Mystery and Crime Fiction posted April 22, 2019 | Chapters: | ...7 8 -9- 10... |
Julie faces their intruder.
A chapter in the book Debt Collector
A Small Win
by Mistydawn
Summary
Jeff is told he can either 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?
Jeff has stolen a car and has been chased by the cops. He escapes from that only to be sent to another job. Jeff hears sirens in the middle of his illegal adventure. Setting the building on fire, he flees from the scene. Julie discovers an invader in their house.
The bright moonlight shines in through their dining room window, illuminating the room around her. Julie anxiously waits in the shadows, preparing to face the intruder. Her husband had pulled up just moments ago.
The doorknob jiggles, the invader turns to face it. He'll kill Jeff the second he steps through the door. Grabbing the centerpiece off their table, Julie darts over, and whacks the man in the back of his head. The robber's muscular body tumbles to the floor.
Reaching for the knob, Julie throws the barrier open; she quickly discovers that neither Jeff or his car is there. I swore he pulled in. Running to the end of the garage, she glances down the road but doesn't see a thing. That's odd, she thinks as she heads back towards the house.
She hears the invader moaning when she steps through the door. She scoops the centerpiece off the floor and smacks him again; his body plunks against the carpet; a thin stream of blood trickles down the side of his head.
She grabs the rope he'd used on her and secures his hands behind him. She takes the second piece and wraps it around his ankles, then ties the ends together. "That should hold him until the police get here." Swiping a loose hair from her face, she scoops up her phone and dials 911.
***
Jeff is lying motionless across the front seat of his car, hoping the tinted windows will shield him from the intruder's view. Sharp, stabbing pains tyrannize his abdomen as urine trickles down his leg. What did I get myself into, what? Tears roll down his cold, damp cheeks as his agony increases.
The intruder pounds on his window again, Jeff feels his stomach quiver. I don't know how much longer I can take this. The intruder strikes the cold, frail barrier harder than before. Jeff's entire body tenses up waiting for the glass to shatter.
"Open the damn door, now," the invader yells. Jeff lifts his head from the leather interior. He finds Luigi impatiently shifting his weight.
"You either open this damn door, or I'll break the glass," he warns.
Jeff unlocks the door. "I didn't realize it was you," he apologizes as he straightens up in his seat.
"What happened back there?" Luigi folds his sizable body into the car. He reaches down and pulls on a lever, the seat whizzes towards the back. Luigi climbs the rest of the way in.
"I started to grab the money when the damn siren went off. I panicked and ran to my car."
"Did anyone see you?"
Jeff thinks back. I really didn't look.
"Well?"
"I... I don't think so." He fidgets in his seat.
"You need to calm down before you make yourself sick."
"I know, I know." Jeff takes a few deep breaths hoping to calm his nerves.
"The boss called, said he wants to talk to you."
"Why... Why does he want to talk to me?"
"He didn't say."
"I'm... I'm not in any trouble am I?"
"There's only one way to find out." Luigi grabs the keys from the ignition. "Trade me places." He climbs out of the car as Jeff slides across the seat.
"Buckle up," Luigi orders. Throwing the car in gear, he peels away.
Jeff's thoughts start racing as they continue down the road. Why does he want to talk to me? Is it because I screwed up? I had no way of knowing the alarm was there. Besides, I did what I was told. He glances over at Luigi who's staring straight ahead. Maybe he and the boss are tired of dealing with me, so they're going to take care of me once and for all. What will happen to Julie and the girls if they do? Luigi's warning replays in his mind.
"Your family will die a slow, painful death."
No, I can't let that happen, I just can't, but how am I going to stop it? Jeff anxiously searches for a solution. I'll text Julie and tell her she's in danger and should go to the police. Can I send her a message without him catching on? He glances at Luigi again. He's still concentrating on the road ahead. I have to try. He searches for his phone, but it is nowhere in sight. He checks his pockets and finds they're empty. I hope I didn't drop it in the store, he thinks as he continues to look around.
"Hey, what are you doing over there?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jeff settles back in his seat.
"It better be nothing." Luigi looks towards the road again.
I have to warn Julie but how? I could call her from a business, but I'll need an excuse for stopping. I'll tell him I have to pee or I'm about to get sick? Yeah, that'll work. So what's still open this late? Every store Jeff comes up with is closed. Something has to be open. Luigi makes a left. I better speak up before it's too late. "I have to pee." Jeff squirms around in his seat, hoping his theatrics will make it seem more authentic.
