Visions in the Shadows

Visions in the Shadows

Mark Schubert

Copyright 2009 Mark Schubert

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

David Merck rocked in his favorite chair and stared out at the early morning waves as they crashed up the beach. Each path retraced and trounced upon anew. The sand seemed impervious to the never-ending onslaught waged by the salty water. His mind rolled back to some words his father gave many years before: A single drop seems insignificant, unnoticed. Many drops together form a wave, and then an ocean. Hear it roar. It all begins with a single drop. David smiled as his eyes swung across the horizon.

He remembered the first time he had seen this beach several years before. Fresh to the city, David escaped his dim hotel room and drove immediately to the beach. He had been told about the beauty of the ocean, but this was to be the first time he would ever see it with his own eyes. He lived much of his life in the interior of the country, staying with his family even when he went to university. When his parents died in a traffic accident, David made quick decisions. He sold the house and most of the world he had known. He took the insurance money and made for the coast. A new life.

Maria called from the bedroom down the hall. How long?

I'm not sure. He paused. As long as I need. I haven't taken a vacation for a few years, seeing as how I'm my own boss I may as well take one as long as I'd like. He sighed as he could hear Maria banging away with his things. He asked her to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything. He had that nagging feeling that he would forget something.

David Merck raised his muscular six-foot frame from the chair and walked over to the window. It was a beautiful, sunny day on the beach. Never thinking that he'd want to get away from here when Frank Torrens mentioned a trip up into the southern part of Washington, maybe even a jaunt into Canada, David had to think about the idea for a while. It did sound like a nice refreshing change.

His eyes peered down the hallway to where the bedroom lay. He'd known Maria ever since her father gave him the break that he needed. Once he'd met her he soon fell in love with her but wouldn't get too deeply involved even after her father died penniless two years ago. They held only a casual relationship. They went out together, even slept together off and on, but they never got serious. Her father…

David again thought back to that day on the beach years ago. He had wandered out to the end of a pier. Leaning over the railing at the very end and feeling the ocean mist dance across his face, David almost jumped out of his skin when a voice from behind interrupted his thoughts. The man emerged from the bench and joined David at the railing.

I’m sorry. What did you say? David’s heart still thumped its protests in his chest.

I said: she takes your breath away doesn’t she? The man smiled and swept his hand toward the ocean.

David’s eyes wanted to return to the water, but they would not leave the man’s face. I know you, sir.

Do you? I think you must be mistaken. The man smiled nonetheless and leaned his elbows on the splitting wood of the railing.

"Tony Thorne? You were on the cover of Time magazine. Five months ago." David forgot all about the ocean’s grasp and turned his body to face the man before him.

The man’s surprise did not hide his delight, and he pulled his arm across his body and extended it to David. You do have me at a disadvantage, young man.

David proudly shook Tony Thorne’s hand and a smile spread across his face. You, sir, are the reason I came to Los Angeles.

Tony Thorne looked confused. Even a little worried.

I’m sorry, Mr. Thorne. That sounds stupid. What I mean is that I wanted to make my life here and build my own empire. I am going to open a club, and use the money I will make from my investments to build my own investment company. Like yours. David’s smile turned sheepish and he shut his mouth for as long as he could. Well, I don’t mean to compete or anything. I mean, I will… David stopped and his mind raced to find something to say. Anything but the meaningless babble that spewed from his mouth only moments ago.

I see. Don’t try to explain it any more than you have. Please. Mr. Thorne motioned for them to sit down on the bench, smiling as he did so. As they moved away from the railing, David noticed the sound of the waves crashing against the pier. Unsure if the sound existed before, his mind searched his memory to see if all sound from the ocean had simply stopped for the last few minutes.

What is your name, son? The two men sat down on the bench and turned to face each other.

David Merck. David extended his hand in reflex, only to quickly return it to his side when he remembered their earlier union.

Well, Mr. Merck. Independent business can be very risky.

