Madness at Midnight Revenge: Revenge Never Dies

By Sylvia A. Witmore

Erin Andrews met Logan Maxwell, III on a cruise ship the summer of 2011; they were married over the Christmas holidays and now are happily planning a honeymoon trip on another cruise ship out of Charleston, S.C; however unknown to them, they are being followed by a ruthless killer who is determined that they are not going to remain happy for very long; he is out for revenge and intends to end their lives tragically.

Jess Reynolds is Erins best friend but she has been a thorn in Logans side for years; however he cannot make Erin see that Jess is a danger to both of them. She is determined to remain Jesss best friend regardless of the consequences. However, when Logan disappears, the police suspect Erin because Logan named her as beneficiary in his $100,000 double indemnity life insurance policy.

If you like romantic intrigue and suspense at its best then pick up this book and take a cruise along with the newlyweds to Cozmel and Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, then enjoy the lovely Caribbean beaches around Freeport, Grand Bahamas.

Authorhouse has also published seven other books by Sylvia: WHEELS OF DANGER, TREACHEROUS HEARTS, THE VOODOO DOLL, A STRANGE ENCOUNTER, ECHO OF FOOTSTEPS, MADNESS AT MIDNIGHT and WHITE IS FOR WEDDINGS.
She is also working on an inspirational novel called: 2009 A YEAR OF HEARTBREAK AND THE PROMISE OF RAINBOWS.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477210680

Sylvia A. Witmore

Sylvia majored in Journalism in college but quickly changed to Creative Writing. She tried for 30 years to reach a publisher but was unsuccessful until 2008 when WHEELS OF DANGER was published by Authorhouse. Since then she has had more books published and this novel with be #11. Sylvia worked in Home Health for 29 years and retired in 2006 to keep two grandchildren and to write full time. Sylvia and CL were married for 40 years before his death in 2009. They have three sons, Chuck, Chris and Kevin and three daughters (not in-law) and ten grandchildren. Donovan is the oldest; Claire is 12, Chaz is 11, Lance is 10, Sherry is 10, Emma is 7, Eli is 6, Liam is 5, Bella is 3 and Kellen was born on 12/10/14. Sylvia loves to travel and spend time with her family. She is an avid reader and loves all kinds of puzzles.

Book preview

Prologue

The sun glinted brightly off the silver pieces decorating the top of the binoculars the lone watcher used. He stood deep in the shadow of the building, completely out of sight from the man and woman he was watching so avidly while they strolled hand in hand down the sandy beach, laughing together as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

He shook his dark blond hair until it drifted down across his broad forehead, momentarily causing him to lose focus.

Too bad, he murmured in disgust, sneering out of the right side of his mouth. Their idyllic happiness was about to come crashing down around their ears and they had no idea!

He could end it right now if he wanted to; they’d never have a chance if he took them out from this angle, but that would be far too quick and easy. He had already taken care of one of his enemies; that one would never breathe fresh air again, but the final effect wasn’t as sweet as he’d originally anticipated. It was over much too soon after only a few minutes of pain. Now, there was one more he had to take care of…but he didn’t want this particular man to go out in an instant blaze of glory like the other one; oh, no! He wanted him to suffer extensively for the harm he had caused!

In fact he wanted that arrogant, condescending man to actually watch as the love of his life died right before his eyes; he wanted him helpless and begging; but he would be unable to do a single thing to prevent their final outcome. Only after he was aware that he had just lost everything important in his life would this man finally be put out of his misery…then the shooter himself could finally receive his long-awaited retribution.

He’d been agonizing for months trying to decide just how he could obtain a little payback; a little justice in the world for the harm that man had caused in his life; and he really, totally believed that he had the answer now in revenge…revenge that never dies!

Chapter One

Erin Andrews Maxwell kicked off her heels as soon as she walked in her front door. Immediately she sank down in the nearest recliner. She closed her eyes in relief while she tried to shut off her mind for a moment as she tried to unwind from her long day. Today was especially hard because of the attitude of some of her students; she had tried vainly to smooth over hurt feelings of those disappointed students by holding her temper and using a soft voice but they still became very angry; totally blaming her, even storming out of class without a word when the bell finally rang.

