Killing Kelly

by Heather Graham

  But the hours passed in quiet. He rose before Kelly, showered, dressed, put on coffee and took Sam for a run. Back in the house, he sipped coffee and logged on to the computer, going to work. There had been something about Lance’s bio that disturbed him, and he now knew what it was. The information had mentioned an “Ohio” or “Midwestern upbringing,” but didn’t pin down an exact date or place of birth. He went through everything he could possibly find on the man, including city records. No one seemed to have his exact date of birth. He could find the man’s school records, but those just told when he went into first grade. So he had to be about…about the age a child would be, if Dana Sumter had disappeared for a year to have a child.

  He needed something far more than what he knew about Lance Morton, just as he needed to know more about Mel Alton.

  He’d taken Kelly out of California, but it might not matter much. Too much of California would be coming to Florida. And soon.

  He glanced at his watch. He figured they’d actually gotten to sleep about ten and it was four now. Kelly should be moving. But as he walked toward the bedroom, he heard the roar of the shower. She was up.

  She emerged from the bathroom in black capris and a T-shirt, ready to work, but frowned at his expression. “Oh! I was thinking work in the dance studio, but we’re going to dinner after, right? Should I be in better attire? Should I take something?”

  “No, no, sorry, you’re just fine for a casual late night around here,” he told her. “I think we invented casual.”

  She walked into the kitchen and poured coffee. “What are they saying now about the situation in the Middle East?”

  “What?”

  “The paper. I was looking at the headlines,” she said.

  “Ah…nothing much has changed,” he told her, folding the paper.

  “I see. You’re still fuming over the fact that Lance Morton was born in Ohio.”

  “Not only was he born there, but he was there when Sally Bower died.”

  She leaned on the counter. “Have I ever told you who else was originally from Ohio?”

  “You?” he asked.

  “No, but Serena was born there.”

  “Have I been trying to malign everyone born in Ohio?” he asked her.

  She smiled. “No.”

  Sam had come up to her. She scratched his head, then apologized. “I’m sorry. You woke up and took him right out, didn’t you? And you fed him?”

  “I like Sam,” he told her. “It’s okay.”

  “But he’s my responsibility. I wanted him here.”

  “Kelly, it’s all right.”

  “I should take him out again…we’ll be kind of late tonight, right?”

  “Home by midnight, I’d say.”

  “I’ll take him for a run.”

  “No, just get your stuff together. I know the neighborhood.”

  When he returned, she’d drunk her coffee and was ready. The studio was just down the street, so it didn’t take them long to get there. Kelly was pensive as he parked.

  “Something wrong?” he asked her.

  She glanced at him. “Um, actually…”

  “What?”

  “I’m feeling overwhelmed.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve seen your partner dance.”

  “And Jane just about worships the ground you walk on!” he assured her. “Come on, you’ll like the place.”

  He realized that she was nervous, and liked her all the more for it. So much for his determination not to get involved. She’d been far too easy to want. So there was sex, an involvement in itself. But now…

  All he could really come up with was the fact that he liked the way she laughed, the intelligence in her eyes, her quick smile, the dryness of her humor at times, the humility and a certain innocence that had somehow remained with her through the years. She was just Kelly—and that was pure seduction.

  “Let’s go up,” he suggested, and took her hand.

  As usual, there was a lot of activity going on in the studio. Shannon was there, apparently having just finished a practice with her professional partner, Ben. Jane was working with a kid named Bob Cramer. Sam Railly was working with a new couple, and Rhianna Markham was with one of their local high school football coaches.

  When he entered with Kelly, Shannon’s eyes widened just a bit and a smile curved her lips. She caught Ben’s hand and walked over. “Hey!” she murmured, and kissed his cheek, then waited expectantly to be introduced.

  “Shannon, Ben, Kelly Trent. Kelly, Ben Trudeau and my sister-in-law, Shannon.”

