Virtual Assistant

By Pete Nunweiler

A family's home is invaded while they're on vacation, but Dad is too cheap to buy a new security system. He finds a used virtual assistant online with whole-house integration. Where did the system come from? More importantly, what came with it?

Read from your favorite chair in a bright room in the middle of the day. You'll

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Mist Publishing US, LLC
• Release date: Sep 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9780578874708

Pete Nunweiler

Pete Nunweiler is an emerging multi-genre author and motivational speaker. "His books do what all books are supposed to do...draw you in, and make the characters real enough to the point of feeling like you're going through the events as they unfold."Pete is dedicated to building partnerships with independent bookstores. He's been the best selling author at one of his bookstore partners and best selling local author at another."Thank you for the amazing books. Keep writing, please. Patterson was my favorite writer, but I think you knocked him down to #2."Visit him at www.petenunweiler.com and sign up for email alerts to stay informed of upcoming releases and updates. email Pete at [e-mail]. Follow him on Facebook @authorpetenunweiler.

Book preview

Violated

He scanned the dark surroundings nervously one last time, then donned a skull printed gaiter to cover his mouth and nose, and a solid black ball cap that curved around his dark sunglasses. Four times he kicked the back door with the thick sole of his heavy, steel-tipped, subdued black boot to break the deadbolt through the door frame. Once inside, he scanned the room for cameras as he eased the door closed behind him, then rushed into the living room with the straps of an empty duffle bag gripped tightly in his fist.

Room by room, he hurriedly opened cabinets and drawers on the first floor, then the second. When he found something profitable, he collected it. The duffle bag was full in under five minutes. He hurried to the back door. When he rushed out, he closed it behind him. The splintered wood of the door frame stopped with a bang, and it didn’t latch.

He quickly studied the nearby houses in the darkness while he sprinted away from the house. A dog barked from the other side of a five-foot privacy fence that spanned the side of the property. At the back of the yard, he easily leapt over the three-foot-tall black chain-link fence. Fifty yards from his car, he stopped running, lowered his gaiter so it was around his neck, tucked his sunglasses into his pocket and glanced in every direction. The dog continued to bark, but there wasn’t any additional commotion. When he reached his car, he put the duffle bag in the trunk and covered it with a green tarp he prepared earlier that evening. He checked his surroundings one last time, smiled, then casually entered the car, and drove away slowly.

Three Days Later

Cody Thompson looked around every room of the Gatlinburg vacation cabin to be certain they left nothing behind. His wife, Heather, hollered to Will and Alyssa, You better go pee now. You know your father won’t stop until we run out of gas.

At seventeen years old, Alyssa was three years and a day older than Will.

She urged quietly, Mom, let me drive. I need more highway driving anyway and I won’t wait to stop until we’re about to burst.

If she’s driving, I’m staying here, Will said.

Shut up, Will, Alyssa retorted.

Will waved at his sister with his palm towards him and only his middle finger extended towards her.

William, I saw that, his mother scolded.

Sorry Mom.

She waved her arm at both of them like she was scooting them away from her and said, Go. Now.

They both ran inside as Cody came out.

Guys, Come on! We have to go. I wanted to be on the road by 9:00.

Neither responded. Heather put one last bag in the hatchback, and asked Cody, Why do we keep this rope back here?

Honey, it’s the universal tool. You never know when you’re going to need fifty feet of rope.

She closed the hatchback, then stood with her hand on the door on the passenger side and watched Cody walk to the SUV. He noticed her cold expression and said, What’s that look for? What did I do?

Heather laughed and said, Nothing. I’m just—I don’t know why it’s so important to leave by 9:00. We only live three hours away. We still have today and tomorrow before we have to go back to work on Monday.

Well, we need to do laundry, and get everything put away. I’d like to do that today, so we have all day tomorrow to relax.

We? she asked.

We, what?

"We need to do laundry?"

He sighed and said, Okay, fair enough. I mean I would like the laundry done and everything cleaned up so we can relax tomorrow. We haven’t had a moment to ourselves and the arguing from the kids is driving me crazy. I swear, next time we come to the mountains, I might just tie them to a tree with a Porterhouse hanging around their necks and let the bears have them.

Cody!

What? The little fuckers won’t shut up.

"Honey, those little fuckers are your children."

Will shouted from inside the house, You can’t get me.

Both kids reached the door at the same time. Will shoved Alyssa into the door and ran past her.

She shouted back, Don’t be a dick.

ALYSSA! Cody scolded.

But, Dad, he—

I don’t care what he did. Don’t say shit like that.

Heather calmly looked through the open doors and muttered, Nice, Dad. Real nice.

Alyssa changed her tone and pleaded, Daddy, I need more interstate driving. Can I drive?

He quickly responded, No.

With one hand on the driver’s door, he looked up at the sky and huffed. Both kids got into the back of the SUV silently and closed their doors. Heather settled then fastened her seatbelt. Cody took one more deep breath, entered the vehicle, and started it.

The voice assistant announced, There’s an update available. To take advantage of all the newest features, the navigation system will automatically update the next time it’s connected to Wi-Fi.

