by Matt Juhl
“It’s done.” He ruthlessly motioned towards the ground.
“I said ‘stop her’, not ‘kill her’.”
“It had to be done. She knew too much.”
She feverishly shook her head. “I know, but it shouldn’t have happened, not Kendall.”
Traci buttoned up her shirt and stepped closer. She knelt down, staring at her lifeless face, and carefully closed her baby blue eyes.
Gage scratched his head. “What the hell’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, it’s just different this time,” she whispered.
“Why, ‘cause we didn’t blast her skull?”
“No.” Traci shook her head. While kneeling in the snow, she remembered Kendall’s faithfulness, not only to her, but to Andrea as well. There was a moment of clarity, a brief respite of sadness.
“Why’s it so different?”
“It just is.” Traci let out a heavy breath. Then she quickly dismissed her sorrow. “Now help me up.”
Gage offered his hand, detecting her unusual behavior. “Are you getting soft on me?”
“No, of course not,” she snipped.
“Just making sure.”
She scowled. “Now get rid of her.”
“Where do you want her?”
While looking forward and walking away, Traci pointed to the lake. “There.”
“It’s gonna be hard getting her body to sink with those waves.”
“I don’t care. Make it happen.”
“Aren’t you gonna help?”
“Of course not. Harper will be here any minute.”
“How am I supposed to do it alone?”
“Quit looking at me like you’re helpless. It’s pathetic. Get it done and shut the hell up about it.”
“Then what?”
“Do you have your keys with you?”
“No. They’re on the dresser in the guest room.”
“Of course you don’t. I’ll leave them on the veranda. Then you’ll get in your car and wait on Nik’s street for my word. That’ll give you a head start in case Harper leaves. If she doesn’t cooperate, that’ll give you time to shoot him and escape.”
Gage shivered in his t-shirt. “Shit, can’t I come get something warmer to put on?”
“Are you listening? I’m leaving your keys outside. You’re not to come in. If you mess anything else up, you’ll be next. Got it?”
“Got it,” he grumbled.
Traci nodded. “I’ve gotta go finish dinner. I told Kendall not to burn my steak, but somehow I knew she’d mess it up. Now get rid of her.” A vindictive smile devoured her expressionless face. “The storms that roll in over the big lake are always so unpredictable. It’s such a shame…another person lost at ‘sea’.”
Standing at Traci’s front stoop was surreal. Harper pounded on the door while a great deal of uncertainty washed over her. All the overwhelming memories flooded back, making her second guess her actions.
“Damn it, c’mon,” she groaned.
After Kendall didn’t answer for several minutes, Harper grew concerned and let herself inside.
The subtle warmth of the heat against her frozen flesh felt inconceivably comforting, especially after standing in the blowing snow for so long.
“Kendall?” she called as she set her purse down beside the door.
Harper walked through the foyer and ran her fingers through her damp hair, trying to make herself look presentable.
The house was incredibly dark and unsettling, almost ominous in its presentation. All she could hear was the whistling winds thrashing against the windows.
Harper ran her cold hand along the length of the wall until she found a switch.
“Really?” she complained, realizing the power was out.
Then Harper followed a dim glow, an inviting flicker of candlelight coming from the dining room.
Her eyes illuminated at the remarkable spread. Glass stemware sparkled against the reflection of glittery, designer candles. At opposite ends of the table were two place settings of exquisite china and gold-plated silverware.
Along with the décor was a feast fit for a king. The sensational aroma infused her nostrils and made her mouth water.
Never in her life had Harper seen such a beautiful arrangement. It was amazing, she thought, that Kendall would go to so much trouble.
“You like it?” Traci whispered from the shadows.
The voice startled her to death. Harper put her hand to her chest in shock. “Traci?”
“Sorry about the dimness, the power went out. Makes it a little more romantic though, don’t you think?”
Harper ignored the innuendo.
“The table’s quite stunning, isn’t it?” Traci stepped into the light.
“Where’s Kendall?”
“It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you’re here now.”
“I thought you were in Chicago.”
“Not exactly.”
“So you lied just to get me here?”
“I wanted to surprise you, sweetie.”
“I can’t believe you’d put Kendall up to this.”
“She’s incidental. What’s the matter, don’t you like the surprise?”
“Of course not, it’s all a lie.”
“I wish you wouldn’t keep calling it a lie. It was more like a tiny fib.”
“It was an underhanded lie.”
“Okay, maybe I’d call it a little white lie, but how else was I going to get you here? You ran out and won’t return any of my calls. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?”
“You deserved it.”
“Just have a seat.” Traci pulled out Harper’s chair. Then she sat at the head of the table, looking into her emerald eyes. “Look, I’m tired of being coy. It’s no secret that I want you. I’ve patiently waited and tried giving you the opportunity to come around, but I can’t do it anymore. I’m in love with you, Harper, deeply, madly in love.”
In response, she slapped her forehead.
“My life was so empty and lonely until I met you, but you changed all that. You complete that gaping void I’ve been so desperately trying to fill.”
