CHAPTER 15 (4+pp, double spaced, Times New Roman)

On June 23, 2011, I began writing a novel about a woman who starts a film company to trick actors into killing the man responsible for the deaths of her husband and children.

CHAPTER 15


"See?" Lina said, "You forgot about Lina!"

"I didn't forget."

"You only wanted to get married without her!" she said, laughing, "But if she loves you like I do, she'll forgive you just as easily."

"Yes," he answered, grinning; but, as he reached to kiss her, he noticed movement on the side of his house.

Scrunching his brows, he pressed 22 on his cell, getting out of the car. Laura turned to do the same on her side when she heard a scream - the same one that just jarred his ear.

Dropping his cell he ran to where he thought he saw a man in a black shirt cross. Laura grabbed her cell and punched in 911, but, before she put the call through, felt panicked that something might happen to him.

When she caught up to him, she, just, stood, there. She couldn't make out who he was holding in his arms, but from the way he was crying, she guessed it was Lina.

Laura wanted to move, but her heart beat so fast she could hear it. Trying to breathe, she fought against the dizziness. Closing her eyes she took several deep breaths, then pushed everything out of her head but him.

Shaking inside, she walked toward him; but, when she touched him, she knew only resolve. She didn't try to keep him from holding on to Lina, instead reaching for her cell which she'd forgotten was still in her hand.

Expressing momentary surprise, she turned on the screen and pushed the green button. Her eyes watered at the blood on Lina's clothes, but she didn't notice.

"Is anyone there?" the dispatcher asked.

Remembering to raise the receiver to her ear, Laura said, "Yes, I'm sorry. I think my fiancée's sister is hurt. Oh god, there's so much blood."

"What's your name, ma'am?"

"Laura. She's Lina, very sweet and-"

"Laura, I need you to tell me your location."

"It's, uh, I, I don't know!"

Laura felt the tears slip then. She tried to rub them away, but felt his arm as he reached to take her cell from her.

"It's 1234 Hillside. I think my sister's dead. I tried to stop the man who did this, but he was too fast. Please hurry."

When he hung up he put her cell in his pocket and grabbed her to him. Laura held him, seeing snatches of Lina from the corner of her eye.

When the police and paramedics arrived, he slowly put Lina on the ground, and, with Laura's help, got to his feet. His shirt was bloodied from where he'd held Lina, but he wouldn't let go of Laura during questioning.

"Good thing the ground was still muddy or we might not have recovered the other man's shoe prints," Detective Sam Anderson said, "Unfortunately, we can't find the murder weapon. But we'll keep you updated on any new developments. If you have any questions, feel free to call me. And, again, sorry for your loss."

When only he and Laura remained, the sex was fast, with even their underwear not removed. When it was done, he didn't remove himself from her, just lay his face into her neck as she held him, her lips hovering around his hair.

Several times, he whimpered, pushing his nails into her shoulders. Biting her lips in response, she kissed him until he needed to move against her, releasing her shoulders when he came.

Finally he turned his face to hers. She didn't look away from him.

"I love you," he said, his voice hoarse.

Laura traced the tear trail on his face with her thumb, stopping at the corner of his mouth. Leaning down he kissed her softly on her lips.

"I love you," he repeated, his eyes on hers.

"I love you, too," she said, deepening their kiss until they relaxed into lovemaking.

"Jeremy," Mrs. H said, "Slow down. I can't understand you."

"I think she's really dead, Mrs. H," Jeremy said, trying to keep his voice low and the sweat from getting in his eyes.

"Impossible," Mrs. H reassured, "You used the prop knife, right?"

"I thought I did. Only there's real blood and it won't press in like you showed me. I'm really scared, Mrs. H."

"Look, why don't you come over? We'll look at the footage together and see what happened. It's possible Angie had a knife in her hand and you grabbed it by mistake in the confusion of the scene. Just calm down, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be right over."