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Thanks to everyone who has read the story so far, and to those of you now joining the tale ...
Criminally Cartwright: Chapter 1
Criminally Cartwright: Chapter 1
Previously, in Criminally Cartwright, you were introduced to a man without a name, stranded in the desert by a mysterious being whose voice was mechanically disguised ... ... and forced into a quest for answers. His memory had been selectively suppressed, only to be unlocked, according to the Voice, a piece at a time by trigger words programmed into his subconscious mind.
With the help of a technologically advanced ninja suit, he now has the means to survive the journey through the scorching desert, but he has yet to learn where the journey will ultimately take him. What truths will he discover? Who is behind the Voice? Who is the Other that he must find? Was this a wedding band on his finger? If so, where and who was his wife, and would he ever see her again? Would he ever regain his memory?
He is determined to answer these questions, but he will have to be patient. Ninja Patient. As will you... Meet Lowden, A mild-mannered, soft-spoken citizen of Strangetown, perhaps the strangest little town on the face of SimEarth. For all intents and purposes, he appears to be an average young man: married; no children; college graduate.
In reality, he is a celebrated alumnus of La Fiesta Tech's world-renowned Biology Programme, a man of letters, a scholar of distinction: Doctor Lowden Cartwright, B.Sc, M. Sc., Ph.D. He is currently one of many xenobiologists, physicists and other scientists living and working among extraterrestrials in this secret government town. He is also a man with a strangely familiar face. Meet Audrey Larrea Cartwright, Lowden's brilliant and studious wife. They've been together ever since they met in college, where she studied Law, and before Lowden was recruited to join the fantastic enclave that was Strangetown. Audrey currently works as an international corporate attorney for the Strangetown Trust, ensuring the secrecy of the town's corporate dealings throughout the world, and safeguarding its vast earnings from the sale of alien technologies adapted for human use. She is a rising star in the legal community, and is swiftly advancing to the top of her profession.
Her life, however, is far from complete, despite fulfilling her lofty career goals. The Cartwrights both lead very busy lives, and are presently childless, though they do have a family of sorts. Perhaps not a conventional family, but one that would not be considered unconventional for Strangetown. These are the Cartwright pugs, Pablo, Bennett, and Penelope. Pablo and Bennett were Lowden's before Audrey married him. Penelope came later, appearing on their doorstep one day and so endearing herself to the young couple with her soulful eyes and happy, curly tail that she instantly became part of the family. The pugs are more than a handful, but their antics are tolerated, at least in part, because of their hefty contribution to the household coffers: Pablo as an elite rescue pet, and Bennett and Penelope as movie stars. Since they now had a female pug, the Cartwrights became amateur breeders, and recently sold all but one puppy, Paolo, who is black like his sire, Pablo, from Penelope's first litter. The other 3 pug puppies have joined other, good homes in Strangetown. And this is Leona, Audrey's faithful Servo. With her help, the Cartwrights have been able to make a comfortable life in a sometimes inhospitable place. But she is also the keeper of many secrets, a burden from which she escapes when emersed in her painting and other pursuits. She longed for, (at least as much as her robotic mechanisms would allow her to long for) the day when there would be no secrets. Unfortunately, today would not be that day.
Having returned from the Strangetown Xenobiology Center, Lowden informs Leona that he is not home to stay. "You are not to tell Audrey anything except that I was called back to work, do you understand?"
Leona blinked and sputtered, "Yes, Master Lowden."
"I don't know when I'll be back...probably very late. If she's insistent, tell her I'm running a critical experiment in the desert that requires my personal supervision. She doesn't need to wait up for me."
