Her First Day (Part 14)

He went back in the room with Missy. She never stirred. He plopped down in the chair next to the bed, running his hands through his hair. He watched her as she slept wrapped in the thin sheet. He grabbed the folded up blanket from the bottom of the bottom of the bed, spreading it out over her. She grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself. He fell asleep watching over her. The toll of the day overtaking his body. He was shaken awake by the orderly he saw in the hallway. “Hey,” he said. “Hey,” he said, stretching. “What’s going on?” “Come in the hallway with me, so we don’t disturb her.” “Yeah, sure,” he said, looking at Missy. They walked into the hallway. Holland wiped the sleep from his eyes. “I have an update for you on the other orderly and Farmer.” “Okay.” “Unfortunately, the orderly did not pull through. The gunshot pierced his lung. We got here too late. Farmer, however, did pull through. He is out of surgery and in ICU at the moment. The cops will be charging him with murder and as soon as he is able to be moved, he will be going to the jail infirmary. We do not want him here. They will be taking over his care there and if he doesn’t make it, then it isn’t our problem,” he said with a grin and a shrug. “I am sorry that you friend didn’t make it. He seemed to be a nice guy. What was his name?” “Chad Davis. He just graduated college. He was only here for two weeks.” “Jesus,” Holland said, running his hands over his face. Did he have a family?” “No, he was only twenty four. He was a great guy. We went to the same college.” “Andrew?” they heard coming from the room. “I am right here, Missy. I’ll be right there,” he said, looking back into the room. “I am sorry. Thank you for letting me know.” “You’re welcome. Let me check her vitals while I am here,” he said, following Holland back into the room. “Hi, Missy. My name is Claude. I am going to check your vitals, okay?” “Yes,” she said. “Okay, can you turn your arm with your palm facing up for me, so I can check your pulse?” “Sure,” she said, doing as he said. He placed his forefinger and middle finger on her wrist. He felt her pulse suddenly pick up. Looking at her, he watched as her eyes rolled in the back of her head. “No, no, no,” he said as her body begin to convulse. Holland sat there stunned. “Get me something to put in her mouth, quickly.” Holland ran from the room to the nurse’s station. Two nurses followed him. One had a wooden dowel in her hand. She forced Missy’s mouth open and placed it between her teeth. One nurse laid across her legs, while the orderly tried to hold her down. Holland stood back and watched in fear.

Direct Links to all my books

Her First Day (Part 13)

                He passed the cops, heading straight for Missy’s room. His heart was in his throat. There was an orderly coming out of her room.

                “What’s going on?” asked Holland, out of breath.

                “He escaped.”

                “What happen?”

                “The cop undid his cuffs, so he could use the bathroom. He grabbed his gun and took off. We don’t know where he is,” he said.

                “Shit,” he said. “Is she okay?”

                “Yeah, I just checked her room out. She is sound asleep still and he is nowhere to be found. Go in there and lock the door. He won’t be able to get in.”

                “Okay, thank you,” Holland said, walking past the orderly. He heard a shot ring out. He turned in time to see Farmer walking toward him, gun pointed his way. The orderly was on the ground. His green scrubs quickly turning brown. Holland walked into the room, closing the door and turning the lock, hoping it would keep the two of them safe. He heard someone yelling at Farmer, another shot ringing out. He looked toward Missy. She stirred, but did not wake up. He hoped she remained asleep until this was all over. He heard Farmer yelling. He knew he would get in that room. He had to get Missy out of there. He looked out the window, seeing the roof top to the wing below them. He stood on the chair opening the window. Knowing there was no way he could carry her out the window and onto the rooftop, he utilized her sleeping state to move her into the bathroom, locking to door behind them. He heard another shot ring out against the door. The second door in the bathroom lead into the next room. He undid the lock and looked into an empty room. He heard Farmer cursing, believing they went out the open window. He heard another two shots as Farmer pulled the trigger out the window. There was a scuffle and another shot fired. He placed Missy on the empty bed. He clicked the lock to the door of the empty room, hoping no one heard it. Going back through the bathroom, he listened with his ear against the door. When he didn’t hear anything, he quietly opened the door. The room was empty. There was no sign of Farmer or anyone else. The door had a sizeable hole in it and there was blood on the floor. A lot of blood. Whomever had been shot was bleeding badly. He went out into the hallway. He saw a doctor, a couple of nurses and an orderly working on the fallen orderly.

                “Where is Farmer?” he asked.

                “They just rushed him down to the OR. An officer shot him. They are unsure of his condition and don’t even know if he will make it. Personally, I hope he doesn’t,” said the orderly. “Where is the patient he was after?”

                “In the next room,” Holland said. “I got her out in time.”

                “Good, keep her in there. Her room is a mess.”

                “Yeah, she slept through it all.”

                “She never needs to know what happened. Go back in with her. We will update you as soon as we know anything.”

                “Thanks.”

Her First Day (Part 12)

"I will be careful. Please let me know when they take him out of here. I don't want her to worry about being attacked again when she wakes up," Holland said.
"I will do that," he said. Holland turned, waking toward the lobby doors. He needed to call the office and let them know what happened. He was sure he was going to need one of his colleagues to help him when the time came. He walked out the door, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. He took another to steady himself. The days events were taking a toll on him. He needed to relax, but he was not so sure that was going to happen until he knew Farmer was gone. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the office. The other end rang three times before being picked up.
"Thank you for calling the offices of Smith and Holland. Chasity speaking, how may I direct your call?"
"Hi, Chasity. It is Andrew. Let me speak to Mike, please? Tell him it is important."
"Oh, hi Mr. Holland. I will transfer you right over."
"Thanks" he said, hearing the hold music a second later. 'We really need to change this music. Our poor clients ears are suffering,' he thought while waiting.
"Mike Smith," he heard the baritone voice say from the other end.
"Mike, it's Andrew. We have a problem."
"What's going on?"
"Well, a few things. You know the new hire we have? Missy?"
"Yes. We acquired her from Farmer and Sons. She has an impressive track record."
"She does, but there was a problem at Farmer and Sons that just traveled through to us. It seems Edwin was obsessed with her to the point of stalking her."
"Are you kidding?"
"No, he kidnapped her today. It just so happened that I seen him do it. I followed them to a remote location that he had all set up for her. I am not sure if he planned to take her life, but he was definitely planning on raping her."
"Jesus. Where is she now?"
"In the hospital. He beat her up pretty badly. She is resting now."
"Where is he?"
"That is why I am calling. I beat him up, badly. He is in the hospital and they will be taking him to the police station. There is talk that he wants to press charges against me."
"Don't worry about that. You will be represented by me. If he does press charges, then we will do the same on behalf of Missy. He will not get anywhere near her again. I am filing a restraining order against him as soon as we hang up."
"For some reason, I don't think a restraining order will stop him." 
"I don't either. I will place a call to our security firm and get a couple of our best guys on it."
"Thanks, Mike," he said, walking back toward the building. Three cops rushed past him. His breath caught in his chest. He sprinted into the building.

