Copyright

By Peter Moore

What would you do if someone stole your best selling manuscript? That’s exactly what happened to writer Kelly Brentwood. He spent five years creating the next great American novel, a masterpiece worthy of the big screen just to find out that someone else was passing it off as their own, not to mention reaping the rewards of a big publishing contract and a movie deal. In a personal tug of war, Kelly is forced with a decision to either let the legal system fight his battles for him or take the law into his own hands and get the revenge he most desperately deserves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Moore
• Release date: Feb 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465711373

Peter Moore

Peter Moore is an English writer, historian and lecturer. He is the author of Endeavour (2018) and The Weather Experiment (2015), which were both Sunday Times bestsellers in the United Kingdom. The Weather Experiment was also chosen as one of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2015. He teaches at the University of Oxford, has lectured internationally on eighteenth century history, and hosts a history podcast called Travels Through Time.

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Copyright

Published by Peter Moore at Smashwords

Copyright 2010 Peter Moore

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To my family,

Catherine, Jamie, Allison, Ben, Shannon and Gunnar,

Thanks for not killing each other

CHAPTER 1

KINKO’S

Am I the god-damned invisible man? Kelly Brentwood wondered while standing in the middle of a Kinko’s, waving his tattooed arms in the air like some idiot savant, all to get someone’s attention.

The chubby man behind the counter was concentrating on a magazine or catalogue when he finally realized that he had a customer. Can I help you? He asked with a shit eating grin on his face.

Yeah, Kelly said holding up a floppy disk. I just need to make some copies?

What kind of copies? The employee gawked at Kelly as if he had a big old booger on his face.

Kelly read the blonde haired man’s name tag and then stared at him, somewhat confused. All I need is black and white copies, Eddie.

Eddie laughed and shook his head. No, that’s not what I meant. What’s on the floppy disk? Is it copyrighted material?

It really wasn’t any of his business but Kelly didn’t want to be there all night either. It’s funny that you’d ask. This is my manuscript, he said once again holding up the disk. And no, it hasn’t been copyrighted yet. That’s why I’m here. I need to send a copy to the Library of Congress but my printer at home decided to stop working. Kelly raised his eyebrows and smiled. So if you just point me in the right direction I’d be happy to make the copies myself.

Well, you could do that way, Eddie said like he was a used car salesman but debating in a political forum. But it would be quicker not to mention cheaper if you let me do it. Kelly was suspicious, he didn’t want just anyone putting their grubby hands on his work but after much convincing he handed over his pride and joy anyway. It shouldn’t take more than fifteen or twenty minutes, Eddie said with a reassuring thumb in the air.

Kelly looked around and bit his fingernails, clueless of what to do for even five minutes. Besides making copies, looking at greeting cards or buying stationary, what else is there to do in a copy shop?

Eddie pointed to a small seating area near the entrance. If you want to have a seat over there, I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

While waiting in one of the uncomfortable chairs Kelly ran his long skinny fingers through his thick black hair and stared out the window, watching rain drops fall from the sky and remembering the journey that brought him to that moment on a cold March night. It had been a long five years, writing almost every day including weekends and holidays. He just kept typing until his fingers nearly bled. It was like giving birth, sometimes he kicked and screamed in excruciating pain and other times he clapped his hands together with so much joy that it brought tears to his eyes. He could’ve sworn that he was becoming a manic depressant but the five hundred page book was finally finished, a masterpiece worthy of the big screen if he had to say so himself.

Friends and coworkers asked what his novel was about and if he already had a publisher lined up. Kelly wanted the whole world to read his material and he was sure that any publisher would be interested, however he was too afraid to let anyone read the manuscript until it was copy written.

Getting his book copied seemed to take forever but finally Eddie waved from behind the counter with entirely too much enthusiasm. Looks like you’re ready to go, he said and pushed a Kinko’s box towards Kelly. So, you’re a writer huh? I’m kind of a pretty good writer too. Under different circumstances, Kelly probably would have made small talk, he always liked meeting other established writers but it was almost eleven o’clock, he was tired and just wanted to go home and crash on his bed.

Sitting in his Scion TC with the engine running Kelly still couldn’t believe how expensive it was to photocopy five hundred pages. Fifty-seven dollars? You’ve got to be kidding me. If I would’ve known that, I could’ve bought a new printer and printed the damned thing myself.

CHAPTER 2

WEB APPEAL

Edward Dunn couldn’t help but fondle himself as he watched her slowly undress. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, how perfect her breasts were and how he would do anything to make love to her but she was just an image on his computer. She continued her strip tease, frame by frame until she was completely naked, covered in baby oil and playing with a bright blue, glass dildo.

