Deadly Deceit Read online

  Deadly Deceit

  By

  Sarah Markel

  Prologue

  The scene was chaos. Police officers and firefighters scrambled around the destruction of one of their own. Bystanders stood outside the designated area, filming the disaster on their smartphones as the rescue teams frantically searched for a possible survivor.

  There wouldn’t be one. The bomber made sure of that. Standing back in the shadows of a nearby building, the bomber watched triumphantly as one of the firefighters pointed out an arm resting on the ground, just under the chassis of the car.

  Let this be a lesson, the bomber thought venomously, maybe next time you will keep your hands to yourself.

  As more police began to arrive, officers started pushing the crowd farther back.

  “Is she dead?” someone asked loudly.

  “Who would do something like this?” another shout, from closer to where the bomber was standing, made the bomber nervous.

  Before the nosey crowd could call too much attention to itself, the bomber stepped further into the shadows and followed the narrow alley away from the scene.

  At the other end of the alley, the bomber stepped out onto the sidewalk. Swept up by the throng of people milling about the town’s summer celebration, the bomber felt the unease slip away.

  Two down, the bomber thought with a smile.

  The bomber patiently waited in line for one of the food trucks, glancing around at the neighbors scurrying to and fro. Vendors lined the vast space surrounding the court house, hawking their handmade wares at supposedly discounted prices.

  After receiving a plate loaded with nachos, the bomber walked over to the courthouse steps and claimed a seat. A smile played over lips that hadn’t held a genuine smile in months as the bomber scoffed at the number of people who didn’t seem even remotely bothered by the blast that had rocked their town only 30 minutes ago.

  Neither of them saw it coming. None of the others will either. This town, all these people, none of them have any idea of what goes on around them. They don’t care to know. In a town like this, ignorance is definitely bliss.

  “Here you are.”

  The bomber looked up into soft brown eyes. The same eyes that once held the promise of love and happiness, now only held the promise of lies.

  “I wanted some nachos,” the bomber replied, “The line was outrageously long.”

  “Well, hurry up and eat,” the woman replied, “Jo and Christie are holding our place in line. It’s almost our turn on the Ferris wheel!”

  The bomber hurriedly finished the food and accepted the woman’s hand. The pair walked quickly to the other side of the grounds, where a huge Ferris wheel loomed. They made their way beside the line until they reached their friends.

  “Finally,” Jolene said, chuffing the bomber on the shoulder, “We thought we were going to have to do this as a threesome.”

  The bomber snorted. I wonder if that’s ever happened.

  The bomber just chuckled, waving off the playful comment. The thought that had entered was a disturbing one, one that needn’t be entertained. Nah, those two only have eyes for each other.

  The two couples chatted amicably as they waited for the passengers on the ride to disembark. Once the ride was clear to be reloaded, the group found their way into a car and claimed seats next to their spouses.

  “This summer has been such a blast!” Christina said, snuggling close to her fiancée.

  You have no idea, my friend, the bomber thought as the door to the car was closed, you have no idea.

  Chapter 1

  Christina and Christian:

  “I can’t believe this is happening, Chris!” Christina Hess squealed as she hugged her older brother.

  “I know, Sis,” Christian replied, “It seemed to take forever for today to get here, and now that it is; it seems so surreal. Like, I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and it will all be a dream.”

  “I know what you mean,” Christina replied, straightening the bodice of her dress, “We’ve been waiting for years for this day, and now all our dreams are coming true.”

  Christian beamed at his younger sister. She was right: the pair had been waiting for almost four years for their weddings. It wasn’t that they and their partners had intended on a lengthy engagement, that was just how things worked out.

  Had they been able to have their weddings closer to home, they would already be married by now. Christian and Christina belonged to a prominent family, and whenever the Hess Family held an event, photographers were bound to be present.

  The announcement of a wedding, double or not, was sure to garner notoriety in their community; notoriety that could spell trouble for both Christina, and Christian’s fiancée. So, while the announcements had been made public, with very few details, the weddings would take place on the Hess family’s private island in the Caribbean.

  With an exclusive guest list, and a trusted photographer, the chances that their neighbors and colleagues would discover their secrets was close to nothing.

  “Oh, my goodness!” shrieked Shirley Hess as she entered the bridal suite to find her children staring out the picture window at the grounds below, “Look at the two of you!”

  “The picture of elegance,” Robert Hess agreed, following his wife to embrace their children.

  “Thanks,” Christina and Christian replied in unison.

  “Can you believe it, Bobby? Our babies are getting married!” Shirley released Christina and traded places with Robert, pulling Christian into a tight embrace.

  “It’s about time, too,” Robert replied with a chuckle, mindful of Christina’s dress as he hugged her, “Your brother and sister were beginning to think it was never going to happen.”

  Christopher and Crystal, the oldest and youngest Hess children respectively, loved and supported their siblings. They also liked to tease the pair relentlessly.

  “They’re just jealous that she got the hottest cop on the beat,” Christian replied with a shake of his head, “And I got the best-looking teacher in the world.”

  Robert and Shirley chuckled. “Let me take some pictures of the two of you,” Shirley said, motioning for the two to stand together.

