Log In
Or create an account ->
Imperial Library
Home
About
News
Upload
Forum
Help
Login/SignUp
Index
Dedication & Acknowledgements
Other Books
Prologue Monday, August 14th, 1: 12 AM
Chapter 1 Monday, August 15th, 3: 32 PM
Chapter 2 Tuesday, August 16th, 6: 55 PM
Chapter 3 Tuesday, August 16th, 11: 55 PM
Chapter 4 Wednesday, August 17th, 9: 30 AM
Chapter 5 Wednesday, August 17th, 11: 30 AM
Chapter 6 Wednesday, August 17th, 12: 05 PM
Chapter 7 Wednesday, August 17th, 12: 37 PM
Chapter 8 Wednesday, August 17th, 2: 30 PM
Chapter 9 Wednesday, August 17th, 5: 15 PM
Chapter 10 Wednesday, August 17th, 5: 32 PM
Chapter 11 Wednesday, August 17th, 6: 02 PM
Chapter 12 Wednesday, August 17th, 6: 28 PM
Chapter 13 Wednesday, August 17th, 7: 22 PM
Chapter 14 Thursday, August 17th, 9: 00 AM
Chapter 15 Thursday, August 18th, 9: 50 AM
Chapter 16 Thursday, August 18th, 10: 43 AM
Chapter 17 Five Days Ago
Chapter 18 Thursday, August 18th, 11: 05 AM
Chapter 19 Five Days Ago
Chapter 20 Thursday, August 18th, 12: 55 PM
Chapter 21 Four Days Ago
Chapter 22 Thursday, August 18th, 2: 20 PM ANNIE HAD SPENT the last hour on the phone, contacting the names on the short list given to her by Anderson Blackley. Vera Blackley’s father, who lived locally, hadn’t seen her for some time and was of no help. Her mother had disappeared out of her life many years ago, and her father had no idea where she was now. “We’re not very close,” he had said. “She has very little time for her family.” She had few friends. None of them had heard from her for several days and didn’t know where she might be. Only one woman, Diane Henderson, had been any help at all. Annie had called her and spoken to her briefly. Diane hadn’t been aware Vera Blackley was still missing. Anderson Blackley had called her on Monday, but he gave no indication there was anything to be concerned about. Now, Diane sounded anxious. “I haven’t seen her, or heard from her since last week,” she had said. “Do you know where she may have gone? Did she know anyone out of town?” Annie asked. “Not that I know of.” “Ms. Henderson, would you have any idea if Vera was having an affair?” There was silence on the line for a moment, and then reluctantly, “I think so.” “Do you know who she was having an affair with?” Annie asked. “No, she didn’t say.” Annie hesitated. “Ms. Henderson. We have reason to believe some harm may have come to Vera.” Diane caught her breath. Annie continued, “And so, it’s important we find anyone that may have seen her, or talked to her lately.” “Do... do you think she’s been murdered?” “I hope not,” Annie replied, “but we are trying to find out.” Annie hesitated. “What can you tell me about Anderson Blackley?” “I have only met him a couple of times. I don’t know much about him. Only what Vera mentioned.” “What did she say about him? Is he capable of hurting her? Did she seem afraid of anything, or anyone?” “No, she never expressed any concern about him. I know she didn’t care about him, but she never said she felt threatened in any way,” Diane said. “Is there anything else you could tell me?” Annie asked. “Mrs. Lincoln, Vera is a good friend, and I have known her for a long time. I love her, but to be honest, she’s rather impulsive. Especially when it comes to men. She can fall in and out of love without a moment’s notice. And that’s why I’m not positive whether she is having an affair or not.” “But you think it’s possible?” “Oh, yes, it’s very possible. More like probable.” She paused. “Oh, I do hope she’s all right. Please let me know if you find her. I am very concerned.” “I certainly will. And please, Ms. Henderson, give me a call if there’s anything else you can think of that might help locate her.” “Yes, yes, I will.” Annie gave her cell and office phone numbers to Diane, and then hung up. She sat back and glanced at the list again. She had contacted them all and had nothing new to go on. Only one thing was evident. No one knows where Vera Blackley is, and it seemed as if few people even cared. Thursday, August 18th, 4: 18 PM SAMMY FISHER was homeless. Not that it mattered to him. He found life on the streets was a lot better than working for a living. For the last ten of his forty-five years, he had been his