Tag Archives: shady city

Character Profile: Theresa Crusow

Name: Theresa Clifton nee Crusow

Occupation: Housewife

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK

Wife of reporter, SAM CRUSOW, Theresa had also been studying journalism at City College when she met her husband-to-be and their friend MADELINE LOWER. After the first year she left, deciding she didn’t want to pursue one of Coldford’s most dangerous professions. Instead, she stayed at home where the danger gathered around her, waiting on the call to tell her her husband had asked questions of the wrong person or knocked on the wrong door.

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From the Clifton family, Theresa had a luxurious life raised in Clifton Hall in Hollyburn. The Cliftons are slum landlords. Whilst their tenants live in dank conditions their fortified hall is a world away.

Theresa is more than just a reporter’s wife. She has secrets of her own. However, whilst Sam is Hell bent on chasing a story on the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB and how it connects to the disappearance of Mayor Feltz. Whilst his focus is stolen he fails to see what is happening closer to home.

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Theresa is high maintenance, a little self absorbed and easily swayed by con men and vagabonds. You could say she is easy prey in the Shady City and whilst her husband’s attention is drawn elsewhere the vultures will circle.


Enjoy this?

Theresa’s dirty little secrets are being aired by the Knock Knock Club.

Complete season 1 of the Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read HERE.

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The Best Bite: Bobby’s Lunch Box

Location: City Main 

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK ; PURPLE RIBBON ; ERROR 65 ; THE BOSS

An afternoon hub for reporters in the Shady City. It’s were journalists for the large publications such as the COLDFORD DAILY and the Coldford Express come for their coffee, lunch and more often than not interviews with potential informants.

It is a well known den for reporters and it’s busy City Main location is perfect for being so bustling it allows interviews and information to be shared without attracting much attention. Sitting behind the COLDFORD CITY stadium, when the football crowds start to pour through it makes an even better place to go on the record.

Owned and operated by Bobby Diorra, the unassuming man has managed to remain a quiet presence in Main for many years.

Bobby himself is a close friend of our reporter, SAM. He has watched on from Sam’s first days at the Daily to his current expose on the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB. He is very familiar with other reporters like MADELINE too having saw them really bite for that all important story.


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Lofty Heights: Beckingridge Tower

Location: City Main; Business district.

Features in: MAESTRO ; KNOCK KNOCK ; HARBOUR HOUSE ; ERROR 65

The tallest tower in City Main. The BECKINGRIDGE tower (sometimes referred to as Beck Tower) is the tallest building in Coldford. It is home of the BECKINGRIDGE financial firm. The office in the penthouse suite is the working home of CEO ERNEST.

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Ernest Beckingridge has a lot on his shoulders.


It has the financial hub of the city and how can a city function without cold hard cash? It puts a lot of responsibility on their shoulders of the CEO but it has been his family industry for generations so what other choice does he have?

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It’s easy to get lost in the numbers at Beck Tower.


It has withstood a lot of attacks over the years as an empire. It has waded through recession, embezzlement and through the family’s personal problems but when the FREEFALL benefit is held at the tower and party guests start to leap inexplicably from the roof it may be the final nail in the financial giant’s coffin.

It’s a long fall from the top!

Ernest doesn’t have what it takes to hold a place like the BECKINGRIDGE Tower so its up to his dragon of a sister or his psychopathic son. Quite the embarrassment of riches to choose from there Ernie!

#amreading a blog by @VivikaWidow


Ernest’s son and heir, George has been a complete handful lately and his mother is no longer around to help control him. In the hopes of giving him something more positive to focus on they bring in music tutor, Vincent.

After the events of MAESTRO someone is needing some rehabilitation. Welcome to Harbour House.

“Rat boy!”

REGGIE pulled open the box excitedly. The triplets were growing fast but he was still holding onto the excitement of their birthday morning. The triplets were always given their gifts in order of age. First was MARCUS. That year he had been given a painting by an artist named Favon. He (or perhaps she) hailed from the country of Luen. Not much else was known about them. Marcus had taken an immediate shine to the work when the agents brought it into the AUCTION HOUSE. Seeing the joy in his son’s face the father – Reginald – had acquired it for himself, compensating the agents and the artist handsomely.

