Frawny: The Next Chapter Behind the Shed

By Sonia C Ruiz

From a small farmhouse in Ashburn, Virginia at only nine years old, Frawny, who was almost abducted and experience an apparition of a young girl at a lake by her farm and helped a detective friend in the captured of her presumed killer on this twenty-five-year-old case. She left the farm, her mother, and friends to attend the University of Karlton, Virginia to pursue her education in criminology; while there she encountered a mysterious enemy, whose intentions to kill her goes after her friends first; injuring one and killing another. In going after her friend's killer and finding clues that leads her to her hometown in Ashburn; she encounters FBI files of cold cases of missing six nine-year-old girls and she decides to follow the clues and, in the process, finds connections to the previous twenty-five year remains of the girl in the lake. Frawny's obsession to find more clues takes her to an elderly lady's old house, a shed behind it and an old green truck. The killer aware of her pursuit tries to find ways to avoid it, but soon falls into her trap.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638747062

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Frawny

The Next Chapter Behind the Shed

Sonia C Ruiz

ISBN 978-1-63874-705-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63874-706-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Sonia C Ruiz

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement and Author's Note

Introduction

The Civil Discourse

The Threats

The Dreadful Inconvenience

Clues and Theories

Vision or Nightmares?

The Laundry Scare

The Trip to Ashburn

The Barlow's Bad Seed

The Laundering Caper

Looking for a Needle in a Haystack

The Real Fishing Game

Behind the Shed

The Warrant Trap

The Surprise Witness

The Raid

The Evil Deceit

Return to Karlton

Suspicion or Vision

Justice Turn and Twist

Intuition or Vision

The Abduction Attempt

A Final Escape Attempt

A Coincidental Case

A Case of Revenge

The Final Chapter

The Capture of My Enemy

Epilogue: Tick Tock, I see the Eyes in the Old Clock

About the Author

Acknowledgement and Author's Note

First I want to say that it has not been easy for me as a new author to be accepted as a serious writer. The competition is very high and the talent very superior to mine, yet I believe that when you have a dream, you should pursue it with all your best efforts and don't let disappointments take your dream away. I am a reader and have read many mystery books, which are my passion, and I learned to appreciate the ones I read. My gratitude goes out to those authors for giving me so much reading pleasure.

I want to acknowledge my immediate family and thank, most especially, my daughter, Camila, for her constant support and advice and those that cared to read my story and give me their negative or positive input. You know who you are, and I am forever grateful. Best of all, I want to thank God for always being at my side, guiding me and showing me the way to become a real Christian.

But Agrippa said to Paul: In a short time, you would persuade me to become a Christian. (Referring to King Herod Agrippa II in Acts 26:28 in the Bible)

Introduction

This is a series of story based on the life and tribulations of Frawny Wellington and her next chapter in her life. In my first book, her story started in a small town called Ashburn in the state of Virginia in 1922 as a nine-year-old girl. The life of Frawny would take many twists and turns. In the beginning, the discovery of a mystery and a family secret and her constant determination along with her instinct and visions helped her solve a twenty-five-year-old case of murder.

Later in her adult life, at Karlton University, she pursued a killer who made an attempt on her life and almost succeeded, but in the process, she helped her FBI friend, William Carlson, find the remains of some of his victims behind a shed and finally got him convicted as a serial killer. Unfortunately, he was able to escape, and a race started to catch this serial killer, eventually becoming Frawny's obsession.

When she finally became an FBI agent and a profiler, the story repeated itself with a race to find an abducted nine-year-old girl named Amy, and before the little girl became the serial killer's tenth victim, Frawny was able to rescue her, and later on, she found out her own family relations to the little girl.

This new chapter in Frawny's life is about her life as a twenty-year-old university student and the pursuit of her best friend's killer, which gave her the final determination to become an FBI agent. This story will take you in detail through the chase of her worst enemy, the serial killer she had being chasing for years. Her intuitions and instinct gave her the resolution to pursue the position of profiler with the FBI—a position that has given her the resources she needs to catch the serial killer, Mark Barlow, and finally close this chapter in her life forever.

1

The Civil Discourse

Never mind, Frawny, you don't have to come with me. I can walk. You go ahead and go to your class at the police academy or you are going to be late, said Mixie to her friend, Frawny, when they came out of their psychology class at the Karlton University Science Building.

I don't want you to walk by yourself especially because it is getting late and it will be getting dark soon. Let me take you closer to our apartment building.

Don't be silly, Frawny, I will be okay. Besides, you worry too much, my friend. I am already twenty years old.

Mixie was laughing at Frawny, calling her old lady.