Her First Day (Part 11)

She was moved to another floor. Holland was told he needed to wait outside the room until they got her settled. He paced the hallway. He could not take it. He wanted to be in there if she woke up. The nurses and orderlies walked out of the room. He rushed in to see she was still sleeping. He breathed a sigh of relief. He sat in the blue chair next to her bed. He watched her as she slept. She finally awoke after two hours.
"Hey," he said, as she rolled to look at him.
"Hi, Mr. Holland."
"Please, after the ordeal we went through today, you can call me Andrew or Andy."
"Okay, Andrew. Thank you for saving me. If you didn't show up, I don't know how far he would have done or how far he would have gone," she said, as a tear escaped her eye. She quickly wiped it away.
"Don't think about that," he said, reaching for her hand. She allowed him to take it. He ran his thumb along her knuckles, comforting her.
"I can't help it. He was going to rape me and may have killed me, if you didn't find us. I can't thank you enough," she said yawning. Sleep was overtaking her again.
"You need to rest," he said, bringing her hand his lips. He lightly kissed her knuckles. She fell asleep to the feel of his lips lightly grazing her knuckles. He waited to hear her breathing even out before he let go of her hand. He got up and left the room. What she said resonated in him. He was going to confront Farmer. Farmer needed to know he meant business. If he so much as called her again, he would be dealing with him again.  He did not want that. Holland was not going to let anything else happen to her. He would hire security for her. She would have twenty four hour protection on his dime. Farmer would never be able to get anywhere near her again. If he happened to slip by his security detail, he would be dealing with him again. And this time, he wouldn't make it to the hospital.
Holland stalked his way down the curtained wall toward Farmer's room. He found cops standing guard and Farmer screaming. They had cuffed him to the bed. He was not going to be going anywhere. The orderly who approached him when he first arrived came up to him.
"He won't be bothering her anytime soon."
"Thank you. Please make sure he doesn't escape."
"He won't. As soon as he gets the all clear from the doctor, he is headed straight to jail."
"Good. There is no better place for him. His father will get him out within hours. I am sure of it, but she will have around the clock security by that time. He will never get near her again."
"With the damage he did to her, he doesn't need to get to her. Listen, I heard him screaming, he may press charges against you. If I were you, I would steer clear of him until he leaves here."

Her First Day (Part 10)

He kept up with them, pulling in right behind them as they reached County General. He swung his car into the parking lot. Parking it in the first available spot, he climbed out, running toward the ambulances. He reached them as they took Missy out. Following them through the emergency room doors, he was stopped by one of the orderlies.
"Sir, you need to wait here," he said, placing a hand on Holland's chest.
"But, she needs me."
"We understand that. I promise, I will come and get you as soon as we have her stabilized. Let us work on her first. Have a seat," he said. Holland walked over to the chairs and sat. He ran his hands through his hair. He stood up, pacing the room. They wheeled in Farmer, causing his blood to boil. He stormed over to the gurney. Farmer was just coming to. He tried to scramble off of the gurney when he spotted Holland.
"You son of a bitch, if there is anything major wrong with her, you can bet your ass I will be paying you another visit," he screamed, as they quickly wheeled Farmer through the doors. He paced back and forth for what seemed like hours before the doors opened again and the same orderly that stopped him came out. He waved him in through the door. He followed him, hoping he would pick up the pace.
"How is she?" he asked, as they passed a few curtain walls.
"She'll be fine. She has a concussion and some cuts and bruises, but other than that she doing pretty well. We need to get an x-ray of her face to make sure her orbital or cheek bones are not broken."
"Is she awake?"
"No. We need to get her information, but we can wait until she wakes up to get everything we need."
"I can supply you with some information, but not a lot. She just started working for me today. I need to ask you to have someone keep a close watch on her. The guy they brought in right after her is the one that attacked her."
"Shit," the orderly said, sprinting down the hall. Holland picked up his pace, keeping up with the orderly. They reached Missy's room to find Edwin standing next to her bed. They had placed him in the curtain room right next to her. The orderly rushed in, pulling Edwin away from the bed. He forced him back to the other side of the curtain. He checked the monitors to ensure she was still stable. He couldn't find anything wrong. He radioed for extra man power. Holland sat by Missy's side willing her to stay asleep until they got Farmer out of there. A few men showed up. They spoke out of Holland's earshot. The next thing he knew they were in the room with him asking him to back away so they could move Missy. He stepped aside, allowing them to work. He followed them as they moved her away from her stalker.

Her First Day (Part 9)

Dirt flew up as the cops came into the driveway at a high speed. The first cop to jump out of the car was Ryan Barber, Missy's contact at the police station.
"Get your hands up and step away from her!" he screamed at Holland, pointing his gun in their direction. Holland let go of Missy's shoulders, raising his hands.
"Ryan, he's with me. He saved my life."
"Missy, are you okay?" he asked, running over to them as a few of the other officers went rushing past them. He got a better look at her face, using the radio strapped to his  shoulder to call for an ambulance. She saw a look of worry cross his face.
"I'll be fine," she said, attempting to ease his worry. She took a step toward him, stumbling. Holland had his arms around her in a flash. Ryan caught her around her shoulders.
"Missy, you're not fine. An ambulance is on the way. They will take you to the hospital."
"I don't need to go to the hospital. I just need to sit down," she said as her head swam. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she stumbled again. The world went black. Holland had her scooped in his arms before she even touched the ground. He carried her to his car. Ryan opened the door, allowing him to sit her in the front seat. Two ambulances pulled down the wooded driveway. Ryan went running to them. He directed the EMTs to Holland's car where a still passed out Missy sat in the front seat. The EMTs went over with a stretcher. They were able to wake Missy long enough to get her on the stretcher. They loaded her into the ambulance as the other EMTs were bringing out Farmer. Holland saw red again and headed in his direction. Ryan stopped him.
"He isn't worth it," he said putting his hand on Holland's chest in an attempt to stop him from doing any more damage. Holland stopped, looking at Ryan.
"He doesn't deserve to live."
"I understand where you are coming from and believe me justice will be served. I don't care who his father is, he will be put away for a very long time. You already done some fine tuning up on him. I am sure he will want to press charges, but I will put a stop to it. He won't see the light of day again, except through the prison bars. Go be with Missy, they are bringing her to County General."
"Thank you," Holland said, extending his hand to Ryan. Ryan took it, giving it one firm shake. Holland got in his car and drove off. He wanted to be the face she saw when she finally came to. He would not have it any other way. He sped down the highway toward the hospital. He caught up to the two ambulances, fuming as he realized they were both going to the same hospital. He did not want Farmer any where near her.

