An eternity later, the doors opened to the dimly lit parking garage. She entered the area where her car was located, feeling guarded. She walked through the intimidating space; the smell of car fumes, the harsh noises that echoed off the concrete walls and pillars shot anxiety up her spine.
She reached her black VW Jetta and before opening the driver side door, she glanced about the parking garage, having a restless feeling that she was being watched from somewhere in the ominous corners of the darkness. Quickly, she hopped in, tossing the contents of the envelope on the passenger seat. Anne entered the bustling streets of downtown.
It had been lightly raining for some time now. The streets and sidewalks were damp enough to form sizable puddles. Traffic was always a mess, no matter what time of day it was. While waiting at a stop light, Anne searched for her cell phone.
“It’s Anne. Are you busy? I need to see you right now.”
“No, I’m free,” the female on the other end said, complying with her request without hesitation.
“I’ll come to you. Be there in twenty minutes.”
Anne ended the call and pushed a little harder on the accelerator. She made her way onto Interstate 94, which would lead her right into St. Paul, the location of Carter’s family business; Leeds Imports. It had been in Carter’s family for decades. His father Steven had wanted Carter to take over in the future as well as Leeds Construction in Minneapolis. Anne was on autopilot. Her mind drifted to the past where she first encountered Mr. Carter Leeds.
***
Casey’s twenty-seventh birthday party was being celebrated at the incredibly posh D’aubinge Wine Bar and Restaurant. Her husband Tony had reserved a private room filled with delicious food, fabulous wine and incredible music. The restaurant had a beautiful French singer; she had sung happy birthday to Casey in her native tongue.
“Joyeux anniversaire!” The singer belted out and then kissed Casey on both cheeks.
Anne thought it was superb. She could have sung “Do your ears hang low” and it would have sounded exquisite. With glasses in the air, they all toasted the woman of the hour.
“Can I just say one thing?” Anne hoisted herself up on one of the chairs, raising herself above the crowd of fifteen.
“Casey, you are my very best friend and I love you so much and when you hit the ripe old age of thirty, I will think of you as I enjoy an extra year in my twenties.” Casey stuck her tongue out at her as the guests sympathetically groaned and then broke out into a cascade of laughter.
“To Casey!” Anne held up her glass as everyone followed suit.
Anne was getting down from the chair when she noticed a dashing man standing at the edge of the room, grinning at her. Anne politely returned the gesture and walked over to Casey. The sequins from her silver dress were enough to singe people’s retinas.
“I love you Anne, thank you!” Casey wrapped her arms around her neck, squeezing her tight.
“I think it’s time to refill everyone’s glasses.” Anne tapped her wine glass, smirking. “I’m going to head over to the bar area and see what I can find.”
“Good idea.”
Anne made her way through the barrage of friends and out the gold rococo scrolls-covered room. Her crimson heels clacked against the hardwood floors, sounding more like a Clydesdale than a petite woman. She reached the lounge which was blanketed in darkness, creating a quixotic ambience.
The sexy atmosphere was induced by a woman’s sultry jazz voice that entangled the moving bodies in the room. Anne adjusted her little black dress and glanced down at the end of the bar. The man that had been standing in the threshold while she was giving her toast was walking in her direction. The bartender approached her, breaking her gaze.
“May I help you, mademoiselle?”
“Yes, the Alder private party is running low on wine. Could we please get a few more bottles?”
Anne shifted her stare and saw that Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome was now standing right beside her. Instantly, she felt a twinge shuffle across her hips.
“Yes mademoiselle, right away.”
She peered up at the man, who gave her a stunning wicked smile. Anne thought his lips looked delicious. He was under-dressed for the venue but didn’t appear sloppy either. The dark stranger was outfitted in a black short-sleeve polo shirt, tucked perfectly into fitted dark wash jeans and paired with white on black Skechers.
“Are you checking me out?” he asked with a smug look on his face.
“No! I am just simply waiting for the bartender to come back.”
Anne was quite taken back by his accusation even though she was checking him out, but he didn’t need to know that. She took a slight step away from him and then began twisting the stem of the empty wine glass, keeping her hands busy.
“Well, that was quite a toast. Hop up on various pieces of furniture often?”
He lessened the space between them. Anne could feel his body heat prickle her bare arm.
“What is this? Twenty questions?”
“Actually that was only two questions but I’m sure I can find eighteen more.”
“Super.”
His stance towered over her but she would not reveal her feelings of intimidation.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
Anne noticed how his eyes twinkled, reflecting the soft pendant lighting that hung above them.
“Anne. And yours?” She raised her voice over the music that had changed into more of an upbeat jazz melody.
“Carter. Nice to meet you Anne.”
He extended his hand to her. It was warm and enveloped hers, causing that twinge to sprint not only through her hips but also through her arms, legs, and spine. She couldn’t help but notice how he soured his tone when he said her name.
“Why did you say Anne like that?”
“Usually when a person says her name is Anne or Sue or Beth, that’s just the short-stick version of her proper name.”
She yanked her hand from his.
“Okay, well, I don’t feel it’s the short-stick version of my name, but if you must know, my proper name, as you call it, is Anneliese.”
