Making the Rules

by Emma Leigh Reed

  “Probably not, but at least we can pretend that they are normal until they do something to show us differently.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe they are just more truthful behind the screen so we see them for who they really are immediately.”

  Diane looked at me. “There may be some truth to that. It definitely is easier being yourself behind a computer screen than in person.” She tipped her beer bottle at me. “Why don’t you go on one?”

  “Please. I don’t have time for dating and honestly, after the way Nick’s been acting, it will be a long time before I would want to even consider dating again.”

  “So what’s with the gifts from him lately?” Diane asked.

  “I’m not sure. Mary thinks he’s ‘courting’ me.” I made air quotes with my fingers as I said the word courting.

  Diane snickered. “Is that even a thing in our generation?”

  “Right,” I shrugged. “But the gifts haven’t seemed to fit with the Nick I knew before all this. Now it’s almost like he’s trying to buy my affection.”

  “That’s not healthy.”

  I laughed, “says the life coach.”

  24

  Isabelle

  Sunday morning arrived and I walked into the office, arms laden with bagels, cream cheese and coffee. I found the design team in the conference room, crowded around the table working hard.

  “Isabelle.” Tom said and stood up when I walked in the door.

  “Good morning.” I moved to the side table to set everything down. “Breakfast has arrived.”

  There were choruses of “thanks” as I moved out of the way. As the team filled their plates, I moved over to the table to look at what had been done so far. I liked the improvements. Colors were darker and gave a menacing look to the cover. Although they weren’t quite finished, I could tell I was going to be able to approve something today or tomorrow. The ease of working side by side with my team made the day fly by. I gushed over the finished mock ups, which were sensational. They deserved the praise. They had risen to the challenge and spent the time over the weekend making it happen.

  I made a decision, but told them I wanted to see them again tomorrow morning to make sure that was what I wanted. As everyone broke up, I cleaned up the conference room, removing any trace of the food that had been devoured.

  I sat at my desk going through emails and getting things in order for Monday morning. It was going to be a long day, but I was satisfied with what the team had done over the weekend. It was time to go home and get some rest.

  There was a niggling in the back of my mind. Nick. Why would he be called Steven? Who was this man who ruined my weekend with Nick, or, better yet, why did Nick get so upset if it was just mistaken identity. This was something I wasn’t going to be able to put to rest. I reached for my laptop, opened it, and googled Nick Sterling. Nothing. Steven Sterling. Nothing. I shoved the laptop away. Obviously, I had no idea what I was searching for. I flipped on the TV to see if I could find something mindless to take my mind off the weekend.

  Perusing channels, I paused on the local news channel, hoping to see the weather for the next day. Breaking News flashed across the screen and a picture of a man who looked similar to Nick appeared. Be on the lookout. Fugitive - Steven Melrose. The words floated across the bottom of the screen. I grabbed my phone and called Diane.

  “Hello?”

  “Put Channel 5 on NOW.” I stood and listened as the news anchor explained the man had been spotted in Emerald Isle this weekend. He was a fugitive running for the past three years after murdering his wife and another man, thought to be her lover.

  “Are you still there?” Diane’s voice came through the phone.

  “Yes.” I whispered.

  “I’m on my way over.” I heard Diane’s keys jiggle as she picked them up. “Lock your door and call the cops.”

  I nodded.

  “Izzy?”

  “Yes, I got it. Hurry.” I disconnected the call and reached for the business card on the end table. Officer Terrell answered on the second ring.

  “Office Terrell, Isabelle LaFayette. I had the break-in...”

  “I remember. We haven’t found the guy yet, and unfortunately…”

  “That’s not why I’m calling,” I interrupted him, “The fugitive, Steven Melrose.”

  “Yes?”

  “I think I have been dating that man, but he goes by a different name.”

  “Are you home?”

  “Yes, sir.” I replied.

  “Stay there. I’m on my way.”

  Having hung up the phone, I sat and listened as the news anchor talked about the double murder, how this Steven Melrose apparently found his wife and her lover, and killed them both. They hadn’t caught him yet, but had been trying to track him for the past three years. The trail had been cold, but with this new information of a spotting in Emerald Isle, they were asking, once again, for the public to be aware and report anything that might be helpful.

  The banging on my door made me jump a mile. “Izzy, it’s me, Diane.”

  I unlocked the door and flung it open. Diane pulled me into a hug as she slammed the door shut with her foot. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded and shrugged at the same time. “It certainly explains his behavior when that guy called him Steven.”

  “Did you call the cops?”

  “Yeah. Officer Terrell is on his way here.” I had no sooner sat down on the couch when there was a knock on the door. Diane motioned for me to stay still as she went to the door. After peeking through the peep hole, she unlocked and opened the door.

  “Isabelle.” Officer Terrell walked in and stood in front of me. “Tell me what you know about this man.”

  I glanced at Diane and she nodded to me.

  Taking in a deep breath, I fingered my necklace. “He goes by Nick Sterling. I met him last year and we started dating. However, in the past few months, since I got back from my trip to New Hampshire…when the break-in occurred…he’s been different.”

  He was scribbling in his notebook. “What do you mean, different?”

