Shiver

By Jay Lang

Freedom Jones is a day away from being evicted from her Calgary apartment. So, when her criminal foster brother Johnny calls in a panic, she is not keen on adding more drama to her problems. Nevertheless, she goes to see him, and Johnny presents Freedom with a strange wooden box. Before Johnny can explain further, there’s a pounding on the door, and Freedom watches from under a bed as her brother is murdered.

Freedom escapes and seeks refuge in Vancouver with Lola, a friend of Johnny’s, only to find that the woman only wants what’s in the wooden box: nine flawless diamonds. Freedom runs, leaving the box behind and the nine diamonds hidden in her pocket. From there, Freedom travels to the Sunshine Coast where she meets Skye. The women fall in love, and Freedom discovers how true happiness feels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Oct 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9780228615088

Jay Lang

Born and raised on the West Coast of BC, I was an actress for a number of years before becoming a clothing designer for rock bands. After deciding that I needed a change, I moved out of the city to attend university and learn the craft of creative writing. Hush, is the first LGBTQ2 thriller I have written. I am a huge fan of thrillers which prompted me to write a novel in this genre. I love including LGBTQ2 characters in my stories, as I feel that there is not enough available fiction that include the LGBTQ2 community.

Book preview

Shiver

Janice Lang

Digital ISBNs

EPUB 978-0-2286-1508-8

Kindle 978-0-2286-1509-5

Web 978-0-2286-1510-1

Print ISBNs

Amazon Print 978-0-2286-1511-8

BWL Print 978-0-2286-1512-5

LSI Print 978-0-2286-1513-2

B&N Print 978-0-2286-1514-9

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Chapter One

An angry dark sky invades the bay and forces the rusty orange sunset to disappear into the horizon. Now that night has set in, I don't have much time. I grab anything I can to defend myself, a dull bread knife from the kitchen drawer, the heavy metal poker from the fireplace and a small wooden handled spade from the pantry. Setting everything down but the knife, I hurry through the cabin shutting lights off in every room. When I get to the kitchen, I start to `walk across the floor when I hear a creaking sound coming from the old wooden balcony. Instantly, a wave of terror creeps over me. They're here, I can feel them. I force a shallow breath into my lungs and slowly move toward the balcony. With each step, I try to silence the sound of my feet on the floor. Straining to see through the glass, but the darkness outside has turned the windows into mirrors and all I see is my reflection. My hand shakes as I grasp the wooden handle of the knife. The closer I get to the glass, the more I feel them watching, waiting.

* * *

After days of no sleep, I’m finally drifting off when a hard rap on the door jerks me back to consciousness. I lie motionless in hopes that the pest goes away. No such luck. A sequence of raps repeats followed by the sound of paper being slid under the door. No doubt it’s the landlord gifting me with a final eviction notice. A few seconds later, I hear footsteps walking away. I lie for a few minutes before succumbing to the growing worries in my head, where will I go? How will I feed myself?

My job was a shitty one at best, working the night shift at a gas station, but it was a job and considering I have minimal education, I was grateful to have it. About a month ago, Johnny Savage, my brother, or the closest thing I have to one, decided to get hopped up on a cocktail of booze and drugs before stumbling into my work. I left him to watch the front while I quickly ran to the bathroom. Unbeknownst to me, he swiped cash from the till and filled his pockets with cigarettes and anything else he could get his hands on. After viewing the surveillance tape, my boss said nothing, he just pointed at me and then to the front door.

My anxiety gains momentum and I concede to the fact that I’ll be adding another evening to my sleep deprivation. Defeated, I get up and walk to the kitchen to make coffee. Just as I’m filling the machine with water, my cell rings. It’s Johnny.

I know if I don’t answer, he’ll inundate me with calls and seeing as I’ve been applying for jobs all over Calgary, I can’t afford to turn the phone off.

I’m still pissed at you, Johnny.

Freedom, I need to see you. It’s urgent. His breathing is shallow and erratic.

Urgent? Like paying rent or buying food?

I know, I know. I’m sorry about all that. But I have cash for you. You just have to come and meet me. I’m in big shit, sis and I need you.

Oh great, another rescue mission where I have to drop everything and run to him. Nine times out of ten, by the time I get there, he’s either passed out or he’s forgotten why he called me in the first place. This emergency, I fear, will result with the same outcome and right now, I’m not in the mood.

Johnny, I love you, but I can’t do this anymore. Just go to bed and sleep it off. As for the cash you said you’d give me for rent, I’m tired of waiting.

Freedom, please. I’m dead serious. I swear I’m on the up and up. Please come, he pleads with growing desperation.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, there is a sense of unfamiliar authenticity in his tone. If I don’t go, I’ll be sitting here worrying, which would be worse than going to meet him.