own boss, and certainly not a demanding one. He preferred life in the suburbs to the inner city. A lot less competition for his daily necessities, few though they were. He never had to scramble for a place in front of a heat register, or a sewer grate, in order to get warm on a cold night. And the food that could be found here, was more to his liking, and far surpassed the meager pickings that were to be found downtown. He never had to push one of those grocery carts, slugging around his stuff with him wherever he went. He had his own little place under Richmond River overpass, way up high and tucked back behind the concrete pillars. He had found a little cave, his own nest, as it were, just room for himself and his meager possessions. No one, other than himself, knew about the place, and so he never had to fend off any invaders, and except for the occasional rat, and a few insects, he was left alone. The place was so well insulated by the earth around it; it could be heated by a candle on the coldest winter night. And, it was cool in the summer. Once he got used to the musty smell, it was home, sweet home. He liked it that way. Sammy awoke and stretched, scratching himself in a few places before finally sitting up. That afternoon nap had done him good. He swept back the canvas and peered out. Time to find supper. He slapped on his baseball cap and crawled from his refuge. The concrete colored canvas swung back into place, perfectly camouflaging the entrance. He scrambled down a few feet on all fours before having enough space to stand. He brushed himself off and checked his back pocket. He always carried a couple of plastic grocery bags jammed in there, one for his supper, and an extra one just in case he stumbled across anything he couldn’t live without. That was rare, but you never know. He kicked up dust with his tattered runners as he hobbled down the embankment to the river below. It flowed from north of the city, went a few miles south, before finally slamming into the lake. But here, the water was fresh enough. It hadn’t picked up a lot of pollution yet on this part of its journey south, and Sammy found it good enough to drink. He slipped his cap off and took his daily bath, consisting of kneeling down and soaking his head. He felt refreshed. He cupped his hands and slurped up a few mouthfuls of water. It was cold, and tasted good. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and then stood and shook his bushy head, like a shaggy dog shaking off water. Let’s go. He stuck his hat back on the knotted mess and climbed up the embankment, around the side of the overpass, and soon was standing on the sidewalk of a busy city street. People pointed and stared at his tattered clothes, his laceless shoes, and his heavily bearded face as he ambled along. A few conspicuously looked the other way as they passed, avoiding his eyes, and holding their breath, in case the man carried something contagious. He pretended not to see, and on occasion, he would get even by accidentally bumping into someone who was particularly offended by him. And then he would touch his cap, give a hearty apology, and chuckle to himself as he continued on his way. He’d had a part time job as a party clown, many years ago, and had loved it. There wasn’t much call any more for his expertise, but he had learned long ago, little children never seemed to be offended by him. And now, on occasion, he would stop and do a happy dance, entertaining the kids, enjoying their giggles, until their mother sternly steered them away, probably lecturing them about the eminent dangers of homeless strangers. He wandered on. At the next intersection, he turned down Magnetic Drive, an industrial area. There were a couple of diners here, catering to the local warehousing and shipping industries that littered the street. They depended solely on local customers and did a roaring business during office hours, but usually closed up by five o’clock or so. The area was deserted after that, and there was always an abundance of leftover good stuff to choose from in the bins behind the restaurants. Plenty to satisfy his taste buds, and fill his slightly rounded tummy. It was rumbling now. Humming to