Accidental Exposure Read online

  Accidental

  Exposure

  Daniel Norrish

  Accidental Exposure

  Copyright Daniel Norrish

  www.danielnorrish.com

  Independently Published

  Action, Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Kidnap.

  No character, organisation or collection of people in this book is based upon fact. No event or occurrence in this book is based upon fact. This novel is entirely fiction. Do not believe the words within this publication, but please enjoy the read.

  Part 1 Accident

  Chapter 1: Soon There Will Be Fire

  Chapter 2: Begin Searching the Bushes

  Chapter 3: White Jeans

  Chapter 4: Awake

  Chapter 5: Reality

  Chapter 6: Andy’s Condition

  Chapter 7: Argue

  Chapter 9: Stitches

  Chapter 10: Accusations

  Chapter 11: A Trip

  Chapter 12: Day 2

  Chapter 13: Lost

  Chapter 14: Again

  Chapter 15: Repercussions

  Chapter 16: Submit

  Chapter 17: Try Harder

  Chapter 18: Locked in

  Chapter 19: Tested

  Chapter 20: Space

  Chapter 21: Good News

  Chapter 22: Let Out

  Chapter 23: Café

  Chapter 24: Stroll

  Chapter 25: A New Place

  Chapter 26: Your New Life

  Chapter 27: A New Job

  Chapter 28: A New Friend

  Chapter 29: A New Enemy

  Chapter 30: Ethics

  Chapter 31: Fighting

  Chapter 32: Crushed

  Chapter 33: Sex

  Chapter 34: The Next Morning

  Chapter 35: Surprise

  Chapter 36: Confrontation

  Chapter 37: Dangerous decisions and the End of Part 1

  Part 2, Exposure

  Chapter 38: The Danger

  Chapter 39: Debt

  Chapter 40: Some Truth?

  Chapter 41: Civility

  Chapter 42: Complications

  Chapter 43: Prepare Yourself

  Chapter 44: Job 2

  Chapter 45: Terror

  Chapter 46: Bleed

  Chapter 47: Police

  Chapter 48: Payment

  Chapter 49: Vanish

  Chapter 50: Misery

  Chapter 51: Memory

  Chapter 52: Drive

  Chapter 53: Dumpster

  Chapter 54: Reveal

  Chapter 55: Brian

  Chapter 56: Joyce

  Chapter 57: New Light

  Chapter 58: Good Luck

  Chapter 59: Fear

  Chapter 60: The Beginning of the End

  Chapter 61: The Darkness

  Chapter 62: Resist

  Chapter 63: The Final Decision

  Chapter 64: Crossing the Line

  Chapter 65: Your Plan

  Chapter 66: Evil Approaching

  Chapter 67: Kidnap

  Chapter 68: Too Late

  Chapter 69: Andy

  Chapter 70: Now What?