  “How do you do?” Kelly murmured.

  “You really are even more stunning in person,” Ben said admiringly.

  Kelly flushed. “Thank you.”

  Shannon laughed. “You are, but don’t let us make you feel self-conscious.”

  Doug realized that the music had stopped. The new couple, the football coach and Bob Cramer were all staring. So were Rhianna, Sam and Jane.

  “Sorry, I guess everyone wants to meet you,” Shannon said.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Kelly said quickly. She walked over to Jane first, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.

  Doug watched as Jane introduced her to the others. Kelly was charming and sweet. She apparently really did like people. He mused that he had probably been the one to create the hostility he’d felt when they first met. He had expected her to be a certain way. A diva, a star. High maintenance. But she was one of the most down-to-earth people he had ever met.

  “Watch it,” Shannon murmured to him.

  “What?” Startled, he looked down into his sister-in-law’s sparkling eyes.

  “You’re looking at her with wolf’s eyes.”

  “What?” he repeated.

  “Hungry eyes,” she murmured. “With a little bit of alpha-dog possession thrown in. I hear you’re getting close. Just be careful,” she warned.

  He stared back. “You should know me by now. I’m always careful.”

  “You’re usually too careful. That’s why you’ve got me a little scared. She seems very nice, though.”

  “Hmm.”

  “The studio will clear now. Jane and I are going to work with your girl alone.”

  “I don’t leave her alone.”

  “Doug! She’ll be with me. We’ll lock the doors. We cleared the schedule, I told you. Besides, Quinn wants to see you. He’ll be at the café across the street.”

  “Oh? Why isn’t he here?”

  “You know your brother. He’ll only take so many lessons. Especially from me!”

  Kelly was signing autographs. The new couple had wanted their progress books signed by her and the football coach had her sign his agenda, saying how grateful he was that he still carried a real paper book rather than an electronic gadget. Kelly signed for everyone, chatting with them and thanking them all for their interest. Then, as Shannon had promised, everyone but she and Jane departed.

  “I’m really being thrown out?” Doug asked.

  “Why don’t you show us the routine first?” she suggested.

  “All right. Kelly?” Doug said.

  She stared at him, then at the two women. “You want me to dance…now?”

  He smiled. “If they see our routine, they can give you little pointers.”

  “It’s similar to what we were doing with the dancers at the auditions, right?” Jane asked.

  “I’d really love to see it,” Shannon said.

  Kelly winced. Doug walked over to her, and he couldn’t help grinning. “Coward!” he teased.

  “That would be about the gist of it, yes,” she whispered back.

  “Kelly, you can do it.”

  “Actually, I’m not as afraid of doing the video as I am of dancing here, now, with those two watching!”

  “They’re not the enemy, you know. They really want to help. Remember how it goes? You walk to me with the sweeps, into the hold, tango basic, medio corte, promenade, tango basic, doble corte, promenade left turn,
basic, Argentine link, death drop, back for the count, chasse corte, flare promenade, basic, the lift, and spin and out.”

  “I—”

  “Trust me,” he told her.

  “I have the rough track right here!” Jane called cheerfully. She walked over to the stereo, slipped in the CD. The music started.

  “I’ll catch you, no matter what you do.”

  “But they’ll know!” Kelly said, a little panicky.

  The music had begun. One thing about Kelly—she was, beyond a doubt, a performer. He imagined that no matter what was going on in her life, when a curtain opened, or a director yelled action, or the music began to play, she was ready. And she was.

  She felt that she didn’t have the stance, assurance and speed of a dancer who had long been in training. And maybe she didn’t. But she had stature and poise, and he was stunned himself at just how well she did that day, how well she remembered the steps and how well she executed them. Her body movement was exceptionally good, and she was in perfect position for the lift. She spun out of it when he brought her down as if she had done it a thousand times. She flushed, meeting his eyes as the music ended. Both Shannon and Jane burst into calls of encouragement and applause.