Marcus was already making plans for the appropriate place to hang the piece – which showed a sun lit scape with an ominous fleet of boats approaching a peer – when SIMON – the second born triplet – was given his gift. He was delighted with a set of boxing gloves along with a new punch bag. He had a lot of energy and it helped him to focus on sports.

Finally came the baby of the group. As Reggie opened the box a black nose with long whiskers peeked out. Reggie laughed with joy and pulled a fully grown, black rat out by the scruff of it’s neck.

“Oh,” the boys’ mother, Rita cried in dismay.

“Isn’t he cute mother?” Reggie asked.

Rita could feel her skin crawl as Reggie inspected the rodent.

“I’m sure he is. Do keep him away from me though, baby.”

Still holding it by the scruff of the neck Reggie looked into it’s beetle black eyes with a smile. It’s nose twitched at him. He turned to Marcus sat on the floor by the fire just to the left of him.

“What do you think?” He asked, seeking his brother’s approval. He dropped the rat into his lap.

Marcus lifted the creature into his hands and examined it. He adjusted his spectacles on his nose to assure he was getting the best view possible. His lip curled.

“Rodents carry disease you know,” he said. He passed the rat back to Reggie.

As Reggie caught it the rat squeaked. He turned to Simon. He lifted the rat so it was facing his brother, squeezing it’s body so that it squeaked at him. “What do you think, Si?”

“You’re a freak,” was Simon’s reply. He gave a sardonic a smile.

“I’m going to plant him in your bed so he can crawl up your arse,” Reggie teased.

“Watch your language,” the father warned .

“So what are you going to call it?” Simon asked as he slipped from the wine coloured arm chair onto the floor beside his brothers so he could get a closer look.

Reggie shook his head. “You don’t give them names. You grow too attached them. You can’t get too attached when you want to experiment.”

Reginald and Rita watched the triplets.

“A rat? You brought him a rat?” She asked her husband.

Reginald shrugged his shoulders. His mind was still occupied with work and the party that the triplets would be having at the auction house later that night. More gifts and well wishes from the auction house staff and benefactors.

“It’s what he asked for,” he reminded her.

She shivered, watching Reggie let the rat crawl along his arm from his hand to his shoulder, it’s worm like tail wrapping around him.

***

ALBANS school was an exclusive, privately taught facility in the city was where the triplets attended. Competing with the other private schools in Coldford it was a breeding ground for success. It had taught the Penn family for generations.

The school provided boarding facilities which Rita would never have the triplets use. They were dropped off each morning if not by their parents then by a driver. Marcus was the always one to lead them inside.

The boys and girls were taught in separate areas. It wasn’t until recess time they could mix in the central courtyard. That morning, Jill Danver saw Reggie stood by himself. His black back pack was hanging over one shoulder, his attention focused on a hand held electronic video game called Yeager Falls that was popular at the time. It wasn’t often he was far from his brothers so she seized the opportunity and approached him.

“Happy birthday,” she said.

It was now the day after his birthday but the sentiment was appreciated all the same. He switched off the game and looked up at her. She was a skinny thing, a couple of years older than him. She had long brown hair which hung in straw like strands. Her teeth seemed too large for her mouth and her nose a little too small for her face. She had something of a rodent like quality Reggie noted. She lifted the grey pleated skirt of the Albans uniform, flashing lacy pink panties underneath.

“Want a little birthday present?” She teased suggestively.

Reggie raised his eyebrows. He had read how rats, attached to electrodes that stimulated an orgasm, would continuously push the button. They would forget their young, forget food and water, they would forget all else until they died. Humans weren’t much different, Reggie surmised as she took his arm and started to tug him towards the gym hall, a square grey building that stood alone from the rest of the school. It was known as the place to go for amorous students.

Reggie pulled back. “Wait,” he said. “There’s something I want to show you first.”

“Really?” She was intrigued. She had already seen Reggie’s penis. It was a little crooked from what she could tell but she didn’t have many others to compare it too.

Reggie swung his back pack gingerly round to his front. It was open slightly. He pulled open the zip and reached inside. When he pulled out the black rat she cried out.

“Don’t you like him?” Reggie mocked. “At least I think it’s a him,” he said turning the rat over and inspecting its genitals.

Jill gasped. “That’s disgusting. You shouldn’t have that here. You are disgusting!” She was starting to become hysterical as Reggie held it out to her. “You’ll have that damn thing taken off you. You are such a creep.”

