Excerpt
He knew his Sarah all too well!
“I cannot believe she would give up all of this for that Collin
Bitler. He is nothing. Nothing but an ingrate. Look at everything I
gave to her. This house, the money.” He took his lit cigarette and
flicked it into the pool. He was talking aloud into the air and the
sounds of his voice echoed in the empty room and he started to laugh
at the thought of it. Here he was, a grown man, and he was talking
to himself. Oh, what that Sarah could make him do. Meanly he
yelled into the phone. “Hello. It’s Ron.”
“Hey. That was quick. I didn’t think you would call back so soon.
Just trying to get some work done here. What can I do for you?”
Joe’s voice sounded anxious on the phone. Anytime Ron called him
lately there was a problem. Always a problem and he always had to
fix it for him. Today would not be any different. Ron never called
him just to talk like he did before. They used to just ‘shoot the
breeze’ until Ron got the hots for Sarah. Ever since he met her, that
was all he ever talked about and there was always a problem
involved and somehow the problem always involved Sarah. Always
a problem with Sarah and he was getting all too tired of solving
them.
No one ruins Ron Hitel’s plans, he thought to
himself. “I set out to do what I want and I will accomplish it one way
or another. I will find Sarah!” That he was determined to do.
“What are you talking about, Ron? I didn’t hear the last few
things you said.” Joe rolled his eyes on the other end.
“Not important what I just said. I was just thinking aloud. Do you
mind?”


........................................


“Like her?” Ron yelled into the phone. “Like?” He whirled
around and then stopped suddenly. “I love her!”
“Okay. Okay!” He really was getting a little spooked from all of
this and the way Ron was acting. “You love her!”
“You got it right now.” He chuckled mercilessly into the phone.
“Find him!”
“I will find him. I’ll get on it first thing in the morning. Bye.” Joe
hung up the phone receiver and put the framed picture of his family
back on his desk. He had hugged the picture to his chest almost
protectively while Ron was talking so strangely on the other end. He
wouldn’t let anything bad happen to his family ever.
“Bye.” Ron tucked the cell phone in his suit coat pocket.
“Good. Book that flight for me right now,” he hissed into the
phone and the attendant quickly took his information. He watched as
a young couple came walking by. The only people he saw in half an
hour standing out there on the beach. They walked by him arm in
arm. They tried to avoid looking at him, noticing his drunken
movements, and didn’t want any trouble with him.
“Got a problem?” He watched them and as they hurried by him
and he mumbled beneath his breath, “Damn simpletons. Stupid
lovebirds.” Their lives were just so simple. “Get off my beach!” he
yelled after them as they turned, sticking their middle fingers up at
him. “It is still my beach house. Damn you, Sarah.” He went to run
after them, but decided they were not worth the trouble and stood
watching them, swaying back and forth from the effects of the
liquor. Things started to look blurry for him and he knew the alcohol
was hitting his bloodstream full force. He had to get to the airport
and make that flight before he passed out.
He looked up at the house and the wooden siding and the bay
window that she loved so much. Pulling his arm back, he threw the
glass up at the window. It missed though. He wished it would have
hit so it would break. He picked up a couple of rocks and tried to hit
the window, but he swayed and missed every time. “Shit. I got to get
to the airport anyway.” He spat along the sand as he moved into the
house.
The attendant was correct. There was no trouble getting on the
flight. No one wanted to travel that day for some reason, making this
day a lot easier for him. The flight was quick and he slept most of
the way, letting the liquor calm his nerves and wearing off his
drunken stupor.
He rented a car and it didn’t take but twenty minutes for him to
find the house. Sarah had explained the directions to the house from
the airport perfectly while she was up in the hills with him. “Nice
house!”


....



where the orchid had been, was a seashell. It had pink glitter on it
spelling out her name. Her breath came in short gasps as she moved
uneasily on the marble floor. Her body tensed and she covered her
naked breasts as she turned to look at the sliding glass door.
As she was turning she felt something hit her softly on her back.
Very slowly she looked over her left shoulder. There in a small
puddle lay another orchid. Hesitantly she turned to see if someone
was standing there. No one was at the door, but it was opened
slightly. “R–” She could not call his name. No sound would come
out of her mouth. It was as if she was frozen in terror. Her right hand
went to motion for Ron and she turned towards him. It looked as if
he moved in slow motion, still swimming and splashing and carrying
on! What was wrong with her? Why would no sound come out of her
mouth when she frantically tried to call his name? As if the words
were formed, but not a peep would come from her parted lips.
Finally, she was able to say his name as she felt something hit her on
the right shoulder and the orchid tumbled softly on the marble tile
next to her leg. They kept coming. One after another, hitting her arm
and then falling beside her. So many orchids and she could not
move. Her stomach muscles tightened and she had a queasy feeling
inside her. She felt faint. Her heart beat so fast. It felt as if it would
jump right out of her body. Everything in the room took on a strange
hue. She blinked a few times and then looked at Ron again. Still
nothing would come from her mouth, though she tried with all her
strength to scream his name again.
