Blood Red Sundown: Evil Begins Read online

  Blood Red Sundown

  ALLEN L. GATES

  Published by

  DocUmeant Publishing

  244 5th Avenue, Suite G-200

  NY, NY 10001

  Phone: 6462334366

  http://www.DocUmeantPublishing.com

  ©2016 Allen L Gates All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.

  For permission contact the publisher at [email protected]

  Disclaimer: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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  Dedication

  This book to my wife Pam and her family for their continued support in my writing endeavors.

  Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Chapter 76

  Chapter 77

  Chapter 78

  Chapter 79

  Chapter 80

  Chapter 81

  Chapter 82

  Chapter 83

  Chapter 84

  Chapter 85

  Chapter 86

  Chapter 87

  Chapter 88

  Chapter 89

  Chapter 90

  Chapter 91

  Chapter 92

  Chapter 93

  Chapter 94

  Chapter 95

  Chapter 96

  Chapter 97

  Chapter 98

  Chapter 99

  Chapter 100

  Chapter 101

  Chapter 102

  Chapter 103

  Chapter 104

  Chapter 105

  Chapter 106

  Chapter 107

  Chapter 108

  Chapter 109

  Chapter 110

  Chapter 111

  Chapter 112

  Chapter 113

  Chapter 114

  Chapter 115

  Chapter 116

  Chapter 117

  Chapter 118

  Chapter 119

  Chapter 120

  Chapter 121

  Chapter 122

  Chapter 123

  Chapter 124

  Chapter 125

  Chapter 126

  Chapter 127

  Chapter 128

  Chapter 129

  Chapter 130

  Chapter 131

  Chapter 132

  Chapter 133

  Chapter 134

  Chapter 135

  Chapter 136

  Chapter 137

  Chapter 138

  Chapter 139

  Chapter 140

  Chapter 141

  Chapter 142

  Chapter 143

  Chapter 144

  Chapter 145

  Chapter 146

  Chapter 147

  Chapter 148

  Chapter 149

  Chapter 150

  Chapter 151

  Chapter 152

  Chapter 153

  Chapter 154

  Chapter 155

  Chapter 156

  Chapter 157

  Chapter 158

  Chapter 159

  Chapter 160

  Chapter 161

  Chapter 162

  Chapter 163

  Chapter 164

  Chapter 165

  Chapter 166

  Chapter 167

  Chapter 168

  Chapter 169

  Chapter 170

  Chapter 171

  About the Author

  Other Allen Gates Novels

  1

  SENATOR WILLIAM RADFORD, III couldn’t believe the irony of the song “The Georgia Sun Was Blood Red and Going Down” coming out of the radio. It seemed to him to be a sign, an omen of things to come. He knew there could be no turning back, it had gone too far.

  The sudden shooting pain in his wrist brought a realization that he was squeezing the steering wheel so hard his left hand was cramping. He relaxed, took a deep breath, exhaled, and scanned the skyline marveling at its beauty as he watched the blood red sun slowly disappear below the horizon.

  She loved this time of day and he recalled the many times over the past years that the two of them sat together at this very spot drinking wine and relishing the beauty of the sunsets.

  “What happened, Marie?”

  The descending darkness helped clear his mind of these distractions and review the details of the plan one final time. Had he thought of everything? He was well aware that nothing could be taken for granted and it was an absolute must that his mind remains focused on the career ending consequences of overlooking even the smallest detail. As long as his mind stayed attentive to that premise he knew everything would work perfectly. For the past three weeks he had scrutinized every detail of the routine until it had become a daily process—like preparing for an important senate speech.

  Now sitting by the side of the road, he was totally at ease knowing his days of agonizing over her would soon be over. He gave one final glance at the darkening shoreline before pulling out onto the road to begin preparation for their meeting at the Moonlight Motel.

  “I like my computer name, ‘Brick Allen’” he said as he pulled onto the roadway. He had selected the name from a mystery novel he had read and felt confident that no one would ever associate a name like that with the highly respected US senator, William Radford the Third.

  Although he felt emotionally agitated, he was comforted by his ability to remain calm knowing he was about to face a period of harrowing situations, the first of which was the dread
ed report to the police of his soon-to-be-missing wife. He had prepared himself by looking into a mirror, practicing remaining calm as he responded to questions he knew he would be asked as an immediate suspect in her murder.

