Humidity Rising (Romantic Suspense) (5 page)

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I hope.”

With that, he turned and darted out the door. She was nowhere in sight, but the parking lot extended around the side of the building, so he headed in that direction. As he came around the corner, he saw her near the rear of the restaurant, not far from the trash dumpster.

“Liza!” he shouted as he trotted toward her. She stopped, but didn’t turn.

He came to a halt as he reached her and stepped around to face her.

“Liza, listen to me for one minute. Please.” She nodded, looking anywhere but at his face. “I know life hasn’t been easy for you, and I never meant to hurt you. But you need find someone to talk to about what’s going on. I can’t be that person because honestly, I really don’t understand and I don’t know how to help you.” He paused to give his next words more impact. “I think you need to call the Mental Health Clinic and set up an appointment.”

She stiffened and started to say something in protest.

“Just go to one session. That’s all I’m asking you to do.” He lifted her chin, and she looked up at him. “Will you promise to go to one appointment? Not for me, but for yourself.”

She closed her eyes, squeezing out a tear. “Okay.” She nodded. “Just one.”

Then he felt her reach up between them. In her hand was the gun, and it was pointed at her chest.

Simply reacting on instinct, he snatched the weapon from her and pointed it to the side, away from them.

“That’s no answer, Liza. It’s the coward’s way out of a tough situation. You’re not a coward and you know it. So do I.”

“I don’t know what else to do, Wesley. I don’t want to live any more, it hurts too much.”

“Do what I just told you. Find a good counselor to talk to about your feelings. Someone who knows how to help.”

She brought her hand up again, this time with a tissue to wipe her face and blow her nose. She nodded as she put it away.

“Okay.” Her voice was stronger, more resolute. “I’ll call the clinic in the morning and make an appointment.”

He remembered the gun in his hand, and glanced at it. That was odd. His finger was on the trigger. He tossed it to the side, near the dumpster. There was no way on this green Earth he was going to give it back to Liza.

As he turned around to face her again, she headed toward her car.

“Please be careful going home.” He may not be in love with her, but she was a human being and he didn’t want any harm to come to her, especially if she were to do it deliberately.

She nodded. “I will.”

“Take care of yourself. Okay?”

Another nod. She’d started the car and backed out of the parking space.

He turned and went back inside to get Kristi and Janie.

Get counseling? Was he kidding? Nope. Not gonna happen. She’d only acted compliant and agreed with him just to get him to go away. She knew what she needed to do and neither he nor anyone else was going to stop her.

I don’t think that’s such a good idea
.

“Shut up! What do you know?”

It seems I know a lot more than you do
.

“Yeah, okay. So you were right about Wesley. What does that prove?”

Like I just said, it proves I know more than you
.

“Will you just be quiet while I drive home. Please.”

Fine, but we’re gonna talk before you do what you’re planning
.

“Whatever. Just let me get home first.”

No response. Good. Now she could think and lay out what she was going to do when she got to her apartment. It was the only option he’d left to her. Nothing else would help.

And Wesley wanted her to go see a counselor? Ha! Those damn head shrinks didn’t care one whit about their patients. The only thing on their minds were their own bank accounts. Besides, she didn’t need them. Once she’d executed her plan, all of her problems would be over.

She pulled her little car into the parking space, cut the motor, and locked it as she got out. Her apartment was on the second floor, and she looked up at it. A glum feeling washed over her but she pushed it aside after only a moment. This was no time for regrets. She had to get moving and get on with her plans.

Minutes later, she was inside, sitting at the cheap, tiny dinette table writing on a piece of paper she’d pulled from her fancy stationery set. She folded it, laid the pen across it, and got up from her chair.

You don’t need to do this, you know.

“Yes, I do.”

Why do you think that? There’s another alternative
.

“Oh, right! I could go see a shrink. No, thanks.”

You have me to talk to. Don’t forget, I got you out of that institution
.

“So, maybe you did. I don’t see how that helps me now.” She turned and headed down the hallway.

It’s the same kind of situation. Can’t you see?

“Yeah? How do you figure that?” She stepped into the bathroom.

The guy you’re in love with takes off with some bimbo. Same old story
.

