Frenemies: Be Careful What You Wish For

By Mark Cuzzetto

The side of the girl’s face is swollen and has turned a swirl of red and black. With her back pressed against the cold wall and her hands tied and spread like Jesus on the cross, she slowly awakens from unconsciousness. How did things possibly get to this point?

TORA KATO is, in every sense of the word, unassuming. With no friends to mention, she spends her days diligently learning at the local college, studying karate and helping her dad at his locksmith store called, Sure Lock Homes. Nobody pays her much attention.

As happens from time to time, one fateful day everything changed. Four friends, KALI, BANYAN, DANTE AND THORNE are walking in front of Tora when suddenly Kali loses her footing and falls onto the street. Tora’s karate instincts kick in and she scoops Kali from the street seconds before contact with an oncoming car. These four obscenely wealthy friends are so grateful for Tora’s heroics that they bring her into their inner circle and into the giant mansion within which they all live.

It doesn’t take long, however, to see that there is much more about Tora’s new, rich friends than the drinking and pill popping partiers they present themselves to be. There is definitely something about them that is evil... very evil.

At first, Tora is so wrapped up in her new life of fun and debauchery that she is oblivious to how Kali holds some kind of power over the other three. Tora is also blissfully unaware of the late-night, tortured screams permeating from behind the mysterious solid-steel door that leads down into the basement. It isn’t until Tora secretly witnesses her new friends do something that she was definitely not meant to see that she concludes something isn’t right. She was obviously brought into their circle for a reason... but what?

This is when Tora decides to conduct her own investigation. Utilizing her skills as a locksmith, she easily enters the mansion when nobody is home. Unfortunately, it turns out the giant home is not unoccupied. As secrets are revealed and all hell breaks loose, she needs to utilize all of her skills to stay alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Cuzzetto
• Release date: Nov 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310433764

Mark Cuzzetto

Spending several years as a tour bus driver has given me many hours of alone time to concentrate on my love of writing. When I drop the tourists off at some spot that I have seen dozens of times, I immediately pull out my laptop and start writing. Fifteen minutes here and twenty minutes there can add up to several chapters’ worth of fulfilling writing.Evenings in one hotel room or another would find me rarely turning on the television. My laptop would illuminate the dark room and the quiet sound of clicking would fill the silence.As a result, I have written two books, ‘FRENEMIES’ and ‘SEX, DRUGS, ROCK & ROLL and ORANGE JUICE’.Frenemies came to me in a flash one day. I saw a Japanese girl sitting by herself, eating from tupperware containers that she had obviously brought from home. She was very unassuming and nobody else around took any notice of her. My imagination ran with the idea of someone so unassuming being thrust into a world so completely different than what she us used to.Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Orange Juice was written as a result of my several years playing in rock bands. Having been a musician for many years, I understand how music engulfs a person’s life. It can take you on an amazing journey or cause you to come crashing down. When a musician is on tour, quite often they quickly find that people want to give them things. At least, that is what I found. It didn’t take long for me to discover that drugs, booze, food and women were there for the taking. It was up to me to decide what I wanted and how much.Not everyone is able to set aside the traps laid forth by fans and addicts. As a result, they get snarled. Luckily for me, I was able to avoid the traps and remain unscathed. I can’t, however, say that for some others.Just like well written songs, Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Orange Juice is a story that reflects on the choices that we make in a powerful, dramatic and often funny way.Thank you very much for reading my work and I hope to soon be adding to my repertoire.Mark Cuzzetto

Book preview

Frenemies

A novel by

Mark Cuzzetto

This book is a work of fiction.

Names, characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any similarities to persons (living or dead) or events are completely coincidental.

Copyright 2014 by Mark Cuzzetto

Published by Mark Cuzzetto at Smashwords

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 enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

All rights reserved.

Chapters

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

EPILOGUE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

OTHER BOOKS BY MARK CUZZETTO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prologue

From the darkness of unconsciousness, the blurred figures appear. Even her one eye that isn’t swollen shut is finding it difficult to focus. As her dark pupils shrink within bloodshot eyes, focus slowly sharpens. Like a lone hiker stranded within a dense fog, she pushes through the haze and is slowly able to distinguish one shape from another.

The side of the Japanese girl’s face is swollen and has turned a swirl of red and black. She tries to move but she can’t. Shifting her attention away from the figures in front of her, she glances to her left and then to her right. Her arms are spread like Jesus on the cross. Her wrists have been tied to a wall… right next to her father.

The sound of laughter snaps her attention back toward the now clearly distinguishable people standing in front of her. This twisted sound of merriment digging into her eardrums like a jackhammer is the only thing that keeps her from slipping back into unconsciousness.