  Allowing the car to slow as he approached his destination, he coasted to a stop on the narrow shoulder of the road and looked over at the shadowy outline of the Moonlight Motel. He felt deeply remorseful as he realized this disgusting place could be the site of the final night of Marie’s life.

  As he sat there he believed in his heart she would realize her mistake upon arriving at this disgusting low class motel that her fantasy man had selected for their sexual rendezvous. His repulsion at the image he was looking at was further enhanced as he read the marquee noting the missing letters; VACAN IES by the OUR, DAY or WEEK. He knew Marie would feel that same repulsion.

  He felt uneasy as the image of the shower scene in “Psycho” came to mind. That innocent girl was brutally murdered in a motel equal to or maybe nicer than the one he was staring at. He dismissed the image of the dead girl fearing it might create a feeling of doubt or even a touch of sympathy for Marie that could cause him to weaken and retreat from what he had planned to do. But inside he knew the resentment he was feeling and the memory of her unforgivable act would provide the motivation he needed to finish the task. He leaned forward and turned the key to start the car’s engine.

  “Here we go,” he said looking at his image in the rear view mirror. He pulled onto the motel’s small pot-holed driveway proceeding slowly, surveying the area as he approached the rooms. He purposely selected a parking spot near the office to observe the movements of the young man who had registered him and who was now visible through the window working on a computer.

  Glancing again at his image in the overhead visor mirror, he adjusted the blond wig and smiled at the change that the blue tinted contacts gave his appearance. He donned the horn rimmed glasses and checked his appearance again—perfect. The padding he had placed around his middle felt a little uncomfortable, but the overweight effect was not to be denied. Now all he needed to successfully complete his carefully scripted plan was to create a witness that would describe in detail the man entering room 12.

  Opening the car door he deliberately pushed on the horn button, creating a disturbance that he knew would attract the night clerk’s attention to him. He waved and mouthed that he was sorry for his carelessness. The young man gave an understanding smile and a forgiving wave and returned his attention to his computer.

  “Perfect,” he thought, “everything is working perfectly.” He walked to the door and inserted the key to open the room to begin the agonizing task of waiting for Marie’s arrival and yet hoping in his heart she would not appear.

  Out on highway 29, a sleek new Mercedes convertible carrying an attractive well-dressed woman is speeding away from her estate home with her mind focused on the prearranged encounter with a mystery man called Brick. Her hair was blowing wildly in the cool night air as she sped to her meeting with a complete stranger.

  “No,” she thought, “this is not simply a meeting, I’m about to be part of. It was an exciting and very dangerous sexual encounter that was completely out of character for her. Just the thought of it had her tingling with anticipation. She and her computer generated lover, Brick, had exchanged erotic messages over several weeks before he crossed over the line and broke the agreed-to rules of their game and suggested that they meet. She easily refused that first request, but the growing eroticism in his continuous messages left her mindless to the unforgiving consequences if their indiscreet actions were made known. After continued descriptions of his intentions when they finally met, she let her amorous desires override her instincts and gave in to his request for a one-time meeting.

  She had made certain that he understood the rules and that she was happily married and it was to be a one-time meeting with no further contact. In response, he had willingly agreed to her rules and confessed to a marriage of over twenty years and had even expressed an uneasiness on their meeting by asking her, “Are you sure we want to do this?”

  Thinking back on their conversations she remembered their discussions on the dangers they were exposing themselves to, but in the end they both agreed to this time and this day for their rendezvous.

  That time and day was to be tonight and the anticipation of its fulfillment, was cancelling any moral doubts that flashed through her mind.

  As she drove, her mind again clouded with deep erotic fantasies she knew would never happen, but they kept her mind lucid and clear of the looming wrath from her husband if he somehow discovered this night.

  She looked up at the star-filled sky her blond hair blowing wildly in the wind, causing several strands to wrap around her face.

  “I love this night and I love where it is taking me,” she yelled to the heavens as her eyes locked in on the countless stars above her.

  “Tonight I am free!”

  He looked away from the girl’s body and placed his face in his trembling hands.

  “Why did you let this happen? Why couldn’t you be strong? You really liked this girl.”

