The Masterpiece Collection: The Bestselling Book

Mary let out a deep frustrated sigh. Her books never attracted any wandering reader in the bookstore. The last book which she had previously written had remain untouched and unnoticed despite its colorful cover and intriguing title. So she had to ask herself over and over... what makes a book trendy and in-demand? Or how is a best seller written?
Already feeling the weight of her sad and frustrating career, she heads for home, walking heavily along the dark streets of Willow avenue.
Then a shrill scream disturbs the silence of the night sending a shudder of panic through her skin. Frightened now yet alert for any suspicious human nearby that might sense her presence and assault her, she quickly run and hide among the bushes. Then after nerve wracking moments, a shadow emerge from the corner. He was dressed in black garments and his head is covered with sock which makes it hard for her to identify him or her. Looking left and right, then behind, the figure seem to be surveying the place for any unwanted witness. Mary held her breath and pray to god that he will not spot her there.
The black-clad figure now drags a lifeless body from one the sturdy tree and dumps the body in the nearby man-hole that has a sign CAUTION: DEEP EXCAVATION..then disappear into the corner where he came from.

Mary could not move from where she was hiding. She was horror-stricken and feeling nauseated. She had just witness a crime and on top of that, she is debating whether she would go right now or wait for a few more hours. The criminal might still be lurking near and there is a chance that he might see where she was hiding.
Thankfully, two teenagers happen to pass her way and praying it will somehow cause a diversion to the culprit's attention, she quickly emerge from her hiding place and pretends to act casually while following close behind the two passers by.
Morning comes.
There is a great commotion happening on the Willow avenue. The dead body was found by an early-riser construction worker. He was always the first to turn up in the pit because his home is just around the block. Police, FBI agents and reporters are already crowding the murder scene along with the many on-lookers and curious neighbors. A yellow tape is being put around the pit that simply states Police Line Do Not Cross.

Gathering up all her courage to return to that place, she turn and walk toward that street and she could see the bushes and the trees clearly in the harsh daylight.
"What is the commotion about, Mrs. Craper?" she asked recognizing her neighbor.
"Dead body is found in one of the excavated pit, Mrs. Craper answers her with wide eyes.
"How cruel, don't you think?" one of the on-looker said.
"The police has still no lead in this case."
"Poor fellow, with not even a witness to identify her murderer."
"Is there really no witness?"
She can't take it anymore so she excused herself and proceed to go to market. After she had completed her groceries, she immediately return to her house with the thought of the crime still inside her mind.
"Poor fellow, with not even a witness to identify her murderer."
This conversation went round and round her head.
"I must tell the police what I saw," she said to herself. Then, after having moments of reconsideration and hesitation, she finally come to one final decision. She will write it. She will write a book about it instead.
So before her growing determination would cease, she grab her pen and rummage for some sheets of paper in the drawer. Hands slightly shaking with combined effort of will-power and anticipation for what she was about to write, she start writing the horrible events last night, pausing for some moments to review her words then resume writing again
Hours passed, the clock ticks endlessly til 12 noon, she was still hellbent on writing her story. When she finish her piece the sun is already setting down to the west. Her stomach groans and she suddenly remember that she had not eaten her lunch. Feeling famished, she quickly do a quick survey on her fridge for a quick and easy cooking dinner, she ended opening a can of sausage instead and a loaf of bread and some left-over cheese and coffee. She savored that dinner.
After eating her dinner, she picks up her bag and put her manuscript in an old worn envelope and went out to visit her friend who was kind enough to published her books for such lower costs.
On her way to her friends house, she passed the street where the premeditated murder had just happened the other night. She can still feel goosebumps on her skin when she remembers the black-clad figure dragging a dead body from among the trees. Unknown to her, a suspicious looking shadow is quietly stalking her and following her thru the town. He wore the same black garments and sock to hide his face. His wary eyes never leaving her form as she quickly walk and turn to the Wilmshire street where her friend lives.


