Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 14, 2017 | Chapters: | 1 2 -3- 4... |
Unpaid debts can be fatal
A chapter in the book Debt Collector
Little White Lie
by Mistydawn
Summary
Jeff is told he can help Bruno Bambini with his shady business or watch his family die a slow, painful death. How far will Jeff go to save the ones he loves? He's in the process of stealing a car when the police get behind him.
Seeing a familiar exit, Jeff quickly pulls on to it. He realizes, outrunning the cops isn't the smartest idea, but figures it's the only way he's going to avoid an arrest. An infraction he knows will lead to his family's demise. He realizes the police can protect him and his girls, but what about his mother and his dear sweet aunt? "What have I gotten myself into, what?" he questions, peeking in his mirror again. He expects to find the police behind him, but discovers Luigi instead. He looks further back and sees the police cruiser pass the exit. They weren't chasing me after all. He sighs with relief.
He notices a large puddle of vomit, oozing inside the passenger seat; its pungent stench lingers in the stagnant air. His eyes tear up, he begins to heave. "Not again." Pulling to the shoulder of the road, Jeff throws the driver's door open.
Pulling alongside him, Luigi sees Jeff's head hanging out the door. A puddle of chunky brown liquid below him. "Did the cops frighten you, bud?" Luigi laughs.
Jeff glances over. "Just a little." He vomits again.
Luigi looks down the deserted road and then back at Jeff, a curious expression on his face. "Where were you headed?"
"I was going to ditch them on a back road I know."
"So, you do have a little gangster in you after all." Luigi chuckles. Jeff sneers. "Whenever you're ready, let me know."
"I think I'm ready now." He wipes his mouth with his sleeve.
Luigi notices the mess when he peeks inside. "I'd clean it up before Bambini sees it," Luigi instructs. Chuckling, he drives away.
***
"The lab is cool, mom," Rebecca replies as they step into the busy hallway. It's the only part of the police station that remains untouched by time with its original wood walls and hardwood floors. Everyone seems to favor this area, despite its dark interior.
"There is a lot of neat stuff in there. What will they do now, Rachel?"
"They'll check for fingerprints and camera type, see if they can identify the owner."
"How long will that take?"
"It depends on how many prints they find and if it's a popular camera. So why don't we go back and see about your house," she suggests, escorting her friend to the front.
"I'm so glad I found you," Joe says as he walks towards them.
"Why, what's going on?" Rachel questions.
"The police need your friend to go back to her house, see if anything is missing." Terrified, Julie glances over at Rachel.
Noticing the petrified look on her friend's face, Rachel quickly replies: "I'll go with you if you'd like."
"Is it alright if she goes, captain?"
"I think we can spare her for a little while."
"Guess we're going home, girls."
"I don't want to leave, mommy."
"Me either." Rebecca stomps her foot in protest.
"I'm coming with."
"Aunt Rachel is coming, Aunt Rachel is coming," Abby sings. Although they're not actually blood related, Rachel and Julie's friendship grew into a sisterhood of its own.
Julie laughs. "My daughters love you to death."
"I love them too," she says, scooping Abby into her arms.
"Have you ever thought about having kids?"
"Maybe someday, but until then, I'll spoil my two beautiful nieces rotten." She tickles the squirmy child. Abby giggles in her arms.
Yeah, someday we'll have children, Joe thinks dreamily as he watches her walk outside.
***
Pulling up to Mr. Bambini's shop, Jeff springs out of the car; delighted that his road trip is over. He glances up to find the sun peeking through the clouds. He then realizes the rain has slowed down to a light mist.
Maybe I'll be able to play ball yet, he thinks, happy to return to his normal life.
Luigi steps outside to greet him. "I hope you cleaned up your mess."
"That's what took me so long," Jeff says as he hands off the keys.
"You better hope I don't find anything wrong." Luigi walks over to inspect it.
Jeff nervously watches as he examines every inch. He didn't think he harmed it, but considering what he'd just been through, Jeff wasn't completely certain.
After what seemed like an eternity, Luigi turns towards him, a stern look on his face. I'm in for it now. Jeff gulps, taking a step back.
