This was a quiet night, maybe to quiet, not even the crickets where chirping outside.  Maria wondered as she made her evening tea, she who just decided that the city became too much for her and moved to a remote house in the country.  She who lived in a big complex in Manhattan, the island that never sleeps and the noise that was always there.  Her job, being a high powered attorney, cases of criminals that she had to get off even though they were guilty, and were violent and dangerous.  Those who she had to get back on the street, her conscience burning at her, all of a sudden her job becoming tiresome, giving it all up like that.  She being only 42, enough money to last her a while deciding to take this adventure.

Maria decides to open some windows for fresh air, then popping in a cassette in the recorder, she settles in her chair with her tea, there's a knock at the door.  A chill in the air, she seems to not want to answer it, thinking who would be knocking this late in the evening on a weekend when she was out this far.  She went to answer the door and they start banging.  She yells from across the room, who is it?  It's the sheriff, are u okay?  Maria answered, yes I'm okay.  Please tell me why your here?  Please let me in, the Sheriff said, I will explain. Hesitating, Maria goes to the door.  Can you put your identification up to the window please as she runs to close it. A thought came to Maria, now I can see who this person is and his face.  The sheriff goes to the window and puts his identification up to the window.  Maria feeling relieved opens the door. 

What seems to be the problem officer Gibbons? Maria says. 

So sorry to bother you this late Ms, but there seems to have been a murder down the road from you.  We are checking each house for the man who may have committed the crime.

Oh Maria said, all of a sudden thinking that maybe Manhattan would of been a safer place to live after all.

What would you think I should do, I am out here alone?

Just keep all your doors locked Ms and it was good you asked who it was before you opened the door.  Also keep your windows and shades closed.  Until we catch this guy I would prefer that you not stay alone. The sheriff noticing how very beautiful Maria was and him being single and not having many opportunities being a country sheriff didn't want someone he might date to get hurt. Thinking to himself, okay Gibbons keep your mind on the job.  I will check back in on you in a little bit and see how you're doing.  Say in about 3 hours after I've gone down to all the houses.

After opening the door letting the sheriff out noticing what a very good looking, handsome man he was, said thank you so much for informing me and I will do as you say. Please do come back and check on me, I am alone here and will probably now be thinking I shouldn't be. 

After locking the door and checking the windows, Maria settled back in her chair and began drinking her tea.  Once again thinking of the sheriff and really hoping he does come back, a shiver down her spine that there could be a criminal out there and herself being alone.  She laid her head back on the chair and the music being so soothing started to fall asleep.  A couple of hours have passed now and a knock on the door startled her.  Getting excited thinking, this must be the sheriff returning.  This time checking herself in the mirror before she answered the door, she asked once again, who is it?

I'm a deputy the voice from behind the door said.  May I come in please? 

Maria feeling sure enough that this might be a deputy, went to open the door.  To her surprise it was another very good looking young man, this time much younger then the sheriff. 

Maria asking the deputy, did the sheriff send you back to check on me?

NO HE DIDN'T, pushing open the door, and pushing Maria back onto the floor.

Maria scared, who are you she yells?

You know who I am. I've been looking for you Ms. Manetas.  Look closely at my face, real close. You must remember me, I was your worst nightmare.

Maria thinking that she does not remember this man, asked nicely, please tell me who you are.

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The man getting frustrated says, I am... John Gibson, does the name ring a bell at all.

Maria not remembering right away asked, how do I know you Mr. Gibson please tell me. 

I should just smack you right now for not remembering me. How dare you forget me.  I loved you and wanted you to be my wife, but all you did was snub me,

ignore me, instead of see how much I wanted you.  I had to change my looks in order to follow you around.  When I found out you brought a place upstate here, I knew it would be the perfect place for me to make my move.  Now do you remember me. I'm the boy you were cruel to when we were growing up.

Maria still did not know this man.  She was very popular when she was growing up.  The boys would always pay attention to her, and she had asked her mom one day why this was so, and her mom told her, her beauty was with no bounds. But to be careful not to let anyone abuse her or take advantage.  Be kind to those who you meet and always love your friends.

Maria was getting worried now, not remembering this man, please she said to the man, let me go, I do not know you.

Mr. Gibson raises his hand to Maria and smacks her right across the face, you bitch he yells, of course you don't remember me, you stuck up hoer.  How would you, you never realized by my attention for you that I wanted you. Always being with those friends of yours who were cruel to me.  Laughing at my appearance, not knowing that I had an illness.  That I couldn't help with the way I looked. That anything I did growing up didn't seem to help.

Do you remember me now bitch, do you remember be looking at you from across the halls at school, asking you for a pencil when I didn't even need one.  Asking if you would like to sit together at lunch. When I wanted a study partner and you would always say sorry I already had one, when you didn't.  Remember me yet or do I have to smack it out of your memory. 

Maria laid shivering on the floor, please stop, please don't hurt me anymore, she cried when all of a sudden there's a knock at the door.

Mr. Gibson said, you scream one time and I will kill you.

Silence grew in that house and the person at the door knocked again.  Then again, someone calling out, is anyone in there.

Please answer me if you're in there, Maria not recognizing the voice laid shivering not knowing what to do.

