The Beach House

The Beach House

By Paul Shepherd

Copyright by Paul Shepherd 2012

Smashwords Edition

Candy Brown woke up to the bright morning sun
shining through her large, sliding glass, patio door. The door
leads to a wooden deck overlooking the beach. Candy’s husband,
David had already gone to work. He has a small law office in
downtown Carolina Beach. David was once a senior partner at Randle
and Stern, a prominent law firm in Washington D.C. He quit after
his divorce. His ex-wife is the Media Strategic Advisor for the
White House. Between the two Browns, they knew just about every
power player in Washington.

David's wife's affair made him sick of the
D.C. world. It wasn't so much because of the affair itself but the
reputation she was earning. If Kelly needed something, favors or
information, she'd be happy to give a little “some-some” to get
what she wanted, and she wanted a lot. Even after the divorce, he
was as well known for his ex’s infidelities as he was for being a
brilliant lawyer.

David met Candy at the Bellagio casino in Las
Vegas where she worked. She was an entertainer, a singer in a
variety show. She did a great Katy Perry impersonation. She also
did tricks on the side for the uncommitted sex and the extra money.
She loved to sing but she loved the excitement of hooking even
more. She was high class. Candy selected her clients and she only
selected those who made her hot.

David didn’t know about Candy’s tricks. After
spending the week with her in Vegas, David asked her to visit him
at his new beach house. She did three weeks later and never
left.

Candy just got out of the shower when she
heard someone at the door. She put on her robe that hangs on the
back of the bathroom door. She hardly ever wears it, except for the
rare occasions like this. As Candy walked through the living room,
she could see through the glass front door a man she’d never seen
before. He was tall, tan, thirty four years old, blond hair and
dressed like a banker, wearing a decent suit from The Men’s
Wearhouse. But he was too built, too poised to be a banker. He was
definitely a cop.

"Can I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Lieutenant Gorton of the
Carolina Beach Police Department. Is this the Brown residence?"

Candy was impressed with the officer's
professionalism. Her hair was still wet and she was only wearing a
short white bathrobe. He didn't miss a beat or sneak a peek at her
full breasts or her tan, toned, silky smooth thighs. Candy knew she
was a desirable woman. She is only twenty seven and her only
responsibilities lately were to work out, tan and primp herself
daily. Candy’s breasts were perfect. She was confident of that.
After all, her breasts were done by the same doctor who did Carmen
Electra’s. She also remembered all too vividly all the men eagerly
paying her thousands of dollars to be with her for just a
night.

"Yes, I'm Candy Brown."

"Is Mr. Brown here?"

"No, he's at work. Is there a problem
Officer?"

"Did he tell you if he was working out of his
office today or did his business entail working out, maybe at court
or visiting a client?”

"I'm sorry, could you please tell me what’s
going on?"

The officer took a moment, clearly he didn't
what to divulge anything until he got the information he
needed.

"Yes Mrs. Brown, do you know who Kelly Brown
is?

Candy cringed, as if puke was rising up her
throat.

“Yes, It’s David’s x-wife. What does she
want?”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“I’ve never seen that bitch and I don’t want
to!” Candy said angrily.

The Lieutenant looked at Candy with concern.
She just moved up his suspect list..

“Kelly is dead.”

Candy’s eyes widened. Her mouth popped open
in surprise.

“Oh my god! What happened?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

“What do you mean? Did someone kill her?”
Candy seemed genuinely shocked. Not so much from sadness but in
amazement that someone killed that bitch.

“It’s an open case right now. We are looking
at all possibilities. So, for the sake of eliminating all possible
connections, where were you last night between the hours of ten pm
to four in the morning?”

“I am not connected to that lady! I don’t
know her and I don’t want to know her.”

“I’m sorry but you're married to her X. That
could easily be argued as a conflict of interest.”

“It’s none of your business where I was. I
didn’t kill her. I want to talk to my lawyer before I answer any
questions.”

“You have that right and I have the right to
take you in and lock you up for forty eight hours while we wait for
your lawyer.”

“My husband is my lawyer and he’s the best.
He’ll sue the shit out of you.”

“I figured that Mrs. Brown, you’re making
this harder than it has to be. If you have nothing to hide in
regard to this case, I suggest you tell me. Otherwise it works in
my favor to bring you in. We can’t locate your husband, he’s not in
his office. Maybe if we bring you in, he’ll show up. Otherwise it’s
two days in the slammer.”

“He’s not in his office?”

“No, is he supposed to be?”

Candy seemed confused.

“Look, if he’s involved with this and you
purposefully mislead law enforcement, you will be charged with
aiding and abetting. That’s ten years jail time.”

Candy was silent, processing the
information.

“I know this must be hard for you. I like to
be up front with people and let the chips land where they may. I’ll
be frank with you if you’re frank with me, no games, fair?”

Candy looked up at the Lieutenant with her
big watery green eyes.

“We checked out your husband’s credit card
activity last night. It was used at an ATM machine two blocks from
the hotel where Kelly’s body was found. It was for $300.00. The
hotel was paid for in advance with cash under a fictitious
name.”

Candy couldn’t believe her ears. David was
the victimized husband that she felt bad for. That wasn’t the
reason she moved in with him. It wasn’t for love either, at least
not at first. She did end up falling in love with him. He was so
nice and smart. He had this special wit that always made Candy
smile. Even though she loved her husband, she was no saint to him.
She had fire in her blood and she needed to unleash it. David was a
great lover but there was no danger, no rush.

