Pay Up and Die
Pay Up and Die
Life in our times can be dangerous.
So many people struggle to make ends meet. Providing for the modern family is expensive and getting more costly each year.
Something has to give.
Michael Wright works hard to bring home a paycheck. His daughter is sick with a terminal illness. The only way to save her life is to pay for an expensive, experimental surgery. But his rainy day fund is empty. The credit cards are maxed out. And so is the home equity line. His only remaining option is to take out yet another loan.
A new loan with a steep cost. Beyond interest rates.
A loan with an addendum of death.
Michael’s story is a cautionary tale. And it applies to all of us.
Pay Up and Die
is the first novel in the
Debt Collector
series by Chuck Buda. It is approximately 52,000 words and contains adult language, scenes of horror and
a cliffhanger ending
. Reader discretion is heavily advised.
Pay Up and Die
By Chuck Buda
Copyright
©
Chuck Buda (2016).
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Any semblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental. The author has taken great liberties with locales including the creation of fictional towns.
Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited.
The author greatly appreciates you taking the time to read his work. Please consider leaving a review wherever you bought this book, or telling your friends or blog readers about this book to help spread the word.
Thank you for supporting my work. Without you the story would not be told.
Cover art by Leslie K.
Contents
Pay Up and Die
Copyright
Dedication
Special Thanks
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
Continue the Thrills
Behind the Scenes
Join the Collectors
About the Author
I Need Your Help!
My Other Series
Dedication
Dedicated to my family.
Thank you for sticking with me while the Debt Collector demanded payment.
Special Thanks
I would like to thank Christopher Zingaro for testing my story. You patted me on the back when I needed the encouragement and you put me in my place when the writing was inadequate. I am grateful for your friendship and honesty.
Chapter 1
“Come on, dammit,” Lori muttered under her breath. It was getting late and she needed to get home before Doug. Otherwise she would have to endure his paranoid jealousy and accusations of an affair. They had been married for almost two years now but he was still so insecure. She sighed to herself.
Lori entered her PIN more slowly this time so that the stupid machine would work. She had to make sure the check cleared today so that she could withdraw funds to reimburse Doug’s emergency fund. He was always so habitual about his accounting practices. Like clockwork, he would go through the shoe box in the closet every Tuesday night. It was another one of his annoying paranoias. He had to physically count the stack of cash and open each insurance document to ensure that all contingencies were accounted for. Craziness on one hand but comforting on the other. At least she knew he was meticulous with making sure they were provided for.
It was so stupid of her to borrow the money but she had to have those shoes. The sale was only good for one day. And she had been dreaming about those sling backs since she first laid eyes on them a month ago. A cash purchase was her only option since Doug inspected the credit card statements religiously. He had scolded her so harshly once last spring that she had changed over to a “cash only” policy to avoid Doug’s scrutiny.
She hated these outdoor ATMs because she always felt so exposed to potential muggers. At least if it were a drive-thru ATM she could pull up close and lock all the car doors. But the only way to avoid all the damn fees was to use the machine provided by her own bank. Thankfully, the bank had chosen to use extremely bright lighting over the brick facade. And it was comforting to see the security cameras on each corner angled over the machine.
As she waited for the ATM to process the card and reveal her latest transactions, Lori got a creepy sensation that she was being watched. A chill shot up her spine. She glanced to the left and then the right. She swiveled around and eyed the parking lot. Everything appeared to be clear but she still couldn’t shake the feeling of uneasiness.
Finally, the screen showed her the check cleared today as she had hoped. She punched in her request for cash and waited impatiently for the money to come out. It was all here and now she had to hustle home in a race against the clock, and Doug.
Lori turned and headed for her car. Her senses were still on high alert as she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She kept peering from side to side. She reached into her purse for the car keys but fumbled around all the junk inside. She stopped walking for a second to glance down into her bag. There they were, right under her used tissue and empty gum wrappers.
She clasped the keys and started walking again. As she looked up from her bag she realized she almost walked right into the handicapped parking sign. It startled her and she exhaled loudly, rolling her eyes. Such an idiot, she thought to herself.
As Lori put the key into the door she was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of dread. She quickly spun around and a huge man was hovering over her. He was dressed like a lumberjack which was strange in this suburb of New York City. But she had no time to contemplate it further as he clutched her neck and lifted her off the ground. Her feet were kicking wildly, trying to wiggle out of his grasp. She noticed that he was a fairly attractive man, in a rough sort of manner. It fleetingly crossed her mind that she was being choked to death by a lumberjack and all she could do was admire the man’s features. So she shook off the ill-timed thoughts and focused on getting out of this situation.
A small hatchback pulled into the parking lot and approached the struggle. The balding driver lowered his window and shouted, “What the hell is going on here?”
The large man in the red and black flannel shirt slowly turned to face his distraction while continuing to strangle the little brunette with the glasses that were now askew.
As the Good Samaritan began to step out of his car a large, expensive SUV screeched alongside the hatchback. The window was already down and the driver looked angry. He was dressed in an expensive suit and his fine features belied a life of prosperity and privilege. “You better get out of here now or you’re next,” he threatened baldy.
The Good Samaritan deflated immediately and nodded his understanding. He got back in the hatchback and sped across the lot.
“Go take care of him and fix this mess,” the SUV driver yelled at the large man.
Lori’s hand found the lumberjack’s huge belt buckle and she grabbed hold of it, trying to get leverage to kick this monster off her before she blacked out. Her lungs were straining for life. The veins on her temples bursting at the surface of her skin.
Without blinking the large man slammed Lori downward, smashing her head and breaking the side view mirror off her car. Her lifeless body now limp in a pile underneath the shadow of her vehicle.
“Well what are you waiting for?” The SUV driver was exasperated.
An almost imperceptible smirk on the right side of the large man’s face. He trotted over to his pickup truck in silence. The engine roared to life and the truck sped across the lot without the headlights on. It reached the stop sign and then squealed loudly as it swung left in pursuit of the small hatchback.
The door opened and two expensive shoes stepped onto the dark asphalt, one after the other. The open door chime sounding its rhythmic cadence. The well-dressed man walked over to the woman’s body. He bent down and checked for a pulse but there was none. Not anymore.
As he stood up, he straightened his tie and adjusted his suit jacket. He looked up at the full moon and took in a deep breath. Closing his eyes to get control of himself, he let out a large exhalation. Now, he had to make sure that the job was completed to his satisfaction. There could be no loose ends. Ever.
He got back in the SUV and drove off in the direction of the pickup truck.
Chapter 2
Michael awoke suddenly. He was breathing heavily and sweating profusely. He looked over at the clock on the nightstand as it flashed 1:30 a.m. The nightmare was more intense this time.
