Cat-Crazy Lady Book Two: The Killer Returns

Chapter One: Mystery Gardener

•First off, I want to explain that if you copy my book, I will make sure that you have no access to chocolate for the rest of your life. And yes, Nutella is also part chocolate.

Also, yes, some of these characters are based off of real people. I usually ask for a person's permission before I make them a character. If you find a person who somehow has some similarities with a character, but has never heard of 'AimeeLovesCats,' then they are most likely not the basis of the character.

None of the images or videos are owned by me. I mean, seriously. If you seriously think that I can take that good of pictures (of people. Yes, I am a photographer. Whoooo! Photography! But I specialize in animals and flowers. I mean, duh! The name is AimeeLovesCats, peeps!) then you're insane.

I want to thank you for reading this. It really earns a lot to me, this being my second book and all.

Anyway, I'm sure that you'll find Zach and Lily more interesting than I am, so here you go. Enjoy!•

~Lily McJason~

I collapse on the ground in a kneeling position, feeling a sharp pain just below my knee caps. But I don't care. Brent is back in America, Officer Kelly had said. She might as well have told me Brent is coming to kill you. Zach runs to me, wrapping me tightly in his arms. Where is he? Have you caught him? Are you tracking him? Has he killed anyone else? Is he still a threat? Is he coming to murder me, killed with a steak knife just like my mother? All of the questions try to tumble out of my mouth at once, but my voice chokes on the words. Luckily, Officer Kelly saves me by solving the problem.

"Lily? Are you still there?" Officer Kelly asks.

"Yes," I manage to choke out. For some reason, my voice reminds me of a sick, dying, miserable frog letting out one last croak.

"Well, I think that it would be better to discuss it later. Let's meet at nine a.m on Wednesday for details. Ok?" Officer Kelly asks. I find it slightly amusing that she didn't ask me for the best time to meet. She must know that most jobs will let you off easy if you say Hey, I have an appointment at the police department. Can I take a couple hours off?

"Okay," I say shakily. "Goodbye." I attempt to lower my phone from my ear, but my hand shakes so badly that I drop my phone. Unlike most teenage girls, I don't immediately check to make sure that my 'baby' is okay. Instead, I look up at Zach, my chin beginning to quiver. The green pigment in his eyes goes grey with concern. His mouth forms a thin, firm line and he wraps an arm around my thigh, the other instinctively wrapping around my shoulders. I don't know where he's taking me, but I trust him. Zach slowly stands up, lifting me up off of the ground. He doesn't speak while he carries me down the stairs, his mouth maintaining a grim line. I cling to his chest, tears not falling from my eyelashes. But they would come. Zach sits on the couch and places me on his lap. He wraps my legs around his torso. He places his arms around me and pulls me to his chest. I rest my chin on his shoulder, our chests touching. And that's when the tears hit. My shoulders shake uncontrollably and my eyes close. A mixture of tears and snot run down my red face. Zach doesn't seem to mind that I'm soaking his shirt with it. We sit like that for a long time, me crying and Zach comforting me by stroking my hair. Soon, I pass out from pure exhaustion.
.........
I wake up and lift my head. I realize that I'm laying on my belly on top of... Zach. His large hand is on my rear, so I move it and begin pushing against his chest into a sitting position. Zach must feel my movement because his eyes flutter open.

"Hey," Zach says, his voice gravelly from sleep. A small, sad smile appears on his lips. "Are you okay?" The memories come flooding back like a wave of ocean water.