WILL TIME WAIT: Boxed set of 3 bestselling 'ticking clock' thrillers (14 page)

I
bent down.  “Let me help you.”

She
knocked my hand away, turned her red face on me and practically growled, “Go
away.  I’ll sort it.  Don’t let anyone come upstairs until I’m
done.  And don’t say a word about this to anyone.  Think you can
handle that?”

“What
are you so mad about?  You’re overreacting.  Oh! You’re doing my head
in!”  I left the room, closed the door and waited on the middle of the
stairs, blocking it off.  I had never known Laura to be this furious.

A
short while later, the bedroom door slid open.  I darted downstairs to the
lounge, greeted the make-up artist and sat down next to Emma.

“What’s
bugging you?” Emma asked.  “You look terrible.”

“Nothing. 
Just…”  I thought fast.  “I slipped on the stairs.  Gave myself
a fright.”

Laura
avoided eye contact with me when she returned to the lounge.  I considered
phoning a taxi and leaving, but the truth was, I didn’t want to explain to Emma
why we’d fallen out.  That would only have made matters worse.

The
make-up artist began working her magic on our faces.  Laura’s obvious
aloof behaviour gave way to a worsening unease between us.  It annoyed me
because I had only been concerned for her.  But then, it did look real
suss being caught red-handed with her secret money stash.

A
pampering was exactly what I needed this afternoon.  Just the sort of
boost I needed to put some confidence back into me.  Though, avoiding
thinking about my problems didn’t last long.

Emma
broke the uncomfortable silence.  “Remember getting pampered a couple of
months ago?” 

 “Yeah,
what an awesome day,” I said.  “Paul sure must have emptied his wallet to
pay for it, eh, Laura?”

She
smiled, but it was clearly forced.

Paul
had called me and Emma in secret from Laura’s phone, to arrange the surprise
for her at a salon in town.  I remembered the photo from this day on my
fireplace.  Although I enjoyed the memory, a sick feeling rose thinking
about my switched photos.  It only served to remind me that someone had
broken into my house.  Was there no escape from my problems?

We
chatted, drinking Champagne, until the make-up artist finished.  It was
all false.  Laura still refused point blank to meet my gaze.  The
awkwardness between us really grated on me.

Laura
and I spent the next hour chatting to Emma, but not each other, until Paul
entered the kitchen.  He gasped when he took in his bride-to-be, lifted
her off her feet and gave her a kiss.  “You look stunning,
sweetheart.”  He put her down, and then looked at me and Emma.  “You
all do.”

I
laughed at Laura’s pink gloss which now sparkled on Paul’s lips, too.

After
a car horn honked outside, Emma stood up to leave.  “Hate to break up the
party.  My taxi’s here.”

I
waved goodbye.  “See you soon.”

Laura
showed Emma out before returning to the kitchen to chop onions for
dinner.  Paul hovered until Laura told him she had dinner under
control.  He left the room.

I
wondered what I should have been doing to help my situation instead of sipping
champagne all afternoon through perfectly glossed lips.  “I should get
going, too.” 
Where the hell is Lee?
  I hated the sharp
atmosphere between me and Laura.  Just as I fished my mobile out of my bag
to dial him, the doorbell buzzed.  “That’ll be Lee.” 
I hoped.

I
jumped off the stool, but Laura grabbed my upper arm and tugged me back. 
She stared at me through hard, serious eyes.  “Don’t go to his house,
Chelsea.”

I
pushed her hand away.  “Oh, so you’re talking to me now?”

She
rolled her eyes.

“Why
shouldn’t I go to Lee’s?  What’s brought this on?”

She
seemed to struggle to speak.  “I just feel like you’re walking into a
lion’s den.” 

“A
what?”

She
wiped tears from her eyes then looked away.  “Damn onion.  You hardly
know Lee.  And I’m not sure I either like or trust him.”

Ah!
A truth had popped out.

Laura
brought the knife down hard and speared another onion. 

I
flinched, then folded my arms across my chest and studied her face, trying to
see beyond her bad attitude.  “One minute you act like there isn’t a
problem, then you throw tantrums and give me the silent treatment, and now
you’re saying things like that… a ‘lion’s den!’  I thought it was the
wedding and missing your parents that’s affecting you, then of course the
emails.  I’m not so sure anymore.  You’re like a bouncing ball with
your moods.  Talk to me, Laura.  What’s going on with you this week?”

