Killer Desires

Prologue

Sarah paced the length of her parents’ backyard. She folded in her arms and hugged herself. Even though the sun was shining brightly from the east, she still felt chilled. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t felt warm in weeks.

The sound of a car door closing stopped her in her tracks. She turned her head expecting to see a sleek black Lincoln. Instead, she saw her best friend’s red convertible Jaguar.

Are you okay? Amber Phelps asked as she approached. You look more stressed than yesterday and I didn’t think that was possible.

I was just waiting for Jack. She took a deep breath and tried to force herself to relax. He called a little while ago. He’s on his way out with some new information.

That must be why the press is camped out on your street again, Amber speculated. It took me 20 minutes to get through.

Yeah, Sarah collapsed into a lounge chair. I offered to go to the office to see him, but he insisted I wait here and not take any calls or even turn on the television. He was so adamant about it that my nerves are strung out all over the place. I’m dying to know what’s going on. Sarah caught the brief break in eye contact from her best friend. You know, don’t you?

Amber grabbed Sarah’s hand and squeezed. Let’s just wait for Jack.

Sarah started to protest, but the sound of another car engine grabbed her attention. Jack Layton’s Lincoln pulled in behind the Jag. She stood on shaking legs and resisted the urge to run toward him demanding answers. It seemed to Sarah that he was moving at a snail’s pace as he grabbed some papers from his car and kept a leisurely pace across lawn. After what seemed an eternity, he stopped before her.

Is anyone else at home? He asked, gesturing toward the house.

No, Sarah answered. Mom took Lindsey shopping and dad’s at the office.

Let’s go inside then, shall we? Jack asked in a voice as smooth as silk. Sarah recognized the lawyerly tone he used when he was trying to calm his clients. Or was it the tone he used when he was about to deliver bad news?

As an answer, Sarah turned toward the back door. She fought to maintain her composure as they entered the kitchen,.

Do you want some coffee? She asked and moved toward the pot. She wasn’t sure the caffeine would be a good addition to her anxiety, but needed something to do with her hands. When Jack and Amber both declined, Sarah poured herself a mug and moved toward the breakfast table where they sat.

What’s with all of the secrecy? She demanded as she fell into an open chair. First, you wouldn’t tell me anything on the phone and then Amber comes over to help with damage control.

Sarah looked pointedly at the pair as they both looked down at the table knowing they been called out.

Jack cleared his throat to speak, but Amber beat him to it.

There isn’t any kind of conspiracy, she stated matter-of-factly. One of my friends in the DA’s office called me this morning with some news on the case. When I heard it, I asked Jack how you were. He explained that he was on his way over so I offered to come lend some moral support.

What happened? Why are you both so worried? When they didn’t immediately answer, she tried pleading. Please just tell me what’s going on.

Sarah, just calm down for a minute, Jack finally answered, his voice filled with compassion. Everything will be fine. The police have named a suspect.

Wh-what? Who? When?

We’ll get to that, he answered. First, I need to ask you a few questions. They may seem a little, uh, unorthodox, but please just play along, alright?

Jack, Sarah’s voice hardened. What the hell is going on?

Sarah, please, he soothed. It’s just a few questions. Hopefully, it will all make sense in a few minutes.

Resignation hit her hard. She knew she wasn’t getting the answers she needed until he got the answers he wanted. If he hadn’t been such a close friend of her father’s for the past 30 years, she wouldn’t have given him this. He was also her lawyer and she had to trust him.

Sarah, Jack continued, Were you having an affair?

No, absolutely not. Why would you even ask me that?

It seems that the police uncovered some information that leads them to believe that you were, he explained. There were some charges on your credit card for the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis.

While she was still unsure where this conversation was coming from, the mention of the Hyatt being proof of some illicit affair almost made her laugh.

We had our conference there two months ago. I booked several rooms for clients that were attending. If the police have any questions about it, I can certainly provide them with a list of people who were there.

I already did that, dear. But, you see, the police then pulled the surveillance video from the hotel and identified a man that was there during each of your visits. He wasn’t a registered guest of the hotel.

So? Confusion settled in completely. It was a convention, they were completely booked. He could have been there to see anyone. Why do the police think he was there for me?

They didn’t really, but then they learned he got a parking ticket a couple of blocks away from the restaurant where Chad was killed.

Sarah sat back in her chair and stared at Jack. Fear and anxiety crawled up her spine.

