The Truth About Life

by InnocentGuilt

 

Chapter 3 Club 69

 

The entranceway of club 69 was an offset crimson gray with metallic black hedges flowing to the surface. At the front door was a tall, well muscled, black man.

"You guys had better be on the list." The bouncer said.

"Hello! We are two people in cop uniforms who just happen to have a car parked in the rear of the building. I think we by pass any list requirements," Roger said, pointing to his badge.

"We see those costumes all the time in here. A lot of our male couples like to dress up," the bounce said with no intention of letting them pass.

"For Christ's sake. We are cops. We aren't some gay couple who likes to dress up. We are part of the community that patrols the street, looking for bad guys, just like you see on TV," Roger stated getting very anger.

Adam, picking up on what was happening, quickly went into action. He grabbed the bouncer and forced him into the doorpost.

" Look here. This is a police gun. You can tell by the registration numbers that we are the real guys. These cuff's that I'm handcuffing you with, are real too," Adam said, while handcuffing one cuff to himself and the other to the bouncer. "Now, if you want out of these, I suggest you let us through. Otherwise you will be coming down to the station for a little visit."

"Ok, I believe you. Just let me go. I don't want any trouble," the bouncer replied.

"Oh you already have that," Adam said in a sly voice while undoing the cuffs.

When Adam had finished removing the cuffs from the beleaguered man, he let them through the door. Just then, when their backs were turned away from the bouncer, he body slammed them both to the ground.

"Register this officer," both Roger and Adam heard as they passed out on the spot.

When Adam came to he was in a small room. Ropes had been used to tie both him and Roger together.

"Sorry for the inconvenience officers. We had to tie you up till we found out if you were telling the truth or not. I'm the manager of this club Luther Banks."

"What you did is assault a officer. I could have you thrown in jail for that." Adam threatened the man.

"I'm sure you could. At the same time you're lucky my lawyers aren't filing a lawsuit against the way you assaulted my bouncer. That wasn't a very smart move." Luther replied.

"If your bouncer had let me in, none of this trouble would have started in the first place," Adam stated, trying to take back control of it all. "What is the deal with the list?"

"I'm sure you are aware of the murders that have been happening lately. I host a select list of clientele, who make contact with me first; and then I approve their entry. If they don't meet my standards, then they don't get into the club. That is the system that we have come up with, to ensure us from having a murder at the club."

"How did you know about the murders?" Adam asked.

"The news is broadcasting reports about it right now." Luther said flipping on the TV to the local new station.

"We interrupt our normal scheduled programming to bring you this late breaking news of a murder spree that is happening right as we speak. A murderer is on the loose, and killing people in our city. We go to Sandra Jones, our reporter on the street."

The anchorwoman said. "In earlier reports, nothing was said about the first case;, but when a second young male was killed, our top secret staff got on it. They contacted us about the nature of this crime, which on its own, rates as a tragedy. Derrick Smith, a young male who found a passion and love for woman's clothing, was murdered in his own bedroom. That's right. Derrick was a cross-dresser. What does it mean to be a cross-dresser? Well let's just say it isn't a good thing to be. When cops arrived they found Derrick in a cross like position. They believe the killer is using this method..." Luther clicked the TV off.

"You don't think that after hearing THAT, I wouldn't protect my men? These people aren't just my clients, but my family." Luther stated.

"Then you know that one of your family members was killed in the murder?" Adam said.

"Yes I know. It's so sad what happened. He was such a good man; and an even better woman. We truly will miss him," Luther said throwing out a dramatic tear.

"For someone who seems to miss him so badly, you are still running the business." Roger said.

"Just because a person dies, doesn't mean I have to stop my business. Mama has to buy dresses of course."

"Just what is it that you do here?" Adam asked.

"I make Princes into Princesses, Princesses into Queens. In other words we are a fetish hang out."

"Fetish?" Adam asked.

" You know where boys go to be spanked for being naughty. We serve different ranges of clientele some of our clients like to be boys; and others like to be girls so we make that happen. We even have a dominatrix on hand, for those little boys who just want to stand in the corner, and be whipped for hours upon hours. Doesn't that just sound like fun. How would you like to be a naughty little boy, and allow me to spank you?" Luther asked.

"Look, I don't care what perverted or sick place this is. All I care about is solving a crime." Adam said.

"You're no fun." Luther said.

"Again, I'm not here for the reasons that someone else might be. I need all back records of guest or users of the club. If I keep getting pushed around I will have a warrant brought in here. "

"Alright already. Don't push the badge around."

Luther went to the records and pulled out all information. "Does this make the big bad Police man happy?" Luther asked.

