The Good Wife

By Penny Toohey

Jason’s face was bloody from hitting the truck window. His dad wouldn’t stop hitting him. “It’s your fault that you don’t have a mom & that I have to kill them! They run away because they don’t want you!” His dad screamed at him. It was Jason’s 12th birthday and they were off on another “Hunting trip.”
Tommy was laughing as he watched Maggie try to climb out of the basement window. She was naked & dirty with blood running from her injured body. Tommy was so excited, waiting quietly in the dark. Letting her think she could escape. He knew she would try, they always did. This was going to be fun.
Tony is an FBI agent with a tragic past. He is assigned to investigate the many women missing from the area. This was the case from Hell, no clues, the women just vanished. As he investigated he could feel the fear building to terror. “What if I’m too late again?” The past propelling him with an increasing urgency.
Emily was in tears, her premonition of Maggie’s imminent danger was so real she could feel it. Her nerves caused the hair on her skin to bristle as she waited to file a missing persons report.
Jim Pleasant a Gulf War veteran who works for Cuyahoga County has been told to inspect some of the derelict farms in the outlying areas. When he met Tommy he could see in Tommy’s eyes the menace that was hidden behind the fake smile. Jim felt an insistent need to find out what was going on at this farm.
This book will keep the readers on the edge of their chair, pulling the reader through, at a pace that will continue to speed up, as the plot gets even more ominous.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penny Toohey
• Release date: Feb 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465964885

Penny Toohey

I grew up in many families, and they have all brought color to my life, each one, so very different. The women who raised me ranged from an Amish woman, to a mentally unbalanced Aunt. They have taught me many emotions, from terror, to hopelessness, to forgiveness. These are the things I bring to my stories.I have lived with affluent people, I have lived in cockroach-infested homes. When I am writing I can pull from these experiences, it allows me to open the front door of any characters house, and walk right in.I am originally from Cleveland Ohio, I now live in W.V., and work for a local school system. When I’m not writing I enjoy making jewelry. I am married to a wonderful man. He supports me in all of my craziness.

Book preview

The Good Wife

Penny Toohey

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Penny Toohey

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Chapter 1

For as long as he could remember they did the same thing over and over, and it scared him more and more every time. His Dad, Tommy, was driving the old red pickup that they mainly used for hauling stuff for the farm. Jason knew though, that when his Dad put the cap back on the pick up, it was going to happen again. Jason was sitting there praying that this time he would be good enough, he didn’t know exactly how much longer he could take these hunting trips.

Jason’s Mom had died when he was five years old. He didn’t remember much about her. Her name was Rita, he couldn’t remember her face, but if he thought real hard. Jason could still hear her voice. She would sing him to sleep while she held him. It had been a long time since anyone had held him. He always smiled when he remembered her. That was a long time ago, and things were different now.

They lived on a farm, there wasn’t a neighbor within five miles either direction. The property had been in their family since the civil war. Jason’s Dad always said, That was something to be proud of, not many people could hold on to land for that long. It really wasn’t much though. The land was run over with weeds, if you looked off into the distance you could see the gas wells pumping away, they looked like huge black pray mantis. That’s how his Dad managed to keep the property and support them. About fifteen years ago Jason’s Granddaddy had sunk those wells with the last of his savings, it was the best gamble he had ever made.

The house wasn’t much to look at, it had seen better days. There were two cracked windows upstairs from the big hail storm last summer. Jason’s dad had put cardboard in them to keep out the weather. The house hadn’t seen a coat of paint since his Mom had died. He loved the house though, except for the basement. The basement, that’s where it always happened, just thinking about the basement made Jason shiver.They had been driving around for nearly an hour, his Dad putting the finishing touches on the six-pack he had bought over at Sam’s Stop and Go Beverage. As they drove Jason got more apprehensive and started fidgeting in his seat. He couldn’t help it. When he realized what he was doing he stopped, hoping his Dad hadn’t noticed. His Dad was always mean when he was drinking. The last time they had went hunting as his Dad always called it, his Dad had hit him so hard that his head had smacked the side of the truck door, it split his forehead open leaving a bloody print of his head on the glass. Needless to say Jason tried not to do anything to upset him. It didn’t really matter though, he was learning. There wasn’t anything he could do good or bad when his Dad was in one of these moods. Two things were for sure, he was going to get a beating, and they would go hunting no matter what he did or said. He squeezed the door handle and hoped his Dad wouldn’t notice him, sometimes if he scrunched his eyes closed real tight and held his breath while he prayed, his Dad wouldn’t notice him right away. Tommy threw the last beer can out the window and let out a very loud burp. He looked over at his son in disgust, What’s wrong with you all squeezed up in the corner like a sissy. I came out here in a good mood and look what you done, I came out just to get you your birthday present and all you can do is cower in the corner like a baby an make me mad.

