Burned by Deception (The Dark Side of Springwood Book 2)

by Jennifer A. Brown

“Lyn?”

  He walked over and picked up the laptop, opening it to see the cover still on the screen. His sister’s name was in white type on the black and gray cover, with a girl’s shadow overlooking pages of a manuscript. Her photo was on the back cover, smiling back at him. He smiled at it in amazement and pride.

  “Sis?” he called out again, setting the laptop down and heading throughout the house, looking for her.

  ****

  Robin had just gotten out of the shower, and was in her pink robe, sipping on some hot cocoa, when her phone rang. Noticing the caller I.D. screen, she answered. “Jacob?”

  “Lyn’s gone.”

  She frowned. “Gone?”

  “Yes. I was working on a few things and ironing out a few matters on the phone tonight. When I came out to take the couch, I found her laptop on the floor, and she’s nowhere around.”

  Robin took a deep breath, hearing the building panic in his voice. “She can’t be too far without a car. Have you looked around the neighborhood?”

  “No, not yet. I don’t like this. Something isn’t ri—“Jacob cut himself off in mid-sentence.

  “Jacob? What is it? Did you find her?”

  ****

  Sarah found herself jumping again at the sound of a beer mug shattering. The two couples at that corner table were getting out of hand. The bartender gave her a short nod of reassurance, as he went over there, telling them they had to leave. After some slurred arguing, they finally stumbled out of there.

  Sarah wiped down the bar as Andy, the bartender, came back over.

  “You all right?”

  She nodded, but he put a hand on hers, stopping her from wiping.

  “No, you’re not. What’s going on? I haven’t seen you like this since the night…well, you know.”

  She bit her lip, looking up at Andy. “I ran into him again today. I think he recognizes me, but he can’t place me.”

  Andy scoffed. “Probably because he was so damned drunk that night, he didn’t know what he was doing. That was pretty obvious after that blonde chick came in here.”

  Sarah shook her head.

  “Sorry,” the bartender said.

  “No, it’s okay. Something tells me I’m going to have to face this to ever get past it. Especially if he keeps running after me every time we see each other,” she went on. “I’m going to have no choice but to talk to him about that night.”

  ****

  Dan put on some Christmas music then started wrapping gifts. He had stashed most of them in the corner of his room, along with the few gifts his mother had already shipped. She was spending Christmas in Florida with her boyfriend.

  He sorted through everything, and that’s when he ran across it. A package he thought had been from his mother, but he could tell now, after a better look, it wasn’t. He picked up the package, tearing into it and taking out what appeared to be a tee shirt in plastic. Upon better examination, though, he dropped it, frozen, as his jaw fell.

  It was a pillowcase with a photo of a blonde Lyn.

  It was Tammy. In a pink bra and panties.

  ****

  “I can’t believe this! Tammy’s got my car!”

  Robin shook, hearing the panic rise further in Jacob’s voice as she steadied herself. “Are you sure Lyn wouldn’t have borrowed it for an emergency or something?” she asked, as she changed lanes while also trying to look at oncoming and passing traffic for a sign of Jacob’s car.

  She heard Jacob release a deep breath on his end. “I don’t know. This just screams Tammy. The girl has no boundaries.”

  “If it is Tammy, where would she have gone?”

  “That’s a good question.” Jacob replied. “Are you almost here?”

  “I’m only about a block away,” she went on. “I know you don’t want to hear this, Jacob, but I really think we need to call the police.”

  Silence fell on his end. Robin released a shaky sigh and started to speak again, when Jacob finally did.

  “Just please hurry up and get here.”

  ****

  Justin was in the shower when the phone rang. Camryn grabbed it from where she was perched on the sofa, watching the end of a sitcom.

  “Hello?”

  “Cami, have you guys seen Lyn?”

  She frowned. “No, not since earlier when you came and got her. Why?”

  “She’s taken off in my car.” Jacob admitted after a deep sigh.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Seriously?”

  “I think Tammy’s taken off. I don’t see Lyn doing this.”

  Camryn blinked, speechless.

  “Well, if you happen to see her, call, will you?”

  “Sure.” She managed before hanging up.

  ****

  Jacob’s thumb hovered over the green call button of his phone, 911 already on the screen. The part of him that loved his sister screamed not to do it, that they could still find her and not involve the police. Logic said different. His sister needed to be found as quickly as possible. Before something worse happened.

  He paced, feeling himself tremble. He released a troubled sigh, glancing over at Lyn’s laptop. He walked back over, gently touching the mouse pad, and her cover reappeared on the screen. Her back cover photo, with that dazzling smile that would never cause one to suspect she had another personality.

  But it was no wonder she did with all the turmoil surrounding her through life. With what he now knew, it was no surprise his sister had developed D.I.D.

  He turned away from the laptop, took one glance at his watch, and closed his eyes.

  ****

  Tammy smiled, pulling off to the side of the road, finally reaching her destination. She was so excited. This is what she had been waiting for.

