Sister in a Box

Sister in a Box

Synopsis
One sister must face an old nemesis to save another...

When dangerous ex-con Eddie Drake is released from prison, he is hellbent on getting revenge on the cop who helped put him away, Detective Sergeant Jenna Carver. But when he kidnaps Assistant District Attorney Melanie Carver, Jenna's older sister, due to a case of mistaken identity, Jenna must face Drake before his uses his revenge on Melanie.

Excerpt
Chapter 1: Jenna

I was having lunch at my Uncle Vince's cafe with my sisters, Melanie and Brandi. I was taking a break from work to hang out with my big sister and little sister. It was our way of hanging out together. We weren't talking about criminal cases at the moment, just enjoying the food Uncle Vince had cooked for us. "Is Linda Brody still giving you grief?" Brandi asked. "Everyday," Mel said. "If she wasn't my superior, I slap the shit out of her." "You wouldn't," I smiled. Melanie was way to sensible and way to much of a good person to get into a physically altercation with someone she worked with. She was Grandsboro's Deputy District Attorney at 30 years old. She was married to Ned Dobson, a councilman to City Hall. They have a beautiful daughter named Molly. Mel was the only sister to be a wife and a mother. Me and Brandi? Were still single and just dating two of the town's damn good cops. I was in a relationship with Mike Peterson. He was the police lieutenant and acting police chief. He was in his forty's and I wasn't 30 yet, but he was my match for love. Brandi was dating Trevor Parker, a police sergeant like me and a homicide detective. He and Brandi have been on and off for about a year. He always put his career first before his relationship with her. This was why I kept warning Brandi not to get serious with Trevor. I feared that if he ever put his job first again, he would break her heart in the process. "Nice bracelet," Mel complimented. "Thanks. It was a gift from Trevor." "What for?" I asked. "It was an "I'm sorry for canceling our plans last night" gift. I scoffed. This was typical of Trevor. But I couldn't blame him. Criminals never take a day off nor the night off. "Do you like the bracelet?" Mel asked again. "Yeah. He said that as long as like the bracelet, everything's cool." "What plans did you two have before Trevor canceled them?" "I think an candlelight dinner. He was trying to be the romantic type." "I love candlelight dinners. There so romantic." "Candlelight dinners are really juvenile. My date night with Mike is at Morris's Gym." Mel and Brandi were dismayed at the way my boyfriend and I go out on dates. They thought I was a nut. Not the romantic type. "Morris's Gym?" Mel asked. "Yep." "You go to Morris's Gym for a workout, not a romantic date," Brandi explained. "Brandi. Me and Mike working out at Morris's Gym is our date. We don't have to get dolled up for some luxury restaurant, we could just hang out, work up a sweat, and have our "US" time." Melanie rolled her eyes as she sipped her coffee. Brandi sighed as she folded her arms across her chest. Melanie and Brandi just do get my own dating plans with Mike. I'm not the kind on person who would go out to a fancy restaurant with a man. I would pretty much invite him over for a Laker game on TV. I was pretty much a tomboy and very damn proud of it. Mel and Brandi were very much girly-girls. UGH! "Jen, there are many times I'm glad I'm not you," said Brandi. "I still prefer candlelight dinner, kid," Mel whispered to Brandi. "Thanks, sis. I'm glad someone still appreciates romantic dinner dates better than others."

Chapter 9: Brandi

I was walking down Cypress Street on a warm, hazy afternoon, heading to Sassy's, a local clothing boutique, not far from my place. I was in the mood to shop. Or in the mood to try on the newest bejeweled hip-huggers that was on sale. I just had to try it on. I maybe the Grandsboro Gazette's top crime reporter... Ok, the Gazette's ONLY top crime reporter, but I'm a bit of a girly-girl. Sassy's was the only clothing store in town with the hottest trends I can try out.

