The Prequel of Charlie the Hood Houdini: Development of a Criminal Mind

By Janice Elliott-Howard

The mastery of obstacle courses and war games only lead to one end. It wasn’t that she wanted him to continue to feel as if he were in isolation. She wanted him to understand and accept his circumstances for what it was at the time. Her intentions were to create a diversion or a sense of escape from his reality. Little did she know, she was training him for a life of deceit and trickery. Little did she know, he would become good at hiding in plain sight. Under her tutelage, he develops a criminal mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janice Elliott-Howard
• Release date: Aug 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463922286

Janice Elliott-Howard

J Elliott-Howard is a native of New York, New York. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She has had a successful career in corporate America. A divorced mother of two adult children and a grandmother of three. She enjoys photography and water color painting. She had been known to always see her glass as half-full instead of empty. She has a very interesting way of relating to people and her peers always seem to gravitate to her idealism. She has always been told that she ought to be an author based on her delivery methods of good, bad or indifferent news. She always manages to keep herself and those around centered in thought and action.

Book preview

The Prequel

Charlie the Hood Houdini

Development of a Criminal Mind

Copyright 2019 Janice Elliott-Howard

Published by Janice Elliott-Howard 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.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

About Janice Elliott-Howard

Other books by Janice Elliott-Howard

Connect with Janice Elliott-Howard

Chapter One

He runs at top speed away from the small log cabin home of his grandmother. She does not chase him. He runs loudly laughing as if he has heard the best joke ever. His grandmother stands on the porch watching as the distance between them grows. As he looks back over his shoulder to see if she in pursuit, he stumbles and falls in the tall grass. Jillian holds her breath, hoping he is not hurt, and praying he has not encountered a snake. She maintains her posture as she sees no movement. Several seconds elapse as her chest begins to pound. Jillian calls out to him, Charlie, get up and dust yourself off. Are you hurt? Come and let grandma take a look at you. He does not answer.

Jillian’s temperature begins to rise as she heads in the direction where she last saw her grandson. She calls out to him again, Charlie, are you alright? Boy, you’d better answer me. Still, she gets no response. She quickens her pace, becoming a bit disoriented as her concern increases. As she reaches the tall grass, there is no sign of him anywhere. Instead of being worried, Jillian becomes annoyed. Her peripheral vision catches a glimpse of tall grass oscillating to the left of her yard. She takes a deep as she turns to head back towards her home. Well, I guess he’s gone. I don’t know what I am going to tell his parents, she said aloud as she reaches the bottom step. All the while, the tall grass on the left side of her home continues swaying when there is no breeze.

By the time she climbs onto the porch, Charlie pops-up at the corner-edge. Boo, grandma, he shrieks. Jillian shows no reaction. I know you heard me calling you, boy, she scolded. Grandma, I was trying to trick you, he replied. She gives him a look of discontent. He hunches his shoulders as he climbs the stairs. Charlie knows what the disapproving tone means. I am sorry, grandma, he mutters in a low tone. Jillian opens the screen door allowing him to walk into the house first. She holds back a chuckle as she follows him through the doorway. Jillian thinks to herself; my boy is very clever.

They head into the kitchen where Charlie climbs into the chair. Jillian pulls out a chair and puts it next to him. She sits down and faces him. He already had an inkling the talk would not be favorable. Listen to me little man; you have to answer me when I call you. I understand you were trying to trick me, but that is no excuse not to answer me. That was plain rude and disrespectful, his grandma proclaimed with disdain.