The Gardner

2006-10-27T02:53:47Z

The following is the first three chapters or so of a novel I am working on. It isn't perfected so if there are mistakes please feel free to tell me. Also if you have comments or concerns let me know, I'm open to constructive help. Thanks!!!

Chapter 1: Daisies and Poppies

Finally, she can open her eyes. A shiver runs down her entire body as something crawls across her stomach. The wind blows harder and she realizes that she isn’t wearing any clothes. But, there is something coating her body. Something sticky and wet, like honey. She tries to sit up but is pinned down by her shoulders and feet. After struggling a little, the events of the night drift into her mind.

After leaving the photography studio, I was waiting for the bus when the cute guy in the truck pulled up. He looked so familiar and yet so distant. His rugged face and gorgeous blue eyes made the day float away. It was exhilarating to be around such a hunk. Fighting with the stupid photographer hadn’t helped the problem with my dad. Governor Moonay, “the most respectable man in town shouldn’t have a daughter taking her clothes off for the camera.” Jeez, Dad get a grip. He never listens to what I want anymore. Not since Mom died. So, it felt nice to flirt with a handsome stranger.
Something moved down around my foot, something soft and furry like my childhood teddy bear, Sammy. It took me a minute but I figured out that it was a squirrel. My breathing relaxed a little until I realized that the squirrel was inside. What would a squirrel be doing inside? Wait a minute. Wind? Cold? Squirrels? I had to be outside somewhere. The pain in my head grew stronger and tiny spots started to dance in front my eyes. How had I gotten here? The cute guy in the truck? Naw, he was too sweet, he even offered to drive me home. I remember climbing into the front seat. The cab was so warm compared to the little tin shack the town liked to call a bus stop. It felt great to get out of the wind and freezing cold. We started driving towards the mansion when he turned down a back road. He stopped the car and undid his seat belt His hand caressed my head and then there was a small pinch on the back of my neck.. That’s the last thing I can remember. That bastard brought me here! My stomach churns and what little food I had for breakfast starts to inch back up my esophagus while thoughts of what he might have done sink in.

Screams fill the air and it takes a few minutes for her to realize that they are her own desperate cries for someone, anyone, no one. Her tiny little calls for help crept into the truck while he fiddled with the radio. Pretty soon the coyotes would come and the bitch would die. Just like the last one. Almost didn’t get away with that one though, luckily that damn detective fucked up and got in the way. Men can be so stupid; it really is a shame that I have to belong to the species. Jacob Maddington. What a pathetic name to go along with his wretched life. Born in San Francisco, he attended private school while his mom fucked the neighbor, poor poor dad was stuck in a dead end job and going bald. Didn’t even have the slightest clue his wife was a whore. Pretty boy Jacob went to the local community college, then the Marines took his sorry ass in. Trying to make up for your lack of intelligence are we now? He was lucky the Police Department had an opening when his patriotic feelings died out. Pathetic family. The only one that had potential was the sister until she moved away to college. It’s a shame that she came home to visit. She was the typical college slut who screwed every guy that would look her way. You know the one you read about, the one who finally gets what she deserves, a kid or a deadbeat boyfriend, or in Pam’s case, worse.
The screams turned to hysterics as, one could only guess, the coyotes appeared at the top of the beautifully dug hole that she will be buried in later. The truck started to pull away as the screams stopped. He would be back in the early morning to finish the job and place a bouquet of daisies and one of poppies. Innocence and death. What a wonderful combination to have at your grave. It’s a pity that no one will know where hers is. She deserved to die. Elizabeth Moonay, the prom queen, the perfect daughter. A model just out of school, too naïve to not trust the strange gentleman who offered to give her a lift home on a cold night. A nice gesture on my part considering the governor’s mansion was on the other side of town. Perfect, sweet and innocent. No one knew the real Liz. Only I did.
The truck stopped and he got out to take one last picture. It was a wonderful, expensive camera. One with many gadgets and special functions. One of my favorites. I might just have to return it to its rightful owner. She would be waking up in a few hours and she just might miss her beloved camera.

