Blood Is Thicker Than Water (A New Adult Dark Thriller Series of Mystery and Suspense) ( free series of thriller, mystery, suspense and horror) (Next Of Kin Book 1) (3 page)

“What’s the nature of your call sir?” The female dispatch inquired.

“My wife’s been shot.  She’s not breathing.”

“Do you have a positive ID on the attacker?  Sir?”

Alex dropped the handset, slumped against the wall, head in hands whilst the dispatcher reiterated the last question.  Grabbing the screaming brood, one in each arm, he dried their tears and attempted to soothe them. 
I really screwed up this time. 
He thought.

4.

"Hands behind your head." The officer instructed.

Witnessing their father in cuffs was something they wouldn’t forget.  They were at that stage where they were too young to know what was going on but old enough to remember. 

"We got a heartbeat." The man said.

Alex took a quick peek just as the EMTs moved her to the gurney.  Then back to the second-in-command officer who read him the Miranda rights.

"You have the right to remain silent."

"Zo!" Alex shouted.

“Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law."

" Zo!” Alex screamed.

"You have the right to an attorney."

"Zo!” He watched the EMTs wheel her out.

"If you do not have an attorney, one will be appointed for you."

"Zo!"

"Hey! Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?" The officer asked, frustrated.

"Yeah I got it."

The officer ushered him to the back of the squad car.  Alex loathed himself for what he had done.  He never dreamed in a million years that he would shoot his wife or force his kids in the arms of a stranger.   How do you deal with the fact that the person you should've shielded your family from was you?

Alex was charged with attempted murder.  The minimum sentence was fifteen years in prison….maximum: Life.

All he could concentrate on was her.  Everything else seemed irrelevant.  The best that he could do was get help.  Alex had dug a hole he couldn’t get out of. 
She deserves to be with someone great.  And that's never been me
. He thought.

They booked him and stuck him in a holding cell.   The arraignment was scheduled for ten o’clock tomorrow.  Alex was ready to face the verdict.  He was beside himself.  It was so unreal. It felt like a dream.  A dream he couldn't escape.   Alex had a lot of regrets, this being at the very top of the list.  Given the chance to do it all over again and rewrite the wrongs, would he? 

"Call the next case." The judge ordered.

"The people vs. Alexander Price." The bailiff announced.

Alex and a young officer walked in the courtroom where he stood in front of the presiding judge, handcuffed and shackled.  They treated him like a common hood.  Scum of the earth.  He had brushes with the law before but his past crimes—child's play compared to this.  Alex glanced at the ill prepared defense lawyer the court had appointed, it was evident that this case was just given to him.

"Mr. Price you are charged with the willful intent to commit murder.  How do you plead?” The judge asked.

"Guilty." Alex said.

“Your honor, my client was under extreme duress.” The defense lawyer said.

“
Your client
endangered the lives of his children.  Not to mention his wife.  We’re talking more than just jaywalking here.  Mr. Price is a danger to himself and others.” The prosecutor argued.

"Where are we on bail?" The judge asked.

"We firmly stand at no bail, your honor.” The prosecutor said.

“We ask that bail be set at 1,000 dollars.” The defense attorney announced.

"I have no tolerance for people like you Mr. Price.  There are consequences for your action.  And these are dire.  Under the influence or not, it’s still a very serious crime.  The bail is set at fifty thousand dollars.  Tough luck counselor" He banged his gavel.

"Next Case."

Alex gazed at the judge and the man he had called his father as the officer carried him away.  He didn’t care about the consequences, didn't care about himself anymore.  The family was most important and he knew whatever the punishment would be it was well deserved.  What hurt the most was turning into someone he said would never be and letting everyone down who believed in him.

Alex laid on an old beat up cot, staring at a blank wall as the officer opened the cell.  Frank approached him, disappointed.  They were so much alike and yet so far apart.

"You're lucky I still got some pull in this town." Frank said, dropped a small manila envelope on the cot.  Enclosed were his car keys, wedding band and wallet.

Frank was tall, pudgy and had a face that was forgettable.

"You don't have to check, it's all there.  I saw your wife.” Frank said.

"How is she?" Alex asked, jumped up

"She's in a coma. The doctors say its touch and go." Frank replied.

"I want to see her." Alex said.

"I talked it over with the judge.  Here's the deal.  Two years in rehab, two in therapy. No jail time AND YA STAY CLEAN!” Frank said, changing the subject.

"And one more thing, you're no longer a cop.” Frank blurted out, exited the cell.

"I have to see her." Alex replied, grabbed the envelope and charged toward the door.

"She doesn't want to see you!  I don't want to see you! What a classy girl like that ever saw in a schmuck like you I’ll never know “Frank barked, sealed off the exit.

"Apparently the same thing my mom saw in you!" Alex said.             

"Hey, I never put a bullet in her chest." Frank replied.

"No, you didn't.  Just beat her to death.  Thanks for bailing me out.”

Alex grabbed his coat, angrily walked past Frank and slammed the door shut.   He spent his life living in Frank’s shadow.  Golden boy was what the officers named him.  Alex tried so hard to be what they wanted, what his father needed that he lost himself in the fold.  Fellow officers wouldn't stop comparing him to the great Frank Price.

Frank died the next day.  After he passed, the new wife wasn’t the same.

Alex didn’t show up to the funeral, or visit his final resting place to make amends. 

The newspaper read: Frank Elroy Price.  Sixty years old.  Former Sergeant.  Survived by his family.  Died from a severe heart attack.

5.

"I'm looking for Zoe Price." Alex said.

"Zoe Price." The nurse typed away on the computer as Alex impatiently tapped his fingers on the counter.

