Kayla's Chronicles- Will Travel For Murder Read online

  “What did you want to talk about?” Kayla sat in a chair opposite Callie.

  “Stan treats me so good when he wants to, and he does love me, but I wanted to know your thoughts on the gifts he gave me today.” Callie appeared anxious to know what Kayla thought.

  “It’s none of my business, Callie. You have your life to live, and I have my life to live. Whatever happens in between is the path we were meant to take. I work at the antique store, and you work where you work. Stan is not someone I would have dated. He’s rude, he has a lack of love for what he should be treasuring. You should come first in his life, and not the other way around. I feel he takes you for granted, Callie.” Kayla watched her friend’s reaction.

  “You’re right about one thing.”

  “What’s that?” Kayla’s brow lowered.

  “Stan is rude. He’s the one I need in my life at this very point in time. My mother is telling me to dump the guy, but I have a heart inside here, and it’s telling me to stay with him. He’s not a bad person, Kayla. Please give him a chance. I’m begging here.” Callie pleaded as she bats her eyelashes at Kayla.

  “I will try to give him the benefit of the doubt, and I will allow him to choose you and you can choose him. When he stays the night and leaves you crying, that’s where I draw a line in the sand. Stan has no heart when he does that to you. It’s wrong, Callie.” Kayla wanted to reach out and make her understand. “It’s like he’s stringing you along or something.”

  Callie nodded. “It’s my choice. I have made a choice to stay with him, and nobody can do anything about that fact. I love him, adore him, and know he’s a good person deep inside. Stan has a difficult time getting to know others around him. I know you will like him if you let him in.”

  “I cannot do that, Callie. He’s your boyfriend, and there’s no chance of marriage right now. When or if you two marry, and I feel he will treat you right, I will offer him an olive branch. Until then, I must stay a mile away.” Kayla shook her head. “Please don’t choose between us. I will lose in this scenario, Callie. If I lose, we will stop being friends, and we will march our separate ways until one gives in.”

  “Okay, I bet he will sneak on into your heart too, but not the way he has with me.” Callie flitted to her feet and up the stairs without saying bye.

  Kayla shook her head and looked down at Muddles who sat with eyes pierced to her. “She just made a choice, cat. We will abide by it and move on with our lives.” She stood, pushed in her chair and headed to the stairs where she slowly climbed them.

  When the door opened and closed behind her, there stood Stan. “I’m going up to see Callie. Excuse me, Kayla.” He pushed past her, raced up and over Muddles who was lying on one of the steps.

  “He just pushed right on past you, little one. And Callie wants me to accept every single thing about him. I can’t do that.” Kayla hurried up the steps and went to her room after locking the front door. She went to her computer and switched it on to do some research before bed.

  As it came up, Kayla started her new search of the dream she had when a knock hit the door. “Kayla, can we talk with you?”

  “Okay, sure.” She saw both Callie and Stan come in and sit on her bed. “What’s up?” Kayla watched Muddles jump off the bed and capture a sock in her mouth near her feet.

  “What can we do to make this a little more peaceful?” Callie queried. “I know you’re not a Stan fan, and this discussion could come up with ideas on how to smooth over the rough edges.”

  “I’m willing to be congenial if you are, Kayla.” Stan’s tone gave Kayla a prickly feeling. There’s always unease around this guy. Kayla avoided shivering when he looked at her.

  “We don’t have a problem whatsoever. I can tolerate this union if you can tolerate a cat who loves socks.” Muddles dropped her soft toy and sat grooming her tail.

  “I’m okay with that, and Stan is too. Right?”

  “Yeah, she is kind of cute.” Stan went to touch Muddles when she ran out the door and disappeared into the hallway.

  “I think she doesn’t like you, Stan.” Callie crinkled her nose.

  “Muddles has an issue with a lot of people, and you know that, Callie. She loves my father and me, and that’s it.” Kayla twisted her head around and saw Muddles peek into the room.

  “I think this was quite productive, Callie. Can we go back to your room?” Stan was on his feet trying not to stare down at Kayla.

