The driver and passenger do not speak to one another. The taller passenger turns on the radio and finds an oldie station. Both men start singing the lyrics of “Sherry” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Their high pitched growls and off-key singing consume the interior of the speeding car. Leonard has never been more frightened in his life as the car makes its way along a gravel road. Even in the darkness, Leonard can taste the dirt that enters into the back seat from an open sunroof. Why are we in the woods? Finally, the radio is turned off and the car slows to a stop.
“Leonard, stay here a moment. I have to take a leak.”
Leonard is slightly relieved. No wonder we are in the forest. But, just before he allows his shoulders to relax, his door opens and he is pulled from the safety of the back seat. Leonard resists, but the driver joins the passenger and they easily drag Leonard out to an awaiting embankment. As he looks around, Leonard sees things he wishes were not there. His eyes fixate on two shovels, a pick axe, and a rickety old wooden rocking chair. Leonard is firmly planted in the chair. His shirt and pants are pulled from his body, leaving him clothed only in his red boxer briefs. Leonard is not wearing handcuffs. He places each arm on the side rails of his chair. He is no longer afraid; he is absolutely terrified. Leonard recognizes things aren’t looking good. Ten minutes ago he was lying in a relatively safe jail cell, inside the walls of a police department. Now, he is in the middle of the woods surrounded by the darkness and sounds of stealthy creatures that move in the night.
“What is this about? Are you guy’s cops?” Their laughter is quiet and controlled. It’s not the response Leonard is seeking. Leonard squints as he tries to focus on these two men. They are unfamiliar to him. The shorter man is stocky and unattractive. However, the taller man has a distinct look about him, as if he really is a cop.
“Leo, can I call you Leo? I am a cop, a detective actually.” The taller man speaks, the one who had escorted him out of Hutchville P.D.
“Leo, have you ever met a dead man?” Leonard shakes his head, confused by the question.
“My name is Donny Mello, and I am a dead man.” Leonard stares at this man; he has never seen him before. How can he be dead if he’s standing right in front of me?
“Why am I here? I thought you were taking me to the county lock-up.” His heart rate increases sharply. His breathing gains rhythm. Leonard just saw the large gaping hole in the ground to his immediate left. The taller man with the white sneakers walks up to Leonard, lighting another cigarette.
“Calm down, Leo. Cops don’t kill people. But you need to learn a lesson and that is why we are all here.” Donny places his hand on his shoulder and gently taps him. This act of kindness doesn’t make Leonard feel any calmer.
“What are you going to do with me?” Leonard tries not to tremble, but it’s hard to control his body. This is nothing like the feeling he experiences when hot on the trail of a new target. Those tremors are warm and inviting. This is fear; nothing but fear. These nuts take roughing up to another level. These cops scare the shit out of me.
“I just want a few of my questions answered and you will be on your way to county. Okay, Leo, is that fair enough?” The hairs on the back of Leo’s neck stand at attention. He has a bad feeling about this entire method of interrogation, but he nods in acceptance.
“Leo, how many women have you raped?”
“I was advised by my counsel—” Before Leonard can say anymore, he is hit hard in the mouth. He didn’t see the short and stout driver come up on him. The sudden impact splits his lip, and warm blood begins to drip down Leonard’s chin.
“Answer the question Leo. Don’t worry. No courtroom will ever hear your confession.”
“Twenty-three.” The tears begin to fall from Leonard’s eyes. There is nothing he can do to stop them.
“Wow, that’s more than a few. Any kids?”
“No, I would never. That’s disgusting.”
“Come on, Leo, no young girls? You know what I mean, at their peak of ripeness?”
“No!”
“Okay, Leo, I believe you.” The men begin to talk in a different language. Leonard knows it is one of the classic romance languages, probably Italian. He can’t understand a word they say. He isn’t sure who “Paolo” is, but the shorter man says the name a few times. The short driver pulls Leonard from his chair and brings him to his knees.
“Wait! Wait! I thought you said we are going to the county jail.” Donny places a heavy metal object on the ground in front of Leonard. It isn’t something Leonard ever saw before this early morning, but it is fully familiar to him. The large round center of the mechanism is about as big as a silver dollar coin. The jagged edges of rusted steel catch Leonard’s attention.
