Fallen Astray

Fallen Astray1

Ty Rowles2

Dedicated To Lauren Truett,3

My beautiful girlfriend who found the writer in me. AMO!!!4

Special thanks to:5

My Mom, Dad, 6

My siblings Eli, Vivian, and my 7

beautiful girlfriend Lauren, 8

For a very interesting and fun-filled life.9

Enjoy!10

Table of Contents11

Special thanks and dedication………………………………..I12

Table of content………………………………………………II13

Prologue………………………………………………………Pg.114

Ch.1……………………………………………………………Pg.115

Ch.2…………………………………………………………...Pg.416

Ch.3…………………………………………………………...Pg.617

Ch.4……………………………………………………………Pg.818

Ch.5………………………………………………………….Pg.9 19

Ch.6………………………………………………………….Pg.1120

Ch.7…………………………………………………………..Pg.1221

Ch.8…………………………………………………………..Pg.1422

Ch.9…………………………………………………………..Pg.1623

Ch.10…………………………………………………………pg.1724

Prologue25

The name’s J.D. Cray. Have you ever thought, “What would happen to a human body, hitting the San Francisco bay, at near-terminal velocity, after falling seven hundred and forty-six feet?” Well, wonder no longer. You should here about it on the channel 14 news. It will be a site worth seeing, considering it’s me that will be jumping.26

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I28

I was one of Renold & Son’s most successful lawyers, topped only by my father, his superior, and a few others I didn’t know personally. I landed the job only because my dad had put me through best law schools he could afford, and there weren’t many he couldn’t. He had worked with Renold & Son for three years, and was able to convince them that I could very well take them higher than they had ever been before. They weren’t disappointed. Within my first two years, the average salary for us had nearly doubled, my father and I pulling five-point-three million dollars per year. He received two-point-nine, and I two-point-four. 29

Naturally, we thought that though the money was good now, it couldn’t last forever. Everything we made in the first five years together was put into a joint account. 30

The next year my father and I alone won five-hundred and eleven cases. The salary that year was seven digits. From then on, we lived like there was no tomorrow. Besides, when you make more money than you can spend, we had everything we wanted. Women, Cars, Fame even, were some of the rewards collected along the way. Celebrities, sports players, even a past president were among their list of clients. No one had lost a suit with either of us, and we kept it that way by agreeing to never end up in the same courtroom against each other. 31

Our reputation had soon superseded all other lawyers’ in the state, let alone the firm. Nothing was impossible. My father was the successor to the president of Renold & Son, and the current occupant was in his late seventies. He had the money to retire, and would have, had we not come in and sparked an interest in the founder. My dad was chosen over his own son! It was as if God himself was clearing the path for us. Maybe He was. I thought we deserved it, too. Until mom was killed when I was nine. My dad and I were there. Ironically, my dad was technically the killer. My father used to have a major gambling problem.32

Yet, it wasn’t a debt that caused a maniac to break into our house. It was the fact that he had lost everything to my dad. He decided that if he couldn’t have anything, my dad was going to suffer too. The psychotic jerk tied my dad’s hands to a nine-millimeter and then wrapped his hands around my father’s. We never forgot the shot that rang throughout the house. We never forgot that after two years of fighting, the lunatic had claimed temporary insanity, and received two years’ time in jail, with two years in a mental hospital. We never forgot that this year, he would be released. That’s when my father went to law school.33

For four years, we stayed in an apartment complex across the school. Southern California Richard University was the closest place he could find, and enrollment alone was half our life savings. We ate a meal a day, dinner, which was typically composed of ramen noodles and water. He knew that our future depended on his success in this school. He graduated second highest in his class. Renold & Son called him and he leapt at the opportunity. For another year, he worked at least ten hours a day. That’s when he put me through the law schools. Notice the plurality. I graduated twice, both in the top ten. I was following his footsteps, and gaining on him.34

Our prestige was rising still with every case, and there was soon no doubt that anyone who was a client of either of us would get whatever they wanted, if not more. 35

