A Hidden Mind

LinkTextHere ▼

Write a "Fatal Attraction" type story (referencing the 1987 movie) or something equally twisted with a very disturbed partner in the relationship.
Written for "The Whatever Contest." "The Whatever Contest -- Closed for Now" 

Word Count: 3736

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, David thought. They had told him marriage would be great but with the odd bump along the way. David would tell those friends if they asked, this was true; he was content with Debbie. Later he would say to them how it all changed the day he got to know Sheree; when they met, it felt like a rock had hit him, not a small one you can pick up, but cliff sized.


Sheree was lively, sparkling, and new; the type of woman you’re warned about. She had started working at David’s office the previous year, and it was as if they both had magnets drawing them towards each other. Three months! That was all it took for David’s world to disappear; the life he knew from then on was gone! First came the ecstasy tinged with guilt. Then there was the fun but with more guilt. After nine months together, David knew he couldn’t do it anymore, so he ended it. He went home the same day and confessed to his wife, Debbie.


There had been an enormous row, which was inevitable, he had betrayed her trust. The spare room was where David slept for the first several weeks after the confession. This wasn’t a bad thing as Sheree didn’t seem to be getting the message. She was phoning him day and night, sometimes she wanted to talk, others she would rant and rave, even screaming at him. Then there were the silent calls, no voice at all, or just hang-ups.


After a couple of weeks with no sleep alongside the difficult atmosphere, both at home and at work, David was done. He bought a new phone, packed his bags, and rented a small apartment. It was far enough away from his home, where he hoped Sheree wouldn’t find him outside of work. It would, he also give Debbie some space of her own to decide where their future lay. David still had to work with Sheree, so not everything had settled down, however, after a few weeks he found ways to deal with her. It appeared their relationship had begun to go back to a purely working one.


Two months had gone by since David moved out, a lot of talking had gone on between him and Debbie in that time, trying to find ways to put their marriage back on track. The one thing she insisted on was he transfer to the company’s other office. It was based the other side of town, so travel wouldn’t be a problem; the issue was more social and financial. He had good friends where he was now, and it could mean a pay cut. There was no guarantee he could step into a job at the same level. He promised to look into it. By now he had moved back into the family home. Their three girls were so happy to have him back. Gerry, short for Geraldine, was nine, Sandy, seven, and Tanya was just five. It was always a busy house when the girls were there, in and out, all having different out of school activities; even Tanya, quite new to school, had ballet on Saturdays.

Tanya’s ballet outfits were her most favourite things, apart from Ted, a grouchy looking bear that was tatty and as old as she was. Debbie would hang up Tanya’s ballet dresses in her wardrobe, fold her leotards in a special drawer, and wrap her matching shoes in tissue paper and place them in a tiny shoe box. Every day when Tanya came home from school, she would run upstairs, open her wardrobe, sit on the bed and just look at the dresses. It was only for a few minutes, then distractions would lead her onto other things.

This Friday was no different than any other day, Tanya was always more excited on a Friday because tomorrow was Ballet day. She ran up the stairs and into her bedroom, then swung open her wardrobe door.

The scream from their youngest child stopped both Debbie and David in an instant. David always finished work early on a Friday, it meant he was able to spend a long weekend with Debbie and his girls. They both moved at the same time, from different parts of the house, Debbie getting to Tanya’s room first, David just behind her.

Debbie’s first instinct was to grab her daughter, once the scene in front of her was processed, it took seconds and she was rushing past David holding Tanya as tight as she was able. David was horrified and stood there bewildered at the scene in front of him. All of Tanya’s clothes, including her beloved ballet dresses, were shredded. The remnants still hung from their hangers; they were all stained red. As time froze for him, questions began forming, not complete yet. Who would, or even could, do this? How? Why? In the background he could hear Debbie on the phone to the police.