“No. We’re not doing this again.”
Traci stiffened her posture and reached out for Harper’s hand. “I don’t want to be alone anymore. I need you. C’mon, say you’ll stay with me. This could all be yours. Look at that amazing view.” She motioned to the furious waves, reaching and pulling the shore. “Please, be with me. Look at this magnificent dinner. Think of all the things we could share like expensive wine, long talks, and uncontrollable passion. I can give you everything you need.”
“That’s what you don’t understand, Traci…you can’t.”
“Of course I can. I have so much money you’ll never want for anything.”
“None of those things matter to me.”
“They sure did when you didn’t have a home and no one to turn to.”
“I don’t care if you have all the money in the world. There’s still something you can’t give me.”
“What’s that?”
“Love.”
“Of course I can. I love you. Don’t you see that?”
“Even if you really did, I could never love you back.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“What the hell do I have to say to get through that thick head of yours? I…do…not…love…you. I love Nik.”
Traci reached down for the half-full wine goblet, lifted it in front of her face and swirled it around while her anger stewed. Then without warning, she violently hurled it against the wall. The glass shattered all over the room and pinot noir dripped down like trails of blood.
Harper quickly stepped back, noting the crazed stare in Traci’s eyes.
“You don’t love him! You’re just too stupid to realize he tricked you into thinking you’re straight. Don’t throw it all away, sweetie!”
“Enough.” Harper frowned.
“Do you want to live a life where everyo
ne degrades you because of your sexuality? A man could never love you like a woman could, and society will never accept you.”
“That’s not true. Besides, I don’t care what anyone thinks of us. I ain’t gonna live my life worryin’ about how I’m seen by others, especially not you. That’s no way to live. Wake up, Traci. Life should be about surroundin’ yourself with positive people. That’s why someone as miserable and manipulative as you will end up bein’ alone. I ain’t makin’ your problems mine anymore. I want you outta my life forever.”
“No,” she begged.
“All this crap tonight is beyond crazy. If I were you, I’d be embarrassed. This conversation between us is gettin’ real old and I ain’t playin’ this game with you anymore. When I walk out that door, I ain’t ever comin’ back. Goodbye.”
“Get back here!” she demanded. “I’m speaking to you!”
Harper continued into the foyer and shouted, “I said ‘goodbye’.”
Fueled with rage, Traci soared to her feet and sprinted after Harper. “I’ll give you one last chance. Damn it, don’t walk away from me!” Her trembling hands lifted a gun and fired a bullet through the front window.
Harper immediately dropped to the floor. “What the hell are you doin’?”
“Stay down and shut up!” Traci shouted. Her calm tone vanished. Then she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her second phone. “You still here?” she paused, awaiting a response. “Good, get inside.”
Harper didn’t know what to make of her erratic behavior.
Traci paced back and forth, pounding the small pistol against the palm of her hand.
Harper nervously sat up and stared at Traci. “Can we talk about this?”
“We’ve already talked, remember? You made your point. You’re finished with me, so now I’m gonna finish you.”
Harper’s heart sank. “Please, Traci, be reasonable.”
“Me, be reasonable? All I’ve been is frickin’ reasonable, but all you’ve done is take from me. I gave you more than anyone else could.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I got you out of that shitty house of yours, didn’t I?”
“Only ‘cause it burnt down, otherwise I wouldn’t have come here.”
“I know,” she sneered. “That’s why I did it.”
It took a second for the words to resonate with Harper, but another moment for the haunting truth of that statement to solidify. “No, you didn’t…”
“You bet your ass I did. Torching that dump was the best thing I could’ve done for you. And having your aunt taken out was extra insurance—ensuring you had no one to rely on. It’s character building. It makes you stronger.”
She was beside herself, devastated by the admission. “You’re a frickin’ monster.”
Traci cackled. “You think that makes me a monster? I’d say killing Mindi and making everyone believe she burned down the house and murdered Faye is what made me a monster.”
There weren’t words for the anger pumping through Harper’s body. The brazen girl stood to her feet and tackled Traci.
“Let me go!” she shouted, dropping the gun to the floor.
“Bitch! You killed my family!”
The women roared, clawing each other through the blackness.
“Get off me!”
“I should kill you myself!” Harper yelled. Through her tears, she couldn’t think clearly. The fury flowed through her blood, eclipsing her senses. She wanted Traci to know her tumultuous pain.
Suddenly, Harper felt a gun pressed against the back of her neck.
“Back off,” the gruff voice warned.
She carefully pulled her hands away from Traci.
“Move,” he ordered.
“Who are you?”
“You don’t recognize him?” Traci laughed.
Harper scooted against the wall, her blood running cold. Through the dim candlelight, she nervously looked up and saw the blond man pointing his pistol directly at her face. She immediately recognized Gage’s wicked expression.
Suddenly everything made sense. It was more haunting than she could’ve ever imaged. At that moment, Harper knew it was all over.
TWENTY-NINE
The winds picked up as the storm intensified, howling and thrashing its fury against the rickety shutters. The ghastly sounds kept Nik from dosing off in exhaustion.