Her literature students had been given a pop quiz the day before to cover the English period from 1800 to 1899; a few of them were totally unprepared for the test and were now upset with the low grades they received.

The first six-week semester period after the holidays was over so there were only twelve more weeks left before school was out for the summer; unfortunately because of the problems she’d experienced today, it couldn’t come soon enough to please her.

Erin tried to explain to the disgruntled students that she had given them all last weekend as well as the first two days this week to study for the exam. She had gone over the period extensively on Tuesday during class but unfortunately the ones in the back had not paid much attention during her lecture.

Erin graded the test papers last night then posted the grades next to the door leading into her room first thing this morning. When they came into her class at ten, the ones who had failed the test were boiling mad, complaining that Erin had not graded their papers on the curve as she’d promised the first of the semester. She tried to explain that she had graded them on the curve for the first two tests but she couldn’t do that with the exam for their final grade at the end of the semester.

She had lectured all last week; she’d given them plenty of opportunity to study before the final test. They had plenty of chances to bring the curve grades up before the exam yesterday.

Erin rubbed a restless hand across her throbbing forehead then walked into the kitchen for a bottle of Ibuprofen.

She wished that she could see Logan tonight; she knew that her loving husband could improve her disposition with his warm arms and thrilling kisses but she wouldn’t be able to see Logan until tomorrow night.

Although he still worked at Folly Beach at the hotel where she met him, they spent every weekend together either here in Laurinburg or down at Mount Pleasant in Logan’s condo.

She still shared a house with Jess Reynolds, her South Carolina roommate. On the weekends when Logan came in, Jess usually went to Charleston with Josh Stewart, her boyfriend, or she drove over to Southern Pines to stay at his apartment with him. On alternate weekends Erin drove down to Mount Pleasant so Jess could entertain her boyfriend alone in their home.

This weekend Josh and Jess were going to Charleston together and things were becoming so serious between them that Erin fully expected Jess to return Sunday with an engagement ring on her finger. She should be coming home from school soon.

When she left Erin at school earlier she said she was going to stop at Belks to choose something suitable for the dance she and Josh were attending Saturday night at the Mount Pleasant Country Club.

The glass of water did not satisfy Erin’s thirst at all so she went back into the kitchen for something stronger. She slipped into her bathroom with a glass of red wine as she started filling the tub with hot soapy water.

She undressed slowly then pulled her dark curly hair back from her face with a slim scarf before she slipped into the warm water where she relaxed completely for the next half hour. During the time she lounged in the tub the last year of her life flashed through her head as she happily remembered the wonderful things that had happened to her, completely erasing all of the bad memories; her life had changed for the better since March of last year.

She wanted to completely forget the awful feelings created by all of those unhappy students in her class today so without really planning to remember, her thoughts slipped back to the previous year.

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In February her boyfriend, Greg Tilllman, had proposed to her on Valentines Day. She refused to marry him then broke off with him completely that night.

Greg was a policeman; he loved his job at the Sanford Police Department but Erin had lost a father and a brother on the same night in the line of duty; since she was all alone in the world, it was impossible for her to share her life with another police officer who put his life on the line every single day at work. Her best friend, Kim Shepherd, tried to convince her to change her mind but she was adamant in her refusal to remain with Greg; also she was determined to leave the home she had always known.

Kim and Greg had tried to reason with her about staying in Sanford with her friends but she knew that she had to leave; in the process of trying to work together to help Erin combat her grief, the two friends had fallen in love with each other. Erin was very happy for them; her family was all gone now; at the end of the school year she sold her house, resigned her teaching position then moved away.

She applied for an opening with the Scotland County School system in Laurinburg then accepted their job offer. She bought a house on West Boulevard then advertised for a roommate.

Jess Reynolds from Mount Pleasant answered her ad and they became instant friends then decided to share household expenses. She even went on a cruise with Jess in June. The cruise turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her because she fell in love with Logan Maxwell, III. Logan owned a large hotel at Folly Beach then had signed on as one of the Captains on the Jamboree Cruise Ship so he could follow the trail of a cold-blooded murderer; Stu Williams had killed off some of the drug dealers who worked for him in order to stay out of jail himself.

