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Overview
For Chris Barnes and his best friend, Luke Lin-ford, summer has been anything but ordinary. After a botched attempt to help their local sheriffs department stop a criminal named Dr. Bertram Watson, the boys fear that the escaped Dr. Watson will be looking for revenge. Their suspicions are confirmed when two men arrive, claiming to be detectives who have more questions for Chris and Luke about their knowledge of Dr. Watson and his late wifeand then take them into protective custody while the investigation continues.
But after Chris, Luke, and their protective detail are attacked at their safe house, the pair of teens realizes that theyll have to take matters into their own hands if they want to capture Dr. Watson and live to tell the tale. On their own, it isnt long before Dr. Watson and his thugs catch up with them and chase the boys into an old graveyard. Its there that Chris and Luke receive help from an unexpected source and learn of a legendary crystal skull that, if found, can give anyone power to change the future.
When the boys learn that Luke is the key to finding the real skull, the two begin a dangerous adventure to find it before Dr. Watson silences thempermanently.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781462053018 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | iUniverse, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 10/26/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 236 |
| File size: | 286 KB |
| Age Range: | 9 - 12 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
THE LEGEND of the CRYSTAL SKULL
By Craig D. Burrus
iUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Craig D. BurrusAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-5300-1
Chapter One
False Sense of Security
A fifteen-year-old boy does not normally spend the second half of his summer vacation watching news broadcasts, but this had not been a typical summer by any stretch of the imagination. The television had caught my attention as I was finishing the task of bringing in some groceries for my mother. It seems the police department was searching for someone my friend Luke and I had become acquainted with recently—one Dr. Bertram Watson. The good doctor was wanted for several crimes, not the least of which was kidnapping. One might wonder how two teenagers could get mixed up with such an individual, and understandably so. That's a story in itself, but it is sufficient to say we were responsible for both his being exposed and for his escape from the local sheriff's department. You see, Dr. Watson was behind one of the most bizarre mysteries ever encountered around these parts, or anywhere else for that matter. His underground society of abducted mental patients went undiscovered for years—that is, until Luke and I devoted the first part of our summer to foiling his plans. I wish I could claim we knew what we were getting into all along, but that would be an outright lie. All I knew was that the ordeal was not over yet, not by a long shot.
"Are you watching this?" I asked Luke, whom I had just phoned.
"I can't believe we just let him walk off right in front of us," Luke said, disgusted.
"I know what you mean," I responded. "I can't believe it either."
"We had him right in the palms of our hands," Luke complained.
"I wouldn't go that far," I said. "We were scared senseless! If the sheriff hadn't gotten there when he did, we'd be toast by now."
"You've got a point," Luke agreed. "But all we had to do was tell the sheriff what we saw."
Luke and I were beating ourselves up over our recent actions, or lack thereof, whereby Dr. Watson had eluded the sheriff's deputies as they arrested his accomplices. He had escaped everyone's view—everyone's except ours, that is. We saw the doctor, his son, and his daughter slip unnoticed into the thick, dense forest that we spent so much time in over the past two summers. For some reason, we elected at the time not to say anything to the sheriff or his men. We had been through so much; we just wanted it to end. Unfortunately, our reasoning was flawed. Dr. Watson knew we were the ones who blew his scheme, and it was just a matter of time before he would seek his revenge. He had spent years developing his underground world, and two meddling kids had just brought it all crumbling down. We had a choice. We could live in fear or face it head-on. We chose the latter. Luke and I decided we wouldn't wait for the good doctor to come looking for us. We had to find him first!
"You know what we have to do now, don't you?" I asked.
"Yeah," Luke responded, "but we've got a problem."
"Just one?" I said sarcastically.
"You can joke if you want to, but you know what I'm talking about," Luke scolded.
Indeed I did. Luke and I both knew there was little chance that our parents would let us run off on a crusade to search for a demented psychopath. However, we were the ones who had witnessed what this man was capable of, and we were not about to sit around wondering when he would strike again.
"So, what's the plan?" Luke asked.
"I don't know yet," I responded. "We need to get off the phone and meet in person."
"Fat chance of that happening," Luke quipped. "It's too soon. Our folks will never go for it."
Keep in mind that we were only fourteen and fifteen years old, me being the eldest. We had just been in the middle of a major criminal bust, and our parents had no idea what was going on until it all went down. In fact, they didn't know we were involved until the sheriff came by each of our homes to check and see if we were okay. It was extremely unlikely that they would let either one of us out of their sight for any length of time. Somehow, we had to come up with a way.
Our conversation was interrupted as my mother reminded me that I had not yet finished bringing in the groceries. "I'll call you back," I informed Luke.
"You'd better make it soon," Luke urged.
I hung up the phone and resumed my duties. It was kind of nice to get back to a somewhat normal routine. Things had been so crazy over the past few weeks that I had not really had time to enjoy my summer. As I retrieved the last bag from my mom's car, I couldn't help but notice a rather plain-looking sedan pulling up in our driveway. As I strained my eyes to get a glimpse of its occupants, two men in dark suits slowly exited from either side of the vehicle. One was of a tall, slender build, while the other was rather average all around.
