Mystery: The Coming Back: (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Suspense Thriller Mystery)

by James Kipling

  “Shall we?” He offered Lydia a hand. She took his hand and they walked over to the dining table. They sat down, David taking a seat beside Lydia.

  They talked till the food was brought in. About hobbies. About likes, about dislikes. That sort of thing. The conversation was calming and just what they both needed in order to feel comfortable again.

  When the food was brought in, first there was wine and pomegranate juice. David took his wine glass and raised it to Lydia’s, his eyes turning fractionally darker. He drank his wine, his eyes not leaving her as he drank slowly. Lydia gulped. She drank her wine too as a pit of butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

  “Do you have plans for the future?” Lydia shut her mouth when she felt David's hand on her thigh, stroking it delicately.

  Lydia resisted the urge to moan as he slowly circled her thigh, tracing small circles with his fingers. Lydia took her drink and gulped its contents as slowly as possible. She met David's gaze, and he smiled wickedly at her, his eyes twinkling.

  As his hands crept further, Lydia bit her tongue, no doubt drawing blood. She pushed his hand away and glared at him. His gesture was the complete opposite to what Lydia was expecting from him. What about all the sharing from before? What game was he playing?

  “Lydia, are you listening?” David asked, raising his eyebrows.

  “Huh? Yeah. Of course.” She said, clearly lost.

  David snorted, giving her an “Oh, really?” look. She willed him to shut up with her eyes. He laughed. Thankfully, they waiter brought the next course. The main course consisted of oysters, salmon, lobster and a variety of quality dishes. Was it just Lydia or did the staff have a knack for choosing supposedly aphrodisiac foods? Looking at David, it was definitely working. Shut up, Lydia. Why are you even thinking that way? The food was obviously affecting her, as well.

  David took an oyster and tipped it in his mouth, as he gulped it. His eyes darkened further, his eyes looking at her with lust and longing. His eyes betrayed all the feelings he was feeling for her, and somehow Lydia could say that he was falling for her as fast as she was and it scared him as well. They were falling down from the sky, with no parachute to cushion the fall.

  They were moths drawn to the flame. Helpless and breathless, they answered without reluctance. We were playing with something dangerous, something that could destroy us both. Their pasts had them at its mercy. And yet, they were taking the risk, jumping towards the other side, hoping they will be able to get through to the other side.

  They had just known each other for a few weeks. These escalating feelings could be their downfall. It could make or break them. The trill for both of them was new and exciting. The fear of failing was not strong enough to stop them, while the mutual attraction was throwing them into each other’s arms.

  Things were going fast, and the strange thing was, Lydia liked it. But there was a nagging feeling at the back of her head, was a prayer that constantly went on, hoping that it didn't end with a broken heart. She wasn’t sure if she could survive another broken heart. The first time almost cost her everything. Lydia choked on her lobster. She wanted to go wrap her arms around David, but refrained. There was so much of sexual tension between them; you could cut it with a knife. Lydia believed everyone in the main hall was sensing it and laughing at them for trying to resist the feeling.

  Lydia drank some water, meeting David’s eyes. His lips were curved upward in amusement, like he knew what he did to her. Lydia guessed she was being obvious, but so was he. She glared at him, and he just grabbed her hand, rubbing circles on her knuckles comfortingly.

  “I feel the same for you, Lydia. I just am not showing it,” he whispered. Her eyes were cast downwards, not able to meet his somehow.

  He was perfect for her. His deep voice made her body tingle. His eyes held her gaze with their swirling emotions that he clearly felt for her. He was perfect for her in every way. Him, his laugh, his smile, his smirk, his eyes, his warmth, his comfort, his existence. Him. He had Lydia lost. He had her disoriented. He had her baffled. He had her uncertain. He treated Lydia like a princess. It was like all her past insecurities were wiped out of their very existence. He made her feel loved. He filled that hollowness in her. His melody filled her body with sweetness and passion.

