“Aren’t you going to stop him?” she exploded.
Monroe rolled his eyes and groaned while attempting to sit up. “Sorry, I was too busy bleeding,” Monroe muttered. “He knows what he’s doing. Best just to stay out of his way and let him do it.”
Jacey groaned and helped Monroe to his feet. Both appeared to be in some agony.
“You’re just as bad as he is,” she huffed.
They hurried to the reception office doorway as fast as possible with Monroe hanging heavily on her shoulder. As they stepped into the back hallway, they could see the walls and floor near the back glowing as smoke billowed from the closed file room door. Both shared the same expression of concern. A hasty exit seemed like a good plan.
“Ah, hell no,” Sheriff Monroe murmured.
He attempted to pick up his pace despite his unsteadiness, throwing Jacey off her feet and into the nearby wall. They struck the opposing wall with a loud thump. Jacey could feel the heat coming from the wall against her shoulder, causing alarm to spread through her. She pulled away from the wall and attempted to straighten Monroe.
“Work with me, Sheriff,” she boldly announced. “Slow and steady.”
“We don’t have time for slow and steady,” he blurted out and again attempted to hurry.
Timon and Professor rounded the corner from the distant main hallway, saw them, pointed, and then ran for them. Jacey was relieved when both men each took an arm and helped tow the injured sheriff toward the main hallway.
“Where’s Asher?” Timon asked while looking around with concern.
Jacey frowned and stopped to look around the back hallway. “He’s around somewhere.”
The back wall and file room door were now engulfed in flames. Jacey’s expression dropped at the sight. Professor released Sheriff Monroe, took a quick step back to her, and firmly grabbed her arm.
“Don’t even think about going anywhere but out the front door,” Professor snarled at her, showing hostility for the first time. He forced her to follow Timon and Monroe.
†
Davis ran across the boardroom, approached one of several filing cabinets, and routed through several drawers. Smoke had now reached the boardroom as well, rolling across the ceiling like a rogue fog. He removed a small stack of files, stuffed them into a briefcase, and shut it. He touched his bruised and bleeding lip tenderly then turned. Asher casually leaned in the doorframe with his hands in his pockets and stared at Davis with a slightly mocking smile on his face.
“We didn’t get a chance to finish our earlier conversation,” Asher announced and gently pushed the door shut with his foot, blocking most of the smoke and Davis’ only exit.
Davis stared at Asher a moment with surprise, took a step back, and attempted a nervous smile. “What, uh, happened to Nick?”
“He underestimated the wrath of a woman,” Asher proudly replied.
He continued his approach toward Davis with a pleasant and charming appearance yet a nerve-wracking calmness about him. Davis appeared increasingly nervous.
“When someone tries to kill me, I don’t take it personally,” Asher informed him. His look turned angry. “Trying to kill Jacey, well, that just plain pisses me off.”
Davis reached into his briefcase, removed a semiautomatic, and aimed it at Asher. He seemed less tense and more confident now that he held the gun.
“You made a big mistake coming back for me,” Davis informed him. “This time I intend to finish what I started.”
Asher studied the gun a moment. His expression remained casual and almost humored as he locked eyes with the man aiming the gun at him.
“Yeah, Davis,” Asher announced simply. “Me too.” His smile increased. “Incidentally, semiautomatics work better without the safety on.”
Davis’ expression suddenly dropped. He fumbled with the safety.
†
Just outside the swiftly burning country club, dozens of drunken men sat on the front lawn while singing songs as they passed a bottle around. They didn’t even appear to notice the building was on fire. Fire truck sirens were heard in the near distance and gaining. Timon helped Monroe out of country club through the front doors with Professor nearly dragging Jacey behind them. Jacey looked back at the building and stared with horror at the flames jutting from the second story as well as the first floor. It wouldn’t be long before the fire spread to the front of the building, blocking the main entrance and anyone left inside.
“Oh, my God,” Jacey gasped, unable to take her eyes off the country club.
None had realized how quickly the fire had spread. Timon and Professor now turned and stared with shared looks of horror as well.
Timon glanced at Professor and appeared alarmed. “Think we should go back inside and look for Asher?” he gasped.
“We wouldn’t know where to start,” Professor informed him. “He could be anywhere.”
They heard a gunshot from the second floor furthest away from the fire facing the parking lot. Everyone gasped and looked at the building with surprise. Glass shattered from the second floor window. Davis flew backwards through the window and fell two stories to the parking lot below. He landed on Brian’s Corvette roof with a loud crash, demolishing the top of the car. There were several gasps. The car alarm sounded upon impact. Jacey, Monroe, Timon, and Professor all stared at the demolished sports car with the limp, broken man lying on top of it.
“Damn, I liked that car,” Timon remarked.
“I guess we know where Asher is,” Monroe muttered while shaking his head.
As the police cars and fire trucks approached, their sirens wailing loudly, Monroe motioned for Timon to help him greet the approaching vehicles. Jacey turned toward the country club and ran for the front doors.
Professor suddenly grabbed her around the waist, catching her, and stopped her from achieving her mission. “No, no, no. You’re staying right here.”