Chapter 1

The bald eagle is a bird of prey that is distinctive to North America. It is not picky about how it gets its prey. Whether it scoops fish directly out of the sea or if it steals a small rodent from another bird, the bald eagle does not care – as long as it feeds.

Even though the Unites States of America has taken the eagle as its national bird, one finds that it is actually fairly rare to see a bald eagle in this particular part of the country.

The eagle’s rarity is one of two reasons why it attracts the attention of at least five different students when it flies strangely close to the window of the university class room. The other reason is because several of the students would rather watch the eagle fly by than listen to anymore if the professor’s dull-set drones. This is a typical class room situated within a typical university nestled in a typical suburban neighborhood in a typical American city.

The professor stands slouched at the front of the class. His tall, skinny frame is accentuated by the pot belly pressing firmly against the bottom two buttons of his fifteen dollar shirt. The laser pointer lazily balanced between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand is scanning across a blackboard rife with big words and complicated equations. He seems as bored teaching the class as are the students attending.

While the teacher’s monotone voice drones on an explanation to the very complicated equation displayed in chalk, the students are unable to focus on the dull lecture. They are whispering back and forth, falling asleep or texting another sole who is fortunate enough not to be there. One male student is more interested in the barely used eraser perched on the end of his pencil than the teacher’s bestowed knowledge. The laissez-faire demeanor of the room is juxtaposed by one girl in particular. She is listening intently to every word while diligently jotting down notes.

Quite possibly the most noticeable thing about this girl is how incredibly unnoticeable she is. This twenty-one year old, Japanese girl has made no outward attempt at being noticed whatsoever. Her hair sits flat against her make-up devoid face and her clothing is that of function rather than fashion. The thick, wire frame glasses wrapped around both ears not only do their part in correcting her vision but they also find fantastic results in further keep her unassuming.

***

The clamor of the noon-hour, cafeteria bustle fills the air. Dozens of students carry their trays of purchased bounty to a table and chat with their friends… everyone, that is, except the Japanese girl. She sits alone on the end of a Formica coated table and utilizes a small portion of the unused space by placing her pink, floral backpack on the bench next to her. The girl removes three Tupperware containers and a pair of chopsticks. Before digging into the chicken fried rice and sushi, she pulls out a glasses case and opens her notebook. Opening the case, she removes a pair of reading glasses and exchanges them with the pair on her face. These spectacles are even more unappealing than the last. She reviews her notes while quietly eating.

After skilfully picking out the last grain of rice with the ends of her chopsticks and placing it on her tongue, she carefully attaches the lids back onto the containers, wipes off the used chopsticks and places them into her backpack. She then reverses her earlier action by replacing her reading glasses with the ones that let her see farther. After sliding both arms through the straps of the backpack, she picks up the books and notes she has carefully prepared for the next class and stands up.

After walking no more than ten feet, a male student runs by and clumsily bumps into her. Her papers flutter to the floor like injured butterflies. The hurried student yelled out an apology that is followed by neither an attempt to rescue her papers or even so much as a turn of his head. She bends down and picks up the scattered sheets. Nobody thinks to help.

Television monitors are perched in various locations throughout the university hallways and a few are located in the cafeteria. After picking up the final piece of paper, the Japanese girl’s attention is drawn to a local news story being broadcast from one of the monitors.

This is now the third month with no sign of the McHendry family. John and Linda McHendry and their nineteen year old son Jason disappeared without a trace three months ago from their West side house. Anyone with any information whatsoever is asked to contact the sheriff’s office right away.

***

For most students, the end of the school day brings time for socializing at the local coffee shop or making one’s way home for a lovingly prepared meal. This is not the case for our young friend. She quietly walks a few blocks and enters the local community college for one of her extracurricular activities.

In this learning annex, people of various ages are sitting at long, wooden tables, folding blank sheets of paper and listening intently to the teacher giving origami instructions. The Japanese girl is following each instruction exactly. Once her paper swan is completed, she looks up in pride but not knowing anyone in the room means there is nobody with whom to show off her work. Her smile dissipates and she tucks her fragile piece of art into a small pouch on her backpack. She delicately slides another sheet of paper from the top of a pile and diligently waits for further instructions.

***

Having managed to successfully recreate three different animals in paper form, she is admiring the giraffe that is balanced in the palm of her hand while walking through the local shop district. As the sun darkens behind a concrete horizon, she stops at a store front she has stopped at many times before. The stunning dress that sits in the window of this small boutique has been on display for about a month. She never tires of following the lines and contours of the beautiful garment and imagining what kind of adventures she could find herself in if she could just live the life of someone who wears such elegance.

