Mr. Summers
Introduction
Grace sat on the patio and lit a cigarette, she took a deep drag and exhaled slowly. The first light of day had begun to show, it had been a long night. She looked down at her hands looking past the dirt she noticed that a few of her manicured nails were broken. "I'll have to trim them all down." She thought as she poured a glass of Jack and downed it. She finished her cigarette and let out a sigh. Grace arose from the patio chair and wandered in side and up the stairs. She slowly took her cloths off and dropped them into the hamper, standing in the bathroom she took out the fingernail clippers from her make-up bag and cut her fingernails short. She then stepped into the shower and turned on the water. Grace just stood there letting the water wash away the dirt, tears started to stream down her face and she slid down and sat in the corner of the tub, crying. "I am so sorry, it should have never turned out like this."
Grace pulled on her blue cotton robe that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door and crawled into bed. When Grace awoke it was dark, she fumbled for a bottle of water on her night stand, she sat up and drank. Then laid back down and fell back asleep.
Grace was awoken by the beep of the answering machine. It was daylight Grace wondered how long she had been out for. She got up and stumbled in to the bathroom, looking in the mirror Grace saw just how old she had gotten, her hair a red stringy mess, dark circles under her eyes and a pale completion. She splashed cold water on her face and tried to become conscious, fully aware of the can of worms that were about to be released and knew that once out they were not going to be sealed up again. Dressing in dark jeans, a conservative blue blouse and a pair of tan flats. Grace went downstairs and into the kitchen, she poured herself a cup of coffee added two spoon fulls of sugar and a splash of cream. Grace grabbed a cranberry muffin from the counter top. Then she listened to the answering machine, the first one was from her husbands assistant, "John it's 9 and your not here, where are you, please call me." The second was from John's boss "Hey John it's 4 pm on Monday and no one has heard from you since Friday. Let us know what's up before we send a search party after you." Grace sighed and got ready to go do what had to be done. She entered the garage and got into her car, she glanced over at John's car and thought "I'll have to deal with that latter." She drove downtown and parked in the downtown parking garage and walked over towards the police station.
It was 10 am on Tuesday when Grace entered the police station. "I need to file a missing persons report." She informed the front desk attendant. The attendant handed her a form and told her to give as much detail as possible. Grace read over what she had written missing John Summers age 45, wt. 215 lbs, eyes brown, hair short, dark brown with streaks of grey. Last seen Sunday April 27th. "Do you have a picture?" the desk attendant asked "Yes." Grace had remembered to grab a picture before leaving the house, she chose a candid one from last summers barque with the neighbors. Grace submitted the missing persons report and left.
Grace found herself wondering around downtown in the art district, there were lots of people moving through there day quickly. Grace wondered aimlessly through the streets look at the sculptures and displays in the windows. Grace and John meet during her summer of slumming in Seattle at a club downtown during the later part of the 90's. They were introduced through a friend of a friend, minutes after being introduced found herself in a bathroom stall getting to know John real well, she vaguely recalls Metallica being played over the speakers. Sure that their relationship was helped along by the drugs and alcohol, into the whirlwind that it became shortly after meeting. John Summers had just graduated with a degree in business and graphic design. It was all a blur they meet, partied, got married at city hall, John took a job under the title of v.p. of a software company and they were off and running into the upper middle class of good standing. They had built a life together nice house, two cars, played the happy couple at social events, but their love had burned out after the first three years and during the last two years had lived like roommates rather than lovers.
After wondering around she found herself getting hungry and tired, Grace headed down to the main drag loaded with restaurants and bars. She entered the Hot Zone Bar & Grill, took a seat at the bar and ordered a plate of nachos, an ice tea and a shot of Jack. She had not realized how long she had been walking around it was now the beginning of happy hour. Grace ate her nachos and drank her ice tea, then downed her shot and ordered another. A guy took the seat next to her and gave her a friendly smile, "You look like you could use some cheering up." he said. Grace just smiled. He ordered a beer and they sat there for the longest time in silence. Grace finished her second shot of Jack and headed to the lady's room. He followed her to the restroom. Grace returned to her seat to find that a third shot of Jack had been ordered for her, she downed it "thanks." Grace said smiling, and left the bar.
