The Price of Treachery Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
Strong hands grabbed Rachel’s shoulders in the darkness as she climbed the stairs to the second floor of the house. She screamed like a banshee, hoping to wake everyone before the killer could claim her too.
Adrenaline pumping, she spun around as a masculine voice rang out, “I’ve got you.” She brought her knee up and buried it in the man’s groin.
He went down like a sack of bricks and crumpled at the bottom of the stairs. Rachel looked for something heavy she could use to bash his brains in. There was nothing on the stairs with her, so a few kicks to the head would have to do. The killer had taken everything from her, and she was eager to return the favor.
The lights flicked on upstairs. “What on earth is happening?” Ava asked.
“It’s him!” Rachel cried, preparing to pounce on him like a jungle cat.
“Alvin!” screamed Ava.
Rachel took a closer look at the groaning man on the wood floor. It was Mr. Bennington. She almost kicked him anyway for sneaking around in the dark. “What is wrong with you, grabbing at me like that?”
Ava hurried down the stairs in a silk robe Rachel had never seen her wear before. It was practically see-through.
Rachel wrinkled her nose in disgust at interrupting the geriatric booty call. No wonder old Alvin had been so handsy. The little blue pill was probably already kicking in, which meant her knee to his family jewels was the opposite of what he’d been hoping for.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing some of the panic with it. Her legs felt weak, and she sat right on the steps.
“I thought it was the killer!” she explained to Ava. “I didn’t know Mr. Bennington was still here.”
Ava had the older gentleman sit up and catch his breath. “You poor man,” said Ava.
“I’m sorry,” Rachel said, hoping she didn’t do any permanent damage. Old people were fragile. “Are you alright?”
“I’m okay,” he said. “I thought you were the killer too. I thought if I didn’t stop you, you might go up and hurt Ava.”
“You sweet man,” said Ava. “You were trying to protect me?” She hugged him tightly, pulling his head to her bosom.
Rachel scrubbed a tired hand over her face. “You thought I was the killer?”
He nodded into Ava’s boobs. “I did,” he said, his voice muffled.
“And your plan was to just grab the killer?” Rachel asked. “You didn’t call the police or alert everyone in the house? You didn’t turn on any lights or grab a vase to smash over my head?”
“I panicked,” he said. “All I could think about was keeping them from going upstairs. I guess if you had been the killer, I’d be toast right now.”
“What the heck is going on down there?” asked Mattie from the top of the stairs. “Did he break a hip? Do I need to call an ambulance?”
“Do you need an ambulance, Mr. Bennington?” Rachel was still trying to calm down. The fear had her blood pumping so fast she could hear it.
“No, thank you,” said the old man. “My hip is fine, Mattie. My one injury is something I’m sure Ava will attend to shortly.”
Rachel wrinkled her nose again.
Lucas came from the downstairs hallway as if he had come down the back stairs. “Is everyone okay? What happened?”
Mr. Bennington didn’t seem to want Lucas to see him that way and did his best to pick himself up. “I’m fine, thank you. I just need some of my dignity back. I assume that will come with time.”
“I am so proud of you,” said Ava, who offered a hand to help him from the floor. “You were willing to take on a murderer to save me. I think it’s quite heroic and so romantic.”
“I don’t know what everyone is still so afraid of,” Lucas said. “The murderer is in jail. Or have you all forgotten?”
“You can’t blame us for being scared all the same,” said Rachel. She still wasn’t sure what to think. Liam certainly hadn’t done all the killing alone. And she still didn’t think Eloise had a deadly bone in her body. The woman was unpleasant and had terrible taste in men, but that didn’t make her a murderer.
“What are you doing wandering around the house in the dark anyway?” asked Mattie. “We should all be in bed asleep at this hour.”
“I had just gone downstairs for some water,” said Mr. Bennington. “I heard something out back and got a little spooked. I tried to be quiet as I headed back up, but I saw Rachel moving around in the night and thought someone had broken in.”
“Was he sneaking in to spend the night with you?” asked Mattie, giving Ava a look. “Mr. Murphy would not approve.”
