Deadly Deception

Chapter 2



Her final memory of Carter floated around her, replaying like a syndicated sitcom.

“Please stay with me, Carter.” Anne stood in the threshold of Carter’s bedroom while he continued to pack his navy blue camping sack.

“It’s only for three nights. You worry too much.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Carter stopped what he was doing and walked over to Anne. She was so envious of his flawless olive skin and wavy russet hair that accentuated his mesmerizing sapphire eyes. He laced his arms around her delicate waist. She leaned into his firm chest. Carter’s smell was so comforting and the softness of his fleece pull-over made her want to curl up in his arms and stay there for eternity. With a gentle squeeze, she could feel his strength. Anne tried to dismiss her worry but she felt the knots in her stomach. He placed his lips on her forehead, kissing her gently, and then he gazed at her, memorizing every curve and every line on her face.

“My sweet Anneliese.” Carter’s kiss was quick but spiked with craving. “I have to go,” he whispered against her mouth in a haunting tone.

Carter closed his eyes and pushed his eyebrows together, enduring torturous agony.

Anne noticed a horrendous buzzing noise ripping through her memory. She gasped for air as her body lunged forward. Her ribs smacked into the wooden desk, she blinked rapidly, and she tried to gather her senses. Anne looked around her office and saw that her intercom light was flashing. The buzzing screamed from her phone once again.

Anne scrambled in an attempt to grasp her bearings so she could respond to Shelly without sounding like a lunatic. She reached for the button on her phone and saw that the pictures were lying on the floor next to her chair. Bending down to retrieve them, Anne tried to do a quick examination of the glossy photos. They appeared to be of Carter’s camping trip with his friends, Sam and Ryan. They were standing next to their orange tent and Carter had a paddle in his right hand. There were a few other guys in the photo but no one that she could make out.

“Who left these here?” Anne whispered still thumbing through the photos.

There was a soft knock at the door. Quickly she hid the photos under a stack of papers on her desk. Anne composed herself and opened the door to a troubled Shelly.

“Dr. Jamison, are you all right?”

Shelly could obviously see that she was discombobulated. The color had been drained from Anne’s face the second she had seen her name written on that stiff piece of paper.

“Is Casey busy?” Anne mustered.

The creases in Shelly’s face became more noticeable; her uneasiness was being confirmed.

“Dr. Alder’s in with a patient but I believe she will be available in about twenty minutes. The hospital is on line one in regards to your inquiry about Alice.”

Anne knew that she couldn’t speak with them right now. Her mind was out-of-focus.

“Shelly, I need you to tell them that I’ll have to call them back and inform Casey that I had to leave on an urgent errand.”

Shelly nodded and exited the office. Desperately, she tried to collect her shattered thoughts. Anne had a back door to her office. Clutching the manila envelope filled with its anonymous contents, she quietly tip-toed out and through a set of double doors that lead to the main hallway. She peeked around the corner to make sure no one was watching her skulk around like a thief in the night. Anne made it to the bank of elevators and frantically pressed the arrow. She tapped her black heels on the tile as if magically the elevator would be aware of her urgency and fly up to the twenty-second floor without further delay.

“Come on.” She impatiently scanned the hallway.

Finally, she heard the sound she had been waiting for. She practically lunged inside the metal box. Each breath was irregular and sweat began running down the nape of her neck. She leaned her trembling body against the back of the elevator. Anne stared at the black-and-white-checked floor, trying to figure out what was going on. Her mind was racing in hundreds of directions. A code is necessary to retrieve access to her building on the weekends. The delivery drivers couldn’t even get in without permission. So how did this envelope reach her office door? The floor had caused a bit of vertigo. Anne rested her gaze on the key panel, as a pang of nausea swept through her stomach. Today of all days.

An eternity later, the doors opened to the dimly lit parking garage. She entered the area where her car was located, feeling guarded. She walked through the intimidating space; the smell of car fumes, the harsh noises that echoed off the concrete walls and pillars shot anxiety up her spine.

She reached her black VW Jetta and before opening the driver side door, she glanced about the parking garage, having a restless feeling that she was being watched from somewhere in the ominous corners of the darkness. Quickly, she hopped in, tossing the contents of the envelope on the passenger seat. Anne entered the bustling streets of downtown.

It had been lightly raining for some time now. The streets and sidewalks were damp enough to form sizable puddles. Traffic was always a mess, no matter what time of day it was. While waiting at a stop light, Anne searched for her cell phone.

