Between Love and Murder

by Chris Bedell

  Between Love

  and

  Murder

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 Chris Bedell

  Cover Design by Suzanne Johnson

  Between the Lines Publishing and its imprints supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact info@btwnthelines.com.

  Willow River Press

  Between the Lines Publishing

  410 Caribou Trail

  Lutsen, MN 55612

  btwnthelines.com

  First Published: April 2020

  Willow River Press is an imprint of Between the Lines Publishing.

  The Liminal Books name and logo are trademarks of Between the Lines Publishing.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  ISBN: 978-1-950502-22-6 (paperback)

  Printed in the United States

  BEFORE

  TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

  Expecting complete honesty was pointless.

  Like with Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, or when a friend got a questionable haircut. Both the kid and friend could discover the truth without anyone playing the villain. Or like right now while I stood next to my locker in the school hallway. My best friend, Mallory, couldn’t have said what she had. Yet I didn’t have an ear wax problem, so the chances of her comment being misheard were slimmer than time travel happening.

  I blinked. “Come again?”

  She tugged at her backpack strap. “I’m sorry, Chad; I’m not trying to be awkward. I just couldn’t lie anymore.”

  “Don’t apologize for your feelings.”

  Telling her not to feel bad shouldn’t have been the best response I came up with. Doing so only prolonged the inevitable: deciding about whether honesty or a fib was best. However, there was no right reaction to finding out Mallory had a crush on me. Some events—such as her revelation—couldn’t be anticipated no matter how many A’s I earned in school.

  Mallory bit her lip. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together since July.”

  I chuckled. “We’ve always been close.”

  “Not since I started dating Tommy.”

  I scratched the side of my head. “What’d you expect to happen?”

  She sighed. “To find out if you’d reciprocate.”

  Regardless of whether truthfulness was overemphasized, I couldn’t deny how Mallory deserved a real answer. If roles were reversed, anger would’ve shot through my body if someone dangled something in front of me without any intention of following through.

  “I don’t feel the same way,” I said.

  She averted her gaze. “No worries.”

  “I need to know one thing.”

  “Sure,” she said, still unable to make eye contact.

  “Did I lead you on?” I asked.

  “No. It’s all me. I’ve been feeling lonely since July.”

  The high school’s side-entrance door opened, and wind swooshed through the hallway. The MISSING poster fell off the wall, and my attention remained on the flier. Some truths couldn’t be swallowed—like a teenager being here one minute and vanishing the next. Tragedies were supposed to be read about in the newspaper, not played out in real time in front of me.

  She met my gaze after rubbing her eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about Tommy.”

  “The police don’t have any leads?”

  “Nope.”

  Patting her shoulder might’ve been a natural gesture, yet I stopped myself. Even the smallest detail could be misunderstood, and I couldn’t have that.

  I gritted my teeth. “Have you spoken to his parents lately?”

  She shrugged. “Even they’ve given up.”

  “I still think about Tommy too.”

  “You aren’t mad at him?” Mallory asked.

  “Dynamics change.”

  “Some things are unforgivable.”

  “People ditch people all the time for more popular friends.”

  “Doesn’t make it fair. That was no way to start freshman year,” Mallory said.

  Mallory was right whether I admitted the truth to her or not. Just because I might not have constantly thought about the idea, didn’t mean it wasn’t correct. Cutting people off without a legitimate reason sucked. And in a way, empathy wasn’t difficult. I might not have lost a boyfriend like Mallory had, yet the opportunity to one day reconnect with Tommy had been taken from me—at least in my imaginary alternative world where anything was possible.

  “We can remain friends if you want,” I said.

  Mallory almost choked while more students flocked through the hallway and the chattering of numerous voices grew louder. “Absolutely,” she said.

  No offense to Mallory, but her response didn’t inspire confidence. Not when a one-liner was all I had to hold onto.

  “You don’t hate me, do you?” Mallory asked.

  Regardless of how her stomach might’ve been twisted in ten different directions, she should’ve had more confidence. It’d take a lot more than a crush to push me away. Besides, crushes were harmless 99.99% of the time. Liking someone who wouldn’t reciprocate didn’t mean the situation would resemble a scene from Fatal Attraction.

  I waved my hand. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Good.”

  I forced a smile. “What’s your first class?”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.” Mallory darted away and was soon out of sight.

  Maybe it was best for Mallory to have time to herself. Making the situation more awkward by forcing us to keep talking wouldn’t help. Besides, distance might make Mallory realize the situation wasn’t all bad. Just because the situation might’ve been the end of the world to her, didn’t mean it was actually the end of the world.

  Mallory’s revelation was quite the way to start my first day of school, though. Handing in my AP US History summer homework and not having my teachers or guidance counselor mention college plans should’ve been my biggest challenge today.

  Deep breaths. Empathizing with Mallory didn’t mean having my pulse echo in my ear for the rest of the day. I had to live my life, and that was what I’d do.