As light streamed through the sheer curtains, Riley opened one eye and glanced at the clock. 7:06. Why on Earth did the sun have to come up so early? Or a better question why did I put my bed right next to the window? Any sane person would know better. Despite the overwhelming feeling to stay in bed all day, she slowly climbed out and dragged herself to the shower. Her room was freezing. “I could have sworn that I turned the heat up last night,” she said to no one. The warm water felt so good against her skin, she stayed in the shower extra long this morning. She let the water slice down her back as her mind wandered back to last night and the fight with Liz. They had both been extremely tired and frustrated with the shoot and each other. Liz was irritated from a fight with her father and the lighting wasn’t exactly right. The whole day was practically a waste of film. I shouldn’t have snapped at her. None of it was her fault. I’ll have to make it up to her somehow. The water began to turn cold and she decided it was time to get out. Wrapping her head in a towel and the extra one around her waist she checked her reflection in the mirror. The scar above her right eye was always so prominent right after showering. It didn’t help that her bangs were pulled back from the water, revealing it completely. She slowly fingered the raised skin…

The ground was cold and hard as the wind blew about the rickety old cabin. The man left no footprints as he wove his way through the tall, strong oaks. A small, glittering light came from the one roomed cabin. He could see her sitting by the fire, cross legged in a big chair reading a book. Her glasses slowly sliding down her nose as she breathed a deep contented sigh. She shifted and her bangs fell over her face. Casually she brushed it aside and licked her lips. The man felt his pants get a little tighter as he watched her through the small window. He watched her close the old book and lay it on the table gently. He knew it was her favorite, passed down from her grandfather. A Tale of Two Cities, he had never read it, but would definitely have to after tonight. She glanced at the window as if she could see into the cold darkness and what it held for her.
She stood up and raised her arms above her head in a lazy stretch revealing her stomach and the little mole above her belly button. The glittering belly button ring cast a sliver of light on the tree above the man’s head. His pants were definitely full to capacity. He contemplated unzipping his jeans and touching himself but thought twice about it. It would ruin it for later. For her.
He could remember the first time he saw her. But he wouldn’t let himself reminisce, he had worked too hard to let tonight slip away on some foolish old memory. He watched her slip off her shoes and untie her pants. The fire kept the cabin warm enough for her to sleep in a tiny tank top and boy shorts. She turned off the light and slipped between the sheets. In a few minutes she would be asleep. Careful planning and watching proved that she fell asleep almost instantly. That, of course, made it easier for him.
He waited a few minutes and began his descent to the door. He had gone by earlier and noticed that it was a simple lock, easily jimmied. The tool kit attached to his belt would not be needed. His excitement rose as he got closer, thinking about what he was going to do to her and make her do to him. A twig snapped somewhere on his left and he froze. It would be hard if she was awake before he could secure her arms, but nothing he couldn’t handle. When he reached the door and turned the doorknob the door swung open easily. Well, now she really deserved everything she got. Naivety is not something he admired in his women. He crept into the darkness, careful to remember the squeaky board next to the chair. The fire sprayed dancing shadows on the wall while the wind blew around the rickety old cabin.
She stirred in her sleep causing him to inhale sharply. Her movements, so graceful even when asleep, aroused him so easily. But now it was almost painful, causing him to want to rush. He must hold back, he knew what happened when you rush. The pleasure is not as high and mistakes are made. She moaned softly and twisted the covers around her legs. He swiftly moved toward the bed and took out the handcuffs he knew were strong enough to hold him, he had to test his tools of course; she would be no problem to restrain.
He slowly climbed on the bed careful not to make any sound and very little movement. He gently grasped her wrists and brought them above her head, very similar to her stretch earlier. A shame she won’t catch the parallel when she wakes up. When they first wake up and realize their arms are restricted, man, that could be his favorite moment, almost. The shock and fear in their eyes is so intense he almost always comes immediately. Once her arms were in place he began to slowly drag the covers away. The fire would be out soon and she would be chilly. It would be his job to warm her up. She moaned quietly and began to stir. She slowly opened her eyes. He could tell she was groggy even though she had only been asleep for a short time. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness the realization slowly crept into them. She opened her mouth to scream…

