Chapter One Preview

Here is a preview of chapter one. It is not done yet, but should be shortly.

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Wednesday, January 2, 1962. The cold New York City streets were a dangerous place to be at night. A man walked the streets with his long coat billowing behind him. The man’s name is Ron Starr and he came from a humble town on the outskirts of the city. His job had led him to the city earlier today, and his car had broken down on his way home. He knew the chance he was taking walking in the dark. Still, here he was, walking to the nearest store that might be able to provide some help. Sadly, all things are not meant to end happily.

Ron Starr was a well-off man. He had money and even a nice ring on his finger that would catch a pretty penny. He was high class and he knew it. People envied him, and that was one of the reasons it wasn’t a good night to be him.

In the shadows of a back alley lurked a man. This man was poor, and had happened to come across something he could use today. He saw the glint of Ron’s ring from his place of concealment, and he was captivated. This man would be his ticket out of poverty. He silently followed Ron, making sure that would be victim couldn’t see him. Ron— refusing to give in to his imagination—did not turn when he felt eyes on him. He often had odd feelings, but they never proved true. So the man gained on him.

He was feeling fatigued and his gaze came to rest on a nearby park bench. He sat on the bench to take a rest. As his pursuer inched closer, taking out what he found lying in the street today: A large bladed knife. Ron was too busy talking on the phone to notice the hand that was slowly reaching to grab him. In one swift motion, the man grabbed Ron, and held him still.

“Goodnight mister. Have a nice sleep.”

As he said those words, he ripped the knife through the neck of his prey. Ron’s body fell lifeless to the ground, and the man walked off with the ring. The news would be delivered to his family the next day. Susan, Jacob, and John Starr would be in mourning. Such was the way of life…

***
It has been two years since Ron Starr’s death. Today is January 2, 1964. For the occasion, the youngest of the Starr siblings has decided to stay home from school and comfort his mother. The oldest has chosen to spend the day away from the house, to avoid the inevitable emotional stress. Jacob Starr is in the midst of making his mother a sympathy card, when she starts crying hysterically.

“Oh, Ronnie. You’ll never know how much I love you. Even now, when I look at your picture, I find myself wishing you were here with me,” Susan Starr said wiping a tear from her eye. She had been without him for a while now, and at night it haunted her. She had horrible nightmares about him, and she would wake up crying his name and reaching for him, only to remember he wasn’t there. It was getting to be too much. She reached a shaky hand out to the end table and felt around for her saving grace. When her palm made contact with it, she began to wail. How could she think of this? She had two sons to care for.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Jacob asked. He had been in his room, carefully putting together pictures of the times that the family had had. He heard his mother start sobbing loudly, and he came running.

“Don’t come near me Jacob! Leave the room. Mommy isn’t going to take this anymore,” She screeched. Jacob ignored her deranged babbling and stepped closer. In a blur of motion, Jacob’s mother grabbed an object laying on the end table and pointed it at Jacob. He heard a slow click as the hammer on the revolver was pulled back.

“I’m telling you Jacob. Don’t come near me. Mommy is not going to have it,” She said harshly. Her eyes were red from her hysterical crying, and her blonde hair was in a frizzled mess. Jacob froze in his tracks.

“M-M-Mom…What are you d-doing?” He stuttered. He saw her face soften, and then she turned the gun in her palm. Jacob’s eyes widened as she raised it to her own head. He saw her mouth the words, “I’m so sorry.”

Jacob shouted as he heard the gunshot. He stared in shock at his mother’s lifeless body. John Starr: 14 years old and away from the house. Jacob Starr: 11 years old and witness to the tragedy. The Starr brothers: Both orphans.

***