You are so stubborn, Mixie. Okay, be that way. But be careful, please! Frawny said while driving away in direction to the Karlton Police Academy for her criminal justice classes. Mixie appreciated her friend's concern but believed she exaggerated a lot and was suspicious of every stranger that approached them.

Mixie and Frawny were fairly new in town and not yet familiar with their surroundings. Mixie believed that the town looked peaceful and friendly enough, especially around the university and their apartment building which was only a few blocks away from the campus. She remembered that in her high school years, it was pretty boring with the exception of a few incidents during their first two years.

Mixie remembered when Frawny, Jason, and herself were bullied by a group of football players at Ashburn High School. These players were very popular and the best players in the football team; so, of course, they were untouchable. Most of the students put up with them and their constant bullying, but Jason, Mixie's cousin, would not stand for it, and many times, he would get in trouble because of it. There was one incident where he got into a fistfight with a football captain named Jack Pendleton. His father was a judge in town, and with his dad's influence, Jack could never do anything wrong.

Jason was good with his fists, so he gave Jack a taste of his own medicine by giving him a very deserving black eye. Jason was suspended from school and was forced to apologize to Jack. The bullying continued for a while because Jack could not forgive receiving a black eye, especially because Jason embarrassed him in front of his buddies. Another time at the gym, Jack threw a full bucket of water on Jason, and he had to go home to change. He also got in trouble with the school principal because Jack's buddies lied about it and said that Jason had started the fight and that Jack threw the bucket of water to calm Jason down.

The last incident was when Jason was accused of stealing an expensive watch from Jack's gym locker, and one of Jack's buddies also told the principal that he saw Jason prying open Jack's locker. Fortunately for Jason, Frawny had started to get her abilities back to see visions of the future; they usually came to her when something bad was going to happen to her or those close to her. This time, she saw a vision while she was standing with Mixie and Jason by his locker. She saw someone breaking into Jason's locker and placing something inside, and soon after, Jason being taken away by two uniformed men. So when Frawny found out about Jason being accused of stealing Jack's watch from his locker, she warned Jason to look in his locker, just in case Jack had placed his watch there to get him in trouble.

Jason found Jack's watch inside his locker and was able to take it out and placed it on top of the towel rack by the gym's showers without telling anyone and before the school principal had a chance to look inside his own locker. Someone eventually found the watch and gave it back to Jack. Jason thanked Frawny for thinking of it and saving him from being suspended from the school. Jason had no idea it was Frawny's vision that saved him.

Another time, Frawny saw in another of her visions three guys by Jason's car and one of them getting under his car, and then afterward, she saw Jason driving away and losing control of his car and crashing against another car. The other car was being driven by a mother with an infant seated in the back of her car. Frawny was able to stop Jason from driving his car by telling him that she saw some strangers working underneath his car and begged him to check it out before he drove it away. Jason checked his car and saw that the brake fluids had spilled all over the pavement. This, he thought, was no car problem; someone had punctured the pipe underneath.

Frawny realized that Jack was in danger and that the next time, they would cause him to have an accident or maybe even die. She needed to be on the alert to prevent whatever they were going to do next. For the following weeks, Frawny watched their every move and concentrated on her visions, but all the problems stopped, and they never bothered Jason again.

After they graduated from high school, Jason went to the Jackson City College, and Mixie and Frawny to the University of Karlton in Virginia.

Mixie knew about Frawny's visions some time before when she realized there were too many coincidences about Frawny's so-called instincts on incidents that occurred around both of them, and she finally confronted Frawny with them. Frawny was relieved to tell her best friend about it; it was already bothering her not being honest with Mixie. It was not easy for Mixie to get use to Frawny's visions because they came suddenly and unexpectedly, and Frawny needed to act on them pretty quickly in order to save the day. They both were new students in Karlton and unfamiliar with the university, and so far, she had no visions yet.

The next time Frawny got a vision, it was of Jack Pendleton who at the time was seen in her vision alone and entering a dark alley behind the campus library and talking with a very suspicious individual. She saw the other individual giving a small package to Jack and then speeding away in the opposite direction. She did not know what to make of it but decided that it could not be anything good when he had chosen this dark place to meet someone.

Anyway, she could not understand what Jack was doing in Karlton because the last time she saw him was in Ashburn High School. She also did not understand why she was getting this particular vision when Jack was not even a friend but only an acquaintance from high school.

She decided not to think about it; however, when she went to her criminal justice class, she asked one of the rookie policemen named Freddy Jenkins about something she saw the day before in the dark alley behind the campus library and if he thought it might be something that the police might think was very suspicious and maybe investigate it.

