Escape From The Devil's Den

by Krystal Raine

Overview

Larry Pearson has settled into a well-planned life when devastating news left him to make life-altering decisions. A high powered, successful business man who decides to leave behind his long time friend and partner to face a challenge that has to be the worse mid-life crisis imaginable. Larry retires to a secluded, small lakeside community. In doing so, he stumbles onto a mystery that surrounds his newfound friend. Johnny, a nine-year-old fishing buddy, who captures his heart and tortures his mind as a dark mystery unfolds to reveal the unbelievable. As the story continues Larry finds himself, after many years of not being able to find his soul mate, falling in love with Janice, a longtime employee and friend.

Larry, Janice and Johnny make plans to put an end to the horror that lurks within the walls of the run down original estate of the lakeside community where Johnny resides. The danger grows more ominous and has Larry desperately trying to hold on literally for his life and that of the twelve-year-old sister of Johnny.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449090005
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	03/15/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	120
File size:	139 KB

Read an Excerpt

ESCAPE FROM THE DEVIL'S DEN

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By KRYSTAL RAINE

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 Krystal Raine
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-8998-6

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Chapter One

The Retirement

The sun peeks up over the horizon. He drinks it in like a thirsty farmer just in from his fields. To die of thirst, he cringes, and then he glances at his watch, 6:30 a.m., everything outside moist and fresh. This is not a year for a drought. Not a year to die of thirst, he envisions, as he slowly lowers his head. He begins the March day by realizing the birth of a new dawn. His memory fails him as he tries to remember ever noticing the magnificent grandeur by which the sun makes its entrance into the world each day. Why? Maybe because of the many wondrous places his business takes him. Perhaps he felt too busy, so not enough time. After all, he started this business from a seedling and worked long, hard hours to bring it to the full bloom it displays today. On his way to the office through the maddening early-morning traffic, he flashes back to earlier times. How he presented his ideas to anyone and everyone that would allow him the desperately sought minutes to make his pitch.

Then along comes Tom Martin, tall, husky and yet ever so soft-spoken. Rarely does Tom don anything other than one of his 3 piece suits while every strand of his snow white hair lays perfectly back giving him almost a royal aura. There is no hesitation in Tom's reaction to sharing in his desire to acquire and develop any real estate that others deem worthless. Now, because of Tom Martin's show of confidence with financial backing, they control an accomplished real estate empire in the northeastern region of the country.

As he crosses the outer office, he hears the clicking of computers, the ringing of phones and receives the open smiles of those he passes. "Good Morning, Janice." "Is Tom in?" Janice smiles radiantly as usual. "Yes, but maybe you better get a cup of coffee first. He has a client with him and phone messages. I'm sure he will be returning calls for about ten minutes." Then lowers her head and goes back to whatever it is that she is so deeply engrossed. Janice Jenkins is the first employee hired 15 years ago and now adequately handles the entire operation when the situation arises. To look at her five-foot petite frame you do not expect her to be able to cross the street by herself. "Larry," Tom's voice lilts across the way from the door of his office. He motions Larry in; as he pats his client on the back and assures him that he will get back to him.

Larry knows there is no easy way so he blurts. "Tom, I'm going to retire." Tom grins broadly, as he teases Larry and quips, "What's this? Is the pressure getting to you? Too many business trips old fellow?" Larry realizes the difficulty in which Tom will accept the seriousness of the statement. Denial is something he has recently become way too familiar. With Larry at 45 and Tom at 52, they are both at the peak of their lives, both personal and business. Larry states further, "I've worked hard these last 15 years, and it's paid off. I own a comfortable home, have an excellent income from my stock and a surprisingly sum of money in my savings account. Now, is the time to relax." As Tom absorbs the crashing wave of surprise that just hit him, certain sadness creeps into his eyes. "What's wrong Larry? Is there anything I can do?" Tom inquires. "No, no there's nothing wrong. Really, I just am ready for that hard-earned permanent vacation." Larry dares not change his expression. The time is not right, not just yet. "All right Larry," Tom answers him with the uneasiness of noticing that there is something he just is unable to capture in the full picture. "Well, okay, I can have Janice prepare the necessary paperwork. The details can come later. In the meantime, do me a favor and give this some additional thought." Larry thrusts his hand out for a handshake and nods affirmatively. As Larry leaves the building, the tug at his heart catches him off guard. The sad fleeting thought of how do you tell your best friend and partner that you're going to die makes him feel a chill down his spine that is not from the warm air outside.

After Larry makes his exit from the office, Tom motions Janice to his office. Its a gesture she is all too familiar with and moves at a comfortable pace to the back corner of the building and the enclosed glass room where she notices Tom off into a thought that has him obviously puzzled. As she takes the seat like so many times before, she inquires of him. "Where are you? What kind of emergency has put you in the next world?" He shakes his head and without hesitation begins repeating the conversation that he just had with Larry. He raises from his chair proceeds to slightly rap with his knuckles in a rapid motion on the corner of his desk while he glances around as if to focus on visions running around in his mind. A nervous habit performed by Tom many times and witnessed over and over during her fifteen years of service with the company. When he finishes giving Janice the details of Larry's visit, he silently awaits her response. Without a word, she bolts from the chair. Once she reaches the doorway, she turns and spurts out, "I will be out of the office this afternoon."

