| General Fiction posted February 25, 2024 | Chapters: |
...25 26 -27- 28... 
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When the lies come to easy.....
A chapter in the book Life's Twisted Road
Life's Twisted Road - Chap 27
by Begin Again
ENDING OF CHAPTER 26
"Big Frank's outside."
"Trying to one-up me, are you? Oh, I'm scared. Well, it's not going to work. We both know Big Frank isn't out there."
"I'm not fooling around. It might not be Big Frank, but I'd know that car and his bodyguard anywhere. He's smoking a cigarette and staring at the house."
"Okay, I'll play your little game so I can go to bed." Natasha climbed off the bed and walked to the window, shoving Becky to the side. "Hello, Big Fra —" The words froze in Nat's throat. Terrified, both girls stared at each other and hit the floor.
Becky stole a quick peek out the window. "Nat, he's walking towards the house. What are we going to do?" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the house. "He's pointing a gun at us."
*****
CHAPTER 27
Wide-eyed, Becky hissed, "We've got to get out of here."
Before Natasha could answer Becky screamed again. This time because someone knocked on the door. "They're in the house."
"No, stupid. I seriously doubt they'd knock."
The door hinge creaked as Isabella opened the door. "What are you girls doing? What's the screaming about?"
Natasha was ready. "Sorry. Becky thought she saw a mouse. We didn't mean to wake you."
Isabella shook her head from side to side. "Don't you girls think you should call it a night and get some sleep? I know I am." She sighed, "Goodnight." and pulled the door closed behind her. Isabella shuffled down the hallway, oblivious to what had taken place outside her home.
But Becky hadn't forgotten. "We've got to get out of here, Nat."
"How? Are they still outside?"
Becky took a quick peek outside. "The car is gone, but he could be hiding somewhere." She moved away from the window. "Hurry and call your mom. But you need to know what you are going to say."
"Let me handle that. She'll believe anything I say, especially if it concerns my grandmother." Natasha chuckled and pushed the speed dial, putting the call on speaker. "Watch and learn from the master."
It was two a.m. when Natasha called her mom. She waited to hear the hello and then her performance began. Sniffling, she whined, "Mom, can you come and get me and Becky? I need to get out of here."
"It's two o'clock, Nat. Why aren't you in bed?"
Natasha whined, "I can't sleep. Mom, please." Stage right, Act Two, the tears began to flow as she struggled to talk, "I — I don't feel safe."
The volume of Ava's voice escalated, and Natasha knew she had her mother right where she wanted her. "Are you crying? Nat, what happened? Why don't you feel safe? Is it your grandmother?"
"No, I can't explain it. I just feel like I might hurt myself. I just want to come home — with you, Mom. Please."
"Is your grandmother awake? Because if she is, I want you to put her on the phone. I want to know why my daughter doesn't feel safe in her house."
"No, it's not that. She's asleep. Just come and get us, okay?"
"I'm getting dressed and I'll be there in ten minutes. Tape a note to your door so your grandmother will see it in the morning. Stop crying. I'm on my way." The call disconnected.
Becky couldn't believe what she'd seen and heard happen right in front of her. "Nat, you belong on stage. How did you make yourself cry?"
"It's easy. I've been doing it for years. I'll teach you sometime. Grab your stuff so we can run to the car when my mom pulls up. She's on her way."
"Aren't you a little worried about leaving your grandmother here alone? What if Big Frank and his goons return?"
"She's fine. Why would they even care about an old lady? Besides, if they showed her the gun, she'd probably have a heart attack on the spot. No worries for anyone."
"Nat, shame on you. She is your grandmother, and she does let you stay here."
"And I put up with all her crap. Come on, let's go."
Both girls crammed items into their backpacks and were watching out the front window when Ava pulled into the drive.
*****
Two days later, Natasha and Becky would be called on for another performance. This one would have bigger stakes.
The second hour was biology. Both Natasha and Becky had the same class together. Mr. Wilson asked Becky to return some books to the library. "We won't be needing these any longer. I'd like you to take them back to the library. Be sure and tell Ms. Chambers we said thank you."
"Yes, sir. Can Natasha help me? There are a lot of books."
Mr. Wilson looked at the stack of books and then at the girls. "I suppose it might take two of you to carry them. No fooling around in the halls. Go straight to the library and back."