Of course, that was all before Rebecca Shone. My dad first met her at a Las Angeles night club, The Tempest. He bought her drinks, she kept him company. Normally, because of all the previous efforts, my father and I could spot a gold-digger a mile a way. But, unfortunately, my father had also tasted the bitter-sweet lips of a nice one-twenty proof bottle. 36

After quite a few more drinks, my dad decided to take her home. He took her out to his Rolls-Royce, and burnt off. About thirty minutes later, I got the call. I rolled from my bed and answered the phone. Travis Brent Cray was killed in a seventy mile-per-hour crash. His death was nearly instant. Rebecca wasn’t even in the car by the time the ambulance arrived. It was as if she had fallen off the face of the earth. She deserved to, even if she was just hiding.37

The only thing that bothered me was, “Why did she run?” 38

No one really cared that she was missing. The police assumed she was just scared of being charged with murder. Naivety at its worst. “You’re not fooling me,” I thought angrily. 39

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II41

The funeral was three days after the accident, on a chilly, stormy Sunday. The tombstone was made of black marble with blue trails running over the surface, and had an elegant fountain of aqua-green emerald and fiery jacinth stones, with crystal-clear water flowing over its smooth surface. His name was on a plaque attached to the tombstone, and was embossed with gold foil leaves. All courtesy of Renold & Son, whose top one-hundred employees were there to see my father off.42

Roughly two days after that, once everyone had declared my father “legally sane,” the will was read. For what seemed like hours, not a word was said. I didn’t notice, because I was still fixated on where to start my search for Rebecca. I was pulled back to the room when my name was called. Everyone was looking at me. Then I realized, my life was about to make a change. The reader of the will continued. 137,501,088 changes, actually.43

The entire room seemed to implode around me. I simply stared at the paper in the reader’s hands. Objections, criticism, and anger filled the room. Paper flew around my head, but I was still entranced. It wasn’t the amount of money that amazed me. It was the fact that he had left it to me. I didn’t need it, so why did he leave it to me? Maybe he trusted me. Who knows? An hour later, I walked out with my girlfriend, Laura Greene. She was my girlfriend of a year and seven months. 44

Her father owned Tantus, a car company that created some of the most luxurious rides available. If, that is, you could afford one. The first car put out, over two years ago, was four hundred and fifty thousand dollars up-front. The total was nearly seven-fifty. Even though her father insisted that I take my choice of his cars for free, I stuck with my Lambo. It was a 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago Superveloce LP670. I loved it, and it was the first thing I bought once I had won my first “million-dollar” case.45

As Laura and I pulled into my garage the clouds darkened, almost setting the mood for the rest of the day. It was one of the most expensive houses in southern California. Using more glass than walls, its usually beautiful shore-side view overlooked miles of ocean. I unlocked the door to the house, and we stepped into the living room.46

As if seeing through new eyes, I knew how lucky I was. The odds of hitting it big are slim at best. I had a girl I loved, a house that’s safe, and a car that works. That alone would be enough to make anyone happy. On top of that however, I now had instant access to nearly three hundred million dollars in cash. 47

I glanced at the T.V., and sure enough, my dad’s face was plastered all over the news. I shook my head. The media only cared about the rich folks. If a homeless man was killed in a drive-by, the only way you knew was if it was you who shot him.48

Laura walked through the kitchen, and up the stairs. I followed into the master bedroom. The bed set was exquisite, and was a gold-and-red design. The colors were beautiful when used right, and they were. I watched her open the closet. As she slipped of her light beige sweater and jeans so that she was in nothing but a bra and panties, and I couldn’t help but marvel at her. 49

Her full, flawless breasts and her perfectly smooth legs were enough to arouse me at a glance. I laid down on the bed, face up. She walked over to me and sat behind me. She lifted my head into her near-bare lap, and I turned over. I was lying on top of her, and she opened my suit, tossing the tie aside. Her lips pressed against mine, and a sweet taste filled my mouth. Her warm, soft body pressed into mine as I kissed her again. She filled my thoughts and I forgot about my troubles and cares. The only thing I could think about was Laura. My beautiful Laura.50

