Filthy Dirty Laundry Vol. 4 Page 6

“So you treated her well. But not her BFF Kendall...”

  “Hold on,” says Jeremy. “Who says Kendall and Topeka were BFFS?”

  “She did.”

  “Listen up,” says Jeremy, “Maybe when they were together it was all smiley smiley, but behind Topeka's back Kendall talked trash about her all the fucking time. Always comparing the two of them, putting Topeka down with snide remarks. It was an ugly quality of hers. Made her unattractive to me. I don't want to get in the middle of some bitchy catfight.”

  “And Topeka? Did she diss Kendall?”

  “No way. Topeka – when she makes a friend she makes a friend. No fakey fakey for her. She grew up in this world. She was used to fake people and she decided she never wanted to be one of them. She was used to users. But for whatever reason, she couldn't see Kendall for what she was. Until...”

  “Until what?”

  “Kendall went ballistic on her recently. A crazy woman. Calling her all kinds of names – bitch, slut, whore, you name it.”

  'Why would she do that?”

  “Look – Kendall got the wrong idea about me and Topeka. Topeka was at my house, she was wearing my bathrobe with wet hair – Kendall comes over and sees me coming out of my room, also with wet hair, in a towel. Before even asking questions comes to the conclusion that Topeka and I had been fucking in the shower. She just went nuts.”

  “Were you?”

  “What?”

  “Fucking. In the shower.”

  “She was there for Heath,” he says. “I told Kendall – Heath was staying over at my place and Topeka spent the night with him and once Heath left for the day Topeka stayed over. I gave her my dressing gown because she wanted to take a shower and Heath's shit was in the laundry.”

  “That seems like a sane explanation.”

  “But Kendall didn't want to hear it. Wouldn't believe Topeka. Told Topeka that their friendship was over and to watch her back because nobody takes what is hers away from her.”

  “Sounds familiar,” I mutter.

  “So Topeka's freaking out, trying to calm Kendall down so she can explain, even shows Kendall the texts from Heath proving that she went to see him the previous night. But Kendall wasn't having any of it. She shut Topeka out. Wouldn't take her phone calls. Heath is worried about her – she just lost her best friend after all – and suggests that Topeka move in with us in our place so he can take care of her. Look, Kendall and I were still seeing each other after that. Late night sex, the works. Then Kendall comes over and sees Topeka there – a second time – and goes ballistic. Punching Topeka, hitting her, pulling her hair. Reeking of pot and booze. I figure she's just drunk as shit so I send her home. A week goes by and I figure Kendall's over it. I call her up for some late night fun and she answers and tells me to go rot in hell with that Topeka whore and that she'll make sure I get there sooner rather than later. She says that if I hook up with Topeka she'll kill me. She'll make us both sorry, she says. So forgive me if I'm not a perfect gentleman around that bitch. She's used up all her politeness points with me.”

  My mouth gapes in shock. No wonder Jeremy acted the way he did at the nightclub. Sure, he's still a douchebag, but his behavior hasn't come out of nowhere.

  “So,” Jeremy says. “Topeka’s disappeared and Heath is being blamed. Heath would never hurt Topeka. He’s crazy about her. So crazy, he might just run off with her to get married, leaving the rest of us bandmates to fend for ourselves.” Jeremy laughs. “Topeka…so special and amazingly talented and beautiful, she can do that to a guy.”

  “No wonder Kendall wanted this story,” I say to myself. What if she's involved in Topeka's disappearance and trying to cover it up?

  “Come on, she's your stepsister. You must know what she's like.”

  “I do,” I admit. “Made my high school years a living hell.”

  “Poor Sidney,” Jeremy puts his hand on mine. Why is he calling me by my first name? “I can't stand bullies. Especially girls who bully other girls because they're prettier...or more popular...”

  “Whoa...” I pull my hand away. Is Jeremy seriously hitting on me right now?

  He shakes his head. “I just don't see why girls do this to their own.”

  I sigh. Maybe I've misunderstood Jeremy – and he's not as terrible as I thought. But I'm still wary of him. He's definitely a player if nothing else.

  “You think Kendall was involved in Topeka's disappearance?”

  Jeremy sighs. “I'm not saying it outright,” he says, “but you know Kendall. You know what she's capable of – especially with other women. And especially when she's drinking or doing coke. She parties hard, that girl – she was the one who got us all into drugs, and you can see how that affected Heath. Look at how she was knocking back those shots at the bar.”

  “They'll wear off,” I say.

  “I wouldn't be surprised if she'd been popping Valium all morning beforehand. It's her usual MO. Maybe they'll have to pump her stomach like last time.”

