Deception by Design

by Tara Wentz

  deception by design

  deception by design

  tara wentz

  Sapphire Books

  Salinas, california

  Summary

  Photographer Joshlyn Davis moves through her life drawing as little attention as possible. She longs for the simple life with few complications and the less people know her the better. The long buried secrets have taken a toll, but everything is just how she wants it, or so she thought.

  Graphic/Software designer Kellen Reynolds lives her days substantiating her work from home business and her nights burning up the pavement at the local amateur race track. There really hadn’t been much thought of a private life until a chance meeting with Joshlyn Davis.

  Almost immediately Kellen and Joshlyn find a connection and begin to slowly explore a relationship. Will the relationship have time to develop or will something dark and sinister put an end to it?

  Deception by Design

  Copyright © 2015 by Tara Wentz All rights reserved.

  ISBN EPUB - 978-1-939062-92-5

  This is a work of fiction - names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without written permission of the publisher.

  Editor - Kaycee Hawn

  Book Design- LJ Reynolds

  Cover Design - Michelle Brodeur

  Sapphire Books

  P.O. Box 8142

  Salinas, CA 93912

  www.sapphirebooks.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  First edition – March 2015

  This and other Sapphire Books titles can be found at

  www.sapphirebooks.com

  Dedication

  To my dad, Larry—I only wish you were here to read this one as well. It’s all the little things that made the difference…and I did notice!

  ~RIP~

  Acknowledgments

  First off, I would like to thank Sapphire Books for welcoming me into such a wonderful group. To Chris and Schileen for being publisher extraordinaires and also for your time and patience. Kaycee, my editor, you made the whole process very simple. Michelle Brodeur, for the cover even though I know you had some tough times to deal with during the process.

  Thank you to all the people who helped me through this process because this book was a long time coming. I especially want to thank Terry, Tammy, Maya and Rai for their time and thoughts. Also, thank you to all the first round readers…I’m afraid to even try and name you all, but please know that I truly, truly appreciated everything!

  At this time I have some very special thanks to dole out so please be patient because they really do need to be given.

  Special Thanks:

  Myra and LJ: You were my beta rocks! No matter how many times I asked or when I needed it you were there. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough!

  Michael Light: Your NASCAR knowledge and tickets made this whole process easier for even me to understand!

  Toni Whitaker: For the IT and basketball knowledge.

  Cari Hunter: Thank you for your medical expertise.

  Tara Young: Your friendship and patience means the world!

  Ms. Lyn St. James: First woman to win Rookie of the Year in the Indy 500 in 1992. Emailing with her gave me some great insight into the life of a female race car driver.

  Last but not least, my family. Through thick and thin I know I can always count on them. My Mom: The strongest woman I know and I love her deeply. My brother, Wade and my sister, Candena: I know I can count on you. My son, Conner: I am so incredibly proud of the man you have become. My nieces and nephews: I have faith in anything and everything you want to be! Rhonda and Iny: Thank you for being such accepting aunts and embracing my family. Finally, to my love and life, Chris: Your love and support means more than you wiill ever know!

  Please know that any inaccuracies within this story are my mistakes and mine alone.

  Prologue

  1…2…3…4 step and turn. 1…2…3…4 step and turn. 1…2…3…4 step and turn. The pacing back and forth kept up for hours and hours a day. The most recent picture was curled on the edges for having been in his hand day in and day out. The picture wasn’t that old, but it had been some years since he’d seen her. He’d know that face anywhere, despite how different she looked.

  She was smiling in the picture, but that wouldn’t last for much longer. When he was done with her, she will have wished she had left well enough alone. People had learned in the past not to mess with him. An evil smile overtook his face at the thought of his last ‘run-in.’ As far as he was concerned that piece of shit deserved what they did to him! Hell, he didn’t even have to pull the trigger himself.

  He glanced back down at his hand, realizing that he had crumpled the picture in his anger. Anger was all he had to live by these days and that was all right with him. Once the right time came and business was taken care of, he’d disappear forever. Maybe, just maybe, then the anger would find a new home.

  1…2…3…4 step and turn. 1…2…3…4 step and turn. 1…2…3…4 step and turn.

  He uncurled the picture in his hand and spit on it. “I’m coming, bitch!”

  Chapter One

  “Good afternoon race fans. Welcome to the I-70 Speedway here outside beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a gorgeous day…”

  Joshlyn Davis tuned out the announcer blaring in her ear and turned to frown at the woman next to her. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

  “Oh, c’mon, Josh, you owed me. Besides, it’s not that bad,” her friend, Ami, stated.

  Joshlyn rolled her eyes, turned back around, and continued down the stairs. Ami was the only person she had gotten close to in the two years she had lived in Kansas City. Thus being the only reason she was at this race, not to mention that Ami’s brother happened to get them tickets because he was one of the drivers in today’s race.

