Citrus Sanctuary - Three Chapter Sample

7/28/2019 Citrus Sanctuary - Three Chapter Sample

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CITRUS SANCTUARY

UNPUBLISHED

ADVANCE READER COPY


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CHAPTER ONE

THE LAST THING STU GREENE wanted to hear as he lay on his back underneath hisdesk with a face full of computer cables was his cell phone ringing. He and his roommate, Oscar,were in the process of moving off campus after their freshman year at the University of Florida

in Gainesville. Stu wanted to ignore the phone, but he knew Oscar had a low tolerance for such

rudeness. He extricated himself from the desk, but not quite fast enough."STU! ANSWER YOUR PHONE!" Oscar shouted from the next room.

Stu pulled himself to a sitting position as he fumbled for the phone on top of his desk. A

quick glance at the caller ID revealed a surprise. He had not talked to Natalie since spring break

and they were officially going separate ways. Still friends, but apart. Sort of, but not quite."Hi, Natalie, this is a pleasant surprise." It was a surprise, but Stu reserved his judgment on

how pleasant it would be. Natalie could be very high-maintenance."Stu, are your exams over yet?"

"Yeah, why?"

"How quickly can you get to Boston?" Natalie asked.

The panic in her voice gave Stu a sudden chill. "Whoa, Natalie, Boston?""Yes, Boston."

"Flying or driving?" Stu hedged. He did not like where he thought this was going.

"Driving, both you and Oscar," Natalie replied."Natalie, this is crazy." Stu stood up. "Tell me why Oscar and I should drive twelve hundred

miles to see you.""We need to rescue my roommate's sister and get her out of here."Stu caught his breath. "Natalie, let me get this straight. You want Oscar and me to drive to

Boston and rescue your roommate's sister and take her away."

"Stu, is that Natalie on the phone?" Oscar said as he walked into the room.

"Yes.""Put her on speaker."

"Natalie, you're on speaker and Oscar's here."


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"Hey, Natalie!"

"Hey, Oscar."

"Oscar, how much of what I told Stu did you hear?""Something about rescuing somebody's sister. When and where?" Oscar said.

"Boston, as soon as possible," Stu answered.

Oscar furrowed his brow. "That's a long drive. What do we do with her once we have her?"The engineer in Oscar kicked in. Stu could tell by the look on Oscar's face that he had

already flown past all the things the reporter in Stu wanted to know, "if", "who", "what",

"where", "when", "why" and was working on "how" with startling speed."Yeah, Natalie, what do we do with her once we have her?" Stu paused. "Oscar! Are you

crazy? Are you really thinking of driving to Boston and absconding with some girl we don't

know on Natalie's say so?"

"Stu, you're an idiot.""Oscar, stop saying that!"

"You let her go. You're an idiot. Of course we're going to Boston. You took a year to build a

wild bird rookery for her."

"It's not the same," Stu protested."It is," Oscar said. "The lady called and we answered."

Oscar gripped Stu's shoulder. "Besides, neither of us has to be anywhere before Monday.Today's Thursday. That's plenty of time to drive there and back."

Stu shuddered before asking, "Natalie, what do we do with her once we have her?"

"Hide her in Florida," Natalie said.Stu paced the small room. This was so not how he wanted to spend his summer. "Florida's a

big place. Any particular part of Florida?"

He'd had his share of excitement chasing eco-terrorists last summer. This summer was

supposed to be calm, academic and basically boring. He had planned on enjoying the boredom."I had hoped you could figure that out," Natalie said. "As long as it's someplace her

boyfriend can't find her."

Stu sighed. He knew that she had known all along that he would come to her rescue."Ah, the plot thickens," Oscar said, gleefully rubbing his hands together.

Stu huffed, "Oscar, you're the geek. I'm the writer. That's my line."

Stu paused to collect his thoughts. He nervously straightened his pony tail. "So, we're justgoing to climb into your car, fill up with gas and make a mad dash for Boston?"