  Chapter 71: Drowned

  Chapter 72: The End

  Part 1 Accident

  Chapter 1: Soon There Will Be Fire

  Chapter 2: Begin Searching the Bushes

  Chapter 3: White Jeans

  Chapter 4: They Won’t Let Me See Him

  Chapter 5: Just Let it In

  Chapter 6: Why Are You Crying

  Chapter 7: My Priorities Have Changed

  Chapter 8: The Day of Andy’s Birthday

  Chapter 9: Blood Spreading Rapidly

  Chapter 10: A Month Since Andy’s Party

  Chapter 11: Sorry for You

  Chapter 12: Do You Remember

  Chapter 13: Sharp, Surgical Instrument

  Chapter 14: He Yells at Brian

  Chapter 15: Violent Nature

  Chapter 16: A Security Escort

  Chapter 17: Do’s and Don’ts

  Chapter 18: Outside of His Family

  Chapter 19: Prove It

  Chapter 20: A Single Powerful Stitch

  Chapter 21: Where’s Their Kid Now

  Chapter 22: A Snagger and Beans

  Chapter 23: They’re Waiting for You

  Chapter 24: It’s a Good Thing. Trust Me

  Chapter 25: Brian Never Drinks Rum

  Chapter 26: Can’t Even See It Coming

  Chapter 27: We Know Everything

  Chapter 28: Good Night Baby

  Chapter 29: Why Isn’t Anyone Listening

  Chapter 30: Writhing Beneath Him

  Chapter 31: Needs to Dive

  Chapter 32: About to Strike

  Chapter 33: You’ll Never See Andy Again

  Part 2, Exposure

  Chapter 34: That Terrible Grin

  Chapter 35: Follow it Exactly

  Chapter 36: Cut Along Dotted Line

  Chapter 37: The Family Cat

  Chapter 38: You Brought this on Yourself

  Chapter 39: About an Inch Away

  Chapter 40: There it is

  Chapter 41: Dead Man Falls

  Chapter 42: Not Yet

  Chapter 43: Into Shock

  Chapter 44: Want me to Check

  Chapter 45: Pretty Big Coincidence

  Chapter 46: Let Him Out

  Chapter 47: How Did You Get This

  Chapter 48: Kill Us Both

  Chapter 49: I’m Sorry, I’m Sorry

  Chapter 50: How it Stinks

  Chapter 51: Brian Wants Revenge

  Chapter 52: He Will Not Be Happy

  Chapter 53: Light the Match

  Chapter 54: You’re a Murderer

  Chapter 55: How Mistaken He Could Be

  Chapter 56: Why is He Here

  Chapter 57: Seriously Wounded

  Chapter 58: Do You Have a Gun

  Chapter 59: The Target All Along

  Chapter 60: Knock on the Front Door

  Chapter 61: A Whole New Set of Problems

  Chapter 62: The Danger of the Darkness

  Chapter 63: Murder Could Come Now

  Chapter 64: You Decide What You Want to Do

  Chapter 65: It’s Not Done

  Chapter 66: Straight Up Evil

  Chapter 68: A Flicker of Movement Ahead

  Chapter 69: A Child’s Voice

  Chapter 70: No Breath. No Pulse

  Chapter 71: Bury Her

  Chapter 72: And A Dog

  Chapter 73: Goodbye Again

  Part One

  Chapter 1: Three. Two. One. Zero.

  Chapter 2: Tell Her You Hate Her

  Chapter 3: Watched the Bullet

  Chapter 4: Set Himself on Fire

  Chapter 5: She Shouted

  Hello neighbour, there are two versions of the same story in this publication.

  The first is written in the second person (you do this, you see that) and it follows the tragic, but exciting, tale of a mother who must battle a parade of horrible adversaries to find her son. This story is designed to thrust the reader, to thrust YOU, into the chaos and glory.

  If, for whatever reason, you prefer something more traditional, I recommend reading the other version.

  This other version is written in the third person (he did this, he saw that) and it follows a father on the same wild journey as he battles to rescue his son.

  The novels are very, very similar, but there are variations. One is set in summer, the other winter. One contains a little more action, the other romance. Don’t worry about the subtle differences; select the style you prefer and enjoy the bumpy ride.

  The first three chapters of each version begin with a link that you can click to be taken to the other version, in case yo
u’d like to swap. These first few chapters are also linked to a table of contents. Perhaps you’d like to read the first chapter of one version, then the second of the other before making your choice?

  After these first few chapters, Brian and Annette careen off on their own tangents, so it’s a little more disruptive if you’d like to change, but do whatever you want ☺ I’m happy if you enjoy any aspect of this publication, thanks for reading.

  Dan.

  [email protected]

  www.danielnorrish.com

  A quick note on the word, and.

  It’s true that a writer is sometimes supposed to put a comma before the word, and , but I rarely do this in novels. I reckon the tiny pause a reader is obliged to take when they reach a comma can alter the rhythm of a sentence.

  I hope it doesn’t make me seem too pretentious. I just think the reader might enjoy travelling through the narrative at a more brisk and melodic pace, rather than following perfect grammar. That’s my opinion; let me know if I’m too pedantic about it.