  Finding their seats, they sat down and got comfortable. Joshlyn glanced around, taking in her surroundings. The stands were packed and the races were still a half hour from starting. Joshlyn had never been to the races before, mostly from lack of opportunity, but also because they had never really appealed to her. She could never understand how someone could get worked up about watching cars go around in circles. However, she did owe her friend since Ami went to the flea markets with her the previous weekend.

  Joshlyn felt a nudge to her side and glanced back to Ami. “What?”

  “Are you still going to go down to the pit with me after the races?”

  “I’m certainly not sticking around up here by myself,” Joshlyn said, laughing.

  “Great. I can’t wait for you to meet Emerson. You are going to love him.”

  “Ahuh, so you keep telling me.”

  Ami grinned and propped her feet on the seat in front of her while she snacked on the bag of popcorn she had bought on the way to their seats. Shortly after Joshlyn moved to Kansas City, Ami started trying to set her up with her brother and each time Joshlyn had told her she just wasn’t interested in dating. Finally, in a moment of startling clarity, only startling because it wasn’t how she imagined it, Joshlyn blurted out that she was a lesbian. It’s not that she was lying, just that she hadn’t planned to tell Ami in quite that fashion. Since then, Ami had actively been looking for the perfect woman for her.

  Joshlyn’s thoughts meandered, but were interrupted when she realized Ami was talking to her again and she hadn’t heard a w
ord. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “Eventually you are going to have to relax and get out more. It’s been two years since you moved here, Joshlyn, and I have yet to see you out with anyone.”

  How could Joshlyn tell her what those reasons were without giving away more details than she should? Ami’s marriage was a fine example of true love, and although Ami was her friend, there were still things she just couldn’t tell her.

  “I’m content. I like where things are in my life. Why can’t you be happy with that?”

  Ami took her hand. “Oh, honey, I am happy for you. It’s just that…” She stole a sidelong glance at Joshlyn before continuing. “I just want more for you, I guess. It’s the romantic in me.”

  “I appreciate that,” Joshlyn said, squeezing her hand. “Really, I do.” She smiled at Ami and looked out over the track. “Enough of the deep stuff, tell me what to expect here.”

  “Okay. First, they will start by introducing the drivers. Once that’s done, they will do the National Anthem. When the Anthem is done, the drivers will be instructed to start their engines; you following me so far?”

  “Yep.” Joshlyn nodded. “I gotcha, go on.”

  “Now, when that command is given you need to put those on,” Ami said, motioning towards the headphones in Joshlyn’s lap.

  Joshlyn turned the headphones in her hand and then glanced at Ami. “It gets pretty loud, huh?”

  “Oh, you have no idea. It will be so loud we probably won’t even be able to talk.”

  “And you call that fun?” Joshlyn laughed.

  “I know it doesn’t sound like fun, but it really is more than just a bunch of cars going in circles.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  Ami grinned and bumped shoulders with Joshlyn. “You wait; you’ll see.”

  “So why are there so many colored flags?”

  “Ah, the flags themselves tell another story. Do you want the run down on all of them?”

  “Sure, lay it on me.”

  “Okay. The race will start with the green flag. Green means go. The yellow flag means an accident has occurred on the track. It could also mean there is debris or some other kind of substance on the track.”

  “Do they stop the race if that happens?”

  “No,” Ami started, shaking her head. “All the cars get back around to the start or finish line, if you will, and then they line up behind the pace car. Once it’s cleaned up and safe, the race will restart. The red flag is flown to stop the race. This can happen if there is bad weather or if the clean-up has to be done following a crash.”

  “So there are times when the race will be stopped.”

  “Right; well, under the right conditions, anyhow.”

  “Got it; please continue.”

  “The white flag means there is one lap to go and the black means a driver should proceed to the pits. Usually the black means there is a penalty towards a driver. Obviously you know what the checkered flag means…” Ami stopped briefly to let Joshlyn respond.

  “That one I do know.” Joshlyn laughed.

  “The last two flags are known as the passing flag which is the blue one with the yellow slash through it and the red one with the X which means pit road is closed.”

  “Okay, I think I got it.”

  “Good, because there will be a quiz on it later.” Ami chuckled.

  Joshlyn grinned and shook her head. “Very funny!”

  “Race fans, momentarily we’ll be introducing today’s starting field. Our honorary starter today is CEO of Argus Construction, Lon Michaels.”

  “Here we go, doll.” Ami stood and rubbed her hands together.

  Joshlyn felt the spark of anticipation roll through the stands. She looked at the smiles, laughter, and overall happiness on the faces of the people around her. It was hard not to get caught up in all the excitement.

  ****

  Kellen Reynolds gulped down the last of her water and cracked open another bottle. There wasn’t much longer before the race started so she wanted to hydrate as much as possible. This was going to be a little longer race than her previous couple and she wanted to be fully prepared. She spent time mentally priming herself and zoning her focus in on the goal she wanted to achieve. The goal was always the same; try to finish first. Mentally preparing was a key factor though and a step Kellen never skipped.