Ava lifted her chin defiantly. “Well, he’s not here, is he? And anyway, it’s not what you think. We enjoy each other’s company, and there’s nothing wrong with a little cuddling at our age. Besides, I didn’t want to sleep alone. It’s been hard since Rebecca’s gone.”
“Look,” said Lucas. “We’re all adults here. And Mr. Bennington is certainly welcome to stay. Just let someone know. I like knowing who all is here in case something does happen.”
“I agree,” said Rachel, letting out a breath.
“That’s on me,” said Ava. “I didn’t think it mattered. It’s not like it’s any of your business. But I see your point. Just don’t be surprised to see Mr. Bennington around a lot from now on. We’re officially dating.”
“Congratulations,” said Mattie. “Now, I’m going back to bed.”
Rachel wasn’t sure why Mr. Bennington’s home wasn’t more appropriate, but she was too tired to bring it up. “Well, you must have heard Lucas coming down the stairs.”
Mr. Bennington shook his head. “No, what I heard was outside. I’m sure of it.”
Mattie stopped to listen. “It was outside? Are you sure?”
“Don’t go getting upset,” said Lucas. “I’m sure it’s fine. I looked out on my way here and didn’t see a thing.”
“It sure sounded like it,” said Mr. Bennington. “But it’s possible I am mistaken.”
“I’m sure you were. Sounds are a bit odd in this house,” said Lucas. “I was on my way down when I heard a scream. It was hard to tell where that was coming from.”
Rachel hoped no one asked her what she was doing up. And while she hated to lie, she didn’t want to explain herself or the envelope she had tucked in her pants behind her back. “I thought I heard something and came down to see. I guess we’re all a little on edge these days.”
“Come on, Alvin,” said Ava, taking his arm. “Let’s go up. I’m sure you need your rest after all this excitement.”
Rachel yawned. “I’m right behind you,” she said. “Are you sure you’re okay from the fall? I could get you something for pain if you need it.”
“I’m fine, thank you,” said Mr. Bennington. “It’s a good thing I still bounce at my age.”
He and Ava shared a chuckle. “Goodnight,” he said.
“Goodnight,” said Ava to the others.
“Goodnight,” said Mattie, who was already headed back to her room.
As Ava and Mr. Bennington walked up, Rachel waited for Lucas, who took to the stairs. She stayed a step behind him to keep him from noticing what she was hiding.
All she wanted was to get to her room and find out what it was. She was almost positive it was the signed will, the thing they had been looking for since Samuel Murphy had been murdered right here at the Fox Nettle estate.
She didn’t know what else it could be. But just in case, she wanted to know before she shared it with anyone, including Lucas. It was Rachel’s job to honor Mr. Murphy’s last wishes, and the biggest one was finding the signed will and getting it to Mr. Murphy’s attorney.
When she reached her door, Lucas stepped in her way and leaned against it. “You know, we should take a lesson from those two.”
“Oh?” she asked, hoping he wasn’t about to suggest they hook up again. “I don’t think it would be proper for me to go up to your room. Besides, I’m really tired, especially from the adrenaline rush. I thought I was going to die tonight.”
“I meant the snuggling part,” said Lucas, totally ignoring her feelings. “I thought it sounded pretty nice, and we could do that down here if you’d feel better about it. What would it hurt?”
“It didn’t work out so great last time.”
“I think that’s why we need it even more. At least, I know I do. Come on, Rachel. I want to be close to you. If this is the only way I can, I want to.” He reached out and stroked her hair. “Come on. Don’t make me beg to hold you.”
She looked into his eyes, hating how weak they made her feel. She knew she had to ditch the envelope some place if he went into the room.
He stepped closer and was about to put his arm around her when she pulled back. “Fine,” she said. “But no messing around. I’m not ready for that.”
He raised his hands. “Hey, I’ll behave if that’s what it takes. I just want to be close. Nothing wrong with that, right? I hope you want it, too.” He looked at her with hopeful eyes, and she nodded, knowing it was the right thing to do at that moment.
She knew she didn’t want to turn her back to him as she went inside, so she teasingly turned and pointed her finger as she opened the door and stepped aside.