Her First Day (Part 8)

"Please, I'll do anything you want," she pleaded, scrambling away from him. She hit the wall between the kitchen and the living room. He reached her, snatching her up by her hair. He drug her across the floor to the couch, slamming her head into the coffee table before throwing her onto the couch. Her hands went to her nose. Blood was gushing out. She was certain it was broken. He pinned her down, climbing on top of her. He tried to rip her top off, but she fought back. She shoved him off of her. She tried to escape, but he pulled her back underneath him, ripping her shirt. She tried to cover herself up. He forced her arms abover her head, grabbing the rope he had fixed to the legs of the couch. Lying down on top of her, he tied her hands above her head.
She screamed. He tried to kiss her. She shook her head from side to side. He grabbed her face, forcing his tongue into her mouth. She bit down, hard, taking off the tip of his tongue. He pulled back, slugging her in the jaw. He knocked her out. He looked at her, smiling. He stood up, beginning to remove her pants, when the door to the cabin flew open. Splinters flew everywhere. Holland had kicked the door off the hinges. Holland set out on a dead run toward Farmer. Farmer did not have time to stand up straight to defend himself. Holland was on him, knocking him to the ground. He began punching him in the face. Farmer brought his arms up to protect himself, making Holland angrier. He punched farmer in the ribs, feeling them crack under his fist.
Missy stirred, hearing the commotion to her left. Through a swollen left eye, she could barely see someone beating up on Farmer. When her vision focused, she realized it was Holland. She tried to move her hands down to cover herself, but failed. Holland stopped punching Farmer when he realized he was passed out. He stood up, looking over at Missy. She tried to turn her body away from him. He went out to the car, leaving her tied to the couch. He came back in with his jacket, covering her up. He cut the rope from above her head, allowing her her arms to fall to her side. She slipped into the jacket, sitting up.
"I've called the cops. They are on the way. Go wait in the car. You don't need t be in here anymore," Holland said to Missy.
"H-How did you know where I was?" she asked, on the verge of tears.
"I saw him take you. I followed you, but lost you on the highway. I had to back track. I'm sorry he was able to get this far with you. I should have gotten hear sooner," he said running his hand through his hair.
"Don't be sorry. I am just glad you came. Thank you for saving me," she said, standing on her shaking legs. He grabbed her before she fell back onto the couch. He walked her to the door with his arm around her shaking shoulders.  

Her First Day (Part 7)

He got out of the car, finally looking around to be sure he wasn't followed. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He moved toward the passenger door. She was beginning to wake up. She opened her eyes to see him reaching for the door handle. She hit the lock button. He shook his head at her. He hit the button on the key ring to unlock the door. She tried to scramble to the other side. He reached in grabbing her right leg, pulling her out the door. She tried to hang on to the other door handle and kick him with her left leg. She connected with his right shoulder, sending him backward It pissed him off. He did not expect her to fight back. He was hoping she would be a cowardly little bitch he thought she was, but he was finding out she was not going to go out without a fight.
He yanked her hard, lifting her off the seat. Her left side slammed back down on the center console, causing her to immediately fold herself into a fetal position. He pulled her out of the car. Her head slammed up against the door jam, cutting off the top of her ear lobe. Her eyes watered. She could feel the blood rushing to the injury. He grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to her feet. The blood trickled down the side of her face. She winced as his hand grazed her damaged ear. He lead her by her hair to the front of the cabin. Sandwiching her between him and the door, he unlocked the cabin door. She tried to push him away from her. Bracing herself against the door and pushing backward, she got him off her an inch before he punched her in her left side. She bent to the left, attempting to protect herself. The door swung open. She fell through it, catching herself with her arms spread out before her. He shoved her through the door the rest of the way with his foot. She scrambled to get to her feet. He slammed the door behind him, turning to lock it. She was up and running toward the sliding glass doors on the other side of the house when she heard a gun being cocked.
"Stop right there," he said. "I am not afraid to shoot you if I have to."
"Please," she said, slowly turning toward him. "What do you want from me?"
"I just want to talk. I thought we were friends. I thought we had a real connection. I just wanted to be your lover, but you would't have it. What is so wrong with me? Why wasn't I good enough?"
"I wasn't interested in an office relationship. I wanted to earn my position in the company. I didn't want to get to where was by sleeping my way to the top."
"Well, now we aren't in the same office anymore. How about we give it a go?"
"It will never happen. You just kidnapped me."
"If I can't have you, then no one will," he said, coming closer to her.