Grace awoke to the phone ringing and answered it. "Mrs. Summers?" "Yes." Grace said. "Would you be able to come down and discuss you husbands case around noon today?" "Sure." Grace answered. It had been a few months since Grace had made the missing persons report on her husband and it didn't surprise her that it had taken this long for them to get back to her. Detective Eric Stone a well build guy with good hair in his early forties entered the room. Grace looked at him and thought seriously what are the chances. Detective Eric Stone her friendly stranger from the bar.
"Have a seat Mrs. Summers." Detective Stone said. Grace Summers sat down in the cold metal chair in interview room three in the downtown police station. "Do you know why you are here?" asked Stone. "Yes." answered Grace. "Why don't you tell me what happened to your husband John Summers." "Alright, I was staring out the sliding glass door that lead out to the deck, watching the rain. I like to watch the rain and it was so beautiful with all the lightning. May I have a glass of water?" Grace asked. "Ya just a minute." Detective Stone left the room. Grace checked her make-up on her compact mirror while he was gone. "Here you go, now please go on." Detective Stone said. Grace took a drink and continued. "Well I was waiting for John to come home and when he did finally show up he stumbled in smelling of cigarettes, women and booze. "He didn't even say anything just tripped up the stairs to the master bedroom. I finished straightening up and went up after him. He was just laying there on the bed all sprawled out he didn't even take his shoes off." Grace took another sip of her water and cleared her throat. "So I left him there and went downstairs to sleep in the guest room. When I got up the next morning he was gone, like he had never even come home." Grace sat staring at detective Stone. "And when was this?" Detective Stone asked "About two months ago." Grace answered. "So now you are declaring him missing so that you can move on with your life?" Stone asked "Yes, that's right I need to move on, I don't believe he is ever coming back." Grace said. "Well thank you for coming in today, we will keep you informed if anything else come up in your husbands disappearance." Detective Stone left the room and Grace gathered her things and left.
Grace sat straight up out of a deep sleep, not sure of where she was and tried to swallow, it felt like razor blades slicing into the back of her throat. She reached for a glass of water and suddenly realized where she was a crappy motel room. She made her way to the bathroom sink and slowly sipped a glass of water the pain in her throat soothed a little. Grace stood in the bathroom and closed her eyes she moaned to herself and got in the shower.
Grace glanced around the trashed motel room and spotted a note with a folded $50 under it on the stand next to the t.v. The note read "Enjoyed the ride" -B. Grace then noticed the cigarettes in the ashtray and the almost empty bottle of Jack Daniels on the night stand, no wonder her throat hurt, along with an open condom wrapper. Well that's reassuring Grace thought. Her cloths from the night before were on the floor her jeans that were a size to small on purpose the black low cut top next to the bed and her black lace bra laying across the chair in the corner. Grace had gone down the street to a bar to relax before having to go see Detective Stone today to wrap up her husbands case. The nights events started to seep back in there was a pool table and shots of something probably more Jack and there was a B that was grabbing at her ass all night while she was trying to shoot pool, what was it Bob or Billy she couldn't remember and it didn't matter there had been so many other one night events that were hazy in the light of day.
Grace got ready to go see Detective Stone, dressing nicely with slacks, a blouse, a pair of pumps and her conservative white satin bra. She loosely pulled back her shoulder length red hair and secured it with a clip. Good enough she thought and headed out to her car, her little Honda that she adored. She headed downtown to the police station to deal with Stone, when she got downtown she parked her car in a parking garage and hit the deli across from city hall to get a breakfast sandwich and an orange juice.
Grace finished her orange juice along with two aspirin and headed into the police station to see Stone. She checked in at the front desk and was escorted back to a room. "How are you Mrs. Summers?" "Do you really want to know or are you just being polite?" Grace asked. Stone looked at Grace and just grinned. "I have some papers for you to sign." Since no one had seen or heard from John since that night Grace was free to sell there belongings and put the house up on the market. She signed the papers and left.