"Again?" Luigi glances at his wet pants, Jeff shrugs. "Wait until we get to the house."
"But..."
"We're almost there."
Jeff sees a well-lit cabin up ahead. I could make a run for it, but where would I go if I did? He notices two brawny men with machine guns posted on either side of the door. I doubt they'll let me get very far.
Luigi starts to climb out when he realizes Jeff isn't moving. "Come on, let's go."
"But..."
"Don't worry, no one is going to kill you, at least not tonight." Luigi chuckles.
That's a big comfort. Climbing out of his car, Jeff follows him across the lawn.
Luigi exchanges pleasantries with the guards before he steps inside. "Follow me." Luigi heads towards the back, stopping at a thick, wooden door. "You ready?"
"I...I... Think so."
Smiling Luigi pulls the barrier open. "You wanted to see us, boss?"
"Yes, come in, come in." A heavily accented voice replies. The two steps into the spacious office.
Jeff notices a large, rounded man on the far side of the room. He's wearing an expensive double vested black suit. It fits so profoundly that it has to be tailored made; an Italian hat fashioned from the same cloth rests on his head. He then notices several gold rings perched on his short stubby fingers. Jeff watches as he casually removes his Cobiha from his mouth. This is just like an old movie. Remembering the usual outcome, Jeff shivers from the thought.
Pushing Jeff into the room, Luigi closes the door and then takes his spot alongside their boss.
Jeff's anxiety skyrockets as the two stare him down.
After what seems like forever, Bambini breaks the silence. "I heard you ran into a little problem tonight, son."
Bile rises in Jeff's throat, he gulps it back down. "Yes... Yes, sir, I... I accidentally set off the alarm when I reached into the cash register. I panicked and ran to my car."
"Did anyone see you?"
"I... I don't believe so, sir."
"Good, good. Were you able to grab any of the money?"
"Yes... Yes, sir." He pulls out a handful of cash. "It doesn't amount to much, sir, but it was everything in the drawer." Walking across the room, he puts the bills on the desk. Reaching back into his pocket, he takes the last bit out. "That's it, sir."
Bambini counts the money. "It's more than what I expected. Nice work, son."
"Thank you."
"You're absolutely certain no one saw you?"
"I... I don't believe so, sir." Jeff anxiously fidgets with his clothes.
"We need to give you an alibi for tonight, just in case. So where did you tell your wife you're going?"
"I said I had a meeting with an important client."
"Good, good. It took place at Bambini's from..." Glancing at his Rolex he continues. "From 8:30 until it closed at midnight, got it."
"Yes, sir."
"Go get some rest; we'll call when we need you again."
"Yes, sir." Jeff spins around.
"Hey," Luigi yells.
Just when I thought It was over. Jeff slowly turns around. "Yeah?"
"You might need these." Luigi tosses Jeff his keys.
***
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 either 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?
Jeff has stolen a car and has been chased by the cops. He escapes from that only to be sent to another job. Jeff hears sirens in the middle of his illegal adventure. Setting the building on fire, he flees from the scene. Julie discovers an invader in their house.
The bright moonlight shines in through their dining room window, illuminating the room around her. Julie anxiously waits in the shadows, preparing to face the intruder. Her husband had pulled up just moments ago.
The doorknob jiggles, the invader turns to face it. He'll kill Jeff the second he steps through the door. Grabbing the centerpiece off their table, Julie darts over, and whacks the man in the back of his head. The robber's muscular body tumbles to the floor.
Reaching for the knob, Julie throws the barrier open; she quickly discovers that neither Jeff or his car is there. I swore he pulled in. Running to the end of the garage, she glances down the road but doesn't see a thing. That's odd, she thinks as she heads back towards the house.
She hears the invader moaning when she steps through the door. She scoops the centerpiece off the floor and smacks him again; his body plunks against the carpet; a thin stream of blood trickles down the side of his head.
She grabs the rope he'd used on her and secures his hands behind him. She takes the second piece and wraps it around his ankles, then ties the ends together. "That should hold him until the police get here." Swiping a loose hair from her face, she scoops up her phone and dials 911.