Jason knew it was coming, and close, he started to tell his Daddy he was sorry. Jason was too late. Tommy pulled back his hand and smacked him in the face over and over. Screaming at him you know it’s your own fault, even your own momma couldn’t stand to be around you. It’s your fault I aint got no woman! I wonder why I don’t just kill you sometimes and get it over with. After a while he stopped hitting him, looking over at Jason he said now aint you sorry, look what you made me do again. I don’t know why you can’t let me come out just one fucking time without you showing your ass. You always try to make me look foolish. Say you’re sorry boy, it’s over with, I forgive you. Jason stammered through lips already swelling, I’m s s sorry Dad.

We got us some hunting to do. I think we might be needing a woman’s touch. I know I need a woman’s touch. Tommy elbowed Jason in the ribs laughing. You know what I mean boy. How old are you now boy, 12 years old aint it? Tommy lowered his voice and said very solemnly, you know boy, I think it might just work out this time. Yes sir, I surely do

Jason was trying not to let his Dad hear him crying, that would get him another beating. His eye was swollen mostly shut already. His lip and nose had almost stopped bleeding. Jason was surprised it was usually much worse. Tommy threw a take out napkin over at his son and told him to clean up it’s almost time. Jason could feel the cold sweat start down his neck at that thought. Jason prayed hard, Oh God, please help me be better this time.’

They pulled up to a traffic light just outside of town. It was almost 10 p.m. There was a woman in a small yellow station wagon stopped at the light. The car had a bumper sticker reading HAVE YOU HUGGED A NURSE TODAY?

Jason cleaned himself up with the napkin as best he could, he put it in the bag that the beer had been in and threw it on the ground outside the truck. Tommy smiled and said the same thing he always said, well looky here Son, I do believe I see your new Momma. Jason cringed, these were the words he heard in his nightmares over and over.

His Dad looked around one last time making sure no one else was there. Satisfied, he pulled his truck in front of her and jumped out of the truck. He ran to the side of her car, startling the woman.

Tommy tapped on her window and signaled for her to roll her window down.

Jason was praying she wouldn’t.

The woman opened it only enough to hear what Tommy was saying. WWhat do you want? she stammered.

I need help, could you help me, please help me, it’s an emergency! My son was eating some hard candy and he choked, he’s not breathing, he’s turning blue. I don’t know what to do. Tommy cried out.

Jason could see his Dad through the driver’s side view mirror and was amazed at how good his Dad was at lying. He looked scared and frantic, Jason could almost believe the story himself.

She looked at the truck but she couldn’t see Jason. Why don’t you rush him to the hospital, it’s only a few minutes down the road, she said not lowering the window.

I don’t think there’s time he screamed, tears pouring out of his eyes.

The tears, that always got them, that was his finishing touch. She looked up at him and he could see it in her face, she was deciding it was safe.

She opened her door and started running toward the truck. She only made it about three steps before he had her.

Tommy grabbed her by the back of her head, pulling her hair, lifting her off her feet and against him. He took the knife he had in his pocket and put it up to her throat. Don’t move. He whispered in her ear.

His whiskers scraping the side of her face, his hot breath on her neck and cheek smelled of stale cigarette smoke and beer. A cold chill went down her spine.

I’ll cut that pretty little throat of yours with no problem at all Tommy said with a grin. His eyes showing her there was no humanity in him.

She looked into his eyes and believed he would do it. She didn’t move or scream.

W, what do you want? she stuttered. My money is in my purse in the car, here, here are the keys to my car, take them. I can’t call the police, there isn’t a phone for over a mile. You’ll have plenty of time to get away.

She was crying as she looked into his eyes, he only grinned. Jason knew that when his Dad grinned like that, nothing good was going to happen. Tommy told her to get into the back of the pick up.

She was crying harder Please don’t hurt me, I’ll do what you want only don’t hurt me. She was sobbing as she climbed into the back of the truck.

Tommy laughed as he kicked her in the backside.

She fell on her stomach, skinning her knees and hitting her head.

Tommy reached up and put his hand up her white nurse’s uniform, laughing as she cringed. Oh, you’ll get used to me honey, oh yes you will. Tommy climbed into the back of the truck and sat on her back. He pulled her hands behind her and taped them together. He reached up and taped her mouth shut. Tommy licked the side of her face as he slid down her body. He spread her legs apart shackling them to the sides of the truck. Tommy had built the cap of the truck special for this. Enjoying her fear, he ran his hand slowly up her thigh, pulling her panties down. With his knife he cut them off of her, throwing them on the ground. He was pleased with her response. He slammed the rear of the truck closed.

