The Mystery Writer

Inspiration

The current whereabouts of celebrity, Leo James, and news reporter, Darcy Wren, are still unknown. It seems as if their disappearance is causing quite the fuss among fans and friends. Leo James' best friend and fellow celebrity, Ken, says that their disappearance is strange and unusual but don't believe them to be in any kind of harm. After surveillance of Leo James' residence, it was confirmed that the artist hasn't returned to his home in quite some time. This was confirmed by Leo's manager, Malakai, though he didn't seem to know where the whereabouts of his charge was either. I guess we will just have to wait and see where and when these two turn up.

-Your Mystery Writer

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“Are you sure about this, Darcy?”

She had to laugh before pulling Leo down onto the couch next to her. After their heated kiss a few days ago, the two rarely had a moment alone. It was almost as if they were too embarrassed to face each other after almost being caught in such intimacy by Leo's mother. Now, she was answering Leo for the umpteenth time while Max stared at them. Leo reached for her hand before giving Max an approving nod to start rolling the film.

“Hello everyone, especially friends and family. Also to my fans who have waited for so long and believed in my innocence these past couple months. I know I have been absent for a while and although I won't tell you where I have been, I hope you can trust me when I say that it was a much needed break for Darcy Wren and myself. Darcy has made the perfect hostess in our successful reality series and I hope that you were able to get a glimpse of what my life is like.” Leo paused for a moment to give one last questioning look at Darcy. She nodded with a sincere smile. “Darcy and I are coming before you today to tell you all that this will be our last appearance. The past month has tested our mental and physical well-being and we are asking everyone to understand our need for a break. We want to ask that you all continue to believe in our innocence from these horrific and senseless murders. So, with an agreement from Channel 4 News, we will discontinue the productions of the live feed. Please forgive us and understand our need for recovery at this time.”

Darcy squeezed Leo's hand. It hadn't been an easy journey they had traveled, but looking back on it they realized all the memories they had made. It was hard to give the opportunity for more memories up, even after all the hurtful and hateful events that had occurred. Leo then showed his palm towards Max who halted the filming momentarily. Leo turned on the sofa and his eyes burned into Darcy's. It seemed he needed a few moments to swallow down the remainder of his nerves.

When filming resumed, Leo's voice was confident and he couldn't help but to provide a happy grin to the camera. “Again, I would like to thank all of you for your support over the years. I can only hope for your continued support. At this time, I'd like to introduce you all to my lovely girlfriend, Darcy Wren. From the very beginning Darcy has had faith in my innocence. After getting to know her over these past couple months, I grew to appreciate her creative and compassionate nature. I'm telling you all up front because I do not wish to hide my regard and feelings for Darcy. Although, we do not expect to have immediate acceptance, we hope that you understand our sincerity. Believe me when I say that Darcy brings me peace and joy which I haven't felt in a very long time. Thank you.”

Darcy turned her head away from the camera. She had been so awed by his speech that tears burned at the back of her eyes. She never expected to hear such truthful admission to one's emotions and then for those emotions to be displayed so openly in front of the camera. She felt too shy to turn her head back to the camera before Max finally called for the cut. She immediately hugged the man that had given her so much meaning and unconditional love.

“Sister-in-law!” Chloe shouted before plopping her petite body down next to her. Darcy turned on the sofa, giving the young girl a tight hug as well. Why was she a massive ball of emotions? You could blame Leo James.

“Congratulations, you two.” Mrs. James called from the kitchen while Mr. James' eyes twinkled at them from across the living room.

“Darcy.”

Max stood in front of her and Darcy noticed the stricken look on his face. She was worried that he might be hurt. She had never gotten the chance to tell him the news face to face. However, her worry was quickly dashed when Max hugged her so tightly that it became hard to breath. Then she laughed as he squealed his congratulations in her ear.

“Leo, the girls will all be over for a celebratory dinner. Lets have a feast!” Mrs. James alerted her son. Darcy smiled at the idea of celebrating happiness. This was also their going away gift to the James' household as Leo and Darcy would be returning home the following day.

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The home was eerily silent and dark when Darcy entered. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she glanced around the hallway that led to the kitchen and then the living room. It was strange to find the house usually filled with light to be so dark and cold. It seemed with their absence, the house became hollow and intimidating.

After Leo popped the lights on and opened the curtains, Darcy took notice of the changed immediately. With sudden thoughts popping into her mind, she ran to her bedroom. It was only moments before she had her laptop out and began to tap away on the worn keyboard. Leo, who had followed her, stared from just inside the bedroom. She smiled though didn't dare look away from the screen.

“I have inspiration.”

