by Geri Fitzsimmons & Andy Stephenson1
What had started out as simply an average weekday for Dr. Neil Harris, quickly became a reminder of how imperfect a man he was. 2
He had been shocked when he read the newspaper article concerning the suicide of Michelle Baine. Since her death came the very next morning after a Michelle called the show, the name sparked a memory, making him feel disgusted with himself. He felt pangs of guilt that stayed with him through four hours of catering to the mostly manufactured complaints of his wealthy patients.3
He managed to cut his usual fifty-minute appointments to forty-five without attracting any rancor for the shortened sessions. Having strung together twenty extra minutes in his busy schedule, he combined them with a skipped lunch and settled at his desk before noon. His monitor was soon flashing the news’ stories and he honed in on ‘Young woman found dead in a west side apartment identified as Michelle Baine…’4
Following the reporters’ progression of events backwards, Neil soon had become immersed in tales of other recent New York suicides, when his secretary interrupted to inform him today’s last appointment had arrived.5
Dr. Harris spent his full fifty minutes with the young professional, who assured him nearly all the males in her firm were harassing her because none of them were her equal. Now and then she resorted to quiet tears to further impress upon the doctor the extent of her abuse.6
Neil was sympathetic to her. He appeared to remain attentive, but thoughts of Michelle kept invading his mind. They stayed with him when he tried for his usual late afternoon nap. He didn’t sleep a wink. 7
So he had unburdened his soul to Joe Farley. Spent the remainder of his time that late evening in a pleasant climate, comfortable in familiar surroundings.8
Then as he left Mallory’s pub and started for the radio station, the memory of Michelle rejoined him.9
The girl needed help and he had known it. Helping tormented minds was what he’d been trained to do. However, the station policy was to refer such callers to the Crisis Line. “Damn it!” The heel of his right palm hit the steering wheel. She had called him…not some poorly trained volunteer. 10
He swung the BMW into his parking space at the rear of the studio. Of the night crew only the producer Mark Gheil’s space was closer to the entrance. 11
Neil entered the foyer and acknowledged the security guard’s, “Evening Doc.” Then he turned a corner and moved down the carpeted hallway to the producer’s office.12
The door was ajar and he pushed it open.13
Mark Gheil was edging into the middle of his thirtieth year of life. The cherry wood desk he was parked behind camouflaged part of a two hundred pound hard body, distributed on a six-three frame. His thick mahogany hair was extra rich in copper so it glittered in the overhead light. “Neil?” He made it a question as he glanced up.14
“Got a minute, Mark?” Neil stepped rapidly into the room. His five foot ten body with its ample flesh preferred to have Mark remain seated.15
“Five minutes is about all we got.”16
“I’ll make it quick.” Neil leaned on the desk. His face was stiff and his brown eyes had gone black with growing anger. “A girl called the other night. Michelle Baine. We pawned her off to the Crisis Center. She killed herself.” His tone reflected his bitterness. “Committed suicide the next morning. I should have talked with her…”17
“Hold on,” Mark snapped. “I already heard. Now you listen to me. There’s no connection with the show and it’s got to stay that way. Damn it! We don’t need that kind of publicity.” 18
“Publicity? Christ! A girl is dead.”19
“Just you wait!” Mark rose quickly to confront Neil. “We got trouble enough. Your show isn’t exactly a headliner. Connelly would like an excuse to replace you with another generic talk show.”20
Neil pushed back from the desk to step back. His features dissolved in disbelief. “Connelly offered me this show. I didn’t come looking for it.”21
“That’s the boss.” Mark slumped back down in his chair. “He comes up with ideas, but somebody else has to make them profitable. So give me a break, Neil. I’m juggling three shows, trying to keep everyone happy.” He finger combed his thick hair. “The girl’s suicide is a tragedy. Still, tying her to the show could open up the station to a potential lawsuit.”22
Neil sat on the edge of the desk. His anger faded and his eyes couldn’t hold Mark’s stare as he said, “There is more than just one.” 23
“What?” 24
“I’m fairly certain there’s been a few others in the past several months.”25
Mark’s tanned face seemed to gray as he sharply said, “You’re wrong—you have to be wrong.”26
“After Michelle’s death, I started remembering. There were a few others who might have called the program. I wasn’t sure so I went online. I only had first names but I did find six suicides. I discussed it with a detective friend of mine…”27
“You did what?” Mark was on his feet again. 28
“Don’t flip. Joe will be discreet. I’ll tell him to try and keep my name and the show out of it.”29
“In what universe?” Mark never hid anger well. The thunder in his tone matched the storm growing in his expression. “If your cop finds the slightest hint of a connection between any death and our show, it’ll go in his reports.” 30
Neil made a wise decision and a quick excuse, “It’s getting late.” Then a fast exit.
