Dark Illusion: A Psychological Thriller Novel (16 page)

R
ob and Sharon
were waiting in line at the Avis car rental agency located at the airport; no
taxi would take them where they needed to go. In any case, it was better not to
be at the mercy of a cab driver while they were in the middle of pursuing a
killer.

Evelyn Cohen had called back.
She’d gotten in touch with Arthur’s lawyer and had found out where Gloria and
her crew were staying. The information was not as helpful as they had hoped it
would be, because it turned out that, unsurprisingly, the location was in an
orientation equivalent to the Bermuda triangle: distant, wild, and obscure. In
other words, a place where you could easily get yourself lost.

While Sharon went to buy a map
and some snacks for the road, Rob waited in the seemingly endless line to rent
a car. Sharon managed to return before he made it to the counter and grumbled
about the lost time that could not be retrieved.

“Calm down, Davis, there are only
two more people ahead of us.“

“At this rate, more like ten. Why
can’t we explain that this is a police matter and cut ahead of them?“

Rob looked at Sharon with a
frustrated gaze. “First of all, it’s better that we don’t attract undesired
attention. We don’t know if Kelly has already landed, so we shouldn’t take the
risk.“

“Right,“ Sharon nodded agreeably.

“And secondly, it’s because I
hadn’t thought of that sooner and I’ve already waited through this entire
goddamned line!“

That was the first time Sharon
had laughed since she’d been shot. “Well, don’t worry about it,“ she smiled
sympathetically. “Just ask for a car with GPS. I’m not very optimistic about my
abilities to decipher these maps.“

 They reached the service
counter and secured a gray, solid Toyota, making sure not to waive the
geographic navigation system. There was quite a long drive ahead of them, about
four hours, assuming that all went well.

When they got to the car, they
both naturally approached the driver’s door.

“Sharon, what do you think you’re
doing?“

“Driving.“

“Why?“

“Because I always drive. Besides,
you drove last time.“

“Because you’ve been shot! And if
I’m not mistaken, that still hasn’t changed.“

“Lame excuse. You just don’t want
me to drive because I’m a woman . . .“

“Say, could it be that while you
were in the ICU the doctor operated on your brain as well?
’Cause
it seems to me that you’ve lost your mind!“

“That still doesn’t mean that I
can’t drive, so hand over the keys,“ Sharon insisted.

“Sharon, we’ve been working
together for quite some time. Do you really think I’m a chauvinist who doesn’t
want to let you drive because you’re a woman?“

“No . . .“ Sharon answered
reluctantly.

“And do you understand that you
can’t strain yourself? Therefore, I can’t let you drive while we are on our way
to catch a murderess. You need to save every ounce of strength you have.“

“Well . . . okay. But damn it, I
just really wanted to drive!“

That was the first time in his
life that Rob Jackie had ever managed to beat Sharon Davis in an argument. He
would not forget about it for years to come. So what if she happened to be on
three different types of pain killers . . . ?

                                
 * * *

The last hours Andy and Gloria had spent at the inn were
magical. It was one of those days that made you wonder whether you were
dreaming or not and eventually became a treasured memory. Even though Andy was
sad about leaving, he was equally excited for what was yet to come. Finally, he
could present his work to Kelly Danes, an important persona in the media world,
who not only had given him a golden opportunity for his big breakthrough, but
also a once-in-a-lifetime chance at love. And for this love, he was willing to
postpone this long-awaited moment for a bit longer.

Tom and Libby were thrilled that
the young couple had decided to extend their stay. They quickly fixed them a
marvelous picnic basket filled with scrumptious treats and urged them to hike
around and further explore the beautiful surroundings. Andy and Gloria jumped
at the opportunity.

After all, it was their first
date.

The exquisite scenery enveloped them in a fairy tale of
their own. Gloria felt like a little girl again and took off her shoes to feel
the crisp grass beneath her feet. She was amazed at the realization that what
made her feel sheer bliss did not even cost a single dime.

Gloria looked up and let the
sunrays caress her; a great beam illuminated her face. She started skipping and
hopping like she used to when she was a kid, when life was much simpler.

