Sweet Caroline

Sweet Caroline a novel by Amy English This book is fiction based on the imagination of the writer. Names, characters, places, and incidents are creations of the writer for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual people, living or deceased, is purely coincidental. eBooks are not transferable. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any format without written permission from the copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the internet or any means electronic or print without written permission from the publisher. Edited by DIS Editing Services © Copyright 2023 by Amy English All rights reserved. This work is protected under US Copyright Laws and is listed with the LOC. For use please contact the owner/publisher of this material. www.amyenglish.com Acknowledgments This book is dedicated to all the readers who I hope to entertain with fiction that feels real. I write stories that are meant to keep you on the edge of your seat. Stories that keep you guessing. Crimes that shock. Plots that thicken. And characters that take you along for a ride. Table of Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter One R ussell stood in the dark staring out at the vast night sky. Stars surrounded the bright celestial sphere that gave off a natural light. It felt ironic that on such a beautiful night, his mind raced with thoughts of malevolent destruction. His family slept peacefully as he fought back demons. He envied their peace as he pictured their deaths. A bloody scene of open wounds, as a knife wielding maniac ran through the halls. The visions were typical when he dove so deep into the abyss. His wife had warned him of getting too close to his projects. He begged to differ. It wasn’t the production of his latest project that had him on edge. It was the children his wife pressured him to foster. Her petition to take care of them was sudden. She had won the battle before he even realized he was in a war. He wondered how it all came to be. It happened so fast that he was still back to that day he signed the papers and took possession of two kids. Fostering children was the furthest thing from their dream. But in order to save his marriage, he complied. Every resource was used to make the system work in their favor. But he was now lost somewhere between Tibet and Istanbul. Getting back home would require a camel and directions. He might as well be on Mars. It was a life he no longer recognized. Hands were wrapped around his neck and the grip was getting tighter. It was of no use to speak against it. Anne was better because of them, and so he would oblige her. After all, he did have a place in his heart for the boy. It was the girl that gave him nightmares. The eight year old Anne referred to as Sweet Caroline. T he familiar sound of squeaking metal announced the coming of the neighborhood darling. Caroline hummed a tune, as she rode her bicycle down Chestnut Lane. The Ocean was a skip away, just behind her luxurious home that sat prominently off the coastline. She lived an indulgent life thanks to the success of her parents, Anne and Russell Paraday. A wealthy and well-known couple whose presence brought a hint of fame to the area. Caroline basked in the attention. Her sweet charms had the neighbors of this quiet suburban town smitten. With big blue eyes and wavy bright hair, her innocence was second only to her infectious smile. “Don’t go too far sweetheart. Lunch will be ready soon. I’m making your favorite,” Anne said, as she grabbed a bag of groceries from the back seat of her Honda. Caroline smiled, turning around on their circular driveway before heading down the narrow walk. Anne looked on, beaming with pride and giving off a warm glow. Life was good for the once guarded and unstable novelist. Things had finally come together. The husband. The sun beamed down with an embracing warmth as the wind picked up just slightly. It was a great day for grilling outdoors. Russell had caught trout on his last fishing excursion, and Anne was ready to prepare it. She went to the door to check on Caroline. There were rules in place and she had broken them a time or two before. It was an instant relief to see her daughter behave. As sweet as everyone believed Caroline to be, Anne knew better. Her daughter had started to show signs of defiance that she attributed to a difficult past. It didn’t matter what she had experienced, Anne was going to make transitioning to their new family as easy as possible. Caroline flicked her bell. The harsh ring was jarring, but effective. It would alert people close by. The reason she loved it so. It was as if nothing mattered but her existence. Her attention was on everything, yet nothing at all. One thing had her committed to these daily rides. There was a stop she would make before she even