Her First Day (Part 6)

He headed toward the elevator, walking right past Missy's office. She was on the phone when she spotted him practically running past her door. She asked her contact to hold on. She headed toward the elevators.
"Hey, did you get a break on the case?" she asked, catching up to him.
"No," he said. "I need to take care of something important. I'll be back in a little bit and we can see where we stand on everything. I'll do some investigating while I am out."
"Okay," she said, retreating to her office. She wondered what he was up to, but knew she needed to get back to work. She had to impress her new boss on this case so she could finally get ahead in her career. She got back on the phone with her contact at the police station. Learning that she needed to go down there to see the files for herself, she grabbed her things and headed out. She arrived at the station. She was about to get out of her car when she spotted him. She slunk down in her seat, hoping he didn't see her. He caught her movements out of the corner of his eye. He recognized her car and her. He walked over to it, taping on her window. She groaned in disapproval, wanting to flee the scene, but knew she couldn't. She rolled down the window.
"There you are," he said, sticking his head into the car. "Why did you just up and leave? I could have made good on my promise. You could have been happy with me, but you chose to run. Your running days are over."
He reached through the window, unlocking the door. She tried to hold the door closed, but wasn't strong enough. She screamed. No one came to her rescue. He shoved her to the other side of the car, climbing in. She tried to climb out the passenger door, but he pulled her back in, grabbing her hair and slamming her head into the dashboard. Blood trickled down her forehead as everything went blurry and then dark. He sped off in her car with her slumped in the front seat. He drove onto the highway, accelerating his speed. He wanted to get to the cabin he had set up for the day he found her again. She would be his and only his. No one would have her. He got off of exit 238, heading toward the wooded area the cabin was tucked away in. For miles, there was nothing on this road. He was sure by the end, she would be his or she would be dead. He never bothered to look in his rearview mirror to see if he was being followed. There was a black car following him from the time he pulled away from the police station. He pulled down the long driveway to the cabin. She was beginning to stir. 'Good,' he thought. 'I need her to be awake for everything that is about to happen.'

Her First Day (Part 5)

She wasn't sure if she wanted to be a part of this case. She wondered if she could ask not to be after what she just encountered in her own life. She told herself it was a job and if she didn't do it, then she was going to have to be bumped down to petty crime and traffic tickets until she was ready. She didn't want that. She worked way too hard already to get where she was. There was no way she was going to start from the bottom, again.
"What evidence do they have and what were the circumstances?" she asked, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.
"I'm sorry. If you don't want to work on this case, I can find you another one to work on."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now can we discuss the case?"
"Yes," he said. "Like I said, they don't have much evidence against him. The main thing is his alibi never check out. He claimed he was working late, but when the janitor, who cleans his office, was interviewed he said he never saw him that night. We need to know where he was and what he was doing. He is going to hire the best he can, because he is among the elite in this city. If the cops can prove he was anywhere near the crime scene at the time of the murder, then he will go to jail. We will need to conduct an investigation of our own to see what we can find out. Sometimes, people are more open to speaking with lawyers than cops. Are you up for it?"
"Where do we begin?"
"I say we start with his office. Maybe someone there will have a little more insight into what he was doing that night."
"Was he cheating?" she asked. "Could he have been with another woman and just did not want anyone to know he was cheating on his wife at the time of her murder?"
"It is possible. He was a well known playboy in his bachelor days and is still highly sought after even though he claims to be happily married."
"I'll begin there," she said, standing up. "Thank you for allowing me to stay on the case."
"You're welcome," he said, walking her to the door. He watched her walk to her office. The sultry sway in her hips as she took each step made his heart race. He was in trouble. He knew he needed to stay away, but he wasn't sure if he could. He needed to think of her situation. She just came from an office where she was stalked by a psycho coworker. He may not act on his compulsion, but he damn sure wasn't going to let anyone hurt her. He had his own investigation and business to conduct. He was going to make sure she was never bothered by that self serving prick again. He grabbed his jacket off the back of his door, draping it over his arm. He picked up his briefcase and headed out.

Her First Day (Part 4)

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that arrogant prick. How dare he threaten your life. Just because his dad owned the firm, did not give him the right to treat you like you were his."
"Thank you. That is why I left," she said, voice shaking. The tears were coming. She thought she had finished crying over that place and him. "I was no longer comfortable working there. I thought his father would put a stop to it, but I was wrong. I  knew if I stayed there any longer it would only get worse. I have moved out of my apartment and into a hotel under a different name since then. I again changed all my numbers and got rid of my email accounts, starting all new ones."
"Good, girl. Do you still talk to anyone at your old firm?"
"No, I cut off all communication with everyone for not only my own safety, but theirs as well."
"Good. You don't need to put anyone else in danger. If you want to press charges against him, I will help you with that."
"Thank you for the offer, but I would rather just not deal with it anymore, if I can avoid it."
"I can't say that I blame you. If you ever need anything, you let me know. We will take him down."
"I will," she said, giving him a weak smile. He returned it.
"Now, let's get down to business. Are you ready for your first case with us?"
"I am," she said, straightening herself up in her seat. She was nervous about telling him why she left, but was now glad she had done it. He seemed to understand the severity of her situation and why she ran from the prestigious firm. She was caught up in her own thought when she heard him calling her name.
"Missy, Missy, earth to Missy," he said, grinning at her.
"I'm sorry. I was still thinking about what happened. Please, repeat what this case is about, again."
"It's okay," he chuckled. "You have been through a lot and were just trying to forget it. Here I am making you relive it all over again."
"No, I should have shut that part out when you said it was time to talk about the case. Let's get started. I am eager to dive into my first case here and learn what you have to teach me."
"Alright, well your first case will with me has to do with a murder. The cops know who committed the murder, but the evidence is lacking. We need to help them build the case against the guy for a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Are you up for it?"
"Yes, who is he suspected of murdering?"
"His ex girlfriend. The cops think he did it in a jealous rage," he said, visibly wincing at the statement. After what she just told him, he knew this one was going to hit a little too close to home for her. 

Her First Day (Part 3)

She began to fidget with the hem of her dark blue suit jacket. He saw her getting nervous. If she was going to work with him, he needed to know what had taken place.
"Do you want to discuss what happened at your last job," he asked. She shifted in her chair. She wasn't ready, but knew she was going to have to tell him eventually. Today, might as well be that day. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before answering him.
"I really don't care to discuss it, but I know I will need to tell you if we are going to work together and end up on a case against my old firm."
"Yes, I don't want you to be discredited in court by the opposing firm."
"I worked for them for quite a long time. My boss really liked me. He liked me enough to take me under his wing and teach me almost everything he knew. He told me it was possible I would end up becoming one of their top lawyers and a junior partner before I knew it. I was elated. The problem happened when his son asked me on a date and I refused. He started making rude comments to me as soon as I came into work. He would tell me all the the things he wanted to do to me and what he wanted me to do to him. He began calling my house late at night. When I disconnected that phone, he got my cellphone number and started calling it. I would let every call go to voice mail and kept all of them as evidence. When I finally got enough nerve to approach his father about it, I played him the messages. He called his son into the office and asked him about it. His son told him that it was all a joke we played with each other. I had changed my phone number that morning. After I left the office, I received a phone call from him. He had somehow learned my new number. He threatened my life. That is when I went looking for a new job and came across this one."
"Do you think he would actually hurt you?"
" I don't know. I left before I could find out. What I do know is that he is sick and I couldn't take that chance."
"Do you still have those messages? More importantly the thrreatening one?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. She nodded her head, pulling out her phone. She slid it across the table to him. He slid it open, accessing her voicemail and listening to the threatening message. He closed his eyes as the voicemail ended. With his jaw clenched, he slid the phone back across the desk to her. He sat there just staring at her. He didn't know what to say. What he heard on that voicemail angered him. He didn't know Missy, but he damn sure wasn't going to let anything happen to her.