“But Asher--”
“--will kill me if I let you go back in there.”
Jacey appeared concerned and anxious while watching the burning building. She fought Professor’s hold around her waist, but the fire kept her preoccupied. The higher the flames rose, the harder she pulled against him. Jacey was consumed with concern for Asher. Without warning, she rammed her elbow into Professor’s ribs, forcing him to release her. She ran for the building. The front door to the country club opened, causing her to stop suddenly. Asher passed through the doorway with a bottle of champagne and two, long stemmed champagne flutes. Jacey appeared relieved and nearly sank to her knees. Asher approached the crowded parking lot, raised the bottle, and smiled at her. Jacey gathered her strength and ran to him. The building suddenly exploded and rocked the entire estate. Asher continued to walk casually toward Jacey as if he hadn’t even noticed. Everyone else within the parking lot screamed and took cover behind several cars. Jacey ducked with surprise then stared past Asher at the burning inferno. Flaming debris rained down across the parking lot. Asher stopped before Jacey and smiled charmingly, indicating the bottle of champagne.
“Almost forgot the champagne.”
Jacey stared at the burning building with her mouth partially open then looked back at Asher and his charming smile. She groaned softly, threw her arms around his neck, and held him.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Almost every light inside and outside the museum seemed to be lit. Several cars were parked out front, including Jacey’s jeep and Asher’s SUV. Professor and Timon sat at the bar within the game room. Both had drinks in their hands and matching solemn looks on their faces. Professor gingerly touched his bruised head and sipped his club soda.
“What a night, huh?” Professor remarked. “Clubbed over the head, tased into a twitching mess, and nearly killed by a beautiful woman.” He groaned softly. “Guess that’s as close as I’ll ever get to a date around here.”
Timon snorted a laugh while sounding slightly drunk. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about. I shot a beautiful woman tonigh
t. You know I’ll never get a date in this town.”
“Yeah, but your chances of that were pretty slim to begin with,” Professor remarked with little emotion.
Timon glared at Professor, taking offense to the remark. Asher and Jacey sat on the sofa in an intimate embrace. Jacey rested her head on Asher’s shoulder while he held her and played with the small bandage on his temple. Timon casually turned around on his bar stool and stared at them with a tiny, humored smile.
“You know, Asher,” Timon announced. “I’m starting to see why no one invites you to parties. Have you ever gone anywhere without killing someone or blowing shit up?”
Asher glanced at Timon with his usual, casual smile. “Maybe once.”
Timon chuckled softly.
Asher looked back at Jacey and smiled warmly. “Well, what do you say? Ready to go home?”
Professor turned on his stool and looked at them with a curious stare. “You know, you two have been pretty cozy over there.”
“Yeah, I don’t know why you two don’t just get married and get it over with,” Timon announced in a drunken tone.
Asher glanced at them and smiled knowingly. He looked back at Jacey. “That’s a terrific idea. What do you say to that?”
“I’m free tomorrow,” she announced teasingly, although mostly serious.
“Then it’s settled,” Asher announced cheerfully. “We’ll get married tomorrow.” He looked back at Timon and Professor, who stared at them with baffled looks. “Jacey and I are going to Bermuda tomorrow afternoon and get married on the beach. Who wants to come along? My treat.”
Professor and Timon stared at them with surprise in a moment of awkward silence. Both men then raised their hands and grinned.
The End
Murder in Wax
Holly Copella
Copyright © 2018 Holly Copella
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1947694103
ISBN-13: 978-1-947694-10-1
To Crystal Koch
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Copella Books: First Paperback Edition 2018
Cover Artist: Fantasyart
SelfPubBookCovers.com/ Fantasyart
Printed by CreateSpace, An Amazon.com Company
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
Chapter One
The once charming stone bridge had seen better days. Considered impassable by cars for years, it was mostly used by young lovers embarking on romantic interludes. Despite its reputation for kids in love, it had been dubbed ‘lover’s leap’ decades ago. Although not a fantastic drop, the shallow water below and many rocks meant certain death to anyone attempting to jump from it. Despite its nickname, only two kids had ever committed suicide by jumping from the bridge in its one hundred or more years in existence.
Not far from the infamous bridge, a young woman just barely eighteen walked through a nearby meadow filled with lush grass and wildflowers. She carried her sandals and a small bouquet of flowers. Chelsea Smyth was a raving beauty with long, golden blonde hair. She had a flawless, makeup-free complexion, sparkling blue eyes, and a radiant smile that almost certainly indicated a woman in love. Despite her ample curves, she dressed conservatively in jean shorts and a tank top covered with a button shirt, which she left open on the warm, sunny afternoon.
Chelsea’s perfect afternoon was quickly ruined when she heard the sounds of girls’ giggling from nearby. The smile disappeared from her face at the familiar sound. She glanced across the meadow and saw four girls, all sixteen years of age. Her younger sister, Jamie, was the ringleader while Tamara, Paula, and Christine were her devoted minions. Chelsea was in too good of a mood to deal with her narcissistic and possibly sadistic sister. She ignored them and headed across the meadow toward the woods, hoping to avoid a confrontation.
