Brenda Novak - The Perfect Murder

Apparently pleased that he liked the food, she smiled as she sipped from her glass. It was a pretty smile, one that contrasted with the caution in her eyes.

He didn’t know exactly what had changed, but her coming to his room had somehow altered the chemistry between them. He’d realized she was attractive when they’d first met. He couldn’t miss that. But the two of them sitting here alone made him far too aware of her on a physical level, far too aware of the possibilities.

As if to avoid the awkwardness that sprang up with any silence, she turned to his computer. “Looks like Malcolm’s getting impatient.”

“What’s he saying?”

“‘Hey, where are you?’” she read.

“Tell him you had to get the kids to bed.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

He couldn’t imagine why she’d think so. “No.”

“That’ll only remind him that Mary’s an exhausted mother. What’s sexy about that?”

“It might not be sexy, but it’s believable. It’s something the real Mary might say.”

“He won’t care if what we say is believable. People who have online relationships are usually trying to fulfill a fantasy.”

Again, the bed seemed to take up all the space behind them. “Are you talking from experience?”

“No. I can’t afford to have fantasies.”

“Everyone has fantasies, Jane.”

“Okay, then I could never afford to fulfill mine, especially with someone I couldn’t see. There are a lot of perverts on the Internet. There’s no way I’d expose my daughter to another man who could be like her father.”

This brought up a subject Sebastian had been curious about. “Did your husband ever hurt Kate?”

“That depends on what you mean by hurt,” she said. “He didn’t physically molest her, but he killed her uncle and hurt those she loved most. Living with that knowledge isn’t easy. And there’s always the genetic factor, you know? The question you’d ask yourself late at night-am I even remotely like him? Kate sees this scar on my neck every day, and she knows who put it there.”

He pulled the cushioned chair from the corner and placed it beside her so he could see the screen. “Is she in counseling?”

“She was. We both were for a while.”

“Did it make a difference for you?”

“It did. But doing what I do at The Last Stand has made a bigger difference.”

“Fighting back.”

She nodded. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you getting any counseling?”

“No.”

“You should. It might help.”

“Seeing Malcolm go to prison for the rest of his life will help more.” He motioned toward the computer monitor. “So Mary can’t talk about her kids. What do you suggest she say?”

She typed: Thinking about you. Then she raised her eyebrows, asking his permission to send it.

“Go ahead.” He’d tried a similar approach last night and it hadn’t gotten him anywhere, but it was a start.

The response came almost immediately.

WhosYourDaddy: You can’t think while we talk?

Jane began to type again. I’m afraid talking will only make me more confused.

“Where are you going with this?” Sebastian asked.

“You’ll see,” she said and sent it.

WhosYourDaddy: I’ve confused you? About what?

I think I’m falling in love with you. Jane looked over at Sebastian. “Is it too much?”

“Judging from past transcripts, I’d say so, but…”

“He wants to conquer her, wants to feel safe, as if there’s no way she’d reject him,” she said. “Let’s give him that.”

He had to try something different; he was getting desperate. He nodded, and she hit the enter key. Again, Malcolm’s answer popped immediately onto the screen.

WhosYourDaddy: I’m already in love. I’ve been in love with you for years.

Jane had been right. Malcolm was going for it. But Sebastian was a little uncomfortable that there hadn’t been much transition between his and Mary’s more cautious chats and this. Were the flowers enough to explain it? Sebastian didn’t want to tip Malcolm off…

Just in case, he took over the keyboard and typed: All from meeting me at one party?

WhosYourDaddy: From making love to you so many times in my mind.

“Things are heating up,” Jane breathed and typed the next entry.

BrownEyedGirl: When will you do it for real?

Sebastian caught her before she could hit Enter. “He’s got Mary’s address.”

“We have to draw him into the open. Until then, he’ll be a threat to her regardless. And Latisha and Marcie don’t have forever.”

She had a point. They needed to put an end to this… “Okay.”

Jane sent it and they waited.

WhosYourDaddy: You want me in your bed?

Sebastian deferred to Jane, who responded.

BrownEyedGirl: Now. I can’t wait any longer. I dream about your hands on my body, about feeling you move inside me.

Sebastian tried to separate Malcolm’s fantasy world from his own reality, but it wasn’t easy when he was sitting in a motel room with an attractive woman who’d looked at him the way Jane had earlier.

WhosYourDaddy: Sometimes that’s all I think about.

BrownEyedGirl: The thought of it makes me wet.

Shifting to ease the tightening in his groin, Sebastian told himself to ignore the deluge of testosterone. But images of making love to Jane filled his head.

WhosYourDaddy: I should’ve sent you roses ages ago.

BrownEyedGirl: I’m going to Fresno this weekend. Meet me there.

“ Fresno?” Sebastian said, even though she’d already sent it. “ Fresno isn’t the most romantic place.”

“Do you have a better idea?” she asked. “It’s about halfway between here and L.A., not too far to drive. And it would allow him to see me and keep pretending he lives down south.”

“Once you know who he really is, the L.A. part won’t matter.”

“But it does now.”

His nerves taut with hope and fear, Sebastian held his breath as he awaited Malcolm’s response. Would he fall for it, or would he shut them down?

WhosYourDaddy: I told you, this is a bad weekend for me.

BrownEyedGirl: I’m going, anyway. I’ll be at the Motel 6. If you want me like you say you do, you’ll be there.

“Are you sure about this?” Sebastian asked, catching her before she could send it.

“It’ll work,” she replied. “I can feel it.”

He nodded, and she hit Enter.

WhosYourDaddy: Are you serious?

BrownEyedGirl: You’ll see.

WhosYourDaddy: But I’m in a mess right now.

BrownEyedGirl: Then I guess you’ll miss out.

WhosYourDaddy: You’re killing me!

BrownEyedGirl: Wait till you see what I bought to wear for you.

Fleetingly, Sebastian imagined kissing Jane’s throat, imagined moving lower until he reached the soft curve of her breast and removed her sweater to see that tattoo…

WhosYourDaddy: What about your kids?

Jane looked at Sebastian. “Mary’s ex helps out with the kids, doesn’t he?”

“Every other weekend.” In an effort to conceal his arousal, he scowled in concentration. “But I don’t think it’s his turn next weekend.”

That news didn’t deter her. “Fortunately, we can make an exception,” she said and started typing.

BrownEyedGirl: Their dad’s taking them. He has something special going on, so I agreed. That’s why I’m coming to you. It’s the perfect opportunity.

WhosYourDaddy: You don’t know how bad I want this.

BrownEyedGirl: Then take it. I’ll be wearing my stockings and garter belt and nothing else. Imagine me on the bed, waiting for you…

The same picture popped into Sebastian’s mind.

WhosYourDaddy: Should I bring some wine?

BrownEyedGirl: Yes. And condoms. Lots of condoms.