Hi Everyone:

I am pleased to publish chapter 5 of my novel, RAPE. After reading it, I hope you will comment on it. As you know, your comments and suggestions will help me during its revision. If you missed any of the first four chapters, check the archives.

 I also hope you will decide to visit my website at:  joshswritingroom.com where you can find Part One of my novel Palm Beach Style. You will be introduced to Special Agent Dugan of the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). It’s the first of four novels in which he is the main character. While you are on the website, why not check out the three novels that are available for your reading pleasure.

PATH TO A PARDON,

THE EINDHOVEN STRATEGY,

& PALM BEACH STYLE.

 

As each new chapter is published on this blog, the previous chapter(s) should be archived, so even if you did not read it when it first appeared, you can easily catch up. Your suggestions are appreciated and will receive careful consideration.

 

 

CHAPTER 5

 

 

 

 

Gary slipped out the back door, walked clear around the long rectangular building and managed to get fifteen-feet from his car before the media herd recognized him. With key in hand, he jogged the last few yards, closed and locked the door, to secure his privacy.

Upon returning to the office, he walked straight to Erica’s desk and asked, “Did Mr. Flaherty call?”

“Yes, Gary, he called about ten minutes ago,” she said holding up a message slip.  “Unfortunately, I was in the ladies room at the time, and I failed to tell Martha to give him your cell phone number.” 

Snatching the slip from her hand, Gary strode to his office. The receptionist at the attorney’s office seemed pleasant; “I’m sorry, she said, “but Mr. Flaherty has already left for the day.” She took his cell phone number and suggested he call again tomorrow.

Gary asked, “Does he have a cell phone? It’s important that I reach him.”

Reluctantly she provided the number. He punched the number in and waited. The phone rang five times before the man answered. Gary introduced himself, and just as he started to reveal the purpose of the call, the man interrupted.

“I’ve been reading about you. Laddie, you’re in a heap of trouble. Have you been arrested yet?”

“No sir. Not yet.”

“Well now, based on my experience I’d say you can expect that most any time. Nature abhors a vacuum you know, and between Queen Julia and the media, you’re about to fill one. I think we ought to talk. Call my office and make an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I’d like to see you sooner but I’m on my way to a meeting and I’ve got to be in court in the morning. In the meantime, my advice to you is don’t run and don’t hide and above all don’t talk to anyone until you talk to me. The police are probably watching you already.”

At four-o-clock, with his glass-topped desk devoid of paperwork, Gary decided to call it a day. Turning on Sandpiper Drive, he spotted a white panel truck with television equipment mounted on its roof and on the sidewalk in front of his home half-a-dozen reporters bunched together, more flies, he thought. He recognized one of them, Miguel Gonzales, from the Dispatch, as he maneuvered the Maserati up the driveway past the buzzing crowd. He wondered if Carol had already called the police. If she called, would they come?

Striding through the gate at the back of his property, he moved toward the house, but stopped when he heard a small splash and spotted his son riding on one of the blow-up lounges at the deep end of the pool. “Hi Robert!” he called. “How’s school?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“How come you’re all by yourself? Where’s your buddy Allen? I thought you two were Siamese twins.”

“We were supposed to swim in his pool but his mom told me to go home.”

 “Did she say why?”

“Nah,” he sighed, and began to paddle toward the shallow end of the pool.

Gary looked over the backyard fence. The neighbor’s pool appeared empty. He shrugged, walked inside, and followed the sounds coming from the living room. Carol, wearing jeans and a pullover shirt had her hair up in curlers. She sat in a big armchair, her arms around their daughter whose body racked with sobs.

He approached the pair. Squatting in front of them he put a hand on Janet’s back, and whispered, “What’s the matter, baby?”

Janet jerked her head around; the sobbing stopped, her moist eyes stared at her father’s face. Pulling herself free of her mother’s grasp, she stood, and then ran to the circular staircase. Moments later the sound of her bedroom door slamming resounded through the house.

Gary stood up, his gaze fixed on Carol; he raised both palms, “Now what?”

Carol took a deep breath, “You’d better hear it from Janet. Go to her, but be patient and be gentle.”

“I will,” he said. “And how was your day?”

“Peachy, just peachy!”

He opted not to respond; instead made his way upstairs. At Janet’s room, he knocked lightly before opening the door a few inches, “Jan, honey, it’s me,” he said in a soft voice, “May I come in?”

“Oh, all right,” she sighed.

Gary figured she had been expecting him, because she had already washed her face, brushed her hair, and now perched primly on the side of her bed. He sat beside her and gently placed an arm around her shoulders. She sagged against him. “I guess you had a real bad day, huh?”