“Looks like someone has a hot date,” Jamie teased while they followed Chelsea.
“Go away,” Chelsea scoffed without looking back at the menacing four.
Jamie was attractive in her own rights, although she couldn’t quite compete with her older sister. She shared the same long, blonde hair as Chelsea, but her beauty came from layers of makeup rather than naturally. Her three friends were also attractive young ladies with the same flair for makeup, which seemed to be their signature trademark. Chelsea ignored her sister and continued on her path for the woods.
“Does mom know you’re out here meeting boys?” Jamie continued while pursuing her, now at a faster pace to catch up.
“I’m not meeting boys,” Chelsea insisted without looking at Jamie. “Leave me alone.”
Jamie laughed with what could only be described as a banshee war cry. Developing the fake laugh took a few years to perfect.
“Not meeting boys, huh?” Jamie continued as her friends giggled from a few feet behind. “Judging by that radiant glow, I’d say you’ve been doing a lot more than just meeting boys. Wait until mom finds out you gave up your virginity.”
Chelsea spun and faced her sister. Her look was now enraged as her eyes narrowed. “I’m being preached to by the town slut?” she hissed.
On cue, Jamie’s friends mocked her with cackling laughter. Jamie sneered at the insult and snatched the flowers from her sister.
“She doesn’t care what I do,” Jamie snapped then raised her sinister brows. “You, on the other hand, are her little angel. Wait until she finds out just how dirty you are.”
Chelsea glared at her sister and attempted to reclaim her flowers despite that there was an entire meadow filled with them. Jamie pulled them back, keeping her from having them.
“Give them back,” Chelsea snarled becoming angry to the point of lashing out at her sister.
“Are they from him?” Jamie teased while grinning. “Are they from your lover?”
“Give them back,” Chelsea cried out and again attempted to snatch them.
Jamie carelessly tossed them over her shoulder while her friends watched them scatter and fall.
“Dinner tonight should be fun,” Jamie announced with her signature giggle. “I can’t wait to see the look on mother’s face.”
Chelsea just glared at her sister, silently seething, although avoiding a physical altercation. Jamie turned to her friends while grinning mischievously.
“Come on, girls,” she ordered and snapped her fingers as she walked past them, being certain to trample the discarded flowers.
All three obediently fell in line and followed her, making certain to trample the discarded flowers as well. Chelsea frowned and attempted to pick up the flowers. Most had been crushed by her sister and her minions as they trampled them when they left. Chelsea threw the bent and broken flowers down with disgust then picked up the remaining, unharmed flower. She stared at the flower a moment, and her smile returned. Even Jamie couldn’t ruin her mood entirely.
Chapter Two
As Jamie led her friends through the woods, she was silently seething despite her obvious victory over her sister. The three remaining girls talked and giggled about things only important to a teenage girl. Jamie could hear someone else rustling around in the woods and held her hand up to her friends.
“Shut up,” she ordered, silencing all three.
They looked around the woods then saw a man in the near distance walking along a different path. Although he wore a baseball cap, concealing his identity, what little they saw of him, they were certain he wasn’t from town.
“Who the hell is that?” Paula suddenly chirped.
The man was too far away to hear or notice them. Judging by his old jeans and dirty jacket, he was possibly a drifter. His age was unclear, although he was almost certainly in
his early twenties.
“I suggest we don’t find out,” Christine muttered. “He looks scary.”
“You’re such a wuss,” Jamie snapped back at her friend.
Once he was out of sight, the four continued on their way through the woods. The three girls resumed their earlier conversation.
“Why were you called into the principal’s office?” Tamara finally asked Christine.
“It was stupid,” Christine explained while rolling her eyes. “Someone keyed Mr. Rowling’s car in the parking lot, and the principal questioned me about it.” She shook her head in disgust. “As if I’d vandalize a teacher’s car. I’m not that stupid.”
Jamie suddenly stopped and spun to face her friends. She glared at Christine. “What did he ask?” she demanded.
“He just asked where I was during lunch,” Christine replied then shrugged. “Uh, in the cafeteria. Where else would I be?”
Jamie’s eyes widened with horror then anger as she stared at her friend. “You idiot! You were supposed to tell him you were with me cleaning up in the gym after the pep rally.”
“Relax, Jamie,” Christine groaned. “He knows you didn’t key Mr. Rowling’s car.”
“How does he know that?” Jamie demanded.
“Because he asked if you were in Mr. Paterson’s room helping him clean his classroom,” Christine remarked. “You’re in the clear.”
“You stupid bitch,” Jamie cried out in rage, surprising all three friends. “I told you to tell anyone who asked that I was with you in the gym!”
“What’s the big deal?” Christine asked with surprise. “He knows you didn’t key that car. You were with Mr. Paterson. He’ll give you an alibi.”
Jamie suddenly slammed her palms against Christine’s shoulders and cast her backward. “He wasn’t supposed to know I was with Mr. Paterson in his room,” she cried out in anger. “That was supposed to be a secret!”
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