himself, he slipped down an alleyway between two buildings, took a left, and by now, could already smell his supper waiting for him in the big green bin, dead ahead. A sign above the bin said ‘Jackie’s Diner, No Dumping’. He stepped onto a ledge at the end of the bin, about halfway up. He hoisted himself the rest of the way and peered in. He grinned. “Supper is ready. Come and get it.” There were enough goodies here to open his own diner. There always was. Well, not always. Not on the weekends. The place was closed then, and Sammy was too particular to eat two-day-old food, especially after the rats and other rodents had browsed through it. He was a frequent visitor to this establishment, and knew how everything was packaged. The leftover meat was in small white bags, probably to keep the eventual smell down. Fries, bread rolls and pastries were usually packed neatly in a cardboard box, along with prepackaged sandwiches that had not been purchased. And then the whole lot of tidily packaged leftovers was tossed untidily into the waiting bin. It didn’t take him long to find what he needed. He dug a grocery bag from his back pocket. He would take what he wanted for supper, enough for breakfast and lunch tomorrow, and leave the rest to the rodents already skittering around inside the bin. He packed his choices carefully inside the bag, tied the top, and dropped from the bin. Life is good. As usual, he would go down a couple of streets and enjoy his feast in the park. A lovely little place where he could watch the kids and appreciate the afternoon. But first, let me see what’s in the other bins along here. Haven’t checked them for a while. The next unit did commercial printing. There was never anything in there he needed, but if he ever wanted some writing paper in the future, well, he knew where to get it. He passed the bin by. Next was a computer parts supplier. Never anything there. Next. ‘Proper Shoes’. I don’t really need any shoes. They’re for old people anyway. Maybe I’ll come back in forty years or so and see what they have for me. Suddenly, an overpowering stench filled his nose. He held his breath and moved away, shaking his head in disgust. Must be a dead cat or something in there. Drawn by curiosity, he plugged his nose and climbed up the end of the bin. He heaved himself up carefully, closed one eye, and looked. What he saw made him change his mind about eating his supper real soon. His stomach wasn’t up to it now. He dropped to the ground, backed up several feet, and stopped, staring in disbelief, slowly shaking his head. The police will want to know about this. Chapter 23 Thursday, August 18th, 5: 02 PM
Chapter 23 Thursday, August 18th, 5: 02 PM
Chapter 24 Thursday, August 18th, 5: 15 PM
Chapter 25 Thursday, August 18th, 5: 15 PM
Chapter 26 Thursday, August 18th, 6: 22 PM
Chapter 27 Thursday, August 18th, 6: 55 PM
Chapter 28 Thursday, August 18th, 7: 45 PM
Chapter 29 Thursday, August 18th, 8: 36 PM
Chapter 30 Thursday, August 18th, 8: 56 PM
Chapter 31 Thursday, August 18th, 8: 59 PM
Chapter 32 Thursday, August 18th, 9: 45 PM
Chapter 33 Thursday, August 18th, 10: 03 PM
Chapter 34 Thursday, August 18th, 10: 53 PM
Chapter 35 Friday, August 19th, 8: 37 AM
Chapter 36 Friday, August 19th, 9: 10 AM
Chapter 37 Friday, August 19th, 9: 28 AM
Chapter 38 Friday, August 19th, 9: 32 AM
Chapter 39 Friday, August 19th, 10: 05 AM
Chapter 40 Friday, August 19th, 10: 59 AM
Chapter 41 Friday, August 19th, 11: 45 AM
Chapter 42 Friday, August 19th, 12: 15 AM
Chapter 43 Friday, August 19th, 1: 00 PM
Chapter 44 Friday, August 19th, 1: 20 PM
Chapter 45 Friday, August 19th, 1: 28 PM
Chapter 46 Friday, August 19th, 1: 41 PM
Chapter 47 Friday, August 19th, 1: 54 PM
Chapter 48 Friday, August 19th, 2: 00 PM
Chapter 49 Friday, August 19th, 2: 14 PM
Chapter 50 Friday, August 19th, 2: 17 PM
Chapter 51 Friday, August 19th, 2: 30 PM
Chapter 52 Friday, August 19th, 2: 52 PM
Chapter 53 Friday, August 19th, 2: 52 PM
Chapter 54 Friday, August 19th, 3: 21 PM
Chapter 55 Friday, August 19th, 3: 32 PM
Chapter 56 Friday, August 19th, 3: 40 PM
Chapter 57 Friday, August 19th, 3: 45 PM
Epilogue Saturday, August 20th, 10: 12 AM
About the Author
Copyright
← Prev
Back
Next →
← Prev
Back
Next →