"I know. I’ve thought about this a long time. I actually wanted to do something like this even long before I read that article on you in Time." David rambled on for as long as he could before Mr. Thorne interrupted him.

You know, when I first started out, I came to this very beach. I did much the same thing you did. Mr. Thorne motioned to the railing. I came out here and stared out over the water. I saw it as an endless opportunity. He paused and then his eyes rested once again on this David Merck. He seemed to make a decision and opened his mouth again to speak. Why don’t we sit down and talk about this over dinner. As much as I love this spot and the view, I really need to get some food in this belly. Tony Thorne began to turn and stopped. He turned himself back to face this new young man. And I would bet you’ve been too excited to remember to eat since you got here. Mr. Thorne’s eyebrows held raised until David’s head nodded.

His mind came back to the ocean of today. That day seemed so long ago. Hell, it was long ago. David remembered that dinner vividly. At the end, Mr. Thorne had decided to put up a large chunk of money and made himself a partner in the early plans. To get started right, you needed the money to do it right. The first club did moderately well, but David’s investments on the stock market did even better. He reinvested the money into new stocks, and split some off to open a restaurant. Tony Thorne advised against the new restaurant, but David held firm. The restaurant took off and soon David began to realize his ambitions. Without any harsh words, David and Mr. Thorne remained in business only on the first nightclub, as David branched out more and more on his own. The investments continued to do very well, and David expanded his focus to real estate. Immediately the financial world took notice. Fortune magazine called looking to run a small article on the quick rise of this new face in the industry. David refused and plodded on.

Following the advice of Mr. Thorne, David amalgamated his empire into one company. The two men were now very good friends, and they spent many evenings debating each other’s strategies. David now employed investment advisors, and split his company into three divisions: an entertainment division overseeing the eleven existing clubs and restaurants and any potential new ventures; a client focussed investment group managing twenty-three portfolios including David’s; and a separate real estate division. All three reported into David, although he spent most of his own time working with the real estate. It was soon after that that David finally caved in to both Mr. Thorne and the media, giving the first and only interview of his career.

Maria packed in an extra blanket and a few other odds and ends. When she returned to the living room to tell him the good news she stopped in shock. Very few times on a weekday had David not been in a suit, but today he wore something she'd never seen before. A black shirt with tan canvas pants a matching canvas jacket and hiking boots. He went a day unshaven and looked like he was trying to be a rugged reporter going to Africa to get the latest scoop on a terrorist hideout. David spun around when he heard her gasp.

So what do you think? Pausing he waved his arms out to his sides. A gallant attempt to be regal. It didn’t work.

Well.... It's different. She laughed and shook her head at his reddening face. I'd better go and, uh, get my hair done. With that, Maria laughed and walked up to David. She gave him a quick kiss on his scruffy cheek. I do have to go. You call me when you get up there.

David nodded as she turned and grabbed her purse. He watched as she slipped out the door. He had no idea that his eyes would never see her again.

Frankie’s BMW pulled up the driveway just as Maria came running out. That bitch was probably after David's money again. Frankie glowered at her, to which she hissed and stuck out her tongue before jumping into her Mercedes, laughing. Frankie guessed her idiot father couldn't gamble away his daughter's precious car.

David stepped out onto the front step and waved. Frankie! Shall we saunter up into those yonder hills old chap? David tried to make his face a bit longer and shoved a pen into his mouth like a pipe. I dare say it's nearing tea time wot.

Are you ready to go, or are you going to change your profession and try to amuse the world with that pitiful accent? Let's throw your stuff in the back and get going. The cabin is waiting for us!

You know, David started while he was gathering up his suitcase and other bags from the bedroom, you really need to relax a little more.

Frankie scoffed and threw his arms out at David. This from the guy who is going on his first vacation in years! I almost had to tear your arm off to relax.

David smiled and began filling the trunk with his stuff.