"Sort of," Oscar said. "Natalie are you coming back with us?"

"Yes, Oscar, thank you for this."

"You're welcome. Anyone else coming?""My roommate."

"That's five. We need something bigger than my car. Stu's Mom's minivan is too small, and

it's two hours in the wrong direction. My uncle still has that beat up old ten passenger van wecould use. He lives outside of Jacksonville. We can pick it up on the way. We'll have to clean a

year's worth of beer cans, but we should have it aired out by the time we get to Boston. Any

particular place in Boston we should meet you?""Riverside station," Natalie said with obvious relief. "Do you remember where that is?"

"Yes," Stu replied, remembering his trip to Boston last year to drop Natalie off at Harvard.

Natalie had been wait-listed at Harvard and almost did not get to go. "I can't believe I'm doing

this. Oh, by the way, where are we rescuing your roommate's sister from?"


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"The hospital. Her boyfriend pushed her down the stairs."

"Oh, joy," Stu said.

"Stu, Oscar, you have no idea how much this means. You'll be saving her life."Oscar looked at his watch, "Stu, how long do you figure the drive is?"

"In good traffic, nineteen to twenty hours drive time, I guess, plus stops."

"If we allow twenty-four hours including picking up the van and pit stops, we should bethere about eleven tomorrow morning. That's Friday. Is that soon enough?"

Stu and Oscar heard whispers in the background. "Yeah. Call me from the road and let me

know where you are.""Sure thing," Stu said.

"Thank you. See you then, Bye."

"Bye, Natalie."

Stu watched in amazement as Oscar madly stuffed clothes into a back pack."Stu, you better pack or I'm leaving without you."

"Oscar, this is crazy."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes," Stu said."You're an idiot for letting her go."

"Stop saying that. You barely know her. You met her for five minutes at the rookery. I woulddrag her down. She needs better than me. What do you know anyway?"

"I know she's the best thing that ever happened to you. Shut up and pack so we can hit the

road. We have to be out of Jacksonville and into Georgia before rush hour. You drive first. I havecalls to make. Don't forget your camera."

"Do I go to the bathroom without my camera?"

"Sometimes," Oscar said.

"I can't believe we're doing this.""STU! SHUT UP AND PACK!"

"Yes, sir."

Stu threw clothes into his back pack and grabbed his ever-ready camera case and followedOscar out the door.

"Stu, are you sure you know how to get there?"

"Yes, Oscar," Stu huffed. "We take I-95 north from Jacksonville. We go around DC to NewYork. We make a right in New York to New Haven. In New Haven we make a left and follow the

signs for Hartford until we see signs for the Mass Pike and Boston. The subway station is near

the intersection of the Mass Pike and Route 128. I borrowed a GPS last time I made the drive. I

can figure it out. It's not that tough.""We'll buy a map. You can read a map can't you?"

"Yes," Stu huffed.

"Good. You can drive the last part and I'll navigate," Oscar said."I should call my parents and tell them what's going on," Stu said.

"Can you do that and drive at the same time?" Oscar asked.

"Yes, I'm not a complete idiot.""Yes, you are. Let's go. Daylight's wasting!"


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CHAPTER TWO

TIRED AND BLEARY EYED, Oscar and Stu pulled into the subway station parking lotexactly on schedule. Natalie and a companion ran toward the van dragging two suitcases eachand carrying backpacks, computer bags and an assortment of luggage. They knew which van it

was because Oscar had described it to them over the phone. No two vans could be that ugly.

"Oscar! Stu!""Does Natalie have a hug for Oscar?" Oscar held out his arms as he bounced out of the van.

"I always have a hug for you. Even if only to make Stu jealous." She laughed as she hugged

him. He was so much taller and broader than her that her hands barely reached around his chest.

Stu waited only as long as was polite before prying them apart and hugging her himself. Hegave her a quick kiss before they turned to Natalie's companion.