Together Erin and Logan had solved the crime along with the help of Jess Reynolds who had witnessed a murder at Folly Beach the night before the ship left Charleston. None of them realized that the murderer himself was also on the ship looking for the one person who could identify him. In the process, he took the life of a young, innocent girl he mistakenly thought was Jess Reynolds.

Erin and Logan were married at the Mount Pleasant Country Club during the Christmas holidays. They had spent four wonderful days honeymooning in Asheville at the Grove Park Inn but then Logan had to return to the Folly Beach Hotel because those holidays were very busy at the hotel.

Logan’s father had handled everything for him while they were gone but he was finally retiring so instead of continuing to manage the hotel without his father helping him, Logan planned to sell the hotel to a conglomerate of hotel chains who had been searching for the perfect one near the beach; they were really interested in Logan’s hotel; they had agreed without question to his asking price during their first meeting.

Logan was planning to be a consultant for the FBI; he would be training the new undercover officers along with his good friend, Dave Blankenship, originally from Quantico, Virginia. They were going to be working at a satellite office set up at Pope Air Force Base near Fayetteville in the fall. Dave and his wife, Allie, would be setting up housekeeping there but because Logan would only work with the administrative end as a consultant, he would not be required to be present at Pope Field all the time. Logan’s job would only require his presence the two days a week that actual hand-to-hand combat was taught. Each time the Air Force would select the field they would be able to use for the training.

On other days, Logan would be able to handle the administrative paper work on his personal computer right there in Laurinburg. He wanted to continue to keep his condo at Mount Pleasant so he and Erin would always have a special place that was just their own.

This new arrangement would not even begin to take place until sometime that fall so Erin was dreaming of the three months she would be able to live with Logan at Mount Pleasant this summer.

During the holidays after their marriage, Erin had stayed at his condo with him until school re-started on January 5th. She hated to leave her new husband but she returned to Laurinburg on Wednesday morning; Logan promised faithfully that he would join her at her house as soon as he could get away on Friday afternoon.

Since that time they had spent every single weekend together; either in Mount Pleasant or together in Laurinburg. Her wonderful roommate had been thoughtful enough to make herself scarce on the weekends Logan came to town.

Erin had to smile as she thought about the way her volatile, bubbly, vivacious blond roommate had tried to calm her facade down enough so the stern, steady Logan Maxwell would not chew her up and spit her out. He had grown up in the same neighborhood with Jess. He always thought she was frivolous, flighty and much too rambunctious for her own good but Erin’s calm, serene personality, as well as the influence of her boyfriend, Josh Stewart, had helped smooth the waters a lot.

Erin and Josh together had succeeded in taming the effervescent, impulsive Jess. Even Jess’s parents gave Erin credit for the wonderful change and maturity they noticed in their daughter.

She was a wonderful math teacher there at Scotland High. Her students loved her and the boys all thought she hung the moon with her drop-dead good looks along with a very shapely body and baby-doll face but Logan was still a hard sale. They simply rubbed each other the wrong way so Erin had been trying unsuccessfully to keep peace between Jess and Logan the few times they ended up in the same room together. Sometimes their fragile détente came completely undone. The dichotomy arose no matter how hard Erin might try to achieve harmony between the two of them; the fractious peace never lasted long…inevitably Jess would say or do something that would rub Logan the wrong way. Then he’d remember how impossible she was to control during her wild, teenage years so the friction began all over again.

Erin never had tried to compete with Jess; she had green eyes and dark hair; she was tall and rangy with a model-slim figure. She had classic features with high sculptured cheek bones and a wide, finely shaped mouth but if beauty titles were given out between the two of them, Jess would always win hands down but Erin couldn’t care less. Logan loved her just as she was and she wouldn’t trade her wonderful husband for anything.

Suddenly the slamming of the front door caused Erin to snap out of her silent introspection. It had to be Jess coming in from shopping so she smiled as she waited for her to speak. As she stood up to climb out of the tub, she reached for a bath towel to wrap around herself.