In a list
Comments
1 - 28 of 28
-
>.> go neail...you tellhim...stupid bosses and there ignolrant uncaring....>.> anywho mXD awsomechapter, Can'twait to read the next one o.o
-
-
Hi there!
Thanks for reading this chapter. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Did you start this at the beginning? If you'd like to begin with the prologue, click the link below this chapter 'The Devil Came East'. That will take you to the list of chapters.
Andy
-
-
XD I have I have.....I choce your bookon Novles onlyP lease o.o...and have read it since prolouge. ^^
-
-
Hi there!
Thanks so very much for taking on my novel. I appreciate that. I hope you enjoy it.
What's your novel about?
Andy
-
-
Mine wqas Ivy: Save My Soul. I was the one who was like OH OH OH I so call this one , on yours XD.
-
-
-
-
-
It's funny, but I haven't read one of these in a bit and I still knew what was going on. I guess that's not really funny, but it is interesting.
Great job, but missing smell (my pet peeve
)
Brooke
-
-
Hi Brooke!
Thanks for dropping by, reading, and all the applause.
We should be finishing the first draft of this novel soon. Geri's has a family member in the hospital, so things are sort of on hold for the moment.
We hope you like the story.
Andy
-
-
Hey Guys,
I already commented on this. -
Good
This is very interesting. Hope to read more.
-
-
He EE!
You may wish to pick this up from the prologue. You can access the list of chapters including the prologue at the link beneath the story, 'The Devil Came East'.
We hope you read more of us, too.
Thanks for checking this out.
Andy
-
-
Like all the other chapters have been, this is good! It really makes me want to read more.
-
-
Hi Sberendt!
Thanks for reading, commenting, and applauding. We appreciate it. We're glad that you have an appetite for our story. We hope you feel constantly famished until you reach the end and then hopefully satisfied.
Andy
-
-
Hey Geri and Andy,
You two have done your usual excellent work here, but I still like the first draft better. I know you don't want to hear that. So sorry. Only found one thing you might want to look at. Para 21-line 1 dissolved. That's it.
Steve
-
-
Steve, I didn't think there was that much of a change from the first draft
.
We were mainly 'cleaning and polishing'
.
If there is something noticeable different please let us know--especially if it turns you off
.
Geri
-
Hi Steve!
Thanks for catching the typo.
Well, I guess we need to have a good look at this draft, then.
Thanks for going over this. Having read the other draft, it's especially nice of you to go through the story again.
Andy
-
-
What a twerp he is! I feel that this is eerily similar to when I used to listen to this talk show about five years ago til about two years ago, then the host left. He had calls like that and was permitted to deal with them on air, but he felt he had done all he could do. He became exhausted through the depression and loneliness of others. I can see this is how the Doc is going. I just love this story, its so interesting. You have such a way of drawing others into your stories.
Mike
-
-
Hope you are addicted!
Geri does a large portion of the character development and much of the rest of the details. It's amazing the job she is doing in this story.
We're glad to have you reading us and are very pleased that you're enjoying what you read.
Thanks for all the applause.
Andy
-
-
Very good as usual
-
-
Hi Trish!
Thanks so very much for beginning our novel. I hope you'll be entertained throughout. We greatly appreciate your interest and are pleased to be members of your novel group. I hope your group is very successful.
Andy
-
-
Hmm. This is, sadly, believable. I say sadly because too many people these days are more interested in money than in helping others. The exchange between Neil and Mark is very realistic. Well done. I can't wait to see where the next chapter leads.
-
-
Hi!
"The God of this world is money." It has been since most of modern histor. However, the quote is a biblical paraphrase of statements of St. Paul and Jesus. I included it in a song I wrote, 'For A Dollar'. The song is about being free of the dollar.
Andy
-
-
Jeez, I swear this is better than any other story I've reads on here!
-
-
Hi again!
You really moved right along. Thanks.
Andy
-
-
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this chapter. The progression was well done. At the end I was hungry to read more. I did not understand line eight until the end when the detectives name was mentioned. Great dialogue.
-
-
Hello and welcome to our story. I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter
.
I see Andy told you about the link to the earlier chapters.
So I'll just say thanks and please feel free to make corrections--we always need a few
.
Geri
-
Hi
If you started with chapter five, it could be a bit confusing. Here is the link to this whole list of chapters we have so far if you'd like to start at the beginning.
http://storywrite.com/list/36716-The-Devil-Came-East
We appreciate you reading our story. Thanks a lot for commenting and all the applause.
Andy
-
-
easy reading
Hi Andy, i always enjoy your work, always iteresting, and always well written.
I think over the past year you have got even better...Well done.
-
-
Hi
Have you been following this novel. This is our second draft. A lot of this springs from Geri's imagination and she puts the finishing touches on it.
Thanks for reading, commenting, and applauding.
Andy
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 28 of 28