The police arrived sometime later, in no hurry, assuming it was one of the sisters playing a prank. It was on seeing the scene they decided this wasn’t a prank. They interviewed everyone and brought in a forensic team to go over the house, especially needing to test the red substance. They all moved to a hotel for a few days, taking with them just what they needed. Forensics didn’t take long, but it gave David and Debbie the chance to clean up Tanya’s room and buy her a new set of ballet outfits. She could have them downstairs for now, as this would have been far too traumatising for her to have them in her room at first. David decided to move into the spare room so Tanya could sleep with her mum for a little while until she felt safe again.

The questioning by the police, as to enemies they might have, who would have access seemed to lead nowhere. David and Debbie were the only ones with keys, and they did mention the affair, there didn’t seem to be any ill will from Sheree, now things had settled back at the office. They did say they would have to speak to her anyway. They were true to their word, but the enquiry ran dry, they had no suspects; it was suggested they change the locks, which was done, nobody wanted a repeat of this. The results came back from forensics, the red substance was indeed blood, likely from a butcher's shop. There was so much relief that it wasn't human the couple didn't ask what animal or how they knew it was from a butcher's shop. They wanted to put this behind them.


Just before this happened, David had put in transfer papers and within weeks he was offered a place in the North Side office. It would mean leaving a little earlier in the mornings to get through rush hour traffic, but the job itself was the same. He was grateful not to have a pay cut, families didn’t come cheap. Debbie worked during school hours, always there for her girls, but bringing in a little extra to help them all out. Before having children, she was a successful journalist, now she was helping out at their local paper. It was enough for her, enjoying spending time being who she used to be, the rest being a mum, the best of both in her eyes.


It was Debbie’s job to open the office each day, about half an hour before the others got in. The others would work evenings, nights and weekends sometimes, so they started later in the mornings. This was the one day that wasn’t her favourite, a Monday. There was never much to do, the weekend news had all been told apart from any late events which may have occurred before the morning paper went to print. The job, in general, involved going through what had happened the day before. On a Monday it would be what occurred over the weekend, deciding which stories could be put in again as fillers, if necessary, and finding any new events from the night before. Sunday evenings were notoriously quiet, so there was more filling than actual stories, Debbie hated that, but would get on with the job without complaining, well, most of the time.

Debbie had dropped her girls off at school as usual, Tanya was still struggling, hating to leave her mum each day. A psychologist friend of hers said perseverance and reassurance by all those around Tanya was the only way through this. They were all beginning to see the wisdom of these words, the light was once more shining in Tanya’s eyes, things seemed to be getting back to normal again.


Debbie turned the key, opening the door of the office. A small white envelope lay on the mat, unthinking, she picked it up and put it on the desk ahead of her. After finishing with the alarm and settling herself down to start the day, she remembered the envelope. She took it and not thinking about how it wasn’t postmarked, or it had been too early for the postman, she opened it. As she did, a fine white powder flew out of it. Debbie didn’t know what was going on at first, then her training kicked in.


None of the staff at the newspaper were familiar with this kind of thing, but Debbie, having worked in larger papers, was. She locked the doors so nobody else could get in, and called the police. This incident was taken more seriously than their previous one had. It wasn’t because they had already reported an incident, but more to do with a possible chemical attack. They set up a tent outside and only a specialist team were allowed in. They rushed Debbie into isolation, and the substance went to the lab. There was a note with the powder, put together with cut out words like old ransom notes. It was soon determined the substance was nothing more than filtered baby powder, the note, however, was much more menacing. A threat, general in nature, attempting to stop them from printing a non-existent story. The whole thing was so bizarre, the police, decided this could be personal rather than aimed at the newspaper. They seemed to be saying Debbie was being targeted at work because the locks had been changed at home, stopping access there, to whoever it was doing this.

David had been beside himself with worry when he received the call, Debbie was in hospital. After that, nothing made much sense, something about a contamination of unknown origin. This was so confusing, he arranged with a neighbour to look after the children, explaining to everyone he would call as soon as he knew something. He soon discovered there was no access to the ward Debbie was on, it was for those in isolation and a large policeman stood outside of the suite. Every time he asked this man what was happening David got the same reply.