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III52

Laura pulled out a tight satin dress from the closet. It was a deep red, and it hugged her body perfectly. As she pulled it down over her, she said, “So how does this work again?” I smiled. My father’s grandfather was Irish, and as tradition whenever someone in our family died, we went to a pub and had a final drink “with” the deceased. It was a sign of respect and friendship. Also, the alcohol didn’t hurt. 53

“We go to a bar, drink for the dead, and sing Irish songs?” She teased. “Exactly. Nothing says ‘We miss you’ like drunken Irishmen singing about a red-headed broad,” I retorted. She laughed. I loved her laugh. It was soft yet full, and was as contagious as the flu. 54

I grabbed a solid black tuxedo, complete with tie, and quickly dressed. Once we were both finished, we made our way to the car. I pressed a button on my keyset and the Lamborghini roared to life, doors opening in the process. The soft grey upholstery glowed as the evening sun shined through the windows. I backed out of my garage, swung the car around, and burnt off. 55

We pulled into the South Beach club, and we weren’t the first ones there. My father’s parents, who were both in wheel-chairs, managed to beat us to the bar. “Only Us Irish,” played through my head. They turned when we walked in, bottles in their laps. “Jacob! You look wonderful! Ooh, and who is this beautiful young woman?” My grand-father teased.56

“This is Laura. The girl I told you about a week ago, before the uh…. Accident?” 57

“It is!?!”58

“It is!”59

“Your still with-Oh, sorry my dear, we’ve just never known him or his father to hold onto a girl longer than a week!”60

“Not true!”61

“Name one!”62

“…”63

“Exactly! Ha ha! Well you made a mighty fine choice, and at least she isn’t Sicilian.”64

My grandmother rolled her eyes. “Now Brendan, Don’t you be dragging up that non-sense!” My grandfather was about to respond, but the look in my grandmother’s eyes quickly changed his mind.65

“Well, I’m extremely glad you could make it,” I said, hugging them both. “But I am going to make my way to the bar!” They laughed.66

“Alrighty then.” Was my granddad’s reply, with a smile on his face.67

“Well Laura it was a pleasure to finally meet you.”68

“Yes, it was.”69

“Thank you, likewise.”70

The bar was slowly filled as family and friends gathered in the club. As expected, Rebecca didn’t show. The sun sank below the skyline, and soon the alcohol claimed its victims.71

My uncle, granddad, cousins, and I were arm in arm, singing “Irish Rover”. The tops of many a suit were stacked high on a nearby table and that night, we forgot the horrible twists of fate and for the first time in a long time, enjoyed living.72

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IV74

Darius Freedman stood in the corner watching the group of drunken men slightly amused. “You drink to the dead, and smoke to the born. And you wonder why you have health problems.” He thought. As he toyed with the Uzi he kept under his vest. 75

“You stupid, un-aware, self-absorbed asshole. Laura is over in the corner, watching you drink yourself to death, and you don’t even notice. Saving her from you will be a bonus to my job.” He growled. “Not tonight though, no. You won’t have the pleasure of dying drunk. You will taste your own blood as it seeps from your mouth.”76

He walked back towards the exit/entrance door, he took a final look. It was one of disgust. The fact that they can drink so much liquor at all blew his mind. 77

“Hey! Wha, wu, well where do ya tink your goin laddy, the party isn’t over.”78

Darius, nearly whipping out his Uzi, turned and relaxed.79

It was an old drunken man in a wheelchair. He smiled.80

“I’ve had a bit much to drink, I think I’ll be headin home,” the assassin said with a perfect Irish accent. He had done all of his homework. 81

“We- ah, ok, thanks fer comin, drive safe. My son couldn’t handle another dead man to think about.”82

A parting smile spread on his lips. “Oh, I will. Believe me. I know all about your son. I’ll be very careful.”83