“Well, from that perspective, I’d have to agree.” She removed a pill bottle from the medicine cabinet above the sink. “But it’s not gonna stop me.”

* * * * *

Wes relaxed on the sofa as Kristi tucked Janie in bed for the night. The lasagna dinner was delicious, even if it did come out of the freezer. It had been an enjoyable evening, now that Liza was no longer a threat to them. He was sure she’d do as he suggested and get some treatment for her problems.

He wanted to tell Kristi tonight about his feelings for her, but decided to wait until she showed a sign that she might share them. What the signal would be, he could only guess, though he was sure he’d recognize it when it came along. He’d had enough experience with women to know that it could be different for each one, but it was always identifiable.

Before long, Kristi came back down the hallway and sat next to him. She curled up with her feet under her, laid her head on his chest, and sighed contentedly. This was a pleasant surprise.

“Howdy. Come here often?” He couldn’t resist the cheesy joke.

“Yep,” she replied without hesitation. “I live here. How about you?”

He chuckled. “I’d love to come here as often as you want.”

“Mmm. That sounds tempting. But just a tiny warning, you might be here a lot.”

“I don’t see a problem with that.” He kissed the top of her head.

“Yeah, but would your mother approve?”

“Oh, I think Mom would love you to pieces.” In fact, he knew she would.

She sat up and looked him in the eyes. “What I meant was, would your mother approve of you coming over here almost every night of the week?”

“I see. Well, as I’m a grown man in my mid-thirties now, I don’t think she’d mind in the least.” He grinned.

She laughed and he joined in. Without warning, she leaned in and kissed him, slipping her arms around him. Then, just as abruptly, she pulled away.

“Wes, I—”

“Kristi—”

They shared a light chuckle over speaking at the same time.

“You first,” he offered.

She took a breath. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about us.”

“Me, too.” He smiled.

“I think this might be something I’d like to pursue. But I wanna be sure Liza won’t be back to bother us.”

“If you’d seen the look on her face I saw, you’d know she won’t.” He kept his tone calm and neutral. “She looked like a person who finally realized she needs help, that she’s defeated in her chase of me. She even promised to call the Mental Health Clinic in the morning to make an appointment.”

Kristi seemed satisfied with his response. “Well, I guess you know her a little better than I do, so you’re probably right.”

He reached out and held her face in both of his hands and gazed into her eyes. “Whatever she does after tonight, she’ll be just fine. But I really doubt we’ll see her anytime soon.”

She glanced down, then back at him. “Well, if she gets better with therapy, maybe it’ll be okay but for now, I’d rather she stay away.”

“I know what you mean.” He slipped his arms around her and held her close. Now he had his answer. She still needed some time, but it was clear she was willing to allow her feelings for him grow. That was good enough for him.

* * * * *

She stood in the doorway of her home, watching Wes as he left for the night. If not for the fact that she had to be at work by seven in the morning, she would have been tempted to ask him to stay the night.

But that would have brought about a set of problems, not the least of which was that her niece might not understand if she saw him there, especially if he came out of Kristi’s room. She didn’t want to be explaining that to Janie any time soon.

Then there were the neighbors, Mrs. Thompson being at the top of that list, who might not think it appropriate for her to have an overnight male guest with a small child in the house.

Not to mention the fact that although she wanted it, she wasn’t sure the time was right for them to take their relationship to that level. She’d know when that time came, but it wasn't there just yet. He seemed willing to wait, although she wasn’t sure how long.

When he was heading down the block and out of sight, she closed the door and locked it. The dinner dishes had already been washed, dried, and put away, so she could take her shower and go to bed.

Thirty minutes later, Kristi was sitting on her bed with her laptop, trying to read something on the Internet as she waited for her hair to dry. No matter how hard she tried to concentrate on catching up with her favorite blog, something in the back of her mind told her they hadn’t seen or heard the last of Liza. She supposed it could have been intuition but whatever it was, it wouldn’t leave her. Wes had been sure his ex would seek help, and maybe she would. Anything was possible.

