by Stacy-Deanne
Alexis nodded. “So how did killing Brett come up?”
“She was joking about it one night after we’d had sex.” He sniffled. “I didn’t think she was serious but she was. I told her I wasn’t going to kill anyone.”
“Look how that turned out,” Alexis said.
“She told me I didn’t have to kill him but since I was close to King she wanted me to keep her informed on what Brett was doing. King told me that Mrs. Myers had been out of town for two weeks. Faye said that would be the perfect time.” He dropped his head. “I told her again I wasn’t doing it and she said that we couldn’t be together if she couldn’t move on from the past.”
Alexis shook her head. “I’m sure she wasn’t about to take no for an answer.”
“She said the only way she could move on is if Brett paid for what he did to her. She said if I was a real man and truly loved her then I’d do this.” His eyes widened. “I told her she must’ve been crazy. She said she’d planned it out and I wouldn’t get caught. She said she loved me and would make sure everything was set before the move was made.”
“You agreed?” Alexis asked.
He shook his head. “I told her I wasn’t killing anyone, not even for her and I left. But after about four days of not seeing her I was a wreck. I couldn’t do a damn thing without thinking about her. I was obsessed and I wanted her. I figured being happy outweighed…sense.”
“Wow,” Penelope whispered.
“I’d rather commit murder and have Faye than not have her.” He touched his head. “I thought I needed to prove my love and I wanted her so bad.” A tear drifted down his cheek. “So we got together and started planning it. I knew from King that the Myers’ didn’t have an alarm or security and that Mr. Myers went to bed around nine. So that night I was ready to go do it and King dropped by just as I was planning to leave.”
Alexis glanced at Penelope who seemed just as surprised as she was.
“He’d had a fight with his girlfriend and wanted to hang out. I didn’t want him to be suspicious of anything so I told him he could stay the night. I called Faye and told her I’d do it the next night. Mrs. Myers wasn’t coming back until late the next night so I still had time.”
Alexis studied his mysterious expression. “But you ended up going that same night.”
“Yeah, around nine-thirty King said he had to run an errand and he left my place. So I called Faye and told her I changed my mind and could kill Myers.” He rubbed his head. “I just wanted to do it and get it over with. So I got the hammer and went over there.”
Alexis held her breath.
“As I’m coming down the street toward the Myers’ I see Kevin’s car in the driveway. I parked out of sight and watched him get out.” He looked at Alexis. “He wasn’t in there more than five minutes.”
“So you were the one who videotaped him and sent the video to my phone?”
He nodded. “I figured it could be insurance in case my name popped up somehow. I wanted to throw you off in case you got close.”
Alexis jotted the information. “So Kevin left?”
“Kevin left then I was gonna go in and I saw headlights coming from the opposite direction.” He poked out his lips. “It was King. I couldn’t fuckin’ believe it.” He laid his hand flat on the table. “So he went in and came out about ten minutes later with his clothes all twisted and looked like he had blood on his shirt.” He turned up his nose. “I didn’t know what the hell went on. For a second I thought King had killed Mr. Myers himself.”
“So once King left…” Penelope rubbed the table, “…you made your move?”
“I waited about thirty minutes until I felt he was asleep then I broke the window and went inside.” He shivered. “I went up to his bedroom and he was asleep on his stomach.” He held his breath. “And I hit him.” He covered his eyes. “I kept hitting him until he was dead.”
* * * *
Alexis walked with Penelope up the pebbled walkway toward Faye’s two-story condominium. Faye sat on the front porch in a floral summer dress with a slit up to her thighs, backless heels, and her hair tucked into a French roll. “Ah.” She sipped from a big glass of ice tea. “What a lovely surprise.”
Alexis and Penelope stopped in the grass.
“So what brings you here, Detectives?” Faye smiled.
Alexis took her shades off. “We arrested Brett’s killer a few days ago.”