What do you think? Freddy asked her.

"Well, since I am studying criminology and behavioral science, I think is important to act on self-instinct, and I believe as a would-be policewoman I would go ahead and check it out.

"Good for you, Frawny, so would I. But unfortunately, I am not a full-fledged policeman yet, so I do not have the authority to do it. Okay, I'll tell you what. I will ask my cousin who is a policeman to check it out for a couple of nights and see what happens.

Thank you, Freddy, this will help me find out if my instincts are right on! Frawny joked with Freddy.

Three days later, when Frawny met Freddy in her class, he told her, Congratulations, Frawny, you have the best police instincts that I have seen on someone who has no experience in law enforcement.

What do you mean?

Let me tell you, Frawny, that my cousin, Carlos, was able to apprehend a young man who was buying drugs from a well-known felon, and he was selling them to his classmate at Karlton University, not to mention that this young man is the son of a well-known judge in Ashburn, Virginia. In addition, he has been under surveillance for a long time, but no one has been able to catch him red-handed until you came along. Freddy patted her on the back.

Frawny smiled, knowing that once again her vision had paid off. But for how long? Frawny saw and heard many things at the college that disturbed her, especially some of the students at the social science class. Most of the time, she kept to herself and did not get involved. This was her motto, but unfortunately, when it came to seeing the disruption and prevention of individual liberty, freedom of expression, and the pursuit of truth in campus, she could not keep quiet. Civil discourse was very important to her. Without it, she believed, society would be a controlled society where only one social idea is forced on the majority and those with different views would be attacked and ridiculed.

Frawny talked to other students about the importance of their generation to understand that having a civil conversation, to debate, to speak out their minds is what a democratic society is all about and that anything else is a bureaucracy or hierarchy. Some students would listen, but others turned their backs on her in disdain. Frawny and Mixie had different ideas about religion, economics, environmental, racial, and foreign policies, and social justice within a conservative and a progressive point of view, yet they were able to let one another express freely their personal views. Frawny, in her pursuit of righteousness, became labeled a straight arrow from the first time she expressed her concern at the university, and unfortunately, her friend, Mixie, got involved with not a very good student crowd. They continued to room together, but their relationship soon deteriorated, and they became like strangers. In time, their friendship would be tested, and one horrific incident would bring them together again.

2

The Threats

Frawny, you look preoccupied or perhaps worried about something. Is something wrong? Freddy, her classmate at the police academy criminal justice class, asked Frawny when they were taking a short break from their class.

Oh, Freddy, I am so sorry I was not paying attention that you were talking to me.

Yes, indeed. You look like there is something bothering you, and it must be major because you are usually calm and collected at all times. So what is wrong, Frawny? Can't you tell me?

Well, I really don't know what to tell you because it's just that I am worried about my best friend and roommate, Mixie. You remember her, don't you? I introduced you to her when she brought me here the first time.

Oh, yes, I remember, that pretty-looking friend you got! What is it that you are worried about?

I really don't know, but her attitude has changed, and she is no longer communicating with me like she used to. She is also hanging around a group of students that I don't particularly trust.

What is it about them that you don't like?

That's it. Aside from the fact that they are a bunch of radical students that keep interrupting other guest speakers from conducting their speeches on campus, especially conservative speakers, I really cannot tell you whether or not that is the reason. It is something else about them that disturbs me, and I am determined to find out.

Well, you know how it is, Frawny. You put a group of students together, and they find a way to protest or cause problems. Most of them are already with their own problems and with confused ideas about real issues. I would not pay too much attention to them, if I were you, responded Freddy, trying to convince Frawny that it was normal in the university environment.

Sorry, Freddy, I don't agree with you. If everyone ignores it and doesn't put a stop to it, it will continue and will get worse for those that want to express their views, ideas, or opinions. That is what I call freedom of expression. Besides, civil discourse is very special to me and I truly believe in it. Otherwise, the world we live in will turn into a bureaucracy or hierarchy, or even worse, an anarchy. We must defend our freedom and make aware the importance it has for our diversity, explained Frawny with a lot of passion in her voice.

Wow, Frawny, I have never heard you so passionate about something. You are always so cool, and sometimes I even think calculative in a nice way.

It is the way I see life in its entirety. It is not that I am calculative but that I analyze things and try to come to realistic and very logical conclusions. We must respect our fellow man with the same respect we expect from them. We must not judge one another (‘Judge not that you be not judged' [Matthew 7:1]). We must understand to be understood and listen to others say their peace because this is the only way we can preserve a peaceful coexistence (‘Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility, count others better than yourself. Let each of you look not only to his own interest but also to the interest of others' [Philippians 2:3–4]).

