A Familiar Star (Romance Mystery)

by Waters, JesseAnne

  “Leslie was a very nice person,” Mrs. Troy said softly, “and so is Jeffery of course. They grew up together you know. They did everything together. I know because I babysat little Leslie from time to time because I had no children of my own.”

  Kylie smiled. “She must have been very cute.” She tried to keep the conversation going despite the sister’s disapproving looks.

  “She was cute but very mischievous. I’d turn my back for a minute and somehow she’d sneak off to Jeffery’s without me even knowing about it. It was the strangest thing, one minute she’d be sitting there and the next minute it was as if she’d gone right through the wall. No doors slammed. No outside doors at least. I’d go looking for her and she’d be over at Jeffery’s, every single time.”

  Kylie watched in disbelief as Mrs. Troy slowly nodded at her as if she was trying to tell her something, but what? “Do you think there was…”

  “I think she was a very sneaky little girl indeed!” One of the sisters chimed in, cutting Kylie off mid sentence.

  The other sister flashed a stern look at Mrs. Troy and pushed her aside to close the screen door. “Well then, we’ll see you again soon Ms. Lawrence.”

  “Yes, well I guess I should be on my way then.” Kylie grimaced as the door shut tight behind her. She felt like going back and making her talk. There was something she was trying to tell her. Disappearing through walls, no doors being opened or closed? What did this mean? Well there was one person that might be able to answer some of her questions…if she had the nerve to ask.

  Chapter 16

  The sun had set by the time Kylie reached Jeffery’s house. She’d stopped at the local store on the far side of the lake and bought a granola bar and a drink. It wasn’t much of a supper but it would have to do for now.

  She stared at the house with the one small light on in the window, and wondered if she should call Lucy and let her know what she was up to. Of course if she did that, they’d only get into an argument and then it would get back to Frank and he’d come looking for her and Max would worry also. No, it was better that she did this as fast as she could. Oh well, here goes nothing, she thought.

  She put the top up on her convertible and stepped out into the night. There was a queasy feeling in her stomach as she thumped the knocker against the big oak door. Couldn’t this guy have a doorbell like normal people?

  The door opened wide on the third thump and startled her silly. “Kylie, come in,” said the voice, half hiding behind the door.

  “Hi, I appreciate you seeing me.”

  “It’s my pleasure.” He said in a low voice.

  Kylie stepped past the figure in the shadows and into the dimly lit entrance area of the Gothic Mansion. The dark-stained oak staircase and wall panels didn’t exactly give Kylie a warm and cozy feeling.

  “You have a beautiful home.” She lied.

  “Thank you. It’s been in the family for many generations. Please come this way.”

  Kylie followed Jeffery down a long dark hallway. She could hardly see where she was going except for the limping figure in front of her. Her heart was pounding so loud in her chest that she wondered if he could hear it, in the dark, stillness of this creepy house.

  When the hallway opened up into a room, Jeffery turned on a small tiffany lamp and Kylie looked around at all the books. They were in a spacious office with an expansive library. There was a large, leather top desk at one end and a comfortable seating area upholstered in dark red velvet at the other. The room was well kept and very luxurious. Kylie stared out the window at the lake glistening in the dark before she turned to look at Jeffery.

  His body was a bit off balance, maybe it was that one leg was shorter than the other, she wasn’t quite sure. He was medium height and was well dressed. When she finally got the nerve to look at his face, her pounding heart slowed down a fraction. Even though one side of his face and skull was rather twisted, his eyes were kind and gentle and not what she had expected at all.

  “Thank you for seeing me.” She repeated unconsciously.

  “Right.” He murmured, staring at her. “Please, sit down.” He motioned towards the sofas.

  “Would you like something to drink?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “You’re very beautiful.” He said once he settled in across from her.

  “Thank you.” Kylie said slowly, feeling uncomfortable. “How did you know who I was this afternoon?”

  “Leslie described you to me; you couldn’t have been anyone else.” The hurt showed on his face when he said her name.

  “I’m sorry,” Kylie empathized, “You were very close to Leslie weren’t you?”

  “She was a very dear friend. She was always there for me when I needed her.” He pulled a cigarette out of a silver case and offered her one. She shook her head. ”Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  “So what can I do for you then Ms. Lawrence?” He relaxed back in his seat and took a puff of the cigarette that twisted his mouth additionally.

  Kylie suddenly realized she didn’t exactly have a game plan. She’d thought that the conversation would sort of lead to what she needed to know, or he would try and kill her and voila, murderer.

  “Well, I was just trying to figure things out.”

  “What things?”

  “Well, why did Leslie go over to my house the night…”

  “I think we both know the answer to that, don’t you think?” He cut her off.

  “To see Max?” Kylie said hesitantly.

  “That’s right.” He said calmly.

  “But I spoke to her on the phone and told her that Max went to work and that I was all alone for the evening. Did she tell you that she was going over to see him?”

  “No she didn’t, but I saw her row out across the water from my desk and I just assumed.” He frowned intensely.

  Kylie wondered if she should just leave. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. What if he’d followed Leslie and killed her because he was so jealous. If he was the killer, wouldn’t this just be provoking him, asking all these questions?