When Tommy climbed back into the truck, Jason looked at the clock, it glowed 10:03, it seemed like hours, but it was only minutes.

Tommy put the truck in gear and pulled away, saying almost to himself, Yes sir, I think it’s going to work this time. Louder he said to Jason boy you better not fuck up again. They drove in silence the rest of the way home except for Tommy humming quietly to himself, the same tune over and over again.

Jason knew the tune well, it was what his Dad called the hunting song. This wasn’t the first time he had heard it.

It took an hour before they arrived at the house. Tommy had left a light on in the back of the house. They drove around back to where the light was. Tommy parked the truck near the rear entrance to the basement.

Jason jumped out of the truck, his Dad threw him the keys. Open it up boy. Jason unlocked the pad lock and swung the door up to open it. While Jason was opening the door, his Dad was pulling the woman out of the back of the truck.

She was crying her eyes all black from her makeup. She looked at Jason with those same eyes, pleading for help.

All Jason could do was look away, he ran down the steps and unlocked the inner door. He turned on the hanging light bulb in the basement.

Jason could hear his Dad telling the woman, I didn’t blindfold you because I wanted you to see there wasn’t anywhere to run, and no one to hear you. Yes sir, sweetie we got nothin’ but land, no pesky neighbors, no nosey do gooders, nothin but you me and the boy, a regular family. So don’t bother hurting your pretty little throat screaming, aint nobody to hear you cept’ maybe a dog. Tommy stood behind her enjoying the smell of fear on her, and whispered in her ear, or maybe a mountain lion. I bet they’d like to chew on a tender thing like you!

After his Dad got the woman down the steps he threw her on the metal cot, attached to the wall.

Now, if you promise not to scream, I’ll pull that tape off your mouth. I hate noise so don’t make me mad by screaming.

The woman shook her head, her eyes promising not to scream.

Tommy reached over and ripped the tape off of her face leaving big red marks on her skin, it felt like he had pulled the skin off her lips.

Jason sat down, the woman was staring at him. God he hated when they looked at him like that. Jason looked at his feet.

His Dad was staring at the woman. He had a way of making them real scared by not saying anything, just looking at them, and it was working. The woman was silently crying, tears running down her face. Finally he talked to her.

What’s your name honey?

M. Maggie she stammered.

That’s good he said, you keep answering me and I won’t have to hurt you. He reached over and touched her face. Maggie jumped back with fear in her eyes.

Now, I thought we had us an understandin’ darlin Tommy said, as he smacked her in the face. Don’t ever pull away from me again you hear me? There was no kindness in his voice now.

Maggie shook her head quickly, blood dripping from her lip.

Tommy leered down at her saying, Now it’s time to start our lessons, you got a lot to learn, and I just love to teach. She could see the yellow of his teeth as his evil grin widened.

Tommy looked at his son and told him go upstairs, it’s time for grown up talk.

As Jason went upstairs he could feel the woman’s eyes on his back. When he got upstairs Jason turned the TV on as loud as it would go. He hated when they looked at him like that, he didn’t want to be down there, didn’t want any part of this. His fists were clenched. He was so upset he didn’t even notice he was crying and he never really heard or saw the TV.

Tommy was looking at the woman as he locked first the outside, and then the inside door.

Tommy smiled as he said darlin’ you and me we got us a lot of work to do. I need me a real good woman. Are you a good woman? He was whispering in her ear.

She knew what he meant, what he wanted. Maggie began to tremble.

Tommy slapped her again, you answer me when I speak to you, bitch.

Maggie stammered yes, yes I’m a good woman.

He laughed, I bet you are, when you go out with those big city boys you’re real good aren’t you.

Maggie looked at him. Tommy raised his hand. She quickly said I don’t go out very often.

Tommy laughed and said, You learn fast, don’t ya darlin.

She shook her head Yes, not knowing what he wanted her to say.

Tommy got up and started pulling her legs apart to shackle them to the bed.

Maggie jumped and put her legs together.

Tommy slapped her harder this time hissing, Don’t jump away from me again darlin’, I love teachin’ you to behave, so it’s only hurtin you. After Tommy got her legs apart and shackled to the cot, he cut the tape that held her hands behind her. He pulled her hands up and chained them to the top of the cot. This was Tommy’s favorite part. The hunt was good, but the training was better.