Kristi had seen more than enough mental patients come through the hospital to know that the deeper the psychosis, the less likely they are to want or ask for counseling. Liza seemed to be in the latter group—someone with a deep problem. As a nurse trained not only to care for but to also care about people, she honestly hoped the woman would get help.

Still, that nagging in her brain bothered her. She supposed it was the way Liza’s eyes looked earlier that day. Yes, she’d nearly run the entire scope of emotions and there was a wildness in there as well, but the one thing that chilled Kristi’s spine most was the look of cold, calculated determination.

Three weeks had gone by without incident. Kristi was beginning to think they’d seen the last of Liza Hill. Only twice had she seen a car that looked like the woman’s, but neither time was it parked down the block from her house.

Finally able to relax a little, they’d spent more time together. Wes came by for dinner almost every night, a willing taste tester as Kristi tried out some recipes she’d found online. Some were delicious, some were good, and still others would never be attempted again.

Even Janie seemed to be feeling more at ease, allowing Kristi to close her bedroom door all the way. The child adored Wes, and she figured it was because the feeling was mutual. The night he told her that he wished Janie were his own child was when Kristi knew this was the man she would marry. It was also the first night she’d shared her bed with him.

Yes, everything was good now. She’d even forgotten about her thoughts that Liza might come back to bother them again.

Until the doorbell rang one evening. Wes was due to come for supper, so she didn’t think it was odd.

“Come on in, Wes. The door’s open,” she called out from the kitchen.

“I’ll get it!” Janie came running from her room to answer the doorbell as Kristi chuckled.

Moments later, not having heard her niece’s usual chatter, she began to wonder why the child was so quiet. It wasn’t like her not to squeal with laughter as Wes tickled her.

She stepped out of the kitchen and into the living room. There were two men standing on her front porch, looking up at her as she appeared in the room.

“Can I help you?” She stepped behind Janie and drew the girl close.

“Are you Kristi Lloyd, ma’am?” The man who spoke was obviously the older of the two.

“Yes. And you are …?”

“Detective Taylor,” he said. “This is my partner, Detective Franks, with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. May we ask you a few questions?”

“Of course.” She stepped aside and sent Janie back to her room. The detectives entered and she motioned them to the sofa, taking a seat in the armchair on the other side of the coffee table from them. “What can I help you with?”

“Do you know a woman named Liza Hill?” Franks spoke for the first time.

A chill trickled up and down her spine. “I know who she is, but can’t honestly say I know her very well.”

“What about Wesley Chandler?” Taylor asked. “Do you know him?”

“Yes. He’s my boyfriend.” Another spine-tingling chill. “Why? Has she done something to him?”

The detectives glanced at each other. “What would make you say that?” It was Franks again.

“The woman’s crazy. She threatened me, my niece, and Wes with a gun, not only once, but twice. At two different restaurants.”

“When did that happen?”

“About a month ago. She and Wes used to date, but he broke it off because she’s a nut case. He talked to her, told her to get some psychiatric help, and we haven’t seen her since.”

“What restaurant was that?” Franks asked.

“Pizza Playground. The one on Beach Boulevard. She snatched my niece from the neighbor’s front yard and took her there. She even left a note for me.”

“I don’t suppose you still have that note,” Taylor said.

“Let me look,” Kristi replied as she stood and went to the table near the door. She pulled open the drawer and found it. “Yes. Here it is.” She handed it to Franks as she regained her seat.

“Tell us what happened that day,” Taylor prompted.

* * * * *

Wes was looking forward to dinner at Kristi’s house. She’d found a beef stroganoff recipe that sounded tempting, and he couldn’t wait to taste a sample. It had been a favorite meal since he was a child.

He’d only been home long enough to check his mail and change into some jeans and a polo shirt when his cell phone rang. Kristi. She didn’t usually call on the nights he ate dinner there, so it must be something important.

“Hi there,” he said, answering after the second ring.

“Wes, I don’t want to alarm you,” she said, “but two detectives were just here asking about Liza.” Her voice held concern, but she didn’t sound frantic.

“Liza? Why were they asking about her?” He hadn’t thought about her in close to a month.

“If you’re not sitting down, you may want to.”

“Umm … hang on a sec.” He paused as he parked himself on the edge of his bed. “Okay, I’m sitting. What’s going on?”

