Page 270 of Under Her Skin
And then he wasgone.
Max was buildinghimself up into a feverish state by the time Theo called to say he was on his way. Seth was trying to calm him down by distracting him but Max couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Was it something he forgot to do? No… it’s Jules. Max knew that today would be the day Jules would try to kill Jess again, maybe Theo too. What better way to get hisrevenge.
Paranoid, he told himself. Mike, Theo’s head of security, was on everything – nobody on the island moved without Mike knowing about it. He went to look for him now and found him scanning a computerfile.
‘Hey dude, everything lookinggood?’
Mike looked up and smiled. ‘All good. I’m heading over to Mrs. Storm’s placenow.’
He didn’t seethe truck until it was too late. Theo swore and swerved but the Mercedes slammed into it. Jules had moved it across the exit to the blind bend on the way to Amelia’s house and they didn’t have a chance. The car slid on the road and slipped down the embankment. It hit the tree side on. Theo’s head smashed against the window and he was knocked senseless. The wiper blades kept moving while all else wassilent.
Jules smiled as he stood at the road’s edge looking down at the car. Time to call Jess and ask her once and for all, if she would give up her life for herlover’s.
Jules was in no doubt of theanswer.
Mike roundedthe corner and slammed on the brakes. Theo’s car was burning. ‘Shit,’ Mike leaped from the car and darted as close as he could. He couldn’t see a body in the front seat. Yanking his phone from his pocket, he was about to dial v911 when he heard the tell-tale click of a safety being flicked off. He didn’t have time to turn toward the noise before the bullet tore through his skull and silenced himforever.
Jess steppedinto the dress that Amelia held and stood obediently as her almost-mother-in-law buttoned up the bodice. The dress, although deceptively simple, was light, flowing and of pure white. Jess smirked to herself. Thanks to Theo, she was about as far from a virgin as someone couldbe.
Amelia stood back and looked at her, her eyes filling with tears. Jess’s dark hair was soft waves, pulled over one shoulder. The dress itself had sleeves of the most delicate chiffon which belled out delicately at the wrist, the skirt ending just above Jess’s knees. Against her honey skin, the white glowed, highlighting her subtle make-up and large brown eyes. Ameliasighed.
‘You look beautiful, Jessie. I’m so proud to call you mydaughter.’
Amelia’s phone rang and she snagged it from the table as Jess turned and admired the dress in themirror.
‘Clem, darling, how lovely… what? Oh, that’s a shame. Well, perhaps we’ll see you at the reception thisevening?’
Jess glanced at Amelia in the mirror. She and Max hadn’t told her about Clem and Caroline and Amelia hadn’t mentioned dating Clem so they decided to leave it. Amelia was smilingnow.
‘Yes, of course…’ She put her hand over the mic. ‘Clem wants to say congratulations.’ She held the phone out to Jess, who took, a littlebemused.
‘Hello?’
‘Keep smiling, it’s very important you keep smiling. Say hello to me,Jessica.’
Terror screeched back into every fiber of her being. I knew it. I knew it.Jules.
‘Hi, Clem, nice to speak toyou.’
She realized her face was frozen in a false smile. ‘Hello, Clem, nice to speak toyou.’
‘Good. There’s a gun in my hand and the muzzle is currently against your fiancé’s temple. There are five bullets in it. All five will be in his head very soon unless you go what I say. Tell me youunderstand.’
‘I understand…Clem.’
‘Keep smiling. Now, find a way to get out and drive home. If you’re not here in ten minutes, Theo is dead. Then I’ll come for you. It’s entirely up to you whether he dies. Either way, this is the day you are going to die, Jessica. Say thank you,Jessica.’
‘Thank you, Clem.’ Her voice quivered just a little but Amelia, tidying the room, didn’t seem tonotice.
‘Ten minutes, Jessica, and I’ll let you say goodbye before I put my knife intoyou.’
The line went dead. Jess stood, holding the phone, frozen. Jules had Theo. She closed hereyes.
‘Jess, honey, you okay?’ Amelia sounded concerned. She tried to smile at the olderwoman.
‘I’m fine. Just nerves. I might just get some freshair.’
Downstairs she grabbed Amelia’s car keys and ran. Theo, I’m coming… please, hangon…