Leona knew this Lowden. It wasn't the sweet, kind, witty, intelligent Lowden that her Mistress loved and adored. This was the Lowden Audrey didn't know, who was devious and selfish, deceitful, and sometimes cruel. This was the Lowden Leona despised, as much as it was possible for any Servo to despise a human being, the Lowden who had secretly re-worked her circuitry so that she could never, ever warn poor, unsuspecting Audrey of what her husband had become. It was this Lowden, the sinister, ego- and megalo-maniacal Lowden, who now ordered her to lie to Audrey. Her poor Mistress Audrey had unknowingly married ... a Criminal Mastermind! He was leaving again on another of his dark errands. But not before first checking on that so-called critical experiment in the desert in the secret chamber of the Cartwright house poor Audrey knew nothing about ... ... and communing with the furry little ones who commanded both Cartwrights' affections and seemed to speak to them without actually speaking ... ... and worshipping wildly at the alien hybrid tree he had created to feed his lust for money. He sped away in the direction of the deep desert, to that place where Leona knew the military tested new alien technology, and trained their soldiers and agents when the technologies were perfected for their use. So completely was he focused on his mission, ... ... that he did not notice the set of eyes, the set of gleaming, black alien eyes, that had moments before been intently focused on the Cartwright home. But Audrey Cartwright had noticed the alien in the dark suit as she arrived home. Though not an unusual sight in Strangetown, there was something disconcerting about this alien, something disturbing in the way he looked over his shoulder at her, as he walked off. She'd never seen this particular alien before, and she thought she knew most of those who currently lived here, for there weren't many. She shrugged off her apprehension and entered her house, breezed past a frenzied, barking quartet of eager, fur-bearing greeters, and went to wash away her hectic day. After she had dressed, there was a soft knock at the door. Leona entered.
"How was your day, Mistress Audrey? Is there anything I can get for you?"
"We were very busy at the office today, Leona," Audrey answered. She sighed. "Has Lowden called?"
Leona recognized the sadness in Audrey's eyes.
"No, Mistress Audrey. But he was here for a short time. He was called away again before you returned home." "Called away? Did he say why?"
Leona recognized this Audrey. It was the Audrey she had seen many times in courtrooms, and conference rooms, the Audrey that struck fear in the hearts of legal associates, corporate accountants and even a few military generals. This was Audrey Larrea Cartwright, Attorney at Law.
"S-Something about an experiment in the desert," Leona stammered. "His personal supervision was required." She had had only a short time to practise that sentence before Audrey's return. Leona hoped it would be enough to placate her Mistress. "What experiment? Did he say when he would be home?"
Audrey knew that sometimes, Lowden was required to work in secrecy. She had, afterall, helped write the non-disclosure agreement that everyone who lived and worked in Strangetown was required to sign. But Audrey had an inquisitive nature that was sometimes difficult to suppress, one of the reasons she was considered, an exceptionally-skilled attorney. She didn't understand why she was so bothered: her own work required her to eventually know what projects Lowden worked on, though not always. "He said only that he would be home late, Mistress Audrey, and that you need not wait up." Audrey's instincts were telling her that something wasn't right. She looked away pensively.
"I'm worried, Leona," she whispered. "This isn't like Lowden."
Attorney Audrey had now become the vulnerable, lonely, quiet Audrey who Leona so desperately wanted to protect from Him. Leona fidgeted, but Audrey hadn't noticed.
"I am sure he will be fine, Mistress Audrey. This is not the first time Master Lowden has had to leave suddenly...the nature of his work is sometimes..."
"Secret. I know, Leona. I guess I just ....really miss him. He's been working a lot of very strange hours."
So Audrey retired to her study, and she buried herself in work of her own well into the evening. Eventually, she climbed into her empty bed and drifted off into an uneasy slumber. An uneasy, but very, very deep slumber. So deep, in fact, was this slumber that her husband's return later that evening did not awaken her. She murmurred softly in her sleep as Lowden slipped under the covers. Audrey hadn't always been a deep sleeper. She has slept very well, however, ever since Lowden brought home the strange gift that he insisted they place beside their bed. In the morning she would awake refreshed, her mind at rest, her troubles forgotten, and there would be Lowden's gift, gleaming in the morning light. The sight of it would reassure her, soothe her. Then she would smile without really knowing why, rise, and get on with her day: invigorated, rejuvenated ... oblivious.
End of Chapter 1 Audrey, ... Lowden, ... ...Leona and the pugs, will all return in the continuing chapters of... Criminally Cartwright !!!!! Until next time!
-JayCaz
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34 Comment(s) posted so far
On May 13, 2008 JayCaz wrote:
Welcome back to Criminally Cartwright! I've really appreciated your feedback and hope you continue to enjoy the story as it unfolds.
On May 14, 2008 cariadbach wrote:
On May 14, 2008 dunkićka wrote:
On May 14, 2008 iron mum wrote:
Brilliant, I love it, my head is full of questions but i'll wait.
