Murderous Envy (The Veils of Parallel Times Book 1)

by C. J. Carson

  Chapter 5

  THE NEXT MORNING, RESIGNED TO GOING to work for a few hours, I struggled to put up my hair and do my makeup. Trying to hide the bruises on my face and stitches on my eyelid was difficult, and the makeup was not doing the trick. I opted for a loose-fitting, comfortable dress as I was still sore from the fall. Anything tight would have been uncomfortable. Finally, I gave up, and with my hair only half up and a sparse amount of makeup, I left for work.

  As I got in the car and started the engine, I reached over for my cell phone and dialed the office.

  “Good morning, Mark,” I said, trying to sound as cheerfully as I could.

  “Hi, Allie. Still coming to the office today?”

  “Yes, I am on my way in now.”

  He released a sigh of concernment. “Are you really sure you should be coming in today?”

  “Yes, it’s fine. The doctor released me for work.” With that lie, I paused, and with a slight shake of my head, sighed. “Look, I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes, depending on traffic.”

  When I arrived at the office, everyone seemed shocked. In hindsight, I was sure my appearance took them quite by surprise. I didn’t have that no-hair-out-of-place look, not to mention the black eye and bruises I attempted to hide with makeup. That was not like me at all.

  I passed Tara, my administrator.

  “Good morning, Ms. Callahan.”

  “Hello, Tara.”

  “It’s good to see you back. We’ve all missed you.”

  It was at that very moment I realized she was just trying to be kind. The hard reality was, they all probably felt they were on vacation while I was out. I was always the driven captain of this ship, pushing everyone to go above and beyond every moment of the day! Suddenly, I felt like a female Ebenezer Scrooge, and seeing myself in that light was unnerving.

  “Why thank you, Tara, that is really nice. How have things been going while I have been out?”

  She paused, seeming to collect her thoughts. The look on her face took me aback. “Well, the day after you met with Healthtech, they returned and signed their contract. They have been requesting another meeting with you.”

  “Let me get settled in and I will give you a day and time to set that up.” I paused before entering my office. “Tara, thank you so much for keeping things on track while I’ve been out. Oh, and Tara, I don’t think I have ever told you how much I appreciate all your hard work.”

  She must have been in a state of shock. After all, it would take some getting used to this entirely new person who just greeted her. My recent experience was life-changing, and I was only beginning to come to terms with how driven I had become and how it had affected everyone around me. I was going to do better.

  Before stepping into my office, I hesitated. At that moment I realized the clock on the wall read eleven o’clock, just as it had when I stepped into my office the night of my attack. Suddenly transported back to that evening, I found myself paralyzed, unable to move further into the room. As I looked around, everything was neat, organized, and in its proper place. The window was intact and, for all appearances, it was as if the attack had never happened. Maybe it was too soon for me to return to work after all. I walked over to my desk and spun the calendar around to check it for appointments, only to find it neatly erased and rescheduled.

  I turned when I heard my brother enter my office. “Oh, hello, Mark.”

  He approached me and gave me a gentle hug. “Hi, Allie. I know the doctor said you could return to work, but don’t you think it’s a little soon? You still look so sore and exhausted.”

  “I don’t honestly know. I thought I was ready! There is so much that needs to be done, but look at the time, the day is half over and I am just getting here. What is wrong with me? I can’t seem to get it together. I’m not sure I even want to!”

  “Look, Allie, take a few more weeks and don’t rush it. Work from home a few hours a day, if you must. Your contract with Healthtech went through, and you can certainly afford to take a little downtime before starting another campaign.”

  “Of course, I know you’re right, Mark, but it is so hard for me to just sit still. At the same time, I also know I am of no use until I can get my shit together, but—”

  Mark burst into laughter. “Well, sis, this is a side of you I have never seen before! You actually swore? My, my, you are human under that controlled exterior after all? Look, go home and I promise I will call you if anything important breaks. We need you back on this ship in tip-top shape. It’s not the same without you here, but I think we can steer this vessel until you are feeling better.”

  “You know what, Mark? As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right. I’m just not sure if I know how to navigate through my day without working! I feel like a fish out of water when I am not busy at work.”

  Looking more than a little concerned, he scanned the room, his eyes landing on mine. “I know what you endured is more than most people could bear. You are the strongest woman I know, but you’re not indestructible. Allie, you need to give yourself some time to heal both emotionally and physically. You have always had good gut instincts, and it’s time to let them kick in. It’s time to listen to your body and your heart. Learn who you really are, because you are certainly more than the sum of the work you do here.”

  As tears welled, I chuckled a little. “That sounds like the advice of Grandfather. It’s funny, the night of my attack, George had some similar advice for me. Maybe I will give that some thought. By the way, it wouldn’t hurt to follow your own advice, you know.”

  “I know. This whole experience has given me and my family a pause for thought. We have all decided to slow down and enjoy life and each other more.”

  Chapter 6

  ARRIVING HOME, I WALKED IN, SHUT the door behind me, and leaned up against it to gain my equilibrium. I walked over to the desk in the great room and hit the play button on the answering machine.

