Ok, I finished the book last night.  I loved it and I was right about...I look forward to the next one.If you have a mailing list or something I would love to be on it. 

I loved it.  

Thank you

T.K.

B.F.

Look for my next book Injustice! in 2011

Excerpt: (Draft)

One

Missy Gardner was your typical five-year-old little girl. She liked to play with dolls, she loved “helping” mom in the kitchen, she adored Sponge Bob Squarepants, she fought with her four year old brother, she loved to dress like a princess, she liked to be kissed by her dog Sparky, the name was dad’s idea—Missy wanted to name him Rainbow-Sparkle-Sunshine, and at night, she could not wait to have her daddy read her stories.

Missy lived with her mom and dad, Kevin and Susan, and her little brother Randy in a brand new tract home in Lakeside.  Lakeside is a semi-rural community of San Diego County.  Throughout the county, Lakeside is known as a “red-neck” town.  The town has gained that reputation for several reasons.  Lakeside was founded in the late 1800s, and was soon known as a rough-and-ready cowboy town.  Bar fights were common at the bar in the Lakeside Hotel.  Many of the town’s residents wear western wear, and ride horses.  The town is also predominately white, and has been known as the home of many racist groups.

Current residents of the town are trying to change these notions.  Developers are building mid to high-end housing tracts in Lakeside.  These new home communities are attracting many young families from other parts of the county where housing prices have skyrocketed.  The houses here offer more land, more square footage, and more bang-for-the-buck than what is available in the more “desirable” areas.  People of many backgrounds and races are buying into these communities, and the town is welcoming their influence and affluence.

The Gardners, like many others, rejected Lakeside during their housing search.  They were new to the San Diego area; Kevin worked for FedEx, and was recently transferred to San Diego from Chicago.  At first, they looked in the popular, upscale suburbs in the North County area of San Diego, but they were stunned by the housing prices.  For the 300,000 dollars, they sold their 3,000 square foot, four bedroom, three bathroom, suburban Chicago home for, they were lucky to find a two bedroom condominium.  Their real estate agent, Rob Northrup, suggested that they look in the east county. 

Kevin told his coworkers about looking in Lakeside, and they told him he might want to reconsider.  They warned him about Lakeside’s reputation, and told him to watch the controversial PBS special about racist high school students in Lakeside that was repeating that very night.  Kevin watched the show, and with a little concern, he and Susan went to look at houses. 

The first development they looked at was the Woodside Estates.  They walked through the models, and fell in love with the Sycamore model.  They made a deal that day to buy one on Blue Pine Street in a Cul-de-sac.  The house was perfect.  It had four bedrooms, a den, a huge country-style kitchen, a front porch, and a back yard big enough for a swimming pool. 

On the beautiful, hot summer day escrow closed on the Gardner’s new home, it also closed for everyone else on their street.  That night, all of the neighbors (except one grumpy old man named Van) came to the cul-de-sac for a meet-your-neighbor barbecue.  Kevin was apprehensive about the party, but after meeting everyone, he knew that they had made the right decision to buy their new home.  Kevin felt extremely comfortable amongst his new neighbors—even though he was the only African-American in sight.

Missy loved playing in the cul-de-sac with the other kids on their street. Parents felt safe letting them play in the street there.  The only traffic was from the neighbors and the occasional house-hunter, and everyone, for the most part, knew to drive very slowly.

It’s a lovely day in the neighborhood, Susan Gardner thought, echoing a line made famous by Mr. Rogers.  Susan sat on the covered front porch of their house while watching Missy play with four of her little friends.  Missy and her friends were playing Barbie.  Susan was not thrilled with Missy’s interest in Barbie, but she gave in to the begging since all of Missy’s friends had Barbies.  The Barbies were all getting their hair styled —of course all of the Barbies were naked.  The first thing, it seems, little girls do to Barbie when they get them is to strip them naked.

It was a beautiful summer Saturday in Lakeside, not a cloud in the deep blue sky.  It was not too hot—yet.  Summer afternoons in Lakeside tend to be quite warm.  That was why the Gardners had the pool put in, but right then the temperature was perfect.  Too bad Kevin has to work, Susan thought, he is missing out on one gorgeous day.  Susan sat in one of those large Adirondack wooden chairs, and sipped on some ice-cold lemonade. 

