True Love, Real Fear

By Xlibris US

This book starts near the east coast, and ends in the mid-west. Its a love story-thriller about
Two people who meet under very different circumstances. A scary situation in the beginning,
that becomes a story of true love. There are some very scary times during their life. Facing the
real problems and enjoying the good times, always working together in love. This story is fiction,
but could be anyone of us in reality. The good times, and bad times in the lives of a young man and
woman, their family and some close friends

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499041811

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Scared Stiff

L eaving Pittsburgh the steel city late in the afternoon, I decide to try my luck at hitchhiking. My father had always warned me that this sort of thing was dangerous, and the thought of pop’s warning was in the back of my mind but I decided to go ahead and try it just this once.

Pop had always said unless you know someone more than just casually, watch your step. Well I was grown now and had been on my own since going to stay on campus at the University of Pittsburgh over a year ago.

School was out until the fall semester, and I decided to go home to see mom for a few days, as I did miss her a lot, and I knew she felt the same and would be happy to see me. Pop had been gone for a little over two years, but I knew mom was still hurting a lot from pops death, and the worst part was being alone.

It was drizzling rain as I headed down route 422 toward Youngstown, Ohio, late in the month of June. I had stuck out my thumb a couple of times, but was really shy of this sort of thing and hoped someone would feel sorry for me, and give me a ride without really having to ask for it.

After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes no doubt. A car pulls up and stops, I turn toward the car with the thought in the back of my head, that pop had told me about how to always be extra careful and mindful of my situation.

As I looked into the car window I saw an old couple with smiles that seemed genuine, and so I jumped in and they pulled away. We had a good visit for the short time we were together. They were headed for Newcastle for the weekend to see their daughter, son- in -law and grandchildren. After a few miles they stopped for coffee and so I thanked them for their kindness, and headed on down 422 toward Youngstown.

After about two miles or so of walking lazily along and reminiscing as I walked I was offered a ride by a clean cut young man that said he was going to Youngstown on business. I took the offer, jumped in not even giving it a second thought about who I might be riding with. This person seemed friendly enough, but yet something just didn’t seem quite right.

I had a cold chill go down my spine, but yet I told myself that I was young and tuff, so why should I be afraid of someone without any reason. After a short time the man asks about my family and childhood. I related to him some things and then we sort of changed the subject.

After about thirty miles or so the driver says, he needs to pick up a friend who is going to Youngstown with him and then he suddenly takes a turn off the highway and heads down this country road.

I am starting to feel a little uneasy, but still tell myself to stop being childish, just enjoy the ride. We soon come to a small town with only a gas station and food mart together and the driver says that he needs to get gas and use the restroom.

After pulling into the station he tells the attendant to fill it up and ask if the restroom is open. I stay in the car and wait just taking life easy. There is very little traffic in this small town, but suddenly a police car slowly cruises by. Just as the police car passes the man comes out of the bathroom and spots the patrol car and sort of gets nervous and hurries toward the car.

As he opens the car door I see a briefcase protruding from under the front seat. I really don’t think anything about it, as he had said he was going to Youngstown on business and a business man usually carries a brief case for papers and etc.

I almost got out but for some reason I didn’t, and so we get back on the road, still headed toward Youngstown, but just down a country road running parallel to the highway. I truly am wondering by now what I might have gotten myself into. But there is no reason yet to really be scared, but that eerie feeling I had earlier is still there.

Suddenly the driver pulls off the road and stops, says that he needs to check his map to see for sure where his friend is going to meet us. When he gets out he takes the briefcase saying that the map is in it and he will use the hood of the car to lay the map on.

He puts the briefcase on the hood and I hear the latches pop open and he raises the lid and then a cold chill runs down my spine as I see a gun in his hand.

After closing my eyes for a moment and hoping this was a dream, I opened my eyes and now the realization of the situation has made me feel sick. I fully realize this guy doesn’t have good intentions.