Are you always quoting from the Bible, Frawny?

Not always. Only when I see injustice, erroneous beliefs, or the malice of men. Besides, it also helps me remember some of the teachings I received from my parents when I was younger. Actually, I need to continue learning more about God's message, and so should you, my friend.

You really know your verses, and I think that is commendable. I should take a Bible class myself. I really have turned my back on religion for a long time and don't know why. I don't have anything against it; it is just that I am very lazy and don't like reading. That is a lame excuse, I know!

It's okay, Freddy, it's not too late to start anything in your life that is uplifting, and studying the Bible is! Anyways, back to my friend, Mixie. I really don't know what to do about it. I am wracking my head trying to think how I can convince her that she is following a group of radical students, and she can get in trouble. I don't think she knows what they are all about and the damage they are causing to others.

I really don't understand them. What is it that they want from people? What are their ideals, their purpose?

Well, the best I can describe them is that they are revolutionary progressive reformers. In other words, they want social reforms from the government, but in the case of the Red Five, they want reform in the school system, but don't let that fool you. They have a hidden agenda. They are like weeds when they take hold. They spread, and that is what they want to do here in the university. They want to change students' mind to believe in what they are preaching, which sometimes they don't even know what it is or why they are doing it. The students are being used as pawns in a game of chest. The Red Five might seem harmless, but they are really dangerous, and someone has to stop them.

I am sure you will think of something. You always do! Anyways, we have to get back to class. We are already late.

Frawny and Freddy walked back to their criminal justice class, and sure enough, they were already walking in the middle of the teacher's lecture. The teacher stopped talking and looked at them and said while the entire class laughed, Thank you for honoring us with your presence!

3

The Dreadful Inconvenience

Listen, that nuisance roommate of yours is going to ruin our plans if you don't talk to her and let her know we will not put up with her constant interfering in our demonstrations. Do you hear me, Mixie?

But what do you want me to do? She won't listen to me. She has been a good friend to me most of my life, and I know how she is when she makes up her mind.

Well, it's up to you. Otherwise, we will have to take care of her one way or another.

What do you mean, Billy? What are you trying to tell me? I hope you are not going to harm her in any way.

I said it's up to you that she does not get harmed, so get to it now!

Mixie had never seen Billy, her boyfriend, so angry and mean. She did not recognize this side of him; she was used to the well-mannered young man that she first met. She was thinking that maybe he was just in a bad mood and did not mean what he said about harming her friend, Frawny. She was hoping that's what it was.

In the meantime, Frawny was meeting with some of her friends from the Karlton University Gazette, which was the university student newspaper. Juaquin, Fred, and Yen were the three principal participants behind the gazette. They started it first as a guide to new students on campus with information about the university and the different departments with the names of the administration staff and the teachers as well as the different activities for students.

After a few years, there were problems with some of the radical student groups interrupting lectures in classes and guest speakers on campus, especially the ones with different views, ideas, and opinions to theirs. So then, the three of them started to print about it and described them as disrupters of freedom of speech and that they were going against the diversity concept that the university was well known for. Frawny liked their ideas and started to be a contributor to the gazette.

There were people from different races, religions, and backgrounds, and the university always thrived on this diversity. It brought students from all parts of the world, and they also contributed to the already melting pot, as they use to called it, with their intelligence, drive to succeed, and sharing their own experiences which became a learning tool for everyone as a whole.

Juaquin, who messed up your door with graffiti? asked Frawny as she walked in their small office next to the administration office.

We don't know. We found it this morning when we came, but we can easily figure out who the culprits are. It is no secret that the Rad Five are responsible for it.

Who are the Rad Five really? I would like to know.

All I know, Frawny, is that they are a radical group of five students in our campus, but unfortunately, they are growing in number, and that is very dangerous to the university's history of openness for diversity in views, ideas, and opinions as well as the tolerance of different religions, race, and cultures. We won't stand for it, and we will fight with our pen to make it clear.

I agree, Fred, and believe that in this day of constant changes in our society in our immigration, economy, technology, and global influence, we need to be more open-minded and embrace diversity. We also need to be careful not to put labels on people or accuse them of discrimination without a real reason, which is what some of the general social media does without doing research or checks and balances.

My friend, Yen, you are becoming very philosophical. I am impressed, said Frawny in dismay.

Yen smiled back at Frawny while Fred and Juaquin laugh at her comments. Frawny gave Fred a piece of paper that had a written article to be printed in the Karlton Gazette. Fred took a look at it and started reading.

Very impressive, Frawny, and right to the point. I like it! We'll get it printed this coming issue, for sure.