Reggie grinned. “If you say anything to anyone I’m going to give you the plague.”

She tried to smack the rat from his hand. Reggie lunged forward. She felt rat’s tiny claws on her legs. She shrieked again. Her terror caused the rat some anxiety so it did the only thing it could do and sunk it’s teeth into her thigh. Now Jill’s cries became that of pain. She managed to pull away and shoved Reggie as she ran off to the girls’ bathroom.

Reggie learned that day that a rat’s sharp incisors could tear human flesh quite easily.

#amreading a #thriller by @VivikaWidow


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Character Profile: Madeline Lower

Character Profile: Madeline Lower

Occupation: Reporter

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK

A feisty reporter who knows how to navigate what is essentially a boys club in the offices of the COLDFORD DAILY. She is close friends with our KNOCK KNOCK narrator SAM CRUSOW. She studied journalism with him, along with his future wife Theresa. She was one of the first to warn Sam to tread carefully as he investigated the Knock Knock Club.

Madeline isn’t afraid of confrontation. Even someone as intimidating as the BOSS LADY won’t have Maddy shake in her boots. Whilst we follow her colleague on his story of the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB one might wonder, what stories does our Madeline have to tell? Whatever they are we can be rest assured she will be getting into the thick of the action.

In EPISODE 10 Sam and Madeline had a difficult decision to make. Madeline is willing to make that tough choice but is Sam?


ENJOY THIS? The entire Knock Knock series is free to read HERE!

Take the Edge Off: The Mack Distillery

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK ; HARBOUR HOUSE ; WHISKEY WARS

Located in the Shanties area of the Shady City the Mack Distillery is a huge feature of the unique look of the south. Employing thousands from the poorest areas the Mack and Sons brand stands for working class values and treats its hard working factory operators like family.

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It  is overlooked by PADDY MACK, the second generation of Macks to run the distillery in the Shady City. It began it’s life as a small factory in BELLFIELD, to the west of Coldford, but their uniquely bottled whiskey became such a sensation the brand quickly grew and flourished. They supply large super market chains headed by the HARVESTER brand but their main claim to some infamy is their supply to the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB. They lost some of their team during an attack on the club back when it was in the hands of the old Baroness. The Mack boys tend to bury their grudges and bury them deep.

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Having been caught up in a dispute between Bellfield and the neighbouring area of Northside in what became known as the Whiskey Wars, the future of the distillery is uncertain. What will always stand though, is the Mack willingness to fight for the sake of their people.


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Jamestown Rovers: We are the Clubby

Stadium: Douglas Park

Sponsors: Crusow Autos

Priding themselves on a small community spirit, Jamestown will never forget their roots. They may often find themselves fighting relegation at the bottom of the NPL but they don’t let that dissuade them. Fans of Jamestown are not in it for the glory of trophies. They generally believe in the local struggles and supporting one another no matter how difficult it gets.

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A small suburb of Coldford, Jamestown manage to keep themselves free from the drama of the big city until they are brought into the thick of the action against a rivalling, richer team like Coldford City or even Athletic.

Our Shady City Thriller’s most notable fan of Jamestown is our reporter, Sam Crusow. His father’s garage sponsors the team and it is where Sam learned the importance of people coming together. Going to the games as a boy is one of Sam’s fondest memories and it was over this mutual love of the sport that he and his father Samuel (or Sam Snr) bonded most.

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Unfortunately as the big city threatens to swallow up their little suburb they can’t hide forever. It will be up to the likes of Sam to expose the truth for the good of the people and even the villains of Coldford are no match for such an strong spirit.

See Sam in action as a reporter in the hit Knock Knock graphic novel series.

Volume 1 is free to read here at Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clicking HERE.

KNOCK, KNOCK: Episode 1: Welcome to the Club

Knock, Knock: Episode 2: Don’t Come Knockin’

Knock, Knock: Episode 3: Sleep Tight Sam

Knock, Knock: Episode 4: Take A Bow

Knock, Knock: Episode 5: A Room With A View

Knock, Knock: Episode 6: Picking Up Strange Women

Knock, Knock: Episode 7: No Kids Allowed

Knock, Knock: Episode 8: Kids These Days

Knock, Knock: Episode 9: Shootin’ The Breeze

Knock, Knock: Episode 10: Calling Last Orders

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