"I'll let it go this once, but show some respect for us. We are the ones out there keeping the streets safe." Adam said.

"Whatever." Luther.dismissed.

"Let's go." Adam said to Roger. Roger nodded and left out of Luther's office. On the way out, they had to go through the club, which was very disturbing for Adam. In one end there was a woman whipping a man who was chained up to the wall. Another corner had a man crying from a crib. There were people getting tattoo's, eyebrows pierced, and tongues pierced. "How do people live like this?" Adam asked Roger.

"Apparently the same as we do, just at a much different level." Roger replied. "Do you think the information we got from Luther was worth the trouble?" Roger asked.

"I can not say, just yet. I'll have to look over all the information; and then see if any of our guest match my hunch." Adam responded, reaching for the door. Swiftly drawing it open, he invited," Lady's first?"

"That's very funny." Roger responded back .XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

'What is the connection?" Adam thought.'

Once Adam and Roger had got back to the station the two got down to work right away. "Thanks." Adam said to Roger as he handed him a glass of coffee.

"So what do you think the connection is?" Roger asked.

"Don't know yet. The only facts we do know is that the killer is selecting people who are cross dressers. Hand me the forensics report over there." Adam said pointing to the folder hanging half way off of the desk.

"You mean this one?" Roger asked picking up the folder.

"That is it." Adam replied. As he looked over the papers it seemed the usual forensics report.

"Well?" Roger asked.

"Well what?" Adam replied.

"Is there any clues from the report?" Roger asked.

"Not a one." Adam said.

"Well then why the hell did you have me grab it in the first place?" Roger asked.

"Because I thought they might have found or figured some clues out. The only thing they found about the body, was a broken neck, flakes of iron from the nails that were in his hands, and fibers from the rope." Adam explained.

"Well it's not everyday that someone gets tied up with a rope." Roger replied.

"I know, but there just has to be a connection. Here we have two men killed by the same guy. What on earth would posses a person to go off on a killing spree?" Adam asked.

"I don't know, but I'm going to head on home," Roger stated.

"It's not even dark outside. Plus if we don't stop the killer now then who knows what will happen." Adam said anger at the thought of Roger giving up so easy.

"Look, I'm not out to stop the man. If it comes to putting him in jail, I'll do that. This job just has its limits." Roger said while holding his ground.

"So that's it. We just leave a killer on he loose; and say oh I'm sorry. We could have stopped him, but no, we had to go home so our wife doesn't get mad at us." Adam said sounding more like a whiney kid then a grown man.

"Look. I know I'm not a damned saint. When it comes to my wife, that's a whole different story." Roger said, feeling a little ticked off and annoyed.

"Go on then." Adam said waving towards the door.

"You know, at times I could mistake you as a woman; your so God damn emotional, that it makes me sick." Roger said while grabbing his jacket.

"Just what is that suppose to mean?" Adam screamed.

"It means, at times, you're more like a emotional scared woman than a guy. " Roger threw back.

"Just because I have certain feelings, does not make me a fucking woman." Adam snapped..

"Look, I'm sure you have something better to do, but my wife does make more then enough at dinner times; and if you would like to come over, we could maybe talk, do a little bonding; and get to know each other better."

"Fine." said Adam grabbing his stuff.

As the two left, Adam thought back on the way he was acting. He realized that some parts of me might have been scared, but who wouldn't be, when you have to watch your wife die, right in front of you. Parts of him almost regretted, what he had done back there. 'Well Sam, it looks like the only monster here, is the one I've become'. Adam thought, as he flipped off the lights of his office.

 

 

Chapter 4 Dinner at Roger's House

 

When we pulled up to Roger's house, he pointed at a car in the driveway and said," That's my daughter's car. I bought it for her when she turned 16." Roger said.

"I didn't know you had a daughter?" Adam asked.

"Sadly I do. Remember when I told you about my son, and him having feminine feelings?" Roger asked.

"Yes." Replied Adam.

"Well, it wasn't just feeling like a woman, that kept him going. The boy had to become one, too." Roger said, pounding his fist into the dashboard of his car.

"So what does that mean? He became a woman?" Adam asked with a streak of curiosity.

"Basically, it means that he had a operation; and they took away the family jewels." Roger said, feeling a little flushed at the thought.

"And you paid for this?" Adam.persisted.

 

"Hell no. The little Bastard went out and bought them his self. I had thought, that if I disowned him, he would loose the courage and balls to do it,; but, in the end, all he lost was the balls." Roger muttered, starting to open the door. "Well, I guess if we are going to go in, now is as good of a time as any for you to meet him."

