Felicia Denise's Blog, page 42
April 8, 2018
The Devil You Know, Part IV #52weeks52stories
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#52weeks52stories: Week 14
Word prompt: military
Word Count: 1090
~~~~~
Seven hours and two attempts later Sally Bennett sat up in bed. Though she’d vetoed any further sedation, a low dose of Xanax flowed through her I.V. to stem any new bouts of hysteria.
Joanie and Darrin were still at her bedside, joined by oldest daughter, Carolyn.
The tear-filled eyes of her girls and the devastated look on Darrin’s face broke Sally’s heart. When she thought of the cause of their misery, her chest tightened, and she thought each breath would be her last.
Sally focused on Darrin’s words and not how flat and strained his tone was.
“The police are still trying to sort things out, mom. There’s still so much unknown, by them… and us.”
When Sally didn’t respond, Darrin cleared his throat and continued.
“We’ve always believed…d-dad… was given birth to by a fifteen-year-old girl in upstate New York and adopted by a middle-aged couple from Maine. Mom, no record has been found of a Florence and Bob Bennett anywhere in Maine. An initial search on dad’s fingerprints also found no record. The police are baffled.”
Sally rested her head back on her pillows. “That’s not possible. Your dad served in the military, had a driver’s license, and had been bonded.” She looked down, fidgeting with the bed covers. “When we met, he told me both his parents had passed on.”
“We know, mom.”
“So, they don’t know why he…” Her voiced trailed off. She couldn’t say the words.
“No. And it’s still not certain he committed the other attacks.”
Her head throbbed. This was insane. Why would Frankie attack elderly women? Her husband wasn’t some deranged psychopath, was he?
Sally caught herself when she realized the man she’d been married to for almost thirty-two years was probably in a drawer at the morgue waiting for the coroner’s scalpel.
How had she not known? Had she missed obvious signs? Except for business trips with Bill, Frankie was always home. No unaccounted absences. She raised her head, addressing Darrin.
“Has anyone talked to Bill?”
“His flight lands in a couple of hours. Wish I could meet him. Poor guy seemed as hurt and baffled as we are.”
Sally’s pulse raced. She wanted to scream, grab her hair, claw at her skin… anything to wake up from this nightmare. But the Xanax had a gentle, but firm hold on her. She squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on her words.
“Did Bill say why your dad wasn’t on the trip with him?”
“He said you were sick.”
She remembered Frankie’s offer to cancel his trip and stay with her because the Senior Citizen Rapist was still free.
What a joke.
He’d never intended to stay home with her.
He’d fooled her.
But how?
She wasn’t some empty-headed drone going through the motions of life. She could read people and was a fair judge of character. Her years as a military recruiter, teacher in the classroom, and working with the public taught her much.
But not enough obviously.
Sally shook her head, frustrated. There had to be more to this! People don’t wake up one day and decide to become criminals, do they? Frankie had been a wonderful husband and attentive father…
Sally bolted upright. It was too fast for her medicated system and empty stomach. She gagged, then leaned over the edge of her bed. Carolyn was right there with the emesis tray.
“Mom? Should I call the nurse? Are you going to be sick again?”
Joanie cleaned her mother’s face and Sally sagged back into the bed.
“The twins. Has anyone talked to the twins?”
“We haven’t been able to reach them yet, but their unit commanders are aware of what’s going on.”
Twenty-six-year-old twins, Cameron and Cheryl, were both on active military duty. Cameron, an Army warrant officer, was somewhere in the middle east. Cheryl, a sergeant with the National Guard, was due back in two weeks from a support mission to the Horn of Africa.
Despite her sedation, Sally could feel the dull roar begin behind her ears. She breathed through her mouth fighting against more nausea.
She didn’t want the twins to hear about their troubles through some abbreviated news report or offhand remark.
Born premature, Frankie had sat at their incubators for three solid weeks, stroking their backs, pleading and encouraging them to fight and breathe on their own. When Cheryl and Cameron improved and were moved to cribs, Frankie was still there—cuddling, rocking, and singing to them.
