Trio Of Discontent

By Linda L. Lattimer

The hills of Nevada prove dangerous for Monique and Colby when a former friend stops at nothing to seek revenge. But will Vincent's plan succeed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781597050500

Book preview

Dedication

To my three beautiful daughters,

who give me sunshine everyday:

Marvetta, Suzanne, and Lisa Renee’,

my three greatest joys in life.

Acknowledgement:

To Lorraine Stephens

for allowing me to send her my work.

To Karen Babcock

because she helped.

To Christine Poe

for making such an awesome cover

And always to the Lord above

for keeping us safe daily.

Prologue

Monique edged around a corner, only to find the other door locked. Frantically she searched about the area once again trying to gather her bearings. What was she going to do if she couldn’t find an escape out of the room? A room that reminded her of a doctor’s office with all the doors displayed in view. Too many doors, if you asked her, to keep searching for the right one.

The wick on the candle was slowly dying down to nothing. She was growing tired of hugging the walls trying to find an exit. Who would leave her in a room with only one small candle? One candle that was only a nub to begin?

There is another door my dear, the voice echoed. Why don’t you try it?

What, did he think she was on, some game show choosing the right door? Who was this man with the sinister voice? Why was he doing this to her? She didn’t have any enemies. She never made enemies.

Well you have made one, my dear. One who wants to trap you in the dark.

Does it bring back memories of when you were small?

Why had he reminded her of that? Enemies? Some children who despised her in school. And you thought you had no enemies.

That was a long time ago and I wasn’t the one at fault.

She remembered breaking down telling that story to only two close people in her life. They couldn’t understand why an adult woman needed a nightlight to go to sleep. So she broke her silence.

She palmed her hands over her face. True, she feared being alone in the dark. It had been that way ever since she was a child. A day that stayed branded in her life all the way to her adulthood. Monique’s ancestors had hailed from the Apache line of Native Americans. Since her skin tone was not as light or freckled as some of the children, a few would pick on her and call her names.

There were four bullies who had been held back in the same grade twice. Monique thought if they concentrated more on listening to the teacher than picking on her and a few other of the children, they might learn something. Then they could pass to another grade. They had other intentions. When the teacher wasn’t looking they went about bringing havoc on those they considered different.

To them, Monique didn’t belong in their school. She told them it was only a tan where she always played outside in the hot sun. Still, four of the children picked on her continuously. They said it wasn’t only her skin tone; she was too smart. But Monique took great pride in her learning. They informed her she needed to be taught a lesson real soon.

One day at lunchtime, the teacher was standing in the hallway conversing with another teacher. All the children scurried from the room except four who quickly circled Monique. They had decided to play a terrible joke on her. Of course they told her it was only a game. If she survived they would stop calling her names and leave her alone. They even promised to leave the others alone they had been tormenting. They told her if she made one sound to cry out, she would be sorry.

When no one was looking they threw the little Indian girl in the cold, dark coat closet then rested a chair up against the door handle so there would be no way of escaping. By the time lunch was over and the teacher was still making head counts trying to locate Monique, she was trembling and crying in silent hysterics when the teacher opened the coat closet. The four children had been sent home that day and reprimanded strongly but not before inflicting repercussions on Monique. It had been an event that always hovered at the back of her mind. For a long time she would wake gasping for breath as her hand reached out, trying to turn the door knob to get her out of that claustrophobic area.

From where I stand I see panic sketched on your face, Monique. The voice issued when she lowered her hands to her side. You must be recalling that dreaded day so many years ago.

What do you want with me? she shouted.

I wouldn’t be yelling in that tone. You don’t have much air in that confining space. I only left you enough to locate the one door that would lead you out of that hell hole.

She braced herself against the wall, thinking of all the doors inside the huge room. Think, Monique, which one have you not entered? She was sure that she had tried them all. No, there had to be another that she had missed. She could go through all of them again.

The candle is losing its glow, Monique. You don’t have time for that. You have to try to remember.

Was it the lack of oxygen reaching her brain? Or the fear not being able to get out before it was a complete room of darkness? She couldn’t deal with any dark. What about rats and bugs? The bugs she could probably handle. The rats that was a different story. She hadn’t heard the sound of any strange little scurrying yet. They always came out in the dark, didn’t they, in those drab old buildings?

It’s not a good feeling, is it, Monique? To be all alone with no one there to help? No one there to take your hand and lead you out to safety. Find the right door and the security blanket you need will be on the other side.