The two stepped out of the car and proceeded onto the sidewalk. The sidewalk curved in a path to the front porch of the house. Two trees stood in the front yard; one was a pecan and the other a cedar. The front door had stained glass that showed into the house. Adam could see a long dining table. Above the dining table was a chandelier. It held 5 candleholders, whose source of light had not been a burning candle, but a light bulb that was made to resemble a.candleflame. A wire lead ran from the center of the chandelier and disappeared into the ceiling.

A dark haired woman, wearing a business suit that showed a image of power, entered the dining room as Roger put his keys into the door. She glided down the length of the dining room almost as if it were a runway and she were the model of a high-class fashion designer. When Roger opened the door, she was there to greet him. "Why hello daddy. So what do you think of the new dress?" She asked.

"It's nice." said Roger, sliding his foot, and then his body, inside the door. "I hope, you and your mother weren't out spending my hard earned money on clothes." Roger lectured.

"Daddy, you know that I have my own job now. I haven't needed to borrow money from you in a long time. " That was when she noticed the strange hand guiding it's way atop.her breasts. The hand squeezed them and she jumped. " Just who the hell are you?" She asked, slapping Adam smartly in the face.

"I just wanted to know if they were real." Adam said, while rubbing the spot on his face where she had slapped.him. "You didn't have to go and slap my face."

"Men, you might think they would at least have the decency to ask first. God, sometimes it makes me sick, to think that I was ever part of the male gender." she ranted.

"Adam. I think you went a little too far on that part. Anyway this is my daughter Jackie." interposed Roger.

"Don't worry Roger. It's amazing though, the way they jiggle and feel. I couldn't tell that they were silicon."

Jackie produced an angry face; and then lifted her breasts up to display them. "You see these. They are not silicon. They are all natural and real, you idiot."

"She's right. They make it easy for guys to grow breasts now a days. All they have to do is take a few hormones and then they have breasts. I mean just look at her. She's living proof." Roger said.

"For the love of God, daddy. I can not believe that your supporting this pervert. He just grabbed at my breast." Jackie said, looking at her father through hurting and tearful eyes.

"I must say, I would have never believed it. She really does make a pretty girl; and she even has that time of month thing down to a science." Adam said, winking at Roger.

"Men." Jackie said, while sticking her tongue out, and swiftly leaving the room.

"Now you've done it." An older lady, around the same age as Roger, said.

"Just when did you get there.?" Roger inquired, in a stutter, and a little afraid of his wife's expression.

"Just long enough to see you, and your guest, making a ass out of yourself in front of our daughter." Roger's wife supplied.

"Relax, I'll buy her something later on, to make up for it. You know that she will be back to her normal self tomorrow." Roger persevered.

"Do you really think it is that easy to change a young girls heart?" Roger's wife insisted.

"It worked with you!" Roger said with an evil grin on his face as he moved closer and gave his wife a deep kiss.

"Why you flatterer. Dinner is still in the oven. I think I better go find Jackie and make sure she is ok. It's nice to meet you? I don't think I ever got your name." Roger's wife asked.

"The name is Adam." Adam said, then expanded, "Your husband has been partnered with me,…er… um… today.

"Nice to meet you Adam. My name is Serena. Now, if you gentleman will excuse me, I have a daughter to look after." Serena chided.

Adam noted the similarities in the features of Serena and Jackie and he found it odd, how even though Jackie had been a boy at birth, she had retained so many of his mother's features. In some dark and deep recess, Adam wondered if the same thing was true for him and his mother..

"What with that weird face?" Roger asked of Adam.

"Oh nothing just thinking how I could steal your family away from you." Adam said, just teasing him.

"Oh you, just what am I going to do with you?" Roger asked in return.

"For starters, you could let me have them without a fight." Adam responded. Then, they both laughed together.

Back in Jackie's room, Serena had just arrived to find an unhappy girl. Jackie was a 24 year old, but she still came back to home every now and then, to have dinner with her mother and father. She missed the good old days when life was so simple and she could always go up to her father and he would be there for her. "Just look at your make up, it's ruined." Jackie turned around to hear her mother's voice.

"Mother, why do boys have to be so cruel?" Jackie asked, as she clutched a . Jackie's toys were a mixture of boy's things and girl's things. The stuffed animal had been with her since she found it in the closet. Originally her mom had bought baby stuff that was for a girl. When Jackie had turned out to be a boy they had to take everything back, but this one little stuffed animal seemed to make it through the whole process. It was a little pink bear that had a white t-shirt saying, 'It's a girl!' on its front. On it's head was a little bow that had a blue sapphire in the middle.