Lucas walked over to the bed, where he stretched out and put his arms up behind his head. “See? There’s no harm in this.”
She felt her cheeks redden as she shook her head. “I need a minute in the bathroom.” She made her way there as she spoke to him as if she didn’t want to break eye contact. “Don’t fall asleep without me.”
“I won’t,” he said. “I want my goodnight kiss.”
“You said you’d behave,” she said, closing the bathroom door. As she heard him chuckle in the next room, she turned on the faucet and let the water run. She quickly opened the cabinet door under the sink and put the envelope there with her overnight bag. She knew Lucas wouldn’t have a reason to look there, and it would be safe until morning.
She stood up and looked in the mirror. What am I doing?
A few days ago, she would have jumped at the chance for some cuddling with Lucas, but he had been cold and mean to her. They were all under an impossible amount of stress, with all the murders at the house, but that didn’t give him the right to ignore her and talk down to her.
And the note Mr. Murphy had left for her in his old pipe had explicitly warned her to trust no one.
She certainly didn’t trust Lucas enough to show him the envelope she found hidden behind the giant photograph of Fox Nettle hanging in the house. Mr. Murphy had hidden it for a reason, and he had clearly intended for her to find it.
Part of her wanted to trust Lucas like she had before, but part of her kept feeling there was some weight to what his cousin Liam had said. He was being held as the main suspect in the murders of his uncle Mr. Murphy, his uncle Jeb, his aunt Ruth, his cousin Rebecca, and Honey Lampkin, a con artist who tried to grift the wrong family and ended up strangled in the downstairs hallway.
Liam swore up and down he hadn’t committed the murders, but of course he would say that. He also claimed Lucas was trying to frame him. Rachel didn’t believe Liam, but she had to admit she barely knew anyone in the family aside from Mr. Murphy, whose tragic death started this whole mess. Lucas was as much of a stranger to her as Liam was.
At the end of the day, her loyalty was to Sam Murphy, her boss and mentor, and she would make sure his final wishes were carried out, just like he had wanted.
Feeling calmer and more composed, she left the bathroom. Lucas was already under the covers, and he pulled them back to invite her in with him.
“Come here, you,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, shrugging it off as she sat on the side of the bed. “I just feel bad. He’s an old man, and I kicked him in the nuts.”
“He’ll be okay,” said Lucas, trying not to laugh.
“It’s not funny,” she said, trying hard not to smile herself. “I could have really hurt him.” She never wanted to hurt anyone. It went against everything in her.
“Don’t let it get to you. He said he was fine, and he will be. Besides, Ava should have told you he was staying.”
“Well, she’s right. She lives here and she’s an adult. She doesn’t need my permission, so I’m sure she didn’t think anything of it.”
“Well, it’s best we know who is here at night, considering everything that’s been going on.”
“Right, you said you wanted to know who’s around in case something happened. But you also said the killer is locked up and we have nothing to be afraid of. Don’t tell me there’s a part of you that isn’t sure.” Rachel had thought the statement was a bit odd when he’d made it earlier.
Lucas shrugged it off. “I’m positive that the killer is put away where he needs to be. Liam fooled me at first, but I’m not letting that happen again. All I mean is there could be a fire or something. It’s best not to have people all over the house that we don’t know about. What if he had done that to me? I might have killed him.”
Rachel felt a cold feeling inside her. “You wouldn’t have killed him,” she said, not wanting to think about it.
“You know what I mean,” he said. “I might have kicked him harder, punched him harder. He could have ended up in the hospital, and the cops would be here again asking more questions. That’s the last thing we need.”
“Sounds like the last thing he needs either,” she said.
She slipped under the covers with him and anticipated the warm feelings she had before, especially when he cupped her chin and turned her to kiss her lips. But it just wasn’t there.
The kiss was soft and lingering as it continued. When he pulled away, he pulled her closer. She turned on her side and spooned with him. He planted a soft kiss just behind her ear and nuzzled his face against her hair. It should have been everything.
“You smell amazing,” he said. “I may not want to let you go.”
As he let out a soft sigh, the hollow feeling inside her grew bigger. It wasn’t love. Or anything like it.