"Yes, sir." Both girls grabbed a stack and hurried out the door before Mr. Wilson changed his mind.
As they walked through the hall, they stopped at their locker and raided Becky's private stash of candy bars. From there, they slipped a note into the new girl's locker, saying Jeremy had the hots for her. Finally, after a bathroom stop, they headed for the library.
Their leisurely travel took them past the office. Of course, they checked out what students were being detained or waiting to see the principal.
Becky gasped, "Nat, that's the sheriff and his new officer. They're talking to Principal Wyatt. What if —"
"You can stop right there, Becky. Why would they want to talk to either of us? They can't possibly know anything about Juan or Big Frank."
"Yeah, you're right. I guess after those creeps came to our house the other night, I'm jumpy."
"Well, stop or someone is going to ask you questions. And neither of us can tell them the truth."
"You want us to lie to the police if they talk to us? We'll get caught."
"Listen, girlfriend, we either lie to the police or wait for Big Frank's goons to come looking for us. Me, personally, I am in favor of lying. We're kids. They will not do anything to us."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, but I'm still scared." They stopped talking as they entered the library. "Hi, Ms. Chambers. Mr. Wilson sent us with these books, and he said to thank you."
The librarian's usual charming smile was missing as she looked over the books and made a count. "You can place them on that cart." The girls did as they were asked and started to leave. But Ms. Chambers blocked their way, frowning at them. "Mr. Wilson called and said after you delivered the books, you were to report to the office. Principal Wyatt would like to speak with the two of you."
"To both of us?"
"I assume so, since I was told to send you along as soon as you arrived. I warned you that skipping school would catch up with you."
"Skipping? No, I've not skipped since you mentioned it to me." Becky looked directly at the librarian. "Nobody has to tell me twice. Honest, I've been here every day."
"All I know is you're wanted in the office, so you both better be on your way."
The girls left the library and headed for the bathroom. Becky checked the stalls before she spoke. "Nat, they don't call the sheriff for skipping school. He's got to know something. Why else would he be here at school, asking to talk to us?"
Natasha paced back and forth, stopping to toss some cold water on her face. "I don't know what he wants, but we've got to be smart about this."
"If he asks about Juan, I can't deny it. Everyone in our neighborhood knows I am friends with him." Becky grabbed a paper towel from the machine and wiped her face. "What if they've already talked to Juan?"
"So, you're friendly to the neighborhood pool guy. That's not a crime. You can't go in there acting like you're afraid or he's going to suspect you're hiding something. He'll start grilling you until you cave. Trust me. My mom and dad try those tactics on me all the time. Cry, it gets them every time."
"I'm not you, Nat. I don't know how to cry on demand. You don't think they'll yell at us, do you? That would make me cry."
"I don't know how they'd know about the Qwik Trip. No one saw us, so it's probably not about that. And if they talked to Juan, he will not tell them anything."
"I guess we won't know until we go to the office."
"Come on, Beck, put on your game face. We've got this."
"Wait! One other thing, what if they ask you about all those scratches? I'm glad I wore pants. But how are you going to explain it?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure something will come to me."
ENDING OF CHAPTER 26
"Big Frank's outside."
"Trying to one-up me, are you? Oh, I'm scared. Well, it's not going to work. We both know Big Frank isn't out there."
"I'm not fooling around. It might not be Big Frank, but I'd know that car and his bodyguard anywhere. He's smoking a cigarette and staring at the house."
"Okay, I'll play your little game so I can go to bed." Natasha climbed off the bed and walked to the window, shoving Becky to the side. "Hello, Big Fra —" The words froze in Nat's throat. Terrified, both girls stared at each other and hit the floor.
Becky stole a quick peek out the window. "Nat, he's walking towards the house. What are we going to do?" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the house. "He's pointing a gun at us."
*****
"Big Frank's outside."
"Trying to one-up me, are you? Oh, I'm scared. Well, it's not going to work. We both know Big Frank isn't out there."
"I'm not fooling around. It might not be Big Frank, but I'd know that car and his bodyguard anywhere. He's smoking a cigarette and staring at the house."
"Okay, I'll play your little game so I can go to bed." Natasha climbed off the bed and walked to the window, shoving Becky to the side. "Hello, Big Fra —" The words froze in Nat's throat. Terrified, both girls stared at each other and hit the floor.
