The Art of Deception Read online

  The Art of Deception

  A Novella

  By: Christine E. McLean

  Text copyright © 2015 Christine E. McLean

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Shrill cries pierced the pristine night air as he dragged her through the dirt-covered track. Stones and twigs scraped her legs and left her with a dull sense of pain. A full moon illuminated the night sky. His brute strength gave her no opportunity to fight for her life. Getting raped was one of her worst fears and she was heartbroken that it seemed as though that fear was becoming a reality. A fountain of tears began to stream down her face. “P-p-please don’t hurt me,” she pleaded. He stopped dragging her, lifted her by her legs and held her over his shoulder without uttering a word.

  They entered the basement of an abandoned building. He punched in the passcode for the basement door and grunted as he placed her on the sole chair in the room. She stopped crying and looked directly into his eyes. Everything about him was intimidating: his beady eyes, his tiny head, his ghastly enormous muscles, and the crimson red scar that ran from his left eye, down his cheek and across his upper lip. In the background, eerie shadows moved stealthily across the wall. Whether they were shadows of cockroaches or mice she wasn’t sure, but the scents emanating from the dingy mold-ridden room made her queasy. Her bare feet were caked with dust and mud. Her parched lips quivered in fear.

  She knew this was the end and all she could think about was the smile that had captured her heart. A smile that made her feel safe, loved, and secure. A smile that she wasn’t certain she would ever be able to see again. His heavy-duty boots made squishing noises on the moist surface as he walked over to her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him. She could feel the firmness of his manhood and began to panic. Using all the strength she could muster she hit his chest with her fists. “Calm down princess. I’m not going to hurt you,” he said in a coarse voice.

  He moved closer and she instantly backed up against the wall, as if the wall would offer some sort of cushion against what she knew was coming next. She knew she wouldn't be able to handle the force of his brute strength; her feeble bones would crumble under the pressure. She braced herself against the wall and closed her eyes, preparing for her worst fear to come true. He hovered over her like a tower of evil. With his deep baritone he said, “Tell me what you know about your boyfriend’s story.”

  “I already told you. I don’t have what you want. I know…”

  “Is that your final answer,” he said with an eerie calmness.

  She stared deeply into his eyes hoping to see some sign of life in his hardened heart. All she saw was a dark vacuum, an emptiness that made him cold as ice. As she opened her mouth to answer, a buzzer rang overhead. He ignored it, and placed his bulky arms against the wall right over her shoulders. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Is that your final answer?” Fear rose in her chest, but before she could make an attempt to grab his nuts, a screeching noise pierced the calm air. Cursing under his breath, he turned around and walked briskly out of the room. Before closing the door, he looked at her with hatred in his eyes and said, “You better have an answer for me when I come back. Next time you won’t be so lucky. Such a pretty little thing.” He slammed the door shut leaving her trapped in the darkness that seemed to be strangling every breath out of her.

  ________________________________________________________________

  “Jan, I’m so tired of these damn police officers. They’re absolutely worthless! She’s been gone for three days and they don’t have one lead,” Mark shouted frustratingly into the phone.

  “Mark, you have to give them time. They’re working hard and doing as much as they can.”

  “That’s a bunch of crap! I can’t understand why someone would want to hurt her. She’s so sweet and kind.”

  “I don’t understand it either. Tell you what, I’m going to come over after work and we’ll work out a plan together.”

  Mark sighed heavily. He loved his twin sister Janice dearly for offering to help, but deep down he knew that no amount of planning could bring Karen back. He needed to do something drastic…something he was sure she wouldn’t agree with. So instead, he simply said “Ok” and hung up the phone.

  He could still feel Karen’s hands touching his skin and taste her lips. Her smile was embedded in his subconscious. He had never met another woman like her. She was his best friend, intelligent, witty and ambitious. He began scrolling through the photo ream on his iPhone. They recently went on a camping trip and there was a picture that he had taken of her that he absolutely adored. She was sitting on a felled tree trunk looking at the stagnant lake, completely unaware of his presence. The sunlight caught the contours of her face and highlighted her strong cheekbones. He was enamored with her gorgeous smile and amazing brown eyes. What he loved most about that photo was that in that moment she looked so happy, so carefree. That was the moment he knew that he had to make her his for life. He was planning to use his savings to buy her a gorgeous diamond ring the following day. Then, she disappeared.

  Panic coursed through his veins when he opened the door to the trashed apartment. Every piece of furniture and scrap of paper was strewn across the once immaculately clean floor. He immediately dialed 911 and the police were on site within 10 minutes. Since then, he hadn’t been able to eat or sleep. In fact, he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep again until she was back in his arms.

  He breathed a heavy sigh and walked over to the couch in his apartment. “Marki boy, you have to think of something,” he said to himself. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of keys turning in his door.

  “Mark,” Janice shouted. “I’m here. Where are you?”