  “Wait a minute, Stan. I want Kayla to let me know she is okay with all this. Stan is here to stay for as long as I want. He is the love of my life and if he wants to go, he can.”

  Kayla grimaced. “He can be your lover, Callie. I’m not stopping you. It’s your life, and I want you to live it anyway you want. Can you do that?” Kayla turned it around on Callie.

  “Yes, I can do that, Kayla. I will do what I want with Stan and if he wants to keep his key to the house, he can. I gave it to him, and I live here too.” Callie said that so matter of fact. “You’re okay with that, right?”

  “Yeah, I’m okay with that. Stan won’t be here when we aren’t home, right?” Kayla watched him shake his head. “I have a cat to watch out for. Muddles don’t know about the outdoors, and if she got lost, it would be a tragedy not only for me but for my father. He gave her to me a couple years ago, and I implore everyone to please keep all doors and windows shut unless someone is home to watch her.” Kayla saw Muddles stalk into the room on stiff legs. She was now sniffing Stan’s leg.

  “I don’t think your cat likes me, Kayla.” Stan’s tone wasn’t pleasant. He was a little snippy.

  “She doesn’t know you, Stan. Once you come around and stay around, she’ll accept you as part of the family, but she won’t ever jump into your lap and sit. She will get over you coming going, don’t worry.”

  “Okay,” he rose to his feet and escaped the room. “Are you coming, Callie?”

  “Yes, I’m on my way.” Callie hugged her friend. “Thanks, Kayla. I really am happy we had this talk tonight. See you in the morning.” She left and went back into her room.

  Kayla raised her brows at Muddles and whispered, “We are at a junction point, and we must make a choice concerning him. I will give it some time, but after that, I’m out of here. We will be out of here.” Kayla shut off her computer, and dressed in nightclothes, after shutting her door.

  Chapter Three

  Kayla stood staring at the couple arguing where fishermen cast their lines into the river. The woman’s tone had grown angry as Kayla stood staring at them, and when she twisted around to see if the man’s body was still in the river, an image emerged and Kayla could see fear written on the man’s face.

  “What happened?” Kayla asked, interrupting them. The chilly breeze pierced through her.

  This blond woman’s voice was silent to Kayla’s question.

  Kayla glowered right through them. When she perceived others around them, but nobody paid attention to the couple, and Kayla was the only one who could see them.

  “Nothing.” His cold, dead eyes revealed hurt and an unsuccessful attempt at convincing her of his innocence. “We’re engaged.”

  This woman lifted her hand for him to observe. A gold ring still wrapped her ring finger. “You gave me this. We never set a date, Harris Green Blackwell. There’s something wrong with that.”

  Kayla watched each of their frustrations pour out and over the ground. She didn’t know her voice might have been too loud for those around them. “Wait!” Kayla stammered. Her eyes saw strangers gazing only at her from the road not far from where they were situated. It was true, no one else could see or hear the deceased, but they could see and hear Kayla. “What Happened?” Kayla’s question filled the air.

  “I… don’t… know.” This woman said so matter of fact.

  Harris appeared dumbfounded when something loud startled Kayla from a distance.

  Kayla woke to the alarm clock radio. It was playing Ratt’s song, Scene of the Crime. After slapping the clock
radio to stop the noise, she heard Callie in her bedroom speaking with someone. Kayla could tell instantly it was Stan when his voice came through the thin wall.

  Kayla whispered, “What happened to Harris, and what happened between them?” After flinging covers off, she looked down at Muddles glaring up at her with slanted green eyes. When she meowed, Kayla grinned. “We should get you fed, little one.” Kayla pushed both feet into slippers sitting near her bed and headed out the door where she saw Stan walking down the hall to the staircase.

  When he saw Kayla, he raised his hand and waved. Kayla returned the wave. Her mind couldn’t figure out why Callie still wanted to be with him. When she heard Callie call her name, Kayla hurried downstairs to feed Muddles. The cat raced around her feet making the path treacherous. Kayla couldn’t deal with Callie’s crap today. She had a murder going on in her dreams, and she had no idea how to deal with it or who to call. Feeling all alone, knowing something tragic happened to Harris, made Kayla feel helpless and feeble to do anything about it.

