New Release - Heartless Intent

Chapter One - Excerpt

A gust of wind ruffled the leaves, carrying with it the scent of death, abandoned dreams, and a flock of crows. Monday mornings were always bad, but standing on the edge of the riverbank, with a storm brewing overhead, made it worse.

“Dang, Kacy, it hurts me just to look at that.” Detective Dave Capello ran a hand through his hair and turned away from the naked bodies dangling from the lower limb of a huge oak tree and swaying in the morning breeze drifting in from the Chicago River. “Why do we keep winding up with all the sicko perps out there?”

“Nature of the job, partner.” I studied the ground around the tree. “Ladder indentations. Whoever hung them wasn’t tall enough to just throw the ropes over the tree limb. Copious amounts of bleach poured over the bodies, ropes and around the area. Either the perpetrator wasn’t taking any chances on leaving anything that would identify him behind, or he was trying to keep animals away until the bodies were found.” I stepped aside just in time to miss bird droppings. “Not that it helped much with the birds.”

“May be the nature of the job, but you’d think just once, Park would give the crazy cases to Sims and Gardner,” Dave grumbled as he pulled out his notepad and pen. “Male and female victim, approximately late thirties or early forties, although with their heads covered, I could be wrong about that. Access to site most likely by boat.” He stepped closer to the bodies. “Bruising around necks, and from the holes in their chests, I’d estimate their hearts have been removed.” He grimaced. “Along with another vital part of the male anatomy. Not enough blood here to be the murder site.” He shook his head and jotted a few notes. “Probably bled out before they got here. Your turn.”

“Hanging is usually associated with justice, revenge, and shaming. The fact the killer left them nude and covered their faces also points toward shaming.” I studied the bodies and sighed. My stomach was flip-flopping, and icy fingers trickled down the back of my neck and spine. “The heart removal makes it highly personal, as does the removal of the vital penis and testicles you’re avoiding mentioning.”

Dave groaned and turned away from the scene as I continued. “It could be that whoever did this wanted the world to see their shame and consider them heartless.” I grinned at Dave. “As well as wanting the world to know the guy was dickless.”

“Jesus, Lang.”

I turned toward the sound of boat motors. Commander Park did have a knack for giving us all the cases involving the crazies. “We’ll have to wait on Myriah for cause of death and identification.”

Dave came to stand beside me on the bank as we waited for the boats to dock. “You heard from Greg?”

“No.” I didn’t elaborate, hoping Dave would take the hint. I didn’t want to discuss my failing relationship any more than he wanted to discuss the male victim’s castration.

The first boat docked, and three officers joined us on the riverbank. I was glad to see Officer John Tedrow in charge. He was a good officer and easy to work with. “We’ll split up and comb the area. We’re looking for clothes, wallets, purses, shoes, or personal items, as well as”—I pointed to the victims—“missing hearts and private parts.”

“Damn.” Officer Tedrow, like Dave and his fellow officers, avoided looking directly at the male victim. “How long do you think they’ve been out here?”

“Not long. A couple of fishermen spotted them at five this morning. Probably late last night.” A clue, although a useless one. The killer had placed the bodies in an area with high early-morning boat traffic, wanting them to be discovered quickly.

“Lots of coyotes around here, along with a few bobcats. If the body parts were here, they may not be now.” Tedrow issued orders to the other two officers as the second boat docked. “We’ll start out covering a quarter mile in each direction.” He nodded toward the dark clouds gathering overhead as the wind picked up. “I doubt we’ll have time for much more than that before the storm hits.”

“Thanks, John. We’ll join you after we’ve had a word with Myriah. I’d rather we were all back on high ground before it gets vicious.”

Myriah suited up, smiled, and walked our way. “You know they’re beginning to call you the gruesome twosome, don’t you?”

“I’m sure we’ve been called worse. Besides, it’s not our fault if Park always gives us the weirdoes.” I returned her smile. “Dave is having a bit of trouble with this one.”

Myriah surveyed the bodies as the photographer took pictures. She waved her crew forward and chuckled. “I can see why it might bother him. We’d best cut them down, bag them up, and move them before the rain hits. There’s no way we could set a tent up out here. With the lack of any serious blood spill beneath them, this definitely isn’t the murder site.”