  So, I placed the notebooks I wouldn’t need till later into my locker and clinked it shut. I then almost started shuffling down the hallway when a guy bumped into me and I fell onto the ground.

  He laughed. “I’m sorry. I should’ve watched where I was going.”

  No shit. But no. Getting into a fight wasn’t something I wanted to mention to Mom when she asked how my first day went. So, I sucked in a breath while counting to ten in my head.

  He offered his hand, and I took it. I might not have wanted to start a brawl, yet at least he helped me. So, he might not have been the biggest turd in the world.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. My heart even thumped faster. There was no denying how my gaze was fixated on this guy—whether it was his Henley tee-shirt, knee-ripped jeans and leather jacket, which gave him a slight edge, or his loafers. Good style was priceless.

  He snorted. “Are you gonna say something, or are you just gonna stare?”

  “I’m thinking…”

  “Sure.”

  “I get distracted often,” I said.

 
He smirked. “Take a picture. It lasts longer.”

  If I hadn’t bit my lip when I first saw him, I had now. Bantering was one thing, yet he couldn’t have mentioned taking a photo of him. Doing so reinforced how he might’ve been the arrogant guy I suspected he was.

  “Can I get a name?” I asked.

  “I’m Archie.” He offered his hand again, and I shook it.

  “I’m Chad.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Archie ran his finger through his spiked hair while sunlight from a nearby window trickled into the hallway. It was almost as if his brown hair resembled a dishwasher blond shade because of the extra lighting.

  “Same,” I said.

  A fruity and tangy scent wafted through air.

  Okay. I’d have to get the name of whatever cologne Archie used—I never once met a guy who smelled so great. Or maybe I’d wait till our next chat. Mentioning his cologne during a subsequent conversation gave us something to discuss later.

  He put his hands in his jacket pockets. “I just arrived in town last night, so I’m…”

  “Nervous?” I interrupted.

  Archie paused for a beat. “Yeah. Usually, I’m oozing with confidence.”

  I shook my finger at him. “Don’t get cocky.”

  “Why? Is that a turnoff?”

  I’d have to get a fake ID and buy a lotto ticket after school. “Turnoff” wasn’t the same as complimenting someone on a new pair of shoes or losing weight. It reinforced the possibility of Archie flirting with me, even if I never once considered a guy that hot would give me attention.

  “I’m a junior,” he continued.

  “Same.”

  He winked. “Wanna share any secrets about this school or town?”

  “People aren’t what they seem,” I said.

  “Boring. Even I could’ve figured that out.”

  “If you’re the new kid, then does that mean you aren’t seeing anyone?” I asked.

  Pushing the boundaries of the conversation was harmless—I wouldn’t say anything obscene. I just needed to see how far our talk would go.

  Archie snickered. “Yeah, I’m single—no boyfriend or girlfriend.”

  Yup. I definitely had to buy a lotto ticket. It wasn’t enough for him to flirt with me. He also had to maybe be bisexual like me, because even the most tolerant straight guy wouldn’t have mentioned no boyfriend or girlfriend.

  “I have to go to my locker, but we should hang one day after school.” Archie patted my shoulder, and his hand lingered several seconds longer than it should have. Then, he was gone as fast as he appeared.

  My mind should’ve been focused on how I wished I had the same confidence as Archie with tapping someone’s shoulder. But no. My attention remained on the opposite end of the hallway. More specifically, Mallory. She continued staring at me, and my throat tightened.

  Creepy. I would’ve expected Mallory to take more than five or ten minutes to get over our conversation. At a minimum, her face should’ve drooped, not have a hyena smile. Almost as if Mallory watched my entire conversation with Archie.

  So, yeah. My back hairs remained up. I never once considered how Mallory was the lurking type.

  AFTER

  FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2018

  “We’re making a mistake by going to the dance.” I halted at a stop sign before turning right a few moments later, while the moon and stars illuminated the sky.

  Mallory scoffed. “We don’t have a choice.”

  Archie shifted his weight in the front passenger seat. “She has a point. The Snowflake Ball will be our alibi.”

  “Just focus on driving, Chad,” Mallory said.

  Leave it to me to get stuck driving us.

  It wasn’t enough for me to get dragged into the most fucked up situation of my life. Nope. I also had to be in charge of our transportation. I might not have said anything to Mallory and Archie, but the various thoughts weighing on my mind didn’t make me the most stable driver.

  I grunted. “How do we know you didn’t plan for Tommy to die tonight?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Mallory said. “If I hadn’t smacked him with the bookend, then you’d be dead.”

  I honked my horn at the driver in front of us. “You’re the one who lied about everything.”

  “Now isn’t the time to turn on each other,” Mallory said.

  I snorted. “That’s rich. You made Archie break up with me because of feeling threatened.”

  “What was I supposed to do?” Mallory asked.

  “You didn’t have to blackmail Tommy to leave town on the Fourth of the July,” I said.

  Mallory grumbled. “How would you feel after discovering your boyfriend was sleeping with his sister?”