Monique flattened her hands to her ears. Stop it! Who are you? What do you want?

Find the door and you will locate all the answers. You better hurry, there’s not much left on that wick.

He was right. The candle was barely putting out any light. She scanned the room and retraced her steps. Perhaps it was the door that led down the long narrow pathway. Had she been down that one? Face it, her mind was never good when she was in a dark room.

But I’ve already been down that hallway, I am sure of it.

She slowly spun her body around the room, scanning the length of the area. Inhaling a small breath she allowed her feet to carry her down the corridor. Please let this be the door. Please.

I wish that I could give you a hint, but that would be unfair on my part. Should have been nicer to me, Monique.

I’m always nice to everyone.

That is not a truthful response.

Once again she hugged the walls as her feet made a path away from what little light the candle had to offer. She didn’t dare move it for fear of any open draft extinguishing the flame. All it would take would be a simple movement and the room would be completely black.

She stopped in front of a door and reached for the handle.

What if this isn’t the one?

You have to give it a try.

She cautiously cupped the handle as if it were a snake ready to strike. She silently counted to ten then turned the knob. To her surprise the door wasn’t locked. Relief flooded her senses. But what was on the other side? Who was on the other side? Perhaps nothing, no one, just her way to escape.

Monique turned the door handle until the door eased open, allowing her an entrance. She smelled something. Some fragrance. She couldn’t quite make it out. It was another room filled with darkness but someone or something was in here. The sound of a match struck as the man blocked her way from entering.

Hi, Monique, I have been waiting for you.

Monique screamed as loud as her lungs would carry. She jackknifed in the bed then wiped her forehead. Once again she was wringing wet. It was the same nightmare that had entered her dreams for the past two weeks. Each night it was a different door that she had to escape. And the same man. The voice, the scent. It was him. She would never forget that voice or that face as long as she lived. What did it all mean?

I hope I never find out, she softly said before stretching back to the bed and hugging her legs to her chest.

The only security blanket she was clinging to was the safety of her own room.

One

Vincent glanced at his watch. It was early. The sun, in all its glory, was just beginning to rise, displaying an array of beautiful bright oranges. He was glad that he had the sunrise tour this morning. Of course he would probably say the same thing if it had been the sunset tour. Both were a grand sight to behold. It was a vision that he could never get enough of in this beautiful countryside.

The Japanese tourists were climbing out of the pink jeep and facing toward the majestic beauty. He could hear their ooh’s and ah’s loudly as the sounds practically vibrated over the scenery. They thought the glorious orange ball was magnificent, as it rose over the mountains. At the moment, Vincent only had one magnificent beauty on his mind. And, with every sunrise and sunset, her beauty was always sketched in his mind.

If everything went as planned the package would be arriving on their doorstep today. Once more his hazel eyes checked the time on his watch. With the difference in the time span he was sure they would be receiving the parcel any minute. A smile pasted on his lips as he stroked his moustache. He could hardly wait. Patience had never been his forte but he would have to endure it just a wee bit longer. This plan of his would have to work. He had waited too long and worked to hard to get all the wheels in motion. Soon he would have his payback.

The Japanese husband strolled over and handed him a camera. They had been excessively snapping photos of each other and the panoramic view as the sun in all its glory struck the mountains with each brilliant ray. He wished to have his picture taken with his family. Vincent knew exactly what he wanted. A portrait of the family standing in front of the blue-purple mountains as the sun acted like a backdrop. Almost every tourist he took on the tour wanted the same thing. Vincent obliged.

As he took the camera in his hands, he thought of the last sunrise he saw with her tenderly embraced in his arms. That was one event he would never erase from his memory. He snapped the picture, took another when the mother held up a hand for one more with the family, then handed the camera back.

When he saw the father pull a cigarette out, he decided to do the same. With matches in hand, he easily struck it, lighting the dirty weed that clung to his fingers. He would have only a couple more days then he would have to put a stop to the tobacco smell. A stop to the smoking that had calmed his nerves. If she even knew he was smoking she would be highly upset. She never wanted him to take up that nasty habit in the first place. Well only a couple more days and he would deposit them nowhere to be found. Everything had to go like clockwork to get her back.