***
Jeff is lying motionless across the front seat of his car, hoping the tinted windows will shield him from the intruder's view. Sharp, stabbing pains tyrannize his abdomen as urine trickles down his leg. What did I get myself into, what? Tears roll down his cold, damp cheeks as his agony increases.
The intruder pounds on his window again, Jeff feels his stomach quiver. I don't know how much longer I can take this. The intruder strikes the cold, frail barrier harder than before. Jeff's entire body tenses up waiting for the glass to shatter.
"Open the damn door, now," the invader yells. Jeff lifts his head from the leather interior. He finds Luigi impatiently shifting his weight.
"You either open this damn door, or I'll break the glass," he warns.
Jeff unlocks the door. "I didn't realize it was you," he apologizes as he straightens up in his seat.
"What happened back there?" Luigi folds his sizable body into the car. He reaches down and pulls on a lever, the seat whizzes towards the back. Luigi climbs the rest of the way in.
"I started to grab the money when the damn siren went off. I panicked and ran to my car."
"Did anyone see you?"
Jeff thinks back. I really didn't look.
"Well?"
"I... I don't think so." He fidgets in his seat.
"You need to calm down before you make yourself sick."
"I know, I know." Jeff takes a few deep breaths hoping to calm his nerves.
"The boss called, said he wants to talk to you."
"Why... Why does he want to talk to me?"
"He didn't say."
"I'm... I'm not in any trouble am I?"
"There's only one way to find out." Luigi grabs the keys from the ignition. "Trade me places." He climbs out of the car as Jeff slides across the seat.
"Buckle up," Luigi orders. Throwing the car in gear, he peels away.
Jeff's thoughts start racing as they continue down the road. Why does he want to talk to me? Is it because I screwed up? I had no way of knowing the alarm was there. Besides, I did what I was told. He glances over at Luigi who's staring straight ahead. Maybe he and the boss are tired of dealing with me, so they're going to take care of me once and for all. What will happen to Julie and the girls if they do? Luigi's warning replays in his mind.
"Your family will die a slow, painful death."
No, I can't let that happen, I just can't, but how am I going to stop it? Jeff anxiously searches for a solution. I'll text Julie and tell her she's in danger and should go to the police. Can I send her a message without him catching on? He glances at Luigi again. He's still concentrating on the road ahead. I have to try. He searches for his phone, but it is nowhere in sight. He checks his pockets and finds they're empty. I hope I didn't drop it in the store, he thinks as he continues to look around.
"Hey, what are you doing over there?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jeff settles back in his seat.
"It better be nothing." Luigi looks towards the road again.
I have to warn Julie but how? I could call her from a business, but I'll need an excuse for stopping. I'll tell him I have to pee or I'm about to get sick? Yeah, that'll work. So what's still open this late? Every store Jeff comes up with is closed. Something has to be open. Luigi makes a left. I better speak up before it's too late. "I have to pee." Jeff squirms around in his seat, hoping his theatrics will make it seem more authentic.
"Again?" Luigi glances at his wet pants, Jeff shrugs. "Wait until we get to the house."
"But..."
"We're almost there."
Jeff sees a well-lit cabin up ahead. I could make a run for it, but where would I go if I did? He notices two brawny men with machine guns posted on either side of the door. I doubt they'll let me get very far.
Luigi starts to climb out when he realizes Jeff isn't moving. "Come on, let's go."
"But..."
"Don't worry, no one is going to kill you, at least not tonight." Luigi chuckles.
That's a big comfort. Climbing out of his car, Jeff follows him across the lawn.
Luigi exchanges pleasantries with the guards before he steps inside. "Follow me." Luigi heads towards the back, stopping at a thick, wooden door. "You ready?"
"I...I... Think so."
Smiling Luigi pulls the barrier open. "You wanted to see us, boss?"
"Yes, come in, come in." A heavily accented voice replies. The two steps into the spacious office.
Jeff notices a large, rounded man on the far side of the room. He's wearing an expensive double vested black suit. It fits so profoundly that it has to be tailored made; an Italian hat fashioned from the same cloth rests on his head. He then notices several gold rings perched on his short stubby fingers. Jeff watches as he casually removes his Cobiha from his mouth. This is just like an old movie. Remembering the usual outcome, Jeff shivers from the thought.
