EXTREME MALICE
Extreme Malice is a book of Fiction. All characters in the story are the imagination of the author, and any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 RE Swirsky
2nd Edition Copy Edited by Kathrin Depue, The Writing Mechanic
ISBN 978-0-9878574-2-2
EXTREME MALICE
By R E Swirsky
2nd Edition
July 2014
Contents
Chapter 1: Saturday September 17th
Chapter 2: Sunday September 18th
Chapter 3: Monday September 19th
Chapter 4: Tuesday September 20th
Chapter 5: Wednesday September 21st
Chapter 6: Wednesday September 21st
Chapter 7: Thursday September 22nd
Chapter 8: Monday September 26th
Chapter 9: Tuesday September 27th
Chapter 10: Wednesday September 28th
Chapter 11: Friday September 30th
Chapter 12: Wednesday October 5th
Chapter 13: Friday October 7th
Chapter 14: Thursday October 13th
Chapter 15: Friday October 14th
Chapter 16: Friday October 14th
Chapter 17: Saturday October 15th
Chapter 18: Friday November 11th
Chapter 19: Friday November 18th
Chapter 20: Monday November 28th
Chapter 21: Wednesday November 30th
Chapter 22: Friday December 2nd
Chapter 23: Saturday December 3rd
Chapter 24: Saturday December 3rd
Chapter 25: Sunday December 4th
Chapter 26: Monday December 5th
Chapter 27: Tuesday December 6th
Chapter 28: Tuesday December 6th
Chapter 29: Tuesday December 6th
Chapter 30: Wednesday December 7th
Chapter 31: Wednesday December 7th
Chapter 32: Wednesday December 7th
Chapter 33: Thursday December 8th
Chapter 34: Tuesday April 17th
Chapter 35: April 17th
More books by R E Swirsky
More Books by R E Swirsky
Chapter 1
"The Crown has a legal duty to disclose all relevant information to the defense. The fruits of the investigation which are in its possession are not the property of the Crown for use in securing a conviction but the property of the public to be used to ensure that justice is done."
R. V. Stinchcombe 1991
Supreme Court of Canada
Saturday, September 17th 6:45 pm
There was nothing unusual about the dinner party. Jack and Donna Gardener were regularly invited next door for dinner at Fred and Tracey Andersons. The Andersons, with their son Josh, lived in the house next door well before Jack and Donna moved in two years ago. The only difference about tonight's dinner party was the conversation.
Jack was in his early thirties and was the epitome of a successful man. He was just under six feet tall, strong, fit, and had a regimented fitness program. Most things in his life were well structured. He worked as a salesman in Bluffington, a small town outside Calgary, for a restaurant and bar equipment supplier that operated out of the Midwest United States. The company sold a variety products, but the lower priced items, such as storage bags and containers, cleaning supplies, and other consumable items, were the company’s bread and butter. Jack's territory was the three western provinces of Canada. Although most of Jack's time was spent in the Bluffington office processing orders over the phone and by email, he was still required to make monthly road trips to Vancouver, Edmonton, and Saskatoon to drum up new clients. He was good at his job and business was strong.
His wife Donna, in her late twenties, worked at the university just blocks away as a student counselor. They met at a Positive Outlook seminar just over two years ago, and Donna fell for Jack quickly. Donna, with her poised stature, slim figure, and beach blonde hair, was a perfect fit for Jack. It didn't take long for them to become romantically entwined. Donna's parents and sister endorsed the relationship; it seemed obvious to everyone who knew them that Jack and Donna were made for each other. Donna was happier than ever, and Jack's engaging wit and polished mannerisms made him a pleasure to be around. He was a keeper.
It was a Saturday evening in late September. The trees on Founders Road already shed most of their leaves, and those that remained were deep golden in colour. The leaves waited patiently for the first winds from the north to rip them all away and leave the branches barren like old, arthritic, gnarled fingers.
Fred had a log burning on the fire when Jack and Donna arrived. The conversation started with casual conversation as it normally would; Jack said he would have to hit the road to Vancouver again for a few days starting late Sunday night.
"You're crazy, man," Fred said settling himself down at the table next to his wife, Tracey, and son, Josh. "I wouldn't be making that drive at night. And I hear there's a big storm coming through late tomorrow. A big one!" Fred was a short, chubby little man in his early forties; his youthful athleticism was buried under the high calorie meals he chowed down every day at lunch, and his once handsome features were faded like the colour of his thin patches of hair.
