Cole shrugged. It didn’t matter. “Okay, I’ll give you that and I’ll call your lawyer and have him put you in the Witness Protection Program.”
Wilkins reluctantly wrote down the information about the investors. He hesitated for a moment and then added Rick’s name to the bottom, with a description of his role in the murders. The legal formalities were covered, and he was soon escorted to his new home with a new identity in the following days.
Arrests of prime drug lords followed that week. It was the successful end to a multitude of unsolved murders, all linked to the project. Families of the deceased praised the police officers and thanked the detective, who in turn thanked Mike and apologized for being rude to him. Mike shrugged it off and accepted a position as Cole’s assistant as Mike had proved himself to be a trustworthy and honest man. Chandler’s lawyer begrudgingly complimented his nemesis and Kate found a happy ending in her brother’s best friend. Everything happened so quickly that Cole’s face was permanently frozen in a look of surprise.
And despite all that, Detective Cole was the happiest. He praised the whole team of officers who had worked on the case with him and apologized for all the times he yelled at them. When word of Cole’s achievement reached the ears of his superiors, he was promoted to Chief Inspector of the County.
Rick was never found.
Book 7: Hunted
Summary
The story focuses on life after the global financial crisis and the resilience of a small town to survive in the developed world. The main protagonists are regular townsfolk that are seeking out a living through employment at a local automotive plant.
Shelley is the victim of circumstances whose life gets turned upside down after almost losing her life in the hands of her boyfriend, Matt. The story unfolds as Shelley learns that she is pregnant, and Matt refuses to take responsibility for her and the baby. Matt has already started dating Charlene, whom he prefers because of her wealthy background.
Matt tries to kill Shelley by pushing her overboard when they are out picnicking on Lake Ferguson. To his chagrin, Shelley survives and swims to the shore. She reports the matter to the local Sherriff, whose hands are tied because there are no witnesses to pin Matt.
Brad meets Shelley a day later, and they strike a rare friendship. Meanwhile, Matt continues to harass and threaten Shelley as Brad tries to find evidence that can get Matt thrown into jail for a long time. Eventually, as the pressure begins to build up, Matt abducts Shelley and takes her to the subdivision right outside the town of Savannah. There, he decides to end Shelley’s life, as she remains a hindrance to his plans with Charlene.
In hot pursuit, Brad recollects Shelley mentioning Matt’s liking for the subdivision and how he intends to settle down there. Brad decides to check the location and finds Matt in the nick of time. Shelley has a knife to her throat, but is saved by Sherriff Riley, who has been tipped off by Brad before checking the subdivision.
Matt gets shot and arrested while Shelley is saved. Brad and Shelley have already fallen in love, and they decide to spend the rest of their lives together as Matt is sentenced to ten years in prison.
Chapter 1
It was a typically beautiful summer morning. Shelley had woken up early to get herself ready for the day. She had spent the previous evening with her boyfriend, Matt, and they had decided to spend some more time together the following day. The local townsfolk of Savannah had made it customary to picnic at the small lake that was an attraction of sorts in their town. It was a great place to blow off some steam, especially now that the local economy was dwindling with the onset of mechanization. Savannah had suffered its fair share of layoffs that had become the order of the day in the country.
Matt called right after breakfast. He sounded thrilled at the opportunity to spend the day with his sweetheart.
“Hi, honey. Hope you’re ready to go. I’ll be there in an hour.” Shelley’s heart fluttered at the sound of his charming voice.
“Yes, sweetie. I’m almost done. Just got outta the shower and putting on my makeup.”
“Sounds great! I’ll see you soon.”
Matt hung up and continued with his own preparations for the picnic. He went into town and bought a bottle of the finest wine that he could afford. He had borrowed Jim’s car for the day and had to part with some dollars so that his friend could let him have it.
Matt knew that Shelley would prepare the rest of the food, and everything was set.
Shelley prepared the snacks and lunch just before she went to bed and left everything in the fridge to keep it fresh. Her thoughts wandered to the surprise she had in stall for Matt. Shelley confirmed earlier in the week that she was pregnant and planned to break the news to Matt during their picnic. She knew he would be ecstatic and was looking forward to a proposal from him. There was much to do, because it meant wedding preparations in the near future. Shelley had never felt this happy in her life.
Matt arrived to Shelley’s house on time. He found her all packed and ready for their outing.
“Packed my favorite peanut butter and chicken sandwiches?” asked Matt.
“Lots of them. It’s going to be a wonderful day and I have a surprise for you.”
“Yeah? What?”
“You just wait,” said Shelley. “It will blow you away.”
With that, they got into Jim’s old sedan and set off on the twenty-mile drive to Lake Ferguson. There was momentary silence as memories of the past flashed by while they drove through old neighborhoods that they once lived in.
Matt remembered his turbulent past. Something he was not very proud of. It had been a long struggle to get to the point where he had reached in his life. He had grown up in one of the poorest families in Savannah and had never known the privileges that some of his childhood friends had experienced.
