What? I watch as she heads to the door. Crap. I need more—only the deeper I dig, the more confused I seem to be. Why wouldn’t she be invited? And more to the point, why would she voluntarily show up in a wedding dress and become a public spectacle if she didn’t have to?
“Wait,” I call after her. “I found something the night of Hannah’s party, and I thought it might belong to her.”
She freezes midflight before pivoting on her heels. “What did you find?” Her eyes oddly congeal, the cords of her neck flexing as if it were taking all of her self-control not to freak out.
“A piece of paper. It was just some random numbers I found floating around on her seat when you left. I figured it fell out of her purse. It didn’t really look important, but the Black Bear has a policy that we have to make every effort to return lost items. It has something to do with integrity and other nonsense expressed by the owners.”
She hisses something indiscernible under her breath. “Do you have it here?”
“Oh no, actually, I need to give it directly to Hannah—there’s that stupid company policy again.” Baya and Bryson are going to kill me for making them look like assholes. That is, if Hannah doesn’t do it first.
Her mouth falls open a moment. “Fine. She’ll be at the lumberyard tonight at seven, closing out business with an old friend. It will be your last chance to get anything to her at all, so I suggest if you want to keep your job, you show up there as well.” She glances to the door a moment. “Hannah is sort of a recluse when she’s sober. If she sees a mob coming at her, she’s liable to get skittish. You should probably come alone.”
“Lumberyard at seven—alone. I’ll make a quick trip to drop off that paper. Not a problem.”
She chortles under her breath. “Thank you. Hannah is going to be so relieved!”
I bet she is.
Belinda trots off, and I trail after her. Harley texted to let me know she’s already in the car, so I take off for the exit myself.
“Excuse me!” the secretary calls as I’m about to make a break from one sauna into the next, and I take a step back toward her desk. “Did you want to sign up for another class? They fill up so fast you’ll want to reserve your spot now.”
I think on it for a minute. I suppose if I need to question Belinda again, it will be totally natural this way—plus, we’re in her territory. People are always far more comfortable with the truth on their own turf.
“Thanks for letting me know.” I pencil in my name and Harley’s in for the class next Friday, only to note that the instructor’s name looks different. “Oh, I want Belinda Johnson as my instructor. When is her next class?”
The secretary’s tiny fairy-like features turn down in a frown. “I’m sorry. Belinda is leaving us. That was her last class. She’s moving to Pittsburg with her boyfriend.”
“What?” I squawk so loud I’m sure I just saw feathers fly. I speed out of the gym and into the waiting well air-conditioned car where Harley swears up a storm all the way back to Whitney Briggs. I don’t tell Harley about the sudden turn of events. Instead, I stew over the fact I’ve just been lied to.
Six thirty comes like a thief, and I haven’t stopped circling my tiny dorm room. If I tell Shep, he’ll strongly suggest I call the police. If I call the police, they will strongly suggest I stay the hell out of it. If I stay out of it, I’ll probably end up doing time for someone I most likely should have killed the second he bumped into me. But under no circumstances am I doing time for a murder I didn’t have any part in. No way, no how. I’m not letting Hannah, Belinda, Craig Carter, or Barry’s crazy rich sister get away with murder. I’m solving this son of a bitch before fall semester rolls around because it just so happens that the only shade of orange I look good in is the flaming hue of my school’s spirit colors.
“I’m heading out.” Harley looks me over. She’s donned her tightest little black dress and has borrowed my silver chandelier earrings for the non-occasion. She’s surprising Tyson at his frat house and is planning to steal him away for a hot little date that I’m pretty sure will result in Harley giving up her own great state of West Virginia. I’d throw myself over her crotch like a wet blanket, but I’ve got a do-or-die situation brewing myself—pardon the deadly pun. My future hangs in the balance. I need to make a solid decision, and time is clearly not on my side as evidenced by the fact no sooner do I look at my phone than another fifteen minutes has evaporated.
Harley scoffs my way. “You’re going to wear a hole in the carpet. What has you so cagey?”
