Fallen Idol (Love and Music in Texas Book 4)

by Nikki Lynn Barrett

  Kyra was losing patience because she wanted to find her sister and get to the hospital, but she honored the woman's request and signed her music book. She handed it back with a smile, then politely excused herself.

  "Does that happen a lot?" David whispered as they headed back outside.

  "Being asked for autographs? Oh yeah. It's something I encounter pretty much every day." She'd take autographs over dodging an attack or questions about her downfall. Kyra scanned the front of the school, which was less crowded. Still no Amy. A bad feeling crept into her gut, and she wondered what was up. Did she know Kyra would pick her up and went out of her way to avoid her? Or was it more? Too bad David didn't have a cell phone, otherwise she'd tell him to call Amy. If Amy knew Kyra was calling, she'd probably ignore it.

  "Hey, there's a friend of Amy's. Let's go see if she's seen her." David pointed to a tall, skinny red haired girl a few feet away.

  "Catch up to her and ask. I'm going to try Amy's phone, but I doubt she'll answer to me." Kyra reached for her cell, tucked away in her pocket. No answer. Go figure. Kyra left a message and hung up.

  David returned moments later shaking his head. "She hasn't seen her. Like the teacher said, Amy was last seen with some guy. I don't know who this Brandon person is."

  "Okay, we're going to head home, get Dad, and tell him what's going on. Mom's expecting us soon. Maybe Amy's just mad and hiding out."

  She couldn't convince herself of it, though. Amy was way too secretive lately, no one knew this Brandon guy, and even with how angry she might have been, no way would her sister blow off bringing Mom home.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The night they brought their mother home shouldn't have been filled with such chaos. But hours later, Amy still hadn't shown up or called. Her phone went straight to voice mail. No one had seen her, other than leaving the choir room with a guy named Brandon. The Brandon no one knew of, other than the choir teacher. How does a teacher know Amy's friend, but her own family didn't?

  The worst thing was the police told them because Amy was eighteen and there was no sign of foul play, they couldn't do anything. She was a legal adult, and unless she was missing for longer than a day, their hands were tied. Not even the reminder of the recent events involving threats against Kyra did anything. That's when the police officer cleared his throat and told them the news.

  "We found out this morning that the cause of the fire was by a client of the clinic. He couldn't afford to pay his vet bill and instead of being rational, he set the place on fire, hoping to divert the attention."

  The room fell into a silence.

  Kyra wasn't sure whether to feel better about that or not. It was good news that someone with resentment toward her didn't set the fire, but there was still an unknown danger against her that she didn't know what to do with. The break in, the hate mail, the person who'd come after her at Baby Stetson's concert. If someone didn't intentionally set the fire, then why did Mark get a note with the article? Scare tactic? Overwhelmed, she pulled a chair closer to her and sat in it before her legs gave out beneath her. Acid churned in her gut.

  "I see. And when were you going to tell us this information?" Kyra's father asked the officer, anger in his tone.

  "Today." The cop was taken aback.

  "So you're not going to do anything to find our daughter right now?" Mom's voice came out sharp and intense.

  "We'll keep an eye out. Is she doing drugs? Drinking?"

  Dad and Mom exchanged a look. "She's been secretive lately," Mom admitted. "But we're not sure what it is."

  Kyra blew out a breath. Time to spill. "Actually, I think I might know one of her secrets. Did y'all know Amy sang in the choir? When David and I went to pick her up, I ran into the choir teacher and she mentioned it. She says Amy is very talented and passionate, but hasn't pursued music."

  The doorbell rang before anyone had a chance to comment. Kyra shot to her feet. "I'll get it." Her parents needed to rest, and they had both begun to get up. She marched to the door, past the two officers that were no help, and pulled it open. Andrew and Matt stood on the other side. As much as she was happy to see them, Kyra had hoped it was someone with news about Amy. Her shoulders dropped, and Matt noticed the reaction.

  "We just wanted to drop by and welcome your mom home," he said softly, holding out a vase of flowers. "I hope we aren't intruding." His eyes held question.

  "Oh Matt, come in!" Mom exclaimed from behind her.