Matt’s parents were strict evangelists and invested their time, energy, and resources in religious work all throughout their lives. He never understood their ways, because their commitments meant he would not be able to access some worldly things that would have made his life more comfortable and allowed him to fit into the circle of friends he had. Eventually, Matt had to make one of the biggest decisions of his life. He dropped out of school at the age of fifteen and set about pursuing the riches that he had long craved for.
Life was not as simple and straightforward as he imagined it would be. He moved from one employer to another and got himself into trouble on just as many occasions. He was hired and fired no less than half a dozen times, and with the onset of mechanization in the economy of Savannah, he became a victim of just as many layoffs until he found a job at the local automotive plant. This made Matt a bitter young man, who vowed to become rich by any means necessary.
Shelley shared a common background with Matt. They were both from poor families in Savannah. The change in the economy brought about devastating effects to various middle class families, resulting in a drop in status and opportunities. Shelley and Matt were in the same age group – aspiring, ambitious, and in their early twenties.
Shelley had the ambition and drive to become a legal secretary. The job she secured at the automotive plant would help her pay for her education in community college. Once she had completed the legal training, Shelley would move on to greater things and provide more for her family now that she was expecting. The job would give Shelley the funds she needed, as her parents were unable to pay for her college tuition. This was one of the most stable periods of Shelley’s life, too.
The drive to Lake Ferguson took an hour. It was filled with conversation on different topics.
“Remember when we first met? Shelley asked. “Two young spirits looking to settle down and become the next millionaires. How time flies.”
“Yep. And here we are, two workmates going for a picnic. I wonder what the boss would think,” said Matt, rather amusedly.
Shelley laughed. “He’d probably caution us about trying to get married, considering the har
dships in Savannah.”
They both agreed. The conversation turned to the state of affairs in their hometown and its future. Matt noticed that Shelley was distracted and he asked her why she wasn’t her usual self.
“Nothing, sweetie! It’s just that there is so much on my mind right now, with college and stuff.”
“Stuff?” asked Matt.
“Yes,” she giggled. “Stuff.”
Matt was none the wiser. His curiosity had not been assuaged. He remained in silence until they reached the lake. They walked for a few hundred yards before finding the ideal boat they could use, and paid the owner for a six-hour rental. All packed and ready, Matt helped Shelley onto the boat and began to row toward the center of the lake. He wanted it to be an experience to remember.
A few months into their relationship, Matt had met Charlene. They began to see much of each other, especially at the provision store where Matt would go shopping. Charlene belonged to the rich and fabulous class of local townsfolk that owned several properties in Savannah and was not affected by the recent economic downturn.
Matt and Charlene struck off a rare friendship and started dating. Shelley was unaware that her boyfriend was cheating on her. Matt wanted Charlene because she was wealthy and could cater for all of his needs and desires. Charlene was genuinely fond of Matt and did not know that he was in a relationship with his co-worker, Shelley. Such relationships were rare, and most people did not even imagine that Matt and Shelley had an intimate relationship.
All this weighed on Matt’s mind as he rowed out onto the lake. To make matters worse, Shelley had told him that she had a surprise for him and this made him slightly uncomfortable. He hated surprises and liked being in control of everything. Shelley was not aware of this selfish side of Matt.
Matt tried to prod Shelley to disclose her surprise.
“Hun.”
“Yes, sweetie?” she answered.
“Go ahead and tell.”
“Tell you what?”
“About the surprise,” he urged.
Shelley laughed off the request and told Matt that he would have to be a little patient.
“Let’s just enjoy the day – you and me together, alone in such a romantic setting. Oh, how I love this place…”
“Yeah, but what difference does it make if you tell me sooner than later?”
“Don’t worry, sweetie. All you need to know for now is that I love you so much.”
With that, the conversation drifted to other matters. Matt hid his disappointment, and continued rowing to the center of the lake.
The wind was calm and the temperatures were just right. Shelley had packed a three-course meal that was mouth-watering, to say the least.
The couple discussed the progress of their relationship and how they had met six months earlier and started dating. It seemed the ideal moment for the two to share any hidden secrets in their lives.
Despite her initial reluctance to picnicking in the water, Shelley had finally agreed to make Matt happy. He loved the water while she was not an expert swimmer. This was one of the few small differences that the couple openly had.
The heavy meal, coupled with the fine red wine that Matt bought, made him and Shelley doze off for a while. The boat drifted further away from the shore without their knowledge. The current moved the boat away from the lakeshore due to the change in wind direction. It was two o’clock when they woke up, startled.
Shelley yawned. “Where are we?”
“Don’t know,” said Matt. “Must have drifted further from the landing point.”
“Perhaps this would be the best time to give you the surprise news. Kind of fits in with the surprise we’ve woken up to. Drifted further…”
“I guess so. There is a lot of rowing I got to do to get us back to the shore.”
Matt waited for the surprise with anticipation. Despite being preoccupied with Charlene, he had not yet made up his mind to leave Shelley. He intended to make the decision the following week, and then tell her in a less romantic setting. It would have to be a situation devoid of emotions. He intended to raise the topic of Charlene during that day and walk away.
