Kennedy In Denver (In Denver Series Book 1) Read online

  Whitney DeWitt obtained a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. She doesn't need a REAL degree, as I like to tease her. She is the daughter of a Governor, with a run for the White House in his very near future. This girl is classy. Whitney walks the campus looking like a blonde Jackie O in vintage, quilted Chanel and a double strand of pearls, rocking Jimmy Choo's like I rock, well—Converse. It's all about fashion with Whitney, but never about being stuck up. She is just gifted when it comes to her unlimited charge cards and store accounts and very generous about sharing. I know what you're thinking, "poor little rich girl", but you couldn't be further from the truth. Whitney's dad thinks she hung the sun and the moon. He's a very involved father, even for a Governor. Her mom is really bohemian for a Governor's wife, a well-known photographer in her own right and descended from Ansel Adams. If there were such a thing as art aristocracy then she would be it.

  Emma Casey obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree with her focus on Musical Theatre. She is the wild child of one of America's leading Psychiatrists and Neurosurgeons. She comes from a brain trust. I like to think her Goth look was more to aggravate her parents then actually her style. While Emma does dress Goth, she only listens to upbeat show tunes. The girl is a nut, and I love her. How can you take a Goth singing show tunes seriously? She is hiding a deeply conservative streak; I mean she's still a virgin. Emma talks about getting her V-card punched, but hasn't made a move to see the deed done. I'm starting to think she's saving it for marriage.

  Pilar Valle also earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree, and could be considered a work of art herself. She is probably one the most beautiful people I have ever seen that wasn't on a screen or in a magazine. Pilar's mother was Latina Supermodel and Telenovela Star Paloma Valle. Standing at 6'0” in flats, Pilar is a stunning Amazon. I always imagine that if Wonder Women were an actual person she would look like Pilar. Her mother claims she has no idea who her and her sister’s father is. Pilar doesn't know to this day, if she is telling the truth or just being dramatic. I guess when your mom is an actress it can be hard to know when they are telling you the truth. I love watching her telenovelas, but Pilar doesn't need to know this. An angry Pilar is not to be fucked with.

  Four years ago, Divine intervention brought the September Four together, but tonight evil will tear us apart...

  Pain is a funny thing. A person's brain has a built-in mechanism, an off switch. When the mind or body has reached its tolerance for pain, the mind flips the switch for you. I'm guessing that's why I didn't feel when Henry Lloyd Burns slit my throat, stabbed me nine times and left me for dead. What the brain doesn't turn off are all your other senses. In fact, it amplifies them. With that in mind, for the next four hours, I listen to the screams of my best friends as the sick bastard went from room to room. I lay on the floor and wished for death, but I wouldn't get it.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Why can't I find my phone, this alarm just keeps beeping and beeping."

  Oh my god, it feels like I was hit by a truck. I hear my mom's voice... "Someone call a doctor. I think she is waking up!"

  Then, I think, it's my dad's booming voice? Yelling frantically, "Help! HELP!" I wonder if my Dad is in trouble.

  When I try to open my eyes again, everything is blurry, and I can't swallow. I instantly start to panic why can't I move.

  "What's happening Kennedy, honey?" my mom whispers. "Please stay calm, the doctor is coming. Please honey, just relax."

  I try to nod my head, but it's too heavy.

  "Hello, Kennedy." I hear as I feel the tape being pulled from my eyelids.

  "I'm Doctor Francis, you have a tube in your throat that we need to remove, and then you should be able to talk. It's ok to open your eyes."

  My eyes lock on the doctor as he removes the breathing tube. I try to speak, but nothing will come out, and it burns so bad.

  "Kennedy," he says. "You have been in a coma for the last nine weeks. Can you tell me who the president is?”

  I lick my lips and reply, “President Obama."

  The doctor beams before he continues his questioning, "Very good. Now, can you tell me your full name and date of birth, please?"