As she was walking through the lobby passed the handicap restroom Stone grabbed her arm and led her into the restroom. He locked the door behind them and looked at Grace. "Now that we have some privacy." He said "What did you have in mind." Grace asked. He moved towards her and kissed her hard and deep she moaned. As Grace faced the mirror and re-applied her coral lipstick Eric asked "Are you going to ever tell me what you did with him?" "Nope." Grace answered and left the restroom.
Grace returned to the motel room to collect her things and servery the damage from the forgotten night before. As she packed up her cloths an image of Billy her pool buddy from the previous night flashed into her mind she was laying on the bed naked and he was sucking Jack Daniels out off her bellybutton. Grace shook her head and mumble to herself "should really stop drinking just gets me into trouble." Grace headed home to a newer two story three bedroom on the well to do side of the upper middle class neighborhood south of town. Grace pulled up to the garage and decided to start with John's car that was still parked in the garage, she started going through the glove box and came across a little black ring box. She opened it and there staring back at her was a very nice gold banded engagement ring. Must be for his whore assistant Jenny, she thought. Grace took the found ring and her own wedding ring set to a pawn shop and got a nice little chunk of change for both. At least John had expensive taste in jewelry.
After spending the week going through the house giving things to charity and selling anything of value Grace found that she had begun drinking and smoking way more than the usual. The memories attached to the things in the house and the stress of trying to get it all done quickly had lead Grace to drinking more and eating less. Grace was sitting on the floor in the walk-in closet in the master bedroom the Goodwill truck had just left with what was left of John's cloths and some small furniture. Feeling like she needed a drink Grace picked up her phone and dialed 211 and asked the very friendly operator when and where the next AA meeting would be. She told Grace that by her home address the next meeting would be tomorrow morning at 11 am at St. Mathews.
Grace took a deep breath as she entered the community room at St. Mathews, she took a seat towards the back and watched as a dozen people wandered in, got coffee and sat down around her. The meeting was welcoming and Grace stood when asked if there was any new faces today, "Hi, my name is Grace and I am an alcoholic." Grace heard the words coming out of her mouth but was very unsure of why she was needing to confide in these strangers.
Grace continued to attend the daily morning meetings at St. Mathews listening to tales of woe and heart ache caused by to much indulgence. Grace had surveyed the crowed and made friendly chit chat and a little flirting with the groups members. On her way out after the fourth meeting Sam grabbed Grace by the arm and lead her into the empty hallway. Sam was a good looking guy in his early thirties with a nicely trimmed beard and mustache. "You have got to stop looking at me that way." he said. "What way am I looking at you?" Grace asked. "You know Grace." Sam said. Grace grinned she had found Sam quite cute and had made eye contact with him through out the last few days. Sam moved closer to her and kissed her deeply, rubbing his hands along her breast. Grace took a step back from him, "Feel better now?" Grace asked. "Not really." Sam said. Grace walked to her car and lit a cigarette. "I don't think AA is what I need." Grace thought to herself.
Once the house was set and everything that could be was sold Grace decided that it was time for a road trip. So she packed up her things and hit the road with the couple thousand in cash she had come up with. First however a quick stop to say good bye to Detective Stone, she knew she needed a fix before setting off into the big bad world. Grace had come to the relational that sex was like a drug once you get a taste you will always crave more. Detective Eric Stone lived in a nice little apartment close to downtown Grace knocked on his door. Eric answered "Never expected to see you again." He said. "Can I come in?" Grace asked. He looked her up and down she was in her skintight jeans and low cut black top that displayed her ample chest very nicely. "Why not I am sucker for punishment." He said "Thanks you won't be disappointed." Grace entered the apartment and headed towards the stereo she put on something soothing in the background she intended to put on a show for Eric before saying good bye. Eric fixed them each a drink and they moved to the couch. Grace downed her glass of whisky and stood in front of Eric who was sitting on the couch. Grace took off her shoes and swayed back and forth in front of him, running her fingers through her hair, she straddled his lap and leaned in to kiss him, she slid her tongue into his mouth and he moaned and grabbed her ass in those skintight jeans. Grace stopped got up and walked towards the bedroom, Eric followed. Grace showered redressed and headed towards the door, he stopped her and kissed her deeply, she gave him a smile and left.
