It Started With A House: Lizzie. Book 1 (The Westport Mysteries)

by Beth Prentice

  There was Auntie M and Uncle Frank. Hmm, maybe not. If I turned up there pumped full of adrenalin and telling her stories of being chased, they would be able to make a soap opera out of the story that would evolve. No, not my best option.

  What about Aimie, my old roommate? Picking up my phone ready to dial her number, I looked at the date and realized she would be working and probably not even in the country as her job was a flight attendant.

  Damn! Now what? I know! I’ll stay with Scott. I actually don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. Scott’s place would be perfect as bald-headed sedan man probably didn’t know where Scott lived and even if he did, Scott lived in a secure building, so he wouldn’t be able to break in anyway.

  Good thinking Lizzie. I just had to call Scott and warn him I was on my way. I know, you would think most men would enjoy an unexpected visit from their girlfriend, but not Scott. He hated surprises. Dialing his number, I waited until his message bank kicked in and left a message explaining what was happening. Putting my car back into gear, I pointed it in the direction of the city and continued to call Scott on the drive, but each time it went to message bank. By the time I got to his apartment building, he still wasn’t answering but luckily for me the doorman knew me.

  “Hey there, Lizzie. How are you on this fine evening?”

  “Okay, thanks Stan. I’ll be better once I’ve had a hot shower and am snuggled up to Scott. How about you?”

  Stan was a really lovely guy and I felt rude not asking how he was. All the time though, I kept looking around scanning for the black sedan. I was pretty sure I’d lost him about an hour ago, but I was really edgy. Maybe Scott would have a Xanax I could pinch.

  Looking back at Stan, I waited the obligatory few minutes and found out how his wife Beryl’s gout was, gave him my sympathies—apparently she was not the easiest to live with when her gout was playing up—and headed to the elevator. Finally, I felt like I could relax. The familiarity of the elevator and the knowledge that this was a secure building gave me a sense of protection. I was looking forward to that shower and comfy bed when the elevator stopped at the top floor and the doors pinged open. Scott always kept a spare key hidden under the fire extinguisher. Finding it, I opened the door and let myself in.

  The apartment was dark when I entered, so I flipped a few switches and watched as light filled the room. Everything seemed in place as I looked around, dropping my bag on the lounge as I walked past it. Nope, better go back and pick that up. As much as I just wanted to relax and throw my bag and shoes wherever they fell, I knew that would just get Scott upset when he got home. Picking it back up, I slipped my shoes off, placed them neatly at the door and headed towards the bedroom to use the ensuite. Thinking of Scott’s ensuite and the spa showerhead almost had me running up the hall.

  Hmm, that was strange. There was a light coming from under the door.

  My anxiety levels were pretty high tonight and I knew I just needed to relax. He’d probably forgotten to turn it off this morning. Admittedly, that wasn’t like him, but I guess we all forget things sometimes. My footsteps slowed as I got closer to the door as I could hear voices coming from the other side. The voices were muffled but I could definitely hear a female giggling.

  Stopping, I took a moment to process what I was hearing. It must just be the anxiety, I thought, making me hear things. He’d probably left the television on as well. Slowly forcing my feet to move, I strained to listen for any other sounds that would indicate if it was the television and not what I was thinking. I actually felt sick standing outside the bedroom door, debating whether I wanted to open it or turn and run.

  Putting my ear to the wood, I held my breath and listened. Yeah, my heartbeat was pretty loud, making all other sounds almost distant, but I definitely heard Scott’s laugh. He was in there. Did I want to open this door and see who he was with? Yes. I had to know.

  Reaching out for the door handle, I felt it cool against my burning skin as I pushed the lever down and opened the door. I instantly regretted it. There was Scott, buck-naked, standing behind Brenda—I’m sure you can fill in the blanks as to what they were actually doing.

  It’s strange how fast emotions can change in you. Ten minutes ago, I was anxious and running from a crazy man. Five minutes ago, I was feeling safe and secure, and now–I just felt sick.