Pushing Jeff into the room, Luigi closes the door and then takes his spot alongside their boss.
Jeff's anxiety skyrockets as the two stare him down.
After what seems like forever, Bambini breaks the silence. "I heard you ran into a little problem tonight, son."
Bile rises in Jeff's throat, he gulps it back down. "Yes... Yes, sir, I... I accidentally set off the alarm when I reached into the cash register. I panicked and ran to my car."
"Did anyone see you?"
"I... I don't believe so, sir."
"Good, good. Were you able to grab any of the money?"
"Yes... Yes, sir." He pulls out a handful of cash. "It doesn't amount to much, sir, but it was everything in the drawer." Walking across the room, he puts the bills on the desk. Reaching back into his pocket, he takes the last bit out. "That's it, sir."
Bambini counts the money. "It's more than what I expected. Nice work, son."
"Thank you."
"You're absolutely certain no one saw you?"
"I... I don't believe so, sir." Jeff anxiously fidgets with his clothes.
"We need to give you an alibi for tonight, just in case. So where did you tell your wife you're going?"
"I said I had a meeting with an important client."
"Good, good. It took place at Bambini's from..." Glancing at his Rolex he continues. "From 8:30 until it closed at midnight, got it."
"Yes, sir."
"Go get some rest; we'll call when we need you again."
"Yes, sir." Jeff spins around.
"Hey," Luigi yells.
Just when I thought It was over. Jeff slowly turns around. "Yeah?"
"You might need these." Luigi tosses Jeff his keys.
***
Jeff is told he can either 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?
Jeff has stolen a car and has been chased by the cops. He escapes from that only to be sent to another job. Jeff hears sirens in the middle of his illegal adventure. Setting the building on fire, he flees from the scene. Julie discovers an invader in their house.
The bright moonlight shines in through their dining room window, illuminating the room around her. Julie anxiously waits in the shadows, preparing to face the intruder. Her husband had pulled up just moments ago.
The doorknob jiggles, the invader turns to face it. He'll kill Jeff the second he steps through the door. Grabbing the centerpiece off their table, Julie darts over, and whacks the man in the back of his head. The robber's muscular body tumbles to the floor.
Reaching for the knob, Julie throws the barrier open; she quickly discovers that neither Jeff or his car is there. I swore he pulled in. Running to the end of the garage, she glances down the road but doesn't see a thing. That's odd, she thinks as she heads back towards the house.
She hears the invader moaning when she steps through the door. She scoops the centerpiece off the floor and smacks him again; his body plunks against the carpet; a thin stream of blood trickles down the side of his head.
She grabs the rope he'd used on her and secures his hands behind him. She takes the second piece and wraps it around his ankles, then ties the ends together. "That should hold him until the police get here." Swiping a loose hair from her face, she scoops up her phone and dials 911.
***
Jeff is lying motionless across the front seat of his car, hoping the tinted windows will shield him from the intruder's view. Sharp, stabbing pains tyrannize his abdomen as urine trickles down his leg. What did I get myself into, what? Tears roll down his cold, damp cheeks as his agony increases.
The intruder pounds on his window again, Jeff feels his stomach quiver. I don't know how much longer I can take this. The intruder strikes the cold, frail barrier harder than before. Jeff's entire body tenses up waiting for the glass to shatter.
"Open the damn door, now," the invader yells. Jeff lifts his head from the leather interior. He finds Luigi impatiently shifting his weight.
"You either open this damn door, or I'll break the glass," he warns.
Jeff unlocks the door. "I didn't realize it was you," he apologizes as he straightens up in his seat.
"What happened back there?" Luigi folds his sizable body into the car. He reaches down and pulls on a lever, the seat whizzes towards the back. Luigi climbs the rest of the way in.
"I started to grab the money when the damn siren went off. I panicked and ran to my car."
"Did anyone see you?"
Jeff thinks back. I really didn't look.
"Well?"
"I... I don't think so." He fidgets in his seat.
"You need to calm down before you make yourself sick."
"I know, I know." Jeff takes a few deep breaths hoping to calm his nerves.
"The boss called, said he wants to talk to you."
"Why... Why does he want to talk to me?"
"He didn't say."
"I'm... I'm not in any trouble am I?"
"There's only one way to find out." Luigi grabs the keys from the ignition. "Trade me places." He climbs out of the car as Jeff slides across the seat.
