Dark Facade (Book One) (Dark Facade Series)

by Hubbard, Sylvia

  Dark Façade

  Book One Word Count:25K (est)| Part 1-13

  Synopsis: Maxine, an AA graphic designer who has no life, realizes that her best friend and coworker disappeared the day after telling Maxine she was going out on a hot date with a man she met on the Internet. Now it's up to Maxine to find out what happened to Lisa and who was this mysterious man, who emailed his picture to her friend that Maxine just can't stop thinking about.

  COMING SOON

  Book Two: Dark Façade II - When the Dark Comes

  Book Three: Dark Façade III - The Evil Behind the Mask

  DARK FACADE © 2007 Sylvia M. Hubbard

  Published by HubBooks Literary Services

  Cover design by @PaytonLeaf

  Mask Photography Unknown

  All rights reserved.

  Dark Façade © 2013 digital Sylvia Hubbard

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to author’s website and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  For information address:

  Sylvia Hubbard

  PO Box 43439, Detroit, MI 48243

  Visit her website at:

  http://SylviaHubbard.com

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:When I initially started Dark Façade, I really had no idea what it was going to be about. I just knew that there was Maxine haunted by the stranger on the screen. That’s it. I wrote the first chapter with nothing in mind as to how it would go and then I went home and let it ferment on my mind. (That sounds disgusting, doesn’t it?).

  Once I awoke the next morning, I had the idea of implementing what now is one of my most controversial subjects and it’s becoming one of the most talked about books that I’ve ever written.

  It’s not that I meant to do this to cause such strife and literary divide my readers on the subject. I did it because that’s what was happening in Maxine world and my wild imagination makes up situations that I have to work to get my characters out of.

  I’m a natural born problem solver and I love to figure things out for my characters with a realistic and believable approach.

  All I ask is that you enjoy the ride I take you on and don’t send me any more emails blasting me for “hating black folks,” because I am one. I just have a very good imagination. I’m happy that you get angry and want to hurt me seriously, but remember that this was off the top of my head and my next book my not be and that’s when you’d want to do some serious hurt.

  I’m kidding okay, geez!

  As I always say to my readers, enjoy..enjoy… and then tell five more readers!

  Your Author,

  Sylvia Hubbard

  CHAPTER 1

  “He is so damn cute!” Lisa said dreamily staring at the screen of a slightly tanned white man with the widest smile.

  Just getting into the office, Maxine sighed not really wanting to listen to her co-worker’s machinations all day of cute guys. Lisa put work second and her personal life first, which was why Maxine ended up finishing up projects Lisa was supposed to do.

  Maxine hadn’t had her coffee and a migraine was on the brink of overtaking her whole face.

  Sighing in anxiety as she was highly irritated by all the work Lisa should have been doing, Maxine bit back her consternation and turned her attention on Lisa’s screen. Maxine wrinkled her nose at the screen not really taking a good look, but just accessing the fact that this was a white man. She was never into white guys, but heck, it was a free country and Lisa was at the point in her life where she wanted to look for more meaning when it came to men. According to Lisa, she was tired of all the ‘brothas bull crap’ and didn’t want to deal with them anymore.

  “Looks can be deceiving,” Maxine said sarcastically, going over to the work bin and seeing which project she was assigned. “A five thousand dollar computer monitor can make anyone look cute.”

  Lisa snorted. “You just don’t get it, Max.”

  “Get what? That you’re on the Internet looking for a white man? It’s some pretty weird stuff out there, girl, so you better be careful.” Maxine went over to her desk and turned on her computer.

  Coming over to her desk, Lisa’s lean framed leaned over. “You don’t get that black brothers are just plain lazy. I need a man who’s going to work for me. Appreciate me. Worship the damn ground I walk on.”

  Nodding over to the computer screen of the guy with the omnipresent stare, Maxine asked coolly, “And you think he can do this for you?”

  “At this point, anything is better than those trifling ass niggas out there.”

  “You don’t have to be black to be a nigga,” Maxine teased, pulling up her reports from yesterday. “Fine, Lisa. Find your dream man online and I’ll dance at your wedding, okay?” Right then she just wanted to drop the subject and get to work.

  “Don’t worry,” Lisa said, walking back over to her desk to continue to stare at the screen of the picture. “It’ll be soon. I’m going out tonight to meet him.”

  Stopping her work, Maxine looked over at her co-worker worriedly. “Didn’t you just find him today?”

  “Yeah, but when you do your thing online, things move fast.”

  “That’s just way too fast, Lisa,” Maxine said apprehensively.

  “Last time I checked I was grown, Max. Quit your worrying.” Lisa huffed. “That’s your problem, Max, you have this great single life and you don’t know what to do with it. You’re childless with a great job and no trifling family to bother you. You need to be out there taking chances, meeting new people.”

  “Going out with a complete stranger is not my idea of living; Especially with some guy I met online in the morning and going out the same night. You know absolutely nothing about this man.” Maxine stopped her venting and decided to try talking to Lisa about being sanely stupid was like talking to a deaf person. Lisa was not hearing a word Maxine was saying.

