Martin Hayes

Fatal Secrets

A realistic and tragic dream leads Scott Stapleton away from the life he knows and into the small town of Dovesbury. His home repair business places him in contact with many locals as well as a diary, which was written and hidden over 40 years ago. The diary’s contents, unread for decades, tells of the towns major players along with details of their fatal secrets! As Scott fights to bring justice to a long departed young woman he finds himself suspect of the small towns latest homicide. The few he can trust, turn on him. Alone, he battles near death experiences while the new love in his life lures him into the trap designed to kill him. He must overcome the adversity to solve the two murders before becoming Dovesbury’s next Fatal Secret.

FATAL SECRETS

Chapter 1

Awakening to total darkness Scott Stapleton sat up quickly overcome by fear! Something is his dreams had caused the break in his sleep. It was horrible and terrifying! Trying hard to recall the events of this unsettling nightmare, Scott sits helplessly in his bed as the troubling visions quickly dissipate from his memory. Like the blank screen at the end of a movie,…it was gone. Gone and irretrievable! Scott found himself unable to remember even one piece of the horror he had witnessed just seconds ago. His subconscious and stomach, however, still held signs of the disturbing scenes he had experienced. Scott felt as though he was under great pressure to help someone, or something, but he could not remember whom or what!

Lying back down onto his pillow, Scott attempted to re-enter a slumber with hopes of rest, and not torment. As he lay there wide-eyed and nervous he knew, any further sleep would elude him tonight. Cramping continued to ail Scott’s stomach as he felt the sweat begin to dry on his skin. Although a shower came to mind, Scott persistently pursued the dream, which had escaped so suddenly. There were messages! There were things he was supposed to do! But what were they? Moreover, who were they for?

After a long search through the narrow passageways of his mind, Scott realized he was coming no closer to the answers he so desperately sought. Rising to a sitting position Scott felt the sheet peel away from his sweat covered back. Glancing over at his alarm clock, he was shocked to see it to be 4:45 AM. Making his way through the enormous apartment, he called home, Scott felt intimidated by the darkness. A dream, a nightmare had never before troubled him so deeply. Not even at a young age had he been so intimidated by a nightmare. Now age 31 he felt somewhat silly. Moving slowly and silently toward the kitchen Scott turned on every light along the way. Every dark corner possessed a new challenge for his courage. The safe feeling of his own home had departed. Moving into the kitchen, Scott had managed to illuminate almost every square inch of his spacious dwelling. The light did little to convince his troubled mind that all was well, however.

From deeper in FATAL SECRETS by Martin Hayes.

Lightning flashed directly overhead illuminating the entire area with a brief and spider webbed pattern. At that moment, in that split second of light, Scott was able to see a figure running across River Road toward his home. The flash seemed to freeze the person in place. The night returned to darkness yet Scott was still able to see the individual run up to the front of his house! Carefully he walked to the roofs edge where he looked down to see this person peering through the living room window! Hoping it was Angie, Scott shouted to make his position known, but the hard rain and howling winds must have over taken  his attempts. Inhaling to yell once more Scott watched as this unknown character ran into the house with a sudden burst of speed! Wiping his eyes, Scott realized he might have seen the person carrying a gun! Frozen in fear he did not know what to do. His hammer was no match for a gun. While his pounding heart raced he was faced with nowhere to go. The man did not know where he was so his present position would have to do. No one would believe he was on his roof in the middle of a thunderstorm. That is what he hoped for anyway.

Knowing his steps may be heard from inside the house Scott stayed at the roof’s edge. Then, the mysterious person ran from inside the house and into the front yard. Watching from above in a state of terror Scott observed this person who was in fact carrying a pistol. All Scott could do was watch as the intruder looked toward Scott’s truck before scanning the surrounding area. This person, who now appeared to be a man, turned back toward Scott’s house. The water rushing over Scott’s face made it impossible for him to see who the prowler was.

Suddenly lightning shot across the sky! All of its brilliance revealed Scott’s ladder leaning against the house. The stranger walked to the base of Scott’s only exit and looked up. There, Scott stayed perfectly still in the darkness hoping he would not be discovered. Once again the sky was blanketed by a flash of lightning! It was at that moment Scott came face to face with a man and the barrel of his gun. The rumble of thunder filled the sky.  A loud ‘crack’ swept through the air as Scott heard a hissing pass his ear. He realized quickly he had been shot at! Instinctively, Scott turned and ran to the peak of the roof. Turning around he could see the ladder bounce against the roofs edge as his could be killer rushed up toward the roof. Scott turned and looked around. He had no place to go! The ground was nearly ten feet down and the oak tree stood just out of reach. The ladder was his only escape! Then, without hesitation, Scott ran to the roof’s edge opposite the gunman, and jumped. The mud-covered ground came to him with a violent impact but miraculously he remained on his feet. Without searching for his pursuer, Scott took off as fast as he could toward the rivers edge. A shot rang out! Continuing toward the bank of the rushing river Scott was running for his life. Another shot came from Scott’s roof top and was followed by a strange ‘pop’. Fear jolted Scott’s body, as he feared he had been hit. The reaction caused him to slip, losing his balance and into the river he slid!  His grip on the muddy bank was no match for the rushing water of Floating Man’s River.  The water was higher and faster due to the rain. The current was sweeping him along the riverbank as he struggled to grab anything secure. Not far from where he had fallen in Scott was struck by a metal fence post leaning from the bank. With a quick reflex, he was able to get a couple of fingers around the slippery metal. As he fought the incredible current in an attempt to get his other hand onto the post Scott could see his attacker walking toward him in the dark along the riverbank!

With both hands around the post, Scott could only hope he had not been seen.  He feared his strength would not last as the gunman walked slowly along the river’s edge. With every step, he moved closer and closer. The aggressor’s eyes scanning both the trees as well as the riverbank. The raging water was pulling hard on Scott as well as his saturated shorts and shoes. His grip was slipping. His heart pounding as loud as the thunder, which again cracked loudly above. The man who wanted Scott dead, for whatever reason, was now just above him on the bank. Scott could feel his forearms pump as his fingers began to cramp. He prayed the stranger would not look down. If he did, it would be all over! The rain poured and the lightning flashed as the gunman’s head pivoted. Scott wiggled for a better grip, but it was of no use. Scott’s strength was spent. The rush of water against him would surely sweep him away and to where? No one may ever know!