She was also glad to see them. Her broad smile lit up her face. "You must be Stu and youmust be Oscar. Natalie described you so well I feel like I know you."

"That would make you Liz," Oscar replied looking her in the eye and noticing with

satisfaction that she was almost his height. Finding a woman his size was a challenge.

"Yes, and I could hug you both for driving all the way from Florida," Liz said putting downwhat she was carrying.

"I am not one to turn down a hug," Oscar quipped opening his arms. Liz folded into his

massive arms and rested her head on his shoulder. There was something calming and safe aboutthis giant smiling redneck. Silent tears glistened in her eyes.

Natalie looked at the two young men and smiled. The short dark buff one with the pony tailwas her high school sweetheart and the tall blond stunning specimen of Southern masculinitywith the crew cut was his college roommate. How the two got along was beyond her, but there

was no doubt that they did and actually enjoyed each others' company. Of course, the fact that

the big guy was an electronics genius might have had something to do with it.

Breaking her hug from Oscar, Liz said, "We have to be at the hospital in an hour. Get backon 128 and go north. We need to stop at the house and pick up my sister's luggage. My mother

should have packed Irene's stuff before she left to sign Irene out of the hospital. Better yet, I


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should drive since I know where we're going."

Oscar handed Liz the key and climbed into the back. In spite of the fact that the guys had

driven the van the whole way with the windows open, it still smelled of stale beer. The girlsnoticed, but had the grace not to comment.

The stop at the house was brief. They threw the suitcases in the back of the van and left for

the hospital. They arrived at the hospital room as Liz's mother signed the last of the releasepapers. Tired and worried, she stared at Stu and Oscar. "You're Natalie's friends."

"Yes, ma'am," Oscar replied.

"Natalie tells me you'll take good care of Irene. Natalie has a good heart. I trust her. Don'ttell me where you're taking her, it's better if I don't know. Promise me you'll be gentle with her."

"We will, Mrs. Brennan," Stu said. "We'll have her back in no time good as new."

"She can't come back. It's not safe. Go before he discovers you." Mrs. Brennan left.

The nurse attending the other patient in the room pulled back the curtain so the womancould get up to use the restroom. They stared at the crowd that had gathered in the room

captivated with the scene that was unfolding in front of them.

Liz sat on the bed and put her arm around her sister. "Irene, are you ready to go?"

Irene nodded slowly."Irene, you have to answer me plainly. Are you ready to go with me?"

"Are we going somewhere Troy cannot find me?" Irene asked slowly, her mind foggy fromthe pain medication.

"Yes," Liz assured her.

"We don't have time for this," Natalie hissed."Do you want to spend the rest of your life in jail?" Liz shot back.

"No," Natalie said.

"We have to establish that she is going of her own free will," Liz said. "The laws are clear.

This is important."Irene looked at Natalie and then at her sister. "Please take me somewhere safe that Troy can

never find me."

Irene spotted Stu and Oscar standing at the door. Her reaction at seeing Oscar was not one ofjoy, but rather of fear. She stared at him.

"This is Oscar. He is kind and gentle. He and Stu will take care of us," Liz said.

Only slightly shorter than Liz, Irene attempted to stand but her knees would not hold. Beforeshe could hit the floor, Oscar snatched her up and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"It's okay, baby," he cooed. "Big Oscar's got you now. Nobody's going to hurt you."

Irene appeared ready to scream, but Liz silenced her with a finger to her lips.

Stu stepped out to the hall to clear a path when they heard shouting. Stu popped his headback into the room. "Get her out of here, now! Use the back stairs!"

Stu disappeared into the commotion in the hallway.

"What about you?" Natalie screamed as Oscar cleared a path in the other direction."I'll call!" Stu shouted back.