  Kyra stepped back and let them in. Andrew entered the house first. "Welcome back. We're glad you're getting better."

  "Oh, thank you honey." Mom kissed Andrew's cheek.

  Matt put his hand on the small of Kyra's back. "What's going on? Did you get another threatening letter? Did someone hurt you?" His touch, so simple, comforted her again.

  "Amy's missing, but there's no sign of foul play. The police won't do anything," she whispered. The officers turned their attention to Matt and Andrew, curious.

  "These are family friends," Dad explained.

  "If there's anything else you can think of, let us know. Otherwise, we're at a standstill," the taller officer said, glancing around the room at everyone's faces, as if he were trying to read their thoughts.

  A few minutes later, the officers left. Kyra fumed. Mom and Dad were angry, but also worried. Did the police not care that no one knew this Brandon guy? Did they not recall the threats and warnings against Kyra? The police had been good with listening up until now. The whole thing with the fire, well that one alarmed her. They weren't connected, and someone found a way to connect them by sending Mark the note, and it left her on her guard.

  She tried her sister's cell again. Amy still wasn't answering.

  *****

  Matt was glad he dropped by, but he had no idea what was going on! Kyra and her family were concerned about Amy's disappearance. Even if she was angry and hiding out, why would she do it on a night their mother had been released from the hospital? Amy had her attitudes at times, but she wasn't cold. The cops were gone, though they weren't much help. Half an hour after Matt arrived, the doorbell rang again. Kyra moved on shaky legs to answer it. Matt studied her. Poor thing. She had so much going on right now.

  Mrs. Winters and her daughter Sharon walked in, both extremely upset. "Amy hasn't answered to us, either. But my daughter has information on Brandon." She glared at Sharon, giving her a nudge.

  The girl took a deep breath. Kyra moved back to the stool she'd been sitting on near her parents. Matt stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. He felt the tension in her muscles and rubbed gently.

  "Amy's been dating Brandon for about six months. He's an older guy, but he shows up at the school every once in a while." Sharon stuffed her hands in her pockets, completely avoiding everyone's eyes.

  "Where the he- where did they meet? Why hasn't she told us about him? How much older is Brandon?" Mr. Sanders fired the questions.

  "They met at a bar."

  Several gasps filled the room.

  "Amy wasn't drinking or anything like that. She got a fake ID so she could go sing for a talent contest. We met Brandon that night. I didn't know until about three months afterward that they were dating. She only told me because she thought she was pregnant."

  "What?" Mrs. Sanders' voice came out in a high pitch wail.

  "She's not pregnant. It was a false alarm."

  Kyra rubbed her forehead, jerking away from Matt. "So nobody has a last name or any idea who Brandon is. Wait... the choir teacher mentioned his name, so she must know a little about him! We should look up her info and call her. If it leads us to Amy-"

  "There's a directory that parents get with teachers' email addresses, and some who leave phone numbers in case parents want to talk to them." Andrew snapped his fingers, staring at Matt. "We have one."

  "He's got a point." Matt stopped rubbing Kyra's shoulder. "Let's look her up."

  "You don't have any idea where Brandon lives, or his phone number... nothing?" Kyra's
mother asked Sharon.

  She shook her head. "No. Honestly, no. Just because I know about Brandon doesn't mean that I know much about them. I'll run over and get my directory, see if her number is in there." She darted out the door.

  Mrs. Winters sent an apologetic look at the Sanders' "I had no idea she was harboring such secrets. I'm sorry about all of this."

  "Not your fault," Mrs. Sanders replied, trembling as she tried to keep it together. "Let's just hope she knows anything. I can't believe Amy would keep all this from us."

  "If you need anything, I mean anything at all, you know where to find me. I'm happy to know you're home and doing better, Beth."

  "Does anyone want anything? Water? Tea?" Kyra jumped to her feet. "I can't sit still, so if I can get you something, let me. Please."

  "Tea would be great," her mother replied. Matt would bet she didn't care one way or another, but they knew it would help Kyra to move a bit.

  "On it." She bolted toward the kitchen.

