Sadie

By Lilian Marsland

Sadie is a beautiful teenage girl with a promising future. When she and her brother Joe lose their parents in a sudden accident, everything falls apart.
Forced to live with their Aunt Lou and Uncle Ben in harsh and unbearable conditions, Sadie discovers clues to a grisly murder and begins to expose a dark secret.
Sadie finds a way to escape, but learns there aren't many options for girls on the street trying to get by. When a series of murders begin claiming the lives of young women, Sadie has to watch her back.
Sadie manages to makes a different life for herself as a social worker. But her new career puts her into contact with a cult leader who has his own sinister plans.
Amidst hardship and trauma, Sadie catches glimpses of happiness in a reunion with her brother and a passionate romance.
Just when life seems to be settling into a comfortable routine, Inspector Brent requests her help with a risky operation. Can she pull off an undercover identity to expose a dangerous drug syndicate?
This suspense-filled book tells stories of abuse, murder, abduction, trauma, love, loss, passion, and crime. Sadie, the beautiful heroine, is resilient through it all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: May 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9780228814283

Lilian Marsland

The author was born and educated in Manchester, England.She and her husband emigrated to Northern BC and after living there for six years, they moved to North Vancouver where they still reside.She loves to write about all types of subjects and has a very vivid imagination.Among other pleasures she loves listening to various kinds of music.

Book preview

PREFACE

Sadie’s contorted young face revealed her anguish and pain. Her crystal clear blue eyes were closed, and beads of perspiration appeared on her fore head as though she’d been running a marathon. Her pulse was racing, but In stead of running for the joy of life she was running away from life. Too much sadness and too many hurts haunted her, mentally tormenting her.

She suddenly threw her arms out as though she was pushing somebody or something away from her.

No! she cried out loudly. Sweat was running down her face and into her soft, long blonde hair.

O.K. Sadie, murmured Dr. Williams, in a slow, subdued voice. I will count from five to one, and on the count of one you will awaken and be back in the present feeling serene and content.

Dr. Williams was the clinical psychologist assigned to care for Sadie. The thin, attractive grey-haired man had seen many difficult cases over the years. He was an expert in the field of hypnotism and realized it was working too well for Sadie. She was a sensitive, emotional girl who would only be able to take short sessions of hypnosis before becoming overwhelmed and out of control. It was going to be a long road before she would be free of the demons that constantly plagued her.

CHAPTER 1

Sadie and Joe’s parents had been successful bankers owning many properties and investments. In a nutshell they had it all.

Sadie and her brother Joe had everything they ever needed and wanted. Sadie had a passion for horses and spent much of her spare time around the stables and the horses. She was a loner, not needing many friends and she found she could easily communicate with the horses. They seemed to understand her and she understood them. All they needed was food, shelter and love and these, they had in abundance.

Her parents also loved horses and her father had no problem having stables built for her and then bringing in four beautiful horses of Sadie’s choice.

The bombshell came just after Sadie’s 14th birthday. Her parents were on their way to a banker’s convention in Chicago. Weather and flight conditions were good, and there was nothing to warn them of what was about to happen. The horrific plane crash took them away from Sadie and Joe forever.

Although their parents had been strict, they had always been very loving and attentive. On rare occasions when time would permit, Sadie remembered sitting in the glow of a crackling, orange fire on a cold winter evening playing chess with her father.

She recalled the sound of the howling wind filling the room – eerie, yet strangely comforting. She was glad she was in the spacious, warm house which was set by itself on an acre of land in Colorado City. Later in the evening, she’d sit by the fire, gazing into the glowing red embers, and allow her imagination to take over.

These memories of life with her parents were in the distant past now, but still painful. Her world had collapsed at a tender age and she would never be the same again.

Now, ten years later, she was tired of pleasing people. She was tired of the life she had reluctantly chosen out of necessity. Her young, shapely body had had enough of being available anytime, day or night, depending on the whims of her clients. She’d had enough of always having to look like a movie star to please her pimp and keep her clients coming back. Her mind just couldn’t take it anymore.

There had to be a way out somehow, but she could not see a future for herself.

Sadie had never come to terms with the loss of her parents. Her experiences since then only compounded her despair. The thought of suicide had entered her mind more than once, but self-preservation and the will to live had always won over. This last time, however, she had put her thoughts into action and came very close to ending her life. This prompted Dr. Williams’ intervention.

CHAPTER 2

Soon after the death of their parents, Sadie and Joe were put into the care of their only surviving aunt and uncle. On the odd occasion when Sadie had come into contact with Aunt Lou, she had never liked her. After arriving at their home, she understood why.

Veronica, Sadie’s mother, and Aunt Lou, were as different as chalk and cheese. Veronica was loving and understanding, and Aunt Lou was harsh and inconsiderate.

Sadie was almost a replica of her mother; she had thick, beautiful long hair, and her sweet open smile and sparkling blue eyes lit up her whole lovely face.

Sadie couldn’t do anything right in Aunt Lou’s eyes; Aunt Lou was her constant critic. Before her mother’s death, Sadie was an achiever, showing great potential. Now, seeds of self-doubt and a lack of confidence began establishing themselves in Sadie’s mind. She couldn’t understand why Aunt Lou treated Joe so differently. He couldn’t do anything wrong. She didn’t know of the malicious jealousy Aunt Lou had always had for Veronica, but she would later find out. Although Veronica was dead, Lou vowed she would get even with her by making her daughter suffer. Besides, the money they were given to cover the children’s care came in very handy for Lou and her husband, Ben.