Leo understood the need to get thoughts written out and with a nod of his head he left Darcy in peace. It was only a little while later when the doorbell sent both of them, and to Darcy's surprise, Chloe, to answer the front door. They were both surprised to find someone they barely knew. It was the head of the board of directors for Channel 4 News. Darcy was quick to greet the middle aged woman. Chloe quickly excused herself to leave the three of them to talk in peace.

“Darcy Wren! I wanted to see you in person, face-to-face. I fear I should have approached you long ago. I wanted to apologize for the way Matthias Scott treated you all those months ago and, much more recently, how John Thomas blackmailed you. I hope you believe me when I didn't know anything about these events until this strange Mystery Writer began writing about all of this information.”

Darcy and Leo exchanged a glance before Darcy nodded her head. She was unsure of what she could say to the woman in front of her.

“I'll cut straight to the point of why else I am here then. The board really liked your perspective during the live feed era. We wanted to offer you a promotion as director of Channel 4 News. It would be the same job that both Matthias Scott and John Thomas held previously. For you, we'd like to add a sign-on bonus to the contract as well. You've been through a lot and Channel 4 News has stood back to long to not make it up to you.” The woman, who Darcy later found her name was Marcie Grinish, smiled at the both of them. It was a sincere, honest smile.

Darcy couldn't help but to be stunned by the offer and tempted to take it. Never in a million years would she have dreamed to be offered such a position. After a glance at Leo, she smiled back at Marcie Grinish.

“Thank you so much for the offer and giving me the opportunity to hold such a job. However, I decline the offer. That position seems to be cursed and I want no parts of forcing people to do awful things and spreading rumors and the like. It isn't just that reason though. I have had a goal in mind since I graduated and I think I'm finally ready to work on that goal. My end game was never to be in the position of a celebrity news reporter to begin with. I plan to turn in my two weeks notice in person before long, but I'm telling you now so you can start preparing to look elsewhere.” Rather than looking angry or upset at her refusal of the job, Marcie Grinish only seemed to look proudly upon her before offering her hand. They showed their mutual respect for each other with the firm handshake before Marcie took her leave.

When Darcy turned to go inside, she felt free and unbelievably happy. She finally had the courage to do something she should have done years ago. However, her nerves got the better of her as her hands began to shake. She had just promised that her only source of income would be ending soon.

“Darcy!”

Chloe ran up and embraced her so quickly that it knocked the wind out of her. She stumbled a few steps while Leo loudly scolded his younger sister. “Darcy. I found you!”

Leo and Darcy were both quiet as they didn't understand the young woman's comment. Darcy hadn't left, so why was Chloe making a fuss all of the sudden?

“I know I shouldn't have, but I get bored easily. This book, Darcy! It is one of my favorites.” Chloe held up the white book that Darcy had found in her belongings weeks ago. Her head c****d curiously to the side.

“You've read this book?” Darcy questioned, eyeing the white, leather bound book. She hadn't had a chance to read it herself, but maybe if Chloe had read it before she could get a clue to what it was about. Chloe tilted her head curiously back at her.

“You mean, you aren't the author?”

Darcy shook her head and her eyes narrowed at the assumption. If Chloe had read the book, why didn't she know who the author was?

“Strange. It seems like you have one of the very first editions, but you haven't read it? It is one of the greatest murder mystery books ever written! It is very popular among the members of Mystery Writers United. You are sure you never read it? You wanted to be apart of the MWU for a long time.” Darcy opened her mouth in surprise. How did Chloe know this information about her?

“Chloe, explain yourself. How do you know so much about Darcy? At one point you didn't even like her!” Leo exclaimed and he was suddenly protective, though maybe more gentle than he would have been if it had been anyone but his baby sister.

Chloe tapped her foot nervously on the tiled floor. It was obvious she didn't want to admit to something, but in end she had no choice. “I'm actually a part of the MWU, Darcy. I-, well I knew that it was you sending those applications to join and well, frankly I didn't like that you were a celebrity reporter. I knew you wrote about my brother and to get my revenge I convinced the board of the MWU to decline your application. It was very difficult! Some of them, including me, really enjoyed the work you submitted to us. Please don't be mad! I was just trying to get revenge for my brother!”

Chloe rubbed her hands together as she silently begged for forgiveness. To Darcy, however, it felt like a huge relief was taken off her shoulders. Her denied applications were not due to her lack of talent after all and that realization made her feel better about her works. Leo mumbled a grunt of displeasure to his sister, but otherwise Chloe was quickly forgiven.

“Anyway! You really didn't write this, Darcy?” Chloe gently waved the book in front of Darcy.

“I found it among my possessions after Jo-Johnny had my things taken to his apartment. I wanted to read it because there is a strange message on the back page.” Leo took the book from his sister and flipped it to the last page.

