Masquerade - The Complete First Novel

- 1 -

(Dakota)

Ever since I was a child, I loved puzzles.

Piecing all the parts together to make one big picture. I was always good at them; there was never a puzzle I couldn't solve. Everyone would say I was special. That I was intelligent, destined for great things. And instead of being a doctor, or a boss at some company, I became a journalist. And, decided to move into a small house in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington. Briar Hills has been quiet for a while, no report of a crime, covered with loving families with children, and the perfect place to separate my work life, from my personal one. The house was gorgeous. The door was a dark color wood, with a little black metal basket. A white arch covered the front patio and a wooden bench swing that was hanging on a big Willow tree on the left side of the yard. The whole house was a sort of an off-gray, but the two triangles placed on top were white. The line of plants that shape the walkway was vibrant with tulips, roses, and lilies.

While my eyes were glued to the features, my light gray couch was carried past me by two burly men. One of them had a long beard that almost touched the arm of my couch and a bald head that glistened with sweat. The other was a little smaller but still big. He had short hair that has been bleached from the summer work. I pray that their sweat doesn't stain my couch. They opened my dark door and carried the couch inside to be placed in the living room. I turned around to the other men moving my belongings inside of my new house.

"Hi!" I jumped a bit, taking a step back. The woman that frightened me was middle-aged. Her dark skin was starting to form wrinkles, and her short black hair has a few strands of silver in them. She extended a hand that I gladly took. "I see you're moving in," I let our hands continue to shake as I said my line.

"Yeah! I just moved in! This is a beautiful neighborhood!" Our hands fell back down to our sides as she took the compliment.

"Well, I am the head of the homeowners association, so thank you. I give everything to make this neighborhood the best," she let herself smile for almost half a second until another thought crawled into her mind. "Oh! My name is Catherine Webb." Her smile grew larger as her eyes made slits. I let my fake smile do the same to my features.

"Dakota Lockwood," she let her eyebrows turn to confusion while still keeping her bubbly personality if that's what she showed. Her hands fell to her hips and she started to lean forward as if I was a child. Even though I'm taller than her by at least an inch.
"So, why is someone so young like yourself buying a house? Do you have someone special to share it with?" I let my smile droop a little as her question filled my mind with possible answers I could give her.

"Uh, no. It's just me. Actually, I just graduated and I'm starting out to be a journalist." She nodded her head, straightened up.

"Oh, journalism," she paused. "Don't they not make that much money?"

"Well-"

"Oh, I don't care. Well, I better get started on dinner or my three children will just go ballistic! Welcome to the neighborhood!" The women's heels started to echo through the streets as she started to walk to her double story house.

"Ma'am?" I turned to see another muscular looking man with a bushy mustache, and long brown hair. "We're done moving in your stuff." Now, my full body was toward him. I could see the purples and pinks dance off of his face from the sunset behind me.

"Thank you so much!" I said as I was pulling a checkbook out of my pocket, paying him for his work. He nodded as he climbs into his truck, waving as he went. The truck descended down the street until the sunset consumed it. I looked back to my new house. Wondering what kind of family lived here last. I could ask Mrs. Webb, but then again, I wasn't very fond of her. I let my navy blue converse tap on the wood beneath them as I could see the furniture was almost all in the wrong place from where I asked them to be. I let a sigh escape my lips as I rolled up the sleeves of my blue button-up shirt.