Seeing the horror on the lackey's face, Luigi chuckles. "We'll call you when we need you."
With a huge sigh of relief, Jeff heads to his car. He takes a few quick steps and then realizes he doesn't know where it is. "Hey, where's my..."
"It's around the corner, keys are in it."
Jeff grabs his cell from the console once he was inside. I have four missed calls from Julie? She never blows up my phone unless... Horrifying thoughts run through his mind as he punches in her number. "Hello, Julie?"
"Thank God you're alright," she blurts into the phone.
"Why, what's going on?"
"Someone broke into our house and left a picture of the girls on our lawn."
"Are you alright?"
"Just a little shaken is all."
"Where are you now?"
"I'm at our house with the police."
"Stay put, I'll be right there."
***
"Who's on the phone, mom?" Rebecca asks, glancing up from their TV.
"It's your daddy, he says he's coming home." She turns towards her friend. "Do you think you can stay until Jeff gets here; I really don't want to be alone?" She anxiously glances around their house.
The detective reaches over and grabs her friend's hands. "I'll stay as long as you want."
"You probably think I'm a big baby for acting this way, so spooked and all."
"Quite the contrary. It's scary to think that someone broke into your home, invaded your safe space."
An officer steps up beside them. "We didn't find any signs of forced entry and their alarm was disabled."
"I set it before the girls and I left this morning." Julie pauses for a second. "At least I think I did. Rebecca, do you remember me setting the alarm?"
"Yeah, remember you chased Abby out, told her it would go off if she didn't put a little hustle in her bustle."
"I remember now, she laughed all the way to my van. Said I was being silly."
The officer checks his notebook. "According to the company's records, it was set at 7: 45 and disarmed at 10:02."
Rachel turns towards her friend. "Who else knows this code?"
"No one, well, except for Jeff of course."
"Maybe Jeff came home and forgot to reset it when he left."
"It's possible I suppose."
"Daddy's here, Daddy's here," Abby chants.
"Hi, pumpkin." Picking Abby up, Jeff hurries towards Julie. "I'm so sorry I scared you, honey."
"Sorry, you scared me, what are you talking about Jeff?"
"I forgot an ad I'm working on so I came back to get it. I was in such a hurry, I must've forgotten to reset the alarm." He feels bad for lying to her, but he'd much rather fib than tell her what's really going on.
"That explains the door, but what about the photo on the lawn?"
"Doug from across the street took it yesterday. He said it looked like we're having so much fun that he wanted to capture the moment."
"Why would he go to all the trouble of taking a picture then leave it in the yard?"
"He claims he taped it to the door so I'm thinking the wind must have blown it away."
"When did you talk to Doug?"
"Right after I hung up with you. He called to tell me the police are at my house."
"Oh." She sheepishly glances around. "I feel so foolish for putting everyone through this."
"We'd much rather you come to us and it ends up being nothing than take a chance."
***
Walking to the far end of the cabin, Luigi knocks on the door. "You wanted to see me, sir?" he asks. Luigi's worked for the family since he was a young child, living on the streets of Sicily. Discovering the lad on the verge of starvation, Bruno Bambini took him in, offered him employment. When Bruno expanded his business to America, Luigi eagerly followed.
Bambini looks up from his desk. "Yes, yes, come in, come in, have a seat. Luigi does as he's told. "So, tell me, Luigi, how did this Jeff guy do today?" Bruno asks, putting his pen aside, he reaches for his box of cigars. The special import reminds him of happy times in his motherland. He offers Luigi one, the lad shakes his head.
"He's a nervous fellow, threw up all over the place when your cop buddy followed him. Other than that I'd say he did alright."
"Not a scratch on the car?"
"He returned it in mint condition; even cleaned up his mess."
"Good, call him up, tell him I have another job for him to do."
"Another one, sir?"
"We need to put the fear in someone who's refusing to pay."
Characters
Jeff Donaldson, the man forced to commit crimes to save his family
Julie Donaldson, Jeff's wife
Abby, Rebecca Donaldson, Jeff and Julie's girls
Luigi Ricci, Bruno Bambini's goon
Bruno Bambini, kingpin.
