Dark Secrets Read online

  DARK SECRETS

  Every small town has its secrets.

  T.Gaul

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  DARK SECRETS, Copyright @ 2019 by T.Gaul.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in as database, or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  ISBN: 978-0-578-47085-651295

  Printed in the United States of America

  Special Acknowledgements:

  To Gail Scudder: With your many beta reads and edits, keeping my language correct and physical possibilities a reality, as well as your law enforcement advice and suggestions, I was able to stay on track to complete my novel.

  Thank you.

  To Dr. Melissa Koberlein: Taking your publishing classes and listening to your advice helped me to realize my dream of becoming a published author.

  Thank you.

  To all of my classmates in my Publishing classes, your support kept me working toward my goal of becoming a published author.

  Thank you.

  This book is dedicated to

  my daughter, Jennifer, and

  my two granddaughters,

  Allison and Jillian.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 1

  The brown-eyed man climaxed as the boy’s heart stopped beating. The rage that welled inside him was uncontrollable this time. The man rolled onto his back, breathing heavily, his fury finally abated. It took a few minutes for his heart rate to stabilize. He lay back with his eyes closed, savoring the memory of what had just happened. He laced his fingers behind his head and thought of every movement, every touch, every whimper, every cry, and every breath. He smiled at the recollection with a deep satisfying sigh, his body relaxing slowly.

  The drugs had worked wonders, giving the young boy extraordinary strength. The man had a magnificent time overtaking him. With every blow and slap, the boy seemed to grow in strength. The man was filled with excitement. And as the boy fought him, his hardness grew until it ached. Finally, release. The boy’s last breath brought climax to the man.

  He quickly showered and pulled on a new pair of coveralls and looked down at the young boy’s body covered with blood and semen. He scanned over the bestial injuries he had inflicted on the boy and smiled at his glorious prize with renewed energy.

  He laid the still warm body in a thick plastic tarp, carefully folding the arms across the chest. He crossed the feet at the ankles and smoothed back a lock on hair from the boy’s forehead and gently closed his eyes. He picked up the boy’s glasses and placed them on his face. He leaned down and gently kissed the boy’s lips and tenderly touched his swollen and bruised cheeks. He stood back and looked over the placement of the boy’s body. Satisfied with his work, he pulled the tarp tightly around the body, careful not to spill blood on anything.

  He placed the body in the back of the SUV and drove down the dark, deserted street. He drove north for ten miles, and stopped at the Silver Creek Park campgrounds.

  The park was abandoned this time of year and there would be no one to interrupt him, yet he cautiously scanned the area. He went to the end of the camping area and stopped at a deserted tool shed, again looking around and listening. Only the sounds crickets chirping and a rustle of wind in the trees could be heard. He inhaled the damp, earthy air of the woods. The moonlight was fading behind the clouds, creating dark shadows and patches in the underbrush.

  The man removed the body from the SUV and heaved it over his shoulder as a fireman would carry a victim from a burning building. He walked into the woods, stepping carefully over the uneven ground in the moon-lit gloom. Leaves and twigs crunched under his step and branches and briars pulled at his sleeves. When he came to the cliff of a deep ravine, he placed the body on the ground. He looked once more and listened for unusual sounds. When he was confident he was alone, he nudged the body over the edge with his foot. It rolled down the steep bank, picking up speed as it rolled toward the bottom. The man peered into the darkness until the body stopped. He smiled.

  Chapter 2

  Julie McNally wondered if she was cut out to be a cop. The last few months had been hell and she hoped she had made the right decision in leaving the Pittsburgh P.D. Only time would tell.

  She picked up the newspaper and glanced over the top story:

  Ongoing Investigation in $500K Municipal Embezzlement/Fraud Case

  No one has been arrested and no charges have been filed two months after a town audit implicated at least two Chandler Falls’ municipal officials in an embezzlement and fraud investigation. According to court documents, over $500,000 was embezzled from the town’s funds. The case is being handled through the partnership of the FBI Pittsburgh Office, the Pennsylvania State Prosecutor, the County District Attorney, and the Chandler Falls Police Department.

  She dismissed her thoughts about the embezzlement case, put down the paper and finished her coffee. She put on her running gear and headed to Hamilton Park. She loved to run in the early morning. The physical exertion had a way of clearing her head. And, she needed a clear head to make a new start.

  The sun was just peeking over the horizon and a soft mist rose at the edge of the park. Julie finished the last mile and headed back towards Chandler Falls at a cool-down pace, her breathing slowing to normal.

  She headed up Hopewell Street and trotted past an unkempt man in a wheelchair, catching a pungent odor. He was dressed in dirty army fatigues and a baseball cap with the words, “I love bikinis”, only there was a heart in place of the word love. He held a can of Budweiser in his hand and smiled a crooked smile.