Oh my God! She exclaimed. Was he following us? For months? I thought it was some sort of random attack. She remembered an earlier point in the conversation and began firing questions at Jack and Amber. Wait, have they arrested him? Do they know why he was following us? It’s someone I know, isn’t it? That’s why you were both so worried to tell me. Who is it, dammit?

Jack shot Amber another look before he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a grainy photo obviously taken from the surveillance tapes he had mentioned. As Jack slid the photo in front of Sarah, confusion made the photo almost unidentifiable. It was Amber’s next statement that caused recognition to flood her mind and pushed her heart into her stomach.

They’re about to charge your ex-boyfriend with murdering your husband.

Part 1

Spring 2003

-1-

Sarah McGuire slung her bag over her shoulder and bounded down the stairs. She brushed her golden bangs from her eyes and glanced at the clock. Realizing she had a few extra minutes she slowed her pace. Sunlight streamed through the bay window and landed softly on her father’s face as the aroma of frying bacon greeted her nostrils.

Morning, Daddy! she grinned and planted a kiss on his forehead.

Someone’s awfully chipper for a Saturday morning, her mother smiled as she looked up from the bowl she was stirring. Of course, she was in a good mood. Today was going to be great. Winter had been so long here in the Midwest and finally the forecast was perfect for spending the day outside in the bright sunlight.

Do you want some breakfast? her mother asked.

No, thanks. Amber will be here in few minutes. We’re heading to the club to get in a couple of matches before we go to the mall, she explained while grabbing a banana out of the brightly colored fruit basket on the counter. She waved good-bye and she slid open the glass door that led to the backyard.

Wait a second, her father called. Don’t forget that your mother and I are going out. We won’t be back until this evening and the construction company will be sending some men out. They’re starting on the pool house this afternoon so don’t be alarmed if they’re here when you get back.

I didn’t forget, she smiled and added a little sarcasm. You’ve only reminded us about a million times. She let out a laugh and closed the door behind her. She moved along the stepping stones through her mother’s garden. Her smile deepened as she spied the first blooms of jonquils, caught the faint perfume of the purple hyacinths. Spring had officially arrived and Sarah couldn’t have been happier.

She rounded the corner of their house just as Amber pulled her white Sebring into the long driveway. Sarah waved to her best friend and smiled again when she noticed the convertible top was lowered. She tossed her gym bag in the backseat and slipped into the passenger’s seat. The sun warmed her face and she squinted slightly before perching her sunglasses on her nose.

That’s a first, Amber commented as she put the car in reverse and began backing out of the drive.

What is?

Amber laughed, You being ready on time. What’s the matter? Are you afraid Chad and Shane are going to start without us?

Sarah feigned annoyance and gave her friend a playful smack on the arm. Whatever! Shane couldn’t make it this morning so Chad invited Michael Callaway. They’re probably already there warming up.

Oh, Amber’s mouth instantly changed to a pout. Shane’s not playing?

The reaction was expected. Amber may have thought her crush on Shane was a secret, but Sarah had known about it for as long as she could remember.

He had to work this morning, she said without mentioning that Shane really just didn’t want to come. Shane and Chad were three years older and Shane wasn’t really interested in high school girls.

Chad, on the other hand, didn’t seem to share Shane’s derision for younger women or maybe she was the exception since they’d known each other their whole lives. Their parents had been friends for years and Sarah knew that they all hoped, even since her childhood, someday she and Chad would get married. Lately, her father had even not-so-subtly encouraged her to apply to the University of Washington where Chad was set to begin law school in the fall. She had applied, but with graduation still a few weeks away, she hadn’t completely made up her mind about making the move to Seattle.

She loved Chad, just wasn’t sure he was ‘the one’ and she was afraid he would read too much into her going to college with him. He’d already started talking about renting a larger apartment there so they could live together. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that kind of commitment. Oh well, she had plenty of time before she had to make a decision about this fall.

Amber reached over and cranked up a Tom Petty song as they cruised across town to the Southern Oaks Country Club.

****

Serve the ball already, Amber giggled at Sarah who was mentally preparing herself to do just that, This is match point.

Sarah grimaced as she tossed the ball into the air striking it with all of her strength across the court to Amber. Amber returned the bouncing yellow globe to Chad who, in turn, hit it toward Michael. Michael hit it just out of Sarah’s reach. She dove trying to make contact, but the ball missed her racket by centimeters, falling onto the court. That was game.

What the hell are you doing? Chad screamed. You should have had that.

I’m sorry! she yelled back, standing up and brushing off her white tennis skirt. I tried, okay?

