Second Time Around (28 page)

“What are you doing here?” Halley demanded angrily, dropping the dog roll onto the bench. “And how in hell did you get inside?”

“Really Halley, is that any way to greet your mother?” Chantelle sniffed.

A retort came to the tip of her tongue but Halley swallowed it. As much as she’d enjoy a confrontation with Chantelle there was the chance they’d wake the girls. Halley stared at Chantelle stonily as she tried to think of the fastest way to get the woman out of the house.

Chantelle decided that Halley’s silence was because she was waiting for answers.

“You didn’t hear me knock so I let myself in.”

Despite her lapse when she went to check the mail earlier Halley knew she had locked the front door upon her return. Since she had been getting those threatening notes she had become extra cautious.

“The door was locked.”

“Perhaps the lock didn’t catch.” Chantelle gave a careless shrug that loosened the red scarf draped over her black woollen coat. “No matter. I’m here now.”

Rather than argue with her Halley decided to find out what she wanted. Maybe then Chantelle would go and leave her in peace. With any luck she’d never return.

“So why are you here?”

“I’m here because you owe me.” Chantelle smiled, displaying teeth so dazzling white they made her eyes look jaundiced.

“I don’t owe you a thing. You even signed that document to say you agreed,” Halley said sharply then pointed towards the hallway. “The front door’s that way. Make sure you close it on your way out.”

“I was tricked into signing that document. That painting your
husband
let me take wasn’t worth a thing.” The word husband came out in a sneer.

“No one made you take it. Neither Alec nor I could help it if you thought you were getting one over us. I’m sure you wouldn’t be here now if that painting had turned out to be worth more than the house.”

Halley reconsidered what she had just said. She was wrong. Chantelle would be back as soon as she ran through the money. And Chantelle would keep returning as long as she thought that she could get something from them.

“I don’t know why you’ve bothered coming back. There’s no money to be had.”

“Of course there is. Don’t lie to me. You forget I sold the house and know exactly how much money you received.” Chantelle’s words were terse as though she was running out of patience.

“All the money we got out of that place went straight into the mortgage on this one.”

“You’re joking.” Chantelle sounded incredulous.

“No, I’m not. And even if we had money to spare which we don’t I wouldn’t give you any. Your days of taking everything I earn and disappearing off into the sunset are over.”

“I had every right to that money. You owe me.” Chantelle placed her leather gloved hands on her hips and parted her matchstick thin legs, blocking Halley’s path. Behind her Halley could see the phone sitting temptingly on the top of the far end of the breakfast bar.

She could tell that she would be wasting her time trying to talk Chantelle into going. The woman was unhinged. The only way she’d be able to get her to go would be to involve the police. Halley backed up a few steps, deciding to travel around the kitchen island to reach the phone. To make it less obvious as to what she was doing she decided to keep Chantelle talking.

“What exactly do I owe you for?”

“You kept me here for several weeks stalling your way out of paying me my fair share of Krystal’s estate and in that time my husband shafted me on three commissions.” Halley thought it was karma and didn’t even pretend to look sympathetic. “One of them was a multimillion dollar dairy farm,” Chantelle added tightly. “Do you know how much that would have been worth to me?”

“Probably less than what you stole from me,” Halley replied flippantly, unable to avoid the temptation of provoking Chantelle. Even after all these years she still hated how powerless she had felt when Chantelle had run through her money and had made such a fuss on the set that the people in charge had written her character out of the movie rather than continue to put up with Chantelle’s presence.

Halley crossed the end of the kitchen island and started travelling up the length of the breakfast bar. Unfortunately Chantelle followed.

“I didn’t steal anything. Letting me have your earnings from that film was the least you could do for ruining my life.”

Halley couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“How did I possibly ruin your life?” she asked incredulously.

“I had a great job and I had to leave when I had bad morning sickness. Of course when you were born I couldn’t go back because I had to take care of you. Then when I returned to the workforce I couldn’t get as good a job because I’d been out of circulation for so long.”

Halley fought the urge to snort. Her Grandma had mentioned more than once that Chantelle hadn’t worked a day in her life. Her sense of self-entitlement hadn’t allowed it. Chantelle was rewriting history to paint herself in a more flattering light. The woman was delusional.

Halley took the few remaining steps and snatched up the phone.

“As much as I’m enjoying your fairy tale I’ve got far better things to do and I want you to go. Now are you going to leave quietly or would you prefer a police escort?”

To Halley’s surprise Chantelle smirked. Halley realised why when she raised the phone to her ear and discovered it wouldn’t work. She had forgotten there was a power cut.

“I didn’t think you’d offer to give me anything but I thought I would give you a chance,” Chantelle said as Halley set the phone down. “No matter. I’ve been working on Plan B for a few weeks now. It would have been a shame not to have used it.”

