* * *

“Hi, we’re with the police department, doing further investigation of the crime scene next door,” Wes said confidently to Merissa’s neighbor on the right side of her house.

Chloe was standing next to him. She glanced at him quickly and felt proud of the way he handled himself. So far they’d already been able to fool the left-hand side neighbor. Well, not they, Wes. Chloe didn’t say anything. She wasn’t as good at this as him. Apart from being a terrible actress, she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do any of this.

Regina had told her about the head in the box and all but demanded that she move back into the beach house with Taylor and Kelly until Wade was released. Whenever that was.

She didn’t want to leave Wade’s house but the thought of an actual head in a box had terrified her, but what was more terrifying was the fact that Regina spoke to their psycho friend, who now had a name. Aaron.

She couldn’t attach the name to the person. In her mind they were still the psycho. Regina had come to the house last night looking terrible and so freaked out she started crying at intervals. The visit was to pick Chloe up, not warn her of what had happened. The only words she’d spoken were, “Pack a bag and come with me.”

Chloe knew if Regina found out what she and Wes were doing today she’d go mad. Right now, Chloe wasn’t sure if she could keep up the charade, but she saw this as a necessity. She had to do something; sitting around and waiting was like torture.

Chloe observed the neighbor, a petite woman who looked to be in her late seventies. She had a neat ballerina bun placed at the back of her head.

“Such a terrible thing to happen,” she replied, shaking her head with sadness.

“Yes. Did you know the victim?” Wes asked.

Chloe was so surprised at how well he was pulling this off.

“Oh yes. I’ve been in this house for ten years, and she was here longer.”

“I know my colleagues probably already asked you a ton of questions, but we’re just going over everything to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Would you mind if we just go over a few things with you? It will help us a great deal,” Wes continued. That was the same thing he had told the other neighbor, and just like them, this lady instantly seemed willing to help.

“Of course, that’s no problem at all. Fire away.”

“Thanks so much.” Wes offered a soft smile. “Can you just go over what you saw and heard on the night of the murder?”

“Sure, I didn’t see or hear an awful lot. I was just coming back from a music concert. I heard arguing and raised voices, but I don’t know what was said. I went inside and minutes later I heard glass being broken. When I didn’t hear anything else I thought that the argument was over.” She grimaced and pressed onto her thin, pink lips.

“Did you hear any noises outside?” Chloe asked.

The woman shook her head. “That’s it, I’m afraid. Literally all. I was also tired from being out most of the day. After the glass broke, the last thing I heard was the sound of police sirens about half an hour later. I presumed one of the other neighbors must have called.”

That was what the other neighbor had said. Chloe guessed their psycho friend must have called. Only he could have done it.

“When I looked outside and saw the cops leading away that young man, I never dreamed that it was because he killed Merissa.”

Chloe had to hold her tongue, hold it right back. She nearly lost her temper with the other neighbor when they called Wade a murdering bastard.

Wes cut her a quick glance to check that she was okay. She was, she wasn’t going to lose her cool again. It wasn’t worth it. Losing her cool wouldn’t help them in any way whatsoever.

“Thank you. We appreciate your help,” she told the woman.

With that, they left, walking back down to the opposite side of the road where they previously were. From here they could see Merissa’s house in its entirety and the other two houses.

Merissa’s house was one of those newer builds with a modern design, but it still kept the old-style porch and steps leading to the garden most of the other houses on the street featured. Her house had the door sealed off with the classic yellow crime scene police tape she’d always seen in films, and there was more tape going around the front lawn and garden. People had laid flowers just outside the tape on the lawn and across the driveway.

The whole setting was morbid, and Chloe was trying not to think about it and what happened here too much. She tried not to think too much about Merissa, because when she did, she could see her face in her mind.

She could recall the pain in her eyes that night, the night she died, when she told her about Wade and their baby. It was difficult to think that just weeks ago she was alive and now she wasn’t. It was sad, so very sad.

