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Chapter 6
Sterling lived in a charming little, Spanish inspired white bungalow with an orange slate roof, the type which seemed just perfect and cozy for two. The main section of the house was accessed through a cute little courtyard behind a stone arch. The courtyard was a garden with a variety of colorful flowers, a stone bench nestled in the middle, with a view of the bird bath. A hammock swayed in the breeze. Leila’s imagination got the best of her imaging herself tucked against Sterling on a balmy night like this one, gazing at the stars. And perhaps both of them wearing nothing but sweat.
Sterling eyed Leila as she took in his home and garden. She was surprised a bachelor pad had such a well-kept garden. Not surprised the lawn and home itself appeared well maintained and taken care of. Just like the owner himself.
“I don’t have a green thumb. This is all my mother Lucille’s doing,” explained Sterling with a grin. “I tend to kill plants. And small animals unfortunately. Not i
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Leila stowed her ratty old duffle bag on the seat beside her and said a thanks to the man above when her Chevy started on the first try. She had stuffed everything she cared to bring along in the tattered bag, and left her apartment keys in her mailbox. She wanted to put plenty of miles between herself and Stillwater before the sun can up. She didn’t have a clue where she was going, her plan to just get in the truck, pick a direction and drive. Let the wind take her where it would.She ignored the heavy feeling in her chest as she put the truck in reverse and headed towards the only highway out of town. Her phone rang on the seat beside her. She glanced at the screen, and drew in a deep breath when Sterling’s name and number flashed across the lighted screen. She sat the phone back down on the seat and continued to drive. She had made her decision. The call went to voicemail.Her window stuck and refused to roll down. She cursed and drove on towards the only gas station
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Leila had planned to lie low that day, stay at home, and just wait for Zenia’s call tonight when it was time to head to the morgue. She had showered off the swamp, burnt her bloody clothes from the night before in case the Sheriff came poking around, and tidied up her apartment.She hadn’t been able to help herself from calling to check on Sterling that morning. He hadn’t answered, but sent her a text saying he was being interviewed again. She hated the Sheriff even more at that moment, as poor Sterling had barely been given any time to rest.But by early afternoon Zenia called to ask her to come to the bar. Lucille Mount had marched into the Stillwater Police Department with a lawyer in tow, and several minutes later her son was released from police custody, with no charges filed so far at least. Lucille had spent several hours fussing over son, as she had just arrived back in town for a church sponsored ladies retreat and nearly had a heart attack w
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Leila parked on the side of the street quickly and sprinted over to the house. She made it a great deal up the front path before Sheriff Thorne blocked her path with his wide girth and smug expression. “Miss Dupree, big surprise to see you here. But I can’t allow you to pass. We have executed a search warrant on your boyfriend’s property. So I suggest you turn around and return to your vehicle.” “Where is Sterling?” Leila asked.
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Leila said nothing about what had just happened in her truck and neither did Sterling. But he did give her a sweet grin before Zenia walked up to the truck. The girl had been on her cellphone and pacing the gravel lot in front of the bar. She didn’t sound happy when she hung up the phone. She stuck her head in the window of the truck. “Zanna won’t tell me shit. She said it’s too hard to talk about. She’s been praying nonstop for Clyde’s soul to go to Heaven. That’s a lost cause for fuckin’ sure.”
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