Larry just gets up from a short nap when he hears the doorbell. This is unusual. No one he knows would expect to find him home this early. It is Janice. "Alright Larry, what in the world is going on?" She demands. He couldn't help but notice how attractive she looks standing with the sun at her back, highlighting the golden tint as it filters through the short sassy curls that reach to the back of her neck ever so softly. "Come in Janice, please. I'm going to guess that Tom filled you in on what I'm doing." "Yes, and don't you think for a minute you're fooling us. Since when did work get too trying for Larry Pearson? What is wrong?" she sternly demands again, as she marches across the room and takes a seat. Funny after years of working with someone how, smack, it dawns on you; the pert, saucy head; the cute, tiny nose and the full figure with the trim waistline. All at once she appears as a replica of a toned down Dolly Parton. This is a first for him. Their relationship has always been on a professional basis only. He has never noticed any of her attributes. Until now, to him, she represented only cleanliness, neatness, intelligence, and what he considers a good friend. All the qualities that is sufficient for an excellent employee. He perches on the edge of his seat opposite her as he searches for the right words. What can I say? What are the right words? When he finally decides to confide in Janice, he raises from his perch as though his body is inflated with helium. It will be such a relief to share his emotions with a confidant. He drops down next to Janice and starts his story with the backaches. He explains his mistaken opinion that he lifted something wrong. And how, after two months of office visits, first to a chiropractor then to medical doctors and finally the week stay during his vacation in the Cleveland Medical Clinic, he is gently and sadly given the news that he has Stage 3 cancer and is given six months to fulfill all his lifetime dreams. Janice does not speak during the time that he relates his shocking story to her. She huddles quietly and absorbs each word. Once he finishes, she stares at him as if she is searching the depths of his soul.

"Are you absolutely positive about this? Have you had a second opinion?" she shoots the questions at him. "Yes and a third. It's conclusive. They've all agreed." With a slight shrug and stretching his arms out, palms up so as to gesture the question, what else can I do, he half-heartedly states, "The rest is up to me. You know Janice; there are hundreds of thoughts rambling through my head since I received this deadly news. Now I realize, the only thing I can do is take each day one at a time. So that is my decision, and I am prepared to do it. As usual, my business comes first." After releasing a sigh of frustration, Janice quizzes further, "What will you do? You cannot just mope around and dwell on death. Look, maybe you should reconsider your retiring. Work certainly kept you occupied in the past. I know this is your decision, but maybe it would help to divert your mind. Maybe make things easier." As she finishes her suggestions she moves to alongside him and slips her arm gently around his waist and gives him a squeeze. He returns the gesture by draping his arm over her shoulder and laying his head down on top of hers then follows in a whisper with, "I don't know what's ahead for me Janice, but I do know my work is a matter of the past. Maybe I will spend some time in the country. I can always do some traveling, or visit old friends, or just do things I have put off from year to year under a fool's ruse that there isn't enough time. Sad story is "not enough time" is now a true realization." They remain in that position for a few minutes, but for some odd reason both of them appear satisfied to hold that pose much longer.

Janice gets up to go and the pain in her eyes speaks first then the nervous quiver in her voice as she clears her throat and clasps both of Larry's hands in hers, "Larry, good luck, and if you are serious and interested about spending some time in the country, let me know. Dad and Mom gave me their small cabin in a retirement community on the lake near Pioneer that is yours to use for as long as you want. I grew up visiting there at least once a month. Now I just check it once in a while to keep it in good order. Other than that, it just sits empty, and it is a gorgeous setting." He smiles and thanks her. As an afterthought he adds, "Oh, by the way Janice, I need some time to sort out my plans. I will tell Tom in due time. I just need to arrange the right explanation in my mind so I would appreciate it if you would not mention anything to him just yet." She sends him an understanding nod. "Thanks again for your offer of the house. I just might take you up on that."

Chapter Two

The Cabin

As Larry brings in the last of the boxes, he collapses in the first chair he finds. Finished! He had just spent the afternoon traveling the same route through the same countryside as dozens of times before. Only this time, the difference is very incredible. All the countryside images that had somehow bypassed his view before stood out in the scenery today. All the beautiful homes and the landscaping of each one, the stately tall trees each one being fully dressed with the greenest of greens. The flowers, the small birds and the cattle on the farms, everything he was able to shove into his view, he did. As he contemplates the items in the boxes, he decides to wait for the morning to prepare his "temporary" home. Almost impossible to imagine, he had ended fifteen years of hard labor in a matter of two short weeks. Janice had wasted no time in preparing all the necessary paperwork for his signature. He got a substantial severance and retained his percentage of the business, which would be more than enough to sustain him for the short time remaining. He and Tom had agreed from the start of their project that if anything happens to either of them the other one would inherit the bulk of all assets to do with as he pleases. With that decision put in place many years ago, he has nothing to decide on for his interest in the business. By the end of the second week on a Friday morning at 12 noon, he was a "free" man. No more commitment to a job. No more business trips and no more late hours to close that "special deal" for that all important client who flies in and right back out just for the sole purpose of meeting with him. He readily accepts that all of these aspects of his job will be missed.

