Harlequin Harold E-Book

Jupiter Hill

• Herausgeber: neobooks
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Deutsch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 199

Beschreibung

Oakville is a small town in the state of New York, USA. It has 15,084 inhabitants and was founded in 1688. The foundation of the community goes back to predominantly Dutch settlers. Most of them come from Brabant and Flanders. The story is about Harlekin-Harold. It is the year 1996. The young journalist Coby Sandford visits her old hometown. She was invited by the representatives of the high school to give a lecture for the students as a former graduate. It is about the role of women in society, about girls who want to make a career and how they can do that best. During their stay, a cruel series of murders begins. Young schoolgirls fall into the hands of a brutal psychopath who brutally murders them. Coby smells a big story and stays longer in town than she originally planned. She meets some people and problems from her own past. And she gets deeply involved in the murder cases and investigations of the authorities. Deeper than she would like.

Leseprobe

Harlequin Harold

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Original copyright © 2017, by Jupiter Hill.

Foreword:

Oakville is a small town in the state of New York, USA. It has 15,084 inhabitants and was founded in 1688.

The foundation of the community goes back to predominantly Dutch settlers. Most of them come from Brabant and Flanders.

The story is about Harlekin-Harold. It is the year 1996. The young journalist Coby Sandford visits her old hometown. She was invited by the representatives of the high school to give a lecture for the students as a former graduate. It is about the role of women in society, about girls who want to make a career and how they can do that best.

During their stay, a cruel series of murders begins. Young schoolgirls fall into the hands of a brutal psychopath who brutally murders them.

Coby smells a big story and stays longer in town than she originally planned. She meets some people and problems from her own past.

And she gets deeply involved in the murder cases and investigations of the authorities. Deeper than she would like.

Chapter 1 - The future belongs to you

Monday, January 22, 1996. Thick, grey clouds hang deep in the sky above the small town of Oakville in the state of New York. At any moment it will start to rain, at least that's what the clouds suggest. Today will be a very special day for the students. Today is the "Girls for future day" in the Oakville High School.

Withered leaves decorate the playground in front of the entrance of the high school. A sea of old, brown tree dresses covers the cold, bare asphalt. The wind drives the old leaves from the adjoining cemetery again and again in front of the red brick facade of the school, much to the annoyance of the director and the caretaker.

Director Reginald Booth has invited a special guest for the "Girls for future day". A former student. Coby Sandford is now 28 years old. Several years ago she moved from Oakville to New York City to work for the Daily-Tribune. She has won several awards in her young career and has even published a few books. For years, Coby has been fully focused on her career.

Coby Sandford will be speaking to the students today to inspire and encourage them. She is supposed to show the young girls that women today have good chances to make professional career and to be successful. It is 09:10 when Coby arrives at the school with her car. The English teacher Yann Engels welcomes her in the parking lot. And he is already looking forward to getting to know the young woman, he has only heard good things about her so far.

"Good morning, you must be Ms. Sandford. Nice that you still could arrange it. Did you have a good trip? "Good morning Mr. Engels. I arrived last night. It was a damn long ride. At least by my standards. I think it took me over three hours". "Please call me Yann, Mr. Engels was my father. I hope we didn't put you through too much trouble. "It's all right, Mr. Engels, Yann. I'm staying with my parents for a week. It's worth the trip twice as much". "Oh, that's nice to hear. I hope the girls behave themselves during their lecture".

Coby pinches her eyes in surprise. How does he mean that? Why shouldn't the girls behave? "How do I have to understand that Yann? "Well, some have these new mobile phones. We have forbidden bringing them to school, but especially the girls have problems with compliance". "Don't worry about that, Yann. I can handle it". "Your word in God's ear".

The headmaster of the school joins us. Reginald Booth is an old school teacher. His views and methods originate from a time long past. His brown corduroy suit underlines this impressively together with his grey-white hair.