A pale woman stared back at Riley through the steam tainted mirror. She blinked and realized it was her. What had she been doing? The pale woman looked awful. How could she let herself get this bad? The dark rings under eyes were always so noticeable without makeup. She never used to bother with the stuff but ever since that night she felt the need. The blackouts are happening more frequently, maybe I should go see Dr. Mitchell.
The alarm radio blared from her room, bringing her back to reality. Work. It seems that she dreaded it so much more recently. Riley used to love photos and everything involved. But more and more she felt herself pulling back, not letting herself feel the emotions that the pictures used to evoke. Pictures used to be her escape from reality, another world she could slip into any time she needed to flee. Now she needed to flee from her photography. Every picture reminded her of him. Every pose, every color and model, every smell and sound. His face was always the last thing she saw before she closed her eyes at night and the first when she awoke. The last time that happened, it was 10th grade and she was madly in love with Jacob Maddington.

Chapter 2: Hibiscus and Bachelor Buttons

A car door slammed outside and startled Jingles, making her sink her claws into Jacob’s leg. He leapt awake and cursed the cat. He doesn’t even know why he kept the stupid thing. Men don’t have cats; they get big, vicious dogs. Not fluffy, little cats. They may be smart but they sure hog the bed. Jacob threw the covers back and laughed at the sight. He hadn’t gotten morning wood in a long time. He couldn’t even remember what he had been dreaming about but apparently he liked it.
He chuckled to himself as he dragged his feet into the bathroom. He got in the shower and immediately turned on the water. The cold spray jolted him awake and he quickly turned it to hot. He let the hot water rush down his back. The bathroom promptly filled up with steam. All the training in the marines had given him a nice rock hard body all around. He had never been vain but he did pride himself on staying in shape once he left the service. The spray slowly ran all over him and he decided it was time to actually clean himself. Any more time under the water and he would fall back asleep. He slowly dragged the soap over his arms and down on his abs. The spasm started almost immediately and forced him to drop the soap. As he bent over to pick it up the water turned suddenly cold.
“Looks like I’ll have to finish with cold, I guess that’s what I get for daydreaming.”
He turned the water off and wrapped a towel around his waist. He let it sit right on his hips, something that she always found irresistible. The sudden reminder of her startled him, causing him to cut himself with the razor. He cursed the nick and wiped his face. The day started out good and then went to shit in one moment. He went to his closet, dropping the towel on the way. He checked out his image in the mirror and smiled. The tattoo on his left butt cheek made him grin. It had been a long time since that night in Mexico but man was it a great one.
His suit lay rumpled on the floor where he tossed it last night. As soon as he zipped his pants his cell phone started ringing.
“Maddington… I’ll be there right away.” So much for breakfast.

The field was completely surrounded by cop cars, marked and unmarked. It would still be awhile before the news vans showed up. The trees lining the west side of the field gave off a menacing feel, even in the early morning sunlight. They seem to be laughing at whatever the wind whispered in their ears.

The man listened to the cops discuss meaningless everyday problems through his headphones. So and so’s kid finally started preschool, Joe Schmo’s wife needed surgery, etc. With hearing each conversation it reinforced his notion that people were better off alone, to not have to deal with idiotic problems. The microphone had been a great idea, in the hole and in the flowers. He could stay ahead of the cops even easier now, though he never had a problem before. He watched with mild interest as Detective Maddington drove up through the throng of cop cars and got out. His sheer size made him stand out among the other detectives and cops. Maddington’s confident gait sickened the man with the light blue eyes. His excitement could probably be smelled if you were close enough, luckily no one knew he was sitting in the woods enjoying the show.

“So, what have we got?” Jacob asked as he walked up to the group of detectives. Detective Jonash gave him a grim look as everybody else tried to avoid his gaze. Apparently the fresh, green grass is more interesting than him, he thought. Jacob’s face dropped when he realized that Mikey wouldn’t even tell him right away; it must be really horrible if “Stone-hearted” Mikey wouldn’t break it to him.
“Weeeeell,” Detective Jonash drawled, “there seems to be a fresh grave about half a mile thataway,” as he looked over his shoulder towards the trees. “The tip-line received a call this morning from some guy who said that he thought he heard screams last night. We didn’t think much of it but then LT got a call early this morning from Governor Moonay saying his daughter hadn’t returned home yet. Now normally, the Governor said, that he would not have worried right away.” Detective Jonash ignored the snickers from the younger cops, who apparently had delighted in Miss Moonay’s tactics. “But Liz told him specifically that she would be home for dinner. They had been having nightly fights and she claimed to want to fix things. He checked her room this morning when she didn’t come down for breakfast and seeing that her bed was still made he called the station. Now, the guy’s claim of screams were on the other side of town but Governor Moonay wanted every little thing checked out.”
Jacob checked his watch and glanced at the trees. He didn’t like the feeling forming in his stomach. That, when combined with Mikey’s face usually meant bad news for everyone involved. His morning just kept going downhill, and it all started with remembering Judy.
“Alright, I guess we should get a discovery team together and get them started on unburying whatever is in the grave. We may get lucky and it could be an amateur.” Jacob took a deep breath and looked around for Isaac.

