The Management Retreat

By Cleoj

The Management Retreat is a story about women in which I have blended elements of adventure, intrigue, and personal drama into a plot that deals with the idea of political conviction that has caused the growth of a single concept into a movement that affects the lives of many. The story opens with the investigation of a scene of vicious murders where a number of individuals were attending a Management Retreat meeting have been slaughtered. According to an eyewitness, the murders were committed with a large knife by a maniac and the investigator assigned to the case believes that more than one person committed the murders. The theme of womens rights figures importantly throughout the story, while exploring the social dynamic issues of the womens struggle for equal opportunity that is worked into the plot. This is subsequently contrasted with the development of the highly organized secret society known as the Lilies. Within the Lilies there are four deadly groups who believes that the Ends Justify the Means.

The story introduces a network of characters designed to illustrate the obsession and the desire for women throughout the world to overthrow those institutions that immortalize male supremacy, and sequences introduced by Molly White into the fold underscores the way such a movement such as this could become a reality.

The Management Retreat is a multifaceted book that carefully orchestrates the lives of many individuals who are caught up in deep personal convictions of murder and romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491866245

Book preview

MANS-CHILD’S MOTHER

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We cry when we hear the word war. Our armor stands ready. This is my country, right or wrong. Since the beginning of time, we have fought every battle, we have endured the pain. Our bodies are covered with scars that are not always caused by war.

Tears of sorrow, joy and pain, have often interrupted our struggle for fairness. Our losses are greater than history can record, yet still, we go unnoticed. Who are we? We are Mans-Child’s Mother that has nursed him, pacified him so that he may not weep. We are the thunder and the lightening, the umbrella under man’s wings.

CLEOJ

August 14, 2002

THE DEADLY RETREAT

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The Oriental Beach Motel was known to host meetings for various organizations on a regular basis, but nothing would compare to what took place on this terrifying morning in November.

Jake Martin, the manager of the Oriental Beach Motel, heard the sound of a car stopping in front of the motel office. He crawled out from under the desk, moving as fast as his arms and legs would carry him. He ran out the door as fast as he could and his momentum flung him up against the right side of the police vehicle. His bloody-hands smeared the right side of the windshield.

Detective Michael Mays was frightened out of his wits, thinking that this raving maniac with blood stained hands was about to attack them. He fumbled around in panic, trying to get his seatbelt off. Mays looked at Charlie his partner, who was paralyzed with fear. He reached for his gun, which was pinned between the seatbelt and his large belly. His fingers accidently released the safety as his finger hit the trigger and the gun fired. The bullet went through his jacket missing his partner’s head by inches and shattering the left side window. Jake dropped to the pavement just below the right side of the car. Mays finally got his seatbelt unlatched, pulled his gun out of the holster and pointed it at Jake. He was about to fire again when he heard Jake yell.

I’m Jake Martin, the motel manager. I’m the one who called you.

Son, I almost shot you. Running up to a police car can be dangerous. You frightened the hell out of my partner and me, said Detective Mays.

He opened up the door and pulled himself up out of the car with the aid of the car hand strap, he put his gun back into the holster.

They’re all dead! They are all dead! Jake shouted. He was rambling so fast that Detective Mays could not understand what he was saying.

Slow down son, take a deep breath, and now tell me slowly.

Jake exhaled loudly. He held his breath for several seconds as they walked toward the conference room. Noticing the door to the conference room was wide open. Detective Mays and his partner walked slowly into the conference room while Jake stood outside with his back to the door, he had seen enough.

Jake had long blond hair, blue eyes, and very blond eyebrows, more noticeable during the summer, when they almost turned white. He was twenty-three years old but looked much younger. He had to carry his ID everywhere. He was tall and lean. He was an actor and very dramatic when he spoke. The job at the motel was only temporary, sort of an in between job until an acting role came along.

Detective Mays was a very handsome man in his mid-forties with jet black hair, brown completion, kind gray eyes, and a warm friendly smile that made one think of a country doctor rather than an experienced detective. When he was with NYPD, he had investigated hundreds of murders, he was used to seeing victims’ bodies, but on this morning in late November, when he stepped into the conference room, he froze with horror, stunned by what he saw. After only a few seconds, he staggered out of the conference room with his mouth wide-open.

