by Donald Wells
After a pause, David says, “Are you telling me you’re about to hang up on me?”
“Mr. Smith, how many children have you helped to locate over the years?”
“Fourteen Mrs. Marks,”
With a trace of humor, Mrs. Marks says. “And how may I help you today Mr. Smith?”
“I’m calling because I think I’ve located Robert Lucan, the alleged abductor of Chrissie Johansson.”
“Where Mr. Smith? When?” Mrs. Marks asks frantically.
“One of Lucan’s aliases, a Richard Landross, was used to rent a truck in Provo Utah at 8:43 a.m. Mountain Time. I’m sending you and the Provo Police Department a fax with the name and address of the rental company; I only hope it’s him.”
“Mr. Smith, Chrissie has been missing for three and a half years and Robert Lucan hasn’t been seen since, yours is the only information we’ve received in all that time, thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure,” David says, as he prepares to hang up.
“Mr. Smith, are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here.”
“Mr. Smith… I’ve only been Mrs. Marks for the last ten months, before that I was Mrs. Johansson. On behalf of my ex-husband and myself I want to thank you… no matter what the outcome is, and may God bless you.”
David speaks in a breaking voice. “Thank you Mrs. Marks, and may God bless you also, goodbye.”
* * *
While watching the six o’clock news, David learns that wanted fugitive Robert Patrick Lucan was arrested while returning a truck he had rented under the alias of Richard Paul Landross. Along with Lucan at the time was his eleven-year-old daughter, Cassidy.
Cassidy was later identified as Chrissie Johansson, a young girl thought to have been abducted and killed by Lucan years earlier. Chrissie is soon to be reunited with her mother, a Mrs. Patricia Marks.
“This is why I don’t have a nine to five job,” David says, to the empty apartment.
He then goes into the office and turns his computers back on.
3
Wednesday, October 16th 2:06 a.m.
David is sleeping in his office chair. At least once a week this happens, it seems. He’ll stay up late searching databases, looking for digital needles in binary haystacks. He’ll then lean back to rest his eyes and awaken hours later to realize he has fallen asleep. Tonight David awakes with a start. Tonight something has awakened him.
David looks around his bedroom converted office, searching for the source of his abrupt awakening.
I think it sounded like something falling.
He checks the heavy glass paperweight he keeps on the corner of the desk and discovers that it still rests in its spot. Nothing in the office seems out of place. Then he hears it again, a thud sound, like something heavy hitting something hard.
Oh, it’s a noise from the street.
As he signs off his computers, he hears the sound again, and again, and again. It is now that he realizes the sound is not coming from the street, but from the alley, Mouse’s alley.
Looking out of the office window he sees four dark shapes around the hole Mouse uses for an entryway, the tallest of the shapes raises something over its shoulder and swings sideways to strike the wall over the hole. On impact, David hears the same sound that had awakened him.
They’re trying to break in to get to Mouse; it must be those same four punks again. I’ve got to help Mouse.
As his eyes adjust to the gloom of the alley, David can now tell that the tall man is swinging a sledgehammer at the wall, and the wall is crumbling.
Damn, a few more swings and they’ll be able to fit in there.
David looks around the apartment frantically, searching.
I need some kind of a weapon, hell there are four of them; I could use a tank.
David spies the knives in the kitchen and grabs the longest one.
God how I wish Vinny the chauffer was here now.
He charges down the stairs and out into the night. With his breath leaving a trail in the cold autumn air, David makes his way around to the alley. It’s empty, save for a pile of rubble lying near the wall.
Christ! They’re already inside. I’m coming Mouse I’m coming.
He feels his way through the now substantial hole in the side of the theater and listens warily for any sounds of movement other than his own. As he rounds a corner, he can make out four shapes on the other side of the theater huddled near the edge of the seats, in front of the stage. David can hear them talking but cannot make out what they’re saying.
Mouse must have gotten out already; if those four were crowded around her she’d be screaming her head off by now. Fuck, what am I saying? Mouse can’t talk; she could be over there. Oh man, four against one and God only knows what weapons they have. Maybe if I attack them quickly it’ll give Mouse a chance to run… well here goes.
As David starts toward the four men, he feels a hand clamp onto his left wrist. He spins with knife at the ready.