Stu turned to face the young man, no older than himself, whose path Irene's mother blocked

and into whose face she shrieked. The man matched the description Liz had given them of TroyFiske; Irene's boyfriend that she said pushed her down the stairs. Stu pulled back in horror at the

intensity of Troy's anger. Troy drew back his fist and punched Mrs. Brennan in the jaw sending

her careening across the hallway into the wall toppling medical equipment carts as she fell.

"Security!" A half dozen voices called at once. An alarm sounded.


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Stu advanced on Troy as he drew back to strike the fallen woman again. Stu deflected the

blow and pushed Troy away. Troy stepped up and threw a punch at Stu that went wild.

Deflecting yet another punch with his arm, Stu took Troy down with a single smooth practicedblow from his right to Troy's solar plexus. This was not the first time Stu was glad that his

roommate was a third string NCAA quarterback with designs on first string and had drafted Stu

as his workout partner. Troy sank to the floor. Two orderlies held him down.Stu helped Mrs. Brennan to her feet. "Can you walk?" Stu asked.

"Yes," she said weakly.

"Let's get out of here." Stu knew that if they were to get Irene away without being followed,he needed to escape without being identified. He half carried and half dragged Mrs. Brennan to

the exit door and down the back stairs leaving the spectators to wonder why they escaped instead

of waiting for the police. Staying would mean another confrontation with Troy which Liz had

emphasized was to be avoided if at all possible.Stu drove Mrs. Brennan's car to a small emergency clinic. She called her husband to meet

her there. Stu left her in the care of the duty nurse. After a quick stop at a convenience store for

exact change, directions and an energy drink, Stu headed for the bus stop to catch a bus to the

subway station. He sent Natalie a text as he walked. "Mom ok will call from riverside stationbring roast beef sub w cheese cooler drinks long drive"

An hour later, Stu sent another text "At riverside come get me"The van appeared at the edge of the parking lot and the side door slid open. Stu sprinted for

it and hopped in. Natalie slammed the door behind him."How is she?" Stu asked, pointing to Irene."Sleeping," Natalie replied. "How are you?"

"Starving."

"How is my mother?" Liz asked from the driver's seat.

Stu said, "She has a bruise on her jaw, but the nurse didn't think anything was broken.They're doing x-rays. Your father should have arrived shortly after I left. Does he know what

we're doing?"

"It was his idea," Liz assured him as she pulled out of the parking lot."Your mother is going to have to fill out a police report," Stu cautioned.

"And how will she tell them that she was assaulted by the son of an F B I agent?" Liz

challenged. "Do you really think the cops will be any help at all? They're as afraid of the old manas we are. They didn't believe Irene when she said Troy pushed her down the stairs. They

believed Troy when he said she fell because she was in a tizzy from screaming at him for no

reason."

Stu absorbed Liz's rant and said, "Nothing we can do about that now. We have a long ride. Iassume you know the way."

Liz said, "the first part of it anyway."

"Wake me at the first rest stop," Stu said as he closed his eyes for a nap.


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CHAPTER THREE

"Mrs. BRENNAN, LET ME UNDERSTAND YOU.""Officer Nolan, we've been over this.""Do you expect me to believe you refuse to press charges against the person who hit you

because his father is an F B I agent?"

"Yes, Officer Nolan.""I can't help you if you don't press charges, Mrs. Brennan. If he's bad we need to take care of

him. Can you not help us?"

"No, Officer Nolan, I am afraid the father will use his authority to intimidate the witnesses. I

will not put innocent people in harm's way.""If an agent is abusing his office we need him off the force. Are you that afraid of him?"

"Yes," Liz's mother replied. "Mark my words, Officer. Within six weeks, all traces of thatrecording will be gone and someone will press charges against my husband. I would not be

surprised if we find an edited version of the tape showing my husband in place of the real

criminal."

"Why do you have so little faith in us?""My parents were Vietnam protesters. When I was young, police beat my parents for

participating in an anti-war rally. I was there. One of them pushed me down to keep me from

trying to help. My grandparents were union organizers. They had their share of confrontationswith the long arm of the law. My husband works for an oil exploration company. We have lived

in countries where the police were as criminal as the criminals. Shall I go on?""Mrs. Brennan, I can't speak to what happened in other places or times, but I can assure you

that I will do everything I can to see that justice is served."

