In the Middle of Love's Crime *BWWM Mystery Romance Thriller (3 page)

The newly engaged couple both lived together in a beautiful military neighborhood on the east side of Fort Claxton.

Simona could remember Ben asking her to move in before he asked her to marry him. She refused the offer because of her old fashioned beliefs. Simona came from an old fashioned family, not believing in “
shacking up
” at least until she was married or engaged.

After a year of knowing her and countless, enjoyable dates, Benjamin decided to take matters into his own hands. The only way to get her to move in with him was to ask for her hand in marriage...and he did.

The proposal happened at Myrtle Beach while they were both on a roller coaster ride at the amusement park. Simona thought it was the funniest and stupidest, way to propose. The look of Simona’s reaction as the roller coaster rushed down the slope when Ben screamed out ‘WILL YOU MARRY ME?!!!’ was priceless.

He made sure that it was recorded on the rollercoaster’s hidden camera so they could watch it later and laugh at the replay.  Before she said yes in agreeing to marry him, she cussed him out for proposing to her in that ridiculous way.

Simona had so much mascara running from her eyes from the overwhelming tears of joy. The video received a million hits on YouTube and even sparked the attention of
The Ellen DeGeneres
Show.

Simona smiled as she drove in silence through Assembly Street. She was at a happy place in her life. She had an amazing job, support from her family and friends and an amazing fiancé. She had accomplished so much in which she was thankful for. What more could a girl ask for? Things were going great and the good Lord had blessed her.

    Chapter 4

Simona pulled into the garage of the beautiful apartment complex that she and Ben were now living at. They rented the last one available because the complex sold out rather quickly.

Everyone was trying to reside at the Tree Mellows Court, it was one of the best apartment complexes in all of Columbia.

The brochure was what had caught their attention when they were searching for a place to stay. The pamphlet showed the large pool of water sparkling under the golden sun.

The gym looked like something on those fitness infomercials. Each apartment included a balcony connected with a breathtaking back porch. Simona couldn’t wait for spring to arrive so that she could decorate their porch with plenty of plants and flowers. Gardening had always been a special hobby of Simona’s. It was something that she did most of the time to keep her mind away from stress or whenever she was in deep thought.

Simona knew that the apartment was the best choice. The staff and neighbors were always friendly and welcoming; no one never made it an issue that they were an interracial couple. Being that there was a crime that took place, a few tenants were starting to evacuate and search for other homes.

Walking up the stairs to the third floor, Simona fidgeted for the keys. They fell to the ground. Shit. She reached to pick them up and tried to insert the key into the hole. However, before she could open it, the door had already flung open.

Standing there with his blond hair tousled and his blue eyes glowing like magic, Ben smiled as he pulled her inside with a warm kiss. His warm lips traced against her cold lips that the outside weather left on her.

Simona blushed and pulled away. “Babe, I thought you were sleeping when I left.”

Ben licked her cherry flavored lip gloss from his lips. “The military has me programmed to wake up to slight movements.”

“Oh no! I probably woke you before I went out for my run! I’m so sorry! I know you were tired and exhausted from coming back from field training. How could I have been so stupid?” Simona pouted.

Ben walked over to the kitchen with a sly smile. The only thing he was wearing was his boxers, revealing the chiseled abs that God gave him.

“Aww you’re not stupid, babe. No need to feel sorry. I needed to get up early anyways. I have to do some studying and besides, I wanted to prepare you a big breakfast.” He picked up the spatula and flipped over the smoking pancake.

Simona sniffed in the air from the burnt smell and laughed. An uncertain expression formed on her face. She scratched her head as she rushed over to the stove. Not wanting to discourage him, she gave him a kiss as she turned off the stove. Ben had forgotten to use oil or butter on the frying pan, which was why the pancake not cooking smoothly.

“Ooooh, honey! You cooked for me. That’s so sweet.” She replied, wrapping her arms around his strong neck as they stood face to face.

She tried to take his attention from the awful pancakes so that he wouldn’t want to continue cooking.

They kissed.

“Have a seat so that I can feed my wife-to-be.”

Now he knows damn well that he can’t cook worth a damn.
Simona thought. “You just want to feed me so you can kill me with that ugly pancake. I think NOT! Babe, it’s burnt. There’s no telling that it may burn my lungs.” Simona teased.

Ben kissed her again. Their affection in the morning was sexy and flirtatious. “Hey, those are fighting words. Be thankful that I’m trying to treat you right.”

“Well, I can’t blame you for trying. I love you so much that perhaps I’ll eat it and
pretend
that it tastes good.” She said with a sexy whisper, jokingly.

“Sounds like a challenge.” Ben pulled out the stool from under the granite counter and allowed her to take a seat.

Simona couldn’t believe she was in agreement. “Do you realize that pancakes are full of carbs? This is torture.”

“No it’s not, babe. Since we are about to become married, you have to learn to adapt to my flaws.” Ben said as he kissed her cheek. “Also, you’ll be the one doing all the cooking anyways.”

“Oh, is that right?” Simona asked, snapping her head back.

“Damn straight!” Ben placed the slightly burnt pancake on the plate and poured maple syrup over it. He sliced it in small pieces as he began feeding her.

She couldn’t stop laughing between each bite. “You are so silly, hun.” She licked the excess syrup from around her mouth. “You know this actually isn’t so bad. It tastes almost like burnt popcorn.”

He cradled her beautiful, bronze face in his hands to look into her mocha-cream eyes. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Feeling shy and caught off guard, Simona’s smile was angelic. “Thanks, you’re not so bad yourself.”