“Hey! What’s going on with you?“
Andy called after her. “I can’t run with this basket without dropping
everything, it’s too heavy!“

“Too bad, Grandpa . . . Catch me
if you can!“

Andy placed the well-stocked
basket on the ground and raced after her. Gloria tried to pick up the pace, but
he caught up with her in mere seconds and wrapped his arms around her to keep
her from moving.

“
Nooo
,
let me go!“ Gloria commanded him with giggles, while trying to free herself
from his strong grasp. She would not let some
kid
beat her.

“No way. I want to make sure you
stay by my side,“ Andy answered, fastening his arms around her.

Gloria’s slender physique allowed
her to squeeze through his arms and face him. “Don’t worry, I’m not going
anywhere.“

She stood on her tiptoes and
kissed him. Andy’s grip relaxed, but Gloria stayed close to him.

After they found the abandoned
picnic basket, they continued their journey, searching for their own piece of
heaven. Finally, they found it under the shade of an old oak tree. There was
something special about this place, where there was no value assigned to any
title or status they had obtained in their lives, where they were nothing more
than man and woman.

Andy could not restrain himself,
nor wanted to; his hands began exploring Gloria’s body. His palms embraced her
flawless outline, stroking her from top to bottom, forming the coveted shape of
an hourglass. He laid Gloria on the ground with him on top of her, his hands
still caressing her. Even though nothing concealed them, they were far removed
from any prying eyes. The wilderness kept their secret.

Coral-colored sand grains began
covering Gloria’s milky skin, as if they were tainting it; but she didn’t even
mind that her body was rubbing into the soft earth. Andy began to pull off her
dress, but she stopped him from doing so. Now it was her turn to be in charge,
to touch him with every bit of intent, like she had fantasized when they were
sitting next to each other on the drive over here. Her shyness was gone, but
her desires remained. She climbed on top of him, pressing his back against the
ground. Those same coral grains that were slowly falling off Gloria’s back
began sticking to his body. He lifted his arms to hold her, but she did not let
him. Instead, she leaned toward him and began to kiss him, her lips following
along his body, until she had reached the zipper of his pants. Andy tried to
sit up, but she pushed him gently back down toward the reddish sand.

She guided her hand slowly under
her dress, ensuring his gaze was following her, and pulled her panties aside.
Gloria took pleasure in beholding his breathing increase excitedly, wanting to
burst out of his wide torso and making her slim body move up and down
accordingly. She climbed on top of him, feeling the connection that was formed
between them, and began to ride. Gloria’s back remained straight, but between
her thighs she felt this certain warmth that made her experience a comforting
weakness. She arched her back and felt lost in pleasure, but then Andy held her
by the waist and began to steer her into the ultimate climax. The heat she felt
inside almost blazed through her; the cool wind that stroked their exposed
bodies only enhanced her blistering passion. Gloria felt all of her inhibitions
slipping away like a needless shell. She allowed herself to scream like she had
never screamed before, Andy’s moaning swallowed in hers. Their voices echoed in
the open field, but they were lost in the wind, lost in the wild.

Gloria rolled over and lay beside
Andy. He took her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. They remained
alone in the world, embracing under the open sky.

It seemed as though the sunrays had touched them, but only for a minute, and
their time had now ended. They had to leave.

“Perhaps we should postpone this
whole thing until tomorrow?“ Gloria asked in a seductive voice.

“I know, I’d like that, too. But
there is no way to let Kelly know that we’d be late. There’s no cellular signal
in this area.“

“So what?“ she replied.

“What do you mean ‘so what’? The
woman has flown half way around the world to meet us, and you want to blow her
off?“

“Who said I want to blow her off?
I just want to postpone the meeting for a few hours. Or days . . .“

“Gloria, this is my first serious
job in this industry. This incredible woman gave me the opportunity of a
lifetime.“

He paused for a moment, trying to
think of a way to soften Gloria; her piercing stare made it clear to him that
she did not intend to give up so easily.

“Thanks to her, I met you. I
think the least I can do is arrive to our meeting on time.“

Gloria smiled. Frankly, she, too,
owed this woman quite a lot.