“Oh, nothing. I’m seeing Shep in a bit. We’ve got our own hot little date mapped out.” I offer up a contrived wink. “We’re picking up takeout, and he’s taking me to the lumberyard to show off his muscles.”
She makes a face as if the thought repulsed her.
I’m pretty sure it’s the thought of the lumberyard and not the muscles. Any girl in her right mind would pay to watch Shepherd Collins wield an axe. But Harley is your run-of-the-mill spoiled princess who likens five-star hotels to camping, so the mere mention of such a blue-collar-inspired adventure has her shivering with revulsion.
“Kidding,” I assure her. “We’ll probably hit a movie and then each other.” Oh, how I wish. But I totally threw in that lumberyard bit in the event I end up in the chipper and the authorities needed a clue as to where my remains have been splattered.
“Sounds like a good time will be had by all.” She pulls out her favorite MAC lipstick and rings her lips a brilliant shade of red. I happen to abide by the axiom if all goes wrong, put on red lipstick so I steal it from her and ring some on my own lips. “Don’t worry, Serena. I’ll make sure Tyson and I have a good time, too.” She gives a sly wink my way before dashing out the door.
“Don’t you dare have a good time!” I call out after her. “Wait until tomorrow! Because tonight I’m far too busy to kill your lousy boyfriend.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I fish it out to find a text from Shep.
Meet me at the Black Bear in an hour?
I text right back. Sounds perfect! One hour and I’m all yours.
That’s plenty of time for me to drive out to the lumberyard and back. I pluck that infamous piece of paper from my old English lit book and tuck it into my pocket as I head out the door.
If that old lumberyard looks dicey at all, I simply won’t get out of the car. I feel perfectly safe about the whole thing. Just about as safe as I felt walking out to the dumpster the night I nearly tripped over a body.
Hollow Brook at sunset is a resplendent sight to behold. The tangerine Popsicle in the sky melts over the jagged mountain peaks as the heavens turn a brilliant shade of lavender. It’s as if the great artist in the sky has decided to call it a day himself and has emptied his palate over planet Earth in an effort to create one last masterpiece for the evening.
I drive by The Sloppy Pelican, past the ritzy part of town that Shep’s rental is nestled in, and how I wish I was nestled safely in his bed rather than on this lonely highway that leads to the farmlands. I pass the dairy, pass the orchards, and finally hit the dirt road that leads to the lumberyard.
The lumberyard itself butts up to a wilderness laden with green pines just ripe for the picking. I suppose that’s why the people who own this place chose this location. A never-ending supply of lumber seems to be at hand. Not very green if you ask me, but when Mother Nature takes a turn for the icy come fall, no one seems to care too much about conserving nature around here. Keeping warm is a real struggle.
For a moment, I picture Shep and me lying in front of a roaring fire, a blanket around our naked bodies. A vision of Shep in the nude momentarily puts me in a trance, and I force myself to snap out of it lest I turn this car around and make all of my naked Shep dreams come true. He’s the delicious dessert I’ll reward myself with later this evening. Annoyingly decadent and shockingly addicting. That’s Shep in a nutshell.
I can’t believe I’m in a relationship with Shep Collins. I can’t believ
e I let Shep infiltrate the lower state of my being, voluntarily at that. I can’t believe that we’ll have to hide this relationship forever if we want to avoid another homicide in Hollow Brook. Neither Lex nor Marlin will put up with our sexual shenanigans. But, then again, Shep and I haven’t really discussed our relationship ourselves. For all I know, this is just something he does in the summer—a fling to help him get from one season to the next.
A thought hits me like a brick to the chest.
What if I’ve just stupidly wandered into a casual sexual relationship without meaning to?
Did I really think Shep was going to put a ring on it just because I’m in love with him? He’s never said those words to me. Although to be fair, I’ve never technically said those words to him. My blood boils as my face heats with embarrassment. It’s becoming clear to me I need to tell Shep how I feel. I can’t be someone’s plaything and then tossed out like a cheap toy. And a part of me is afraid that’s exactly what’s about to happen.
I spot a lone light shining bright in an oversized aluminum building that reminds me of an airplane hangar. A small Honda sits out front, and there’s a familiar looking brunette moving something into the trunk.