  I have to think for a minute. "Umm, it's Kennedy Rose Brennan. I was born May fiftieth nineteen ninety four"

  "EXCELLENT!” he says while checking me over. "Do you know why you're in the hospital?" The heart monitor starts beeping faster; I automatically turn and stare at it accusingly.

  "I think...we were attacked in our house...I was stabbed." I try to talk through the sobbing, but nothing wants to come out. "How are my friends are they ok? Can you take me to them?" The doctor and my parents exchange an uneasy look, and I gratefully let the darkness overtake me again.

  Two more days passed before I woke up again. My room was empty, so I pushed the call button. A short, older nurse comes in with a somber look on her face. "It’s good to see you awake Kennedy, I'm nurse Deena, are you in pain?"

  I shake my head and ask, "Can you please tell me where my parents are?"

  The nurse replies, "Oh yes, dear, they are staying across the street at the Hyatt. They just left about thirty minutes ago to shower and change."

  I'm at a loss, but I respond anyway, "Oh, ok, thank you."

  She continues with the questions. “Would you like to shower? I can help you..." I just nod until her lips stop moving. After thirty minutes of steaming hot water, I feel slightly human again. I'm sitting on my bed and look for the TV remote, "Nurse Deena? Can you please turn on the TV?"

  "No honey,” she responds. “You don't want see all the foolishness on the TV. Just you keep that mess off. You have enough to worry about."

  My forehead wrinkles. "Why? What's going on?"

  "Please, dear. Just lay back and relax dinner will be around soon, and your parents are on their way back.

  "No!” I exclaim anxiously. “What’s going on?"

  She sticks her pen in her pocket and says, without looking at me,

  "The man who did this to you says you girls were all hanging out at a club, dancing suggestively and drinking heavily. He claims he was invited back to your house for sexual favors. He claims due to the medication he is taking for depression he snapped when your friend Emma told him no. He is pleading not guilty by reason of mental defect, and his legal defense has leaked videos of you and your girlfriends from the nightclub doing body shots and dancing."

  "But, we weren't at a nightclub! We were at a karaoke bar, and we never did any body shots! We haven't done anything like that since we were freshman. If there are videos, they are old and not from that night!"

  My voice is trying to elevate, but it's unable to due to my injuries, frustrating me further. I feel the panic starting to take hold; I'm trying to adjust my breathing.

  "Breathe, honey," nurse Deena says.

  "What's going on?” I hear my father.

  "What's going on? Turn on the TV, Dad", I manage to say.

  "Baby girl, you don't want to see that, but more importantly, the police and the district attorney have asked not to let you see anything until you give your statement. They are right outside. Are you feeling up to talking to them?"

  "Yes, I just want this to be done,” I said.

  I turned to the door, where two detectives were waiting along with two people from the district attorney's office, and a lady with a video camera.

  "Hello, I'm Detective Bliss, and this is Detective Chufee, and this is District Attorney Noel Perez and Assistant District Attorney Heather Franks. Lastly, this is Meagan Golden, our court reporter. She is going to record your testimony while we get everything set up. I would like to say that we are doing everything possible to make sure your attacker never sees the light of day. If you're ready please start at the very beginning of that night."

  I'm already in a panic and can't remember any of their names, it's beyond crowded in this room now. I don't look at any of them, I pick at the blanket on my bed and after a deep breath just start
telling them what I remember.

  "It was ladies night at the Last Kangaroo. It's a bar about a mile from our house. We decided to go have a few drinks since we were all graduating on Saturday. This was it, officially our last night out as the September 4! We got dressed and arrived at the bar around ten. They were just about to start the karaoke contest. Up for grabs was, Best Group, Best Solo, Best duo, and the coveted: Best Random pair! They have already picked two previous contestants to sing a duet at the end of the night, each category got a cheesy blue ribbon—like the kind, you win at a spelling bee. I was drinking soda since I'm only twenty the bar has people watch to make sure no one is underage drinking, it being a college bar people get drinks and give them to the younger students. The owner of the bar was scared to lose her liquor license so she always has off-duty police watching for underage drinking. The girls ordered a round of tequila shots and we found a table in front of the stage area where there was a table of rowdy guys next to us. Tristan was there with some of the guys from our Conservatory. They always sing boy band covers or songs that would allow them to all sing loud, off key and all together. We all have been going to the Last Kangaroo since freshman year for ladies nights and karaoke; it gave us a chance to sing to an audience. With so much coursework, it was our only outlet.