Chapter 10: Jenna

I'm outside of the Grandsboro Courthouse, at one-fifteen in the afternoon. With the area surrounded by uniformed officers, detectives, seven cars, and even an helicopter in the air. Being a cop, I never let emotions get to me, but this was Melanie. She was more than just the town's prosecuting attorney, she was my big sister. My world, my everything. I can handle taking down drug lords, killers, and other criminals, but how can anyone handle the abduction of an assistant D.A. especially since that person happened to be a family relative? My family relative! "Anything?" I asked Officer Barringer impatiently. "Sorry, Detective. Nothing so far," he repiled. "Dammit!" I groaned in frustration. I was really scared for Melanie. When it comes to District Attorneys or Assistant District Attorneys like Melanie for example, they are always the number one target for revenge. The only thing I can think of is someone has it out for Mel. She had put away a lot of criminals throughout her five-year career as the town's assistant district attorney. The same criminals I busted throughout my career as a cop. They would have it out for me, not just Melanie. I busted them and Mel would prosecute them. Our actions would end up on the front page of the Grandsboro Gazette, written by our baby sister, Brandi. "We found Melanie's car in the parking lot," said Trevor. "Her car keys were on the ground. It look like she was taken before she even unlocked her car door." Trevor took me to the parking lot where Mel's car was. It was there. At the exact parking spot Mel would always park before she got out of her car everyday when she goes to her office. And her keys were on the ground like Trevor said. In my mind, I thought Mel was about to unlock the driver's side of her car, but someone held her at gunpoint from behind her. Ordered her to drop her keys and took her by force. The way he was pointing at gun to her back, Mel didn't have any other choice, but to cooperate with her abductor. "Jen?" A soft voice echoed as the image of Melanie's abduction continued flashing before my eyes. Mel was being forced into the kidnapper's dark, black van while he held a gun to her face. I could see the fear in Mel's eyes as the kidnapper slammed the van door shut in front of Mel's face. "Jenna?" The soft voice echoed again. But I was too distracted by the image of the kidnapper wearing a ski mask, climbing into the van and drove off in a huff, with Mel screaming my name: "JENNA!" Then, I was back to reality with my heart racing like someone scared the shit out of me with cymbals. There was my baby sister, Brandi. Bubbly, perky, immature Brandi. Now filled with worry about Mel, just as I was. "You okay?" she asked. "No. I'm okay, physically. But..." "I get what you mean." Brandi had on an one-shoulder purple top and a dark denim skirt with black knee-high boots. Her chestnut-brown hair was in a half-up and half-down hair style and was wearing my hoop earrings. I warned her numerous times about borrowing my things without permission, but my mind was so focused on Melanie, I didn't have time to fight with Brandi about things as stupid as a pair of silver hoop earrings. "I saw Melanie in my mind being abduction by this sicko, holding a gun to her back...." "You saw the kidnapping happen?" Brandi asked, grabbing my left shoulder. "No. But I kept thinking that if it did happen." "Jen. We don't know what happened. All we known is that someone kidnapped Mel just when she was about to unlock the door of her car." Brandi was trying to calm me down. But I couldn't calm down. It was bad enough I lost my dad when I was thirteen. The thought of losing my big sister was ten times worse. Being a cop, you deal with robbers, ex-cons, high-speed chases, you name it. But when you're someone's sister, that's a different story. I know Mel is alive, and I'll do whatever I can to bring her back safely. That was my promise to myself, Brandi, Ned, and baby Molly. From a distance, I saw Parker questioning Deputy District Attorney Linda Brody. She was Mel's superior and a major pain-in-the-ass. I thought Parker was asking D.A. Brody on who would kidnap Mel or was the kidnapping related to a trial Mel spent nights working late preparing for? I wondered if Parker was going to ask D.A. Brody if the man Mel was prosecuting had someone take her, to make her unavailable for the trial. Therefore, without Mel, there would be a mistrial and the creep Mel wanted put away would get away scott-free. "Aw, great. It's the Prosecuting Stiletto," Brandi grimaced. She wasn't a fan of D.A. Brody. I couldn't blame her. I don't like Brody either. She was such an ambitious district attorney who would do anything to excel at all costs. She had on her maroon blazer and a sort-of shorter skirt. She could be the Prosecuting Slut instead of a Prosecuting Stiletto. Parker and D.A. Brody walked away from each other and he was about to approach me and Brandi. Brody was about to take off. "I talked to D.A. Brody," Parker explained. "Whoever took your sister wasn't connected to the trial. Which means this wasn't an outside job." "Where could she be?" Brandi asked. Her voice was filled with worry. I put my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. I tried to be the strong sister. After all, I'm older than Brandi by six years. "Maybe you should sit this out, Carver," Parker suggested. I understood what he was saying. I had to back out of this because the missing D.A. was my sister. This was a family thing and I couldn't get involved in this. "I'm not sitting this out, Parker," I snapped. "She's my sister and I'm going find her! End of story!" I turned around and walked away from him... and Brandi. Unbeknowst to me, Parker comforted Brandi as she emotionally went from being worried about one sister.... to worrying about two sisters.