“I love you,” Ron called, jumping up again, and then his body
went back under the surface. He was laughing and realized that he
was one of the happiest men alive. Why then did she look so
puzzled? Why then did he not see her smile? He could have sworn
he saw a purple orchid in her hand. Where would she have gotten an
orchid from? he thought. He did not give her another one. Where did
she get it? From underneath the water he sprang up again and
smiling thought how strange it was to see her holding a purple orchid
in her hand. Yes, that was exactly what she was holding close to her
chest. “Where did you get the orchid?”
“Ron.” He watched her lips as they trembled. No sounds came
out of her mouth, but he knew she called his name. He swallowed
hard and noticed that there were more beside her and then he saw the
pink glitter on the seashell sparkling on the tile beside her. Quickly,
the smile left his face and he stood in the middle of the pool,
motionless and bewildered. For a moment he was frozen in place, the
water dripping from his skin. He motioned to her with both hands.
“Stay there,” he whispered and slowly he looked around the room.
From where he was he checked to see if anyone was in the house. No
one was there and he watched as her hand motioned to the sliding
door. His eyes followed the length of her arm, but the door was
closed. Whoever it was they were not there any longer.
“Are the rest of the doors locked in the house?” Ron moved
slowly towards her.
“Yes,” she whispered, trembling. “But the sliding door was open
a bit just a few minutes ago and now it is closed.” He pulled himself
out of the pool and walked along the tile. Quickly he turned the lock.
There were a dozen orchids and seashells with her name written on
them in a pile next to her. It wasn’t completely dark outside yet and
he looked through the glass. There was no one in the yard outside.
“Give me the cell phone.” He put his hand behind him. When she did
not give it to him, he turned around anxiously.
She was putting her bathing suit back on. “It isn’t here.” In her
hand she carried swim trunks and he took them from her.
“Thanks, honey.” He rubbed his forehead, thinking for a moment.
He wondered what they should do. “Where is it? Where is the cell
phone? We have to call the police.” He looked around frantically.
“It was here before while we were swimming. I left it right
there.” It was not where she had pointed to or anywhere in the room.
He checked the door again to make sure it was locked and looked
around the room. His eyes darted back and forth. Though he did not
see anyone outside, he knew there had to be someone out there.
“Come on, let’s call the police from the other phone.” He grabbed
her arm tightly and she nodded. It was very frightening. In the
kitchen he kissed her gently on the cheek and grabbed the receiver
from the wall phone to call the police. After he pushed the buttons
on the phone, he tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry. Everything is
going to be okay.” He pushed the buttons several times and then
hung it up again. “No dial tone.” He could see the worry lines
forming on her forehead. “It’s okay.” His hand rested on her
shoulder to calm her. I have a cell phone. It is upstairs. Come on!”
They ran through the living room and he paused at the front door and
noticed that the deadbolt and the chain were still in place. “That’s
good! The door is still locked. No one broke in that way at all. That’s
good.” He gently yanked at her hand as they rushed upstairs.
He grabbed the phone from on the top of the dresser and called
the police. She went to the window and pulled the curtains back,
peering out at the backyard from behind the glass. She could see
there was a car in the driveway. It had to be Collin’s. Evidently he
was not afraid of being seen at all. There he came into full view and
looked up at her very meanly. He swayed slightly. Glaring at her he
yelled, “I love you, my favorite seashell, Sarah!” Then he reached
into his pocket and moved rather slowly across the lawn. In his
deliberate actions he turned around and pointed the revolver towards
her and pulled the trigger. The glass shattered and dropped down it
small pieces along the cream-colored carpeting. She had moved
quickly back against the wall and stood motionless. Panicked and
frantic, her mouth fell open, her body heaving from her deep breaths.
She waited for Ron to tell her what to do next. She hoped that he
knew what to do, because she sure did not and she could barely
breathe, let alone think.
“Oh my God.” He rushed to her side. “Are you okay?” They
heard another shot and then there was glass shattering downstairs.
“You okay?”
“Yes.” She rubbed her arms. “I hope the police get here in time,”
she whispered and started to cry, her body trembling uncontrollably.
“Come on.” He pulled her gently. “Get under the bed.”
“What? Why?” She pulled her arms close around her. She didn’t
understand what he was saying and tried hard to listen to him.
“Just do it, honey. Get under the bed and stay there.” Ron spoke
sternly and led her to the side of the bed. There was no choice but to
listen to him. Hurriedly she squeezed her body underneath the bed.
She could hide there and she could watch from under there as Ron
opened the drawer of the table beside the bed. There he pulled out
his gun. He held it in his hands and pulled back the trigger. Quickly
he moved across the room and closed the bedroom closet door softly
behind him.
