The Last Housekeeper

by Kari Shuey

  One window to her left looked big enough to climb through. She desperately tried to open the window and she groaned as the pain in her arm screamed at her to stop. The pane was stuck, and she couldn’t muster enough strength to loosen it. In a last-ditch effort, she grabbed a chair from the dining table and threw it at the door. Cracking the glass, but not breaking it enough to grant her freedom, she crumpled to the floor as the smoke suffocated her.

  As if stuck in a dream, Abby found herself in a haze of fog. She could see nothing, not even her hand in front of her own face. Something was wrapping itself around her throat, preventing her ability to breathe. Coughing and wheezing, Abby frantically gripped her neck, clawing at it. The sound of shattering glass was heard in the distance. Two cool arms picked her up and she was tossed over a shoulder. Then everything turned black.

  Chapter 39

  Abby walked through the fog. She called out for anyone… hoping someone would hear her and help her. Her throat burned, her leg throbbed, and her entire body ached. This had to be purgatory. She’d died and now she was stuck in an endless mist.

  Exhausted yet determined, Abby continued to blindly wander. After what felt like hours, she heard the faint sound of a high-pitched beep. Fueled with a new kind of courage, she quickened her pace and the haze began to lift, revealing a bright light. The sounds of familiar voices surrounded her, asking an invisible being how she was doing and what should they be concerned about. Convinced the light wasn’t a bad thing, Abby shielded her eyes with her arm and walked straight into the beam.

  Blinking rapidly, Abby allowed her vision to adjust to the blinding lights above her. The voices had since disappeared, and Abby took in the room. Machinery was set up on either side, a heart rate monitor being the source of the incessant beeping and an IV drip the source of her cold arm. Her pain had been downgraded to a dull ache. She had a fresh bandage on her arm, her hands were wrapped in a kind of breathable bandage, and it felt like her leg under the blanket had a more restrictive casing around it. Off to her right sat a figure hunched over, his head in his hands and his hair tousled.

  Abby’s memory was muddled. She didn’t know how she got here. What had happened? Making an attempt to focus, she tried to backtrack and remember the events leading to her current state. Slowly the memories resurfaced and played through her head like an old-time movie reel.

  Lori. Lori had destroyed Gavin’s life, and for what? Not dating her? She stalked him, killed his housekeeper, framed him and Windsor for murder, and… the fire! Abby realized she’d lost consciousness after the house was set ablaze. She couldn’t get the doors or windows open, nor could she break the glass to get out.

  Her heart started pounding wildly as she considered the implications for Lori. Had she gotten out okay? Was Abby now a murderer? The machine’s blips increased in speed, drawing the attention of the visitor.

  “Abby? Thank the Lord you’re alright!” Gavin was at her side in seconds, carefully taking her hand in his. “I thought I’d lost you.” He looked like he’d been through Hell. His disheveled appearance, wrinkled and dirty, told the story of the struggles he’d endured.

  Abby opened her mouth to speak but found she didn’t have a voice. Her throat was dry and brittle. She coughed, the effort causing her chest to tighten. Gavin immediately grabbed a glass of water on a nearby tray. Placing a straw in it, he brought it near her lips. She gingerly took a sip, the cool water extinguishing the fire she felt was engulfing her insides.

  “Lori,” her voice cracked.

  Gavin’s expression darkened. “She’s here too. In a lot worse shape than you, might I add. It serves her right. She’s under 24-hour watch until she will be transported to holding. We got enough evidence against her, she will be going to prison for a long time.”

  “She’s alive?” Abby forced out the words with a hoarse voice. She felt relief. She didn’t want to be the one responsible for her friend’s death despite what she’d been put through.

  “Unfortunately.” Gavin seemed to be of a different opinion. “She’s got some pretty nasty burns though.”

  “What happened?” Abby looked up at Gavin with a pleading eye. She wanted him to tell her that everyone came out of it alive. That there was a good reason he hadn’t come back to the house. That even though it felt dire, everything would be okay.

  ***

  Gavin pulled a chair next to her hospital bed. “Mr. Smith incapacitated Windsor and then me. Lori had threatened him too, and he didn’t feel he had a choice. He’s getting a deal for coming forward but will probably serve some time as well. It looks like you and Lori had a fight of your own.” He reached up and gently traced her cheekbone. Abby winced, and he pulled back. Her swollen face only fueled his hatred for the woman down the hall.

  He continued, “I don’t know how the fire started, but by that point, Mr. Smith had a change of heart and broke the glass in the French doors. He was pulling both you and Lori out by the time I came to. I had half a mind to beat him to a bloody pulp but when I saw you lying there unconscious, I…”

  He tried to fight off the horrific memory of thinking she was gone. But instead it replayed in his mind without provocation.

  Gavin ran across the lawn and scooped her into his arms. Her limp body a shell of what he loved so much about her. Mr. Smith exited the burning building with another unconscious figure and put her down.