Berryville PD
Joe, sergeant
Rachel, detective
Jerry, detective,
Sharon, ME, head of forensics
Summary
Jeff is told he can help Bruno Bambini with his shady business or watch his family die a slow, painful death. How far will Jeff go to save the ones he loves? He's in the process of stealing a car when the police get behind him.
Seeing a familiar exit, Jeff quickly pulls on to it. He realizes, outrunning the cops isn't the smartest idea, but figures it's the only way he's going to avoid an arrest. An infraction he knows will lead to his family's demise. He realizes the police can protect him and his girls, but what about his mother and his dear sweet aunt? "What have I gotten myself into, what?" he questions, peeking in his mirror again. He expects to find the police behind him, but discovers Luigi instead. He looks further back and sees the police cruiser pass the exit. They weren't chasing me after all. He sighs with relief.
He notices a large puddle of vomit, oozing inside the passenger seat; its pungent stench lingers in the stagnant air. His eyes tear up, he begins to heave. "Not again." Pulling to the shoulder of the road, Jeff throws the driver's door open.
Pulling alongside him, Luigi sees Jeff's head hanging out the door. A puddle of chunky brown liquid below him. "Did the cops frighten you, bud?" Luigi laughs.
Jeff glances over. "Just a little." He vomits again.
Luigi looks down the deserted road and then back at Jeff, a curious expression on his face. "Where were you headed?"
"I was going to ditch them on a back road I know."
"So, you do have a little gangster in you after all." Luigi chuckles. Jeff sneers. "Whenever you're ready, let me know."
"I think I'm ready now." He wipes his mouth with his sleeve.
Luigi notices the mess when he peeks inside. "I'd clean it up before Bambini sees it," Luigi instructs. Chuckling, he drives away.
***
"The lab is cool, mom," Rebecca replies as they step into the busy hallway. It's the only part of the police station that remains untouched by time with its original wood walls and hardwood floors. Everyone seems to favor this area, despite its dark interior.
"There is a lot of neat stuff in there. What will they do now, Rachel?"
"They'll check for fingerprints and camera type, see if they can identify the owner."
"How long will that take?"
"It depends on how many prints they find and if it's a popular camera. So why don't we go back and see about your house," she suggests, escorting her friend to the front.
"I'm so glad I found you," Joe says as he walks towards them.
"Why, what's going on?" Rachel questions.
"The police need your friend to go back to her house, see if anything is missing." Terrified, Julie glances over at Rachel.
Noticing the petrified look on her friend's face, Rachel quickly replies: "I'll go with you if you'd like."
"Is it alright if she goes, captain?"
"I think we can spare her for a little while."
"Guess we're going home, girls."
"I don't want to leave, mommy."
"Me either." Rebecca stomps her foot in protest.
"I'm coming with."
"Aunt Rachel is coming, Aunt Rachel is coming," Abby sings. Although they're not actually blood related, Rachel and Julie's friendship grew into a sisterhood of its own.
Julie laughs. "My daughters love you to death."
"I love them too," she says, scooping Abby into her arms.
"Have you ever thought about having kids?"
"Maybe someday, but until then, I'll spoil my two beautiful nieces rotten." She tickles the squirmy child. Abby giggles in her arms.
Yeah, someday we'll have children, Joe thinks dreamily as he watches her walk outside.
***
Pulling up to Mr.
Maybe I'll be able to play ball yet, he thinks, happy to return to his normal life.
Luigi steps outside to greet him. "I hope you cleaned up your mess."
"That's what took me so long," Jeff says as he hands off the keys.
"You better hope I don't find anything wrong." Luigi walks over to inspect it.
Jeff nervously watches as he examines every inch. He didn't think he harmed it, but considering what he'd just been through, Jeff wasn't completely certain.
After what seemed like an eternity, Luigi turns towards him, a stern look on his face. I'm in for it now. Jeff gulps, taking a step back.
Seeing the horror on the lackey's face, Luigi chuckles. "We'll call you when we need you."
With a huge sigh of relief, Jeff heads to his car. He takes a few quick steps and then realizes he doesn't know where it is. "Hey, where's my..."