He put his hand on the back of the passenger seat head rest and turned around.

Look. You two have been at each other all week. Frankly, I’m—fucking sick of it. Can we have a quiet ride home?

They knew he was serious. Neither responded. He raised his eyebrows and said, Can we?

Yes, Dad, each of them answered.

He navigated the winding roads of Ski Mountain to the Parkway and turned left from Stoplight Ten. They were in the middle of Gatlinburg when the SUV dinged once.

Heather asked, Jesus, you let it run out of gas?

We’re fine. It’s just a warning. We can make it to a gas station.

She relaxed and said, There’s one at the end of town on the right side.

No way.

What?

I’m not paying tourist prices for gas here in town. The closer we get to I-40, the cheaper it will be.

By what? Pennies?

Heather, it’s a seventeen-gallon tank. It adds up.

She looked out the window when the professional-sounding female voice came through the speakers, It seems you’re low on gas. Would you like me to navigate to the nearest gas station?

Cody called out clearly, No.

Okay, it responded.

None of them spoke for several miles. When they reached the North end of Pigeon Forge, Heather glanced at the dashboard, sighed then looked out the window again. They were at a red light in Sevierville when the car repeated, It seems you’re low on gas. Would you like me to navigate to the nearest gas station?

Cody raised his voice and demanded, NO.

Jesus, babe, do we have enough gas to get to a cheap enough gas station?

He smiled and said, We’ll find out.

With her elbow on the arm rest, she leaned her head into her hand and peered out the window.

Somewhere around Kodak, Tennessee, he pulled into a gas station and gloated, See? We made it fine. And it’s ten cents cheaper here than on the strip.

Before he closed the door, Will said, Dad, I’m thirsty. Can you get me a drink from inside?

Me too, Dad, Alyssa said.

There’s a cooler right behind you. Get something out of there.

Will said, But they’re hot.

Cody snapped, You didn’t put ice in the cooler from the cabin freezer before we left?

No.

Then drink it hot. That’s not my problem.

Heather said, Cody, can you at least get ice?

Pay for frozen water when we had plenty in the ice maker this morning?

She snapped at him and said, Yes!

He said nothing more before he filled the tank, then went inside to buy a bag of ice.

Alyssa said, Thanks Mom.

She turned to look at them. Don’t think I’m taking sides here. You two have been arguing all week. It wears on your Dad and me. Just for the next two-and-a-half hours—please, don’t bicker. Alyssa, read your book and Will, do—whatever it is that you do. Play your game or whatever.

They both nodded they understood.

Mom, are we going to stop for breakfast?

Yes. I’m starving, but let me bring it up, okay? If either of you say you’re hungry, he’ll hit the roof.

Alyssa grinned and said, Thanks for not taking sides, Mom.

Heather smiled and replied, Shut up, you rotten kid.

Will retorted, Mother, I heard that.

When they reached the West side of Knoxville, Heather was holding Cody’s hand and said, Honey, you’re going to kill me.

He glanced at her, Why?

I’m starving. Can we hit a drive through?

The kids darted their eyes back and forth from their Mom to their Dad and anticipated his response. He sighed, pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. Yeah, that’s okay. I’m hungry too.

When he looked back out the front window, she glanced at the kids with a smile.

Heather checked her social media account several times on the way home and provided updates.

Wow, babe. That picture of the momma bear with her cubs the other day?

Yeah?

It has over two hundred likes.

Wow. I didn’t think we knew two hundred people.

Heather smiled when she saw the picture of the family at sunset that another tourist took of them. The picture at Morton’s Lookout has more than fifty comments.

It’s Morton’s Overlook, sweetie.

My Mom commented to be safe. My dad said not to throw you over the cliff.

They both laughed.

Heather smiled broadly and said, Alena replied, too. She said it looks like we’re having fun, then said she loves us both.

Will commented, I like Miss Alena. After a few seconds, he added quickly, And Mister Greg.

Cody grinned and asked, Anything from Tom and Liz?

Liz liked it but didn’t comment. Then she blurted, Oh, I didn’t even check comments on the big bear picture from Cades Cove.

She went back to the photo of the momma bear and said, Wow, there’s seventy-two comments on that one.

I’m sure my Mom is one of them telling us to stay away from the bears and for you not to pet them.

She scrolled up and down, then exclaimed, Ha! Right here it is—Don’t try to pet the bears, Heather.

Cody grinned and said, Do I know my mother, or what?

With the time change, it was 11:30 when they reached the edge of Mount Placid. Alyssa bounced in her seat.

Cody looked in the mirror and asked, What’s the matter back there?

"I didn’t want to ask you stop. I have to pee so bad."

We’re almost home, honey.

I know Dad. Um, we live here.

Cody pulled into the long driveway, parked, then pushed the button on the mirror that was programmed to open the garage door.

I have to pee, too, Will stated. I get the other bathroom.

Cody barely stopped the SUV when Alyssa got out and raced through the garage. Will ran as fast as he could around the house to the back door.