He comes around to my side of the car with a troubled look on his face and orders me out of the car. As I leave the car I sense this is not a man. I look at his hands and closely at his face, and now I’m almost sure that I am in the company of a woman.

What kind of sicko or pervert would be dressed like this and what in the world is going to take place next?

I am truly scared now and start to wonder, could I be one of those statistics you read about in the newspaper? Will my life be cut short, will they find my body over time, and will I be the next news story, all these thoughts run through my mind.

I continue to tell myself this can’t be happening to me, but now I must face reality. I ask myself, what’s the best thing to do in this situation is. What has always been fantasy in life or something in a movie or the six o’clock news is now a very real part of my life.

I continue to pray and yet it seems God is only someone just up in the sky, too far away to help me. The driver tells me to turn around and face the car and keep my mouth shut if I want to live to see tomorrow.

He or she or whatever this person is, tells me to put my hands behind me. I quickly obey and feel something cold touch my skin and realize I’m being handcuffed. I am in a cold sweat now and start pleading for my life. The person tells me to shut up and sit down against the car.

Now this deranged one starts to pace back and forth in front of the car, never looking at me or letting me see their face. All of a sudden they get too close to a tree by the car, and a limb catches their hair and off comes a wig and this person is very much a woman with long blond hair. Now realizing she can’t hide her identity any longer she pulls off her coat.

A pretty woman, she is dressed in blue jeans, blouse and tennis shoes. Suddenly the sound of a car in the distance, and she seems to be in a panic. Not knowing what to do or say I told her we should hide, since I’m in handcuffs, things would look very strange.

It is late afternoon now and the sun is setting in the west, and the sound of crickets fills the air. We quickly hide in the bushes as the car passes but does not stop. I am still in a state of shock from all that has taken place, but manage to collect my thoughts enough to try and talk with my kidnapper.

I feel too much excitement too fast might make her snap and shoot me. I’m now wondering what has happened in her life to make her do this.

I finally get her to listen to me and I ask her what her name is, she replies Kitty in a voice of despair. Can we talk about things I ask her in a low tone of voice hoping to make her feel in control? Finally after some time she starts to talk to me.

Says she was born in Florida and her memories of life are of always getting evicted from their home because her father was an alcoholic, and wouldn’t hold down a job long enough to pay the bills and buy food.

She told stories of being molested by a drunk step father for many years. Then she tells of running away from home at fourteen, and becoming a prostitute. She explains she needed food, and clothing and she had no experience in physical labor so prostitution was her only choice.

CHAPTER TWO

Hard Times

L istening to Kitty’s story has made me have feelings for her that one would not usually have.

My heart aches for her, as she seems to have had it pretty bad. She begins to tell me more about her life. She tells of her pimp beating her daily, and leaving her with only enough money for cigarettes.

She tells me that after about three months, she decides to end her life. She tells of stealing sleeping pills, taking a whole bottle of liquor with the pills. She says she just wanted to end it all, and she prayed she would go to sleep and never wake up.

She was passed out in the alley when a garbage truck driver running his route found her. He quickly called the police, and they sent an ambulance. She was taken to the hospital, her stomach pumped and kept overnight for observation.

She was released the next day and back on the street again. She tells me that she decided to try to find her mother. She thinks about it for a while and decided to try to get enough money to call her mother.

She figures she can go through garbage cans and find more cans and bottles to sell in order to get the money to call her mother.

She tells of meeting a man on the street who seems nice, and after some time, they became close friends and spent a lot of time together.

They decide to go to a shelter where the man has stayed a few times, to see if they can get some food and spend the night there. She says they get to the shelter too late to get a bed for the night, but do manage to get some food.

After eating they leave the shelter, and start looking for a place to spend the night. They wind up in an alley under some old cardboard. They did manage to keep each other warm, and the next morning headed straight back to the shelter.

Soon they are in smelling distance of hot biscuits, sausage and eggs in the air. Kitty’s friend told her that his name is Frank but had never told her his last name. Anyway, she looks at him with a gleam in her eye and says let’s get some breakfast partner.