However, just as he was about to fall asleep, he was unexpectedly startled by the sound of the doorbell.
He cautiously peered through the window, surprised to see the police standing at his front door.
“Good evening, Nik.” Tonya extended her hand. “May we come in?”
“Sure.” He frowned, detecting Tonya’s strange tone.
“Hey, boss.” Leland patted Nik on the arm. “Damn, it feels nice in here. We’ve been freezin’ our asses off all night.”
“Sorry for dropping by so late.”
“What’s going on?” Nik frowned.
Tonya cleared her throat. “I need to speak with you and Harper.”
“She’s not here.”
“Really?” Tonya asked.
“No, she won’t be back for a few hours.”
“Where is she?”
“Having dinner with a friend.”
“I see,” Tonya grumbled.
“Why, what’s going on?”
“I need to talk about Gage Black.”
Nik folded his arms across his chest. “You mean the serial killer? Everyone’s been saying he murdered Old Man Winston and Brielle Holloway.”
“His fingerprints were found at both crimes scenes, matching DNA in Port Vista’s criminal database.”
“I’m familiar with Port Vista.”
Tonya pointed her finger in the air. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Why’s that?”
“Prior to living with Bill Winston, Gage’s last place of residency was in Port Vista, a home in which he worked for Andrea Galva and Patrick Roberts—your father.”
Nik lifted his eyebrow in curiosity.
“Were you aware that Gage was employed by your father?”
“No.” Nik was astounded.
“He wasn’t employed for long. They pressed charges against Gage and had him arrested for theft. Did you know Patrick and Andrea were living together?”
“Not until recently. We found out that their boat went down during a storm on Lake Michigan.”
“I’m deeply sorry about your father.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“We were told the same story. However, considering their connection to Gage, we obtained a search warrant to investigate their property and found carefully concealed blood splatter in the entryway. The forensics results on their DNA samples were positive matches for Patrick and Andrea. They didn’t drown—they were murdered inside their own home.”
“What?” Nik’s heavy heart pounded in his chest, unsure if he’d heard the detective correctly.
“You all right, Kid?” Leland asked.
Nik slowly walked to the couch and covered his face. “I feel sick. I can’t believe this.”
“Gage’s blood was also found at the scene of the crime. He’s incredibly dangerous.”
After taking a few minutes to digest the news, he let out a heavy sigh. “Do you think Gage killed them just ‘cause he was fired?”
“Profiling a killer like him isn’t easy. His actions suggest greater motivation than revenge. He’s elusive, apparently without any ties—until we discovered that Andrea Galva’s daughter, Traci, posted his bail.”
“Traci?”
“We wondered what possible motive she’d have to release him, until we found Andrea’s Last Will and Testament, naming Traci sole beneficiary of Andrea’s estate and all her assets. Between that and Andrea’s life insurance policy, she stood to inherit over thirteen million dollars.”
“You can’t be serious.” Nik shook his head as the fury mounted.
“We’re thinking he’s some kind of pawn in her tw
isted game.”
“Yeah, no shit!”
The seething rage brewed deep within Nik. He thought he hated Traci before, but imagining that his father’s life had been taken by her was more than he could handle.
“Are you all right?”
“Why haven’t you arrested her ass?” he asked.
“At this point, her involvement is purely speculation. Aside from posting the bail, we have no solid evidence against her. However, I’m very interested in speaking with Traci. She wasn’t home when we went by her house earlier today, and her phone went straight to voicemail when we called.”
“That’s ‘cause she’s in Chicago.” Nik frowned. “Traci did it. I know it. She’s a greedy bitch.”
“Again, there’s no physical evidence to tie her to any of the crimes yet.”
“You think her prissy ass is gonna do anything herself? The woman lives alone, but has her own maid. She uses people. I’m sure Gage did all the dirty work, ‘cause she probably bribed him with the promise of her mother’s money. They’re both spineless.”
“But Traci’s hardly even touched Andrea’s bank accounts.”
“That’s ‘cause she’s calculating. She’s probably waiting for enough time to pass to make sure it doesn’t look suspicious, taking a little out here and there. I don’t care if you haven’t found any physical evidence against her. I know she’s guilty.”
“Don’t think we haven’t considered the same. That’s why we’re still investigating. However, our speculation isn’t quite as damning as a piece of evidence we found beside Bill Winston’s body.”
Nik lifted his eyebrow at the strange remark.
Tonya reached into her pocket and produced the transparent bag, containing the heart-shaped necklace. “This is where our theory gets a little unclear, ‘cause this piece of jewelry doesn’t belong to Traci. The inscription says it’s Harper’s…and it’s covered with Bill Winston’s blood.”
“Oh my God.” Nik’s gaze froze, entranced on the necklace.
“You’ve seen this before, haven’t you?” Tonya asked.
His mutter was inaudible as he stared, nodding his head in agreement.
“It’s important that we speak to Harper immediately.”
“We’ve gotta go. She’s in trouble.”