Just His Luck

by B. J Daniels

  “She makes a good point,” Tyler said. “Ariel’s death changes everything.”

  “Ariel’s murder, you mean,” Stephanie added.

  Ashley gave them all a shocked look. “Why would we cancel our plans? Just because of Ariel? She ran our lives when she was alive and now we’re going to let her come back from the grave to do it? No way. I say we go ahead with our plans. Anyway, it’s what Ariel would have wanted.”

  Stephanie let out a bitter laugh. “Seriously? I thought we didn’t care about what Ariel would want?”

  “It seems...disrespectful,” Kayla said in a small voice.

  “She’s dead,” Stephanie said a little too flippantly.

  “We were her only friends,” Ashley cried. Ashley, Stephanie and Jennifer. Three Barbie Dolls, Lizzy thought, all so much alike, all best friends.

  So where was Jennifer? It seemed odd that she wasn’t here. Maybe they hadn’t all stayed friends. Lizzy was noticing the fissures between at least two of them as they began to disagree because of Ariel. It amazed Lizzy how Ariel could still wreak such havoc in their lives.

  “What will people say if we don’t do something to remember her?” Ashley protested.

  “They’ll say what they’re already thinking,” Stephanie said. “That one of us killed her. She might be gone, but—”

  “She’s not forgotten,” Shade added and everyone seemed to notice that he was no longer looking in the group’s direction. Instead, his intent gaze was on the edge of the room—and Lizzy.

  “Well, look who it is,” Ashley said with a laugh. “Our new sheriff. Come here to interrogate us?” Her laugh held little humor. “Or are you here to arrest one of us?”

  * * *

  OH, JUST LOOK at all of them down there taking pleasure in my death. Nothing like your best friends. At least now I finally know what they really thought of me. I almost feel as if I wasn’t missed. I guess this means that any tears shed at my funeral will be crocodile ones. It would hurt my feelings if I wasn’t already dead.

  Still, with our ten-year high school class reunion this weekend, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again. How perfect that my former boyfriend Shade Sterling is hosting the event at his family’s guest ranch. The number one suspect in my murder. Don’t you love it?

  While I can’t be there in person, trust me, I’ll be there in spirit. Get it? They’ll all be looking at each other, speculating on who hated me more. Who hated me enough to do what they only dreamed of doing. But I know something they don’t. Some secrets just can’t be buried deep enough.

  I would love to see my killer get what’s coming. I hate the way we left things that night after the graduation party.

  But I hate even more that I’m depending on Lizzy to make that happen.

  * * *

  LIZZY REMOVED HER Western hat as she took in her former classmates. She was glad that she’d gotten those few minutes to study them before they’d become aware of her presence. It had been years and yet, seeing them together again had taken her back to high school in the snap of her fingers. It also made her sick to her stomach to realize the effect Ariel had had on everyone in this room.

  “Just stopped by to see how the reunion was going,” she told the group, even though it was Shade who had her attention.

  “We’re going ahead with it,” Ashley said as if it had been decided. “It’s what Ariel would have wanted.”

  “And we’re so worried about what Ariel would have wanted,” Stephanie said and took a cookie.

  Lizzy didn’t doubt that Ariel would have loved the attention at the reunion as everyone speculated on who had killed her and watched each other warily. “Are you sure that’s what the others would want? I’d think this would put a damper on the reunion knowing that one of you might have killed her.”

  Ashley laughed. “I suspect it will give the reunion some excitement that would have been lacking otherwise.”

  “Especially if one of us killed her and that person isn’t done killing,” Tyler said and laughed.

  “Tyler, you’re such an ass,” Stephanie said. “If you’re trying to scare us—”

  “It’s been ten years,” Ashley said. “What killer waits ten years to take his next victim?”

  “One waiting for the perfect opportunity—like all of you in one place,” Tyler said. “Just like on graduation night at the party. Or maybe the killer was waiting for his or her first victim to be found.”

  “Stephanie’s right,” Shade said to Tyler. “Put a sock in it.”

  Tyler laughed and mugged at face at Ashley. “Just saying that I would be more comfortable with the reunion after Ariel’s murderer was behind bars. I don’t trust any of you.”

  “But that could take years, or maybe never be solved,” Ashley said, then quickly added, “No offense to your abilities, Lizzy. But we all know how slow the wheels of justice can be.”

  “You’re right,” Lizzy agreed. “Finding out the truth could take time. So we all need to be patient. But at least with us all together at the reunion, I’ll get the opportunity to question each of you—if I don’t get to question you before then. Someone might remember something from that night that will help me find the killer.”

  Ashley clapped her hands together. “Once we’re all together, we can help solve the crime. We’ll find the killer for you,” she said and laughed. “After all, it might have been ten years ago, but we knew each other really well since it was such a small class.”

  “Isn’t that the truth,” Kayla said, sounding not the least happy about it.

  Lizzy groaned. They all seemed to want to play detective. The reunion definitely could get interesting if they all turned on each other.

  “Fine,” she said. “I guess I’ll see you all at our reunion.” She gave Shade a nod. He gave her a grin. She turned to leave.

