The Jewelry

LaRain Vickers

Description

Jamie's mother dies from an 'accident' just two days after changing her will. Had her husband known of the change would she have died so suddenly? With the reading of the 'Will', Jamie's stepfather learns that his stepdaughter has inherited almost everything. He didn't spend all this time for the fifty-one thousand dollars he was left. With the loss of her mother, Jamie stays in her room to avoid her stepfather. She is naïve as to how to get him out of the home she inherited. She has been content in the past with being her mother's 'secret financial advisor'. She receives her mother's multimillion-dollar Jewelry collection from her lawyer and hides it. Had she known what would befall her, she would have made a different choice. The drugs she is forced to ingest and the beating that follows, leaves her in a comatose state for months. She has undergone many surgeries to allow her to survive and her doctor faithfully watches over her. Her mind has blocked out what occurred. With no memory of the beating she endured, she is only able to see and hear. Trapped in a motionless body, with no way to communicate, she is tormented by her 'husband' Jonathon, who claims she was in a terrible accident. Instinctively she knows she is not married, but how can she tell her doctor? Jamie and her doctor learn to communicate by her blinking yes and no. Through this method he unearths some of the truth. Having learned that Jamie is not, nor ever had been married, her doctor can finally tell her that he is in love with her. He has loved her from the moment she first opened her jade-green eyes. He feels it better to not tell Jonathon just yet. He thinks it might endanger her more. While her doctor is gone Jamie learns of the injuries to her face from Jonathon, he has her believing she is disfigured and that she looks monstrous. It throws her into a panic, and Doctor Ames fights to save her again when her heart starts to fail. Doctor Ames, in an attempt to help Jamie, tells Jonathon that Jamie will never be able to move, write, speak or communicate in any way. Feeling confident that Jamie will never be able to tell anyone, Jonathon taunts her by confessing that he killed not only her mother, but also his father's, previous wives for their fortunes. He tells her it is too bad she hid the Jewelry, and no one will ever find it now. But he will always know where she is and maybe it would be better if he just kills her too, for the insurance money, but not just yet. Jonathon in his evil insane mind would rather she be dead if he can't have her for himself. It is when he kisses her, and she tastes the tears that fall from his eyes and he mentions the Jewelry, that she remembers everything. Her mother's death, the Jewelry, the beating that followed, and the excruciating pain that her mind has blocked out. Jonathon leaves the hospital and doesn't hear Jamie as her heart rate increases and she starts screaming. Having learned what had befallen her, her doctor devises an elaborate plan to get her safely out of the hospital. They must stay out of the reach of the insane man that wants to keep her for himself, even if it means killing her so no one else can have her. They must also escape the man that wants her back, so he can have the Jewelry for himself. The elaborate plan to escape from the hospital and bringing her stepfather and his son to justice, and the love she has found, are what make this novel a page turner.

Sujets

• Romance
• Suspense
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 28 décembre 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781977208903
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Jewelry
Book One
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2019 LaRain Vickers
v3.0

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Outskirts Press, Inc.
http://www.outskirtspress.com

ISBN: 978-1-9772-0890-3

Cover Image by LaRain Vickers

Outskirts Press and the “OP” logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


Dedication:

This book is dedicated to my husband Bradd (that is not a typo) for his constant ‘You can do it’ attitude. Giving me time to write and putting up with my tears. I tend to get a little emotional when I get to certain sections in my books and a bit of myself comes through at times. And a big thank you to my friends, particularly Pat Fitzpatrick, for listening to my frustrations and elations.


CHAPTER 1
P atricia had fallen asleep early, following another argument with her husband. The silvery moonlight was shining into the room from the open window, as the curtains moved ever so slightly from the autumn breeze.
About 2:00 a.m., Jonathon and Anthony entered the bedroom. Jonathon awakened Patricia from her deep sleep when he placed his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming. He held her as Anthony tied her hands together behind her back with a scarf. He used caution to assure no marks would be evident. She tried to scream as Jonathon rolled her back over. Anthony clamped his hand tightly over her mouth, and then he pinched her nostrils together to force her to open her mouth to breathe. Her eyes were wide with fear and Anthony enjoyed knowing that he created that fear.
Jonathon shoved three pills into her mouth and forced her to drink some water. She gagged on the pills as they slid down her throat. They placed a wadded-up cloth in her mouth and fastened another scarf around her head to hold it in place. Patricia tried to scream but the sound was muffled.
“Is that enough pills?” Jonathon asked his father.
“Shhhh, that spoiled brat will hear you!”
They held her down on the bed until she quit struggling and the pills began to take effect. When she could no longer move, they removed the scarf and rag from her mouth and untied her wrists. Anthony opened the door and made sure that Jamie was not in the hall. Jonathon lifted her, carried her out into the hall and down the steps.
With Anthony leading, Jonathon carried her out to the dock and gently placed her into the bottom of the boat. “It won’t do to leave bruises on you,” he said sneeringly as he got in and his father untied the boat from the dock. Having already drained the fuel tank, Jonathon rowed out towards the center of the pond, his raft trailing behind the boat.
“Goodbye stepmother,” Jonathon whispered in her ear as he gently tossed her body over the side into the water.
Patricia’s mind told her to swim, but she couldn’t move her arms or legs. Her thoughts were racing... I was wrong, he is as evil as his father... I love you Jamie. Her white nightgown billowed out around her, blending with the silver casting from the moon on the surface of the water. The moon seemed to beckon to her as she slid beneath the surface; it’s shivering silver blanket covering her as she slept forever.
Jonathon watched her slide below the surface of the water. He left the boat near her body, and rowed the raft back to the shore.
SEPTEMBER 9
The ‘Will’ of Patricia Chancelor Bains had been read. She bequeathed to her twenty-one-year-old daughter, Jamie Lynn Chancelor, the house and cottage, one million dollars to be put into a special trust fund to maintain her for many years. Jamie was also to receive all of her Jewelry, which was valued at two point one million dollars. Patricia placed her ‘old’ family attorney, Matthew Garner, in charge of that trust fund and assigned him as trustee for the estate. Patricia had instructed Matthew to personally deliver her Jewelry to her daughter, and to assure she was alone in her room with him when she received it. After distribution of the stocks to Jonathon Bains, the amount bestowed to Anthony Bains, all debts and attorney fees paid, anything remaining was to be placed equally into a checking and savings account for her daughter.
Patricia had left several notes, which were to be read.