  Fury overwhelmed Gavin, as he took in both of the criminals. Both he thought he could trust at one point in his life. It just proved that he couldn’t trust anyone anymore. Mr. Smith guardedly observed him from a few yards away. His body language apologized for what they were now dealing with. He’d held up his hands and said he wouldn’t try to escape; the police and fire department were on their way.

  Gavin just held Abby tighter, until a paramedic all but pried her out of his arms. Another paramedic insisted they took a look at the cut on the back of his head, the blow that had put him unconscious also contributing to blood loss and a full concussion. Gavin batted them away from him as he tried to get closer to Abby. They started pulling out rescue equipment and gave her respiratory treatments. He watched them examine all her injuries with concerned faces. Was she worse off than he thought?

  They loaded her onto a stretcher and prepared her for transport. Despite his own injuries, he was able to convince them – through physical force and plenty of language – that he needed to be on that ambulance with her. He wouldn’t leave her side until she was safe.

  Once at the hospital he was argued with and chastised about his unwillingness to be treated. He told them, if they wanted to treat him, they could do it while he stood watch over Abby. So they gave him pain killers for the aches, they checked his bullet wound, and they stitched up his head. Abby never stirred.

  No one could tell the depth of her injuries and she would be closely monitored until they could assess the damage to her lungs. The bruising and contusions were all treated well, and it turned out she’d torn a muscle in her knee. And all of this could have been avoided if he’d been more vigilant. He blamed himself for all of it.

  “Gavin? Where are you?” Abby’s gravelly voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he looked back at the damaged, yet still beautiful woman lying beside him.

  “I’m so sorry, Abby,” he croaked. “Will you ever forgive me?”

  She smiled at him, and grimaced as she shifted in her bed. “None of this was your fault, Gavin. We were both just targets of an insane woman who wanted nothing more than to destroy you. I don’t need to forgive you.”

  He felt relieved. “Is there anything I can get for you? I’m going to let your nurses know you’re alright.”

  She shook her head, and he left the room. The joy and gratitude he felt for knowing she wasn’t lost to him overcame him and once out in the hall, he broke down. Tears of exhaustion and relief tumbled out unchecked as he was finally able to breathe. He wiped harshly at his face and continued to the nurse’s station.

  ***

  A
bby watched Gavin walk out the door. She had a multitude of feelings and emotions running through her system and it didn’t help that she was bruised and broken on the outside too. She could tell she was still in shock. And she could assume that the reason she wasn’t in more pain was the likelihood she was on pain killers. She waited for Gavin to return and let everything she’d been through in the last few days sink in. Never in a million years would she have guessed she’d been at the core of a murder revenge plot. Despite feeling drained and a bit traumatized, Abby felt she was coping better than she could have hoped. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would have the ability to handle a situation like this and come out on top.

  The next few hours, Abby was looked over and listened to. She wasn’t permitted to shower just yet but would be able to do so tomorrow. Gavin on the other hand finally left her side long enough to get the shower he desperately needed, and he looked so much better and refreshed afterward. They spent Saturday afternoon in each other’s company, not saying much but not wanting to be separate from each other either.

  After a while, Abby could tell Gavin was itching to say something and didn’t know how to begin.

  “Just say it, Gavin. I think we’ve been through enough at this point you can say anything you want.”

  Gavin examined her with a crooked half-smile on his face. “I don’t want to sound stupid.”

  “Gavin, I will never think of you as stupid. You saved my life. I will forever be indebted to you.”

  He took a deep breath. “Okay then. I just wish we could start over. Do you think we could pretend all of this didn’t happen and we start fresh?”

  “Actually, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I wouldn’t mind wiping this whole nightmare from my memory,” Abby chuckled. It wasn’t realistic, but it would be nice to pretend.

  In all seriousness, Gavin got closer to her and reached out his hand. “Hi, my name’s Garrett.”

  A Note from the Author

  Thank you so much for taking a chance on my debut novel! I’m looking forward to adding to your library. Please take a few moments to leave a simple review and let others know what you thought! Sign up for my newsletter by clicking this link.

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  About the Author

  Kari Shuey grew up in the Salt Lake area. She attended Brigham Young University-Idaho. After completing her college degree specializing in childhood education, she created a preschool program so she could stay at home with her own little ones.

  Kari loves putting surprise twists in her novels alongside giving her readers a taste of what will happen in future chapters.

  She enjoys writing, reading, drawing, and teaching. Always one to try new things, she loves adding to her hobbies and has found joy in cake decorating and home improvement.

  She has three daughters and one son. They currently reside in Idaho. The Last Housekeeper is her debut novel.

  Her Deadly Defender

  Enjoy a glimpse at the first chapter of Kari’s next novel

  *Please note this excerpt is a non-edited version.*

  Chapter One

  He sat at the hotel bar, sitting in the corner adjacent from the lobby. He’d be able to monitor her movements from this vantage point. She was predictable, and almost too easy to track. Glancing at his watch, he mockingly counted down the seconds until she would flitter across the lobby tile. Three, two, one… and there she was. The slight blond woman wore a sundress today. She had a book in her hand and a tote bag filled with items she’d likely decided she would use at the beach today. Her pixie nose was dusted with freckles and she had a slight perma-grin on her face. It was irritating to be put on such a job but he was doing a favor for a friend.