  Kayla sighed when she plopped food into Muddles dish, and she ensured the cat had fresh water too. When that was finished, Kayla made herself a bowl of plain oatmeal. Once it was ready, she added sliced almonds, a teaspoon of syrup, and a spoonful of chunky peanut butter. Kayla went to sit and eat when Callie came around the corner smirking at her.

  “I called you, Kayla. Didn’t you hear me?” Callie stomped past her friend and proceeded to pour herself a bowl of cereal.

  “I had to feed Muddles. I take it Stan spent the night again.” Kayla eyed her with sarcasm and a hint of frustration.

  “Yes, he did. Stan came in around one after leaving to go check on his mother, I think. He’s so sweet. You really need to get yourself one of them too.” She sat with her bowl of cold cereal and started eating.

  Kayla quickly ate her meal. “With boyfriends like that, who needs them.” She made her way to the sink, set the empty bowl in it, and filled it with water as her mind raced through last night’s dream.

  “What’s going on, Kayla? You’re angry about something. What is it?” Callie went to stand near the sink stirring her spoon in the cereal bowl.

  Kayla bit her tongue and spewed what she was thinking. “I had another dream last night.” Kayla held onto the sink and inhaled when she felt light headed. Everything began to spin when Callie hurried to catch her before she fell to the ground. When Kayla sat on the cold, hard kitchen floor, and glanced up at Callie, she added, “Someone killed Harris in my dream, Callie.”

  “We will deal with this. Did you see the murder?”

  Kayla shook her head. “No, I never saw it. It’s all so confusing, Callie.” She held a hand to her own forehead and began to remember the entire dream.

  “We will figure this all out. I have to get to work. Can you…?” Callie stopped talking and raced off to shower and get ready.

  Within Kayla’s mind, something felt so off about what was happening to her, none of it made any sense whatsoever. She had to deal with Callie and her dumb boyfriend, and now, she had two dead people who keep popping into her dreams at night. Why can’t they go bother someone else? Kayla didn’t ask for any of this when she clutched the top of the counter with her fingertips and pulled herself up.

  When Kayla made it to her feet and saw Callie’s bowl still sitting on the table with Muddles lapping up what was left of the milk, she sighed and went to lift it with her hand. “That’s the last thing I needed, a cat with the milk farts tonight.”

  As Kayla took it from Muddles, she was mentally taken back to Callie’s room where she heard Callie’s excitement with Stan. She then looked up at Callie when she raced downstairs to the front door.

  “Bye, Kayla. See you tonight.” When Callie was gone, Kayla decided to investigate what was happening with Stan. Whatever he is telling her, Kayla believed it’s a lie. Stan wasn’t what he seemed, and now Kayla wanted to know why he always gave Callie gifts. Was he was seeing another girl? She thought.

  Kayla rushed upstairs to shower and get ready when she heard rustling coming from downstairs, she remembered hearing it yesterday morning too. Muddles were lounging on her bed with ears erect to the sound. No socks dominated her playtime and Kayla figured someone was downstairs sneaking around. She went to open the second drawer of her dresser as she placed the palm of her hand on the gun safe within. When it popped open, Kayla pulled out her Glock. With it clutched in her right hand, Kayla headed to the bedroom door slowly.

  Her feet were bare when she moved like a cat, and after arriving at the door, another sound alarmed her inner senses coming from downstairs. She heard footfalls. Kayla turned around when she heard Muddles jump off the bed and hide under it. The noise was not normal, and when she stepped out the bedroom door, her hand held the gun before her with a finger lying near the trigger. Whoever it was, needed to leave now or receive a few bullets.

  Kayla inhaled and exhaled with minimal movement when she moved to the staircase and peered around the corner with eyes searching the first floor. Nothing was seen as she stepped down each stair rung with ease. When Kayla was finally on the ground floor and looking around her, she moved to the back door where she noticed the slab was ajar. Kayla pressed her back against the wall nearby when footsteps were heard walking around the other side of the painted surface.