I drive on over, and Belinda looks up and offers a friendly wave.
“Why am I not surprised?” I say as I boldly get out of the car. My adrenaline is pumping, and I’m not quite sure why I’m so angry with her. She didn’t need to tell me she was moving to Pittsburg. But if she can’t stand her sister, why is she going with her? Is Hannah really moving to Pittsburg? Is anyone moving to Pittsburg? Does Pittsburg really exist? Deep thoughts for a beautiful summer night that I’d much rather spend with my boyfriend. Boyfriend! Aww. I can’t wait to kiss each of Shep’s dimples. I might actually kiss the dimples on his face, too, for the heck of it. “Hey, Belinda! Is your sister here?”
“Yup. She’s in the office.” She nods as she begins to lead me over.
“Oh, good.” I’m a bit relieved Hannah is here. I was beginning to think I had hallucinated the OG bitter bride. I’ll ask a few general questions, then give them the paper and leave. I may have changed my mind about thirty-two times on the way over and switched out the real piece of paper for a phony with the numbers swapped out. Just because I’m fishing for info doesn’t mean she gets hers. Nope. I’ve decided that no matter what I glean tonight, it’s my last-ditch effort to put her away. I’ll meet up with Shep afterwards, and we’ll both head down to the police department together.
A thought occurs to me just as we head into the tiny trailer that reads Welcome to Hollow Brook Acres Lumberyard! “I thought you said you and your sister didn’t get along?” I point out as she holds the door open for me.
Belinda rolls her eyes. “Yes, well, blood is thicker than vodka. If she needs a few things done before she’s out of my life for good, so be it.”
That sounds a little harsh. I step into the tin can of an office and note someone rocking in the oversized office chair behind the counter with their back turned to me. The chair spins around, and my entire body goes into shock. That’s not Hannah. It’s Craig Carter!
“Well, hello there, little lady. We meet again.” He offers up a cheery smile, and no matter how friendly his tone is, I can’t help but feel I’ve stepped into trouble.
“I think I’d better go.” I head for the door, and Belinda blocks it. “Company policy clearly states—”
Belinda bumps her shoulder to mine. “This doesn’t look like the Black Bear to me, sweetie. Why don’t you hand over that little paper and we’ll let you run off to work where you belong? Hannah is running a little bit late. She said it would be all right for you to give it to me.”
I glance back at the idiot with his hard look, his I’ll-snap-your-neck-in-two demeanor. It’s clear I’m outnumbered.
“Sure thing,” I say, fishing it out of my pocket and crumpling it into a ball before pitching it to the back of the trailer and bolting out the door.
“You little bitch!” Craig calls out.
I can hear footfalls stomping over the dirt behind me, and just as I’m about to jump into my car, Belinda body-checks me to the ground and snatches the keys from my hand.
“Sorry, honey,” she pants in my ear. “I must have tripped. How about we wait for Hannah while my boyfriend makes sure you didn’t just accidentally give us a receipt for your latest latte? You university girls are a spoiled little bunch, with your designer handbags, your designer coffees.” She helps me to my feet, and I make a run for the oversized metal structure with its wide gaping entry.
“Stop!” she calls after me just as an exuberantly loud pop goes off from behind.
“Oh God, oh God, she’s got a gun!” I do an odd tiptoe maneuver toward a pile of wood twice my height. The entire building is teeming with piles of chopped up evergreens in various stages of processing.
“Come out right now, and I’ll go easy on you!” she shouts. “I just needed to check the damn combination Barry left behind and you could have gone back to your silly little friends. All you had to do was wait a few measly seconds, and now look what you’ve done.”
She fires again, and I bump into a neatly stacked cord of wood, knocking it over like the poorly constructed wall it is.
Belinda rolls her eyes while waving me over with her gun. “Hands up, walk slowly.”
“You did it, didn’t you?” I say, doing as I’m told. “You had Craig kill Barry that night so you could get into his safe.” Lucky guess? I have Shep to thank for that one.