The bond formed when they were only weeks old was unbreakable. It withstood the arrival of baby Joanie two years later and starting school and making new friends. Even the rebellious teen years never found the twins at odds with their dad.
The news about their father would break them both.
*
Connie Pierce knocked on her neighbor’s door for the fourth time in as many days.
Where is he?
Gary Sievers had only moved into the quadplex of studio apartments a few weeks ago. The shy, middle-aged man kept to himself, and Connie didn’t think he ever left his apartment.
Unable to pry any details from complex manager, Walt Stokely, the bold insurance agent knocked on Gary’s door late one afternoon and introduced herself.
She thought the tall, broad man was handsome, but the haunted look in his eyes made him appear pensive and frightened.
After thirty minutes, Connie still didn’t know anything about Gary other than he hoped to get a laptop computer soon. Thinking it a way to get to know her neighbor better, Connie ran next door to her apartment and returned carrying a laptop.
“It’s not new. I bought another one about a year ago and this one’s just collecting dust. You’re welcome to use it until you can get your own.”
This won Connie her first smile from Gary.
While he still wasn’t forthcoming with much personal information, they settled into an easy friendship and had shared an early dinner twice in Connie’s apartment. That’s how she found out Gary wasn’t a night owl and went to bed early every night, usually before eight.
She glanced back at his door.
How does someone who appears to never go out suddenly disappear?
Connie decided to check with Walt in the morning. Losing her laptop to a computer virus put her in a bind. She needed to retrieve her old one from Gary. Even if Walt had no information on the man, she hoped he would at least enter the apartment to get her laptop.
She’d deal with her absent neighbor later.
©2018 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved
Song Lyric Sunday | “The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia” – Vicki Lawrence
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “lights.”
~~~~~
Most of today’s music fans are familiar with the 1991 version of The Nights the Lights Went Out in Georgia recorded by Reba McIntyre. But the original was released in June of 1972 by Carol Burnett Show regular, Vicki Lawrence, and topped the Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart in early 1973.
On the final episode of the sixth season of the Carol Burnett Show, (March 24, 1973), Burnett surprised Lawrence by presenting her with an RIAA gold record for over a million copies sold. The song also scored number six on the Easy Listening chart, and it peaked at number 36 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and was finally topped by Tony Orlando and Dawn’s Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree. Billboard ranked it as the No. 11 song for 1973.
Although Bobby Russell wrote both the lyrics and music for the story-form song, he was reluctant to record even a demonstration because he “didn’t like it.” According to Lawrence, who was married to Russell at the time, she believed it was destined to be successful and recorded the demo herself. The publishers and the record label did not quite know how to pitch the song, as it was not really a country or a pop song. The first thought was to offer the song to actress/singer Liza Minnelli, but eventually it was offered to singer Cher, but her then-husband and manager Sonny Bono reportedly refused it, as he was said to be concerned that the song might offend Cher’s southern fans. Without a singer to record the song, Lawrence went into a studio and recorded it professionally herself, with the instrumental backing of L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew, then pressed the label to release it as a single.
The rest is history… just like Lawrence’s spot for having a number one hit!
The video isn’t the best quality, but the audio is on point! 
April 6, 2018
April 4, 2018
Remembering Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou (born Marguerite Ann Johnson April 4, 1928) was an American author, poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. Angelou passed away May 28, 2014. Image from Amazon.
See the Google Doodle created to celebrate the 90th anniversary of her birth.
QUOTES
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
April 1, 2018
The Devil You Know, Part III #52weeks52stories
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#52weeks52stories: Week 13
Word prompt: narcotic
Word Count: 606
~~~~~
Find Part I here and Part II here.
Sally laughed as Frankie spun her around in circles, elated over the news she was expecting their first child.
The scene changed before a confused Sally… and she and her husband were sitting in Mañana’s. She remembered that ’s where they had dinner to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.
Her head throbbed as the scene changed again and she was staring at herself in the mirror of a large bath.
She knew this place too. The linen wallpaper covered in delicate coral shells and the porcelain wash basins covered in the same shells had been two of the things she most admired at the Montage Kapalua Bay resort on Maui.