  Everything moved in front of me in slow motion. I watched as Scott turned to look at me. I held my breath as Brenda screamed. The world stopped turning for just a few seconds as I fought the urge to throw up right here on his bedroom carpet. I almost laughed as Brenda tried to stand up, causing Scott to howl with pain. She obviously had a pretty good grip on him for a woman her age. Scott quickly pulled away from her and picked up the nearest cover he could find. Brenda was left flailing like a beached whale trying to get herself up, when I turned and ran to the bathroom, locked myself in and gave in to the urge to throw up.

  I knew things hadn’t been great between us lately, but I had no idea he was having an affair. Especially with Brenda. How could he? I knew I had the hots for Riley, but I would never act on it while Scott and I were still together. I would have the decency to end it properly.

  Of course it all made sense now. The cancelled dates, How we’d only slept together once, the late nights he always had at work. With Brenda there to help him.

  The prick. The bastard. The coward. I washed my face with cold water and towel-dried it as I looked in the mirror above the sink.

  Was I that unattractive he had to have a woman almost twice my age?

  Finally getting control over my stomach, I opened the door and prepared myself for a confrontation with Scott. He’d made himself scarce, though. Brenda had been sent to do damage control.

  “Lizzie, I need to explain. We love each other very much, but he didn’t want to hurt you.”

  Just looking at her made me feel sick all over again. “How long, Brenda?” I asked, using all the bravery I had. I did not want to start crying in front of her. I would not show her how hurt I was.

  “Six months,” she whispered.

  It felt like someone had hit me with a baseball bat. “Wow. Jokes on me then, I guess.”

  I turned and almost ran out of the apartment. Brenda didn’t even try to stop me. It was only when I reached my car that I allowed myself to cry. I don’t really think I was crying for the end of the relationship, I pretty much knew that was nearly over. But I felt humiliated and betrayed by a man I thought cared about me. Instead, all the time in the last six months we’d been together, he’d actually been with her as well. Probably comparing notes. And she’d known about it.

  I started to think about all the conversations I’d had with Brenda over the last few years. The times I had asked her advice on what to get him for his birthday. The time I’d shown her the sexy nightie I’d bought and the time she’d helped me plan a surprise weekend away with him. Then she too betrayed me. I thought she was a friend— admittedly not a close friend, but still a friend. What kind of people were they?

  Driving blindly, crying and scared, I found myself back home before I’d really thought it through. To be honest, at this point, I didn’t really care if some crazy man wanted to hurt me. In fact, let him try.

  Stopping in the street, I scanned for the familiar black sedan. When I didn’t see it, I figured he’d probably given up for the night. Making a run for the door, I ran inside, locked and bolted it, picked up my deadly can of hairspray and went from room to room checking all window locks, cupboards and hidey-holes.

  When I was confident no-one was there, I picked up Cat—I had long since given up trying to use his real name—locked myself in my bedroom, placed a kitchen chair under the door handle as added security and prepared myself for a restless night.

  Chapter Twenty

  As usual, Riley arrived bright and early the next morning, ready to do some work. I hadn’t got much sleep last night and was feeling particularly tired and cranky before he arrived, but seeing him smile at
me totally changed my mood for the better.

  At about three-thirty this morning, I’d decided I should call the police first thing and tell them what had been happening. I wasn’t sure if they could do much, but at least if they found my cold, dead body one day, they’d have some idea of where to start looking for my killer.

  Riley walked in as I was on the phone and I saw the look of shock on his face that I was actually up this early.

  “Thank you, Officer. I’ll see you soon,” I said, hanging up the phone. Riley looked at me, eyebrows arched.

  “I think it’s time I let the police know what’s been going on,” I said. I’d also decided to keep the details concerning Scott to myself for now. It was still too raw. “I’m not sure what they can do, but I just don’t feel comfortable here anymore.” I shrugged my shoulders and gave Riley a small smile. “I’m going for a quick shower before they arrive.”

  After running back upstairs, putting on my bikini and grabbing all the necessary items, I walked back out to the deck for my shower. Luckily, it was warmer this morning. The clouds from last night had gone and left us with what promised to be a beautiful day. It’s a shame my mood didn’t match the weather.

