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

by Jennifer A. Brown

  He got up and went into the bathroom to pee, and that was when the tail end of another memory hit him.

  He was totally naked, standing over the toilet to pee, laughing as Tammy, also naked, wrapped herself around him from behind, grasping his penis as urine sprayed the area around the toilet. They stumbled, laughing together as he braced against the wall, and she plastered herself against him.

  But there was something different in her eyes this time. And her voice.

  “Dan, I love you.”

  Dan felt warm wetness, suddenly realizing in the middle of his memory that he had become so distracted, he’d managed to pee on himself.

  “Ah, damn it!” he cried in frustration.

  He put his hands to his face, sitting back against his clothes hamper. That voice was not Tammy’s.

  It was Lyn’s.

  ****

  “Oh, Justin! You scared me!” Tammy said, instantly changing her voice.

  Justin stood there, shaking his head. “Tammy, stop it. I know it’s you. You may be able to fool everyone else, but not me.” He went on. “Where is Lyn?”

  Tammy glared at him. “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? Is she in there with you or not?”

  Tammy rolled her eyes. “She’s gone, Justin. It’s just me now.”

  He blinked, worry creasing his brows. “Just you? She can’t be gone, Tammy.”

  She sighed, closing her eyes. “I thought I heard the doctor say something about amnesia. Maybe Lyn’s memories are gone. I don’t know. All I know is she’s not here.”

  Justin’s frown deepened. Tammy sighed again. “They said that flaming bookshelf did come down on my head pretty hard—and I don’t remember it, Justin, so if it wasn’t me, it hit—“

  “—Lyn…” he quietly finished for her. He then slowly started shaking his head. “This has to be temporary then. She has to come back.”

  Tammy looked down at her hands, fingering the charm bracelet she still wore. “I don’t know, Justin. You’d have to talk to the doctor about that.”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed a growing lump. He was staring at the opposite wall where a bouquet of flowers was sitting from the staff at The Springwood Daily.

  “So are you going to go tell everyone, now? I’m fooling them into believing Lyn is still here?”

  Justin slowly turned to face her, his eyes narrowed and angry. “Look, I’ve read up enough on this condition to know even though you’re a totally separate personality from my sister, you both have to work together to get along for the good of your one body.” She began to protest, but he cut her off. “Just let me finish. You are wild, outspoken and demented. The total opposite of my sister.”

  “Someone has to be that way! Do you realize most of the shit Lyn has is because of me?”

  Justin gritted his teeth. “Just—listen,” he continued. “According to what I’ve read on DID, the more the personalities work together to get along, the better chance there is for there to be peace. Just like if you were actually two different people.”

  Tammy looked at him confused. “So?”

  “So, you need to continue to pretend being Lyn. The more you are like her, the better chance that she’ll come back…and if we surround you with more of her memories.”

  Tammy closed her eyes and sighed. “Ok. So you won’t tell?”

  Justin shook his head. “I’m not real thrilled about it, but no. I won’t. I know a little more about what we’re dealing with than Jacob does. I’ve had more time to research it. So, yes. It’s important that you continue to be Lyn for a while longer.”

  ****

  Camryn glanced at her watch as the snow lightly fell outside, covering the road. Her brother had left a few hours ago after eating. She smiled at the quilt with their picture on it from when they were younger he’d had made for her as a gift that now draped across the sofa.

  It had been such a nice evening until Justin decided to leave in the middle of it. As nice as her brother had been to Justin, he had acted strange and uncomfortable soon after they arrived. He disappeared into the other room for a while. Finally, Justin apologized saying he needed to go and pick up some Tums at the store; that they were out. He’d kissed Camryn before leaving.

  She’d been in the bathroom. There was a bottle of Tums in the bathroom cabinet.

  Something was wrong. She had tried Justin’s cell only to get voicemail and was on the verge of calling Jacob when she heard the car pull in. Without grabbing a coat, she rushed outside, meeting him outside the car.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  ****

  Robin stood there, frozen. “What?” was all she could manage.

  Jacob stood there, staring back at her. “We haven’t exactly been using protection, Robin. There is a chance you could be—“

  “I’m not pregnant.” She said, cutting him off. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw him sigh in relief. Or maybe that was a sigh of sadness.

  Before either one could say anything more, there was a knock at the door. Jacob turned to go answer it then Robin heard a male voice say “That’s $29.13” The pizza was there. She walked over, taking the two large boxes from Jacob and walking out to the kitchen, setting them on the counter.

  The smell of the pizza now nauseated her with what she knew. She needed to tell Jacob. But on Christmas Eve? She mentally argued back and forth with herself on the matter. She would never be able to enjoy the holiday, not when she was keeping this information from Jacob.

  “Oh, that smells so great. Come on Dan, hurry up and get here.” She heard Jacob say, as he came into the kitchen and started getting drinks out of the fridge.

  ****

  Becky pulled up in front of Jacob’s and shut off the car. She looked down at the gifts beside her in the seat, biting her lip.

  What she should have done was just include a note in with Jacob’s gift, apologizing for her dumb moment of weakness.