The next afternoon:

Johnny could not take his eyes from the barrel. The gun looked so big when it was pointed directly at him. He could see right down the barrel, to the bullet in its anxiousness, poised to jump out and fly to its new home. I...I...I was going to repay the money, I just had this tip and I could make twice as much back, I would have even given Mr. Hall interest. I didn't think he would miss thirty thousand dollars, not for just a month.

Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. You are babbling. You know Mr. Hall doesn't tolerate idiots working for him. He can't have someone thinking that he could just take some money from the operation without being noticed. How do you think he could explain the loss of thirty thousand dollars when he has to make a payment to the bank.

I'm so sorry Mr. Shilko, I won't do it again, I'll give him twice as much back, just... please don't hurt me!

I have always been impressed with your skills of negotiation as our tax lawyer, Johnny. But, being a partner of Mr. Hall's, I am also a little pissed off that you would take something from us. Shilko paused for effect. You were supposed to be saving money for us, not stealing it, and I’m afraid that the trust barrier has now been broken. I guess you were thinking that it would be a tax write off, is that it? Well…I think you need to learn, Johnny, that business is built on trust and partnership. Shilko glanced away for a moment. When you came to hide in this two bit, sorry excuse for a town, it didn't seem as though you wanted to ever come back. Shilko cocked his head slightly as he dropped the aim of the gun and shot Johnny in the knee.

Johnny dropped to the ground in a heap. He opened his mouth to scream when another shot pinged from the silenced .45 and his throat exploded open gushing warmth onto the gravel. He choked and his eyes shot around looking for some hope, at least some mercy, or some way out of this nightmare. His body suddenly stopped moving and he stared blankly into eternity. No life blazed from behind his once hazel eyes.

Have we learned the less---. Shouts in the distance distracted Shilko. He looked behind him and saw two men getting into a BMW and quickly slamming the doors. A short pause preceded its squealing onto the highway. Shit, they must have seen us. Get the car! Shilko and his cohort ran hurriedly to their corvette and sped after the fleeing witnesses in the beemer.

Johnny Wilson lay dead in the alley.

Well it's not Angelo's, but it sure hits the spot. David and Frankie were just finishing up their meal in the hotel they spent their sleep at the night before.

David looked out through the cheap blinds in the window. The rental car looked almost identical to Frankie’s actual BMW, now sitting idle at the airport in LA. I find it amazing that you rent the same car that you drive normally. Don't you want to try out something else? Get some variety?

Why bother, I know mine is the most finely tuned piece of automatic craftsmanship anyway. Shall we get going? Frankie’s expression showed he was not trying to make a joke about the car. He fully believed what he said to be true.

I want to call in to Maria and tell her where she'll be able to reach us. Seeing as how your cabin has no phone I'll leave her the number here and whenever we come into town I can check for messages. Otherwise she might think we got eaten by a bear or a wolf or something.

What is your problem anyway? That girl's father pissed away his life at the poker table and had a heart attack because he couldn't live with it. Why do you still hang around with her? You just feel sorry for her, don’t you? You should be enjoying California for what it is, a sea of blondes!

Would it make a difference if she were white? David's voice was rising with the darkening hue of his face. He knew Frankie had his problems with Maria, but this went deeper than that. Frankie’s racism and chauvinism started many arguments between the two men.

Well, now that you mention it, shouldn't we keep the races mixing on their own? Her mother was white, and she died having her. I would bet she probably couldn't bear having a black child!

People began to look around at the two men arguing at the table in the corner. Why couldn't these damn people from the cities get along for one morning?

David stood up, angry and towering over Frankie with intimidation, Her father was the greatest man I ever knew. He helped me become who I am today. I know that Maria has had some rough points in her life, but she has stood up with her head held high and she has more character than anyone else I know! She's beautiful, and if I want to marry her that is my choice and MY honor! David turned and stormed out of the restaurant and out to the car.