A week before his last Friday on his job, he calls Tom to meet him at "The Nest." In the past, they spent a lot of time there unwinding in the evenings after the really hectic days. "Hello Larry. Thanks for the invitation. Fridays never change, except maybe to get worse. So, how have you been?" Tom questions him. "That's why I called," Larry replies as Sally brings their drinks. "Better bring us another one Sally. I'm sure we're going to need it," Larry mumbles as he flashes her the same friendly smile as always. "Sure. You want a sandwich too?" "Not me, how 'bout you Tom?" "Yeah, bring me a steak hoagie," Tom replies with a cough, knowing all too well what drinking on an empty stomach does for him. Larry's thoughts dash over to the days that he normally would order a sub, fries and chocolate shake and most likely a piece of the homemade apple pie that he loves. Tom and he never had a problem with the rich foods and desserts at the various business meetings, which could be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Not to mention, the dozens of donuts they consume in a month's time at the office. Tom's wife is excellent at planning meals in an honest effort to get Tom on a healthier diet, but that is actually futile. Tom loves his food and with the kind of business they conduct, a restaurant bar is the only practical place that makes sense to meet with potential clients. His mind wonders again to that morning and his reflection in the full-length mirror. If there is anything positive right now about his sickness, it is the weight loss that is so apparent. He takes his energy drinks like the doctor prescribed. His appetite is very much affected by the stress so he performs weight lifting and gym work to help keep up his strength so as not to become an unhealthy looking specimen until he has no choice in that matter. His 6 ft. frame is more svelte now than ever before. He actually is a very good-looking blue-eyed blonde. Just enough wave in his thick hair to let it lay smooth to his head and not fly in all directions.

"Well, what's up Larry? Change your mind about retirement, I hope." Tom's booming voice jerks Larry back to the chore at hand. "No, not really", he slightly stammers, thinking of how Janice must have been put on the spot by keeping his confidence this week. Again Sally interrupts with the second round of drinks, much to Larry's relief. He still struggles for the right words to convey what needs to be said. But before he could find his voice, Tom laughingly starts "Larry, remember that ole boy from Ohio that tied up six months of weekends trying to find a place to relocate his horse farm and then decided that he would stay in Ohio? He called again today. He wants to take another look at the Lowery place. Can you believe that? Geez, I hate to get their hopes up again, but what can I do? You are extremely familiar with how the real estate business is in today's world. You sell when you least expect it. They need to sell, and he is a potential buyer. Maybe this time something will break." Typical Tom, Larry's thoughts dart into another direction again, always that ray of hope. Larry chuckles out, "Well, good luck. Sometimes I think he just wants a vacation from his wife and uses this horse farm business as an excuse. He'll probably never leave Ohio."

"Tom, I need to confess something that I've already put off too long." He jumps right into the same explanation that he presented to Janice just a few days before, only this time it is extremely taxing on him, much more difficult. He watches as Tom slowly lowers his sandwich and turns an ashen color for a few seconds. He knows Tom will demand every detail. He will expect no stone left un-turned when it comes to the final diagnosis. For the moment, Tom is speechless. He can hear every sound in the room as though an amplifier had instantly been installed. Once Tom recovers his voice, Larry hears exactly what he expects to hear. Tom's words are practically identical to Janice's. "Larry, are you sure? Did you get a second opinion?" For the next hour Larry explains about the medical staff at the clinic, and how he received two other opinions. "What are you going to do?" Tom remarks fervently. "For right now I can only take one day at a time." Larry reiterates helplessly. "I spoke to Janice today about her cabin at the lake. I'm going to rent it until fall. I want to be alone for a while, maybe sort out my thoughts. From what I learned from talking with the doctors and at a couple meetings I attended, I am going to be experiencing some different emotions as time goes on." "So, Janice knows," Tom utters. "That explains her unusually quiet manner this week and the short, quick answers and disappearance act I got when your name came up in the conversation." Larry affirms Tom's statements while slowly moving his head up and down as if in slow motion, "Please understand Tom. I wanted to tell you myself so I swore her to silence."

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from ESCAPE FROM THE DEVIL'S DEN by KRYSTAL RAINE Copyright © 2010 by Krystal Raine. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

CHAPTER ONE ~ The Retirement....................1
CHAPTER TWO ~ The Cabin....................9
CHAPTER THREE ~ The Meeting....................15
CHAPTER FOUR ~ The Loss....................21
CHAPTER FIVE ~ The Moores....................27
CHAPTER SIX ~ The Inheritance....................35
CHAPTER SEVEN ~ The Soul Mate....................43
CHAPTER EIGHT ~ The Treatments....................51
CHAPTER NINE ~ The Grandparents....................59
CHAPTER TEN ~ The Invitation....................67
CHAPTER ELEVEN ~ The Lunch....................75
CHAPTER TWELVE ~ The Confrontation....................87
CHAPTER THIRTEEN ~ The Rescue....................97
CHAPTER FOURTEEN ~ The Verdict....................105