Erin, where are you? You have to see the perfect dress I just found quite by accident. It was still with a stack of other dresses when I saw a portion of the skirt; it was absolutely the most perfect shade of baby blue you’ve ever seen. I pulled it off the cart then pleaded with the sales clerk to log it in so I could try it on. Erin, are you home?

Yes, Jess, Erin answered with a smile as she pulled on underwear then slipped her arms into a warm terry cloth robe. I’m in the bathroom. Be out in just a minute.

Okay. Come into my room. You have to see this. The price was horrible even with my discount but I had to have it anyway. It had my name written all over it!

Erin tied the sash on her robe then smiled as she padded barefoot into Jess’s room where she was busily pulling a dress out of the long Belk dress bag.

Hey, isn’t this just to die for? She pulled it off the hangar and held it up in front of her so Erin nodded in appreciation.

It is beautiful; that color is perfect for you, honey.

The dress had a bias cut across the bodice that would drape over Jess’s ample bosom in a very becoming way; the straps were only about a half inch wide and were covered with sparkling rhinestones; the rhinestones also decorated the cinched in waist then the skirt flared out in soft, generous pleats. The color was ice blue, matching the shade of Jess’s eyes perfectly. On Jess’s short frame, the length would probably drape just below the knees.

And look what I found on sale for half price…they actually make up for the ridiculous price of the dress.

She rummaged into another bag and pulled out a pair of silver high heels with rhinestones liberally wrapped around each heel. The toes were open and the tiny strap going across the foot was also studded with rhinestones.

Jess was grinning from ear to ear as she pulled out a silver-blue clutch with matching rhinestones.

I guess you found that little purse on sale as well? Erin questioned quickly.

Well not exactly, Jess murmured. But two out of three isn’t bad!

How do you get two out of three when only the shoes were on sale? Erin teased. And you’re supposed to be the ninth grade math expert!

Well, I did get all three items with the 20% off discount card I received for my birthday, and besides it’s all for a good cause, Erin. Don’t fuss!

I’m not fussing. I don’t have to pay your Belk bill. Mine is high enough!

Oh, fiddlesticks, stop kidding. I go shopping three times more often than you.

I buy things when I need them, Erin replied slowly.

I know; but Josh has seen all of my dressy outfits. This dance at the Country Club is the special event for the Red Cross fund raiser this year; Josh already hinted that this weekend he had something really special to tell me; might even be a marriage proposal!

How do you know?

Because Josh said he had a big surprise for me but he was not about to tell me what it was until after the dance Saturday night.

Erin smiled as she ruffled her roommate’s flyaway blond curls.

Could be he’s going to break up with you then, she teased again.

Not a chance! I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him!

I’m glad you think so, Erin laughed as she walked out of the room heading to her own. I just hope Josh feels the same way, too.

Oh, he does; believe me, he does. Jess replied then squealed out loud as she groaned. Oh, I forgot; it’s my night to cook and I didn’t take anything out of the freezer for us.

Well, you’re in hot water, aren’t you, babes. I didn’t think about it this morning either since I knew that it was your turn to cook tonight.

We’ll just have to go Champs for dinner…and since I’ve over my budget right now anyway, we’ll have to go Dutch!

Wow, that’s hardly fair. I cooked Monday night and last night also. We ate roast beef sandwiches Sunday night so you only had to cook on Tuesday. You’re getting behind in your chores.

Well, next week it will be my turn to cook on Mondays and Wednesdays. Besides I paid for half the groceries Monday afternoon. I’ll be gone all weekend so you and Logan will be eating my half of the food anyway.

Erin laughed again good-naturedly. That’s fine, Jess. I don’t mind paying for my dinner tonight. Champs sounds like a very good idea. After the day I’ve had I would love to drown myself in some of their delicious strawberry daiquiris.

Jess followed her into her room where Erin began pulling on jeans and a dark sweater.

Why was your day so bad, Erin?

I lectured my class on English literature from 1800 through 1899 all last week. I went over everything again Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday I gave them a test on it for their final grade for the semester; those who failed it are upset because they said I didn’t grade them on the curve.

We never use the curve on finals. Why did they think you would?

