by Dee J. Adams
Being with her was so easy. Almost too easy. He’d never met anyone who made him laugh as much. She made him feel comfortable in his own skin, made him forget he was miserable and hated his life.
But this new life wasn’t so bad. In barely two weeks, he had a new friend and little chance of his real identity being found out. Not that he was stupid enough to think it would last forever. Eventually the paparazzi would figure out his new look. At some point, someone would spot him and the jig would be up, but he’d ride this wave as long as possible.
Mel unlocked his front door and went straight up to his music room. He grabbed an old acoustic guitar that he’d taken out of storage, tuned up and sat down on the stool against the wall. He started picking at the strings, humming a tune that came from out of nowhere. With no words to put to the melody that flowed from his heart to his fingers, he simply hummed until four words came out at the end of the chorus: Ashley here with me.
Smiling at the words, Mel continued to strum the song. It felt good to come up with something different. Maybe a different sound was what he needed to find music again. Maybe his last album with the record company would be a total departure from the usual Seger Hughes. Mel let the notes drift off as he sat back against the wall. Would the company even let him record an album void of his hard rock signature songs? Granted they expected a couple of ballads, but Mel wanted to record a few acoustic tunes and maybe dive into the world of alternative rock. No more hard driving shit.
He wanted a fresh start.
Chapter Thirteen
Paula checked her watch, flipped open her cell phone and called Lizzie. By now Lizzie would be on the road, heading back to Malibu from San Luis Obispo. Paula had made sure that she got her car back in time to visit her family and Lizzie had been beyond grateful. What a sap.
Looking around the sleepy little town of Solvang, she kicked at the curb as she leaned against a lamppost.
“Hi,” Lizzie’s voice said over the line. “I didn’t expect to hear from you. How was your Thanksgiving?” They had exchanged numbers and Paula knew her name came up on Lizzie’s screen.
“It was great,” Paula said. If you called being alone and eating a frozen dinner “great.” But it had also been a celebration of sorts. It was the last time she’d spend Thanksgiving alone. Next year she’d be in a big house with the man of her dreams. “I’m in a bind, though, and I was hoping you could help me.”
“If I can, sure. What’s up?”
“I’m stuck in Solvang. I came up with a friend yesterday and we got into the stupidest fight and she actually left without me. I couldn’t believe it. But I knew you were driving in today and wondered if you could swing by and pick me up?” Solvang was kind of on Lizzie’s way back to Malibu and she’d feel too indebted to leave Paula stranded. Paula was counting on it.
“Of course,” Lizzie said. “I’m probably a couple of hours away though.”
“That’s okay. I really appreciate it,” Paula said. She rattled off the address of the hotel down the street and disconnected the call. So far so good.
Two hours later, as promised, Lizzie pulled up to the hotel and Paula tossed her large overnight bag on the floor of the passenger seat and sat next to her.
“Thank you so much,” Paula said, reaching over and giving Lizzie a hug. “You’re a life saver. I would’ve taken the train, but I get motion sickness on trains. To be honest, my stomach’s been a little weird since breakfast.”
“Oh, no. I’m glad I was in the area.” She put the car in gear and started down the quiet street.
“Have you been here before?” Paula asked.
“It’s been years,” Lizzie said. “It’s changed a lot.” She headed toward the freeway.
Paula pointed to a secluded side road. “Take a right here. I want to show you a place I found with my friend yesterday.”
“Some friend,” Lizzie scoffed. “What happened anyway? I can’t believe she’d leave you stranded this far from home.”
“Yeah, you have to be careful who you befriend these days. People are nuts.” A giddy sense of fulfillment burst inside Paula. Her pulse pounded as Lizzie got closer to the location. Tall, thick brush surrounded the area. Nothing could be seen from the inside out or the outside in.
Paula reached for her stomach and grabbed the door handle. “Oh, God, there goes my stomach again. Can you stop,” she said. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Lizzie promptly pulled the car over and Paula opened the door. She leaned over and stuck her finger down her throat, forcing the gag reflex and subsequent evacuation of her lunch from her stomach. Lizzie hadn’t moved from her spot, so Paula got all the way out of the car facing the trunk, still bent over as if she hadn’t finished her bout of sickness.
“Paula, you feel any better?”
Paula just grunted and waited. A few moments later, Lizzie got out of the car, and Paula stumbled toward the passenger door, reached into her bag and pulled out the crow bar she’d stashed the day before. She waited until Lizzie was standing next to her. Poor stupid girl. Lizzie put her hand on Paula’s shoulder and Paula lifted up and swung that iron as hard as she could, connecting with Lizzie’s head with a sick thud.
The lady never knew what hit her.
Paula wiped her mouth as she straightened. “Thanks again for everything, Lizzie. I couldn’t have asked for more.” With another precise strike, she made sure the job was done. Blood sprayed across the dirt and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment filled Paula. Lizzie’s glasses had flown off and Paula could almost read the surprise on her dead face.
After making sure Lizzie didn’t have anything important in her pockets, Paula dragged her body off the deserted road and into a cluster of dense brush to the grave she’d dug the day before. She’d left the shovel so it didn’t take her too long to cover the body. She’d lose the crow bar somewhere else.