Sally didn ’t understand what was happening to her. Seven years had passed since she and Frankie celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in Hawaii.
Frankie.
Sally rushed into the bedroom, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw her husband resting in bed.
His back was to her and she snuggled up close behind him.
“Sorry, I took so long, honey. I’m back.”
Receiving no response from Frankie, Sally rose up on one elbow and peered over his shoulder.
“C’mon, Frankie. You can’t be asleep already.”
Annoyed, she grabbed his shoulder, rolling him onto his back.
The scream froze in her throat as she stared down into her husband ’s lifeless eyes.
Sally couldn ’t get away, she couldn’t move, and she couldn’t look away from Frankie.
Her head throbbed as her hysteria built. Trapped, Sally knew death was about to take her too when she felt someone touch her.
“Mom? Mom, it’s okay. Calm down, mommy. You’re having a nightmare.”
Joanie?
The sound of her youngest daughter’s voice helped soothe Sally Bennett. Her breathing slowed as she worked to open her heavy eyelids.
Bright lights assaulted her eyes and Sally jerked her head to the side, causing the pain in her head to worsen.
She heard other voices in the room and felt Joanie take her hand.
“Try again, mommy. Slowly.”
Fighting her panic, Sally raised her lids and exhaled. The lights were dimmed.
She looked up into Joanie’s face.
Sally’s vision was blurred, but she recognized her daughter.
She tried to speak, but no words would come from her parched throat.
“It’s okay, mommy. You had a nightmare. Don’t try to speak yet. Give it time.”
Sally frowned, confused. She mouthed the word where. Joanie understood.
“You’re in the hospital, mommy.”
For the first time, Sally noticed the machines next to her.
She mouthed the word why.
Joanie hesitated.
Sally squeezed her hand.
“Tell her, Joanie.”
Sally recognized the new voice as her oldest child, Darrin, but she couldn’t see him. She squeezed Joanie’s hand again.
“You… you went into shock and lost consciousness, mom, after daddy… after daddy…”
Joanie couldn’t say the words, but she didn’t have to.
Memories flooded Sally’s mind and her hysteria returned.
Frankie. Dead. The Ramirez home.
Her husband had tried to hurt Graciela Ramirez, and then her.
Unable to sit up or speak, Sally’s body convulsed. Her silent sobs rose to become pitiful wails. She tried to pull away from Joanie, but her daughter tightened her grip.
Someone else grabbed Sally’s right hand. She yanked and pulled, but her weakened conditioned worked against her.
Endless streams of tears blurred her vision even more and Sally didn’t see the nurse inject a sedative into her IV.
The effect was instant. Sally slumped in the bed, knowing she couldn’t fight the narcotic numbing her brain and her body.
She made one last attempt to look at her daughter, but sleep took her back into the dark void before she could even turn her head.
©2018 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved
Song Lyric Sunday | “Days Like These” – Janis Ian
Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “days.”
~~~~~
Janis Ian is best known for her breakout hit At Seventeen back in 1975. While she was never a mega-star, Janis had a devoted following and continued to sing and release albums.
In 2000, Janis released her eighteenth studio album, God & the FBI. It didn’t produce any memorable hits, but one track achieved fame because of a television show.
Teen-drama, Dawson’s Creek–which celebrates it’s twentieth anniversary this year–aired it season three finale in May of 2000. Fans will remember the episode, True Love, is where Joey Potter finally broke away from anally-retentive Dawson Leery and ran off for the summer with new love Pacey Witter aboard his boat… the True Love. (This episode also contains the infamous scene of Dawson ugly-crying!)
As Pacey and Joey sail away, the haunting song played in the background is Janis Ian’s Days Like These. It’s about accepting life for what it is. If you don’t put anything in, you won’t get a return. I bought the album after hearing the song once and still listen to it.
The video is a compilation of scenes from season three of Dawson’s Creek. Not the best quality, but the audio is spot on!
(And yes! I watched all six seasons of Dawson’s Creek, own the DVDs, and contributed to a fanfic site! Don’t judge me! 