  “In the TV room.”

  “Gosh you look like a sucked-out invalid.”

  He gave her a half-hearted smile and said, “Thanks. I need to find Karen so that I can look decent again.”

  Janice shook her head. “I brought your favourite burger from Chico’s. I’m not leaving here till you eat something.”

  “Jan, don’t you get it? I can’t do anything until she’s back,” he screamed.

  Jan looked hurt. He really hadn’t meant to shout at her, but sometimes her helpfulness could become overbearing. She was right though; he needed to eat.

  “I’m sorry. Alright, I’ll eat.”

  He took the seat at his dining table facing the sole window in the narrow room. As he unwrapped the burger and put it into his mouth, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Something wasn’t right. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something strange in the window of the apartment directly facing his. He ran to his kitchen window and looked at the three story apartment across the street.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Jan.

  “Jan, come here and tell me what you see.”

  When Jan joined him at the window and adjusted her gaze she let out a shrilled cry. In the apartment directly across from Mark’s hung the corpse of a naked blonde-haired woman. However, that wasn’t what terrified Mark. In the shadows of the room he saw the face of one of the most terrifying people he had ever seen. His beady eyes and scarred face told a story of death and despair. He looked directly at Mark and mouthed the words that Mark had been waiting to hear: “I know where she is.”


  Chapter One

  One day before kidnapping

  His fingers moved feverishly across the keyboard. This was the story that could either make or break his career. He had never trusted politicians, but he had never expected that Mayor Rolston would have done something so terrible. As he began to put the final paragraph together, he heard a key turning in the lock of his front door. He hadn’t expected Karen to be home from work so early. Slowly, he got up and moved quietly to the living room. The door opened and Karen walked in with three bags of groceries in her hands. “Mark, are you home?” she shouted.

  “I’m in the living room.”

  “I bought some lobster and potatoes and veggies so that we can make a nice dinner this evening,” she said as she walked into the kitchen and placed the groceries on the counter. The kitchen opened into the living room so Mark was able to see her clearly. He wanted to put the finishing touches on the article, but he didn’t want her to know what he was doing. When he initially told her what his source told him, she looked at him with eyes as big as saucers and said, “You need to leave this alone Mark. People in power don’t like other people messing in their business. You could put us both in danger.”

  His curiosity and investigative mind got the better of him, however. There was no way that he could let this story die. Guided by a strong moral compass, he believed that every shady story needs to be told. People need to see their leaders for who they really are. So, he gave the article the title The Bloody Viper: Stories of a Shady Mayor. He needed to finish it before printing began for the following day’s paper. It was time to find a way to get away from Karen for a few minutes. “That lobster meal sounds good honey. I’m going to step out for a bit to get some dessert. Want anything special?”

  “Yea! I want cookies and cream ice cream and that amazing apple pie from Sweet Treats.”

  “Awesome. I’m going to stop by the internet café for a few minutes to talk to a source for this article my boss wants me to finish up.”

  “Ok. You’ll tell me more about this article when you get back right?”

  Mark paused, gave her his best smile, and nodded. He went into the kitchen and kissed her on her cheek, closed his laptop, placed it in its case, and then headed out through the door.

  Summer in Granston City always gave Mark warm, fuzzy feelings because it brought back such good memories. The bright morning sky and cool breeze made him feel hopeful. He lived in a small community in Tubec which was located in the north eastern portion of Granston City. As he walked along the Tubec streets he looked at the people around him. A woman was petting a huge Golden Retriever as she put on his leash and got ready to take him for a walk. A couple walked past him holding hands, totally engrossed in their conversation. A man sat on the steps that led to his apartment building smoking a cigarette. Mark wondered what these people's stories were. This is what he loved about journalism - discovering and conveying new stories.

  Within minutes he was at the café and ready to get to work. He knew that the possibility existed that his boss would scoff at him and tell him that the story was garbage. He also knew that if the story got published, it would create a big controversy. The unsavory image that he painted of this charming and well-loved public figure was sure to end Mayor Rolston’s career. If all went well, this would be the beginning of a life changing career for Mark. He punched in the final few keystrokes and saved the file on his external hard drive. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the phone and called his boss. “Douglas, this better be important for you to be calling me on Sunday evening”

  Mark shook his head and said, “I have a major story about the Mayor for you sir.”

  “Douglas, if you’re calling to tell me that you wrote a story about some benefit project that the Mayor is having, that could have waited until…”

  “Sir, it’s something much bigger than that. This story could end Mayor Rolston’s career.”

  There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Meet me at my office in thirty minutes,” he said before abruptly ending the call.

  Mark sat in stunned silence. The main question running through his mind was, “How am I going to explain this to Karen?”

