Death Displacement: A time travel romantic thriller

by Holly Copella

  “Still think I’m paranoid?”

  Kane grabbed the flashlight from her hand and turned it off. There was another gunshot. He pulled Riley across the floor and behind an exhibit.

  “I’m so sorry, Kane. I didn’t know,” she whispered with concern. “Are you okay?”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll wait to answer that,” he gasped while cringing in pain.

  Riley removed her cell phone and pressed a button. The face lit up the entire area around them. Kane gasped and concealed the light from the phone. A shot was fired and the bullet struck the exhibit in front of them.

  “He can’t see us without a light source.”

  “I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I wasn’t thinking.”

  The shooter moved within the darkness not far from them. Another figure suddenly appeared and tackled the shooter to the ground. An exhibit fell to the floor with a tremendous clatter. Kane knew their attacker was being kept busy by Scarred Riley, so he could send Riley to safety.

  “Go to Hayes’ office. Lock yourself in and call the police!” Kane cried out softly.

  Riley nodded and ran across the exhibit. Kane grabbed the flashlight and turned it on then off to flush out the shooter. A gunshot was fired and nearly struck him. Scarred Riley’s outline was seen as she kicked the gun from the man’s hand. The gun flew across the floor. Young Riley stopped near the lobby archway to the sound of gunfire and looked back.

  “Kane!” Riley yelled.

  “Go!”

  Riley ran into the lobby with her cell phone to her ear. She stopped to see Casper knocking on the glass doors in front. He smiled and waved at her. Riley was relieved and hurried for the doors. Casper suddenly appeared horrified and slammed his hands against the glass.

  “Behind you!” Casper shouted.

  Riley looked behind her. A figure in black lunged for her with a knife. Riley screamed, dropped her cell phone, and spun into a backwards roundhouse kick. The knife slashed her leg as her attacker was thrown backwards from her aggressive strike. Riley cried out while clutching her bleeding leg. The attacker came at her again. Casper was no longer seen at the door. Riley dove out of the path of the slashing knife. Hayes ran for them and tackled the figure in black to the floor. Both slid several feet and then rolled. Hayes and the attacker saw the discarded knife and lunged for it. The attacker grabbed it first and slashed Hayes across the arm. Hayes cried out and jumped back. The attacker lunged for his throat with the knife. The sound of a car’s engine was heard followed by blinding headlights. All three looked to the glass windows as the black Mustang crashed through the glass doors and into the lobby. The Mustang crashed into the front desk, exploding it, and spun to a screeching, spinning stop. Casper jumped out of his car. The figure in black ran out the broken entrance. Riley attempted to run after the attacker despite her limp. Hayes caught her around the waist and stopped her.

  †

  Kane clutched the flashlight while on his hands and knees and felt around the floor for the gun in near darkness. Scarred Riley suddenly and silently appeared on the floor alongside him. Kane jumped with surprise, felt relieved to see it was just her, and then looked around.

  “Where did he go?” Kane whispered.

  “I don’t know,” Scarred Riley said softly.

  “What was that crash?”

  “Didn’t you do that?” she asked with surprise.

  “No, I thought it was you,” he remarked then brushed it aside and looked around the dimly lit floor. “The gun’s around here somewhere.”

  “Use the flashlight,” she instructed. “Find the gun and protect Hayes and Riley.”

  “I can’t just leave you--”

  He could feel her eyes piercing through him despite the darkness. “Or you could stay and I can kick you in the nuts,” she growled. “Choice is yours.”

  Kane groaned, reluctantly turned on the flashlight, and scanned the floor for the gun. Scarred Riley disappeared into the shadows. A figure in black suddenly leaped for Kane with a knife. Kane leaped out of his path and to his feet. The flashlight was still lit and lying on the floor. Kane looked around the shadows with concern then went for the flashlight. The attacker lunged with the knife for Kane’s back. As Kane turned, Scarred Riley kicked Kane out of the attacker’s path, placing herself between them. The attacker stabbed her in the side with the knife. She cried out in agony, but it didn’t stop her from striking him with a powerful punch. He flew into the shadows. Scarred Riley clutched her bleeding side and stumbled backwards. Kane hurried for her.