Once again falling victim to the emotional blackmail, I slip on my jacket, wrap my long brown hair in a messy bun, step over the yellow notice on the floor and head out.

The sky darkens on the twenty-minute bus ride to Forest Lawn in East Calgary. When the doors open, I step out into the chilly evening and walk the few blocks to Johnny’s basement suite. This side of town is known for its high criminal element, especially at night. On the few times I’ve been down here, I make sure Johnny is with me for protection. Regardless of how hardened some of the derelicts are down here, they never seem to bother Johnny much, they just nod when he walks by.

* * *

Arriving at his door, I knock and then fold my arms and wait. After a few quick minutes, Johnny opens the door. His thick dark hair is disheveled, and his face is sallow and drawn. As soon as our eyes meet, I can tell that he’s high on something.

What’s going on, Johnny? I say, trying to cut through the bullshit.

He looks behind me and then grabs my jacket and pulls me inside, quickly locking the door behind me.

I swear, if you don’t tell me why you called me over here, I’m leaving. I refuse to get caught up in any more of your drama.

He looks at me then holds a finger to his lips as to shush me then waves me down the hall to the kitchen.

Once there, he pulls out a chair at the table and I sit down. At first, he sits across from me but then he becomes too agitated and he gets up and paces the floor.

Something’s happened, Freedom. Something very bad and I need your help.

Johnny, what are you talking about? What have you gotten yourself into now, and what do you mean…you need my help?

Something has kind of fallen into my lap, something of great importance. I need you to hang onto it for me until I figure out what to do with it.

Me? I say, defiantly. Johnny, you know how I feel about you, but there’s no bloody way you’re pulling me into any of your shady dealings.

He stops pacing and walks over to the table and leans on his hands in front of me, Freedom, I don’t have anyone else that I trust. You’re like a sister to me. I love you and I would never put you in danger.

You wouldn’t huh? Are you forgetting the fact that you cost me my job which lead me to be evicted from my apartment? As of tomorrow morning, I’m homeless. So, forgive my apprehension, but up to now, your behavior hasn’t been very brotherly.

You’re right, and I told you I was going to make it ok with you, so here. He reaches under his shirt and into the waistband of his jeans and pulls out a thick white envelope. This will cover your rent and hold you over until you can find a job somewhere. I’m sorry for what I did, Freedom. I was so wacked out that night, I barely even remember going to your work.

I grab the envelope and look inside. There’s a lot of money here, Johnny. Where the hell did you get it? I drop the envelope on the table.

It’s legit, sis. The money came from a buddy of mine. I helped him fix up his car so he could sell it. That is my cut, he says pointing at the money.

However, much is in that envelope, it’s a hell of a lot more than you owe me.

I know. So, just hang on to the rest for me, ok?

What’s going on? You never part with money this easily, I say, stuffing it into my jacket pocket.

I know I haven’t always been honest with you, but you have to trust what I’m about to tell you, ok? his eyes look concerned and serious. I need to get out of here. It’s not safe. As I said before, I have something that could get me into a lot of trouble and I need to get away and figure out what to do. Nobody knows who you are, Freedom. What I have will be a lot safer with you than with me, at least for now.

Johnny goes to the kitchen cabinet, opens the door and moves a stack of plates before retrieving a small wooden chest, about the size as a box of Kleenex. He walks over to the table and sets the wooden box in front of me.

What’s this?

This is what I need you to keep for me.

What’s in it, drugs?

Don’t be stupid, Freedom, I know how you feel about drugs, plus, if it were drugs, I’d hang on to it myself. He says, half grinning.

So, what is it then?

Nothing. It’s papers. Important ones.

Is there a key for it? I ask, examining it.

No. And only I know how to open it so don’t even try.

And why do you need me to hold it for you?

Shit, Freedom. Because I asked you to, that’s why. Just quit with the questions and promise that you’ll guard it with your life, ok?

Yeah, yeah. Calm down. I’ll hang on to the stupid thing. Just one more question?

Johnny looks at me then rolls his eyes, What?

If what’s in this box is causing people to come after you, why don’t you just bring it to the cops?

He leans down until we’re eye level, No fucking cops. That’s not an option.

But why not? Maybe they can protect you.

Of course, they can’t. What if some of the information inside the box is incriminating to a high up officer?

Is it?

Just then, there’s a loud knock at the door. Almost instantly, Johnny panics. His hands are shaking and he’s hyperventilating. Freedom, hurry, come. He says, motioning for me to follow.

I grab the box and follow him down the hallway. When we get to his bedroom, he pushes the door open but leaves the light off, Get under the bed, hurry. His voice is shaking.