Grace drove north out of town, watching the sun set in the early August night a bright orange hue cascaded over the open fields, as she headed off to find a new path to take. Listening to the radio and letting the warm air stream through her open window, Grace sighed to herself, open road money on hand letting the wind take me to wherever.
Grace drove into the night till she spotted a sign that read Barney's Bar & Grill come join us for a drink and excellent BBQ next exit. "Well I could use some entertainment." Grace thought to herself. She pulled off at the next exit and headed down the dusty road and there it was sitting in the middle of a large dirt lot Barney's Bar & Grill in bright red neon. Grace pulled into the parking lot and stopped, she glanced at the cars, trucks and motorcycles all parked around the building. Should be an interesting crowd She thought. Grace was dressed in dark jeans and a plain grey tee-shirt along with a pair of black flats. Grace looked in the rear view mirror and applied her coral lipstick, removed the clip from her hair and let it flow over her shoulders. "Good enough." She said and got out of the car, she put her keys, id and cash into her pockets and headed inside. The bar was warm, crowded and loud. Grace made her way to the bar and ordered a beer, she figured she should start slow it would be a long night. She sat and watched the crowed of cowboys, bikers, workers and couples all drinking talking and getting on with each other. She decided to order a BBQ bacon bugger and fries, the smell from the kitchen was enough to make you drool. There were tables scattered around, a small dance floor with a jukebox blaring some country song and a pool table.
Grace ate her meal and watched the guy playing pool, he was good, not as good as her but good. She fished off her second beer and ordered a shot of Jack, Grace downed the shot and headed over to the pool table. "Interested in a real game, best out of seven." Grace asked the good looking guy, dressed in faded jeans, cowboy boots, and white tee-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, Grace thought to her self how very James Dean of him. "Sure, why not." He answered They played one game after another, he took notice of how far she would bend over the table to make a shot and she would brush up against him many times. It was tied three games apiece, Grace was on her forth shot of Jack and about to break for the seventh game. She bend over the table to line up the break and he stepped in behind her and put his hand around her waist, "How about we call it a tie and settle up in the restroom." He said. She could feel him push up against her and got a rush of adrenaline. "Ok in the lady's room in five." Grace put down the pool cue and walked towards the restrooms. Grace splashed some cold water on her face and took a deep breath. He came in and they entered the larger bathroom stall and locked the door. He leaned into her and kissed her. "You know I don't even know your name." Grace said. "Dose it matter?" He asked. "Not really." Grace said. She took off her shirt, she had stepped it up and was wearing her purple satin bra. He moved in to her kissing her neck and rub her breast. He kissed her deep she sucked on his tongue making him moan. "I think we need to finish this somewhere else." He said. Grace agreed. Grace stopped at the bar and downed another shot of Jack on the way out.
She went to her car and he followed, he put out his hand and said "My name is Aaron." "Grace" she said and shook his hand. "There is a motel abut a half mile up on the left, care to join me there?" Aaron said. Grace looked at him and considered this for a second, "Why the hell not" she said. He kissed her and headed towards his truck. They arrived at the Northward Inn a small rundown side of the road motel that advertised clean rooms and free HBO. All they need is hourly rates available, Grace thought to herself as she pulled into the parking lot. Aaron registered for a room and they parked and entered room 17. It was a typical motel room t.v., dresser, small table, two chairs, a night stand and those lamps that are attached to the wall between the two double beds. The beds always had those dark colored paisley prints this one had a dark burgundy with gold trim. The room had dark wood paneling making the room seem much darker than it needed to be. Aaron switched on a lamp. "You get what you pay for." He sighed. Grace took her overnight bag in with her and headed towards the bathroom, the small but clean bathroom. She changed into an over sized dark blue tee-shirt that came down to her upper thighs. She brushed her teeth and combed her hair and gazed into the mirror, looking past her tired eyes and pale completion. Grace put her bag on the luggage rack in the closet and walked over to the bed. Aaron stood up when she came over and he slid his arms around her and kissed her. He then went in to the bathroom.
