Dark Illusion: A Psychological Thriller Novel (15 page)

G
loria looked
out the window and watched the sunrise. The last day of shooting had arrived.
She found it hard to believe that she would no longer wake up every morning to
this incredible view; that Tom and Libby, the owners, would no longer welcome
her with a gracious “good morning“ at the start of each day; that Andy’s door
would no longer be a step away from hers, and that she would no longer be
sneaking into his room every night and sneaking out of it every morning . . .

It may have only been ten days,
but it was, without a doubt, a turning point in her life. She was not returning
home as the same Gloria. She was a happier woman now, a woman in love.

Gloria hoped with all her heart
that the connection that had formed between her and Andy was not just a passing
fling. The thought of it might seem absurd right now, but she had never
forgotten the words of Heraclitus, her favorite Greek philosopher:
“No man
ever steps in the same river twice.“
No one could ever truly know what
would happen between them down the road; everything might change; it was just a
matter of time.

She knew that in this beautiful
place, heaven on earth, it was easy to be captured by love and let it blossom,
but what would happen when they each went back to their normal lives? Would
they be able to synchronize to a shared life? They may have had a few things
working in their favor, like the fact that they both worked in the same field,
but still, their lives were entirely different. And there was that age issue.
Even though Gloria wasn’t that much older than him, she knew there would always
be people who were counting . . .

Secondly, Andy was just at the
beginning of his career. He had many years ahead of investing himself in his
work waiting before him, and as for her . . . well, she was already past all
that. Gloria was well aware that she had already left her mark on the modeling
world. She didn’t jump on every campaign offered to her and she valued her freedom
dearly. She could see that Andy was a workaholic and wondered how they would
made things work outside of work.

And finally, even though she was
a mature woman, Gloria still didn’t really know what she wanted from a
relationship. She had never been swept away by her previous flames, but now,
for the first time, she was having trouble containing all of the intense
emotions growing inside of her. She didn't know what Andy expected from her, or
vice-versa, and the uncertainty arising within made her feel insecure.

If there was one thing life had
taught her, Gloria reflected, it was that she couldn’t plan everything –
otherwise, she would still be serving people their coffee. She reached further
than she had ever imagined life would take her. So why not jump in and see what
happened? Perhaps instead of drowning she would find her safe haven. Therefore,
Gloria decided that the smart thing to do would be to ignore all of her sudden
doubts and go with her heart. She only wondered if Andy felt the same.

                                
 * * *

The last day of shooting was in full swing, and now it was
already time for a lunch break. Andy found it hard to believe that by tomorrow
they would already have left this special place. It was a bittersweet moment,
since the end of the shooting would also symbolize the success of his first
major project. He had managed to pull it off.

Before leaving, he had been
filled with so many concerns that he could barely enjoy the fact that he had
just landed his dream job. Andy had wondered why the editor of Inner Beauty
magazine had chosen an inexperienced photographer such as himself. He had
refused to believe that it was due to his raw talent alone.
Maybe she
actually wants the project to fail?
Andy pondered, bitterly. No, that doesn’t
make sense; there’s no apparent reason for that, he assured himself.

Only several hours before landing
in New Zealand had he finally convinced himself that there was no one wishing
for him to fail, and that he was perfectly capable of not just doing the job,
but doing it well. And now, after the most amazing week of his life, he could
say, without hesitation, that he’d nailed it.

However, the satisfaction he drew
from his success was dwarfed by his feelings for Gloria.

Andy felt like a love-stricken
man who didn’t even know what had hit him. He felt a bit silly, perhaps because
over the years he had come to believe that the one true love a person has is
that first love experienced during youth, and that everything that follows is
merely a cheap replacement. But Gloria did not replace anyone. She was
everything he could ask for in a woman and so much more. He hadn’t even
included her dazzling beauty in the equation. She was smart and practical, yet
spontaneous and adventurous. She was mature, but she also had a childlike side
to her that he found charming. They could talk for hours without running out of
things to say. Gloria was not afraid of challenging herself and that was why
she had gotten as far as she had. And in addition to all of that, she also had
a great sense of humor, which was pretty hard to find among her fellow models.
What could he say? This woman had charmed his pants off.

But, most importantly, Andy had
recognized Gloria’s subtle vulnerability, which she had tried hiding beneath
her tough exterior when they’d first met. That glimpse of sensitivity had left
him feeling relieved, because he realized that she was not too perfect, that
perhaps there was something he could do for her. Reach out and touch her heart,
make her happy. From an unachievable ideal she had become a real person, flesh
and blood, just like him – even if she did come close to approaching
perfection.