With that finished, she found Lizzie’s purse with her cell phone and wallet and hid them close to the grave. She started the car and drove north to Santa Maria, taking her time, careful not to speed or call attention to herself. About an hour later, she parked in the airport lot and wiped the car down so no trace of her fingerprints lingered, then she went to the terminal. This made it seem as if the lady had simply gotten on an airplane. Paula planned to tell Ashley that Lizzie had bailed for a family emergency, but she wanted to plant false leads for the police anyway. Investigators would have to check into every flight before discovering Lizzie hadn’t been on any of them.
In the empty ladies room, Paula rummaged in her bag, found the honey-blond wig she’d recently purchased and put it on. She changed her top too. One more way to conceal her identity with all these cameras around. With a last adjustment of the wig in the mirror, she smiled at her reflection. Her eyes sparkled with a renewed sense of accomplishment. She was one step closer to Mel. She left the airport, caught a taxi and went to the train station where she took the Amtrak back to Solvang. She picked up her SUV in the Amtrak parking lot and went back to Lizzie’s grave where she picked up her shovel and tossed it in the back of her truck. She found Lizzie’s bag and pulled out her day planner and cell phone.
Everything had been easier than she’d expected. Now that it was all over, she took the time to relish the power and the way her blood surged through her body. Success. What a rush.
Flipping through the date book, Paula found doctor’s appointments for Ashley neatly marked in pen along with a slip of paper stuck into the side pocket with the security code for the whole estate. Another tingle of accomplishment washed though Paula and lifted the hair on her arms. Jackpot.
Paula pulled out her own phone, called her office and quit on the spot. Those assholes barely paid her enough to survive anyway. She’d have been better off bartending somewhere than working for that company. Except for the fact that she’d found Seger because of them. It had been well worth it for that alone. She and Seger were fated to be together.
Next, she flipped open Lizzie’s phone.
“I think you had a couple of texts you needed to send, didn’t you, Liz? Why don’t I just help you with that right now.” Paula smiled as she went to work with phase two.
* * *
Ashley wouldn’t have heard the knock at the door if Roamer hadn’t warned her by barking and if she hadn’t stopped using her rowing machine. She heaved herself up and got downstairs as she wiped her face with a towel. Maybe Lizzie had forgotten her key. She’d been due back hours ago, but she’d probably hit traffic on such a busy weekend.
Or it could be Mel. Ashley smiled. Though they’d avoided any more kissing, they’d spent practically all of the last three days together and she couldn’t remember when she’d had more fun. They hadn’t gone anywhere or done anything special other than eat themselves into oblivion, which had in turn led to her working out furiously. They’d even worked out together yesterday at his place. He had an amazing gym set up over the garage.
She got to the door and swung it open…and immediately caught a whiff of strong perfume.
Paula.
Ashley’s mistake in not asking who it was before she opened the door hit her like a ton of bricks. And how the hell had Paula gotten through the gate?
Roamer’s tail smacked repeatedly against her leg.
“Hi, Ashley. It’s Paula. I’m sorry to bother you, but I got a text message from Lizzie and then she left a voice mail on my machine, but I realized after I listened to it and erased it that it was for you. She must have thought she was calling you and she got me instead. I didn’t have your number and her message sounded pretty important, so I figured I should stop by since I couldn’t call you.”
“Oh.” That made sense…in a convoluted way. Maybe Mel had left the gate open for some reason. Ashley stepped back. “C’mon in,” she said. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Roamer moved to let Paula in, then sneezed twice.
“No thanks.” Paula fumbled in her purse. “I had my phone a second ago. Here it is. I felt stupid for erasing the message, but I didn’t realize until I got the text that Lizzie meant for the voice mail to go to you. Here, let me just read this.”
Ashley wiped her face again and waited for Paula as she accessed the message on her cell phone.
“‘P, need a favor,’” Paula said. “‘I left a message with Ashley, but I need you to help her until she can hire a replacement for me.’” What? A replacement? Ashley’s stomach twisted and she held her breath as Paula continued. “‘Family emergency came up. I can’t return. Please box my stuff and put it in storage. I know this is short notice and I feel horrible. Tell Ashley not to worry about anything. Trust you to take care of her until she brings on someone more permanent. Thank you so much. Liz.’” Paula’s silence indicated the end of the message.
“Like I said, that was the text I got after listening to the voice mail.”
“What did the voice mail say?”
“She started out saying, ‘Hi, it’s me,’ so I thought she knew she was leaving the message with me,” Paula said. “It wasn’t as if she started with, ‘Hi, Ash, it’s me.’ Anyway…she said she hated doing this to you, but a family emergency came up and she had no idea when she’d be back. She said to rely on me if you needed anything that—well, this is embarrassing but—even though she’s only known me a short time, she totally trusts me and that you can too. That’s when she lost me because she was talking to me about me and that was weird. I missed the next little bit because I was trying to figure out what she meant. Finally, she said to let me take care of you until you hired someone else because she didn’t know how long it would take for you to find someone.