Becky stole a quick peek out the window. "Nat, he's walking towards the house. What are we going to do?" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the house. "He's pointing a gun at us."
*****
CHAPTER 27
Wide-eyed, Becky hissed, "We've got to get out of here."
Before Natasha could answer Becky screamed again. This time because someone knocked on the door. "They're in the house."
"No, stupid. I seriously doubt they'd knock."
The door hinge creaked as Isabella opened the door. "What are you girls doing? What's the screaming about?"
Natasha was ready. "Sorry. Becky thought she saw a mouse. We didn't mean to wake you."
Isabella shook her head from side to side. "Don't you girls think you should call it a night and get some sleep? I know I am." She sighed, "Goodnight." and pulled the door closed behind her. Isabella shuffled down the hallway, oblivious to what had taken place outside her home.
But Becky hadn't forgotten. "We've got to get out of here, Nat."
"How? Are they still outside?"
Becky took a quick peek outside. "The car is gone, but he could be hiding somewhere." She moved away from the window. "Hurry and call your mom. But you need to know what you are going to say."
"Let me handle that. She'll believe anything I say, especially if it concerns my grandmother." Natasha chuckled and pushed the speed dial, putting the call on speaker. "Watch and learn from the master."
It was two a.m. when Natasha called her mom. She waited to hear the hello and then her performance began. Sniffling, she whined, "Mom, can you come and get me and Becky? I need to get out of here."
"It's two o'clock, Nat. Why aren't you in bed?"
Natasha whined, "I can't sleep. Mom, please." Stage right, Act Two, the tears began to flow as she struggled to talk, "I — I don't feel safe."
The volume of Ava's voice escalated, and Natasha knew she had her mother right where she wanted her. "Are you crying? Nat, what happened? Why don't you feel safe? Is it your grandmother?"
"No, I can't explain it. I just feel like I might hurt myself. I just want to come home — with you, Mom. Please."
"Is your grandmother awake? Because if she is, I want you to put her on the phone. I want to know why my daughter doesn't feel safe in her house."
"No, it's not that. She's asleep. Just come and get us, okay?"
"I'm getting dressed and I'll be there in ten minutes. Tape a note to your door so your grandmother will see it in the morning. Stop crying. I'm on my way." The call disconnected.
Becky couldn't believe what she'd seen and heard happen right in front of her. "Nat, you belong on stage. How did you make yourself cry?"
"It's easy. I've been doing it for years. I'll teach you sometime. Grab your stuff so we can run to the car when my mom pulls up. She's on her way."
"Aren't you a little worried about leaving your grandmother here alone? What if Big Frank and his goons return?"
"She's fine. Why would they even care about an old lady? Besides, if they showed her the gun, she'd probably have a heart attack on the spot. No worries for anyone."
"Nat, shame on you. She is your grandmother, and she does let you stay here."
"And I put up with all her crap. Come on, let's go."
Both girls crammed items into their backpacks and were watching out the front window when Ava pulled into the drive.
*****
Two days later, Natasha and Becky would be called on for another performance. This one would have bigger stakes.
The second hour was biology. Both Natasha and Becky had the same class together. Mr. Wilson asked Becky to return some books to the library. "We won't be needing these any longer. I'd like you to take them back to the library. Be sure and tell Ms. Chambers we said thank you."
"Yes, sir. Can Natasha help me? There are a lot of books."
Mr. Wilson looked at the stack of books and then at the girls. "I suppose it might take two of you to carry them. No fooling around in the halls. Go straight to the library and back."
"Yes, sir." Both girls grabbed a stack and hurried out the door before Mr. Wilson changed his mind.
As they walked through the hall, they stopped at their locker and raided Becky's private stash of candy bars. From there, they slipped a note into the new girl's locker, saying Jeremy had the hots for her. Finally, after a bathroom stop, they headed for the library.
Their leisurely travel took them past the office. Of course, they checked out what students were being detained or waiting to see the principal.
Becky gasped, "Nat, that's the sheriff and his new officer. They're talking to Principal Wyatt. What if —"
"You can stop right there, Becky. Why would they want to talk to either of us? They can't possibly know anything about Juan or Big Frank."
"Yeah, you're right. I guess after those creeps came to our house the other night, I'm jumpy."
"Well, stop or someone is going to ask you questions. And neither of us can tell them the truth."
"You want us to lie to the police if they talk to us? We'll get caught."