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V85

The next morning I woke up with Laura beside me, breathing deeply and smoothly, perfectly still. I slowly crept out of bed after kissing her on the cheek, and stumbled to the kitchen. I popped a “Hangover helper” from the med-cabinet, and Roger, our chef, had breakfast on the stove. “What are we looking at, Roger?” 86

“Eggs, bacon, toast, and biscuits with gravy.” 87

I could taste it already. “Thank you.” 88

“Um…Sir?”89

“Yes? Wha-” I felt the air conditioning brush my hips. I wasn’t wearing anything. “Ah.”90

I walked-tripped upstairs and into the bedroom. Laura was awake. “Cold?” She teased.91

“I don’t know, you tell me!” I said, lunging at the bed. She screamed in mock horror, and flailed her arms helplessly.92

We crawled back under the covers, and held each other. Then I felt her hand, and she smiled mischievously.93

“Still cold?” I smiled. About an hour later, we jumped up and ran down after throwing on robes. 94

We could smell breakfast. We hurried down stairs, and sure enough, it was all set out on the table. “Well it’s about time.”95

I spun around. Roger. “If it’s cold, that’s your own fault.”96

I laughed. We hurriedly finished a plate each, and as soon as we were half-dressed for church, we realized it was Saturday. 97

Laura keeled over laughing, and I fell beside her, pants half-on. 98

After several minutes of non-stop giggling, I said, “Well, now what are we ever going to do?” She rolled over and stood up, pulling me up with her. 99

“I can think of a few things,” she teased.100

I laughed, and we kissed our way into the bath room. I couldn’t help but think, “Thank God for Jacuzzis!” Our mouths parted, and she walked over to the huge, bowl-shaped tub. Water flowed from the bottom, and we stripped off what clothing we had on. I stepped-stumbled out of my boxers, and fell backwards through an open door, landing in my indoor pool. 101

“Oh, so the pool it is, huh?” Laura laughed. “Ok.” She turned off the water in the Jacuzzi and slipped into the pool. The water trailed her elegant body, and the effect was dazzling. Seductively sliding under water, she disappeared. When she re-surfaced, she was resting on the submerged steps. I swam over, and just as I was on top of her, she spun and flipped me onto the steps. Her smile hinted that we weren’t leaving anytime soon. 102

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VI104

About three hours later, we dragged ourselves from the pool and dried off. “New appreciation for the term, ‘pool side’.” I thought happily.105

I slipped on a casual white t-shirt and a pair of loose jeans. Laura found a small Hollister shirt and some tight fitting sweat-pants that showed off her perfect frame.106

After we were both satisfied with our appearances (which didn’t take long; we weren’t going anywhere soon), we made our way down the curling staircase. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you look, even when you don’t try?” She rolled her eyes and smiled that “whatever” smile of hers.107

“Yes, but I never get tired of hearing it.” She teased as we fell onto the living room couch. She turned around to face me.108

“Every time you I hear your voice, I can’t help but lose myself in you.” 109

“Well, at least we’re lost together. And you know what? I really wouldn’t mind staying lost, as long as it’s with you.” I said, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of hers. Her head raised and her lips met mine. I felt her heart, and it was in perfect timing with mine. Magical. Her tongue entered my mouth, and I met it110

with mine. The taste alone was intoxicating. She arched her back and pressed into me, her warmth spreading to my chest. Our lips finally separated, and we fell back into the couch. Arms wrapped around her, it hit me. Tonight. It was tonight.111

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VII113

After we tore ourselves from each other, I decided to try to spark an interest in her. “You know, it’s been a while since we actually dined, without drinking and singing old Irish songs.”114

She smiled. 115

“I was actually thinking the same thing.”116

Perfect.117

“Well how about it then? I know a really good Italian restaurant.”118

Within thirty minutes we were dressed. Laura had chosen a stunning blue dress, while I stuck with a black tux. 119