‘You’ll have to wait for my superior to arrive, you can’t see your wife she is in isolation. I have strict instructions not to say anything more sir.’

David could get nothing more from him or the staff, just that, at this time they were doing tests. He phoned the neighbour and relayed this to her, explaining he would let her know what was going on as soon as he knew anything. The girls were able to get things they needed from the house, and stayed with the neighbour for the night. During the time his girls slept, David met the officer’s superior Detective Inspector Grant. He was questioned by him all through the night, still not knowing what was wrong with Debbie or why they were questioning him. By the early morning hours, David was given more details about what had happened to Debbie. During the night the analysis on the powder had reached the detective, but he wasn't willing to let David know more until he was certain he wasn't involved.

David was at last allowed to see Debbie, who, apart from being shocked, was fine. They were both, however, scared. The first thing Debbie did was to phone her girls before they were dropped off at school that morning, letting them know she was fine and would be picking them up that afternoon as usual.


The children weren’t told anything about what happened that day, just that their mum had been taken to hospital to have some tests as she wasn’t feeling well; they were pleased to speak to their mum, and that she would be there to meet them as usual. The news of the incident had travelled across the town but no names had been given or details of what had gone on. Debbie had assumed her neighbour let the school know what had happened when she dropped the girls off that morning, so Debbie decided not to ring, after all, the girls knew she would be there.

At about two thirty Debbie received a phone call from the school all three of her children attended. It was the headmistress; Debbie panicked, why would she be calling her?

‘Good afternoon Mrs Jameson, don’t panic your girls are all fine, I am ringing to check something,’ said the voice the other end.

‘Of course,’ replied Debbie, somewhat confused. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘Are you picking your daughters up today as usual?’ she asked.

Debbie began to think word had got around and so the headmistress was checking she was alright to manage the normal pick up, or if not, who would be doing it instead.

‘Yes, of course I am, I would have let you know had I not been, can I ask why you’re asking?’

‘I was concerned, as an older lady, could it be your mother, is here to pick the girls up. I know you always pick them up yourself, if not you ring and your husband picks them up instead. I’ve never known anyone else pick them up.’

Debbie panicked, not saying anything for a moment, asking herself, who could this be, was it linked with what happened?

‘Please hang up and call the police, Mrs Giles and see if you can keep the woman there’, Debbie said to the headmistress, in as calm a voice as she could muster.

‘Very well,’ she replied, and hung up.


Debbie grabbed her bag and keys, ran out of the house, got into the car, and headed for the school. When she arrived, the headmistress had kept all the children who came out early, in the school, concerned by the tone in Debbie’s voice, and the insistence for her to call the police. She wasn’t prepared to let the children out until the police arrived. Debbie dashed into the school reception, demanding to see the woman who tried to kidnap her children. The headmistress came out, explaining that as soon as she had started the phone call, her secretary saw the woman leave. It was then the police arrived. Debbie was beginning to dread seeing them. They took statements and a description of what the woman looked like. There was nothing more to be done, so Debbie took her children home. She rang David who told her to lock all the doors as he would not be home until late that evening.


As a newcomer to this office, there was a lot of after-hours work he had to do, getting him used to the different accounts they dealt with. The information they kept on clients was confidential, it was against company policy to take any of it out of the office. It meant David had to get himself accustomed to the accounts and clients after work hours. He and Debbie had gone through this together, so she was aware he was working late and not a repeat of his affair. He had asked his boss to speak to her, which helped, she was aware this was their policy, as it was the same as the old office. David felt unsettled at leaving his wife unattended for too long after today’s event’s, so would go home at nine instead of ten this evening.


Jim, the security guard, at David’s office, was a good man, he’d been working there for five years and knew everyone in the office, plus many of those who worked in David’s previous workplace. This was because the people at both offices often worked together. So, it wasn’t unusual when he saw Sheree coming to the door of the building. She flashed her badge, he nodded and buzzed her in. The next thing he knew was a pain crashing into the back of his head. He fell, unconscious onto the floor, Sheree was heading to the lift, dropping the fire extinguisher as she went. She wasn't going to be disturbed, not now!


