Death and Deceit Page 5

  Jessie trembled from his touch. The night before when he had kissed her goodnight she had not wanted to hold back, and that frightened her in a way. To think that someone she had just met had so much control over her emotions. She groaned and turned on her side. “That feels nice. You’re too good to me,” she said to him.

  He stopped his massaging and rolled over to lie beside her and face her. She wore a one-piece aqua blue suit that hugged her where it counted. Such a small frame, yet everything in the right places. “I could never be too good to you. And I mean that.”

  He stared straight into her eyes with such sincerity that Jessie had no doubt at all that he meant every word. For some reason she wanted to cry, but held back the tears by sitting up and moving slightly away from him. She braced herself on her arms and stared out to sea. “This is the first time I’ve been to the beach this year,” she said. When he didn’t reply she looked down and caught him staring at her in a most precious way, as if she were something of great worth that he couldn’t get enough of. Jessie blushed and was about to speak, but he reached up and pulled her into his arms. Since the beach was relatively deserted, Jessie let herself fall into his arms and into the kiss that awaited her. She found herself giving back without hesitation.

  When the sun began to set, Kent pulled Jessie to her feet and they strolled along the beach. Jessie didn’t often get to see the backside of the city where wind and fog washed it with salt spray until the whole area, but especially the older part along the harbour line, seemed to take on the same appearance. It looked dull and grizzled like it had seen better times. Jessie herself couldn’t complain. The times couldn’t be better for her than now. Being with Kent Morgan sharing a sunset, a kiss, a wisp of salt breeze, had finally led her to believe that the free hand of romance could and did indeed reach out and touch her.

  After the sky paled they picked up their belongings and headed for the car. “My stomach’s rumbling,” Kent said. “Where would you like to eat?”

  “It’s cooler now,” she said. “Why don’t we get some take-out and go back to my apartment?” She knew the game she played was dangerous. She had only met Kent yesterday. Now she was inviting him to her apartment. But she didn’t worry. He was not like Gary Burke. Kent was a gentleman. She somehow instinctively felt that she could trust him.

  Kent nodded as they reached the car. This time he unlocked and opened the door for her. Jessie slid inside the warm car. At the apartment, after stopping for fried chicken, Jessie opened the door to a stifling heat. She rushed to throw open the windows.

  “We can’t eat in here,” Kent said. “Let’s go down to the little park until it cools some.” Jessie nodded and they scooped up the chicken, grabbed a bottle of Coke from the fridge and went back to the car.

  The park was even headier at night time. A feeling of light-hearted euphoria pressed into Jessie once again. After they’d consumed the food, Kent stretched out on the blue blanket and reached for her. Jessie lay beside him on her back and gazed at the heavens. Her eyes fixed for a moment on a sphere of stars that had faintly gathered in the now dark sky. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy.

  “Tell me about yourself, Kent,” she whispered.

  “Well, you know I’m twenty-eight. I was born in the West and I’ve only lived in Harbourside for a few months.”

  “Why did you come here?”

  “I always wanted to come East. Now I know why.”

  “Why?” she asked, baiting him.

  He rolled towards her and kissed her lips. “Because I knew you were here. Something inside always told me that. Besides I have no close family out there, just cousins and such.”

  “No parents?”

  “No. Both gone. My dad when I was a child. My mom later.”

  “Sorry. I lost my dad too. Just a few years ago. I miss him. I have a brother though but I don’t see him much. He and I aren’t getting along too well right now.”

  “That’s bad isn’t it? When you have a falling out with a sibling?”

  “Yeah, it’s tough. I miss him. I mean, we were close once.”

  There was a far away look in her eyes and a bit of pain too. Kent wondered what the problem was between Jessie and her brother, but he figured she would tell him when and if she wanted to. He had just met her and he wanted to keep things light. He had a feeling she felt the same way.

  “So, why did you become an aerobic instructor?” he asked. “Was it all for toned muscles and to control your weight?”