  “Should she be investigating Ariel’s murder?” she heard Stephanie whisper as Lizzy started to leave the room. “I mean if anyone wanted Ariel dead...”

  Lizzy turned to look back at the woman who’d spoken. “Is there something you want to say, Steph?”

  Her former classmate shook her head adamantly. “I’m good.”

  “Like I said, I’m going to try to stop by to question each of you about graduation night and your relationship with Ariel before the reunion if there is time.” With that Lizzy left. She’d known that it had only been a matter of time before someone questioned her investigation of the case—she hadn’t just known Ariel. She’d been in her immediate circle.

  She could recuse herself but she didn’t have an undersheriff at the moment with Ward Farnsworth in jail awaiting his trial for the hit-and-run of the former sheriff. DCI would be doing all of the forensics work and the prosecuting attorney would be watching over her shoulder like a hawk.

  Lizzy told herself that if anyone could find Ariel’s killer, it was her. And maybe that was why the killer might want her off the case. She knew all her classmates but not like she’d known Ariel.

  So until someone forced her to step aside, she was going to investigate this case come hell or high water.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  AS LIZZY WALKED out to her patrol SUV parked in front of the Sterling ranch house, the reality of the situation seemed to finally sink in. Ariel was dead. She’d been dead since the night of their high school graduation party. For ten years she’d been in her SUV at the bottom of the pond.

  Lizzy shuddered, still having trouble dealing with how cold-blooded the killing had been. For ten years, she’d imagined Ariel taking off that night, angry and drunk and probably planning her disappearance—if she hadn’t been planning it for weeks.

  Her father had just been indicted for misuse of campaign funds. Her mother was said to have gone to a spa for an extended stay for nerves. It would be just like Ariel to make an exit that would have everyone wondering and worrying about what had h
appened to her. Lizzy had figured that if anyone loved being a mystery, it was Ariel.

  Never had Lizzy dreamed that her nemesis was so close by. Sitting behind the wheel of her precious SUV all these years under fifteen feet of water as her body turned to pond scum. She hated to think of what Ariel’s last tortured moments had been like as water rushed in and the vehicle sank.

  “Lizzy, wait up.”

  Startled from her thoughts, she turned as Shade came loping out of the house after her. Even against both her better judgment and her professional one, she couldn’t help the small thrill she felt every time she saw him. The handsome cowboy grinned at her as he came to a stop just inches away.

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t get away before I caught you,” he said.

  “Is something wrong? Did they change their minds and decide to cancel the reunion?”

  He shook his head, a worried look replacing the grin. “The reunion is still on, but there’s something you should know. I just found out from Ashley that Ariel had told her she was pregnant. With my child.”

  Lizzy felt her eyes widen in surprise.

  He rushed on quickly. “It wasn’t mine. I know that for a fact, but no one knew that Ariel and I hadn’t been together for months so they were more apt to believe it when she told them we were getting married. I guess the scene she made breaking up with me was to make me look bad when everyone found out about the pregnancy.”

  Lizzy knew that Shade was telling the truth. Ariel had been furious at Shade and made excuses for why the two of them weren’t spending any time together during those months. As far as Lizzy knew, they’d only seen each other at school. Ariel had tried to convince her that they were fine, that they often got together late at night because they were so busy otherwise. Lizzy had known she was lying and she knew why.

  “Whose baby do you think—?” she began.

  “I don’t know. I thought maybe you might know.”

  She shook her head. “I’m as surprised as you must have been.”

  He nodded. “I have no idea how far along she was or if any of this is even true. I figured if she went to the doctor...”

  Lizzy saw where he was headed. “There would be a record.” Maybe even blood had been taken. Not that there was any chance of getting DNA since, if true, the killer hadn’t just killed Ariel but the child she was carrying, as well. “Do you think her mother knew?”

  He shrugged and met her gaze. “I was thinking that if she really was pregnant, the father of the baby might have a motive for murder.”

  “Unless he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.”

  Shade chuckled and looked toward the mountains. “I suppose anything is possible.” Neither of them could see anyone actually wanting to marry Ariel. Not the young woman they knew anyway.

  “I have a lot of people to interview before and during the reunion,” she said. “But at some point, I’m going to need to ask you some questions about that night.”

  “Sure,” he said and smiled. “Whenever. Just give me a holler. I’ll help in any way I can. You look cold.” He took a step closer, blocking the wind with his body. The October breeze had a bite to it and he’d run out without a coat, but he was worried about her getting cold. That was the Shade Sterling she knew.

  “I’m taking the photographs up to the guest ranch today if you need to talk to me,” he said. “Call the landline. Or come on up. It will just be me up there.” He suddenly looked embarrassed. “That didn’t come out right.” He shook his head. “Just trying to help.”

  She laughed. “I appreciate that.”

  He stood there, his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, looking so adorable that for a moment she wanted to kiss him like he had her ten years ago at their graduation party.

  She felt a pull toward this man that felt stronger than gravity and had to remind herself that Shade was a suspect. “I should go.”

  He nodded, but neither of them moved.

  “Tell me you haven’t thought about me at least once in the past ten years,” he said, looking almost shy. “I sure as hell have thought about you.”