  Turning back he looked down at her lifeless body with open eyes staring up at him and he began assuring himself that he would make this the last time. He was sure he could stop now. But the urge to touch her came quickly overriding his guilt with his weakness and he found himself kneeling beside her, removing her clothing.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  When he had removed all but her under clothing he rolled her over gently on to her back. Her head was turned away so her eyes were no longer looking at him. He removed the strands of hair from her face raised her lovingly to his chest and apologized to her and said as he rocked, “I love you.”

  He stood and continued to admire her as he clutched her clothes against his chest in a loving embrace and at that moment realized that he was powerless against this evil thing living inside him.

  2

  THIS NEW-FOUND SENSE of freedom she was experiencing away from her senator husband was strong, but not strong enough to escape the fear of his anger if he became aware of this inappropriate act. Her hands tightened on the wheel as she recalled his outrage when she had canceled his planned dinner and movie night out together, to attend this made up business meeting. His anger had frightened her and for the first time in their twenty year marriage she feared he might physically harm her. Before she had explained that she would cancel her meeting, he stormed out of the house in a rage slamming the door and sped out of the drive. She decided to follow through with her plans convincing herself he would get over it and they would discuss it calmly later in the evening when she returned.

  Now here she was about to live out a fantasy she would never have believed possible. Her heartbeat quickened as the flickering lights of the motel came into view. She slowed the Mercedes to gain control of her raging excitement. The sound of gravel hitting her car made her realize she had run onto the shoulder. As she approached the dimly lit driveway entrance she became confused.

  “Oh my God, this can’t be right.”

  She stopped the car abruptly horrified at what she was looking at. The Moonlight Motel was a disgustingly ugly one story gray or dirty white stucco building with red doors designating each room, half of which were only shadows because of burned out light bulbs. A flashing red lettered vacancy sign on the marquee was casting flickering light patterns across the overgrown hedgerows lining the driveway.

  “This can’t be right,” she repeated hoping somehow to convince herself she had made a mistake and was at the wrong location.

  She pictured William’s reaction if he thought she would even consider entering a place like this, much less actually spending time in one of the disgusting rooms she had pictured in her mind.

  She crept ahead slowly along the shoulder of the road turning her head to avoid possible recognition in the headlights of a passing vehicle then made the turn onto the hedge lined drive. She stopped and sta
red at the marquee with several missing letters which read; “Moonlight Motel,” VACANCIES by the HOUR, DAY or WEEK. That gave her a chuckle as she thought that an hour might be just enough.

  A shadowy something flew out of the darkness close to her head making her duck and then appeared in the light of the marquee: “Oh, my God, a bat, are you out of your mind, Marie, what are you doing here?”

  Every ounce of good sense left inside her mind screamed, “Turn this car around and go home. It’s not too late to apologize to your husband and go to the movies like he had planned and after a romantic evening, take him home and make love to him.” However that thought passed as she convinced her mind she had come too far to change plans now. She realized her heart was racing wildly. Was it the anticipation of what lay within that motel room or the fear of being discovered and the devastation it would bring to her life and more importantly to William’s career as senator and his future run for governor?

  Despite her better judgment she again turned her mind to generated images of a stranger seductively undressing her while locked in a passionate kiss. The pleasure she was experiencing as she visualized his passion caused her to open her eyes and gasp for breath. The decision was made; she was ready to give in to her new found wanton desires.

  Filled with a determination to fulfil her fantasy, she prepared for the next phase and pulled into the dimly lit space in front of room 12. She could not curtail a laugh as she stared at the red door with the number two hanging upside down by one nail. She looked in the mirror and asked herself, “One last time Marie, are you sure this is what you want?”

  Continuing to sit and stare at the door of room twelve facing the absurdity of a woman of her position being there, but again she allowed the erotic images to reappear and this time the reality they projected gave her a sensation that she hadn't felt in months.

  “Why has William become so reluctant to make love to me?” she asked herself, knowing there was no excuse for what she was about to engage in.

  Raising her head from her hands clutching the steering wheel and still breathing heavily she glanced over at the clock on the dash and realized she had been fantasizing for over five minutes.

  “Now or never,” she said, and grabbed the door handle, picturing the online description he had given her. He had blond hair, blue eyes, wore horned rimmed glasses, and confessed to being a little overweight. With the possible risk to her near perfect life looming in exchange for this one fulfillment of an erotic fantasy, she opened the car door and walked to the door of room 12.