Frankie sat there pulling out money to pay the waiter in total amazement, still stinging from all the excitement and watchful eyes. Never before had David yelled at him. Suddenly Frankie jerked his head up. Married? He ran out leaving a twenty-dollar tip with a smiling waiter.

Frankie tracked down his friend at the car. David. What do you mean married? Is there something you haven't told me? David? David got into the car and slammed the door. Frankie slammed himself into the driver's seat. What did you mean by married?

It was nothing, we aren't even serious, it just slipped out. David was talking calmly now, looking at his hands as they rubbed together in his lap.

Well we better get to that cottage before something else slips out. Frankie squealed out of the parking lot and onto the highway.

Chapter 2

David tried to reach into the back seat to grab an apple out of the cooler but he couldn't quite reach it. Clicking loose his seatbelt, he turned and reached back again. This time he grasped the apple and settled back into his seat to eat. They were a few miles down the road and Frankie’s eyes repeatedly darted to the rearview mirror. He noticed the corvette closing in as he turned off onto the gravel road. With only three miles to his cottage, Frankie once again switched his eyes to see the corvette make the same turn. It was now only a half a mile away and still closing. He was certain he had seen the shiny black corvette with its large spoiler before. Where was he then? He couldn't quite remember where or why but somehow he didn't like it. Maybe it was during that big murder case where the cop was the head conspirator. With another glance to the mirror, Frankie began to accelerate.

Shit man, this isn't the goddamn Indy! David liked driving fast, but the speedometer was rising more and more and the turns in the road were not getting any easier.

Somebody is following us. That corvette has behind us for a while. I've seen it before, I think during that Hailey murder case. Frankie turned quickly off down another gravel road. He growled when the corvette made the same turn.

Frankie you're living in a dream world. The guy has a fast car and is just trying to get his money's worth, and it happens to look like another of those very rare cars that nobody owns! Come on, man, how many corvettes do you see every bloody day? Slow down before we go off the road! David was yelling again, his heart racing.

Frankie tensed a moment longer, but gave in and looked as if he was going to agree. The car softened the roar from the engine as he started to slow down. Just then a rabbit hopped onto the road. Frankie jerked the wheel, as his already tight nerves startled by the rabbit's unexpected jump out of the woods. The BMW went completely out of control. So much for that perfect handling they showed in the ads.

David frantically tried to grab onto anything realizing he hadn't put his seatbelt back on. The apple tumbled to the floor, bouncing off David’s foot and under the seat. Man they just missed that tree. The car threatened another tree. Frankie’s knuckles, white from the pressure, squeezed tighter around the steering wheel. He tried to regain control, but had a better chance of simply minimizing the damage. The car kept sliding, seemingly at will.

Frankie could feel one tire lift slightly from the ground. The car suddenly spun and lurched and finally slammed into a tree. A fallen tree trunk broke through the windshield at the same instant that David went flying out from the inside. They just missed each other by inches. Frankie wasn't so lucky. His shoulder was crushed back against the seat and his head was bleeding. Badly.

David landed on somewhat soft ground about twenty feet away and rolled from the momentum. He got up slowly, every movement jolting pain into his bruised body. His body swayed slightly. He suddenly wasn't sure where he was, and he was in complete shock from the accident. He couldn't see out of one eye because the impact of the windshield had cut it up pretty badly. David tried to walk over to the hillside to steady himself and let his mind clear. He made a few steps before tripping on a tree root. He landed on his shoulder and pain shot down his arm, making it numb for a few seconds. David only grunted, his lip dangling and exposing bloody teeth. He tried to push himself back up, but his right arm was still a bit numb. His body slanted off, and David kicked his legs out as quickly as he could to avoid falling again. He made it to the hillside and supported himself as best he could to pause and catch his breath.