Tommy stuck his hand up her dress so quickly that Maggie screamed. Tommy laughed as he slapped her in the face. I told you, I really hate a noisy woman. You don’t want me to not like you, do you darlin? Tommy loved being the center of attention, he strode around the basement like he was the lord of a castle. You know if I don’t like you, then I got no use for you. I guess that would mean you’d be dead. Staring into her eyes he said, Not a good idea to piss me off.

Maggie went limp knowing there was nothing she could do. Never had she felt so helpless.

Kept your mouth untaped so you could answer me, not scream, he said. I bet you know some good tricks don’t ya darlin’ you bein’ a nurse and all."

Tommy reached up and slowly cut the rest of her uniform off her. As he cut he said, You know, you’re not very smart gettin’ out of your car that way. I knew you would help my boy, you in your nurse’s uniform it was hard for me not to laugh, you just running out there. I was right about you, and now you’re mine. Kinda like fate don’t ya think?

Maggie shook her head slowly Yes, watching his knife as he cut off her bra.

Maggie was lying very still, not wanting to get hurt anymore. Tommy slapped her on the thigh leaving a red mark.She jumped, confused as to what she had done wrong.

I like my woman to participate, I bet you loved it when your boyfriends touched you, didn’t you darlin’. You’re going to love it when I touch you too aren’t you?

Maggie shook her head yes.

Oh, you like that, do you darlin’?

Tommy was really getting into this, he reached over, stroking the inside of her thigh.

I know what you want, he said in a hoarse whisper. It’s what you all want, a real man, a man who takes what he wants, isn’t that right darlin’? Tommy grabbed one of her nipples and pinched it hard.

Maggie moved sideways, but not enough to get slapped.

Maggie had to agree with this evil man, or be beaten, but there was a rage growing inside of her, something she didn’t think she was capable of. It scared even her. She never imagined there was a hate this strong.

Tommy laughed as he reached up and turned the light off. Good night for now darlin’, he said as he lightly kissed her forehead. Maggie could hear him walking up the stairs and the door closing behind him.

Maggie lay there for the longest time listening, afraid to breathe in case she would miss a sound. There was nothing. No noise. She felt relief wash over her, thank God, he was going to leave her alone, at least for a while, but for how long, how much time had she wasted listening.

Quietly, she tried the chains on her wrists, as she pulled, one wrist slipped free. The other was loose but she couldn’t get it free. Maggie spit on her free hand and wiped it on the hand that was still chained. She could feel it starting to slip out. She heard a noise and froze. She held her breath listening, nothing. Finally her other hand came free. She was pulling it loose as quietly as possible. Her heart almost stopped when she pulled it loose and the chain clattered to the floor. There was nothing she could do, if he caught her now he would probably kill her. She was sweating, trying to free her legs, her ankles were bleeding. She couldn’t see the blood but she could feel it running down her ankle. The blood actually helped, she was able to pull both of her feet loose. I’m not as stupid as you think, Maggie thought with a smile. She very slowly got out of bed, she couldn’t see. It was pitch black in the basement. Slowly, feeling around as quietly as she could, she bumped into something, almost knocking it over. She grabbed it and put it quietly to the floor. She felt the door and tried the lock. The lock wouldn’t budge. Maggie stopped, trying to think. She couldn’t remember if there had been any windows. She started feeling around high up. She found what felt like a window. She started gathering things to stack up that would be strong enough to hold her weight. Her heart was racing, she felt the latch on the window, it opened she couldn’t believe it. She quietly pulled herself up and through the window, scraping her stomach raw on the window sill. Once she was out, she rolled over on her back to get up. Her heart froze, there he was standing over her laughing. Must think I’m some kind of idiot, Tommy said Not chaining you very tight, leaving a window unlocked so’s you could get out. I knew you’d try. Now, I think that you earned yourself some punishment. She could hear his breath getting ragged as he spoke. I’ve got me a special punishment for women who try to run away. It’s time you start learning that this is your new home. There’s no life outside of this house for you. Only death. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet, dragging her down the steps where he unlocked the inner door, turned the light on, and pushed her inside onto the cot. He grabbed her and twisted her around so she was lying on her stomach. And pulled her arms up very tight and chained them. The chains were so tight that it hurt, especially where she had already cut them trying to escape. He grabbed her legs and chained them apart again, making her vulnerable and giving him easy access. Maggie couldn’t see him, he kept just out of her line of sight. She was getting terrified, waiting for the punishment he had promised her. Hoping it wouldn’t come. It was such a long time she wasn’t sure if he was there anymore or not. She stayed very quiet trying to hear him breathing. There was no sound. She tried twisting her face a little to see. All she managed to do was bury her face further into the mattress. The smell of the