  Christian and Christina complied, slipping their arms around each other’s waists and smiling brightly for the camera. Both were beyond nervous, but their excitement outshone their anxiety.

  “That’s our cue,” Robert said, glancing at his phone when his alarm went off, “Are you two ready to get hitched?”

  Christian and Christina shared a glance. With a deep breath each, the siblings separated. Christian stepped next to his mother and looped his elbow. Christina stood next to Robert, threading her arm through his.

  Robert and Shirley each placed a kiss on their child’s cheek. “We are so proud of you,” they said in unison.

  With matching smiles, and a faint blush of pride, the Hess siblings followed at their parent’s sides as they were led out of the house.

  Joseph and Jolene:

  “Calm down, Jo,” Joseph Preston said, watching with amusement as his fraternal twin sister paced around the bridal room.

  “I can’t calm down,” Jolene replied, raising her hand to run through her hair. She paused, remembering that the hair stylist had threatened to remove her hand if she messed up her hair again.

  Jolene wasn’t normally one to be concerned by the threats of petite women, but her future mother-in-law’s niece was scary. She’d also messed up the beautiful braid, adorned with a multitude of tiny white flowers, three times already.

  “We’re about to get married to the most amazing people, Joe. I know, logically, that things aren’t going to change that much. But, I mean, this is the real deal. After today, there’s no more personal space;
it will be our space.”

  Joseph watched his sister with a smile on his face. She really was adorable, whether she liked to admit it or not. The twins had been living with their significant others for nearly five years, and now Jolene was freaking out about personal space?

  “Jo, you aren’t making any sense,” he said, picking up a can of SPF 100 sun block, “Chris has been inside your personal space. Why are you so concerned about it now?”

  Jolene whipped around and looked at her brother indignantly. “Classy, Joseph,” she said with a frown of distaste, “Do you talk like that around Bob and Shirley?”

  Joseph motioned for his sister to turn around, and sprayed the sun block on the exposed parts of her back and shoulders. “Of course,” he chuckled, “You should hear some of the things Bob says.”

  “How are you so calm right now?” Jolene asked, turning to face her brother so he could douse her chest and the rest of her arms.

  Being in the Caribbean for the past two days had been a pain in the ass for the redhead. If she even so much as went near a window, she had to apply the sunblock or risk blisters and a sunburn on her wedding day.

  Joseph didn’t have it nearly as bad. Where Jolene’s pale skin was easily reddened by the sun, his bronzed; giving him an exotic look. Brown skin and red hair was a relatively unique combination; one Jolene wished she could experience.

  “Oh, I’m nowhere near calm,” Joseph replied, setting the spray on the vanity table, “I’m just really good at hiding it. Years of hiding who I am, for ten hours a day, five days a week, has made me a pro at being stoic. Inside, my guts are churning, and my mind is running through all the what-if’s.”

  Jolene’s expression softened, and she pulled her brother in for a tight hug. Thank God, the sun block wouldn’t stain their clothes.

  “I’m sorry you have to hide, Bubby,” she said, reverting to her childhood nickname for him, “It’s too bad you and Chris don’t work for a school that is more progressive. Maybe you two should transfer to one of the Marilynn schools. At least there, you wouldn’t have to hide who you are.”

  Joseph shook his head and stepped back, straightening his tie. “I can’t leave my students, Sissy. I know P.E. isn’t what most people consider a subject, but you know how important it is to me for kids to be healthy. Most gym teachers these days don’t give a rat’s ass about a kid’s health, but I do.”

  “And,” he added with a proud grin, “they don’t give me shit when I make them do something. One thing most teenage boys want, is to look like me.”

  Joseph made a show of flexing his impressive biceps and rippling his pectorals. Jolene laughed and let out a wolf-whistle. Joseph was well-built; something that inspired his students to participate fully in his class. He never led them to believe that P.E. was how he achieved such an impressive build, but he did stress the importance of physical activity and how it would help them achieve a body like his.

  As a child, Joseph Preston had been overweight and uninspired to make a change in himself. He rarely joined the other kids in physical activity, and always had some excuse as to why he couldn’t participate in gym class. It wasn’t until his senior year in high school that Joseph began to understand the importance of fitness.

  Enduring a heart attack at the tender age of seventeen, Joseph realized that he needed to make a change. With the help of his family, mostly his twin sister, Joseph began a grueling regimen to get in shape. It took him almost five years of strict routine, but by the time he acquired his teaching degree, Joseph looked like a life-long athlete.

  “There’s my little stud muffin,” Beth Preston stepped into the room with her husband hot on her heels.

  “Thanks, Mom,” the twins said in unison, much to their father’s amusement.

  Beth rolled her eyes and hugged each of her children. “You two may be fraternal on the outside,” Frank said, chuffing his twins on the shoulder, “but your egos are identical. You two ready to say I do?”

  Joseph nodded confidently, but Jolene’s was more hesitant. Frank and Beth frowned at their daughter.

  “You aren’t getting cold feet now, are you sweetie?” Frank asked gently, placing his arm around her shoulders.

  “No, not at all,” Jolene replied quickly, “I can’t wait to spend my life with Chris. I’m just nervous. I’m not good at hiding my emotions, that’s all.”