  “Would you like to skip dinner and go out to the balcony with me?” he asked softly. Lydia couldn’t reply. She nodded, and got up, and he did the same.

  Chapter 34

  The next morning, Lydia woke up in David’s arms and after breakfast informed him that she was going to head back to Tallahassee, so that she can start tracing back to the last known whereabouts of Stanley Douglass. David did not look happy about her decision.

  “I don’t think that this is a wise decision, Lydia,” he told her. “But I know that you will go anyway. So, tell me what you need.”

  Lydia smiled at him and asked for his support in front of the Tallahassee police department. David promised to help and Lydia drove back as soon as she was ready. When she arrived there, David had already called the precinct and Detective Smith welcomed her and even had good news for her. That very morning they had found the car, Stanley Douglass had left with, abandoned nearby.

  Lydia asked for the exact location and went to see the place. The car had been already moved, but a policeman showed her the exact location it was found in. Stanley, or Timothy, had left the car at the edge of the highway and probably walked back to the town or maybe taken another car. Detective Smith had sent with them a team to search the woods and two dogs to help them.

  Lydia did not hesitate to follow the policemen and quickly found herself in the middle of the woods, walking over green grass and amidst bushes. They explore the woods around the highway and the dogs seem to be following some trace. Lydia is really surprised to see how the forest suddenly opened and in front of them appeared an almost ruined shack. The shack was hidden deep into the woods and a perfect place to hide. The police dogs suddenly started to go crazy and paw at some disturbed ground near the shack.

  The policemen called and when no one answered, entered the shack to find it empty. Lydia also walked inside the small wooden building and saw for herself that it had been long since someone lived there. The dogs, however, continued to bark, so one of the police officers found a shovel and went to see what was alarming them. Lydia also approached and saw that the earth was disturbed, as if someone had dug there.

  Carefully, the police officer moved the earth aside and found a black plastic back, filled with clothes and a few documents. Lydia recognized the jacket as the one belonging to Stanley Douglass and the documents were also his.

  “What is the meaning of this?” The officer asked.

  “He is trying to disappear again,” Lydia explained to him. “After his failed attempt to be Stanley, now he is trying to run again.”

  “Who is this man?”

  “An imposter, who possible killed the real Stanley Douglass.”

  “What are you going to do now?”

  “I think that he is somewhere around here,” Lydia told him. “He is intelligent enough to know that we would be looking for him at the airports and train stations, so he will lay low for a while.”

  “Then we should search for him in the town,” the police officer agreed and went to make the phone calls.

  Lydia followed them back to the road and after saying goodbye to Detective Smith, she headed back to Savannah. She had her doubts about the whereabouts of Timothy Sands. Why would he come here, when in Savannah he had better chances to hide from everyone?

  Some things did not make any sense.

  ************

  Back in Savannah another police search was going on. The local police, together with the Douglass family were searching the neighborhoods and the forests around Savannah for any sign of Stanley. The police were searching for an impostor, while Charlie and Vivian were still looking for their son. Detective Wilson tried to stay close to them and support them while they were forced to relive
the trauma of losing their son all over again.

  They were all deep in the woods, when Vivian Douglass fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital. The excitement of the last few weeks had been too much for the fragile woman, who had just recovered from cancer. David watched Charles been torn between going to the hospital with his wife and staying behind to continue the search for his son.

  ************

  Two years ago…

  Charles walked into the hospital room, wincing slightly at her condition. He took out the flowers out of the vase on the bedside table, placing the flowers he had bought today in their place.

  “Those are lovely,” Vivian’s voice croaked at him.

  A tear slipped from Charles’s face. It was horrible listening to what her cheerful voice had become. To know that her body was weakening to the point where it might not return to its original state. Charles wiped it from his face as discreetly as he could.

  “Aren’t they? They always were your favorite.” Charles smiled at her, a fake smile plastered on his face. It hurt seeing her like this.