Knock! Knock! She taps on the door looking nervously around, fearing for some unexpected attacker to turn up and assault her. She was growing nervous now and edgy, while holding the envelope tightly in her hands. It is as if her instincts are already alerting her of her stalkers pursuit.
Knock! Knock!
"Amy, it's me, open the door please!" she raps on the door again, wondering agitatedly what took her friend so long to open the door.
After a few distressing minutes of waiting, a sleepy Amy opens the door. "Oh, Mary, what brings you here at this untimely hour?It is so late at night?"she asks unable to suppress a yawn.
"I just came here to give this to you," she says while handing her the envelope.
Amy eyed it - slightly puzzled. "Is this so important that you have to come here all the way from your house?'You could give this to me tomorrow in my office if this is one of your manuscript. You know there are so many rats and pests here that might get the better of this manuscript of yours."
"Amy, that manuscript is so important and could not wait for tomorrow to be delivered to you."
Amy notice the urgency in her words and in her voice. "Mary, are you alright?"
"Yeah, why?" she said half convinced about her own reply.
"You look slightly edgy, is something bothering you?Come inside, I'll make you a tea, maybe it is not so late for some tea, I suppose?" she offered, worried now about her friends strange demeanor. She looks pale even from under the moonlight which tell her that she is not alright. Plus, her friend never turn up unexpectedly at her doorstep just to give her manuscripts and besides she knew of the pests inhabiting her house.
Mary accepted her friends offer and over a cup of tea, she recall to her friend what she had just witnessed the previous night, starting at the place where she first heard the scream to the growing conviction that she should have to tell the police what happened but ending in writing it instead.
"Are you sure you want me to publish this?" Amy ask indicating at the envelope lying on the table.
"Yes, you should. I labeled it as true story so everybody will know."
"But shouldn't you tell the police first?"
Mary sigh. "Alright, tomorrow I will go to police station and will give my statement."
"Good girl! You could ask for protection as being the star witness in the case."
Mary happen to glance at the wall clock above the TV set. It wad Already 10 o'clock and she could already feeling the stress and fatigue weighing down on her.
"I must go now. I have been taking up much of your time than I should have."
"It's alright my dear, glad to help you unburden your load somehow."
She wave goodbye to her friend and head to the streets.
my watched Mary disappear from around the block, she had a feeling that that was the last time she would ever see her friend again....

Mary keep glancing back and forth as she left her friends house. She had a nagging feeling that someone was following her from the moment she step out of her house and until she reach her friends house. She hope that her stalker would somehow get tired waiting for her to go out of Amy's house but she was mistaken. When she was out on the street, she could sense the presence again. So she increased her speed and upon reaching the Willow avenue, she started to run. The stalker followed in pursuit and a lot more faster than Mary.
Upon reaching the bushes where she had previously hid the other night before, she try to bury herself among its thick leaves but it was a useless attempt. The stalker already know her hiding place. Before Mary could even have the chance to see the stalker, she feel a searing pain across her back and upon her shoulder blade. This time it was her own screams that disturbs the night. The assaulter's knife landed on her everywhere. Blood already gushing from her her and back. Mary's sight grow dim and the blood soaked leaves are the last thing she see before finally collapsing on the ground.
The killer, the same one that kill the woman last night is the same killer that murders Mary. He had been keeping watch of her since last night, afraid she'll recognized him and identify him to the police. So he waited for her to come out and followed her to the town, patiently waiting for the chance to get rid of her before she could endanger him.
Morning comes and Mary's body is discovered among the bushes, the same spot where she tried desperately to hide. Her death is on the newspaper;, and Amy upon hearing the new,s could not help but cry. She could still remember her friends last words.
"And don't forget that manuscript Amy, that's so important.
So even though she's grieving her friends death, she immediately arranged the publishing of the book. And true to her friends words, her books become one of the top selling books ever written by her in town.
After a few weeks, the killer was caught and arrested and was convicted and sentenced to death penalty for committing double murder.