“Are you really going to wear a tux?” She asked in mock-annoyance.120

“But of course.” I smiled innocently.121

We chased each other out to the Lambo and were soon cruising at a smooth seventy. The Lamborghini’s elaborate design did its job of being one of the smoothest operating machines I had seen. After five more minutes, we pulled into the parking lot of “L’elegante,” a high-class restaurant that I had secretly rented out. As she stepped out onto the pavement, she looked around suspiciously. “Where is everyone? This place always looks so packed, especially on a Saturday night!” 122

“I was wondering the same thing,” I lied.123

I held the door for her, and as she stepped in, the fragrant aroma of pasta and garlic floated by. “Where is the greeter?” Laura suddenly asked. 124

“I think we’re the only customers here. Let’s just sit down. I’m sure someone will come once they realize we’re here.” We picked a small, round table with beautiful decorations on the table-cloth. “Straight out of a romance movie,” I thought.125

As we sat down, a waiter quickly sprang from the kitchen and briskly walked to our table. “Good evening. Welcome to L’elegante. Here is your complimentary champagne, I’ll be back shortly to take your order.”126

“Why?” Laura asked with a sheepish smile.127

“Because, you know, I felt like taking a night off. What better way to do that than spending the evening with you?” she smiled. 128

For about a minute or two we examined the menu, and she chose one of her favorite meals, a wine-poached salmon with a vibrant truffle sauce. I selected the simpler taste of a robust onion soup sided with garlic bread.129

The waiter arrived just as we had reached our decision, jotted down the order, and walked back to the kitchen. 130

“We could have eaten with more people than just us in the room.” She teased. 131

“Maybe.” I said.132

“You amaze me.”133

“That’s not a bad thing for me.”134

“Did I say it was for me?”135

I smiled. She always managed to one-up me. I loved it.136

We chatted idly (actually it was more me trying to stall until our meal, freshly cooked, arrived. With it a glass of white sparkling wine for each of us. In her glass was a ring. 137

I stood from my chair, and dropped to one knee. “I can’t promise you all that you want. I can’t say that with me everything will be perfect. But I can say that I will never stop loving you and that I will be the best husband I can be. I want to start a family, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Laura Ann Greene, will you marry me?”138

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IIX140

*****Four months later*****141

It was all set. I stood at the alter and after what seemed like an eternity, she entered. She was more beautiful than I had ever dreamed. The wedding dress was also dazzling. For a mere four thousand dollars, it was going to. 142

Nothing, however, was too much for my Laura. Besides, I still had nine digits in the bank. Well, multiple banks. 143

As she made her way to the front of the chapel, a smile crept its way to my face. She had that “wow!” look. Like she couldn’t believe it. I knew I couldn’t. Was it really possible to have it all? Apparently. 144

With a long train following her, she quickly strolled up to the alter. “Always to the point,” I thought with a smile.145

“We have gathered here today,” said the pastor. “To celebrate the uni-” He was never able to finish his sentence. A split second before, a flash of metal caught my eye from the third row, and I impulsively jumped in front of Laura. The bullet sank into the pastor’s chest. The next few hours were a blur. 146

As it turned out, security behind me had seen the gun also, and dove a split second too late, but after the shot, the guard ended up crushing the life from the reckless assassin. The pastor wasn’t as quick to react.147

Laura and I were instantly transported to an armored Rolls-Royce behind the church. As soon as the driver who was slumped over the wheel didn’t respond to the S.S. men, however, we were escorted to the bodyguard’s personal protected vehicle. 148

Within thirty minutes we were out of Malibu and back in L.A., inside my house. All personnel had been given arms and orders to eliminate any and all threats to life inside the house. The look of an assault rifle in the hands of sixty-three year old Roger and had the situation not have been what it was, I would have been rolling on the floor laughing.149

We were seated in the underground pool room, the safest room in the house, and purposely so. The pool room was not just a room for relaxation. The pool ques had removable tops, revealing twelve-inch blades. I was paranoid but hey, I could afford to be. The eight ball was also a ceramic grenade. A personal design.150