  Every time I thought of Scott and Brenda, I got a lump in my throat and a sick feeling in my stomach. I knew I would have to tell my family soon but it was actually really embarrassing. How stupid had I been, thinking all this time how lucky I was to have Scott as my boyfriend and that I didn’t really deserve a man like him?

  Pulling off my towel and throwing it onto the chair, I stepped into my shower. Crap, I hated this thing. I will say, that after the shock of what I had witnessed last night had worn off, I was a little bit pissed I’d missed out on using Scott’s lovely shower. Oh well, be grateful for what you’ve got, Lizzie. Looking forward to the feeling of hot water running over my aching body, I reached forward for the taps and found a really expensive pair of pink Victoria’s Secrets panties. Just hanging there.

  My hand froze and with the familiar surge of adrenalin, my eyes started darting around the yard. Could he be here watching? There was no Black sedan in the street when I looked about ten minutes ago. I’d been checking about every half hour or so and so far, there’d been no sign of him. I suppose he could have parked in the next street over and walked here. Maybe he’d visited through the night. I’d managed to doze off for a few minutes here and there and it’s possible I hadn’t heard him even if I’d been awake.

  “Riley! Would you mind coming out here?” I called. Riley must have been in the kitchen because his head appeared out the door.

  “What’s up?”

  What should I say? Hey look what turned up and show him the knickers? Just then doorbell rang.

  Ducking his head back inside, he yelled out to me, “The police have just arrived. I’ll go and let them in.”

  Okay, a quick shower it was going to be. Surely if Sedan Man was watching, he would leave with the police here. When I’d finished, I put the panties in the back pocket of my jeans and walked into the house. Riley sat at the table with two uniformed police officers, all drinking cups of coffee. Jumping up and pouring another cup, Riley handed it to me and introduced me.

  “Lizzie, this is Officer Lucy Wilkins and Officer Ed Helms.”

  Officer Lucy Wilkins was not what I expected in a female police officer. She was really petite, with shiny blonde hair pulled back into a bun and had a real girl-next-door look about her. How she could run down bad guys I had no idea. However, maybe with Officer Helms at her side she stood more of a chance. He was about six-foot tall, gorgeous dark mocha skin and was muscle from head to gorgeous toe.

  “Pleased to meet you,” I said, shaking their hands in turn, my palms going a little sweaty when I touched Officer Helms’s.

  “Lizzie, you wanted to talk to us about the break-in you had here a few weeks ago,” said Officer Wilkins, who was obviously trying to take charge and almost seemed to be doing the peacock thing, fluffing out her beautiful feathers. I’m not sure if this was for Riley’s benefit or her sidekick’s. Either way, there were an awful lot of pheromones floating around this room right now.

  “Yes, a few things have happened since then. I didn’t really think they were related until last night.”

  They listened intently as I recalled the events that had happened since I’d spoken to them last—leaving out the part where I visited Scott—taking notes where appropriate. I watched Riley’s jaw tighten and his eyes go hard when I mentioned the panty incident in the car.

  “Are you certain they were yours?” asked Office Helms.

  “I’m pretty sure. I mean, I didn’t pick them up and have an inspection but I’m certain he was letting me know they were mine,” I replied. “Anyway, when I got in the shower this morning, they were hanging on the tap.”

  I pulled the panties out of my back pocket and held them out for all to see. The most embarrassing part of all of this was that the knickers hadn’t been washed since I’d last worn them. At least that I knew about. I’m no expert, but I didn’t think Sedan man would have put them through the wash before sniffing them. Then again, maybe he did. Who knows?

  Officer Wilkins pulled a plastic bag out of her pocket and using her pen, dropped the panties into the bag. I guess I wasn’t getting those back in a hurry. Fine by me, I’d probably burn them now anyway.

  After taking a few more details, questioning me about every boyfriend I’d ever had and every man I’d ever had contact with, they promised they would look into it and left, leaving me with a particularly quiet Riley.