"Boys are just that way. You should know better from your experience of being .one" Serena said.

"I'm ashamed that I was ever a boy. I should have been born a girl, like you and daddy wanted back then." Jackie said.

Serena gave her daughter a hug, and squeezed her tight. "Your father and I had no preference on what came out. All we wanted, was a baby to share our love with."

"I know, but ever since I became a transvestite, he seems different. It's so much harder to tell him stuff; and I almost feel like some parts of him hate me." Jackie said.

"Honey, no matter how bad your father may seem, deep down, he still loves you. Do you remember the day that you found that bear?" Serena solicited, letting go of her daughter.

Jackie tried to remember, but most of those thoughts were vague. She remembered moments of her father yelling at her, and moments of her mom crying, but that was about it." I all remember, is the pain I caused you." Jackie said.

"That pain was fear. Your father was mad at you, because you had been sneaking around in our room. Then you produced that bear, and his fear turned to shock. He blamed himself, when I was the one to be blamed." Serena said.

"But mom you never did anything wrong. I was the one who found the bear, and then knew the secret that you had kept from me." Jackie replied.

"Neither you, nor your father, were in the wrong. I kept the bear up there, because I always thought that I might have another child. I should have gotten rid of it in the first place." Serena blubbered, now in tears herself.

"Don't cry mom. Look at us, two grown woman crying over the past. Do you think it will ever get easier for us?" Jackie asked.

"I don't know if it ever goes away or not; but, because of it, I now have a daughter to share all my secrets with." Serena commented flipping her frown into a smile.

"Oh mom, what would I do without you?" Jackie queried.

"Oh, you'll move on someday, forgetting about your father and I. I have a great feeling about you, child." Serena said.

When Roger and Adam entered the room, Jackie's face went sour. She stuck out her tongue; and, then curled even closer with the bear. "The stove timer went off while you two were chatting. I took the food out, and set up everything. Dinner's ready, if you two ladies are through with your little chit chat." Roger .invited.

"I think we are done here.", Serena said, giving Jackie a pat on the back for encouragement. Everyone left Jackie's room, with Roger in the lead, followed by Serena, then Adam, and Jackie at the end. The natural scene could have been described as a conga line moving closer to its final destination, the kitchen. The dinner consisted of a monster lasagna, that had been stacked 17 layers high. Each layer consisting of a different blend of cheese that melted in the mouth as your fork brought that single bite in.

'So this is what married life is all about.' Adam thought. He could picture what it would have been like raising a family. Maybe a son, that he could take down to the baseball field, and play catch with. Parts of him wondered, if fathers still took their sons to the ballpark like that. Then he sighed.

"So, what seems to be so deep on your mind, that the spoon only touched your mouth once. I hope the cooking isn't bad." Serena stated.

"Mother, why should you worry what a pervert like him has to say anyway." Jackie threw in.

"Now mind your manners. Here I thought, I raised you right." Serena replied back.

"Sorry mother." Jackie said. She had no idea what was causing her to throw so much anger at this man. Could it be, that the moment he grabbed her chest, she had felt something other than shock. ? "Stupid hormones", she thought.

"I was just thinking, how lovely and lucky a man, Roger is to have a family like this." John remarked.

"You could have a family of your own. All you have to do is get a girlfriend first. Did you know that Jackie is still single?" Serena said.

"Mother. How could you?" Jackie screamed.

"Well, you are a girl, and a mother has to make sure her daughter isn't single for too long." Serena replied.

"Mother... please... Remember, I once was a guy; and a lot of them still feel very tentative about the subject." Jackie replied, turning red in the cheeks.

"It's all in the plumbing honey; and, I don't think you have the parts underneath to work the same as a boy's do." Serena said, causing her to blush even more. She got up, and walked out of the room leaving stunned faces. "You think I went a little over board on that last comment?" Serena asked.

"Nah, she's just at that age where everything is against her." Rogers said.

"That age was 6 years ago. She's a grown woman. I jad better go to make sure she is ok." Serena said.

"Allow me." Roger said. The doorway that Jackie had left through, was from the back of the house, going to the outside. Something deep inside, kept telling him to stay away from this one, it could prove to be nothing but trouble. However, his need to understand what the girl was going through, kept driving him to proceed, at least till he knew she was ok.

When he reached her, she was swinging in an old swing. The poles rattled from the weight of her, and made you think any minute it was going to snap, and she would come tumbling down, along with all the pain and sorrow of the past. For some reason it didn't. The posts just kept on rocking; and Jackie kept on swinging as the moonlight flashed on her passing face creating a ghostly image.