Isaac Milliton may have had a hard life, but at least he made something of it, unlike those people who are given a raw hand instantly and keep it in their pocket their whole life. Left on a doorstep of the local Baptist Church only a few days old, Isaac had almost every infant disease possible. Colic, GERD, diarrhea, anything and everything, he had it. Sister Angela found him and immediately saw potential in his deep chestnut eyes. Despite the constant need for a respirator his eyes were always bright and alert, his smile never faltering. Once Isaac became healthy he couldn’t be kept in one place for longer than a minute. Sister Angela could no longer keep up with the rambunctious infant and searched for a permanent home for little Isaac.
The Stephens were more than happy to take little Isaac in and give him a home. Too bad all they wanted him for were their sick pleasures. How any one person can be demented enough to get pleasure out of a little boy is impossible to understand, but two that were able to find each other is unbelievable. In a little less than five years, Sister Angela found Isaac on the same steps she found him the first time; however this time he would not go near her and refused to eat. Apparently he had gotten too old and wouldn’t participate in the Stephens’ perverse games. Sister Angela called the police and child protection services, the Stephens were put away, and their other foster kids distributed to other acceptable foster families.
Sister Angela never forgave herself for putting Isaac through the hell with the Stephens; she dedicated herself to finding him a perfect family and home. However, Isaac’s bad luck continued to follow him throughout his family search. Joe lost his wife, Martha, to breast cancer and could not care for a growing toddler. Sister Angela never gave up and finally when Isaac was eight she found the Millitons and Isaac found his permanent home.
Isaac’s luck may have worked out for his family situation but it didn’t last long in other aspects of his life. After being arrested several times in junior high, Isaac’s high school expelled him when he was caught with a gun and several different kinds of drugs on school grounds. LSD, crack and pot were the choice of that month. He spent several months in jail and on probation, but it wasn’t until his foster father, Mark, was diagnosed with cancer that he decided it was time to turn his life around. The Millitons gave him so much and all he gave in return was trouble and disrespect. He didn’t want Mark to remember him as the problem child if he died tomorrow.
Isaac changed school districts, friends and interests. He joined the school track team and the science club. Mark survived cancer and became Isaac’s biggest supporter. Isaac worked his way through community college and then on to Arkansas State University where he got his degree in Forensic Technologies. Isaac’s luck finally started looking up and continued ever since. He even met his wife, Sally, at Arkansas State University. Now, he was the head of the Little Rock Police Department’s Discovery Team.

Jacob hated giving shit cases to Isaac but he had a feeling that this grave wasn’t going to yield any prospects. He spied Isaac talking with Lieutenant Mackrey and waved him over. Isaac looked dejected already; apparently his talk with Lt. did not go well.
“Yeah, I know, you’re sorry. You don’t have to tell me every time, Jake, it’s part of the job. I’ve come to accept it. Besides, a challenge is way more fun. So just let me do my job before you assume that I ain’t got anything for you. You know that I’m the best, so let me prove it.” Isaac walked away before Jacob could say anything. Jacob didn’t scare easily but the smaller man had always had some leverage over him. Maybe it was the hardness that could spring up in his eyes one minute and then return to that chestnut brown that Sally is always raving about. Or maybe it was the fact that Isaac was always in control and never let anything bother him.

He finally decided it was time to return to his daily life. If I’m gone too long they might begin to wonder and then if ever questioned, which isn’t likely considering I don’t leave a trail easily traced, I don’t want this time to stick out in their minds. He walked the back way through the woods, found his truck and climbed inside. Just to be safe he drove out of his way to avoid the cops, not that a truck driving on Highway 40 would get much notice.