  The first message started playing. “Hello, honey, it’s Mom. Are you there? Pick up. Okay, call me when you can. I hope you’re resting and not at work this soon!”

  Deleting it, I continued to listen. “Ms. Callahan? Detective Payne here. I would like to speak with you at your earliest convenience. Could you please call me? Call the mainline at the station and ask for my extension. It’s 268. I am looking forward to meeting with you.”

  The next message was from Claudia. “Al, it’s me. Call me when you get in. I knew you wouldn’t stay put today!”

  I dropped my keys in the dish next to the answering machine and picked up my cell. Entering the kitchen, I dialed Claudia’s number as I opened the refrigerator. I was suddenly starving. I got her answering machine. “Hey, Claudia. I could sure use some company tonight. Do you think you could come over when you get done working and spend the evening? Call me!”

  As I made a sandwich, I returned Payne’s call.

  “Stanford Police Station, how can I help you??”

  “Hello, could I please speak with Detective Payne at extension 268?”

  “Certainly, who’s calling please?”

  “This is Allie Callahan returning his call.”

  “Just a moment, please.”

  After a long pause, she returned to the phone. “I’m sorry, Ms. Callahan, Detective Payne is in a meeting, but he asked me to see if you could come by the station tomorrow at about two o’clock.”

  “Yes, I guess that’s okay.”

  “Thank you. He wanted me to tell you that he looks forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

  I went to the kitchen island, started eating, and began to call my mother when there was a knock at the door. Putting down the phone, I went to the sliding glass door to find my neighbor standing on the deck. She a was young, newly married, and bubbly little thing that, frankly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with at that moment.

  Against my better judgment, I opened the door. “Hello, Tracy.”

  “Hi, Allie!” And there it was, that high pitched all-is-r
ight-in-the-world voice. “I saw you were home and I thought I would check to see how you were doing. I hope you don’t mind, but I made you this lasagna.”

  “Thank you, Tracy, but you shouldn’t have, really!”

  She appeared nervous as she spoke so fast. I could barely make out what she was saying as she shoved the pan of lasagna into my arms. “I just wanted to help in any way I could. How have you been? I heard about your terrible ordeal and I’ve been so concerned. Really, anything I can do, just call. Jim and I are going out to dinner Saturday night and we were wondering if you might want to come.”

  “Thank you, Tracy, but I have plans Saturday.”

  I was trying hard not to be curt with her, but I think she was feeling I was not up to the company as she backed off the porch. “Well, just remember, anything you need!”

  As if with perfect timing, the phone rang and I pointed into the house. “Thank you, Tracy. I need to get that.”

  “Well, just remember, Allie, anything you need!”

  Putting the lasagna on the island, I went to the kitchen phone and picked it up. “Hello?” There was no answer. “Hello?” I felt the terror swell up inside me, and I slammed the phone back on the receiver. As I leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor, I closed my eyes tight and tried to breathe. My cell phone rang. I opened my eyes, reached up on the counter for the phone, and, this time, checked the caller ID. With great relief, I answered it. “Hello? Claudia, did you just call me on my landline?”

  “Yeah, Allie, but I couldn’t hear you answer the phone. I think it was my cell.”

  “Are you coming over tonight?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world! I have a few things I need to do and then I’ll be right over.”

  I let out a long, audible breath.

  “Allie, are you okay? You sound a little frazzled.”

  “I am more than a little frazzled; I think my life is coming unraveled with such momentum I can’t get a grip.”

  “Hey, honey, you need to relax. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  After hanging up with Claudia, I returned my mother’s call, only to receive her answering machine. “Hi, Mom, sorry we keep missing each other. I wanted to tell you that I am home and doing okay. I tried to go to work today, but it proved to be too much, so I think I am going to take it easy for a while.”

  I no sooner got out those words before she picked up the phone. “Hi, honey, I’m here. I am so glad you are going to take some time for yourself!”

  “You sound out of breath.”

  “I suppose I do; I just ran in from the garden when I heard you on the answering machine.”

  “Mom, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t seem to get a grip! I don’t even know how to explain it. I feel like I am on the verge of losing it, and I am so tense. Any sudden noise and I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin.”

  “Honey, after everything you have gone through, that doesn’t surprise me. Do you want me to come over and stay with you for a few days?”

  “No, that’s okay, Mom. Claudia is coming over this evening for dinner and maybe that will keep my mind off everything. I will call you tomorrow and let you know how I’m doing.”

  “You promise?”

  “Promise!”

  “Okay, honey, tell Claudia I said, ‘Hi.’ I love you.”

  “Love you, too, Mom.”

  Chapter 7

  IT SEEMED LIKE HOURS HAD PASSED when I heard Claudia’s car drive up. I ran to the door to greet her.

  “Claudia, I thought you would never get here.”

  “What are you talking about? I just spoke to you a little over an hour ago!”

  “I know, I just feel like all my nerves are working double time. I can’t explain it. Everything seems so intense.”