  “Find the gun!” Scarred Riley shouted despite her pain and the blood seeping through her fingers.

  Kane leaped for the flashlight. The attacker again came at Scarred Riley. She kicked him in the face and then fell against an exhibit without releasing her bleeding side. The attacker stumbled backwards, saw her in her weakened state, and lunged for her with the knife. Scarred Riley appeared unable to defend herself this time. The gun fired twice. The attacker took two shots to his body and fell to the floor. Kane held the gun and watched him fall. Scarred Riley half slid down the exhibit. Kane caught her and held her up and against him.

  There were voices from the lobby. “Kane, are you okay?” young Riley was heard calling. “Someone’s shooting at him in the dinosaur exhibit!”

  Scarred Riley clung to Kane and her bleeding side while staring into his eyes. She was in genuine agony.

  “She can’t see me--” Scarred Riley gasped weakly.

  Kane helped her into the dark alcove as young Riley, Hayes, and Casper ran across the exhibit and toward the fallen, masked attacker. Kane clung to Scarred Riley while holding her up against the wall with his body and kept pressure on her bleeding side. He searched her eyes in desperation to help her.

  “We’ll get you to the hospital,” he said softly. “Let me call for an ambulance.”

  “It’s too late for that,” she said softly then smiled. “It’s okay, really.”

  Hayes removed the killer’s mask to reveal Collin. Collin gasped and spit up blood from the two, lethal gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

  “Collin? Oh, my God,” young Riley gasped.

  “I don’t believe it,” Hayes said with surprise. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  Young Riley looked around the darkened exhibit with concern. “Where’s Kane? We have to find him!”

  Casper grabbed the discarded flashlight and scanned the exhibit for his friend. “Kane?” he called while shining the light through the darkness.

  Kane knew he couldn’t answer him. They couldn’t see Scarred Riley. She looked into Kane’s eyes while panting, attempting to catch her breath.

  “Collin?” Scarred Riley gasped softly with disbelief while searching Kane’s eyes. “That’s impossible. It was Tucker. It had to be Tucker.”

  “Try not to talk,” Kane whispered softly to her.

  Casper shined the light to the darkened alcove where Kane held Scarred Riley as she clung to him. As the flashlight stopped on them, Hayes looked as well. He stared at the alcove with a look of horror and uncertainly stood. Young Riley appeared oblivious and knelt alongside Collin as he slowly bled to death.

  “Why did you do it, Collin?” Riley asked the dying man on the floor before her.

  Collin stared into her eyes as blood seeped from his mouth. He looked as if he wanted to confess. Something in the way he stared at her was alarming.

  “Never meant to hurt you,” he gasped softly. “Just wanted Hayes gone.”

  “So you’d get his job?” she asked.

  “Didn’t know,” he whispered faintly. “Wouldn’t have hurt you.”

  Both Hayes and Casper stared at Kane holding the nearly lifeless Scarred Riley. Kane only looked at them briefly then returned his attention to the dying woman in his arms. Scarred Riley looked into Kane’s eyes and touched his face.

  “I remember the day we first met,” Scarred Riley said softly while smiling.

  “I forgive you, Riley,” Kane said softly and was now
down to tears.

  Scarred Riley smiled lustfully while appearing peaceful and content. “There were broken pieces everywhere--”

  Kane stared at Scarred Riley with a strange look. She appeared to be drifting out but maintained her smile.

  “We spent the entire weekend in bed. You told me you loved me,” she said softly.

  Kane continued to stare at her with confusion and tears streaking his face. He smiled warmly while clinging to her and attempted to control his emotions.

  “And I meant it,” he whispered softly.