  _________________________________________________________

  As Mark gingerly opened the apartment door, he was welcomed by the wonderful scents emanating from the kitchen. Well-seasoned lobster, baked potatoes, and some other pleasing scents that he didn’t recognize filled the house and made his stomach growl. He walked in quietly and closed the door. Soft jazz music was playing in the background and candles had been lit on the dining table. Food was simmering on the stove, but there was no sign of Karen. Mark placed the dessert bags on the kitchen counter and walked towards the bedroom. Soft lavender and coconut scents filled his nostrils. Karen was singing her favorite John Legend song “All of Me” in the shower so she hadn’t heard him come in. Mark wanted to take off his clothes and join her, but there were more pressing matters at hand. Wanting to avoid the questions that he knew would come, he wrote a quick note telling Karen than he’d be back in an hour. He then took up his keys and headed through the door.

  The journey to The Atlantic Times office took Mark fifteen minutes. Hard drive and laptop in hand, Mark ascended the stairs that led to the third floor offices where the big heads sat. When he got to the third level office doors, he saw Mr. Ramirez’s balding head in the main lobby. He opened the door, startling Ramirez. “You’re finally here Douglas,” he said with a piercing look in his eyes. None of the journalists liked Ramirez. He was arrogant, disrespectful, and lacked the ability to motivate anyone to do good work. Several journalists had left because they couldn’t tolerate his attitude. Mark tried his best to remain on Ramirez’s good side and he figured that writing such a groundbreaking story would surely put him in good favor with Ramirez. So, although he was only two minutes late he smiled and said, “Sorry for being late boss. I want to talk to you about the story and see if we can get it into the paper tomorrow…”

  “Douglas, we are a reputable newspaper. We can’t publish an incriminating story without solid evidence.”

  “I have solid evidence sir. I have a good source who can get me all the evidence I need.”

  “Who is this source?”

  “I can’t tell you that sir.”

  “You damn well better tell me if you want this article published.”

  “I have to protect the person’s identity. The person wants to remain anonymous. Can you please read the article sir?”

  “Email it to me and I’ll take a look at it. It definitely won’t be published in tomorrow’s paper though. I need to review it carefully.”

  Mark sat at a desk that was close by, plugged in his external hard drive and turned on his computer. After sending Ramirez the file, he sat in silence while he waited for response. Ramirez looked at him with disdain and said, “You don’t expect me to read this now do you? I’ll read it in my own time. You may go.”

  Mark felt his blood boiling. He clenched his teeth as he rose from his seat. The veins in his neck were pronounced. Ramirez was glaring at him. Mark used every ounce of self-restraint he had to prevent himself from placing his fist in Ramirez’s face. Why had he called him to the office after hours if he wasn’t even going to read the article? Mark took a deep breath, rose from his seat and strode confidently through the door.

  As soon as Mark walked through the door, Ramirez felt all of the muscles in his body tense. If they ever found out about this article, his fate would be certain. He took out his iPhone and called her. She picked up on the third ring. “We have a problem.”

  Chapter Two

  Three days missing

  He entered the dark, narrow hallway and clenched his fists. His blood boiled as he considered the threat that was before him. Becoming the head of this organization was something he had wanted for years. The only person standing in the way of him obtaining this illustrious title was that woman. He had never met her in person, but the voice that
he heard on the phone suggested that she was unlike any other woman he had ever met. He had no idea why she had called him to this meeting. All he knew was that he had to find a way to get rid of her.

  The end of the hallway revealed an ornately crafted wooden door slightly ajar. He gently pushed the door and peered inside. Sitting behind an exquisite table was a gorgeous woman. Her chocolate brown skin and silky black hair enhanced her strong cheekbones and hazel-brown eyes. She was focused on a pile of paperwork so she hadn’t noticed him stepping into the room. He cleared his throat, startling her.

  “Oh, hello Mr. Rolston. Please, have a seat.”

  He took a seat in one of the enormous gold chairs he had only previously seen in pictures of palaces.

  “Why have you summoned me here Ms. Stanford?”

  She looked up from her paperwork and gave him a wry smile. “Always one to get down to business, aren’t you Mr. Rolston? Fine, then. Your affinity for unwholesome activities is of great concern to this organization.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She rose from her chair and walked over to him. He eyed her lustfully as she strode towards the door in her black stiletto heels, black pencil skirt, and ruffled red top. He could tell that she spent some time in the gym. While watching her well-toned hips sway as she walked, he could feel his member rising and he chastised himself for being so attracted to a woman he greatly despised. He hadn’t expected her to be so gorgeous, so enchanting.

  “Mr. Rolston, it is very disheartening to discover that you have chosen to, shall we say, defile your marital bed. As the Mayor of Granston City, the Society expects much from you.”

  “You’re talking about Linda?”

  “Yes. We cannot allow anything to jeopardize your career. Your position is valuable to the Society and…”

  “My affair can’t affect my career. No one will find out about it. Even if they did, my publicist can spin it - my image will not be damaged in the public’s eye.”