Yen grabbed the paper from Fred and read it too.

Wow, this is hot, and you are going to get harassed by the Rad Five without any doubt.

Never mind, Yen, I am not afraid of them, and there is nothing they can do to stop me from doing what I have to do.

I agree with you, Frawny. If we let people intimidate us, we will never be able to defend ourselves or our ideals. Let them be aware that we will not let them get to us! said Juaquin with his fist up in the air.

What I believe is that there is a lot of wrongs being spread around the world and few goodness shared, and those that do try to inform people about the importance of freedom of speech, of searching for truth, of helping others, of sharing with each other, of letting people know the importance of relationships, and not letting others convince you otherwise only get chastised and ridiculed. That is what I am all about, my friends, and there is nothing to convince me not to follow my heart.

That speech you just gave us should also be published for everyone to see! said Fred.

No, that is just for me, and you guys to know. Okay, my friends, I've got to go to the library to pick up some law books and go to my criminal justice class at the police academy. I will see you guys later, Frawny responded and left the newspaper office.

Frawny was walking toward the student parking lot when she heard a voice whisper to her, Watch out behind you! And as she stopped to look behind her, she saw a car speeding toward her as she was walking toward her car. She ran to the side, and the car missed her by a hair. She saw the red truck speeding away and two men inside but did not see their faces.

When she got to her car, she was shaking and wondering who the two men were and about the voice that warned her. Frawny's instinct told her that it was some kind of warning and maybe part of her gift that came as a voice instead of a vision. She saw a note tucked away behind her windshield wipers and grabbed the note, and it read as follows:

You are a dreadful inconvenience to us, and we will not stand for it. So be aware if you don't stop what you are doing, we will stop you!

Frawny thought to herself as she was driving to the library, Very well, you have declared the war, and I will accept the challenge, whoever you are! She parked her car near the entrance to the library and looked around to see if the red ford truck was around, but her instinct told her that they were not around anymore. She went inside the library and went directly to find the books she needed to do her research—one on Lombroso's Theory of Crime by Charles A. Ellwood and True Crime Files by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These were recommended by Freddy, her classmate. Once she got her books, she went to get it signed out with her friend, Niurka, at the registrar counter.

Hi, Frawny, I have not seen you in a while. Where have you been, girl?

Hi, Niurka, I have been studying a lot and going to the Karlton Police Academy for some classes in criminal justice, so I came to get some books that were recommended. How have you been doing?

I am fine. Just came back from visiting my parents in Odessa, Ukraine, and I am still suffering from jet lag.

How nice. How are your parents and your little sister, Anielka, doing?

They are fine, but I am sorry that I had to leave. I realized that I needed to finish my education here in America where I can get an all-around education. Someday, I will try to get them here to live with me, but I know it is going to take time and money to do it. I am now trying to save every penny so I can do that. Thanks for asking.

I am glad, and when you talk with them, tell them I say hi.

Frawny finished registering her two books and walked out of the library and walked to her car where she saw a note again behind her windshield. The note said:

We missed you this time. Next time, we won't!

She took the note and threw it on top of the passenger seat. She would ask her friend, Freddy, to get help from his police cousin, Carlos. She drove to her class and met with Freddy outside the classroom; he was waiting for her and talking with another classmate. Freddy introduced her to Will Jones, another rookie from the academy. They talked for a while until the teacher walked in the room, and they followed him.

When the class was over, Frawny showed Freddy the note and told him about the incident she had at the university and the notes she found on her car and when she was at the library. Frawny only kept the note from the last time because she had disposed of the first one. Freddy read the note and was shaking his head and told her that he thought that the threat was serious and that she had to be very careful from now on. She asked him to see if they could find any way to use the note to get the identity of the one that wrote it. He told her yes, if she was able to get another one written by the suspect.

Frawny agreed, and he asked her if she had any suspect in mind, she told him not yet. Freddy said he was going to give it to his friend, Keto Taketa, at the Handwriting Investigation Unit and maybe he could profile the person that wrote it.

Let me tell you he is the best in his unit, and he can profile from any written note the individual's traits and emotional state.

How do they do that from a note?

He is an expert forensic documentation examiner, and since the first scientific research concept in the 1920s was started, he has been studying this science using various methods. One of them involves studying the subject of the investigation for personality traits, emotional factors, and education. He believes that this will determine the style and general writing practice of the individual.

Sounds complicated. Maybe you should forget about it, Freddy.

No, to Keto, it is not complicated. He is an expert, but he needs a background on the subject matter and another copy of an actual signature or writing on any written note or letter. I am sure he will get an answer.

