CHAPTER 24
Mac noticed the fruit stand on the side of the road and pulled over. Keely’s good eating habits had begun to influence him. He picked out several peaches, a carton each of strawberries and blueberries, and then a bouquet of fresh flowers. He’d never brought his fiancée flowers and decided he liked the idea and would make it a habit. Increasingly, he’d learned it was the little things and small moments that made a relationship a success. He planned to do everything he could to make Keely happy because she’d certainly changed his life for the better.
Getting back into the truck, he rested his purchases in the passenger’s seat and eagerly made his way home. This afternoon’s filming had been unusual because it was the first time Keely wasn’t in a scene with him. Instead, Eric Penner, the film’s villain, had shared screen time with Mac. Penner had a tendency to ad-lib, which kept Mac on his toes as he stayed in character and steered the scene in the direction it needed to go. Still, the actor proved generous and Mac enjoyed the work they’d done together. Sydney assured him he’d handled things well when they broke for the day.
Would he stay in acting?
Mac hoped that opportunity remained on the table. He’d discovered parts within him that had never surface before. The camera exposed a person in a way unlike anything else. He hoped his work in Murder at Magic Hour would be well received and that Carson would be able to find good roles for upcoming auditions. In the back of his mind, Mac knew Breck’s screenplay was waiting to be read and it was a complete one-eighty from what he worked on now. By the end of next week, he’d be able to put aside Thorne Mayfield and concentrate on something else. Thorne had consumed him. Although he wasn’t a method actor by any means, remaining in character on the set even when filming stopped, the Thorne Mayfield character had become an essential part of him. Mac had fought through the darkness of Thorne and hoped he came out whole on the other side. Maybe attempting something like a romantic comedy would be soothing to his soul.
He signaled to pull into the driveway and saw a battered Honda parked behind Keely’s SUV. It might be Marta’s but he doubted it. Keely said Marta’s pet sitting and dog walking services were in high demand. This Honda had seen better days more than a decade ago.
His spidey sense kicked in as he thrust open his door and saw Jax bounding around the corner to greet him. When Keely didn’t follow, the prickling kicked into high gear. The basenji stopped in front of him and stood on his hind legs, which he often did when he wanted attention. Mac thought it made Jax looked like a meerkat.
Bending, he patted the dog’s head. “What up, boy?”
Jax stared at him mournfully and warbled softly.
Something was off. Keely was an overprotective mom where her dog was concerned. If she’d been on the deck with Jax, she would have come to greet Mac by now or at least followed or called to Jax. Then Jax whimpered and pawed at him as if pleading with him to do something.
Mac went to his truck and unlocked the glove compartment. He withdrew the Kahr PM9 he kept there, a handgun known for its reliability and accuracy. Being former military, he’d always been comfortable around firearms and applied for a concealed carry weapon license once he’d left the army and settled permanently in California.
He thought a moment. If someone was inside with Keely, trying to enter from the rear would be unwise. Most of the back wall of the cottage was glass and Mac would be spotted in an instant. Instead, he would go through the front door. He sat and quickly slipped off his shoes and socks. Looking at the basenji, he knew the dog would protect Keely if let inside the house. Not knowing what awaited them, though, Mac couldn’t risk anything happening to Jax.
He remembered Keely saying that basenjis loved authority and were people pleasers. Looking at the dog, Mac commanded, “Jax. Up,” and motioned for him to jump into the truck.
Jax responded by leaping into the seat and facing him.
“Good dog.” Mac patted his head once and then firmly said, “Stay.” He closed the truck’s door. Though Jax looked sad, he sat tall in the seat, not moving.
Moving away from the truck, Mac dialed 911.
“What’s your emergency?”
“Someone’s broken into my house. My fiancée is in there. I’m outside.” He gave the dispatcher the address.
“Sir, remain outside. Do not confront anyone. I’ve alerted police and they are on the way. Please remain on the line.”
He ended the connection and pocketed the phone. It could take several minutes for police to arrive. Mac’s gut told him he needed to act now before something happened to Keely. And if he was wrong and had overreacted, he’d accept whatever blame came for jumping the gun and calling 911.
But he knew he wasn’t wrong.
Mac unfastened the gun’s safety as he approached the front door. He slid his key into the lock, turning it slowly and then opening the door. He closed it and moved stealthily, gun raised, ready to fire.
Looking straight ahead to the living room at the end of the hallway, Keely sat stiffly in a chair. From her posture alone, Mac knew someone in the room threatened her. He crept closer, not knowing if she saw him in her peripheral vision, and heard a man’s voice.
“Your death will cause your new fiancé to go off the deep end. He never thought he’d be an actor anyway. With you gone, he’ll withdraw. I’ll be the only one left standing, already knowing my lines, ready to work. Maybe even with Josh. He knows me so well.”
Adrenaline surged through him. Mac recognized the voice but couldn’t put a face to it. Whoever it was meant to kill Keely.
“Stand up.”
“Why should I, Finn?” Keely challenged, her voice steady. “Can’t you hit me from dead center of my sofa? Or am I your first kill with a gun?”
Mac realized that Keely had seen him—and revealed who was with her and exactly where Finn Jarvis sat. Instinct told Mac he didn’t have time to go all the way around and approach Jarvis from behind. He would have to head straight toward Keely and come around the corner, ready to act.
As he moved forward with the gun in his right hand, Mac’s left pushed downward through the air twice, hoping Keely would get the message. He heard Jarvis hurl an expletive.
Mac burst around the corner as Keely launched herself from the chair and hit the ground. He wheeled to his right. Time slowed to a crawl. Jarvis shouted something as his arm rose. Mac saw the gun and fired. Jarvis’ body jumped and his eyes widened. A second shot sounded as Jarvis fell back against the sofa. White heat seared along Mac’s upper arm. Ignoring it, he raced to the fallen actor and jerked the gun from his hand.
Rage sparked in Jarvis’ eyes. “You shot me!” he accused, his hand going to his shoulder. Blood oozed through his fingers.
“Before you shot Keely. Say one more word and I’ll gladly kill you.”
The actor’s anger evaporated, like a balloon losing all its air. Mac stepped back a few paces.
Keely appeared next to him, a dishcloth in her hand. Without a word, she pushed up the sleeve of his T-shirt and pressed the cloth to the stinging sensation.
“He only grazed me,” Mac assured her. “Been there, done that. Several times.”
She tied it around his bicep and wrapped her arms around his waist. His arm went around her, drawing her near, though his eyes and the gun trained on Jarvis never moved.