Kyla’s Secret

Although she wasn’t sure why, Kyla felt a huge sense of security and relief when Joe left and Corrine arrived. “Hello, my sweets. Have a good day?” If you only knew, Kyla thought. Instead, she said, “Sure. Just bored, is all.” “Oh? You look a little frazzled. You sure everything’s okay, hun?” Kyla nodded. “I’m just frustrated with how long things are taking. I want to get on with my life.” Corrine was almost dismayed to hear that last statement, for she knew that getting on with her life meant leaving and returning to her home far, far away. “You will, hun, you will.” Kyla watched as Corrine pulled something out of a bag she’d brought. “Got something for you.” “Yeah?” asked Kyla. Corrine nodded. “I know how boring the food can be here, so I made you some of my famous tuna noodle casserole.” “Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Kyla said, touched by the kind deed. “You’re so sweet, Officer Corrine.” Corrine beamed. “It’s no problem at all. I love to cook.” “Really? I’m glad one of us does. I was always terrible at it.” After they ate, chatted a while, and waited for people to start turning in for the night, they hit the gym. “As out of shape as I am, I’ll be lucky to burn half a mouthful of that delicious cooking of yours.” Corrine laughed. “You gotta start somewhere, girl.” Kyla watched as the officer took off her jacket, exposing well-muscled forearms. She blushed red-hot with embarrassment when Corrine caught her checking her out, but she didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she seemed to have a smile borne of both flattery and amusement. “You lift weights, huh?” “I have some weights that I use a few times a week, yes.” Kyla walked briskly by Corrine’s side as they warmed up. “How do you feel about country living?” Corrine asked after a moment. Kyla shrugged. “I don’t know. I never really thought about it, but I’m sure it’s quite peaceful compared to the city. Especially big cities like Honolulu or Sacramento. Why?” “Well, I’m working on something for you.” “Yeah?” Corrine nodded. “I’m trying to see if they’ll let me take you to my home in the boonies. It’s only a half-hour drive from here, but it’s very remote.” “Oh, wow! That would be awesome. I mean, I’d rather be trapped in a whole house than in just a room if I had to be stuck anywhere at all. Hate to put you out like that, though.” “You wouldn’t be putting me out. If you were, I wouldn’t look into it.” “Think they’ll go for it?” “I don’t know. Their concern is about me leaving you alone while I’m at work or just out and about somewhere. I couldn’t take you with me, but I also couldn’t leave you alone either.” “That kind of sucks,” said Kyla, sparking a smile from Corrine. “I mean, the idea is rather appealing, so it sucks that I always have to be guarded, you know?” Corrine nodded. “Speed up!” Kyla broke into a jog next to the fit and sexy officer. Again, it seemed like she had to stop in no time. “Don’t stop,” Corrine told her. “Just walk instead. You’re doing great. You ran longer this time.” Kyla fell back into a brisk walk. “How far do you usually run and how often?” “I do a few miles most days.” “I could never do that.” “That’s what I once said, but yes, you can, my dear lady. Yes, you can.” Kyla walked and Corrine ran for another half hour, and then they left the gym. “That actually felt kind of good,” Kyla admitted. “But maybe that’s only because I’ve been stuck in a room all day long.” Corrine smiled and said, “It feels good to step into the cool night air after getting all sweaty, though I usually run outdoors and then shower when I’m done.” “Can’t you shower in the room?” “No, that’s okay. I’ll just freshen up with a wet wipe or something.” “Where do you run?” Kyla asked as Corrine unlocked the door to their room. “By your house?” Corrine nodded. “Up and down the road that runs by my place.” “Aren’t you scared of the wildlife or something?” “No. I usually run during the day when I can see around me. Plus, I carry my sidearm as well.” “I see.” “I have less chance of a bear chasing me down there than I do of getting mugged in the city. You sure you don’t need the bathroom?” “I’m fine,” Kyla said, as Corrine picked up her bag and went into the bathroom. Kyla fearfully checked for messages. Nothing. She began playing a game when the message indicator popped up a few minutes later. With shaky fingers, she clicked the message box open and read the email waiting for her. “Did you miss me?” it said. She placed her elbows on the sides of the laptop