Krista Prouty's Blog
December 4, 2016
Murder/Mystery Story Chapter One
Chapter One
Linda giggled as she felt her daughter kick. Her daughter. Her little girl. How could she have been so blessed? She had a great husband who had a wonderful job. They married after they met in group therapy on impulse really. Linda had been in an abusive relationship and had gotten hooked on pain killers to dull the pain. Donnie was a drinker and drug user, as he struggled to make his way up to taking his bar exam. Together, they got clean with the help of group and love and support of each other. They married later that spring of '98 and had been happy ever since. Donnie was a great attorney, who worked in a partnership. Linda was the doting housewife she always wanted to be. But lately things had started to change.
It was fall of 1999, Linda and Donnie had been married for roughly a year and a half now. Donnie worked so many hours, sometimes 70-80 hours a week at his firm. He started staying late and barely noticed when slipping into bed at 2am, that his wife had been crying. On a tear stained pillow, Linda would pray for her husband to notice her. Most nights, her prayers went unnoticed. Except for September 10th, 1999. That was the night Donnie took an interest in his wife again. They made love for hours, like newlyweds again. Lind had no idea what had gotten into Donnie, but she didn't care. She had her husband back again. Perhaps he had felt guilty for ignoring her for many nights.
Weeks later, Linda felt something was different with her body. Her monthly time was due and still nothing. Her first thought was some kind of female illness. Did cancer run in her family? She remembered her aunt Gretta died young, but then thought of her mother telling her that aunt Gretta had heart troubles. Without cancer running in the family, what else could it be? Oh how she wished her mother were still alive. She passed away some years ago, from complications with her high blood pressure. Her mother, Clarissa, would have been able to tell her what was wrong with her in an instant. She was always smart like that. Then again, most mothers were; they had to be.
That word made her think: mother. Could she be pregnant? She didn't have many friends either but the ones she did have, hadn't conceived yet. All she had was Donnie, and he was a man. What would he know? Then Linda thought of it, the passionate night they had shared weeks ago. That had to be it, she thought. Fortunately, she had a great and discreet doctor she could turn to. She picked up the phone in their single bedroom apartment on Becker Road and dialed Dr. Ashten.
Pregnant. She couldn't believe it. How was she going to tell Donnie? Would he be upset? Would he believe her? Or could he be happy? Excited? Proud, even? She wasn't sure and was so scared to find out. But it didn't matter how nervous she was, he had a right to know. She sat in her car, after leaving the doctors office and put a loving hand over her belly. She couldn't believe there was a baby in there. A human life, growing inside of her. Oh how God had blessed her! She laid her head back on the head rest and prayed to him now. She wanted a happy, healthy baby. A healthy baby girl, she thought. She wanted that close relationship she had had with her mother.
She smiled, content with life. As she sat up and opened her eyes back up, she felt a presence out of the corner of her eye. She jumped, startled to see Oliver James standing at her window. She had an ancient but dependable car and had to roll the windows down. Only Donnie's car had power windows in it. Once she had the window down, Oliver spoke.
“Hey Linda long time no see. How are you? I miss you...I miss our times together.” he said, standing there with his hands in his pockets.
Linda sighed. Oliver James had been her only mistake since marrying Donnie. It was before they had made love, when he barely remembered he had a wife. But Oliver was a mistake, but at the time she didn't have the heart to tell him so. She figured she had to now, for the sake of the baby and her family.
“Oliver...I'm sorry but there's really nothing left for us anymore. We had one night of indiscretion and that was it. I can't be with you anymore, I have a husband. I'm sorry, I truly am.” she said.
She started to roll the window back up when Oliver reached in and grabbed her arm. He squeezed hard onto it, almost certain to leave a bruise. A bruise she'd have to explain to Donnie. He leaned down and stuck his head inside the window.
“Listen here you little bitch. You don't get to just spend a night with me and throw me away like yesterday's trash. I call the shots now and if I say we're still on, then we're still together. I'll call you in a few days. Pick up the phone Linda. I'd hate to have to tell Donnie his little housewife is a whore.”