  She got out of the car and walked around to the back where Becky was slumped over. It was way too easy to get her out of her apartment. Putting on a sickly sweet Lyn voice, she told her friend she knew it was late, but she wanted to take her out to celebrate her book signing; that she wasn’t sure if she’d be up for being there after all that had happened. Of course, the stupid girl fell for it, hook line and sinker. She’d told her Jacob let her borrow his car, and of course, she had everything else she needed in the trunk already. She’d simply slipped the crushed pills into her drink when Becky wasn’t looking, and now, an hour and a half later, they were sitting outside The Book Stop. Just as she’d hoped, the store was still open late for the holidays.

  But it would soon be closed.

  She smiled, gently stroking the side of Becky’s face; she moaned in response.

  “It’s almost time, Becky. Time for the book event of your life.”

  Chapter 16

  “You’re kidding!” Justin exclaimed upon hearing the news from Camryn, once he returned to the front room after his shower. “Shit! We’ve got to go out and look for her.”

  Camryn raised her eyebrows. “There’s no way I’m going out this late. Especially to look for her, Justin. It’s that psychopath Tammy, not Lyn.”

  Justin bit his lip, hobbling to sit next to her. “Look, I seem to be the only one that can get through to Tammy. She’s not easy to deal with. Whatever she’s doing, I could perhaps stop her.”

  Camryn let her shoulders slump as she looked up. “Justin, I’m pregnant. I’m not getting involved in anything concerning your sister’s other personality. ”

  Justin sat there, staring at her for a while, before shaking his head. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  She looked at him in surprise. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. You do make a good point,” he went on, sighing. “I just pray they can find her…before someone gets hurt.”

  ****

  Dan was trembling as he stuffed the pillowcase down in the bottom of his trash can.

  A gift from Tammy. Unbelievable.

  Then a scary thought hit him. How did he even know that was Tammy?

  He sat down on his kitchen chair, closing his eyes. He had only seen Tammy once, on that deme
nted broadcast on Jacob’s hacked website. And she didn’t have blonde hair then. It was that look in her eyes; that seductive, knowing look. It was an expression Lyn never got.

  Because it wasn’t Lyn.

  He remembered the night they crashed into the credit union. What she had said. “Come on Dan…I know you were pretty toasted that night, but you’ve got to remember me.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. He felt a cold sweat coming on.

  Toasted…he was drunk.

  The last time he’d gotten drunk was earlier that year, in the spring. He had been dumped by a girlfriend at the time. He did remember going out alone, after closing up the shop, to have a few beers. Jacob had been out sick that day; the shop had been busy and with the break up, it had just been a very frustrating day.

  He moaned, holding his head, imploring his tired mind to remember more. But he couldn’t think, let alone wrap gifts now. He stripped down to his boxers and slipped into bed.

  ****

  Tammy hid behind a dumpster in the back of the building, waiting for the rear door to open. Most businesses threw out their trash at the end of the night. She anxiously glanced at Lyn’s watch. “Come on,” she murmured softly to herself. She knew it would only be a matter of time before Jacob found his car missing and wigged out.

  Finally, she heard a noise. The door opened, and she listened as a bag was thrown into the dumpster. Then she heard what sounded like a lighter before smelling cigarette smoke. “Hey, it’s me. Yeah, I got a ride tonight. I’ll be so glad when this season is over. Yeah,” the girl said with a laugh. “Well, don’t be a stranger. Love you. Bye.”

  A few moments later, Tammy heard a belch before the sound of the door being re-opened. She leaped into action, coming around and letting it ease forward but not shut. Another glance at the watch showed the store would be closing in five minutes.

  Tammy took off Lyn’s coat, putting it between the frame and the door, before quickly heading back around the side of the building.

  ****

  Jacob had entered 911 on his phone but hadn’t gotten up the nerve to hit the dial button when he heard a knock at the door. He quickly let Robin in. Her first question was whether he’d called the police. He hesitated, closing his eyes as she shook her head in dismay. “Jacob, you have to stop protecting her. She needs the sort of help you can’t give her. I mean, she has your car for crying out loud.”

  “I’m well aware of that!” he snapped at her before closing his eyes again and running his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

  She just nodded. “So have you tried calling everyone she’s close to? Justin? Becky?”

  He froze. “Becky. No. I didn’t try calling her. She’s got that book signing coming up. I hate to bug her about this.”

  Robin held up her phone. “The cops could find her a lot quicker, Jacob. She could just be out for a joy ride, and it would be up to you to press charges for taking your car.”

  Jacob just scoffed, turning the other way, with his hands on his hips.

  Robin bit her lip, frustration and pity for Jacob fighting for control over her next words.

  “She’s my client. I have an obligation to—“

  “Fine, just call them.” Jacob finally turned to face her, tears running down his face.

  ****

  Becky moaned, smelling smoke. What was going on? She tried to open her eyes, but even that seemed like a daunting task. They felt like lead weights.

  “It’s okay, Becky. Open your eyes. You are, after all, the guest of honor here.”

  Despite her state, she froze upon hearing that voice. She then struggled to open her eyes. She coughed. Smoke was all around her. And flames. She gasped, realizing it. But where was she? They weren’t in the car or at the restaurant; that much was obvious.

