Deadly Memories Read online

  Deadly Memories

  a novel by

  P.M. Richter

  AMAZON KINDLE EDITION

  PUBLISHED BY

  P.M. Richter

  Deadly Memories © 2012 P.M. Richter

  All rights reserved

  Amazon Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. The ebook contained herein constitutes a copyrighted work and may not be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, or stored in or introduced into an information storage and retrieval system in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This ebook is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Editing by Carol Powney

  CaroCaro Editing & Proofreading Services

  http://www.carocaroediting.co.uk/index.html

  Formatting by

  Bob Houston eBook Formatting

  http://about.me/BobHouston

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgement

  Character List

  Deadly Memories

  Thank You!

  About the author

  Description: Midnight Reflections

  Description: The Living Image

  Description: The Necromancer

  Acknowledgements

  I feel so fortunate because of the people I've met since my novels have been published.

  Ask any writer. Putting your work out for the public to read is scary. The book took years. We put our heart into it. Our friends and family say it's great. Still, authors like words, so here are some more to express how we feel when it's published.

  Terrified...apprehensive...frightened...nervous...petrified...anxious....worried.

  What if no one likes our book? What if no one reads it?

  I want to thank all the people who read my books, sent encouragement, and wrote reviews. Special thanks go to Cindy, (the phone calls lift me up), Elva, Bob, Carol, and the many authors I have met: Shirley, Shaina, Melissa, Andre, Gordon, Denise, and my many friends on Facebook.

  Special thanks go to two people who made Deadly Memories a much better book:

  Carol Powney - CaroCaro Editing & Proofreading Services

  http://www.carocaroediting.co.uk/index.html

  She did a monumental and detailed job, finding the things my dyslexic eyes could not see. She was quick, efficient and gave good advice. Many thanks to Carol who made this book so much better. Her friendship means so much to me.

  Bob Houston - Bob Houston eBook Formatting

  http://about.me/BobHouston

  When I sent the cover image for Bob to see, he made the beautiful little glyph at the beginning of each chapter. I didn't ask him to do this, he suggested it on his own. He makes my novels shine with his formatting expertise. I so much value his work, kindness, and his friendship. Many thanks.

  Character List

  Andrea McKnight - (Andy) Real Estate Broker

  Betty & Rob - Andrea’s parents

  Jake Montgmery - Andrea’s friend - wealthy contractor

  Jesse - Jake’s son

  Rolph Follett - Friend of Andrea - French, living in LA

  Pedro Wilheim - Friend of Rolph and Andrea

  Greg McKnight - Andrea’s brother

  Madeline Follett - Rolph’s sister

  Lawrence Follett- Rohph’s father - UN French Ambassador

  Bethany Follett- Rolph’s mother

  Sonya Follett- Rolph’s grandmother

  Dr. Herm Schnieider - Psychiatrist

  Vince Worthington - industrialist, CIA consultant - terrorism

  John Ferrier - FBI - impersonates Andrea

  Agent Smyth - FBI

  Agent Fullerton - FBI

  Dr. Joe Morrow - Doctor in France, Rolph’s friend

  Tony - French - specialty, knives

  Maurice - French - muscle

  CHAPTER 1

  There was only a partially glimpsed flash of bright color across the room. It was immediately obscured by the intricate swirl of people moving about the enormous ballroom at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Jake was suddenly fixated, craning above the crowd for another glimmer of red, bright as a Christmas poinsettia.

  “Hey, Jake, what’s wrong?”

  “I thought I saw someone...” Jake was trying to peer above a sea of moving bodies.

  “You do want that property? Very hush hush. A totally sweet deal.”

  Jake nodded absently, still trying to see through the crush of people across the crowded room. He saw light from the brilliant crystal chandeliers overhead bouncing away again, as if in painful indignation from that ungodly red, and moved through the room like he was in a daze, excusing himself, smiling automatically and nodding at friends and acquaintances; hoping he was right, but not believing he could be. It was probably too soon. Still, he had never seen another person with such an outrageous hair color. Maybe Andrea was back. Jake had to see, make sure for himself that he was not hallucinating; that it wasn’t some strange delusion because he hoped so much it was true. He needed to make sure she was all right, that the terrible accident which had broken her fragile body had not taken the spirit and soaring intelligence from a woman he thought of secretly as a Titan Sprite, just visiting earth from some long obscured myth.

  The noise and heat seemed excessive and he felt like he was in a horrible nightmare as he pushed through the room a little too aggressively for perfect politeness. Jake was a tall man, with broad shoulders, and he usually had no trouble peering over a throng, but this was the annual Governor’s Ball in Los Angeles, a huge black-tie affair. Not only was it hot, crowded and noisy, but the odor of lavish perfume was obnoxious and cloying in the heated, frenzied atmosphere.

