Free Humidity Rising (Romantic Suspense) by Amelia Rose Page A

did to us.” He pulled himself up to his full height and continued. “First, you fired me for taking a little of your excess to help my sister, then you destroyed the little bit of self-worth she had left. So I came up with an idea. Because she was intent on cutting her wrists, I let her do it.”
    That was when the overturned candles had burned enough of the carpet to create a flame just tall enough to catch the drapes afire.
    Andrew took a step toward Wes, apparently unaware of the inferno behind him. “I got every bowl I could find and collected enough of her blood to make it look like you shot her. I took it to the Pizza Playground and poured it out near where the gun was laying on the ground. Then I walked back to her apartment, drove her car back there, took my car back to her place again, and buried her in my back yard. I cleaned her apartment, and called the police to report her missing.”
    “I think we’ve heard enough.” The voice came from the doorway behind Wes. He recognized it as belonging to Detective Taylor.
    Andrew snapped his head toward the voice. “No!” he cried as he lunged at the detective, but Franks was ready for him. He pulled his weapon and fired.
    A deafening boom rattled Wes’ brain, and everything seemed to slow down. He saw Andrew clutch at his chest and wondered why. His eyes were riveted by Andrew’s manicured, polished nails, and it seemed to take a minute for the blood to begin gushing from his chest. Then Andrew was falling forward, ever so slowly, until he finally landed on the floor, bouncing once, then laying still, his eyes blank and lifeless.
    He turned to see Detective Franks replace his weapon in it’s holster at a snail's pace, then take two slow-motion steps toward him.
    The detective grabbed his arm and suddenly he was being rushed from the room, down the hallway, and out the front door.

Chapter Eleven
     
    A fire truck seemed to appear out of portal where wild fire trucks abound and firemen began dousing the flames coming from Kristi’s bedroom. Wes stood in the middle of the street watching them, his girlfriend’s arms around his right side, and Janie’s arms around his left side.
    Detectives Taylor and Franks came up to them.
    “It’s a good thing we’ve been keeping an eye on you, Mr. Chandler.” Taylor looked him in the eyes. “I wasn’t convinced it was you, as the gun hadn’t been fired, but I had a gut feeling whoever killed Liza Hill might be coming for you, too.”
    “So, you saw her break into the house?” Kristi asked.
    Franks nodded. “Yes, ma’am. We weren’t sure who she was or what she was up to but we saw her come up to the house looking like she was up to no good. So, we followed her. Looked like you were doing a good job of handling things, Mr. Chandler.”
    “Thanks,” Wes replied. “I think.”
    The four adults chuckled lightly.
    “Do you have somewhere to stay the night?” Taylor asked.
    “My house,” Wes said without hesitation. He looked at Kristi, then Janie. “That’s okay with you ladies, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah. Fine with me.” Kristi glanced at Janie, who nodded eagerly.
    The detectives went back to their car, presumably to finish their reports.
    The three of them stood there a moment longer before Wes spoke again.
    “What I don’t get is how they could look so much alike and not be identical.”
    Kristi smiled. “Sometimes fraternal twins can be that way. Doesn’t happen often, though.”
    “Oh, I see.” He didn’t really, but she was a nurse, so she’d know these things. “Let’s get moving. I need a good night’s sleep.”
    They headed to his car and within a few moments, the car was on the way to his house.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Two hours later, they were all showered, Wes finding a few things for his girls to wear. Janie was particularly thrilled that he had a bright blue tee shirt which fit her like a nightgown. He put her in the bed of the guest room, tucked her in, and kissed her