Wes said he would have loved to take a look inside, but Chloe was okay not to. She didn’t think she could bear it. Outside felt tense enough as it was. Being inside, in the place where Merissa was murdered, was… Well, Chloe didn’t think she could go in. Though, if it would help Wade, she’d do it. She’d do it in a heartbeat.

They’d been here for over an hour, now, and have come up with nothing. And it didn’t look like they were anywhere further than they were when they first arrived. All she felt was the morbid atmosphere that lingered about the place. It didn’t feel good at all, and she wanted to be far away from here.

Wes took out his notebook and jotted something down. Chloe didn’t know what he could be writing. She folded her arms under her chest as she looked Wes over.

She’d arranged for them to see Wade in two hours and was really hoping they’d have something more than the nothing they’d found. Although she couldn’t wait to see him, she wondered what state he’d be in today, and she knew he wouldn’t be too thrilled to see Wes.

It didn’t matter, though. She’d always been taught to never turn away help, and even though they didn’t find anything, Chloe felt it was good that Wes took a look around.

He frowned at something, she wasn’t sure what.

“Wes, I don’t know what you’re doing.” Chloe winced.

He looked over at her. “Assessing.” He said that like it was obvious. As if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“It would help if you talked. I’m just standing here and I don’t know what you’re thinking,” she complained. It was frustration getting to her. “We’ve got nothing.”

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I’m thinking, woman. Sometimes it’s best to think then talk, but you wouldn’t know that since you talk then think.” He narrowed his eyes at her. She knew he was referring to her reaction earlier with the neighbor.

“I’m sorry. Please put yourself in my place. It was awful for me to hear someone talk negatively about Wade.”

“I know, but you have to chill out. You can’t react or rush this.”

She wanted Wade out of prison like yesterday. It was hard not to think about rushing, but Wes was right.

“Okay, at least talk to me and do something like bounce ideas off me. I don’t have the investigative, technical mind you have. And I’m freaking out.” That was an understatement. She was so agitated she felt like screaming.

“Okay. Look at the setting of this place.” He motioned to the three houses. Chloe followed his gaze and looked. “It’s perfect for getting up to no good and not getting caught. Apart from the window smashing, the neighbors wouldn’t have seen or heard anything unless, like our lady just now, they were outside.”

She agreed that was conclusive; both neighbors’ testimonies were the same.

“So what do we do?”

“I wanted to hear what they had to say for myself just to make sure nothing was missed. And look, the houses are about five meters apart on either side.”

That was all very observant, but she didn’t know how that would help them. “Wes, how is that relevant for us?”

He grimaced at her and frowned. “Woman, please. I’m setting the scene here so you can understand where I’m going with this. Look over there and there.” He pointed to both neighbors’ houses, motioning specifically to the high hedges that separated the houses. Next to the hedges were alleyways. “Our killer could have hid there and come through the windows, or a back or side door to the house. And look.” Wes now pointed to Merissa’s house, at the way her hedge curved in on itself and took a section of the front lawn. It actually enclosed the window on the left side of the house and seemed to be designed that way, even though she imagined it would block out most of the light coming inside. Chloe walked a little distance from Wes, trying to see what was inside the enclosure. She went right up to the police tapes and looked in. There was a little bench with an empty fish pond. It reminded her of something similar her parents had at their house in France. Wes joined her.

“This bit here is perfect for our killer. No one would see him go into the house. My guess is he came through here and went around the back,” Wes explained. “There’s a camera there.” Wes pointed up to the front of the house. “And one there.” He motioned to the lamp post with a black box attached to it. That camera would have been able to pick up what was going on at the front of the house.

“We really need footage of what happened after Wade went into the house.” Chloe bit the inside of her lip.

Wes nodded, and he didn’t look as positive as he previously did. “We need that. Without it we can’t do much. Unless there are fingerprints or something else. I’ll see if I can speak to the detective.”

Detective Fray. Chloe hadn’t met him yet, but she was sure they could speak to him.

“Hey, at least we can point the police in a new direction they might not have thought of. That’s a good thing.” He was trying. She could see that he was trying for her.