Jack always drove to Vancouver at night. He started making his night drives about a year ago. He would drive all night to his destination, sleep until mid-afternoon, and then work his contacts until late into the evening, often right up until the bars closed at two in the morning. He would then repeat this routine as he worked his way back home to Bluffington.
"Frankly, I love it. There's no traffic on the road, there's always some great late-night radio to catch. I wouldn't have it any other way. The storm's only supposed to have heavy rain."
"Oh, it sounds like more'n that to me, Jack. Could be some serious snow in the pass up there."
"It'll be fine. I've made this trip many times."
"Well, you wouldn't catch me driving at night out to the coast. And especially with a storm comin'. I prefer my five-minute walk to the office each day. No driving necessary."
Jack snickered at the image of Fred waddling his way down the street every morning.
"Oh Fred, you can be such a bore sometimes," Tracey piped in. "Can you see Fred driving anywhere? Ha! Why on Earth would Fred pay for fuel when he can walk? I can never get him out of this town. He always has some excuse. I still can't believe we are really going to Denver tomorrow. And even that, Denver? You couldn't take me someplace nice like Bermuda, or Hawaii?"
"It's a business trip, Tracey! You don't have to come if you don't want to."
"Oh, and miss the excitement of a bunch of accountants talking about how fat their wallets are? Are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss it for the world. Anyway, at least it’s a break from this dump of a town." Tracey loved Fred's money, and getting him to part with it was Tracey's sole purpose in life.
"You don't really mean that, do you, Tracey?" Donna asked. "I've lived here all my life and think it's a lovely town. Especially here on Founders Road with the river out back. We just love jogging along the river, and I love these lots with the giant, old trees. This street is the dream location for anyone raising a family in this town. Jack and I couldn't be happier here.”
Jack nodded in agreement.
"Twenty years we've lived here, Tracey," Fred added. "I have no complaints."
"Josh, what do you think of this town?" Jack asked. Josh sat at the table, quiet as always. He sipped on a diet Coke and waited for his mom to put dinner on the table. "You were born here and have lived in this same house your entire life. What are you now? Seventeen? Eighteen?"
Josh had jet-black, wavy hair a
nd was tall and lean. He easily surpassed his father's 5’4” height. He was a natural athlete, like his father used to be, but he preferred academics—much to the disappointment of Fred and Tracey.
"Eighteen," Josh replied.
"So what's your take on all this?" Jack asked again.
"I guess it's okay. Never really gave it much thought."
"He probably can't wait to get out of this place. This town is stagnant. It offers nothing for young people these days," Tracey added.
"Tracey, I'm sure he doesn't think that. Do you, Josh?" Fred asked.
Josh forced a smile. He wasn’t used to being the focus of the attention at these dinners. "I don't know. Maybe, sometimes."
"Really? The university is full of young people. Thousands of young people from around the globe come here. There are all kinds of activity for students to engage themselves in over there. And all those pretty girls at the university. You certainly wouldn't want to run away from them," Jack said.
Josh smiled and shifted uncomfortably again. "I guess not."
"Atta boy, Josh! That's the right attitude." Jack laughed.
"Oh, Jack. Josh isn't interested in girls. He's focusing on getting good grades, aren't you, Josh?" Tracey said. "He knows where his priorities are."
"Stop hounding the boy, Tracey. Josh, will do what he wants just like I did," Fred interjected.
"I'm just saying Josh doesn't have time for girls. He's busy studying and working on his grades. He's not interested in girls right now."
"You're talking like I'm not even here, mom."
"Don't be silly. You're here. Say what you want. Tell your dad you are not interested in girls right now."
"You're still doing it. You never really listen to what I say."
"Well I'm listening now. So you're saying you do want to get away from here. You want to leave Bluffington and go to school somewhere else?"
"You just don't listen, mom. I never said I wanted to go anywhere. I just sometimes wonder if I should leave. Maybe I should have gone to another city to go to university instead of staying here in town. Maybe I should just get away and be on my own for once. The other students who live on campus get to hang out all the time. They are together from when they get up in the morning to when they go to bed. I don't know..."
"Living right here in this house is good for you, and it's only a few blocks away from school," Tracey said.
“Well... that's what I mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing something. Most other students are staying on campus, and I feel like an outsider. I always have to explain everything I do and everywhere I go to you, Mom. It's a big joke to my friends at school. I'm eighteen, and you still won't even let me have friends over to the house."