"Who are they?" my mother asked after checking to see what had detained me.
"I don't know," I answered.
"I'm getting your father," she said, sounding a bit unnerved.
My father had apparently seen what was going on from inside and had already made his way to the front door. By this time, the two visitors were at the gate, patiently waiting for someone to acknowledge their presence.
"May I help you?" my father inquired as he approached the front gate. The man with the average build spoke first.
"Hello, sir, I'm Detective Grier with the special investigations unit, and this is Detective Hamilton," he said as they both flashed what appeared to be authentic badges. "Is this the Barnes residence?"
"Yes, it is," my father answered. "What's this all about?"
"We'd like to ask your son a few questions," the other man explained. "Is that him?" he asked, pointing in my direction.
"I thought you were through with all the questioning," my father said, sounding a bit perplexed.
"That was the local sheriff's department, sir," Detective Hamilton noted. "We're with the police," he added.
"I wish your two departments would have coordinated beforehand," my father said. "My son has been through a lot already, and I'm sure the Linfords feel the same way."
"We can appreciate that, sir, but we have reason to believe your son and his friend have information that can help us with an ongoing investigation," Hamilton explained.
"They've told the sheriff all they know. Can't you ask him?" my father pleaded.
"Well, sir, the sheriff and his deputies were unaware of certain circumstances pertaining to this case," noted Grier.
"What kind of circumstances?" I asked curiously, having made my way to the front gate with my father.
"With your permission, sir," Hamilton said, rather accommodating.
"Well, if you must," my father agreed reluctantly. "You gentlemen seem determined to get what you came here for. I don't want to seem uncooperative, but I have to think about my son."
"I promise we'll be brief, sir," assured Hamilton. "We just have a few questions."
"Okay, shoot," I said anxiously. "Check that," I interjected. "Bad choice of words. What exactly did you want to ask?"
"We want to know everything you know about Dr. Watson's wife," Detective Grier explained.
Thinking back on the ordeal my friend Luke and I had just gone through, it was difficult to remember specifics about Dr. Watson's wife. His daughter Brenda had informed us that Mrs. Watson had passed away some four years or so ago.
"She's dead. What else you wanna know?" I asked flippantly.
"Chris!" my father interjected, sounding quite embarrassed by my response.
I knew a warning when I heard one. I guess I did sound kind of disrespectful.
Detective Grier continued with his line of questioning. "Did you overhear any conversations involving Mrs. Watson?" he asked.
"Only that her death sent the doctor into a tailspin. That's what triggered his life of crime," I surmised for the detectives. Having said that, I noticed that the expression on Detective Grier's face suddenly changed to an angry scowl.
"I don't believe you're qualified to make that assumption," he snapped.
"What's going on here?" my father interrupted, sensing Grier's hostility. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't bark at my son like that. He's not a criminal."
"You're right, sir," Hamilton said. "I apologize for my partner's behavior. I don't know what got into him." He then added, "Do you mind if we confer for a moment?"
"Please do," my father replied.
The two men stepped back near their vehicle and engaged in what appeared to be quite an animated conversation, with Detective Hamilton doing most of the talking. It almost seemed as if he were scolding Detective Grier.
"Is there something you're not telling me, son?" my father asked.
"No, Dad, honest," I responded.
"Why do you suppose that detective jumped all over you like that?" he continued.
"I have no idea," I answered.
Right about then, the two detectives ended their impromptu conference and approached my father and me once again. Detective Hamilton addressed us. "Mr. Barnes, my partner and I want to thank you for your cooperation. We are satisfied that your son has no further information useful to us at this time," he announced.
Well, gee, talk right over me, why don't you? I thought, insulted that all of a sudden I seemed to be invisible. After all, I was standing right there. It appeared, however, that I was not the only one with a chip on my shoulder. After glancing over at Detective Grier, it was impossible not to notice that he was glaring at me as if I had just slapped his mother or something. After exchanging strained pleasantries with my father, Hamilton hooked his partner's arm and whisked him back toward their vehicle. Even at that, Detective Grier continued to eyeball me as they walked away.
"What's that guy's problem?" my father wondered aloud, voicing my exact feelings.
"I don't know, but I'm glad that's over," I said, somewhat relieved.
Our visitors retreated into their vehicle and slowly backed out of our driveway. Hamilton was driving. As he put the car in drive, Detective Grier was still fixated on me, turning his head as the car pulled away so as not to lose sight of me for as long as possible.
I had a feeling that my sense of relief was short lived, especially when I realized where the detectives were heading next. They had just turned down Ashley Road in the direction of Luke's house. Only then did Grier's focus leave me. Clearly, it was now on my friend. I felt a shiver go up my spine. I was already a nervous wreck worrying about a crazy doctor running around ticked off at us. Now we have to deal with Psycho-Cop! This summer continued to be one neither of us had bargained for. How I longed for the security of a nice, safe classroom.