“They told me Liza’s missing and presumed dead.” She sniffled. “Wes, they think you might have had something to do with it.”

“
What?
Why would they think that?”

“They wouldn’t tell me, but they wanted to know if I saw you outside the Pizza Playground with her. I told them you went out to talk to her alone.” She cleared her throat. “Wes, did you do something to her?”

He was speechless. How could she even think something like that about him?

“Kristi, you know I’d never hurt anyone. Not even Liza.” He hoped his tone was reassuring. “The last I saw of her, she was definitely alive. She was in her car and leaving the place.”

She sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, Wes. Those detectives just seemed so sure you did something and they nearly had me convinced. I didn’t know what else to think.”

“It’s okay. Suspicion is part of their job.” He let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

“I suppose you’re right. They told me they were headed to see you, so maybe they’ll tell you why you’re a suspect.”

“Probably, but I hope they won’t take me in for questioning. They like to hold people in there for several hours before they even come into the room and start talking.”

“Don’t they only do that when checking your story? I mean, they told me she’s been missing since the last time we saw her so it only makes sense that there’s been some sort of investigation going on for about a month.”

He thought a moment. “Yeah. That would make sense. Still, I’d rather they question me here at home.”

The doorbell sounded, followed by an insistent knocking. “I guess the detectives are here now.” He stood and made his way to the front door. “I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

“Tell them I have dinner waiting for you.”

He chuckled. “Do you think it’ll work?”

“It’s worth a try.”

He opened the door and waved Detectives Taylor and Franks into his house.

“Okay, I’ll try. Call you soon.”

He closed the door and turned toward his guests as he put his phone in his pocket.

* * * * *

He was two hours late, but Kristi kept a plate warm for him. She wanted to call and find out if the detectives had taken him in but he’d promised to call her. So she waited, trying to watch TV to make the time go by faster.

It wasn’t working. Every few minutes, she’d glance at the clock again, wondering once more how the police could possibly think Wes was involved in Liza’s disappearance. It didn’t make any sense. But then, other than her feelings for him, not much had made sense since they’d met.

She’d just headed for the kitchen to put his plate in the refrigerator when she heard him on the porch. He rapped lightly as she opened the door to let him in.

“Well, that was an experience I don’t want to repeat,” he said as he went to the sofa to sit.

“I’ve been wondering how long they planned to question you.”

He looked worn. “They left just before I came here. I think they may have followed me but I don’t care. I have nothing to hide.”

She headed to the kitchen, this time to warm his dinner in the microwave. “I saved you a plate of stroganoff. You’re probably starved by now.”

“Yes!” He sprung from the sofa and followed her. “I’m surprised I haven’t lost ten pounds.”

She chuckled. “I think you’ll like this one. It’s delicious, if I do say so myself.”

“You’re becoming a very good cook, you know? I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“Yeah, because you get to eat everything I make.”

“Ah, yes. A man’s work is never done.” He rubbed his belly as they shared a quiet laugh.

Moments later, Kristi placed his dinner on the table in front of him, smiling as she watched him relish every bite. Once he was finished, she sent him back to the living room, then swiftly washed his dishes.

She returned and sat next to him, eager to continue their previous conversation.

“So, tell me why the police think you’re involved in this mess.”

He hesitated. “When I talked to Liza that last time, she pointed that gun at her chest and I took it from her and held it off to the side. I didn’t realize it right away, but I’d put my finger on the trigger. I tossed it next to the dumpster. That’s the only thing they have on me but the forensics showed that it hadn’t been fired, so they don’t have much of a case.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with Liza being missing?”

He took a deep breath and sighed. “Apparently, she has a brother. I never knew because she didn’t talk about her family. Anyway, he’d reported her missing the next morning, saying that she was supposed to meet him for breakfast or something and she never showed. He told them he went to her apartment, but she wasn’t there.”

“I still don’t see the connection.”

“At about the same time, the manager of the Pizza Playground had called in a report about a large pool of blood in the parking lot, near the dumpster.”

She inhaled sharply.

“That’s when they found the gun with my fingerprints on it. And the blood was Liza’s.”