“Plan B?” Halley repeated dumbly as she tried to think where she had left her cell phone. Then she remembered it was still plugged into the charger upstairs by the bed. She abandoned her plan to race to it and phone for help. There was no way she would risk letting Chantelle get anywhere near her daughter or niece.

Instead of answering, Chantelle smiled. The insincere flash of white between Chantelle’s red painted lips made Halley feel uneasy.

“Alec’s going to be home any minute,” Halley said, changing direction to edge towards the open ranch slider. She now had to go around the couch to avoid Chantelle. Outside, Buddy was still attacking the tree in the hope of gaining the tennis ball.
What a useless guard dog you are. You should be encouraging Chantelle out the door with your teeth
, she thought.

“Alec’s going to be out with the kids until after dinner. Since your friend won’t be here until after lunch I have plenty of time for what I need to do,” Chantelle informed her pleasantly.

Halley froze.

“How do you know that?” she asked.

One side of Chantelle’s lip curled up, gently mocking her.

“I listened in when you were on the phone earlier.”

“How long have you been in the house?” Halley asked, trying to hide her shock. She knew that she had locked the front door after Alec and the kids had left because she recalled unlocking it when she had taken the girls out to check the letterbox.

“You really shouldn’t leave your door unlocked when you go out for a walk.”

“But I was watching the driveway when I went up and down the street. There’s no way that you walked or drove up here while I was out.”

“You’re right,” Chantelle agreed. “Shall I tell you how I did it?”

Halley nodded, feeling sick to her stomach that her carelessness had allowed Chantelle access.

“After my husband shafted me it took a few weeks to decide what to do but I got even. Then I thought it would be a good idea to get away for a while.” Halley inwardly shuddered at the thought of what Chantelle considered to be ‘getting even’. The woman was clearly mad.

Chantelle took a step closer to her and Halley retreated, the back of her calf hitting the coffee table.

“I thought that since I was on a roll it would be the perfect time to sort you out for making me look like a fool for taking an amateur’s work into an art gallery and treating it like something valuable.”

Halley bit her tongue so she wouldn’t tell Chantelle that she didn’t need anyone’s help to look stupid.

“So I set about coming up with a plan to take care of you for once and for all.”

Halley didn’t like the sound of that. It sounded permanent. She eased her way past the coffee table only to back into the tennis ball machine.

“Luckily I was prepared. I had a copy made of the door key to your house before I sold it.” Chantelle shrugged at Halley’s questioning look. “You’d be surprised how handy a spare key can come in. Your old house gave me the perfect spot to keep an eye on you and I knew I had time before the new owners turned up. All I had to do was wait for an opportunity to present itself.” She glanced down at the coffee table and smiled. “I see you’ve got my note.”

Halley followed her gaze and saw the note with the cut out letters on the coffee table.

“Those stalker notes I’ve been getting; they’re all from you?” she asked incredulously.

Chantelle nodded, her smile widening.

“Clever don’t you think? I was going to send you a few more but this is the first time since you received my third note that you have been alone. I’m getting bored with living out of a suitcase so thought it best to get it over and done with. Isn’t this perfect?” She gestured to Halley. “Some fan fixates on you and you die at their hands. Then I come in and take the children and all that lovely money that will go with them.”

“That’s not going to happen. Alec will keep the children. All of them.” As soon as she said the words, Halley knew it was true. He was not the sort of man who walked away from responsibility.

Chantelle cocked her head to one side, considering the possibility then shrugged.

“He’ll have to go too.” She did not sound unhappy about it.

“That won’t help your cause. Casey’s mother Liz will take them all.” At least Halley hoped she would. The children had a better chance of thriving surrounded by poverty somewhere in Africa than in Chantelle’s care.

“I’m sure that she would be willing to negotiate,” Chantelle said. “It’ll help that I’ll have cashed in a large life insurance policy on you that will show her I have the means to look after my grandchildren. She’d probably be more than happy to receive a little money in lieu of custody.”

Despite the situation Halley almost laughed. Liz swayed by the thought of money? Not likely. It was also very much like Chantelle not to be happy with just the value of a life insurance policy when there was the possibility of more money to be had.

“With as much thought you’ve put into this it’s a shame that your plan isn’t going anywhere,” Halley said evenly, easing to the side of the tennis ball machine.

“Of course it is. Why would you think that I wouldn’t succeed?” Chantelle seemed genuinely perplexed.

“You forgot to bring a gun,” Halley said boldly, hoping it was true. “And I am younger and stronger than you. Without a weapon you don’t have a chance against me.”

Chantelle gave her a patronising smile.

“Guns are too much hassle to buy here without knowing the right people. Besides, I’ve set up the scene for something more personal.” She gestured to the note lying on the coffee table. “Notes like that imply strong feelings, don’t you think?”