  All this talk about Kendall is making me nervous, so I text Kiley to make sure she's all right. The response comes back instantly:

  Kendall already left the apartment by the time I got here. Sorry.

  Where could she have gone?

  To find you – I guess?

  “Uh, Jeremy,” I say. “Look like Kendall's up and at 'em. I'd better go find her. Thanks for your input.”

  “No sweat,” says Jeremy. “You seem like you're not like her and her posse. You can make sure the wrong people don't get blamed for this. People like Heath for example.”

  “Of course not,” I say.

  “If you do end up writing a piece on this – watch Kendall closely. Don't let her manipulate this story to fit the narrative Kendall wants.”

  “I'll be careful,” I say. “I promise.”

  “You're our champion,” says Jeremy, patting my hand. “I knew you'd be a friend.”

  Friend?

  “Okay,” I feel myself blushing a little bit. “Great.”

  “Just remember,” says Jeremy. “Whenever it comes to Kendall LaFleur, watch your back. Something happened to Topeka, and I wouldn't be surprised if Kendall was responsible.”

  Chapter 11

  I drive back to my apartment, but there's no sign of either Kendall or Kiley – who had left for her next work shift.

  Hey! Kiley left me a note. Couldn't find your friend, sorry. There's rice and beef stew in the fridge for you. Your hot blond friend Johnson dropped it off for you but you weren't home. Got to admit I tasted a little even though he said it was for yours. The perfect man – he even can cook!

  I smile. Johnson hasn't made me his grandmother's beef stew since we were up all night studying for finals in college. Those were the days...

  As if he can read my mind, Johnson texts me at once. Sorry we couldn’t have dinner together last night. Philip told me you and Kendall were working on a hot breaking story so I assumed you left with her to find it. I made beef stew last night for dinner and thought you’d want some. Does it taste the same? Now that I've got a new place my stove is a little hotter than it used to be and it's messing up my timings. I can practically see his smile with each text.

  Just ate, I say. But I'm looking forward to dinner. Can't wait. Smiley emoticon.

  Dinner...wish I could be sharing it with you.

  But I have a crazy deadline. Philip sent me up north to Sacramento for a story. Can you believe that? I feel like he did it on purpose...

  Who knows with Philip? I text back. Who knows indeed? I have a sneaking suspicion that he's right.

  But I want to see you when I get back. So we can finish up where we left off last time...

  I gulp. My cheeks go red. It's still weird for me to think about Jonson sexually, but the way he touched me with his tongue, his hands, his everything...it was incredibly hot. I can't think of him as the same old platonic friend Johnson again. If only I'd met him before getting involved with Phillip...

  I look forward to seeing you. I t
ype. Noncommittal, yet flirty.

  Then another text.

  Sidney, how did the interview w/ Kendall go?

  A text from Philip. Instantly I'm wet. There's nothing remotely sexy about the text, but just the thought of him in any context sends me over the edge. When it comes to Philip LaFleur, I still can't control my body...or my mind...

  Lots to discuss. Need to meet with you privately. There's something about Kendall you should know.

  I'm near your hood. Should I come by to see you? I'll be over in 20 minutes unless you tell me not to. Been missing you...

  See you, I text.

  I'd barely put my phone down when the door swings wide open.

  It's Kendall, who hasn't even bothered to knock.

  “You bitch!” Kendall screams. “You left me in this rat hole while you went cruising in my beautiful car?”

  “I left you a note,” I say. “You were passed-out drunk. I tried to wake you but couldn't and I needed to do the story somehow. Anyway your car's downstairs and it's perfectly fine. I'm sorry I took it, but I needed to get an interview.”

  “We were supposed to work together on this.” Kendall's trying to look hurt, but it seems insincere. “I thought we’re all stepsisters now. I trusted you and let down my guard with you, and you decided to just steal steal steal like you always do. Take what's mine. My car. My job, my story....and Jeremy. You went to meet him, didnt't you? Have you fucked him yet or are you using that goody-two-shoes act to make him beg for it so he offers you something serious, huh?”

  “Hold up a minute,” I say. “I met Jeremy as a source, nothing more. He had intel for me.”

  “Sure, sure,” Kendall sighs. “Like I'd believe that BS. He was looking at you the way a dog looks at meat. He asked you to meet alone, didn't he, because he wants to fuck you, because you can't seem to keep your grubby little hands off of what is mine.”

  “Kendall, calm down, please. You were asleep – passed out. And we needed to do the story.”

  “Jeremy would never, ever keep a secret from me. Not unless...”

  “Ahem,”

  We turn around to see Philip standing in the doorway.

  “When did you get here, brother?” asks Kendall.

  “A couple of seconds ago,” he says. “But I've heard enough. Sidney, I'm appalled...”

  “At me?” I'm in shock.

