Murder at the McMasters' Residence

Chapter 12

On my way home, I thought of all the evil things Moss/Michael (or whatever he's telling people his name is now) could do to me and my baby. 

Why on God's green planet did he choose me?

There were other women at the First Moms' Club he could've preyed on. Why me?

Then I remembered the photos of the victims. 

Average height, average weight, brown hair, brown eyes.. just like me.  

Michael didn't only like pregnant women; he had a type and unfortunately I fell in that category.

I hurried home to Sylvester to deliver this disturbing information to him. I wasn't sure how he was going to take it but I hope it would finally get through his thick skull that Moss was a murderer.

Serial killer to be exact.

I pulled up in our driveway to see Moss' van parked outside as well as an ambulance and three police cars. My heart skipped a beat (or ten). I stopped my car in the middle of the driveway. My hands quaked as I opened my car door, praying to God that nothing happened to Sylvester.

I ran across the lawn to our front door where the paramedics was pushing someone on a stretcher trolley.

"Oh my God!" I screamed.

I felt a cop grab onto me before I could run up the front steps.

"Ma'am calm down," he kept saying but I ignored him.

Tears streamed down my face as I waited for the paramedics to pass me by. Just as my heart was about to sink, Sylvester came outside.

"Syl!" I shouted, happily. I wiggled out of the policeman's arms and ran up to him and hugged him.

Syl barely even looked at me. Something about the way he hugged me told me he was upset with me.

"What happened to Moss?" I asked trying to brush off his effortless hug.

"It's not Moss.. that was Claire," he sighed.

Moss then came outside followed by a cop. It looked like he had just given a statement.

I was highly disappointed to discover that Moss was safe and that something awful had happened to Claire instead.

"Good to see you, Mrs. McMaster. Your coffee date was longer than I thought," he smirked at me then shook my husband's hand. "Goodbye, Syl and send my love to Claire."

I stood there in shock.

Coffee date? What the fuck is he talking about?

"Excuse me? What coffee date?" I asked him. 

Moss looked at me, shook his head then headed straight to his vehicle. 

"What is he talking about? I asked Syl instead, annoyed.

Syl scoffed then went inside the house. The cops and ambulance left me outside as well.

What's his problem?

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I followed behind Syl and slammed the door shut. I searched the rooms then finally found him in our library. Syl never came in here unless he was upset or was researching some shit for work and he wasn't searching for shit.

I'm in trouble.

"Sylvester, I need to know what happened to Claire and what the hell was Moss talking about?" I demanded. His silent treatment wasn't going to help anything.

He ignored me, staring out the window.

I walked in front of him then said in my sweetest, concerned voice, "Syl, talk to me."

He finally gave me eye contact. 

This is working.

"Claire fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Medics said she'll be fine," he muttered.

"Oh no. I have to visit her tomorrow. I am glad she's gonna be okay though," I replied, "Now, about Moss..."

"You mean about you.." he snapped.

Confused, I asked, "Me? What about me?"

"Where were you earlier?"

Fuck.

I sighed. "At Chelsea's."

He stared at me for a good while then smiled, shaking his head.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I knew you were going to say that."

"You don't believe me?" I asked, a bit surprised. 

I could've told Syl I vacationed on the moon and he probably would've believed me. What's with him now?

"Do you expect me to? You weren't even at the doctor," he responded, his arms folded across his chest.

"I know but I can explain tha-

"Moss told me he saw you talking with some guy at a coffee shop during the time you said you were going to see the doctor," he said, getting out of his seat.

Moss is really working for it. He wasn't even there when that guy was talking to me... or was he?

"I stopped at the coffee shop before I went to Chelsea's house. A guy in the line was talking to me. Nothing serious, just friendly conversation then I left," I answered.

Sylvester shook his head and held up his hand, indicating for me to stop talking.

"Aria, whatever games you're playing with me, I advise you to stop. It isn't worth our family nor this marriage," he said firmly.

I gaped at Syl. Was he implying that I was cheating on him?

"Syl.. you think I'm cheating?" I asked, "I told you where I was and I can explain why I was there if you just let me," I responded in defense.

"I don't care!" Syl shouted.

"I'm fucking pregnant! Why the hell would I cheat on you? I am not capable of doing anything at all!" I shouted back.

"Moss said you would've said that," he muttered.

"You're listening to Moss now? Out of all people! Have you lost your God damn mind?" I yelled, really losing my shit.

"I talk to anyone I want. We share similarities like a love for cars, Italian food and ungrateful, cheating pregnant wives. I really don't wish to hear anything else. I'm going to a hotel for the night. Bye!" he spat in disgust, leaving the room.

The world stopped. 

Ouch.

"Moss isn't even who he says he is!" I shouted, on the verge of bursting into tears.

"I don't wanna hear it, Aria," he said in the distance, dismissing the conversation.

Jonathon Moss has not only driven fear into my life but he has persuaded my husband and only protector into thinking that I am a horrible cheater. 

An "ungrateful, cheating pregnant wife" to be exact.

I came home to explain to Sylvester who Johnathon Moss really was but first I had to ensure him that I was still being faithful to him.

I had to call Chelsea.