Cowtown | susanlpare

Synopsis: Freddie Demonti grew up in small Chicago neighborhood, called Cowtown. Back in the 1800’s, Cowtown consisted of a general store, a one room school house, a church, a couple of saloons, and was surrounded by cattle farms. Over the years, the farms were sold off to greedy land developers, houses were built, and the town grew and prospered.

Early in the 1900’s, Cowtown was annexed to the City of Chicago. Freddie Demonti’s great grand-father, Alfredo, was born in Cowtown around that time, and his parents decided it would be a good place to settle down and raise their family.

Throughout the years, the Demonti men were known for their fast tempers and quick fists, and Freddie lived up to their reputation. The slightest thing could set him off and he earned the nickname, ‘Firecracker’, when he was just a kid.

Soon after Freddie beats up Mike Campanale for spilling a drink on him, three young women decide to get even by embarrassing Freddie in front of the town. They hit Freddie where they know it will hurt him the most – they mess with his Conquest Knight XV. Big mistake! What starts out as a prank quickly turns into a war between the two families.

After one of Mike’s sisters goes missing, Detective Peppers, of the Chicago Police Department, is brought in to investigate. As he runs into one stumbling block after another, he quickly realizes that dealing with the Demonti and Campanale families is way beyond the norm.

Excerpt From: Cowtown

From: Chapter Eleven

"What do you mean, she’s missing?” Michael exclaimed. “How the hell could she be missing?”

“She just is,” Karlee said, trying not to cry again. “Her bed hasn’t been slept in, she hasn’t been to work, and no one has seen her for two days. And, her car is in her parking lot.”

Mike was silent, taking in what Karlee was telling him. His baby sister had disappeared. “Have you called the police?” he asked.

“They’re on their way over now. I want you here when they get here, Mike. Can you come over right now?”

“Of course. I’m on my way. I’m sure everything is okay, Karlee. You know Rebecca. It would be just like her to take off for a couple of days and forget to tell anyone that she was leaving.”

“I pray to God you’re right, Mike. But, I have a bad feeling about this. It has Firecracker written all over it. We’ve been on needles and pins ever since he started stalking Emmy Lou. Who knows what he’s capable of doing. I’m scared, Mike.”

“I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Hang in there, kiddo.”

Karlee put her phone on the table and sat back, wondering what had happened to Rebecca. She should have known something was wrong when Rebecca hadn’t returned her last two calls. She should have called the police earlier.

“You can’t keep me here forever, you know,” Rebecca told the man. “The police are probably looking for me right now.”

The man smiled at her. “Sure I can. I can keep you here as long as I want. I can do anything I want to you and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“I’ll scream,” she said.

The man laughed. “Please do. There’s nothing I like better than a screaming woman. It turns me on.”

“You’re a sick prick, you know that?” Rebecca shouted.

“Oh, my. You hurt my feelings,” the man replied, sarcastically. He stood and started walking towards the door.

“Where are you going?” she asked him.

“Why look at you. Missing me already.”

“I’m hungry. Get me something to eat.”

The man laughed aloud. “You’re giving me orders? You’ll eat when I tell you.”

“I want something from Culvers. Get me a butter burger and a chocolate shake. No fries. And, definitely no onions. And, I have to pee.”

“Again? For crying out loud, you just went.”

“It’s the coffee. It goes right through me.”

The man sighed and reached into his pants pocket. He took out a key, bent down, and unlocked the manacle that was around her ankle.

“I don’t know why it’s necessary to keep me chained. You lock me in when you leave. There are no windows for me to climb out of. How do you think I’m going to escape?”

“I don’t trust you,” the man told her.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Rebecca said. “You don’t chain me up and I promise not to try to escape.”

The man looked at her and grinned. “You really think I’m that stupid?”

Rebecca smiled back at him. “I promise. Seriously, I won’t try anything. The bathroom is right there, so I could at least go when you’re not here. Please.”

The man held her gaze for a couple of seconds and then shook his head back and forth. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. You’ll try something.”

“I promise I won’t. Pleeeease,” she begged.

“Go do your business. I’ll think about it for a minute.”

Rebecca smiled at him and went into the adjoining bathroom. She closed the door and then stood there looking around the room. She waited a minute, flushed the toilet, and turned on the cold water faucet. A few seconds later, she walked back into the bedroom.

“Well, whataya think?” she asked.

“I don’t see any way you’re gonna get out of here without a key,” the man said. “Okay, no shackles. But, you damn well better not try anything. If you do............