“Now that’s an exquisite name,” he said, donning a come-hither grin and leaning toward her. “Anneliese.”
The second he unearthed her name she required oxygen immediately. Quickly, she perched herself on the leather stool; all the blood began encapsulating her cheeks and neck. He held her gaze with ease as he sat beside her. The attraction was instant and intense.
After an hour of conversation, she had completely forgotten about the wine she had requested and about the birthday festivities across the room.
“Shit.”
She looked over her shoulder and saw Casey standing in the cove of the dining room, shooting her a smirk.
“Will you excuse me for a moment?” Anne asked. She placed her hand atop his. It was smooth and magnetic.
“I should really let you get back to your party. I’ve held you hostage long enough.”
Carter stood.
“No…really…don’t leave yet.”
Anne hurried over to Casey.
“I am so sorry, I met this guy and we started talking….”
“Don’t you dare worry about it.” Casey peaked over her shoulder. “He’s hot, Anne.”
Carter was now talking with the bartender.
“His name is Carter, and there is just something about him—I don’t know how to explain it. I mean, at first he came off as really arrogant.”
“Men!” Casey quickly interjected.
“But when he said Anneliese, I swear my legs went numb and all the blood drained from my head.” Anne placed the palm of her hands on her cheeks, feeling the flush engulf them.
“Wow, maybe it’s love at first sight,” Casey said. “Why don’t you have him give you a ride home?”
“Why? I drove here.”
“Really, Anne? Lie and say we brought you here. We’ll pick up your car tomorrow, unless you’ll be too exhausted to go anywhere.”
“No! That is way too desperate!” She hissed.
“You need desperate. When was the last time you went out on a date?”
Anne actually had to think about that. It had been months.
“I’ve been busy and besides, I wouldn’t constitute sitting at a bar with a complete stranger for an hour as a date.”
“You better come into the twenty-first century. Trust me – he’s into you.”
“I’m doomed.” Amused, she rested her head on Casey’s shoulder.
“He’s looked over here at least a dozen times so head back over there and just go with it. Stop over-analyzing everything, even though that’s your job,” Casey whispered.
“I’ll try.”
They hugged and exchanged kisses on the cheek. She walked back to Carter, who was coolly leaning against the bar, flashing those irresistible dimples.
“Did you blame me for your absence at the party?” he asked.
“Absolutely! I threw you right under the bus.” She smiled, feeling her body flush with heat once again.
“I really should get home. It’s late.”
She felt awkward and out of practice.
“Would you like to meet for coffee in about—,” he paused to look at his watch, “eight hours? I didn’t get all my twenty questions in.”
Anne laughed, exposing her edginess.
“Sure. Where?”
“How about my place?” A fiendish look graced his face.
“Presumptuous much?”
Her pulse quickened, almost certain he was able to hear the rush of blood course through her veins.
“Not at all Miss Dirty Mind, I’ll pick you up and bring you back to my house and cook you an amazing breakfast. I’ll even give you my social security number and date of birth so in the meantime you can run a background check on me.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
Smiling, Anne pulled out one of her business cards and wrote her address on the back of it. Carter did the same. They swapped the cards and walked to the front entrance, stepping out into the sultry summer night air.
“Are you parked close by?” Carter asked, looking up and down Eighth Street.
“Just a few cars up the way.”
“Let me walk you.”
Their arms brushed against each other. Anne bit down on her lip, stifling a school girl giggle. A pang of disappointment hit her when they reached her car.
“Thank you for the escort. It was wonderful meeting you.”
She backed up, feeling the metal push against her spine. Carter curved down just inches from her ear. She could feel his hot breath run down her neck, giving her goose bumps.
“Good night, my Anneliese.”
Then he placed his chaste lips on hers. Casey was right; it was indeed love at first sight.
***
Anne was biting down on her bottom lip as she exited the bittersweet memory. She slowly pulled into the sea of cars that stretched the length of a football field. In big bold letters, the sign on the front of the three-story ancient brick building read LEEDS IMPORTS.
She pulled into Carter’s old spot that sat between his mother’s Cadillac and his father’s Mercedes. Anne grabbed her purse and the envelope and walked toward the front entrance of the building and opened the heavy tempered glass door. Standing before her in the metallic and enamel reception area was Carter’s mother.
“Hello, Anne.”
Chapter 3
Once upon a time Carter’s mother was vivacious. She had exuberated youth and radiance; now, she had a delicate frailty about her. She had beautiful thick black hair that fell right over collarbone, skin that was flawless and a figure that was 1950s sexy. Now, Rita Leeds had aged roughly twenty years in a short three. Losing her only son had dismantled her existence.
Her dry, brittle hair had succumbed to streaks of white and her skin told tales of sorrow in the lines and wrinkles that engulfed her sunken face. Rita was skeletal in Anne’s embrace.
“You sounded so urgent on the phone. What’s going on?”
Rita’s lackluster eyes stared at Anne. They were trying to figure out the necessity of this meeting. She hadn’t seen Anne in months.