There weren’t too many tourists in their
neighborhood. It was mostly residential and vacation homes for the
well to do from up north. During the summer months, a lot of
homeowners rented out their homes. Some could make enough money to
pay off their yearly mortgage. The renters to Candy were candy to
her. She couldn’t resist them, fresh meat. She could be whomever
she wanted. They were easily seduced and she never had to see them
again. Candy liked to target married men. Just to make sure there
was no attachment. She didn’t want someone looking for her after
falling “in love” or the small chance they’d bump into each other
while Candy was with her David. She was slick when she went out,
her style, hair and makeup so dramatically different from when she
went out with David, it was practically impossible to recognize
her. Candy realized the best way to get a quick lay with a hot
stranger was to approach them as a hooker. She didn’t need the
money but it was an easy line for her. Candy would go to a bar and
discreetly tell her prey that she ran up a small tab but forgot her
wallet. She would act intoxicated and tell him that she was
embarrassed and she would go down on him if he covered her tab.
Most guys offered to go ahead and pay without the favors but by
then, the ice was broken. “That’s so sweet of you.” she’d say and
give him a kiss on the cheek. She would linger by his ear. “Can I
go down on you anyway?”

Candy wasn’t big on sucking dick but she was
good at it and after a little slobbing the knob there was no
denying the mount. Long ago Candy learned that guys will most
likely deny an offer of sex from a stranger but they were less
likely to turn down a blow job. It also gave the guy an added
pleasure to get more than was offered. Candy got such a rush from
fulfilling hot mens’ unsolicited fantasies of having sex on the
beach with a gorgeous stranger. After all, it was Candy’s fantasy
too. That was what she referred to her husband as, “girls’ night
out.”

“That asshole!”

“So I take it you were not with him last
night.”

“No, he told me he had to do an all nighter
at the office, to get ready for court.”

“Have you seen him since?”

“Yes, he came home early this morning. He
took a shower, we made love and he went back to work.”

“He has a lot of stamina.”

“You asshole! How dare you!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. It was
just that,” The Lieutenant hesitated. “We found cocaine in her room
as well.”

That made Candy pissed. She thought David was
a goody two shoes. Candy got her nickname Candy from all the nose
candy she used to indulge. She gave that up when she moved in with
David.

“I can’t believe it. He told me he never did
drugs. I can barely get him to drink.”

It actually worked in Candy’s favor that
David was such a square, so she believed. It made her secret girls’
night out less risky of to run into David.

“It might not be completely what it seems. We
think David’s ex-wife was blackmailing him.”

“Blackmail?”

“We found a file in the trunk of her car. It
had information about you.”

Candy froze, her stomach dropped. She felt
light headed. The Lieutenant noticed and stepped in the door and
grabbed her arm.

“Let me find you a seat.”

The lieutenant walked Candy over to the
living room’s black leather sofa.

“I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have given you
all the details. I’ve been accused of being insensitive more than
once. I guess I’ve been in this business too long.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“Yes please, the glasses are in the first top
cupboard, and could you bring me the bottle of Merlot, it’s above
the refrigerator.”

Candy was shaking in fear of what could be in
the file. Did David find out about her past? Is that why David
killed his wife, in rage of what I’ve done? He did come home. He
wasn’t mad, on the contrary, he seemed hornier than normal. He’s
usually not horney in the morning. Unless they were on vacation or
something. Candy’s mind was racing.

The Lieutenant placed the bottle and glass on
the coffee table in front of Candy. He removed the cork and poured
her half a glass. Candy leaned over, took the glass from the
Lieutenant’s hand. If she wasn’t so shaken up, she would have
noticed his strong tan warm hands. She would have “accidentally”
caressed his fingers as she tried to find the glass. Not this time.
This time her desire was in the form of alcohol. She really wanted
Captain Morgan from the bottle but she had just enough control to
ask for something a little more “ladylike”.

Candy brought the glass to her mouth and
didn’t remove it until she was looking at her fingers through the
empty bottom.

She could feel the warmth of the alcohol
going down her throat, chest and into her belly. It quickly calmed
her nerves.

She took a breath and poured herself another
glass. This time to the rim.

“You didn’t get yourself a glass?”

“No ma'am, I’m on duty.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s just wine. I won’t
tell.”

The Lieutenant just gave a smile.

Candy took another large drag from her
glass.

“So officer, what is your first name?”

“It’s Lieutenant.”

“Sorry Lieutenant. Give it up, I’ll feel more
comfortable if we keep it informal.”

“If it makes you feel more comfortable then,
my name is Jack.”

“Nice to meet you Jack.”

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“Oh yes thank you. What would I ever do
without alcohol?”

What would she do? Not much, alcohol brought
out Candy’s inner devil.

“Good, do you want to continue?”

“Yes, you were saying, that bitch was trying
to blackmail my sweet husband.”

Candy took another big swig of her drink to
prepare for what Jack had to say.

“Kelly, your husband’s ex had been
communicating with David on his office line for two months now.
Each call was initiated by Kelly. We don’t know the nature of the
calls. We also know this wasn’t her first time in town. She’s been
here at least four other times. She stayed at the same hotel. This
was according to the hotel receptionist. Maybe she was trying to
win David back and she produced the file to push him away from
you.”

“For God’s sake! What’s in the file?”

“She found out about what you were doing in
Las Vegas.”

“What was I doing?”