Hypo - The Complete Story Read online

  HYPO

  The Complete Story

  DL Jones

  Contents

  Preface

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Part II

  Screenplay

  About the Author

  Follow DL JONES

  Sample Chapters

  27. SAMPLE CHAPTER 1

  28. SAMPLE CHAPTER 4

  Copyright © 2018 D L Jones.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.

  First printing in any form 2018

  Published by 43TEN Press

  Dljonesbooks.com

  Created with Vellum

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to the 3 people that has had the biggest impact on my life.

  My Mother – Delores Jones - Whom always been supportive of me in everything I do.

  My Father – David Lee Jones Jr. - He is honestly one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. I aspire to be like him more than he knows. He’s a family man, a great husband to my mother and just overall the model I use whenever I think of how you would describe a good man. I love you Dad.

  And

  My Brother – Terence Jones (TJ) - He has no idea how much I look up to him. My brother and I are different in a lot of ways but I admire him more than he probably knows. He has a lot of qualities I wish I had. And last of all, he has my back without question.

  Preface

  Where to begin? HYPO is a story I wrote back in 2011-2012. I had just moved to a new city/state and was looking for employment. During my downtime, I would do several things that were hobbies for most of my adult life. That includes seeing movies, playing video games, and writing. Also, one of my lifelong loves, working with computers. That lead to a lot of website work, blogging, and eventually writing long form fiction (and non-fiction).

  I got the idea for this story based on a story I remember hearing when I was younger. The old story about the woman who had a child trapped beneath a car in an accident. She was able to lift the car to save her child. I never believed that story, but I thought it was fascinating to think about. I thought, if that was true, if the body can do such extraordinary things, scientist or doctors should’ve figured out a way to manipulate your body or brain to do those things at will, with medicine. Then I thought, what would happen if some type of medicine was created to accomplish those things at will?

  To be honest, HYPO was not a novel…initially. During that time, I was big into writing screenplays. I did a lot of research on the formatting, writing and methods of the art. Even took a video-based class on screenplay writing. I’ve written a lot of screenplays… well I started a lot of screenplay’s. HYPO was the first one that I finished. I would consider my HYPO screenplay to be a first draft, it is not perfect, I still needed to do some work on it and always said I would go back to it one day and do a re-write. The year I wrote the HYPO screenplay, I submitted it into the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition. It was a fun experience, knowing that something I wrote was being considered among other screenwriters across the country. I never expected anything to come of it, but I did it, and I was proud of that. Spoiler, nothing did ever come of it.

  This brings us to now. I had several novels in the works, a couple non-fiction and one fiction. I needed a brain cleanser, so I decided to do a rewrite of HYPO. I opened the screenplay on my computer and started reading it. Other than the first act, I had never let anyone read the whole thing. By the time I got to the end of the screenplay, I decided I was going to rewrite HYPO as a novel and publish it.

  I had several ideas about publishing HYPO. At first, I was thinking I would self-publish HYPO in its screenplay state. Then I thought about re-writing as a novel and self-publishing that way. What I have decided on is the multiple approach option. I always felt like there were 3 parts to this story. So, I am writing each part as a short story and self-publishing them that way. Of course, the entire 3 parts is one story, so you will have to read each part to get the full complete story.

  After I have finished each of the parts, in eBook form only, I will then work on creating a paperback and eBook. That paperback and eBook will include the entire story. All 3 eBooks and the original screenplay that I wrote way back. And if you are reading this, that is what you have now. I thought it might be interesting to some to see how this story would play out on screen, and since it’s not an actual movie, reading the screenplay will get you the closest.

  So, I hope you enjoy Hypo, My very first published Novel (it’s more of a novella length).

  Thank you!

  Part I

  HYPO: The Complete Story.

  The Novel

  Chapter 1

  Chauncy arrived at the HD shop a little earlier than usual. The HD Shop is a home electronics store, Chauncy’s baby. His pride and joy. He is the owner and founder of this popular store that sold all the latest televisions, stereo equipment and other home electronics and gadgets. This was a very high-end store in the growing city he lived.

  This morning, Chauncy didn’t just show up early because he had a boost of motivation. Someone called him in. Not by an employee or a customer, but the police. What awaits him was very disappointing. He put his whole life’s work into this store and it has done well for him. He lives a comfortable life with all the life lavishes that goes along with the fantasy of being a business owner. What he saw as he pulled up and got out of his car left him distraught.