"Please don't be mad at me." Adam coaxed. The sound of his voice startled her; as the swing came to a stop.

"What do you want?" She icily inquired..

"I just want to know the answer to, why? Why is it, that you decry all of us, to the point that you hate a whole gender?" Adam asked.

"It's because of all the pain they have caused me, that I hate them. Do you know what it is like, to have a secret so bad, that you can not share it with anyone?" Jackie asked.

"But you can trust me. I already know that you used to be a boy; and I haven't hurt you, so far." Adam said.

"You grabbed my breast! How the hell do you get off with that macho bullshit in saying, I never hurt you."? Jackie raged back.

"I only wanted to know if they were real. To be honest, I'm scared myself. Right now, I'm scared to death." Adam said.

" Just what do you have to be scared about?" Jackie asked.

"Everything. My life is a constant fear of abandonment, death, and pain. Then, there are the feelings I have right now. As I look at you, I see the fear you have about me, and, it scares me.There's just something about you, that makes me want to be with you. I don't know, if it is the way that the moon is shining down on your hair; or the way that when you walk, it makes me freeze up like a school boy again." Adam said, staring into Jackie's eyes.

Jackie asked. "Why are you telling these lies? I'm a guy in a dress, who has been made up to look like a girl. How could you feel that way for me?You don't even know me."

He moved in closer lifting her chin up by the tips of his fingers. "Listen to me, right now, all I see is a woman. I don't see a male in a dress, or a person that used to be a male." He moved his lips in closer, almost to the point that their breathes canceled each other out.

"I knew it." Jackie said, as Adam started to pull back.

"It isn't that I don't want to. The moment that I first laid eyes on you, I knew that I was in love with you. It is just that I'm still not ready to move on." Adam said letting out a deep sigh.

"You come out here; and start sweet talking me; and then pull away at the last minute, claiming you aren't ready. Just what the hell are you trying to do to me." Jackie shouted, slapping Adam in the face, and then running back inside.

Adam just stood there, feeling the burning spots that Jackie's hand had imprinted on his face. 'If only you knew how much she meant to me kitten. Then you would understand.' He knew he could tell her tell her that he had had a wife; but, some parts, deep inside, kept telling him this one wouldn't understand; and, that it was best to simply let her go. The sad truth is, that he didn't know, if he could ever let another woman get as close as Samantha had. She had been the best thing that ever happened to him; and now she was gone.

"I see that your help only provoked her." Roger observed. He had been concerned by the fact that his new partner had not come back in; and his only child was now running back to her room in tears. Adam was just so deep in thought, that he hadn't even registered Roger as being there. "Earth to Adam." Roger said tapping him on the back of his head.

"She really must hate me now. Look, I think I better go, before I cause your family even more trouble." Adam demurred.

"You don't have to go. Jackie is still new at the whole woman stuff; and she doesn't understand yet the feeling of being lost." Roger.explained

"I know. It's just that Samantha is still part of me, even though she isn't here anymore. I need that element of her to stay in my memory."

"Are you going to be safe to drive?" Roger asked.

"I think I will call a cab. You bring the car by in the morning, and it should be ok. Your daughter's going to break a lot of hearts on her way to understanding who she is. She's already captured mine." Adam grumbled, walking off into the moonlit night and out of Roger's sight.

 

 

Chapter 5 The Gift

That night, Adam tossed and turned in his sleep. Then, the windows blew open, causing everything in the room that wasn't tied down, or attached to the floor, to go floating up in the air. When the room finally settled down, a ghostly image of a half visible woman was now standing in front of him.

"Samantha is that you?" Adam asked. The room was silent; and the image of her became clearer, as her full body slowly appeared. It was her; and some how, she was back with him. In a fast move to escape the pressures of what he was seeing, he threw the sheets off and ran toward her. When he reached the position she had been, he tried to wrap her up in a hug; and fell right through her specter of a body, hitting the floor hard on his rear end." Why do you haunt me in such a fashion? I just want to love you." he said, as the tears hit the sleeves of his nightshirt.

"You must give up that image of me that used to be. Seeing you in this state tears apart what is left of my soul." the vision of Samantha uttered

"How can I give up what we had? You were the only one that I ever loved. I want to be with you in the after life." Adam said, grabbing his gun and aiming it at his head.

"Do you really think killing yourself, will bring me to you? If you do that, then there isn't a chance in hell of you ever seeing me again." Samantha elucidated.

"But why? I'm already dead in this world. When you died it left me empty hearted. I've been alone ever since regretting the moment it happened." Adam said, bringing his fingers closer to the trigger. Then he pulled the trigger.

