Darkness Lurks

  Darkness Lurks

  DARKNESS SERIES, BOOK ONE

  J.L. Drake

  Darkness lurks

  Copyright © 2015 by J. L. Drake. All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: July 2015

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-216-1

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-216-X

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication:

  To my husband and children for letting me hibernate for hours and run with my new dream.

  To my sisters and my mother who put up with my endless phone calls of random rambles, my tears, and their amazing advice along the way.

  To my friends for all your interest and support, I thank you.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter One

  Lasko

  I stood motionless, hands by my sides. A skinny cigar, waiting to be lit, twisted between my two fingers. As I fixed my stare on her, my breathing steadied. I watched her eyes scan the pages of her book, and I waited patiently for my opportunity to get closer, to eventually inhale her scent. I knew my time would come soon enough. My polo shirt clung to me as sweat rolled down the back of my neck. My head ached on one side; I squinted, trying to push away the pain. My headaches were getting worse. My breath hitched when she lifted her gaze to the ocean. She looked like she was deep in thought, her full lips parted into a smile. She looked at peace. I slowly lowered my arm, sliding my camera into my shorts pocket.

  ***

  Emily

  I could hear the soothing sound of the ocean lapping on the edge of the shore line. The hot breeze smelled sweet and made the edges of my book flutter. The ice in my glass melted slowly, and the rustle of the summer leaves made a comforting sound. I leaned back, took a deep breath, and thought about how school would start soon. I was going into my last year at Orange University, working on my English degree so I could teach high school.

  My mother traveled a lot, leaving me to live in this huge beachfront house alone. She was home maybe the equivalent of a month during all of last year. I was proud of the work my mother did. It was selfless of her to work for Doctors Without Borders. Growing up, however, it would’ve been nice to have had a mother rather than an absentee doctor.

  I closed my eyes and let myself drift off to sleep on my porch swing.

  My eyes flew open at the vibration of my phone. I flipped it over and saw a text from my best friend Erin confirming our yoga class the next day. I slowly got up, removing the book that was resting on my leg. I reached for my bookmark, slid it into place, and tossed the book back on the swing. Picking up my water glass and phone, I headed for the kitchen. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry.

  I pulled open the large Sub-Zero door, reached for my chicken salad leftovers, and snagged a bottle of water before taking a seat at my kitchen table. I flicked on the TV, flipping through the channels, and settled on Friends. It had always been one of my favorite shows. I could relate because I always surrounded myself with my own friends; there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them. They were my family.

  After the show was over, I washed my dishes and sorted through the mail. I sighed when I came across yet another real estate letter. My mother kept trying to force me to sell our house. “Emily, you don’t need to be staying in a five-bedroom house. It’s far too big,” she said when she called that night.

  I rolled my eyes on the other end of the line. “Mother, I’m not selling the only happy memories I have left of Dad.”

  My mother sighed. “It’s not right that you keep the house as if he’s coming back. You need to have some closure.”

  I tried to control the anger in my voice. “So am I supposed to do what you did? Pick up and leave everything behind? Start a new life and not look back?”

  There was a moment of silence, and I knew I’d hurt her. “Don’t be dramatic, dear,” she said at last. “I had obligations to get back to. If your father hadn’t left you the house and that ridiculous trust fund, I’d force you into a different life.”

  I shook my head. It still stung her that he had left me everything. Maybe he had known something was going to happen to him first. It was his way of protecting me from her cold heart.

  Lights from the house down the beach caught my attention. Travis, my new neighbor, must be arriving home. He was in his early thirties, single, and seemed to have his eye on a few women in town. I had been grateful when he moved in. It somehow made the house feel a little less lonely. The Stones, an elderly couple, lived only a half mile away, but they mostly kept to themselves.

  The kitchen had a faint smell of Lemon Pledge. Maria, my housekeeper, must have come today. There was a fresh loaf of homemade bread and oatmeal muffins packed neatly off to the side in Tupperware containers. She was a wonderful baker and often left me goodies.

  I turned off the light and headed into the living room. I dropped down onto my oversized cream couch and rested my feet on the coffee table. I replied to Erin’s text and read some emails that professors had sent out to all their students. After a while, I felt my eyes growing heavy. I turned off the lights and locked the front door.

  My fingers trailing along the oak banister, I climbed the long staircase that was lined with family pictures.

  Suddenly, I froze when I heard a thud outside my front door, almost like something had fallen. My foot turned slowly, making the step creak. I jumped when I heard the sound again. I forced my stiff body back down the stairs and carefully pulled back the curtain. The porch light was on, but I saw nothing. My lungs begged for air, and I realized I was holding my breath. I shook my head and muttered, “Stupid raccoons,” as I went back upstairs, glancing back over my shoulder once.

  I changed and crawled into my bed, pulling my goose down blanket over me. I propped up two of my six pillows under my head and snuggled in. A small shiver ran up my spine as I tried to relax. Normally, living outside of the city had its advantages, but at times like this I felt lonely and isolated.