I don’t believe they actually did. They just became lazy and complacent, hardly paying any attention in class so they weren’t prepared. The ones who listened like they were supposed to actually passed with good grades. I can just imagine what those six students will tell their parents tonight about the F’s they all made.

The same six that have given you trouble all year?

The very same…three girls and the three guys they’re dating. Unfortunately, the boys are on the baseball team which is beginning practice now that basketball is over. The athletic director is sure to be upset with me as well!

Oh my; he plays hard ball!

That’s putting it mildly. I know I’ll have to give them a make-up exam so they can bring their final grade up; I don’t want them kicked off the baseball team either but I purposely did not tell them that they would have a chance to make it up today. I thought I’d let them really worry about it tonight; then maybe they will be willing to buckle down and study hard so they can bring up their grade tomorrow.

They’re lucky you’re willing to give them some extra time. I have more trouble with the girls in my class than I do the boys.

Of course you do, Erin responded as she started to brush out the wet ends of her dark hair. Those boys hang on to every word you say so they can keep looking directly at you.

Their fawning sometimes bothers me but then again I guess I’m just really grateful they think I’m cute; that way I know they are trying to learn everything I can teach them just to stay on my good side. Some of the girls are the ones who need the extra tutoring most of the time.

I can identify with them. Math was my worst subject also.

Well it’s absolutely fascinating to me. I love to crunch numbers; I probably should have become an accountant but I do love to stand up there in front of that class and lecture them every day! Anyway, you go ahead and finish dressing. It’ll take me about thirty minutes to get ready! Jess remarked as she scurried back into her room, closing the door behind her.

Erin shook her head in amazement. Sometimes she grew tired just listening to Jess’s tirades. She was always in a hurry as if she lived in a constant whirlwind; most of the time when Erin was around her, she felt exactly like she had taken every step right along with Jess…even when she was standing still, which in Jess’s case was never very often!

But, all in all, Erin really enjoyed her roommate; she wished there was something she could do to improve the relationship between her husband and her best friend; at that moment, Erin never dreamed that in the future, her life as well as Logan’s would be threatened…and Jess might turn out to be the catalyst for their safety.

Chapter Two

Erin had finished her hair, her makeup and was sitting in the living room going through her briefcase to make sure she had everything she needed for her classes a little later when Jess came out of her room pulling her hair behind her head in a long pony-tail.

Last summer when Erin had first met Jess, her hair was really short and curled around her face; at that time she used a pony-tail extension to make it look much longer. That was the very same hair piece that had gotten Jess in a whole lot of trouble one night. She had worn it pulled through a baseball cap the night before they went on the cruise ship when she saw Stu Williams kill his partner then throw his body out into the ocean.

When Jess had run away heading back down the beach to the hotel, he had caught a glimpse of her face and the long pony-tail streaming out behind her. When she ran into one of her close friends on the ship they’d renewed their acquaintance; when Cayce asked to borrow the pony-tail, Jess loaned it to her, never dreaming that the killer was also aboard the same ship looking for her.

On the ship when he saw Cayce Edwards wearing the long pony-tail, he thought he had found the girl who could identify him. He was able to grab her then without any remorse, he stuffed her lifeless body into one of the movable, rolling food containers. Without anyone the wiser, it was taken off the ship for refilling when they pulled into the Cayman Islands the next day.

Jess had a hard time living through the guilt she felt because of Cayce’s death. She was determined to help the authorities identify the killer; when she confronted Stu Williams, she head-butted him right off the ship in front of several witnesses. He almost pulled her overboard with him. Instead, she had been saved by one of the professors they met on the ship.

The captain and some of the crew members took one of the lifeboats to rescue him from the sea, but he fought so hard trying to escape that he struck his head hard against the metal part on the top of the lifeboat. When they came back to the cruise ship he was unconscious.

He never regained consciousness. He was being flown back to Charleston when he was shot by Jeff Kelly, a Coast Guard officer, from right there at Folly Beach. Logan was the one who single-handedly discovered that Jeff had been lying from the very beginning to cover up his own duplicity in the drug deals.

