Obsession
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Obsession
by
Sharon Buchbinder
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Obsession
COPYRIGHT © 2013 by Sharon Buchbinder
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: [email protected]
Cover Art by
Kim Mendoza
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Faery Rose Edition, 2013
Print ISBN 978-1-61217-867-7
Digital ISBN 978-1-61217-868-4
Published in the United States of America
Praise for Sharon Buchbinder
Author of the Paranormal Romance Guild
Best Mystery/Thriller in 2012
~~~~~~
“Sharon Buchbinder does it again.
OBSESSION
is a gripping mystery with interesting characters and twists that will keep readers turning pages until the fast-paced end. This is the type of story that will stay on your mind long after you’ve read the last page.”
~Joya Fields, author of
Beneath the Surface
(4½ Stars, Top Pick, RT Book Reviews,
available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.)
~~~~~~~
“
OBSESSION
is a roller coaster ride of emotions, from devastation to elation and back again. As Angie Edmonds searches for her kidnapped son, she faces danger at every turn; corrupt and ineffective law enforcement, drug cartels, and the psychotic cult leader who thinks her son is the chosen one. Somehow in the midst of this miasma, Angie also finds love.”
~Tamara Hoffa, author
Dedication
To my husband, Dale,
who fills my life with love and romance.
To our son, Joshua,
who taught me the truly important things in life.
And to all the mothers and fathers in the world
who would lay down their lives for their children.
Acknowledgements
Once conceived, a novel grows over time with love and lots of hard work.
OBSESSION
is the result of over two years of research, writing and revisions. Without the assistance of a kind, caring, and candid support group, this book would not be here today. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my alpha reader, cheerleader, and husband, Dale Buchbinder, for reading the first draft and every draft thereafter, typos and all. My Maryland Romance Writers (MRW) critique partners were instrumental in helping me to hone my craft and hit my deadlines. I was most fortunate to have two of the best beta readers in the world, Joya Fields and Tamara Hoffa. And, finally, I am very blessed to have Amanda Barnett in my life. She is an awesome editor who believes in my work and polishes my diamonds in the rough to brilliance.
While
OBSESSION
is a work of fiction, the story is set in real world situations. As of this writing, drug cartels continue to rule with iron fists in many areas of Mexico. The Sierra Madre remains an arduous terrain largely populated by the Tarahumaran people and goats. People still flock to cults and delusional, charismatic leaders, despite the lessons learned from Jonestown. And, sadly, human trafficking, a thirty-two-billion-dollar-a-year business, occurs in everyone’s backyards. For those readers who wish to learn more about the cartels, cults, human trafficking, and the Sierra Madre, following is a list of books and movies I used in researching this novel.
Cartels
Langton, J. (2011).
Gangland: The Rise of the Mexican Drug Cartels from El Paso to Vancouver
. John Wiley & Sons. Kindle Edition.
Longmire, Sylvia (2011).
Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico’s Drug Wars.
Macmillan. Kindle Edition
.
Cults
Gifford, Dan & Gifford, Amy Sommer (Producers) & Gazecki, William (Director). (2003).
Waco: The Rules of Engagement
. USA: New Yorker Video.
Graham, William (Director). (2008).
The Story of Jim Jones: Guyana Tragedy
. [Motion picture] USA: Alpha Home Entertainment.
Grimberg, Sharon (Producer) & Samels, Mark (Director). (2007).
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
. USA: PBS Home Video.
Layton, D. (1998).
Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor’s Story of Life and Death in the People’s Temple
. New York, NY: Anchor Books.
Reiterman, T. with John Jacobs. (2008).
Raven: The Untold Story
. New York, NY:Tarcher/Penguin.
Sherrick, Edgar & Regan, Judith. (Producers). & Young, Roger. (Director). (1996).
The Siege at Ruby Ridge.
(CBS Mini-Series). USA: MGM DVD.
Human Trafficking
Amritraj, Ashok, Landesman, Peter, Leger, Robert, Sylvest, Lars, Ortenberg, Tom, Hamson, Nick, Wimer, Michael, (Producers) & Kreuzpaintner, Marco (Director). (2007).
Trade.
USA: Lionsgate.
Bales, K. (1999).
Disposable People.
Berkely, CA: University of California Press.
EuropaCorp, M6 Films, Grive Productions, Canal+, TPS Star, All Pictures Media, Wintergreen Productions (Producers) & Morel, Pierre (Director) (2008).
Taken.
France, USA & UK: 20
th
Century Fox.
Focus Features, BBC Films, Astral Media (Producers) & Cronenberg, David (Director). (2007).
Eastern Promises.
UK, Canada & USA: Universal.