  Jessie grinned at him and raised a delicate brow. “I never had a weight problem, Kent. Yeah, I like the toned muscles, but there are other benefits of aerobics.”

  “Psychological benefits?”

  She grinned again. “That’s right. Aerobics helps reduce depression and anxiety. It decreases tension and helps me sleep.”

  “And you had a problem with those things?”

  “Doesn’t everyone?”

  “I suppose, in the long run. That’s what I like about karate. I’ve always had a mean temper. Got it from my dad, my mom used to say. Anyway I didn’t like it and sought out a means of control.”

  “And what does karate do for you, Kent?”

  “Helps me relax. Helps me focus. My karate, Chito Ryu is based on human physiology. It trains the body and the mind.”

  “So all those kicks and punches make you feel powerful?”

  She was grinning at him again and he had the feeling she was making fun of him. But he realized she just didn’t understand. “There’s more than kicks and punches, Jessie. It requires total concentration and focus to maintain balance and control. We’re taught proper breathing and do lots of warm ups, just like you do before an aerobic class. In a nutshell it helps prepare us for life outside the dojo.”

  “The what?”

  “Dojo. The wayplace, where we learn and practice.”

  “Like my dance floor?”

  “Exactly.” He leaned into her and kissed her gently. “So you see, Jessie, we have a lot in common.”

  His eyes gave her that warm feeling again and she agreed. “I think we do.”

  They settled back on the blanket and let the night breeze caress their bodies. Later when the stars were bright and the moon was just rising, Jessie asked to go home. As much as she wanted to stay with him in that way, she knew tomorrow was another workday. And they both had to be rested and alert. At her apartment she pulled from his arms promising to meet him at noon the following day.

  For the next two days they lunched together, dined together, and each night their kisses grew more passionate. Friday night when they finally pulled from each other’s embrace and Kent left via the elevator, Jessie called Liz. She hadn’t heard from her since Tuesday, when Liz had pranced out of the restaurant. Jessie had to know if they were still friends. She got her on the second ring.

  “Hi, Liz. It’s me, Jessie.”

  Liz answered in a low drawl. “Jessie, I was in bed.”

  “Oh, sorry.”

  “Why are you calling? It’s late.”

  “I...was thinking about you...about Tuesday. Are you mad at me?”

  There was a silence while Jessie’s toes curled, then Liz replied. “No. I’m not mad at you, silly. Remember, May the best woman win? We toasted on it, didn’t we?”

  Jessie relaxed somewhat. She breathed a long sigh. “Okay, Liz. I won’t keep you. I’m sorry I disturbed you. You coming to class on Monday?”

  “Of course. Can’t get out of shape, can I?”

  Jessie detected an icy covering over Liz’s trying-to-be-friendly voice, but she ignored it. “See you Monday then.”

  “Hey, wait.” Liz paused a second then asked. “You been seeing Kent?”

  “Every day...and night,” Jessie replied.

  “Oh.” There was a silence, then, “Sounds serious.”

  “Oh, Liz, I think he’s the one.” Jessie knew Liz wasn’t the one to tell that to, but it had been impulsive and she had to tell someone. She was bursting. There was
a click on the line and Jessie called out. “Liz...Liz, are you there?”

  A dial tone answered her.

  Saturday was a hectic day at the spa, with a special promotion going on including the media. Jessie smiled and talked so much, her face felt numb. Usually she walked the four blocks to her apartment, but fatigue forced her to hail a cab. It was the first night since meeting Kent that she wouldn’t spend with him. He had told her he had something personal to do.

  Jessie took off her shoes and poured a glass of wine. She relaxed in the dimly-lit living room and thought of Kent. It was hard to believe that just a week ago she had been so lonely she’d almost taken a chance on a total stranger online. Creepy people could lurk there, she thought. She sipped the wine and let the smooth liquid ease down her throat. What a difference a week could make. She and Kent had been almost inseparable. She wondered what personal thing he was taking care of. Was he saying goodbye to an old love? Or maybe he had a karate class. He hadn’t said he’d see her Sunday, but she had a feeling he wouldn’t stay away from her for long. In fact she felt so good she decided to e mail her brother in hopes of a reconciliation with him.