  “Wow!” Jane congratulated her, hurrying forward. She looked at Doug, indicating that she was impressed. “You did all that in a few days in California! I’m impressed.”

  “I’m a good teacher. Thanks for being shocked!” Doug told her.

  Jane elbowed him lightly. “Kelly, that was really unbelievable.”

  “We’ll help you with your hands, head positioning, arms…just a few little things,” Shannon said.

  “I’m telling you, though, you were fantastic!” Jane said.

  Shannon turned on Doug, a small smile teasing her lips. “Your brother is waiting for you.”

  “All right, all right, I’ll leave you guys. But don’t go teaching her any bad habits!” he charged them.

  “Hey! Who taught you?” Jane demanded.

  “I’ll be right across the street,” Doug assured Kelly.

  She smiled at him slowly. She was happy and proud, he realized. And something about the way that she looked at him…well, it was more than sex. It was involvement.

  “What does Kelly think of it all?” Quinn asked him. They were seated at the café right across from the studio. The glass windows looked out to the street, and every once in a while they could see one of the women move by.

  “She insists that everything happening is circumstantial.”

  “Well, you’ve got to admit that it might well be circumstantial,” Quinn said. “Especially the fact that someone hails from Ohio. It’s a fairly well-populated state.”

  “That’s true. But I did some probing as well. Do you know where Lance Morton was when Dr. Dana Sumter was killed?”

  “California,” Quinn said. “They had a bunch of gigs in the L.A. area. But playing clubs in L.A. is not really a shocking thing for a band to do. Do you really suspect him?” Quinn asked.

  “I want to,” Doug admitted. “I want to find out that he’s a freak for advice divas for some reason and that he killed the women. Then we can see that he’s arrested, and Kelly will be safe.”

  “But you don’t believe that he is guilty,” Quinn said flatly.

  “I can’t figure the motive. He’s never been married, so he hasn’t been taken or cleaned out by a wife.”

  “Maybe the person who drove the murderer insane wasn’t actually a wife. You don’t need a marriage license to hurt, use or make someone crazy,” Quinn said.

  “That’s true.” He shook his head. “Mel once represented Dana Sumter. But I understand that everyone in the business in L.A. represented her at one time or another. Finding enemies against Dana Sumter…well, it’s almost too easy.”

  “Right. But was the woman in Ohio actually murdered? If it was murder, someone very clever is running around the country with a vengeance—and an agenda.”

  “Something has to come together. Let’s say both cases were murder. I need a suspect who could have been in Ohio and in California, able to get to both of the dead women and Kelly.” He hesitated, looking at his brother. “I checked online and hacked into airline files this morning. I don’t think Mel was in Sandusky anywhere near the time the diva died.”

  “Well, that would be something,” Quinn said. “If…”

  “If we knew for sure that she was murdered,” Doug finished.

  “Then there’s the whole issue of Dana Sumter having disappeared for a year. I’ve been thinking along that track. What’s usually behind a young woman’s sudden disappearance for a year’s time?”

  “Pregnancy?” Quinn said.

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “If she had a child and gave it up for adoption, those records would be sealed. And if someone went nuts and killed her because she was a mother who’d abandoned him or her, why go after anyone else, including Kelly?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s worth pursuing.”

  “I agree.”

  Doug hesitated. “In a way, I’m starting to wonder if I did the right thing, bringing Kelly here. I had thought the danger was surely in California. That’s where the accident happened on the soap. That’s where she received threatening mail. That’s where she was nearly run over. But what if someone involved with this video is after her?”

  “Give me names, whatever information you have,” Quinn said. “Jake can use the station to do a thorough scan on them. We’ll find criminal records, if there are any. At least she has her dog with her. He’ll provide some protection.”

  Doug frowned suddenly. “You know, Dana Sumter had a dog.”