"It's around the corner, keys are in it."
Jeff grabs his cell from the console once he was inside. I have four missed calls from Julie? She never blows up my phone unless... Horrifying thoughts run through his mind as he punches in her number. "Hello, Julie?"
"Thank God you're alright," she blurts into the phone.
"Why, what's going on?"
"Someone broke into our house and left a picture of the girls on our lawn."
"Are you alright?"
"Just a little shaken is all."
"Where are you now?"
"I
"Stay put, I'll be right there."
***
"Who's on the phone, mom?" Rebecca asks, glancing up from their TV.
"It's your daddy, he says he's coming home." She turns towards her friend. "Do you think you can stay until Jeff gets here; I really don't want to be alone?" She anxiously glances around their house.
The detective reaches over and grabs her friend's hands. "I'll stay as long as you want."
"You probably think I'm a big baby for acting this way, so spooked and all."
"Quite the contrary. It's scary to think that someone broke into your home, invaded your safe space."
An officer steps up beside them. "We didn't find any signs of forced entry and their alarm was disabled."
"I set it before the girls and I left this morning." Julie pauses for a second. "At least I think I did. Rebecca, do you remember me setting the alarm?"
"Yeah, remember you chased Abby out, told her it would go off if she didn't put a little hustle in her bustle."
"I remember now, she laughed all the way to my van. Said I was being silly."
The officer checks his notebook. "According to the company's records, it was set at 7: 45 and disarmed at 10:02."
Rachel turns towards her friend. "Who else knows this code?"
"No one, well, except for Jeff of course."
"Maybe Jeff came home and forgot to reset it when he left."
"It's possible I suppose."
"Daddy's here, Daddy's here," Abby chants.
"Hi, pumpkin." Picking Abby up, Jeff hurries towards Julie. "I'm so sorry I scared you, honey."
"Sorry, you scared me, what are you talking about Jeff?"
"I forgot an ad I'm working on so I came back to get it. I was in such a hurry, I must've forgotten to reset the alarm." He feels bad for lying to her, but he'd much rather fib than tell her what's really going on.
"That explains the door, but what about the photo on the lawn?"
"Doug from across the street took it yesterday. He said it looked like we're having so much fun that he wanted to capture the moment."
"Why would he go to all the trouble of taking a picture then leave it in the yard?"
"He claims he taped it to the door so I'm thinking the wind must have blown it away."
"When did you talk to Doug?"
"Right after I hung up with you. He called to tell me the police are at my house."
"Oh." She sheepishly glances around. "I feel so foolish for putting everyone through this."
"We'd much rather you come to us and it ends up being nothing than take a chance."
***
Walking to the far end of the cabin, Luigi knocks on the door. "You wanted to see me, sir?" he asks. Luigi's worked for the family since he was a young child, living on the streets of Sicily. Discovering the lad on the verge of starvation, Bruno Bambini took him in, offered him employment. When Bruno expanded his business to America, Luigi eagerly followed.
Bambini looks up from his desk. "Yes, yes, come in, come in, have a seat. Luigi does as he's told. "So, tell me, Luigi, how did this Jeff guy do today?" Bruno asks, putting his pen aside, he reaches for his box of cigars. The special import reminds him of happy times in his motherland. He offers Luigi one, the lad shakes his head.
"He's a nervous fellow, threw up all over the place when your cop buddy followed him. Other than that I'd say he did alright."
"Not a scratch on the car?"
"He returned it in mint condition; even cleaned up his mess."
"Good, call him up, tell him I have another job for him to do."
"Another one, sir?"
"We need to put the fear in someone who's refusing to pay."
Characters
Jeff Donaldson, the man forced to commit crimes to save his family
Julie Donaldson, Jeff's wife
Abby, Rebecca Donaldson, Jeff and Julie's girls
Luigi Ricci, Bruno Bambini's goon
Bruno Bambini, kingpin.
Berryville PD
Joe, sergeant
Rachel, detective
Jerry, detective,
Sharon, ME, head of forensics
© Copyright 2024. Mistydawn All rights reserved.
Mistydawn has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.