"Damn it all to hell!" he screamed, as nothing came out.

"It isn't your time to die. You still have people depending on you; and a life that needs you. I'll still be here." she stated, placing her hand on his heart.

"It just isn't enough. I want you alive with me. What about our dreams and goals that will never happen now?" He posed.

"They will still happen. They will just happen with another woman." Samantha said.

"I don't want another woman. I want you back in my arms." Adam said, feeling a tear run down his cheek.

"That is the one thing, I can not give you. I'm already gone from this life; and you aren't. Now, please forget about me.", she said, while causing the wind to roar, and the image of her slowly disappeared leaving the nothingness from which it came.She was gone.

Adam awoke from under the covers in a deep sweat. He looked around for signs of his ghostly visitor, but could find none. 'Had she been some dream or an illusion produced from the beer?', he wondered. He reached over and looked at the clock on his desk. It read 5 A.M; and he didn't have to be in the station

till 10am.

Adam went to his closest, picking out a black suit along with a red and gray striped tie. After he was fully dressed, he then walked past the broken beer bottles, and out of to the front door. He had repaired it last night, while in his drunken state to forget his confusion and pain over Samantha and Jackie.

The air outside, was a welcome relief; and cleared up some of the pain in his head. He pulled open the driver's door and got into the car. The traffic was mild, as he turned onto the interstate. The cars passed by Adam without a care in the world, as to whom, or what, the man inside might be feeling.

The only care on Adam's mind, at the moment, was that of the grave in which Samantha had been laid to rest. When she died, he had made attempts to see the grave; but, the image of her, stuck down in the hallow grounds of the earth, brought tears of pain to his eye. He didn't want to see the image of a dead body, but rather the last moments of his wife in the living world. To be there, would destroy all his hopes, of her ever coming back to him. 'Damn' He thought, as he hit his fist against the dashboard. 'Why did you have to come to me in that way? Couldn't you have at least waited till I was with you again?'

As he pulled into the cemetery, a chill hit him. All these headstones had names of people, that at one time, were loved by a family member. It's a terrible world where innocent people can loose their life, not knowing that death is.already upon them. He wondered, how many of these people had prepared for their last moments.

Once he was at the parking, lot he got out of the car; and, walked up and down looking for the headstone that contained Samantha's name. When he couldn't find it, he started panicking. 'They wouldn't have got rid of her body without my permission, would they?', Adam thought. He ran to a phone; and called his office. "I need someone to get me the phone number for the grounds keeper of Pleasant Hope's cemetery.", he

said the person on the other side.

"Look, this isn't the operator service. If you want the operator, then you need to contact them."

"I'm Adam West, a Detective there; and I need the number for a case." Adam said.

"Ok, the number is 723-231-9831. Next time tell us that first hand." The voice at the other line specified. Adam hung the phone up; and then picked it up, to dial the number.

"Hello, this is Pleasant Hope cemetery. How may we help you?", the voice on the other end of the line announced.

"What the hell did you do with my wife's body, you bastards?" Adam screamed. Sweat was starting to build up, as fear started to over take Adam.

"Please sir. If you would take a second, to remember the last place you saw your wife, maybe we can help." The voice over the phone said.

"You fucking idiots. The last place I saw my wife was in the ground, the day that we put her there. Now, what the hell did you do with her." He screamed so loud that it echoed across the cemetery.

"We haven't done anything with your wife's body. If you could give us a name of the deceased? We can tell you which lot she is in." This voice offered.

"Her name was Samantha. Samantha West." Adam said into the phone. His blood was rushing straight up to the top of his head. His ears had turned bright red.

"An Adam West recently had her moved to plot c. There should be a large oak tree and a statue next to where she was moved."

"I never approved of such a move. I am the person of mention; and I would know damn well if I had moved my own fucking wife. Who is the person that had my wife dug up and moved?"

"We are not allowed to give out that information over the phone," the voice declared.

"I am a police officer of this city. If you do not tell me the information I seek I'll file a case act action suit against you and sue your whole damn business for every fucking cent it has.", Adam raged at the stupidity a person could show.

"Pleasant Hope cemetery, this is Janet speaking. How may I help you? " Janet asked.

"Who the hell is the person in charge at the place? I want to speak to the manager.", Adam.demanded

"I am currently the head manager on duty. What seems to be the problem?" Janet solicited.

"One of you moron's approved a person trying to pass as me. I want to know, just who in the hell approved it." Adam said making clear what his demands were.