After some hot biscuits, sausage and fried eggs with some hot coffee, they feel better with a full stomach. They thanked the person in charge of the shelter for a hot breakfast and are on their way.

As they leave the shelter and head back down the street toward the alley, Kitty says to Frank,

What is your last name Frank?

My last name is James.

And Kitty with a silly laugh, sure it is and my name is Kitty cat.

Frank pulls a Social Security card from his pocket to show Kitty and his name is Frank James.

Kitty says she needed someone who cared more for her than just sexual gratification.

They continue walking down the street, and Frank looks at Kitty with a smile and says,

What are we doing here street girl? Let me tell you pretty lady, I have friends, and we’re going to get out of here.

Frank tells Kitty he has a friend who needs drivers to take cars across country.

Do you have a driver’s license Frank?

No he said, but I know how to get us both one quick. Stay here he says, and I will be right back.

Frank starts down the alley and as he walks at a fast-pac, he looks back at Kitty and smiles.

I will be back soon, don’t worry my friend.

Kitty waits for what seems like an eternity and finally falls asleep on a piece of cardboard in the alley. Suddenly, she is awakened by the sound of running footsteps coming toward her. She sets up quickly and sure enough, it’s Frank running down the alley toward her.

Frank tells Kitty to come with him quickly, he says there are two of his friends waiting for them in a car at the end of the alley. She quickly follows him as he seems to be in quite a hurry.

Suddenly at the end of the alley she sees an older brown car with two men inside. They jump into the backseat and off, they go. Frank introduces Kitty to his friends but never says what their names are.

Kitty is asking herself what is taking place here; she is afraid, but she trusts Frank. I mean he spent the night with me once, no actually twice and never tried to have sex with me, she said, He must think I am more than just a prostitute.

They travel down Interstate 422 for about an hour, and the driver says it is time to get something to eat. They suddenly leave Interstate 422 and take an old abandoned road and go for several miles.

She wonders what it all means, because the driver just said they needed to get something to eat and then suddenly leaves the interstate, where all the restaurants and food places are. Unless they had food in the trunk of the car, what was going on she wondered?

CHAPTER THREE

Storm Clouds

S uddenly, Kitty is thinking oh my God what have I got myself into. Cold chills run down her spine as her mind runs wild, terrifying thoughts with such things as gang rape or murder or possibly both racing through her mind.

She looks at Frank and says, So these guys are your buddies huh Frank?

Yes they are very good buddies.

After stopping the car at an old abandoned house, the driver tells everyone to get out. Sounds like the driver is the one in command because Frank, and the other guy do as he says without a word.

We all walk over to the old house and go inside. It is as bad inside as it appeared to be outside. The driver told his partner to get things out of the trunk of the car and bring them inside.

Soon here the man comes back to the house, carrying a bag with a loaf of bread and some lunch meat that looked a week old. They made some sandwiches, but I couldn’t stomach it; she told me.

The driver says come on everyone let’s eat Frank grabs the bread and starts to make himself a sandwich, I tell the driver, I’m not hungry,

She tells of how the driver started giving her the eye; I felt nervous and a cold chill ran down my spine, she tells me. I stayed close to Frank because I didn’t trust this man.

After about an hour or so it started to get dark, with no electricity it was soon black in the house. One by one they all started to bed down for the night, Kitty’s staying near Frank and feeling she was safe as long as Frank was close by. Kitty already frightened and worried about the attention the driver has shown to her, feels this will be a long night.

Frank takes Kitty by the hand, and they go into another room, before they close the door, the driver throws two sleeping bags through the door and says,

Have a good night you two

They both get in their sleeping bags, zip it up and lay close together. Frank is soon asleep, snoring like an old bear. Kitty cannot get out of her mind the attention of the driver; she is scared of what might happen if she goes to sleep.