Johnny, stop this. You’ve got to calm down. You’re probably just sketching out because of whatever drugs you’re on.

I’m not on any fucking drugs. The people who want the box are dangerous and they’re after me, now get under the bed.

This is ridiculous, I say, sliding under the futon.

When there’s another bang on the door, he quickly leans down and whispers, Call Lola in Vancouver if anything happens, ok? She’ll know what to do.

Johnny, this is crazy. Just hurry up and answer the door so I can come out.

I watch his feet as they leave the room. He grabs the bedroom door handle and swings it shut but it only closes for a second before slowly re-opening halfway.

I hear Johnny’s voice as he answers the door, Hey guys, I was just gonna call you.

Then, I hear another man’s voice, Is that right? I don’t think you were, Johnny boy. I think you were hoping that we’d just go away.

Don’t be crazy, man. Why would I do that? Johnny laughs nervously.

"Where’s the box? The man says sternly.

Umm, the box? I umm, I gave it to a friend for safe keeping. I didn’t want to keep it here with me in case someone broke in or something.

You better hope you’re fucking lying, you piece of shit.

Another male voice booms out, Yeah, you’ve got five seconds to get it for us or I’m going to blast a hole in you.

What in the hell? Blast a hole in him? Who are these people? My mind instantly goes back to what Johnny told me in the kitchen about the box possibly containing incriminating information. For the first time since I got here, I believe he is in real trouble and I haven’t a clue how to help him. As I squeeze the box closer to me, I feel the vibrations of my now shaking hands.

One... says the man at the end of the hall.

Come on man, let’s leave here. I’ll take you to the box. Johnny pleads.

Two, the man continues.

Johnny backs down the hall until I can see his runners and the bottom of his legs through the opening in the door.

The first man raises his voice, I’m not fucking around. Give us the box or he’ll blow your fucking head off.

Three, says the second man.

My heart is racing as I force shallow breaths into my lungs.

Why is Johnny doing this? Why doesn’t he just give up the box? Something tells me he’s in way over his head and I can’t see him talking his way out of this.

If you do anything to me, you won’t get what you came for, Johnny says, nervously.

Four, the second guy continues.

I feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. I’m in a nightmare and I don’t know how to get out of it.

I watch Johnny’s legs, standing still in the doorway, facing in the direction of the men.

Johnny starts to say something when the second man cuts him off...

Five.

A booming crack echo’s through the apartment and brings with it a wave of aftershock. Other than the high-pitched ringing in my ears, I can’t hear a thing. Next, as if his bones had been removed, Johnny wilts and lands on the floor, he’s facing me with his eyes open. He’s not moving. My mouth opens involuntarily as I try to scream and nothing comes out. Johnny, please give me a signal that you’re ok. Move your eyes or something. This can’t be happening. As I stare into his big brown eyes, I see the young boy he once was, the innocent and curious Johnny from the foster home. From the very first day I arrived in that awful place, he took me under his wing and watched out for me. And now, he’s wounded, maybe dead and there’s nothing I can do.

I see two sets of feet step over my brother and walk down the hall toward the kitchen.

Extending my hand out from under the bed, I’m too far away to reach him. I’ve got to get help. He’s hurt, really hurt. I need to get help but my legs feel stiff and heavy. When I hear clanking and rummaging in the kitchen, I whisper loudly, Johnny, are you okay? As soon as the words leave my lips, tears release and crawl down the side of my face. I quickly fumble for my cell but there’s no room under the bed to retrieve it from my pocket.

I know I have to do something. What if the men search the other rooms in the apartment? I’ll be found and then shot too. Still hearing them clamor in the kitchen, I force my body to move and quickly squirm from under the bed. Once I’m on my hands and knees, I crawl towards Johnny, blood now trickling out of the corner of his mouth and pooling on the floor. Just as I’m about to touch him, I hear one of the guys say, It’s not here, man. Let’s check the other rooms. His accomplish agrees and adds that they don’t have much time to find the box because somebody would’ve heard the gun and called the cops.

Shit. I’m cornered. I look back to where I was under the futon. If I crawl back under the bed, the men will check there for sure. And, if I run to the front door, they’ll see me in the hall and most likely shoot me in the back. I’m screwed, no matter which way I go. Then, I see the small window above the bed. In this neighborhood, most of the basement suite windows have bars on them and right now, I can’t remember if this one does or not. Still, it’s my only hope of getting out of here alive. I stand on my shaking legs and can hear the men coming down the hall. I step on the bed and pull back the small curtains.

I let out a sigh of relief when I see that there are no bars. I start running my hands along the frame trying to find