Chapter 3: Anemones and White Carnations

The discovery team started digging out the hole and shortly had it completely empty. The woman lying at the bottom of the whole confirmed the title of grave. She could hardly be recognized as a body, let alone Elizabeth Moonay. The flesh hung off her bare bones and fluttered like sheer curtains in the morning breeze. The wind swarmed towards Detective Jonash and filled his nose with the scent of death and decay forcing him to retch and swallow his breakfast back down. Her blonde hair was drenched in blood and matted to what was left of her face. The bite marks on her shoulder would yield wonderful prospects for Isaac, hopefully leading somewhere. Isaac had begun to catalogue the scene and what had been uncovered. The body would be brought up out of the hole after all the photographs had been taken. Half the cops were already losing their breakfasts near the woods. Apparently they couldn’t handle the sight of Liz’s body mutilated. Half of her body was missing, or eaten by something. Coyotes ran rampant all over Arkansas ever since builders took back most of the fields and wild lands, that’s probably what had gotten to poor Liz.
LT had the look of death on his face as he walked away from the hole were Liz lost her life. He approached Mickey and Jacob who were talking intently. As he joined them they stopped and turned to face him.
“Well, this isn’t going to get any easier. Most likely, we will be on this one for the long run. I already talked with Isaac and his preliminary report does not seem promising. No outside hair fibers, no fluids, nothing really specific except the fact that the body seemed to be covered in something. He thinks its something along the lines of syrup or honey. He won’t know more until he gets back to the lab. Besides the honey, whatever ate the majority of Miss Moonay’s body ruined the rest of the area and we won’t find much evidence.” As LT talked, he could see the life draining from Mickey’s face and eyed Jacob. Mickey seemed to be swaying in the wind. Jacob stepped back just as Mickey fell backward, right into Jacob’s arms, causing them both to stumble to the ground.
“Hey, man, what’s wrong? You don’t look so hot.” Jacob carefully removed himself from under Mickey’s body and stood back up. Mickey’s pale face resembled that of someone suffering from consumption.
“I don’t know, I guess I just lost it a little. You know I’m not normally like this. I haven’t been sleeping since the baby was born. Lisa isn’t exactly the nicest person without sleep and I’ve been sleeping on the couch for the past week. Apparently, if you make one comment about some silly little bags under her eyes and you get thrown out of the bedroom. Sorry guys, I’ll be better.” Mickey downed a bottle of water as Isaac joined the group.
“So which one of you guys wants to find out what she was wearing last night?” Isaac asked as he looked from one detective to the other.
“Mickey and I will go, maybe two will be safer when questioning the Governor,” Jacob answered.

Jacob’s morning had gone horrible ever since remembering Judy, dealing with Governor Moonay was not going to be fun. As he drove up to the mansion he glanced over and noticed Mickey fast asleep. The Governor’s mansion stood atop a hill on the outside of town. If the town didn’t know better they might think he didn’t want to actually live in town. All the windows were drawn and there was a line of reporters already trying to break down the fence. Jacob drove up to the gate and flashed his badge to the guard on duty. Why he thinks he needs so much security is beyond me. Jacob shoved Mickey in order to wake him up.
“Holy hell, that is one huge house,” Mickey exclaimed groggily. The mansion, built in 1899 by the famous St. Louis architect Theodore Link, was a gem among gems in Little Rock. The Queen Anne Victorian style allowed the mansion to extend towards the sky with its tower and many turrets and gave the three story mansion a leg up on the other houses in town. It was the only mansion or house that still possessed historical elements as well as modern touches. The wrap around porch housed many old rockers and a porch swing at one end with potted plants and a little herb garden at the other. The steep roof allowed for many nooks in the attic and for several bay windows as well. The light grey shingles on the side of the mansion provided the mansion more than just an elegant feel but a powerful one as well. Windows and bay windows covered then entire front of the house. The immense lawn in front of the mansion housed several large oaks and cedars as well as a cupid fountain and koi pond. The Governor not only attended parties on a regular basis but he also hosted many as well. Or at least he had until Isabella, his wife and Liz’s mother, died.

Nicky

The Gardner