  Matt followed, curious and concerned. Kyra started a pot of water to boil on the stove. She stared at it as if it was going to do something interesting. He closed the distance between them, enveloped her in his arms, and surrounded her with comfort. Kyra went limp as she wrapped hers around him. He could tell she wanted to break down and cry, but she held back for whatever reason. "I have the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach," she mumbled against his shirt. Her voice came out muffled.

  He cradled her head close, running his fingers through her fine hair in a gesture of comfort. "She's probably just blowing off steam." Lame. He didn't believe that for a second. No matter how angry, Amy wouldn't desert her family on a night as important as this.

  "You're a horrible liar," she retorted. "I can hear it in your voice."

  "Sorry," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "I don't have the right words. I know, I'm not helping."

  "You're here. You care. That's plenty of help, and I appreciate every bit of it." Kyra sniffed, then pulled away to add the tea bags to the now boiling water. "My first thought was that someone out to get me grabbed her. It's still in my mind. No one knows who Brandon is."

  "Maybe we'll find out soon." Matt was hopeful. Mrs. Winters' daughter would be back soon with the directory, and maybe the choir teacher had some insight. "Tell me what I can do, short of finding your sister." Kyra's gaze landed on him again, though the look in her eyes was hollow and full of fear.

  "Be you." She kissed his cheek, then moved away fast. Matt touched the spot she kissed, watching her in awe.

  Kyra grabbed some ceramic mugs and poured the hot liquid into them. Matt helped take them out to the living room. Mrs. Winters' daughter had come back holding the directory, and Kyra's father was on the phone right now. Did that mean they found the teacher's number, or did they call someone else?

  Kyra set the mugs down in front of her parents, then took one for herself and backed up to sit on the stool again.

  "Well, that was a bust. The teacher knows of Brandon, but nothing else. He comes to meet with Amy and pick her up. She thought we knew about all of this." Mr. Sanders shook his head, a frown settling across his face.

  "Tell me some of her normal hangouts. Maybe I can go drive around and look for her." Kyra jumped up from her seat again. Matt glanced at her. She couldn't seem to stay still. He understood it. Every time she had something on her mind, Kyra fidgeted. He'd seen that from the start.

  "I've already checked a few." Sharon sniffled. "Nothing."

  Kyra muttered something, but Matt didn't catch it. He checked the time. Nearly eight o'clock. No, something wasn't right at all.

  Everyone paid attention when a phone rang. They all checked theirs, wondering who. The ringing phone belonged to Kyra. She answered it. "Mark, I don't have time for this right- what?" Then the color drained from her face.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  "Kyra?" Matt reached for her as she tried to process what Mark just said. Words died in her throat, and she could barely focus on the conversation. She closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure. This was important. Matt pried the phone from her hands. She should have fought harder to keep it. Why was Matt taking the phone? "What the hell is going on now?" Matt demanded. "Do you guys have a fax machine?"

  Someone answered him, but Kyra couldn't make out who. Her head pounded.

  "Never mind. Scan it and email it. Yeah, you do that."

  Something was pressed in her hand. Kyra blinked and stared down. Her phone. Matt just talked to Mark. Yes, that's what just happened. Okay.

  Get it together.

  "Someone sent Kyra's manager a note that said Kyra isn't the Sanders who deserves her career, and that if they didn't follow the directions, there would be hell to pay. He's also sending a video he says Kyra needs to see. Amy's in it."

  "What do they mean by that?" Mom asked.

  Kyra focused and managed to snap herself out of it. When she spoke, she barely recognized her own strangled voice. "Amy. She's either in danger, or she's the one behind this." No way did she want to believe the second one. But the question was in her mind. Her sister was cold, she hid the fact that she wanted to sing, and now her disappearance on a night like this? Add in the new information Mark told them... No. God, her sister? Could she really be that hateful?