“So, Leo, I want you to take off your boxers and squat over this fox trap. If you can hold your balance for five minutes, you are free to go. If not, well then, you’re going in that fucking hole.” Leonard begins to weep. It is the sort of desperate sorrow one would expect before being executed on death row. Humiliated and horrified, Leonard pulls off his last garment, exposing himself to the dark night.
“Leo, you have a pretty big cock. I would hate to see that thing cut off. Straddle it, Leo. Come on. I don’t have all day. We have a plane to catch.” The sudden smirk on Donny’s face turns Leonard’s stomach. He begins to heave uncontrollably. Leonard does as he is told. He composes himself enough to squat over this nightmare.
“Good job, Leo. The clock is ticking.” Things are looking up for Leonard. Besides the overall humiliation and extreme hazing at the hands of Hutchville’s finest, he is going to make it. My lawyer will hear all about this in a few hours.
As the timer on Donny Mello’s watch descends into single digits, he starts counting down from ten.
“10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Congratulations, Leo, you made it.”
The instant relief on Leonard’s face incenses Donny. Without notice, he kicks Leonard in the chest, causing a chain reaction of unforgiving events. Leonard falls backwards, landing on the fox trap. His shriek is high pitched and child-like as the trap catches hold of both testicles. A flurry of kicks renders Leonard almost unconscious as his little body is rolled into the black hole. Leonard opens his eyes for the last time as the thunder and lightning of gunfire rain down upon him. The all-encompassing blackness returns and never leaves Leonard Kepler again.
Thank you for your purchase. To finish reading Back In Town, please click on the following link: http://amzn.to/1AwIwhG
Authors live and die by reviews. It is the best way you can help an author get noticed. All I can ask from you is to please leave a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, or Kobo. Or, click on the following link to leave your review now on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tZQdwf.
Thank you in advance for your honest review. I look forward to reading them all. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Thanks.
If you would like to follow me on social media, you can at the following web addresses: these links don’t need to be spaced out that much.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MarcADiGiacomo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6862077.Marc_A_DiGiacomo
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MarcADiGiacomo
Check out my websites at http://www.inasmalltownbook.com and my new website at http://www.smalltownthrillers.com. My e-mail list should be up and running on http://www.smalltownthrillers.com. Please sign up for future releases and specials. Thanks again.
Table of Contents
A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Chapter One: Not In Our Town
Chapter Two: Donny
Chapter Three: Thanks Franny
Chapter Four: The Town of Hutchville
Chapter Five: Regret
Chapter Six: He Didn’t Make It
Chapter Seven: You’re Hired
Chapter Eight: Animal
Chapter Nine: Ch
eck-up
Chapter Ten: Nothing is as it seems
Chapter Eleven: Dirty Frank
Chapter Twelve: All or None
Chapter Thirteen: No More Dreams
Chapter Fourteen: Daughter
Chapter Fifteen: Inside Job
Chapter Sixteen: Dead Man Walking
Chapter Seventeen: Footsteps
Chapter Eighteen: Disclosure
Chapter Nineteen: Force of Nature
Chapter Twenty: State of Love and Trust
Chapter Twenty-One: Where’s Donny?
Chapter Twenty-Two: The End
Excerpt: Back In Town
Table of Contents
A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Chapter One: Not In Our Town
Chapter Two: Donny
Chapter Three: Thanks Franny
Chapter Four: The Town of Hutchville
Chapter Five: Regret
Chapter Six: He Didn’t Make It
Chapter Seven: You’re Hired
Chapter Eight: Animal
Chapter Nine: Check-up
Chapter Ten: Nothing is as it seems
Chapter Eleven: Dirty Frank
Chapter Twelve: All or None
Chapter Thirteen: No More Dreams
Chapter Fourteen: Daughter
Chapter Fifteen: Inside Job
Chapter Sixteen: Dead Man Walking
Chapter Seventeen: Footsteps
Chapter Eighteen: Disclosure
Chapter Nineteen: Force of Nature
Chapter Twenty: State of Love and Trust
Chapter Twenty-One: Where’s Donny?
Chapter Twenty-Two: The End
Excerpt: Back In Town
In A Small Town (A Small Town Series Book 1) Page 16