  Scarred Riley kissed him warmly on the lips. Kane returned the kiss while holding back his sobs. It didn’t seem possible, but he loved this woman and couldn’t bear to lose her. She became lifeless in his arms. Kane pulled back and stared at her. Just like that, she was dead. He held her lifeless body against him and uncertainly looked across the room to Casper and Hayes, who were staring at him as he clung to her body. He had no business messing with the timeline, and now it didn’t seem as if it was worth it. Young Riley remained kneeling over Collin, oblivious to the horror on Hayes and Casper’s faces as they stared across the exhibit. Collin wheezed and never exhaled. His eyes remained opened and fixated on her. Riley stared at the motionless man on the floor before her.

  “He’s dead--” Riley softly informed them.

  Kane held Scarred Riley in his arms, as tears streaked his face, and stared at Hayes and Casper across the darkened exhibit. Both men stared back at him in silence. There was a brilliant flash of light. Kane’s entire life flashed before him in a thousand images and inaudible voices.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Present day. Light entered through the partially opened blinds in the massive bedroom decorated tastefully in antique furnishings. Kane clung to a woman beneath the covers while they slept. He woke, nuzzled the woman in his arms with a contented smile, and kissed the back of her neck. She moaned softly and turned to face him. Riley ran her hands along his chest and moved against him.

  “Happy Anniversary,” Riley said with a weary grin.

  Kane kissed her warmly but passionately then pulled away while staring into her eyes.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere exotic for our fourth anniversary? You know, as sort of a last hurrah,” he teased warmly.

  Riley suddenly flipped Kane onto his back, landed on top of him, and straddled his hips while hovering over him with a lustful smile as she pinned him to the bed.

  “I’m still recovering from your last hurrah.”

  Kane smiled, looked at the small protrusion on her lower abdomen, and affectionately caressed it. He said to her belly, “Don’t you listen to Mommy. That hurrah was all her.” He grabbed Riley, threw her to the bed, and pinned her beneath him. “Now it’s my turn.”

  Kane kissed Riley passionately and aggressively. She immediately returned the kiss. Making love to Riley was never an effort. Kane was convinced she possibly enjoyed their sexual antics more than he did. She’d ravish him anytime the mood struck her, make his head spin, and then go about her day. His life was perfect; and Riley was the reason for that.

  †

  Five years ago. It was two days after Collin’s death and the chaos at the museum. Casper read the headlines about the museum attack and shook his head. He glanced across the store and watched Kane in the back unpacking an antique china tea set. Casper frowned and lowered the paper. Kane was completely oblivious to it all. In a way, Casper almost missed that ‘other’ guy. Explaining how Casper’s Mustang ended up in the museum lobby was a little tricky. He came up with an acceptable lie, which Hayes was more than willing to go along with to keep their time displacement secret. It was over, and somehow Casper had to put everything he’d been through with Kane from the future aside and go about life as usual. Eventually, he expected to read an engagement notice for Hayes and Riley. Perhaps they’d even invite him to the wedding. Kane was oblivious that he would miss the woman he loved; yet never knew he’d even met. Casper knew it was for the best. In three years, he’d meet Selena, and it would be Casper’s job to work out the bugs created by Kane’s future self. Casper desperately needed to get back to work and put all this time travel behind him. He leaned on the front desk and jotted notes on a tablet. The bell above the door dinged. As the door opened, Casper looked up. His expression immediately dropped. Riley and Hayes entered the antique store. Riley limped from her leg injury and relied on Hayes to assist her. Casper quickly approached Hayes with surprise and possible concern then looked at Riley, who smiled sweetly at him.

  “Hi, Casper. Is he here?” she asked.

  “I, uh, I don’t know--” he said while looking frantically between her and Hayes.

  “It’s okay, Casper,” Hayes informed him while nodding reassuringly. “She knows everything.”

  “Yeah, but, he doesn’t,” Casper protested softy. “He had nothing to do with--”

  Hayes pointed across the shop and guided Riley past Casper toward the back. She clung to his arm while limping alongside him. The injury from her attack in the museum just two days earlier was healing, but she was obviously in pain. They approached Kane as he turned with the antique china tea set. The tea set slipped from the tray and crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. Kane saw Riley, stared at her, and then smiled with embarrassment.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t get you, did I?” Kane asked mostly to Riley.

