Death Sat Beside Her

By Jennifer Anderson

Elysse Muffett’s life is perfect until the alluring Liam Murphy rides into town on his motorcycle, shattering her organized world. Ignoring her friend’s cautioning of his bad boy image, she opens her heart and discovers a pure soul beneath all his tattoos and leather. With a newfound sting of excitement, she embraces the unknown until mysterious deaths plague her small town. She quickly determines the only common denominator in the senseless slaughter of friends and family is herself and the arrival of Liam Murphy.

 

Will her entering into the killer’s web solve the recent crime spree or will she find herself prey to the murderer?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer Anderson
• Release date: Nov 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519938138

Book preview

​Chapter One

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Country Grove buzzed with news of Ms. Murphy’s nephew. One fact revealed itself. He was from Ireland and not New York. Some said he was dark and mysterious and kicked out of Ireland because he’d been suspected of being a leader of a gang. Rumors rumbled with mention of the IRL in his extradition. Other’s thought he was kind and misunderstood. One true fact. Ms. Murphy, my English teacher and my favorite one at Country Grove, asked me to tutor her nephew.

I heard he’s a loner, kind of a shady character. Definitely kicked out of his last school, Samantha, my friend, said.

How do you know he was kicked out? The diet soda I sipped from was a welcome relief after a long morning. My boyfriend Brett, Samantha, Audrey and Jillian sat facing each other at our usual lunch table. The aroma of the pasta with red sauce lunch special invaded our senses.

Oh, you can tell. Besides, they don’t shower everyday over there. That’s plain gross. I want nothing to do with him. And his clothes. Leather jacket? Boots? Do they not have fashion magazines over there? It’s like a third world country. We were used to Samantha’s entitled, better than everyone attitude. I’d known her since kindergarten. Not many people left Country Grove.

My mind ran through all the movies, TV shows, and books involving kids being kicked out of school. The only type I could think of was someone resembling James Dean, but I knew that stereotype was unfair. I mean, I enjoyed a nice black leather coat in the winter, and I wasn’t kicked out of school.

Audrey pushed a pair of dark rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose; the same style she’d worn since kindergarten. Didn’t you see him last night, Elysse?

No. I rambled an answer while my thoughts were still forming. Last night, Audrey and I worked late on the yearbook. Ms. Murphy was our advisor and her computer wasn’t available forcing us to use the computer lab.

Oh, I met him in Ms. Murphy’s room when I returned her keys, Audrey continued. Metal plinked from the soda can tab she played with.

Bingo. I knew the identity of my accident victim. Interesting. I think I ran into him but I didn’t get a good look at him. In the dark shadows of the hallway, my eyes were only able to focus on the physical outline of our new student.

Too bad. He’s kind of hot. Rose filled Audrey’s cheeks. Maybe if I’d gotten a better look, my face would turn an equal shade of red.

Samantha turned in Audrey’s direction with her mouth hanging open. He is not. He’s a dirt bag and nothing but trouble. I can’t even believe you’re into that kind of guy.

Audrey sunk lower in her seat, shying away from Samantha’s daggers. Okay, maybe I didn’t get that great a look. I wanted to shake my best friend, tell her to stand up for her opinions. But knowing her as well as I did, I knew that bout of strength would never surface. Especially against Samantha.

Seriously, Samantha, he can’t be all bad, I chimed in hoping to save Audrey from Samantha’s wicked stare. The sympathetic look my friend offered was thanks enough. I mean, Ms. Murphy is so sweet and awesome. I can’t believe her nephew’s a thug. And what I saw didn’t cause me to cringe.

Well, you said it yourself. You didn’t get a good look. I did. In fact, I have to sit behind him in homeroom and I’m not happy about it. Samantha turned her attention back to her lunch with her nose a little higher.

Brett hadn’t contributed to our conversation. He sat next to me, playing with the hem of my skirt, not looking at anything in particular. I’d never seen him so withdrawn.

I nudged him with my shoulder. You okay?

He let my skirt go and sat back in his chair, still not meeting my eyes. Yeah. I’m tired.

Okay. Have you seen the new kid?

Um, no.

Hey Audrey, what’s his name again so I don’t keep calling him new kid? I asked.