"Ms. Sandford. I'm glad you came. I hope Mr. Engels has already warned you," - said the director. "I think I can tell the girls enough interesting things". "When I started teaching, girls didn't have anything like hormones at all. This behavior is an achievement of the seventies. Too much television and too lax politics". Coby answers him charmingly, but provocatively "You think emancipation is something bad"? "No. I simply don't think it leads to the desired result. But at least you have become something sensible. I'll see you in the auditorium.

"How nice of you Mr. Booth" - Coby mumbles after him as he leaves. Director Booth leaves Coby and Yann. He goes to his office to relax and have a cup of coffee and make further preparations.

"I'm very sorry about Ms. Sandford. Mr. Booth likes to hang around the old days". "It's all right Yann, I know the man from my own school days. And please call me Coby. Otherwise I still feel old". "Gladly. Come with Coby, I'll lead you into the auditorium" - you answer Yann with a smile on your lips.

Yann Engels leads Coby into the big auditorium. As you walk there and enter the auditorium, many memories come up in her. Memories from her own school days. Some are beautiful, others less beautiful. It is certainly not the old building. At least not inside. Red bricks and naked, grey concrete, everywhere you look. Since their graduation hardly anything has changed.

In the large auditorium, a total of 273 girls from the Oakville High School, as well as some members of the teaching staff, various parents and school employees are waiting for Coby Sandford's lecture. As Mr. Engels and Coby enter the room, the adults applaud. As expected, the enthusiasm of the teenagers is limited. For them it is another dusty, tough lecture. The French teacher Anna Walsh takes the floor and gives the introductory words.

"Girls, take good care. We have a very special guest today. Ms. Coby Sandford. Coby was, just like you are today, a student of ours at Oakville High School. She graduated here in 1986 and then studied journalism at Columbia.

She is a shining example of what women can achieve professionally today. In my own time, it was the highest of feelings to become a teacher or get a job at a bank. Our possibilities were very limited at that time. The generation of Ms. Sandford had a lot more opportunities. The eighties created a new image of women in society and in the minds of the population. And Coby Sandford is a good example that this development is far from complete. Well, Ms. Sandford, then I'd like to pass the word on to you.

"Thank you Mrs. Walsh. Whouuu, that puts me under some pressure now, frankly. Well, Mrs. Walsh has actually already mentioned and said everything. I was born here in Oakville, grew up here. I visited the Oakville High. Just like you do now.

A short question in between, who of you knows what she would like to become later. So what does she want to do here after graduating? Do you already have "career aspirations"?

Coby was a little jittery before this question. If none of the girls answers at this point, it will probably be a tough lecture. But some pupils answer Coby's question. Coby is relieved and takes the kids one after the other.

A girl named Linda Jackson answers "I want to become a teacher". "I think that's great. It is a meaningful task to teach children something. And you? What about you? "My name is Judy Rhodes. I would like to study medicine". "Excellent, that's great" - you answer Coby. "She already studies men's bodies diligently" - the cheeky Amber Bates lets the guest lecturer know.

The rest of the girls are laughing. And Judy Rhodes sinks into her chair full of shame.

But Coby reacts calmly. "Some start earlier than others, that's okay. We live in the nineties. What kind of plans do you have, you joker? "I don't know. The main thing is that I make a lot of money with it". "Well, no matter what it becomes. If you want to earn a lot of money with it, you have to be good. Put all your energy into it. Then you can really achieve that goal.

Mr. Engels is involved in the lecture. "Latoya, tell Ms. Sandford about your career ambitions. "I want to be a journalist". "Welcome to the club. If you get behind it, you can do it". "Was studying hard for you"? "Yes, it was. Every study is difficult. Don't get any wrong ideas. Anyone who wants to achieve something in life has to work hard for it. There is no easy way. But it is worth it. And there is no reason why you should be satisfied with less than the boys".

Young Amy Clarke has a question for Coby. "Did you already know at our age that you would become a journalist? "No. I hoped it would, because I was very interested in writing back then, but you don't really know that. And at your age it was more important to me whether Tim Hart thought I was pretty". Amber Bates speaks again. "I know him, he works with my brother in the fire department.