March 28, 2018
Wordless Wednesday
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Image from Pixabay
March 25, 2018
The Devil You Know, Part II #52weeks52stories
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#52weeks52stories: Week 12
Word prompt: assailant
Word Count: 2698
~~~~~
Find Part I here.
Exhausted and annoyed, Sally Bennett wanted answers.
Two hours after fighting a masked attacker for her life, three different detectives approached her three different times asking the same questions.
But no one would answer her questions.
Who was the attacker?
Had he been arrested?
How did he get inside the Ramirez home?
Why did he seem familiar to her?
She understood they had a job to do but it didn’t annoy her any less.
Sally was comforted knowing Graciela was safe.
She interrupted the attack on Graciela before the intruder could do any real harm, but at Sally’s urging, the gutsy senior citizen allowed paramedics to take her to the emergency room at the hospital where Estelle worked.
Her adrenaline rush gone, Sally sat like a leaden weight on neighbor Nina Ahrens sofa wrapped in a blanket.
The kind woman who’d pulled Sally and Graciela inside her home misread Sally’s earlier shivers for cold instead of fear and had been trying to keep her warm ever since.
Two of Sally’s interrogators stood near the door taking furtive glances in her direction as they spoke.
The embers of anger smoldered in Sally’s chest.
This was their job.
They did this every day, but violence in her life was something new to Sally and she didn’t appreciate being treated as though she did something wrong.
She wanted to go home.
No, that wasn’t true. Frankie was away, and she’d be alone with her thoughts at home. She needed her husband, or one of her children, or at least one familiar face who knew her before the worst day of her life began.
A third detective joined the two watching her.
Sally didn’t recognize him, but he also stared at her while trying to act like he wasn’t.
Her jaws tightened as her anger grew.
He walked toward her, taking a pad and pen from his jacket pocket.
“Mrs. Bennett, I’m Det. -”
“No, I didn’t know the man. No, I don’t know how he got in, and no, I didn’t notice anyone watching the house earlier in the evening.”
She smirked at his surprised reaction.
“I guess my detectives have been pretty thorough tonight.”
“Only at asking questions. They suck at giving answers.”
Sally knew she was being rude, but her frazzled nerves were at the breaking point.
“Touché`.”
He sat down on the sofa next to her, resting his elbows on his knees.
“I’m Det. Sgt. Gavin Marks and I do apologize if it’s seemed like my squad is ignoring you, Mrs. Bennett. We’re still trying to sort things out.”
His apology did nothing to calm her.
“Like what?”
“Well, the city’s been on edge ever since the attacks on elderly women began. At first glance, Mrs. Ramirez’s case fits.”
“At first glance?”
“Yes. While the other victims were alone in their homes, they were all senior citizens in poor health or recovering from illness or surgery. This case fits… except for your presence.”
“Me? What’s this got to do with -” She froze, realizing what he meant.
“So, you’re saying the attacker expected Graciela to be alone? But how? I was subbing for another woman from our service. And we were only needed because Estelle Ramirez couldn’t change her shift.”
Det. Marks considered her before continuing.
“That narrows things down even more.”
Sally let the blanket fall from her shoulders as she scrubbed her hands over her face. Confusion wasn’t mixing well with her fatigue.
Then she got it.
Her mouth gaped open at the thought. No, it wasn’t possible.
“Det., you think Graciela was targeted through Angels Assist? That’s crazy.”
“Like I said, we’re still sorting this out, but I’m trying to keep an open mind.”
“But there aren’t many men associated with the agency—no male volunteers, and all the male staff members are up in age too. They work as drivers and deliver meals.”
He made a few quick notes.
“No one’s mentioned that to me tonight. It’s worth looking into.”
Sally bit her lip lost in thought, trying to figure out the connections.
Marks cleared his throat.
“I’m sorry, Det., did you say something?”
“I’m sure you’re exhausted, ma’am, and I promise to get you home soon. But, please, walk with me through this to see if we’re missing anything. Okay?”
She exhaled roughly. “Okay. Fine.”
He glanced at his notes again before beginning.
