A Little Scratch
A COLLABORATIVE NOVEL BEING WRITTEN AT
SUMMON YOUR INNER WRITER TO INVESTIGATE THE TROUBLE PENDING FOR FORMER DETECTIVE RACHEL DORAN.
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EXPLORE THE CONSPIRACY BEHIND A YOUNG COUPLE'S DISAPPEARANCE
Clarence and Carol Reed looked like the perfect couple – young, wealthy and in love. But Rachel Doran, retired detective, understands how much appearances count for. When Carol disappears and Clarence turns up at Rachel’s doorstep, desperate for her help, Rachel knows that trouble is coming her way. What may appear a simple case of marital dispute will turn out to be an unravelling conspiracy that will take Rachel to the darkest parts of her city and her past.
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CHAPTER ONE
Maya closed the front door, hauling the bulging trash bag behind her. Hell but the door was heavy. Its sole purpose, she reckoned, was to make her work as difficult as possible. One of the countless injustices suffered each day working for the Reeds. But did she holler like Mrs. Reed when a single decorative lawn chair was out of place? No ma’am, she kept her mouth shut. Even now, through that enormous door, she could hear the yelling. Five years in and she’d got used to the screaming matches. Her ma’d always said money was like hot sauce. A little was a fine thing, but too much would burn like hell. But she had a notion the Reeds wanted it to burn.
Maya shuffled towards the bins then stumbled out of the way as Mr Reed’s shiny little sports car zoomed past her. Bastard nearly hit her. She glared after him, catching her breath, as he screeched down the long driveway, through the front gate and off the property. Guess he was done for the evening. Maya took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. There’d been a large, new scratch down the side of the car. She wondered if she’d be blamed for that. But what worried her more was the look on Mr. Reed’s face. She’d only glimpsed him as he nearly drove over her but it had struck her and stuck with her now.
Something was missing in his eyes. Sounded like a fool thing to say, but she couldn’t find any other words. Some part of him was just not there.
“Guess some men can’t help it,” Maya muttered to herself. She stretched her aching back and peered up into the tall glass windows of her employer’s mansion. She fancied she could see Mrs. Reed peering down from on high, out towards the sunset. “I know the feeling girl,” she sighed.
What Maya didn’t know was that no one would see Carol Reed again. And Mr. Clarence Thomas Reed, Tom to his friends, had plans to disappear too. But not until he paid an old friend one last visit.
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A Little Scratch
A COLLABORATIVE NOVEL BEING WRITTEN AT
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