I hope so too because I need to find out who is behind the threats and set a trap to catch him and send him to jail.

Do you have any idea at all of who is behind it?

I do, maybe. It might be someone with the Rad Five?

Who is the Rad Five?

They are the radical group that is causing a lot of problems around Karlton University campus. They are constantly protesting against speakers invited by other students in campus and harassing students that go to their conferences. I believe they have someone behind their group that is pushing some kind of agenda.

How do you know so much about them?

"I have been asking around a lot about them, and my friends from the Karlton Gazette University newspaper have written article of their activity around campus. I also believe they are involved with something illegal, maybe drugs or contraband. Mind you, I have no proof, but I keep digging, and maybe that is why they are after me. They might be afraid what I might find out."

Listen, Frawny, I don't want to scare you, but with this type of people, they don't really stop when they are determined. You need to be extremely careful. Is your roommate still staying with you? Or is she gone? I mean your friend, Mixie?

No, she was gone as of this morning, and she left me a note, and all her belongings were all gone as well.

"What did she write on the note?

She wrote that she was sorry about our friendship ending this way and that she wanted so much for me to take care of myself and be extra careful being alone and also that she was thankful that I had what it takes to see things before they happen.

What did she mean by you having what it takes to see things?

Oh, she is talking about my intuition. You also told me that. Remember?

Do you know who the people are that she is involved with?

Not really. All I know that her boyfriend's name is Billy and that ever since they started going together, she really changed toward me. I saw her one time at the protest in the university courtyard with a group of the radical people holding a sign. She did not see me, but I noticed that she felt uncomfortable there. I have a feeling that she wants to get out of the relationship, but maybe she is afraid. Freddy, can you find out about her boyfriend to see if he has a criminal record?

Sure, what is his name?

Billy Crandle.

Billy Crandle, you said?

Yes, why?

Well, he is no other than the son of Chief of Police Williams Crandle the II, that's all!

Oh, no kidding, Freddy, and he is involved with the radical groups in the university? That is incredible. The son of the chief of police nonetheless.

Well, that shows you that just because your family has a position or money does not exempt you from getting into trouble. That is usually the way it is that those with position and money are the ones that are attracted to the wrong causes or wrong people.

Yes, it is true. I know because in history, behind every dictator or power-hungry individual, there is someone with money backing them. It's all for power. They sure don't get there for their charismatic intelligent personality or because they have a real interest in saving the world but through pure manipulation, lies, and buying everyone they can on the way to fame and fortune.

You got it, kiddo! Anyways, what are you going to do now? Do you still want me to have my friend check up on Billy?

Why not? There must be something he has done that could possibly show up on a police record. That is, if his dad is not one of those that clean up after their children's mess. In that case, I would not have any respect for him as the police chief. Don't you think so?

Yes, I agree, but just in case, I will have my friend to work discreetly when he does the snooping around.

Thanks, Freddy, I owe you one.

No problem. Let me give him a call and give him the note. I've got to go now. I will see you later. Do you want me to accompany you to your car?

No, Freddy, I will be fine. I don't think they will try to do something to me here at the police academy parking lot. See you later.

Frawny walked toward her parked car and drove away to her dorm at the university. Once she got there and parked her car again, she heard a voice saying, Don't go in! Frawny did not know what to make of it but knew that she could not ignore the voice message. She called her friend, Freddy, and told him that she suspected there was someone at her apartment waiting for her and if he could please come and check it out for her. Freddy told her to wait for him at her car, and he would be there with his police friend as soon as possible.

It took them less than fifteen minutes to arrive, and they both went ahead of her to the dorm on the second floor. There, Carlos Aviles—his friend, not his cousin—took a look at the door and told them that by his experience, the door was the first to be set up with a trap from the inside. He told them to back up from the door while he kicked it in. Sure enough, as soon as he did, there was an explosion, but Carlos was quick and jumped to the side and avoided being shot. The bullet hit the wall across the hall and into the wall.

Wow, Frawny, you would have been a goner if your intuition had not kicked in.

You said it, buddy. I told you she has the best intuition I have ever seen. She is going to be a good policeman and detective.

Now what do I do? I know they are indeed after me and with deadly intentions. I need to figure out what to do.

First, we need to report it to the police department. I mean, Carlos needs to do that, and you, Frawny, need to tell them everything that you have been going through, starting with the notes and going back to why and what possible motives they have or, for that matter, if you have any suspect in mind.

That's fine, but they are still free to try it again, so I am going to make an announcement in the university gazette about the incident and let them know that the police will be investigating to find the culprits. I am sure the local newspaper will pick up on it as well. At least I hope so.