Kitty lays in the dark afraid, but soon in the stillness of the cool night air; she can hear crickets and see fire flies in the air as she looks out the window at the stars, and the full moon in the sky. Then Kitty can hear the snore of one of the men in the other room, and she starts to feel somewhat better. It’s been at least two hours now since they got in the sleeping bags. Suddenly, Frank wakes up and tells Kitty that he is going outside to have a cigarette.

Kitty keeps waiting for Frank to return, but he doesn’t. She is afraid but finally, I just fall asleep from being exhausted, she tells me.

She says she doesn’t know for sure how long it was, but she was awakened by a hand clamped tightly on her mouth. It’s the driver of the car, and he tells her to keep quiet, or he will kill all of them.

She is in a panic, trembling with fear of what will happen next. The driver drags her to another room and locks the door. Soon he is on top of her, and she can feel his weight pressing against her. His hands on her mouth and his weight on top of her, she feels like she is drowning.

He tells her to remember what he told her that if she makes a sound, he will kill all of them. In a state of shock, she feels like she is going to die for sure. She gasps for air and feels like she is going to hyperventilate.

Suddenly, the door flies open and in runs, Frank with a growl like a vicious dog, he tackles the driver. I watch them as they go on the floor punching and kicking and then the unbelievable happens.

The other man runs through the door with an 8-inch hunting knife and stabbed Frank in the back. I screamed as loud as I could, she tells me. As I hear the gurgling whaling moan of the man who has treated me better than anyone else, lying there dying before me in a pool of blood, I’m afraid to move because of the other men.

Suddenly, they panic and both run for the car; I hear the sound of the car engine whirling, but it doesn’t start. Again, they try but the car won’t start. I lay paralyzed with fear and pray the car will start. After trying another time or two I hear one of the men tell the other, Let’s get out of here I hear their footsteps in the leaves as they take off running toward the road.

Being in a state of shock I just sit and stare at the ceiling for some time. I guess I was scared out of my mind she says. My worst nightmare had come true, the man who I really had become to have feelings for had just been murdered right in front of me. Not knowing where I was for sure, and it being some two or three in the morning,

I’m afraid to go look for anyone because I might run into those guys again.

She tells herself, I’m a witness to murder; I still wonder why they ran off without killing me to. I sat trembling in the dark she tells me, sweating from fear so much that my clothes are wet.

She tells of how she finally managed to control her emotions enough to get up and walk out to the car. She tried cranking the car and for some unknown reason, it starts. Now what should she do she ask herself. No one will ever believe a story like this; I just know they won’t.

I no doubt will be tried for murder; they will not believe my story

if I am caught here with a dead man alone, who’s going to believe me?

Her heart races, sweating profusely, scared in the middle of the night, with a nightmare come true, she wonders what to do.

She feels terrible about Frank; he is the only man she can remember ever showing; he cared more for her than just being a prostitute. She hates to leave Frank, but in her mind, she is sure he is dead, there’s really nothing she can do or at least that’s what she makes herself believe.

She starts to back out of the driveway and puts the car in drive and is now slowly but surely leaving the place of her worst nightmare. She starts driving down the old country road, hopefully headed back toward the freeway. Thoughts racing through her mind, telling herself this has to be a bad dream.

CHAPTER FOUR

Scary Times

S uddenly, the freeway appears, and Kitty realizes her prayers have been answered. She is almost ready to get back on the freeway.

The thoughts of what has happened racing through her mind, she feels dazed and still cannot believe it is all true. Her foot heavy on the gas pedal as she enters the freeway, now back on Interstate 422 somewhere outside of Youngstown.

After driving for some time, Kitty feels tired and sort of sick at her stomach. She sees a road sign coming up ahead, with the words (606 to Larkspur, 15 miles.

On to 606 and headed for Larkspur, she goes. Soon she sees the city limit sign reading Larkspur, population 173. Kitty is sort of restless and does not feel comfortable in such a small down, if there is anything on the news about last night, a small town might not be the place to be.