  Vivian’s face was even paler than before, bags clearly visible under her eyes. She had lost a lot of weight over this past month. It was horribly noticeable.

  “Come sit with me, Charles,” she said, gently.

  Charles avoided her gaze as he sat down next to her on the chair. Her hand gripped his. Charles didn’t dare lift his eyes to look at her. She tugged at his hand, finally forcing him to look into her eyes.

  “I look horrifying, don’t I?” Vivian laughed humorlessly. “You don’t even want to look at me anymore.”

  Charles shook his head, a tear slipping down his face.

  “You look as beautiful as ever.” He smiled at her, through his tears. Vivian’s expression softened.

  “I’m sorry for you to go through this all,” she said, apologetic.

  Charles shook his head again. “You’ll be fine, Vivian. I’m sure of it. Soon you and I will be back at home.”

  “I’m dying, Charles. You know it. Don’t let those false hopes run you.” She said, matter-of-factly.

  Charles gasped. Suddenly, his vision blurred as tears filled his eyes. Sobs overtook his body as he tightened his grip on her hand.

  “The doctors told me that the current treatment is not working well with my body. My body is not responding as it’s supposed to. They gave me an option for another form of treatment, but I refused. “

  “What?” Charles’ voice cracked. “Why in the world would you refuse?”

  “It is expensive, Sarah. Nothing comes without a price,” she said, calmly. How could she be so calm discussing all of this?

  “This is about the money? Are you out of your mind, Vivian? We can get the money. It’s not a big deal.”

  She shook her head. “It wouldn’t work. I know it.”

  “What wouldn’t work?” Charles asked her, frowning.

  “The treatment wouldn’t work. I am too weak. I can already feel myself slipping occasionally.”

  Charles gripped her hand hard. “Don’t say that,” he said.

  “I’m going to die, Charles,” she said, deadpan.

  Charles left her hand in incredulity. “It will work. It has to work. I’m going to talk to the doctors. Money is not an issue here. We’ll find a way out.” Charles got up and walked towards the door, but her voice immediately stopped him in his tracks.

  “It’s my wish, Sarah. I have lived for a long time now. Our son is no longer with us. I don’t want you to talk to the doctors about anything,” Vivian said, her calm demeanor cracking.

  “Please. You can’t do this. You will get well,” Charles pleaded.

  “Charles, it wouldn’t help. Just let me go.”

  “No, Vivian. You’re crazy. We can’t do that. I can’t do that. You can’t expect me to just–…” She cut him off before Charles could finish his statement.

  “Charles,” she said, firmly. “I want you to honor my last request. Please.”

  Charles ran out of the room. Ran out of the hospital in tears, till he got into the safety of his car standing in the quiet parking lot, where no one could see his tears flowing freely down my cheeks.

  Charles cried. He broke down.

  Helplessness coursed through him. He was tormented. This was like a nightmare. Charles hoped this was one. He wanted nothing more than to wake up in the comfort of his bed, with Vivian on his side, smiling at him in all her glory.

  Charles couldn’t agree to her terms. He shouldn’t. He couldn’t give in.

  But deep down Charles knew, he had to. She had been suffering for a long time now. But, what about him, why no one was thinking about him? He had already lost his son, now he was losing his wife too.

  **********

  “It is your fault, Charles!” Vivian screamed at him, clutching her hair. “You could have saved him. You, and only you, are going to be responsible for losing him!”

  Charles’ body shuddered as tears filled his eyes.

  Stanley had been missing for more than three years then . They were doing everything they could. But all their efforts were futile. His last wish. His last request.

  He had talked to David on the phone yesterday. David still had nothing new to tell him. They talked merrily for hours until Charles had to succumb to his tiredness and hang up.

  David wouldn’t have guessed that it was such a difficult moment for his friend.

  “Vivian. It was not…” Charles tried reasoning with her, taking a step towards her. His words were not even convincing to his own ears.

