Love in Flames (SAMPLE)

The storm raged outside and the tree branches blew against the roof. He heard the rain beat against his window with the wind picking up outside. The storm wasn’t supposed to be this bad, and he hoped his parents would be home soon. He laid awake in his bed as he tried closing his eyes to fall asleep, but it was no use. Turning on his side with frustration and grabbing his television remote. He pressed the power button, but it wouldn’t turn on. Jabbing at it a couple more times until he gave up and tossed it on his bed, throwing his head back into his pillows. He sighed and stared up at the ceiling, listening to the rainstorm. The storm must have cut out the power.
Well, that’s just great...
Creak
Suddenly, he heard a noise that came from downstairs, and he shot up in bed. He listened closely to hear those keys jingle, like they always did as his parents would toss them on the entryway table, but the sound never came. Slowly creeping out of bed as his head arched towards the sound and he listened over top of the beating rain against his window. He stood up just as the same sound happened again.
Creak
His blood pumped wildly in his ears and he knew something was wrong. It wasn’t his parents coming home, and the footsteps now became louder. His bare feet slowly crept towards his closet and he’s glad he left the doors open. He could just slide inside and hide out of sight. Stepping inside his closet as he sat back against his clothes and quietly closed the closet doors. He breathed in the scent of freshly washed fabric that his mom had just put away before she left. It helped calm his nerves, but didn’t stop the tears that streamed down his cheeks. He wished so much they were here, and this was all a bad dream he’d wake up from any moment.
Instead, he trembled in his closet as darkness swallowed him whole and the footsteps sounded just outside his bedroom door. His body quivered with fear as he tried his best to sit still and prayed they wouldn’t come in. His eyes sprung open as he listened in the darkness and the bedroom door creaked open. He’d forgotten to shut it once again and left it ajar. His body vibrated as his breathing picked up and he realized they were entering his room. Peering down and soft light illuminated near his toes under the crack of his closet door. His hand covered his mouth as fear took over and he tried so hard to be silent. Fear that they would find him and not knowing what they would do to him. His mind wonders why they’re here and what they might want, but he’s too young to understand. He shouldn’t even be in this situation, and he should be tucked safely in his bed.
Suddenly, the light vanished, and he heard the footsteps slowly fade away as he breathed a sigh of relief. His body was no longer rigid and tense as he rested his head against his clothing. A moment had passed and the sounds he heard were no longer. He reached for the closet doorknob with a trembling hand and slowly turned the knob. Slowly standing up, opening the door as quietly as possible and his bare feet touching the floor once more. He stepped out of the closet and quietly listened to the only sound he could hear. The branches outside scratched at the roof with the wild winds blowing them about. His body relaxed as he closed his eyes and slowly clicked his closet door shut.
“Oh, thank goodness...” He breathed into the darkness.
It’s then his eyes shot open with horror as he felt a death grip reach out and grab him from the darkness. It threw him up against the hard wall and knocked the wind out of him. He flung his fists around at his attacker and released a blood-curdling scream that would soon be silenced because it was too late. They had him, and his entire world went black.


***


It’s early morning, and the sunlight shone through my office window. Realizing the sun had finally set, signaling the beginning of a new day as I squinted towards it and stood up. My hand found the blind handle and turned them upwards until the morning glare faded from my cluttered office desk.
“That’s much better.” I sighed as I returned to my old, but very comfortable office chair and took a seat.
Flinging my brunette locks over my shoulder and my hand found my coffee mug. I brought my morning coffee to my lips and took a taste, feeling thankful for the extra cream as the burnt coffee went down smoothly. I needed my coffee to function with all the late-night work I’d been doing lately, and the morning brew at the police department would have to do. Especially with this recent case that just landed in my lap, but it’s one I couldn’t turn down because my friend needed me. The look in his eyes as he handed me the case file he’d been working on for over a month now. His eyes pleaded with me for help because I’m the only one he trusted and well, I’m the best private investigator in town.
“Cassandra, I need you to do this for me because I just know it’s him.” His voice pleaded with me and I remembered the moment.
I felt hesitant as I stood there and gazed through the file he’d handed me. Looking at the images of a ruggedly handsome man with crystal clear blue eyes that would have any woman falling to their knees. “Well, hotshot, I will do this just for you, but you owe me big time.”
He smiled back at me and tapped my shoulder. “I’m never going to live that nickname down, am I?”
“Hell, no, hotshot because you saved my life.” I teased as I closed the case file and pointed it at him. “I know how much this means to you and I will get you the answer you need.”
“Thanks, Cassandra, I can always count on you.” He smiled brightly as he spun around and walked in the opposite direction. “I will be in touch.”
“You better be and make sure you say hi to that wife of yours!” I called out as he looked over his shoulder and nodded towards me, watching him exit out of sight.
I gazed down at the case spread out before me as I went over all the information I have of the ruggedly handsome Mr. Tucker Turner. It stated in records they adopted him at sixteen to a loving family that lived in Los Angeles, and before his adoption he’d been hospitalized with no memory of who he was. From the medical records given by the hospital, the paramedics received a call that a car had hit a young man. They took him to hospital, where he had multiple injuries from the incident and a severe concussion, which caused him to be out for several days before he’d awoken. From the official police statement, he suffered from amnesia because he couldn’t recall anything about himself except that he knew he was fifteen and his sixteenth birthday was coming up soon.
“Who are you really, Mr. Tucker Turner?” I breathed as I looked down into his beautiful blue eyes and they shone back at me. Their captivating as I looked at his dirty blonde hair all neatly kept for the camera, nicely tanned skin and slick leather jacket. Tucker Turner had that classic bad boy appearance, and there was something about him that caused my heart to flutter.
I tore my blue stare away from his and continued on reading the rest of the information collected on him. While living in Los Angeles he went to high school and received very impressive marks, but in the end started acting as soon as he graduated. He went from advertising gigs and worked his way up. It wasn’t until he landed a movie deal that changed his life forever and became the famous Tucker Turner. All the information after that I’m well aware of because I’m a big fan of the famous movie star myself. I also knew that soon after his first big movie deal, his adoptive parents were tragically killed in a car accident that almost had him spiral out of control. It had been all over the media, and that’s how I came to know him because I felt that connection with him. I knew what it’s like to lose my parents.
Tears glistened in my eyes at the memory of the tragic day when I knew I’d never see them again, but I pushed it aside. I had more important things to focus on and not dwell on the past. My friend needed my help and I’m determined to bring him the answer that he seeks. I cleaned up the paperwork upon my desk, gathering it into my hands and tapping it lightly to straighten it before placing it back inside the case file.
I stood and those crystal blue eyes peered back at me. “I will meet you soon, Tucker Turner.”
I clamped the case file closed and gathered it under my arm as I grabbed my car keys. I’d make a quick stop at home first to gather some belongings before making my lengthy trip to the small town of Blazin. The place where I’d track down Mr. Tucker Turner himself, hiding a secret of my own.