Return to Autumn House - A Halloween Serial - Chapter Eight - Jill Kemerer

by Jill Kemerer

CHAPTER EIGHT

          As Cris loaded his gun, Hallie fought the panic choking her. He was going to kill them! Thunder boomed, followed by a jagged bolt of lightning. She instinctively grabbed Kane’s arm. He’d hidden his cell phone between them and was typing something.

          Thank You, Lord! Kane had always been smart—a step ahead of everyone—including Crispin. She’d better distract Cris before he could see what Kane was doing.

          “Remember how your senior prank got you suspended from high school, Cris? This will land you in prison. Did you put two seconds of thought into kidnapping us?” She infused as much steel into her voice as she could muster. “If you kill us out here, it will take all of three seconds for the cops to figure out you murdered us.”

          “Nice try, cousin.” Cris waved the gun and glared at her. “But you’re forgetting. I am a cop.”

          “You won’t be able to cover this up. Investigators aren’t stupid. And for crying out loud, stop calling me cousin.” She wasn’t getting out of the car, and she wasn’t going to die. Not tonight. Not like this. She wasn’t the same wimpy Hallie who had caved to her parents’ every demand. “You never considered me family before.”

          “But we are family according to dear old Granddad.” His teeth gleamed, menacing in the dim light.      

          “Are you in the will? Is that it? If you get rid of me, you’ll get your hands on the money?”

          Lightning ripped again, and Cris rubbed his chin, the gun still raised in his other hand.

          Kane leaned close and whispered, “Trust me.”

          Trust the man who had given her the most amazing kiss of her life only to walk away? The one who’d fallen for Ivy’s charms?

          Not this time, buddy.

          Was she being fair? Kane never cheated on Hallie. He’d dumped her to date Ivy, yes, but they only lasted a few weeks, and now Ivy was married to some hockey player.

          Hallie closed her eyes a moment. Kane wasn’t Superman. But if she could channel her inner Lois Lane and figure this mystery out, maybe she’d give Clark Kent another chance. Find out if his kiss still held superpowers for her.

          “Hallie’s right, Apple.” Kane sounded weak, like he was going to pass out. She searched his face, but he didn’t look pale. The blood smeared across his cheek reminded her he needed to see the doctor. He groaned and held his head in his hands. “Take us back to Autumn House, and I’ll tell you where it is. I know how to draw up the documents so you won’t be implicated. We’ll work out a deal.”

          Cris glanced back over his shoulder. His creepy grin and dead eyes sent a shiver over Hallie’s skin. That was one apple who had fallen far from the family tree.

          “I knew you weren’t as spotless as you want everyone to think. After all, you are a lawyer.” Cris started the cruiser, backed up and made a U-turn on the road. “If you even think about double-crossing me, I’ll shoot her in the head and dump her body over the cliff before you can say trick or treat.”

          Hallie gasped. Ruthless. Was money the reason Cris wanted her dead or was there more to it?

          Kane drew Hallie to him, and she leaned against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat thumping under his wet cotton shirt. He kissed the top of her head. He whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

          Maybe she was wrong. Maybe Clark Kent really was Superman.

          Or both of these men could be after something she didn’t understand. What was it about Autumn House that had brought the three of them together?

          “What is at Autumn House?” She straightened, tired of being the only one without the facts. “What are you two hiding?”

          “It’s not like that…” Kane touched her arm.

          Cris tightened his grip on the wheel and floored it. The tires skidded on the wet pavement but stayed on the road. A few more miles and they’d be back at the house. “Hallie brings up an interesting point, Kane. What are you hiding?”

***

Stop in tomorrow for chapter nine!

Return to Autumn House Halloween Serial Chapter Five by Deb Kastner

Kane groaned and opened his eyes, but everything was dark and blurry, and his stomach lurched with the sensation that he was moving. Hallie’s long blond hair swished against his face, bringing him to instant alertness.

Hallie.

She’d come back to him, as he’d hoped she would. He had so much to share with her, so many things left unsaid. Like why he’d disappeared after their special Halloween kiss so many years ago—how her controlling parents had threatened his less well-to-do family if he didn’t leave her alone.

He hadn’t had the courage to follow his convictions then, but he did now. That was why it was so important that he beat Cris to the punch.