  When a tall male came into her view, Kayla lifted her weapon, pointed it, and whispered, “I suggest you stop and slowly turn around or receive a bullet to the back of the head.” Kayla’s hand held onto the gun and was ready to use it.

  This person gradually turned around, and when Kayla saw Stan’s eyes through the dark-colored hoodie, she clutched her gun tighter with it aimed at his head. Kayla never wavered, and she never lowered her weapon even when he frowned.

  “Kayla, what’s going on?” His eyes had grown large. “It’s me, Stan. You know me.”

  “I was about to ask you the same thing, Stan. Why are you still in our home?” Kayla’s tone was steady now, and her finger was ever so carefully moving toward the trigger. “I suggest you give me the key and head out for the day.”

  “I don’t have a key, Kayla.” Stan was perched motionless before her extended arms. Kayla could actually smell fear on him. “You wouldn’t shoot me, would you?”

  “Yes, I would shoot you, Stan. Get out now!” Kayla demanded. “You have no business being here without Callie.”

  “I wanted to leave her another present on the table. Is that alright?” He moved in that direction.

  “Stop now! I so want to put one into your shoulder at this very moment in time, Stan. Get out and do not come back until Callie is here. I know why you give her so many gifts.” Her body held something she never felt before. Kayla possessed the power in her hand of life and death at that given moment. “Leave!” Kayla screamed.

  “Okay, okay. I’m going. Callie will hear about this.” He started to walk to the front door.

  “My father will hear of this as well, Stan. You know who he is, right?” Kayla followed this guy’s every step with her weapon held before her.

  “Yeah, I do. I’m leaving.” Stan tossed the gift onto the table where it missed and landed on the floor. “I will be back later today.”

  “I won’t be here, but know this, if anything of mine is taken, I will come after you with the law, Stan.” Kayla’s heart was throbbing inside her chest, and it ached something awful.

  He acknowledged that Kayla meant business. When he left, she quickly locked the door and ran to the back door where she locked that one too.

  Afterward, Kayla ran upstairs to place her gun back where it belonged, and she texted Callie. She didn’t get back to her right away as Kayla went to the closet to get Muddles carrier where she stuffed the feline into it. Kayla then packed an overnight bag. She wasn’t going to allow that guy get hold of her beloved cat or anything she owned.

  Kayla called her father and when he answered, she clicked the speaker on.

  “Hey, honey, how are you doing?” His
gruff voice came through loud and clear.

  “Not good, dad. I had to pull my gun out for an intruder.” Kayla was controlling her breathing to calm herself.

  “What? I’m sending an officer there now.” His voice scrambled together a few guys who were apparently in the room with him.

  “He’s gone, dad. Stan just left after entering without Callie here. I think he’s cheating on her, dad. He keeps giving her presents.” Kayla sat next to the carrier on her bed. Muddles yowled and pushed her paw through one of the holes begging to be released.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Her father queried again. “Is that Muddles? Is she okay?”

  “We’re both okay. I don’t trust Stan, dad. Can Muddles stay with you for a few days?” Kayla wanted to know her cat would be okay, and she knew her father would ensure that was the case.

  “Sure, bring her into your place of work, and I’ll swing by in a few minutes. Are you sure you’re alright, sweetheart?” He was concerned, and he had a right to be.

  “Yeah, I might just stay the night as well, if that’s okay.” Kayla heard him exhale.

  “Yes, that’s definitely okay. See you then.” They hung up.

  Kayla finished packing a bag and when she left the bedroom and locked the door, but before she did, Kayla attached a string to the knob. She had a feeling someone would enter without her permission.

  ~~~

  Kayla met her dad at the antique store and handed him precious Muddles. Her cries could be heard down the road, and as he placed her gently into the passenger seat of his squad car, he slowly closed the door once Kayla’s bag was inside too. “Are you sure you’re steady? I could have this guy arrested for breaking and entering.”

  “I’m fine, dad. I’d prefer to stay at your place for a night or so until this all blows over.” Kayla did not want to think about what Callie was going to ram her with. Her words were going to be brutal, extremely brutal. Kayla didn’t care. Stan should have never been in the house in the first place without Callie there.