"With the fire brigade, really? Aach, firefighters are hot or" - answers Coby and the girls giggle. Judy Rhodes adds - "Yes, also Amber's brother".

The group continues to giggle. Only the parents and teachers are embarrassed by Cobby's remarks about the local fire extinguishers. Coby still speaks a whole hour and a half in front of the girls. She has a lot of questions to answer and tries to respond to each of the students personally. They talk about school, studies, career aspirations and the modern world in which women play an increasingly important role.

As Ms. Sandford's lecture draws to a close, the girls applaud. She could reach almost all of the girls and help them with one or the other advice. Also the parents and teachers applaud. Coby and Yann want to have lunch together around noon. In the school canteen there is mixed salad, meat loaf and mashed potatoes. Some of the girls have two free hours after the lecture because their sports teacher is ill.

Coby and Yann enter the old canteen. The floor is tiled in brown. The walls are painted blue-grey. The seats are old and worn. Coby still knows them from her own school days. Hardly anything has changed since her time on the Oakville High. At least that's how it seems.

"The school hasn't changed much since I left Yann". "Yes, that's true. Unfortunately you have to say. It was actually planned to renovate a part last year. But a burst water pipe has completely eaten up the budget. And the parents... well, you know. Everybody wants to dance but nobody wants to pay the musicians".

Coby and Yann stay in the canteen for a while. Yann has a free lesson and likes to take advantage of it. They talk about the latest events and their own past school days. Yann can come up with many humorous anecdotes from his time.

In the meantime some of the girls leave school together. They go to Bill's Diner. It is only a few minutes walk away. Judy Rhodes, Amber Bates and Latoya Wagner eat there regularly during longer breaks. They sit on the blue leather chairs at their table and order salad.

Amber Bates asks the group - "Don't want to order any of you fries"? And Latoya Wagner answers her promptly "No, that's too many carbohydrates for me. I absolutely have to lose three kilos again, at least". "Nonsense, you have a great figure" - Judy says. "I would die for a pair of fries. Nice and greasy fried".

"Then order some Amber"! "No I must also lose weight. Stan said yesterday I look like a manatee".

Latoya almost bursts there the collar "Boah, why are you only with this idiot together? I would have killed him long ago if I were you". "Because he has a convertible. And because he's good in bed". "You are a dirty slut".

Judy Rhodes, meanwhile, has a completely different need. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom, will you watch my bag"? "Yes, sure, sweetie" - Latoya answers. Judy goes to the toilet of the diner. When she leaves the toilet again a short time later, her right shoelace opens. She bends down to the toilet in the hallway to tie her shoe again. There she feels two hands on her bottom. They press firmly against her jeans. Judy comes up again and screams "hey" in shock! A young man runs past her and answers only with a short "sorry".

Judy comes back to the table. The young man sits down at one of the other tables. He is wearing old, worn clothes. He seems to be one of the dropouts who live in the woods at the city border. Some also call it "home". Judy tells the other girls about the "Pograbscher" in the toilet corridor.

Latoya is determined to settle the matter for her friend. "I'll sort it out for you, sweetheart." Amber asks again in horror - "He did what? Grabbed your ass"? "Yes, with both hands. Full disgusting". "That's disgusting. Such a pig. You must show him". "Ads? I don't know Amber".

Latoya is still upset. "Honey, you mustn't put up with something like that. And certainly not from such a ragged guy. Who knows, he probably also has lice and infected you with them".

"And what should I do now? Amber Bates doesn't want to just let the stranger get away with it "Call the sheriff".

But Latoya is faster. She confronts the young man. She screams through the whole diner and arouses the interest of all the other guests. She accuses him of being a grabbing voluptuary who is groping young girls. The young man hardly has a chance to justify himself to her. Latoya doesn't let him finish at all. The atmosphere in the diner heats up very quickly. He says something, but the people who meanwhile interfere loudly drown out his attempts to explain. A couple of the male guests even become violent shortly afterwards.

