The Trouble with Thorndyke

By Top Writers Block

Just what is the trouble with Thorndyke? He doesn't even know himself but he's in it neck-deep!

A story written by five different authors, each picking up where the last left off. A crazy story that we hope you will enjoy as much as we enjoyed writing it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Top Writers Block
• Release date: Apr 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476368863

Top Writers Block

Top Writers Block is a diverse and eclectic group of talented writers who decided to write stories together - just for the fun of it! Our collections are usually written with one theme or genre in mind. Each author contributes when they have the time, so some of the collections have as many as twelve authors participating. Every collection has something new, with stories and poems ranging from romance, drama, and adventure to mystery, fantasy, and horror.

Book preview

The Trouble with Thorndyke

Copyright © 2012 by Writers Block

Suzy Stewart Dubot, Anna Scott Graham, Jeffra Hays, Gary Weston, Barnaby Wilde

Published by Writers Block at Smashwords

ISBN : 9781476368863

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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.

Prologue

The five authors who wrote ‘The Trouble with Thorndyke’ each wrote the story’s final chapter but only one was chosen, version E.

In the epilogue you will find the other four Chapter 17’s ! If you are curious, read them.

Writers Block would love to hear from you as to which of all the Chapter 17’s you preferred : A, B, C, D or E, the one actually chosen to conclude the story?

We hope you enjoy the story as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Anna Scott Graham, Barnaby Wilde, Gary Weston, Jeffra Hays, Suzy Stewart Dubot

Chapter 1

Sweat beaded on Thorndyke’s upper lip. His breathing was controlled and shallow, in an attempt to avoid detection. The big bass drum of his heart felt as if it would burst from his chest. Being found was inevitable. Death was inevitable. He was merely prolonging the agony. Agony. Deep down, it wasn't death that really scared him. It was how he would die. These people meant business. To these people, their clients were people to keep in line, and those that stepped beyond that line were to be made an example of.

He knew they had ways of making the offenders suffer for days on end, begging for death to end their misery. They enjoyed their work and were supreme masters at their trade. They would say, proudly, that they turned slow death into an art form.

That they would laugh at him when they found him, only added insults to the injuries he would no doubt sustain. They were huge and he was a puny, pasty faced, skinny individual. And worse, he was naked. Oh yes, they would laugh, and point and ridicule him. Perhaps one would take pity on him and finish him off quickly, thinking him hardly worth their bother to punish slowly. Better things to do, perhaps. Go drinking; pick up women. Watch a game on television. Surely anything would be more entertaining than seeing who would win the bet on how long they could work him over before his pathetic carcass expired forever?

A noise. Downstairs. They weren't even trying to move quietly. They had nothing to fear. They feared no one. Something smashed. And again. Just getting in the mood. Laughter. A door slamming. How many? Two? Three? God!

Thorndyke smiled. He didn't know why, because he had damn all to smile about. All his life he'd had very little to smile about. A bit late to start now. Just for once couldn't something go his way? Apparently not. Voices, talking. Footsteps on the stairs. Minutes, now. Seconds, even. Like they wouldn't check the wardrobe. Another door slamming.

This wasn't even his fault. He was a victim. Another smile. He was a victim; he was going to be a victim. He knew exactly when all this had started and how. Academic now. The result would be the same. That's the bedroom door opening. He could almost smell them, even above his own sweat, even above his own fear.

Thursday, the twenty second of March. That's when all this had started. He'd walked into a bar down town, not that he was much of a drinker. But he'd really fancied a beer. Just a thirst quencher. And as he walked up to the bar and ordered a beer, that's when he saw her.

Chapter 2

He gripped the glass with pale, unadorned fingers. Esme noted that first; the mug looked enormous against his slender hands. He seemed tired, in need of a drink. But nothing more than a beer, and she glanced at her half-filled wine glass. Neither of them required an exotic buffer.

As Esme sipped hers, eyes darted her direction. Long dark hair spilling down her back, ornate rings on her digits, dangling bracelets around small wrists. With most men she felt diminutive, vulnerable. She smiled, not at him, but for him, which he tendered as he set down his glass, turning her way. Is it all right?

What?

That I’m sitting here. I never even asked if this seat was taken.

A deep, husky voice belied his appearance and she fought a giggle. Looking at him, that throaty baritone