“I know.” Faye set her drink down. “This is a small town remember?” She took off her shades. “Is it true that it was a friend of King’s?”
Alexis smirked. “Maybe.”
“Wow.” Faye whistled. “So why in the world did he kill Brett?”
Alexis walked up the porch steps. “You played yourself, Faye.”
“Excuse me?”
“You were so busy trying to prove how smart you were that you ended up playing yourself.”
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, Detective Adams.” She smiled. “Is this about Kevin?”
“No, this is about Brett’s murder,” Penelope said. “And you damn sure know what we’re talking about.”
Faye crossed her legs. “I swear I have no idea. Did I do something wrong?”
“Hmm, let’s see.” Alexis took off her shades and hooked them on her blouse. “Is seducing a guy and taking advantage of his vulnerability to get him to kill someone for you wrong?”
Faye glanced at Penelope then back to Alexis. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Penelope moved closer to the porch. “We’re talking about you searching for someone to manipulate and use so that you could get revenge on Brett.”
“Is this a fuckin’ joke?” Faye laughed. “Are you accusing me of killing
Brett?” She straightened in her chair. “Pete Newton was arrested for Brett’s murder.”
“And we all know that Pete Newton wouldn’t have hurt a fly before you came along.” Alexis moved closer to her. “You used him.”
“I don’t even know the man.”
“Cut the shit, Faye,” Penelope said. “We know that you coerced Pete into killing Brett for you. He told us everything so don’t insult our intelligence by making yourself look stupid.”
“Pete’s lying.” She raised her hands. “I didn’t manipulate him into doing anything and especially not murder.”
“So you aren’t in a relationship with Pete Newton?” Penelope put her hand on her tiny waist.
“Hell no!” Faye jerked up in the chair. “Do I look like I’d date a punk like that?”
“So why would Pete say you would?” Alexis asked.
“To get back at me because I wouldn’t have anything to do with him. He has some deranged fixation on me.”
“Can you explain this?” Alexis pulled a folded paper out of her pocket, holding in a chuckle.
Faye stared at it. “What’s that?”
Alexis unfolded the paper. “We wanted to come see you the day Pete
confessed but we had to wait on that darn court order.”
“Those are your cell phone records, Faye,” Penelope said.
The color drained from Faye’s face.
“If you want nothing to do with Pete then why have you been calling and texting him for months?” Alexis handed the paper to Faye.
Penelope propped her foot on the bottom porch step. “Those texts are pretty telling, aren’t they Faye?”
“And for someone who didn’t like Pete you sure do act like you do in those texts.” Alexis grinned and pointed to the paper.
Faye looked over it.
“Goodness.” Alexis fanned. “Some of those texts were so steamy I needed water afterwards.”
Penelope grinned.
Faye stood and held the paper to her side. “So I had an affair with Pete. That doesn’t prove I had anything to do with Brett’s murder.”
“No, but the fact that in many of those texts you begged Pete to kill Brett for you does.”
Alexis took out her handcuffs. �
��It’s over, Faye.”
She dropped the paper.
Alexis walked behind her. “Next time you plan on murdering someone you might not want to mention it in a text.”
* * * *
“So…” Kevin walked alongside Alexis on the beach. “You picked out the dress you’re gonna wear to our wedding?”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “I don’t know about that.” She moved hair out of her face. “Let’s start dating again first before we make the big jump.” She winked.
He jumped in front of her and walked backwards. “You trust me?” The breeze blew his shirt up at the ends.
“Yes.” Her feet sank in the warm sand. “I guess I have to trust someone in this town, right?” She picked up a shell. “Might as well be the man I’m sleeping with.”
“And I’ll always be here for you, Lexi.” He grabbed her hands. “As long as you don’t run away.”
“You were right about me being afraid before. I wanted you so much but I have to finally deal with these demons I’ve been carrying around.” She threw the shell into the ocean, thinking about how she would possibly stomach living in the same town as Grant again.
