Coming Home For Christmas

"You know Miss Black, this is a great deal we're offering you" "It's Mrs Black and I know it's a great offer, I'm just confused as to why you're offering me a four picture deal so soon, don't you normally have to wait and see how the first movie does with the viewers before you even think about a second movie let alone a third or fourth?"

Abby asks me Iwas about to answer her when I overheard two of the police officers talking and what they said shocked both Abby and me and it also got me thinking

"She's the same as the others, same build, same weight, same skin colour and she's got a symbol carved on her chest, she's even got the same name as the other victims and is the same age as them as well” "Yeah, Olivia Carpenter aged twenty-nine" What the f**k?

This can't be “Olivia Carpenter? as in Lacey Olivia Carpenter who is also twenty-nine?" Abby asked barely above a whisper “There's no way, Abs, maybe it's just a coincidence” “It's an awfully big coincidence, Lace, maybe we should call Klayton"

“And tell him what, Abs? that five women aged twenty-nine called Olivia have all turned up dead? he'll think we're nuts" It may seem like a great idea to call my cousin but to me, it just seems ludacris and a waste of time for something that could be totally unrelated to us I'mean think about it, 'm not the only twenty-nine-year-old on the planet, I'm also not the only person with Olivia or Carpenter in my name "Sweetheart, I think he knows..I mean, these murders have been the hot topic on all of the media outlets lips for the past week"

"So?" “So, almost everyone in America knows about these murders, kid, the killer has even been dubbed by some t***s on Tik Tok as the New York ripper, the only thing Klayton doesn't know yet is that the latest victim has not only got your middle name but your maiden name as well” Abby says and I let out a breath feeling frustrated as I look towards the scene

“I honestly don't see this having any correlation with us, Abs" “Well, there's only one way to find out, Lace" Abby grabbed hold of my hand and led me towards her car when we were stopped by Mr Rojas “Miss Black, Miss Walters, is everything ok?" “Everything's fine, Mr Weinstein, we have to go, sorry" Isay before walking away, not giving him a chance to answer me "Mr Weinstein, Lace?"

“T'llexplain on the way" Abby and I get in her car and head towards Klayton's office building I explained everything the waitress had told me to Abby who was livid and wanted to go back and break Mr Rojas’s legs “What a sick prick, he'd better hope Klayton doesn't find out” “Yeah” Isay sadly “Hey, are you ok?" “Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just sad, that's all"

"What about?" Abby asks and I let out a sigh Chapter 39 - Revelations. Ww “The movie deal...i's every author's dream to see their work put up on the big screen and I was this close to that happening only for my dream to be destroyed in a single second by some sick bastard who gets his jollies by drugging women" “Lacey”

Abby says as she grabs hold of my hand and gives it a comforting squeeze “There'll be other opportunities, babe" “I hope so, Abs” I'say whilst smiling at her We arrive at Klayton's building and immediately head up to his office using Klayton's personal elevator We then walked straight into his office and I was left shocked and dumbfounded when I saw my husband was here along with my cousins Klayton and Joey, a couple of police officers and two suits who I'm assuming are detectives

Why are they all here? and why are the police here? “Principessa, Abigail, what are you guys doing here?" “We erm...we wanted to discuss something with you, what's going on here?" “Cugina, this is Detective Morris and Detective Russo, detectives this is my cousin Lacey Black and my lawyer Abigail Walters” Klayton introduces us “It's nice to meet you, ladies”

“Normally, yes but I'm confident that these movies will be a hit, not just because romance movies are always a big hit but also because of the woman behind them” Mr Rojas the movie producer says whilst smiling and winking at me like a creep making me feel very uncomfortable From the moment Abby and I walked into this restaurant today to meet with the producer and the studio executive, Mr Rojas has been eyeing me up like a dog would a piece of meat He also keeps looking me up and down, smiling at me creepily and licking and biting down on his lips like he's imagining himself licking and biting me, it's so weird and gross