  Jake stopped and stood back for a while, then moved forward more slowly. His eyes had not misinformed him. He recognized her from the back of her neck, which was fragile and white, with her hair gathered high on top of her head in some kind of elaborate, charming and fashionably messy hairstyle. He could feel himself smiling. Andy always had a pile of men around her. This was no exception.

  Her nose had been broken, but he could see no sign of it when Andy turned sideways, laughing, to talk to someone. He watched her head move slightly, characteristically to the right, like she did when she was having a deep thought, and as if she could feel his gaze. Then she turned around.

  Jake was thinking rather abstractly how strange it is that you know immediately when someone’s eyes meet your own. The way two tiny pinpoints clash, even in a noisy and crowded place, when there is immediate recognition. Andy’s mouth had become a perfect circle and her eyes widened. There was no mistaking her happiness. It was like the whole world smiled. Jake moved forward to take her outstretched hands. “I’d pick you up and whirl you around, but I’m afraid of hurting you.”

  “Whirl away,” Andy said, holding her arms out. She was wearing a short golden gown made of some shiny material he guessed was silk or satin.

  “You’re sure?” Jake asked as he put his hands on her tiny waist and lifted. He held her up and twirled he
r once and then lowered her feet to the floor gently, with extreme caution. She had broken her back in the accident. He noticed the group she had been talking to was smiling, like their happiness was contagious.

  “I’m fine,” Andy said. “I’m so glad to see you… and I want to dance, right now.”

  “So, you can dance, too?”

  She nodded emphatically. Then she turned around and headed to the dance floor, as if there was no doubt he would follow. Jake smiled, thinking if he didn’t the male crowd behind him certainly would. He hadn’t seen Rolph yet, but he was sure the man was around here somewhere.

  Jake held Andy cautiously, wondering how she seemed to anticipate each of his movements. He was clumsy on the dance floor with most partners, stepping on toes and crashing awkwardly against them. Andy moved with him and the music unerringly, like an unattached but linked part of himself. Luckily it was a slow dance so he could look down at that wonderful, bright hair just under his chin, which was dark red, glowing with radiant highlights, and see her glance up and smile. “Twenty letters over six months…countless emails. All the way to Valentine, Nebraska,” Andy said. “While not one word about business. I really appreciated that.”

  “I was worried,” Jake said, falling back into their old pattern, trying to sound stern to disguise how alarmed he had been.

  “Well, everything’s back in order now. So you don’t have to be so careful. You’re holding me like I’ll shatter into a million pieces.”

  “It was so awful,” Jake murmured, pulling her a little closer.

  She recited quickly, “Cervical radiculopathy...concussion... three broken ribs...a broken wrist...my right leg was broken...my nose, too. Luckily, I was unconscious for three days and missed most of the bad stuff. The doctor says I’m fine, now.”

  Jake shook his head, looking down into her perfect features. Her gown didn’t cover up her arms or shoulders and the expanse of skin was white, smooth and without blemish. He would never have guessed that she’d had such terrible injuries by looking at her. She moved with grace, not as though there was residual pain, although it had been more than six months since the accident and since he had last seen Andy. “Seems almost like deja’vu. The last time I saw you was at a party.”

  “I don’t remember that either, which is supposedly normal with a head injury. Was it as wonderful as this one?” Andy asked, waving the arm that had been on his shoulder with a gesture that encompassed the elaborate ballroom, with full orchestra and hundreds of guests in glittering formal attire.

  “You didn’t miss much,” Jake said, smiling.

  “Not when you were with Ms. Melancamp,” Andy answered tartly.

  “I thought you didn’t remember,” he chided, a little amused.

  Andy frowned thoughtfully, but he caught her quick, startled expression. “Well, I guess I remembered the pertinent information. Who are you with tonight?”

  “You tell me that Rolph isn’t lurking around here somewhere, and I’ll tell you.”

  “Touché.” Then she smiled at him again. “And it doesn’t matter at all, really. We should just get in your car and drive to Las Vegas. It would only take four hours, this time of night. They have these cute little chapels. Outrageously tacky...open twenty-four hours. We could get married and...” She faltered for a moment, perhaps at her own audacity, as she glanced up into his eyes. “Now don’t you start in again about how old you are. I know that look. Just because you were my teacher once.”

  Jake pulled her closer. She was such a little dear, and it looked like his fears had been groundless. She was intact and precious as always. Smelling her clean hair and gazing at the healthy rounded body was reassuring, calming anxieties he hadn’t known were present. It was like a heavy burden had tumbled away, clearing his mind with gladness.

  Jake laughed at her remarks about Las Vegas and remembered the first time he had seen her, as his student in advanced Real Estate Law. She had been getting her Broker’s License. The first thing anyone noticed about Andy was her hair, of course, but at that time it had been tied severely back in a ponytail. She didn’t wear any make-up to class and had appeared to be about thirteen years old, with her smooth scrubbed face, round blue eyes and naturally bright pink lips. He thought she must be a girl-genius, so young and taking the Broker’s course. He had been right about her mentality, although almost a decade wrong in the age department.

