Hi Everyone:
I am pleased to publish
chapter 29 of my novel, RAPE. After
reading the chapter, I hope you will comment. Your comments and suggestions influence
my revision. If you missed any of the previous chapters, check the archives.
I also encourage you to visit my website: joshswritingroom.com/ where you will find,
the current short story.
You can also check out my e-published novels. If you find one to your liking, you can
purchase it from Amazon.com, or from Barnes and Noble. You’ll find links on the
website taking you right to it.
PATH TO A PARDON,
THE EINDHOVEN
STRATEGY,
& PALM BEACH
STYLE.
These
novels deliver hours of reading pleasure. Path to a Pardon & Palm Beach
Style can be purchased at reduced prices, combined they cost less than a movie.
You can now purchase two books for what it once cost to read just one.
As I publish each new chapter, the previous
chapter(s) are archived, so you can easily catch up. For those who prefer, here
is an encapsulated version of the previous action:
PREVIOUSLY:
RAPE
Prosperous
executive, Gary Sanders, has an appointment at the home of Julia Walsh, the reigning
Empress of Palm Beach. Julia’s niece, Oscar winning actress, Miriam West, is
visiting and has jewelry to insure.
Miriam
accuses Gary of assault and rape. Chief Moore shows Gary a close-up of her
facial cuts and bruises. They await the lab report.
Gary’s
wife, Carol is furious. She moves him into the guest room.
Reporters
who publish stories favoring Miriam, surround Gary’s home and office. His
children are harassed at school and Gary loses his clients and his major
companies. Neighbors and friends shun Gary and his family.
Gary’s
lawyer, Joe Flaherty sends P.I. Jim Bosley to investigate, and then visits
Carol. He finds her parents have arrived and plan to take her and the children
back to Boston.
A
January court date is set. Carol tells Gary that she and the children are going
to Boston to live with her parents.
One
of Miriam West’s fans assaults Gary. A neighborhood committee offers money to
help Gary sell his home, if his family leaves Palm Beach within 60 days.
Private
Investigator, Bosley, learns of Consuela Arista’s termination following Gary’s
visit. Reporter, Miguel Gonzales, is already looking for her.
Miguel
learns Consuela has gone to visit her mother in San Antonio.
Consuela
tells her mother that she was in the next room when Gary came to see Miriam
about insuring her jewelry and she saw him leave. Miriam is forcing her to help
destroy him.
Carol’s
parents make an appointment for her to see the family lawyer about a divorce.
Bosley
meets with ex-girlfriend, Connie, who works for the same newspaper as Miguel
and learns the reporter has gone to San Antonio. He offers & she accepts a
job running his office.
During
lunch at the Sailfish Club, Miriam drinks too much and thinks about how she
advanced her career and what she may yet have to do.
Carol
consults an attorney about a divorce. Robert hits a classmate. He is suspended.
Gary
and his ex-secretary, Erica meet for lunch at Hamburger Heaven, where she tells
him that she believes in him and he should do whatever he must to keep his
children.
P.I.
Jim Bosley finds an address where Miriam West’s maid may be staying.
As
they leave the restaurant, reporters accost Gary and Erica. Joe Flaherty tells
Gary that Bosley is going to interview a maid who may help his case and
cautions him not to tell anyone until he is sure of her testimony. Gary
promises.
Despite
giving his word to the attorney, Gary tells Carol the good news. She is not
impressed and denies him access to the children.
Reporter
Miguel Gonzales contacts Consuela and then talks to his editor about getting
her to go public with what she knows. They agree on a financial offer.
Consuela
tells her mother what she witnessed at Julia Walsh’s home and why she must
flee. Her Mother sends her to stay with her sister in Mexico.
Miguel
Gonzales is elated as he leaves the Arista home with a taped interview
describing what Consuela observed during Gary’s visit with Miriam West. His joy
is short-lived when his vehicle is hit, sending him to the hospital in a coma.
P.I.
Bosley arrives in San Antonio and fails to gain entry into the Arista home. He
discovers that Miguel is in the hospital and during a visit, finds and takes
the reporter’s tape recorder.
CHAPTER 29
Gary put the
skimmer down, the last of the leaves were out of the pool and the PH. factor
had returned to normal. The water looked inviting, but the weather had turned
chilly, too cool for swimming. Anyway, he thought, it looks good for potential
buyers and that’s the objective, isn’t it? Only one thing left to do now; wait.