  Also, I’m an Aussie, so you’re going to get Australian spelling.

  Accidental

  Exposure

  Daniel Norrish

  ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE

  You Are Annette Crown

  Part 1

  Accident

  Chapter 1: Soon There Will Be Fire

  Click here to jump to chapter 1 of the other version.

  Your name is Annette Crown and soon, very soon, you’re going to blame yourself for the violent death of someone you love very much. They’re going to die and, later, you’re not even going to remember being in the car with them when it happened.

  You’re forty-six years old and you’re a prosecution lawyer. Your husband, Brian, is thirty and your son, Andy, is eight. That’s right, you sexy thing, your husband was twenty-two when you had your first child together. Don’t be too proud; this little fact is going to lead to more trouble than you could have ever anticipated. You might even say that you could have avoided your eventual stabbing if Andy had never been born.

  Let’s get to the story; there’s a lot to cover and you have many, many lives to destroy.

  You open your eyes slowly as a single strand of golden daylight invades your bedroom through the crack between the curtain and the windowsill. You know it’s cold outside because you can see the condensation on the glass, but it’s lovely and warm in your home.

  Soon you’re walking to the car, dressed in that expensive suit that’s tailored so well that you can squat or lunge without the pants tightening too much around your thighs. That early smell of moisture and possibility fills your nostrils as you listen to your family moving out of the house behind you. Andy is explaining the plot of his favourite video game in too much detail and Brian is pretending to listen as he locks the front door. His breathing is a little laboured. It’s taking him longer than usual to work the deadbolt. You think he needs a little space.

  “Andy honey, what was the name of that new Xbox game again?” you ask as you look down at the little man. He has soft, blonde hair on his head that drifts in the wind like loose spider webs. His big blue eyes rise to yours at the mention of something that interests him and his smile pushes all the fat of his cheeks towards his ears. Andy grabs your hand in both of his and squeezes, then he releases you and re-starts his lecture on the strengths of each make-believe character. Andy seems to cherish any moment of contact with you, no matter how pointless. He’s like a lion cub nipping at his mother’s ear.

  You’re in the passenger seat of your Mercedes; Brian is driving. He always drives to school and work and you always go together. The idea is that you spend quality time with one another and your morning commute is usually fairly pleasant. You listen to Triple J on the radio because the blokes on in the morning are pretty funny and they play enough Aussie music to make you feel a small sting of patriotism. You discuss whatever’s announced as news, if that segment happens to be played, then you spend the rest of the drive trying to explain it to the confused little man in the back seat.

  Andy is taken to school first, then you’re dropped off at the office before Brian continues, on his own, to the offices of The Department of Family and Community Services in Redfern. Andy learns to read or paint or whatever, you prosecute criminals and Brian assists in the aid of children in need. That is, whenever he’s not filling in paperwork for any of his bosses.

  You look out the window, oblivious to the coming terrors. Like a woman on the way to war, soon you will know hardship. Rays of sunlight are throwing thin, defined shadows from tree branches to the street and the patches of shade dance like teasing ghosts as the wind blows. The parks are full of people in suits walking to offices and people in shorts running in huge circles. Small dogs aggravate adults. Small children delight them. Men with dreary eyes wait for cappuccinos beside steaming coffee machines while baristas who’ve been on the job for hours and hours watch the minutes on the clock tick by.

  Andy has stopped talking and you say, “That’s pretty cool,” as you glance back at him. He nods as he surfs the internet on his phone.

  You remember Brian’s earlier irritation .

  “Are you all right baby?”

  “Yeah. Why?” He keeps his eyes on the road.

  “No reason, you just seemed a little off before.”

  He’s about to answer before he glimpses into the rear-view mirror and directs his attention to Andy.

  “Andy pal, what has dad told you about fastening your seatbelt? Do it now please.”