He was supposed to be writing instead of looking at pornography on the worldwide web but guilt wasn’t enough to stop him from doing it. He liked to think of it as his way of vicariously sleeping with hundreds of different women without actually cheating on his wife.

Speaking of which, Mrs. Dunn wasn’t supposed to be home from work until at least midnight but for some reason her Dodge Durango pulled into the driveway at a quarter past eight.

What the fuck is she doing home already? Eddie said, frustrated as hell that he couldn’t even get his full fix. Muttering more obscenities he shut down the internet, careful not to leave tracks where his wife, Olivia could find his nasty habit. After clearing the cookies, cache and history he pretended to be completely focused on an open word document as she walked through the front door and into his office.

You’re always on your computer Eddie, she said with her hands on her hips, scowling at him. But I don’t know why you bother. You’ll never publish anything.

Oh really, Olivia? He said glaring at her with his piercing blue eyes. How would you know? You don’t have a creative bone in your entire body, yet you have the balls to tell me what I can or cannot do?

Olivia shook her head and laughed while her long, silky red hair swayed from side to side. It was the same old argument but she wasn’t going to let him have the last word either. I work my tail to the bone day after day to pay the mortgage and two car payments while you sit on your fat ass and spend hour upon hour supposedly writing but you never have anything to show for it. And speaking of balls, if you were the true man of the house you’d find a real job to support this family…

I have a real job, Eddie barked in his defense.

Hah, she said and pretended to spit. Working at Kinko’s and making copies for other people is not a real job.

Things were not always so hostile, in fact Eddie and Olivia used to be quite the loving couple. They met at Thomas Jefferson University, where they were studying to become doctors but due to his mother’s up and down battle with cancer they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to spend the last of her final days. However, almost a whopping eighteen hundred days passed but his terminal mother just wouldn’t die and Olivia’s dreams of moving back to Philadelphia to continue medical school were long gone. She took a job as an emergency room nurse at Saint Marks Hospital while Eddie decided to try his hand at fictional writing. He swore that he had the talent to write books that everyone would want to read. He also promised her the world and the life and luxury of a movie star, he said that she wouldn’t have to work double shifts for much longer but the months just continued to fly by and he was still no closer to seeing his name in print, let along selling the movie rights to his twelfth bestselling novel.

Olivia climbed the staircase to their bedroom but had to sit down before reaching the top. With her freckled face in her hands the tears started falling like tiny little daggers, cutting her with pain and the realization that her marriage was just a sham. It was retarded, he didn’t think she knew but she did, she knew exactly what he was doing instead of keeping his promise to support her with his creativity. She caught him several times, watching sex videos on his computer and even possibly masturbating but each time he denied it even though she had seen the graphic images in the reflection of the window. It was hopeless, she could never see her husband’s dreams coming true and the only way her own life was going to change for the better was to leave him.

After a microwavable dinner alone and a hot bath, Olivia laid her troubled mind to rest, mostly aware of probably what her husband was doing downstairs in his office.

You need to find a real job, Eddie mimicked while typing the last word on his fifteenth page. What the fuck do you know? He slammed his fist down hard on his desk and then pulled up the internet. Little did his wife realize he already had a plan that would change their lives forever.

*************************

CHAPTER 3

MOONLIGHTING

Will this be pickup or delivery? Kelly said into the greasy phone, smiling like an alligator. He was supposed to be on deliveries instead of answering the phones but it was the busiest night the pizza parlor had seen since Super Bowl Sunday.

Delivery, the young man said but Kelly had to move the phone away from his ear due to the excessive cheering and yelling in the background. Sorry about the noise man, we’re all just pumped and ready to see Utah win the Championship.

That’s all right, sounds like one hell of party. What can I get you guys tonight?

How about six of your jumbo combination pizzas?

No problem, what’s your telephone number? Kelly said and then typed the seven digits into the computer as he heard them. Is that the Pi Kappa Alpha house?

You know it, March madness baby! Oh shit, I almost forgot, my buddies would’ve killed me. Can I get those with anchovies and jalapenos?

You got it. Anything else I can get you guys?

Can you grab us another couple cases of beer?

Kelly shook his head and laughed, it was worth the college try. You know I can’t do that, this is Utah. That’s going be sixty-two fifty and those should be out to you in about forty-five minutes to an hour.

Kelly had been delivering pizzas to the fraternities all week and even though the tips were good he was almost relieved that March Madness and the National Championship game would soon be over. Once all of his orders were complete, he packed the pizzas into his car and headed towards his alma mater, the University of Utah.

Hey man, come on in, the drunken college student slurred as he opened the door. Do you want a beer?

Nah, that’s okay, Kelly said even though he would’ve loved a few tall ones. I’ve still got a couple hours of work left.