“What’ll help you work on those demons?” He picked her up and twirled her around.
She held onto him, laughing. “Kevin! Put me down.” She hit his arms.
He put her down and kissed her. “Are you gonna finally move on from how you feel about Grant?”
“I’ll always hate Grant.” She picked up another shell. “But if he stays away from me and doesn’t do anything to the people I care about then I’ll keep my cool. Can you accept that?”
“That’s fair.” He smiled.
“You know what?” She touched his shirt. “Every time I look at you I know that coming back to Tate Valley was the right decision. I don’t belong anywhere else.”
“Well there’s one place you’ll always belong no matter where you go.”
“Where?” she asked.
He put his arms around her and kissed her. “My heart.”
The End
CHASING FOREVER
Chapter One
“No!” Rose Malone struggled underneath Donovan McCoy’s muscular, six-foot frame. “Stop!”
“Shut up!” He shoved her wrists in the sand and tried to kiss her. “You know you want it!”
“No!” She turned her head. “Get off me!”
“What did you come out here for, huh?” He pressed his legs against hers.
“Ah!” Rose plunged her knee into his crotch.
“Oh!” He rolled off her.
Rose jumped up with her thin, white dress covered in sand. “Help!” She ran toward the huge rock on the beach. “Someone help me!”
Donovan limped after her, holding his middle. “No one’s gonna hear you, Rose!”
She swung around.
He watched her with malice in his eyes. “It’s just you and me.”
“Get away from me!” She punched through the darkness. “Get away!”
He hobbled toward her. “Not until you give me what I want.”
“No!” She closed her eyes as a gunshot roared through the air.
“Oh!” Donovan clutched his left side. “God…”
Rose opened her eyes to see him falling to his knees.
“Ah!” Blood seeped from under his silk shirt and designer blazer.
“Donovan!” Rose inched toward him. “Donovan?”
“Uh…” He fell with his face in the sand.
She knelt beside him, observing the shot. “Donovan?” She looked up and a dark figure moved toward her. “No!” She held her arms out. “Don’t!”
The figure stopped and ran in the opposite direction.
“Donovan!” Rose rolled him over. “Oh god!”
He wasn’t breathing.
“Donovan!” Rose pounded on his chest. “Donovan!”
* * * *
“I can’t believe this happened.” Rose sat in the back of the police car with a blanket wrapped around her.
Officers stood over Donovan’s body while forensics searched the beach.
“Oh god.” Rose held the blanket to her face. “How could this have happened?” She wept. “How can he be dead?”
“It’s okay.” The female officer patted her back. “There’s Detectives Dao and Adams now.”
Tate Valley Detectives Alexis Adams and Penelope Dao approached the police cruiser.
The curvy Vietnamese woman with the blonde streaks in her hair dipped her head to Rose. “Hi, Rose.”
She sniffled. “Penelope. It’s nice to see you again.”
Penelope pointed to the tall, light-brown black woman with the long, straight black hair and exotic features. “This is Detective Alexis Adams. She just moved back to Tate Valley.”
Rose stuck her trembling hand out of the blanket and took Alexis’ hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Rose. Are you okay?”
Rose glanced at the uniformed officer beside her then stuffed her face in the blanket.
“It’s okay.” Alexis took out her notepad. “We’re gonna help you. I know this is hard, but please tell us what happened.” She pointed down shore. “I only live about five minutes from here on Phillips Drive.”
“That white house with the pink mail box?” Rose sniffled. “That’s where you live?”
Alexis smiled. “Yes.”
Rose rocked. “I always wanted to live by the beach but my momma and I can’t afford it. We live over in the trailers.” She pulled the blanket over her shoulders.
Penelope nudged Alexis. “Her mother is Jesse who runs the Tate Valley Lounge.”
“Oh, Jesse’s your mom?” Alexis smiled, pointing her pencil at Rose. “She’s very nice.”
