Next, she reads a summary of the events leading up to Amy’s murder. Of course, the newspapers hash out her relationship with John ad nauseam. They go into great details about how she would disappear for days on end and the rumors that she was sleeping around on John—Freddy. It was common knowledge, apparently, that… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter three, part one
“So, John likes broken women,” Leslie says, exhaling loudly at the end of Rose’s recitation. “That’s why he chose me.” “Not true. Freddy talked about you all the time. He said you’d been damaged, but you were far from broken. He admired your courage in facing your demons.” “Courage.” Leslie snorts as she says the… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter two, part five
“Amy? Honey? Where are you?” Freddy woke up with a start, finding himself alone in his bed. Amy had been with him when he fell asleep last night, and as she hated sleeping by herself, he couldn’t imagine she had gone home in the middle of the night. Freddy sat up in bed and glanced… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter two, part four
“Very interesting. What does it have to do with John’s death?” Leslie has a one-track mind, and she is impatient for Rose to get to the important part. After a pause, Rose continues with her narration. “Damn. I’m late.” Freddy woke up with a start. He had a doctor’s appointment this morning, and he… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter two, part three
“Where have you been?” Freddy didn’t bother to look up as he heard Amy stumble through the door. It was after midnight, and she had been gone for a week this time—her longest stretch by far. “Oh, Freddy. I am so sorry. I know how hard this is for you.” Amy walked over to Freddy… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter two, part two
“Damn. Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted him,” Leslie whispers as she stares at the monitor. Something in her gut twinges, and she straightens her shoulders. “No. He was a good man. He was.” She has to hold on to that thought or she will go completely insane. It is painfully obvious that he had not… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter two, part one
“I told them they were crazy,” Siobhan says, her face flushing. “I didn’t know what the hell they were talking about, and I knew that if you had known, you would have told me.” “Damn right,” Leslie says, nodding her head vigorously. “I don’t know what the hell they mean, but—oh, I have to go… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter one, part five
As soon as the detectives leave, Leslie is off like a shot to find Siobhan. Leslie’s mind is whirling with the news she’s been told, and she still doesn’t know what the fuck to think. One thing she does know, however, is that she needs to get to John’s computer before the cops do. If… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter one, part four
“You have a shift tomorrow afternoon,” Siobhan says after several minutes of silence. “I think you should do it.” “No.” Leslie puts down her fork, feeling suddenly ill. “I’m not ready for that.” “Yes, you are.” Siobhan is using her mom voice, which means she’ll brook no opposition. “More importantly, you need to be doing… Continue Reading
A Hard Rain; chapter one, part three
“You’re coming home with me,” Siobhan announces, bringing Leslie reluctantly back to the present. She holds up a hand to stem Leslie’s incipient protest. “I know you, Les. You have been OCD’ing over John since the cops told you what happened. You probably hadn’t eaten since then until I showed up. You’re brooding.” Siobhan brushes… Continue Reading