  Her crew chief, Bob, had his head under the hood, looking things over one last time before they headed to the starting line. The guys made some adjustments that Kellen hoped would make a difference in today’s run. She was centered and felt positive that this was going to be a great race.

  “All right, kiddo, you ready to head that way?” Bob asked.

  “Let’s do it, Bob. I feel good today.” Kellen swallowed down the last bit of water and threw the bottle in the recycle receptacle.

  Bob chuckled and helped Kellen into the car. After she pulled her helmet on, he buckled the seat belt harness and made sure the strap was secure and tight.

  “Go get ‘em, tiger!”

  Kellen tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as they made their way to the starting line. Once she fired up the engine, she knew the excitement and adrenaline would get her blood pumping. Oh, how she loved this sport!

  ****

  Joshlyn watched some of the race on the big screens along the side of the track. One car in particular kept her attention. The number thirteen car was making some great moves on the track and had moved up eight different times. She opened her program and flipped through the pages until she found the driver of the car. Immediately she was taken back with first that the driver was a woman, but secondly by how stunning she was. It was the eyes. She couldn’t seem to look away from them. She read through every statistic and fact listed and then read it again.

  “Hey, you’re missing the race! What’s got you so preoccupied?”

  “I was just looking at information on some of the drivers.” She closed the program and turned back to the race. She was watching, but the picture of Kellen Reynolds, the driver of car number thirteen, kept running through her mind. The race seemed to fly by and before Joshlyn knew it, the checkered flag was waving.

  “Wow, I had no idea it could be that exciting.”

  Ami laughed outright at the exhilaration on Joshlyn’s face. “You know, if I had any idea how much you would have enjoyed this, I would have talked you into it sooner.”

  Joshlyn grinned and nodded. She was a little reserved at first, but it wasn’t long before she was on the edge of her seat anticipating each move the drivers were making.

  “Ready?” Ami asked, grabbing her stuff.

  “Ready when you are,” Joshlyn said. “Remember, no match making.”

  Ami shook her head and grabbed Joshlyn’s hand. “Yeah, yeah, now come on.”

  Joshlyn followed her to the racing pits and watched as she enthusiastically hugged a tall, rugged-looking man that she could not have mistaken for anyone but Ami’s brother. His shaggy, light blond hair and inviting smile were exact replicas of Ami’s.

  “Emerson, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Joshlyn. Joshlyn, this is my brother, Emerson.”

  Joshlyn stepped forward with her hand out only to have Emerson step back. Confused, she stepped back as well and glanced from sister to brother. Emerson had a crooked grin on his face.

  “Sorry about that, Joshlyn. I was working on the car and have grease on my hands. I didn’t want to get it all over you. Ami’s used to it, but I didn’t want to initiate you so fast.” He rubbed his hands roughly with a towel but it would take more than that to get the grease off enough for a handshake.

  Joshlyn smiled. “It’s really nice to meet you, Emerson. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, too.” Emerson had been studying the attractive woman when they entered the pit area. She was taller than average, he guessed maybe five feet seven inches or so, and had a petite yet athletic looking figure. Her honey blonde hair hung in loose w
aves well past her shoulders.

  “That was a great race, Em. Your car looked good today.”

  “Thanks, Tater.” Emerson grinned at Ami’s scowl. He knew Ami really didn’t mind his childhood nickname for her, but it was always fun to goad her into a response in front of her friends, just like big brothers were supposed to do regardless of the fact he was only seven minutes older. The nickname surfaced because for a time, the only thing Ami wanted to eat was mashed potatoes, French fries, or baked potatoes.

  “She might have looked good, but she sure seems to be running a little rough.” Emerson wiped his hands off one last time and tossed the rag on the hood of the car. “Did you ladies enjoy the race?”

  “It was a lot of fun, as always,” Ami proclaimed, giving Em a punch in the arm.

  “Ouch, you brute!” Emerson teased while wrapping an arm around Ami’s shoulders and squeezing.

  Ami laughed but didn’t pull away.

  Emerson watched Joshlyn smile and visibly relax. “So, you guys want a little tour of the place?”

  “That would be great.” Ami glanced at Joshlyn for confirmation.

  “Sounds good to me, too,” Joshlyn agreed.

  Emerson nodded towards the pit. “Well, c’mon then and I’ll show you girls around.”

  Joshlyn listened intently while Emerson introduced them to some of the crewmembers and pointed out the various things around the pit. She glanced around at some of the other drivers and would have moved on except her eyes were drawn back to one driver in particular, Kellen Anne Reynolds. The woman was crouched down in front of a group of young girls who were nodding their heads. She talked and gestured with her hands, making the girls giggle.