  She looked through the smoke, seeing her best friend. Only, even in her state, she realized sadly it wasn’t really her best friend.

  Tammy stood smiling and laughing at her through the flames.

  ****

  Brian’s killer was driving by The Book Stop late on his way home from a Christmas party and slowed down, noticing something odd. Was something on fire? He pulled up and got out, getting a closer look. He peered inside, seeing flames and smoke growing from the center of the store. And there was someone in there.

  When he saw what he did, he quickly returned to the car.

  It was her. Well, that other personality. He knew Jocelyn Barnes wasn’t doing this.

  That was when the idea hit him. This was the perfect set up to get rid of her. Someone else was getting killed in the process, but it appeared that was the original intention. He turned the key in the ignition and drove away, whistling “Jingle Bells”.

  ****

  Tammy stood, grinning into the ring of fire she’d created around Becky, who was now fully alert and coughing as her books burned around her.

  “Lyn! Please!”

  “Lyn isn’t here. That’s my book you stole!” she cried.

  Becky looked at her incredulously. “What?”

  “You heard me! You didn’t think I could write, did you? Well, I can!” She started pacing back and forth as Becky tried to pry herself from the chair she was tied to. “And what’s worse, you published my book through the crappiest publisher there is! I did the research on Bound In Books! Do you know how many lawsuits they have against them?”

  Becky continued to cough, now whining. “Lyn…help me…”

  Tammy narrowed her eyes. “I told you, Lyn—“She stopped suddenly as her eyes twitched.

  One of the books in the fire then slid, catching the chair Becky was in; the flame licking up, coming dangerously close to her leg.

  Tammy began to cough too, feeling weaker. Becky was now crying. Tammy growled, clenching her fists. Her growl eventually turned into an anguished, maniacal scream.

  “Nooooo! Let me do this!”

  ****

  Robin paced the floor after contacting the police. Jacob had gone to the bathroom. She glanced at her watch before moving down the hall to the closed door of the bathroom.

  “Jacob, are you all right?”

  After a slight pause, he answered. “I’m fine. What did the police say?”

  “They have an APB out on your car. As soon as it’s spotted, they’re going to call us.” She sighed when the door still didn’t open. “Jacob, we’ve slept together. I hardly think you need to close the door. Can I come in?”

  She heard him sigh, before the door finally swung open. He stood there, gazing at her. “I’m sorry about earlier. This…all this…has been so hard for me to accept. I feel like I somehow failed her.”

  Robin stepped up to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. “This is not your fault. You have to realize that.”

  He bit his lip, grimly. “I brought Leslie into the picture.”

  Robin sighed. “Let’s not talk about this right now. None of this is helping your sister,” she went on. “We have to think, Jacob. If it was Tammy who left, something could have set her off. You said Lyn’s laptop was on the floor,”

  “Yes, the cover for her book was on the screen.”

  “Could that have something to do with it?”

  Jacob shook his head. “I don’t see how.”

  Robin pressed her lips together in deep thought. She had not told him about what Allen Harrison brought to her attention. She knew she needed to, but was this the right time? “Anything else odd?”

  He shrugged and went into the front room, looking around cautiously. Robin followed. He shook his head. “I’m drawing a blank here.” He heaved a big sigh, sitting down.

  Robin examined the desk where Jacob’s pc was. She picked up the newspaper which was folded over to the ad for Becky’s signing. “Her best friend’s signing is tomorrow?”

  Jacob glanced up. “Oh, yeah. I was going to scan that for Lyn to keep, but I haven’t had time.”

  Robin sucked on her lower lip in thought. Then she looked at Jacob. “Does Tammy
have any issues against Becky that you know of?”

  ****

  There was more smoke. More than what there should have been, and it was scaring Tammy. She didn’t want to end up trapped herself.

  Becky was now crying and screaming loudly herself, despite Tammy telling her to shut the hell up. She had to figure out where the smoke was coming from.

  She wandered into the back of the store, into the Young Adult section. She stopped dead in her tracks, seeing the scene before her.

  ****

  Brian’s killer returned to the book store, parking around the side of the building so no one would see his car. He’d made surprisingly good time, considering this was a last minute decision.

  He quickly prepared what he had brought to contribute to whatever was going on inside. Once he had it ready, he quietly, yet quickly, toted what he needed around to the front. Smoke and flames were growing brighter near the back part of the store. He took out a baseball bat, lighting it up and posing like he used to in his little league games, swung it into the window. It shattered, and he let the bat fly like his home run balls used to, watching as flames shot up.

  He laughed, taking a lighter to the second bat he’d drenched in gasoline before whacking it into a window. It lit up the books in an instant. An entire display of vampire fiction books went up.

  He could hear the trapped girl screaming inside, and for a moment wondered if Lyn had taken off. That would be fucked up considering she was the one he wanted to get rid of. He fumed, clenching his fists which were covered in work gloves he’d just bought that evening when he bought the gas.

  Ever since he’d seen that video on YouTube of Lyn turning into Tammy and heard the news of Davis Cauley, he’d been hell bent on seeing Jocelyn Barnes die. And it would happen.