I would not do that, Frawny, if I were you because you can be letting them know ahead of time, and it would not help the investigation.

You are right, Carlos. I won't do that.

At the time she was talking with Freddy and Carlos inside the apartment, the dorm custodian came in and asked them what was going on with the noise he heard earlier that sounded like an explosion. Carlos spoked with him and told him about the incident and that he would be doing the police report and asked if he could please make sure Frawny's door got fixed as soon as possible. The custodian/manager, Mr. Goodman, told Carlos that it was no problem and that he was going to do it himself.

What I don't understand is how they got in.

You see, Frawny, they have ways to use tools to open any door without breaking in. That is why I always recommend for you or anyone else to put a double chain or lock on the doors. It helps because most criminals try not to go in any place making noises, so they like the easiest way.

I will get the chains for the manager to put on my door when he fixes it.

Mr. Goodman was still there and heard, so he told Frawny that he had dead bolt locks with chains for the inside the door, and he would be putting them in when he got the door fixed and not to worry about it. Mr. Goodman left, saying that he was going to get his tools and would be right back to get it done.

Thank you, Mr. Goodman, I do appreciate it. I will wait for you here until you get back. Also, I want to thank you guys for coming to my aid. I won't forget this.

We are glad we did. I cannot even imagine if we didn't. Listen, we've got to go, so Carlos will be doing the report now, and he will be waiting for you to join him at the station as soon as you get your door fixed. I have to go and get ready to do volunteer patrol this evening with another policeman. I will see you later.

Freddy and Carlos left her apartment, and Frawny said goodbye near the broken door and then went inside and grabbed her school bag and pulled out her writing tablet. This time, she was going to write an article that was going to be more controversial than ever before.

One hour later, Mr. Goodman came by with all his tools and the door lock with a double chain. While she was writing, he finished fixing the door and installed the double lock chain.

*****

The time had gone by, and it was already 2:00 p.m. by the time she finished writing. Mr. Goodman had already gone and locked her door as he left without disturbing her. He was a nice man, and she was grateful to have him there. She knew he was very reliable and helpful to her and everyone in the complex. She took her car keys and left her dorm and walked to the parking lot with a lot of apprehension.

Frawny looked around but saw no one and got inside her car and drove away to the police station to meet Carlos. She was able to give all the information to Carlos to finish his report about the incident. Today, she did not have a class at the university, so she decided to do her grocery shopping at a Stop & Go Speedy Market by her dorm. She was never intimidated about anything, but this time, she needed to be aware more of her surroundings. Frawny was very familiar with this market, so she tried to find a parking place a lot closer to the front door. She went inside the little market and went directly to the dairy aisle to get some cheese and milk, and to her surprise, her friend, Mixie, was standing by the cheese section, unaware of Frawny standing next to her.

Hi, Mixie!

Mixie got startled by her, and her face turned pale.

Frawny! It's you!

Yes, Mixie, how are you? Why did you leave and not tell me you were doing so? I have been very worried about you.

I am sorry, Frawny, I meant to tell you that I was moving in with my boyfriend, Billy, but I thought that maybe you would not approve, so I decided against it and left you a note.

Mixie, we have always been friends for a long time, and you know that I love you like a sister and want the best for you, but I would have not interfered in your affairs but try to give you the best advice I could.

I know, and I am sorry for that. I wish I could do it over again, but it is done. I am sorry, I have to go. Billy is waiting for me at the apartment. I only came to get some cheese and crackers and some beer for him. Please forgive me, and don't think bad of me, but I want you to know that I have nothing to do with what is happening to you, and I just want you to be safe.

Mixie, wait up, what do you mean by that?

Mixie started running out the door of the market without purchasing anything. She was trying to get away from Frawny so she would not have to answer any questions, and Frawny realized it and went after her, but she was already gone from sight. Frawny could not think but wonder about Mixie and what she said.

I wonder what she meant by saying she had nothing to do with what is happening to me. Was she referring to my car incident or the one at my apartment dorm? And how did she know about that? Was her boyfriend involved in it?

Frawny finished her grocery shopping and went directly to her dorm. There she sat down after making herself a sandwich and some decaf coffee. Today was a very disturbing day with lots of things happening in such a short time. It was already 4:45 p.m., and she was not sure of what to do with herself, so she sat down and turned on the radio set to the Jack Benny Show, the only comedy show on radio. Everything else was too boring or too serious. It was too early to go to bed, so she stayed on her small couch and took a nap.

*****

She woke up when she heard a noise by her door, so she went to see who was there. Frawny did not open the door and did not have a peephole, so she asked if there was anybody there, but she got no answer.