Frankie twisted his head back and forth. He tried to speak, but all he could do was gargle the warm blood swimming in his throat. His eyes darted around, looking for some sign telling him that this was all just a dream, looking for help much the same way Johnny did just a short time ago. He could see a part of the road through the trees he had spun past before greeting his new woody neighbor. He saw the corvette slow and stop where Frankie had driven off the road. The driver's occupants got out of the car. They looked quite ominous, almost getting out of the car in slow motion amidst a cloud of dust. The sun glistened off the dark paint of the car. No wonder it was getting so hot, the sun was coming out from behind the clouds.

The man called Shilko reached the car first, his gun already drawn. He looked down at Frankie and smiled. Shilko enjoyed it when people saw him and were visibly frightened. "You thought you could outrun us did you? You forgot you are supposed to keep your eyes on the road. Shilko raised the gun and touched it to Frankie's forehead but Frankie was already dead. He had died soon after Shilko started speaking.

Over there! Look! There's the other one, on the hillside, Shilko's companion shouted. Shilko jerked his head up and followed the outstretched finger to where the other witness was stumbling along. About thirty or forty yards away, the man seemed unsure of where he was going.

David thought he heard shouting and turned his head. He could only see with one eye, but what he saw he didn't like. A man was standing about twenty-five yards away raising a large looking gun.

Nice try little mouse, but no cheese for you. David tried to move quickly as Shilko shot the third deadly bullet from its smooth chamber. David felt pain slap his face. His arms jolted upwards as he fell to the ground. Blackness surrounded him, and then...nothing.

Shilko watched the man fall in a clump. He smiled. Busy day today. Stepping forward towards the body an arm restrained him. Sirens wailed in the distance. Time to go home for dinner. Shilko paused but turned around and returned to the corvette, still smiling, thinking not of the dead bodies left behind, but of the juicy steak he planned to have for dinner.

Maria brought out another bottle of champagne from David's mighty cache to serve to the people at the party. It was her friend Janet's birthday, and Maria was using David's house to celebrate. It's too bad he wasn't here. He was always good at these things. Probably because he loved celebrating…well…anything. Just being happy.

Maria couldn't help missing him at a time like this. Many people thought that they were a couple but she just never wanted to listen. They were just enjoying themselves, nothing 'couplish' about that. When she was at a nightclub she always knew if a guy was 'after' her, but when David looked at her, what did she see? She never really thought about it until now.

Are you going to stare at the bottle 'til it opens, or are you going to do it the conventional way?

Maria jumped and looked up at John, Janet's fiancé. Man he was tall. No, I was just daydreaming. She smiled and all that was being thought was forgotten.

Here. John grabbed the bottle and began to uncork it. Are you sure David's not going to mind the mess, Maria? The paper from Janet's presents is everywhere and nobody seems caring to clean up after themselves. Pop. The champagne oozed into the empty glasses on the kitchen counter.

I clean the house up anyway, so why would he mind. Not that David was much to clean up after. She grabbed the bottle and carried it into the group of people looking to fill empty glasses.

I raise a toast. Raising her glass, Maria looked around at the twenty, or so, guests that stayed after the ritual of presents. To Janet, the oldest bag of us all! Laughter rose in a drunken chorus and people drained yet another glass of champagne. They are certainly tireless tonight. Usually she was the most energetic, but tonight Maria was tired.

David awoke from unconsciousness and opened his eyes. The pain was still there, but at least the bleeding had stopped. He tried to wipe away what dried blood that he could so that his eyelashes could pull open all the way. Each brushing of his fingers sent pain through his head, but David kept on. He wanted to look around at his surroundings. It seemed dark out because he noticed no light behind the blood shade. When he got enough of the caked blood removed from his eyelids David opened them fully. Nothing. He turned his head quickly. Pain stabbed at his temples, but, nothing. He could feel some sunlight on his cheek, and a slight breeze played with his hair. David rubbed his eyes and shook his head violently, no longer noticing the pain. Slowly, carefully, David opened his eyes again. Nothing! Noooooo! This is not right!