Because Sadie and Joe were under age, their parent’s estate had been put in trust. But if anything happened to them and they died, everything would automatically go to Lou and Ben as being the only surviving relatives. Lou had no trouble keeping this in mind.

The children hardly had time to settle into their new home when Aunt Lou’s venom began to show. There Sadie, she crowed, mockingly, in a voice as harsh as her personality. I don’t think you’ve ever been used to hard work, your parent’s being rich an’ all. Mollycoddled and everything done for you, poor little rich girl.

In actual fact that was quite untrue. Sadie and Joe had always had certain chores to do as part of their upbringing. Their parents raised them with discipline and love.

Aunt Lou prattled on. Well, all that’s going to change now. Your uncle and I could never afford to have any children, she lied. Now we’ve got someone to work for us we’ll have an easier life.

Joe can have the attic as his bedroom, she added. That won’t take long to clean and the window will let in lots of light. She glared at Sadie. You can have the room in the basement. It’s in a mess but you can sort it out yourself. It’ll give you something to do instead of mooning around mourning. It’s dark and quiet down there, so you can be alone with your thoughts, she said sarcastically.

Sadie wanted to cry, but she bravely held back the tears. It was clear that Aunt Lou had no feelings for her at all except hate. She couldn’t understand how someone could hate a child she hardly knew. Sadie had never harmed her aunt and uncle, but her loveless life was now beginning with only her brother to give her comfort.

Although she and Joe were devoted to each other, at 10 years old, he was too young to give her any protection from Aunt Lou’s wrath.

CHAPTER 3

In the basement, Sadie puffed and panted. The heavy chest was like a dead weight to move. What on earth could be making it so heavy? She was tempted to look inside, but it was heavily padlocked. With her hands and then her feet she pushed as hard as she could until she eventually got it by a wall.

On the wall above the chest there was an oblong patch of floral carpeting fabric about 3 ft long and 2 ft wide. Sadie wondered if it was meant to be some kind of wall decoration instead of a picture. She knew that carpeting was sometimes used as a wall hanging, but this piece wasn’t hanging on the wall. It looked as though it had been securely glued on, as she couldn’t see any nails or tacks anywhere on the fabric. In any case, Sadie thought, the basement was an odd place to display it, because people rarely went down there to admire it.

Sadie was a slim, small-boned child with a body not used to heavy work.

Moving the chest had completely exhausted her and she was feeling the impact of not having eaten a proper meal that day. Aunt Lou wasn’t forthcoming with healthy meals for energy. Sadie collapsed onto the stone uncarpeted floor, weary and hungry, and she slept heavily.

She awoke several hours later and looked at her watch. Pressing the light button, she saw that it was 2:00 a.m. The dull light in the center of the ceiling didn’t do much to cheer her up, but it would have to do. She didn’t like the idea of asking Aunt Lou for a brighter one because she feared the response she might get. Her body ached and the chill of the night penetrated her thin t-shirt and jeans. She shivered. The basement was cold and lonely, and the dirty beige walls cried out for some kind of color.

Sadie looked around her bedroom. She had barely begun sorting it out and it still appeared as though a bomb had hit it.

Her stomach suddenly growled, reminding her that she was hungry.

Food was the main thing on her mind and sleep would elude her until she was warm and had eaten something. Anything would do, just enough to take away the gnawing pain in her gut.

She left the room and slowly and gingerly climbed the basement stairs which were in bad need of repair. She half expected Aunt Lou to be waiting for her at the top; but Aunt Lou enjoyed her sleep too much and couldn’t care less about what was happening at that time of morning.

Sadie entered the kitchen and switched on the light. She screwed up her eyes and blinked at the bright glare, allowing her eyes a few seconds to adjust. The carpeted staircase leading to the bedrooms was in complete darkness and the loud sound of snoring assured her that she would not be disturbed.

Opening the fridge door, she immediately saw a big square of yellow cheese wrapped in plastic on the top shelf. She laid it on the countertop and quietly found the cutlery draw. The big chunk she cut off disappeared into her mouth and down into her stomach as she gorged on it as though she had never seen food before. She found a loaf of bread in the bread bin but didn’t bother to look for butter. She grabbed two slices and wolfed them down in seconds. Milk was the only thing she could find to drink and she drank it straight from the carton, trying not to leave any evidence that she had been there.

Suddenly the snoring stopped. Holding her breath, she listened intently. She was sure she would be caught, accused of stealing food, and would pay the price with some kind of punishment. Had she been too noisy? She would soon find out.

After what seemed like minutes but was actually only a few seconds, the snoring started again. Sadie breathed a sigh of relief. As quietly as possible she washed the knife, dried it, and put it back in the cutlery draw. Then she put the cheese back exactly where she had found it. She was satisfied that she had left no evidence to indicate that she had eaten the food.

She was cold and wanted to find something to wear, anything to keep her warm. She remembered her warm coat hanging in the closet and quietly went to retrieve it. Sleepiness came over her once again and wrapping her coat tightly around her, she carefully and slowly went down the basement stairs.

CHAPTER 4

In her bedroom Sadie sank to the floor and was soon fast asleep. But it was not a peaceful sleep. She tossed and turned restlessly. She dreamed about times when she was a little girl and was unhappy about something. Her mother sometimes wore a big, old, bottle green cardigan around the house. Mother would sit her on her knee and wrap the cardigan around her, telling her to come into her little house. All of little Sadie’s troubles and sadness soon melted away. In her dream,