by Jaden Skye
Officer Tauber left to join the other officers and make the calls. As Olivia sat alone, wave upon wave of horror engulfed her. She watched some of the officers tie yellow tape around the trees and others take photographs of the body from every angle. Then, as the sun slowly faded through the trees, they finally covered Alice up completely.
Although part of her felt responsible, Olivia also struggled to realize that she was not fully to blame. Perhaps this sudden death was easier for Alice than a life locked up in jail? Olivia also wondered where Clay had been when it happened and how he would react when he heard the news. Would he be relieved? Alice’s relationship with Clay was also part of what pushed her. So many factors had led to this horrible act.
Another officer, Ben, then approached Olivia gingerly. “Why don’t you come inside and have something to drink?” he now asked. “It’s not good to sit out here alone.”
“My partner is coming from Naples soon,” Olivia breathed.
Ben nodded. “But he’s not here now, come on inside.”
“Is Clay there?” asked Olivia, frightened to see him.
“No, he wasn’t at the home when his wife jumped,” Ben responded.
Olivia still couldn’t move. “I’ll come inside a little later,” she said.
“Whatever you like,” said Ben as he leaned toward her then. “Look, I know this had to be shocking for you. It’s not your fault, though. You have to realize that.”
Olivia looked up at him, grateful. “Thank you,” she said. “I do.”
“These things happen all the time,” Ben went on. “It’s part of the job. You can’t take it personally.”
“Thanks again,” Olivia replied, as Ben stood up and took a few steps away. “I’ll go inside in a little while.”
After Ben left, Olivia went to the other side of the tree and sat with her head in her hands. Olivia knew she wasn’t responsible for Alice’s choices, but how was it possible not to be swamped by the pain? Olivia also knew that when someone took their own life, they always brought down others who had been close to them. The memory of it could haunt that person’s entire life. Olivia couldn’t let that happen and she wouldn’t.
As the day started to fade, Olivia looked up finally and saw someone approaching from the distance.
“Olivia, Olivia,” the voice was calling to her. For a second Olivia didn’t recognize the voice. “I’m here, Olivia. Where are you?”
Then, through the haze of pain she was feeling, Olivia suddenly recognized Wayne. She stood up quickly under the tree and waved as he approached in the distance.
“Olivia!” Wayne ran over to her. “Thank God, you’re all right! Thank God, she didn’t throw you over the railing with her.”
Then, in a swift, shocking moment, Wayne pulled Olivia to him in a fervent embrace. Before Olivia knew what was happening, her lips met Wayne’s and they suddenly started kissing passionately.
It was a stunning kiss, entirely unexpected and life-giving in every way. Olivia and Wayne held each other tightly. When Olivia finally came back to herself, there she was, nestled in the warmth and strength of Wayne’s arms.
When Olivia and Wayne drew apart they stared at each other, both utterly shocked. This was the last thing either of them planned for. But the intensity of the moment took over and had its say.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here with you when this happened,” Wayne breathed then. “How awful to have to go through something like this alone.”
“I wasn’t alone,” Olivia breathed softly then. “You came in a few minutes. And I knew that you would.”
“Come inside now, please.” Wayne kept his arms around her. “This has been an awful shock. It will take time to come back to yourself.”
There had been many shocks that afternoon, thought Olivia, not the least of which was the way her relationship with Wayne had now completely turned around.
*
Before long, reporters began to flood into Alice’s home and the story was blasted all over the news. Tyron’s murder was finally solved. Olivia Wells, private detective, once again had found the true culprit. Megan, Tyron’s widow, was innocent, and would be let out of custody in a short while.
Olivia took no joy in her personal acclaim. Everyone had worked hard on the case. She had just insisted upon going on the last leg of the journey, when others thought it was done. Olivia was relieved, though, about Megan. Whether or not people liked Megan or the way she lived, she was innocent of Tyron’s death. And Olivia and Wayne had done the job Megan hired them to do and cleared her name.
Officer Tauber came over to Olivia and Wayne shortly after the news broke.
“Clay was located in Naples, at the prison, visiting Megan,” Tauber reported. “He said he told Alice that morning he was going to visit her there. Alice begged him not to. Clay said he told Alice he had no choice about it. He couldn’t leave Megan there alone.”
Olivia felt better hearing that. She realized even more fully then that Alice had jumped to get away from many things, including her dissolving relationship with Clay. Although Olivia was a witness to it, she wasn’t to blame.
“How is Clay handling Alice’s death?” asked Olivia.
“He’s calm about it,” Tauber replied. “He said that Alice had been threatening suicide for a long time now if Clay didn’t stay away from Megan.”