Wait, Cody shouted. You need the key.

But Will was already inside.

Heather asked, Didn’t you lock the back door?

"Of course, I locked it. Remember? You watched me. I forgot my phone charger, so I ran inside. I came back out and locked the door. I even turned the knob and pushed the door.

They casually walked through the house towards the back door. When they approached it, Cody inspected the door frame. He touched his finger to the splintered wood and muttered, Oh, my God.

What is it, honey? Heather asked.

He shouted, Kids, get out of the house. NOW! Come on, come on, come on!

Heather met Cody and said, What’s going on?

We’ve been robbed. Then shouted again, NOW KIDS. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW!

They both ran out of the house through the garage and met them at the back door. Will was still fastening his shorts.

Heather started to open the door.

DON’T— he reprimanded loudly, then calmly continued, touch anything.

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed emergency.

A female dispatcher answered, 911, what’s your emergency?

My house has been broken into.

Are you inside the house now?

No ma’am.

Is anyone inside the house?

I don’t know.

Is anyone injured?

No. I just brought my family home from vacation.

Stay outside the house, sir, I’m sending police to you now.

Will stood by his father, Dad what happened?

I don’t know, son. We’ve been violated.

Alyssa stood silently by her mother and bit her lip nervously. She stared at the broken doorframe.

Come on, Cody said. We need to stay away from the door in case someone is still inside.

They stood by the SUV while they waited.

Like, what did they take? Alyssa asked.

I don’t know, honey.

Will said, I thought it was weird that the door was unlocked when I ran inside.

Unlocked? He asked. Was it latched?"

I don’t remember for sure, Dad. I don’t think so. I just ran inside to pee.

Did somebody kick it in? Heather asked.

It’s hard to tell from here. He addressed the children again, Why don’t you two get back in the car please. Just until the police come.

They both entered the SUV as two police cars came screaming into their driveway and two more along the back street just past their black, chain-link fence.

The first one who exited his squad car had his hand resting on his pistol and shouted, Are you the homeowner?

Cody and Heather both had their hands up and Cody said, Yes I am.

Other officers joined him when he approached Cody and demanded, ID, please.

He slowly reached into his pocket to retrieve his wallet and handed it to the officer. When he saw his identification, he commanded to the others, Stand down, then addressed Cody, Is anyone inside?

I don’t know, officer. We just got home from vacation and the door was like this.

How many doors access your house?

Three. The garage, the back one right there, he pointed. And the front door. Here’s the keys to the front. It’s the biggest silver key.

Two officers went to the back, one through the garage and the other took the keys to the front door.

From the back door, they shouted, Mount Placid Police. Come out.

After a few seconds of silence, he repeated louder, Mount Placid Police. Is there anybody in here?

Silence.

Mount Placid Police Department. We’re coming inside with weapons. If anyone is in there, make yourself known, and come out with your hands up.

They disappeared into the house. Three minutes later, they all came out the back door, relaxed.

It’s clear. There’s nobody in there.

He offered his hand to Cody. I’m Mike Spicer. Can you tell me what happened?

"We just pulled up from vacation. We’ve been gone since last weekend."

Have you been inside the house?

Not us. Just the two kids. As soon as I saw the back door, I yelled for them to come out.

Which door did the kids go in?

Alyssa went through the garage and Will went in the back door.

Can I speak with them?

Of course. He turned to the vehicle and said, Kids, come on out. The officer wants to ask you some questions.

They exited the SUV slowly.

The officer asked, Will, is it?

Yes, sir.

My name is Mike. Tell me about when you went into the house.

Well, I ran to the back door and grabbed the handle without thinking. I just had to pee real bad. When I was in the bathroom, I thought it was weird that the door was unlocked.

Was it just unlocked or open a little?

I don’t know for sure, but I think it was open a little bit. The doorknob didn’t turn, but it opened, and I ran inside.

Can you show me without touching the door again?

Yeah, I ran from the car to the back door and I, like, put my whole body against the door to open it. That’s how I do it. When I reached for the doorknob and pushed, it opened before I turned it, and I went in.

The officer inspected the broken door frame intently with a flashlight even though it was daytime.

He addressed Alyssa. And how did you go in?

I ran through the garage and opened the door.

Was it locked?

Cody interjected, We don’t ever lock the garage door, sir.

I see, he said, then asked Alyssa, So as far as you know, the door to enter the house through the garage was closed and latched?

Yes. I know that because I almost fell because I didn’t turn the knob all the way before I pushed in on it.

Will chuckled.

Shut up, Will! Alyssa snapped.

Did either of you notice anything missing?

No, sir. Alyssa answered at the same time Will said, No. Nothing.

Spicer looked over the exterior of the house once more, then addressed Cody, Let’s go on inside. See what’s missing.

Cody led Sergeant Spicer into his home through the back door. He looked at the broken frame and imagined the break-in.

He couldn’t see a face. He imagined a large man, dressed entirely in black with black steel-toed boots jumping with his shoulder into the back door.

As he looked at the length of the deadbolt extending from the door, he thought, it