Just as she enters the city limits, there is a small cafe©’ on the right-hand side of the street. Little sign in the window blinking that says Nell’s Place.

Kitty pulled into the first space she sees, parks and shuts the car off quickly. She looks over on the floorboard on the passenger side and sees the briefcase.

She opens the briefcase and inside lies a pair of blue jeans, a white shirt and some tennis shoes. She also notices an old jacket on the floor and quickly grabs it, and a wig falls out.

Kitty sits and thinks for a while, telling herself, that she is no doubt in big trouble. I must change my appearance, she tells herself. The cops no doubt will be looking for me soon, if not already.

She takes the jeans, shoes, shirt, coat and wig, and puts them all in the briefcase. As she gets out of the car, her foot hits something protruding out from under the seat. She looks down and gets another big surprise. A 38 caliber revolver lying there on the floor. She pushes it back under the seat, grabs the briefcase and heads for the bathroom.

Once in the bathroom, she puts on the clothes, the wig and does some general prepping. She is amazed how much like a man she looks. Not eating last night or all day yesterday, she is starved.

She decides to go into Nell’s place for some food, so she heads inside for a burger and fries. She slowly opens the door and steps inside. Just as she steps inside the door, a police car suddenly cruises by. She tries not to make it obvious that she is watching the police car.

She tells of slipping into a booth and trying not to look up, because she thinks, someone might recognize her. She continues to look at the menu, not raising her head to look at the waitress..

She orders a burger and fries, with a Coke and a piece of pie for dessert. She is sitting next to a window, so she looks out and her mind wanders back to last night. Her friend killed in cold blood, and yet she knows; she will look like the guilty one.

She glances out the window again, and notices another police car slowly cruising by. She is terrified for fear that the police will be looking for the car she is driving.

She starts to feel better as the police car continues on down 606 heading out of Larkspur. She starts to think, and realizes that the police probably have no description of any car. She was gone before the police got there and unless these guys have a record or warrants, then this car should not be on a police report.

As Kitty is eating her burger and fries, suddenly she notices a pickup stop across the street from the restaurant. The door slowly opens and out jumps two men.

Oh my God, it’s them, she tells herself. The two guys from last night.

The driver of the car, is about 6 feet tall, with light brown hair and mustache, and weighs about 200 pounds. The other one, the one who stabbed Frank, is about 5'10", black hair and brown eyes, weighing about 175 pounds.

They head toward the Cafe, and I go into a cold chill, she tells me. I literally tremble with fear, here they come. I am praying they don’t see the car, but its parked right there, how can they miss it?

I try to hide my face, she tells me. I pray that they don’t see the car, as I keep my head down, hoping and praying they don’t recognize me. They stroll in the door, being sort of quiet.

They get a table across the room from me; it’s sort of around the corner of another booth. One of them is still in sight, but the view of the other one is obstructed. I really do not feel like eating, but I must eat for I know I will get sick and then things will be even worse.

I keep my head turned and quickly finish my burger and fries. I also gobble up the piece of pie very quickly. I leave the money for the bill and tip on the table and slowly get up and turn away from them.

I take my time as I head to the door, not wanting to move in a way that might draw attention to me. I get to the car and open the door, start to get in, and I see that one of them has recognized me.

They get up from their table and look out the window toward me. I quickly get into the car, get the key into the ignition and start the engine. OH DEAR GOD, here they come running for the car. I quickly put it in drive and hit the accelerator. I swing out onto 606 and head back toward Youngstown as fast as I can go.

No doubt driving recklessly, it hits me that I need to slow down so I will not attract attention from the police. The thought is in the back of my mind, will they steal a car and follow me or just, what will they do?"

I am now ready to get back on Route 422 toward Youngstown. I come down the on ramp and look into my rear-view mirror, as I swing into the first line. A tractor-trailer moving fast is right on my tail. I quickly press the accelerator all the way to the floor, and am soon far enough ahead, too slow back down to the speed limit.

