Three days later on Friday morning Luke sat in a café sipping on a coffee wondering what would happen to him next. His life was in a shambles. Bethany was in hospital recovering from a severe concussion. When the police interviewed her she had accused Luke of attacking her, but he had been quickly cleared of any suspicion when her fingerprints were found on the knife which had cut his arm. He had required twelve stitches and his arm was still sore, but it would recover. When he recounted to the police about what Bethany had said about taking care of some lawyer guy, they checked her DNA and fingerprints against those found at the murder scene of Michael Anderson. Her DNA was found on the vase which had been used as the murder weapon. When Bethany recovered from her injuries she would be charged with murder.
But after all he had been through it still wasn't over. Summer was still out there somewhere and he was certain she would come after him.
Luke had been staying at a motel since the attack. He could never go back to his flat again. He had no idea what he was going to do with his life. Summer and Bethany had ruined it for him.
He picked up his cup and took another long sip of the hot coffee. It scalded his throat but he didn't care. He was beyond caring about anything anymore. As he put the cup down he looked up and thought he saw Summer sitting in front of him. She looked as beautiful as ever with a face like a fairy princess, but her long hair had changed from black to light brown."Hello, Luke," she whispered.
"I'm imagining you," he muttered, "You're not here. Go away."
She reached across the table and took his hand. "But I am here, Luke, really."
He felt her soft hand gently squeezing his, and he looked at her startled. "Summer?" he gasped, "What are you doing here? If someone recognises you, you could be arrested. I should call the police myself. Are you going to try and kill me right here in a public place?"
She looked hurt. "Luke, I would never try to harm you. Why would you think that?"
Luke felt confused. "You were stalking me, no that was your sister. Did you know she tried to kill me?"
"I just found out," she said in a sad voice, "Poor Bethany. I think she was trying to protect me. Did you know while I was growing up in Townsville she was my only friend? But now I'm going to have to leave her behind. I've saved enough money and I'm leaving Australia. You'll never see or hear from me again, Luke." She paused and continued slowly, "Unless you want to come with me."
"What? Go with you? Are you out of your mind?"
"Yes I probably am, but Luke please listen to me. I'm flying out of Sydney on Sunday night to Los Angeles, then on to Brazil. I'm going to start a new life there where the Australian police won't be able to get me. I've got a plane ticket and a passport in a fake name. But Luke, I got the guy who makes the passports to make another one for you, and I've booked a plane ticket for you."
Luke looked at her astonished. "You want me to go to Brazil with you?"
It's totally up to you, Luke. The plane leaves from Sydney airport at eight o'clock Sunday night. I'll be waiting for you at seven o'clock in the departure lounge. I'll have your ticket and passport with me." She leaned across the table and kissed him.
He should have pulled away, but he couldn't. As he felt her soft lips on his and smelled her perfume, the the old attraction for her came back, well just a little bit.
She stood up, and Luke noticed her eyes were wet with tears before she slipped on a pair of large sunglasses. "I've changed since I was locked up in the institution," she murmured, "I'm a better person, I still love you and I would never cheat on you or hurt you in any way. Seven o'clock Sunday night in the lounge at the airport. I'll be waiting for you, Luke. You can either let me go and never see me again, or send the police to arrest me. I'll understand if you do. Or you could pack a bag and come with me. We could start a new life, leave all this behind and be happy together. Goodbye Luke. I love you so much." She turned and quickly walked out of the café.
Luke watched her go. He couldn't believe what she had just suggested to him. Go with her to live in Brazil? She was a murderer. She had killed two of his friends, and she would cheat on him for sure. She could never settle down with just one man. She would never change. She belonged back in the mental institution. The police could arrest her at the airport on Sunday night and he would be free of her at last. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and entered the number for Detective Cummings.
***
It was seven o'clock as Summer sat down in the departure lounge at the airport. She anxiously scanned the crowd. Would she see Luke making his way through the people towards her with a smile on his face, happy at the thought of leaving all their troubles behind and starting a new life with her in another country where they would both be safe?
Seven fifteen, seven thirty, no sign of Luke. An announcement was made that her flight was boarding. She would wait ten more minutes, but in her heart she knew he was not coming. She felt tears trickling down her face as she saw the four policemen striding quickly in her direction.
Well that's it.
It's all over for Summer.
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In the Shadows
Mystery / ThrillerFor Luke everything had gone wrong. His girlfriend had left him and he was alone and lonely, and now he was seeing someone in the shadows watching him when he went out at night. He was being stalked. It was a woman. It was HER, but that was impossib...