"It's not a joke. There's a huge benefit to living at home," Jack added.
"You won’t have any loans or debt when you graduate. That makes it worth living at home," Fred said. "University costs a lot of money these days, Josh. You should be happy that you have an opportunity like this. Others don't get that. You'll graduate and be way ahead of the others financially."
“Oh, here he goes again," Tracey said. "Why does it always have to be about the money, Fred? There's more to learn in life than just how to make and save money."
"With you spending it the way you do, it's a damn good thing I'm as tight as I am. And you're the one telling him he has to live here and demanding to know what he does every moment of every day. Not me."
"Josh, you've been at the university for over a year now," Jack interrupted. "Wouldn't you find it hard now to just up and walk away from all the time you've put in so far?"
"Well, I guess… probably," Josh replied. He stared at his parents and shifted in his seat.
"So? What keeps you here? Is it your mom and dad? A girl?" Jack asked.
Donna gently nudged Jack in the arm as if to say, ‘back off.’
Josh shook his head, and his eyes darted around the room. "What is it with you guys tonight? I'm fine with the way things are. I'm not going anywhere, and I don't want to answer these stupid questions anymore. Just let's talk about something else, please!"
"Josh? Is there something going on?” Tracey asked. “These aren't stupid questions. We just want the best for you, honey. Is there something we should know about? Is there something at the university?"
"No!" He said. He was annoyed at being pestered by his parents. "There's nothing going on. I'm happy, okay? Just leave it!" Josh yelled and stared hard at his mother. He glanced at Donna and Jack but said nothing. Jack smiled.
"Well it doesn't sound like it," Tracey said. “See, it's this damn town. Sometimes I wish we could all move."
"This town's just fine. I like it here and my business is here," Fred said. "Whatever Josh has going on is Josh's concern. If he wants to talk about it, he will." Fred smiled and winked at Josh.
Josh ignored his father's attempt to settle things. "So when's supper, Mom? I'm hungry."
The conversation moved to other topics. Jack loved going out with Donna, and he always tried to let her know how much he loved her. He touched Donna's foot with his own and rubbed it up and down her shin. This was a private gesture that he often used to show his affection towards her in public. Donna blew a kiss to Jack from across the table while Fred and Tracey were engaged in another debate about money. Jack smiled, tipped his wine glass to her, and mouthed the word 'later'. She licked her lips and smiled back.
Tracey presented the smoked salmon and Fred opened a bottle of Chilean Merlot. No one asked Josh what was bothering him, and, as always, every topic gave Tracey another reason to leave Bluffington or allowed her to point out another example of Fred's tight wallet.
Fred asked Jack to go pick the second bottle of wine out of the cellar just as Fred emptied the first into his wife’s glass. This was Fred’s little ritual. He only ever brought out one bottle for dinner and sent Jack down to select the second. It was Fred's way of flaunting his success. Jack knew what Fred was doing every time, but he shrugged it off because he knew it pleased Fred when he was allowed to flaunt his wealth.
The Andersons spent a lot of money renovating their home three years ago. Tracey got a new granite kitchen. As soon as the kitchen was completed, they gutted the three bedrooms on the second floor and replaced them with a large master bedroom and one guest room. They installed a grand oval staircase that ran from the second floor all the way through to the basement. The basement now included a new bedroom for Josh, a great room, and full bath at the bottom of the stairs. Next to the bath was the small temperature-controlled wine cellar. It was Fred’s prized possession. It was constructed from exotic vitex wood from New Guinea. With the exception of the wine cellar, Josh had the lower level all to himself.
Before he asked to be excused for the evening, Josh mentioned that he wanted to stay over at his friend Davey's place Sunday night.
“We are working on a presentation that’s due Monday morning,” Josh said.
“Josh, your father and I are counting on you to take care of Googles while we are in Denver, and that means sticking around the house to let him out to do his business,” Tracey said. Googles was their year-old beagle. “There will be no sleepover at Davey's while we’re away, and you are not allowed to have anyone in the house while we’re gone.”
“Fine,” Josh relented.
He quietly excused himself and slipped down to his room in the basement. A few minutes later, the soft music from Josh’s acoustic guitar hummed in the background.
Jack and Donna left around ten. They wished Fred and Tracey a great time in Denver and invited them for dinner the weekend after they returned.