"Ditto, detective” Tsay with a smile "Now that the meet and greet is over and done with, do you wanna Chapter 39 - Revelations. WY explain why the cops are here, Klay?" “They're here because of the murders, cugina, they think they're connected to us in some way" Klayton says and I briefly look at Abigail before looking back at my cousin

"How?" Klayton and the two detectives look at each other before one of the detectives dismisses the two uniform cops When they were gone, Klayton asked us to sit down which we did and Logan was immediately by my side and holding my hand when I did “Principessa, Morris and Russo are both on my payroll” “You mean they're dirty cops?” Task him and he looks at me like what the f**k? while Joey looks like he's trying not to laugh “No principessa, they're not dirty cops”

“Really, Klay? two cops in bed with a mafia Don...it doesn't sound like aclean relationship to me I'say and they all chuckle even the two cops laugh as well “Babe, why don't you let Klayton and the detectives explain everything to you?" “Ok, fine" “Thanks, Lo" Klayton appreciatively thanked my husband “Like I was saying, Lace, these two cops are on our payroll, no they're not dirty or corrupt, they're more of a erm...a guardian angel for us if you will"

Klayton says and I narrow my eyes at him Chapter 39 - Revelations. Ww “A guardian angel?" "Yeah, like in cases like this, kid..detective" Klayton says while looking at the detectives and slightly nodding his head towards me “Mrs Black, we'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind?” “Is this about these murders because I've got nothing to do with them, I swear” I'say and Detective Morris chuckles slightly

“No ma'am, we just want to get some information from you, that's all” I narrow my eyes at him before briefly looking up at my husband “Ok, fine" “Can you tell me your full name, please?" “Lacey Black" “He said full name, principessa” Klayton says and I close my eyes and sigh “My name is Lacey..Lacey Olivia Black"

I said hesitantly "What's your maiden name, Lacey?" Tlook up at Abby who nods her head reassuringly before I narrow my eyes back at the detective “It's Carpenter” “And how old are you, Lacey?" "I'm twenty- nine" Isay with a sigh Chapter 39 - Revelations. Ww “And what's your star sign?”

The detective asks me and I narrow my eyes at him in confusion “Is that really necessary, detective?" “Yes it is, Miss Walters" “It's ok, Abs” I'say whilst gently squeezing her hand “I'm a Scorpio, why? what's this got to do with anything?" “Mrs Black, I'm sure you've heard about the murders that have rocked New York City this week” “Yes I have, in fact, we've just witnessed another body being

found” “Well, that's exactly why we're here, Mrs Black” Detective Russo says as Detective Morris places several pictures in front of me on Klayton's desk “There have been five murders this week, five women with the same height, build, weight and race as you, Lacey, they've also got long caramel blonde hair and light green eyes like you as well” “All of the victims are twenty-nine years old just like you and their names are all Olivia, our latest victim's name was..." “Olivia Carpenter”

I say barely above a whisper as my eyes remain fixed on the pictures “This is a coincidence, right? I mean...why would?" I'sighed in frustration unable to put into words what I wanted to say “Idon't think it's a coincidence, Mrs Black, each victim has got similar characteristics as you, not to mention, they were all wearing a white gold L Chapter 39 - Revelations. WY necklace which nobody close to them claimed was theirs and they also had a black Scorpio stamp on the inside of their left wrists" “All of the victims are also natives of New York just like you, Mrs Black, the only thing that we couldn't link back to you was

their profession” “What was their profession?” Abby asks them and my heart skipped a beat when he answered her

Mr Rojas is also complimenting me every other sentence, not to mention he keeps referring to me as Miss Black even though I've told him umpteen times it's MRS Black “Thank you, Mr Rojas, 1." “Please call me, Caleb” He says and I smile tightly at him "Ok, Caleb, I." Chapter 39 - Revelations. Ld "Mrs Black" A waitress interrupts me “Yes” "Your husband is on the phone, he'd like to speak with you" "Really?" I ask confused

"They were kindergarten teachers" “Oh my god" I groaned as I rubbed my hand over my face "What? what's wrong?" “Is there something we should know about, Mrs Black?" Took around at everyone before looking at the detectives “Yeah, I erm...before I left New York several years ago, I had got my degree in teaching and I was given a job to work as a kindergarten teacher" “Really?”