“Can we go someplace private?” Anne looked around the reception area, knowing there were water cooler ears lurking.
“Sure, let’s go to my office.”
Rita and Anne walked up an open grand staircase to a mezzanine that overlooked the colossal steel warehouse. Turning left, they entered a spacious wood-paneled office. There were pictures of Carter everywhere, making the office seem like a shrine to her son. The smell was enough to unsettle Anne’s stomach. It was a mixture of musty air and sour fruit.
Anne sat down in a stiff green wingback chair that sat across from her desk. She had a mountain of paper work, file folders and pink message sheets. Rita shut the door, walked over to Anne, and sat down opposite her. It appeared she had slept in her clothes. Her silk white blouse and tan slacks were wrinkled, she had a small snag on the foot of her stockings and her brown heels were cracked on the sides.
“So what’s going on? You had something important to discuss with me?” Rita asked once more.
Anne pulled out the envelope and handed it to her. Rita opened it with an inquisitive expression.
“Are these from Carter’s camping trip?” Rita asked, shuffling through them.
“Yes, they are. They were left in that envelope outside my office door sometime over the weekend. But that’s not the craziest part of it. Read the note.”
Rita slowly opened the creased paper. Her hands trembled as she read those three words. Tears flooded her eyes.
“And you said this was waiting for you this morning at your office?” Rita inquired.
“Yeah, and there’s no return address. That’s Carter’s handwriting. He was the only one who called me that. Have you heard from him, Rita?”
If looks could kill, Anne would have been dead on the spot.
“NO! Do you think if I would have heard from him I would be sitting here so stunned by this?”
“I’m sorry, Rita. I’m so confused and I—I don’t know what to do with this.”
Anne swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure in check.
“Did you take this to the police?”
“Not yet. I wanted to come to you first. I thought maybe you knew something….”
Rita shot up. Anne’s spine stiffened.
“This is crazy! Carter has been gone for three years. I have had to accept the fact that my son is dead. This is some cruel joke!”
She threw the note and pictures back at Anne, scattering them across her lap.
“Rita, I’m not trying to hurt you. You know me better than that. I mourned him too. A lot of people did. I’m going to find out what happened that day. Something doesn’t seem right.” Anne raised the note into the air. “It looks like his handwriting and he was the only one who called me Anneliese!”
Rita shook her head at Anne’s words and darted for the door.
“You need to leave. I can’t do this right now.”
Anne halted in front of Rita, whose face was cloaked with fierce red blotches.
“Maybe someone forged this note, maybe Carter is dead, but why would they do this? Why now? Don’t you want to know?”
Rita looked away as her pale lips quivered.
“I just want my baby back,” she sobbed.
“And I just want the truth. I deserve that much.” Anne replied, choking back her emotion.
Quickly she made her way back to her car, feeling defeated and weak. The winds were starting to pick up and there was a vicious chill in the air, matching the one she had just left behind. Anne questioned Rita’s sincerity and true knowledge of the contents that burned through that manila envelope.
Getting back into her car, she sat for a moment peering toward the building. Rita’s silhouette stood hovering in the window. She is definitely hiding something, Anne thought. She took out her phone and saw that sh
e had missed many calls from Adam. Inhaling deeply, she dialed his number, knowing he would be upset about her ditching their lunch date.
“Anne!” Adam said in a tense tone.
“I’m so sorry. I had an errand to run and I left my phone in the car.”
“I called your office and Shelly said you left looking quite ill. When you didn’t answer your cell I was starting to get worried. Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m heading back downtown now. No worries, I’m fine. I’m sorry about lunch. Are you still coming over after work?”
“I have to run but yes, I’ll be over the moment the trial is done.”
“Okay. I love you so much Adam.” Her tone dripped with desperation.
“I love you too, babe. I’ll see you soon.”
Anne placed the phone down in her lap and tried not to burst into an emotional downpour. She couldn’t keep this secret to herself but she knew she couldn’t say anything to Adam—not right now anyway. As she started pulling out of the parking lot of Leeds Imports, she dialed Casey.
“Hey you! Where are you? Shelly said you were sick or something.”
Casey must have been in the hallway. Anne was having difficulty making out the echo of words.
“Yeah, um, do you have a patient right now?”
“Not until one o’clock. I was heading down to get a coffee. Why? What’s up?”
“You know that envelope that was mysteriously left by the door?”
“Yeah.”
“There are pictures of Carter at his last camping trip and a note with his handwriting on it.”
Anne could hear Casey lose her breath.
“What? Are you serious?”
“So, let’s meet at the coffee shop. I don’t want to talk about this at the office. I should be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Are you sure coffee is going to work with this conversation? Maybe a cocktail?” Casey asked.
“I don’t think seeing patients after cocktails is a good idea.” Anne snickered.
“You win. Coffee it is. See you in a bit.”
Hanging up, Anne continued back on to the interstate. She began to think about the motives behind this sudden revelation. Why now? Three years have passed so why would anyone want me to have these photos? Anne racked her brain for answers. She was losing her concentration on the journey back downtown, and she nearly missed her exit.
Deadly Deception (Deadly Series) Page 2