For more, read DOUBLE OR NOTHING by Donald Wells
THE
MANY
AND
THE
ONE
(BOOK ONE OF THE OCEAN BEACH ISLAND SERIES)
When Lindsay Parker catches her boyfriend Derek Stern cheating, she wants only one thing—Revenge!
Knowing of Derek’s hatred for Jason Reynolds, she lures Jason to her bed simply as a means to hurt Derek. However, something happens that Lindsay didn’t count on. She falls in love. Derek schemes to get Lindsay back into his life, however, his obsession goes too far and leads to a violent and life-altering confrontation with Jason.
When Derek’s beautiful, but conniving mother Charlotte enters the fray, the stakes escalate into a decades long struggle that tests Lindsay and Jason’s bond, while redefining the boundaries of love.
SINS
&
SECOND
CHANCES
(BOOK TWO OF THE OCEAN BEACH ISLAND SERIES)
A mysterious Island native returns to town and shakes things up, as Michael Brannick and his treacherous daughter Annabel pressure the Reynolds to give up the cabin atop Hills Road, so that they alone can own "The Hills".
However, when Jason and Lindsay adamantly refuse to sell to the Brannicks, the stakes soon escalate, and turn deadly.
DRY ADULTERY,
WET AMBITION
(BOOK THREE OF THE OCEAN BEACH ISLAND SERIES)
Chief of Police Paul Martinez has fought his feelings for months, but the truth is that he has fallen in love with beautiful, rookie police officer Robyn Mathias.
And as if this emotional quagmire wasn’t enough stress for the long-married Paul, his town and his very life are being threatened by a wily serial killer.
Paul must not only survive the "Blood Beach Killer" and stop the murderer’s killing spree, but must also come to terms with his feelings for Robyn, and begin to build atop the debris of his shattered life.
OF
TONGUE
AND
PEN
(BOOK FOUR OF THE OCEAN BEACH ISLAND SERIES)
Jack Hawkins is the latest owner of club INFINITY and a man of renowned bad temper. However, when misfortune visits the Reynolds, Jack may be the only one that can help them.
But even Jack Hawkins can’t prevent the wave of tragedy that will take a loved one’s life and forever alter the Reynolds’ future.
ALL
GOOD
THINGS…
(THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE OCEAN BEACH ISLAND SERIES)
The Reynolds have faced a lot as a family and they have always come out on top.
They survived their feud with the murderous Derek Stern, along with the machinations of his conniving mother Charlotte.
Michael Brannick, a man who began as a foe, is now a friend.
After wreaking havoc upon the Island, Serial killer Bradley Caine vowed that he would kill Jason Reynolds, yet he was soon vanquished and forgotten.
Even the loss of a dear f
amily member was not enough to tear this family apart.
However, the one thing they never expected, an attack from within, will be the catalyst that rearranges their world and changes the family forever.
Because every family has a black sheep, and the Reynolds are no different. When long-lost Cousin Tony comes to the Island with a plan to make his fortune, he brings along with him a trail of death and destruction that threatens everyone and, that in the end, will shatter the Reynolds traditions.
DOUBLE
OR
NOTHING
David Manning suddenly realizes that he’s being watched.
The woman, not much more than a girl really, appears to be homeless. David tries to ignore her but the girl soon follows him wherever he goes and so David decides to confront her.
What happens next will send his life spiraling out of control in ways that he could never have imagined and, that in the end, will either unite him with his soul mate, or send him to an untimely and violent death.
DROPPING
MY
SHORTS
A Short Story Collection
Four short tales of Romance, Suspense, Horror and Thrills
Competition
When you’ve arranged to have your wife murdered, it’s not a good time for a cop to visit.
To Each His Own
A moonlit night, a haunted house and a ghost with a secret.
Anger Management
We all have anger, but what one man does with his will leave you gasping.
Second Date
They say love can surprise you; in fact, sometimes it sneaks up and grabs you.
Table of Contents
Part One
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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18
19
20
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Part Two
23
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25
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27
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31
32
33
34
35
36
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Part Three
52
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59
60
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62
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66
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68
69
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71
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80
Preview: Double Or Nothing
1
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Table of Contents
Part One
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
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15
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Part Two
23
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Part Three
52
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Preview: Double Or Nothing
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Table of Contents
Part One 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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9
10
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Part Two 23
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Part Three 52
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Preview: Double Or Nothing 1
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