking her bra, and right before taking it off, there was a shrill sound.

  He shot up from his bed he’d collapsed onto the previous night. He sat there trying to regain his composure before he realized the shrill sound had come from his cell phone. There was a missed call from Toby. “Shit.” He muttered, noticing the time. He got up shakily and went into the bathroom splashing some cold water on his face.

  He’d asked Jacob to take him home last night. Jacob had tried to protest, but he made up some lie that he had to be there anyway, telling him his landlord was going to be there doing some routine work on the furnace. He dreaded trying to do what he did on a normal basis, by himself and with one usable arm, but he needed to try.

  The truth was he was scared. That other personality had to have been in there that morning in the bathroom…and now she had some sort of thing for him. He shuddered at the thought.

  He slowly changed into another pair of jeans and a tee shirt, being cautious with his arm, before grabbing his phone and calling Toby back.

  ****

  Lyn slowly awoke that morning, rising from bed and wandering out into the living room, rubbing her tired eyes…until she stumbled over something, crying out as she lost her balance.

  Brian moaned, turning over on the sofa, to find Lyn sprawled out on the floor, her torso over Jacob. She got up, embarrassed, as Jacob slowly sat up.

  “What the hell?” he mumbled.

  “You okay?” Brian asked, resting a hand on her shoulder as she sat beside him on the sofa.

  “I’m not used to having to walk around anyone on the floor. Jacob is usually already gone, and” she went on, turning to Brian. “I didn’t know you spent the night.”

  “Neither did I.” Jacob said in an annoyed tone, getting up. “I took a shower only to come out here and find you sacked out on the couch. I thought for one night, I may get the couch.”

  Brian winced apologetically. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to leave Lyn after what happened. I would have been a wreck at my place.”

  Jacob waved him off, leaving the room. Lyn stared at Brian helples
sly as he stroked her hair. “I’m glad you stayed.” She said.

  He put an arm around her as she laid her head on his shoulder.

  ****

  Becky was on her way to the credit union that morning to cash her paycheck when she slowed, seeing the damage out front. There was a small crowd gathered where the front window had been boarded up. She quickly parked and hurried towards the scene.

  “What happened?” she asked a woman who she recognized as a regular customer at Sharkey’s.

  “From what I hear, some girl swerved to miss a dog in the street. She hit the credit union instead.”

  “Aww.” Becky said, walking over to the door, which had been propped open.

  Inside, Trina Owens, the president of the credit union stood with her arms folded, shaking her head. Another young girl, her assistant, stood by her side talking to the guy who was doing measurements, presumably for a new window. Meanwhile, a taller man stood with a clipboard, writing what was probably an estimate.

  Trina looked nothing like the photo on the wall plaque as you entered the credit union. Her brown hair was much longer and had blonde highlights in it. She also wasn’t wearing glasses like she was in the photo which was situated between a few chairs reserved for those waiting to be seen by a representative about an account.

  Becky walked on past the scene and took her check to the only teller available. The girl was counting out the money and handing it to her as Trina Owens walked by. That’s when Becky caught a snippet of conversation.

  “Unbelievable. I’ll just give that estimate to Mayor Barnes. Apparently, he needs to teach his sister’s alter personality how to drive.”

  ****

  “So, everything’s cool? I mean Lyn or Dan didn’t get hurt, so that’s good. Okay. I’d hate to see her car though.” Justin shook his head before ending the call with his brother. He sat back in the unmade sofa bed, taking another look at the photos that had been defaced.

  There were several others, mostly family photos taken in the last year their parents were alive. Most of the hostility was centered on his father. It really concerned him, but he had decided for the time being to keep it to himself. He honestly didn’t know what good could come of bringing it up now.

  At least those were his thoughts until he came to the pictures he’d never seen before.

  ****

  Lyn showered and changed quickly, not caring to remain in the bathroom for a second longer than she needed to and risk another “flash”. She decided to go to her brother’s room and use her reflection in the window to pull her hair back in a ponytail.

  She turned around and glanced over at her laptop. She smiled, remembering how she’d completed her second book the other night. She had planned to tell the others at the Christmas festival. She eagerly approached the laptop to check her email.

  As the page loaded, Jacob’s voice interrupted her. “Lyn? I need to get down to the old bandstand in Mercy Park where they’re setting up for Gavin Clarke’s performance tonight. I guess Brian left already?”

  She solemnly nodded. “Yeah, he got a ride to go pick up his car downtown where he left it last night. He called to let Mr. Harrison know what happened. I guess he wasn’t too happy, but luckily there was another reporter there who could write about it.”

  Jacob stood there, gazing at his sister who kept her focus on the laptop before her. “Sis?” The tone of his voice made her look up, as he sat across from her on the bed. “Dan told me what happened the other day…when he fell?” he went on. “Did…that have anything to do with your accident last night?”

  ****

  “I’m sorry man; I should have put two and two together when I didn’t see anyone here. My mom told me about that accident with Jacob’s sister; it came up on her police radio.”

