Her Terrifying Love

Part 11

When Lyla returned home after school, she discovered a man and woman dressed in suits sitting in a car at the curb in front of her house. They may as well have been holding signs that said: HI. WE'RE COPS.

Lyla's dad met her on the front porch. He draped his arm around his daughter's shoulder. Her stomach churned and she felt her cheeks flush pink when the officers climbed out of the unmarked police car.

"I'm Detective Morales," said the female officer. She smiled and spoke in a fake friendly tone of voice.

"Ryan Perry," Lyla's dad introduced himself.

Morales' hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. A scar zigzagged from her hairline across her forehead to her temple. "This is my partner, Detective Steiger." He looked like an undertaker. "You're Lyla Perry?"

She nodded.

"What's this about?" Ryan asked. He turned toward his daughter.

"Keenan Ames. Do you mind if we talk inside?" Lyla's heart pounded.

The detectives entered the modest brick home, their eyes took in the simple furnishings. Detective Morales got straight to business. "So, Keenan Ames was your boyfriend?"

"No. Not really." Lyla drummed her fingers nervously on her book bag.

"What do you mean not really?"

"It didn't work out."

"Which one of you ended the relationship?" Steiger continued.

"What difference does that make?" Lyla's dad interrupted.

"I did," Lyla answered firmly.

"When was the last time you saw Keenan Ames?" asked Morales, trying to steer the conversation back to a cordial tone.

The figure standing across the soccer field suddenly flashed into Lyla's mind. She managed, "I saw him at a party. On Saturday."

"The party at Coughlin's Farm."

Lyla's eyes drifted to Detective Steiger who stood like a statue, eyes fixed on her. He looked as though he hadn't smiled since grade school.

"People said you and Mr. Ames got into a loud fight at the party." The detective leaned forward in her seat. "And he got rough with you."

Lyla could tell that the detectives trying to trip her up. She knew they were watching her for telltale signs. She wasn't sure how long she could keep it together.

Ryan became agitated. "Did he put his hands on you?"

"No, Dad. We just got into an argument. Like always."

"Sounded like more than an argument," Steiger added.

Ryan huffed, "That damn kid is--"

He was interrupted by a loud BANG at the front door. Ryan opened the door to find a large blackbird lying dead on the porch.

"Looks like its neck is broken," said Steiger.

FLASH. Lyla found herself kneeling beside Jack's car on the deserted road. Keenan's body was sprawled in the gravel, his neck twisted and broken.

"Miss Perry?" Morales' voice brought Lyla back to her living room.

"Huh?" She snapped out of the memory.

"You're positive that you haven't seen him since the party? Didn't bump into him at school?" Morales asked.

Lyla shook her head. "He doesn't go to my school."

"Has he contacted you? Text? Message? Phone call?"

"Nope." She clasped her hands behind her back to prevent them from trembling.

"Well, if you should hear from him, please let me know," the detective handed Lyla her business card. The detectives made their way to the police car.

Lyla wondered who the police had questioned. Had anyone told them that Keenan left the party in a rage determined to find her? How long would it be before the police put the pieces together? She felt sick to her stomach.

"You okay?" Ryan watched his daughter climb the stairs.

"Fine." She forced a weak smile.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"No," she shook her head and went to her room.

Lyla was startled by a racket at her window. A large blackbird stood on her windowsill, tapping its beak against the glass. She went to the window and waved her hands, trying to scare off the bird.

The blackbird gave her a long measured look, then took to the air.