Liam Murphy. Very Irish don’t cha think? She answered with a wink in my direction. I quickly looked at Samantha to see if she noticed but her attention was consumed in a book she was reading. You don’t even know his name and you’re tutoring him later today?

You know me. I was so touched she asked me to help I completely forgot and probably walked out of her room like a bumbling idiot.

Oh, babe. I doubt that, Brett added. You have so much going on all the time, it’s a wonder you don’t forget stuff more often. Besides, being the daughter of the mayor gives you a freebie sometimes. That alone keeps you busy.

I snapped my head in his direction. He was right. My handy red planner bloomed with notes and to dos on every page. I couldn’t help being involved. My mother drilled into my head at an early age the joy of staying busy and involved. To help your public is reward enough, she’d say.

I couldn’t help wonder about his comment. Did he think we didn’t spend enough time together, or had I forgotten to do something with him at one point? And why did I feel odd around him lately?

Brett and I dated for the past year and he knew, too well, my full schedule. Mine filled with social committees and clubs that beefed up my transcripts. His schedule, not tucked away in a red planner like mine, showcased sport practices and student government. Country Gove labeled us the It couple. A fact my mother seemed to cherish more than me.

The bell rang, removing a chance to answer. We said our good-byes and Brett walked me to my next class. He seemed distracted.

Hey, you sure you’re okay? I asked as throngs of people rushed past us to get to their lockers and next classes.

Sure. Like I said, just tired.

Okay. Will I see you later? My next class was U.S. Government with Mr. Brown. Not my favorite.

Maybe. Call me when you get done tutoring the new kid and I’ll see where I’m at.

He leaned down to kiss my cheek and let his hand linger at my waist longer than normal. Heat seared through my clothes, branding my skin. I wondered if I’d ever get over the way he made me feel.

Brett offered a smile, which looked to be full of regret before he turned and walked down the hallway. I needed to make a point of seeing him tonight. We hadn’t been out together in two weeks. With the dance coming up and a year anniversary, we needed to do something special to commemorate.

****

The small closet style study hall rooms were located along the perimeter of the library. The arrangement allowed you to talk and discuss topics and still have access to the library and the mountains of material. Sometimes, I’d reserve a room for myself so I could enjoy the seclusion, away from chatty friends and questioning parents.

As the first family of Country Grove, my mother didn’t want to give the impression of being proper. She wanted to live the life. I never complained because there wasn’t any reason to. My parents loved me. Sometimes I wanted to be alone with my thoughts, and at home solitude was rare.

The door to the study room was open and I informed the front desk who I expected. I glanced at my wrist and tapped my nail against the glass face of my watch. He had to understand I was on a schedule with my days planned out like seconds on a clock, each one as important as the last. If I wasted one, I’d never get it back.

My planner lay open on the table with the study schedule I’d made for Liam along with a small container of vanilla yogurt I’d grabbed from the cafeteria on my way to the library. I spooned in a heaping bite of the smooth chilled treat as I scanned through the dates making sure it was typo free when a gust of air fell upon me. A body crawled into the seat across the table.

Hello. You must be Ms. Muffett. I’m Liam, he said, holding out his hand.

Mindlessly, I reached across and placed mine in his. His fingers were long and slender and his hand was warm and soft. Instead of shaking he gave a squeeze.

Um, hello. Yes. I’m...um...Elysse Muffett. A part of me wanted to run by the way his stare made me feel like I was dinner.

My mind and tongue were fighting. The result was a jumbled mess. His jet-black hair mussed in that new cool way and his eyes matched Ms. Murphy’s, a brilliant clover green that shimmered in the dim overhead fluorescent lights. He wore the same black leather jacket I’d seen on him when we bumped in the hall. I noticed black points sticking out from beneath the white T-shirt he wore under his jacket. The spikes peaked out and hid away with the movement of his shirt. I couldn’t tell exactly what it was. A necklace? Another shirt? I assumed he wore the same chunky boots. Audrey was right. He was good looking in a bad boy kind of way.