You didn’t try hard enough! He yelled again and ran his fingers through his dark hair in frustration. He turned his back to her and paced the length of the court without even asking if she was hurt in her fall.

Embarrassed, she hung her head and muttered under her breath, You don’t have to be a jerk about it.

Chad was extremely competitive, to a fault some would say, and couldn’t stand losing at anything. He’d been that was since he was six years old playing little league. It was that competitive nature that earned him his football scholarship and kept him in the top of his class. It drove Sarah crazy.

Still angry, she walked across the court where Amber and Michael were drinking from water bottles and celebrating their victory.

We better get changed and get to the mall, she said stiffly to Amber as she walked past them toward the entrance to the locker rooms. Amber scrambled after her and followed her in.

Don’t take it personally, Amber spoke softly as she stepped out of her tennis skirt. He didn’t mean anything by it.

He never means anything by it, she was still fuming. If he’s going to be a jackass every time we lose, I’m not playing with him anymore. Already changed into jeans and a T-shirt, she shoved her tennis clothes into her bag and zipped it closed with more force than was necessary.

****

Amber steered her car into Sarah’s driveway and came to a stop. They’d driven down to Cape Girardeau to the nearest shopping mall and had done some serious damage with their fathers’ credit cards. Amber popped open the trunk of the car and they walked around to grab bags from the various stores from the full compartment.

Whose truck is that? Amber asked, nodding toward a beat up Ford pickup parked nearby.

Construction guys, she replied. They’re building that pool house my dad’s been dying for.

Lucky you, Amber rolled her eyes. During our last remodel, I’m pretty sure that the guys secretly enjoyed waking me up with a saw every morning at 6 a.m.

Amber was never a morning person so Sarah took her comments with a grain of salt. Besides, she was still a little chapped about what had happened with Chad that morning. He’d called her cell phone while they were at the mall and gave his usual apology. She didn’t think he was really sorry at all, just that he didn’t want her to be mad at him. Lately, she felt like he didn’t really care all that much what she thought. He had his future all mapped out and she was part of that plan. Chad Taylor didn’t like for plans to change.

Sarah waved to Amber and turned to enter the front door. She could hear the hammering of nails coming from the backyard and she groaned as she unlocked the deadbolt. Maybe Amber was right, this was going to be a pain. She didn’t understand why her father wanted a pool house so badly anyway. She thought it was fine the way it was.

Their house was large by most standards. One and a half stories of brick around a two story great room, one wall of which was made up entirely of windows that overlooked the massive backyard and the woods off in the distance.

She climbed the stairs and entered her still-girly bedroom to put her numerous bags on the foot of her queen sized bed. Instead of removing tags and hanging the newly bought clothes in her closet, she walked over to her dresser and brushed out her long hair before pulling it back securely with a rubber band. She stood for a moment staring at her own reflection, turning from side to side to critique herself.

She was thin but with good muscle tone from years of cheerleading, tennis and riding horses. When she was five her father told her any girl from rural Missouri should know how to ride a horse and promptly sent her for lessons. She used to ride through the woods and along the banks of the Black River, which cut a path through the western edge of their property. She reveled in the nostalgia of a more peaceful existence as she left her bedroom and walked to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of tea, decided to get back to simple pleasures and slipped out the back door.

The breeze blew in her face and she blocked out the noises coming from the construction crew as she made her way through the back yard. She thought again about Chad and all of the things about him that irritated her. His mean-streak was foremost on her mind after he had yelled at her in front of everyone at the club, but there were other things as well. In her opinion, he’d always been a little too possessive and jealous. Any time another guy would so much as look at her, Chad asked about it. Amber kept saying that it was just because he loved her so much, but it still bothered Sarah at times. He didn’t treat her badly, per se, she just had a feeling that he didn’t love her as much as he tried to appear.

Nobody’s perfect, she reminded herself as she stepped gingerly across a fallen log. The trees thinned and she moved into the clearing, smiling at the familiar sound of flowing water. Sunlight filtered through the trees as she wandered down the river’s bank. The grass felt warm against her bare legs when she sat down and leaned against a large rock nature had molded into a perfect chair. Feeling the cool stone through her flimsy blouse, she drew a deep breath and shaded her eyes to look across the clearing to see two cardinals flitting from one branch to the next. She closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh enjoying a peaceful moment for the first time in weeks.

The sound of a branch snapping jarred her from her trance. For a moment, she had forgotten where she was. She opened her eyes and reached up to shade them from the glare of the sun. She sat up quickly and looked around for the source of the sound.