“I saw the doctor last week,” Shelley began.
“You didn’t tell me you were sick.”
“Didn’t want you to worry, sweetie. And anyway, I wasn’t.”
“That doesn’t make sense. If you weren’t sick, why did you go to see the doctor in the first place, Hun?”
“I did so to make sure,” she said.
“Make sure? Make sure of what?”
“That I was fine.”
“So, that’s the surprise then?” asked Matt. “So much for the anticipation and excitement…”
“Matt... I’m pregnant. I am carrying our baby!”
“Wow! What the…” Matt was speechless.
“Yes, sweets. I am expecting a child, and you are going to be a father…”
Shelley’s words cut Matt up like a sharp sword. He went dizzy with mixed emotions. Suddenly, he flew into a rage and cursed, shouted expletives, and went silent. Shelley stared in shock and horror. She thought she was dreaming.
Shelley confirmed her worst fears. Just after she met Matt, some of her friends had cautioned her about him. They said that he was not what he appeared to be, and she needed to be careful so that he did not take advantage of her. Shelley was speechless and confused for a moment.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong? Have I said or done something to upset you?”
“Go to hell. I hate you,” Matt retorted.
“What is it?”
“You had to spoil everything, didn’t you? Why the hell did you have to go and get yourself pregnant now? We’re not rich and we’re still trying to settle down, and all you can do is get yourself pregnant?”
“Matt,” Shelley cried, “I love you with all my heart and thought you felt the same about me.”
“No, I don’t love you. In fact, I think you tried to trap me by having my baby. I am in love with somebody else. Her name is Charlene and she has it all – money, beauty, and personality, unlike you. I am sick and tired of your small-town girl mentality, only thinking of having babies, and not really having any ambition of your own,” Matt ranted relentlessly.
The revelation of another woman knocked Shelley off balance emotionally. She went dizzy and started feeling nauseas. Matt noticed her condition and took advantage of it by throwing her into the water. He left her right in the middle of the lake with the intention of drowning Shelley.
Matt rowed back swiftly to the shore and got back when everybody else that had been out on the water had docked and left. Matt knew the boat owner trusted enough to leave early and find the boat docked the very next morning. Matt climbed out of the boat, collected the picnic kit, ran to the car, started it, and drove off without looking back. He heard Shelley screaming for help, but knew it would be too late by the time anyone came calling. Matt was pleased with what he did and decided to go into town and meet Jim for a drink.
Meanwhile, Shelley was struggling for her life. She was swallowing a lot of water as she tried to stay afloat. Shelley was not a very good swimmer, but she knew that, in order to survive, she would have to remain calm and do her best to swim to the shore.
It seemed like an eternity. The wind speed increased and made the waters choppy. Shelley needed more energy to swim in order to avoid drowning and to get to the shore safely. It took the better part of an hour. In the few moments that she could make out the shore, Shelley noticed that everyone had left. The sun was setting and it would soon be dark. Fortunately, she was in the early pregnancy stage and was not heavier than usual.
Shelley summoned all her strength and swam the remaining distance in thirty minutes. She got back to shore just before nightfall and lay there for another fifteen minutes before she was strong enough to walk. Her whole life had flashed by in the past hour and she could not believe what had happened. Shelley gathered her senses, got
up, and started walking. The adrenalin was still pumping in her body, and she broke into a run – faster and faster until she got to the highway that would take her back to the town center.
There was light traffic on the highway, and Shelley started hiking. It did not occur to her that her clothes were still wet or her body temperature had dropped. Her limbs had grown numb from being exposed to the cold water but she kept on walking until a trucker saw her waving frantically and stopped twenty yards ahead of her.
Fortunately, it was a lady in her mid-forties who looked stunned at the sight of Shelley. Shelley climbed in and explained her circumstances. The trucker reached back into the cab and gave Shelley a blanket to wrap herself in. It would be another hour before they reached Savannah’s town center. After making introductions, Shelley explained to her new companion what had befallen her – the pregnancy and how she had ended up on the interstate highway. Jennie was sympathetic and reassured Shelley that she would help her and all would be well. Jennie was a single mother whose boyfriend had abandoned her in the eleventh hour of her pregnancy. So, she had an idea of what Shelley was going through.
“You can never tell what kind of a man you are going out with until something crucial happens,” she said.
“I can’t believe I let Matt fool me the way he did. He rejected the baby and tried to kill me, too. I don’t know what to do. I feel like killing myself.”
“Now hold on, gal,” Jennie said. “You are going to have a baby, and that’s the most important thing right now.”
“I know, but is it really worth it? I mean... The father doesn’t even care. He’s even willing to kill me because of the baby. Why should I go through with the pregnancy? I should terminate it.”
“You are still upset, gal. With time, you’ll come to appreciate the experience of pregnancy and the joys of motherhood.”
Shelley dozed off shortly after that and slept the rest of the way. She wandered in and out of sleep, recalling the attempted drowning. She kept seeing Matt’s angry face. It was a heart-breaking and traumatic experience that Shelley would have to put behind her and pick up the pieces as soon as possible.
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