Judy Rhodes is afraid, she calls the sheriff. She doesn't want the man to be tarred and feathered by overzealous men. Sheriff Joe Becker is called to action. A young man makes trouble in a restaurant, the colleagues from the headquarters tell him. The sheriff drives to the scene, Bill's diner. He arrives a few minutes after the call.

When the sheriff arrives, he comes straight to the point: "What's going on here? What's the problem with Bill? "This guy's causing trouble, Joe. He grabbed one of the girls by the ass. "Is that true little one"? "Yes Sheriff, he grabbed my butt. Even with both hands". The young man also says "That's not true. She has bent over...".

"And there you thought pig you could really grab it" - Latoya shouts angrily in between. "No not at all, we collided. I swear that was not intentional"! But the Sheriff is very skeptical about the young fellow "You belong to these drunken rednecks, don't you my boy"? "We are not antisocial sir. We only live in the forest". "Don't you have any wives there" - asks Bill, "Whatever your son. The performance here is over. You come with me to my office".

Latoya and Amber comfort Judy in the meantime. Stephan Mills is temporarily arrested by the sheriff. He has to go into the sheriff's office and make a statement. Sheriff Beck asks the three girls to stop by the office after school.

Coby Sandford arrives at her parents' house after dinner with Yann Engels. She hasn't seen her parents in a year. But they talk on the phone regularly. She rings at the door of the white wooden house where she spent her whole childhood.

Her father Paul smiles and opens the door for her. "Hello Cookie. Nice that you are there". "Hey Dad. Nice to see you again. "Don't just stand there, come in my little one. Your mother is in the laundry room right now".

Coby enters the house where she once grew up. Her father Paul still works as a plumber. Her mother Marta is a housewife. But she also earns something as a cleaning lady. The family always led a life of simple people here. Nevertheless, Coby has many beautiful memories of her parents' house. But also as many bad ones.

Marta is overjoyed to finally see her daughter again and to be able to embrace her. "Hello dear. It's nice that you are finally here again. I missed you so much". "I missed you too Mom. I missed you too". "I hope you sleep with us and not in some hotel" - Paul says to his daughter. "Of course Dad". "And how long will you stay Cookie? "I think I'll stay the whole week".

Father Paul is happy about this - "Then you could take care of Aunt Alma's house". "Paul, don't start now. Let her get here first". "Yes, yes. I'm just saying. The house doesn't get better when it's empty. I would prefer you would move in there Cookie. But that is probably not to be reckoned with in the near future, is it?

"Oh Dad, we already had that. I like it in New York". "Yes and only God knows why. It's just that it would be ideal. It's at the end of the street, you could come by for dinner every day". "Sorry child, your father is like a prayer wheel. Not everyone wants to live in this little nest, Paul. "Yes, all right. I've understood it for a long time. But it's still time that you at least sell the house. Some people have already asked me. And a little savings in New York certainly doesn't hurt".

"I think about it Dad. Promised". "Alma left you the house so you could move back here. But I don't think she's angry if you sell it now either". "Who wants a coffee? "Yes, thank you Mom. I like to have one". "Thank you, not for me either. I have to leave right away. In the waterworks the worm is hanging across again. See you later Cookie". "Bye Dad".

Coby drinks coffee with her mother. She gets herself updated on small town life. And a lot has happened since last year. There is a lot of gossip to kick.

Judy Rhodes, Amber Bates and Latoya Wagner come straight to the sheriff's office after school, as agreed. They have to make their statement.

"Hello Sheriff Becker." "Hello, girls. Nice of you to come. How are you Judy"? "Thank you, I feel much better already". "Have you already told your mother what happened to Judy? "No, not yet". "Shall we call her little one". "No I..., I can do it. I just need some time Sheriff". "Ok, take all the time in the world. But tell her. I'll send you one of my deputys so you can make your statement". "It's good Sheriff" - Judy replies. "Tom, you take over the girls. Take their statements to the Mills file". "It's good, Sheriff. Follow me".