“Dave and I came to the same conclusion. We’re going to have a quick look around, then check out the boat docks to see if anyone rented a boat yesterday afternoon and didn’t return it last night. Let us know as soon as you have an ID.”

Myriah nodded, turning her attention to the task at hand.

I placed my hands on my hips, studying the directions Tedrow and the other officers had taken. The area was hilly and forested. Unless the killer had a reason to want us to discover the missing body parts, they were most likely at the bottom of the river. “What do you think, Dave?”

“I think we’re wasting our time here. Would have taken him a while to get the bodies in place, pour the Clorox over them, then clean up his mess. If he didn’t leave so much as an empty bottle behind, I doubt we’re going to find anything.”

“Kacy, you’d better take a look at this.” Myriah had removed the covering over the man’s head. “And I’ve got an ID for you.”

The word pedophile had been carved in the man’s forehead. That could explain the missing penis.

“Who is he?”

“Thomas Wilcott. Senator Wilcott’s son.” She knelt beside the woman’s body and removed the cloth. “Damn, I was hoping I was wrong. It’s his wife, Trina Wilcott.”

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The phrase echoed inside my head as I stared at the woman’s mutilated face and head. “Do they have children?”

Myriah nodded. “Two. A fourteen-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy.”

“Put the covers back on, Myriah, and don’t allow any more pictures until you’re back at the morgue. If this leaks out, we’ll all be in hot water.” I glanced at Dave. “We’d better give Park a heads-up. There’s going to be more than one storm brewing before the day is over.”

Book 4 in the Detective Kacy Lang series. Can be read as a standalone.  Grab your copy now!  Amazon

Entire series available on Kindle Unlimited.

New Release and $.99 sale!

Now available at Amazon for the introductory price of $.99, and free with Kindle Unlimited.



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A serial killer thriller with a touch of Choctaw Lore.  Just $.99 for two days.


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A different PI book. Investigative reporter, Andi Carter and her amusing sidekick, Shamus O'Conner, are out to save a young girl, but is she a victim, or a serial killer?  Just $.99 for two days.

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Ah, this one brings back memories. The first book I ever published, originally published by Echelon Press in 2006.  Just $.99 for two days.

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If you love mysteries and thrillers with a touch of paranormal, similar to Kay Hooper's novels (by the way I love Kay Hooper and have most of her novels), then I think you'll enjoy this one.  Just $.99

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Enjoy the discounts and Happy Reading!

Everything A Detective Novel Should Be! Read Chapter One.

Everything a detective novel should be--gripping, clever, and filled with deep characters.

Detective Kacy Lang wasn't surprised when the body of her twin brother washed up from the icy depths of the Chicago River.  She'd known since the day she graduated from the academy that one day he'd wind up on her beat, and she'd have to arrest him... or kill him.  She could accept the fact he'd been murdered. What she couldn't accept was the massive torture he'd endured before his death.  Someone would pay for that.

A multilayered, fast-paced archaeological dig of a mystery.

Now Available for pre-order: Amazon

CHAPTER ONE

“Jesus, Kacy, it’ll be a bugger identifying this one.”

Under normal circumstances, my partner, Dave Capello, would have had a point. The body had washed up from the icy depths of the Chicago River near the fork of Eleanor and Loomis, and the call had come in minutes before quitting time. Dave had wanted to ignore it. For once, I wished I’d listened to him. A blowtorch had been used on the face, and all the fingers were missing. The angles of the arms and legs told me bones had been broken.

I didn’t need the ME to tell me the identity. Nor did I need to see the small skull tattoo above his left ankle to verify it. Kyle and I had never shared the twin bond in life, but as I stared down at his tortured and mutilated body, I realized a part of me was missing. I’d never considered it a vital part—until now.

Police officers, firemen, and two other detectives from Cook County had responded to the call. Dave and I weren’t needed, and I had a lot to do before the commander took me off the case. “Let’s go, Dave.”

“What do you mean? We just got here.”

I strode toward the Ford sedan parked at the edge of the street, with Dave huffing to keep up. “We’re off the case. The victim’s name is Kyle Lang. He’s my twin brother.”

“Jesus.”