He let go of her arm forcefully, and stood back up. Linda watched as he walked away, probably towards his car. She was shaking as she started her car, hoping it wouldn't stall on her again. Thankfully, it started up right away and she sped out of the parking lot. What was she going to do? She couldn't tell Donnie about Oliver, because he'd ask how she knew him. Truth be told, they met at the gym one day three weeks ago. It was very impulsive but Linda had sex with Oliver shortly after they met. She had felt so alone, begging to be touched by a man. Any man at that point.
She also couldn't go to the police because too many of the detectives knew her husband through work. Her only resolution would be to answer that call, and pray all Oliver wanted was one more roll in the hay. Maybe she could convince Donnie to move. They had talked about buying a house once he made partner. That's it, she thought. When she told him the good news of the baby, she would suggest getting more living space.
The baby, she thought. She had forgotten the whole reason she was out that early in the morning. She had to protect her baby, at all costs. Yes, she was going to do just that. She pulled into her parking spot of the Candlewind apartments. Donnie's car was gone, had been since 6am. He always went in early on Fridays. He said they held meetings and had to be on time. Linda thought it was just another excuse to be away from home. She got out of the car and locked it up after she grabbed her purse. With her keys in her hand, she walked up to the locked front door. Just as she had it unlocked, she felt hot breath on her neck and a hand on her arm, directing her inside.
He didn't speak, only directed her along as she walked to her apartment. She didn't dare go to anyone else's apartment because who knew what this person was capable of. Reaching her apartment, she shook as she put the key in. Once the door was opened, she was shoved inside and the door slammed. She nearly screamed in horror as she turned around and saw who it was. It was Oliver James, and he knew where she lived.
***
That was nearly eight months ago now, that Oliver had attacked Linda. She rocked in her chair in the nursery with a loving hand on her belly. Her daughter sure active this morning, she thought. She remembered how Donnie found her hours later, bloodied and beaten in the bedroom. Luckily, even after being raped, she never lost the baby. That was however how Donnie found out she was pregnant and to her delight, he was ecstatic. Linda had never seen Donnie so excited, except on their wedding day. It was that day he spoke to his pal Tom in realty about finding a house in the country, just outside of town. Yes his drive to work would be longer, but anything to protect his family, he said.
So there they were, at Sycamore Lane with a beautiful four bedroom home. Donnie had security cameras installed and an alarm system. He wanted Linda to be taken care of while he was away at work. And she had been, for eight glorious months. She was fortunate that Donnie never pressed about the attack. He just assumed it was some low life when she claimed to not get a good look at the bastard. He could never know that it had been Oliver James. She thought now, as she hummed to her daughter, still in the womb, about how close she came to losing her. God certainty was with her that day, maybe her mother too.
It was late May of 2000 and the windows were open, letting in that late spring/early summer air in. Linda was due on the seventh day of June, not long from now. Her doctor told her that some women can deliver sooner, so be prepared. She was too. She had her overnight bag packed, she read her pregnancy book every night and Donnie was number one on their speed dial at his work. She made him also promise to call everyday for lunch, just to check up on her. To her surprise, he did too. She knew that even though his work kept him late some nights still, that he would make an excellent father.
It was nearing noon and Donnie usually called between 12:30 and 1:00 pm. Seeing this, Linda eased herself up from the rocking chair, and put one hand on her belly once she was steady. She had become very protective of her belly over the months of watching it grow. Nothing or no one was going to hurt her little girl; she'd make sure of that. She walked with a small waddle in her step, heading towards the kitchen. She wasn't starving by any means, but felt that it was best to eat. Linda reached the refrigerator and opened it. At first, there wasn't anything that caught her eye. She searched top and bottom, looking for something nibble on. Finally, she settled on an apple and a glass of fruit juice. She set the juice down on the counter and opened the cabinet to reach for a glass. Linda laughed when she felt her daughter kick, almost as if she knew her mother was going to drink her favorite juice.
“Settle down little girl, mommy's pouring our juice right now. Then we'll share an apple, how does that sound?” she asked, rubbing her belly.
