Weeping Willows: A Thrilling Mystery Novella (Dark Desires Book 1) Read online

was going to be caught in the thick of it. The sky blackened and the heavens opened, spewing torrents of rain. It pounded on her vehicle, the windshield swishing to and fro crazily as Suzie squinted at the road ahead struggling for visibility. She thought of pulling over but decided against it as home was just ten minutes away. She'd weather the storm, driving at a snail’s pace. Thank goodness that this was the country and no traffic hazard. “She'll be home soon.” she kept reassuring herself.

  A fork in the road ahead indicated the turn towards home and the car skidded slightly as Suzie took the turn. The cottage loomed ahead as she quickly turned into the driveway, she felt a bit relieved that she didn't have to jump off to open the gate as both she and Melissa had probably forgotten to shut it when they left this morning. Lightning and thunder struck as Suzie jumped off the car quickly locking it as she made the mad dash to the front door. Inserting her key in the lock totally drenched in those few minutes Suzie entered the cottage. It was freezing cold and the dark interior making it apparent that Melly had not returned as she sometimes did with Craig, her latest. She walked into the lounge and switched on the light. It was beautifully cozy furnished room with a soft rose printed wallpaper in a delicate pink and white pattern which always gave one the feeling of brightness and warmth, soft drapes at the windows matching lampshades and a suede lounge suite completing the furnishing. Suzie kicked off her shoes and sank her feet in the luxurious shaggy rug making her way to the bathroom. Quickly undressing, she turned on the spray in the shower, soaping herself letting the hot streaming water soothe her body. Ten minutes later she turned the faucet off, stepping out she dried herself, slipping on her warm toweling robe she headed to the kitchen, pulled out her favorite red and white mug with hearts on it and spooned 2 sugars waiting for the kettle to boil. A nice cup of tea was generally what Suzie liked to have when she got home from campus.

  She and Melly would catch up on the events of their day, laughing and joking around. The kettle automatically switched off and the click brought Suzie back to wondering as she poured the steaming water into her mug. Where was Melly? It was beginning to become a little unnerving that Melly hadn't called back yet.

  A sudden feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She had the uncanny feeling that something was amiss. Shaking her head she quietly told herself not to be Silly and mentally pushed away the negative thoughts. It was probably the storm adding to her paranoia.

  Taking her tea she settled herself into the warmth of the couch, switched on the Television and the soapie Days Of Our Lives was on. Suzie skipped the channel and weirdly settled for the Daily news update. The country's political situation making headlines with the Presidents excessive funding on his personal home making the highlights with the different rival parties vying to outsmart each other on what the outcome would be. The warmth of the tea made Suzie feel so relaxed that she dozed off on the couch with the telly still on.

  - Chapter 2 -

  Her heart was beating really fast, sweat trickled down her face as she ran through the tall grass. The ground was muddy and crawly insects stung her ankles. Her shoes were soaked through and she kept falling into the sticky mud. Cuts and bruises marking her face as she ran wildly in despair. She could hear him now, closing in on her. She tried to brush her wet matted hair out of her eyes with very little success. Blindly, wildly running through the thick foliage. She could feel the blood pounding in her head as she tried to think through the fog clouding her mind. Cold and drenched she ran on. She could hear him closing in, his footsteps loud in the thick crunching leaves matting rough terrain.

  She bit her hand to stifle the scream rising to her throat. Despair, fear and the instinct to survive was pushing her on to search for refuge. Suddenly to her right she saw a clearing with an old farmhouse up ahead. She raced on with legs bleeding towards it. Help was just out there. She could make it. She heard a loud dizzying sound before she felt the impact of excruciating pain as her beautiful green eyes opened wider as realization dawned on her.

  Her fingers slowly felt the sticky warm heat in her belly and in that split second her hands were dripping with the blood that oozed from within. She fell with a hard thud.

  - Chapter 3 -

  Static was what Suzie awoke to from her deep slumber. She became aware that she had been so tired that she had dozed off for quite a while. Her empty teacup lay fallen face down on the rug, rubbing her sleepy eyes she glanced at the clock on the side table.

