The long brown hair. The dark blue eyes. That beautiful smile.

Chris once again ignored the conversation going around him. He was in his own little world and had been since seeing her four hours ago. She had looked the same, but there was something different about her. By the looks of the designer clothes that he had seen her in earlier, that told him that Layne had done some growing up in the last six years.

Chris still couldn’t believe it. She was back. When he had read the article in the newspaper earlier today, he had been sure it was untrue. Layne was set to open up her third restaurant in two weeks here in Orlando.

Carla McDeena, the writer of the small article about Layne’s return, had given Layne a week before running away again.

Six years ago Layne had not only walked away from Orlando, but she had walked away from him and their budding romance. Chris had learned many things from her departure. It had taken him years to learn to open up his heart again after Layne had hurt him, but eventually he did and now he was enjoying his romance with Holly Carlson, a twenty four year old actress who was set to appear in NSYNC’s next two videos.

Joey and JC were talking about the upcoming album, which was set for release in a week. The three friends were sitting on the porch of JC’s house, which he had just purchased with girlfriend of two years, Abigail.

“We leave for New York tomorrow,” Joey was saying. He was reading over a stack of white paper with black print. “Then we head on to Los Angeles and then we come home for the release party.”

“I think something is wrong,” JC said.

“No, that’s right.” Joey shoved the paper at JC. “See? That’s what it says. That’s our schedule until the release.”

“Not that, Joe. Look at Chris.”

Joey turned his attention to the man that had moved from the white glass table to the front steps. Chris was staring out at nothing across the street. He would sigh every few seconds, growing curiosity out of JC and Joey now.

“What do you think it is?” Joey said.

JC shrugged. “Maybe he and Holly had a fight?”

“She’s back,” Chris kept muttering.

“Whose back, man?” Joey asked.

Chris decided it was best to stop talking to himself. People already thought he was a little strange. He turned to his friends and faked a laugh. “I read about this girl in the paper today who grew up here. She’s back.”

“I read about her too,” JC said. “They say she’s gone from rags to riches thanks to the success of her two restaurants in Detroit.”

Detroit? Chris hadn’t read that part. He searched through the article to find it.

So for the last six years, Layne Christian has been in Detroit where it seems she has found her calling. Who knew that troublemaker could turn out to have a talent? Can’t wait to see her restaurant go down in flames. Like seriously, who is going to go to her restaurant after all the horrible things she has done to people that live here? Certainly not me…

Carla had had it out for Layne because of Layne’s closeness to him. He hated to say it, but what if people didn’t go to her restaurant just because of her past? It was obvious to him that Layne had changed. He had seen it earlier when he’d seen her with that man. She was laughing and smiling. That had been a rare thing to see during the old days.

Something must have happened down in Detroit to make her this way. He was really happy for her, but a part of him hated that she was better off there because he had been in such pain after she left. A part of him still hated her for what she had done. But that was years ago, he reminded himself.

“As I was saying before,” Joey said. “We leave for New York tomorrow.” He knew Chris hadn’t heard him, and since Lance was away on vacation until tomorrow, Joey was the one in charge of the business end of the group.

Chris wanted to stick around Orlando and see what Layne was really up to because he knew there was something fishy about her visit, but he had obligations to the group and hopefully Layne would still be here when he got back.

~~~

“I know you’re taking Emily’s death hard, but there is no need to keep on going through her will.” Richard entered Layne’s private bedroom in her new house. The house was very spacey, and he had been thrilled finding out that not only would he get his own room, but he’d have an adjoining bathroom, too.

Layne ignored him and read thoroughly through Emily Stanton’s will again and again. There had to be something in here to give her some clue.

Emily Stanton had been Layne’s step sister and her only close friend she’d ever had besides Chris. Emily had been found murdered in her home three weeks ago, but the police down in Detroit had no suspects, and Layne was determined to find who did this on her own.

Emily’s violent ex boyfriend, Greg Forrester lived in Orlando, and Layne had an inkling that somehow Greg was involved In the murder. This was the real reason she was here. Putting a restaurant here was just a cover. She had enough money to buy another space and put in another “Sprinkle’s Diner.” Layne wasn’t even sure she’d make any money here because of her life here before. She didn’t care. If she could track down Emily’s killer and get him convicted, that was the main thing.

“I know it hurts,” Richard said. “You and Emily were very close. But sooner or later they will catch whoever did this.”

“Greg did this,” Layne said through her teeth.

“You don’t know that.”

“He had something to do with it,” she said. “After Emily broke up with him, he promised to get back at her for dumping him. If only we had proof he had threatened her.”

“Take a break and let’s go somewhere and grab a bite to eat,” Richard suggested.

Layne hadn’t been eating much and it was beginning to affect her. Eating and going out would get her away for a while and she knew it would do her a lot of good to stop thinking about this murder for a little while.

“Alright, since you insist.”

---

Sprinkle Of Intimidation - Chapter Three
World Of Our Own Fiction