All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
to the readers of Noonday Sun,
a fanfiction book
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In gratitude to the Kansas State Historical Society for providing an informative on-line guide to the Topeka State Capitol. This essential guide helped me appreciate all the art and history contained in the building. With appreciation also to the owners of the Capitol Plaza Hotel who graciously agreed to my using their beautiful building as the setting for my book. Thanks to my patient husband, Craig, and his willingness to adjust our family travel plans to include the places mentioned in this book. Thanks also to my children who tolerated the intrusion into their summer plans. Finally, thanks to friends and family who took the time to read through the rough drafts. This book has truly been a group effort.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1, Vacation
Chapter 2, Breakfast
Chapter 3, Zoo
Chapter 4, Respite
Chapter 5, Facing the Past
Chapter 6, Lake Shawnee Ward
Chapter 7, Sunday
Chapter 8, Escape
Chapter 9, State Capitol
Chapter 10, Phone Call
Chapter 11, Suite
Chapter 12, Arrangement
Chapter 13, Dance
Chapter 14, Real Life
Chapter 15, Into the Tornado
Chapter 16, Jill
Chapter 17, Nauvoo
Prologue
Music pulsated in the darkened room. The dim lighting was almost obliterated by stale smoke. Gyrating bodies moved to the deafening rhythm. Cathee Laurenson caught a glimpse of a young couple reflected in one of the scattered mirrors. She hardly recognized herself dancing in the arms of the 6’6” senior, Juan Ortiz. His muscles rippled as he moved, and she was dwarfed by him. She was 5’4” with the help of 3” heels. Honey blond curls hanging to the middle of her back had survived the Kansas wind. She wasn’t always so lucky.
Juan attended her rival high school, Salina Central. They’d met at his school’s homecoming game. She’d been hanging out with her old friends when he walked up and introduced himself.
She smiled at the memory, and his grip tightened on her waist. He looked down at her. “I have wanted to hurt you since we first met, chica.” She pulled back, astounded those words would be coming out of his mouth. “I was shocked I could hold you so gently in my arms when we danced. I decided I was only biding my time–eventually I would get my way, and now is the time. ”
She shook back her hair and laughed up at him. “I can always run.”
“In those shoes?” he scoffed.
“No problem.”
“Look again.”
She glanced down at her 3 inch spikes, the shoes held on by fragile purple ribbons. Their color matched the form-fitting dress that stopped just below her knee.
She turned her face to his, her hazel eyes full of laughter. Her amusement died when she saw the animal hunger in his face. She’d never seen a human look like a predator. She turned to run. He was right. The shoes were hardly meant for dancing. Running was impossible. Her terrified voice wouldn’t scream as he wrestled her toward the door, and the other patrons seemed too engrossed in their own business to notice...