He took long drags, then when the smoke break was over, he blew the last of the smoke out. He crushed what was left of it, placing the debris in a plastic bag he carried in his pants pocket. He motioned with a wave to the tourists. Time to head to another part of the tour. He rubbed his hands together. The time would pass soon today. He was looking forward to hearing from her. It wouldn’t be long now. He just hoped that it wasn’t too late. What if Colby and she? No, that could never happen. She didn’t need to be involved with anyone but him. He had to make sure he was the only man in her life—now and forever. He looked at his key chain. For a year he had kept the engagement ring right alongside the keys.

The Japanese tourists, husband, wife and two small children—one boy and one girl—chatted in their language as they pointed off to the different formations. They were casually making their way back to the jeep. This was their first visit out to Nevada. Boulder City was their first stop. They had read about the Hoover Dam. It was one sight they had looked forward to seeing. Vincent would take them there next. He could hardly wait for Colby and Monique to arrive so he could show them the wonderful sights. A grin widened on his lips thinking of the itinerary he had scheduled for the both of them.

He pulled his wallet from his pants pocket. Inside was a snapshot of his beloved. He wished he had a current photo. She was such a sexy, sophisticated young woman. He always considered her one classy lady. He stared at it, remembering the love they once had shared. He inhaled, allowing the clean mountain air to absorb into his lungs. He could almost smell her perfume. Oh, how his heart ached for her.

Yeah, it’s been a year, my love. I wish I could be a fly on the wall and see your reaction when you open the box. I know we parted on bad terms but I need you back. I have to have you back, Monique. I have my reasons, Vincent said to no one but himself. "Okay maybe it will be a little game at first but, who knows, our feelings might get the better of us again. At least I have to see. I have to get Colby out of the picture if I ever want you in my life again. I have to."

He placed the wallet back in his back pocket. The young Japanese girl ran up and touched his hand. He smiled. They were ready to depart, anxious to see the Hoover Dam. She was also getting hungry. She rubbed her stomach and spoke a few words in English. Vincent chuckled lightly. The family knew just as much English as he did Japanese, which wasn’t much. Yet they had managed to understand each other when they first met for the tour.

Yeah, me, too, honey. Let’s go.

He walked hand in hand with her to the jeep. It would be nice one day to have a family. He thought of it often. He wasn’t getting any younger. He needed to have one before the years really caught up with him. He couldn’t help but peep at his watch again before he helped the young girl into the jeep.

You sit right there, little pretty one. My lovely one should be here shortly. I can hardly wait, he mentioned with a huge smile as she settled into the seat.

Vincent knew she didn’t really understand what he was communicating, but it didn’t matter. By the way they were all laughing and gesturing to the beautiful mountains and scenery, he knew they were just enjoying the tour. That was all that mattered. He never remembered anyone walking away from one of his tours without being completely satisfied.

Vincent cranked up the jeep and headed away from the mountain area. Soon he would be talking to his beauty and holding her close to his heart. He wondered, by the time he got through with Monique and Colby would they be completely satisfied with the tour he had planned for them? He sniggered as the jeep hit a slight bump in the road. He doubted Colby would be walking away. He might allow Monique to... only if she made the right choice this time.

MONIQUE PUT THE GEAR of the Honda in park. Colby was about to get out of the car when he remembered the newspaper. He started folding it back in its proper order. It had been a tiring day at the office. They both had only put in half a day at the insurance company, but the claims had been enough to have put in over a good forty hours. The quick stop at the supermarket hadn’t been too bad. Luckily the lines had been short ones at the checkout. Colby thought that was a blessing in itself today.

Out of the corner of her eye Monique once again watched Colby as he took great pride in layering the newspaper back in its proper order. He had that habit. Why he was doing it now she didn’t know. As soon as he got inside it would be all disarrayed once more. Colby was just that way. He was a good friend with whom she shared an apartment. He had battled with depression ever since she had known him. They both had been good companions to each other for almost four years.

Once, after she and Vincent had split, she thought perhaps she and Colby would strike up a relationship, but that had never happened. They had only been good friends, nothing more. Colby had a depression that shifted many times; one minute he seemed almost childlike then after taking his meds he appeared more mature. In her heart she had hoped he would change but with a troubling past, that he didn’t care to continue bringing up, she doubted she would ever regard him as someone she could commit to in any way. His family had often called him demented and retarded which hadn’t helped matters. It wasn’t until he grew older and went to a doctor that he was prescribed medicine to help balance the chemicals in his brain. Still Monique felt it would be best to continue as friends only. Then there was Vincent. Why had she even thought of him this morning? Had it been a year? Her heart still felt the pangs of the after-blow. Is that why she had been having the same dream over and over of late? Was her conscience eating away at her because