He smothered another groan. The punch.

Kane had been waiting for Hallee at Autumn House, her grandfather’s will in hand, when Cris had snuck up on him and swung a heavy limb at his head. Kane’s nemesis didn’t want Hallie to see what was inside the old house, the reason lights had been seen so many nights, flickering from its gloomy windows.

No—Cris wanted to ruin the very thing that could change Hallie’s life for the good. She already had money. Kane had once thought money would buy happiness, but it hadn’t. And it wouldn’t now. No conglomerate could ever offer what Kane could—if he had the opportunity to explain.

He reached up to brush his fingers across Hallie’s soft cheek and she jumped, startled.

“Kane!”

“Hallie, I--”

She pulled him to her, practically strangling him in her embrace.

“It’s Cris,” she breathed raggedly in his ear. “He’s not taking us to see Dr. Snick. I don’t know where—Kane, I’m frightened.”

He sat up. His head was still spinning, but there was no time to worry about that now. “I’ve got you, babe.” Just like all those years ago, she melted into his arms.

He looked around the back of the police cruiser, but there was little he could do from here. There were no handles on the door, nor could he reach Cris through the screen separating them. He’d have to wait—but for what?

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Per the terms of the will, there was a way to get around the big conglomerate, and the threat of an amusement park being built on Hallie’s land. He had proof of that in his pocket.

Should he? Was now--?

“I see you’ve come to,” Cris said with a wicked chuckle. “Just in time for the party, it seems.”

“What are you talking about?” Hallie demanded. “What party?”

Cris snorted. “Figure of speech, doll. You’ll see in a moment.”

Hallie screamed and launched for the screen separating her from the dirty cop. “You let us out of here right now.”

Kane reached for her shoulders, trying to sooth her. It wouldn’t help either one of them to lose their heads right now. They needed to think, to figure their way out of this mess.

Cris stomped on the brakes, sending Hallie flying backward. Kane couched her in his arms, taking the brunt of the fall. His head exploded in fragments of pain, but he shook it off. For Hallie’s sake, he had to stay alert.

“You wanted out?” Cris asked with a leer. “Then get out.”

“You know good and well that we can’t.” Kane gestured to the handle-less doors. “And anyway, we’re out in the middle of nowhere.”

Cris cut the engine and lifted his right hand, brandishing his Marshmallow, Maine police-furnished pistol. He laughed as he loaded the barrel. “Exactly.”

Return to Autumn House - Halloween Serial - Chapter 6 - by Jolene Navarro

Return to Autumn House

(A Halloween Serial)

Chapter Six

Jolene Navarro

Hallie had tried to hold Kane as he fell, but two hundred pounds of muscles stretched over bones that topped at six three was more than she could handle on a good day. Today was not even close to being good. Backside planted in the mud, Kane’s limp body pinned her down.

Trying to look up, rain pelted her face. Cris lifted Kane by the shoulders. “I’ll take him to Doc’s. You go on back to the hotel. I’ll call you later.” Without a care to Kane’s comfort Cris tossed the unconscious lawyer back into the county issued vehicle.

“No, I’m going with you. You can’t drop that kind of price tag on me then say we’ll talk later. Cowardly! Come on boy!” The dog barked at her then turned and ran back to the house. Ugh. Stupid dog. “Cowardly!”

Cris already sat in his car. With one last look at the dog, she sighed then jumped in the back seat. “I’m staying with Kane until I find out what’s going on.”

“I told you what was going on. Who do you think you should trust? He's lawyer. I enforce the law and I’m your cousin.”

“My cousin twice removed.” She glared at him. “I just want answers. What’s in Granddad’s will and why is someone offering so much for the old property?” She glanced at the man in her lap. And why was Kane bloody in the front flowerbed?

Like a great beast, the storm rattled the car. Holding Kane in her lap, she brushed back the bloody mess of hair.

“You haven’t been around, but your grandfather went crazy. There are people, including me, that think lawyer boy took advantage of him.”

Who could she trust? Her childhood friend and cousin, or the boy that she used to love with all her heart? With him back in her arms, it felt as if pieces she had left behind clambered to reunite. Superman to her Louis.