  “More possessive, irritable, flying off the handle at the least little things.”

  “Did he have a key to your house?” Officer Terrell asked.

  “He did, but I honestly never thought about that until he tried to get one day before I got home from work and he said he needed a new key.”

  “Did you give him the new key?”

  I shook my head. “No, thankfully.”

  Officer Terrill reread his notes. “I think I have everything for now. Do you have his address?”

  I looked at Diane. “I don’t. In all the time we have been together, he has always just come here.”

  Diane put her arm around me. “I don’t have it either. He keeps to himself really.”

  A knock on the door startled me. I started to stand and Officer Terrill gestured for me to sit. He opened the door and let in another police officer who handed him a file. Officer Terrell flipped through it and pulled out a couple of pictures.

  “Is this Nick?” He handed me the photograph.

  “Yes, but with blond hair, not dark.” I handed the picture back.

  “I want you to be prepared for this next one. It’s not bloody, but just be prepared.”

  I nodded as I took the picture. I heard Diane inhale sharply. It was like looking at a picture of myself. Same color hair, same color eyes. It was just a head shot but, I would guess her to be about the same build as I am. My hand trembled as I handed the picture back. “Who is that?”

  “That’s Kristine, his wife.”

  I closed my eyes. I just wanted this nightmare to end. How on earth could I have gotten mixed up with someone like this, a murderer? My phone buzzed with a text message. I opened my eyes to see Nick’s name flash across the screen. “It’s him.”

  Let’s talk. Sorry about this weekend. Dinner tomorrow?

  Everything in me screamed at me not to do it. I handed the phone to Officer Terre
ll. He read it and returned the phone to me. “How do you feel about meeting him?”

  “I don’t want to, not after seeing those news reports and seeing pictures of his wife.”

  “I don’t think you are in any danger unless he knows that you figured out who he is.”

  Diane cut in. “What are you asking her to do?”

  “I’m thinking, if you meet him, we can pick him up at the restaurant.”

  I stared at him.

  “You will be safe the whole time. We will be there in the restaurant and outside.” He reassured me. “We will pick him up outside, so you don’t even need to go into the restaurant.”

  “I don’t know. How can I even act normal around him?”

  “You won’t have to interact with him. We’ll pick him up just as you get there.”

  Diane nudged me. “Text him back and set up the dinner.”

  Ok. Let’s meet at Flamigo’s. 7?

  Ok. I’m sorry about this weekend.

  We’ll talk tomorrow.

  I gave Officer Terrell the information. He assured me they would be there before seven and Nick, or Steven, wouldn’t even know they were there. I locked up after I let the officers out and turned toward Diane.

  “This is not what I expected at all.”

  Diane nodded. “I know. I can’t believe it. It seems like it is out of some movie or book.”

  “You don’t think he’ll try to come here before going to Flamigo’s?”

  “If he does, you won’t know. I think you should come to my place today and stay with me until this is over.”

  “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

  I packed up an overnight bag and I followed Diane back to her place. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as she locked the door behind us.

  25

  I had been tense all day. After tossing and turning all night, I had, finally, gotten up about four a.m. and made coffee. Diane joined me shortly. I couldn’t tell if I had wakened her or if she, truly, hadn’t been sleeping either. Coffee on her front porch, watching the sun rise, helped calm the nerves a bit, but the rest of the day, waiting for the time to leave for the restaurant, dragged painfully slow.

  I wanted Diane to be able to go with me, but knew she couldn’t. My stomach churned with nerves. I was ready to cancel more than once and Diane talked me through the anxiety. I drove slowly to the pier and parked my car. Glancing around, I saw no indication of police cars anywhere. I prayed that Officer Terrell was there. There was no way I would be able to act normal around a man who had killed his wife…a woman who looked eerily like me.

  I walked down the pier and saw Nick sitting outside of Flamigo’s, waiting. Under any other circumstances, I would have been excited to be meeting a man so good looking as he was. The blond hair and blue eyes, along with the lean, tan body, was something any woman could appreciate. Yet, as I moved closer to him, dread filled me and I prayed a cop would show up.

  I saw Nick stand when I came into his line of vision and I gave a little wave. I tried to keep a normal pace, but my feet felt heavier with each step I took. When I arrived in front of him, to my surprise, I kept myself neutral when he kissed me on the cheek. He grabbed my hand and opened the door to go inside.

  “Let’s sit outside” I moved toward the outside seating. We placed drink orders and sat in silence as we waited for the drinks to come.

  “Izzy…” Nick started just as the waitress came back with drinks. He paused until the waitress left. “Izzy, I’m so sorry about this weekend.”

  “Don’t you ever get sick of apologizing for this bad behavior?” Suddenly the fear was gone and I was just angry. Mad for the way he was making me feel, mad for taking out his insecurities or anger out on me, mad that I was even in this situation and suddenly wishing I had spoken to Jack when I was in New Hampshire.

  I saw a flash of anger on a face before he hid it away. “Bad behavior? Stop treating me like a child.”

  I took a deep breath. “Then stop acting like one. You were out of control for what reason at Emerald Isle? Because some unknown person mistook you for someone else?”