  “Yeah, you think of this now, Beck.” She berated herself, trying to find some paper to write on, when a tapping sound at the window made her jump and scream.

  ****

  Carson Sowers looked over the black and gold cell phone case in his hands before glancing appreciatively at Leo, who sat across from him. “Thanks. You shouldn’t have.”

  “I owe you big, Uncle Carson.”

  He just shook his head. “Why the hell did you have to be so stupid, anyway? Adding fuel to the fire. Literally speaking.”

  “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I want to see Jocelyn Barnes burn for everything she’s done.”

  Carson sighed. “You’re just lucky I met your mother once. And I owed her a favor.” He went on. “Also that there was a partial electrical unit that appeared to be faulty. The chief fire investigator is going to have a nice Christmas for putting that as the main cause in the paperwork.”

  Leo smiled. “Fate does work in mysterious ways. Who would have known?”

  Carson eyed him. “You just watch it. I know you want revenge, but I don’t want to see you end up like your father.”

  Leo leaned forward. “Well, just like my dad, I’m going to make amends and soon. Only this time I won’t be the one to fall. It will be that little bitch of a sister of mine.”

  ****

  “Can we just go inside and talk? You don’t even have a coat on,” Justin admonished her.

  “I don’t care, Justin. We had Tums in the bathroom. You lied. Where did you go?”

  Justin sighed, noticing a neighbor’s shadow silhouetted in their doorway and turned toward them. He tried to grasp her hand, adjusting his crutch. “Camryn, please. Let’s just go inside.”

  She begrudgingly guided him back into the apartment. Once inside, she turned and locked the door. Justin took off his coat as she stood glaring at him with her arms crossed. He let out a sigh. “Look, I chickened out. I had a huge night planned for you and me, and then I chickened out.”

 
She blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  He bit his lip, sitting down.

  “Justin, what is this about?” she asked when he remained silent.

  When he still didn’t speak, Camryn shook her head. “Perfect. It’s Christmas Eve, and you’re starting to act insane. This is just what I need, Justin. So where were you earlier? Can you at least tell me that?”

  Justin looked up at her with teary eyes. “I just went to see Lyn in the hospital.”

  Her look changed from one of anger to one of apology. “Oh…well, Justin you could have said that. But why did it have to be in the middle of my brother’s visit?”

  Justin turned away once again. He honestly didn’t know how to tell Camryn what a huge mistake he thought he’d made.

  ****

  Dan cringed, hearing Becky scream. A few moments later, she was rolling her window down. “Oh, good God, Danny, you scared me!”

  “Sorry…I thought it was you.”

  She took a few moments to calmly collect her bearings before stepping out of the car.

  “Are you okay?” Dan asked her. “I’m really sorry about that. I figured if it was you, we could go up to the door together.” Silently, he berated himself for even feeling like he needed someone with him going up to the door.

  She sighed. “Yes, I’m fine. And thank you.” She said as they approached the door together. Becky knocked.

  ****

  About fifteen minutes later, Robin was handling the camera and getting photos as the others exchanged gifts.

  “Wow, man. Thanks a lot.” Dan said, opening his gift to reveal a Knights’ laptop carrying case.

  “No problem. Merry Christmas, buddy.” Jacob smiled, patting him on the shoulder as Robin snapped a photo, and Becky managed a small smile.

  A dark shadow crossed Dan’s face. “I wish I could have given you more than that gift card. I was lucky to even get that.”

  “Dan, its fine! Great in fact. You couldn’t help it there was a delay with the post office.” Jacob reassured him as he sifted through the gifts sitting beside him. The ones Becky had brought over. “These are all from you, Becky? To Lyn, to Justin, to” he stopped, coming to the one for him, and he visibly hesitated. “Becky, you didn’t have to do this.”

  “But it’s Christmas.” She said.

  He sighed, looking right at her, and his expression of knowing disdain was just enough to send her already teary eyes over the edge. She broke down completely.

  Chapter 23

  Leo drove around Springwood that evening in no hurry to go back home. His thoughts raced as he drove down one street and onto another.

  He had finally managed to rid himself of “Melissa” after she realized their one night stand was all the further their relationship was going to go. He needed her help for a short time to find out how the fire investigation was going. He’d met her at the Christmas party he had been driving home from that night. They had talked and made out before finding a bathroom and having a quickie. She’d given him her number before he left, not realizing he’d have to call it less than ten hours later. He remembered her telling him she was studying to become an actress, and he told her he had a job for her. She was beyond easy to manipulate. But he did suspect she was underage even though she claimed she had just turned 21.

  The snow that had started falling a few hours earlier was now coming down in thick flakes. He turned his wipers on as he approached the entrance of Mercy Park.

  He gulped. Normally, he always tried to avoid going past here. His stomach did some somersaults, and he felt his anger boiling, knowing his father had died there. He closed his eyes, squeezing the steering wheel tightly.

  He had to think. Should he bring her here to Mercy Park like his father had done? Video tape her before killing her? He released a shaky breath. He just wasn’t sure he could do that, not in the same place his father was killed, even though it would be poetic justice. No, he needed it to be special and right.