Dave said that a lot, and at times, I wondered if it was a habit or a prayer for insight on bad cases. Perhaps he simply found it preferable to the trash that often came out of my mouth. Solving this case wouldn’t take a lot of insight. Kyle had been working with Chicago’s drug dealers, thieves, and murderers for over ten years. We’d both known since the day I graduated from the academy that one day, he would wind up on my beat, and I would have to arrest him, shoot him, or bury him. I took comfort from the fact it was the latter. Arresting him would have been hard and shooting him even harder.

“I’ll drive.” Dave took the keys I was absently tossing from hand to hand as I stared at the huge snowflakes falling. In a few hours, the roads would be covered, and careless motorists would be slamming into each other. With Christmas three weeks away, the rush to find the perfect present for loved ones had become more important than life itself.

I studied the surrounding area, my thoughts turning back to Kyle. What was he doing here? Did he live here? I tossed aside the idea.

Many of the residents were of Asian descent, living in the small studio apartments and single-family homes that lined the streets. Even the historic homes built before 1939 had been converted into two-bedroom and three-bedroom rental units. The neighborhood was fairly expensive compared to other real estate and was inhabited by those who liked to walk. Kyle had never been a walker.

“How long have we been partners?” Dave interrupted my thoughts, started the car, and turned up the heat.

“Five years.”

“How come I didn’t know you had a twin brother?”

A tinge of hurt echoed in his voice. Dave believed I was an orphan with no family in or near Chicago. For the last five years, he’d invited me to dinners and summer barbeques with him, Martha and the girls. He’d taken it upon himself to act as both my partner and big brother. He’d even set me up with a few of his friends on disastrous first and only dates. He deserved a truthful answer.

“When I entered the academy, Kyle was getting a taste of thug life. The last I heard from him, he was running with high-class drug dealers. I didn’t tell you because someday you might have had to kill him, and if you knew he was my brother, you’d hesitate.”

“How about your parents? Are they still alive?”

“Yes.”

Dave wouldn’t let me off that easy. My parents were impossible to explain. Some things in life had to be seen to be believed.

“You know the commander will turn this case over to Sims and Gardner.” Dave headed toward town. “They couldn’t find their own shadows on a sunny day. What say we check out your brother’s place? See if we can find any clues pointing to where he was killed and why?”

Good partners anticipated each other’s next move. That Kyle had been murdered wasn’t a huge surprise. The torture they’d put him through before cutting his throat pissed me off. Someone would answer for that. Officially, I couldn’t investigate the case. Unofficially, I wouldn’t stop until I found the bastards responsible. “I don’t know where he was living, but I know someone who might.”

“Which way?”

“West Englewood. Take a right after you cross the railroad tracks.”

Dave’s hands tightened on the wheel. It wasn’t dark yet, but it would be close by the time we got there. The neighborhood we were about to enter was known for violence, gang warfare, poverty, and despair. Fortunately for us, the real fun didn’t begin until after midnight. I figured if anyone knew where Kyle had been living or what he’d been up to, his childhood friend Simon “Mouse” Wilson would.

The car bounced over the railroad tracks, and Dave took a right. “Which house?”

“Last one on the left.” I jerked my Glock from the shoulder holster and clicked off the safety. “Looks like company is headed his way.”

“And they ain’t carrying a cake.” Dave pressed down on the gas and flipped on the lights and sirens.

The two men who had climbed out of the black Lexus made a beeline for the car doors, and the vehicle screeched off.

“I hoped that would work, but in this neighborhood, you never know.”

“Smart thinking.” I kept my eyes on the back of the house. As I’d suspected, Mouse had been watching and made a run for it. “Dumb shit,” I cursed softly as I leapt from the car before Dave brought it to a full stop. “Stop right there, Mouse, or I swear I’ll put a bullet in your ass.”

He dropped a small suitcase and raised his hands above his head. “Kacy?” He turned slowly, squinting. “Kacy Lang, is that you?”

I motioned to the car. “Grab your suitcase and get in.”

Mouse took a quick look over his shoulder in the direction the Lexus had taken, grabbed his case, and scurried to the car. “I can’t go to jail, Kacy. They have people there. You put me in jail, and I’ll be dead in less than an hour.”