The
doorbell buzzed again.  Footsteps sounded in the hall.  “I’ll get
it,” Paul shouted.

Laura’s
gaze shifted to the hall and she pinched her lips together.

I
tried to meet her eyes.  “So what does Paul think I should do tonight?”

“Shhh.” 
Her voice dropped to a raspy whisper.  “Keep your voice down, will you?”

In
this moment, it dawned on me that Laura had edited the story for Paul.  I
perched one bum cheek on the stool and lowered my voice.  “You haven’t
told him everything, have you?  Why on earth not?”

“I
have.  Sort of.”  She wrestled the knife out of the onion and began
chopping faster.  “It won’t help the situation if everyone worries
themselves into an early grave.”

“Look. 
I have to go.  Phone me once you’ve screwed your head on the right way.”

“
O
kay,” I said to
Lee as soon as we got inside his car.  Being angry at Laura gave me a
fresh determination.  “Let’s do it your way.”

His
grip loosened on the steering wheel, and he raised an eyebrow.  “What are
you saying?”

My
lips began vibrating as I said, “I’ll be your bait.  Lure the son of a
bitch to your house, and let’s end this thing tonight.”

Lee
eased off on the accelerator.  “Are you sure?”

“No,
but let’s do it.”

Lee
shifted down a few gears.  He drove so slowly that I wondered if we’d
start sliding backwards.  With my window wound down, we kerb crawled past
my house and places I frequented, to lure anyone who might be keeping watch.

Eventually,
we headed to Lee’s place.  Wasting no time, he began rigging devices all
over his house.  I hovered by the lounge window in clear view of anyone
watching from the street.  As my anger towards Laura began subsiding, I
wondered if I was doing the right thing, until Lee began working in this room,
distracting me.  Claustrophobia threatened to creep in when he closed the
curtains then hammered planks of wood across the window I’d been parading in
front of.  The living room fell under shadow.  From the outside, it
would just look like the curtains were drawn.  An intruder could now only
enter via the front door.  And, we would be ready, waiting. 

“What
can I do to help?” I said.

He
set the hammer on the coffee table and picked up a reel of wire.  “Tie
this to that net.”

We
suspended a large bowling ball in a net above the landing, and attached it to
tripwires pinned at intervals across the stairs.  The house transformed
into a booby-trap exhibition within less than an hour.  Drinking glasses
were balanced on door handles, ball bearings dropped in the hall - the whole
deal.

“All
set?” I asked.

He
gave me the thumbs up from over the banister.  His lateral thinking, even
if somewhat surreal, made me think I’d gotten myself involved with a cross
between Rambo and the kid from the movie ‘Home Alone.’  I held back the
words, ‘When’s the camouflage paint coming out?’ 

 
Evidently, Lee had wasted no time getting prepared for this evening.  If I
hadn’t agreed to his idea of being bait, then I’d have felt angry at how much
thought he’d put into the idea without my agreement.  At least he had
ideas.  I didn’t.  A flux of guilt shot through me for having spent a
lazy afternoon sipping Champagne when he must have been raiding DIY
stores.  I waited, leaning against the doorframe to the lounge until he
came back downstairs.  I had no intention of distracting him while he
double-checked the traps, but his eyes ran over my body when squeezing past
me. 

He
stopped, then turned and placed his palm flat next to my ear on the
doorframe.  “I didn’t say anything earlier, but you look amazing.” 
He angled his head.  I figured he’d noticed my make-up.  “Had a good
day?” 

I
nodded. 

He
touched my hair, began twiddling it with his fingers. 

I
gazed in his eyes for a little longer than I wanted to, and smelled his mint
breath, warm on my face.  A delicious shiver - which I tried to fight off
- worked its way through me. 

He
released my hair and let it fall around my face.  His gaze honed in on
mine again, and grew intense. 

I
ducked under his arm and moved into the lounge. 

He
let out a rough, breathy sound behind me.

I
smirked to myself.  At least our little cat and mouse game gave me
something else to think about. 

After
Lee checked the traps again, we sat in the lounge and watched the clock. 