Kevin and Susan had absolutely no regrets in coming to live in San Diego, and any apprehensions they had about being a mixed-race couple living in Lakeside had completely disappeared.  For being a so-called redneck town, Susan had not heard one snide comment or even saw a disapproving look from any of her neighbors or the townspeople they saw in the local stores.  They had more problems in Chicago’s suburbs, or more correctly, people had more problems with them.  Californians were much more tolerant than people in the Midwest she decided.

Missy and her friends moved on to playing hopscotch, leaving a pile of naked Barbies—nice hair though—behind.  Susan started to take a sip of lemonade when the phone rang.  She usually brought the portable out with her, but this time she forgot.  She considered letting the answering machine get it, but she was afraid it might be Kevin.  If it was him, she would not be able to call him back, so she ran in to answer it.  It was Kevin.

“Hi sweetheart” Kevin said.

“Hi” she answered.  “Are you on your way home?”

“Sure am.  That’s why I called.  The company handed out tickets for the Padre’s game tonight, so we need to be ready to go by five” Kevin said.

“Box seats?”

“Of course.”

“Cool” Susan said excitedly.  “Do you have a ticket for Missy too?”

“Yep.  I have a ticket for her and one of her friends.”

“She’ll love that!”

“Plus all the hotdogs, peanuts and soda they can stand!”

“More cool! Well, I’d better grab Missy so she can decide who to take and get them ready.”

“OK babe. I should be there in fifteen.”

Suddenly Susan had a bad feeling.  She was standing in the kitchen, and could not see out to the front of the house, but the door was open, and it was far too quiet out there.

“Kevin.”

Kevin knew the sound of her voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Something’s wrong. The girls are out front, and I can’t hear them anymore.”

“I’m sure it’s OK, when they’re quiet it usually means they are getting into some kind of trouble” Kevin said.

“No!” Susan said as she ran toward the front door. “I think I heard a car idling out there, but now there’s nothing.”

“I’m sure it’s just—“

“Stop it Kevin!” Susan yelled as she ran down the walk. “You know when I get these feelings, I’m usually right.”

“I’m sorry babe.”

Susan said nothing.

“Babe? Is everything all right?”

“Hurry Kevin.” Susan’s panicked voice answered. “Please hurry!”

Six

Chris knocked on the door to the house where he used to live.

Kathy opened the door.

God, Chris thought, she’s so beautiful.

Kathy noted the slightly dazed expression on Chris’s face. After a couple of seconds, she said, “Chris, is everything all right?”

“Huh?” Chris said, startled out of his reverie.

“Are you all right?” She asked again.

It’ll never be all right without you. He thought.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Chris said. “I’ve just got a lot going on.”

“The kids are still packing. Do you want to come in?”

“Well, yeah sure.”

Chris followed Kathy into the foyer of her house.

Kathy continued on toward the kitchen. “Do you want a Coke?” she asked him, without looking back.

“You know I don’t drink—“, he cut himself off. Coke, he was going to say. Why would she still ‘know’ that. He thought. It’s been almost five years since…

“Sorry Chris. I forgot you cant have the caffeine.” Kathy said from the kitchen. “I have 7-Up”

I love you so much Kathy. If there was any way… Chris wiped away a tear that was forming. “Yeah sure” he managed without choking.

Kathy came out of the kitchen and saw Chris still standing in the foyer.

“Come in” she said, “You might as well sit down for a minute. You know how long it takes Hailey to pick out her clothes.”

Chris followed Kathy into the kitchen. On the way, he could not help but look around the house they once shared.

She’s changed so many things. He thought. Trying to rid the house of the memories, I’m sure.

As he passed the living room fireplace, he looked at the pictures on the ornate mantle. Most of the fifteen or so pictures were of the kids. There were also a couple of Kathy’s parents and grand parents. One picture in particular caught his attention. The picture showed Kathy and the three kids standing in front of Cinderella’s castle at Disneyland. Kathy stood to the left with the kids next to her. At the edge of the picture next to little Frank’s foot was another foot—Chris’s.

I remember that day. Chris thought. I was the happiest man alive. Now it’s like I never existed.

Chris followed Kathy into the kitchen. They both sat at the table. Kathy handed Chris a glass with ice and 7-Up.