  With the message carefully completed, short but friendly, she clicked on the Send/Receive. When her sending mail clicked off, a receiving mail message appeared. She’d only signed on the Internet a little over a week earlier, and her only message had been to her brother tonight. Who could be writing to her? She blanched when she read the eerie message on the screen. A malicious out pouring of angry, sick words, written with an underlying bitter resentment emerged. The hair on Jessie’s neck bristled, sending out waves of tiny shivers. A blood-curdling coldness enveloped her being, when she realized the seriousness of the threat.

  CHAPTER THREE

  I thought you were a fellow, but you’re a delusive friend. You’ve deluded me and now you will pay. Hark! I await the time of your demise. So watch over your shoulder, wherever you go, whatever you do...I’ll not be far away. I see you! I am so close to you my bonny friend. Where you think you have a friend, you may well have an enemy...a lover?....or a JUDAS.

  Jessie clicked on delete and the screen cleared. But the message was embedded like hot coals in her mind. Terror seized her body. She turned off the computer and backed away from it. Impulsively she called Liz’s number. When Liz’s friendly voice greeted her, Jessie freaked.

  “My God, Liz, you’ve gotta get over here. Someone’s trying to kill me.”

  “What?”

  “I mean, I just had a horrible message on my e mail. Someone is after me.”

  “What are you talking about, Jessie?” Liz asked in a calm tone. “What message?”

  “It said, ‘I await your demise. Watch over your shoulder.’ Something about a friend being an enemy or a Judas...oh, it was awful...please come over, I’m scared.”

  “Okay, okay. But calm down. I know it scared the hell out of you, but it’s probably just a prank. Still, I’ll come right over and I’ll stay with you, okay?”

  Jessie dropped the receiver and stood staring at the phone. It was almost as if she didn’t dare look away. As if while she held a connection with the phone, she was safe. But dare she gaze across at the computer, something horrible would happen. Like right now, there could be another creepy message festering away inside the box, ready to explode in her face should she turn the computer on.

  It was less than ten minutes when Liz entered the apartment. Jessie had sat by the phone until she heard Liz’s voice outside the apartment door. Liz hugged Jessie to her then pulled back and looked her in the eye.

  “It’ll be all right,” she said sternly. “It’s some sick prank, that’s all.”

  When Jessie couldn’t stop trembling, Liz got her a glass of warm milk and convinced her to get some rest. Later, stretched out on Jessie’s sofa, Liz was amazed at the reaction of her friend over the message. She had never imagined Jessie would freak so and wondered if she really knew her as well as she had thought she did.

  Liz caught the phone on the second ring hoping not to disturb Jessie’s sleep. The sun streamed through the living room window and had awakened her with its mid-morning heat, even before the phone had.

  “That you, Jessie?”

  “No, it’s Liz. Who’s this?”

  “Sandra Norton. I’m a friend of Jessie’s mother. Is Jessie there? I do have the right number, don’t I?”

  “Yes. Yes, you do. Jessie’s...sleeping. May I take a message?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ll need to speak to Jessie.”

  The woman’s voice was crisp and loud. Liz figured she’d better wake Jessie for this one.

  Jessie’s red hair stood on end from a night of twisting in bed. She took the receiver from Liz and smiled mechanically. “Hello, Sandra. Anything wrong?”

  “It’s your mother, Jessie,” the woman said. “She called me in the night with chest pains. I took her to emergency but they admitted her.”

  “Chest pains. Did she have a heart attack?”

  “No, they think it was anxiety. But you need to be here. They won’t tell me much. Should I call Alan?”

  “No. I’ll do it. Thanks Sandra. Oh. I don’t know when I can get there. Will you stay with her?”

  “Of course I will,” Sandra’s booming voice reassured Jessie. “As soon as I have a bite to eat, I’m planning to spend the afternoon with her.”

  “Tell her I’ll see her soon,” Jessie finished and hung up the phone. “My mother’s in the hospital. Anxiety attack.”