Chapter 11: Melanie

"Wake up, Jenna," a man's voice said, in a sing song like tone. I had just woken up and had trouble seeing from the bright, shiny light in my eyes. I was completely confused on where I was. One minute, I was leaving the courthouse and headed to the parking lot. To my car, the next minute, someone knocked me out from behind me. I was out cold. The next minute, I just woke up in this strange place. I was so disoreniented and couldn't think on where I was. I felt that my head was killing me. Must be an concussion. "Hey, Jen. Time to wake up, baby," the voice said. I felt my hands tied to a metal chair. It looked like a grungy basement I was in. "Where am I?" I asked. "You're at... my place. Where no one can hear you scream." As my eye sight was finally back to normal, I stared at the person, who was holding me captive. He looked familiar, but he called me Jenna or Jen. That was my younger sister's name. He must be a criminal. I didn't know which criminal he was. Jenna had arrested a lot of criminals and I put them in prison. Whoever this guy was, he wanted Jenna. But he took me instead. I thought this was a case of mistaken identity. Because Jenna and I are sisters and have the same brown hair, brown eyes, similar facial features, we could easily be twins. No wonder this guy kidnap me. He was after my sister, but took me by accident. He was aware that abducted the wrong Carver sister. "I've been waiting five years for this moment," the man continued. "Getting out of prison and planning my exact revenge on you." "What?" I asked, being very confused. "Don't act like you don't remember what you did to me!" he hollered. I really didn't know this man's deal. Being a district attorney, I would've done everything in my power to put this man away for a very, very long time. But I've seen him before, yet... I couldn't remember his name. He untied my hand from the metal chair and got me up. At first, I thought he was going to let me go. But he took to the pole in the hideout and tied my hands to the back of the pole. I had no idea what he was planning on doing next. But I had a feeling, it wasn't going to be good. "You arrested me. On a bogus charge. All I did was have a nice conversation with my girlfriend and it got out of hand. And you slapped the cuffs on me." My eyes grew large. I finally remembered who this guy was. It was Eddie Drake. He kidnapped a young woman and killed her. He cut her blouse and her bra open. Her breasts were exposed. Jenna arrested him for murder and assault. The incident went to trial and Jenna testified against Drake. He was then found guilty of murder and was sent to prison. Now, he was out and wants revenge against my sister. But, he ended up with me. "Eddie Drake." "Right. I told you. You would remember me." he smiled. "I spent five years in prison because of you. You ruined my life!" "I didn't put you in prison, you put yourself in prison. You murdered an innocent girl and you never apologized to her family for your heartless actions! You ruined your own life!" I felt like no matter what I said, it wasn't sinking into Drake's head. He pulled out a pocketknife from his back pocket. I had a feeling it was the same pocketknife he used to cut his victim's blouse and bra open. I got very scared. I was worried he was going to do the same thing to me. Drake approached me and with his pocketknife out. I feared on what he was about to do. "Now that I'm out of prison. I am going to teach you a lesson, you'll never forget." He took his pocketknife and cut my lavender blouse down the middle. The same way he did to his victim's. He ripped my blouse open. It was a good thing I had my bra on, but I had no idea when my luck would run out. I can feel one tear, pouring down my right cheek and the fear within me. "What do you plan on doing to me?" I cried. "I'm still going to teach you a lesson," he laughed. "Is cutting my clothes part of the lesson?" "No. It's punishment for testifying in court." He then proceeded to roll up my black skirt and noticed I my a black lace panties. He took his pocketknife and cut the straps of my panties. "Oh, god!" I whispered as he ripped the panties off of me. He threw them across the basement. "You weren't worthy enough to wear those anyway." I can finally see how sick this man really was. He thought I was Jenna, my own sister. She was the one who arrested him and testify against him in court. I wasn't on the case at that time, but it was clear to me... He wanted revenge on her. But because my last name was Carver and Jenna and I look like we could be twins, it was no wonder he abducted me. He took the wrong Carver sister. Then he pulled my bra and cut the front open. I could feel it. My breasts were exposed and he was sticking out his tounge. I couldn't imagine what sick idea Drake was going to do next. The only thing I could think of was, I hoped he doesn't kill me.

Chapter 12: Brandi

I was at home with mom, worrying about Mel's disapearance. Mom was in a frantic. I haven't seen her like this since Jenna took a bullet in the shoulder to stop a robbery a year ago. Jenna being a cop wasn't the career choice my mom wanted her to pursue. When the front door open, we thought it would be Melanie, alive and okay and shaken from her gut-wrenching ordeal. "Hey." But it was Jenna. I hoped she had an update on Mel's disappearance. She looked dead tired. Her eyes look sleepy and she wanted to get off her feet. "Where's your sister?" Mom asked, crying. She thought in her mind, Jen was going to tell her Mel was found dead. "I don't know," she answered. She sat down on mom's blue floral sofa and sighed. "I've been taken off the case. It's a personal matter for me. I can't get involved." "Conflict of Interest, Ma." I said. Jen looked miserable, not just physically, but emotionally. She feared in every part of her body, that Grandsboro P.D. would call her and inform her that her big sister, my big sisters--our big sister-- would end up dead behind the dumpster of any building in town. Mom always thought Jenna being a cop would be a dangerous job for her. She never imagined that Melanie would find herself in harm's way for being a prosecuting attorney. Mom looked scared and a tear was pouring down her face as she faced the possibility that Mel was dead. I walked towards her and placed my hand on her right shoulder. "Y'know, Brandi, I expect bad things to happen to Jenna, because she's a cop. Like getting shot or taken captive... But I've never would have imagined that Melanie would be kidnapped. She is a lawyer, damn it!" "Ma. Mel's a district attorney. Her job is to prosecute criminals and put them in prison. Bad guys go after D.A.'s much often as they go after cops."