Grace pulled down the bedspread, "at least the sheets are clean" she comment to herself. She locked the door, closed the curtains, those heavy black out rusty gold colored curtains that are standard in any cheep motel and left one lamp on in the far corner. She laid on the bed and Aaron came out of the bathroom only wearing a pair of boxers. He came over and joined her on the bed, he leaned over her and kissed her gently. They laid there for a while after just breathing each other in and feel asleep wrapped up in each other.
Grace awoke trying to think, trying to remember where she was who was laying next to her, she looked at Aaron still asleep and moved to get up. He tightened his grip around her and pulled her close to him and kissed her. She got up and went in to shower. Grace stepped into the shower and felt the warm water wash over her, she soaped up and rinsed off. As she was enjoying the warmth of the water Aaron joined her in the shower, he put his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck. She got out of the shower grabbed a towel and went and laid on the bed. Aaron showered and joined her. "So we going to say anything about this little experience?" Aaron asked. "I am not sure." Grace answered. Aaron leaned over and kissed her, she let out a sigh. "It's been a wonderful experience, but looking at reality I am afraid it's time to go." Grace said. "I know." Aaron agreed.
It was 9 am, time to continue on Grace dressed, packed up and said good bye to Aaron. Grace got into her Honda and set out back to the highway to head further north. She thought about Aaron and how bitter sweet the encounter had been, Grace knew she was treating sex like a drug but at that moment she didn't care, she had gotten her fix and now it was on to a new place. Grace drove till she came to a little out of the way town, she drove down the main drag. Typical hometown look. She thought. Small businesses, bars, restaurants, churches, banks all the usual things. She found motel row and picked the least to get you mugged looking one, close to an Everyday Foods store. The Candlelight Inn what a name Grace thought as she checked in and paid for a week up front, figuring since she was here she would take some time and look around get a feel for the little town in the middle of nowhere.
"Well Overland lets see what you have to offer a girl." Grace said as she thumbed through the phone book. She found that one of the best ways to find things was to skim the phone book. Grace ventured over to the Everyday Foods store and picked up some snacks. Grace decided to hang out in her motel room and catch up on sleep. She awoke around 8 am the next morning "time to face the day." she said to herself. She showered and dressed in comfy jeans, a long sleeve tee-shirt and walking shoes. She picked up a map from the front office and had written down some points of interest to check out. She headed towards the downtown area and found a place to park, she walked down the main street area and checked out some of the hometown charm, nothing to interesting caught Grace's eye. It was all very normal looking craft shops, ice cream shops, home decor, antiques and beauty shops. Grace wondered around for a while and figured it was time for some lunch she stopped at a little deli and had a turkey on wheat with a pickle, chips and an ice tea. Grace sat out on the patio side of the deli and watched the people of this little town going about their lives.
Grace stopped by a convent store on her way back to The Candlelight Inn to grab a pack of cigarettes. She asked the younger looking 20 something girl running the register where the nightlife was in this little town. The girl offered up that out behind the truck-stop, off route 18 there was a bar where all the locals hung out. "It called The Backdoor." the girl said. Grace hung out in the motel room till around 9 pm, she dressed in her tight blue jeans, low cut black top and black ankle boots. Grace put on her coral lipstick and clipped her hair back. Grace looked in the mirror sighed "anything for a fix." Grace drove out to route 18 and past the truck-stop. There it was about a quarter mile past, a large warehouse looking building, surrounded by a small dirt parking lot that stretched out into a field of forgotten wheat. A simple small wooden sign hung over the door The Backdoor it read. Grace parked among all the other cars, SUV's, trucks and motorcycles, she glanced around there were small groups of people standing around talking, smoking and drinking. Grace got out of her Honda locked the door put her keys, id and money into her pockets and headed towards the door. The unmistakable smell of pot hit her as she passed a group of people, Grace took deep breath as she passed "awe memories." She thought. Grace paid the large man that looked like a body builder the $10 cover charge to get in, the very open floor of the warehouse had a bar, tables with chairs, a few pool tables and a dance floor all lighted by a number of moving blue and red spot lights. The music was a mix of classic rock and adult contemporary played just loud enough that you had to raise your voice to a dull yell to be heard. Grace made her way to the bar and ordered a shot of Jack and a beer, she downed the shot and took a seat at the bar to watch the crowed.