  “Don’t! Just don’t!” Vivian screamed. Her eyes looked wildly at him, taking a step back. Her expression broke him inside. She looked at him as if he was a murderer. As if Charles was a monster.

  Charles was in denial. Deep down, he knew it was his fault. He had not been able to keep his son safe.

  His body fell to the ground, no longer in his control. Vivian left the room, leaving him alone in all his darkness. Charles had been smiling for her all these days. Keeping up a brave façade, hoping it would pay off. He was being strong for his wife. It was all in vain. His futile attempts didn’t change anything. It didn’t change the situation they were in.

  It didn’t change how despicable he was or how he had, no matter how indirectly, had committed a crime.

  In the end, he was a monster. No matter how many excuses Charles used to defend himself, he knew. He was the reason they were broken apart. Charles tore his family apart. He destroyed them until there was nothing left to destroy.

  Chapter 35

  In a shabby apartment in Savannah, Timothy Sands was sitting in front of the dark window, thinking about the past and the future. His life had once again went into ruins. With nothing left for him to hope for. All his dreams of family and love had been lost, thanks to a too curious doctor and a too honest detective. Timothy had finally lost everything.

  “Shit!” he exclaimed in the empty room. If only he had kept Sam with him. Because, yes, Tim had loved once in his life, but had lost that too.

  One year ago, he had walked into his house to find the man he loved more than life itself ready to leave him. Tim couldn’t describe all those emotions that he felt for Sam. He fit perfectly with him. They were like the perfect pieces of a puzzle. They made up a masterpiece.

  It was Sam, whose thoughts were going to keep Tim up all night. It was him, who would take Tim’s pain away and take him to a land of dreams. It didn’t matter how long he had known Sam. It didn’t matter how torn Tim was. It didn’t matter how Tim had been wandering in the dark in the past. It was him.

  Torturous memories drowned Tim whole before, now it was his sweet dreams that haunted Tim’s senses. Sam was like a man he had known before, with a fire twinkling in his eyes. Yet, his personality shimmered through, shining bright like a rare jewel.

  Tim was condemned. He was damned in a prison of Hell. It was Sam who showed him the light. After all Tim had been through before, he was glad to meet someone who cou
ld change his viewpoint on the relationship. Yet, as Tim lay in his bed, the memories still found their way inside his mind.

  “You forget that I’m only human, Tim.” He had wretched his hand from Tim’s grasp. “You forget that I can’t stand beside you when you can’t prioritize your priorities.”

  “Sam. You know how much I lo–…” Tim started to say, but he cut him off.

  “Bullshit, Tim. You haven’t cared about anyone else. It was always about you. You, your sports, your career. You expected me to stand by you like a useless jewel, holding your sweaty towel with a smile on my face.”

  “Sam, can we please be rational about this? You know how much all of this means to me, it has–” He cut him off yet again.

  “I’m tired of all of this, Tim!” Sam yelled at him, tears trickling down his face. “I can’t do this anymore! I quit.”

  His words pierced through Tim like bullets. ‘I quit.’ Those were the words he used right now. Tim comprehended his words.

  “What do you mean, baby?” Tim said, scared of his answer. He knew what he meant. Tim just hoped he didn’t mean what Tim thought.

  “I’m done, Tim. I can’t live with you anymore. Your habits don’t click with mine. Your hobbies are different. Your priorities are different. You don’t think of me as something you need to support.”

  “Sam, you’re my life. I love you. Why are you doing this?” Tim pleaded with him.

  Sam waved him off. “You love your sports more. You don’t need to explain.” Tim wanted to scream. Why was he being so hard?

  “I never was a priority in your life. I realized that too late. I was always something you took for granted. I can’t live like this, Tim. I can’t. I can’t clean up after your mess. I didn’t sign up for this.” Sam shook his head. As he walked away, Tim couldn’t help feel like he had lost everything he treasured.

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