"Buckle up," Luigi orders. Throwing the car in gear, he peels away.
Jeff's thoughts start racing as they continue down the road. Why does he want to talk to me? Is it because I screwed up? I had no way of knowing the alarm was there. Besides, I did what I was told. He glances over at Luigi who's staring straight ahead. Maybe he and the boss are tired of dealing with me, so they're going to take care of me once and for all. What will happen to Julie and the girls if they do? Luigi's warning replays in his mind.
"Your family will die a slow, painful death."
No, I can't let that happen, I just can't, but how am I going to stop it? Jeff anxiously searches for a solution. I'll text Julie and tell her she's in danger and should go to the police. Can I send her a message without him catching on? He glances at Luigi again. He's still concentrating on the road ahead. I have to try. He searches for his phone, but it is nowhere in sight. He checks his pockets and finds they're empty. I hope I didn't drop it in the store, he thinks as he continues to look around.
"Hey, what are you doing over there?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jeff settles back in his seat.
"It better be nothing." Luigi looks towards the road again.
I have to warn Julie but how? I could call her from a business, but I'll need an excuse for stopping. I'll tell him I have to pee or I'm about to get sick? Yeah, that'll work. So what's still open this late? Every store Jeff comes up with is closed. Something has to be open. Luigi makes a left. I better speak up before it's too late. "I have to pee." Jeff squirms around in his seat, hoping his theatrics will make it seem more authentic.
"Again?" Luigi glances at his wet pants, Jeff shrugs. "Wait until we get to the house."
"But..."
"We're almost there."
Jeff sees a well-lit cabin up ahead. I could make a run for it, but where would I go if I did? He notices two brawny men with machine guns posted on either side of the door. I doubt they'll let me get very far.
Luigi starts to climb out when he realizes Jeff isn't moving. "Come on, let's go."
"But..."
"Don't worry, no one is going to kill you, at least not tonight." Luigi chuckles.
That's a big comfort. Climbing out of his car, Jeff follows him across the lawn.
Luigi exchanges pleasantries with the guards before he steps inside. "Follow me." Luigi heads towards the back, stopping at a thick, wooden door. "You ready?"
"I...I... Think so."
Smiling Luigi pulls the barrier open. "You wanted to see us, boss?"
"Yes, come in, come in." A heavily accented voice replies. The two steps into the spacious office.
Jeff notices a large, rounded man on the far side of the room. He's wearing an expensive double vested black suit. It fits so profoundly that it has to be tailored made; an Italian hat fashioned from the same cloth rests on his head. He then notices several gold rings perched on his short stubby fingers. Jeff watches as he casually removes his Cobiha from his mouth. This is just like an old movie. Remembering the usual outcome, Jeff shivers from the thought.
Pushing Jeff into the room, Luigi closes the door and then takes his spot alongside their boss.
Jeff's anxiety skyrockets as the two stare him down.
After what seems like forever, Bambini breaks the silence. "I heard you ran into a little problem tonight, son."
Bile rises in Jeff's throat, he gulps it back down. "Yes... Yes, sir, I... I accidentally set off the alarm when I reached into the cash register. I panicked and ran to my car."
"Did anyone see you?"
"I... I don't believe so, sir."
"Good, good. Were you able to grab any of the money?"
"Yes... Yes, sir." He pulls out a handful of cash. "It doesn't amount to much, sir, but it was everything in the drawer." Walking across the room, he puts the bills on the desk. Reaching back into his pocket, he takes the last bit out. "That's it, sir."
Bambini counts the money. "It's more than what I expected. Nice work, son."
"Thank you."
"You're absolutely certain no one saw you?"
"I... I don't believe so, sir." Jeff anxiously fidgets with his clothes.
"We need to give you an alibi for tonight, just in case. So where did you tell your wife you're going?"
"I said I had a meeting with an important client."
"Good, good. It took place at Bambini's from..." Glancing at his Rolex he continues. "From 8:30 until it closed at midnight, got it."
"Yes, sir."
"Go get some rest; we'll call when we need you again."
"Yes, sir." Jeff spins around.
"Hey," Luigi yells.
Just when I thought It was over. Jeff slowly turns around. "Yeah?"
"You might need these." Luigi tosses Jeff his keys.
***
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
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