  The girls had their second round of shots and Whitney was called up for her song. She sang ‘Brighter Than the Sun’ and when she came back to the table the waitress brought over a round of shots and said it was from an admirer. The girls did their shots, and we watched as the group of guys got up to sing. They sang "Friends in Low Places"; I was focusing on Whitney who was telling us her agent had set up a few auditions for scripted reality shows and a few pilots. Pilar was called up to sing her grandmother's favorite song. It's a Spanish song called "Ayer" by Gloria Estefan. I guess that's not important.”

  "No", Mr. Perez said. “Everything is important.”

  “After Pilar was finished, the waitress came over with another round from the secret admirer. Emma and Whitney drank their shots, but Pilar switched to soda. She was already buzzed. Some girls from our class got up and sang ‘Dirty’ by Christina Aguilera. The crowd was getting a little rowdy, so we were going to head out, but decided to stay because after four years of trying Emma finally got picked for the Random Partner Random Song category. It was only ribbon she was missing in completing her 1st place blue ribbon collection for her graduation cap.

  When another group of guys got up to sing, we asked the guy at the table next to us to take a few pictures and a video of us for Facebook and Instagram. I gave him my phone and Emma was called up. She sang ‘Part of Your World’ from the Little Mermaid. The guy at the table next to us started talking to me. He was sitting alone, so we asked him to join us. He was handsome and polite, and he bought a round of drinks. I was called up to sing next. I sang ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?’ Emma and I were up next for the duo category and we sang ‘What Is This Feeling’, from Wicked. It was time for the group category, we decided on ‘Wings’, by the British group Little Mix. I got my phone back and posted the video on Facebook, and then Emma got called up for the Random Duet Random Song category. I tutored the DJ, Ryan, so he pairs Tristan and Emma together as a favor to me. I wanted her to have the best shot at winning. I reminded her she owed Tristan a kiss; it was part of a deal we made at the house. When they finished singing ‘The Time of My Life,’ she kissed him. It was stupid, but I thought if I could just get them to kiss, she would realize her feelings for him. Tristan has been in love with Emma for the entire time he has known us. I thought that if they could feel the connection they would give it a try. I just wanted my friends to be happy. We waited for the ribbons to be given out. Then we said bye to everyone, loaded in Whitney’s Range Rover, and I drove home.

  "Hey, where did the cute guy go, Emma?"

  "Eww, he may have been hot, but he was all kinds of sleazy!"

  "He was basically like, 'Hey, I'm Henry, I'm a millionaire wanna fuck in my Aston Martin?' ...and you know big mouth Whitney said 'Hey, douche face, you’d have to be a billionaire, and come back when you have a Bugatti to fuck.' Then Pilar chirped in and said, 'If the first thing out your mouth is millionaire and Aston Martin your dick must be really small'... oh shit Kennedy, you should have seen the guys face! He turned purple called us whores and slapped a drink out of Emma's hand and stormed off! It was hilarious. I can't believe this is our last Friday night doing this! By this time next Friday, Pilar you will be in Ibiza with your mom; Whit, you will be L.A. auditioning for all kinds of things and Emma will be in Chicago getting ready for her role in Wicked and I will be in Boston getting ready to teach my first year of Music to future musicians of America."

  "How the hell do you take a three hundred thousand dollar education and turn it into teaching music in one of the worst School systems in the country?” Whitney asked. "Kennedy’s gonna make a difference in the world. She is going teach something she loves to kids who never get a chance in hell and if she hates it, she can always come to Chicago. Someone with her talent could making a killing there teaching in a private music Conservatory.” Emma said. "Nah, I will leave the fancy to you guys. I'm good in the hood." I put the car in park never noticing that someone was watching us from inside the house.”