Looking forward to the next part
On May 14, 2008 sims2isthebest5 wrote:
nice job
On May 15, 2008 maryash wrote:
dogs are cute
On May 15, 2008 arc1801 wrote:
On May 15, 2008 qasert wrote:
On May 15, 2008 Nenehunni wrote:
oooo, very clever - evil lowden lol
cant wait for the next part
On May 15, 2008 Ame-C wrote:
See your guestbook for my comment
!!!!
On May 15, 2008 qvisn wrote:
YEAH! until next time,LOL. Great part, now we know the family,and your dogs are there too, Who was the srange, stranger than normally ,strange man? I know you wont tell until later. cant wait for the next part, well done Jay.
A definate 10 out of 5.
On May 15, 2008 thekewlestnerd wrote:
great story!
On May 15, 2008 mighty_female wrote:
Can't wait to see Lowden's evilness in the next part
On May 15, 2008 LottieLorz wrote:
Aww it's nice to see you put your little dogs in your story! Great part, can't wait to read more! xx Lora
On May 15, 2008 Vinchenzo 1 wrote:
very very good I did not expect it but it was very good I can't wait for the next chapter
On May 15, 2008 Ultra-Violet wrote:
I just love it. It was very very interesting, can't wait to see what happens next.
5.0
On May 15, 2008 Raven98590 wrote:
On May 15, 2008 drewsoltesz wrote:
Very engaging, you are setting up quite the intricate plot, with fascinating characters and situations. Look forward to more.
On May 15, 2008 xbluexmistx wrote:
There's only one word for this: Wow.
On May 15, 2008 cpyle822 wrote:
On May 15, 2008 FathomDesigns wrote:
Very, very good! I just wanted to ask you though. Is there another way to get servos without using a cheat?
On May 16, 2008 age1116523 wrote:
This is a great story, finish it. I want to hear the rest.
P.S: you spelled promise wrong, I don't know which clip but, it has extroidanary, excellent, and fabulous vocabulary.
On May 16, 2008 JayCaz wrote:
Promise doesn't appear in any of the screens, unless you meant practise which is one of those words you can also spell with a c. I've been over both stories with a fine-toothed comb. Can everyone spell OCD with me? LOL
On May 16, 2008 twinkletoe wrote:
On May 16, 2008 powerfulcheese wrote:
Great story, very intriguing. Can't wait for the next chapter
On May 16, 2008 irishgurl88 wrote:
On May 17, 2008 candy820 wrote:
Very Good I loved it, Sounds like the Twilght Zone
5.0 here
On May 18, 2008 Henase75211 wrote:
Great Story so interesting
On May 19, 2008 tey711 wrote:
Hello JayCaz,
You've used the classic 'step back to an earlier point in time' to introduce characters and deepen the plot. Well done! My suspicions are rising about everyone -- the 'out of place' alien Audrey saw and believe it or not --Penelope! Don't laugh, I recall a pug as a character in "Men in Black III"; so anything is possible! However, Lowden no longer appears to be the innocent victim in this tale. No, I now perceive Audrey in that role. My guess is that Lowden's marriage to Audrey was more by design than love considering the her career and high-powered status in corporate law and international secrets. Unless, Lowden's criminal activites are associated with the mind control in some fashion, then Audrey may find herself one day representing her husband in an 'International' Court of Law. That would be interesting! A mind control egg in the bedroom?! What a novel idea! I love it and I will definitely stay tuned! 
Greta job! 
5.0
I apologize that I'm just now reading your chapter one; but, it was told like that of a true story teller! Bravo!!
On May 19, 2008 wrote:
A very good plot, very enjoyable! Nice to see something a little different!
On May 19, 2008 eshuff wrote:
I was actually yelling "Channel HAL 9000" at poor Leona! Really unusual and creative, and I could not stop reading it! Captured me from the very first screen -- and I do not say that lightly.
Loved the shot of Lowden getting into the car, and the whole stream with the dogs is hysterical! You have a wicked sense of humor!
Great work!
On May 22, 2008 jaundyce61 wrote:
How refreshing to read something other than a 'legacy' or a 'model' shoot, this was very well done! I look forward to more!
On May 29, 2008 civetinja wrote:
Great story ! Thanks for sharing !
On Jul 28, 2008 md198 wrote:
Very interesting
can't see where this one is going...