SAYATA

THE SUSPENSE ACCOUNT

by

Charles Thomas Peters jr.

Copyright 1989, 1993 Charles Thomas Peters jr.

I hope you enjoy the stories The Suspense Account and Flame By The Sea. Although each book sort of stands on its own, they are part of the same story. Together the books are roughly 237,264 words. The Suspense Account is 21 Chapters. Flame By The Sea is 34 Chapters.

The First Chapter of the Suspense Account deals with the death of Matthew Clayburg's grandfather Aaron and a parchment that is The Suspense Account.

"In the end, all debts shall be accounted for. But until final determination of proper disposition, the account of what happened in and beyond the Halls of Lockstock shall remain in suspense. The charges of murder shall be marked with red ink in a ledger as UNPAID. The ledger shall be closed and titled, THE SUSPENSE ACCOUNT."

Lockstock is the name of the county but it is also the name of a mansion which stands on a pier partially over the ocean. The mansion is owned by movie producer Claudious Urbane.

A neighbor lady at the funeral adds more mystery to the day of the funeral.

Mrs. Hannery said, "The parchment is obviously in reference to a murder which took place at Lockstock. I keep thinking about that night. . . ." Mrs. Hannery didn't finish what she had been about to say. "I'm just upsetting you. The parchment probably means nothing. Aaron was probably getting ready to start another rumor among the neighborhood kids. He use to love to stir them up and give them an adventure. He use to love telling them all sorts of wild things, almost as much as he use to love making me angry." Mrs. Hannery burst into tears. Crying loudly, she ran into the kitchen.

The Second Chapter begins with Matthew receiving the parchment in the mail. Who sent him the parchment? But Matthew only briefly considers who as he is getting ready for a date. Matthew's date doesn't arrive but instead a bag lady enters Matthew's life. The bag lady is the mother of Matthew's two cousins Sarah and Benjamin. Matthew can hardly believe it is his Aunt Bess who had vanished long ago.

After consuming some brandy Matthew's Aunt Bess recites a poem to him.

"HUGGERMUGGER"

"Such a secret whispered in the night

Tragic is the secret kept so quiet

It is the secret of a heartless killing

It is the secret of souls, cold and unfeeling

A woman came to a man, Frenchy, at his home

She made certain he was there all alone

Then she pretended to leave but remained about

She waited an hour and then began to shout

The strange shouts lured Frenchy out onto the Lockstock Pier

Descending

into the nights darkness, Frenchy went without fear

Bravely Frenchy went,

thinking someone might need his aid

Bravely Frenchy went,

a deadly game was being played

On the docks

Frenchy saw the shadow of someone in the moonlight

He saw the shadow of the someone

who would kill him this night

Qui va la

Frenchy screamed as he stared into the dark

Qui vive

Frenchy screamed as he heard a dog's bark

Then Frenchy smelled perfume, a sweet smell

He knew it was of the woman he didn't know too well

She had visited him, and he thought she had gone

Now he found her on the docks,

and he wondered what was going on

The woman touched him on the face

She touched him with a handkerchief made of lace

The shadow disappeared and appeared to be gone

Frenchy thought he was left with the woman alone

Frenchy saw the woman had a bottle of wine

The woman licked her lips and said it tasted all so fine

Then the woman gently kissed Frenchy on the cheek

Frenchy knew the woman's husband, and of him started to speak

'Sh,' her cold finger fell over Frenchy's lips

She said she hated that man,

and of the wine she took a few sips

She offered Frenchy some of the wine and he swallowed deep

While in the dark the killer, closer, began to creep

The woman held Frenchy against her breast

The woman promised Frenchy she'd give him her best

A flicker of light in the night set to glow

Luminous ashes in the breezes began to blow

The killer crept closer with a large rock in his hand

While I stood helpless, watching a murder as it began

Frenchy felt his head as it was hit by the rock

And as Frenchy felt faint he fell on the dock

I saw a fire burning, flames leaping onto the pier

Burning at the dock's wood and toward Frenchy burning near

I saw Frenchy struggle to stand from where he fell

The leaping flames made the dock look like a scene from hell

In the fire's savage light,

I saw the woman getting into a boat

Her accomplice was with her, he was wearing a red coat

I know he was a man, for she kissed him and gave him a hug

The woman, oh boy, did she look all so smug

I couldn't see the accomplice's face, he was wearing a hood

But I heard him laughing just as loud as he could

His laughter sounded strange like it wasn't real but was fake

Still it had a familiar sound I could not seem to quite shake

I couldn't figure out of who the laughter reminded me

I couldn't figure out who the hooded man might be

The murderer and the murderess

began rowing their boat to shore

And Frenchy screamed in pain, what did you do this to me for

I waded into the water toward a boat loose from the pier

But then I stopped,

my heart was racing and I was full of fear

I thought I might try to save Frenchy, I wanted to try

But like a coward I just stood there, I started to cry

I looked at Frenchy on the pier with fire at his back

And I heard burning pieces of wood begin to crack

I saw a flash of lightning and I heard a loud boom

Then I heard music playing, it was a strange tune

A mighty wind began to blow

And the burning pier took on an eerie glow

The flames began to burn Frenchy and he jumped into the sea

He disappeared beneath the water, but not forever there to be

They say he'll come back to this world as his own son

And then the killers will die for what they have done."

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The Two e-Books Cost $3.99 together. We do not currently have these books available in either hardback or paperback.

Purchase The Suspense Account & Flame By The Sea from inwoodsinrutledge.com

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