On the Run by Melinda Williams

Overview:

"On the Run" is a spine-chilling thriller, intended to confuse, anger, frustrate, frighten and draw in the reader.  There is no one alive today that shares in my way of thinking.  There is no one alive today that has been through the horrific struggles I've faced.  There is no one alive today who could come close to describing exactly what story my brain is screaming to get out.  Therefore, there is no one alive today that could tell it like I can.  Assuming this is therapeutic to me and I haven't realized it yet, I tend to convey and incorporate my personal experiences in my novels, which is what makes the writing come easy.  On the Run displays chilling murder, aggravated bipolar characters, abuse and more.  These are traits that yes, anyone can posses or have committed or experienced, but not the way I have and can.  This makes my story impossible to be shared, unless written by me.

Starting as a preteen, I've always taken an astronomical interest in Criminal activity, in the way of homicide, kidnapping, assaults, abuse and more.  Considering this a hobby at first, I extensively researched and followed many cases, famous and non famous and as a result, decided to attend college classes for a degree in Criminal Studies and Crime Scene Technician studies.  With acquired knowledge from both, I've been able to incorporate these findings into my novels, much like I have with "On the Run". 

On the Run is a heart racing mysterious thriller that starts with an ordinary man, much like any thrilling criminal.  This man, Mark Haywood, works at a diner in Glendale, Arizona, home of Luke Air Force Base.  Mark is an Air Force fanatic and enjoys living close to the military base that he's always dreamt of being stationed at.  One evening, he overhears a news reporter interrupt his mindless sitcom with a Breaking News story.  Intrigued and mostly bored, he stops what he's doing and tunes in.  When his very own face and name flash on the screen, he stops dead in his tracks.  Knowing that he's not the culprit of such violent murders and crime, he instinctively wants to phone law enforcement to ask what's going on.  That is, until his imprisoned father calls and explains, once again and like many times before, that he's been having dreams of Mark murdering innocent people and going to prison. 

After careful consideration, Mark starts to rethink some of his past and even present memories.  Flashbacks to crime scenes and dead bodies frighten him enough that he begins wondering just what his involvement is with these murders and why he remembers being there for some of them, but also remembers being at other ordinary places, like work and the gym.  Confused, worried and numb, Mark decides to go on the run until he can make sense of his scrambling thoughts and delve deeper into the dreams his father is sharing.

Meanwhile, CIA Profiler and Homocide Detective, Tony Morselli, is on the hunt.  He is the man who put away Mark's father and now hopes to put away his son as well.  Tony embarks on a cat and mouse chase across the United States, seeking to extinguish Mark and put him away with his father, for good.  With the help of a Mental Health expert at the prison, Tony is able to trace back information concerning the murders, to Richard, Mark's father.  Tony comes across many road blocks and dead ends, until he finally comes face to face with Mark.

While Mark remains on the run, he comes into an encounter with a woman, Alex, who is successful at convincing Mark to allow her to come along.  At first, Mark is agreeable, as he's scared, he's been alone and really needs her cash, due to the fact that he's unable to use his bank cards.  After a few hours in Alex's company, he quickly realizes that his hasty decision to allow her to come along is detrimental to his life and innocence, until another murder takes place, implicating Mark.  It is then that Mark realizes Alex is now his ticket to freedom, as she was with him and now an alibi.  However, when Mark and Tony come face to face, Alex is nowhere to be seen.

Unable to convince Tony of Alex's existence and possible exoneration, Tony is finally able to make a formal arrest.  However, Alex turns up murdered in the same pattern that the rest of the murders have taken place in.  Prior to the arrest and confrontation with Tony, Mark decides to go against these orders and do some investigating of his own.  Upon his investigations, Mark is able to discover that his mother and father once had a child, a son, before having him.  This child was left at a safeplace grocery store and Mark sets out to find his brother.   Mark traces all evidence and findings to a man who grew up in two foster homes, before becoming adopted to a Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Morselli.  The child's name is Tony.  Mark suddenly realizes that his very own brother is the man who put away their father and is now after him, as well.  With this new information, Mark immediately puts two and two together, realizing that Tony is the man behind the murders and sets out to expose Tony.  After meeting with an attorney, upon arrival at the jail, the two are able to stop Tony and his antics and expose Tony for what he is.  The murderer.

In the end, Tony ends up arrested for the murders of the victims, fraud, scam and more.  Mark is cleared of all charges and offered a large settlement sum to keep quiet and he uses this money to help his father get out of prison and have a new trial.  Mark finally enlists in the Air Force and ends up making his father and mother very proud.