She arches a brow as if she were amused. Her hair is still up in that bun from yoga, but she knocked a few curls loose from tackling me. I hope she broke a hip in the effort, too.
“You got it half right. Only I would never dream of asking a man to do what I’ve dreamed of every night for the last solid year. It was me who pulled the trigger.”
“You?” My jaw unhinges. “But it was Hannah who was the pissed off ex-bride—and a new one at that. Why would you dream of killing Barry for a solid year beforehand, unless, of course, you knew he was cheating on your sister. I mean, my roommate, Harley, is great, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t put a bullet through her no-good new boyfriend, Tyson, if I knew he was cheating on her. Okay, so it does sound tempting, but still. Wasn’t that a bit drastic? Your job is to help her move on, not go to prison. Barry wasn’t worth the bullet if you ask me.” A thought occurs to me, and I practically inhale a log or two. “Unless, of course, it was you he was cheating on. Then it would totally be classified as a crime of passion, and those are understandable to an extent. You were sleeping with your sister’s fiancé, weren’t you? You were the other woman—the real reason Hannah called off her wedding. That’s why she didn’t want you around. It’s not a wonder the two of you don’t get along.” Holy shit. Belinda is an animal.
She waves her gun and laughs. “I knew you were a smart one. We Briggs girls aren’t just known for our beauty.”
So I was right. Too bad it took a loaded gun pointed in my direction for me to come to all the necessary conclusions.
“So you’re an alumna—and you’re a terrible sister. How could you sneak around with her fiancé behind her back? No wonder she called off the wedding.”
“She called off the wedding because she had a gut feeling. My sister will never find out I was the other woman.”
I gasp again. “Is that what he was blackmailing you with? Proof to ruin your relationship with your sister? As if sleeping with her fiancé wasn’t enough to do that already. Is that what’s in the safe? Nude pictures of the two of you together? Some raunchy sex tape?” My God, I’m on a roll. If I survive this fiasco, I might just switch majors from business to criminology.
She blinks hard for a second. “Maybe. Maybe there was a little more to it.” She steadies the gun my way. “Too bad you won’t live long enough to figure the rest of it out, honey. And given a few more minutes, I’ve no doubt you would do just that.”
Craig stalks in looking as if he’s just tra
nsformed into a lunatic with his eyes bulging, the cords in his neck distended. “It’s a fucking fake.” He stomps over and stands next to Belinda. “Why are you shitting with us? Are the cops on their way?”
“If I say yes, you’ll shoot me. If I say no, you’ll put me in the wood chipper. I don’t see any right answer here.” Note to self: do not offer your captors tips on how to creatively slaughter you. These are deranged lunatics we’re dealing with!
Craig takes in a deep breath. His chest expands the size of a barn. “What do we do?”
Belinda gives a deviant smile. “You heard the girl. Turn on the wood chipper.”
Shepherd
It’s twenty minutes after eight, and the house band at the Black Bear, The 12 Deadly Sins, are screaming into their mics just trying to compete with the frat house that moved in about fifteen minutes ago. Kids are returning from summer vacation by the droves, and this end of town is inflating once again with its overzealous student population. I just have one more week as Serena’s instructor, as my time with the entrepreneurial sciences class comes to a close. Just one week in which it makes sense for me to be in her life. Just one week to confess that I want something more, that I love her.
Serena is young. She’s vivacious and full of wonder. I’m pretty sure all she wanted from me was a summer romance to fill her time. I’m pretty sure once I hit heavy with the L word and start talking commitment, she’ll give me the finger and we’ll be right back where we started in May. My heart wrenches just thinking about it.
I spot her roommate, Harley, and wave as I head on over. Her eyes look pink and glossy, and she has an overall stunned look on her face—or, perhaps more to the point, stoned. God, I hope she’s not stoned. The last thing I want Serena exposed to is this kind of behavior.
I frown at my own father-like analogy. But in my defense, I love Serena and I’m man enough to admit it. And when you love someone, you want the best for them. Getting high and sleeping around aren’t at the top of my wish list for her. My stomach knots up because she just so happens to be sleeping around with me.