A/N: ACD owns stuff… and a big apology via the long wait- MCATs, Organic Chem Final, and of course, RA work as the freshmen are moving in : … enough excuses. On with the story…
Chapter 10
As I deftly maneuvered my car around the winding, tree-lined streets of San Marino on the way to Austin's house, I couldn't help but wonder just what I had allowed myself to get into. The seemingly familiar trees did nothing to ease my turbulent emotions; just the very idea I was going to see Austin again was enough to throw my entire world upside down. Add to that Holmes' plans and careful instructions, I was surprised that I wasn't hurling already.
I reached his house without further incident. The house was just like I remembered it, with a beautiful brink façade, white pillars reminiscent of those Southern plantation homesteads. Taking a deep breath, I got out of my car, and walked rather unsteadily towards the front door. Remember your job, I reprimanded myself. Remember what you agreed to do- and don't freak out. Holmes and Lestrade are watching the entire thing.
With a shaky finger, I rang the doorbell and listened intently as it echoed through the house. I saw a figure approach the door and open it slowly. And then I found myself face-to-face with Austin, who wore a rather surprised look on his face
"Laura?" He managed to utter.
"Hello, Austin." I tried to smile. Austin hadn't changed a single bit; he was still very attractive.
His initial surprise began to wear off. "What are you doing here?"
I gulped. "I came by to see you."
Austin's smile morphed into a sneer. "Yeah, right," he scoffed.
"Austin, I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't even begin to cut it, Laura." His features contorted with obvious pain.
This wasn't going well, I thought. Perhaps a different approach. "I know. But I'm here now."
Those must have been the magic words. His face softened and he opened the door further, gesturing for me to come in. "Yeah, I guess you are."
I slipped my shoes off and followed him inside, my feet sinking into the plush red carpet.
Neither of us said a word as we sat down on his couch. Everything seemed the same- except for the nagging voice in the back of my mind that kept reminding me- Austin was a murderer.
"So, Laura, how have you been?"
Small talk. I could handle that. "Had a lot of time to think and find myself. Living by yourself does allow for that. How about you?"
He smiled, seemingly satisfied by my answer as he moved a bit closer to me on the couch. "Terrible. Dissatisfied."
Now we were getting somewhere. "What do you mean?"
He shrugged. "I thought I could forget you- forget us, you know."
I waited for him to continue, as I started to feel a bit more uncomfortable.
"But I couldn't, Laura. So I looked everywhere. But no one- no one's like you."
I didn't like where this was going but I probed him for more information anyway. "There are lots of people like me."
"They look like you- but they're not you, Laura. When you left, I kept trying to find you in other people. But imposters, all of them. Now that you're back, everything's ok."
I definitely didn't like where this was going. What the hell had I allowed myself to be talked into? "So how many of them were there? These- imposters?"
Austin sighed. "Does it even matter anymore?"
I nodded intently. "If we want to start over- we both need to be honest."
"Three," he finally answered. "How about dinner tonight?"
I tried to change the subject back. "So you've dated three girls?" I hoped that this surveillance equipment Lestrade had his techies wire me with was reliable.
Austin seemed slightly annoyed. "If I tell you about them, can we have dinner tonight? Pick up where we left off?"
I nodded, half-heartedly. "Sure."
"There was Jacqueline Chen. Michelle Tang. Christina Lee. They all looked like you, Laura- but none of them had your particular charm."
The nonchalant way he rattled off the names of all three dead girls chilled me, sending a shiver down my spine all the way to my toes.
Keep him talking, Holmes had said. "So what?"
Austin grew visibly angry. "So they weren't you, Laura! Don't you understand? They were just fakes! I had to do away with them!"
My eyes grew wide. "Do away with them?" Holmes was right- Austin- my Austin- had killed them- all of them.
Austin didn't notice as he continued on his angry tirade. "I killed them Laura. I won't be fooled by them anymore. This way, I could find the real you! And look, you've come back to me."
For me. Those three girls had died because of me. I really needed to hurl.
"Austin, where's the bathroom?" This was the prearranged signal. I had gotten the confession; Lestrade and Holmes would be coming through the door as soon as I had left the room.
Austin paused, pointing the down the hall. "Dinner?"
I nodded meekly, unable to say anything, as I half-ran down the hall, repulsed by what was going on, hoping to find some temporary relief as I closed and locked the door behind me.
A/N: Much thanks and appreciation to snowwolf and Finley!