Please keep in mind that this brief synopsis doesn't include many thrilling events, details or surprises.  Those are left for the reader to enjoy.  Thank you.

 

CHAPTER OUTLINE:

Chapter One:

Tony Morselli is a Homicide Detective for Kent County Police Department in Coventry, Rhode Island and he’s sitting outside of a psychiatric hospital.  While sitting in the car, he phones the State Attorney’s office to check on a case he’s just wrapped up.  His purpose for being at the hospital is to conduct a character profiling in a murder case involving the infant and girlfriend of the suspect.  He exchanges snarky banter with a guard and runs into an old partner at the hospital due to an injury in the line of duty, a case where he took down a well-known drug dealer/launderer.  Tony sits with the suspect, Shawn, while conducting an intimate interview, involving the case.  Shawn defecates and urinates himself and displays odd and unusual behavior. As Tony leaves the hospital, he overhears a news woman reporting a murder that took place in NYC, on a nearby television in a waiting room.

Chapter Two:

This chapter opens with an ordinary man named Mark Haywood, who works at a diner in Glendale, AZ.  He leaves his graveyard shift at the diner and heads home to shower, eat and get some sleep.  He checks on his beloved possession of AF badges, as he’s always wanted to be in the Air Force.  Mark hears of a murder that took place in NYC, part of an ongoing string of murders.  During his drive, he receives a call from a girl who is interested in a date.  After completing a few of his menial tasks, his imprisoned father phones him and explains that he’s having “the dreams” once again.  Mark blows his father off but not before remembering his father’s last outburst about random dream/premonitions he’s been having involving Mark committing a murder and ending up in prison. 

Chapter Three:

Tony revisits Shawn and gets a solid confession with some crafty detective antics.  He becomes a hero and celebrates with fellow officers.  His superior informs him of a promotion and informs him that his first assignment is in NYC.  His new position would be Senior Character Profiler and Investigator for the CIA.  After mulling it over for a couple of days, Tony accepts and prepares to leave for New York.  The department holds a going away and congratulatory party.  He then heads to the airport to board his plane.  Just before turning his phone off, his new Superior in NY contacts him and explains that he needs to be at the station before going to his new apartment. 

Chapter Four:

Mark awakens from his nap and gets ready for his blind date.  The date goes well but he’s just not feeling a strong connection, outside of physical attraction.  His date makes it clear that she’s not interesting in pursuing an emotional relationship and Mark shrugs it off, then heads home.  Once home, he gets into comfortable attire and flips on the television.  Mark receives another call from his imprisoned father, Richard.  His father is going on and on about these dreams that implicate him in the recent murders taking place.  Mark argues with his father and tries to reason with him, explaining that the dreams have no merit.  He tells his father that he’s in Arizona and asks how it could possibly be him?  Mark hangs up and starts thinking about the things his father has told him.  He flashes back to a weird daydream of being in a dark bedroom, standing over a dead body.  He quickly shakes off the fleeting vision, blaming it on his father’s tales.

Chapter Five:

Tony has flown to New York City and is on his way to the office.  He receives a phone call from the psychiatrist at the prison, who informs him that the man he put away, Richard, has requested to see him again.  Tony agrees and asks the doctor to report back immediately after he’s spoken to Richard.  The doctor reassures Tony that he will and they hang up.  Tony heads over to the scene of the most recent murder.  There, he discovers an Air Force badge at the crime scene and speaks briefly with the responding Crime Scene Technician. 

Chapter Six:

Mark is sitting at home and watching a mindless comedy sitcom on the television.  He decides to make something to eat and while he does, he overhears a News Reporter on the television report a Breaking News Coverage story.  Intrigued, but mostly bored, he turns his attention to the television only to discover that his name and face are the one's flashing across the screen.  He drops the plate he's holding, which shatters and he immediately begins shaking with worry when he hears the reporter discussing the latest murder, which fits the description of his father's dream.  Mark contemplates contacting law enforcement but quickly stops when he is blinded with a flashing vision of himself committing the murder.

Chapter Seven:

Tony has just gotten off the phone with the Mental Health doctor at the prison and upon their discussion, decides to put out a National Wanted Alert for Richard's son, Mark Haywood.  Once he's done just that, the doctor calls again, alerting Tony to some disturbing details concerning the information Richard has on the murders taking place.  Tony agrees to come to the prison to speak face to face.  When he arrives, the Doctor informs him that Richard has some twisted and disturbing details on the murders.  Tony listens and finally asks to speak with Richard, directly.  Once face to face, Richard repeats the gruesome details for Tony and Tony is shocked to discover that Richard knows details that only someone who was there or responded to the scene would know.  Tony feels confident in his decision to put out the WANTED alert for Mark.

