Wittenburg - See Tom run: a novel

Tom Grayson returns home from a quick errand to discover that his family and guests have all mysteriously disappeared. Prior to this chilling discovery, he has been tormented with guilt by a secret that only he and a former lover share: the two have witnessed a brutal crime that Tom has refused to report. He knows that alerting the authorities would jeopardize all that he holds dear in life: his family and career. In a desperate search to find his missing family, Tom embarks on a journey that can only be described as nightmarish and surreal. When it becomes increasingly clear that Tom may lose something even more precious than his comfortable existence, his priorities in life shift dramatically as he becomes an unwitting detective with a mission. But will it be too late for him to set the record straight?

See Tom Run

Scott Wittenburg

Copyright 2009 Scott Wittenburg

Discover other titles by ScottWittenburg at www.scottwittenburg.com

This book is available in print at many onlineretailers (ISBN 978-0-578-00210-1)

This is a work of fiction. The characters and eventsof this book are entirely the product of the authors imagination,and any resemblance to actual events, or to any persons, living ordead, is entirely coincidental.

In loving memory of my mother and father.

PROLOGUE

Tom Grayson felt a numbing chill in the night air ashe and Tracy walked in deliberate silence toward the parking lot.Fumbling absently through his pockets for the car keys, he wasstill reeling from what had transpired only moments ago when hearrived at her apartment

Im pregnant, she announced flatly without so muchas a hello.

Youre what?

Im pregnant, Tom, and you are the father.

No way!

Yes, way, Tracy insisted.

We always used protectionit just isntpossible!

Tom, dont do this to me! Have you forgotten thatnight after Spanglers?

Tom flashed back to the night they had hit theobscure off-campus nightclub. Damn! That was the one and only timehe and the twenty-one-year-old beauty had made love without acondomtoo horny after too many drinks and not a rubber insight

But surely he couldnt be that unlucky

Oh yes he could be, he thought, and that was afact.

Okay, I believe you. So what are you going to doabout it?

Im going to have the child, of course! And I hopeyou will be its father.

Whoa, wait a minute! Im a married man, Tracy! Orhave you forgotten? Im not even supposed to be here!

His words stung her like a slap in the face, Tomcould tell, and he immediately regretted his brashness.

Im sorry Tracy, but you have to know it would beimpossible for me to be any part of this. Surely you canunderstand

All I understand is that you are telling me that youwont be a father to our child.

But couldnt you just have, an uh

An abortion? No, Tom, I will not have an abortion.Besides being Roman Catholic with parents who havent missed asingle mass since the day they were married, I dont believe inmurder

Suddenly, the piercing screech of skidding tires inthe adjacent alley shattered Toms thoughts. The two turned inunison to see a cars passenger side door fly open and a lifelessbody tumble out onto the pavement. A tall, lanky man sprang outfrom the drivers side and ran over to where the body had come torest on its side. The man apparently didnt notice the two of themstanding just yards away as he kicked the body a couple of timesthen got back into the car and sped away.

Tom saw the mans face clearly in the glow of thestreetlight.

He and Tracy scurried over to the where the body waslying and huddled over it. When he knelt down for a closer look,Tom saw a young black woman bound with rope, gagged, andunconscious. He gingerly removed the duct tape from her mouth,half-expecting the woman to resist or cry out in pain. But exceptfor a slight flinch, she remained unresponsive.

At that moment, Tom was gripped by a sudden wave ofparanoia. If he were to get any more involved with this, Peg wouldalmost certainly find out about his affair with Tracy Adams.

And he wasnt about to risk that happening.

Lets call 911, he told Tracy.

But shouldnt we get her out of the alley first andmake sure shes okay?

We shouldnt move her. Shes alive and seems to bebreathing okay. She needs a paramedic, not us.

I guess youre right. Ill run inside and call911.

Wait! If you call from your apartment, theyll knowyou made the call!

So what?

Tracy, I really dont want to get involved in any ofthis. Nor do I want you to, either.

Her eyes narrowed. I get ityoure afraid that yourwife will know that you were with me and find out aboutour child.I think youre horrible, Tom!

Give me a break! I just found out about all of thisten minutes ago and it hasnt sunk in yet! At least give me achance to absorb the whole concept before letting the whole cityknow! Besides, we can still help out this girl without anyoneknowing it was us.

And how might we do that?

Ill run to the phone booth around the corner. Illcall 911 then meet you back here. Then well book up to yourapartment and make sure that the squad gets here okay. But we needto hurry before the whole neighborhood comes out to see whatshappening!

Tracy thought a moment, and then replied, All right.But I dont like any of this one bit. I think we should stay righthere until the medics arrive.

Tom ignored her. Ill be back in a flash.

He sprinted around the corner and called 911 from thepay phone. When the dispatcher asked who was calling, he made up aname, reported the incident and promptly hung up on her.

He rejoined Tracy and hastily led the way back up toher second floor apartment. Once inside, they peered out anxiouslyfrom the living room window until the squad arrived five minuteslater. Tom waited a moment or so then quietly slipped away beforethe cops arrived.

Peg hadnt suspected a thing when he arrived home. Hecalled Tracy later that night in a lame attempt to downplay thewhole incident. He insisted that the assaulted girl most likelyknew the man who had dumped her off in the alley so the copsshouldnt have any trouble nabbing him.

But that hadnt quite been the case, as it turnedout.

Not by a long shot.

CHAPTER1

Tom stared at his hand and debated whether to callspades trump or pass. He had the right bower, the king and a nineof spades, plus an ace of diamonds. He was also two-suited. Frank,to Toms left, had dealt and would probably call trump if hedidntand the way his luck had been going in this game, Frankprobably had a loner in hearts or diamonds. The last thing theyneeded was to give their opponents a possible four points and losethe game.

He peered across the table at Peg, who obviouslydidnt have squat. His euchre partner and wife of eight yearsalways wore her cards on her sleeve. Funny how he was the only onewho ever seemed to notice that.

Franks wife, Julie, had hesitated a moment beforepassing. Could be a bluff, but Tom doubted it. She could be holdingthe left bower for all he knewor at least a decent stopper handalong with her husband.

Screw it, he thought. He was not feeling lucky at alltoday.

Pass.

The moment he looked over and saw Franks smug grin,Tom knew they were screwed. He literally wanted to bust him in thejaw for a split second.

Ive got a loner in heartsa frigging lay-down lonerin hearts! Frank declared triumphantly.

Tom watched in horror and awe as Frank splayed hiscards on the table for all to see: a jack of hearts, a jack ofdiamonds, an ace and king of hearts and an ace of clubs.