  Frank squeezed Jolene again and offered her an understanding smile. “I was the same way when I married your Mama,” he said, blowing a kiss to his wife, “I was scared shitless. But, once we were together at the altar, all those nerves melted away. I’m sure you will feel the same way, darlin’.”

  An alarm on Beth’s phone trilled, signaling that it was time to go. She curled her arm through Joseph’s, and led her son out of the room.

  “Don’t worry, Jo,” Frank said, leading his daughter, “Tomorrow, this will all be a memory that you and Chris will look back on and laugh about. Your Mama and I still laugh about our wedding day, and we’ve been married almost forty years!”

  Jolene smiled fondly at her father. The one person she’d never worried about impressing, was her Daddy. Frank Preston’s only daughter was the light of his life, and he’d instilled in her and her brothers that he would love and support them no matter what. No matter who they were in this life, or what they chose to do, he was proud of them.

  “Thank you, Daddy,” Jolene said as the pair walked toward the beach.

  Frank smiled and patted Jolene’s hand. “It’s a good thing the Hess’ are like me and your Mama,” he said quietly, so no one would overhear, “Understanding people with open minds and loving hearts. I’m glad you two are being accepted into their family with open arms.”

  Jolene beamed and pecked her father’s cheek. He wasn’t the only one grateful for the family the twins were marrying into.

  Joseph and Jolene couldn’t ask for better in-laws than Robert and Shirley Hess. Both were incredibly well-rounded people, and went out of their way to make their children happy. And, unlike many wealthy people from their town, they never made Joseph or Jolene feel like they weren’t worthy.

  It genuinely didn’t matter to them that Jolene was a police officer, or that Joseph was a gym teacher. Granted, their son was a cop, and their daughter a teacher, but that wouldn’t stop other members of Dallas’ social elite from condemning the professions of their children’s suitors.

  Standing in the waiting area for the music to announce their procession, Jolene exchanged one last look with her brother. After today, the would no longer be two Preston’s dating two Hess’. As of today, all four would be Preston’s.

  ***

  “Alright, you four,” Beth said, motioning for the newlyweds to join her and Shirley in front of the white-and-pink rose arbor, “Let’s get these wedding photos out of the way, so you can get ready to leave for your honeymoon.”

  “Let’s start with the public photos,” Shirley suggested, patting Christian and Jolene on the arms.

  Both couples groaned, but Christian and Jolene stepped up to the arbor. Christian slipped his arm around Jolene’s waist and hugged her close. Jolene placed her hand on the man’s chest, making sure that her wedding ring was visible.

  The photographer snapped away, capturing the staged scene that would be shared in the newspaper on Monday morning. He’d been the Hess family photographer for almost twenty-five years, and happily provided what was expected of him. And, he made a fortune doing it.

  When he was done with Christian and Jolene, Christina and Joseph took their places, mimicking the same poses as their siblings. The residents of their community would adore the photos, as would Christina and Joseph’s colleagues at the school. They had already been informed that the photos would be used to decorate the teacher’s lounge, once they returned from their honeymoon.

  “This is stupid,” Christina mumbled under her breath, as she and Joseph moved into another pose, “I hate lying, especially about who I am.”

  “Completely agree,
” Joseph mumbled back, looking deeply into Christina’s eyes and dipping his head as if to kiss her, “But, at least we will have the real photos for our homes and social media pages. Once Dallas catches up, we can drop the charade.”

  Christina frowned as if to say yeah right. Joseph offered her a knowing grin.

  When the photographer stopped to reload his camera, Joseph left the arbor. Jolene took his spot, pulling her new wife in for a deep kiss. Christina melted against Jolene’s lips, both oblivious to the clicking of the photographer’s shutter.

  Jolene’s long red braid rested over her right shoulder, providing a brilliant contrast against her white strapless gown. Christina’s ebony curls, tied back in a braid matching her new wife’s, rested over her left shoulder in the same manner as Jolene’s.

  “I love you, Mrs. Preston,” Jolene said, her lips fluttering softly over Christina’s.

  Christina’s heart soared at hearing her new name on her wife’s lips. Christina had always intended on taking Jolene’s last name, and Christian’s willingness to take Joseph’s had worked out perfectly. Although Jolene and Christian’s sexuality garnered no repercussions in their professional lives, the same could not be said for Joseph and Christina.

  Dallas, Oregon, an unincorporated suburb of the larger city of Marilynn, was as conservative as could be. Marilynn, on the other hand, was progressive and accepting of all peoples. Christian and Jolene served their community as members of the Marilynn Police Department, opting not to join Dallas’ smaller department when they graduated the Academy.

  Joseph and Christina taught at the Dallas High School, which made being out of the closet difficult for teachers. They weren’t the only gay teachers in the school, but the school’s code of moral conduct forbade them from making their sexuality public knowledge.

  Teachers who violated the code of conduct willingly, were often terminated for it. Both Christina and Joseph adored their jobs, and their students, forcing both to keep a tight hold on their preferences. With the agreement of their partners, both teachers had agreed to pretend to be in a relationship with each other, for the sake of their careers.