“Bummer,” she declared with another sigh.”

“Want to tell me what happened?”

“Guess so,” she answered. “I hate my school! All the kids rag on me. They say you’re a rapist. One of my best friends says you’ll be a jailbird. Randy von Alstead insists that we have to move because Palm Beach doesn’t allow rapists to live here. They say the police are after you.”

“Janet, honey, listen to me. I’m your father and I want you to know the truth. You know I never lie to you, don’t you?”

She nodded and he pulled her a little closer to him. “I went to see a client on business. She is a famous actress. I stayed with her for a short time. I never touched her, but for some reason, she told the police that I hit her and raped her. Now the police are investigating, but so far they haven’t charged me with anything.”

“Daddy, I still don’t get it. I know it isn’t good, but what exactly is rape?”

“Well, it’s a little hard for me to explain. Let’s see . . . a rapist is a man who … who hurts a woman and then does . . . what a father does to make babies except the woman doesn’t want him to—.”

“What? Do you mean sex?”

Gary looked down at his daughter’s innocent face and replied, “Yes.”

She scrunched her face together in a scowl and exclaimed, “Ooh, Dad-dy! How could you?”

“I already told you that I didn’t do that. Janet, you’ll just have to trust me. I’m telling you the truth. No matter what anyone says, you have to know that I am not a rapist. The problem is, it is almost impossible to prove that you didn’t do something.” When he looked up, Carol stood in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest, biting the corner of her bottom lip. She didn’t say anything, just shook her head, and walked away.

Janet dislodged his arm and took his hand in both of hers. “Daddy, all my friends are talking. I don’t know what to say to them. I can’t go back to that school again. I won’t. You can’t make me.”

“Don’t worry, kiddo, I know how you feel. Leave it to your mom and I, we’ll find a better school for you.”

She gave him a quick smile. “You better find one for Robert too.”

 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

QUESTIONS:

 

·        Did you think Carol’s reaction to her husband was realistic?

·        How about 7-year old Robert’s reaction?

·        What did you think of 9-year old Janet’s reaction, especially to her father’s explanation of rape?

·        Did the chapter ending make you want to read on?

·        At this point, what do you think the chances are that Gary is guilty? (25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone:

I am pleased to publish chapter 5 of my novel, RAPE. After reading it, I hope you will comment on it. As you know, your comments and suggestions will help me during its revision. If you missed any of the first four chapters, check the archives.

 I also hope you will decide to visit my website at:  joshswritingroom.com where you can find Part One of my novel Palm Beach Style. You will be introduced to Special Agent Dugan of the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). It’s the first of four novels in which he is the main character. While you are on the website, why not check out the three novels that are available for your reading pleasure.

PATH TO A PARDON,

THE EINDHOVEN STRATEGY,

& PALM BEACH STYLE.

 

As each new chapter is published on this blog, the previous chapter(s) should be archived, so even if you did not read it when it first appeared, you can easily catch up. Your suggestions are appreciated and will receive careful consideration.

 

 

CHAPTER 5

 

 

 

 

Gary slipped out the back door, walked clear around the long rectangular building and managed to get fifteen-feet from his car before the media herd recognized him. With key in hand, he jogged the last few yards, closed and locked the door, to secure his privacy.

Upon returning to the office, he walked straight to Erica’s desk and asked, “Did Mr. Flaherty call?”

“Yes, Gary, he called about ten minutes ago,” she said holding up a message slip.  “Unfortunately, I was in the ladies room at the time, and I failed to tell Martha to give him your cell phone number.” 

Snatching the slip from her hand, Gary strode to his office. The receptionist at the attorney’s office seemed pleasant; “I’m sorry, she said, “but Mr. Flaherty has already left for the day.” She took his cell phone number and suggested he call again tomorrow.

Gary asked, “Does he have a cell phone? It’s important that I reach him.”

Reluctantly she provided the number. He punched the number in and waited. The phone rang five times before the man answered. Gary introduced himself, and just as he started to reveal the purpose of the call, the man interrupted.

“I’ve been reading about you. Laddie, you’re in a heap of trouble. Have you been arrested yet?”

“No sir. Not yet.”

“Well now, based on my experience I’d say you can expect that most any time. Nature abhors a vacuum you know, and between Queen Julia and the media, you’re about to fill one. I think we ought to talk. Call my office and make an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I’d like to see you sooner but I’m on my way to a meeting and I’ve got to be in court in the morning. In the meantime, my advice to you is don’t run and don’t hide and above all don’t talk to anyone until you talk to me. The police are probably watching you already.”