  The front window of the store is shattered. There’s a cinder block sitting on the floor, just inside the store. That cinder block was used to break the window and gain entry. Someone robbed the HD shop. Shattered glass covers the floor around the cinder block. A closed sign is hanging on its frame but still lit.

  Through the broken storefront window, the view inside shows that there were no damaged items, but clearly missing items. Someone moved the display of the new large panel TVs around with several missing. Movie players and computers were missing from the shelves. Even cables and universal remotes were missing. The thieves had their pick of items and meticulously grabbed things they wanted and all the accessories that went with those things.

  “It was like they had all night.” Chauncy thought to himself.

  He also thought about how it looked like the thieves had a plan and a layout of the store.

  “Could be an inside job, but anyone can walk in a few times and get a layout of the store.” Chauncy thought again.

  A few Workers had surveyed the damage. A replacement window pane was staged nearby ready to install and replace the damaged one. Chauncy walked through the HD shop to the back of the store, to his office.

  The back office of the HD shop is lush with an oversized leather couch. On the other side of th
e room sits a large mahogany executive style desk. The highest end personal computer is sitting on the desk. Mounted on the wall on the other side of the room were several surveillance monitors. Chauncy stood in his lush office and looked around. He looked at his computer for a few minutes then looked over at his surveillance monitors. Shaking his head, he tapped away at the keyboard on his desk while guiding his mouse around.

  2 Police officers were already in Chauncy’s office waiting for him to come in. Chauncy didn’t acknowledged them. He walked past them as he came in as if they weren’t there. Officer Ryan, a 47-year-old black man was writing notes on his notepad while Officer Ford stood, impatiently, waiting for Chauncy to address her. Officer Ford was a 38-year-old White lady.

  Chauncy types more on his computer and seems to grow with anger as he typed. He kept looking at the monitors. He would get writhe with anger at moments but kept a somewhat cool composure.

  “How is it I have owned this store for 10 years and not once have I been robbed or broken into, but in the past 2 months it has happened 3 times! What the hell am I paying you for?” Chauncy said as he aims his glare at the 2 police officers.

  “To Keep my shop from being broken into! That’s why I’m paying you!” Chauncy added.

  Chauncy looks at his watch then walks over to the file cabinet mounted on the wall. He takes a set of keys from his pocket.

  “Sir, I know this is unfortunate, but we are here to help” Said Officer Ford.

  “So, you said—”

  “Excuse me, Miss Ford, I know I don’t actually pay you and I apologize for saying that” Chauncy interrupted.

  “I’m just mad and frustrated” Chauncy continued.

  Chauncy unlocks the top drawer of his desk and grabs a TV remote. He sits it on top of the desk. He then reaches back into the desk and picks up a prescription pill bottle and opens it.

  “I accept your apology, don’t worry about it. You are upset, and it is understandable…” Said Officer Ford.

  “Also…its OFFICER FORD” She added.

  Chauncy dumps a few pills from his prescription bottle into the palm of his hand. He lifts his hand and takes a pill, no water, chews and swallows it. He then puts the rest, loose, in his pocket as he puts the prescription bottle back in the desk drawer.

  “Officer Ford it is…” Chauncy said.

  “So, you were saying you had surveillance film of what happened?” Said Officer Ford.

  “Can we see that?” She added.

  Chauncy grabs the remote from his desk and points it at the monitor.

  “That’s is some set-up you got there.” Said officer Ryan.

  “I didn’t even notice the cameras when I was walking through the store.

  “Yea, I spent a ton of cash on this so that you don’t see the cameras when you are walking through the store” Responded Chauncy.

  “Got my house wired the same way…I hit this switch and…”

  Chauncy leans over to his computer and presses a button. All the monitors go black. After a second, they all return and there is a bedroom on the screen. On another screen there is a living room, then another the front door. Basically, every inch of a house is being displayed throughout the monitors on the wall.

  “Is that your house?” Office Ford asks

  “Yes, it is…and the cameras are just as invisible there as they are here.” Chauncy replied.

  Chauncy goes back to the computer and switches the Monitors back to the store camera’s He points the remote at the screen and starts playback of some video recorded during the break-in. Everyone focus their attention on the monitors mounted on the wall as there were several different angles of the robbery playing at the same time.

  The video starts.

  3 thieves are standing outside the store, wearing all black.

  One thief slings a large cinderblock through the front window.

  The other 2 run inside after the glass falls, they rush to the 70-inch Flat-panel TV while the first thief grabs a movie player off the shelf.