  Riley smiled warmly and shook her head. Kane stared at her longer than he should. He’d never seen this woman before, but she was absolutely stunning. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Not a single one was appropriate. She stared back with the most radiant smile. He almost felt as if she was undressing him with her eyes. He’d never experienced something like that before, but he actually liked it.

  “Kane Maddox? I’m Hayes Dante, the museum curator,” Hayes announced while smiling pleasantly and snapped him out of his hormone-induced trance.

  Casper uncertainly moved closer with his mouth hanging open and watched the unfolding scene with concern. Kane shook Hayes’ hand and attempted to keep from staring at the beautiful woman on his arm.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dante,” Kane said and again allowed his eyes to travel over the beautiful woman. He looked away almost shameful of his thoughts.

  “This is my assistant, Riley Jericho,” Hayes cheerfully introduced her.

  Kane’s attention immediately shifted back to the beautiful woman on Hayes’ arm. Riley extended her hand to Kane and smiled affectionately. Kane immediately accepted her hand, again stared longer than he probably should, and appeared reluctant to release her hand.

  “It’s a pleasure, Ms. Jericho,” he said almost timidly.

  “Your associate--” Hayes said and indicated Casper, who stared at them with a dumbfounded expression, “--told me about some amazing antique pieces that would be perfect for an exhibit we’re working on.”

  “I did?” Casper asked.

  “Riley will tell you all about it while Casper shows me around the store,” Hayes announced while grabbing Casper’s arm and quickly pulled him away.

  “But, I, what--?”

  Kane appeared embarrassed and looked at the broken china on the floor. He chuckled softly and ran his fingers through his hair while smiling at Riley. “Well, I’ve certainly made better first impressions.”

  Riley looked into his eyes while smiling. “I think you’re doing just fine--”

  Kane fidgeted then relaxed and returned the smile. He never believed in love at first sight, but he was suddenly convinced it could happened. This was the woman he knew he’d someday marry. Although it didn’t seem possible, by the way she was looking at him, he was convinced she knew it too.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Present day. Casper stood behind the desk in the antique store with his cell phone to his ear. By the look on his face, he appeared excited about the phone call he’d received.

  “That’s awesome. I’m looking forward to it. I�
��ll see you then,” Casper said.

  Casper disconnected the call and set his cell phone down as Kane approached the desk from the back room. He appeared unusually distracted while holding up two wallpaper swatches.

  “Who was that?”

  “Oh, just your Nana,” Casper replied. “She invited me and Bessie for dinner this weekend.”

  Kane looked at Casper, smiled with something resembling humor, and shook his head. “I think I’m being replaced as her grandson,” he teased.

  “Don’t be silly,” Casper announced cheerfully. “She just loves feeding me.”

  “Well, I think it’s lucky for us you took that CPR course and just happened to stop by her house after her birthday party,” Kane remarked and marveled while shaking his head. “You probably saved her life that night.”

  “Yeah, maybe. Right place; right time,” he replied with a disinterested shrug and secretly smirked. “I can’t believe you used that money she gave you to buy one third interest in this place. You could have paid off your house with that money.”

  Kane shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with having a mortgage these days. Besides, Hayes was enthusiastic to loan us the money at a low interest rate.”

  Casper watched Kane, who studied the swatches. He seemed overly serious as he compared the two swatches. “What are you doing now?”

  Kane glanced at both swatches in his hands. “Riley wants me to pick out the wallpaper for the nursery, but I can’t decide between bunnies and kittens,” he announced with a defeated sigh.

  Casper eyed the swatches then stared at Kane with all seriousness. “Dude, they’re both bunnies.”

  Kane was puzzled by the comment and looked at both with surprise. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  Kane set the swatches down and looked at the objects scattered along the desk. The smashed copper trinket box was among them. Kane uncertainly picked it up and looked over it with surprise to its condition.