EXCERPTS FROM JOE THE DREAMER: THE CASTLE AND CATAPULT
FREE APRIL 11-13
From Chapter One
Baker looked at the kitchen
window again, hoping headlights would turn in to the driveway. Instead, an
image moved on the other side of the glass. A tremble ricocheted from Joe’s chest
to his fingers and toes. A hotdog chunk he bit off almost lodged in his throat.
“What time is it?” Brown hair framed the scowl
on Penny’s slightly freckled face as she sat across from him at the
glass-topped table. “I’m worried about Mom and Dad.”
Joe swallowed. Tangy mustard taste
lingered on his dry tongue.
“They’re probably fine,” he choked
out. He dropped what was left of his bun on his plate and ran over to see if a
friend peeped at them. At first, Joe’s tan face, thick mop of black hair, and
frightened brown eyes reflected in the window. He leaned closer. A bald head
he’d never seen before glistened. Huge eyes glared from the other side of the
glass. The man’s drooping jowls jiggled as a hand tried to push the window
open.
“Get out of here!” Joe yelled blood
and panic pulsing through him as he flipped the blind shut and pulled his cell
from his pocket. He dialed 911.
***
The man was now kicking the door. He motioned
for Penny to follow him into their parents’ bedroom. Listening for police
sirens, he mentally repeated the Shaws’ number. He slammed the door, flipped
open his cell phone again, and punched. As he waited for the answer, Penny’s
wet eyes, instead of her mouth, screamed for help.
“Faulkner here,” a deep voice
answered.
“Mom and Pop aren’t here, and a man
is banging on the door. Do you know where our parents are?” Joe’s jaw twitched.
“Pardon?” demanded Uncle Faulkner.
“Slow down and run that by me again. Is this Joe? You should identify yourself!”
Joe slowly repeated, “Do you or
Aunt Anna know where my parents are?”
“Haven’t heard a thing,” Faulkner
said. “Answer the door. And shut your dog up while you’re trying to talk on the
phone!”
“But this dude peeked in—” The dial
tone buzzed.
A loud BAAAAM echoed, and Joe
grabbed Penny. “Into Mom and Dad’s closet!”
Just as they closed themselves into
the closet, the front door crashed open. The burglar alarm screamed. Hefley
snarled.
***
About fifty miles away, two big
hairy men shoved Darin and Rose Baker across the drawbridge into Sir Henry’s
castle.
They stumbled up a wide
marble-tiled stairway, hands tied behind their backs.
“We got ‘im,” said the beast who
pushed Darin into the room. “But his wife was with ‘im. Couldn’t leave a
witness.”
Darin’s eyes adjusted to the dimly
lit room. Rose seemed to be in shock. Then he turned his gaze so he could see
what his wife stared at.
It couldn’t be true!
“Untie these folks,” Kermesis told
the goons.
“Kermesis! You’re involved in this?
I thought when you turned the business over to Caleb—” Darin’s voice echoed in
the chamber-like room.
“That I forgot you have a computer
software design I want?”
“It’s mine.” Darin watched as the
big thug released the bonds.
“Now listen here, Darin. I was paying you good money
when you created that design.”
“I created the program at home on my own time. It’s
not yours.”
“Where is it?”
Over in a corner, Darin recognized
several leaders of local churches and a priest. Apparently they had been
abducted, too.
“I want that software design,
Darin. If you don’t tell us where it is, we’ll get your children.”
“No!” Rose screamed. Her
high-pitched shrieks continued until the monster who had nabbed her in the
parking lot put his pillow-sized hand over her nose and mouth. She pulled at
the massive fingers as she struggled for air, her face turning red, then
bluish.
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