  The lights of the van backing up near the front of the store come into view. The van doors open, and the thieves load the stolen items. After the thieves finished loading the van, one thief ran back into the store and grab a handful of cables.

  Finally, all the thieves get into the van and drive away.

  “Do you have sound on this?” Asked Officer Ryan.

  “Yea, let me turn it up and I’ll replay it”

  Chauncy points the remote and starts the video again, this time with sound. They all watch again, and the thieves commit the crime.

  “Did you hear? Somebody said something” Said officer Ryan.

  Chauncy reversed the video again and played. They watch the deed again and got to the part were the thieve was about to run back into the store. They can hear a voice from off camera.

  “Who said that, was it the driver?” Chauncy ask.

  “They said “go back and get some cables, those things are expensive” Some nerve” Said Officer Ford.

  “Shit! Who cares how expensive cables are when you stole the TV you need them for!” Chauncy yells.

  “From the video, we can’t make out any faces, but we would like to hold onto the footage if possible. One thing we do know, they knew exactly what they were going in there to get so they have been in your store before.” Said Officer Ryan.

  Chauncy leans over to his computer and loads a drive into the USB port.

  “Sure, I’ll make you a copy. Just a sec”

  Chauncy kits a few keys on the keyboard and copies the video to the USB drive.

  “I need to be out on the floor more often. I need to know if people in here are actually shopping…or just getting a shopping list together…to come back later and steal my shit!” Chauncy said.

  Chauncy pulls out the USB drive and hands it over to Officer Ryan.

  “Mr. Peters, I would say take notice of your customers but that’s it. There is a whole lot more paperwork involved with a murder verse a B&E.” Said Officer Ryan.

  The 3 of them leave Chauncy’s office out to the Showroom floor, they look around for a few minutes then Chauncy escorts the officers through the store.

  A few employees have now shown up for work and are looking around, wondering what has happened. The workers have just finished replacing the storefront window pane and are now packing up the job. Chauncy noticed the new employees arriving.

  “One of you get a broom and clean up this glass, we got to open the doors in 30 minutes.” Chauncy said.

  Jeff, a personal trainer from a nearby gym walks by and see the damage.

  “What happened, someone broke in again?” Ask Jeff

  “Yea, Third time in the last 2 months. They got the 70 inch this time” Chauncy responded.

  Officer Ford walks by Jeff. She stops and looks. Jeff was a very well-built man, very easy on the eyes and Officer Ford noticed.

  “Please tell me he broke into your store…I’d love to get him in cuffs” Said officer Ford.

  “Miss—I mean, Officer Ford” Chauncy said with surprise in his voice.

  “I was being MISS FORD that time. You got it right” Officer Ford answers.

  “I am human! Who is he?” She added.

  “That’s Jeff. He works at the Gym down the street. Use to be my Wife’s personal trainer. Had to put a stop to that.” Chauncy said.

  They both laughed.

  “Rodney! Get someone to help you bring another one of those 70 inches from the back” Chauncy yelled to one of his employee’s.

  Chauncy and the 2 officers stood in front of the store for a while going over the final details. The employees are cleaning and getting the store ready. One employee has the TV turned on watching the morning news.

  “You see this shit?” said one of the employee’s

  TV Newscast

  The fifth family has gone missing last night in what has seemed to be a serial kidnapping epidemic. The other 4 families were kidnapped while returning to the city. They were he
ld hostage for approximately a week then let go. All their belongings were stolen. The identities of the kidnappers are still unknown. They didn’t ask for ransom or anything, just held the families for a week then let them go. More at 12…

  “Turn that off! We don’t need that depressing shit playing when the customers come!” Chauncy said.

  Chapter 2

  Chauncy walked back into his office and took a seat at his desk, he sat for a minute, then got up and walked over to the leather sofa. He plopped down on it, raising his feet up to get comfortable. His phone rings. He looked over at it for a second then walked back to his desk to answer.

  “Hello, the HD Shop. Chauncy speaking. May I help you?”

  “Hey Bae, what did the police say? What was stolen?” Ask Rebecca.

  “Not much the police can do as usual. The thieves have been in the store before though. They stole that 70 inch I had on display and a movie player and some other shit. They broke the whole front window to get in. Fixing that cost me 2 times the amount of the shit they stole. It pisses me off!!” Chauncy answers.

  Chauncy put the phone on speaker and walked back to his sofa. He thumbed through some paperwork as he talked.