“Your
home-made security system is quite impressive.  Where did you learn all
this stuff, tripwires and so on?”

“It’s
not rocket science.”

“I
bet you watch a lot of movies.  And I wish tonight was one movie we
already know the ending to.”

“You’re
going to be fine.”  Lee swept a lock of hair off my face.  “Don’t
forget the police are keeping an eye out, too.” 

The
thought of the unknown intruder coming for me, intensified.  It was only a
few hours away.  “But, if someone does get past the traps, what then? 
We need a plan.”

“I’ll
knock ‘em out.”  He slid his hand into the gap between the sofa cushions
and tugged out a crowbar.  “My swing’s a bit rusty.”  He pointed the
bar towards the kitchen.  “But, those knives aren’t.  Besides, you’ll
be safely out of the way, and whoever’s after you will have
me
to deal
with.  I’ve got a score to settle.” 

I
stared at Lee, hoping some of his confidence would rub off on me.

“Then
we’ll call the police.  Or rather, you will from upstairs.  You’ll
find a bag on the landing with something to defend yourself with.  Ever
turned an aerosol into a flamethrower?”

“Not
lately.”

“I
won’t let it get that far.”  Lee winked.  “I promise.  The
murdering son of a bitch won’t set a foot near you.”

“Okay,
but what if we don’t hear anyone enter, or what if this person has—”  I
bit my lip.  “A gun?”

“No
one can get in here without making a noise.  They can only get in through
the front, and I’ll be waiting.”

“I’m
not sure about this.  So many things could go wrong.  All I can think
of is ‘what if he brings a gun?’  I can’t just hide in the bathroom and
let you deal with things alone.”  My throat tightened.  I hadn’t
truly contemplated, until I said the word
gun
aloud, just how badly
things could end.  

“It’s
natural for you to have doubts,“ Lee said.  “But one of us needs to be in
charge of phoning the police.  If you hear anything, anything at all, lock
yourself in the bathroom and dial.  If you can think of a better way to
handle things, I’m all ears.”

I
ran my fingers through my hair.  “Will the police come straight
away?  I don’t think they’ve taken this threat all that seriously.”

“They
believe Daryl’s death was an accident.  If you take him out of the
equation, the emails are pretty vague.  But yes, they’ll come straight
away, especially after the stunt in your bathroom.  They know something’s
on the horizon.”

An
engine hummed from the street outside.  I walked over to the window,
peered through a small viewing gap between the planks and saw a police car
rolling along the street.  Eerie pops sounded from stone under its
tyres.  The vehicle lingered for a moment before driving away.  My
heart skipped a beat, noting that the dreaded evening was upon us. 

I
returned to the sofa, waiting for the deadline.  Just under three hours to
go, my twisting stomach reminded me.

Lee
switched the telly on and tossed the crowbar between his hands. 

I
began thinking about what I’d do in the bathroom if this individual did get
past Lee’s traps.  What if he bust the door, or shot through
it?   Would I be able to escape through the window?  No. 
I’d break my legs from the fall.  And what would become of Lee if I ran
out on him?  Alone in the house with a killer? 

I
needed a backup plan.  I couldn’t let Lee handle this creep all on his
own.

“Drink?”
Lee asked.

I
nodded.  Then my phone rang at the same time that Lee rose from the
sofa.  I answered straight away.

Laura’s
sharp and rushed voice put me on edge.  “Is Lee in the room with you,
Chelsea?” 

I
scanned the room, heard running water.  “He’s in the kitchen. 
Why?  What’s this about?”

“Get
out of the house,” she gushed.  “It’s him!” 

“W...
what?” I said, startled by the thunder of her voice.

“I’ve
had time to think.”

“I
don’t get you.”

“He
looked at me in a really weird way earlier.”

“Laura
stop this.  You’re pushing me to the limit.  Lee’s just wary of
you.  You didn’t want to tell us you’d received the emails.”

“He
knows something.  And he’s close.  Close enough to keep tabs on
us.  Who else is linked to all three of us?”

I
peered into the kitchen.  Lee was at the sink, had his back to me.  I
whispered into the phone as I stood up.  “Of course he’s linked,
stupid.  Daryl was his brother.  Now, unless you’re phoning to
apologise, then—”

Laura
cut me off.  “Is Lee creative?  A lateral thinker?”