To an outsider, it might seem strange for her to speaking to her stomach. Already mother and daughter's bond was strong and Linda didn't care what anyone else thought. She poured the juice and grabbed her apple and a knife in a bowl. Carefully, she carried the two over to the table and slowly sat down. Getting up and down was really beginning to be a challenge but Linda was determined to not ask Donnie for help. He had suggested months ago that he could hire a nanny to help, but Linda didn't want it. If she couldn't care for herself now, how would she raise her child? She wouldn't become one of those mothers that completely relied on a stranger to raise their child.
Linda took a sip from her glass, enjoying the delicious fruit punch flavor coat her dry mouth and throat. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was. Perhaps it was the baby very excited about the punch. She took the knife into her hand and began to slice the apple up. Just as she was about the finish, there was a knock on the door. Linda set down the knife and apple and listened for a moment. Had someone knocked? The wind blew the curtains and sometimes they would tap against the window. When she heard it a second time, she decided that someone was indeed at the door. But who? Linda's friends hardly spoke with her unless it was on the phone. She was not expecting any visitors.
Cautiously, she got up from the chair and crept towards the front door. She didn't even have any shoes on. Linda loved to walk around barefoot inside; it had been so much easier than trying to put shoes on. It had been hard being able to see her feet since she reached her eight month of pregnancy. The knocking continued as she reached the door. Linda tried looking out of the side of the door, where the dark curtain lay. Unfortunately, whoever was knocking couldn't be seen. She decided to let them continue to knock for a moment, to see if they would leave. When it continued for nearly three minutes, she finally spoke.
“Hello? Who is knocking at my door?” she asked.
The knocking halted, however no voice spoke. Thinking maybe they hadn't heard her the first time, she asked again. Again, no one spoke. Now feeling uneasy, Linda backed away from the door. She walked towards the kitchen, to grab the phone. It was now 12:15 pm and Donnie would be calling soon for their lunch time check in. She held her belly, comforting her baby with soft rubbing and touching. It grew quiet now. With the phone in her hand she crept back towards the front door. Suddenly, there was a bang bang bang all across the door. There were bullet holes all along the door handle. Linda watched as the door knob turned and the door began to slowly open. Fearing for her life, she quickly ran to the hallway to hide in her bedroom closet.
As she ran to her bedroom, she heard the door open and slam shut. She screamed to herself, not wanting to let the intruder which room she had run to. Two of the bedrooms were downstairs, while the other two were upstairs. She prayed that whoever it was, didn't see her running as the door had opened. Linda closed her bedroom door and locked it behind her. The master bedroom had a large closet that held many clothes of Donnie's and hers. She would be able to bury herself inside and not be seen. Linda opened the closet door and walked into the wall of clothes that hung neatly. She closed the door behind her and stood up against the wall in the back. She listened to see if she could hear any movement; completely quiet. Not a peep, not even upstairs. Linda would know if the stairs were being used since they creaked when anyone used them.
Linda held the phone in her hand and called 911. She knew that Donnie would be calling soon, but sometimes he could call late. By then, who knows where the intruder would be. When the operator answered, she whispered.
“911 what's your emergency?”
“I'm at 124 West Sycamore Lane and I have someone in my home. I'm eight months pregnant...please...you have to save my baby and me. They have a gun, they used it to open the front door.” she said.
“Okay ma'am help is on the way. Just stay calm and hang in there with me. Where are you at in the home?” the dispatcher asked.
“I'm in my bedroom closet hiding. I don't hear anything though, so they may have left. I am just so scared...I don't know what's going on...I-”
The door to the master bedroom exploded like a bomb going off. Linda screamed, but covered her mouth after realizing her mistake. She cried, tears falling down her face now. Linda could hear the person walking into the room and opening drawers. Was it a robbery? Is that all they wanted, was their money? The 911 operator still talked to Linda.
“Ma'am are you there? What's happening? Were gun shots fired into the room? Ma'am?”
Linda didn't dare speak, afraid it would draw more attention to her hiding spot. Luck was not on her side that day however. She heard the closet door being pried open. The door rattled as someone tried to turn the door handle. She cried, and pressed a hand over her belly. They could do whatever they wanted to her, but she'd be damned if they hurt her daughter. Tears fell down more and more as the closet door opened. Linda tried to hunker down further but her legs would not let her squat down. Her legs could no longer support her great girth and they shook in weakness. She held onto the wall for strength as she stooped as low to the floor as she could.