  Jessie’s voice was strange and Liz reached out to her. She patted Jessie’s back and spoke in a hushed tone. “One thing after another for you, isn’t it? I hope it’s not bad.”

  Jessie pulled away and ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing it down. She made herself busy boiling water for tea and shaking cereal into a bowl. After she’d popped two slices of toast down, she turned to Liz who was now folding up bedding from the sofa.

  “Mom’s only forty-five. She’s been different though these past few years since Dad died. So quiet and sad. I guess the grief got her.”

  “Yeah. It will do that. Grief...and stress are not friendly body companions,” Liz remarked.

  Jessie buttered her toast and took her breakfast to the coffee table. Liz took her place at the kitchen counter and poured a dish of cereal then splashed milk on it. “Are you going home today?”

  “No. I can’t. I’ll have to work tomorrow and hope I can find someone to take my classes for Tuesday.”

  “You shouldn’t have to do that,” Liz said taking her breakfast over to join Jessie. “I’ll take a sick day and fill in for you.”

  Jessie looked across at Liz. Was there nothing this friend wouldn’t do for her? Guilty pangs filled her mind when she thought of how she’d dated Kent, even after Liz made it obvious how much she liked him.

  “No, Liz. Thanks, but I’m sure one of the other instructors or a couple of them can fill in for me, as soon as we can arrange a schedule. I’ll go home on Tuesday, if Mom stays the same. And I’ll see how things are then.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. They probably wouldn’t let me take the classes anyway,” Liz said.

  “Really? I’m sure they would. You’re good. I’ll mention it anyway, just in case I need you in the future. That is if you’re sure you really want to do it.”

  “No problem. I’d love to do it.”

  Jessie picked up her dishes and headed for the counter. “I have to call Alan and tell him. I dread it.”

  “Why, Jessie?” Liz put her dishes in the sink and started the hot water to wash them up.

  “We...ah, aren’t on the best of terms,” Jessie said. “But this is important.” She picked up the phone and called Alan. “Hi, Alan. It’s me, Jessie.”

  “So? What do you want?”

  Jessie didn’t want to startled or frighten him so she refrained from telling him about their mother at first.

  “I e mailed you. Didn’t you get it?”

  “Of course I did. I
check my mail.”

  “Why didn’t you answer?”

  “I would have...in time.”

  “How many times do I have to say I’m sorry, Alan? I can’t go back and date that guy. And your girlfriend was not very faithful anyway, if she could walk off on you just like that. You’re well rid of her.”

  Jessie knew she’d said too much too soon, and she decided to dive in to the real reason she’d called before Alan got madder and hung up on her. “But I’m not calling for all that, Alan. Sandra called me. Mom is in the hospital. She’s had an anxiety attack.”

  “Well, Mom always was a worrier.”

  Jessie thought he didn’t seem upset. “She’s had a lot to deal with, Alan. For God’s sake, don’t you even care?”

  “Don’t be stupid. You know I do. But Mom’s been asking for trouble. I wanted her to shut down the house and come back with me. I even told her I’d find her an apartment if that was what she wanted. But she would rather hang around there and mope over Dad with only garish Sandra for company.”

  “That’s awful, Alan. Sandra is her constant companion. She spends more time with Mom than we do.”

  “Exactly,” Alan said. “Sandra is overbearing and pushy. She practically tells Mom what do and she doesn’t want her to leave there. Why she’s the one that got Mom started on cigarettes in the first place. Sandra smokes like a chimney herself.”

  “Alan!”

  “Well, it’s true.”

  “You’re so spiteful. It’s bad enough with me, but now you’ve taken out your hostility on Mom too. No wonder she wouldn’t want to live with you. And you must remember that Dad was as much an influence on Mom’s smoking as Sandra.”

  Jessie slammed down the receiver, her eyes filling with tears. “That brother of mine,” she spoke in exasperation. “I don’t know why I even bother with him. He acted like he didn’t even care. His own mother.”