Chapter Eight:

Mark is about to go against his own will and call Law Enforcement anyway to show that he's innocent, until he hears further details on the murder that took place.  When the reporter exposes that yet again, an Air Force badge was found at the scene of the murder, placed on the victims body, and sewn into the flesh.  Now sick to his stomach, he goes into his room and opens his metal artillery box to discover that a large number of his collective badges are missing.  With this, he decides to run until he can figure out who is framing him and why, if in fact he's being framed.  Mark still doubts himself as he continues having flashbacks to committing these murders.  Mark goes on the run and a few hours into his escape, he runs into a frantic, nervous girl who's on probation.  Her name is Alex and she's running away with stolen money she's just acquired through a crime of her own.  With his own lack of funds and inability to obtain them now, he agrees to let her join him, only for the use of the cash. 

Chapter Nine:

Tony is headed back into the office after his meeting with Richard and during the drive, he is alerted by his Superior that yet another murder has taken place in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Mark is the first suspect, yet again, to come to Tony's mind and Tony decides to take the first flight out to Phoenix, Arizona.  He arrives and meets with CIA who agree that they need to obtain a warrant for Mark's apartment.  As he is working on obtaining the warrant, he receives information that this new murder in Arizona is fashioned the same as the others, including the badge sewn into the flesh.  Tony realizes the direction Mark is headed in and sets out to find him.

Chapter Ten:

Mark argues with Alex, who took too long getting another vehicle for them to flee in.  Mark becomes suspicious at Alex and her bizarre and nervous actions.  He interrogates her and loosely believes that she's just worried about being caught, however decides to contact Law Enforcement anyways, as he thinks that running is only making things worse.  Before making the call, Mark decides that he needs to not only get to New York as quickly as possible so that he can see his father, but he needs to convince Alex that the right thing for both of them to do is contact police and not run.  His reasoning is selfish, as he knows that if she is no longer afraid to confront police, she can also testify that she was with him and they were in the car, driving, therefore it's impossible that he's committed the latest murder.  They continue driving.

Chapter Eleven:

Tony continues driving in the direction of Mark until he receives a call from the Doctor at the prison.  The news upsets him and he drives towards the nearest airport, making flight arrangements to head back into New York.  Seemingly angry and frustrated, he attempts to contact Mark's phone, hoping to speak and convince Mark to turn himself in.  The only available flight is for the next morning and Tony decides to drive around a bit, with the sheer luck that he might run into Mark or at least have time to think things over involving the case.

Chapter Twelve:

Mark finally decides to risk a call to his mother and she's not aware yet of the news that he's wanted.  He decides to keep quiet for now, hoping to question his mother and attempt to find anything out that might help him.  She gets the wrong idea and reveals a huge family secret that's never been exposed until now.  Mark reels in the new information that he has a brother out there, somewhere and while unrelated to what he's going through now, he can't stop thinking about it.  His mother reveals that this child was dropped off at a Grocery Store, that was also considered a "Safe Haven" for abandon children.  Mark decides to contact the grocery store and learns that the current manager isn't the same as the one who handles the abandonment of the child.  He recovers the correct information to the previous manager and calls, learning quickly of the Foster Families and also adoption agency that handled the child.

Chapter Thirteen:

Tony finally boards his flight back to New York and spends the trip back sleeping.  Upon arrival, Tony heads out to the Prison again and is met with his Superior, who is upset at the direction the case is going.  With no real leads and their only suspect on the run, the Superior decides to intervene, which angers Tony.  Tony vents to his old partner that the Superior makes him feel like he's inadequate to work this case alone.  The Superior meets with the team and discloses that he bargain with Richard for time off of his sentence to call and frame his son for a location and information.  Richard agrees and Tony seems furious.  They set this up.

Chapter Fourteen:

Mark calls the adoption agency and learns that two children, in fact, were dropped off on the same day from the same grocery store.  Both boys, unrelated.  The adoption agency is reluctant to give out any further information until a convincing Mark explains that he's just learned of his long lost brother.  The agency reluctantly agrees and gives him the number of both adoptive families.  Mark tries the first.  He is greeted on the first call with a pleasant woman who sympathizes with Mark.  Unfortunately, she explains that after having the boy, Christopher, for seven years, his biological parents took her to court to get their child back.  Mark realizes it wasn't them.  Alex complains while driving that he should be more focused on looking at maps as they drive instead of playing Private investigator for a bastard brother.  Mark snaps at her and starts to make the second call.