  “You let my sister drink, knowing she was in recovery, just to go chase after the story that I'd originally assigned to her. I put both of you on this assignment so that you two could learn to lean on each other and support each other, not backstab each other to get in the way. Kendall, I expect this sort of thing from you, but Sidney..”

  “Philip, wait!” I cry. “You didn't hear the whole truth. I was the one who got Kendall home safe after she started drinking behind my back. And I only met Jeremy alone because the two of them had such bad blood between them that her doing the interview would never be possible. If this relationship is going to work, you and I...”

  Philip's face freezes in horror as I realize too late what I've just said.

  “A relationship?” Kendall looks from me to her brother and back again. “What relationship?”

  Philip takes a step forward. “What Sidney meant to say was our working relationship...”

  “So, Philly,” Kendall crosses her arms. “Something going on between you two? Wait until mom and dad hear about this...:

  “Kendall, wait, you can't go to our parents about...”

  Kendall's face is a mask of fury. “So that's why you've been taking her side. I knew it! I knew it! You're fucking our slutty new stepsister Sidney Stone. And choosing her over me.”

  “That's not how it...”

  “Oh you have!” Kendall is screaming at the top of her lungs. “And you!” She turns on me. “I don't know how you do it. Stealing my family, my friends, my boyfriend, even my brother. You think you have Jeremy wrapped around your little finger. And my brother too. But I won't let you. I won't let you take what's mine any longer! I bet you've fucked Jeremy already – haven't you? You're a filthy disgusting whore and I hate you.”

  She slaps me so hard that I tumble backwards. I lose my balance, and with a loud thwack I hit my head on the wall.

  I fall and start to see stars.

  “Oh my God!” Philip cries as he rushes over to me, cradling my head. I feel something sticky...his hands are wet with blood. My blood. “Oh God, Sidney! Kendall - call an ambulance. Kendall, call a fucking ambulance right now!”

  Everything starts to go black...

  Chapter 12

  Philip

  I don't recognize the woman in front of me. This isn't my sweet sister, my beloved Kendall, the beautiful, smart, witty, warm girl that I cared about so much when we were both children. This strung-out, drunk, ranting woman in front of me is a monster I don't recognize.

  Sidney was right. My father, my mother, all of us – we were too blind to see it. Whatever Kendall is going through, it's more than a few weeks in a posh rehab center can fix. She has serious issues – maybe even fatal. This isn't just a spoiled brat needing to grow up. Evil, real, true, frightening evil, lurks in my sister's heart.

  But right now all I can do is beg her to make this right.

  “Hurry,” I cry. “Don't just stand there, Kendall, call 911. We need to get her to the ER now.”

  But Kendall is just standing there. A bone-chilling, maniacal smile on her face. Like she doesn't even see me. I don't know how many drugs she's taken in the past few hours or what they are, but I know that the little girl I loved is gone. Her eyes are empty, glassy, blank.

  “Kendall, you need to snap out of it. Swear to God if something happens to her, Sidney's blood will be on your hands. And you will be dead to me, Kendall, do you understand that? Dead. You will never see me again.”

  “You love that whore that much...” Kendall says. Her voice is melancholy and low, like it's coming from a thousand miles away.

  “She's not a whore,” I hear myself say. “She's the woman I love. I loved her even before Dad and her mother got back together. I was in love with her and nothing can change that.”

  Kendall's mouth contorts into a scream. “She's taken everything, brother,” she cries. “Can't you see? My daddy, my big brother, my whole family, my boyfriend, my job, my dreams...and I'm sure my inheritance, too.” Tears stream down her face.

  Then she reaches into her purse. Pulls out a gun.

  Holy. Shit.

  “I loved you most, big brother. I trusted you. But now I see that you were the worst betrayer of all. You always promised to have my back. But now I see that you and she were conspiring all along. I'm going to get my revenge. One way or another. I'm going to get rid of...her.”

  I realize at last what she plans to do. She points the gun at Sidney.

  “No!” I cry.

  I throw myself at my sister just as she pulls the trigger.

  I hear the gunshot. In my shoulder: the most excruciating pain.

  I fall on top of Sidney's prone body.

  Her face is the last thing I see.

  *****

  Thank you for reading the Filthy Dirty Laundry Series!

  Philip, Sidney, Kendall, and Johnson’s story continues in

  Book 5 of the Filthy Dirty Laundry Series

  Filthy Dirty Laundry 5

  Vol. 5, 6, 7, 8 resumes in 2017 as Season 2.

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  Currently available at Kailin Gow’s Amazon Store for More Books and more Heart-stopping Romances and Compelling Stories

  http://www.amazon.com/Kailin-Gow/e/B002BMAEH4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

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