Sin City Meat Locker: A Las Vegas Twisted Mystery

By Jordon Sagel

A small family in Las Vegas, struggling to make ends meet encounter some interesting people that alter their fortunes. Unfortunately, these people are not the good Samaritans that the Stones' believe them to be. Along with the struggles of their youngest son's medical problems, Patrick's butcher shop hemorrhages money daily. Not sure what to do next, the Stone parents end up making some desperate decisions to make ends meet.

Las Vegas is supposed to be fun and relaxing, but this Las Vegas murder mystery will show a different side of this neon paradise. With strange characters and criminal intent, mixed with sadistic actions, this Vegas crime book will keep you guessing and hooked!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jordon Sagel
• Release date: Mar 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224533220

Book preview

Chapter 1

The morning Las Vegas sun squeezes itself in-between the soft white blinds covering Dylan’s bedroom window. This tiny little room is where Dylan spends most of his time – playing video games and occasionally listening to his music designed for calming. While most 10-year-old boys his age are out riding their bikes and playing football in the park across the street, he prefers the life of solitude. Video games are his escape from the reality that makes his life difficult and awkward. For as long as Dylan can remember, he has always suffered from many forms of O.C.D. – a condition that controls most of his day to day life. The first sign of his condition was realized when he was just 4 years old. His parents would notice how tidy he would keep his bedroom. Even his Lego blocks where sorted by colour and placed neatly in a small pile. Of course, Dylan’s mother didn’t really see this as an issue, but more of a blessing. But like anything, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Over the years, Dylan’s condition gradually became more noticeable and consuming to himself and his family.

As Dylan finishes another level in his game with a nearly perfect score, his nose catches the wonderful scent of his Mom’s amazing honey sausages and eggs wafting into his room.  He raises his nose high into the air and takes a big smell, then gently presses the Start button on his controller and selects Replay Level.  Dylan!  His dad calls up to his room from the bottom of the stairwell.  Breakfast is ready!  Come down, before your sister eats all the good stuff, again.  So funny, Dad!  A young girl’s voice shouts from the other room.  He waits for some kind of reply from upstairs, but there is not even a courtesy chuckle.  Like a dedicated soldier in boot camp, Dylan immediately follows his orders.  He shuts down his game, sets his controller in the plastic bin on the shelf next to his bed and hops up to his feet.  He turns to the bed and fixes the indent in his Dinosaur blanket from where he was sitting.  With his room in near immaculate condition he heads downstairs to see his dad smiling at the bottom of the carpeted staircase. Hey Dilly, I got a little surprise for you!  His sly dad whispers, while sneakily peeking into the kitchen area.  When he sees that the coast is clear, he pulls out something from his back pocket.  Two tickets to the Monster Truck show tonight.  Just me and you!  Like we used to do!  His dad giggles like a little kid, full of excitement – while waving the tickets around.  Dylan’s face is expressionless as he calmly replies, maybe another time.  I have some home work to do.  His dad’s excitement diminishes with the unreasonable excuse.  But today is Friday.  You have all weekend to finish your homework, son.  His dad says with hope of changing his distant son’s mind.  Maybe another time, dad. Dylan replies as he walks past his dad and goes into the kitchen, leaving him to look at a picture of the two of them at the local fair, 6 years ago – hanging on the wall leading upstairs.

Patrick – Dylan’s father—was always the fun-loving dad to Dylan and Katy.  He worked hard at balancing his family life and work life, which was hard to do, knowing your family business was losing more and more money each year.  Being the town butcher was a fantastic business to behold, when Patrick’s father ran it, but with all the big named grocery stores around, people saw it to be much more convenient to do all their shopping at just one store.  No matter how stressed out he became, Patrick never let his family become affected by his worries and troubles.  The last thing that his two kids needed to know was that he was almost $20,000 in debt and growing.  The money for the tickets that he tried to surprise Dylan with, actually came from him selling his golf clubs to a close friend of his.  But he knew that Dylan has been becoming increasingly quieter and more emotionless lately and thought that this gesture might bring a smile to his young man’s face.  Plus, golf is a very expensive sport these days anyway and he didn’t really have the time neither.

Are you still gonna take me to the mall after school, Mom?  Katy asks while taking a seat at the breakfast table.  Unlike Dylan, Katy is a very typical kid, with interest in clothes, music and of course – her phone.  Sarah, Katy and Dylan’s mom, places some perfectly crisp bacon on Dylan’s plate, resting on the kitchen island, then brings it over to him; already seated politely at the table washing down his morning medication with his hologram Batman cup.  Well, if you don’t mind being seen with an old weathered hag at the mall, then, I guess so.  Sarah jokes.  Oh, come on mom, you’re not that weathered.  15-year-old Katy laughs, making Sarah give her a playful punch in the arm.  The resemblance between Katy and Sarah is almost scary.  One can almost be certain of what Katy will look like in 26 years from now, when you look at Sarah.  From their long, wavy brown hair, to the little dimples that develop when they both smile, even to their wacky sense of humour that they both share, one can tell they are truly mother and daughter.  As for Patrick, he sees no resemblance of himself when he looks at Dylan.  Patrick has short, yet wavy black hair and a strong, masculine jawline.  Where Dylan has a round little face with a dirty blond, thin head of hair. 