  Dan released a deep breath as he unlocked the doors to Cyber-Fix. Toby had quickly come to get him once he informed him of the situation. Apparently, his car only needed a jump the previous night.

  “Yeah,” was all Dan could say as they went into the small shop.

  “So, is she okay? I mean, I know she’s pretty messed up to begin with, but…”

  “Toby, I really don’t want to talk about this. We have a lot of work to do, so let’s get to it.” He said firmly, disappearing into the back as Toby stood there, speechless.

  ****

  Jacob sat there on the bed, eying his sister cautiously. Her eyes grew wide.

  “He—told you?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. But only because he was worried about you. He said you seemed really weirded out.” He went on. “You do realize what happened in the bathroom was purely an accident, right?”

  She gulped, looking down. “I know. It’s just…”

  Jacob studied her as she seemed lost for words. “Just what, Sis? Talk to me. Talk out your problems like Dr. Gerber said.” He went on. “We have to get to the root of this. Neither of you were hurt, but what about next time?”

  At that moment, the doorbell rang. Jacob closed his eyes, wanting to ignore it, but the ringing became more insistent. “All right. All right, I’m coming!” he shouted in annoyance as he left the room.

  ****

  Becky was about ready to hit the doorbell again when the door flew open, and Jacob appeared looking so angry, Becky actually took a step back. He sighed in apology.

  “Becky-”

  “Is Lyn okay? I heard about what happened. She’s all right, isn’t she?”

  He gazed at her worried face. “Yes, she’s fine. I was just in the bedroom talking to her,” he went on. “I’m actually glad you’re here. I need to head down to the old bandstand at Mercy Park to oversee a few things. Can you hang out here for a while with Lyn?”

  “Yeah, until two then I have to head to work.”

  “Oh, I should be done by then. Thanks a lot, Becky.”

  He gave her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder, grabbing his coat and heading out to his car.

  ****

  Leslie Marlen sat in the small coffee shop across the street from the credit union, gazing at the damage caused by Jacob’s sister. She stirred her café mocha, taking a long sip.

  In a way, she was glad it happened. That was mean, but it wasn’t easy telling Jacob why she was really back in town. She needed all the time she could get to figure out how she would tell him.

  She gulped as her phone rang with an incoming call. Without saying hello, she picked up. “How is she?” After a few moments of listening to the person on the other end, she spoke again. “No, I didn’t get a chance to bring it up to him yet. He had another emergency with his sister. Look, Charles, this isn’t easy, okay?” Tears welled in her eyes as she listened to the man on the other end continue talking. “Don’t you think I know that? Well, I just can’t go up to him and demand some of his blood!” She sniffed and took a deep breath. “Just…give me a little more time.”

  After a few more moments, she put her phone back in her bag then held her head. Regaining her composure, she finished up what was left of her drink before getting up and leaving.

  ****

  Jacob turned the radio on in his car, trying to get his mind off everything, as he pulled onto the main road that would take him to Mercy Park. He had gotten the voicemail early that morning from the head of the festival committee asking for his signature for new benches in front of the bandstand. Apparently, a tree had fallen on several overnight, damaging them. Jacob figured he’d better jump on it before Gavin figured out a way to blame him for that too and spread it all over the internet, and the media.

  He came to a red light, braking as the DJ announced the next song. He glanced at the dial, turning the volume up as memories overwhelmed him. It was a song their band covered years ago by Guns N’ Roses. It was also a song he’d made love to Leslie Marlen by.

  She had played keyboard for them occasionally, and when she wasn’t, she would listen to them play. Then right after practice, jumping to make out with Jacob in the backseat of his car. One night, it became more
than making out. He’d lost his virginity to Leslie at the age of 19.

  She was such an amazing woman, and she brought back memories of a much happier time in his life. His parents had been alive. He hardly saw his dad due to his job, and he and his mother bickered, but at least they had been alive and things had been normal. The band had been his life back then; the music gave him such a high.

  Seeing her last night had been a very welcome surprise…that got cut short when he got the call from Dan.

  Robin seemed to temporarily vanish from his memory. He sighed, turning into the entrance of Mercy Park…wishing he’d had time to at least get a number for Leslie.

  Chapter 7

  “Lyn?”

  Becky’s voice came from the hallway as Lyn sat there on the bed trying to regain her composure.

  My God…Jacob knew about her and Dan. It was an accident, but why was she suddenly breaking into a sweat? She nervously wiped her forehead, trying to log into her email.

  ****

  Becky slowly entered the bedroom after hearing something come from there. She spotted her friend on the bed, focused on her laptop.

  Distracted, she felt something at her feet, and accidentally kicking it, made Lyn look up. Her eyes narrowed upon seeing the package that had recently come for her, knocked over by Becky’s gray and black tennis shoes.

  “What are you doing?” Lyn asked as Becky returned her look.

  “Hey, I heard about your accident! Are you okay?”

  When Lyn didn’t answer her, she froze. Chills overcame her as Tammy’s eyes bore into her own.