I opened the back door and waited until Simon slid across the seat, then climbed in beside him. “We’re not taking you to jail. I want to know where Kyle was living and what he was up to.”

Mouse swallowed hard and peered out the back windshield.

Dave did a U-turn and headed out of the neighborhood. The element of surprise had scared off the hoodlums, but they would be back, armed with serious firepower.

“Who were those guys?” Dave asked.

Simon’s nose twitched—one of the reasons he’d earned the name Mouse in grade school. His tiny four-foot-two-inch frame and ratty brown hair that no amount of gel kept in place finished the picture. Kyle had taken him under his wing and protected him from most of the bullying. I’d always been proud of Kyle for that—until the drugs. I shook off the memories and turned my attention back to Simon.

“Dave asked you a question, Mouse.” I poked him in the side with the Glock. “Answer it.”

“I don’t know. Goons. They’re looking for Kyle, but I swear I don’t know where he is.” His eyes were tiny pinpoints in the dusky light. His voice was a whine that was already grating on my nerves. “You gotta believe me, Kacy.”

I shook my head. “They’re not looking for Kyle, because they’ve already found him. His body washed up in the river about an hour ago.”

The information sent Simon into a frenzy of panic. “Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.” He sank down in the seat, a small dribble of saliva rolling down his chin. Worse than that, he pissed all over our car.

“It’s a little late for either you or Kyle to be calling on God. Where was he staying? And what are those guys looking for?”

“Kyle wouldn’t tell me. He said it was something big. I don’t know his address, but I can take you there. It’s on Fremont. He was crashing with a hooker.” Simon was talking fast, squeaking out his words. He grabbed my arm. “I do this for you, you gotta protect me.”

I shook off the hand, tempted to shoot him, as a whiff of ammonia filled the car. I met Dave’s gaze in the rearview mirror and nodded.

My hopes of finding the hooker alive or anything of value at Kyle’s residence faded a half block from Fremont. The car radio squawked out, requesting assistance at 107 Fremont, where the body of a woman had been found in an apartment building.

“You want to respond?” Dave asked.

“We’re off duty.”

“They’re moving fast, Kacy. What do you want to do?”

Bury my head in the sand and let everybody that walks by kick my ass. “Where were you headed, Simon?”

He shrugged, slinking lower in the seat. “I was gonna find you. Let you know Kyle was in trouble.”

I poked him with the Glock again. “Do you have a place to go, Simon?”

He shook his head and whimpered. I wanted to tell Dave to pull to the side of the road, kick him out, and let him fend for himself. I wanted to… but knew in my heart, I couldn’t live with myself if I did. “You still have a key for that safe house on Trent, Dave?”

“Yeah. Was getting ready to turn it over. They’ll ask for it tomorrow or the next day, at the latest. He should be okay at least for tonight. Give us time to figure something else out.”

I punched Simon on the arm—hard. “You’ve got twenty-four hours to think of a place to go. After that, you’re on your own.”

“You gotta get me some money. Can’t go nowhere without money. You owe me that.”

Rage flowed through my blood, hot and volatile. “I don’t owe you a damn thing, Simon. If I’d let Kyle be killed the last time he got in trouble, he wouldn’t have been tortured for hours before they finally slit his throat.”

Dave turned in to the driveway of a small frame house and drove the car around to the rear. “I’ll unlock the door.” He leveled a glare at Simon. “I’m not giving you the key. If you’re smart, you’ll stay inside and keep the noise down. Anybody finds you here, we don’t know you.” He opened the back door. “Get out.”

Simon sent me a pleading look before exiting.

Pity was the only emotion I could drum up for him as he scampered after Dave. “I’ll check on you in the morning.”

Simon didn’t answer, and I stepped out of the car to wait for Dave, breathing in the cold night air. It felt good against my face, cooling off my rage.

“Did you call that guy Mouse?” Dave walked up to stand beside me.

“Yeah.” I opened the passenger door, climbed in, and fastened my seat belt. “Appropriate, don’t you think?”

He slammed my door and headed for the driver’s side. He was still muttering as he climbed in. “Little bastard pissed in my car. I ought to go back in there and wring his neck.” He rolled down his window, finding the freezing wind preferable to the stench of urine. “Where to?”