“Estelle Ramirez made the eye surgery appointment for her mom twelve days ago. She also put in a request for the week off from her job the same day.
Human Resources approved her time off the next day, with the exception of the current shift because the other two charge nurses were already scheduled off. The HR department posted the shift on the hospital extra-duty website for three days, with no takers. Before committing to the rest of the time off, Estelle called the eye clinic to if it was possible to move her mother’s appointment. It couldn’t be done, but one of the nurses there told her about Angels Assist… and that’s where you come into the story.”
“Well, not me exactly.”
Marks frowned, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“I work part-time as a services scheduler for the agency. There are two of us. Mona Ingram set up Graciela’s overnight with Kristen, one of our volunteers. After the last attack, her husband insisted she quit. Her call was routed to me yesterday and when I couldn’t find anyone… I took the position.”
Marks was silent for several minutes, adding to his notes before continuing.
“You do that often, Mrs. Bennett… cover appointments?”
Sally shrugged. “Once or twice a month—depends on the workload versus personnel.”
Gavin Marks rubbed his brow, mulling over these new details.
“Is something wrong, Det.?”
“Remember I said this case fits the attacker’s profile at first glance?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s a wide glance. After two months, we still haven’t found a connection in the first four attacks… or a lead.” He stood. “But I’ll get my people on this when the city wakes up.”
He signaled to a uniformed officer in the foyer. The large African-American man walked over standing next to Gavin Marks, acknowledging Sally with a nod.
“I know you’ve declined medical treatment, Mrs. Bennett, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea for you to go in and get checked out.”
“I’m fine, Detective, really. He didn’t hurt me. Just rattled my nerves.”
“Then I’ll let you go, but I’ll try to answer some of the questions you asked my detectives.”
Sally frowned.
“Your attacker was carrying no identification, so we don’t know who he is. Crime scene techs found the framing around the dining room window stripped away. He probably used a crowbar or screwdriver. And no ma’am, he hasn’t been arrested because he’s dead.”
Her stomach dropped. The slight buzz humming behind her ears since she ran from the Ramirez home roared. Sally thought she was going to pass out.
“I don’t understand. How? The two neighbor guys who ran into -”
“No ma’am. You fought him with a cane? Mrs. Ramirez’s cane?”
“Y-Yes.”
“This isn’t official yet, but the coroner believes the cane fell to the floor during your struggle. When you ran from the room and he tried to come after you, his foot hit the cane. His body rolled forward and he tried to break his fall, forgetting about the butcher knife in his hand.”
Sally shuddered and pulled the blanket tighter around herself, not for warmth but more as a shield to ward off the panic threatening to consume her.
Marks continued. “He fell on the knife, piercing his aorta. By the time Parley and Fulcrum, the two guys from the neighborhood, entered the house, the guy had bled out.”
The horror of such a violent death rose up in Sally, bringing the metallic bitterness of bile and waves of dizziness.
The detective bent towards her. “Are you okay, Mrs. Bennett?” He and the uniformed officer exchanged concerned glances, unsure if the woman would become ill or pass out.
“Mrs. Bennett?”
Sally couldn’t respond, the buzzing behind her ears blocking everything but thoughts of the man lying dead on the floor of Graciela Ramirez’s bedroom.
The man who tried to hurt them both killed himself.
Her emotions warred with each other as her sense of justice was met head on with heartfelt sympathy.
For the dead man.
The man who tried to kill her.
Parting her lips, Sally slowly drew in air in deep gulps as she tried to calm her racing pulse.
“Mrs. Bennett?”
She looked up into the detective’s face.
“You really should let the EMTs take you in.”
“No… no, I’m okay. It’s just… just finding out the man who tried to kill me killed himself is almost as big a shock as finding him in Graciela’s room.”
“Please. At least allow them to check your vitals in the ambulance… just to be safe. You’ve been through a lot tonight.”
On cue, the churning in her gut quickened, accompanied by a tightness in her chest. Knowing she wasn’t fine, Sally relented. “You’re right, of course. I will let them check my vitals.”