Logan was still having a hard time accepting the fact that because of Jess, he had lost two passengers on his dad’s cruise ship, creating a black mark on their name for the first time in the cruise line’s history. Of course the news media exaggerated the results as they tried to capitalize on the sensational scandal that erupted several weeks later.

Erin, what’s wrong? Jess asked quickly as she called out to her again. Erin?

Erin shook her head to dispel the many thoughts that were running through her head as she realized Jess was standing there talking to her.

Yes, she answered slowly.

I had to call your name twice; you had me worried. You looked so far away. Where were you?

Back on the ship last summer reliving the whole ordeal we went through with Cayce.

It certainly wasn’t your fault; all of that was on me…

I know; you can’t blame yourself either; I was just thinking of the sensational scandal the Maxwell family and the Festival Cruise line endured because of the malicious gossip the media spread without knowing all of the true facts.

What made you go back there right now?

When you wear your hair like that, I remember your hair piece and that whole ordeal with Stu Williams.

That miserable rat is burning in hell right now where he belongs! Jess ranted angrily. He didn’t deserve to live after what he did to Cayce so I don’t even hate the double-dealing double-crosser who killed him before he could be taken to prison.

Well, I guess Jeff Kelly will get his just deserts when he finally goes to trial but I’m sorry, Jess. I didn’t mean to bring up the past, but while I was sitting here waiting for you, I guess I was just reminiscing.

That’s all right. I’m ready to celebrate tonight. My doctor told me that I can’t continue blaming myself for what happened; it was always out of my control from the beginning.

That’s right; it could have been you just as easily as Cayce.

I know; the doctor made me understand that according to Christian philosophy, the day we are born our death is also ordained; we really have no control over our final outcome.

You’re absolutely right. Don’t you ever feel like you could have changed things last summer; that’s what I keep trying to reiterate to Logan…the past is the past; we have to mold our future now and go on from here.

You’re right. Come on, it’s Friday eve, you know and we’ll both see our special guys tomorrow.

I know. That thought is what gets me through those long school days every single week.

Come on, sweetie, I’ll drive.

Erin nodded then pulled her jacket around her shoulders as she followed Jess outside to her car. The weather this winter had been relatively mild in this part of North Carolina; they only had a few weeks of really cold weather at night but still they had four or five weeks to go before they could really welcome spring.

Jess drove quickly to the stop light on 15/401 where she turned left. Then they turned left at the second stoplight to turn into the parking area in front of Champs. You could tell that it was a popular night to eat out. Almost every parking space was already taken. Jess moved down the line slowly then waited patiently when she saw someone’s back up lights. Finally she was able to pull into the empty space; she grabbed her purse as they climbed out of the car, swinging it happily.

You can tell it is Thursday night. Every eating place in town is packed. I’m so glad we got a parking place close to the front door. There aren’t enough lights down there at the end so I’m glad we’re close to the entrance here.

You must be living right, Erin remarked. I always have to park at the other end.

Well at least we’re not wearing heels this time.

Nope, I kicked mine off as soon as I walked in the front door from school.

Me, too, Jess murmured as she pulled the front door open grabbing the Louisiana slugger bat that served as a door handle.

The mass of hot air, loud conversation and the smell of draft beer permeated their nostrils as they waited for the hostess to seat them.

They were glad when Jeff Rollins, the manager, was able to find them a booth right away. They had only been there only a few minutes when they looked up to see two of their friends from school walk in. Jess and Erin both waved so the girls shook their heads to the hostess then made a bee line for their booth.

Hey; it’s great to see you two. Can we join you? Phyllis Ann White asked as she moved in beside Jess. You know Doris Ames, don’t you?

Both Erin and Jess nodded. Phyllis Ann was the tall physical education and tennis teacher. Doris taught the Spanish classes.

Erin and Jess had been delighted to meet the two girls at the first administrative breakfast when all of the new teachers were introduced back in August. Phyllis Ann was from Cary and Doris was originally from Miami, but when her parents were killed, she had moved to Southern Pines to live with her grandparents when she was sixteen. She had met Phyllis Ann in college at UNC, Greenville, NC. They had become fast friends and now were rooming