As much as I hated the idea, my parents had to be told. Sims and Gardner might be jokes, but the ME was the best in the state, and she would have an identity soon. Kyle’s DNA was in the system. “Drop me off at my house. You need to head in and let the commander know what’s going on. He’ll be pissed that we didn’t call it in immediately.” I gave him a sheepish grin and lifted one shoulder. “You can tell him you had to console me.”

Dave chuckled. “Be a cold day when he buys that crap.”

I didn’t have to point out the absurdity of Dave’s statement but did anyway. “It is a cold day.”

“You should have been a comedian. You know what I mean. We need to go tell your parents. You want to give me the address, or do I have to look it up?”

Imagining Dave inside my parents’ house was the first glimmer of humor in an otherwise bleak day. “Glencoe on the North Side. They’ve got a small lakefront mansion.”

He shot me a quizzical glance. “You got rich family and never told me?”

“You won’t like them. They’re ASBB.”

Dave frowned, tsked, then frowned again as he tried to figure out what kind of disease I was talking about. I could put him out of his misery or let him suffer a little longer. I smiled, deciding to let him suffer.

He traveled another block before the curiosity was too much. “What the hell is ASBB?”

“A selfish bitch and bastard. Or a selfish bastard and bitch. I’ll let you decide.”

Dave remained quiet. He had a great family, and I was sure he thought I was joking. So close to Christmas, Kyle’s death would be an inconvenience. I’d received my yearly invitation to their annual Christmas celebration, along with strict instructions to have my hair done and dress appropriately. They didn’t want me to embarrass them again this year.

I closed my eyes. An image flashed through my mind of my father’s jaw setting and my mother’s face screwing up in disgust when I told them the news about Kyle. Having to plan and attend a funeral for their only son at this time of year would infuriate them. Kyle had never done anything right, and now he couldn’t even find a convenient time to get himself killed.

Expelling a deep breath, I opened my eyes and stared at the lights twinkling along our route. Odds were they would have the body frozen until after the New Year’s festivities then hold a small ceremony with no one but the three of us present. If they bothered to come at all. At least if I had died they could have pretended to grieve as their friends would have seen my job as respectable, even if it was below the social standing of the Lange family.

Dave broke the silence. “Your family really that bad?”

“Trust me, Dave. You’ll have to see it to believe it.”

Book Review - Good Girl Gone Bad

This is actually my first book by Emmy Ellis, but it definitely won't be my last.  I'd only read one chapter when I knew, wow, I love this author's style.  Although I wouldn't call this a complicated book, there are a lot of characters who play a main part--just what I love in a book.  So let's take a look at the characters.

Kane - A homicide DI determined to put a drug dealer behind bars. A good-hearted man, with a partner he doesn't know what to do with. Richard has a problem, but he refuses to share it with Kane, and continues to make investigations difficult and Kane's life miserable.

Charlotte - Trapped in an abusive relationship, closed off from family and with only one friend, an older man she can talk to, when her boyfriend allows it.  Lonely, sick of her life, Charlotte hooks up for a one-nighter, not realizing her pickup would want more. Would he turn out to be her savior, or the final straw in a relationship that has only one ending--her death.

Debbie - A 15 year old daydreamer, convinced she's found the love of her life. She knows her parents will never approve, and her friends will scoff at her, but she's convinced this is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Finally catching his attention she makes a late evening date.  Will it be everything she's ever dreamed of?  Or will it be her worst nightmare?

The Killer - Here you delve into the mind of a madman. I can't say much more without spoilers, and I would hate to do that as finding out the truth, and working through the clues is all part of the fun.

This book could truly be labeled with so many different labels.  A thriller that keeps you flipping pages and on the edge.  A mystery, as the clues are there, but you have to follow them all the way to the end. It could also fall under drama. Not the irritating type of drama, but the page-turning type of drama.  Fabulously written with emotion and a great plot.  Definitely a 5* read for me.

Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

Book Review - My Gift To You by Tracie Delaney

Available On Pre-Order Now!

I haven't read a romance novel in years, but after months of crime thrillers and psychological thrillers I needed a change. When Tracie offered this as an ARC I jumped at the chance to crawl out of the darkness and into the light.  I am so glad I did.