In my twenty-one years with the NYPD, I have never before seen a human being so ferociously slaughtered. You were right, Jake! No one was alive and their body parts are scattered all over the room, said Detective Mays.

The room was deadly silent except for the whining of a small tape recorder that had fallen on the floor during the massacre. Apparently, the tape was recording when an object struck it as it fell to the floor. It was still recording, but barely audible.

Boss, that tape recorder could be evidence? Charlie Brown said.

Jake, now tell me slowly, what happened here?

"I was bringing coffee and Danish’s into the conference room. I pushed the door open with my backside while pulling the cart partly through the door. When I turned around, I saw blood and body parts scattered in every direction. Everywhere I looked, I saw parts of their bodies on the conference table and on the floor. A few heads were barely holding onto their necks. I have never seen anything so horrifying before. I didn’t look to see if anyone was breathing, they all looked dead to me. I was terrified, my body was trembling. I got out of there as fast as I could, knocking over the coffeepot, which splashed on my hands. I didn’t feel any pain until now. I dropped everything that I was carrying, as you can see, cups and food are all over the floor I didn’t know where to run. I was afraid to go back into the kitchen or my office. Whatever it was, I sure as hell didn’t want to meet it. I am here alone from 12 midnight to 6 am in the morning. Oriental Beach, Long Island is located forty miles from the nearest town. I wanted get into my car and drive away from here, but my car was parked in the back of the building. I waited about five minutes. Then I tiptoed quietly in to my office, stooping low enough to keep my balance, in the event he saw me and whacked my head off. My heart was in my mouth. I was breathing heavily and was afraid that if he was in my office, he would hear me. I prayed, ‘Please God don’t let that lunatic chop my head off.’ I was crawling on the floor when the door to my office swung open. I almost had a heart attack. I crawled under my desk as fast as my hands and knees could take me. My hands felt wet and slimy. I raised my hands up to my face. Blood covered my hands! I saw bloody footsteps all around my desk. He walked toward my desk holding a long knife in his right hand. It was dripping with blood. I tried to scream but couldn’t. I began to panic as he got closer to my desk.

I could see that his shoes were covered with blood. I felt a warm liquid running down my legs and a second later my bowels exploded. I held my breath and closed my eyes because I knew he was about to chop my head off with that long knife that he carried in his hand. He stopped and turned directions. I could hear his soggy footsteps when he walked towards the door singing, ‘America, America God shed his grace on thee, I told them all that I’d have their livers for breakfast.’

I knew that he had left my office because his voice began to fade away. I couldn’t move knowing that he had gone. I waited until I was sure it was safe. I wanted to pick up the telephone, but I couldn’t. My hands were numb. I don’t know how long I stayed under that desk; it seemed like an eternity. Anyway, I finally got up enough courage to pick up the phone and call the police. I got back under the desk until I heard the sound of your car in front of my office."

Detective Mays turned away from the conference room and put his hand on Jake’s shoulder.

Jake, you did the right thing son. This was a heinous slaughter and you would have been another victim.

After Mays regained his composure, he walked back into the conference room, and stood near the door watching the squad cars pulling into the parking lot. Two men got out of the police van. They carried a large plastic sheet with them and a small black toolbox.

Detective Mays briefed the two men:

This was a Management Retreat meeting. The victims have not been identified at this time. The Federalist Society leased the conference room. We have not found the murder weapon. I believe it was a large knife. I just hope that whoever did this terrible thing left some prints.

They all nodded in agreement.

Charlie, there is only one door in this conference room? The assassin or assassins knew this."

But, Chief, how could one person with a knife, kill fifteen people? Don’t you think that at least one person would have gotten away?

Detective Mays shook his head.

From the size of the cuts on each of the victims, I would say it was a very large knife. Yes, Charlie, I agree with you, at least one person should have gotten away, unless there was more than one killer. But, then again, it’s the coroner’s job to investigate the cause of death. They’ll have fun with this one. Strange, there is not one woman, Detective Mays mumbled as he watched the men from the coroner’s office place the plastic sheets over the floor.