  “There you go, leading me on again,” Jake said.

  “If I keep it up, very assiduously, you’ll have to take me seriously, sooner or later.”

  “You have lots of time to sow your oats.”

  She smiled mischievously. “Jet setting is fun. I have to admit, I love traveling. My mother, though, had two children when she was exactly my age.”

  “Well, Valentine, Nebraska,” Jake said. “It’s rural. People probably marry at an earlier age.”

  “It may be isolated, but it’s a nice place. Especially for a home town. Rolph even liked it.”

  “I guess Rolph is your perfect partner,” he said neutrally, although he knew she could see right through that one. He wanted to push this wonderful girl toward someone really nice and respectable, so he could stop worrying. The problem was, despite her sophistication and intelligence, Andy was a true innocent; sweet and kind and, although a canny business woman, much too naive.

  She frowned thoughtfully. “While I was in Nebraska, recuperating from the accident, my priorities changed somewhat. Not that I mind luxurious vacations on Rolph’s yacht, but tell me about the party I can’t remember, six months ago. I just got back, today, and I’m trying to piece it all back together.”

  “You said it was normal, not remembering,” Jake commented, a little worried.

  “Concussions wipe out memories. However, I have strange flash-backs, and people are behaving oddly toward me, still.”

  “I know the part you want to hear,” Jake said, sighing.

  “Yeah, my wild exit.” Andy comically rolled her eyes.

  “Okay.” Jake remembered that the party had been large, but not really as big as this one because it had been at the private home of a wealthy industrialist, Vincent Worthington, at the top of the hills in Beverly Hills. “You were wearing a blue dress, very low in the front and at the back.”

  “That gown was a total waste after the accident, and it was my favorite,” Andy said glumly, nodding. “I’m not even going to mention my poor little car.”

  Jake described the lavish sit-down dinner in the garden outside Worthington’s palatial residence, and the dance floor which had covered the pool.

  “So no one would fall in, in a drunken orgy, like that last party at Vincent’s,” Andy commented, nodding and laughing. They both had been at that extended spree, a couple of years before. Jake had to pull two people out of the pool who were so drunk they were in danger of drowning. He had wrecked his tux in the excessive chlorine.

  “Right. Then the weather started changing very uncharacteristically for September,” Jake went on. “There was thunder and lightning all of a sudden, so everyone went inside. The rain started slowly, but after a while it was coming down in buckets. The band moved into the ballroom upstairs and the party went on. I remember seeing you dancing there with Rolph and a few other people.”

  “Did I dance with you?”

  Jake nodded. “I lost track of you for a while.”

  “So you had been watching me.”

  He frowned at her severely because she looked so pleased. “There were several really obnoxious drunks there, Andy. Not only alcohol was passing around at the party. There were some very serious hard chemicals. The trend seems to be dropping nasty drug stuff into drinks when people aren’t looking. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

  “That’s really nice.” She was sincere and had a melting smile. He responded before he could stop himself.

  “I didn’t see you for a while. The thunder was really crashing. Then, suddenly, all the lights in the whole house went out. Of course, pandemo
nium broke out. Women were screaming. It was probably just the wind knocking down a power line. Luckily, Vincent had back-up generators and the lights went on again pretty quickly.”

  “That’s when I took off?”

  Jake nodded. “Why were you driving your own car?”

  “I was helping Vincent’s wife, before the party, so I arrived early. I wanted my own car, anyway.”

  Jake could understand that. Rolph was always amusing when slightly inebriated, but not a person one would feel safe driving home with if he was at the wheel. Jake thought that Andy and Rolph must be lovers by now, but he pushed the distasteful thought away.

  “That’s when I made my exit?”

  Jake nodded.

  “Come on. I heard it was pretty spectacular. ..scandalous even.”

  “No, it was strange. You looked just stunned. Somehow, you had lost your shoes, and you gave a little shriek as you backed up into the ballroom. That’s when I saw you. Your face was white, like you’d just seen a ghost. I was close enough to see that you were crying. Your hair was down that night, but it was all messed up.”

  “Oh, that’s much worse than I thought,” she murmured.

  “You ran barefoot, right across the length of the whole ballroom and out into the hallway. I was concerned and started to follow you. I saw you running down the stairs and out the front door, into the pouring rain. By that time I was running, calling your name over the bannister. Rolph passed me on the stairs and shouted that he would take care of you. There were a couple of friends with him and they went out the door, too, so I thought they would catch up with you.”

  He looked at Andy, “Does any of this ring a bell?”

  She shook her head.

  “Someone told me that you and Rolph had an argument, and to let it alone. I didn’t want to interfere in your personal life. I kept watching, all night long, but you never came back. Neither did Rolph.”

  “The time sequence seems all wrong,” Andy said thoughtfully. “What time was it then?”