  “I didn’t kill Leslie or anyone else for that matter if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “No of course not.” Kylie tried to hide the shock on her face.

  “I was very happy for her.” He continued, “she said she’d found someone new and that was that. I didn’t meddle into Leslie’s love life. It would have been a very complicated thing to do.” He smiled a twisted smile and Kylie smiled with him.

  “I understand. Wasn’t she seeing Paul MacFarland before Max?” She asked innocently.

  “Yes she was. Paul’s a good guy.”

  Kylie thought so too for a while, but now she was beginning to suspect everyone. Did Jeffery know that it was Max that broke up Paul and Leslie or maybe that was a lie also.

  “So we’re back to the question of who she went to see that night.”

  Jeffery looked out across the room. “You have a good point.”

  “Didn’t you find it odd that she rowed out on such a stormy night? Why didn’t she turn on the motor?”

  “I thought that maybe she didn’t want to worry the neighbors. A boat out on the lake at night could be suspicious.”

  “And the rain?”

  “Leslie did what Leslie wanted to do. There was no logic behind her actions. She was a wonderful person but she tended to have a wild side. A little rain wasn’t going to stop her from getting what she wanted.” He said casually.

  “And that was Max.”

  “Mm hmm.” He agreed.

  “Did the police come by in the morning?”

  “Are you asking if they checked to see if I had an alibi?”

  Kylie flinched. “No, Um I just…”

  “When I saw her row off, I was on the webcam with my partner in New York. We own an investment company there. We were working for a good two hours before I turned off my laptop. Then I met my partner and his wife in New York for drinks. The camera caught me
at the toll booth on the bridge thirty minutes after I left. So you see Ms. Lawrence I have an alibi. Actually the police said I was probably driving too fast to have made it to the bridge in that time and they were right, I tend to speed. So, that left no time for me to mosey on over to your place and kill Leslie, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He took a long drag on his cigarette.

  “What were you doing that night?” He asked pointedly.

  “I was with my sister.” She studied him.

  “Well then, I guess you’re in the clear also.” He grinned.

  Kylie sat there not knowing what to think. He certainly sounded like he had an alibi and he also sounded very sincere. He would have been just a child when Leslie’s mother was murdered, so he couldn’t have done that, unless someone else did it and he was just being a copycat as a cover up. She wished this whole terrible mess could be undone. She was worn thin trying to figure it out, but she couldn’t give up now. Max needed her.

  “I didn’t come here to accuse you of anything Mr. Williams. I’m just trying to make sense of it all.”

  “Please call me Jeffery.”

  “Jeffery.” Kylie echoed softly then sat up straighter. “Do you go to New York often?”

  “I have an apartment on 5th Avenue. I spend most of my time there. I only come up to the lake on weekends or holidays. Why do you ask?” He examined her strangely.

  “I was just wondering. It’s a long drive to New York and all.” So much for the recluse theory, she thought.

  “Kylie. May I call you Kylie?”

  “Yes of course.”

  “Kylie, could we be honest with each other. You’ve obviously come here for a reason. If you have something to ask me, please just ask. I don’t bite. I promise.”

  Kylie smiled weakly and wondered if she could really trust him. She guessed that if she wanted her answers she’d have to try.

  “All right Jeffery. The reason I’m playing detective is because Max is in jail right now. I believe what you say, but I’ve been hearing a lot of strange things that don’t seem to make any sense.”

  “Oh, I know the strange things that people say about me. You sort of get used to it after a while.” His tone was somewhat unpleasant.

  “No it’s not that. It’s more about this house. Can I ask you, was this house built at the same time as Leslie’s?” She asked probingly.

  “Well yes.” Jeffery frowned, “they were built by my great, great grandfather for him and his brother.”

  “That’s why they’re so similar!”

  “Yes, why do you ask?” He looked at her quizzically.

  “Well, I was just wondering if they were ever connected at any point in time.”

  “No, not that I know of. Now do you want to tell me what this is all about?”

  She wanted to ask if she could have a look around but he’d think she was crazy. What was she going to tell him when she didn’t even know what she was looking for herself?

  “You must think I’m being very impolite but at this point I’m not even sure what I’m after. It’s all been such a jigsaw puzzle. I’m having trouble putting it together myself.”

  “If you tell me what you know maybe I could help you.” He snapped, starting to lose this patience.

  “How old was Leslie when her Mother died?” Kylie continued.

  “She was only five. I was seven.” He said, giving in.

  “Did Leslie ever come over when she was little? To come and play with you I mean?”

  “Well yes, all the time?” He seemed confused. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Kylie felt horrible. “I’m sorry Jeffery, I just need to ask one more question, I promise.” She apologized properly. “Did Leslie just seem to appear out of nowhere at times?”

  He glared at her for what seemed like a long minute. Then it looked as though he realized what she was getting at.

  “Either you’re implying that Leslie had magic powers, or that there was some secret passageway that she used to come over here, and that’s why you ask if the houses were connected at one point in time.” He speculated.