Her First Day (Part 2)

His cherry wood desk was accompanied by a high back chocolate brown office chair. He motioned her to sit across from him in one of the matching chocolate brown leather chairs in front of his desk. She sat down, tentatively. He waited for her to look up at him before speaking. Her hazel eyes shone with specs of green and light brown as her gaze met his.

“Mrs. Herring,” he started.

“It’s Ms. Herring,” she said, not quite sure why she felt the need to correct him.

“Okay, Ms. Herring, welcome to our office.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. How much experience do you have in criminal law?”

“I am very experienced. I worked as a paralegal for five years before going for my PhD. I continued to work as a paralegal while pursuing my degree. I never missed a beat when it came to my cases or my classes. I graduated top of the class.”

“That is all great, but tells me nothing. I asked how much experience you had not what you did in school. Have you ever tried a case or assisted in trying a case?”

“I was second chair on most of my former boss’s cases. He wanted me to get the courtroom experience.”

“Good, so you are familiar with the courtroom.”

“Yes.”

“Good, that is less I will have to teach you. You worked at Farmer and Gold, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you leave?” he asked. She knew this question was going to come. She was just hoping it wasn’t today. She didn’t want to reveal her past to anyone just yet.

“I had an issue with one of the other lawyers,” she mustered. Issue wasn’t the word for it. Mr. Farmer’s son was an obsessive asshole that wouldn’t leave her alone. He wanted her to date him and she refused. Telling him no wasn’t going to fly with him. He kept harassing her. It would start as soon as she walked into the office in the morning. He would corner her and tell her all the things he wanted to do to her and what he wanted her to do to him. He called her on her cellphone at night. She even changed her number, but that bastard got a hold of it and kept it up. She even went to Mr. Farmer about it. She thought he would do something about it. She was wrong. Even though, he had been the one to hire her and take her on all of his cases, he still favored his son. Finally, she couldn’t take it. She searched for another job. She didn’t want to leave the one she had, but she was no longer comfortable there. She found this one and came in for an interview. Thankfully, they saw her record and hired on the spot without too many questions.

“An issue?”

“Yes,” she said, a little embarrassed. She knew what he was assuming about her, but it was far from the truth. Should she let him think what he wanted or explain the situation to him?

To be continued....... 

Her First Day (Part 1)

She studied her face in the mirror. Her porcelain skin was flawless. It was the first day of her new job and not a blemish in sight. Normally, her nerves would have gotten the best of her and she would have seen the stress on her face. Today, there was nothing. She was excited to start this new adventure in her already illustrious career. She hoped the day went just as smoothly as the interview process. She finished getting ready. Her black pinstriped pencil skirt paired perfectly with her white three quarter sleeve button up blouse and matching jacket. She accented the entire outfit with her red pumps, ruby earrings and the ruby solitaire necklace her mother gave to her when she landed her first job as a lawyer. The slight punch of color made for a perfect ensemble. She checked herself over in the full length mirror one last time before grabbing her briefcase and heading out the door. She didn't want to be late her first day on the job.

She drove to her new office. She parked her car in her newly designated spot in the parking garage. Checking in with security, she made her way to her new office. The elevator ride to the fifty second floor seemed to take forever. There were intermittent stops along the way for extra passengers getting on and off. No one spoke to her. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get their office and start their day. She relished the quite as the doors finally opened up to her floor. She was greeted by the same woman who she saw before her interview. Her warm, friendly smile lit up the room.

“Good morning, Ms. Herring.”

“Good morning.”

“Welcome to our firm. Please let me show you to your office.”

“Thank you.”

“Follow me,” she said rising from her seat. They walked down the hall to the back corner office. It was small, but it would suit her needs just fine. The oak desk sat at the center of the room. There were books shelves on both sides lined with law books. She sat her briefcase down on her desk as she walked around to sit in her chair. She turned her computer on as her phone began ringing.

“Good morning, Melissa Herring’s office. How may I help you?”

“Good morning, Ms. Herring.”

“Good morning.”

“This is Mr. Holland. Can I see you in my office for a moment? We need to consult on a case.”

“Sure, I will be right there,” she said standing up from her seat. She could see a man across the office watching her. He waved at her. “I am going to guess that is you waving at me?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Okay, I will be right there,” she said hanging up the phone and grabbing her legal pad and pen. Making her way across the office, she noticed his striking features. His piercing blue eyes were the first thing that grabbed her attention as she entered his large office.