  “And the dog was killed,” Quinn said quietly. “I don’t think we need to let Kelly know that, do you?”

  “She’s in denial, anyway,” Doug told him. “Do you know what she’d say? Dana Sumter had a little dog. She has a big weimaraner.”

  Quinn swallowed some of the coffee in the mug before him. “Doug, can you blame her? She’s sure as hell not going to want to believe that she could be in any danger making the video. She’s already smarting from the fact that she’s been put on paid leave with the soap. She wants to do the video, needs to do the video. Should she be frightened out of every job she’s offered? Think about it, from her point of view.”

  “Maybe she just shouldn’t work for a while.”

  “That could kill her career.”

  “Better a dead career than a dead woman!” Doug insisted.

  “Then there’s only one answer. Get to the bottom of it.” He hesitated. “And watch out for situations you can’t control.”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “Leave this area now, quietly, without telling anyone who doesn’t need to know. I know the place where you’re filming in the Keys. The guy who owns it is anxious as hell for the business and the prestige that will come with the video, but he owes me a few favors. So we can slip you in, quietly and ahead of time. You and Kelly should head on down, get there before everyone else. For a few days, you’ll have peace and quiet. And when the others arrive, you’ll know the lay of the land.”

  Doug sat back, studying his brother. After a minute, he nodded. “You can arrange it?”

  “Yep.”

  “All right. Thanks.”

  “I’ll get Shannon to reschedule her appointments for tomorrow. We’ll drive down with you and I’ll look the place over as well.”

  “All right. Good deal,” Doug agreed. He looked up at the windows. He could see Kelly as she swept smoothly by the glass, apparently imitating an arm movement one of the women had suggested. She looked great. He felt a cold tremor of fear, just what he hadn’t wanted. He was too involved. And being that involved meant he couldn’t take any chances where she was concerned. She was just going to have to listen to him—whether she liked it or not. Whether she decided to have him fired or not. No matter what happened, he had to be with her.

  Kelly was exuberant. No, she cou
ldn’t compare with Jane or Shannon, but they taught her a number of little tricks with arm, head and eye movements that, added on to what she had learned from O’Casey, at least gave the appearance of being a pro. She was still riding high on the comprehension and learning when Shannon finally said that they’d worked hard enough for the day and it was time to quit.

  “And you know, videotape is good,” Shannon reminded her.

  “It can be edited,” Jane agreed.

  “Too bad they can’t edit our competitions!” Jane said, grinning at Kelly. “I was out there with Doug one time when my heel caught in my skirt.”

  “What happened?” Kelly asked. “Did you fall?”

  Jane shook her head. “It turned into the longest dip in history. We did a lot of stretching and preening until he read the problem, flicked off the hem, and we went on. There are all kinds of saves.”

  “We have one student who mixes up steps all the time. But she’s great at pretending that they never happened,” Shannon said.

  “And if you do go down completely, which Shannon managed to do once, you just pretend that you’re supposed to be on the floor and use those arm tricks to look as if you meant to do it.”

  “But you shouldn’t worry. It’s video!” Shannon said cheerfully. She glanced at her watch. “The guys should be back.”

  The O’Caseys arrived just a few minutes later, along with a man introduced to Kelly as Mike, Jane’s boyfriend. He was sandy-haired and good-looking, with a scar on his cheek. “The down side to being a hockey player,” Jane told Kelly in a whisper. He seemed nice, and obviously adored Jane. Kelly wasn’t sure why she found that to be such a relief.

  Dinner was at a little out-of-the-way place on Washington. It was one of the nicest occasions Kelly could remember, completely relaxed. Mike told horror stories about his life on the ice, making them laugh as he explained some of the ridiculous fights that occurred in the rink. She heard more tales about competitions and dancers. And she found herself thinking that O’Casey was a lucky guy to have such good friends, relatives and associates. But she also noticed that every time a discussion about the video came up, Quinn or Doug steered the conversation in another direction.