Chapter Two
Helpless Feeling
My father and I stood at the front gate for a few moments, not quite knowing what to think about our visitors. As we turned and headed back to the house, my mind was replaying the line of questioning I had just endured. I silently wondered how Luke was going to handle what was coming his way. "You okay, son?" my father asked.
"I'm fine, Dad," I responded, trying my best not to let my nervousness show. He gave me a fatherly pat on the head and sent me on my way to my room. I guess he felt like I needed some time alone or something. What I really wanted to do was run over to Luke's house and eavesdrop on his interrogation. It seemed like an eternity waiting to hear from him, but the call finally came about fifteen minutes later.
"That was quick. What'd you tell 'em?" I asked before my friend could utter a word.
"I'm fine. Thanks for your concern," Luke said with much sarcasm.
"Oh, sorry," I said, apologizing for my thoughtlessness.
"We need to talk," Luke continued.
"Duh! What do you call what we're doing?" I spouted.
"No, I mean we need to talk face-to-face, soon. Before it's too late," he said.
"Luke, you're starting to scare me," I proclaimed. "What do you mean, face-to-face? What about our folks? Didn't we already have this discussion? They'll never go for it."
"Well, pretty soon they're not going to have a choice," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"Look. I can't tell you over the phone. You've got to find a way to meet me—now," he said.
"Okay, now you're really freaking me out. Meet where? How?"
"By the big pond in a half hour. You figure out how. I've got to go!" he said hurriedly.
I heard a click followed by an ominous dial tone. I sat there for a second, somewhat stunned. I didn't quite know what to think of my present situation. What I did know was that my friend was serious, and somehow I had to figure out a way to slip out of the house unnoticed for a couple of hours.
Who am I kidding? I thought. There is absolutely no way on this earth that I was going to be able to pull this off. I may as well call Luke back right now and tell him to forget it. No sooner than I had come to this gutless conclusion, the phone rang in my hand, nearly causing me to have an embarrassing accident.
Seconds later, I heard the knob turn on my door. "Chris," my father called as he entered my room. "I just got a phone call. Your mother and I have to run an errand. Do you think you'll be okay here by yourself for a few minutes?" he asked.
Can you believe this? I thought to myself. What a miracle! My sister was spending the night with a friend, my parents were leaving the house, and I needed to sneak out. Could this have worked out any better?
"Chris, did you hear what I said?" my father asked.
"Oh, yes," I responded. "I'll be fine. How long did you say you'd be gone?"
"Maybe a half hour," he said. "I can have your mother stay if you don't feel comfortable being here alone. It's just that I wanted to show her—"
"No!" I interrupted, almost tipping my hand. "You go ahead. I really meant it when I said I'd be fine."
"Well, if you're sure," he said. "We'll get back as soon as we can."
"Take your time!" I said, laying it on almost too thick. My parents left shortly afterward, and I was now faced with the reality that I was about to do something that they would most certainly forbid. I wrestled momentarily with whether or not I should go through with Luke's plan, when I heard a subtle knocking sound at our back door.
This can't be good, I thought. I live out in the country. Nobody comes to your back door in the country! "Be calm, Chris," I said to myself. Even though visitors don't come knocking on your back door, killers and madmen don't usually employ that tactic either, do they?
I made my way downstairs and into the den, where our back door was located. Cautiously, I peered out between the curtains that my mother had over the window area of the door. Surely, I thought, no one wanting to "take me out" would try to do it in broad daylight, even if it was at the back door.
As I strained to get a look through the window, there was another definite knock, this time much louder. I could just make out a shadow standing on the doorstep, but I couldn't see a face. Oh, this is just great! I thought. Who is this? And what the heck are they doing back here?
Deciding that I was being just a bit paranoid, I mustered up all my available courage and jerked back the curtain covering the window on the door. What I saw was disturbing: there was no one there. What's going on here? I thought. Surely I couldn't have imagined this whole thing just now. Is this it? Have the events of the summer taken their toll? Am I cracking up right here and now? Oh, I get it. This is a movie moment. I'm supposed to open this door like an idiot, and Dr. Watson or one of his boys is gonna jump out and make me a homicide statistic. Well, I'm not going out like that! I'm—
Someone exclaiming my name just below screaming level suddenly interrupted my moment of insanity. "Chris!" the voiced called. I looked out the window once again and was both shocked and relieved at what I saw. It was Luke! "Will you open the door for cryin' out loud?" he demanded, looking quite perturbed. "I can't keep out of sight forever!"
Not quite sure what to do, I eventually got over my initial shock and let my friend in the house. "What took you so long?" Luke asked. He sounded most displeased.
"Excuse me, but I seem to recall that a crazed lunatic has our names at the top of his just-wait-till-I-get–my-hands-on-you list. To me, that warrants a little precaution," I explained. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you said to meet you by the big pond."
"I did," Luke responded. "But I saw your folks leave, so I snuck around back."
"What's this all about? Why all the secrecy?" I asked.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from THE LEGEND of the CRYSTAL SKULL by Craig D. Burrus Copyright © 2011 by Craig D. Burrus. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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