"Boss, there are three women on the list that we got from Hugo North, none of them were here during the massacre. Look at their young faces. I’d bet that the oldest one here is under thirty-five,

Oh, my God! There’s a kid over there by the locked door. He must have been here with his father. said Charlie

Mays rushed over to the small body near the door. He stood over the small body, examined it.

Charlie, this small body has a face of a thirty-five year old. I’m going back to the office to talk to Hugo North, the day manager. While I’m there; I have a few questions to ask Jake Martin.

Okay Chief, I will stay with the guys from the coroner’s office.

Charlie’s cellphone rang.

Wait a minute Chief. It’s Lopez. He said they found another body.

Where? he asked as Charlie gave the cell phone to Mays

Where did you find the body, Lopez? Mays asked.

I didn’t find it. Johnny Green found it. He saw two legs sticking out between the building and the air conditioner unit near the swimming pool. The victim is a man in a uniform; his gun is in the holster. The body is clean, no cuts or bruises on the body and no signs of a struggle. It appears that the body was dragged to where it was found.

Thanks for the information Lopez; I will send the coroner’s people over there. You guys stay until they arrive.

Chief, I’m getting some strong vibes that I don’t feel good about.

Strong vibes my ass, when did you ever get vibes from anything Charlie?

Detective Mays found Jake Martin and Hugo North in the office. Jake was telling the other employees about the slayings.

Detective Mays interrupted, I have a question to ask you Jake. The detectives found another body and the victim is in uniform.

Oh no, that would be the new night watchman, Stanley Mills. I hired him last week. I forgot he was starting last night, said north.

You also forgot to tell me, thanks a lot, North, Jake said sarcastically."

Jake, you mentioned that you saw bloody boots. Did you see a face?

Jake hesitated before answering the detective’s question.

No sir, I did not see a face.

Jake, what size was the bloody boots you saw?

Humongous, mumbled Jake.

Jake, I want you to close your eyes. You are under the desk, and you see bloody boots. Now, what size boots do you see? Take as much time as you need.

Jake opened his eyes.

The boots were humongous, and they were covered with blood.

What is considered humongous to you Jake?

Size fifteen or larger.

Thank you Jake. Oh, I have another question. You said that the assassin was singing and said something about liver? What did you mean by that?

I quote, America, America, God shed his grace on thee. I told them that I would have their livers for breakfast."

That is what I heard. Said Jake

Was the voice heavy, high-pitched, or somewhere in the middle?

There was something peculiar about the sound of that voice. Let me think about that… It wasn’t high or low pitched; it reminded me of something familiar but I can’t seem to put it together.

Jake, you think about it, and I’ll get back to you.

Hugo North opened the window and pointed the desk fan on Jake. A nauseating smell penetrated the room. Detective Mays covered his nose.

Wow-wee, Jake you smell like shit!

Jake was embarrassed. He walked around the bloodstained carpet to the closet that was in the back of the office, opened the door, and pulled out some clothes. He walked toward the back of the room where the shower was located.

Mr. North, I understand that there were three women on the original list of attendees, is that correct?

Yes sir, but I was informed that they would not be arriving until Saturday morning. That would be today. Rooms had been reserved for Molly White, Maggie Jameson, and Peggy Woods, the Regional Director. I was told by Mike Babney that two of the women were attending a meeting on Affirmative Action and Sexual Harassment. This is the original list that Mike gave me. He handed the list to the detective.

Mike was here yesterday, most of the day, getting the conference room ready, said Hugo North.

Mike was in the conference room until ten p.m. last night. He stopped at the office to get a cup of coffee before going to his room. He is also one of the victims in the conference room.

Mays reviewed the list with North.

Four directors, two assistant directors, one high ranking government official, one lawyer from a major law firm, two prosecutors, two law school professors and two local judges. That’s a total of fourteen people, excluding the night watchman. But, we counted fifteen bodies in the room. Did anyone make a reservation directly? Mays asked.

Hugo North went to the files.

"Oh, yes sir. A lady called from the U.S. Justice Department and she reserved