  I slapped my cheeks after coming to another stop sign. Nope. I wasn’t having a nightmare. Mallory had actually said it, even if I couldn’t understand how Tommy and Gemma were sleeping together. That was the one thing most people agreed was immoral, yet socially acceptable behavior somehow escaped Tommy and Gemma.

  “That’s between Gemma and Tommy,” I said.

  “You didn’t know how humiliating it was finding them in bed,” Mallory said.

  “But you recorded them having sex?” I asked.

  Mallory screamed. “It ensured he’d leave town.”

  I nibbled on the inside of my lip before turning left. Somehow, Mallory wasn’t wrong. Covering herself was smart since she was making such a big demand.

  I would’ve saved my energy if I were Mallory, though. Nothing good came from thinking about a painful situation. If someone I dated pulled a stunt like Tommy had, then adios to that person.

  “Except he blew through his trust fund and turned to you,” I interrupted.

  “Every plan has its flaws,” Mallory said.

  Funny way of putting it. If Mallory was smart enough to get Tommy and Gemma on tape, then she should’ve anticipated what she would’ve done if Tommy returned. Doing so was the least she could’ve done.

  Archie pulled his seatbelt harder. “What’s done is done.”

  “I’m more interested in knowing where his body is,” Mallory said. “Tommy couldn’t have disappeared into thin air.”

  Good question. Even I didn’t fault Mallory for wondering why Tommy wasn’t there when we got back to her house after cooling off in the woods. If we had his corpse, then we would’ve been in control of the situation.

  Fuck. Corpse shouldn’t have been in a seventeen-year-old’s vocabulary. I was supposed to be concerned about the SAT’s, doing well in school, and considering what colleges I wanted to apply to—not contemplating if I’d be arrested as an accessory.

  “He seemed dead to me,” I said.

  “Maybe he was unconscious and walked away when we were in the woods,” Mallory suggested.

  “Then how did he escape?” I asked.

  “Good point,” Archie said.

  “Were you really gonna let his parents and Gemma think Tommy was dead if he hadn’t come back from Florida?” I asked.

  “Don’t mention that bitch,” Mallory spat.

  Mallory sure knew how to make me feel great. Both the tone and inflection in her voice made me feel happier than if a test was cancelled. NOT. If anything, I wanted to put a million miles between us. Nothing fun existed from realizing Mallory might’ve been more unhinged than the average teenager.

  “What about his parents?” I demanded.

  Only I’d make a comment about the parents. However, my mind couldn’t help going there. Tommy might’ve been a jackass, but his parents didn’t deserve to think he was dead if he were still alive. No parent deserved that; parents were supposed to die before their children—not after. And maybe, just maybe, my father’s death was what made me empathetic. Even if Tommy’s parents were a distraction we couldn’t afford.

  “They’re just collateral damage,” Mallory said.

  Perhaps I didn’t know Mallory as well as I thought. My best friend shouldn’t have sounded more mechanical than a robot. Yet he
re I was, driving to the Snowflake Ball without a clue about how the situation would resolve itself.

  “Tell me something,” I said. “What was your plan for Tommy if you weren’t gonna kill him?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe have Archie rough up him a little,” Mallory said.

  Archie titled his head towards Mallory. “You don’t think your sister is involved?”

  “Didn’t you say she’s chaperoning the dance?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Yeah, Kelly’s at the ball.”

  Archie shot me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry for breaking up with you.”

  Poor me. If only Archie’s words could fix everything that happened between Mallory, him, and me over the last three months. But no. A well-meaning phrase couldn’t wrap up the situation.

  “I hope you’re happy with yourself, Mallory,” I said.

  “Hardly,” Mallory touted.

  Archie massaged his forehead. “What are we gonna do if Tommy’s body turns up?”

  Criticizing Archie for his question would’ve meant also chastising myself. I would’ve been lying if I didn’t acknowledge how Tommy’s body lying on Mallory’s living room floor one minute and gone the next confused me. That type of thing was only supposed to happen in movies, not real life.

  “We’ll deal with it later,” Mallory said.

  “Wow. You’ve got an answer for everything,” I said.

  Mallory shrieked, “If you hadn’t come over to my house tonight, then you wouldn’t be involved in this.”

  Damn her. She had to twist the situation so I was at fault. As if our lives weren’t complicated enough at the moment.

  “You’re the whore who stole my boyfriend right as Archie and I were becoming a real couple,” I said.

  Yup. Mallory deserved to be insulted. My criticism wasn’t based off her gender; it was based off fact. There was a right way and wrong way to behave, and quite often people did whatever the fuck they wanted without any consequences.

  “You took him from me first,” Mallory said.

  “Not true. I had my eyes on him since the first day of school, whereas you wanted to hurt me because I didn’t reciprocate your crush,” I said.

  “Please don’t fight,” Archie said. “There’s obviously a lot of baggage, and we can sort it out later.”