  Over the past several weeks, nothing of interest happened surrounding this girl. She owned a small boutique bookstore near Greenwich Village in New York. She didn’t have any family that he could tell, she kept mostly to herself. Currently she wasn’t dating anyone, and she only had one close friend. She was a nobody and he was tempted to call it quits. His skills were better used in more dangerous situations.

  A glance down at the empty glass in his hand signaled it was time to find a new inconspicuous surveillance position. He didn’t drink, but occasionally the job required him to fit in. A request for a simple seltzer water with lime usually did the trick. He pulled out his wallet and left a generous tip. With a quick nod in the bartender’s direction, he inconspicuously made his way to the concierge desk to rifle through some pamphlets on sites to see while in the Florida Keys.

  The woman at the desk gave him an eager smile. He’d gotten used to the attention most women gave him. He fit the bill of what was considered a catch. Between his powerful physique and his habit to remain well-groomed, it was never hard to find a date.

  “And what are we looking at doing today, sir?” she asked in a sing-song voice. “Maybe a champagne sunset sail… with that special someone?” He didn’t make eye contact with her. She was fishing for information about him again, making it unbelievably difficult to remain undetected.

  “No, I think I will just lounge at the beach today,” he glanced out the lobby doors to verify his target was out of sight. “Thanks for the recommendations, he said as he put the pamphlets back haphazardly.

  He pulled the sunglasses out of his colorful shirt pocket and purposefully walked out the lobby doors. When he reached the sidewalk, he looked both directions to see which way she had gone. Locating her, he put his hands in his pockets and meandered in her direction. She was heading straight to the beach as he had expected. She’d been here a total of three days. Each day at nine in the morning, she would enter the lobby and head out to the beach to do some reading. After about two hours, she would return to the hotel for lunch. He assumed she was working on something in her hotel room, because she would hole up there for a few hours. Finally around four she would come out and utilize the pool the hotel offered. After a quiet dinner at one of the nearby restaurants, she’d return to her room for the night and the day would start all over at nine the following morning. Her trip was scheduled to last another few days and then they would both be returning to New York.

  She slowed down ahead of him as she came to the beach area. There were few people at the beach this early. Not even families with small children seemed brave enough to leave their hotel rooms before eleven. She would get her peace and quiet. This made it difficult to keep a close eye on her. If she realized the same man was attending the beach with her each morning, she’d likely get spooked. But getting caught was not something that happened to him… ever. He was known for being inconspicuous.

  Walking over to a shack that rented beach equipment, he pretended to be interested in renting something as he watched her get comfortable. She rolled out her towel and leaned back on one hand as she sat basking in the sun. Due to her fair complexion, he wasn’t surprised when she didn’t remove her light-weight cover. She was wearing a stylish straw hat and oversized sunglasses. He could tell she was enjoying the novel, the dimples indenting her cheeks were ample evidence of that.

  He couldn’t help rolling his eyes yet again at the ridiculous nature of his current situation. It would be different if he was told exactly why he was told to watch her, but his only instructions were to simply keep an eye on her.

  A few joggers had arrived on the beach. There was even a couple who looked to be on their honeymoon judging by the way they couldn’t stop looking at each other. One of the joggers was coming up fast and it was clear he wasn’t paying much attention. He was headed straight toward the girl at full speed.

  He watched the jogger with a cautious eye, tempted to call out to them so neither of them got hurt. But he couldn’t risk losing his position of anonymity. Tensing for the collision, he observed the jogger trip over the woman’s tote bag, successfully scattering its contents into
the sand. The jogger apologized and insisted on helping clean up the mess he’d caused. She assured him she was fine and made sure he was as well. Together they replaced her spilled items and said their goodbyes.

  To the typical bystander, everything seemed fine. But not to him. He noticed immediately when the jogger palmed the hotel keycard and later shoved it into his pocket as he jogged away. The woman didn’t realize her card was missing and probably wouldn’t until she tried to access her room in a few hours. This jogger was up to something. He couldn’t help but assume that this was the reason he was put on this job.

  He quickly left the beach and made his way back to the hotel. He’d stake out her room. The jogger definitely had less than desirable intentions. He would make sure this woman’s safety wasn’t at risk.

  He rode the elevator up the few floors to where she was staying. Confidence was one of the determining factors to fitting in, and he was good at it. Her room was four doors down on the left. Pulling out a keycard he’d similarly swiped from an interaction he’d had with her, he smoothly placed it in the reader and gained access to her room.

  Despite having her keycard so soon after they’d arrived at the hotel, he hadn’t violated her privacy. Normally, he’d only break into a target’s room if there was something he needed. He looked around her personal space and was not surprised to see it had remained well-organized. Yes, she was on a vacation, but she continued to make her bed and she did not leave one item out of place. Her clothes hung neatly in the closet, there was a personal computer plugged in on the desk, and a small stack of books on the bedside table.