"Yes" “Was this the school you were offered a job at?" The detective shows me his phone and 1 gulp as I nod my head “Klayton" “Relax principessa, everything's gonna be ok?" Is he for real? How can I relax when someone is murdering women literally in my name who have similar attributes to me and are working the same job I was supposed to work many years ago? I narrowed my eyes at the five pictures of the poor girls and at

first, I Chapter 39 - Revelations. ww felt sick looking at them but then I became curious and intrigued by the symbols that had been carved onto their chests I knew what these carvings were and it didn't take me long to work out what they were trying to say as I rearranged each picture to put them in order “Do you have any concrete proof that these murders are related to Lacey? I mean, maybe she's right, maybe this is just a coincidence” "Tdon't think it is, Klay"

Isaid as I continued to look at the pictures “What are you talking about, Lace?" “Look at this, these carvings are unitology letters” “What does that mean?" The detective asks me “Each symbol is specific to each letter in the English alphabet” “Really? do you know what these letters are?" “L.yeah"

Igrab hold of a black marker pen on Klayton's desk and write the English letters on top of each picture earning shocked gasps and angry groans from everyone around me “The carvings spell out Lacey" “Yeah” Ilooked up at my cousin who was tightly gripping the arms of his chair “Klayton..." “Don't worry, principessa, he's not gonna get you, I promise you"! "He who?"

The detective asks but before either of us can answer him, the door Chapter 39 - Revelations bursts open “Klayton, I need to talk to you" A frantic Marcus says as he rushes over to us “This isn't the right time, Marcus, f**k off" “But Klay...

"Marcus, get out now"

Klayton growls completely dismissing Marcus who then turns to me “Lacey, help me out here" "Me? how can I help you out, Marcus?" "Because it's about Kat" He says shocking me "Kat? what about Kat?" “You found something already?" Lask ignoring Klayton

"Yeah, I found her, I know where she is"

Why didn't he just call my cell phone? “Excuse me, gentlemen I stood up and followed the waitress to the bar I grabbed the phone from the bar and pressed it to my ear expecting to hear my baby’s sexy husky voice but instead, I was greeted by a dial tone “Keep the phone to your ear, Mrs Black" “Why? what's going on?" Lask confused “That guy who is with you, the really creepy one”

“Yeah, what about him?" I ask feeling confused but what she said next pissed me off “He's spiked your drink" “He what?" “You heard me, Mrs Black, he spiked your drink when you and your friend went to the bathroom” Urght, that motherfucker “How do you know?" “Iwatched him do it and I was waiting for the perfect moment to tell you but there wasn't one..I'm just glad you didn't drink

any of it" Chapter 39 - Revelations. Ww “I'm not a big alcohol drinker” Ilooked back at the table to see the two men conversing with one another while Abby was looking at me confused I didn't know what to do A part of me wanted to call the police on his disgusting ass but another part of me knew it would be a waste of time because I highly doubt they'd be able to do anything about it considering the history of famous celebrities and movie producers getting away with murder in Hollywood

“Do me a favour, call the..." I'said but was once again cut off by the sounds of a police siren The waitress and I share eye contact before running out of the restaurant "LACE!!, LACEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Abby shouted as I ran out of the door Ifollowed the sounds of sirens to a crowd that was gathered outside of an alley “Hey, what's going on?"

I ask one of the onlookers “Another body has been found raped and murdered, that makes it the fifth body this week” Oh my god What the hell is going on? “Lacey, are you ok?" “I don't know, Abs, another body has been found just like all of the others” So? I mean, it's sad these girls are being tortured and killed

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