“Okay, but you’re buying me a
Snickers. There’s no way I’m spending the next five hours locked in the car
without chocolate.“

K
elly glanced
at her watch. Beforehand, when the pilot had announced the approximate landing
time, she had changed it to the local time. Now it was almost 1:30 p.m. She was
right on schedule. After collecting her luggage and passing through passport
control, she would be out of the airport and on her way in less than an hour.
She just hoped her guests wouldn’t be early . . .

“Is there a problem with your
seatbelt, ma’am?“

Kelly looked at the stewardess,
compelled to detach herself from her sweet thoughts.

“Oh, no, sweetheart. I just didn’t
notice the sign.“ She tightened the seatbelt to her body until it clicked.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be
landing shortly.“ The pilot’s voice sounded over the speaker. “Thank you for
flying with us.“

Kelly could feel the plane
gradually descending. The pressure in her ears increased. That was her least
favorite part of the flight – besides take off, of course.

“We would like to remind you to
please remain seated while the red seatbelt sign is on.“ The flight attendant’s
voice echoed throughout the plane.

As the wheels of the plane kissed
the ground, a few passengers clapped their hands. Kelly was mortified by the
stupid, folksy custom, but tried to ignore it. She closed her eyes and took a
deep breath.

Finally, she had reached her safe
haven.

A short hour later, Kelly was already on her way to her new
home, at least for the next few days. She knew that after she executed her
plan, once again she would have to leave in haste. This time she hadn’t planned
ahead where she would flee. She decided it would be safer to decide on the spot
which flight to catch, and then disappear without leaving a trace. She toyed
with the idea of Tahiti, Crete, or even Japan, but she would have more time to
think about this later; right now she needed to stay focused on her plan.
Tomorrow, at the exact same time, she could put this whole thing behind her.

The navigation system calculated
the shortest route to the mansion, but first she had to make one stop. She
typed in the address of the weapon shop. Twenty minutes later she was there. In
the parking lot next to the store, there was one spot left – just for her.

A sign from above
, she
smiled at her reflection in the rear-view mirror.

Kelly entered the store, letting
her eyes adjust to the dim light. The owner stood behind the counter and
sharpened an ancient sword.

“Hello there, are you looking for
something in particular?“

“Actually, I am. I came to pick
up a special order. I arranged it with you several months ago.“

An intrigued grin appeared on his
face. “Yes, of course. I was expecting you. I’m always curious about special
orders. They happen, but not very often. That’s why I always keep tabs on
them.“

Kelly felt a little bit anxious
in light of the fact that someone had engraved in his memory the details of her
murder weapon.  

“Here, take a look. What a
beautiful piece.“ He showed her the silver gun with admiring hands.

Kelly approached it, her eyes
sparkling with anticipation.

“I’ll just verify we have all the
details in place, Miss . . . ?“

“That’s not relevant,“ she
answered hastily while sliding a stack of bills toward his side of the counter.

The vendor looked at the money
and then turned his gaze to Kelly, as if trying to arbitrate between his
curiosity and his greed.

“You’re absolutely right.“

Kelly was still amazed to see the
amount of influence a small pile of bills possessed.

Like a puppet on a string . .
.

She put the silver weapon in her
pocketbook, along with a pack of bullets, and headed toward the exit.

“Pleasure doing business with
you,“ he called.

She didn’t bother to reply.

T
hey had been
driving for over three hours and still had plenty of time left together in the
confined metal box.

“So what did your mom say?“ Rob
asked Sharon.

“That she’s going to kill me and that
my dad almost had a heart attack.“

“Ouch. I wouldn’t want to be in
their shoes. Or yours, for that matter.“

“Well, it’s not like I had a
choice. It’s better that my murderess thinks I’m dead rather than planning to
kill me again!“

Rob arched an eyebrow. “There’s a
sentence you don’t hear every day.“

Sharon chuckled. “Anyway, she was
mostly just upset because I had neglected to fill her in on our little plan.“
Her mother’s scolding voice still echoed in her head.

