Chapter 53

Shane adjusted his baseball cap as the wind blew. He had been waiting in the park for awhile but he didn't mind that Meg was late. As he glanced around the park and watched all the children playing, he couldn't help but think of Jessica. He wondered what she was planning for their evening and he couldn't help but smile. It really all was coming together, he thought. He could picture the two of them strolling through the park, holding hands, while their kids played on the swings.

"Shane." A voice pulled himself from his daydream. He looked and saw Meg standing in front of him.

"I didn't hear you come up." He told her and noticed she was empty handed. "Where is everything?"

"It's in the car. I couldn't carry it all."

"Then let's take a walk." He stood up, taking her arm. "It's a beautiful day isn't it?"

"Let's just do this without the subtle chit chat, okay." She suggested.

"Wow, somebody's cranky. Did you have any problems?"

"No. It was actually easier than I thought it would be." Meg told him as they stepped up to her vehicle.

"Good." He unloaded everything into his car then closed the trunk. "Get in the car."

"Why?" She asked nervously.

"Because I have a few errands I need to run and I don't want to be recognized. So you're going to go in for me."

"No, I did what you asked. Now just give me the money so I can get out of here."

"I'll say when we're done. Besides, what's the rush?"

"I don't need to be seen either." She said.

"Come on, whose going to recognize you. It won't be that bad. I promise. I just need a few more things, maybe I'll even buy you lunch." He led her to the passenger seat practically forcing her into the car. Meg glanced anxiously around the car. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything. I just need your help one more time." He told her and pulled out of the parking lot. He drove Meg to town where they stopped at the market.

"Here," He said handing her the list.

"What's this?"

"Jess' shopping list," He said and Meg glanced down at it.

"Wait, she actually wrote this?"

"Of course she did. We have a special date coming up. She's making me dinner and this is what she said she needed." Meg shook her head then went inside to get what she could.

After placing the bags into the trunk she got back in the car and Shane took off again. They stopped at the liquor store before he pulled up in front of a drug store.

"What do you need here?" Meg asked him.

"Just go in there and get some stuff for Jess."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, beauty stuff, make-up, scented body wash and all that girlie crap. I want her to look good. Make sure you get everything she would need. Well go ahead." He said when she hadn't moved yet. Meg opened the door and he called out to her. "Oh, and pick up some uh protection." She stopped and looked at him.

"You know what I mean."

"Condoms?" She questioned.

"Yea. I don't know where tomorrow is heading but I'm hopeful. Besides it's better to be safe than sorry. I want us to enjoy a little time together, just the two of us before we start a family." He told her.

"Enough." Meg said not wanting to hear any more details. She went into the store and rushed through the aisles grabbing what she could before quickly heading back to the car. She couldn't take anymore of Shane's crazy ramblings. She needed to get this over with as soon as possible. Shane drove her back to the park and pulled up next to her car.

"Thank you." He said to her as the car came to a stop. He reached into the glove compartment and handed her an envelope. "This should cover everything and then some. You can even take a vacation." She went to reach for the envelope and he pulled it back. "Remember, if I go down, you go down." Meg nodded and took the envelope. She was surprised to actually feel a twinge of guilt. Meg opened the door then paused.

"You're not going to hurt her right?" She asked him.

"Of course not; I love her and thanks to your help we'll spend the rest of our lives together. Besides it no longer concerns you. We're done and you're free. Have a nice life with Jeff." He told her, gesturing for her to leave.

Meg walked out of his car and got into her own. She put the money in the glove compartment and watched his car pull away. She thought back on everything Shane had said and wondered what was really going on. If she hadn't seen the list for herself she wouldn't have believed it. The handwriting was far too feminine to have been Shane's. Maybe what he said was true and Jessica was actually planning the perfect evening for the two of them. She allowed herself to briefly feel a glimmer of hope before reality came crashing back.

"Who am I kidding?" She said glancing at her reflection in the rear view mirror. Meg had only spent a short time with Shane. Even then, she saw how disturbed he was and she knew that Jessica only went with him to save Jeff's life. There was no way she was a willing participant in all of this.

She should have just told him to shove off when he first showed up on Jeff's doorstep, but after the confrontation at Matt's house she was angry and hurt. Even as she listened to Shane talk about how much he loved Jessica, she had a nagging suspicion that something wasn't right. If he wanted to talk to her alone, he could have done it at any time. He didn't need to develop a ruse to get Jeff out of the house.

But Meg was desperate. She had wanted Jeff back and with Shane she thought this could be her chance. Even after she agreed to it, and she watched him destroy Jeff's bike, Meg still didn't change her mind. She continued with the plan, even lying to the police. It wasn't until it was discovered that Jeff was missing that Meg felt any regret, but it was too late. She would have only gotten in trouble if she said anything and now she just dug the hole deeper supplying Shane with what he wanted, especially the gun.

She gave Shane another way to control Jessica if he needed to. It may not have been the best decision, she thought to herself, but it had to be done. At this point it was either her or Jessica and if Meg wanted to stay out of trouble, then Jess had to stay gone. As long as Shane remained in control, Meg was in the clear.

She started up her car and was about to pull away when she heard the sounds of sirens. Two cop cars came pulling into the parking lots with their lights flashing. She let out a sigh of relief as the cars sped past her.

"It's time to get out of here." She told herself putting the car in reverse. She pulled out of the parking spot and headed to the exit. It was then that Meg realized that those two cop cars weren't the only ones in the area. In fact there were two more blocking her exit. And to make matters worse, the cops were standing in front of them staring at her with their guns drawn.

"Turn the car off!" One of them ordered her. Meg had no choice but to comply. She turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.

"Can I help you officers?" She asked sweetly.

"Megan Samuelson?" The taller one asked her. Meg dropped her head and nodded at them. He came over and took her arm. "You're going to need to come with us."

"I didn't do anything." She protested. "It's not my fault. Please!" Ignoring her pleading and tears they led her to the patrol car.