I
heaved an annoyed sigh, then went along with her.  I thought about the
traps in the house.  “Well, yes.”

“Is
he techy?  Into computers?”

I
thought about his job at the print shop.  He’d said that involved
computers.  “Yes.  I guess he is.”

“So
it’s possible he could have put those emails together?”

“I
suppose… but just because he could, it doesn’t mean he did.”  I stepped
behind the sofa and glanced into the kitchen.  Lee was out of view. 
“He’s spent the day thinking of ways to protect me, not harm me.  You’re
way off the mark.  Either give me something concrete, or—”

She
continued.  “He was in your house when you found that writing on your
bathroom wall, wasn’t he?  I bet
he
did that.  How well can
you know him after a few days?  We’ve been best friends for years so you
should trust me, not him.  He’s gotten close to you for a reason. 
He’s managed to lure you to his house when you should be here, with me.  I
don’t think it’s
you
he’s trying to scare, but you need to leave. 
Now.”

“But
it can’t be him,” I murmured, unsure of what to believe.  “Why would he
kill his own brother?”

“Just
get the hell out of there.  Go!”

“Not
me he’s trying to…”  When I heard footsteps approaching, a spasm ran up my
arm.  The phone slipped out of my grip, thumped on the floor. 

“Problem?”
Lee asked.

I
looked up but didn’t respond.

He
was drying his hands on a towel in the kitchen doorway.

My
body felt more rigid than steel.  Was all the bravado an act to keep me in
the house to kill me?  If so, why?
 
What had I ever done to
him?
 
I stared at his face.  If Laura had seen through him,
why couldn’t I?

A
short burst of pleas, like blades flying round the room, came from Laura
through the phone.  Lee’s gaze flashed down to my mobile on the
floor. 

I
didn’t move… couldn’t. 

The
room took on an edgy charge.  When he raised his hand to his head, I
jumped back, wondering if he intended to grab me.

He
surveyed the scene, made a throaty hum, chucked the towel on the floor.

I
sensed he was on the verge of understanding.  The shakes had me as I
watched him watching me.  We didn’t speak.  Only two or three feet of
floor space separated us.  No barrier.  No objects.  If Laura
was right, I was exposed and staring at the face of a killer.  My knees
shook so much the bones were practically rattling out of my legs.

“Chelsea? 
Can you hear me?  I’m coming for you, Chelsea.”  Laura’s panicked
voice squawked from the phone. 

I
slid my foot sideways while holding Lee’s gaze.  I couldn’t ask him for
the truth even if I wanted to, because I could not speak.

“You’re
shaking,” he said.  An obvious suspicion squinted his eyes.  “Was
that Laura?  What did she want?”  He stood motionless as a
rock. 

I
tried to look behind his mask to find the killer inside.  I croaked out,
“To see if I’m okay.”

“You’re
not, are you?  Why did you drop the phone?  Talk to me.” 

“Why
did you drop the towel?” 

“She’s
said something to scare you.  Why do you look frightened of—”  He
stepped back.  “Me?”

I
wanted to believe in his innocence.  But if he wasn’t innocent, wouldn’t
he then grab for me having figured it out? 

“She…
I don’t…” I murmured, and I was breathless now. 

When
Lee’s eyes bulged, I knew he’d made the connection.  “Laura thinks it’s
me, doesn’t she?” he said with chagrin.  “That’s totally out of
order!  I’ve been helping you.”  He retreated a few steps.  “She
doesn’t even know what this thing is about, and I’m the one with a dead
brother.  What makes her an expert all of a sudden?”

“I
don’t know,” I said, my entranced gaze over-analysing every irritated headshake
and hand gesture he made.  “But she is my friend and she’s worried about
me.”

“For
crying out loud!  It’s not me you need to worry about, Chelsea.”  He
flicked his head toward the planked window.  “It’s whoever’s lurking out
there.”

The
thumping of my heart felt like it was rattling my whole body.  “I want to
believe you... but Laura’s right.  You’re techy enough to have made and
sent those emails.  If you’re innocent, why would she be so on edge around
you?”

If
I said or did the wrong thing, this situation could deteriorate quickly into
the worst kind of nightmare.