It's really difficult to review a great book without giving spoilers that to me would dampen a reader's enjoyment, and I want every reader to enjoy this book as I did.

For heartbroken Livvy Hayes, the world went dark two years ago when tragedy struck.

With her life in tatters, she flees to California where an unexpected meeting brings handsome businessman Gabe Mitchell into her life.

Gabe loves a challenge and Livvy is his newest endeavor. Her broken spirit calls to him, begging to be healed. And who knows, she might be the one to heal him too.

Can he persuade her to take a chance on him--and convince her that together they have a future?

Or will fate intervene and destroy them both?

This is a highly emotional read that will make you laugh, but will also pull at your heartstrings and have you crying, so I suggest a huge box of Kleenex be on hand and within easy reach.

I totally enjoyed following Livvy and Gabe's romance, as he introduced her to a life she'd never known before. The characters are well developed, witty at times, and the descriptions of the trips he takes her on fascinating. I loved seeing the world through Livvy's eyes.

If you're a romance fan and not into they have a fight, get back together, have sex and live happily every after--then this book is for you.  A compelling drama that will lift your spirits and break your heart at times.  I highly recommend it.

OTHER BOOKS BY TRACIE DELANEY

Tracie has a large selection of wonderful reads. For more visit her Amazon Author Page.

Amazon Author Page

Book Review - Heroic Justice, M. A. Comley

A long-time fan of DI Lorne Warner and the Justice series, and more recently a fan of the DI Hero Nelson series I was thrilled when Mel announced she was combining the two characters for a new novel.  Both characters have strong personalities, and both are willing to step outside the boundaries when necessary. Would they be able to work together?

Due to family problems I was a little late on starting my ARC and had the advantage of reading other reviews which touted this as Ms. Comley's best book yet.  This made me even more eager to dive in with a fresh cup of coffee and bury myself in the pages. In my opinion it was going to be hard for her to top my two favorite reads--Dubious Justice and Cold Case from the DI Sally Parker series. Those two books left an emotional impact with me that kept me thinking of them long after I finished the books, and they still remain at the top of my list for favorite reads.

To coin a British phrase I did find Heroic Justice 'bloody brilliant'.  As an author myself I may notice things that I wouldn't perhaps just reading a good book. I'm not a huge fan of narrative and love character driven fiction. Heroic did not disappoint. At times I felt I was in the room with the characters listening to the conversation as Ms. Comley weaved in background for both characters so seamlessly that I was awe struck. Absolutely brilliant! Readers who have never opened a Justice book or a Hero book will still feel they know the characters intimately. Readers who have followed these characters as I have will thoroughly enjoy the revisiting of the past through conversation, not an info dump.  Can I saw 'brilliant' again?

In today's world serial killers are more the norm than the exception. Often to find them you have to understand their motives. Both Lorne and Hero do an excellent job of delving deep into the few clues the killer leaves behind. Having experienced tragedy in their own lives their compassion for the victims and their families is heart-warming. An excellent police procedural.

I would definitely tag this a five star read for lovers of crime, police procedure and fast-paced thrillers. I loved seeing Lorne and her husband, Tony, working together and hope that becomes more of the norm in future novels. I can't imagine working with my husband, but the mutual respect Tony and Lorne have for each other, and the skills each possesses makes them a perfect working couple. So often we get a one-sided few of characters and experience only their work, but Ms. Comley is delightful in her ability to show the many facets--even flaws--of each character, including the antagonist.

I recommend setting aside some time before you start, as once you get involved you're not going to want to stop reading until the very last page...and even then you may find yourself thinking about this book. Available for pre-order now.  Release date--11/13/17.

Happy Reading!

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Some people deserve to die...some are worth dying for. $.99/99p

All releases are exciting, but I’m super-excited about this one because I fell in love with the characters.  I believe every woman or even man who has been traumatized by a situation will have an empathy with Andi and her struggles to overcome the demons in her head, left by a man who kidnapped and tortured her for three days. Her belief in a young girl’s story, even against the odds, and determination to help her no matter the personal cost gives you an insight into her character. Her side kick, Shamus O’Conner is witty, loyal and the kind of true friend we all wish for in life.