"Just one moment sir.", Janet said on the phone, as the music came on the line. "I'm sorry, but we don't seem to have those records", replied Janet.

"First, you say that a person signed my name to move my wife; and, now your telling me you don't have the records? " Adam screamed.

"If you would like to file a complaint of wrong doing, then you will need to mail us your name, zip code, phone number, city, state, plus a $10 deposit fee for the time spent on finding them." Janet parroted the inane policy.

Adam was pissed. One lady had already given him the run around; and now the manager of the place was doing just the same. He threw the phone down, slamming it against the ground. 'Shit', he thought, as he raced around the cemetery, trying to find the spot that was described. When he finally reached the spot, which was described, a cold shiver ran down through his body. There was a gray envelope attached to the head stone with the signature Rapture.

 

 

Chapter 6 The past that wont' die

Adam's life had just taken a twist for the worst,after finding the note indicating they took his wife's body as evidence of what had happened. "Damn." He screamed as he punched his fist into the wall. Splinters, and little pieces of wood, embedded into the cuts and bruises of his blood stained hand. 'It is just not fair.' Adam thought.

"Look, I know that you are upset about the whole thing,; but we had to use it as evidence." Jack said.

"Evidence? You call the decaying body of my wife evidence?" Adam contended, grabbing at Jack's shirt and nearly ripping it.

"The fact remains a note was found; and, your wife was part of the problem. There could be fingerprints, DNA samples, or even hair fibers on the body. Don't you even care about the fact that a murderer is out on the loose?" Jack asked Adam, throwing his weapons away.

"The only thing I care about, is my dead wife. Damn it, she even came and visited me last night. " Adam screamed back at Jack.

"Look, she's dead.It isn't like she could have opened her coffin; and walked home to tell you, that she was home." Jack said sarcastically.

"I know that. The fact is, she still came by and saw me. At first, I blamed it as a result of Jackie and I having contacts with each other, ; but now, I see it deeper. Some how, the whole time, her spirit wasn't able to rest, because of that bastard digging her up.", Adam, rejoined, laying his head across his arms on his desk in a bent over fashion. "Why am I telling you this? Hell! Chances are, you don't even believe there is a God."

"Look, I don't know if there is a God, or not. The fact remains, that your wife's body was dug up; and you're upset. I'm worried about you." Jack said, showing his concerned feelings by laying a note on the paper." This is the number to a friend of mine. He helps people deal with their problems; and, I suggest, you take a look at it. Please, for the love of God, get help."

Adam threw his arms out, knocking the paper off the desk and into the trash." I don't need that type of help. Do I look like some senile fool to you?"

"Look, it was just a suggestion. You're stressed out and taking on too much. You need help. If I really wanted to, I could order you to take leave; and remove you from this case." Jack said.

"Don't you dare do that! If you do, I'll..." Adam warned.

"You will what? Assault your Captain? With that thought alone, I could suspend you. Don't make me do something that I would regret." Jack said, interrupting Adam before he could do anything."

"Just leave already." Adam screamed.

"Only if you go and get help. I didn't want to do this; but, I order you to.", Captain Jack said, leaving the office.

Adam just stood there in tears. "I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. Damn them all to hell!" He screamed as the tears rolled down the cheeks.

"Is this were I can find detective Adam West?" A voice asked. Adam recognized the voice, but could not place where he remembered it from.

"Yes. Just what the hell is it now?.", Adam asked.

"Special Agent Jennifer Bailey. I believe we have meet before."

"Your the last person I wanted to see today. Why the hell did you come back?" Adam asked.

"I've been assigned to take you back into service. The director has seen how close you are; and he wants to make sure you don't cause anymore trouble, like the last time." Jennifer explained.

"I told them, and you, that I would never work with the FBI again. You're the reason that she's dead, and that all of this has started to happen." Adam screamed.

"The woman was in a place that she shouldn't have been. Look, you know we placed you here, undercover as a normal cop, to keep track on suspicion of foul play." Jennifer said.

"I know, but now, I am part of the force. Hell, only a select few ever knew that I was in the service. Why should I allow that false life to resurface?" Adam demanded.

"Because, it is your duty as a agent of this country to do so. You swore an oath just as I and everyone else in the service did. The team is waiting for your return." Jennifer begged.

"What team? We were just a group assigned as a unit. We had no codename or mission. It was just a job, like all other jobs." Adam said.

"You call all those memories of the past, a lie? What about the past we shared?" Jennifer said, slapping Adam in the face.

"I don't know what we might have shared, that has so much meaning to you,; but I loved my wife. You were nothing more then a case that I was working on. Why is it that you seem to think otherwise?" Adam said rubbing at the mark that Jennifer's hand had left.