The clothes were shoved aside and shoes were thrown. Linda couldn't hide forever though, the closet only being so big. The intruder breathed heavy as he pushed the closet contents aside. She saw a light in his hand, which Linda surmised was a flashlight to see in the dark closet. The light hit her face and all the shaking of the clothing racks stopped. He found her.
“Well well who do we have here? Hiya Linda...did you miss me?” he asked, grinning with an evil look in his eyes.
Oliver. Something inside of Linda told her this was the end of the line. Oliver, after all this time, had finally tracked her down. He nearly killed her the first time but by the grace of God, had stopped beating her when he had gotten what he wanted. Linda's gut told her that this time, he may want more from her than she was willing to give. Whatever Oliver wanted to do to her, Linda would except. As long as he didn't harm her daughter.
Linda stood, trying to scoot away from Oliver's dirty hands. But he was too quick and her pregnancy slowed her down. He grabbed a hold of her hair, dragging her out of the closet. He tossed her down onto the bed and stared down at her. She laid on the bed, her hands protecting her stomach from whatever he was about to do. This only made him laugh.
“What's wrong Linda? Afraid I am going to hurt junior here?” he asked, laughing.
“I'm not sure what you're after Oliver but you will not hurt my daughter. Take what you want from me, but leave her out of this. She didn't do anything to you-” she was caught off from speaking when he slapped her face.
“Shut up you stupid bitch. I don't care about that bastard child of yours. What I do care about is the fact that you left and didn't tell me. I thought we were in agreement that I owned you.” he said, hovering over her now.
She put her hands up to brace herself from another attack. Her nose was starting to bleed and run down the front of her face. “You're right Oliver and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. But we moved so fast, there was not time to let you know.” she said. Linda hoped he believed her lie.
“How stupid do you think I am Linda? You were never going to tell me. Just like you were never going to tell me you were pregnant. That's why you were at the hospital that day wasn't it? I should have known. And what...you were just going to raise my baby and never tell me about it? Let Donnie think it was his baby? I should kill you right now, you stupid slut!” he yelled, punching the bed next to her.
She whimpered in fear. Never had she seen Oliver this upset, even when he had attacked her before. Yes, she had been bloodied and raped but this was pure rage. Anything could happen with rage. She remembered the police were coming and that the 911 operator had been on the line of the phone, which was buried in the closet now. She only had to stall Oliver until she heard the police sirens. As he stood over her, grabbing a hold of her wrists, she cried out.
“Oliver please....just take what you want from me. Take my money, take our affects. Just please don't hurt this baby. After all, it's like you said...she could be yours.” she said.
Oliver loosened his grip on her wrists and Linda took the opportunity to slowly pull her hands free. She didn't something she'd never thought as a mother she'd have to do; she put Oliver's hands on her pregnant belly. At that moment, the baby kicked as both of their hands were pressed onto Linda's belly. Linda saw the look in Oliver's eyes as he felt this. For a moment, it almost looked as though Oliver had softened. The anger didn't seem as apparent and he calmed down. Good, Linda thought. She had him thinking clearly. Any minute the police would show up and rescue her and the baby.
The police did show up that day, at 12:42 pm. Oliver James was on the run and long gone before they arrived. When the police arrived on the scene, they found the Reed home torn apart. The front door had bullet holes in it, the furniture turned over. There was a glass of fruit juice and a brown apple in a bowl on the table. Two officers went upstairs to look for the woman that called in the 911, but with no luck. As they searched through the home, they heard a noise; it was a phone ringing. The officers drew their weapons and headed towards the master bedroom. It wasn't known yet if the intruder had left or not yet. The officer in charge, Lt. Harrington, led the charge to the bedroom. With beads of sweat on his forehead and two officers behind him, covering his back, he pushed the door open. He noticed that this door was like the front, with bullet holes askew. Upon entering the room, he found the source of the ringing. There, next to the queen size bed laid Linda McDowell-Reed, dead. She held the phone in her hand, while the other clasped onto her belly. She had been stabbed repeatedly and violently. Shaking his head in disbelief and sorrow, Lt. Harrington took the phone carefully with a glove from Mrs. Reed's hand and said, “Hello?”