Grace's beer was just past half empty when a voice asked "Would you like another, or something stronger?" Grace turned to see an older guy, mid 50's, in good shape with a little more grey than brown left in his hair asking if she would like another drink. Grace smiled at him and said "Sure how about a shot of Jack?" He ordered two and introduced himself "Sean." He put out his hand and Grace said "Grace, thanks for the drink." and shook his hand. "So what do you think of our little town?" Sean asked. Grace gave him a confused look. "You don't look as if your from around here." He said. "True." Grace answered. They chatted about the town and what keep it running and why people choose to call it home. Typical mundane small talk, Grace ordered another beer. "Care for a game of pool?" she asked him. "Not my thing." Sean answered. "Your loss." Grace said and headed over to the table. She played a couple games with the guys that were hanging around. After deciding that this night was not really going anywhere Grace returned to the bar and ordered one more shot of Jack. "Let me get that for you." Sean said. "Sure why not." Grace said. Sean handed Grace her shot "Cheers." Sean said. "Cheers." Grace answered.
Grace slowly opened her eyes the light was bright, she shut them again, her head pounded and her body ached. Grace tried to move and was stopped by a shooting pain through her shoulders and back. "What the hell happened." Grace said to the empty room. Grace managed to slowly sit up and let her eyes adjust to the bright sunlight streaming in through the window. She was in what appeared to be a bedroom, sitting in the middle of a large bed looking around, there was a night stand with a clock radio that read 8:12 am, a dresser with a mirror, a chair in the corner and the door was closed. Grace had no idea where she was, she was wearing a man's grey button down shirt that was open and nothing else. Grace got off the bed and stood in front of the mirror that was on the dresser. "Oh my God." Grace said as she examined herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were blood shot, there were red rough marks around her wrists and ankles, bruises and blood on her inner thighs. Grace scanned the room for her cloths, they were in a pile on the floor to the side of the bed, at least her shirt, jeans and boots were there no socks or underwear. "Go figure." Grace mumbled to herself. Grace got dressed and left the room, she stumbled down a hall and into a living-room. She found the front door and stepped outside. Grace found herself standing in a driveway not quite believing what she saw, her Honda parked right there. Grace opened the door and her keys were sitting on the passenger seat. Grace drove away from the house found route 18 and made her way back to The Candlelight Inn, she packed up her room and started driving south. Soon as she felt she was far enough out of town she pulled over into a rest stop, Grace's hands shook as she lit a cigarette and tried to think of the last thing she remembered from the night before. Grace remembered going to The Backdoor, paying pool having a few drinks, talking to the older guy, Sean. But didn't remember leaving or anything else except waking up in that strange house. Grace decided to drive south into the next big city and visit a hospital. She pulled up outside of St. Anthony's Hospital and locked the Honda and walked into the emergency room entrance. Grace approached the check in desk and the attendant behind the glass asked what she was there for. "I was drugged and sexually assaulted." Grace said. The attendant looked up at her, handed her a clipboard and asked her to have a seat. Grace took a seat and filled out the form, a nurse came over to her and offered her a bottle of water. "It will be just a few minutes, would you like us to call in a police officer as well?" the nurse asked. "Yes, thank you." Grace said.