To be continued………

***Exclusive Sneak Peek of Her Tale of Two Lovers (unedited)***

Annie was a dark haired hazel eyed beautiful girl. She lived in a very small town that really had nothing for her to do in terms of the things she liked. Annie was and always had been a lover of music in general. She never discriminated against a genre. As far as she was concerned all music deserved an audience. Music to her was a form of one’s self-expression. The more people heard the songs the more they could relate them into their own lives. Everyone has their form of expressing themselves. For Annie, it was poetry. She had days where all she did was write poetry to express the hurt she had felt from her past and to move on from it. Annie had always been a shy girl that never seen herself as everyone else did. Being the shy girl that she was, Annie was a keep to herself kind of girl until one day she embarked on a whole new journey in her life. She decided to actually leave the confines of her happy home and try something completely out of the ordinary, especially for a girl like her. She would take long drives on the weekend to see live music. That became her favorite thing to do from the moment she stepped foot in that place and seen her first local band. That is where she met him. The guy she gave her heart to and he never knew. Jake was the lead singer in a band that she fell in love with for their music before she noticed him. Jake was a fair haired, blue eyed guy, full of tattoos and piercings. He was the complete opposite of Annie, but always the guy she fell for. For almost a year, she did nothing but think about him. How much she wanted to be with him, how much she just wanted him to love her like she did him. He flirted and so did she. Neither one of them made that first move. Then one day during a music festival she had been drinking and had decided she would tell him her feelings. That is the day he walked in with her, Stella, the girl he had chosen to date. Stella was the complete opposite of Annie. She was beautiful and seemed to be really nice. Annie never looked at herself as beautiful in anyway shape or form. She was the “sweet” girl that everyone seemed to like once they got to know her. Annie was the girl that always had her guard up from things stemming from her past tryst. But when she let you in, she gave you her all. For better or worse, it was who she was.
            The same night that Jake showed up with Stella was the same night Annie met Markus. Markus was the bass player in another local band that Annie had seen before. Markus was like Annie in a lot of ways, more ways than the two of them could have ever imagined. They both had the same shy qualities and both seemed to be guarded. They had a small group of people who they could trust and those are the people who they kept close to their hearts. They quickly learned a lot about one another and became friends. Annie enjoyed going to see Markus’s band play as well as still seeing Jake’s band. Markus had chocolate hair and dark mocha eyes and just a hint of tattoos and piercings. Their first conversation lasted a good two hours. They talked about everything from the different types of music they liked to movies they both enjoyed. They both missed their home states. Annie was from Pennsylvania and Markus was from Wisconsin. They both now resided in Florida where the local music scene was prominent with musicians that wrote their own material and just wanted to be heard. There were very few outlets that would allow these musicians to be in the spotlight and showcase their heart felt songs. The ones that did are where Annie would run into Markus the most. They both shared a love and appreciation for the local music scene. Annie might not have been a musician but she knew talent when she heard and seen it. Markus being a hard working musician would go out as often as he could to show his support and understanding to his fellow musician. When Markus wasn't on stage and just hanging out is when they did most of their talking. Both would have smiles that could light up the room. Their group of friends soon noticed a connection between the two of them that they hadn't seen either of them have with anyone else. Annie and Markus began dating. Annie always enjoyed walking arm in arm with Markus so she could feel his bicep.  At the end of their dates, when he would pull her in close and wrap his arms around her for a tight hug, she never wanted it end.  They had been dating for two weeks, and tonight was the night she decided they would be together.  When Markus picked her up for their date, he was wearing a pair of charcoal grey slacks with a tight-fitting black t-shirt that showed off all his upper body muscle definition.  Annie could hardly contain herself.  She was in a red knee-length dress that defined every one of her curves.  He reached to give her a kiss and hug.

“You look sensational,” he said.

“Thank you, so do you,” she replied, smiling.

He kissed her with more passion than he ever had before.  She didn't want him to stop.  She pulled him in for another kiss and this time she wasn't stopping there.  She reached and pulled his shirt off.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered, breathing heavily.

He kissed her again, reaching behind to unzip her dress.  He pulled her dress part of the way down and held it there, restraining her hands.  Her mind raced.  She was getting more excited at the possibility of her being tied up and him having his way with her.  She kissed him more fiercely and he responded with a harder kiss of his own, he let her dress drop to the floor.  He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, all the while still kissing her.  He laid her on the bed, where she undid her bra and then she reached to undo his belt.  She slipped it off and he took it from her.  Slowly raising both her arms above her head, he looped the belt and slipped both her wrists through it and tied the other end to the bedpost.  When he leaned over her she could smell the sweet scent of his cologne, she took a deep breath. She was growing more excited as the moments passed.  He leaned over and kissed her hard, sliding his hand over her breasts and down her stomach.  She arched her back in anticipation of what was coming next.  He slipped his hand into her panties and she moaned.  He could feel her wetness at his slightest touch.  He slowly slipped off her panties and his pants.  He knelt between her legs and kissed and bit gently on her inner thigh.  She moaned loudly and he smiled to himself.  He ran his tongue up her clitoris just to taste her, and she quivered.  He kissed her navel and worked his way to her nipples.  She wanted to run her fingers through his hair and was even more turned on that she couldn't.  He gently licked and bit each nipple.  Her breath caught in her chest and she gasped.  He continued to work his way up to her neck.  He kissed her neck and nibbled her earlobe.  She was on the verge of exploding. 

He finally entered her, and that was all it took to send her over the edge.  Her entire body shook with pleasure.  He smiled and continued on slowly, determined to drive her to that point again.  She wrapped her legs around him and moved her hips at a faster pace.  Without a word spoken between them, he got the message and matched his strides with hers.  Within moments they both reached the point of ecstasy.  This time she moaned loudly with her release and he let out a deep, guttural sigh.  He kissed her deeply and reached up to release her wrists from their restraint.  She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. 

“I wasn't sure if you would be into that,” he said.

“I had no idea that you were into that kind of thing.  It was a complete turn on for me,” she said.

“I could tell.  Maybe, we can try something a little more in-depth next time,” he said with a sly smile and a wink.  She smiled as her mind raced with the possibilities of just where this could go. 

The Dive

While I may not have won the flash fiction contest I entered.  I am still very proud of my story. We are given a prompt, aka a painting or picture to get inspiration from. Here is what I wrote:

Carolina had been on 50 dives. To her, solo dives where more exciting. Diving off the coast of Florida allowed her to see so many wonders. The beautiful, rusty, orange coral peeking up through the floor of the crystal, blue waters and the many different colors of fish swimming all around her always gave her joy. She found a cave and began to explore it.

There was a small opening in the cave above her. She could see the water above with bright white of the sky. A shadow passed overhead.

Curiosity and fear took over. She was afraid the shadow may have been a shark. What she found was something completely different. A boat of pirates had stopped just past where the cave was. She could see them diving one by one into the ocean and headed her way. She swam back toward the cave, swimming deeper into the confines of the cave than she had before. She came upon what she believed the pirates were after. There was jewelry hidden in the cave. She heard their approach. There was only one way in or out of the cave. Panic set in. She tried to hide in the shadow of the water. One of the men had an underwater light. He shined it around the cave, spotting her. One of the men swam toward her. Her back was against the wall. She kicked and flailed her arms wildly. He smashed her head against the back wall. All went dark.