  Kylie looked embarrassed. It was a crazy long shot leading to God knows where, fabricated by an old lady, who could be talking nonsense.

  “Ah, I guess I am,” she said sheepishly.

  “Well, I hate to disappoint you but when I was little, I ran for my life every time I saw Leslie.” He laughed at the recollection. “If she appeared out of the blue, it was just her sneaking up on me again. I never thought much about how she got there. I was a little boy who wanted to play cowboys and Indians, not dolls,” he continued, “we only became close to one another after I moved back, long after the accident.”

  “I see.” Kylie was clearly disappointed.

  “And why would you ask such a thing?” His mouth twisted uncomfortably.

  “It was just a stupid idea. I really should go.” Kylie suddenly felt claustrophobic.

  “Wait.” He motioned with his hand for her not to move. “Are you implying that it was someone from here that snuck over and killed Leslie’s mother?” The voice turned bitter as the notion hit him.

  “No. I don’t think that. I really haven’t thought that far ahead.” Kylie lied quickly, not wanting to get Mrs. Troy involved in this.

  “Well, I was asleep and my parents’ were entertaining so there was no chance of anyone going through a wormhole.” He replied angrily.

  “I’m sorry.” Kylie stood up and wanted to leave. “I didn’t come here to upset you.” She said frantically, looking down the dark hallway. How could she be so insensitive? The memory of his parents was all he had left.

  “I have to be going also.” Jeffery got up and quickly led the way back down the hall.

  Kylie was grateful. When he opened the door and she smelled the fresh air, she almost smiled.

  “Are you going back to New York?” She asked, trying to end it on a friendly note.

  “Yes, goodnight,” was his final answer.

  And with that, the door closed shut behind her.

  There was no denying that this whole day had been a waste of time and a complete disaster. If Jeffery Williams was a killer, there was no doubt that he was going to come after her next, and she couldn’t blame him. The man must be furious.

  Kylie threw her purse in the back of the car and drove by Leslie’s house to make a u-turn. She stared down the long driveway into the blackness. The place was deserted.

  She past a few other houses, looking for a good place to back up. She didn’t want to pull into someone’s driveway if they looked like they were home. They might get spooked, call the police, and she’d end up in jail with Max.

  The first truly deserted house she came to, she put the car in reverse and turned around.

  The stillness of the night heightened her awareness so she rolled up her window and put on the air conditioning. When did the night become so creepy, before or after Leslie died?

  She came to a crawl when she approached Jeffery’s house, her eyes narrowed as she watched his car pull out of the driveway. The huge gates closed automatically behind him as his car sped swiftly down the road. Did he notice her behind him and simply didn’t care or did she go completely unnoticed?

  She pulled her car onto the soft shoulder and turned off the engine. What if she just nosed around a bit? There were no gates on Leslie’s property.

  She bit her lip, contemplating what to do next. If she left her car on the road it would be seen, but if she drove down Leslie’s driveway and left it under the trees it would go undetected. She started the engine once more and turned off the lights. When she got to the bottom of the drive she pulled in under the pines.

  Leslie’s house was pitch-black in the night. Kylie searched in her glove compartment and pulled out a small pocket flashlight. If she quickly looked through the windows, checked in between Jeffery and Leslie’s houses and raced back to the car, it would take her two minutes, tops, she thought to herself.

  The sky
was covered with thick clouds and a strong wind was picking up. She closed the car door gently then locked it with the key. A gust of wind blew her hair in her face as she crept across the lawn, so she pulled it back and tucked it in her shirt. She knew that this had to be the most dangerous thing she’d done all day, and wondered if she’d die of heart failure before she even reached the house.

  Suddenly she heard a car coming down the road and she ran as fast as her feet would take her to the back of the house. Shit. She really didn’t want to be seen. But it was a dark night and the driveway was long and well treed, she reflected. She listened to her own intake of breath and grinned. Was she hyperventilating?

  She clung to the cool stone of the house and turned to face the lake. There was only one house with a light on and it was some ways down.

  She listened for the car through the howling wind but the sound was gone, it must have passed by. She needed to get a move on it if she was going to do this fast. She automatically crouched down and found her way around the back of the house staying close to the huge deck. When she got in between the two houses she paused long enough to let her eyes adjust to the light. She could barely see anything and the ground rose considerably towards Jeffery’s house, putting her off balance.

  “Shit, the windows are too high up.” She muttered quickly to herself. Maybe if she just went a little higher up the slope, she could shine her light inside. She tried but her little flashlight was too weak to see anything. What in the hell was she looking for anyway.

  She made her way back down the slope and up onto the back deck. There she shined her light through a big window into what seemed like a large living room. Despite her urgency, she admired the space, lavish slip-covered chairs, marble topped tables and a massive stone fireplace with carved lion head finials on either side adorned the room.

  “All right, try the door and get the hell out of here,” she said to herself. “This is just plain stupid.”

  “Kylie!!” A voice pierced the air from a few feet away.

  Kylie froze in place, she thought she was going to black out but there was something familiar about the voice. She spun around, stunned. “Paul?” She pointed the flashlight at him as his voice registered in her brain.