“Like an idiot, I went to hit one to replay and hit seven and deleted it instead. That’s what I get for driving and texting. I’m such a dope.”
“No, no. It’s okay. I’ll call her,” Ashley said, heading toward the phone in the den. “I’m sure she can explain what happened.” When Ashley punched in Lizzie’s number, she was rolled over directly to voice mail. “Lizzie, it’s Ash. Sorry to hear about the family problems. Call me as soon as you can and maybe we can figure this out without me having to hire someone else. Take care and don’t worry about me. But do call, okay, so I know you’re all right.” Ashley replaced the phone on the cradle.
“For what it’s worth, she sounded strong on the phone,” Paula said. “She wasn’t crying or anything.” Paula paused. “I feel so weird. I mean I feel as if I know you because Lizzie talked—I mean—talks about you nonstop. She really admires you and…well…I guess I do too. I can’t imagine the strength of character you have to get through everything you’ve been through the last couple of years. I just want you to know that I’m here for you. Whatever you need until Lizzie gets back or until you find someone else.”
How did she reply to that? “Well. Thank you. That’s really nice of you to say. I didn’t know Lizzie felt that way. She hasn’t really talked to me that much. I mean we talk, but…” Ashley couldn’t get more words out. She liked Lizzie, yet she hadn’t forged the friendship with her that Paula clearly had.
“I know she’s been gone since Wednesday night and you’ve had a houseful with your family in, but I’m here if you need me to help you with anything.”
Sounded like Lizzie had told her a lot. “I think I’m in pretty good shape, but thanks.” Except tomorrow she had her appointment with the eye doctor. “Damn.”
“What?”
“Lizzie was supposed to take me to the ophthalmologist tomorrow morning.”
“No sweat. I can totally do it.”
Ashley hated this. “I can’t ask you to do that. Besides, what about your job? You must have a job.”
“I did, but business has been so slow that they started laying off people and I finally got my pink slip about a week ago. I’ve been job hunting and helping you would really help me. At least until we both find something permanent.”
Meaning she needed money now. Still, Ashley wasn’t ready to hire Paula on the spot. She needed to call the Department of Rehabilitation first and see if they had anyone available. Of course there was no way she’d find someone before her appointment tomorrow, so Paula would have to do.
“If you’re sure about taking me tomorrow, then I’m okay with it. I’ll make some phone calls when I get home and see what I can come up with.”
“Great.” The smile on Paula’s face was evident in her tone.
Ashley relayed the time they needed to leave the house to make the appointment and Paula promised she’d be early before closing the front door on her way out.
Since her workout had been about done anyway, Ashley headed to her room for a shower. She grabbed a clean T-shirt and underwear from her drawer. Her bundle grazed the top of the dresser as she turned and something hit the floor. Two somethings actually. She could tell by the sound. What had she knocked off the surface? She’d been so careful lately to put things where they belonged so she could find them later.
Oh shit. Her favorite earrings. She’d taken them off last night, but the phone had rung and she’d left them on the dresser to answer it, then forgotten all about them. Her dad had given them to her before he died. He’d known he wouldn’t be around and he’d splurged on her tenth birthday by giving her sapphire earrings. Ashley wore them almost every day. She tossed her clothes in the general direction of the bed and kneeled down, straining to see in her periphery as she gently patted the hardwood floor.
Her heart raced as panic slowly escalated. Where the hell were they? They couldn’t have disappeared. Had to be here somewhere. But as each minute passed, as she moved her hand along the floor, she didn’t find them.
Tears pricked her eyes and frustration consumed her. “Goddammit!” she seethed. She felt in front of her, behind her and all points in between. Finally she got down on her stomach and reached underneath her dresser, breathing hard, searching…until finally she found one earring. She sobbed in partial relief, her throat a tight knot. She still needed one more.
She stretched further. T
here! At the tip of her finger. Found it. She pulled them both out, along with the dirt and dog hair that had accumulated since the last cleaning, clutching them in her palm as she lay on the floor and cried.
* * *
Mel heard the chimes at the front door and remembered he had yet to have them changed. As he neared the front entry, he heard the distinct signal that had become Ashley’s knock. In the last three days they’d spent an enormous amount of time together. He’d noticed the mistletoe had disappeared from the archway and didn’t know if it was because she didn’t want to kiss him again or simply because she’d put it up as a joke and the joke didn’t play if her family members weren’t there. Either way, there’d been no more kissing. Not even a hint that she wanted to kiss him. It was a novelty for Mel. He grinned as he swung the door wide. “You rang?”
She leaned against the frame, wearing tight leggings and two layers of snug T-shirts that outlined the amazing shape of her body. Her eyes looked the slightest bit red as if she’d been crying, but he couldn’t be sure. “I’m fucked,” she said.
“I didn’t do it,” he replied and she grinned.
“Trust me. I’m well aware of that.” She walked in and spun around as he closed the door. The friendship they’d struck up had already rooted deep into Mel. “You won’t believe what just happened.” It was as if they’d been friends for years.
Mel wanted to say, “You got fucked?” but figured they were done with the jokes since she looked so serious. “What happened?”