The Shattered Mirror

She lived alone in apartment 3c. It was a small quaint place that she decorated herself. It consisted of 2 rooms. An open spaced living room, dining room and kitchen and a bedroom with an attached bathroom. It was not in the best part of the city, but she felt safe there. She lived in an artsy neighborhood. She loved the eccentric people that she was surrounded by. She could step outside her door and see a street performance taking place or find someone painting a portrait on the street. There were singers who would walk the street, gathering crowds wherever they went. 

She would purchase paintings from the local artist to decorate her apartment. She had found one painting that she fell completely in love with the moment she saw it. It was a fall scene. It reminded her of her childhood in the country. Living in the city, she did not see the colors of fall anymore. She had placed the painting behind the couch on the east facing wall of her apartment. Across from the painting was a mirror. She placed the mirror there so she could see the painting even when she was not looking directly at it. It was not until she sat down on the couch after a long day at work that she noticed the shattered mirror. 

There were two questions that came to her mind. Was she alone in her tiny apartment and how fast could she make it to the door?

Sara's Way

It was Halloween night when one sleepy little neighborhood went from being quite and peaceful to disturbed. Sara was 12 years old that fall. It was going to be her first Halloween she got to walk the neighborhood with her friends. She could not wait. After dinner, she put her costume on. She was going as Bat Girl. She donned the black outfit with her cape and mask. Her three friends showed up just as she ran down the stairs.

“Sara, take a jacket with you,” her mother said.

“Aw, but mom,” Sara whined.

“It is going to get cold out and you just got over a cold.You don’t need another.”

“Okay,” Sara said. She put her jacket on. She left the house after giving her mother a brief hug. Walking along through the neighborhood the kids stopped at every house with a light on.

“Let’s go to the next neighborhood,” said Heather. “I heard they give out better candy than what we get here.”

“Okay,” said Sara. They cut through the woods to the next neighborhood. Hitting as many houses as they could before the rain began to fall.The girls ran back through the woods. Sara dropped her pillowcase of candy. She stopped to pick it up, falling behind. When she looked up, her friends were gone. Sara walked along the woods. She came to a tree she thought she saw before.  She kept walking until she reached a clearing. She did not remember the clearing before. She began to panic. She saw a light up in the distance. She walked toward it, passing by an oak tree where he was waiting for her. She only got a few more feet before two strong arms grabbed her from behind. One hand went over her mouth to stifle her scream, the other arm around her waist lifting her off the ground. Again, she dropped her pillowcase of candy. The man carried her to the house. Opening the screen door with his foot, he carried her inside. Taking her to the back room by the kitchen, he tied her to the bedpost. Sara struggled, trying her best to get away. She kicked at him and screamed. No one could hear her. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife. He came back with a grin across his chapped lips, revealing gnarled, and blackened teeth. He sliced off her costume and into her stomach, pulling out her intestines. Sara screamed at the beginning, but stopped after only a few seconds. He like the sounds of their screams.

When she did not come home, her mother went looking for her.  Her friends could not remember her following them home. A search party was formed. They found Sara’s mangled, cutup body in the clearing of the woods. A cross was put there in her memory. That clearing is now known as Sara’s Way. They never found the man who mutilated her. It is said he still lives in that town. Children of that neighborhood are warned to never go into Sara’s Way. 

Becoming Traditionally Published

  Every writer wants to have his or her book published by a traditional publisher, but it is harder than you would think. You may or may not need an agent, depending on the publisher. As previously mentioned, Simon and Schuster requires your manuscript to be submitted by an agent. Most publishing companies will open their submissions a couple times of year to people who want to submit their manuscripts without an agent. There are steps you can follow to get your book published.

                First, you must read. You have to read a lot. Not only do you have to read the books that are your inspiration for writing, but you want to read everything you can. If you want to write fiction, read nonfiction. If you are writing nonfiction, read fiction. Read classical works, read books from other cultures and times, read poetry. Read books that come from a foreign language. Read books you have already read. This will help you to understand how books are written.

                Secondly, you have to ask yourself a few questions. Why are you writing? What type of book are you attempting to write? Do you want it to be a popular book? Will you be proud of the book you write? Are doing this as a competition with a friend? Do you crave the attention you could receive from writing a book? Are you looking to change the world with your book? Would you be satisfied with a small audience? Are you in it for the fame, money, or respect? Is there something that you really believe in? What are the types of books you enjoy reading? Are you attempting to create a book that is a complete disconnect from what you read? For instance, if you love horror novels and are attempting to write a romance novel, is this the right way to go?   You have to be honest with yourself as to why you are writing. If you choose not to be, then your work will come off as false. Any good reader, including editors, will spot this.

                Thirdly, you will need to delve further into the publishing industry than the advice being given here. Attempt to become an intern for a publishing company or do some volunteer reading. Try to meet and chat with someone who is in the industry. Attempt to work in the publishing industry. Work in a bookstore. Learn as much as you can about the industry. Your chances of succeeding in it will be better.

                Fourthly, make sure to do your research. Knowing the market for the book you are going to write is very important. This is an important step if you are writing a nonfiction book. You will have to know how the topic is covered for the book you are writing.  You will have to see how well the topic is covered and if there is new information about the topic that causes the other books to be outdated. Visiting the library and bookstores will give you a chance to see how books are formatted and how they are priced. You will also be able to see if every area of the topic has been covered or if just the board spectrum of the topic has been covered. This research can give you a chance to cover a certain aspect of the topic that could bring in an audience. When you are writing a fiction book, market research is a bit more difficult. You can see what publishers are publishing the fiction book you are planning on writing.

                Fifthly, take the time to actually write the book. There are writers that will just write a chapter and attempt to land a publishing deal. That only works if you are an already established writer or you are one of the leading authorities on your subject matter. This is one of the best things you can do. Writing the book will help you learn more about your subject of choice. You will be able to understand your topic more. Your book may take a direction you did not plan on, which is great. You have to be open to allowing this to happen. You will just want to write the book until you get to the end to see where it goes. Do not try and go over it and polish it up. At this stage, never worry if it is good enough, it will not be. Do not worry about formatting it or the length of it. Writing a book is all about making it work, not the number of words you can write. Toward the middle of the book, you may feel like you have painted yourself into a corner, you may think the book will not be good enough, or that you may never finish it. You will need to push through the book. When you are almost to the end, the excitement of being done will kick in. When you are writing a fiction novel, the best thing you can do is to start with a few scenes and fill in the gaps between them. Not finishing the book is the most common reason for failing.