  “I think I might go for a walk. I need some fresh air to clear my head,” I said, walking towards the stairs.

  “I’ll come with you. We can stop at my place on the way to the river and I’ll get changed. In fact, why don’t you pack a bag while you’re upstairs and you can stay with me until they catch this guy,” said Riley.

  “Riley, that’s silly. It could take them forever to catch him. Who knows, maybe he’s given up anyway,” I shrugged.

  “Don’t argue with me, Lizzie. Either you come and stay at my place or I’m moving in here. But the good shower is at my place.”

  Gee, he really knew how to put up a good argument. “Okay fine, I’ll go pack.”

  Yeah, I know I didn’t exactly put up a fight about it, but after last night, the thought of staying here another night on my own did not appeal to me. Besides, Riley was right. A good shower would win every time.

  * * * *

  Half an hour later we were at Riley’s. I’d never been there before and I have to say his house was gorgeous. The garden was pretty basic, backing onto the river, with beautiful green grass and a couple of large old trees that shaded the house. It was an old Presbyterian Church built in the early eighteen hundreds and looked like it would have only held about a hundred people.

  Riley had done a wonderful job converting it, putting in a mezzanine floor over the back half of the room that held his bedroom and small bathroom. Downstairs was a small, open-plan lounge-cum-dining room and a small kitchen. Lots of timber flooring and white walls, but he had kept and restored the old leadlight windows in the side walls. These at present were throwing a rainbow of color around the room as the sun shone in through them. Interesting that I only counted one bedroom. Where was I going to sleep?

  Reading my mind again, Riley looked at me and gave me a very wicked smile. “As you are spoken for, I will do the honorable thing and sleep on the couch.”

  He smiled as he placed Cat on the floor. I couldn’t leave Cat behind in case something happened to him. Admittedly, the major threat would probably come from my neighbor, Helen. Looking at Riley, my heart did this flippy thing it was prone to do around him. I hadn’t mentioned my break up with Scott at all to Riley, and now didn’t seem like the appropriate time.

  Changing the subject I said, “Well, are you getting changed for this walk or what?”

  “Sure. I’ll just be a minute,” he said, heading up the stairs and disapp
earing into the bathroom. I had a good look around while I waited for him. The house actually looked like an interior designer had helped with the decorating. The neutral color palette used was very sophisticated, yet masculine. Unlike Scott’s apartment though, this house looked and felt like a home. Riley had a dirty cup and bowl in the kitchen sink, obviously left over from this morning’s breakfast. There was a pile of dirt bike magazines on the floor next to the couch, DVD’s next to the TV, and the whole place looked and smelt like Riley. I’d already fallen in love with it.

  “Are you ready?” asked Riley.

  I’d been so engrossed checking out his home, I hadn’t heard him walk up behind me. Embarrassment burned my cheeks at being caught. I quickly turned towards him and tripped over Cat. Riley reached out to stop me from falling, but momentum had the better of me and I fell straight in to him, making him lose balance. We crashed to the floor.

  I heard him grunt as my body slammed into his. I lay there trying to catch my breath, my full body weight on top of him. Every nerve-ending was on full alert as my body aligned with his. I felt like someone had plugged me into a power point. I tingled from head to toe, but mostly in places I shouldn’t mention. Let’s just say these places hadn’t tingled like that in a very long time. If my cheeks were burning with embarrassment before, now they were in full flame. God, I hoped Riley couldn’t read my mind right now. The images I had going through it were pretty X-rated.

  Looking at him under me, my face only inches from his nipples, I thought how I could happily stay there for the rest of the day.

  I noticed the look on his face and can’t actually describe what emotion I saw. He definitely looked like I had taken the wind out of him. I’ll remind you that I’m not the skinniest girl on the planet, so that didn’t surprise me. I probably should get up and let him catch his breath.

  Riley was not a small man and I could feel every hard muscle as I contemplated the best way to get off him. He didn’t look like he was about to help me anytime soon, so I started to wriggle my way backwards in an attempt to get my feet on the floor.