and leaned her face into the palms of her hands. She debated whether or not she should bother replying to the message, sent from yet another unknown address. On the one hand, she was curious to try to find out who it was, but on the other, she didn’t want to acknowledge them with whatever negative attention they obviously craved. Or whatever deep, dark desire they had in mind for her personally. In the end, her curiosity was stronger than the desire to remain in the dark, and she decided to throw a curveball at them that she hoped would surprise them. “I confess. I did it. I figured out who you are, too. Scary, huh? And no, I’m not going to tell you how I figured you out. You’ll just have to sit and wonder how I managed to do so even with your bogus email addy.” She waited for a reply. Just when she was starting to wonder if she might have actually succeeded in scaring them off, they replied. “Amazing how many people underestimate others. Do you really think most of us who are smart enough to cover our tracks would be dumb enough to think you could figure out who we are? You, who doesn’t know shit about computers and the like?” Kyla’s heart kicked into overdrive as she realized this really was no joke. What were the odds of someone “joking” about her killing someone accidentally, and what were the odds of them knowing she was computer illiterate? She glanced at the bathroom door and tried to think quickly. “Why are you so afraid of me?” “What makes you think I’m afraid of little ole you?” “Well, obviously you must be, or else you’d tell me who you are. I’m sorry you’re so scared of me. Really, I don’t bite. You can come out of the shadows and tell me your name and what you want. No one will harm you.” She stared at the screen, heart thumping almost painfully. “Someone knows, Kyla.” Heart pumping even wilder, she typed with trembling hands. “Knows what?” “I’ll keep your secret forever because I love you.” Oh, my God! Kyla thought, fearing she might be sick. Could anyone possibly know? No! No way. No one had seen her. Even if they’d seen her dragging the plastic container out of the dorm, no one could possibly know what was inside it unless she’d been followed, but surely she would have noticed if she had been, right? Also, no one could have seen the altercation between her and Meagan behind closed doors, so someone was apparently just bluffing and trying to see if she did, in fact, know anything—or they had an uncanny knack for pulling the wrong jokes on the wrong person. Trembling, she wrote, “I’m flattered that you love me. I have been lonely and looking for love for a very long time now. But I can’t consider reciprocating that love without knowing who you are and what you think my secret is. Could you please be a bit more specific?” Again, she was sure that the person had gotten sick of toying with her when another message appeared. She clicked it open. “Meagan deserved to die.” Kyla clutched her stomach, ran out the door at full speed, and lost the contents of her stomach behind a bush. Seconds later, Corrine was behind her. “My God!” the officer exclaimed. “What happened?” “I-I’m s-sorry,” Kyla stuttered. Corrine gently rubbed her back. “I would have puked in the bathroom if you weren’t in it, so I had to run out here instead.” “I’m so sorry, hun. Come on, let’s get you back inside.” “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t know, and neither could I. It just crept up on me so suddenly. I must… I must have overdone it in the gym too soon after eating.” “That could very well be it. Some people can’t do anything too physical with food in their stomachs.” Kyla went into the bathroom and freshened up. After she brushed her teeth and washed her face, she returned to the room and let her body drop onto the bed. Corrine stood watching her from where she sat, then a few minutes later, she rose and lay down next to her. “You sure there isn’t anything going on I should know about?” Kyla shook her head, forearm still draped across her eyes. “You sure?” Kyla nodded. “Thanks for caring, but I’m fine. I’m just a bit tired now.” Although Kyla appreciated Corrine’s attempts to cheer her up, all she wanted to do was be alone at the moment—alone to try to figure out who the hell could possibly know about Meagan. The person had claimed to love her. Zoey? Kyla doubted it. What she and Zoey had was a mutual attraction for each other, but it certainly wasn’t love. They hadn’t known each other long enough for love to develop. Then who the hell could it be?!