Unfortunately, this pure love had
been tainted by fears that had emerged as the return date had grown closer. He
was afraid that the euphoria they’d been immersed in would shatter in their
faces the moment they landed back in New York. He did not care about their age
difference or what people might say. He did not care that she was a famous
model and that he was still a nobody with a long way to go. He did not even
mind accompanying Gloria on her journeys while tracking his own photography
projects. But he didn't know how she felt about all of this. Was she ready to
let someone like him into her life? He knew that their relationship would
require compromises, which he would be willing to make, but what about Gloria?
What reason would she have for giving up so much just for him?

His thoughts were interrupted by
the touch of soft hands covering his eyes.

“Guess who . . .“

“Patricia?“

“
Who?“
Gloria frowned.
Luckily, Andy could not see her.

“My secret lover?“

Gloria’s pout turned into a
smile.

“Come here,“ he turned around and
wrapped his arms around her.

“Aren’t you afraid your
girlfriend is going to catch us?“ she teased.

“No, she’s too old. She doesn’t
go anywhere without her walker anymore.“

“Andy!“ She gave him a playful
smack.

“Ouch! I think I should call the
domestic abuse hotline.“

“I’ve got a feeling even they
would hang up on you.“

“Okay, you got me there. But
don’t gloat, it’s not over yet,“ he said with a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Are you sure you want to lose
again? Last time wasn’t enough for you?“ she smirked.

“What can I do, I’m a masochist.“

“And what about me?“

“You're a sadist, of course.“

“Andy!“ She gaped at him.

“But that’s why we get along so
well!“

 “Oh, really?“

“I like to suffer . . .“

Gloria stared at him, a bit
confused.

“And you like to make me suffer!“
he finished with a triumph note.

“Andy!“ She smacked him again,
this time a little harder.

“
You see?
“

“I guess you’re right,“ she
smiled. “But what will you say about this?“

Gloria put her arms around him
and locked her hands behind his neck. He reciprocated with a warm embrace,
securing his hands behind her back. She moved closer and let her lips brush
against his cheek, reaching slowly to his lips yet denying them from a kiss.
Andy could feel her breathing condensing on his skin and tightened his grip on
her waist. Gloria let her lips flutter over his, touching yet not touching,
until she finally united them together and swirled her tongue in his mouth.

Andy looked deep into her eyes
and smiled. “I guess you won again, because I’m speechless.“

“R
ob?“

“Yes, Sharon?“

“There’s no way I’m staying back
at the hotel.“

                                
 * * *

Kelly Danes was already on the plane to New Zealand. She had
adjusted her seatback to her absolute satisfaction and stretched in her
spacious deluxe seat. There were just under fifteen hours left until they
reached their destination. She felt freedom was closer than ever, but the fact
that she was contained in a closed, cramped space, thirty thousand feet high
above ground, didn’t really help her claustrophobia.

“Champagne?“

“No, thank you, but I would love
a glass of red wine. Dry please.“

“Sure ma’am. I’ll be back
shortly.“

Kelly could not understand how
people were able to squeeze into the back of a plane like sardines for so many
hours. The one and only time she had ever flown coach had been when she’d left
her miserable home in Arizona in order to start a new life in New York and
leave her past behind. She may have succeeded in the first mission, but the
mere fact that she was on her way to kill the woman who had destroyed her youth
seemed to indicate that the second mission was yet to be completed.

“Ma’am, here is the wine you
ordered.“

“Thank you.“ Kelly took a sip of
the wine and swirled the intoxicating liquid in her mouth.

The mansion she had rented had
already been prepared for her arrival. As per her request, it had been left
empty, without the housekeeping staff that usually maintained it. She had paid
a substantial amount of money to make sure the basement would be renovated with
wall-to-wall mirrors, lighting, and, most importantly, a new door with a lock.
Kelly had explained that her niece was a professional dancer and needed a space
to use as a dance studio, but considering the amount of money she’d spent
there, no one would have even cared if she had said that she needed it for
committing a murder.

About three months ago, when she
had not been accused of anything other than working too hard, Kelly had
contacted a weapon shop in Christchurch that was located on the way to her new
mansion. She had ordered a stylish silver-plated hand pistol that had cost a
small fortune, and she had used one of her overseas accounts to make the
payment in advance. Kelly had notified the shop when she would be arriving to
collect her special purchase, and promised to add a generous tip if everything
went well, without any unnecessary questions asked.

“Would you like anything else
ma’am?“ the flight attendant asked while clearing Kelly’s empty glass.

“Actually I would. This wine is
just splendid. I was wondering if I could purchase a bottle. I have very
special guests coming over this evening.“

                                
 * * *

The overnight flight from New York to Christchurch landed at
8:22 a.m., on schedule. Rob and Sharon hadn’t bothered to bring additional
luggage so they wouldn’t lose even a moment of precious time. They marched in
rapid steps to Passport Control, preparing in advance all the necessary
documents.

After the customs officer at the
window had given up his poor attempt at flirting with Sharon and stamped her
passport, they proceeded quickly to the exit doors.