“Thank you.” She released a sigh, trying to keep positive. Perhaps when they spoke to Wade something more could be added to their little investigation. She went to say more but had the distinct feeling like…

She turned behind her and saw nothing. Chloe felt like they were being watched.

On the other side of the road was a park area that led into the woods. It was beautiful to look at with its lush green trees and grass but the eerie feeling she got when she surveyed the area prickled her skin.

“What’s wrong, Chloe?” Wes asked, turning.

“I feel like someone’s watching us.” She kept her voice low.

“Yeah, they probably are. I got that feeling when we first got here.” Concern washed over his face.

She looked at him as he took hold of her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m scared,” she breathed. It was that feeling, and hearing his agreement made her feel worse. Her breath caught in her throat and she found it difficult to breathe.

The morbid atmosphere, and now this feeling.

“Come on, let’s go. Let’s go see Wade.” Wes nodded.

She couldn’t have been happier to leave.

* * *

* * *

It was bad enough that Chloe was here. But Wes…

Wade sat down in the little metal chair, rested his hands on the counter and looked at the two of them. Chloe and Wesley, sitting side by side behind the glass. Wes with his arm practically around her, sitting too close for comfort.

Wade had already been in a fight today. Some wise guy thought it was okay to talk about Taylor. The idiot had the audacity to try to guess what she looked like naked. Wade had knocked his teeth down his throat.

When Wade was finished with him, all the guy had left was his back teeth, a broken nose, and a very bloody face. The guy’s lackeys tried to fight Wade, but to no avail.

And here was this picture before him. Chloe and Wesley sitting together like the perfect couple. The one that was worse than a nightmare.

Chloe looked nervous as she reached for the phone. Wade geared himself up to hear what she had to say, and he swore that if it was telling him she was now with Wes, Wade would smash the glass, jump over and kill Wesley right there. Before he could take his next breath, Wade would end him.

Wade reached for the phone.

“Hi,” she said and offered a gentle smile. She reached out and touched the glass near his face and stroked the surface, like she would if she could touch his face. It distracted him momentarily, but his awareness and annoyance returned when Wesley straightened up in his chair.

“Baby, what are you doing here?” It was the gesture that tamed him, to some extent.

“Wes and I—”

He interrupted before she could finish. “Chloe, if you’ve come to tell me that you’re with this guy, don’t bother. I set you free, you can be with whoever you want, but please don’t tell me.”

Wade was speaking so loud Wes must have heard, and the fool was dumb enough to laugh.

That was it, Wade had had enough. Everything was too much. He’d lost everything already and he knew there was no hope left for him. Right now he was probably looking at life imprisonment or death, so it would be no problem for him to add Wesley to the list of offenses against him.

Wade dropped the phone, balled his fist and rammed it into the glass. “Fucking bastard, you couldn’t wait to move in on my girl!” he balked. The guard was at his side in an instant, ready to tackle him. “Stay away from me!” he yelled at the guard.

“Calm down, Vanderville, or else I’m talking you back in,” the guard warned.

He looked back to Chloe and could hear her voice coming through the phone. He picked it up again and pressed it to his ear.

“Wade, what the hell?”

She was talking, but he was looking at Wesley, who sat still in that irritating way that annoyed the hell out of Wade. It was like he was mocking him.

“Wade,” Chloe hissed.

“Chloe, what are you doing here with him?”

“We’re investigating.”

“You’re doing what!?” His eyes returned to Wesley. “Put him on the line now.”

“Wade.”

“Baby, let me speak to Wesley.” He raised his brows at her.

She handed Wesley the phone. “Look Wesley, who the fuck do you think you’re fooling? This isn’t the time to be using your little best friend tactics to move in on my girl.”

Wesley stared at him, cleared his throat, and then pulled in a breath as he retrieved a notebook and a pen from his pocket.

“Can you let us know what happened on the night of the murder?” That was his reply.

Wade simply stared at him, wondering if he’d gone mad.

“Wesley, didn’t you hear me?”

“The whole damn prison heard you, Wade. Yes, I heard you, I just don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to say. Anyway, if you could just answer the question, I can do what I’m doing and get on with my life.”