Linda giggled as she felt her daughter kick. Her daughter. Her little girl. How could she have been so blessed? She had a great husband who had a wonderful job. They married after they met in group therapy on impulse really. Linda had been in an abusive relationship and had gotten hooked on pain killers to dull the pain. Donnie was a drinker and drug user, as he struggled to make his way up to taking his bar exam. Together, they got clean with the help of group and love and support of each other. They married later that spring of '98 and had been happy ever since. Donnie was a great attorney, who worked in a partnership. Linda was the doting housewife she always wanted to be. But lately things had started to change.
It was fall of 1999, Linda and Donnie had been married for roughly a year and a half now. Donnie worked so many hours, sometimes 70-80 hours a week at his firm. He started staying late and barely noticed when slipping into bed at 2am, that his wife had been crying. On a tear stained pillow, Linda would pray for her husband to notice her. Most nights, her prayers went unnoticed. Except for September 10th, 1999. That was the night Donnie took an interest in his wife again. They made love for hours, like newlyweds again. Lind had no idea what had gotten into Donnie, but she didn't care. She had her husband back again. Perhaps he had felt guilty for ignoring her for many nights.
Weeks later, Linda felt something was different with her body. Her monthly time was due and still nothing. Her first thought was some kind of female illness. Did cancer run in her family? She remembered her aunt Gretta died young, but then thought of her mother telling her that aunt Gretta had heart troubles. Without cancer running in the family, what else could it be? Oh how she wished her mother were still alive. She passed away some years ago, from complications with her high blood pressure. Her mother, Clarissa, would have been able to tell her what was wrong with her in an instant. She was always smart like that. Then again, most mothers were; they had to be.
That word made her think: mother. Could she be pregnant? She didn't have many friends either but the ones she did have, hadn't conceived yet. All she had was Donnie, and he was a man. What would he know? Then Linda thought of it, the passionate night they had shared weeks ago. That had to be it, she thought. Fortunately, she had a great and discreet doctor she could turn to. She picked up the phone in their single bedroom apartment on Becker Road and dialed Dr. Ashten.
Pregnant. She couldn't believe it. How was she going to tell Donnie? Would he be upset? Would he believe her? Or could he be happy? Excited? Proud, even? She wasn't sure and was so scared to find out. But it didn't matter how nervous she was, he had a right to know. She sat in her car, after leaving the doctors office and put a loving hand over her belly. She couldn't believe there was a baby in there. A human life, growing inside of her. Oh how God had blessed her! She laid her head back on the head rest and prayed to him now. She wanted a happy, healthy baby. A healthy baby girl, she thought. She wanted that close relationship she had had with her mother.
She smiled, content with life. As she sat up and opened her eyes back up, she felt a presence out of the corner of her eye. She jumped, startled to see Oliver James standing at her window. She had an ancient but dependable car and had to roll the windows down. Only Donnie's car had power windows in it. Once she had the window down, Oliver spoke.
“Hey Linda long time no see. How are you? I miss you...I miss our times together.” he said, standing there with his hands in his pockets.
Linda sighed. Oliver James had been her only mistake since marrying Donnie. It was before they had made love, when he barely remembered he had a wife. But Oliver was a mistake, but at the time she didn't have the heart to tell him so. She figured she had to now, for the sake of the baby and her family.
“Oliver...I'm sorry but there's really nothing left for us anymore. We had one night of indiscretion and that was it. I can't be with you anymore, I have a husband. I'm sorry, I truly am.” she said.
She started to roll the window back up when Oliver reached in and grabbed her arm. He squeezed hard onto it, almost certain to leave a bruise. A bruise she'd have to explain to Donnie. He leaned down and stuck his head inside the window.
“Listen here you little bitch. You don't get to just spend a night with me and throw me away like yesterday's trash. I call the shots now and if I say we're still on, then we're still together. I'll call you in a few days. Pick up the phone Linda. I'd hate to have to tell Donnie his little housewife is a whore.”