Frawny decided to open the door but left her chain on. She opened the door slowly, and through the small gap, she looked outside but saw no one by the door, so she decided to open it and take of the chain to check on down the hall. Again, she saw no one but noticed an envelope by her door. She grabbed the envelope and went inside and locked her door with the chain again.

I wonder who left this envelope by my door? she asked herself and proceeded to open it. It had a written piece of paper inside the envelope that said:

My dear friend Frawny, my true and loving sister. I miss you, and I am sorry that I left without letting you know. I have not been honest with you and have not acted like a friend would. For a long time, it has bothered me that you were always so careful and meticulous about everything, especially in making decisions. You were always telling me what not to do, and I resented you for that. I felt like you were being my mother instead of my friend. I didn't realize then that you were just trying to help me be a better person and make the right decisions that will help me in my future. Now I know that's exactly what good friends are for. I am sorry I did not see it that way.

You have to also understand that I needed to make my own decisions whether they were right or wrong because that was the only way I was going to learn. My problem was that I listened too much to my boyfriend, Billy, and that caused me to turned my back on you and rely on him instead. By the time I realized that he was taking over my entire life and I no longer was being myself, it was too late.

He has become jealous and possessive, and I am afraid of him. He is sweet with me most of the time and gives me everything I want, but sometimes I have experienced his violent streak. I do think he loves me in his own way, but I can no longer trust in him because he is getting into scary and obscure dealings that I do not approve of.

Please, my friend, be very careful; he is the worst enemy you could have. He says you are preventing his cause from continuing getting momentum at the university, and he will not allow it as long as he is the president of Students for the Greater Good. He hates your friends from the university gazette for giving them a bad name, such as the Radical Five or Rad Five.

I am leaving this message to you without him being aware I came here while he is having his group meeting at the campus. He will not be happy if he finds out I left our apartment. Please take good care of yourself, and I know that your special power will protect you from any harm, but you need to be aware of the danger you are in. Don't worry about me. I will be fine as long as I don't make any waves or get involved in his affairs.

Thank you so much for always being there for me and being my only and loving sister. Goodbye, my friend.

Love,

Mixie

Frawny finished reading the letter and had tears coming down her eyes. She missed Mixie and wished she could do something to help her get out of the dangerous relationship she was in with this guy named Billy. She was going to do more investigations about his group and who was doing their funding for the activities.

Frawny thought to herself, The greater good? That sounds like something I read in a book by Ludwig von Mises, the economist, when he wrote about socialism, but I am not really sure it was him that wrote about it."

Frawny heard a knock at her door and got up to see but did not open the door.

Yes, who is it? And what do you want?

Ms. Wellington, it's me, Mr. Goodman. I came to give you the new key for the new lock on the door. I forgot to leave it for you earlier.

Frawny opened the door as soon as she knew it was Mr. Goodman.

Okay, Mr. Goodman, thank you so much for all your help. I don't know what I would do without you. You are great!

Oh, thank you, Ms. Wellington, it's fine. It is my job, and you are quite welcome!

Oh, please, Mr. Goodman, call me Frawny. And I know it's your job, but many times, you go beyond your normal duties.

It's fine, I really enjoy it as well. I am alone after my wife died one year ago last Friday, and my only daughter is in Paris finishing her career in interior designs, so my job keeps me busy and away from thinking all the time about my beautiful wife, Isabel Marie. I am not that young anymore, and being alone is not easy. My wife used to do all the cooking and cleaning, and now it's up to me to do it all. Well, I am sure I am not the only one in the same situation. Please call me Ted.

I am sorry, Ted, about your wife. I have a feeling it is not easy for you, especially so soon after her passing. Let me tell you, Mr. Goodman, I don't know if you are religious or belong to any church or group, but it will help you if you join one. It is not only to enjoy other people's company but also to be among people that might be in the same circumstance that you are. I can help you find a group near where you live if you let me.

Oh, that will be nice. My wife used to belong to a reading book club, and they used to meet at our house on Fridays. It was nice to hear her laughing all the time with the ladies. I just sat and listened in to them read, and sometimes, I just sat and read the newspaper or an old book I had about stories of the old west. I live a few blocks from Karlton University on the corner of Liberty and West Palm Street.

"I know where that is, and I believe there is a group of the La Madeleine Church that meet on Thursday evenings for bingo at their Bible class hall. They bake cookies and cakes and bring them as the prize for the bingo winners. If you don't know how to bake, you can buy them from a bakery or buy the cookies at the market. They even have a prize trip to Paris for their pie contest winner. If you win, you can