Twisting around, she looked over her shoulders. Through the back window the house stood alone on the cliff’s edge. Surrounded by a deep darkness.

Once upon a time, it stood as a beacon of light, a sanctuary from her challenging parents. She worked until her fingers bled and the skill had earned her a spot at Julliard and the Chicago Symphony, but hadn’t been good enough. First chair stayed out of her reach, let alone the London Symphony Orchestra that they wanted for her.

Even after their deaths she could hear their criticism. The echo of their demands. More, more, more…still drove her to perfection. She was their protégé, their legacy in the music world.

A tear slip out. Wiping it away she swallowed the bitter lump of regret and grief that clogged her throat. Or maybe it was those nasty chips she ate earlier.

All she knew was that her parents had taken her away from the only place she had known unconditional love, claiming her grandfather was too soft. That he would weaken her. Now he was gone too. And she hadn’t said goodbye.

Kane moaned. His eyes squeezed tight then fluttered. She stroked his jaw. He had been her teenage dream, she thought they would grow old together in the house on the cliff. But just as her parents had sent her away, he had cut her off without explanation and the dream had become a nightmare.

Now he wanted her to trust him. He turned his head, the beautiful blue she had gazed into so many times now looked confused. His mouth opened. “The…”

“Kane?” His head fell to the side. “Cris can you go any faster? I’m really worried.”

“I’m going as fast as I can in this storm. I need you to listen to me. Stop making goo-goo eyes at him. Kane can’t be trusted.”

“That’s what he said about you.” She kept her gaze on Kane, watching for any sign of change.

“I’m not the one that dumped you for Ivy. He hasn’t changed, he’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Remember the lies he told you, going on about how beautiful you were. He’s low. He probably hit himself over the head to get your sympathy. Is it even real blood? I have some people you need to talk to before you do anything.”

Old insecurities raised their ugly heads. Looking up from Kane’s perfect profile she glanced out the window. Her heart slammed against her breast bone and her skin became too tight. “This isn’t the way to Doc’s. Cris where are you taking us?” Dread snaked through her veins. She really needed Kane to join the party.

Tomorrow tune in to find out if Kane wake's up.... 

If you are looking for a nice Christmas story - my October release would be perfect for you. A Texas Christmas Wish is available now.  :)

Return to Autumn House Halloween Serial Chapter Five by Danica Favorite

Kane tried to ignore the ringing in his ears. Or were those warning bells in his mind? The last thing he needed was for Crispin to start throwing his weight around on a case where he didn’t belong. Kane didn’t believe for a minute that he followed up on Mary Ann’s concern out of his civic duty, or even the goodness of his own heart. 

The police cruiser skidded to a halt with a little more force than necessary. Kane held his head at the sudden jolt. 

He looked up and glared at the other man, knowing he’d slammed on the brakes on purpose. But as he opened his mouth to say something, he caught the look on Hallie’s face. She still thought that the rivalry between the two men was mere petty boy stuff. 

He’d tried to warn her back in high school that Crispin Apple was not who he seemed to be, and even now, as Apple was cautioning the pretty girl about strange things happening in Marshmallow, the stars in her eyes said that there was no way she’d listen to anything Kane had to say otherwise.

“So what were you doing up here, anyway?” Crispin said as he let Kane out of the back of the car. “I’m pretty sure you were told to stay away.”

Kane grunted. “Not by anyone with the authority to do so.”

He could feel Hallie’s questioning gaze on his face, but before he could answer, Crispin did so himself. “Betcha lawyer-boy here hadn’t told you about the offer.”

“What offer?” Those beautiful brown eyes turned on him, searing his heart and branding it with all the accusations she had back in high school. Betrayed. That’s what they said. But he hadn’t betrayed her then, and he wasn’t betraying her now.

If only he could convince her to listen to the truth. For once.

As he searched for the words to explain the terms of the will, and more importantly, how the offer that Crispin was throwing in Hallie’s face wasn’t what it seemed, his vision blurred. Kane started to speak, but the ringing in his ears grew louder. Until all he heard was Crispin triumphantly telling Hallie about the conglomerate that wanted to purchase the property for ten million dollars with the intention of turning it into a Halloween-themed amusement park. 

Hallie gasped, then everything went black.