"Officer Nolan, you are putting your career at risk."

"I do that every time I walk out of the precinct office."

"It's your funeral.""Who was the young man that brought you here from the hospital?"

"I don't know his name."


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"Was he one of the ones who helped kidnap your daughter?"

"They did not kidnap her."

"They carried her down the back stairs. It looked like a kidnapping.""I sent her away. I don't know who he was, where he came from or where he went. I didn't

ask. I didn't want to know. He dropped me at the clinic and disappeared," Mrs. Brennan said.

"They will charge him with assault if they can find him.""I hope they never find him."

"If he's left the state, he could be charged with interstate flight to avoid prosecution."

"Officer Nolan, I know you're trying to do your job, but you're up against a violentlyobsessive young man with a powerful father. You are risking your career to help me."

"Let me be the judge of that. If you need anything, here's my business card. The doctors said

you could leave once we finished."

"My husband and I are leaving the country for a couple of months. With luck, he won't beable to find us. I'll send you a message telling you how to contact us should you need to."

"Take care, Mrs. Brennan."

"Thank you, Officer Nolan."


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CHAPTER FOUR

TROY COWERED in front of his father. "But Dad, she was screaming at me. She wasblocking my way. It was the only way I could stop her."

"You hit her. How do you think that will look to my superiors? How could you be so

stupid?"

"It's not like I revealed the location of the Bay of Pigs invasion," Troy shot back.The man threw a savage left hook that caught the boy on the cheek. Accustomed to such

abuse, the boy took the hit without flinching. His father followed the left hook with a right cross

that knocked the boy to the floor. His eyes lost their focus as he fell.

"How many times have I told you not to hit people in public?""But..."

"Shut UP! Did you recognize any of them?""That nosy sister of hers and her roommate and some man mountain," Troy whined.

"What about the guy that hit you?"

"He was a blur," Troy said covering his head to ward off another strike.

"Would you recognize him if you saw him again?""I don't know," Troy cried out.

"The mother is not pressing charges."

"So, we're off the hook.""That meddling cop Nolan snatched the tape before I could get my hands on it. He made too

many copies for us to edit it and make it look like the husband did it.""Why would he do that?""The mother must have told him I'd do something with the tape. No telling where the copies

went. We'll keep our eyes on Nolan. He could be trouble. We will go after the sister and the

roommate for kidnapping and the guy that hit you for assault."

"How will you find him?""The same way we find other criminals."

"Thank you Dad."


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"Get up off the floor! You look like someone used your face for a punching bag."

"Yes, Dad."

"We'll bring her back. No mere woman runs out on my son." Agent Fiske slurred the word"woman" in disdain.


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CHAPTER FIVE

BY THE TIME THE VAN reached the Florida state line, after over twenty-four hours onthe road, much of it in heavy traffic, and a dozen phone calls to Stu's parents, Stu had a plan. Stuand Oscar had not formulated their plan on the drive north. Only once they had successfully

collected Irene did they consider their next move. In retrospect, Stu realized how stupid that was.

He was grateful for his parents' support. He did not know anyone else who would have comethrough the way they did when he called for help. Still, he felt it wasn't much of a plan, but it

was a plan.

Natalie, however, loved the plan. Having once visited the remote, secured compound that

was Stu's uncle's citrus farm, when they were collecting plants to put on the island, Natalie knewthat was the safest place for them. The fact that Stu's aunt and uncle had "adopted" her into the

family made it all the more comfortable. She looked forward to seeing Stu's teenage cousins,Billy, Bobby and Timmy. They were a handful, but they were fun to be around.

After dark, Stu stopped the van in front of the remote control security gate at the entrance to

his Uncle George's citrus farm. Even with four drivers, they were exhausted when they arrived.