“Dear Darcy, I have not been murdered. I have not died. Do not believe whatever you've been told. When the time is right, I will find you. -549” Leo read the words loudly and it caused a shiver to run down Darcy's spine. What was the significance of such a note? “Five. Four. Nine. It seems like it could be a code to something. Usually if people wanted to use a code it would be longer than three digits, though. Nothing comes to mind, Darcy?”

She attempted to flip through all of her memories, but there was nothing she could recall. After shaking her head, Leo glanced back at the book.

“So you mysteriously have a first edition murder mystery book, which I might add that the author is still unknown, and you have a note written inside the book which the author is unknown as well. Could they be one and the same?” Chloe began to pace and all of them began to fill with crazy, unthinkable ideas. It was unfortunate that there were so many deaths; it was impossible to guess which death had been a lie.

 ______________________

“I wont stand for this anymore, Darcy! I'm demanding that you eat at least two meals a day, even better if it is with me, and at least one snack! You haven't even looked at me all day, have you?” Leo whined after bursting through Darcy's bedroom door. At first she had been startled which caused her heartbeat to race wildly, but now she couldn't control fits of laughter. She had never witnessing him pouting before and committed the moment to her memory. How cute Leo James is!

“Ok, ok. I'll come out and play with you.” Darcy promised and stood from her desk chair. She brushed her fingertips gently against his cheek before leading the way out to the kitchen. She screamed loudly when she found a man standing in the entrance while the door behind him stood wide open.

“Darcy?” Leo rushed to her before following her stare to the stranger in the entrance to their home. Only when she was able to calm down from the fright, she found that the man was recognizable.

“Dad?”

Leo glanced between them.

“Yes, Darcy. It is me. You've given me no choice so I had to come down to talk to you face-to-face.” She watched as his jaw ticked angrily. She realized that she had never set up her new phone as she hadn't had much need in the past couple of days. Everyone and everything she needed had been within close access.

“Sir, we should have contacted you once Darcy was safe and out of the hospital. Her phone was stolen and it was quite the process of recovery.” Leo was trying to make amends for her, as if it was his fault that they hadn't been in contact. Darcy watched as mild surprise crossed her father's face. Anger quickly washed over hers.

“He didn't know I was in the hospital. He is only here to ask for money.” Darcy crossed her arms more in a manner of protection than anger. How else would she comfort herself from the pain her father was about to force on her.

“With all due respect, sir. A father shouldn't ask for money from his daughter. Shouldn't you be the one supporting and protecting Darcy?”

Darcy watched as her father turned angry eyes onto Leo. “What do you know?”

She quickly stepped up to Leo's side, her anger beginning to bubble to the surface. She found that where she had been able to hold things back before, she no longer wanted to kill herself in trying to hide every emotion away.

“I know that she has been living in near poverty due to the selfishness of her half brother, your wife and you! She is your daughter! You don't have a right to treat her as a slave or someone who owes you anything at all!” Leo took a step forward to tower over Darcy's shorter father.

“Please Darcy, you know it was never like that! We are in desperate times.” Her father quickly changed tactics when he became intimidated by Leo. It was a tactic that Darcy was all too familiar with.

“Desperate times?” Darcy muttered, determined not to sob pitifully in front of her father. “You are in desperate times while I am now car-less after years and years of surviving on mom's old car. Meanwhile, Andy gets new cars every year and gets to do god knows what with the money I make and worked hard for!”

Despite her attempts, bitter tears began to roll down her cheeks. She hated to be so angry at her father, but after years of neglect and a***e she decided that it was no longer worth holding back her feelings.

“But Darcy!” Her father whispered as though Leo wouldn't be able to hear him. “You are dating a celebrity now! Didn't you seduce him for us? It is so you could send us more money.”

There was a hunger in her fathers eyes that disgusted her. Darcy took a few, short steps backwards as she glanced between her father and Leo. The last thing she wanted was for her love to be misconstrued or confused by the psychotic words of her father.

“Leave! You don't act like a father and you aren't welcome here.” Leo bristled at her father. With another steps towards him, her father quickly got the hint and scurried out of the front door.

Before Darcy could flee or lock herself in the bedroom, Leo turned and forced Darcy to stay put. She miserably bowed her head as hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Don't think about it Darcy. I won't allow it. That man...he will not interfere with our relationship. Ok? Nothing he says will cause doubt or a rift between us, I promise you! I trust you and I'll always trust you over anyone else.” Through her tears, Darcy saw Leo and his calm confidence in her clearly. She walked into his arms while willing the tears to stop.

  “Darcy? One day would you let me see your mother's grave? I think it would be appropriate if I introduced myself to her, don't you think?” Leo was gentle as he brushed the hair from her face. His comfort and words brought a slow, unsure smile to her face. She agreed with the tiniest of nods.