  She opened her mouth to deny it, but then closed her lips again.

  He grinned. “That’s what I was hoping. And I do love a woman in a uniform.”

  “Shade—”

  His blue eyes locked with hers. “I know, I’m a suspect in your investigation. But come on, Lizzy, there’s no way you suspect me. Admit it.”

  “Shade—”

  “Okay,” he said, still grinning. “But when your investigation is over...”

  She smiled and turned toward her rig. As she did, she saw that Ashley was watching them from the window. “You’d better get back inside. It appears you were missed.”

  * * *

  SHADE STOOD FOR a moment, watching Lizzy drive away before he went back inside. What was there about that woman that made him feel like a teenager again? He was thinking about her as he came into the house on a gust of cold air to find Ashley waiting for him.

  “The temperature is dropping. We’ll be lucky if it doesn’t snow before we even get to the lodge this weekend,” he predicted.

  “What’s with you and Lizzy?”

  He laughed at the way she skipped niceties without any hesitation. “Let’s see,” he said as if he had to think about it. “After ten years of everyone thinking I had something to do with Ariel’s disappearance, now it turns out that she was murdered. I’m probably Lizzy’s number one suspect. So what do you think is with us?”

  Ashley cocked her head, studying him. “She told you that? That you’re her number one suspect?” She scoffed. “Don’t try to kid me. Ariel told me that Lizzy had a crush on you and that she couldn’t be trusted.”

  Shade let out a huff. “Ariel knew darn well that I was the one with the crush on Lizzy. She did everything possible to keep us apart.”

  “Sounds like a motive for murder.”

  He chuckled. “There’s a lot of those going around. For instance, I know you and Ariel were on the outs at the graduation party that night. Is it true she hounded you until you cut your hair short?”

  Ashley immediately looked irritated. “She didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

  “Right,” he said with an eye roll.

  “If you’re suggesting that I killed her because of a haircut—”

  “You left pretty quickly after she did the night of the graduation party,” Shade said.

  Ashley shook her head. “If you must know, I got a text from her to meet her, but she never showed.” When he said nothing, she stomped a foot in frustration. “I didn’t kill her. I might have been her only friend at the end.” She waved a hand through the air as if to signal that she was through with that particular discussion. “I want to do something special at the reunion for her, no matter what the others say. Any ideas?”

  “A dartboard with her picture on it?” he joked. “Or is that too close to the truth?”

  * * *

  LIZZY WAS THINKING about what Shade had told her on her way back to the office. Had Ariel really been pregnant? If so, then who was the father? Another one of Ariel’s secrets, if true. She parked and started toward the sheriff’s office.

  A female reporter suddenly came running across the lawn and stepped in her path, shoving a microphone into her face. Belatedly, Lizzy saw the news van parked on the street nearby. She’d been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed either the woman or the van or the man with the large camera now aimed at her.

  “Sheriff, you must be shocked. What can you tell us about Ariel Matheson’s murder?”

  “It’s under investigation,” Lizzy said. “That’s all at this time.” She tried to step past the woman.

  “You knew the deceased better than anyone, I’m told,” the reporter said, blocking her way. “What was Ariel Matheson like?”

>   She was the kind of person who if she saw a tiny hole in the stitching along the edge of your couch, she would stick her finger in it. She would do that every time she came over until she’d ripped it wide-open. Ariel loved to find your flaws and pick at them, never letting you forget them but in a seemingly kind, helpful manner that at first fooled you.

  “She was like any other high school girl,” Lizzy told the reporter. Not her first lie.

  Ariel had been like a dazzling spotlight. If she beamed in on someone, there was no turning away. It was as if you were under a spell. Lizzy knew only too well. Get too close though and you were going to get burned. She knew that better than anyone.

  * * *

  “IF SHE SETS her sights on you, run,” Whitney Clark had warned her. “She’ll draw you in with flattery and kill you with kindness. But if you cross her... I used to be her best friend. Now she acts as if I’m wearing camo and she just can’t see me.”

  Ariel had quickly stepped in and pulled Lizzy away. “You don’t want to get in with the wrong kind,” Ariel had told her. “Whitney has...let’s just say problems with the truth and has been known to suddenly turn violent. Don’t worry, my friends and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Lizzy had been flattered when Ariel chose to be her friend. She’d felt honored to be a part of that circle. To be in the glow of Ariel’s personality. She didn’t realize that the popular girl had set her sights on her. Whitney had tried to warn her again. When Lizzy told her that she still wanted to be her friend as well as friends with Ariel, Whitney had wanted nothing to do with her.

  “She’s toxic. She’s already done a number on me. If she thought that I even tried to warn you about her...” Whitney had walked away and from that point on, kept her distance, not even hanging out with Kayla, also an outsider. It wasn’t long after that Whitney was killed in the hit-and-run accident.

  * * *

  IT MADE NO sense to Lizzy why Ariel had chosen her back then. Now she knew that the calculating young woman had seen a vulnerability in her. She’d seen someone she could control. She’d come after her and it hadn’t taken long at all before Lizzy found herself not just under Ariel’s spell but her thumb.