  "Kyra!" Dad gasped. "You can't possibly think-"

  "I don't know, Dad. I don't know!" She trembled. "I'm just thinking out loud. I'm sorry. I-" That was it. Kyra ran from the room, the overwhelming wave of heat crashing into her, which made it hard to breathe. She leaned against the closet door in the hallway and counted to ten. Everyone in the living room talked amongst themselves in hushed tones. Kyra could only make out bits and pieces, but she got enough to know they were shocked by her statement. No one wanted to think Amy had anything to do with threatening anyone. Why did she open her big mouth before thinking?

  She squeezed her eyes shut and fell back against the door, sliding down to the floor. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. Kyra fought off the tears. Anger and confusion burned like a blazing fire in her chest.

  Someone entered the hallway. Footsteps approached, every once in a while a creaking sound filled the air as they stepped on hollow floorboards. She sensed a hesitation, then someone sat on the floor beside her and gathered her in their arms. Familiar arms. Matt was here. He'd come to hold her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. She didn't even have to say anything, and Matt didn't ask. He just held her in silence.

  "I have to be wrong," she finally whispered. "I just accused my sister of- No. I have to be wrong. But if I'm wrong, then she's in trouble."

  "I'm sure there's plenty of scenarios playing in your head." Matt brushed his fingers lovingly along the side of her cheek. "We'll find out. I'd like to think your sister isn't capable of such hatred, but I don't know. The letter was very vague, at least according to Mark, but I guess we'll see when he sends it with the video."

  "Thank you for taking over when I couldn't. My mind just- well, you saw."

  Matt stood and held out a hand. Her legs were still shaky. Dizziness slammed her, but Matt held her close to him. His face was a blur until her vision cleared. "I've got you," he said softly.

  "Don't let go." She clung to him, feeling so many things.

  "I won't."

  Ever? The word popped in her head so naturally. Kyra stiffened when she thought it, which alerted Matt.

  "What is it?" His arms were wrapped around her still. She was secure there.

  "I'm scared," she whispered against his soft shirt. Matt's hands were in her hair, stroking, soothing. Images of Amy filled her head. Young, sweet... well for the most part, but her sister couldn't be the one behind some of this. "I'm so glad you're here." That one came out of nowhere. Kyra had thought it plenty of times within the last fifteen minutes, but saying it out loud wasn't planned.

  "Me too. Let's go see if Mark sent the video and message, okay? We'll find your sister and get to the bottom of this."

  Kyra nodd
ed, barely functioning. "Mom and Dad-"

  "Are in the living room with David, Andrew, and Mrs. Winters. They know we're going to look for the email." He was so comforting. Kyra never wanted to leave his arms. "You have your laptop on?"

  "Yeah. It's in my room." The world continued to spin off kilter. Kyra gathered her wits and focused. Email. Video. Now. She wrangled away from Matt and charged up the stairs. He followed immediately behind, his shoes pounding on the steps. When she rounded the corner to her room, Kyra made a beeline for the desk and her open laptop. The monitor's brightness against the darkened room forced her to squint. She blinked repeatedly, hoping to clear her vision again so that the screen didn't seem so blinding. Kyra dropped onto the chair and pulled up her email. She ignored the various things that looked important and zeroed in on the email from Mark.

  Deep breath.

  Matt stood in close proximity. Kyra sensed him move, and seconds later comforting hands landed on her shoulder. He leaned in. She took comfort in his warmth and forged ahead.

  There were two attachments, one labeled as the video and the other was the letter Mark scanned. She read his quick note.

  Kyra,

  This is the note and video I was talking about. I'm not sure if your sister knew this was recording or not. I had no idea she's missing. Please be safe and let me know when you have word. We're trying to uncover the sender now.

  -M

  "Where the hell are these bodyguards supposed to be, anyway?" Matt muttered with an angry edge to his tone.

  Good point. Even if they were staying hidden, especially while Amy and David were in school, shouldn't they have followed Amy and this Brandon person if they left together? She was about to click on the video. Her hand hovered over the mouse.

  "Kyra!" Her father's urgent cry sliced through the thick tension. Panic seized her, and she bolted from the room and down the stairs. She tripped on the fourth one and landed hard on the hardwood. "Oomph." She swore under her breath, wincing at the shooting pain sliding up her body from her ankle.