So, what do you have planned for the weekend?  Sarah asks Dylan while popping the lid off of the ketchup for her own eggs.  Dylan just shrugs his shoulders and says nothing as usual.  He then begins cutting his bacon into equal sized pieces and lining them up along the outer edge of his plate.  Patrick just watches his little boy being consumed by this almost debilitating condition from the kitchen doorway.  His frustration with Dylan’s disorder is becoming harder to conceal as time goes on – what with all the business issues piling on top of his ever-changing son.  Hey why don’t we all go to the mall when school is done?  Sarah joyfully says to the whole family from the head seat of the table.  I don’t have any clients tomorrow, so maybe we can even catch a late movie at the theatre.  She very enthusiastically adds.  I’m down with that!  Katy very keenly replies as she looks to her dad for his answer.  I think I am going to have to take a rain check this time.  I was hoping to get some stuff ready for tomorrow’s big sale.  Patrick regrettably declines while stealing a piece of bacon off of Sarah’s plate.  Ahh that’s too bad.  But I am sure it will be well worth it, when you’re counting the thousands of dollars in the till after tomorrow, huh.  Sarah spiritedly says with pure support and faith in him.  You know it dear!  Daddy’s bringing home the other kind of bacon tomorrow!"  Patrick laughs, as do Katy and Sarah as well, while Dylan focuses on sorting his hash browns cubes by size, humming some kind of strange tune. 

The family does have its struggles and hardships, much like every other family in the world, but love is always there, as is the utmost belief in each other.  That trait was not new to Patrick and Sarah, as their parents were the same way.  In fact, when Patrick’s parents passed away several years ago, they had left them the house and nearly a hundred thousand dollars.  Sarah’s Parents left them with nearly sixty thousand.  Unfortunately, due to the extensive medical/psychological bills for Dylan, most of that money is gone, but the house is mortgage free and all theirs.  Before being given the most generous gifts from their late parent's wills, they were renting an apartment in downtown Las Vegas.  Patrick was working full time for his Dad’s butcher shop, before taking it over—of course—while Sarah was making a big name for herself in the law world, winning case after case.  The home they are in now is still in Vegas, but in a much nicer area, with great neighbours and amazing schools.  Supposedly the best schools that Las Vegas has to offer—At least according to the school itself.

Well I hope you guys enjoy the movie tonight!  I love you guys!  Patrick says as he heads out the door for work. With everyone, including Dylan shouting Love you back.  Sarah stands up from the table and starts to clean up all the empty plates, while Katy finishes up a text on her phone.  I need you guys to get ready quick!  Sarah asks them while she loads the condiments back into the fridge.  I have an important client this morning that could turn into full time work if everything goes accordingly.  Dylan and Katy run upstairs to get ready for school while Sarah grabs her briefcase from the bedroom and sets it by the front door, ensuring that she does not forget it.  Knowing that Dylan can be a little slow with getting ready, she runs upstairs to help him along.  Are you almost done sweetie?  Sarah asks while standing at Dylan’s doorway.  Yeah I am ready.  Dylan softly says while nodding his head.  Sarah walks into his room and kneels down beside him, putting her hands on his shoulders.  Remember Dylan, I want you to really try and do what Miss Stanfield says.  She knows what she is doing and wants to help you to control your urges.  Sarah softly reassures him as he continues to nod in agreement. 

When the kids get into the car, Katy gets herself buckled into the backseat of the black sedan, Sarah helps Dylan get his seatbelt fastened in the front seat.  The safety belt clicks in and she gives him a little kiss on the top of the head.  Just remember you two, it is Friday!  One more day until the weekend!  She cheerfully states, trying to put them in a great and optimistic mood.  She carefully shuts Dylan’s door and goes around to her side.  As she opens the driver’s door, her cell phone starts to ring its generic ring tone – quite possibly the default ringer.  She checks the caller ID and quickly shuts the car door, remaining outside for the important call.  Hi Mr. Wong, I am literally on my... yes I know that.  Yes of course!  Just relax, you will be very happy once we are through, believe me!  Ok, see you very soon.  She ends the call and gets back into the car and starts it up with a greater sense of urgency than before.  She throws it into reverse and backs out the driveway in a big rush, almost clipping the neighbour’s garbage cans, left there for garbage day.  As they make their way down the street, the sun blazes down on them, while the leaves of the tall palm trees sway gently in the subtle wind.  Joggers fill the sidewalks as do the many seniors waiting at the bus stops, probably looking to get a good seat at one of the many Casino’s on the Vegas strip.  No matter how many slot machines there are in Vegas, everyone knows that the life changing jackpots are all on the strip and fill up fast, especially with all the tourists.  Unfortunately, the strip can change your life in more ways than one.  It can truly take a hold of you and make you become the person you despise and fear the most.

Chapter 2

The golden Vegas sun gently peaks over the quaint, family-owned hardware store, located across the street from Stone’s Meats – Patrick’s Butcher shop—causing just the shop’s logo to be nicely lit, while providing shade to the lower half.  The butcher shop’s store front has a very rustic, well-aged look, like you would imagine and old butcher shop to have.  A large window, displaying the various handwritten prices and daily specials, accompanied by large green shutters on either side, installed merely for aesthetic purposes.  The door to the shop