Page 24 of Killer Summer
She waved and left him to shout at her back as she disappeared around the corner of the house. Living in a gated neighborhood was supposed to provide an extra level of security and a way to keep people who aren’t invited at bay. Too bad some of the people she needed protection from were her own neighbors. Carl was mostly harmless, but in her brief interactions it became clear that he was the kind of man that wasn’t used to being told “no”. Dani knew that guys like him were only a few degrees of separation from guys like Matt Vickers. Total isolation in the mountains was beginning to sound better and better with every passing moment.
Even though her home was already very secure, there were always batteries to recharge and basic maintenance to keep up with. The side gate that opened to her backyard was already outfitted with a special electronic keycode, but she added an extra electrifying element in the event that someone so much as touched the metal handle. She gave her back door the same electrifying treatment, as well as her garage door. Thankfully, solicitors and unwanted visitors were few in her gated community, so the chance of someone mistakenly being shocked was minimal. So long as they came to the front door, they could avoid getting zapped.
Short of having bars on her windows, Dani’s house was as secure as it could possibly be. Thorny bushes were installedunder every window. Motion activated flood lights illuminated every dark corner. For the average homeowner, her level of home security might have seemed like overkill, but for Dani, every motion detection sensor and tripped wire was essential. The only thing that would make her feel more secure at that point was a guard dog, but Dani couldn’t risk having another living creature to care for and love in her life. Vickers would just find a way to take that from her, too.
By nightfall, Dani was finished with her extra home security measures and surmised that even Kevin McCallister himself would be proud of her work. She wanted to call Lisa to warn her and tell her the news about Vickers, but she also didn’t want to unnecessarily worry her. Neither of them were in immediate danger, but Dani knew exactly how her aunt would react if she found out her attacker had possibly escaped. Lisa also had a guard at the front entrance of her mobile home community and the same security set up as Dani had, so she wasn’t too concerned about safety. Vickers only hurt people that got in his way when he was trying to get to her, so it was best if she stayed clear of her aunt for a while. More than anything, she needed to protect the one person she cared about the most. The only family she had left.
Dani’s stomach rumbled as she checked one last security sensor and locked down her house for the night. She hastily put together a sandwich, returned to her office and flipped on the desktop monitors. The multi-screen control center illuminated her face with bright light as she brought up all of her security camera live feeds one by one. She sat there and finished her sandwich watching June bugs bop against the flood lights. A car passed by on the doorbell camera and she flinched as a stray cat set off one of the sensors.
She spent the rest of her Saturday night watching the security cameras and working on her screenplay. The words were flowingfrom her fingertips, dialog and scene coming together like never before. For so long, she had told stories that meant something to other people, writing heart-felt rom coms and saccharine Christmas romances that she could never relate to. This story was forher. It wasabouther. And it was for everyone who has been in her shoes, too.
FADE IN
ON A RINGING TELEPHONE
A hand reaches for the telephone, bringing it to the face of CANDI BATES, a teenage girl. Innocent and bored at her summer video store rental job.
CANDI
Cool Flix Video, be kind, rewind.
How can I help you?
MAN’S VOICE
Hey, Candi.
CANDI
Who’s this?
MAN’S VOICE
I’ll tell you in a minute.
I want to ask you a question first.
CANDI
What?
MAN’S VOICE
You got a boyfriend?
CANDI
This is a video store, not 1-900-SPANK-IT.
Get lost, jerk.
CLICK! CANDI slams the receiver on the phone.
JOSH, a lanky teenage boy, is across the store stocking video tapes. He looks over at the sound of the commotion.
JOSH
Is that creeper calling back again?