                Sixthly, always take the time to rewrite. Your first draft is just that, a draft. Once you have written the book, you will have to put it aside for a while and then look at it with critical eyes. Change the point of view of the book, move chapters around, eliminate characters. Never get the sense of satisfaction too early. Always get a friend or two to look at it before you send it in. If you have a feeling that something may be wrong with your manuscript, it most likely is. Take the time to revise it. Your first few pages should capture an editor’s attention as well as a reader’s attention. Take the time to be sure that is the case.

                Seventhly, after you are completely satisfied with your manuscript it is time for you to do additional market research. If you took the time to go to the bookstores and libraries, then you have already identified publishers who may be interested in the book you have written. It is time to double check your findings. See if the author’s of books with a similar subject matter thank publishers and agents in his or her acknowledgements. The reference desk in your library should have the Literary Marketplace. This will give you the names, addresses, and phone numbers you want.

                Eighthly, write a query letter. A short query letter is the best kind to write. The goal of the letter is to find out if the publisher is looking for a book like the one you have written. You will also want to know if they are going to take the time to actually read your manuscript. Will you need an agent? Not necessarily, if you go with a smaller publishing company. If you are looking to get into a bigger named company, then you are going to need an agent. Agents are also good at looking over contracts and being sure everything is in order. If you are going to opt for finding an agent, do not go with one who charges a reading fee. Before you commit to sending your manuscript, always right a query letter. A publisher will turn you away, if your book is too similar to one of the titles they already have, if they have too many manuscripts to look at, or if they have shifted the focus of what they are seeking. Always keep your letter to one page. In the letter, explain who you are, what your book is about, and the potential market for the book.

                Ninthly, if you have received a positive response from a publisher, then submit your manuscript with a brief cover letter. Included in the letter should be why you think the publisher is right for your manuscript. The publishing company may request a synopsis and a sample of your characters. Keep this as brief as you possibly can. Always make sure your manuscript is double spaced and the pages are numbered. Never send a self addressed stamped envelope, always ask them just to recycle the pages. Never send your photo, but always include your address.

 

Tenthly, always wait two to three months before you politely request a progress report on your manuscript. Never mistake a slow response as interest in your manuscript. The main thing to remember is to not give up. Most people will drop out after a few months, never ever drop it. Keep writing and you will get ahead.  Remember to improve your writing skills, write, write, and write some more.

Nonfiction Books

Not only do I write fiction books, but what you may not know is I started in nonfiction.

Bulk Cooking: Everything You Need to Know:

Synopsis: Bulk Cooking: Everything You Need to Know will teach you about bulk cooking, when it started, and how it is slowly becoming popular once again. It will give you tips on how to properly care for the bulk quantities of meat you are buying. It gives you a list of appliances, utensils, and storage items you may need when you are adopting this way of cooking. It will give you recipes and show you how to make them in bulk along with storing them and reheating them. It goes through every meal of the day including snacks and appetizers. It even gives you helpful charts in the appendix of the book to help you in adapting your own recipes to this cooking style. 

Books-a-million

Barnes & Noble

Google Books

Amazon

Employee Body Language Revealed: How to Predict Behavior in the Workplace by Reading and Understanding Body Language

Synopsis: Only 7 percent of communication is verbal and 38 percent is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone of voice). The largest chunk then, 55 percent, is visual (body language, eye contact). People form 90 percent of their opinion about you within the first 90 seconds of meeting you. Understanding body language is a skill that can enhance your life. This understanding can be a plus in the workplace. You can know what an employee or co-worker thinks and feels by examining their subconscious body language. And, like the world's best communicators, you can have strong body language that reflects confidence, competence, and charisma.

This groundbreaking new book will make you an expert on body language. You will have the ability to read people s minds. Would you like to know if a co-worker is interested or attracted to you, when an employee or co-worker is lying or telling the truth, how to make instant friends, and persuade and influence others?

This book contains proven techniques that will make people, including employers and co-workers, like you and trust you. You can use your body language to your advantage by transmitting only the messages you want people to receive. This specialized book will demonstrate step by step how to use body language to your benefit in the workplace and in everyday situations.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Google Books

Books-a-million

Atlantic Publishing Group

The Great Wolf Lodge Travel Guide 2011

Synopsis: The Great Wolf Lodge is one of the best vacation destinations for any child or adult. The lodges are indoor water parks. Most of the lodges have Magiquest which is an indoor interactive game which puts the kids in the game using a magic wand that brings hundreds of books, treasure chests, trees, animals, pictures, and much more to life.

This book is a comprehensive travel guide for your family getaway with water park attractions for every age. Don't miss our themed restaurants, interactive arcades, full service spas for adults and kids, fitness centers, and so much more including Magiquest at most locations.

This book covers not only what's inside of each Great Wolf location but the local area attractions around each location and the places around the hotel to eat and save money.

Barnes & Noble

Google Books

Indie Bound

Two Romantic, Two Suspenseful Teasers

You can purchase Two Romantic, Two Suspenseful here:

Book Country

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Synopsis: Two Romantic, Two Suspenseful has four very different short stories.The Former Student- A shy girl returns to her school to see the teacher she has always had a crush on still there. When fantasy becomes a reality for them both, the teacher becomes the student.The Stolen Child A mother chooses to ignore the warning given to her by a strange and mysterious woman. When her child is taken, it becomes a race against time to rescue the child alive.My Death- A woman chooses to put her career first, but at what consequence. Witness the accounts of a break up gone terribly wrong. Dancing the Night Away - Two people, who have been hurt countless times, finally find love in the unlikeliest of places.

The Paynes Prairie Murder Teasers

The Paynes Prairie Murders is still being written, but you can add it to your Goodreads TBR list.

Synopsis: There is a serial killer on the loose. Women have been disappearing for years in the two states he resides in. How many murders has he committed? It’s up to officers Peter Michaels and Dave Weston of the Ocala, Florida police department to figure that out. They will need to enlist the help of New York Detective Jacob Mason to find out as much as they can about this man and his many victims. Will they catch him before he does it again? Can they break him into telling them just what he has done?