  "Kennedy, are you ok to continue?” my mom asked. "Yes, can I have a drink, please?" I say returning to the present.

  I continued, "I went to sleep and woke up to someone on top of me. He told me to be quiet. He told me he wouldn't hurt the others if I didn't scream. I froze up—I was too scared to move or speak. He just kept ranting about how we were whores letting him pay for drinks and then dismissing him."

  I closed my eyes remembering that night.

  "He said he would kill me fast because I didn't drink any of the drinks he bought, I felt him pull my pants down I thought he was going to rape me but he licked the side of my neck. He made a remark about never killing a real redhead before. I was about to scream, but he slit my throat. I tried to scream again, but all that came out was gurgling sound. A sound like air being let out of a tire. Then he licked the knife. ‘Hmm, I thought you would taste like a ginger snap,’ he whispered in my ear.

  Then he stabbed me three times in the chest. I lifted my arm up to try and stop him, but he stabbed at my arms and hand. I think the knife was slippery so when he stabbed me on the side of my head the knife didn't go in very far. He got up and peed on me then went next door."

  The heart monitor is going crazy.

  "I heard Whitney screaming she was begging for her life and then the screaming stopped. I heard Pilar praying when he dragged her out to the hallway I heard her say she would pray for his soul, then there was silence."

  "The worst was Emma's screams; she was screaming please don't rape me, please, and then she was begging him to kill her. When he walked by my room, I played dead. I lay there all night. I knew it was morning because I could feel the sun from the window on my face. I recognized Tristan’s voice. He was on the phone calling 911, when he walked by I grabbed his pant leg. I felt him sit next to me holding my hand. He kept telling me over and over help was on the way. He told me, ‘just hold on a few more minutes.’ The next thing I heard were the sirens. That's the last thing I remember until two days ago when I woke up."

  Everyone in the room was silent. My parents sat in the corner crying. I could see Nurse Deena trying to mask her emotions. The police looked pensive. "Kennedy, as you know the defendant is saying he has a mental disorder," said Mr. Perez.

  "How did you catch him? How did you know it was him?”

  Detective Bliss answered," His parents turned him in. They saw the news coverage and recognized him on a few of the pictures posted on Facebook. The media was circulating pictures from that night asking anyone with information to come forward. When they saw he was around the Barton Campus, they called and notified us about his obsession with getting revenge on Tristan Cooper."

  The detective continued, "He blames
Tristan for getting kicked out of Barton; he hasn't had any contact with his parents since that happened. They wanted to get him help, have him committed, but he was an adult so he disappeared. He has been living off the trust his grandparents left him and plotting his revenge.”

  “He has been connected to sixteen rapes, tortures and murders by DNA. He's been traveling up and down the East coast perfecting his killing methods," the ADA said.

  "It looks like you girls were collateral damage in his plot to frame Tristan for the Barton murders. He saw you guys were close, and it was no secret that Tristan has feelings for Emma. He took what Tristan wanted most which was Emma."

  The ADA added solemnly, "You, Pilar, and Whitney were just a means to an end.”

  Everyone was gone, and I was able to cry.

  Chapter 3

  After four months of intense rehabilitation and physical therapy, I was released from the hospital. I was released into a life that no longer made any sense to me. Instead of starting my job in Boston, I was sitting in my childhood room looking at pink walls and boy band posters. I was twenty, but I hadn’t taken any steps forward in life like planned, instead I’d taken two steps back.

  Barton had taken care of all of expenses. Since my story had made worldwide news, strangers as well as celebrities had donated money to make sure I could continue to get therapy.

  The September 4 had become the new poster girls for violence against women. Every media outlet had experts on to talk about how it has become an epidemic, not only in this country but also all over the world.