  Maxine let it go and continued working. She wasn’t going to let her co-workers foolhardiness interfere with her work. Even though Lisa was about the only thing in Max’s life that could be called a close friend, Max didn’t voice her opinion about Lisa’s promiscuous lifestyle.

  Working at Bianchi/Bellini Marketing as graphic designers, they had become fast friends from the first day they had worked together four years ago. They loved their job and hardly ever missed a day of work.

  Although, Maxine felt it was because of their friendship, Lisa felt obligated to come to work when she probably wouldn’t have come. Lisa always talked about past jobs where she neglected to even come to work.

  Maxine liked knowing she had improved Lisa’s life. With no one else really in her own life, making this impression on Lisa made a true difference in Maxine’s loneliness.

  The day dragged on and Maxine paid very little attention to Lisa and how her co-worker spoke about this all too wonderful online stranger. Lisa had gone so far as to put his face in her screen saver so when she went to lunch, Maxine had to stare at those deep turquoise eyes and even notice that there was a small sca
r directly above his left eyebrow. That perfect row of teeth large smile seemed to be proprietary, but Maxine was no fool. This man probably sent this out to millions of women just to get some bootie.

  In her opinion, white men were no better than any other man. They were all after one thing and Maxine had made too many mistakes in the past to even let that bother her.

  By the end of the day, Lisa was just too happy and rushed out of there to get ready for her date.

  Going home to her boring existence, Maxine fixed a TV dinner, watched a little CSI and then went to bed. This was her daily routine except on Sunday’s when she didn’t go to work she just slept all day long. Maxine never really longed for something exciting to always have to do, like Lisa did. Doing the same thing every day felt stable and comfortable and she didn’t mind her lonely existence. Being alone meant she kept control of the things around her and being in control was important to Maxine. This feeling of being in control had always been important to her; she’d never been sure why, but she knew keeping her surroundings like she wanted it, kept her from going crazy… and that was something she knew deep down inside she could never become.

  As Maxine relaxed and prepared to sleep, for some reason, she thought about Lisa and wondered what her co-worker was doing on her hot date. Maxine’s mind relaxed and next thing she knew she felt warm all over.

  Tingles encompassed her body as wet kisses hungrily showered her face, neck, and then down to her chest. Her nipples hardened and pulsed and she felt the wet mouth suckle her tips and then a soft tongue laved the entire breast before moving to the other one.

  Between her legs, she could feel the moistness increase and craved to feel even more between her legs. Who was doing to this her? It felt so good, so damn good.

  Reaching down, she cupped the face reluctant to stop the beautiful oral ministrations, but too curious to know who could make her feel so wonderful.

  Bold passionate turquoise eyes met her own and that beautiful smile-

  Awaking screaming, Maxine clutched the covers and looked frantically around the room. Once she was assured she was alone, she laid back down.

  Damn Lisa!

  Getting to work the next day she was almost too embarrassed about the dream to face Lisa and was glad no one was in the office when she arrived. Quickly, Maxine got to work immediately.

  When their supervisor came in at ten asking where Lisa was, Maxine looked at the empty desk and frowned. Not wanting to get Lisa in trouble, she lied to her boss and said, “I forgot to tell you that she called in sick.”

  He looked at her suspiciously. “Well, okay. Can you get me an update on that logo she was working on? I want to sign off on those changes by the end of the day.”

  Maxine nodded eagerly trying not to look worried. “Sure. I’ll get that over to you right away.” When he was gone, she called Lisa’s home but there was no answer. Looking over at Lisa’s computer, Maxine had to wonder what happened on the date.

  Already knowing Lisa’s password, Maxine was able to get in on Lisa’s computer and access her Outlook Calendar. Lisa had yesterday’s date in red, meaning it was important. Clicking on yesterday’s events, Maxine saw two entries for the time after work. The first entry said Miller. The time for this entry was thirty minutes after work.

  Maxine knew Miller Market by Lisa’s house. Maybe Lisa had stopped in to pick up something for the date because Miller’s Market was like any convenience store in Detroit, selling almost everything under the sun.

  Afterwards the first entry, typed in red letters, BIG DATE! 2121 Milwaukee @ Detroit Masquerade. This wasn’t Lisa’s address, so Maxine printed out this page and called Lisa’s home. There was no answer to her home number or cell phone number.

  Maxine knew Lisa had a kid, but the father of the child had custody and the child only came during holiday and the summer. Never meeting the father, but often hearing how Lisa had to leave him, Maxine remembered Lisa said no one had believe when she had told people he had been abusive. Unfortunately Max didn’t try to get herself or her thoughts involved with Lisa’s past personal life. Having just a co-worker relationship with the chaotic life of Lisa’s.

  With tomorrow being Friday and the start of a holiday weekend, Maxine knew Lisa had to pop up somewhere. Lisa never missed her chance to see her child.