Olivia flinched. She knew how important it was to pay attention to threats of those kinds. Clay was aware of how Alice felt and visited Megan anyway.
“Does Clay have some responsibility for what happened to Alice?” Olivia asked.
“We can’t go there, it’s beyond our scope,” Tauber cut her off quickly. “Clay wasn’t there, he didn’t push her. But from what I’ve heard, Alice did arrange to have Hank push Tyron to his death. The police in Naples are taking Hank in as we speak.”
“It’s interesting that Alice died the same way that Tyron did,” Wayne remarked.
“Yes, but no one pushed her,” Tauber interjected. “She did it to herself.”
“Her destiny pushed her,” Wayne said in an odd tone.
“Well, I don’t know about something like that,” said Tauber.
“Where is Clay now?” Wayne was curious.
“He’s on his way back down here to make funeral arrangements,” Tauber replied. “Alice’s daughters, Kayle and Lana, are also on their way down. Both of them refuse to speak to anyone. They’re totally inconsolable.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Olivia.
“Well, anyway, you did a fantastic job,” Tauber repeated. “Feel happy about that.”
Olivia looked at Wayne somberly. “How can we feel happy that the case is solved when there’s sorrow here everywhere you look?” she murmured.
“Solving cases is bittersweet,” Wayne replied quietly. “Some benefit, others suffer a lot.”
That was a good way to put it, thought Olivia. And, strangely enough, she and Wayne had been the ones who had benefited. They’d turned a corner together. Their relationship was now completely new.
“There are many reporters who want to speak to you guys,” Tauber said. “I also heard that calls are pouring in for you both with new cases.”
Wayne shook his head slowly. “Don’t we get a little special time to be alone together first?” he asked Olivia, his eyes suddenly twinkling.
Olivia smiled.
“Let’s see who’s calling first,” she replied.
NOW AVAILABLE!
NO PLACE TO DECEIVE
(Murder in the Keys—Book #5)
“Jaden Skye creates a set of characters that are very well developed, and makes you cheer for our heroine on every page. The environment and the overall description of scenes are superb, making you feel the suspense in the air the whole time.”
--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) (re No Place to Die)
NO PLACE TO DECEIVE is book #5 in a new romantic suspense series by #1 bestselling author Jaden Skye, which begins with Book #1, NO PLACE TO DIE, a
free download!
Private Detective Olivia Wells finds herself hired by a distraught wife after her husband is found murdered. Olivia and Wayne set out to discover the truth, and the deeper they probe, the more secrets they discover. Something does not sit right to them about this man’s life, a long-distance commuter and the father to three happy children.
And the deeper they penetrate into the world of lies, secrets and deception, the more they come to realize that, behind the picture-perfect façade, nothing is what it seems.
NO PLACE TO DECEIVE is book #5 in an explosive new romantic suspense series filled with love, tragedy, heartbreak, betrayal and suspense, one that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #6 will be released soon.
Jaden is also author of the #1 Bestselling series MURDER IN THE CARIBBEAN, which begins with DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1), a free download with over 200 five star reviews!
NO PLACE TO DECEIVE
(Murder in the Keys—Book #5)
Please visit Jaden’s site, where you can join the mailing list, hear the latest news, see additional images, and find links to stay in touch with Jaden on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and elsewhere:
www.jadenskye.com
Books by Jaden Skye
THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES
DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)
DEATH BY DIVORCE (Book #2)
DEATH BY MARRIAGE (Book #3)
DEATH BY DESIRE (Book #4)
DEATH BY DECEIT (Book #5)
DEATH BY JEALOUSY (Book #6)
DEATH BY PROPOSAL (Book #7)
DEATH BY OBSESSION (Book #8)
DEATH BY DEVOTION (Book #9)
DEATH BY BETRAYAL (Book #10)
DEATH BY REQUEST (Book #11)
DEATH BY ENGAGEMENT (Book #12)
DEATH BY SEDUCTION (Book #13)
DEATH BY TEMPTATION (Book #14)
DEATH BY INVITATION (Book #15)
DEATH BY WEDDING (Book #16)
THE TOM’S RIVER SAGA
A PERFECT STRANGER (Book #1)
MURDER IN THE KEYS
NO PLACE TO DIE (Book #1)
NO PLACE TO VANISH (Book #2)
NO PLACE FOR VENGEANCE (Book #3)
NO PLACE FOR MARRIAGE (Book #4)
THE KILLING GAME
INVITATION TO DIE (Book #1)
INVITATION TO MADNESS (Book #2)
INVITATION TO AGONY (Book #3)
Tap here to download Jaden Skye books now!