Grace sat and sipped on the water and waited, a women in a nice pants suit walked in and approached the check in desk. The attendant motion towards Grace and the women walked over to her. "Mrs. Summers, I am detective Sarah Miller." She said. Grace made eye contact with her and tried to smile, tears were welling up in her eyes. Grace knew she was exhausted and just wanted all of this over with. Detective Miller accompanied Grace back to an exam room, where she made her statement of what she could remember, photos were taken, blood was drawn and a rape kit collected. Grace didn't want to think to much about what was being done to her she just knew that it hurt and she wanted it over. Grace was allowed to shower and given cloths from the lost and found to wear, a dark blue tee-shirt, a pair of grey sweets and some slip on shoes. Detective Miller gave Grace her card and told her to keep in touch. Grace went to her Honda and sat trying to process what had just happened. "I know it is the right thing to do, especially since I can't remember." Grace thought.
Grace knew she needed to get somewhere safe where she could rest. She drove south and knocked on Eric's door. "Grace, what the hell?" Eric said. Grace entered Eric's apartment handed him the large envelope that contained a copy of the police report she had filed. Made her way to the couch, laid down and closed her eyes. "Just read it." She said and feel into a sleep of exhaustion. Eric walked over to the couch, slipped her shoes off and covered Grace with a blanket. Eric sat at the table and slowly read the police report. "Jesus Christ." He said to himself.
Grace awoke to the smell of coffee and bacon. She sat up slowly realizing how sore she was. "Morning." Eric said. "Morning." Grace moaned getting herself to sit upright. "Eat and take the meds that were prescribed for you." Eric said. Grace took the plate of scrambled eggs, toast and bacon and slowly ate it all along with a cup of coffee. She took the morning after pills, some antibiotics, and ibuprofen. Eric came over and kissed her on the forehead. "doing ok so far?" He asked. "As good as can be expected. Still can't remember anything." She answered. Grace's cell phone rang it was St. Anthony's Hospital with her test results. Grace had been drugged with Rohypnol the date rape drug, no DNA was found in her rape kit and she was clear of any STD's. Grace didn't know Sean's last name nor did she take note of where she woke up, she had given as much information as she could remember from her night at The Backdoor.
Grace got up and went to take a shower, she thought about John and what had really happened that night so many months ago. He came home drunk and started in on her the second he hit the door saying how he didn't love her any more and that he and his whore of an assistant Jenny were going to get married as soon as he could file for a divorce from Grace. Grace remembered how the thunder rolled and the lightning sparked though the sky that night as John rambled on and on about leaving her and moving on with his happy little life. When John headed towards the stairs to go up to the bedroom how he tripped, some how, it happened all so quickly, he was yelling and going up the stairs and then there was a noise, a loud thump followed by a cracking sound.
Grace stood in the kitchen for a moment after that horrible sound and tried to wrap her mind around what had just happened. She thought about their life together the falling out of love and how John had become so hateful over the last few years, the money and assets that she helped him build up and how now she was deciding to hide his body take it all and run. Grace went into the living room towards the staircase and there laying like a rag doll on the floor was John, or at least his body, the color draining form his face, he was not breathing, not moving. She knew he was already gone, the cracking sound was John's head spiting open on the marble tile that surrounded the base of the staircase.
Grace managed to wrap the body in garbage bags and drug it out to the back yard, where they had started to dig a hole for a pool to be put in, Grace dumped the body into the hole and covered it up. It was a long, tiring, messy night but it had to be done. Grace stood over the covered body in the backyard and said "It wasn't all bad John we just grew apart and you became rotten, like a piece of fruit left out to long on the counter." Grace made a mental note to make sure the foundation for the pool would be poured by weeks end and so it was. John was forever sealed away under the new backyard pool. Grace stood in the shower looking over the red marks and bruises left by the night she couldn't and didn't want to remember and thought to herself "Karma is a bitch."
John's Side
"Where is my tie, I am late for the 1:30 pm meeting." John said.
"Relax, they will wait for you." Jenny said, as she picked up his navy blue neck tie off the floor of the hotel room and put it around his neck.
"See there you go all dressed." She said.
"Thank you, I love you." He said and kissed her deeply.
"Love you too." She said.