Young deputy Tom Duncan leads the three to a separate room. There he wants to record the statements of the three. He listens to the same story three times. All three talk to him alone. Judy almost feels sorry for the incident. She even feels sorry for Mills in a strange way. But what has happened has happened.

"So Judy. You can speak frankly with me. How did you experience all this"? "I came out of the toilet in the diner. Out in the hallway. My shoe opened. Then I bent down to close it again. Suddenly I felt two hands on my "Po Deputy". "Ok. And how would you describe the grab? Was it like a firm, testing grip or rather a loose laying on of hands? "What do you mean, Mr. Duncan? He grabbed my butt"! "Judy, I have no doubt about that. I fully believe that. But the question is whether he touched you immorally on purpose or by accident.

Judy Rhodes gets into a rage. She doesn't understand the question. "By accident? I mean hello? He touched my ass". "Nobody is questioning that here. Mills claims he bumped into you because you bent over all of a sudden. We can't just completely ignore his version. If you accuse him of deliberately grabbing you, it has serious consequences for him. I want you to think carefully about whether that was intentional or whether it might have been an accident. Do you understand"? "Yes. I mean, it all happened so fast you know? "I can imagine that Judy.

After Judy, first Amber is next. "So Amber. What did you see? "Actually nothing at all". "Nothing at all"? "Judy came from the toilet. You couldn't see into the hallway from our table. I just saw this guy come into the main room and sit down. "So you didn't see him touch Judy"? "No. But Judy was totally upset. She doesn't suck something like that out of her fingers Deputy". "And did you maybe hear something, anything? "No, Mr. Duncan. But Latoya also talked me into it all the time. I wouldn't have heard anything anyway. It's like a "prayer mill".

"Ok Amber. Would you get it for me". "Yes of course Deputy Duncan. Tom Duncan doesn't have a good feeling about the interview. Nobody really saw anything, actually it's testimony against testimony. And it doesn't want to get into his head why a "grapscher" should just sit down a few tables away.

"Hello Latoya." "Hi Mr. Duncan." "Is your father Paul Wagner"? "Yes exactly, why"? "Please give him my regards. He used to be my gym teacher". "You got it". "Latoya, how did you hear the incident"? "Well, Judy came back from the toilet. There she told us that he was groping her". "But you didn't see or hear anything, did you? "No. But I believe her, she is my girlfriend and I know that she can't lie at all.

Deputy Duncan once again clarifies - "There's no question that Mills touched her. He said that himself. Only he claims it wasn't intentional. He would have bumped into her by mistake and "come to her bottom with his hands". "And they believe him, don't they? "We cannot imprison or punish a man if there are no witnesses. Especially since grabbing in and of itself is legally considered a trivial offence. "Boah, that's gross. And now what? Is there no justice"?

"We had to let him go after three hours. And since there is no valid testimony, there will be no trial". "That sucks! You will be punished for everything. But touch a woman and you will be let go. At least if you are white". "We still keep an eye on the boy. More we cannot do first of all Latoya".

There's no evidence that Mills deliberately touched Judy Rhodes. So there will be no trial. But the Sheriff has an eye on the dropouts in the woods anyway. And now much more.

Coby Sandford visits Aunt Alma's house. Her aunt died a little more than a year ago. She left her a house. It is not particularly large. It is a small bungalow with a mixture of brick and wood facade. 98.00 sqm living space, plus cellar and veranda. It is beautiful and cute. But for a family foundation anyway too small. She intends to sell the house. Just as her father had suggested.

Cobby's aunt and her parents had hoped that she would move back to Oakville. But Coby has no interest in returning to Oakville in the long run. She enters the house to see if everything is still in order. After all, her father wants her to at least turn her inheritance into money. And for that it should be halfway in good shape. At some point she will inherit her parents' house anyway.

She enters the house via the small veranda. Everything is fine in the house. It's just a little dusty and cold. Aunt Alma's furniture doesn't only look very old-fashioned on Coby, it is her. But she is practical. No useless small stuff. Only furniture, a few pictures on the walls. Coby dares a little tour to inspect the whole house.