  Claudia pulled a bottle of wine out from under her jacket. “Okay, girl, I know just what you need. Let’s break out the vino and have some fun. You really need to relax before you become completely unspooled.”

  “Okay, I am all for that. The table is set and dinner is ready, no time like the present. Let’s get this party started.”

  Claudia moved to the table, and I went to the drawer to get a corkscrew for the wine.

  She laughed. “Ya! That’s what I’m talkin about! How about some tunes, maybe some dinner music?” As she went to the Bose and flipped it on, she continued, “Wow, salad and lasagna! I thought you couldn’t cook?”

  “I can’t! My cute, little inquisitive neighbor brought it over.”

  “You mean your cute, little nosy neighbor?”

  “Okay, she’s a bit nosy, but she did make me lasagna. She means well.”

  As I poured Claudia’s wine, so started the grand inquisition.

  “So, Al, are you getting any sleep?”

  I knew I could not avoid her inquest. “You know, since I started seeing the reiki therapist at the hospital, I’ve been sleeping a little better.”

  “Wait, I thought that was when all the crazy dreams became more intense?”

  “Yeah, but the therapist didn’t seem convinced that was the issue, and she asked me to continue treatments. I think she was right; I haven’t had another dream or any flashbacks for a few nights.”

  “Flashbacks? What do you mean flashbacks?”

  “Sometimes, I relive the attack in my sleep, but I can never see his face. Well, he had a mask on anyway, but in the flashbacks, his face is blank. It is like someone erased his facial features.”

  Trying to change the subject and lighten the mood, she moved on. “Hey, what do you say after dinner we hit the beach and go for a walk? You are so lucky to have a backyard that is full of sand and the ocean!”

  “That sounds great. We can walk off some of these carbs.”

  Just as planned, when we finished eating, we were off for our walk. The beach was rather quiet. Only a few people were walking their dogs and there was one couple bundled up in a blanket, watching the tide go out. After a while, we returned to the house and curled up on the deck with a couple of blankets of our own.

  I could tell Claudia was grasping for conversation. Knowing Claudia as well as I did, I could tell she was becoming uncomfortable with the silence. “You know, Allie, I’ve been thinking about it and I would love to come to that self-defense class with you. I think it would be good for me and it would give us something else to do together. What do you think?”

  That took me by surprise. Claudia and exercise… well, let’s just say they were not acquainted very well.

  “I think that’s a great idea. I miss our weekly girl’s night out. When did we get so busy that we couldn’t have our night out anyway?”

  “I don’t know. It seems the older we get, the less time we have for fun. As far back as I can remember, even when we were little, we had so much fun all the time. Remember when your grandfather took us to that Powwow up in Vermont? That was so great!”

  I started laughing as the memory sprang back. “You were so jealous that I wore that teal blue regalia. You hated yours because it was brown.”

  “Regalia?”

  “My dress and moccasins, don’t you remember?”

  “Oh yeah…. your grandfather felt so sorry for me; he bought me a beautiful new shawl. Remember? I treasured that; in fact, I still have it tucked away somewhere. It’s teal blue and the beadwork on it is amazing! He really was the best!”

  “He sure was! I miss him so much, but that seems like another lifetime.”

  “Allie, remember the day you were so sick and your grandmother made you some sort of medicine, while your grandfather performed that healing ceremony? That was so weird. Within an hour you were fine.”

  “That’s what happens when you come from a long line of healers, and your grandfather is a medicine man.”

  “Do you think what they did really made you better?”

  “Who knows? I was so young back then. I guess I just accepted things like that as reality. I never questioned it or gave it that much thought. I ha
ve to say, I wish my grandfather was here now.”

  “You and your brother never even talk about your grandfather anymore.”

  “Our Native American heritage comes from our father’s side of the family. I don’t know the details, but there was some kind of falling out between my grandfather and the tribe just before he passed away. After my dad and grandmother died, my grandfather was the only connection I had to that culture.”

  “That must have been some falling out! Do you have any idea what it was about?”

  “Honestly, I don’t.”

  “I can’t believe you never wondered what happened. Maybe your mom knows. You should ask.”

  “I guess you’re right, but I was so young when my grandfather passed. I think it was too painful for me and I just chose to move on.”

  The evening flew by. Looking at her watch, Claudia suddenly realized it was getting late. “Hey, Allie, I think you should hit the hay. You’re looking really tired. What do you say?”

  “Yeah, I suppose. I have to go see Detective Payne tomorrow and I need to get some sleep. Would you mind staying over tonight?”

  “I would love to. Besides, I’ve had a little too much vino to drive anyway. I’ll take the couch.”

  “No, you won’t. You will sleep in one of the guest rooms, that’s what they’re for.”

  “Okay, the guest room it is.”

  I walked Claudia to her room and pulled down the bed. As I turned, I saw her picking up a picture of my grandfather. She smiled and placed it on the nightstand next to her, as she slid under the covers into bed. “It was great spending the evening with you, Allie. Let’s start doing this more often.”