“Now, how about let’s have some real breakfast. What do you say we go to Y-Hop for those strawberry waffles and coffee? My treat.” Ben suggested.

“Sure. I agree that it has to be your treat, especially after not being successful with cooking those pancakes. It was awful, baby.” Simona gave him a playful yet pouty look.

Ben started to tickle her waist as he tossed her over his right shoulder. She was laughing uncontrollably. Their relationship was fun and always childlike.

“Speaking of awful, we need to get rid of the awful sweat that’s on your body. Eeww! Shower time.” Ben joked.

“What ever happened to loving me no matter what? And are you going to lather soap all over my body?” Simona asked, seductively.

Ben laughed. “Oh, I’m gonna do more than that.” He spanked her on the booty as she was hanging over his shoulder.

They made their way, leading into the bathroom. The two were bound to have a little
fun
of their own.

      Chapter 5

“Is that all you’re eating?” Ben asked as he scooped his eggs up with the fork.

Simona chewed the waffle slowly, taking the napkin to wipe the sides of her mouth. “Yes, I’m not really that hungry. Especially after consuming the ‘burnt pancake’ challenge.” She said sarcastically, rolling her eyes at Ben. “This one waffle is enough to keep me full. It’s also low fat. You know that I’m trying to watch my figure.”

“You should let me watch your figure for you, babe.” He winked. “And I thought you’d have an appetite, being that morning sex killed the calories from the pancakes.”

Ben sat back and took a deep breath from eating very quickly, he pat his stomach to express that he was full. He always had such a big appetite, most people mistook him for a bodybuilder.

Simona raised an eyebrow at Ben. Sometimes she wondered about her fiancé. The goofy things he said came out of nowhere.

“Not really that hungry. Just a little shaken up about the murder that took place in the parking lot. What’s awful is that I had to report about it.”

Ben stopped himself before biting into his French toast. Anything involving murder bought back flashbacks of killing in Iraq.

“A murder? Hmmm. Where? What’s it about? I missed it.” He said, scratching the back of his neck.

“Yeah, because you’re always busy these days.” Simona sighed. “The murder took place… in the parking lot of OUR neighborhood. A woman was killed and found in the trunk of her car.”

Ben seemed a little calm, murders were something he was used to knowing about. “I’m used to hearing about murders, but it’s strange that it occurred in our neighborhood.”

Simona searched Ben’s face for any kind of emotion, but he showed none. “Babe, you do realize that I just said this happened in our area, right?”

“Yeah, but you’re forgetting that I’m a soldier in the US army. Nothing scares me. You’re safe with me.” Ben took another bite into toast. “Who was the woman that got killed? What happened?”

Simona folded her arms. “She was somehow arguing in the parking lot with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend lives in the apartments too, but no one knows who he is or where he is. Some say that he’s in the army so I figure you may know him.”

Frown lines and the rush of blood finally formed on Ben’s face from the news. He rubbed his chin. “Uhh. There are plenty of soldiers that live in the neighborhood and the apartments. It’s a military neighborhood.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple moved quickly. “What was this....woman’s name?”

Simona stared at him coldly and hesitated before answering him. “Natalia Karpova. That was her name.”

Those words shot through him like a bullet as he dropped his spoon and stretched his eyes. Simona was surprised at his sudden reaction.

“What’s the matter, babe? Do you know anyone in the apartment building who may have been dating her?” Simona asked.

Ben was frozen for a moment in an almost sadistic look. Sweat pellets were popping around his forehead and he behaved nervously. “No..No I..don’t know her. I don’t know of anyone she could have dated.” Ben quickly rose from his seat.

“Another girl was murdered the same way too. Amanda Stone. She was also found in the back of her trunk.” Simona added.

“WHAT??!! They found her body?” Ben asked, surprised.

Simona raised her eyes, surprised as well. “Did you know Amanda Stone?”

Ben was hesitant for a moment “I just....heard of her name is all.” He said, lowering his voice.

Simona stared at him, studying his reaction. Something was strange.

“You know, I’m not really that hungry. Let’s just head back home.” Ben suggested.

Simona shrugged her shoulders at his strange behavior. “Umm..okay. Let me just leave a tip for the waitress.”

“NO! Don’t worry about it. She doesn’t need a tip, she’s getting paid regardless!” Ben shouted angrily. Simona had never seen him this way.

“But they don’t make much.” Simona replied, looking up at him and stopping before going into her clutch purse.

“I said don’t worry about it! Let’s just get out of here!” Ben demanded.

Geez
Simona thought.
His PTSD must be getting to him.
She got up from her seat to follow behind him, walking out the door.

Detective Drew looked up from his menu in the nearby distance at them. He had been watching and listening to their conversation the entire time. He had received an ear full.

So this was who Simona was dating, some looney bin-nutcase- army guy. Jealousy filled in his heart. He wanted badly to make this soldier disappear so that he could have Simona all to himself again; just like the way it used to be.

     Chapter 6

At around 4:30am, Simona reached across the bed in hopes to feel the touch of Ben’s muscular chest, but all she felt were the cold sheets. She blinked and looked over at the lonely pillow beside her and looked up slowly at the ceiling. She sat up and looked around the bedroom, slowly getting out of bed.

“Ben?” she wiped her sleepy eyes and stretched.

She looked in the empty bathroom, a few specks of water were on the floor proving that Ben must had taken a shower before he went somewhere.

Where could he have been? It was too early for him to be at work. If he had to take care of an emergency with the army then he should have left a note or sent a text, at least notify her. It was too early for him to just leave. It was normal however, she was used to him always leaving late and coming back unexpectedly.