“It’s Anne. Are you busy? I need to see you right now.”

“No, I’m free,” the female on the other end said, complying with her request without hesitation.

“I’ll come to you. Be there in twenty minutes.”

Anne ended the call and pushed a little harder on the accelerator. She made her way onto Interstate 94, which would lead her right into St. Paul, the location of Carter’s family business; Leeds Imports. It had been in Carter’s family for decades. His father Steven had wanted Carter to take over in the future as well as Leeds Construction in Minneapolis. Anne was on autopilot. Her mind drifted to the past where she first encountered Mr. Carter Leeds.

***

Casey’s twenty-seventh birthday party was being celebrated at the incredibly posh D’aubinge Wine Bar and Restaurant. Her husband Tony had reserved a private room filled with delicious food, fabulous wine and incredible music. The restaurant had a beautiful French singer; she had sung happy birthday to Casey in her native tongue.

“Joyeux anniversaire!” The singer belted out and then kissed Casey on both cheeks.

Anne thought it was superb. She could have sung “Do your ears hang low” and it would have sounded exquisite. With glasses in the air, they all toasted the woman of the hour.

“Can I just say one thing?” Anne hoisted herself up on one of the chairs, raising herself above the crowd of fifteen.

“Casey, you are my very best friend and I love you so much and when you hit the ripe old age of thirty, I will think of you as I enjoy an extra year in my twenties.” Casey stuck her tongue out at her as the guests sympathetically groaned and then broke out into a cascade of laughter.

“To Casey!” Anne held up her glass as everyone followed suit.

Anne was getting down from the chair when she noticed a dashing man standing at the edge of the room, grinning at her. Anne politely returned the gesture and walked over to Casey. The sequins from her silver dress were enough to singe people’s retinas.

“I love you Anne, thank you!” Casey wrapped her arms around her neck, squeezing her tight.

“I think it’s time to refill everyone’s glasses.” Anne tapped her wine glass, smirking. “I’m going to head over to the bar area and see what I can find.”

“Good idea.”

Anne made her way through the barrage of friends and out the gold rococo scrolls-covered room. Her crimson heels clacked against the hardwood floors, sounding more like a Clydesdale than a petite woman. She reached the lounge which was blanketed in darkness, creating a quixotic ambience.

The sexy atmosphere was induced by a woman’s sultry jazz voice that entangled the moving bodies in the room. Anne adjusted her little black dress and glanced down at the end of the bar. The man that had been standing in the threshold while she was giving her toast was walking in her direction. The bartender approached her, breaking her gaze.

“May I help you, mademoiselle?”

“Yes, the Alder private party is running low on wine. Could we please get a few more bottles?”

Anne shifted her stare and saw that Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome was now standing right beside her. Instantly, she felt a twinge shuffle across her hips.

“Yes mademoiselle, right away.”

She peered up at the man, who gave her a stunning wicked smile. Anne thought his lips looked delicious. He was under-dressed for the venue but didn’t appear sloppy either. The dark stranger was outfitted in a black short-sleeve polo shirt, tucked perfectly into fitted dark wash jeans and paired with white on black Skechers.

“Are you checking me out?” he asked with a smug look on his face.

“No! I am just simply waiting for the bartender to come back.”

Anne was quite taken back by his accusation even though she was checking him out, but he didn’t need to know that. She took a slight step away from him and then began twisting the stem of the empty wine glass, keeping her hands busy.

“Well, that was quite a toast. Hop up on various pieces of furniture often?”

He lessened the space between them. Anne could feel his body heat prickle her bare arm.

“What is this? Twenty questions?”

“Actually that was only two questions but I’m sure I can find eighteen more.”

“Super.”

His stance towered over her but she would not reveal her feelings of intimidation.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

Anne noticed how his eyes twinkled, reflecting the soft pendant lighting that hung above them.

“Anne. And yours?” She raised her voice over the music that had changed into more of an upbeat jazz melody.

“Carter. Nice to meet you Anne.”

He extended his hand to her. It was warm and enveloped hers, causing that twinge to sprint not only through her hips but also through her arms, legs, and spine. She couldn’t help but notice how he soured his tone when he said her name.

“Why did you say Anne like that?”

“Usually when a person says her name is Anne or Sue or Beth, that’s just the short-stick version of her proper name.”

She yanked her hand from his.

