When a teenager is brutally murdered in The Pinelands, his friends insist it was the work of The Jersey Devil.
Christine Daniels, an investigative reporter, works with the police to determine what really happened to the teen that night.
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All Farrel Drake wanted was a normal family life for her two daughters and herself. When her second marriage ends up worse than the first with daily physical, emotional and verbal abuse, Farrel seeks the help of a counselor.
She eventually finds the courage to leave her husband and settles into a happy routine with her daughters. Just when Farrel's starting to believe her new beginning will work, threatening phone calls shatter her peace. When Farrel realizes fear is no longer able to rule her life, her real new beginning starts.
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"Josh owns you now, Blaine. You’re his girl—his exclusive property—until he decides if and when to share you," she cried. "Don’t you see? I had no choice and I never wanted you to become involved in this. But once Josh Barnes sets his mind on something, there’s no stopping him."
"What are you talking about, Kami? Nobody owns me." Her eyes narrowed as she looked into Kami’s haunted eyes. "What’s really going on?"
Tears rolled down Kami’s face. "How did you possibly think that I could afford all of this?" she asked, throwing her arms up. "Are you that naive? A private secretary doesn’t make enough to afford this kind of luxury or to live in an apartment in this neighborhood. Josh owns this building and everyone in it." She took a deep breath. "I sell my body for money. You deserve to know the truth. Surely you must have wondered about all the nights I told you I was busy and especially the obvious fact that I never had a steady man in my life. I couldn’t."
Blaine stared in disbelief. "I don’t want to hear any more," she moaned, placing her hands over her ears. "Get away from me! You make me sick."
Kami grabbed her hands and held them tightly. "You have to listen to me!" she pleaded. "I belong to Josh and so do the other girls and there is nothing we can do about it! Don’t you think we’ve tried? If there was a way to get out, I would have done it a long time ago."
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Patrick dropped to his knees by the other side of the bed and took his mother's hands, while Maggie set the bowl on the table and then sat quietly looking at Catherine's drawn face. Every breath she took was an effort as she struggled to speak.
"We're here, Ma," Maggie whispered. "Paddy and I are here."
"Where's Paddy?" Her faded eyes struggled to focus. "Paddy?"
"I'm here, Ma." His eyes welled with tears and he swallowed hard.
Catherine slightly turned her head and focused her eyes on Patrick. Maggie leaned closer and Catherine, with great effort, slightly turned her head as her lips tried to form a smile. "My beautiful children." Her voice was growing weaker, and Patrick and Maggie had to strain to hear her. She paused and drew a ragged breath after each word, struggling to make herself heard.
Every breath she took was labored as though it would be her last, and Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened. Her eyes misted, but she knew her mother couldn't see. "Don't try to talk, Ma," Maggie said quietly. "Keep your strength."
"No. I need to talk."
Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He’d taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.
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Rachel Sanderson, a pretty young woman struggling to support her young son, meets handsome firefighter Caleb Jason. Long dormant feelings in her come to life. As their relationship intensifies, she makes the decision to tell him the secret she's been hiding and why she'd lied. Before she can tell him, though, her past comes back to haunt her.
Excerpts From All Five Stories
I'm Waiting For You
"I'm worried about you, honey," he said again. "Hasn't it ever occurred to you how this woman you claim to see knows exactly where you'll be at any given moment and then shows up out of the blue? You're the only one who can see her."
"I know," she answered, her voice softening. "I wish you could see what I do. I'm not crazy, Will. Please believe me."
"I never said or thought you were, but I don't see anyone wandering down this highway. There hasn't been anyone walking on this road for the two hours we've been on it."
"Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me," she said, but deep inside she knew what she saw was very real. She wasn't dreaming or imagining this woman.
It's Me
Why are all these people standing around my car? Maybe they are just curious as to why it's been abandoned on the side of the road. No, that doesn't make sense, but it's the only explanation I can think of right now.
I need to push my way through this crowd and get into my car and be on my way. I'm pushing, but no one is even acknowledging my presence. I'm speaking, but why aren't they responding? Why do they appear as though they are looking right past me? I'm waving my arms. "Hello! Please let me through!"
The Ducks
He watched Sally's webbed feet as she waddled towards him, squawking as her eyes beheld the customary feast in his hands. He laughed as she drew closer. "Look what I have for you, Sally."
She grabbed the bread from his hand. The other ducks stood behind her until she'd had her fill, then watched as she stepped aside. They hungrily devoured the remains of the bread she'd left for them.
For the past six months Joe had pondered this strange behavior, but could come up with no logical explanation. It didn't make sense. He pored over books in the library and traveled to several duck ponds, but none of those ducks acted like Sally did. She was the ultimate leader. Joe watched carefully as her followers finished eating, then looked at her. They didn't move. They never did until she gave the signal…a slight nod of her head. Sally eyed him cautiously, then tilted her head, and led the group back to the other side of the pond.
The Ticket
Aside from his obvious joy of making his employees' lives miserable, Harry Ranko had one other passion—playing the lottery. He was constantly waiting for the big one and had grandiose plans for his winnings, which he didn't hesitate to share with Rosie. The money he threw away weekly on the lottery would have supported Rosie and Bart for a month. Ranko was already a wealthy man and he made sure everyone he met knew it. He had no sympathy for those less fortunate-the more money he made, the more he wanted, and the less he wanted to part with.
Every Thursday Harry Ranko called Rosie into his office to check the numbers on his tickets. Why he trusted her with this task he'd never said and she'd never asked, but would dutifully enter his office after the others had left for the day. His small beady eyes widened with glee when he learned he had a winner no matter how small the payoff. It was his obsession.
The Stranger
The girl looked into her eyes, then flashed her a toothy smile. "I'll have a milkshake, Jenny."
Jenny was caught off guard by the child's familiarity. "I don't believe I've ever met you before. How did you know my name?"
"You never met me, but you knew my daddy."
The waitress frowned. "Where is your father? What's his name?"
"He used to come here all the time when he was on the road driving his truck. He told me all about you and other people in this town. He said it was just about the friendliest place on earth." She smiled again.
Jenny was puzzled. "Is he in the restroom?"
"He's not with me, but he's in the most beautiful place," she replied softly.
"What's his name?" Jenny asked again.
"May I please have my milkshake?"
Deep in the forest, a little squirrel named Squeaky lived with his mother and father, older brother, Sam, and twin sisters, Jenny and Julie. Actually, Squeaky's real name was Simon, but he'd been nicknamed Squeaky because every time he talked, his voice made squeaky sounds.
All through the long summer days, Squeaky and his brother and sisters frolicked and swung back and forth from tree to tree as they chased one another in a game of tag. Squeaky loved summertime best of all and wished it would last forever, but when he felt the first nip in the gentle winds that blew through the trees, he knew that it would soon be time to go back to school. He didn't mind school. He'd just rather be playing in the forest all day.