“Sarah. Sarah! Sarah! You, my dear, are dead!” The voice was
Collin’s and she knew he was standing in the doorway of the
bedroom. She trembled, the tears streaming down her cheeks. Collin
was so crazed that he must have forgotten that Ron was there in the
bedroom somewhere too. “It will be my pleasure to ruin your plans
with the rest of your life as you have ruined mine my dear. I am
assuming that you are under the bed and I will just have to drag you
out by your hair to see you, my dear.” She watched quietly as she
heard the footsteps come right up to the side of the bed. As he came
closer, she held her breath and tried very hard to think quickly about
what to do next.
She didn’t have a choice. “Oh Collin. I love you. I am so glad it
is you. Did you come to save me?” She could think of nothing else
to do, and rather than let him kill her in cold blood she tried her best
to talk with him. Plead with him. It seemed that whatever Ron was
planning to do to save her was just taking absolutely too long. Way
too long, and she had to do something!
“Oh yeah, Sarah. I have come to save you!” He rolled his eyes
when he heard her voice. “Just like you to be hiding under the bed.
You, my dear, should be waiting for me on top of it. Like my wife
that you were supposed to be. Remember? I would like to see you
one last time. Come on out here so that I can see you.” His intent
was to demean her and as he spoke parts of his spit flew out of his
mouth. His eyes squinted.
What else could she do but pray that Ron would do something
quickly? What are you doing, Ron? It was taking too long. She rolled
out from under the bed. Slowly her body rose and she let her bathing
suit fall to the floor. “This is what you want to see, Collin. Isn’t it?
Here I am.” His mouth dropped open. He licked his lips until they
were moist and he did look at all the parts of her body. For a moment
he loosened the grip he had on the revolver. At least it was not
pointing directly at her anymore. It was pointed to the floor.
“I know you want this. I know you well, Collin. Yes?” She smiled
at him and noticed that Ron opened the closet door slowly behind
Collin’s back and he had the gun pointed directly towards Collin’s
head.
Collin licked over his lips and his hand went down to touch
himself between his legs. “Yes. I think that is just what I need.” He
nodded his head and she could tell he had been drinking profusely.
His eyes were tired and bloodshot and he slurred his words. “Get
down on the bed and open up real wide for me. You were supposed
to be my wife, Sarah. Remember?” He shook his head back and
forth. “Don’t keep me waiting!”
He pointed the revolver directly at her again as she dutifully did
as she was told. She lay on the bed and hoped to hell that Ron would
do what he needed to do. She hoped that he would shoot Collin and
kill him.
“Come on, open you legs real wide for me.” She watched as Ron
pushed the door of the closet open wider so that he could get a better
aim at Collin. Pull the trigger, she thought to herself. Just pull it and
hurry up. He pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. Again he
cocked the gun and pulled the trigger back. Still nothing would
happen. He watched as Collin clumsily yanked at the zipper of his
jeans and eagerly climbed on top of Sarah’s body. Ron didn’t know
what to do. He stood and watched. Collin had the gun pointed at
Sarah’s temple. Frozen in his fear and his disbelief, and the pain of
having to watch was absolutely unbearable, he seethed with anger.
The anger was deep and real. He clenched his teeth tightly.
“Leave her alone!” Ron screamed at him and lunged towards him
as Collin took the gun in his hand and pointed it toward him.
“I am not stupid and I knew you were in the closet the whole
time. I would have shot you first. If your gun was even working.
Idiot. You complete idiot.” His hands moved along Sarah’s body.
“That was good, Sarah, very good. Ron. Who the hell do you think
you are, ruining all of my plans that I made?” He whirled around and
glared at him. “What’s the matter, Ron, you look just a little piqued?
Is something the matter? Did I mess up your life a little? Maybe you
should have thought of that a little while ago. Before you did what
you did to me?”
Ron’s eyes opened wide. Seething with anger, he came at Collin
again. “Do not come any closer or I will kill her.” He held the tip of
the gun to just under her chin and then he kissed her on the lips. “My
gun works, asshole,” he hissed.
Ron took a few steps back cautiously as he looked away. His
hands were clenched in fists. Where were the police? Under his
breath, he mumbled. His fear was heightened by the fact that it had
been a while since he called them. Then he wondered if Collin
wasn’t there alone. In any event, the police should have been there.
What was taking them so long? He listened as Sarah tried to use
sweet talk to deter Collin. She sure knew all the right things to say
to him because Collin started to enjoy himself more and more. He
enjoyed hearing the words that she said to him. The more he heard
the more he liked it and the gun stopped pointing at her neck.
“Now sit up, honey, and I will treat you so nice so that you can
enjoy yourself some more. I will make you feel so good.” She
blinked innocently with her eyes and smiled sexily at him.
“Oh, Sarah you never cared like this before...