"You men are all pigs. You put on a front, and then act all big and macho, tough in front of everyone. If it wasn't for the need to reproduce, there would be no need for you.", Jennifer screamed while storming out the door.

'Maybe I do need help after all.' Adam thought, coming to the realization, that every woman he had encountered, seemed to want to murder him rather than like him. He picked the piece of paper from out of the trash; and called the number. A man with an Italian accent picked up the other end. "Hello this is doctor Bob Garnier Can I help you?"

"A friend of mine just gave me this number. I don't see any real need for help; but he ordered me to call you. My name is Adam West.", Adam explained trying to maintain some control of the matter.

"Oh yes. You're a good friend of Jack's. He told me a lot about you; and he asked for suggestions on how to approach you with this. If you can come by my office tomorrow morning, say around six? I might be able to fit you in."

"Look, I don't need any help. I'm just following up on my Captain's order.", Adam answered back.

"That is Okay. Just be here tomorrow; and, we can determine if we can help you, or not. Bye for now."

A knock came at his door. "Damn it who is it this time?" Adam grumbled. as Roger entered the room. "You know that you don't have to knock to enter my office. It is part your office now,while we are working on this case." Adam said.

"I know, but she insisted on coming up here with me.", Roger said. He stepped out of the way, and Jackie came running into his arms.

She gave his a passionate kiss and a hug, and then wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I'm sorry. I was such an idiot. Then I saw in the paper about your wife."

"Look, you don't have to be sorry about anything. I loved my wife deeply. That is all there is to say." Adam explained to Jackie.

After the two let go of each other, Jackie noticed Adam's hands. She had a puzzled look on her face when she asked, " Just how the heck did this happen."

Adam pulled them away; and hid the hands in his pocket. "Let's just say, it's a guy thing." Adam explained.

"In case you have forgotten, I was once a guy; and never did anything like that. Dad, have you ever done anything like that?", Jackie asked her father.

"Only when I was young; and in love with your mother. Lets just say the guy on the other end had it worse.", Roger said with a laugh.

"How could you ever hit a man over mother? Violence is so stupid; it always sickens me." Jackie said with a queasy expression flooding her face.

"Like I said, I was young. When young men fall in love with a girl, they do stupid things to make sure that girl still likes them." Roger explained. "What about you Adam? What stupid things did you do when you were young and dating Samantha?" Roger asked.

"A whole list of them. Like you said, we all do stupid things. It's part of the spell of love." Adam responded

. Deep down inside, a part of her felt pain when she heard the name Samantha. She was envious of the past that Adam had shared with her. She wanted him for herself. "Jackie are you free at the moment?" Adam asked.

"Well, I did plan to go and get my hair done. Then, there are the nails that need painting, shopping for groceries, and all the other things that I keep putting off, because I can not find the time to do them." Jackie said.

"Look! I don't care about those other things. I just want to know if your free, or not." Adam asked again with a sigh.

"Give her a $100, and you can own her for the rest of the night." Roger said.

"Father, I'm not a whore that you can sell on the back street to your cop buddies." Jackie complained, stomping her heel into Roger's toes.

"Jesus, did you have to press so hard? I think what he is trying to say is, will you go out with him." Roger said, flopping down in a chair to try and take the pain away from his foot.

"Thanks for ruining the mood Roger." Adam said, giving Roger a foul look.

"No problem. That is what Father's do best." Roger laughed.

"Well do you want to go or not?" Adam asked.

"That depends." Jackie said.

"Depends on what?" Adam asked. Jackie had grabbed her purse and moved in close to Adam.

"I have to be the one who buys the meal." Jackie explained touching her finger on the tip of Adam's noise.

"Here, I thought the guy was supposed to buy the meal." Roger said.

"It is 2002. a A woman can buy a meal, if she wants to. It is the empowerment of the female self, that gives us the ability to spend our own cash; and not let the men take the fun away from it." Jackie said.

"Oh Jesus, save us. I didn't know there was a feminist rally in your office." Roger said.

"I'm not a feminist. If I was I wouldn't like Roger at all. Besides, I just believe it is equal opportunity! Now, are we going or not?" Jackie insisted.

"Ok already.! Lady, I don't know what it is about you that I love, but you sure do know how to take the bull by the horns." Adam replied.

"I'll take that as a yes then." Jackie said, practically pushing Adam out the door." Daddy, now don't you worry if I'm out past two AM with him." Jackie said with an evil smile.

 

 

*********************************************
© 2002 by Innocent Guilt. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.