“You’re going to love me to death?” Halley was sceptical.

Chantelle opened her coat and withdrew a large knife with a familiar looking handle.

“No. I’m going to stab you.”

Halley stared at the knife that belonged to the knife block in the kitchen, barely comprehending Chantelle’s intent.

“You can’t be serious,” she sputtered.

“Oh, but I am. Dead serious,” Chantelle assured her as she closed the gap between them.

Halley had been toying with the idea of leading Chantelle outside then pushing her out of the way and locking her out of the house but now she didn’t want to turn her back on her. Instead she grabbed the tennis ball machine and twirled it around just as Chantelle lunged for her.

Halley raised an arm to ward off the attack and felt her arm burn but she ignored it to switch the machine on. The dial was already set to fast and tennis balls started popping out of the opening, hitting Chantelle with bruising force.

“Buddy!” Halley shrieked as Chantelle tried to dodge balls to get to her. Buddy stopped leaping at the tree and looked in her direction. Excited by the sight of balls flying in all directions he raced towards them.

Chantelle swung the knife at Halley, making her step back from the tennis ball machine. Not wanting to waste time looking for the off switch, Chantelle kicked the machine over. Balls spilled from the hopper and the remaining few in the machine flew out on a trajectory towards the ceiling.

“You bitch!” Chantelle rasped as she adjusted her grip on the knife. She lunged again and Halley leapt back, hitting the ranch slider behind her. Buddy ducked around them, his tail wagging furiously as he took in the sight of all the tennis balls.

Halley had just enough time to lean out of the doorway when the blade slashed where her face had just been. On the breakfast bar Cassie’s baby monitor activated and they both heard a half-hearted cry. It was the sound of a baby who had been woken up by an unfamiliar noise but if they didn’t hear it again they would settle back to sleep.

Seeing the triumphant grin on Chantelle’s face, Halley abandoned her plan to race outside for help. She knew Chantelle would go for Cassie and Lily if she couldn’t get her.

Chantelle brandished the knife in front of her, preventing Halley from coming any closer.

“Maybe those babies will be a good warm up,” she taunted.

“No! Don’t!” Halley screamed just as the doorbell went.

“Halley?” Alec yelled from outside upon hearing her scream. Then he swore. “Wait! I left the keys in the car!”

Halley didn’t have time to wonder why Alec had returned. Chantelle appeared distracted by his arrival and Halley was determined to make the most of it.

“Time’s up bitch,” she snarled, going on the offensive. She feinted to the left and when Chantelle jabbed the knife in that direction Halley grabbed her by the wrist. Not knowing what to do next she tried to twist Chantelle’s arm. Chantelle responded by clawing at Halley’s face with her free hand.

Halley raised an arm to protect her eyes and Chantelle pulled free. Chantelle drew the knife back and savagely thrust it at Halley’s chest. Halley saw the knife coming and stepped back, all the while knowing she needed more time to get out of range.

Behind her, Buddy stopped to pick up a tennis ball. Halley tripped over his back, the knife blade penetrating her clothes and stinging her sternum before she fell. Her head hit the glass door on the way down and bounced off the tiled floor. Dazed, she looked up to see Chantelle moving in for the kill.

A tennis ball rolled past her fingers and Halley automatically grabbed it.

“Buddy, catch,” she said weakly and flung the ball at Chantelle’s face.

Buddy leapt for the ball, mouth wide. Chantelle shrieked at his sudden appearance from nowhere, giving Halley enough time to roll over and get to her knees. She grabbed another ball and tossed it at Chantelle.

“Buddy, catch!” she said in a stronger voice.

Buddy obligingly dropped the ball in his mouth and snapped for the next one as Halley got to her feet. Chantelle waved the knife in front of her to dissuade Buddy from getting too close and caught Buddy’s ear. Buddy dropped the ball he had just caught and growled.

In the tense silence that followed they all heard the front door crash open against the wall followed by the sound of Alec’s feet pounding in their direction.

Chantelle realised she had no time left to lose. Ignoring Buddy she lunged at Halley, her eyes glittering. The knife pierced Halley’s shirt and went through her flesh. With a triumphant grin, Chantelle twisted the knife and pressed harder, pinning Halley to the wall.

Halley sucked in a breath as she placed both hands over Chantelle’s and fought to pull the knife out. At their feet Buddy snarled beside Chantelle’s leg, momentarily distracting her. It was all Halley needed. As she pulled the knife free from her side, blood ran over her fingers and she gasped at the pain.

The sound snapped Chantelle’s attention back to her and she fought for control of the knife. Halley’s blood slicked fingers slipped just as Chantelle managed to raise the knife. Halley’s eyes locked on Alec who was sprinting across the room towards them. There was no way he would reach her in time.