Muse Entertainment Enterprises (Producers) & Duguay, Christian (Director)
Human Trafficking
(Life Time TV Mini-Series). (2005). Canada & USA: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Red Light Films & HBO Cinemax & Sundance Institute Documentary Film (Producers) & Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman (Directors). (2004).
Born into Brothels.
USA: HBO Cinemax
Cohen Media Group, Harwood Hunt Productions, Off Hollywood Pictures (Producers) & Hunt, Courtney. (Director). (2008).
Frozen River.
USA: Sony Pictures Classics.
Scion Films, Canana Films, Creando Films (Producers) & Fukunaga, Cary (Director). (2009).
Sin Nombre.
Mexico & USA: Universal.
Shelly, L.
(2010).
Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective
. New York, NY
:
Cambridge University Press.
Sierra Madre
Anderson, A.E. (1994).
Ethnic Tourism in the Sierra Tarahumara: A Comparison of Two Raramuri Ejidos
. (Thesis).
University of Texas at Austin.
Retrieved from
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/chihuahua/anderson/anderson.html
Biggers, J. (2006). In the Sierra Madre. Urbana & Chicago, IL: University of Illinois Press.
The California Native. (2003). Copper Canyon Companion. Los Angeles, CA: The California Native.
Warner Brothers (Producer) & Huston, John. (Director)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
. USA: Warner Video.
November, One Year Ago, Maryland Eastern Shore
Angie Edmonds’ screams echoed through out the sparsely furnished room as another contraction ripped across her abdomen. Wincing from the glare of a naked light bulb, she tried to shake off wet strands of hair that fell into her eyes and clung to her neck. As the pain receded, she loosened her white knuckled grip on the damp sheets and squinted at her watch.
How could it only be a minute’s respite between the tortuous agony?
For over twenty-four hours she’d been pushed to the edge, then pulled back with increasing frequency. Her arms, legs, belly—everything—felt as if they’d been rolled over by a tractor. She wondered how much more the baby—or she—could take. If her judgment hadn’t been so awash with pregnancy hormones, maybe she wouldn’t have fallen for her mother’s invitation for a “quiet family dinner.” She should have known better. If
only
she’d said no, she’d be in Baltimore, near healthcare providers who didn’t practice barbaric home deliveries.
As her stomach began to harden and the urge to push down forced its dominance over her body, she grabbed her father’s callused hand.
"Something. Wrong. Call. The. Doctor.” She squeezed words out between gasps for air. “Pleeeeease.” The last word came out in a shriek.
He jerked his hand away. His gaunt, sun-weathered face twisted with disgust as he leaned in close to Angie’s head. His heavy circular pendant struck her brow, narrowly missing her eye.
“Your Momma’s the best midwife on the Eastern Shore. She ain’t
never
lost a baby.
God
is on her side."
A pain-free moment. Then another. Angie blew rapidly through pursed lips. The still rational part of her mind wanted to beg him to bring a doctor for the baby’s sake, if not hers. “I beg—”
“Women were
meant
to suffer in childbirth.”
As if on cue, pain exploded in her belly. Angie arched her back and clutched the sweaty bed sheets.
Her mother whispered, “The baby is breech, Father.”
He turned and roared at her mother, “Do
something,
you stupid woman. That child belongs to
me
. I don’t care if you have to cut her open like a pullet. Get
him
out alive.”
“Yes, Father.” Angie’s mother answered in the aged way by giving her husband the title of father.
Barely able to catch her breath as the throbbing cramps receded, Angie focused on the sound of his heavy work boots as he clomped out of the bedroom, taking his threatening presence away from her side. She was only thirty-two, in the prime of her life, it wasn’t
fair
. Where was God when she needed him? Arms and legs trembling uncontrollably with a mixture of exhaustion and fear, Angie prayed her mother wouldn’t be forced to carve her up to rescue her child.
“If I can’t turn the baby, he’ll die.” Her mother grabbed Angie’s hands with her large work worn ones and yanked. “Stand up.”
“My legs. So weak—” A swift, hard contraction took her off guard, knocking the wind out of her. She threw her head back and fought to catch her breath.
Remember the mantra. Puff, puff, blow.
Iron hands circled her wrists. “Get up—or so help me God, I
will
use that on you.” The butcher knife glinted on the nightstand, a stark reminder of her father’s command.
Angie heaved herself up. Her legs shook, but held her weight.
She had to do what her mother said, stay alive at any costs, no matter how painful. If she didn’t survive, the baby would be left in the care of these two lunatics. She had to hang on for him.
“Put your back to the bedpost.” The older woman grabbed the knife and placed the steel tip against her sweat drenched nightgown.
“Mama—no—please don’t—”
Metal entered cloth, shredding her last hope of survival. She was as good as dead. Angie closed her eyes and wailed, “Mama, no!”