Wait, wait, wait that’s all I can do. Wait for a buyer to get rid of the house;
wait for the realtor to find someone to pick up the lease on the office space;
wait for the trial to be over; wait for Carol to come back with the children;
wait for Joe to call with news from the detective. Right, news from Bosley.
Joe had said he’d call in a day or two, but he hadn’t. What’s
he waiting for—Christmas? Perhaps he’s forgotten, or maybe he’s so involved in
other cases that he hasn’t had time. Well that’s too damn bad, if he’s too busy
to call me, I’ll just call him. Yeah that’s what I’ll do all right. He glanced
at his watch; it showed ten ‘til nine. Crap, it’s too early. I’ll call him
after breakfast.
He put the skimmer
away, turned to admire the clear blue water in his pool, and headed for the
back door. With Hannah off for the holidays, he graduated to cook. He made four
cups of coffee, sliced and toasted a blueberry bagel and filled a bowl with
Fiber 1. The toaster popped up. He drizzled honey over the bagel, and reached
for the milk as the telephone rang. Hot damn, I’ll bet that’s Joe. He lifted
the receiver, “Hello.”
“Listen scumbag, we don’t need your kind in Palm Beach. I
hear your wife and kids are in Boston. Why don’t you join them? Go somewhere,
Jerkoff, or go to hell! We don’t care—”
Gary hung up the receiver without letting the man finish.
These idiots never get tired, he thought, as he poured milk over his cereal.
With breakfast over, he poured a second cup of coffee and
called Joe Flaherty’s office. The secretary put him on hold while Joe finished
another call, then the Irishman picked up his call, “Hello Laddie, how are you
getting on?”
“I’m not getting anything and that’s the truth.”
“Ah, well, be of good cheer, things are bound to get better
in a wee bit.”
“Any news from Bosley?”
“Aye. The lad did call me last night. He says he has the
witness’s story on tape and he’s sending it by Express but I no have it in
hand. I’ll call you after I’ve had a chance to hear what the lass has to say.”
“Okay, I’ll hang out here; that seems to be all I do lately,
just hang around and twiddle my thumbs.”
As Gary put the receiver back, he heard a knock at his front
door. Thinking it another one of the neighborhood pranksters, he jerked the
front door open. A neatly dressed man of about his own age said, “Mr. Gary
Sanders?”
He nodded, became suspicious seeing the paper in the man’s
hand; “Yes,” he said, drawing the word out.
The man handed him the paper and said, “You’ve been served.
Have a nice day.” He turned and walked away leaving Gary to let the words:
Petition for Divorce, sink in.
Well, he thought, it’s been that kind of a day. Why didn’t I
see this coming? So, that’s why she didn’t seem enthused about the witness.
Closing the door behind him, he meandered toward his den without bothering to
turn on a light; opened a bottle of Glen- Livet single malt scotch, and poured
three fingers of it into a heavy bottomed glass. He sat in the subdued lighting
and sipped, letting the liquid gold warm his tongue and throat. This is one
thing I didn’t have long to wait for, Carol’s not coming home.
His chest felt warm and he thought, no wonder they give this
stuff to people having a heart attack. It’s strong enough to jump-start an army
tank. He refilled his glass and methodically downed it. Carol won’t come, he
thought, and then it hit him, what about my kids? He shook his head, knowing
and hating the answer. I told her we had a witness but she was indifferent. Damn
it I’m just killing time. Where does it get me?
He poured a third drink, and a forth before deciding to call
Erica. Pulling out his cell, he speed-dialed her number. She answered on the
second ring.
“Hi Gary, it’s so good to hear from you. How are you?”
“I’m fan-tash-tic, tha-s what I am.” He heard the slurring in
his speech.
“Funny, you don’t sound it. You’re drinking. What’s
happened?”
“Yeah, I had a few, tha-s why I’m fan-dash-tic.” The slurs
were getting worse. “Lesh meet for lunch?”
“No I can’t. I just started a new job
with Jameson, Jennings and Sheehan.”
“Ah ha, Lawyers,
they’re no fun.”
She giggled and said, “You’re right. Why don’t you call me
after five and we’ll figure out someplace to meet for dinner?”
“I’ll call you.”
“Okay, but Gary, promise me you’ll quit drinking. Get some
sleep and call me after five.”
He hung up. Erica was right of course, he needed to quit
drinking now; he’d had more than enough. The scotch had clobbered him; it’s a
mistake to drink it neat. I’ll feel better if I take a little nap—just stretch
out here on the couch—snooze a while. After all I can’t call again until after
five—another thing to wait for.
No comments:
Post a Comment