  It was 3.30 am, she'd been asleep for quite a while, uncurling her legs she slowly rose to her feet, switched off the telly on her way to bed. Melly had still not come home. Suzie did a quick sweep of the house checking that all doors and windows were locked. Switching off the lights she flared at her cell phone, Melly had still not called.

  She told herself that she probably stayed the night at Craig's apartment because of the storm. She'd see her tomorrow.

  - Chapter 4 -

  Sunlight spilled through the lacy curtains dancing on Suzie's face. She opened her eye lazily and stretched her arms over her head, pushing back the bedcovers, she walked over to the window, the landscape had been washed anew, opening the window she took a deep breath into her lungs, Suzie loved the mornings.

  It was very special in the countryside and this was her quiet time. She slipped into her warm fluffy slippers and shuffled off to the bathroom, switching on her radio first. A quick visit to the loo and she unscrewed the cap of her toothpaste quickly brushing her pearly teeth, ran her fingers through her tangled hair, humming the tune of “It's my life. . .” she walked into the kitchen switching on the kettle, making her coffee and toast.

  Looking at the clock Suzie realized that she still had an hour, enough time to shower, dress and head off to campus. Picking up her cellphone, she placed a call to Melissa. The message began, “the subscriber you have dialed is not available. . .” Suzie shrugged to herself tossing the phone on the table. She'd catch up with Melly later at English Lecture.

  Dressed in a fitted calf length black skirt, matching white silk blouse, tightly fitted leather waisted jacket, ankle boots completed her ensamble and she headed to campus. Suzie admitted to herself she was looking pretty cool today even if she thought so herself. She inwardly laughed at herself at the thought as her boots clicked on the sidewalk. She ignored the cat whistles from some of the guys chatting on the benches. She headed to her first lecture for that day, keeping an eye out for Melly.

  By midday, Melissa was still missing in action, Suzie headed to the cafeteria she probably would find Melly and Craig there having their lunch as they sometimes did. Surprisingly, there was no sign of Melissa however Craig was standing in a corner with that moody dark look that was not uncommon to him. Suzie called out to him and waved from across but he seemed so distracted and deep in thought.

  He looked up, heard Suzie and with a slightly guarded look walked over to her. They greeted each other and she asked Craig where Melly was, looking away he answered her a little hesitantly that Melly and him had gotten into an argument yesterday. It was over some silly thing about a movie and he hadn't seen her since. She'd stormed off. Alarmed, Suzie told Craig that she had been calling Melly repeatedly since yesterday and she had assumed that they had been together.

  A worried frown lined Craig's face, he told Suzie that he had also tried calling her but assumed that he was still in the dog box. He had been certain that she'd gone home. Both of them looked at each other horrified that no one had seen or hear from Melissa since yesterday. A sick gnawing feeling settled in the pit of Suzie's stomach, something was horribly wrong here!

  She and Craig immediately split up and decided to query around on the whereabouts of Melissa from friends and students at the campus. A short while later of searching the grounds they began calling Melissa's parents and friends in Rosewood Creek to find out if they knew where she was. It became apparent that Melly was missing. Craig appeared to be the last person to see Melissa.

  It was now 24 hours and Me
lissa's dad and mum agreed to meet at the police station. Craig and Suzie were met by Uncle Frank and Aunt Lizzie, who was crying hysterically on her husband's shoulder. Being a retired detective himself Uncle Frank was very familiar with the procedure. He left Aunt Lizzie in Suzie's care and marched off to file the missing persons report. Both she and Craig were interviewed by the police and asked to be available as they tracked Melissa. They were informed that they could leave. Suzie and Craig were dumbstruck, they could not believe that this was happening. Questions flitted through their minds. Where was Melissa? It appeared as if she had disappeared into thin air.

  Parting ways, Suzie numb with shock and Craig nervously anxious as he recalled how the police had harassed him as he had been the last person to see her. Uncle Frank had never really liked Craig and he made Craig feel extremely uncomfortable at the station. Craig remembered how he kept giving him those questioning looks. Even Suzie had noticed that Uncle Frank was treating Craig like a suspect.

  The atmosphere had been loaded