Blurb:

Ten years ago, Andi Carter was abducted by her lover’s partner, Richard Thomas, and tortured for three days. Rescued by the man she believed responsible, Andi lost everything: the man she loved, her promising future as an investigative reporter and her memory of the weeks leading up to her torture.

“Tell me what I want to know and I won’t hurt you again.”

Thomas’s voice haunted her dreams, sending her into the pits of depression to seek solace in a bottle of whiskey until a young woman reaches out for help.  Twelve young girls have been brutally murdered, their bodies hidden beneath concrete structures. The thirteenth victim is fighting back the only way she knows how, and telling their story to the one person she believes will listen. “I killed a man yesterday, and today I’m going to kill another one.”

PROLOGUE

“Tell me what I want to know, and I won’t hurt you again.”

Andi Carter stared into the deep-green eyes of Richard Thomas as she tried to collect enough saliva to swallow. Pain had dulled her senses, and her throat was raw from screaming. She wasn’t sure she could speak, or if she did somehow manage to utter a few words if they would be coherent. “I don’t… I don’t know what you want… to know,” she whispered.

Thomas sighed as he followed her gaze to the door leading out of the basement. “Still think Jerry is going to barge through that door and save you, Andi? He isn’t, you know. In fact, dear old Jerry is the reason you’re here. He’s the one who told me what you were up to.”

A burning river of rage flowed through her, much like the sensation from the whiskey he kept forcing her to drink, but instead of dulling her senses, it cleared her mind. He’s going to kill me anyway. “Jerry Palano is a good cop. Scum like you would never understand that. If he told you anything it was because he was your partner and he trusted you.”

He flashed his even white teeth, but the green of his eyes darkened. “That’s my Andi, spirited and loyal to the end. Would you like a drink?” He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table. “If you spill it, you know it’s going to hurt.” He inserted the tip of the bottle between her lips. “Drink up now, like a good girl. Then we’ll talk some more.”

Andi tilted her head back, guzzling the alcohol. Tears ran freely down her face as a tiny stream of alcohol dripped from her chin onto the raw, blistered flesh of her legs. The pain was excruciating, and she struggled not to scream as she continued to drink, praying for oblivion.

Only when the bottle was empty did Thomas pull it away and pick up the scalpel. “Tell me what I want to know, and I won’t hurt you again.”

“Gambini! Gambini was running young girls. I was going to expose him.” She began to slur her words, which sounded as if they came from a long way off. “Please. Please just kill me.”

Thomas began to laugh, his roar filling the damp, musty room. “I can’t believe that crap actually works.” He leaned in close, his breath hot on her cheek as he whispered, “I’m not going to kill you, Andi, but you’re going to wish I had.”

His threat seeped through the alcohol-induced fog as bile rose in her throat. A tiny pinpoint of satisfaction surged through her as she opened her mouth and spewed vomit on both of them.

“Son of a bitch.” Thomas leapt up, knocking over his chair. “You’ll pay for that, Carter.”

Andi tried to smile, but the acidity of the vomit had reignited the pain from her cuts and burns. She began to tremble, her breath coming in short gasps as she watched his hands clench and unclench. Three days as his captive had convinced her of one thing—Thomas was crazy. His moods swung from euphoric enjoyment of torturing her to angry depression, and occasionally to apologetic sympathy for having caused her pain. I don’t really want to die.

Thomas pushed the table bearing his torture instruments into her view and lit the blowtorch. “You shouldn’t have done that, Andi. I was going to let you go.”

“Please don’t, Richard. I told you what you wanted to know. You promised you wouldn’t hurt me again.” She struggled against the ropes binding her arms and legs.

He studied her, tilting his head to the side. “I did, didn’t I?” His lips puckered as he turned off the torch. “Perhaps I’ll give you some time to think about your apology.” He leaned in close, staring directly into her eyes. “Your punishment will depend on just how well you can beg.”

Sobs shook her body as she watched him leave, the heavy steel door slamming behind him. The alcohol had dulled the pain in her body, but not the emotional devastation of realizing Jerry wasn’t going to save her. He betrayed me.

Time passed as she drifted in and out of consciousness until a scraping noise at the door jerked her wide awake. The door slowly swung open and Stuart Gambini peered inside.