“Good… good.” He gestured toward the uniformed officer. “This is Officer Brian Holland. He’ll take you out to the ambulance. If you’re cleared by them, Officer Holland will escort you next door to get your things. If you can drive, he’ll follow you home. If you can’t, he’ll drive you and arrange to have your car delivered to your home. If you want him to stay with you a while, he will. He might even cook if you ask him.”
Detective and officer shared a short chuckle. Sally glanced back and forth between them, confused but calmed by their easy manner. Marks explained.
“This is Officer Holland’s last week in uniform. He’s earned his detective shield and joins my squad on Monday.”
“Congratulations, Officer Holland. I guess I’m in good hands.”
He tipped his head toward her. “Thank you, ma’am. Just let me know what you need. But, Ma’am… you don’t want me to cook.”
She joined the men’s laughter this time, feeling normal for the first time in hours.
“Someone will contact you by late afternoon, Mrs. Bennett, to come in for a formal statement and signature. Officer Holland will leave his cell number with you and can get you to the station if you’re not up to the drive.”
Sally admonished herself for her earlier anger and annoyance. These people dealt with violence and death on a regular basis, but they were treating her with kindness and compassion.
Detective Marks reached his hand out to Sally and she allowed him to help her up from the sofa.
Caught off guard by stiff joints and a wave of vertigo, Sally stumbled. “Guess I need to get to that ambulance sooner than later.”
Marks watched her with concern as Brian Holland offered her his arm. “Ma’am?”
She gripped his arm with two hands, grateful for the assistance.
Holland led her to the front door, but Sally stopped abruptly, glancing around until she saw Nina Ahrens standing behind Det. Marks.
“Thank you so much for helping us.”
Nina smiled. “You’re welcome. Take care and I hope all of this is cleared up for you soon.”
Sally returned her smile and allowed Officer Holland to lead her from the residence, unsure if it was possible to clear up her night.
Sally tried to relax as she sat on the tailgate of the ambulance.
The paramedic who’d introduced herself as Ruby, frowned while taking Sally’s blood pressure.
Sally attempted to lighten the mood. “Will I live?”
Ruby continued to frown.
“Your blood pressure is running low and your pulse is rapid. Not unusual for what you’ve been through, ma’am. But add the nausea, fatigue and enlarged pupils, and I believe you’re suffering from mild shock. You should be seen by a doctor.”
Overwhelmed and on the verge of tears, Sally Bennett pleaded. “I believe you, Ruby and I’m not trying to be difficult, but I just need this night to end. I don’t think I can handle anymore sitting, waiting and endless questions.”
Ruby glanced from Officer Holland to her partner, Mackie and back to Sally. Her face softened. “I understand, ma’am. But you should also know shock can mean blood isn’t reaching your organs the way it should and can trigger a cardiac episode hours or even days after a traumatic event.”
“I understand, but I just want to go home. I promise if I feel worse, I’ll get to the hospital. And even if I don’t, I’ll call my doctor as soon as his office opens.”
Ruby held the clipboard while Sally signed the refusal of transport document, then turned to Holland. “Take care of her and don’t let her drive.”
“No driving. You got it.”
He helped Sally from the tailgate and they approached the Ramirez home. “I’ll find an officer inside to follow us in your car when I take you home.”
Sally didn’t hear him.
Three feet from the front door she froze in her tracks and Officer Holland felt her body trembling.
“You don’t have to do this, Mrs. Bennett. Tell me where your things are, and you can wait with Ruby while I get them.”
Several minutes passed before Sally responded, staring at the front door.
“I’m going in. Graciela and her daughter have to come back here and live. I can go in long enough to get my things.”
Allowing her to set the pace, Officer Holland entered the home behind Sally.
She was floored by all the activity.
Sally had only seen the Ramirez home in the muted and subdued lighting required by Graciela’s vision problems. Now, every room light and lamp appeared to be on. People moved around rooms, drawing on notepads and taking pictures. She entered the hallway, finding it also full of members of law enforcement. However, all eyes focused on Sally and moved to the side, allowing her to pass.