  I stared at my open window. I loved hearing the waves lap up on the beach, but not tonight. I hopped up and closed it, padded back to my bed, and tried to fall back to sleep. The last thing I remembered was looking at the clock and seeing 4:44 a.m.

  Beep, beep, beep. “Ugh!” Beep, beep, beep. “Okay, okay! I’m up,” I muttered, throwing the covers off. I grabbed my clothes and trudged to the bathroom. The water felt nice. It helped me wake up. As I reached for my shampoo, I thought I heard a door close. I slowly pulled the corner of the curtain back, “Hello?” I strained to listen. Nothing.

  I quickly finished up and dried off, tossing my long, blonde hair back in a messy bun. I quietly walked down the stairs, pausing to listen. “Really, Em?” I said aloud. “This is stupid.” I smiled at myself, wishing I had gotten more sleep. I made a mental note to stop reading James Patterson books before bed. I walked into the kitchen and went straight to the fridge.

  “Morning,” a husky voice said behind m
e. I nearly dropped the jam as I swung around to find Seth Connors sitting at my kitchen table. “You know, you really should keep your doors locked. Anyone could just come walking in,” he said through a mouth full of Cheerios. He looked at me, smiling. “Didn’t mean to scare ya.”

  Sure you didn’t. “Ass.”

  He wore a blue t-shirt that hugged his body and black workout shorts. Adidas and a pair of sunglasses resting on the top of his short blond hair completed his wardrobe. He always looked good, which made me feel like a slob with my pink yoga top and black spandex shorts. I put toast on and cut up some fruit.

  “There’s coffee,” Seth said, trying to feel me out.

  “Thanks.” I reached for a mug. I was running through the night before in my mind. I was so sure I had locked the door, although sometimes the lock didn’t always latch properly. I must have been deep in thought, because Seth came up behind me and moved me aside with his hip.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, just tired,” I lied. He reached around me and grabbed the coffee pot.

  He was much taller than I was—6’3”. The top of my head only came up to his shoulder. His eyes were Caribbean blue, and his body was something out of a GQ magazine. He had joined the Orange Police Department two years ago, and every girl I knew was in love with him. However, he didn’t seem to be interested. He focused most of his attention on his work.

  “You off to your class this morning?” he asked as he glanced at his watch. I nodded as I chewed a piece of my toast. He rinsed his dishes and leaned against the table. I did the same. I couldn’t shake the unnerving feeling that I had from the night before.

  “Do you?” Seth said again. “Hello, Em, are you there?” He swatted my butt.

  “What?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Before I could answer, he spoke again. “Do you need a ride? If so, we have to leave now.”

  I rubbed my butt and smiled. “Sure that would be great. Thanks.”

  I gathered my bag and my yoga mat, and we headed out the door.

  Arriving a few minutes late, I found Erin right away in the back. She was easy to spot. She had golden brown hair and legs that went on for days. She also had a huge smile that could bring you out of any bad mood.

  “Hey,” I whispered as I slid in next to her.

  “How’s Seth?” she asked, smiling in the direction of his car. He had waited until I found Erin. She gave him a wave, and he smiled, nodding back.

  “Fine,” I muttered, bending into the downward dog pose.

  “I don’t understand you two,” she said with a laugh. “Clearly, he likes you. He always makes sure you’re okay before he leaves.”

  I let out a long, controlled breath. “He’s a cop. It’s ingrained in him to do that.”

  Erin shook her head, smiling. “Mm…hmm.”

  After class, Erin and I decided to walk to the beach and go to our favorite coffee shop, Dell’s. It was right off PCH in Huntington Beach. We talked a lot about school and what classes we were taking. We both wanted to teach high school. I tried to avoid the topic of Seth, but Erin being Erin, she brought him up. “So if you’re not with Seth, why is he always around?”

  I shifted in my seat. “We’ve been over this how many times?” She shrugged, not letting up. I sighed. “We’re just friends.” My cheeks heated with discomfort. My second lie of the day, and it wasn’t even noon yet.

  Erin paused for a minute. “Perhaps, but have you ever noticed the way he looks at you?”

  “No,” I insisted shooting her a look. She knew to let it go. Seth and I had been friends for a long time and…something…had always been there, but he had never acted on it.

  Besides, I was scared of falling in love. My mother had scarred me for life. Though my parents had remained together all those years, their marriage had been anything but perfect.

  After coffee, we went shopping and caught some sun at the beach.

  Erin drove me home around six. I knew I needed to do my laundry, so I decided I should start that. As I went to unlock my door, I noticed the book I had been reading had been moved off the swing. It was now lying on the table, and the bookmark had been moved.

  I set my bag down and went over to it. Looking around, I picked it up.

  “Hey, girl.” I reached down and scratched Penny’s ears. Ever since my neighbor Travis moved in, his calico and I had developed a close relationship. She circled my leg twice before her back tensed. I heard something fall inside the house. She bolted around the corner, leaving my stomach where she had just stood.