My cheeks flushed and I averted my gaze to the books laid out on the table. I shook images of him without his jacket from my mind. Think Brett. Ken doll Brett. Blond hair, blue eyes and rock hard abs. I closed my eyes and pulled Brett’s face into focus. He was my boyfriend. The one I fanaticized about kissing under a canopy of stars. Not Liam atop a motorcycle. I wasn’t into bad boys. No. I liked my men good.

I pushed a cleansing breath from my lips and opened my eyes. Okay, Liam. Should we get started?

Sure.

I looked at him waiting. I’m going to need to see your schedule.

Oh, right. That would help, wouldn’t it? His accent was faint, but I could still hear a bit of a brogue. He fumbled through his backpack and pulled out his schedule. I glanced through noting the similarities and differences. He had a few hard teachers yet the subjects I’d planned on weren’t too different than what he was taking.

I smiled thinking about his voice.

What? He asked.

Oh nothing. It’s funny. I’d have thought your brogue would have been thicker.

Oh, right. He shrugged his leather jacket from his body and placed it over the back of his chair. The black marks still peaked from beneath his white shirt along with a Celtic designed band around his wrist. The black ink swirled and danced against pale skin as if it moved. I’ve lived most of my life in New York. So, ye see, me accent is a wee bit shallow. He smiled at me with a wink. I knew he was making fun but the heat on my face didn’t care.

I didn’t know that. Your aunt said you were coming from Ireland.

Aye. I did come from there but I lived in New York with my parents before we moved back to the land of potatoes and dark beer.

Okay, was all my mind could formulate. I could listen to him talk all day.

For the next hour we went over the study schedule I created and made note of the differences. He went over where he’d left off in his studies in Ireland as I compared it to where he’d be at Country Grove. Nothing horrible.

I hafta say, Elysse, you’re the nicest person I think I’ve met here.

Really? Has someone been mean?

Not mean, just...not as nice. A blonde in my homeroom.

Ah, you must mean Samantha. I remembered her mentioning something about sitting by Liam.

Is that her name? She’s a nasty one.

Sorry about her. She doesn’t tend to hold back when she has something to say. But she’s harmless.

I’m not scared. But I do want to thank you for helping me. He offered a nice smile and turned his attention back to my notes. Guilt grabbed me at the way my friend had acted. I couldn’t control her but I’d do my best to be nice to Liam. He was new and in a small town, friends were a high commodity.

When we were all done, we gathered our things. Before I could put mine away, I needed to cross him off my list for the day. The need and repetition of crossing things off was so imbedded in my head, I grabbed a pen and my planner without thinking.

What’s that you’ve got there? He peeked over my shoulder, sliding his jacket on.

It’s my life. I’d be lost without it, I commented without meeting his gaze.

So, you put everything down you need to do in a day and then cross it off as you go?

Yep.

Wow. Seems like a lot of work to me. I mean am I on there every day. And you’ll cross me off when we’re done?

My shoulders fell, closing me off. I knew what people thought about my lists but to hear him say it made me feel worse. Sure it was time consuming, but in the end wasn’t it better to be prepared and feel like I’d accomplished something instead of floundering around lost?

Yes, but it’s the way I do things.

No worries. I was only asking.

What? Don’t you have a calendar or something to help keep track of your days?

Nope. I don’t have anything going on right now except spending every afternoon with you. I think I’m doing pretty good, he said with a wink and left the room

Staring at his empty chair, I didn’t know if I wanted to throw something in his wake for being late and teasing me about my planner or blush at his obvious compliment.

​Chapter Two

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My motorcycle hummed to life beneath me. I ran a steady hand along the top, just above the gas tank. Sunlight danced across the midnight blue paint finish, setting fire to the dusting of glitter hidden beneath the surface. I knew from watching people as I passed by, my bike zooming down the road caught people’s attention. She was a beauty. And the only real thing I had left from my old life.

I looked back over my shoulder at my new school. The tutor my aunt had arranged walked quickly from the building. She held her coat closed with one hand while the other gripped the strap of her bag flung over her shoulder. Country Grove was my fresh start. I was supposed to forget the past. Move on. Leave what I loved behind. For the most part, I put on a brave face for my aunt. She was kind enough to take me in. On my bike, driving at high speeds, was when I allowed myself to be free and feel the pain that still wrapped me up in tight arms.

My hands, in black leather gloves, balled into fists at my sides. I pumped