"She's in ICU.  Room 103." The nurse replied

Alex dashed down the hallway, cutting off everyone in his path.  He was desperate to see her one last time and wanted to express his deepest sympathy.  Alex looked in the glass window and hesitated for a minute before going in. 
She looks so fragile.so helpless.
  He thought.

"It's me.  I'm probably the last person you expected huh?  If your father sees me he'll blow a fuse." Alex paused

“I need you to fight.  You can’t die on me.  Your kids need you.  You’re a survivor remember?”

Maybe someday she can forgive me
.  He thought.  Teardrops were falling down his face as he prayed for the first time in his life. 

"Bye Zo."

Alex kissed her forehead and walked out of the room.

Just as he turned the corner, a man’s angry fist struck a vigorous blow to his face, blood boiling, flashing the evil eye while leaving the rest of him on the ground.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"I didn't know I needed an invitation to see my wife." Alex said, removing the blood from his bottom lip.

"Not for long." The man dropped the divorce papers on his lap.

"She's not even out of the coma yet and you're already running her life"

"A father’s job is to protect his possessions.  Don’t you agree?  I couldn’t shield Zoe from you then but I can care for her now.   Do me a favor, bow at now...or lose custody of your kids.  Murder two.  Reckless endangerment.  You’ll be fortunate if you see the twins in and out of a plated glass window.” He let out a light chuckle.

Alex swallowed his pride and signed the papers, didn’t have the strength to argue the case especially when it was flawed.  He kneeled down, leered at his offspring, kissed their foreheads during the time they said their solemn goodbyes.

“Terrence” Alex said, balling up his fists, punched him.

“I owe you that.” Alex walked away.

June, 1998

Zoe was released from the hospital, paralyzed from the neck down, consequently taking six weeks of extensive physical therapy to bounce back.  In those six weeks Zoe had an awakening like she never experienced.  She had an indescribable urge to reinvent herself and abandon anything that was in remembrance to her old life.  She wouldn’t tell a soul where she was going or how to get in contact.  Zoe being the impetuous one, yanked the kids out of Preschool, packed their belongings and headed to suburbia.  Northbrook, Illinois.  Zoe needed a new start.  Not to mention a new set of faces as she grew weary of admiring the old ones, making the move inevitable.  Zoe had her heart set on a two-story house in the midst of a quiet gated neighborhood.  She hired a realtor via a reliable source.

"This is it. Two bedrooms. Two bath.  Full Jacuzzi.  Hardwood floors.  Fireplace. Beautiful view.  Nice little gated community.  Nearby to one of the best schools in the district.  So, what do you think?" The realtor gave her a tour.

“I’ll take it." Zoe said.

"Will your husband be joining us?" She said, prying.

"I'm divorced.  Looking to..." She trailed off

"Start over?  Well this is the perfect place for it." The realtor added.

Zoe was embarking on a new adventure.

She lifted up the trunk of the U-Haul and grabbed the first package.  Out of nowhere, she heard a man’s voice over her shoulder, startling her.

"Do you need any help?" Maize asked.

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you.  I uh, I just live down the street.  I'm Maize.  Maize Blevins." He extended his hand, showing off his boyish smile.

"Zoe.  Zoe Whitaker.  And this is Medina and Isabel." She replied, shaking his hand, sizing him up.  Zoe took it all in from his black wavy hair, blue eyes, pretty boy face right down to the chiseled body.  She had a flare for picking a thoroughbred.

"It's nice to meet you." Maize kneeled down, acknowledging the twins. 

"Just uh, grab whatever you can carry and follow me." Zoe instructed, eyes wandering.

“Yes Ma’am.” Maize replied.

I just got
out of a bad relationship; I’m not ready to dive into a new one.  Although I can lose myself in his eyes
,
it doesn’t hurt to be neighborly. 
She thought. 

Zoe examined his strong masculine arms glistening in the hot sun while they unloaded the truck.  Beads of sweat formed on his brown skin.

“Want some coffee?” Zoe asked.

“Please.” Maize said.

Five minutes later, they stood in the well-decorated kitchen.  The noise of the whistling coffee pot broke their silence.  Zoe grabbed two sets of mugs out of one of the boxes, dumped two tablespoons of Taster's Choice in each. 

"How do you take it?" She asked, turning off the stove, pouring the water in both.

"Black, two sugars." Maize said.

"My ex takes it the same way." She blurted out.

"Divorced?" Maize asked.

"What gave it away?" Zoe asked in a sarcastic manner.

"I didn't see a ring.” He said, jokingly.

“You’re very observant, going on a year now." Zoe said, handed him the cup and joined him at the table.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?" Inquired Maize.

Immediately her mind reverted back to that night.  She laid a hand on her chest, as if she still felt the wound.

The solemn look on her face vanished as she changed the subject

"We just went our separate ways.  What about you?  Have you ever been?" Zoe sipped her coffee.

"I’ve been divorced for five years, irreconcilable differences.  I got screwed.  She got alimony." Maize confessed, took a swig.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Zoe said, touching his hand.

"Don't be.  It was doomed from the moment we said I Do.  Foolish of me to think the girl I knew since grade school could be my soul mate.  She changed ya know, did a complete 180 on me.  I tried to make it work, but it just wasn’t in the cards. Now the only thing that means anything to me is my job and my son." Maize said.

"What do you do?" Inquired Zoe.

"I'm a private investigator, started the company with my pop. Blevins & Son Investigations. Now it's just me. I’m keeping the son, hoping one day Simeon will follow in my footsteps. A P.I. and a cop, the neighbors must feel so safe." Maze said, smiled.