Making sure Officer Holland was right behind her, Sally headed for the guest bedroom.
Sally swiped a hand over her ear as the buzzing returned.
The hallway appeared to stretch out in front of her, making it take twice as long to cover the short distance.
As she passed Graciela’s room, Sally’s stomach rumbled, and she pursed her lips staving off another wave of nausea.
A flash of light from inside Graciela’s bedroom caught her attention and before Sally could stop herself, she turned and looked inside.
Her attacker’s body still laid on the floor at the foot of Graciela’s bed surrounded by the coroner and his staff.
Sally’s view was obscured by the crowd and all she could see was his head.
His face was turned away from her as more photos were taken to identify him.
She looked at the thick, wavy chestnut hair with fine strands of gray and a sense of familiarity returned.
She knew this man.
Sally entered the bedroom, but Officer Holland grabbed her by the hand. “Ma’am, you don’t want to do that.”
She pulled from his grasp. “I have to,” and before anyone could stop her, Sally Bennett pushed her way through the crowd and stared down at the dead man.
The buzzing in her head roared.
She opened her mouth to scream but there was no sound.
Crime scene techs tried to cover the assailant’s face, but it was too late.
Brian Holland strode through the crowd trying to get to his charge, but Sally backed away into the corner.
The boiling bile in her gut would no longer be denied and erupted from her as she turned and faced the wall.
Sally slumped to the floor clawing at her chest and the burn left by the offensive acid.
Officer Holland tried to help her up, but she scooted away… toward the still body.
The small crowd looked on in confusion and horror as Sally stroked the dead man’s hair.
Her voice returned, and mournful, pitiful wails filled the room.
Sally’s mind snapped and surrendered to the comfort of the darkness as she stared into the lifeless eyes of her husband, Frankie Bennett.
©2018 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved
Song Lyric Sunday | “Watching You” – Loose Ends
Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “seeing.”
~~~~~
The mister suggested this thirty-year-old dance tune. It’s been a favorite of his since the days VH1 wasn’t the hot mess it is now did nothing but played great videos from every genre.
Brits Carl McIntosh, Jane Eugene, and founder Steve Nichol made up the R & B band Loose Ends and took Watching You (Watching Me) went all the way to number two on the U.S. R & B charts in 1988.
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.
Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
Watching You (Watching Me)
by Loose Ends
Written by Carl McIntosh
Tell me something, why’s it oh so cold in my house
I’ve been feelin’ like the whole world’s
Been right on my shoulders
Since you’ve left there’s been black cat sittin’
On my door step
Was I hallucinatin’ cuz I’m sure he spoke to me he said
(Bridge)
Remember the time
(I don’t rememba?)
You drank to much wine
(but I was having so much fun, yeh, yeh)
You’re secret phone calls
(your secret lil’ business, you, you, know)
Some things you can’t hide
()
I’ve been watching
Watching you watching me
Tell me something
Why is o so cold your house
(I’ve been watching you)
*repeat*
(ooo so so cold in your house)
Tell me something why’s it oh so cold in your house
The sun is shining like the wind still whistles through the window
Can’t help thinkin there’s the some things
You’ve done peculiar, baby
Now I’ve been silent
But it’s time for me to say, to ya
(Bridge)
Remember the time
(which time baby?)
You drank to much wine
(but she was just a good friend)
Your secret phone calls
(you know I gotta take care of business)
Some things you can’t hide
(a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do)
()
I’ve been watching
Watching you watching me
Tell me something
Why’s it oh so cold your house
(my house)
*repeat 2 times*
I’ve been watching
(I’ve been watching you)
(Talk)
Grrr you’ve been such a bad boy
(oooo yeah)
You cheated on me and I found out ’bout ya
(oooo yeah)
Such a nastyyy boy
(oooo yeah)
Grrrrrrr
(oooo yeah)
So nastyy
(oooo yeah)
I’ve been watching you
()
I’ve been watching
Watching you watching me
(yehhhhh)
Tell me something why’s it oh so cold
Your house
(my house)
*repeat (till’ fades)*
Compiled from Genius Lyrics, YouTube, and Google.