David groped about for something, anything. His hand happened on a tree branch. He balanced the branch directly in front of his eyes. I, I can't see? Why can't I see?, David asked the branch. David started to breathe quickly. He screamed hard and started to cry.

He started to shake uncontrollably and shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't think of anything else except the 'darkness'.

David slammed the heel of his hand into his forehead in a vain attempt to jog his sight back from wherever it had gone. Once again he tried to look for something, this time raising his scarred eyes towards the sun. All he needed was a little more light.

Nothing.

Why can't I SEE? His scream remained unanswered. David buried his head in his hands, massaging his eyelids gently to try to correct this momentary lapse.

A branch snapped a little off to his right. David jerked his head, listening carefully. He could hear breathing. Heavy, very methodical…breathing. Slowly, David rose to his feet, listening all the way. Who's there? He waited. Nothing. David paused, a flash in his mind. A man was muttering something, pointing a shiny gun at him, smiling. David ran. He had to get away from that monotonous breathing. That man was playing with him. Maybe it was a bear. David didn't care; he just wanted to be gone.

He ran unknowingly straight towards the car. His legs pounding, his heart thumping louder than he believed possible. He stumbled on a root, and tried to...WHUMP. David slammed heavily into a tree. His left shoulder hit the tree hard, and David winded himself. He struggled to breathe as the impact sent him spinning to the ground.

It seemed like minutes before David could breathe again, even though it was only seconds. He listened again. He felt around and found a stick. It was a little bit short and somewhat curved, but it was strong and would be a good guide.

He got up again, and this time he walked quickly, swinging the stick awkwardly in front of his body. After stumbling a few times David started to relax and slow down. Whatever was there had yet to attack, so David tried to concentrate on not hitting another tree. His shoulder protested its existence while his head throbbed. The man flashed into his mind, this time just watching David stumbling along. The man was laughing at him.

David ignored the image and stopped. His walking stick had encountered an object. Metal. The car!

David couldn't believe his luck. He had actually...Frankie! David had completely forgotten about Frankie! Frankie! Hey buddy, you all right? David opened the passenger door and reached inside. There was a lot of glass on the seat so he quickly pulled his hand back. He lifted his makeshift walking stick and probed around until it struck something hard. The tree that had come through the windshield. David slowly felt his way around to the driver's side of the car. The driver side window was open.

David reached inside and felt Frankie's left arm. Some sticky, flaky stuff was caked all the way down his arm. Could that be dried blood? David couldn't remember what Frankie was wearing that day, but he was pretty certain it didn't have any caked on dirt. He started to feel upwards to the head. Frankie? David's voice was shaky now. When David reached the head, he knew that Frankie was dead. His whole body started to shake when his hand came to Frankie's eyes. Frankie's eyes, open. David caressed the eyes, wishing for them, to see again, and then he swallowed hard and passed his fingers over Frankie's lids until they were closed.

David turned hard and let fly. The whole thing just made him sick.

The sun was starting to go down. David could feel that, so he tried to pull himself together. He listened for cars. Nothing. He couldn't remember how long they had been on the side road, or whether they turned onto any different roads. How many times did the car spin? The road could be any direction! In any case, there didn't seem to be any cars coming. This was cottage country, and it wasn't exactly cottage season, there very well may be nobody coming out here for a while.

If night was coming, David was going to need things to keep warm. He was also going to need water. He reached into the car past Frankie. Sorry man. He grabbed the keys, pulling them out tightly holding them in his hand. The last thing he wanted to do was to drop them at Frankie's feet and have to go into the car. He felt his way back to the rear of the car, setting down his walking stick. Great, which key? He listened to the heavy jingle and frowned. Why did Frankie have so many damn keys? Well, David, I guess he just didn't consider dying and leaving you blind, now did he? David shook the thought from his mind and slid around to a new key. Finally this