Stu called his uncle on the phone. The gate code was changed every month and Stu's old codedid not work. The gate slowly slid open. Stu thought he saw the shadow of a man on horseback

carrying a large rifle waiting under one of the trees next to the road. Stu appreciated his uncle's

sense of caution.Stu parked in front of the house. Four well fed German Shepherds appeared and calmly

inspected the van.Stu watched the dogs for a moment and said, "Wait for the dogs to recognize Oscar and me

and then you get out one at a time. The dogs need to know you're friends."

Oscar bounced out of the van and shouted, "Capone! Come here boy!"

The biggest of the dogs rounded the corner of the van at a dead run and, with a leap that

terrified the girls, jumped into the air and planted his front paws on Oscar's chest knocking himto the ground. With his tail wagging up a storm, the dog licked Oscar's face as Oscar tussled with

him. When Oscar had had enough, he rolled the big dog off him and stood up. The dog stood


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next to Oscar and "woofed" once before wandering to Stu. Stu crouched and scratched the big

dog between his ears. The dog "woofed" and the other dogs came around for their share of

attention."Natalie, meet the dogs," Stu said. "Even if they don't remember you from the last time you

were here, they know you're with us. Give them a scratch behind the ears."

Natalie did as she was told. The dogs sniffed her and woofed halfhearted greetings, butclearly had no interest in her.

Liz stepped out of the van and the dogs ignored her turning their attention back to Oscar. "I

don't know whether to be relieved or offended," Liz said."Neither. They'll warm up to you," Stu said.

Oscar helped Irene out of the van and the dogs' attitude changed instantly. They clustered

around her and whined.

Stu said, "Irene, sit down. The dogs know you're hurt. I saw them do this after Billy gotthrown by the horse. Let them comfort you."

Irene sat on the ground. The lone female of the group curled up beside her and rested her

head in Irene's lap.

"Irene, meet Bonnie. You belong to her now. She will be your nursemaid."Irene stroked the dog's fur. "How does she know?"

"Beats me," Stu said. "But one of my neighbors had a cat that knew who was sick beforethey did. Now that she has claimed you, she'll control who'll be able to get near you."

"And that will include me," Billy said as he materialized out of the shadows. "Watch this. I

feed her and she knows who I am and I'll bet she doesn't let me near you."Billy reached to help Irene to her feet and Bonnie snarled at him.

Bobby ambled to the lit area. "Bonnie, let her up!"

Bonnie looked at Bobby and backed away from Irene keeping a careful eye on the boys.

Irene stood and steadied herself by resting her hand on Bonnie's back.Timmy joined the group. "Clyde, Capone, Dillinger, come here!" The three male dogs

dutifully obeyed. Timmy stooped down. "Good boys. Good job." He fed them each a doggie

treat. He tossed one to Bonnie who snatched it out of the air."Introductions are in order," Stu said. "These are my cousins, Billy, Bobby and Timmy. You

know Oscar. You remember Natalie."

Timmy said, "Woo Hoo!" and Bobby punched him in the shoulder.Natalie smiled and said, "This is my roommate Liz and her sister Irene."

Billy said, "Mom said to tell you that the three ladies get the guest bedroom and the fold out

sofa. You work out who goes where. Guys go in the camper."

"That's okay," Stu said. "We have to return the van to Jacksonville in the morning. Then Ihave to start my summer project."

"What kind of project?" Billy asked.

"It's an independent research project. I'll tell you about it tomorrow at dinner," Stu replied.Stu's Uncle George rode up on one of the thoroughbred horses he had rescued from being

slaughtered for dog meat. After introductions, he said, "Y'all need to get inside. You weren't

followed.""Thank you," Liz said to the man, still horseback, who towered over them.

"Breakfast is at 7:00 AM sharp," George said. "I'll see you then and we'll distribute chores."

Citrus Sanctuary - Three Chapter Sample

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