The world outside was unaware of
the race against time that Rob and Sharon faced. Around them, life progressed
as usual. The airport was crowded with people: relatives welcoming their loved
ones, chauffeurs holding signs with the names of their wealthy clients, and cab
drivers searching for tired tourists.

Along the side of the road was an
endless line of cabs waiting for the newly arrived passengers. Sharon hurried
to the nearest taxi, letting Rob lag behind her. He was yelling something at
her, but the adrenaline pumping through her body prevented her from hearing it.
She slid right into the backseat, waiting for Rob to catch up. He opened the
door, his face a bit reddish from the sudden run.

 “Sharon–“

“There’s no time!“ she interrupted
him. “Get in! We can rest later.“

“But–“

“Get in!“

“Okay . . .“

“Driver, you can go!“

“Where to?“

Sharon froze. She had no idea
what to tell him.

“Come on, Rob. Where do we need
to go?“

“That’s what I was trying to tell
you. I don’t know.“

I
t had been
over an hour since they had landed and the situation remained unchanged. They
were still stuck in the airport, helpless, exhausted, agitated, and mostly
confused.

They had been so busy following
Kelly’s tracks that they had forgotten to confirm Gloria’s whereabouts. While
they were still in New York, Rob had instructed one of the officers to look for
Gloria McIntyre’s agency, but the search had yielded nothing. Apparently the
world’s most successful model did not belong to any modeling agency! The only
person who could connect them to Gloria was her personal manager, Arthur Cohen,
but he had left for New Zealand with her.

Rob had asked the young cop to
track down anyone related to this Arthur Cohen since he was not available by
phone, probably due to the poor signal in the area. With all this pressure, Rob
had forgotten to call Arthur’s wife, Evelyn Cohen. He felt like a rookie on his
first day with the force. How could he have forgotten such a basic thing?
Perhaps Rob could have tried to forgive himself in light of the fact that the
young officer had obtained her phone number only a few hours before the sudden
flight to New Zealand, which he’d had to account for in front of the budget
committee. Or due to the fact he’d had to explain to the police commissioner
that his beloved friend, Kelly Danes, was a suspected serial killer who had
also tried to kill a cop. Perhaps even because he had tried to explain,
somehow, to his wife why he wouldn’t be able to celebrate their seven year anniversary
and mentioned casually that the reason was a trip overseas with another woman,
a blonde nonetheless. Or trying to convince the airline to let them on the next
available flight to Christchurch, even if it meant delaying it for another
couple. Or since he had to explain to the doctor why someone who had just been
shot needed to fly to the other side of the planet. Oh, Rob had almost
forgotten, in addition to everything else, that he’d had to find Sharon’s
passport in her messy apartment and pack her a few essentials for their trip,
because she wouldn’t be released from the hospital until they left for the
airport. So he definitely had justification for forgetting one detail.

But he would not forgive himself.

They had left the cab and called
Arthur’s wife, but she couldn’t help them much. She had given them another
phone number that they could use to reach Arthur, but repeated that he was in a
low signal area. Evelyn did not even know where exactly the photo shoot was
taking place. She offered them the number of the photographer, Andy Swain, but
they already had it, and it still went straight to voicemail. Evelyn had
promised to go through Arthur’s documents and contact his lawyer for a copy of
the contract. There might be more details there, she had explained, but it
would take some time.

All they could do now was wait.
None of them liked having the ball out of their court. Rob stared at his cell
phone, as if he could make it ring by sending it a telepathic message; Sharon
paced back and forth anxiously, her hand supporting the bandages that protected
her wounded skin.

“You know, in your condition it’s
better if you don’t exert yourself, you should sit down,“ Rob asserted.

“I can’t. I’m too nervous. It’s
either I do this, or I’ll shoot someone.“

“Carry on then . . .“ Rob knew it
was pointless to argue with Sharon when she was feeling agitated. She acted
like a lioness; the injury only kindled her tenacity.

“At least call your parents. I’m
sure that the guys from the control tower have already delivered my message and
your parents know by now that you are alive and well, but they would probably
be glad to hear it from you in person . . .“

“Rob. Neither of us is touching
this phone until Evelyn Cohen calls back and lets us know where the hell they
are!“

The cell phone rang right as she
completed the sentence.

                                
 * * *

The photo shoot had ended. The melancholy of parting was
thick in the air. Tom and Libby seemed glum, Arthur was quieter than usual, and
anyone could tell by the assistants’ faces that they most certainly would have
agreed to stay in this magical place for a few more days, even without
additional pay.

Gloria and Andy were in an
especially dismal mood. It was hard for them to leave all the surreal warmth
that had surrounded them and return to the real world, filled with doubts and
uncertainty.

The bags were already packed. The
photos were taken. Breakfast was over. There was nothing left to do but leave.

“Andy?“

“Yes, Gloria?“

“What if we stayed a bit longer?“

“You’ve read my mind.“