  She continued up Hopewell Street and turned into the Cromwell Victorian Apartments. She spotted a hooded figure standing at the French doo
rs of the first-floor apartment. He held small tools in his gloved hands and was working on the lock.

  “Stop..!” She was about to yell “Police!” but caught herself. “Hey! What are you doing?” She yelled as she pulled out her cell phone to dial 911.

  The man leaped off the wide porch brushing against the climbing roses, the thorns tearing against his sleeve. He yanked her phone from her hand and pushed her roughly to the ground. He took off down the alley.

  “Stop!” She yelled again as she got up and ran after him. She was gaining on him as he cut across the side street. She did not see the black Ford sedan approaching, but she heard the tires screech as she slammed into the vehicle’s wide grille, her legs knocked out from under her. She could feel the heat of the engine as her body slid across the hood and her face smashed up against the windshield. She caught a glimpse of the startled driver before she rolled back off the hood and down onto the hard macadam. She lay on her back with her eyes squeezed shut, gasping for air.

  The driver jumped from the car. He looked down at the young woman before him, and thought, “This pretty lady. Please, God, tell me I didn’t hurt her.” His eyes glanced over her, pretty face flush from the run, high cheekbones, lush lips, a head of reddish blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, those begging-to-be-touched breasts, a tiny waist, slim hips, and the long, sexy legs, the kind of legs to wrap around a man. She appeared to be about five foot eight, one hundred twenty pounds. He took note of a small bruise forming on her left cheek and another on the left side of her bare midriff.

  “Miss? Miss? Can you hear me?” He knelt down beside her.

  Her eyes fluttered open as she looked up. A guy with wavy blond hair and a soft face was kneeling over her. He had the most beautiful, sparkling blue eyes she had ever seen, blue like the twinkling ocean waves shimmering on a tranquil sea. The bright sunlight formed a radiant halo around his head.

  “Are you an angel?” She whispered breathlessly.

  He shook his head and smiled. “No, I’m no angel. I’m Michael, Michael Nolan. I’m a Chandler Falls Detective.”

  “A cop?” She looked up at him. “Did you catch him?”

  “Just take it easy,” he touched her arm. She felt a warm rush. “The ambulance is on the way.”

  He pulled off his jacket, folded it, and leaned down close to her. She caught a whiff of his cologne and her breath caught in her throat. He gently lifted her head and placed the folded jacket under it. He paused for a few seconds, their faces just inches apart. Julie stared into those dazzling blue eyes. She swallowed as he pulled away, her eyes locked on his.

  “Did you catch him?” She stammered.

  “Don’t worry about him,” he answered with a deep voice. “What’s your name, Miss?”

  “Julie, Julie McNally.” She felt her body heat rise as she looked up at him.

  “Miss McNally, do you live nearby?” He watched her closely, staring into her dark brown eyes. The kind of eyes that draw one in and wonder what’s behind them.

  “Here,” she pointed to the Cromwell Victorian home. “Just moved in.” She held her chest, gulping for air. She didn’t understand how a guy could take her breath away like that.

  “Just stay calm,” he said. “You moved in here?”

  She nodded. “Apartment 2A.”

  “So we’re neighbors,” he smiled down at her. “I live here too.”

  “You’re the other tenant?” She tried to sit up, but he stopped her, gently holding her arm. Again, she felt the warm rush and her heart pounded. She checked his left hand for a wedding band but saw none. She noticed his muscular biceps.

  “Take it easy. You’ve got a pretty good bump on your cheek, and on your side.” He held her gently. “Why were you were chasing that guy?”

  “He was trying to break in. I was gonna call 911, but he grabbed my phone.”

  “Break in?”

  “He was working on the lock at the French doors.”

  “We’ll check it out. He’s probably on my dash cam. “He looked down at her. “Just be still. The ambulance will be here soon.”

  The unkempt veteran in the wheelchair she passed earlier came up beside them. “Hey, Nolan, what’s goin’ on?”

  “Little early in the day to be drinking, don’t you think, Zak?” Michael asked.

  “Breakfast of champions,” the man in the wheelchair raised the beer can. He looked down at Julie. “Hi, there. I’m Bob Ruzak. Everyone calls me Zak.” His red-veined eyes scanned her face. “You ok?”

  Julie nodded.

  Again the twisted smile. “You’re new around here.”

  “This is Julie McNally. She just moved in.” Michael said, then to Julie. “Zak lives next door.”

  “Yeah, I’m the local neighborhood cripple,” he stared at Julie’s face. “You sure are pretty.” Again, the crooked smile. “Even with that bruise on your cheek.”

  Julie touched her face.