"Listen, girlfriend, we either lie to the police or wait for Big Frank's goons to come looking for us. Me, personally, I am in favor of lying. We're kids. They will not do anything to us."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, but I'm still scared." They stopped talking as they entered the library. "Hi, Ms. Chambers. Mr. Wilson sent us with these books, and he said to thank you."
The librarian's usual charming smile was missing as she looked over the books and made a count. "You can place them on that cart." The girls did as they were asked and started to leave. But Ms. Chambers blocked their way, frowning at them. "Mr. Wilson called and said after you delivered the books, you were to report to the office. Principal Wyatt would like to speak with the two of you."
"To both of us?"
"I assume so, since I was told to send you along as soon as you arrived. I warned you that skipping school would catch up with you."
"Skipping? No, I've not skipped since you mentioned it to me." Becky looked directly at the librarian. "Nobody has to tell me twice. Honest, I've been here every day."
"All I know is you're wanted in the office, so you both better be on your way."
The girls left the library and headed for the bathroom. Becky checked the stalls before she spoke. "Nat, they don't call the sheriff for skipping school. He's got to know something. Why else would he be here at school, asking to talk to us?"
Natasha paced back and forth, stopping to toss some cold water on her face. "I don't know what he wants, but we've got to be smart about this."
"If he asks about Juan, I can't deny it. Everyone in our neighborhood knows I am friends with him." Becky grabbed a paper towel from the machine and wiped her face. "What if they've already talked to Juan?"
"So, you're friendly to the neighborhood pool guy. That's not a crime. You can't go in there acting like you're afraid or he's going to suspect you're hiding something. He'll start grilling you until you cave. Trust me. My mom and dad try those tactics on me all the time. Cry, it gets them every time."
"I'm not you, Nat. I don't know how to cry on demand. You don't think they'll yell at us, do you? That would make me cry."
"I don't know how they'd know about the Qwik Trip. No one saw us, so it's probably not about that. And if they talked to Juan, he will not tell them anything."
"I guess we won't know until we go to the office."
"Come on, Beck, put on your game face. We've got this."
"Wait! One other thing, what if they ask you about all those scratches? I'm glad I wore pants. But how are you going to explain it?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure something will come to me."
 Recognized |
ISABELLA - Natasha's grandmother
AVA - Isabella's daughter and Natasha's mother
DION - Star quarterback and Jason's best friend
JASON - Dion's best friend and teammate
COACH - the high school football coach and team counselor
GABBY - Jason's girlfriend and best friends with Natasha and Becky
BOBBY - Gabby's father
AUDREY - Bobby's sister and Gabby's Aunt
JUDY -THE BLONDE - Bobby's drinking date for the day
PADDY -THE JOGGER - A nice older Irish gentleman
AMANDA - Paddy's wife
LUCILLE LAKEWOOD - one of the arresting officers
CHARLIE - Department Manager for the Sheriff
JACKSON - the sheriff and the man dating Bobby's sister, Audrey
JUAN - Local pool boy and behind the scenes drug supplier
AUSTIN - semi driver and owner of Roscoe
ROSCOE - Austin's co-pilot, a German Shepherd
AL - a firefighter at the scene
TAYLOR - a town resident and mail carrier
ALEJANDRO - a local farmer
LAYLA - a registered nurse and Jackson's sister
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. AVA - Isabella's daughter and Natasha's mother
DION - Star quarterback and Jason's best friend
JASON - Dion's best friend and teammate
COACH - the high school football coach and team counselor
GABBY - Jason's girlfriend and best friends with Natasha and Becky
BOBBY - Gabby's father
AUDREY - Bobby's sister and Gabby's Aunt
JUDY -THE BLONDE - Bobby's drinking date for the day
PADDY -THE JOGGER - A nice older Irish gentleman
AMANDA - Paddy's wife
LUCILLE LAKEWOOD - one of the arresting officers
CHARLIE - Department Manager for the Sheriff
JACKSON - the sheriff and the man dating Bobby's sister, Audrey
JUAN - Local pool boy and behind the scenes drug supplier
AUSTIN - semi driver and owner of Roscoe
ROSCOE - Austin's co-pilot, a German Shepherd
AL - a firefighter at the scene
TAYLOR - a town resident and mail carrier
ALEJANDRO - a local farmer
LAYLA - a registered nurse and Jackson's sister
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