Rose managed a light chuckle. “Nobody ever described Momma as nice before. I mean, she’s nice, but that’s not the first thing people say about her.” She flicked her long, brown hair off her shoulder. “I don’t know how this happened.” She sobbed heavier. “He was so nice and sweet, but tonight it was like he was a different person.”
“We need you to start from the beginning, sweetie.” Alexis touched Rose’s knee. “What happened?”
“It was my first date with Donovan.” She wiped tears with the blanket. “And I was so excited because I couldn’t believe he wanted to date me.”
“What?” Alexis chuckled. “Rose, you’re a beautiful young woman.”
“Yeah, but we’re not in the same circles. Donovan’s rich.”
Penelope nudged Alexis again. “He’s Benson McCoy’s son. Benson’s one of the senior executives at Copeland Enterprises.”
“Well, you don’t say.” Alexis scoffed. “I forgot you can’t go anywhere in this town without being touched by Grant Copeland or someone connected to him.”
“I thought I was so lucky.” Rose looked at the tiny stars, which scattered across the night sky. “Being with him was like a dream.”
“How did you and Donovan meet?” Alexis asked.
“My momma is friends with the McCoys’ housekeeper, Ms. Moonie. The McCoys threw her a birthday party, and she invited us. I knew of Donovan but I never talked to him.” She held the blanket tight. “It’s not like someone like me could get close to someone like him. I’m nothing compared to him.”
“So what happened here tonight?” Alexis stared at her.
“We had dinner, and he suggested we come out here afterward. I love the beach.” She stared at her lap. “Then he started acting weird.”
“What do you mean?” Alexis moved closer to her.
“His entire demeanor changed. We got out of his car and he grabbed me and kissed me.” She touched her lips, her stomach coiling with fear as if Donovan were right beside her. “But it wasn’t a gentle kiss or what I’d expected it to be like. It hurt. He bit my lip.”
Penelope nodded, crossing her arms.
“I pushed him and told him to knock it off. He laughed and said he was just joking.” She
pointed down shore to where they’d been earlier. “So we were sitting down in the sand just watching the waves. We were just talking and then he put his hand up my dress.”
Alexis jotted as Rose spoke.
“I slapped him. I told him I wanted to go home and as I was getting up he grabbed me and pushed me down in the sand.” Her bottom lip trembled. “It happened so fast like someone turned a switch. He got on top of me.” She rocked faster, fear crippling her. “He kept putting his hand up my dress, and I was screaming and crying.”
“You told him no?” Alexis asked.
She nodded. “But he didn’t care, and he was so strong.” She cried into the blanket, which smelled like it had been in a closet for the last twenty years. “So strong.”
“It’s okay.” The uniformed officer patted her back.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Alexis put her hand on Rose’s shoulder. “I know it’s difficult, but please continue.”
“I hit him between the legs with my knee, and I ran to the rock over there.” She pointed toward the rock where the other officers searched. “I was so scared. Everything was happening so fast. I’ve never…” She swallowed. “Done it before.”
Penelope sighed. “You’re a virgin?”
“I’m eighteen.” Rose nodded. “Most kids my age have been having sex for years, but I want to wait until I get married.”
“Wow,” Alexis whispered. “That’s commendable in this day and age.”
“After I ran to the rock, Donovan came after me then someone shot him.”
The three officers looked at each other.
“It came out of nowhere and he was hit in his side.” Rose touched her side. “He was bleeding so bad I could see it through his blazer.”
“Then what?” Penelope asked.
“I saw a figure down shore and he was coming after me.”
Alexis stopped jotting. “He?”
“Yeah, it moved like a guy.”
“Can you describe body type or anything?” Penelope asked.
“Couldn’t see that well in the dark.” She squinted. “But he looked average height for a guy and medium build.” She shrugged. “And he had black on because he blended in. He had on a hoodie.” She touched her head. “It looked like he had a hood on his head.”