Chapter Fifteen:

Tony and his boss, along with Richard and a few other team members are set up in the interrogation room at the office.  Richard looks uneasy about framing his son and starts to protest until an angry Superior reminds him that his trial is still ongoing, as he's not disclosed where all of the laundered and drug money is.  Because of this, he's reminded that his sentence will be even longer until he tells where the cash is.  Richard tries to plead and beg them to believe that he doesn't know.  He finally agrees and calls his son.  Mark answers and before Richard can ask the questions he has been instructed to ask, Mark goes off on his father about a brother he once had.  Tony has fear flicker in his eyes that his Superior notices.  His Superior reminds him that it's fine, let Mark get his story out, the longer they are on the phone, the better chance of tracking location.  Tony looks slightly relieved.

Chapter Sixteen:

Mark calls the second adoptive family.  It is revealed that the son lived with them until he was 19, when he left and went to college.  The adoptive mother sounds miffed and angry as she explains that her "son" ignored the fact that they raised him and spent money on his schooling and expenses and then just upped and left and hasn't contacted them since.  Mark asks if she knew anything about the biological parents and she explains that his birth certificate is in storage but she would be glad to go the next morning and retrieve it, and call him back.  Mark reluctantly agrees, wanting the info sooner but scared to aggravate the woman.  He hangs up and immediately answers his fathers call that ironically comes right after the phone call with the adoptive mother.

Chapter Seventeen:

Richard lets his son vent and then apologizes profusely before catching a scowl from the Superior.  He goes on to questions his son and is successful in getting a location.  Immediately, Tony nods at his boss and heads out to yet again, board a flight to the location that Mark is in.  Meanwhile, Richard instructs his son to stay put with a convincing reason and Mark agrees while on the phone.

Chapter Eighteen:

Mark tells Alex that they should get a room for the night under fictitious names and Alex agrees, complaining that she needs a shower and can she borrow some clothes.  Together, they find a seedy hotel and hole up for the night.  After showers and some food, they lay on the bed, talking about their lives and revealing some secrets with one another.  Mark starts to feel an attraction toward Alex and she does as well.  They share a first kiss and then drift off to sleep.  They are awakened the next morning with a banging on the door.

Chapter Nineteen:

Tony has arrived in the state that Mark is located in and has tracked them to a small motel.  He arrives at the correct room and pounds on the door.  When the door flies open, a young girl races past him, surprising him and he hurries to block Mark.  The girl gets away and Mark is screaming out her name, "Alex, Alex wait!"  Tony places Mark under arrest and sits him on the bed of the motel as he makes some phone calls.  While he is making phone calls, Mark pleads with Tony and says that he can prove he's not done anything, Alex was with him the whole time.  Tony glances at him curiously and asks, "What girl?" frightening Mark.  Just then, Tony calls local police and arranges for an officer to come sit with Mark while he takes an hour or so to make necessary arrangements to speedily extradite Mark back to New York.  When the offer arrives, Tony leaves to set everything up.   Mark is handcuffed to the bed frame and his phone rings.  He struggles to answer it and the woman is the adoptive mother.  She explains that the people listed on the birth certificate are in fact his parents names.  She then says that her brother's name is Tony.  Only, he's taken their last name, which is Morselli.  Mark gasps and drops the phone.  About two hours later, Tony comes back.

Chapter Twenty:

Tony strides back into the room with a huge grin, hanging up with his Superior, who's just congratulated him on a job well done.  He walks over to the television and flips it on where a reporter is discussing another murder in the area, same badge found.  Tony looks at Mark and says, "Alex, isn't that the girl you were seen on surveillance traveling with?"  Mark quickly realizes who Tony is and what he's done and decides to play dumb until he can expose Tony.  Mark stays quiet and Tony arranges their flights to New York. 

Chapter Twenty One:

Tony and Mark arrive and Mark is immediately taken into custody.  He requests a lawyer immediately and is informed that one would be meeting with him in a few hours at the jail.  Tony decides to pay Richard a visit and when he arrives, he takes Richard into a tiny room with a single table and two chairs.  Tony shuts the door hard and places his belongings on the table.  Richard stares at him peculiarly and Tony says, "Hello, dad."  Richard stares in shock at first and then whispers "Tony..."  Tony slaps him with disgust and breaks the recorder.  Richard looks scared.  Tony begins to talk about why they chose Mark over him.  Why was Mark the best son to keep?  He laughs as he talks about how dumb the doctor was to hypnotize him into believing he had these dreams.  He talks about how he never turned in the money he found and instead used it to bribe the doctor to frame Richard and Mark.  Richard screams that he will never get away with this.  Tony laughs and asks Richard who the courts and judge will believe.  Tony continues, discussing that he put away his dad and now he would put away his beloved chosen brother too.  Richard leans forward to attack Tony.