She pulls her backpack from her shoulders, places the origami giraffe into a side pocket and pulls out a sketchbook from the main compartment. Opening the book to the correct page, she holds up a sketch of herself wearing that exact dress.

In this sketch, this shy girl is no longer shy. Her hair is longer and flowing in the imagined breeze. Her demeanor is confident and strong. It is as though she has sketched herself as a superhero or perhaps an undercover spy.

Realizing the time, she slides the sketchbook into her backpack, quickly crosses the street and enters another store called SURE LOCK HOMES.

The neon sign shivers light into the darkening street and the advertisements plastered to the window show that the specialty of SURE LOCK HOMES is that of lock and alarm installation as well as locksmith services.

The young lady enters the establishment and the door chimes a welcoming greeting. Behind the counter sits a Japanese gentleman who just turned fifty a few weeks ago. He is also Tora’s father. Despite his thick accent, he is clearly understood by the person on the other end of his phone call.

Thank you very much for your patronage. My top employee has just arrived and will make her way to you as soon as possible.

He hangs up the phone and then turns his attention to the girl. Where have you been? Not waiting for an answer, Here. I need you to take your tools to this address. They are waiting for you to arrive.

She accepts the paper and turns back toward the door. The sound of chimes, once again, fills the air as she walks through. Before the door completely closes, the Japanese man shouts out one final instruction. And don’t forget to get sixty dollars in cash!

***

One of the girl’s biggest joys is the feeling of wind in her hair and face. Despite having to wear a helmet and thick, shatterproof goggles, the breeze feels wonderful while she cruises through town on her pink, electric scooter. She parks in front of the house addressed on the scrap of paper. Two women and a man drunkenly stumble their way out of the mid-eighties Z28 convertible parked half in the driveway and half in the front yard. The three of them are dressed for a night on the town. The drunken man is the first to speak. Yay! Our saviour has arrived!

The two women cheer in response but their cheers are quickly stifled when the spiked heel of one woman stabs through a soft patch of sod. She immediately loses her balance and falls onto the other woman. Within a second, the both of them are on the ground laughing uncontrollably.

Instead of helping them up, the drunken man opts for laughing at both of them and then continuing with his thought. You got here just on time. We have a killer party to get to and I locked my damn keys inside the house.

Despite her inebriation, one of the women is able to pull herself from the ground while adding her two cents worth. Brainiac here was going to throw a rock through the window but we told him just to call a locksmith.

Opting not to bother taking part in the conversation, the Japanese girl quietly makes her way to the front door. The man steps between his two friends, places his hands on each of their rear ends and the three of them stagger behind the young locksmith. One of the women engages her with a question. What’s your name?

The young Japanese girl finally speaks… Well, it is more like a whisper. Tora.

Did you say your name is Tora? That’s a beautiful name. Tora what?

Tora Kato. She responds.

The second drunken woman inserts herself into the conversation. Tora Kato? What a nice name. Doesn’t she have a nice name?

Yes she does. The first woman responds. I bet that’s not the only nice thing about her. She breaks from her two cohorts and steps up to Tora. I bet we can find out all sorts of nice things about Tora Kato. She seductively runs her hand down Tora’s back.

Tora immediately jumps forward and turns to face the trio of horny drunkards. I am supposed to get sixty dollars.

The drunken man scratches his crotch then reaches for his wallet. Oh yeah. I like this girl. She gets right down to business. I bet you get straight to business with lots of things don’t you? Here you go.

He pulls three, crisp twenty dollar bills from his wallet and tries to place them down Tora’s top. She steps back and by the time he realizes that she has swiped them from his hand, she has already stuffed the money into her pocket and began working on the lock.

You know. He says. I’ve got an idea. How about you come and party with us tonight?

Now there’s a good idea. One of the ladies concurs. We always have room for one more.

The welcome sound of tumblers clicking is followed by the door swinging open. The three drunks cheer.

Caressing Tora’s cheek with the back of her hand, one of the women continues the group’s advances. Good job Tora. Now how about it? Won’t you come and party with us?

I must get going now. Tora nervously steps around the group. Thank you very much for using SURE LOCK HOMES.

The three of them continue simultaneous verbal persuasion until Tora fleets away like a bird avoiding buckshot.

***

Tora is still not done for the night. Instead of making her way home, she stops in front of a karate dojo, pulls the scooter up onto the sidewalk and kickstands it next to a jack pine. After a couple quiet nods of recognition from some familiar faces in the lobby, she changes into her white karategi and joins her fellow classmates in