He let go of her arm forcefully, and stood back up. Linda watched as he walked away, probably towards his car. She was shaking as she started her car, hoping it wouldn't stall on her again. Thankfully, it started up right away and she sped out of the parking lot. What was she going to do? She couldn't tell Donnie about Oliver, because he'd ask how she knew him. Truth be told, they met at the gym one day three weeks ago. It was very impulsive but Linda had sex with Oliver shortly after they met. She had felt so alone, begging to be touched by a man. Any man at that point.
She also couldn't go to the police because too many of the detectives knew her husband through work. Her only resolution would be to answer that call, and pray all Oliver wanted was one more roll in the hay. Maybe she could convince Donnie to move. They had talked about buying a house once he made partner. That's it, she thought. When she told him the good news of the baby, she would suggest getting more living space.
The baby, she thought. She had forgotten the whole reason she was out that early in the morning. She had to protect her baby, at all costs. Yes, she was going to do just that. She pulled into her parking spot of the Candlewind apartments. Donnie's car was gone, had been since 6am. He always went in early on Fridays. He said they held meetings and had to be on time. Linda thought it was just another excuse to be away from home. She got out of the car and locked it up after she grabbed her purse. With her keys in her hand, she walked up to the locked front door. Just as she had it unlocked, she felt hot breath on her neck and a hand on her arm, directing her inside.
He didn't speak, only directed her along as she walked to her apartment. She didn't dare go to anyone else's apartment because who knew what this person was capable of. Reaching her apartment, she shook as she put the key in. Once the door was opened, she was shoved inside and the door slammed. She nearly screamed in horror as she turned around and saw who it was. It was Oliver James, and he knew where she lived.
***
That was nearly eight months ago now, that Oliver had attacked Linda. She rocked in her chair in the nursery with a loving hand on her belly. Her daughter sure active this morning, she thought. She remembered how Donnie found her hours later, bloodied and beaten in the bedroom. Luckily, even after being raped, she never lost the baby. That was however how Donnie found out she was pregnant and to her delight, he was ecstatic. Linda had never seen Donnie so excited, except on their wedding day. It was that day he spoke to his pal Tom in realty about finding a house in the country, just outside of town. Yes his drive to work would be longer, but anything to protect his family, he said.
So there they were, at Sycamore Lane with a beautiful four bedroom home. Donnie had security cameras installed and an alarm system. He wanted Linda to be taken care of while he was away at work. And she had been, for eight glorious months. She was fortunate that Donnie never pressed about the attack. He just assumed it was some low life when she claimed to not get a good look at the bastard. He could never know that it had been Oliver James. She thought now, as she hummed to her daughter, still in the womb, about how close she came to losing her. God certainty was with her that day, maybe her mother too.
It was late May of 2000 and the windows were open, letting in that late spring/early summer air in. Linda was due on the seventh day of June, not long from now. Her doctor told her that some women can deliver sooner, so be prepared. She was too. She had her overnight bag packed, she read her pregnancy book every night and Donnie was number one on their speed dial at his work. She made him also promise to call everyday for lunch, just to check up on her. To her surprise, he did too. She knew that even though his work kept him late some nights still, that he would make an excellent father.
It was nearing noon and Donnie usually called between 12:30 and 1:00 pm. Seeing this, Linda eased herself up from the rocking chair, and put one hand on her belly once she was steady. She had become very protective of her belly over the months of watching it grow. Nothing or no one was going to hurt her little girl; she'd make sure of that. She walked with a small waddle in her step, heading towards the kitchen. She wasn't starving by any means, but felt that it was best to eat. Linda reached the refrigerator and opened it. At first, there wasn't anything that caught her eye. She searched top and bottom, looking for something nibble on. Finally, she settled on an apple and a glass of fruit juice. She set the juice down on the counter and opened the cabinet to reach for a glass. Linda laughed when she felt her daughter kick, almost as if she knew her mother was going to drink her favorite juice.
“Settle down little girl, mommy's pouring our juice right now. Then we'll share an apple, how does that sound?” she asked, rubbing her belly.
To an outsider, it might seem strange for her to speaking to her stomach. Already mother and daughter's bond was strong and Linda didn't care what anyone else thought. She poured the juice and grabbed her apple and a knife in a bowl. Carefully, she carried the two over to the table and slowly sat down. Getting up and down was really beginning to be a challenge but Linda was determined to not ask Donnie for help. He had suggested months ago that he could hire a nanny to help, but Linda didn't want it. If she couldn't care for herself now, how would she raise her child? She wouldn't become one of those mothers that completely relied on a stranger to raise their child.