“Okay, well, I don’t feel it’s the short-stick version of my name, but if you must know, my proper name, as you call it, is Anneliese.”

“Now that’s an exquisite name,” he said, donning a come-hither grin and leaning toward her. “Anneliese.”

The second he unearthed her name she required oxygen immediately. Quickly, she perched herself on the leather stool; all the blood began encapsulating her cheeks and neck. He held her gaze with ease as he sat beside her. The attraction was instant and intense.

After an hour of conversation, she had completely forgotten about the wine she had requested and about the birthday festivities across the room.

“Shit.”

She looked over her shoulder and saw Casey standing in the cove of the dining room, shooting her a smirk.

“Will you excuse me for a moment?” Anne asked. She placed her hand atop his. It was smooth and magnetic.

“I should really let you get back to your party. I’ve held you hostage long enough.”

Carter stood.

“No…really…don’t leave yet.”

Anne hurried over to Casey.

“I am so sorry, I met this guy and we started talking….”

“Don’t you dare worry about it.” Casey peaked over her shoulder. “He’s hot, Anne.”

Carter was now talking with the bartender.

“His name is Carter, and there is just something about him—I don’t know how to explain it. I mean, at first he came off as really arrogant.”

“Men!” Casey quickly interjected.

“But when he said Anneliese, I swear my legs went numb and all the blood drained from my head.” Anne placed the palm of her hands on her cheeks, feeling the flush engulf them.

“Wow, maybe it’s love at first sight,” Casey said. “Why don’t you have him give you a ride home?”

“Why? I drove here.”

“Really, Anne? Lie and say we brought you here. We’ll pick up your car tomorrow, unless you’ll be too exhausted to go anywhere.”

“No! That is way too desperate!” She hissed.

“You need desperate. When was the last time you went out on a date?”

Anne actually had to think about that. It had been months.

“I’ve been busy and besides, I wouldn’t constitute sitting at a bar with a complete stranger for an hour as a date.”

“You better come into the twenty-first century. Trust me – he’s into you.”

“I’m doomed.” Amused, she rested her head on Casey’s shoulder.

“He’s looked over here at least a dozen times so head back over there and just go with it. Stop over-analyzing everything, even though that’s your job,” Casey whispered.

“I’ll try.”

They hugged and exchanged kisses on the cheek. She walked back to Carter, who was coolly leaning against the bar, flashing those irresistible dimples.

“Did you blame me for your absence at the party?” he asked.

“Absolutely! I threw you right under the bus.” She smiled, feeling her body flush with heat once again.

“I really should get home. It’s late.”

She felt awkward and out of practice.

“Would you like to meet for coffee in about—,” he paused to look at his watch, “eight hours? I didn’t get all my twenty questions in.”

Anne laughed, exposing her edginess.

“Sure. Where?”

“How about my place?” A fiendish look graced his face.

“Presumptuous much?”

Her pulse quickened, almost certain he was able to hear the rush of blood course through her veins.

“Not at all Miss Dirty Mind, I’ll pick you up and bring you back to my house and cook you an amazing breakfast. I’ll even give you my social security number and date of birth so in the meantime you can run a background check on me.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

Smiling, Anne pulled out one of her business cards and wrote her address on the back of it. Carter did the same. They swapped the cards and walked to the front entrance, stepping out into the sultry summer night air.

“Are you parked close by?” Carter asked, looking up and down Eighth Street.

“Just a few cars up the way.”

“Let me walk you.”

Their arms brushed against each other. Anne bit down on her lip, stifling a school girl giggle. A pang of disappointment hit her when they reached her car.

“Thank you for the escort. It was wonderful meeting you.”

She backed up, feeling the metal push against her spine. Carter curved down just inches from her ear. She could feel his hot breath run down her neck, giving her goose bumps.

“Good night, my Anneliese.”

Then he placed his chaste lips on hers. Casey was right; it was indeed love at first sight.

***

Anne was biting down on her bottom lip as she exited the bittersweet memory. She slowly pulled into the sea of cars that stretched the length of a football field. In big bold letters, the sign on the front of the three-story ancient brick building read LEEDS IMPORTS.

She pulled into Carter’s old spot that sat between his mother’s Cadillac and his father’s Mercedes. Anne grabbed her purse and the envelope and walked toward the front entrance of the building and opened the heavy tempered glass door. Standing before her in the metallic and enamel reception area was Carter’s mother.

“Hello, Anne.”