  He braked for a red light, looking at the twinkling lights adorning a nearby house. A few minutes later, he was driving past the house, through a green light as his plan of murdering Jocelyn Barnes began forming.

  ****

  Dan sat there in awkward silence as Robin paced the room. When Becky broke down, Jacob had quickly gotten up and guided her into another room, leaving him and Robin in bafflement.

  Dan glanced at Robin as she put a hand to the back of her neck, massaging it. “You okay?” he asked.

  She turned to him suddenly, as if she had forgotten he was even there. “What? Oh—yes, I’m okay. I just—“she stopped, putting her hand across the bridge of her nose. “—I…found out something earlier on a case that—shocked me.”

  Dan raised one eyebrow. “Wow. Good or bad?”

  She bit her lip. Dan gazed at her, his eyes turning suspicious. “Wait. What case?” he went on. “Or can’t you tell me?”

  Robin sighed, looked down and set her hands on her hips. “God, I am way too into this emotionally. Of course, I never expected to fall for Jacob either.”

  Dan frowned in concern. “Robin, what is it?”

  She let out a short breath before looking at Dan. “Lyn—well, Tammy—had an abortion this past spring.”

  ****

  Jacob offered Becky a tissue as she sat down in the kitchen, still sniffing. “You broke up with Trent?” he repeated her confession from just moments before.

  She nodded, wiping her eyes. “I figured it was the right thing to do after what happened.”

  Jacob sighed, folding his arms. “Becky, I know you’ve been through a traumatic experience. Hell, we all have. We’re all going a little bit crazy.”

  Becky shook her head. “You saved my life. Jacob. I’ve always been crazy about you. I’ll never be able to have a relationship with anyone else as long as I feel this way.”

  He stared at her helplessly. “Becky…you are like another sister to me. I’m always going to care about you, but you need to move on with your life. You can’t put it on hold because of a crush.”

  She looked at him like he’d slapped her. “I’m sorry, Jacob.” That was all she could say as she moved past him to leave.

  ****

  Robin had just gotten it out of her mouth about Tammy’s abortion before they saw Becky heading toward the door, still looking upset.

  “Becky, wait!” Jacob cried after her as she reached the door.

  “What’s going on?” Robin asked as Becky opened the door and started to head out. Jacob shook his head at her quickly, trying to catch up to Becky as she went out onto the porch.

  He finally reached her, grabbing her shoulder.

  “Jacob, just let me go!”

  “I just want to make sure you’re well enough to drive. You’re upset.”

  She whirled, turning to face him with tears still streaking down her face. “Yes, I’m upset. I don’t understand why I can’t get over this crush, as you call it.”

  Robin had just stepped onto the porch and stared at them both.

  “Becky, like I said…we’ve all been through it lately. Everyone’s very emotional and with the holidays, it’s only worse.” He went on. “I meant what I said, though. I care about you and don’t want to see you hurt.”

  She scoffed and sniffled. “Well…it’s too late.” She said before turning to go.

  ****

  Dan’s head was still reeling from the news Robin had given him. A few moments later he heard Jacob, Robin and Becky’s voices. Thankful for the distraction, he got up.

  Dan got out the door just in time to see Becky get in her car and drive off. “What was that about?” he asked.

  Jacob stood on the porch, holding the bridge of his nose as Robin stood across from him with folded arms. “Yeah,” she went on, seconding Dan’s question. “What was that about?”

  ****

  Justin had a very hard time sleeping that night. When sleep finally came, it was disruptive and tormented. He was in a padded room, in
what felt like a straitjacket, with Tammy hunched down and hissing at him like a cat. Soon, the hissing seemed to form words. “Lyn’s gone forever…Lyn’s gone forever…”

  He bolted upright in bed, gasping. He looked beside him to see the other side of the bed empty. He got up and went into the hall, seeing a sliver of light under the bathroom door. He opened it and looked in to see Camryn sitting on the toilet, rocking back and forth in tears.

  She looked up at Justin. “Something’s wrong.” She said with a teary grimace.

  ****

  The phone awoke Jacob in the wee hours of Christmas morning. He blindly reached for the phone and answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Jacob, it’s me. Something’s wrong with Camryn. The paramedics are about to take her to the hospital.”

  Jacob became more alert. “What happened?”

  Justin let out a shaky sigh on his end. “I don’t know. I’m hoping she just ate something that didn’t agree with her. But I don’t know.”

  Jacob was already up and pulling his jeans on. “Give me twenty minutes, and I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

  They ended the call, and Jacob stood up to put on a sweatshirt as Robin rolled over. “Now what?” she asked, sleepily.

  He sighed. “Camryn. She’s sick or something. Justin’s flipping out; they’re taking her to the hospital.”

  Robin pulled her covers off and started to dress herself. Within ten minutes they were both out of the house.

  ****

  “Merry Christmas, darling.”

  Tammy opened her eyes cautiously to see the nurse at her side, taking vitals. “Merry Christmas.” She replied, looking around. No one else was there. “What time is it?” Tammy asked.

  “Almost eight, hon.”

  After a few more minutes, the nurse left. Tammy sighed, looking down at the charm bracelet on her wrist.