Linda took a sip from her glass, enjoying the delicious fruit punch flavor coat her dry mouth and throat. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was. Perhaps it was the baby very excited about the punch. She took the knife into her hand and began to slice the apple up. Just as she was about the finish, there was a knock on the door. Linda set down the knife and apple and listened for a moment. Had someone knocked? The wind blew the curtains and sometimes they would tap against the window. When she heard it a second time, she decided that someone was indeed at the door. But who? Linda's friends hardly spoke with her unless it was on the phone. She was not expecting any visitors.
Cautiously, she got up from the chair and crept towards the front door. She didn't even have any shoes on. Linda loved to walk around barefoot inside; it had been so much easier than trying to put shoes on. It had been hard being able to see her feet since she reached her eight month of pregnancy. The knocking continued as she reached the door. Linda tried looking out of the side of the door, where the dark curtain lay. Unfortunately, whoever was knocking couldn't be seen. She decided to let them continue to knock for a moment, to see if they would leave. When it continued for nearly three minutes, she finally spoke.
“Hello? Who is knocking at my door?” she asked.
The knocking halted, however no voice spoke. Thinking maybe they hadn't heard her the first time, she asked again. Again, no one spoke. Now feeling uneasy, Linda backed away from the door. She walked towards the kitchen, to grab the phone. It was now 12:15 pm and Donnie would be calling soon for their lunch time check in. She held her belly, comforting her baby with soft rubbing and touching. It grew quiet now. With the phone in her hand she crept back towards the front door. Suddenly, there was a bang bang bang all across the door. There were bullet holes all along the door handle. Linda watched as the door knob turned and the door began to slowly open. Fearing for her life, she quickly ran to the hallway to hide in her bedroom closet.
As she ran to her bedroom, she heard the door open and slam shut. She screamed to herself, not wanting to let the intruder which room she had run to. Two of the bedrooms were downstairs, while the other two were upstairs. She prayed that whoever it was, didn't see her running as the door had opened. Linda closed her bedroom door and locked it behind her. The master bedroom had a large closet that held many clothes of Donnie's and hers. She would be able to bury herself inside and not be seen. Linda opened the closet door and walked into the wall of clothes that hung neatly. She closed the door behind her and stood up against the wall in the back. She listened to see if she could hear any movement; completely quiet. Not a peep, not even upstairs. Linda would know if the stairs were being used since they creaked when anyone used them.
Linda held the phone in her hand and called 911. She knew that Donnie would be calling soon, but sometimes he could call late. By then, who knows where the intruder would be. When the operator answered, she whispered.
“911 what's your emergency?”
“I'm at 124 West Sycamore Lane and I have someone in my home. I'm eight months pregnant...please...you have to save my baby and me. They have a gun, they used it to open the front door.” she said.
“Okay ma'am help is on the way. Just stay calm and hang in there with me. Where are you at in the home?” the dispatcher asked.
“I'm in my bedroom closet hiding. I don't hear anything though, so they may have left. I am just so scared...I don't know what's going on...I-”
The door to the master bedroom exploded like a bomb going off. Linda screamed, but covered her mouth after realizing her mistake. She cried, tears falling down her face now. Linda could hear the person walking into the room and opening drawers. Was it a robbery? Is that all they wanted, was their money? The 911 operator still talked to Linda.
“Ma'am are you there? What's happening? Were gun shots fired into the room? Ma'am?”
Linda didn't dare speak, afraid it would draw more attention to her hiding spot. Luck was not on her side that day however. She heard the closet door being pried open. The door rattled as someone tried to turn the door handle. She cried, and pressed a hand over her belly. They could do whatever they wanted to her, but she'd be damned if they hurt her daughter. Tears fell down more and more as the closet door opened. Linda tried to hunker down further but her legs would not let her squat down. Her legs could no longer support her great girth and they shook in weakness. She held onto the wall for strength as she stooped as low to the floor as she could.