Jonathon Bains,

I am leaving you my stocks, which at the last report, dated August 18th, were valued at approximately $250,000.00. I hope this gives you a fresh start, far away from your father. I have not had many opportunities to get to know you well, but I feel there is little of your father’s evil hatred in you.

Your Stepmother,
Patricia

To her husband, she left the following note.

Anthony Bains,

I do not intend to finance your whims any longer. My attorney has instructed me that I must leave you an amount of money to ensure this ‘Will’ cannot be revoked. Since you have only ‘taken’ in this marriage and ‘given nothing’ in return (I soon realized after we were married that you were only interested in obtaining my money.), therefore you will receive the sum of $1,000.00. Quiet down! Being more generous than you are, I am willing to pay you a bit more, just to put a halt to the ranting.

You are also to receive an additional amount of $50,000.00 for services ‘to be rendered’, which is more than you deserve. So, enjoy your ill-gotten gains, while the money lasts.

All affidavits having been properly filled out, witnessed, and filed, should you try to revoke or contest this ‘Will’, in any way, you are to receive absolutely nothing.

I sign this note,

Patricia Chancelor Bains - Which is the legal name I hold at the signing of my ‘Last Will and Testament’, but not for much longer, since I have filed for a divorce.

There was also a note addressed, “To my loving daughter Jamie Lynn Chancelor.”
Jamie,

Open the enclosed envelope one year from my death or upon the arrest of Anthony Bains, in the presence of our Attorney Matthew Garner and an officer of the law.

All my love,
Mom

This note was laid aside.

Following the reading of the ‘Will’, Jamie spent most of her time in her room, trying to avoid her stepfather. Naïve in so many ways, she had no idea that she had the right to have her stepfather removed from the house, so she stayed in the one place she always felt safe, her room.
After Matthew visited her, Jamie had not only hidden her mother’s Jewelry, she was the only one that held the key to its location. Little did Jamie know the depths of her stepfather’s cruelty, but too soon, she would find out.

Anthony Bains paced the floor, with a glass of bourbon in his hand. I must be slipping up. I should have had her followed. I worked too hard cultivating my relationship with Patricia for a paltry fifty-one thousand dollars. I have to get my hands on that Jewelry.



CHAPTER 2
SEPTEMBER 15
J amie received a phone call from Jonathon Bains, Anthony’s son. He asked her to meet him by his car because he had some information about her mother’s death. She had only seen Jonathon once, a quick glimpse at her mother’s wedding. Jamie was extremely curious about her mother’s death. She had numerous unanswered questions, so she agreed to meet him.
Her stepfather had locked her in her room following the family lawyer’s visit, so she was surprised to find the door unlocked when she tried it.
With questions racing through her mind she raced down the stairs. What was Mom thinking when she ran from the house? Why would she take the boat out in the middle of the night?
As soon as Jamie entered the car she asked him to drive her to the police station. They drove for a bit and Jamie sensed something was wrong as soon as Jonathon started asking her questions. This is not about my mother at all , she thought and fought to get out of the car. Jonathon grabbed her hands as she clawed at him, but he was too strong for her. He taped them together, then he grabbed her hair, tilting her head slightly backward. She gasped and as she opened her mouth, he shoved some pills in and then he kissed her. The kiss surprised her. She tasted tears. Why... why was he crying? He took his lips away and placed his hand over her mouth to keep it clamped shut and held her. She could only stare at him in bewilderment.
The pills were dissolving and she was choking, she felt as if she could not breathe. She heard him talking, “I am so sorry Jamie. He is making me bring you to him. Please forgive me. It will be much better this way.”
She slumped in the car seat and he fastened her seat belt and drove. She could not speak. She felt like she was floating. He stopped the car and unlocked the doors, as he held her close to him.
The car door opened, and hands were tearing her from him. She could hear Anthony’s voice shouting, “What have you done you fool. She is no good to us dead, you idiot! She holds the key! You’ll pay for this!” Then she was being shaken and her stepfather was yelling at her, “Where is it? Where is the Jewelry? Where is it? Where did you hide it?”
The first blow was to her stomach, the next to the side of her head. The drugs Jonathon forced