“So, how’s work?” Kathy asked.

“It’s good” Chris answered. “Really good in fact. I even filled in as anchor this past week at eleven.”

“That’s great Chris.”

“Did you see me?”

“No. Eleven is too late for me. I have to watch the ten o’clock news.”

“Oh” Chris said. “I understand”

“Do you?” Kathy asked. “I mean really? Cause I feel guilty for not watching your station.”

“No really. I understand completely.” Chris said. “I know you have to get up early with the kids. You don’t have any reason to feel guilty about that.”

“Thank you.”

“Maybe they’ll put me on at six, so the kids can see me.”

“They’d get a kick out of that.”

They sat quietly for a minute or two.

“Kathy?”

“Yes?”

“Why did you take me out of the Disneyland picture?”

Kathy’s face reddened. “It hurts too much to see us like that.”

“Happy?”

“No” Kathy said looking directly at Chris. “Happy together.”

Chris felt his eyes start to water. “I wish I could change—“

Kathy cut him off, “Please don’t.”

“It’s just—“

“Stop Chris. I beg you. The past is past. We have to move forward.”

They sat silently. Neither looking at the other.

“Are you happy Kathy?”

Kathy’s expression hardened. “Let’s change the subject.”

“OK”

“You’ve got the kids for two weeks.” Kathy said. “What are you guys going to do?”

“I rented a place at Lake Tahoe.”

“Sounds fun.”

“I’m sure it will be” Chris said. “Hey, I know, we’ll send you a postcard.”

“Ok, I guess.”

“And we’ll put on it ‘Wish you were here’”

Kathy stopped and stared hard at Chris.

Chris noticed. “What?”

“Are you sending them?”

“Sending what?”

Kathy got up and went to her desk. She opened a file drawer and removed a folder. She came over to Chris and handed him a postcard.

The post card had a picture of the Aztec temple in Mexico City. On the back was written ‘Wish you were here’, and nothing else.

Chris looked at the card, and then at Kathy. “You think I sent this?”

“I don’t know. Did you?”

“Of course not. I’ve never even been to Mexico City.”

“Doesn’t mean you didn’t do it.”

Kathy was trembling. Chris took her arm. “I swear, Kathy, it’s not me.”

Kathy looked at Chris’s face. “I hope to God you’re not lying this time Chris.”

“I’m not.” Chris said. “Why would I send that?”

“Them”

“What?”

“I said them.” Kathy opened the folder and took out a huge stack of postcards.

“My God. How many?”

“Over a hundred.” Kathy said. “Over two a month since that night.”

‘That night’ was what they all called it. Chris, Kathy, Carlos and Amanda. That night forever changed them.

For Kathy and Chris, that night, meant freedom—though for far different reasons. For Carlos, it meant losing a partner, and for Amanda, her mother.

Chris thumbed through the postcards. All had photos of exotic beaches or ancient jungle temples and pyramids. Every one had the same inscription, ‘Wish you were here’, written on the back in careful block printing. No other information, besides Kathy’s address, gave a clue to the sender. Only the sheer number of locations—more than thirty in all—gave any indication of the identity of Kathy’s secret admirer.

This was a person who lived to travel, or was hiding from something. Chris guessed the latter.

“Do you think he’s sending them?” Chris asked.

“I’ve been telling myself it’s impossible.”

“We watched him die.”

“Did we?”

“You shot him four times, Kathy. He fell three hundred feet off of a cliff.”

“They never found his body.”

“Or the money.” Chris added.

They both looked at each other silently for a long minute.

Chris began looking through the stack of cards.

“Which one’s the last one he sent?”

Kathy looked through the stack, and picked one out. “I’ve got three from there, so far.”

The postcard showed a diver poised on a rock ready to dive after some tourist’s spare change. Puerto Vallarta, leave your cares behind.

“Do you think he would make it this easy to find him?” Chris asked.

“I find it hard to believe.” Kathy said. “He’s so damn smart.”

“But so damn arrogant.” Chris said, looking at the stack of cards. “Look at this.  He’s challenging us. He wants someone to come looking.”

“What are we going to do?”

Chris liked the sound of ‘we’.

“I’m going to talk to Carlos. He’ll know what to do.”