David was engrossed in his work, but he thought he heard the lift, probably Jim doing his rounds, he thought. He heard the door open behind him, he was about to look round when a pain, similar to the one Jim had already felt, went through him. The light faded before his eyes, he could see a face, blurred, so couldn’t make it out before he slid into darkness.

He opened his eyes, the light so bright around him, pain in his head, pounding. There was no concept of where he was or what was going on. Then a voice spoke, close to his ear, it seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

‘Wakey, wakey,’ the voice whispered. ‘Time to play.’

David could feel something running down his face, he tried to move, he couldn’t, but didn’t know why. He was fighting with every sinew he had, to focus; a face he recognised came into view, still he could not figure out what was going on.

‘Sheree, is that you? What happened to us? He didn’t recognise his own voice, it was weak, pathetic.

‘You tell me, darling,’ came the sarcastic reply. ‘I’ve been asking myself that for months now, it’s why you’re here, to answer some questions.’

David could only sit, still trying to figure out why she was here, why his head hurt, and what questions could she possibly need to ask him. It took time to understand what had happened, how she had hit him, and tied him up while he was unconscious. He still felt dizzy and knew he was too well tied up to escape, so was at this woman’s mercy. She kept asking him why he had left the office, if only he hadn’t left the office, none of this would have happened. All the time she could see him every day all was well, then he decided to move offices, why would he leave her like that after all they meant to each other. It was then he figured out what she meant by ‘none of this’, she wasn't just talking about now, this moment, this was linked to all the other disturbing events.

Sheree spent time talking to herself, as if it was another person, a question-and-answer session with her own mind. Then she would turn her anger back on him because she hadn’t got the answer she wanted, from, what could be classed as an alter ego. It was surprising what you could find in an office to hurt someone with.

Debbie had begun to worry, David wasn’t home, it was past midnight, she knew he was coming home at nine. An hour late was understandable, but he wouldn’t do this, not after today. She had tried ringing him but it had gone to voicemail every time. In the end she called the police; enough things had happened to this family where they didn’t dismiss it as a paranoid wife. They rang the front desk, they had no reply, which wasn’t in itself, suspicious, the guard could be out on rounds. They sent a squad car out and continued trying to contact the guard. When they couldn’t get hold of him, they called the manager of the office as there was no sign of anyone at the front desk. It took two hours for him to get there with a key and let them in. They found Jim behind the counter, unconscious, so called for an ambulance. They asked the manager if he could tell them where David’s office was. He told them, so they took the stairs so as not to alert anyone if they were still in the building. They opened the door to the floor of David’s office, exiting the stairwell with as much stealth as possible. They began to hear a woman’s voice floating across towards them. They retreated back into the stairwell to make a plan, speaking with the detective in charge. They didn’t know who the woman was, if she caused the injury to the guard, or if she was in a hostage situation with David. He could be the one holding her hostage, so many scenarios played out in their minds.

A van pulled up around the corner, a surveillance vehicle. The police took equipment they needed and went back upstairs, making sure to keep all vehicles away from the building. A small camera was slipped under the door to the office. They could see and hear what was going on inside. It was obvious from then on, this woman was the perpetrator. They finalised a two-pronged assault using both entrances to the office, and the hostage situation was over. David had been badly beaten, he suffered a broken jaw, nose, arm and a fractured skull, plus numerous wounds which needed urgent treatment.

It took him almost six months to recover physically, and longer for the emotional scars to begin to disappear.

Once Debbie and David found out who had been plaguing their family, they had to find a way to put Sheree behind them, oddly it brought them closer together. Jim, recovered well, but felt guilty for a long while for letting Sheree into the building without checking to find out why she was there first. Nobody blamed him, how could they, it wasn’t the first time she’d been there.

As for Sheree, she was locked up in a mental facility until she became fit to plead in court, everyone is still waiting....