“Sharon Elaine Davis. Do you
know what a parent’s worst nightmare is? Hearing that their child is dead. And
do you know what’s even worse? Reading about it in the newspaper! Do you have
any idea how many phone calls I got? People were asking me when the funeral is,
while I hadn’t even realized what happened. I’d already called Reverend Rayner
to discuss burial arrangements, and you couldn’t even find one spare minute to
let me know that you’re still alive? And not even that, I had to hear it from
some airport representative? And then trying to explain to people why the
funeral was being postponed, because I can’t tell anyone that you’re actually
alive? What the
hell
were you thinking, young lady?“

That was the first and only time
Sharon had ever heard her mother use that word.

“Say, what about that guy you met
on the plane?“ Rob’s voice drew her back to reality, thank God.

“Who, Chris?“ Sharon could feel
the blush creeping along her cheeks.

Rob smiled. In all the years they
had worked together, he had never seen her so perplexed, and because of a guy,
nonetheless.

“In case you haven’t noticed,
I’ve had a lot on my plate for the last few days. I haven’t had a chance to
talk to him yet,“ she said briskly.

Rob had foreseen that response.
Sharon had so many defense mechanisms that he wouldn’t be surprised to find out
she was wearing copper armor under her clothes.

“And in case you haven’t
noticed,“ Rob emphasized, “we have spent the last three hours counting red cars
on the road.“

“I still can’t believe we’ve only
seen seven. I would have expected a lot more.“

“Sharon, you’re changing the
subject.“

“Could be.“ She glanced out the
window.

“So how about you call him now?
At least let him know you’re still among the living.“

Only then Sharon realized that
Chris might also read the New York Times.

                                
 * * *

The number that appeared on the telephone screen was clearly
international. He tried to remember if any of his friends had gone overseas
recently, but he couldn’t think of anyone.

“Hello?“

“Hi, Chris?“

He wasn’t sure it was her. After
all, he had only talked to her once, and since then she hadn’t answered any of
his calls.

“Yes . . . ? Speaking.“

“It’s Sharon. The cop. From the
plane.“

“You’d have to be more specific.“

“Very funny.“ Although she tried
to sound cynical, she couldn’t keep from smiling.

“So, you’re not dead?“

“Oh, no. We had to print that
article as part of a big case I’m working on. I’m sorry I couldn’t fill you in
earlier.“

“What are you talking about?“

“The article in the New York
Times about my murder. I assume that’s why you asked me if I’m not dead.“

“Actually, I asked you that
because you never returned my calls . . .“

                                
 * * *

Rob glanced at Sharon while she was on the phone with Chris.
She was acting like a seventeen-year-old girl. While talking to him, she toyed
with her golden hair, and Rob could see the subtle blush appearing on her
cheeks.

She managed to explain to Chris
very briefly – keeping full discretion one might add – about all the insanity she
had been through in the last few days, starting with the fact she’d been shot
and ending with the chase that had brought her all the way to New Zealand.
After passing this hurdle, they proceeded to talk about other things. Rob was
glad that someone had managed to get Sharon interested in something other than
work.

The closer they got to their
destination, the more the cellular reception weakened, and Sharon was forced to
end the conversation.

“You’re cute,“ Rob teased.

“No, I’m not.“

“I can’t help it. It’s a fact.“

“Why?“

“Because you really like this
guy.“

“You’re wrong. I was just being
polite.“

“Sharon, it’s not a shame to
admit at your age that you like someone.“

“Okay, I do. Are you happy now?“

“Actually, I am,“ he smirked.

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m
trying again to get a hold of Arthur or Gloria or that photographer, Andy.
Perhaps now that we’re closer . . .“

She tried calling, but still no
answer.

“Don’t worry, Davis. We’ll be
there in less than an hour.“

She leaned back, “Finally, things
are starting to move along.“

Right as Sharon settled back in
her seat, Rob’s cell phone rang. She answered. It was a short conversation, but
by the time it ended her face had already gone pale.

“What the hell happened?“ Rob
demanded.

Sharon sighed. “While we were on
the plane, the forensics team finished sweeping Kelly’s house. They found
another body.“