At four-o-clock, with his glass-topped desk devoid of paperwork, Gary decided to call it a day. Turning on Sandpiper Drive, he spotted a white panel truck with television equipment mounted on its roof and on the sidewalk in front of his home half-a-dozen reporters bunched together, more flies, he thought. He recognized one of them, Miguel Gonzales, from the Dispatch, as he maneuvered the Maserati up the driveway past the buzzing crowd. He wondered if Carol had already called the police. If she called, would they come?

Striding through the gate at the back of his property, he moved toward the house, but stopped when he heard a small splash and spotted his son riding on one of the blow-up lounges at the deep end of the pool. “Hi Robert!” he called. “How’s school?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“How come you’re all by yourself? Where’s your buddy Allen? I thought you two were Siamese twins.”

“We were supposed to swim in his pool but his mom told me to go home.”

 “Did she say why?”

“Nah,” he sighed, and began to paddle toward the shallow end of the pool.

Gary looked over the backyard fence. The neighbor’s pool appeared empty. He shrugged, walked inside, and followed the sounds coming from the living room. Carol, wearing jeans and a pullover shirt had her hair up in curlers. She sat in a big armchair, her arms around their daughter whose body racked with sobs.

He approached the pair. Squatting in front of them he put a hand on Janet’s back, and whispered, “What’s the matter, baby?”

Janet jerked her head around; the sobbing stopped, her moist eyes stared at her father’s face. Pulling herself free of her mother’s grasp, she stood, and then ran to the circular staircase. Moments later the sound of her bedroom door slamming resounded through the house.

Gary stood up, his gaze fixed on Carol; he raised both palms, “Now what?”

Carol took a deep breath, “You’d better hear it from Janet. Go to her, but be patient and be gentle.”

“I will,” he said. “And how was your day?”

“Peachy, just peachy!”

He opted not to respond; instead made his way upstairs. At Janet’s room, he knocked lightly before opening the door a few inches, “Jan, honey, it’s me,” he said in a soft voice, “May I come in?”

“Oh, all right,” she sighed.

Gary figured she had been expecting him, because she had already washed her face, brushed her hair, and now perched primly on the side of her bed. He sat beside her and gently placed an arm around her shoulders. She sagged against him. “I guess you had a real bad day, huh?”

“Bummer,” she declared with another sigh.”

“Want to tell me what happened?”

“Guess so,” she answered. “I hate my school! All the kids rag on me. They say you’re a rapist. One of my best friends says you’ll be a jailbird. Randy von Alstead insists that we have to move because Palm Beach doesn’t allow rapists to live here. They say the police are after you.”

“Janet, honey, listen to me. I’m your father and I want you to know the truth. You know I never lie to you, don’t you?”

She nodded and he pulled her a little closer to him. “I went to see a client on business. She is a famous actress. I stayed with her for a short time. I never touched her, but for some reason, she told the police that I hit her and raped her. Now the police are investigating, but so far they haven’t charged me with anything.”

“Daddy, I still don’t get it. I know it isn’t good, but what exactly is rape?”

“Well, it’s a little hard for me to explain. Let’s see . . . a rapist is a man who … who hurts a woman and then does . . . what a father does to make babies except the woman doesn’t want him to—.”

“What? Do you mean sex?”

Gary looked down at his daughter’s innocent face and replied, “Yes.”

She scrunched her face together in a scowl and exclaimed, “Ooh, Dad-dy! How could you?”

“I already told you that I didn’t do that. Janet, you’ll just have to trust me. I’m telling you the truth. No matter what anyone says, you have to know that I am not a rapist. The problem is, it is almost impossible to prove that you didn’t do something.” When he looked up, Carol stood in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest, biting the corner of her bottom lip. She didn’t say anything, just shook her head, and walked away.

Janet dislodged his arm and took his hand in both of hers. “Daddy, all my friends are talking. I don’t know what to say to them. I can’t go back to that school again. I won’t. You can’t make me.”

“Don’t worry, kiddo, I know how you feel. Leave it to your mom and I, we’ll find a better school for you.”

She gave him a quick smile. “You better find one for Robert too.”

 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

QUESTIONS:

 

·        Did you think Carol’s reaction to her husband was realistic?

·        How about 7-year old Robert’s reaction?

·        What did you think of 9-year old Janet’s reaction, especially to her father’s explanation of rape?

·        Did the chapter ending make you want to read on?

·        At this point what do you think the chances are that Gary is guilty?