  The date must have been pretty hot!

  Maxine went to Lisa’s home on lunch. No one was there and Lisa’s car wasn’t in the driveway.

  ‘Why am I so worried? She’s a grown woman, she said so herself!’

  Getting back in her car, she reached in her purse and looked at the address she had printed off. ‘Damn Lisa! Why’d you have to go on the date and not tell anyone where you were going?’

  Maxine drove by Miller’s grocery store, but there was still no luck seeing Lisa’s car.

  Putting her car in drive, Maxine checked her watch. There was still time to make a quick run just to check out the address.

  ‘Go to the police!’ her common sense screamed, yet the realization was that Lisa hadn’t been missing over 48 hours and the police wouldn’t care. Plus Maxine was not a relative so they probably wouldn’t let Maxine file a missing persons report right away. Maxine had no idea how to get in touch with the father of Lisa’s child, nor did she know anyone other relatives or friends of Lisa’s.

  Yet, this wasn’t like Lisa. Even though her co-worker took some chances, she would never do anything crazy or dumb.

  Or would she?

  As Maxine headed to the 2121 Milwaukee address, all she could think about was those deep turquoise eyes and that irresistible smile. Would he be there?

  CHAPTER 2

  2121 Milwaukee was an odd looking building. On the outside it was just a plain semi-industrial building with a lot of random graffiti over a newly painted surface, but when she looked inside from the plastic almost see through door she could notice new carpet. And not just plain carpet, it was definitely expensive. The plastic on the door was reinforced securely so nothing could break through it. There was a brand new lock on the door and the hinges looked recently changed as well. Yet it was strange that the door itself wasn’t changed, yet different parts. As if someone wanted the look of old.

  Before she had gotten out the car, she quickly checked her face. Her dark brown lips were always in a natural pout, which brought out a sensual nature in her almond shaped eyes. She had always received compliments about her eyes and lips, yet Maxine never really had the confidence to say she was a great looking woman. Standing at five foot six and a size twelve, she was considered thick with a small waist. She knew if she stayed away from the excessive snacks and chocolate she would probably look a little less thick, which in her opinion was on the borderline of fat. In her opinion, her butt was too big, her thighs were too thick and her size nine feet was too long and disproportioned with her small ankles. On top of that she had thirty-six C cups, which wasn’t saying much, but with her shape, she felt she needed a larger cup to be more attractive.

  Stepping back to the curb in front of this building, Maxine observed that there was no one around. There were buildings across the street, but it seemed as if they were not occupied either.

  It was a considerably warm May day and school was still in for children. With this being an industrial area, there was not much going on due to Detroit being hit hard with hardly any industrial business anymore.

  Nervously, Maxine bit her lip as she went to the front door and pulled on it, but it was locked. Pressing her forehead to it, she saw there was a desk with nothing on top, thick carpet on the floor and beyond the lobby was darkness. No signs were posted, but even though it all looked untouched, she noted there was no film of dust on anything. Not even the top of the desk.

  Moving around the back of the building, there were no cars parked, yet she could tell there had been some vehicle activity recently, but she wasn’t a private detective or even some kind of forensic expert to determine how many vehicles or what kind of vehicles. As she steppe
d around the parking lot looking around for anything, she noted that this parking lot was clear of debris. That was rather odd for a supposed vacant property in the City of Detroit.

  When she was positive she didn’t see anything, Maxine started back toward the building, but saw a bright neon piece of paper the size of a three by five index card on the side of the lot. Picking up the paper, she read:

  PRIVATE INVITE ONLY 4 YR EYES

  DETROIT MASQUERADE - ONE GUEST PERMITTED W/U

  WEAR YOUR MASQUE AT ALL TIMES

  LOCATION & TIME TO BE EMAILED TO YOU

  Going back to her car, she found her digital camera in the trunk and then returned to the back of the building to snap pictures.

  Her office was calling her just as she snapped the third picture around the parking lot. It was her supervisor.

  “Any word on Lisa?” he asked.

  “No,” she said.

  “What about that work I needed?”

  “I emailed it over before I left. Listen sir, I was getting a little worried and I was checking up on her on my lunch.”

  He cut her off. “Okay. Take your time, Max. Thanks for the email.”

  The line clicked and Maxine looked at the phone worriedly. Out loud she spoke, “I wanted to let you know I’m terribly worried about, Lisa. I think she could be in trouble.” Yet it seemed even her supervisor wasn’t interested in that.

  There was a thick iron double door to the back of the building and she touched it slightly thinking that it was going to be locked too as she tucked her cell phone back in her purse.

  To her shock, the door was unlocked when she pushed on the handle. Cool fresh air touched her face and under her feet she could feel there was central air in the building. It was a big building to cool if no one was there. The first room she stepped into was an enormous kitchen fit for a king. Double large of everything was around and it was spotless. There were windows around to illuminate the kitchen, but they were high so no one could see in or out.

  “Hello!” Maxine called out just in case someone was there and she scared someone to death for trespassing.