  “And you are always so perfect, Izzy. I wish we all could be as wonderful as you.” His words were cold. Fear overtook me again and I wondered if I had pushed it too far. I glanced around and spotted Office Terrill and two other cops walking up the walkway with him. Relief flooded me.

  “Not perfect at all, Nick, but I don’t use others as a punching bag and I won’t be used as one by you.” As I stood, I saw Officer Terrill making his way to our table. Nick reached for my hand. “No, Nick. We’re through.” I pulled my hand away from him and walked away. I passed Office Terrill and stopped at the table.

  “Nick Sterling…Steven Melrose, you’re under arrest.” Office Terrill pulled him to his feet and put cuffs on his wrists.

  “For what?” Nick looked at me.

  “For the murder of your wife, Kristine Melrose, and Mike Wilson. You do remember them, don’t you?” I heard the words and saw the blood drain from Nick’s face. He stared at me and I looked back at him. The shock I was feeling was genuine. I knew it was going to happen, but I was surprised at the way it affected me. I heard the blood rushing as my heart pounded. This was real. The realization hit me that, if I’d had this fight with Nick at home, before I knew who he really was, I could have ended up dead, like his wife. My legs buckled as the officers started walking Nick towards the parking lot. I felt the arm of one of the officers around me as he led me to a chair to sit down.

  “Ma’am, are you okay?” He asked softly.

  I nodded. “I’m fine.”

  “It’s all over now. Do you need a ride home?”

  I shook my head no. “I have my car and I live not far from here.” I stood just as Diane came rushing over. “What are you doing here?”

  “Did you really think I was going to let you do this alone? I’ve been just down the pier waiting for them to get him.” She linked her arm with mine. “I’ve got her, Officer. I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”

  It was over. Nick…Steven, whoever he was, was out of my life for good. Another chapter closed and I had survived another bit of life that would leave me jaded just a bit more. My heart ached as I realized how many times I had survived and how jaded I had become. Jack, I’m so sorry. The moment of truth was, I loved Jack, and, at this particular moment, all I wanted was to be able to lean on him.

  For the first time ever I called in sick to work. I told Gayle I would be there tomorrow and then called Mary immediately. I needed some perspective and I knew Mary was the only one who could give it to me.

  She fit me in for an emergency session. As soon as I walked through the door, she was all business. “What’s going on?”

  I started to walk to the window, stopped, and turned back towards the couch. “It’s Nick, rather, his name is Steven Melrose.”

  “Wait, the Steven Melrose who was on the run after killing his wife?”

  “You saw the news?”Mary nodded. “Yeah, that’s him. All this time and I never knew. But apparently, this is the time of year he actually killed her and, evidently, me going to New Hampshire and looking up Jack triggered the whole ‘my wife had an affair’ thing in his mind.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “You know, everyone keeps asking me that. I don’t know if I’m okay or not. What is okay in this type of situation? What am I supposed to be feeling?” I closed my eyes for a moment to collect my thoughts. “I know I was angry at first, before the cops arrested him. I was so tired of being his punching bag, and, after the cops had him in handcuffs, it hit me that it could have easily been me next who he killed.”

  “Yes, but you are here and you are safe.”

  I scoffed. “Safe? What is safe?”

  Mary looked at me. “What do you mean what is safe?”

  “You make it sound like life is grand now that the ‘danger’ is gone?” I air quoted danger. “But in reality, I close my eyes at night and I see myself dying at his hands, o
ver and over again. No matter how many times I force myself to wake up, I go back to sleep and it happens again.”

  Mary took a deep breath. “Yes, that is your mind processing the fear and the reality of what could have happened. You have to keep reminding yourself that it didn’t happen and he can’t hurt you now. Your mind will, eventually, listen to that and reset to a better mind set.”

  “Eventually? When will that be?” I stood and started pacing the room. Back and forth, I walked, not saying anything. Finally, I turned toward Mary. “I can’t do ‘eventually’. I need for all this to stop now.” My anger was at a boiling point. I had had enough. I wanted my life back, but what life? I wanted a life with Jack. I always had and now, more than ever, the loss of what could have been between us was more real and prominent than ever before.

  “Whoa. I know you want things at a normal level, whatever that is for you, but when you go through a trauma and, yes, this was a trauma, you have to work through it and process it before things get back to that level.”

  “That’s just it. I threw what could have been a good life away and, for what? For crap to happen time and time again to me? When does it stop?”

  “When you stop it.” Mary’s words were soft, but direct.

  “How?” The anger had subsided and I sat back down to listen.

  “You have to come to the point where you are not going to let your life circumstances dictate your life. You have a good life, Isabelle. You have a great job, great friends and, yet, you are fixated on Jack. Why is that?”

  “I didn’t say anything about Jack.” I protested.

  “You didn’t have to. When you say you threw away a good life, you mean your chance of a life with Jack. It happened. Life happens. Why are you holding onto that still?”

  “Are you telling me to let it go?” I challenged her.

  Mary smiled. “I’m telling you to decide what you want for your life and make it happen. Let go of what could have been and make what you want to be, happen.”