Are you a published author looking to expand your reach? Find out how Living With Retirement can help you. <Find Out More Here>
Short Story Fiction
Missing
Scott A. Gese
His wife was missing. He didn’t know what the hell was going on… until he got the call.
Gut Böckel, Rödinghausen/Wikimedia CommonsAs soon as he walked in the unlocked front door, Ryan Falcon knew something was wrong.
His suspicions started as soon as he turned his car onto the private drive that led to the house. The gate had been left open. It was something he knew his wife would never do.
Now, as he pulled up to the house, he found a strange car parked out front. He was expecting his brother-in-law from out of town, but this wasn’t his car.
“Maybe he got a new one,” thought Ryan.
He tried to shrug it off. But still, his gut was telling him something wasn’t quite right. He could feel it.
When he reached the front door he found it to be unlocked. He stepped in.
Where was his dog? Why hadn’t it or his wife greeted him.
Ryan called out to his dog. “Matti! Come here girl!” She didn’t show.
He called out to his wife. “Peg?” There was no reply.
Everything was eerily quiet. Ryan could feel a slight worry setting in. He talked himself into remaining calm.
“I’m sure they must be around here somewhere,” he thought.
He searched through every room in the house. He found the dog locked in the upstairs bathroom but nothing of his wife. He checked the garage and the back yard. Nothing there either. Now his worry set in for real.
Peg gone, Matti locked up, gate and front door open and unlocked, strange car out front. “What the hell is going on here?” He asked himself. “Nothing makes sense. Maybe Peg’s brother showed up early and they went for a walk.” The thought was only slightly calming but it was all he had for now.
Suddenly Ryan’s phone rang. The I.D. Showed it was Peg. Ryan answered it. “Hello,” he said, trying to sound calm.
The unpleasant voice of a man was on the other end. “Get in the car that was left in your driveway and go to one twenty seven West Everest Street. The keys are in the ignition. Be there in twenty minutes and don’t be late. You’ll receive further instructions once you arrive. No cops, we have your wife.”
Ryan panicked. “Who is this? What is this about? Is she OK? You lay one finger on her and I swear if I have to I’ll come back from the grave to hunt you down…”
The voice on the other end interrupted. “You’re in no position to be making idle threats. Better get moving.” The phone went silent.
Ryan quickly plugged the address into his cell phone. His map program showed the destination to be a small upscale restaurant. Ryan made it there in fifteen minutes. He abandoned the car and rushed in.
As soon as he stepped through the door a young female hostess greeted him. “Table for One?”
“I was told to show up here. Where’s my wife?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” she replied. “Are you Ryan?”
“Yes, I’m Ryan,” he replied.
“Follow me.” The waitress led Ryan down a back hall to an unmarked door. “Don’t bother knocking. Go right in. They’re expecting you.” She quickly turned and went back up the hall.
Ryan took a deep breath and opened the door. The room was dark. Suddenly the lights flipped on. “Surprise! Happy birthday!”
Ryan was stunned. “What the hell?”
Peg stepped up and gave Ryan a kiss and a drink. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart. Remember the stunt you pulled on me last year? The one where you told me you lost the house in a poker game. You even had your poker buddies confirm it. I was in tears before you finally fessed up. I told you then, the payback would be hell. Gotcha.”
© Copyright 2023 by Scott A. Gese All Rights Reserved.
You Might Also Like These Stories
short story fiction / A Hunters Dream
A Hunters Dream / He went looking for elk but found something unexpected. Something that would change his life forever.
short story fiction / The Basement Dweller
The Basement Dweller / Something was down there and it needed to go.
short story fiction / The Eraser
The Eraser / If you wanted to disappear, there was once a man who could do it for you.
short story fiction / A Nightmare Too Real
Oswald Cleaver woke up in a cold sweat. He knew he was dreaming but the blood was real. What sort of nightmare was he caught up in.
shory story fiction / The Devils Revenge
Turning down the offer was one thing, but telling him to go fuck himself was just a bad idea.
|
Click the Buy Me a Coffee button below to find out how you can help support this site. Thank you. |
Please Share this Website
Add this site to your social media pages by using the social media buttons below. Your friends will thank you for it.
A full length novel by Scott A. Gese
The day Sarah McKinney finally escaped the clutches of her abusive husband, she and her adopted son, Jason, began a perilous journey and a new life on the run. The future hangs in the balance as their unhappy past and the man they left behind threatens to catch up with them.
Our Top Five Most Read Articles/Short Stories for the Month of March
(and Five From the File)
<HERE>
Newest Article
Struggling With Balance Issues Could Become a Downfall for Older Adults
RDNE Stock Project/PexelsAs we age, maintaining balance becomes increasingly vital to our overall well-being. While mental and emotional balance is essential for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle, physical balance plays a crucial role in staying active, independent, and injury-free.<Read The Full Article Here>
Newest Short Story
Anna's Mom
By Scott A. Gese
Stocksnap/PixabayAs Anna rummaged through her mother’s possessions, she found the journals.<Read The Full Story Here>
Newest Classic Film
Kansas City Confidential
(1952) John Payne and Coleen Gray.
Four robbers hold up an armored truck getting away with over a million dollars in cash.