This, of course, was not including firearms. Hidden in walls, tables, even gaming controllers, the guns were very discreet until needed. Not to mention the PEDS, a custom weapon system I had also designed myself.151

The PEDS, or Pyrotechnic Explosive Discharge System, is an infrared/motion-sensing system that lobs remote-detonation explosives at any foreign objects it detects. It is set up with other systems like my micro-wave, oven, living room television, and even my fountain outside. Once it has identified the object as an enemy, it will hurl a plastic explosive coated with super-strong glue, and detonate. All of this was set into my HD Sony fifty-two inch television and DVD/stereo system. The explosives were compressed into the shape of CD’s.152

I helped Laura, who was still shaky as her wedding dress had been splattered with the pastor’s blood, lay down on the couch. The PEDS was tuned to our body shapes and heat signatures, and whizzed its O.K. I found a patrolling guard and told him to grab some clothes for both of us. Finally, after much deliberation, he reluctantly called for a replacement and ran to fetch the clothing.153

Minutes later, he returned with two t-shirts, two towels, two pairs of blue-jeans, and undergarments for both of us. “Thank you.” I said. The guard hmmfed his response before quickly shutting the door and resuming his patrol. 154

I lifted Laura’s legs gently and sat down beneath them. I unzipped her dress, and she turned to look at me. At first she gave me a look that screamed, “ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!” but then she saw the spare clothes, and settled back down. I pulled the dress from her, and gently pulled off her bra and panties, white trimmed lace; one of my favorites obviously intended for our wedding night. I began to replace them when she stopped me. “I can do it.” Her voice came in a whisper. She finished redressing and I began to change as well. 155

It was awkwardly quiet, but with a reason. After all, someone did try to kill one of us, even though neither of us knew which one. This was particularly frustrating as neither of us wanted to say the other was being hunted, but also didn’t want to have to live like this, thinking, “Someone’s trying to kill me!”156

For an hour or two we simply laid there, soundless. Neither of us wanted to move, yet it was uncomfortable to sit in silence. Laura was the one to break it. “He almost killed you.” I looked at her quizzingly. “From where he was sitting, he should have hit you. We don’t know that.”157

“No, he could have been after the preacher.”158

“I have proof!”159

“Please, don’t do this to yourself.”160

“You had a bullet rip the back of your tux!”161

The room fell silent. I slowly broke eye contact and walked to the mirror in the corner of the room. Sure enough, a line of torn fabric crossed from my upper-left shoulder to where my right liver would be. How it missed was nothing short of a miracle. I had to calm her. “It’s all over though.”162

“NO IT’S NOT!”163

“The guy was tackled by a two hundred and fifty pound armed guard. He will not be getting up any time soon.”164

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe he was HIRED?!? You don’t think whoever put him up to this will just hire someone else?”165

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IX167

“That stupid blind lazy worthless-” These thoughts and many more ran through the mind of Darius. “If you want something done right…” Why did he trust the fool to eliminate a man worth three hundred million dollars? That was one mistake he would never make again. 168

Darius briskly strolled into the large room, occupied by the man who had hired him. A dark leather chair was facing him. It was so classic he would have laughed were he not in danger of losing his life. 169

“You are aware that Jacob wasn’t even hit?” said the man, who had never offered a name. Darius knew better than to ask.170

“I am.”171

“Then you are the one at fault?”172

“Unfortunately, my assassin failed due to his own stupidity and bad planning. I plan to execute Jacob myself in three days, when he and Laura board a plane heading to a safe house in Oregon.”173

“I don’t think you will have the chance.”174

“Sir I-”175

The quiet pop noise of a high velocity luger round exiting the silencer was all that was heard from the room. The man stepped in from behind the doorframe.176

“Find a more able man this time, will you? I’m tired of watching over my back. Mr. Cray is bound to find out sometime. It is not as if he has limited resources.”177

“Yes sir.”178

“And Gerry?”179

“Yes sir?”180

“Don’t let me find out he survives another attempt. Otherwise I will personally remove you from the premises, via body bag.”181