John gathered his wallet, keys, phone, and briefcase and left the hotel room. He took the elevator down to the parking garage and got into his car. His phone beeped while he was exiting the garage, one missed call, from Grace. John sighed
"Suppose I should call the wife back." He mumbled to himself.
After his meeting, Jenny his assistant, came into his office.
"How did it go?" She asked
"Good, they will send over a contract next week." He said. John's phone rang it was Grace, he pushed ignore call, and looked at Jenny.
"When are you going to tell her?" She asked.
"Soon." He answered.
John sat at his desk looking at the portrait of his wife Grace, they had fallen out of love years ago and now just tolerated each other. John had meet Grace one summer in Seattle, at a club downtown during the late 90's. Grace was introduced to John through a friend of a friend and shortly after being introduced found themselves in a bathroom stall getting to know each other real well. John figured that the drugs and alcohol helped to spark their relationship into the whirlwind that it became shortly after meeting.
John Summers had just graduated with a degree in business and graphic design. It was all a blur they meet, partied, got married at City Hall. Then John took a job under the title of v.p. of a software company and they were off and running. They had built a life together nice house, two cars, played the happy couple at social events but their love had burned out after the first three years and during the last two years had lived like roommates rather than lovers.
John and his assistant Jenny had been sleeping together for over two years now. John had started out by saying he would never indulge with someone at work, but over the time spent together they had fallen in love. He had tried to ignore the butterfly's he felt in his gut when she had first started working for him, the stolen glances across the room, the accidental touches in passing.
He ignored it till that one day, he had started the morning having an argument with Grace about never spending anytime together anymore, and had stormed out of the house and to the office.
Jenny was there looking so pretty, with her long legs, bright blue eyes and bouncy blonde hair, there to listen. John had broke down in front of her and they ended up in a hotel room together during lunch. He talked, she comforted and listened, Jenny made the first move, kissing him on the cheek, that turned into a make out session followed by an afternoon fling.
John tried to push her away and not feel the warmth and comfort of her, telling himself it was just once a moment of weakness. But it was there a connection between them, that hole in his heart that he had been carrying around for years was now filled with her. Her passion for life, her understanding, her love.
John had started to prepare what he needed to say to Grace, how he needed to be let go, that they both needed to move on. That they were just suffocating each other by staying in a stalled relationship. It always sounded good in his head, but every time he started to get ready to confront her he chickened out not wanting to deal with the confrontation.
"You know instead of hotel rooms at noon we could be together in our own home." Jenny said, after yet another lunch hour spent in a hotel room.
"I know, I want to tell her." John said, Jenny stood in front of him, slid her arms around his waist and kissed him.
"Please do it tonight, I can't wait any longer, I want to be home with you." She said, he kissed her back.
"Ok, tonight." He said.
John had a stop to make before going home to confront Grace. He drove out to the mall and went into The Jewelry Palace and picked up the engagement ring he had ordered for Jenny, he looked it over in the car and put it in the glove box.
John drove around for a while rehearsing in his head what he was going to say to Grace. He decided to stop and grab a drink hoping that it would help settle his nerves, he entered the Bar&Grill on main, ordered a hamburger a beer and a shot of Jameson.
About four shots and two beers later he felt brave enough to go talk to Grace. John parked his car in the garage and entered the house, Grace was standing in the kitchen and he just started talking wanting to get it all out and over with quickly, so that he could go back to Jenny.
"Grace, we're done, I am leaving, I want a divorce. You are suffocating me, we need to move on. Jenny and I want to get married." He said, it all came out quickly and his heart was racing and he was shaking.
John walked through the kitchen to the stairs to go up and grab a few things, before leaving. His shoes were wet from the rain, and he misjudged the step and slipped not being able to regain his balance his head hit the marble tile that surrounded the base of the staircase.
"Missing John Summers age 45, wt. 215 lbs, eyes brown, hair short, dark brown with streaks of grey." Jenny read to herself, as she hung up another flyer. She sighed and thought to herself I wish I knew where you were. Jenny brushed a tear away and continued on hanging up missing person flyers.
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Chapter 1
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