The clothes were shoved aside and shoes were thrown. Linda couldn't hide forever though, the closet only being so big. The intruder breathed heavy as he pushed the closet contents aside. She saw a light in his hand, which Linda surmised was a flashlight to see in the dark closet. The light hit her face and all the shaking of the clothing racks stopped. He found her.
“Well well who do we have here? Hiya Linda...did you miss me?” he asked, grinning with an evil look in his eyes.
Oliver. Something inside of Linda told her this was the end of the line. Oliver, after all this time, had finally tracked her down. He nearly killed her the first time but by the grace of God, had stopped beating her when he had gotten what he wanted. Linda's gut told her that this time, he may want more from her than she was willing to give. Whatever Oliver wanted to do to her, Linda would except. As long as he didn't harm her daughter.
Linda stood, trying to scoot away from Oliver's dirty hands. But he was too quick and her pregnancy slowed her down. He grabbed a hold of her hair, dragging her out of the closet. He tossed her down onto the bed and stared down at her. She laid on the bed, her hands protecting her stomach from whatever he was about to do. This only made him laugh.
“What's wrong Linda? Afraid I am going to hurt junior here?” he asked, laughing.
“I'm not sure what you're after Oliver but you will not hurt my daughter. Take what you want from me, but leave her out of this. She didn't do anything to you-” she was caught off from speaking when he slapped her face.
“Shut up you stupid bitch. I don't care about that bastard child of yours. What I do care about is the fact that you left and didn't tell me. I thought we were in agreement that I owned you.” he said, hovering over her now.
She put her hands up to brace herself from another attack. Her nose was starting to bleed and run down the front of her face. “You're right Oliver and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. But we moved so fast, there was not time to let you know.” she said. Linda hoped he believed her lie.
“How stupid do you think I am Linda? You were never going to tell me. Just like you were never going to tell me you were pregnant. That's why you were at the hospital that day wasn't it? I should have known. And what...you were just going to raise my baby and never tell me about it? Let Donnie think it was his baby? I should kill you right now, you stupid slut!” he yelled, punching the bed next to her.
She whimpered in fear. Never had she seen Oliver this upset, even when he had attacked her before. Yes, she had been bloodied and raped but this was pure rage. Anything could happen with rage. She remembered the police were coming and that the 911 operator had been on the line of the phone, which was buried in the closet now. She only had to stall Oliver until she heard the police sirens. As he stood over her, grabbing a hold of her wrists, she cried out.
“Oliver please....just take what you want from me. Take my money, take our affects. Just please don't hurt this baby. After all, it's like you said...she could be yours.” she said.
Oliver loosened his grip on her wrists and Linda took the opportunity to slowly pull her hands free. She didn't something she'd never thought as a mother she'd have to do; she put Oliver's hands on her pregnant belly. At that moment, the baby kicked as both of their hands were pressed onto Linda's belly. Linda saw the look in Oliver's eyes as he felt this. For a moment, it almost looked as though Oliver had softened. The anger didn't seem as apparent and he calmed down. Good, Linda thought. She had him thinking clearly. Any minute the police would show up and rescue her and the baby.
The police did show up that day, at 12:42 pm. Oliver James was on the run and long gone before they arrived. When the police arrived on the scene, they found the Reed home torn apart. The front door had bullet holes in it, the furniture turned over. There was a glass of fruit juice and a brown apple in a bowl on the table. Two officers went upstairs to look for the woman that called in the 911, but with no luck. As they searched through the home, they heard a noise; it was a phone ringing. The officers drew their weapons and headed towards the master bedroom. It wasn't known yet if the intruder had left or not yet. The officer in charge, Lt. Harrington, led the charge to the bedroom. With beads of sweat on his forehead and two officers behind him, covering his back, he pushed the door open. He noticed that this door was like the front, with bullet holes askew. Upon entering the room, he found the source of the ringing. There, next to the queen size bed laid Linda McDowell-Reed, dead. She held the phone in her hand, while the other clasped onto her belly. She had been stabbed repeatedly and violently. Shaking his head in disbelief and sorrow, Lt. Harrington took the phone carefully with a glove from Mrs. Reed's hand and said, “Hello?”