As I travel on down Route 422 toward Youngstown, pretty soon I see flashing lights up ahead. Oh my God, I just know I’m going to get caught. As I start to slow down, I can see there’s been an accident up ahead. Soon it is stop and go, as a cop directing traffic, gives a signal for us to move through.

I breathe a sigh of relief, telling myself that there is no reason, for anyone to be looking for me, other than those two guys from last night. They don’t have a car, so how can they come looking for me anyway, I tell myself.

She tells of being terrified, because they know what kind of car, she is driving, but she does not know what they will be in if they come looking for her.

She continues to drive on down Route 422 toward Youngstown, and after sometime she pulls into a rest stop. She tells herself that she needs time to think about what to do next. She is tired and just needed to rest, she tells me.

Hesitantly, she locks all the doors, and lays down in the back seat to take a nap. After sometime she awakes and it’s dark, but the rest stop is lit up well and that makes things better.

The two men are still on her mind; she can see the image of Frank, dying in a pool of blood from being stabbed by one of them. She is still terrified, thinking that they will find a way to come after her. She believes for sure that they want to silence her for good.

She slowly gets out of the car, and heads to the restroom. After using the restroom, she comes back outside and heads for the car. The thought runs through her mind, of how she could possibly camouflage the car, so they wouldn’t recognize it.

It is a Brown two door sedan, with some scratches on the passenger side. No other damage to the body at all. Her mind running wild on how to keep ahead of these two guys.

She gets back in the car, starts it and pulls over under a big Oak tree. She is out of the light now and sitting in the dark. She tells herself, she must collect her thoughts and figure out what to do next.

CHAPTER FIVE

Car Theft and Robbery

S oon Kitty is asleep, tossing and turning; she wakes up every couple hours or so. Scared and alone, her mind in turmoil, worried about those two.

Finally, daylight breaks, foggy and a mist in the air. It’s creepy as she climbs out to head to the bathroom. She watches very closely for those guys. After the bathroom, she gets in and starts down 422 toward Youngstown.

Wondering, she thinks of ways to get another car. After a few minutes, she sees a car parked across the freeway, headed away from Youngstown. She decides to take the, first off ramp, and go back to check it out.

Soon she is there, pulling off the freeway, stopping behind the other car. It’s a dark-blue Ford Thunderbird. She slowly gets out and goes to check it out. Looking in the window, she is pleasantly surprised to see the keys in the ignition.

Kitty gets in quickly to see whether it will start, sure enough it cranks right up.

She checks the brown sedan for her things. She grabs the revolver off the seat, sticks it in her coat pocket. Getting into the other car, she quickly pulls away.

After a few miles, the car starts to sputter and act like it’s going to die. She thinks OH MY God, what now? Thoughts running through her mind of being caught and tried for murder. Then spending the rest of her life in prison.

Suddenly, the engine starts again, and she keeps driving and thinking. After a couple more sputtering spells, it finally starts to purr like a kitten. Running like a new car, so Kitty continues on.

Kitty decides to turn around and head toward Youngstown again. Having no money left, needing something to eat and the gas gauge on 1/4 full, she debates what she should do.

After a few minutes, she sees a small Arco gas and food mart just off route 422. She decides to pull off, and stop for a bit to think. Telling herself she has no choice, she has to get food and gas.

She pulled into the gas station and food Mart, leaves the car running for fear it might not start again. She heads inside to check things out. Only one guy working that she sees. She uses the restroom inside the station, casing the place as she goes.

She notices a small storage room, close to the bathroom. The door is open; she checks it out as she walks slowly by. I will lock the station attendant in that room, and then take the money I need, fill the car up with gas and be on my way, she tells herself.

She goes into the bathroom, closes and locks the door, then pulls the revolver out of her pocket and checks to see if it has ammo. It is loaded, so she unloads it completely, she wants to make sure she doesn’t hurt anyone.

She slips the 38 back into her coat pocket, leaves the bathroom and heads for the counter. She stops and thinks