Suddenly there was silence outside and John went to look at the window to make sure that person left when suddenly there was a very loud noise and Maria looked up to see what it was and she saw.........John being pulled out the window..
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It was the sheriff, he spotted a car by Maria's house and decided to investigate.  He did not want to arouse suspicion, he sent one of his men to knock on the door, when there was no answer, he decided to look through the window.  Just as John decided to look through the window, the sheriff, acting very quickly, grabbed John and pulled him outside.  Holding him down on the floor, he instructs one of his men to handcuff him for questioning.
Maria still frightened couldn't move, still not realizing what was happening.  Again a knock on the door, it was the sheriff, he yells, Maria left me in. It's Sheriff Gibbons. Maria got up from the floor and ran to the door, letting the Sheriff in. Grabbing hold of him and saying thank you, thank you so much for coming back. I was so scared for my life. I do not know this man and he said he knew me.  He wanted to hurt me.
Your safe now, the sheriff assured her, please don't be frightened anymore.  He holds her making her feel better, and she couldn't help thinking to herself, wow he's awesome. Bringing her mind back to the situation she asks the sheriff, can you stay for a while please.  Thinking about it for a second the sheriff said yes for a little bit. I will have my men bring in the prisoner and get him booked. They will not need me until it's time to question him.  Did he tell you his name?  Yes he did, it's John Gibson, said I went to school with him.  I don't remember him at all.  I will be right back, just going to tell my officers his name and get him on his way to jail. I'll be right back, please make yourself some tea and try to relax till I return.
Suddenly there was a loud noise outside, the sheriff tell Maria to get down on the floor, looking through the window noticed that the prisoner had grabbed a gun from one of the officers holsters. He was shooting from behind a car.  The other officers were crowded around there cars, trying not to get hit by the flying bullets.  The sheriff acting fast, contacts his officers from the radio and asked them what the hell happened. How did the prisoner get a gun, who is going to be fired after this, in a very angry voice, he also asked, is the prisoner still handcuffed at least. 
The officer hesitant to answer, said no, he also stole the key.
The sheriff thinking how they should proceed at this point, says to Maria, go in your bedroom and go under your bed, lock the door behind you, this should keep you safe until I get in contact with you. Please do not come out until you hear my voice.  Maria agreed and crawled to the bedroom and locked herself in.
John not knowing what to do looks at the house to see if any of the windows are open.  Lucky for him and Maria and the sheriff not realizing it was,  see's the bedroom window open.  Thinking he can make a run for it looks where the other officers are.  He blindly shoots and throws himself into the window.  The officers return fire, but seeing the direction of the bullets the sheriff yells out to them, cease fire, cease fire.
John making it to the window shuts the window down and closes the curtains, goes to lock the door which he see's is already locked from the inside.  Wondering why this is so, he looks around the room and see's a shadow under the bed. Cautiously he bends down to look and see's its Maria, lucky day for him indeed. He orders her out from under the bed.  Bitch get out from there before I shoot you right now.  Maria scared does as he says. John yelling out, now I have what I came for.
The sheriff hearing this, radio's outside, and tells his men to surround the house. John is hysterical laughing now, saying to Maria, so you thought you could get rid of me, these hick cops are so stupid, how easy it was for me to grab the gun, how easy it was for me to enter this room.  You stupid bitch, leaving the window open, and raising the gun to her head he

was about to shoot and get his satisfaction when he heard a noise outside.

Carefully looking through the window he sees an officer hiding behind one of the cars. What a hick, can't even hide correctly he chuckles to himself.  You hick cop, he yells, you better not come in here or the girl gets a head full of holes.  I was just gonna do it but you interrupted me you idiot. Now don't bother me by making noise and don't think about coming in here.  Actually I want you away from that car or I will show you I mean business and shoot her right in front of you.  Grabbing Maria he puts the gun to her head at the window.  The sheriff hearing this tells the officer to move away from the car, scared that this guy might be crazy enough not caring about anything but himself.  

Maria scared elbows John in the ribs and runs for the door.  Trying to open it and remembering that its locked, fumbles with the lock and finds a gun to her head again.  

What do you think your doing bitch, I should shoot you right now, but your a lucky bitch, I need you to escape. Your also lucky you didn't hurt me, stupid bitch he yells and throws her to the floor.

Looking around the room, John tries to see if there is anyway to escape. Seeing another window he goes and looks out, lifting Maria from the floor, he starts dragging Maria by the hair with him, making her a shield.

Seeing another cop at the window he yells out, get away from here NOW.  Maria seeing the cop, says please, please he will hurt me. John not stopping Maria from talking, thinks to himself this is good.  Keep talking bitch, tell them I will shoot you and kill you on the spot.

Maria falling to her knees, starts to cry, all of a sudden a shot rangs out. John is hit in the belly, he shoots back, then closes the curtains. 

Grabbing Maria off the floor, and in pain, he tells her to go in the bathroom and get towels.  She does as he says and gets the towels and a basin of water, but notices theres a window in the bathroom, opening the lock quietly, she starts to open the window when another shot rangs out.  Maria falls to the floor, scared, wondering who has been shot.  This is when she notices.