Wade looked him over, then looked back at Chloe. She took the phone away from Wesley.

“Wade, we’re just trying to find something that could have been missed.”

“Baby, it’s a very dangerous time. You can’t do this. I’m behind bars and I can’t keep you safe. I told you to go to France. What are you still doing here? And why are you putting yourself in danger?”

“I love you,” she breathed. Her voice soft and soothing as always. It was a voice he’d missed so much his heart ached for it. Ached for her. “I love you,” she repeated. “I’m not going anywhere. This is me doing what I can, and if my friend can help us, I’m taking the help, Wade.”

The way she said friend calmed him slightly and he focused his attention back on Wesley.

“I’ll talk to him,” Wade agreed, but only for her. Only for her. He couldn’t imagine how Wesley could help if no one else could. His father was one of the best lawyers in California, who knew his stuff inside out, but even he couldn’t help him. Last night his father had told him that he was arranging for a new lawyer. He said worse things were about to happen and he didn’t want Wade to be caught up in it. Caught up in corruption. Wade didn’t know if that was his way of backing out because there was literally nothing he could do, or if what he said was the truth.

The way he saw it was, if his father couldn’t help him there was no one who could.

But he’d speak to Wesley because Chloe looked like she was on her last ounce of strength.

She handed the phone to Wesley again and he focused on Wade.

“So tell me, tell me what happened to you.”

Chloe sat closer to him so she could hear what Wade was saying, too.

“When Chloe told me that Merissa knew who our psycho friend was, I decided to go and see her. I wanted information because she seemed to be the first person with real information. When I got there, we argued, but then she calmed down enough to tell me she’d only spoken to our friend on the phone. Just as she was about to elaborate, we saw green smoke coming into the room from under the door. I tried to get her out of the house, but it was some sort of knock-out gas. I felt paralyzed. It knocked us both out and when I came to, she was dead. I was lying in her blood.”

Wesley jotted down some notes in his notebook, then looked back to Wade.

“Do you remember anything else? Any strange sounds, anything else you saw?”

Wade shook his head. “That’s it. I smashed the window to get some of the smoke out, but other than that nothing else happened. Everything else took place when I was unconscious.”

Chloe closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. She looked disappointed.

“It’s not a lot, right?” Wade added.

Wesley sighed and shook his head. Wade looked at Chloe again and found he couldn’t look away.

“What about when you first got there, to the house. Did you see anything outside that looked unusual?”

“Wesley, I was so mad that I just jumped off my bike, guns blazing. Honestly, I wouldn’t have seen anything. This psycho person is dangerous, seriously dangerous. I couldn’t believe that Merissa had information about him, or was working with him. The man tried to kill my sister.” Wade noticed a sudden change in Wesley’s expression. He’d narrowed his eyes and looked down at the counter as if the gray Formica that covered the top really fascinated him. “What?”

“You took your bike?”

“Yes.” He didn’t see what relevance that was.

“Where’d you park it?”

Again, relevance. “In my ass. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Maybe everything you stupid jock,” Wesley retorted. “Just answer the question.”

“The driveway, by the large oak tree with the leaves on it,” Wade threw back. He expected Wesley to say something sarcastic but he didn’t.

Instead he straightened up and his face brightened. “What kind of bike do you have?”

“It’s a Kawasaki.”

“What model?” Wes looked like he definitely thought of something.

“Z1000.” Wade straightened up. “What have you thought of?”

Wesley shook his head. “I can’t say here. It may not be safe.” He glanced about them. “But I have a really good idea.”

“Really?” Wade dared not hope. He didn’t think he deserved hope but wanted it, wanted it so badly, especially when he looked at his Chloe. He’d give anything to touch her, anything to just hold her and feel her resting against him as if she really was his. “The bike’s in evidence. You’ll have to speak to Detective Fray about it.”

Wesley nodded. “I got this, and if my idea works, then I totally have this.”

Chloe looked over to Wade and smiled. The smile warmed his heart and he hoped like hell that Wesley’s idea did pan out, because he was Wade’s only hope.