Chapter Twenty Three:

Mark finally visits with his attorney and spills everything out as fast as he can.  He also explains that his father could be in horrible danger and the attorney immediately makes a call, asking someone to check that his father isn't meeting with Tony.  When they find out that he is, he urges whoever is on the phone to go check on them.  The attorney is shocked but convinces Mark that all will be okay and they will figure out what's going on.  Just then, they receive a phone call that the room Tony chose to torture Richard in, did in fact still have camera's from when it was the old interrogation room and that they have full confessions on video.  Mark sags with relief and is released an hour later, with his attorney.  He races over to see his father, who is now in the hospital with some slight injury from the attack.  His father and him make amends and he calls his mother to do the same. 

Chapter Twenty Four:

This last chapter of the book.  Tony's Superior barges into the small room and tackles Tony, another guard gets to Richard and takes him out of the room.  The Superior reveals that the old room still has camera's and places Tony under arrest.  Richard is taken to the hospital.  Tony is sent to jail, awaiting trial and the media are hounding Mark for interviews.  Mark only cares about making sure his family is okay.  His attorney suggests that he has a nice law suit on his hands and Mark contemplates this.  Mark and his father make amends and he reassures his dad that with this new development and information, he could possibly be getting out of prison much sooner than anticipated.  Mark goes on to join the Air Force and heads out to Basic Training, finally fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams. 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A page may be blank, but there is an extraordinary feeling of the story being there, written in invisible ink and demanding to become visible.  This feeling is no stranger to Melinda Williams, who currently resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Ellijay, Georgia with her husband and three children.  Having recently overcome homelessness, Melinda quickly realized that she could turn her struggle into a driving force.  One that allows her talent and zest for writing to be the gentle push towards becoming all that she’s ever wanted to be; A writer.  After many failed attempts at waitressing, housekeeping and even grape picking at the local vineyards, Melinda eagerly accepted that being an Author was the only solution to bringing her happiness, satisfaction and a sense of worth.

The first “story” Melinda ever shared was in second grade, when she was asked to describe to her peers what she did over the summer.  She bravely stood in front of the class and with complete confidence, began to spin a glorious tale of traveling to Egypt, where her and her father went fishing in the Nile River.  Confident that her peers were convinced, she proudly walked back to her seat and sat down, knowing then and there that one day, she would become a writer.  As a preteen, Melinda could be found getting yelled at for having one of her many V.C. Andrews books open at the dinner table. 

Melinda has since written four novels, consisting of “All Through the House”, “Entry One: Dear Journal”, “I’ll Stop Lying, book One and Two” and was featured in a collective novel of short stories, titled “Once Upon a Time: Unexpected Fairy Tales”.  Her titles can be found on various websites, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Good reads and more.  Melinda is currently creating a spine-chilling thriller, entitled “On the Run” which is sure to bring white-knuckled page turning and heart racing chills.

MARKETING AND PROMOTION:

My Marketing approaches and Self-Promotion skills consist of mainly Social Media.  With a vast following on Twitter, which can be found HERE and a Facebook Author Page, found HERE , I am constantly finding creative and innovative ways to reach out to readers and self-sell my work.  I also consistently provide new and updated material on a long standing Blog, found HERE. 

By 01/01/2017 I will sell 3,000 books or more, making $8,970 in DIGITAL sales, and $11,985 in Paperback Edition copies, by getting 300-450 reviews and making at least 25 Social Media and Marketing appearances as well as 4 book signings, locally.

 

The cost of my digital book will remain low, at 3.99 per copy which will invite readers of all financial stature to afford a copy.  I will market my paperback edition at between 7.99 and 14.99 per copy, as I’ve seen steady sales in my current paperback novel, priced at 13.99. 

I will consider retail and non-retail buyers for my book and approach local, independent retail stores to see if they are interested in stocking a title by a local author, as I live in a town where local buying is strongly encouraged and carried out.

I will provide a one-page press release, focusing on my books unique qualities and offer an enticing hook that draws in potential readers.  I will also visit target audience means through Radio locators and Media links for television outlets and other media.  These will be great for local and regional shows and stations while still encouraging local buying. 

I will also use my connections to be sure that I am featured in a number of magazines which will target a whole new audience, as opposed to those already seeking a new title.

In addition, I will work diligently in evaluation my sales results, monthly, to be sure that I am reaching my target objections and track my progress.

I will utilize my lengthy email list to reach out to all other prospects and ensure that my sales and success are steady with potential for growth, always.