  I jumped when my phone vibrated. “Holy shit.”

  My phone was ringing. That was all. My hand dug quickly around my bag. I checked to see who it was. Seth. “Hi.” My voice shook.

  “What’s wrong?” His voice was gruff.

  “Nothing, I just scared myself. I just got home, and I heard a noise in the house.”

  “Don’t go in,” he ordered. “I’ll be right there.”

  “Honestly, Seth, it’s fine.” Feeling like a bit of a wimp, I added weakly, “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Start walking down your driveway,” he snapped and hung up. I looked around, not enjoying the feeling creeping up my back. I decided to do as he said. I hadn’t heard that tone from him before—well, at least not with me.

  A few minutes later, I heard a car engine. Seth pulled up and hopped out of the car. “You all right?” he asked, placing his hands on my shoulders. He could tell by the look on my face that I was worried, but I forced a smile.

  “It’s nothing…I just heard a noise...” He looked up at the house. I followed him up the front stairs.

  “Wait here.” He reached behind his back and pulled a 40mm out of his jeans. I froze. A few minutes later he came back out, tucking his gun away. “There’s no one here.” His face looked a little more relaxed. I nodded, letting out a long breath.

  He studied my face. “Come on, it’s all right.”

  I followed him inside. I stood in my entryway, feeling stupid for overreacting, but somewhere in the back of my brain, something still didn’t feel right. Seth turned on a few lights and flicked on the TV. I glanced up the stairs. I wanted to shower off and change. He noticed my hesitation, because he came over and motioned with his hand. “I’ll come up with you.”

  I slipped off my shoes. “Thanks.” He walked into my room and flopped on my bed, making himself more comfortable, turning on the baseball game.

  I dug through my dresser. Come on, clean clothes. I finally found a deep red tank top and a pair of jean shorts. Thank God. Grabbing a few other essentials, I headed to my bathroom.

  I tried to hurry. I imagined Seth would be bored, although he’d never let on. I ran the water as I undressed. Steam started to fill the bathroom, and I slid into the shower and let the hot water run down me. Leaning my forehead against the cool tile was helping me clear my head. I usually wasn’t someone who overreacted, nor did I like to depend on anyone but myself. I had always felt safe in my house. I had never had a reason not to. This was a safe neighborhood.

  Shake it off, Em, your mind is playing tricks on you. Laughing slightly, I focused on washing up. When I finished and stepped out, I heard footsteps. “Seth?” I called out, not liking the note of panic in my voice.

  “Yeah, I’m here,” he answered.

  Really! Didn’t we just go through this? My braver side scolded the overactive part of my brain.

  We went downstairs, curled up on the couch, and listened to Conan interview Jim Parsons. He made us both laugh, which helped me relax. After a bit, Seth leaned his head against the back of the couch, glancing at his watch as he pulled a blanket off the arm of the nearby chair.

  “I take it you’re staying?” I joked.

  He turned and smiled. “Night, Em.” I tried to hide my relief.

  I woke to find myself covered in a blanket and my head on a pillow. I could hear who I hoped was Seth in the kitchen. Thankfully, it was. He walked in, handed me a cup of cof
fee, and sat down on the table in front of me.

  “Thanks.” I cautiously ran my fingers through my hair, hoping my bed head was somewhat under control.

  His eyes gave him away as he tried to hide a smile. “My shift starts soon. Will you be all right here by yourself?”

  “I’ll be fine.” Again, I mentally kicked myself for overreacting.

  He looked unsure. “All right.” He paused, holding my gaze. “I’ll call you later.”

  I turned on my music and set it to play through the whole house. I spent the day cleaning, made a Costco trip, and did a massive amount of laundry. Erin wasn’t due to arrive for a few hours, so I pulled on my black bikini, grabbed a towel and some water, and headed down to my beach. I waded in the water a bit, took a swim, and then stretched out on my towel. The sun felt great. I closed my eyes and listened to the waves for a while.

  A shadow blocked the sunlight from my face. My eyes flipped open, and I saw Seth towering over me. His arms were crossed, and he looked pissed.

  “Do you have any idea how many times I tried to call you today?” he asked, reaching down and offering me a hand up. He lifted me effortlessly. I brushed some sand off my thigh, trying to swallow the lump in my throat from his angry gaze.

  “Sorry, I had music on, and I guess I must have left my phone at the house.” I squinted at him and realized he was wearing his uniform. “Are you still working?” I asked, looking around for his squad car. I spotted it and saw Garrett, his partner, leaning against it. I reached over for my flip flops, slipped them on, and wrapped my towel around my waist. I smiled as I made my way along the path over to Garrett. Seth sighed loudly but followed.

  “Hey, you.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. Garrett had been Seth’s partner since Seth had joined the force. He was one of my most favorite people. He wasn’t as tall as Seth but still taller than me. He and Seth were built the same…lean, solid muscle. His eyes were a chocolate caramel that complemented his brown hair that hung slightly over the tops of his ears. I was still shocked that no one had snatched him up yet.