  You turn your attention back to the street outside. It’s a beautiful sunny day and every boutique has been open for an hour. Glamorously dressed mannequins in the windows show the modern style of the city and the price tags hanging from the sleeves tease the passing young professionals. In the midst of fashion and civilisation, a range of gum trees and bottlebrushes line the borders of the road to remind you and everyone else that this place, Sydney, is still more nature than invention.

  “Andy!” Brian barks. You ignore their argument. You open your briefcase and find the file you were working on last night and you flick to the page you finished on. You start reading and you feel a little jolt as the car swings left. Andy is giving Brian a hard time and he must have just moved the steering wheel a little too suddenly. He’s already in a bad mood; if you help, Brian might be offended. You can imagine him claiming that you don’t trust him to look after your son or something equally difficult.

  You notice that Brian’s taken his eyes off the road to look back at Andy and command him to “Put on the seatbelt. Now,” but he’s handling everything fine. The last thing he needs is you picking on his driving. Kids can be a pain sometimes; husbands can be worse. The car accelerates onto the highway.

  You look out the window again, but there’s nothing there but a few lanes and a safety shoulder.

  “I won’t. I don’t want to!” Andy shouts.

  Should you say something yet?

  “I am your father and you will do as I say,” Brian demands as he twists in his seat to make eye contact with the disobedient child .

  You see his hand slip on the steering wheel, but it doesn’t seem real. You know, you know in this instant that no one has any control over the speeding vehicle.

  “Dad!” Andy screams. Brian barely has a moment to look back ahead and see the front bumper clip a slower vehicle.

  He jerks the steering wheel to the left and you snap “NO!” at him, too late.

  The sound of screeching tyres summons the terror. Then silence. Then screaming. You, Brian and Andy all screaming at once.

  The weight of the car shifts rapidly as the momentum continues forward, but the nose of the vehicle turns sharply. The two left wheels are pulled from the ground and the right side doors fall underneath to meet the road. The windows shatter and broken glass fills the tortured space within as the doors crimple and complain. It doesn’t stop. The roof is next to hit the earth as the car continues to roll. The steel sheet twists and
fails, collapsing as the pressure builds and suddenly the tops of the seats are driven down like tribal spears in a squealing pig. A loud “FUMP” sounds over everything else as the upside-down space within the car is halved.

  The top of your head is touching the roof; your arse is still pressed to the seat.

  The horrible roll continues and, for a moment, the car is airborne. The rectangular form spirals through the wind. It hits the ground again on the passenger side. You can’t comprehend this insane and chaotic frenzy.

  What the hell is going on!?

  You feel your shoulder hit the road, shatter and dislocate. You scream even louder, driven by pain and fear as broken glass rattles violently over your tongue. The car slides for a moment, taking thin strips of the black ground with it. The vehicle absorbs the friction of the road and slows until the fourth rotation brings it level again with an almighty mechanical belly-flop.

  You and Brian sit quietly beside each other for a moment. The only sounds you make are the uncontrollable whimperings of shock. The damaged horn and alarm system suddenly ring out to break the silence in a late warning. The cars around you have barely managed to swerve and survive the monstrous incident and they sit askew on the highway like huge slabs of discarded rubbish.

  “Brian?” you manage to cough and a few drops of blood fly forwards through the space in front of you, where a windshield used to be.

  “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine,” Brian repeats faintly. Now he drops his head to his chest, unconscious. You can still hear him breathing, but when you turn your head to look, the muscles in your neck pull on broken bones. Unimaginable pain shoots across you and you feel the agony in strange, distant places. There’s stinging on the top of your skull and throbbing in a kidney. You scream some more and a torrent of tears mixes with the splattering of blood on your chest.

  You jerk your head back to face forwards. You see several cars have parked quite close and people are running towards you. You can tell by their frantic sprinting and the terror on their faces that you’re in real trouble.

  Oh no. Your mind moves to Andy. Oh no, please God no.

  “Andy!?”

  No reply.

  A terrible despair erupts in you. You can’t move. You have no way to check the back seat. Every mirror is webbed with cracks and every pane of glass is either shattered or completely missing.