Upstream, a tall man squatted on tired cowboy boots staring out over the water. He was in his early twenties with dark hair falling over his forehead. A pair of sunglasses hid his eyes but seemed to accentuate a crooked nose and strong jaw. His blue flannel work shirt was unbuttoned just enough to offer a peak of his tanned sculpted chest. As if he sensed her staring at him, he turned his head toward her and raised his sunglasses. Her breath caught and her blood warmed as she saw his full face.

He was ruggedly handsome with clear blue eyes that seemed to glow in the afternoon light. The corner of his mouth tugged up to a quasi-smile as he looked at her.

I’m sorry, he drawled, I didn’t know anyone else was here.

It – it’s okay, she said nervously. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he could hear it even at this distance.

I was workin’ on a house nearby, and just came down here to take a break. You live ‘round here? he asked.

I live at the house where you’re working, she stammered trying to calm herself.

Oh, yeah, he said as if remembering something, my boss told me Mr. McGuire had a daughter. He added with a laugh, Right before he warned me to stay away from you.

Why would he tell you to stay away from me? she asked defensively, rising to her feet.

Whoa, slow down, he stood to his full height and started toward her. He was just messin’ with me. You know… stay away from the boss’s daughter… that kinda thing. He was only inches away from her and she subconsciously took a step back.

Oh, I get it, she replied as casually as she could. I have a boyfriend anyway so it doesn’t matter, she said straight-forward. Why did you just say that?

A sly grin came over his face. Well, then, that’s settled, ain’t it? He paused looking at her as if they shared some kind of secret. I’m Brett. Brett Williams. He held out his hand to her.

Sarah McGuire, she answered nervously as she took his hand.

Nice to meet you, Miss McGuire, he said formally and raised her hand to his mouth. His lips felt soft and warm on the back of her hand and sent heat running up the length of her arm. Abruptly, she pulled her hand away and said, I really should be getting back.

Another cocky grin preceded his response, Yeah, me too. Break time’s ‘bout over.

He turned slowly and looked back at her before waving his arm toward the trees as if to say after you. She brushed off her backside and anxiously headed toward the trees. Get a grip, Sarah! She reprimanded herself silently.

So, Miss McGuire, he said behind her, What’s a girl doing out here all by herself on a day like this? Where’s that boyfriend of yours?

He, uh, he’s out with his friends. I wanted to be alone for a little while. She could feel his gaze on the back of her head. He’ll be over later, she said stiffly, though she had no plan to see Chad that evening.

Oh, I see. Well, sorry for interruptin’ your private time, he said and though she couldn’t see him behind her, she knew that cocky grin was back.

Really, it’s fine, she protested and glanced back over her shoulder. She felt her foot hit something solid and tripped over the fallen log she’d so carefully avoided earlier. She tumbled toward the earth and felt pain shoot through her ankle as she landed in the leaves and brush.

****

Sarah caught her breath and rolled over. She found Brett looking down on her, his face a mask of concern.

Oh God, he exclaimed. You okay, darlin’? he reached for her hand.

I’m fine, she said firmly, completely embarrassed to be flat on her ass in the middle of the woods. She started to stand and felt pain shoot up from her ankle. She quickly shifted her weight to the other leg and grimaced. Great, Sarah! Now he thinks you’re a clumsy idiot!

Your ankle might be sprained. You probably shouldn’t put any weight on it, he advised, effortlessly sweeping her up into his arms before she could protest.

Shocked and embarrassed, she couldn’t bring herself to speak. She allowed him to carry her to the edge of the trees and into their perfectly manicured backyard.

I think I’m okay, she mumbled, silently pleading with him to end this torture. She could feel the muscles of his arms under her legs and shoulders and could make out the faint beating of his heart as the bare skin of his chest pushed against the sheer fabric of her blouse. The mixture of embarrassment and excitement surged and her pulse pounded against the skin of her neck like it was trying to escape. She had no doubt he could see the pulsating from his vantage point.

I’ll just get you to the house and we’ll have a look, he answered with a tone that said there was no point in arguing. Feeling like a child, she blinked back the moisture that formed in her eyes, not from any physical pain, just the sheer humiliation of needing to be carried across the lawn. Several other construction workers had stopped what they were doing to look inquisitively in her direction. A car door closed in the distance and she turned her head to see her father stepping out of his Mercedes.

Sarah? he exclaimed moving quickly toward them. Are you okay? What happened? He walked up beside them just as Brett was lowering her into one of the chaise lounges situated by the still covered swimming pool.

I’m fine, daddy, she groaned, feeling even more mortified now that everyone