  “It’s gonna be ok,” Michael moved closer to her.

  “You must be losing your lothario touch, Nolan. Is this how you get women now? You have to run ‘em down?”

  Michael gave him a flat cop stare. Zak put up his hands defensively.

  The police and ambulance arrived a few minutes later.

  “Can you describe the guy?” Officer Sam Palazzo asked.

  “Young, probably early twenties, about six foot. He had on a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. He was wearing dark glasses and had a scruffy beard. There was a crest or symbol on his sweatshirt, on the left pocket. Like a coat of arms with two lions.”

  Sam eyed her. “You a cop?”

  She got to her feet. She followed Michael’s eyes as he studied her legs and then quickly scanned over her body, and then up to her face. She gave him her best “Ice Princess” stare.

  When she didn’t answer, he continued. “Where does Detective Nolan come in?”

  “I was chasing the guy down the alley and sort of got in the detective’s path.”

  “You know,” he smiled. “Michael has a way with women. I guess you could say that he knocked you off your feet.”

  She crooked an eyebrow at Michael. He was standing off to the side. He was tall; at least six foot, with a slim build, wide shoulders. He smiled and winked at her. “Oh, geez”, she thought, “This guy’s looking to make me another notch on his bedpost.” Yet she felt those sexual urges rise from deep inside.

  The veteran in the wheelchair spoke a few words to Michael. They both smiled and nodded in agreement, their eyes glued on Julie.

  The paramedics took Julie to Chandler Falls General where she was poked, prodded, and x-rayed. She had a bruised cheek and bruised ribs. The doctors advised her no strenuous activity. It was mid-afternoon before she was finally released. She found Michael flirting with the nurses.

  His face was filled with animated expressions as he spoke. Two nurses seated on the other side of a high counter stared at him as if held in a trance. The younger nurse’s lips were slightly parted. The other’s eyes were glued to his face nodding in agreement.

  Michael looked up as Julie approached. A quick smile brightened his face and showed off his perfect white teeth. “Miss McNally, how’re you feeling?”

  “I’m ok.”

  “I am really sorry about all this. Please let me take you home,” he looked down at her.

  “Thank you, Detective.”

  He led her to the black sedan and got in beside her and handed her the cell phone. “Here’s your phone. The guy must have ditched it. Still works. I guess ‘It’s Raining Men’ is a good tune to run with.” He smiled a soft little secretive smile that hinted at amusement.

  She looked up at him from under her long eyelashes. “Thanks.”

  “And, there’s a Nick Falco that’s been calling every few minutes.”

  The phone began to chime as she took it, turned it off, and dropped it into her lap. She burst into tears.

  “Hey,” he touched her arm, “You alright? You want to go back to th
e hospital?”

  She shook her head.

  “What is it? This Falco guy? The one who’s been calling? Is that why you’re so upset? What is he? Boyfriend? Husband?”

  Julie didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure what Nick was to her anymore. She thought about her own Rule # 1: Always tell the truth. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess. It’s been such an emotional day.” She looked up. “Please, Detective, can you just take me home?”

  “You sure you’re ok?” His eyes scanned her face.

  She nodded. “Did you figure out why the guy was trying to break in?”

  “Not yet.” He drove to the old Victorian on Hopewell Street and led her up the stairs to her apartment.

  “Let me go in first.” He opened the door and looked around the apartment. It had the smell of fresh paint and the furniture was neatly arranged. No moving boxes anywhere in sight. He spotted a photograph of a teenaged Julie with a tall uniformed policeman. He glanced in the bedroom and noticed the large brass bed and smiled. A big orange tomcat hissed and followed him to the hallway. “I don’t think your cat likes me. But other than that, it’s clear.”

  Julie entered. “Thank you, Detective. Please don’t mind Elvis. He’s really just a big teddy bear.” The cat purred loudly and rubbed against her ankles.

  “Elvis, huh?” He grinned. “Please, call me Michael.”

  “Ok,” she nodded “And, please, call me Julie.”

  “You got it, Julie. I hope we run into each other real soon,” he grinned. “If you need anything, I’m right next door.”

  Julie watched as he walked down the hallway to the other apartment. He had a great set of buns. He turned around and smiled at her just before he went inside.

  Chapter 3

  “How to get ‘mind-blowing, toe-curling’ sex” was the headline on one of the tabloid newspapers at the Quick Check convenience store checkout counter. Julie sighed as she waited impatiently, her eyes glancing over the newspaper and magazine racks that flanked her. She thought to herself. “Here I am, single, unattached, and,” she added. “No foreseeable mind-blowing, toe-curling sex anywhere in the near future.” Then she smiled as she thought about Michael. “Well, maybe a slight chance.”