“Jesus.” He crossed the room and knelt in front of her then grabbed the scalpel on the table and quickly cut the ropes around her wrists and ankles. “I’m gonna get you out of here. Can you walk?”

“Why? You’re just going to kill me anyway. Do it here,” Andi croaked out. Her mind was still fuzzy, but she was pretty sure Gambini was the reason she was here.

Gambini frowned, took off his jacket, and lifted her from the chair. “We can talk about that later. Here, wrap this around you. Patrick is waiting for us at the top of the stairs.” He slipped her arms through the sleeves and pulled the coat up around her shoulders.

“How did you find me?” Andi leaned against him, taking a step toward the door, leaving small smears of blood on the floor from her swollen feet.

“I’ve had my girls watching Thomas. This is the only place he kept coming back to.” Stuart placed an arm around her and half lifted, half dragged her toward the door. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

She placed her right foot on the first step. Taking a deep breath, she raised her left foot and put it on the second step. “Where are you taking me?”

“Put your arm around my neck.” Stuart tightened his hold around her waist, placed an arm under her legs, and picked her up. “We’ll hide you at the boarding house for the time being.”

Andi leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. “I need to call the Tribune. I was on a case, and they must be going crazy wondering what happened to me.”

“You’re old news. They gave up on finding you after the first three weeks.”

“Three weeks? I’ve only been missing three days.”

Stuart grunted as he took the last step. “Honey, you’ve been missing for over a month.”

Darkness closed in around her. A month? What the hell did Thomas do to me before he tortured me?

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Sneak Peek! #SundaySample

As promised, here's a sneak peek at the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Innocent Blood.  Enjoy your Sunday, and happy reading!

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PROLOGUE

Loki Redmond woke to the sound of a door softly closing. She tossed off the covers and made her way to the window, welcoming the reprieve from her dark, disturbing dreams. At least it wasn’t a vision.

Her brother Jules stood outlined in the moonlight, his fists clenched at his sides. A well of sadness opened up inside her at the sight of him standing there with his head bowed. If her dreams were dark and disturbing, his would be a thousand times worse.

Loki rummaged through her chest and donned shorts and a T-shirt. It was already warm, and the day ahead promised to be blistering. Since they were both awake, they might as well talk about what was bothering them. She tiptoed down the hall, through the kitchen, and out the back door. If he woke, Jake would demand to know what was bothering her, and she didn’t honestly know. Her dreams were most likely the product of her grandfather’s call for help with an issue on the reservation. He’d reminded her of her duty to her people.

Her people. Strange that Grandfather should put it that way. He’d constantly criticized her and her brothers and shouted more than once that they weren’t true Choctaw. He’d belittled their mother right up until the day of her death. Loki shook off the emotions churning in her gut. Grandfather was an old man now, and hating him would only hurt her.

“Hey.” She approached Jules slowly, aware that at times he walked in his sleep. “Bad dreams?”

Jules picked up a rock and threw it into the trees that surrounded the back of the property. “Horrible.”

“Want to talk about it?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

Placing an arm around his waist, she stood with him, just watching the beauty of the early morning breeze gently swaying the trees. “You didn’t wake me, but even if you did, I’m glad. My dreams weren’t very pleasant, either.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t go to the reservation today. After the way they treated us, you don’t owe them anything.”

Loki sighed and dropped her arm. “Is that what’s bothering you?”

“No.”

Frustration overwhelmed her. For years Jules hadn’t said a word, trapped in his own mind with a horror he didn’t know how to express. All that had changed last year when she’d brought Jake to Grandpa Zachery’s farm to heal after his wife’s murder. What was supposed to be a vacation turned into a fight for their life against a madman and his mother, but for Jules it had been a miracle of sorts. They’d managed to save Grace, a thirteen-year-old who had been kidnapped and abused by the serial killers, and her month-old baby, Hope. And Grace had helped Jules heal. The two of them shared a bond that few people would ever understand. “I can’t help you, Jules, if you won’t talk to me.”

“Talking won’t change it, Loki. You and I both know that.”

“No, but sometimes it helps to share things.”

“Why do we call this the Redmond Farm?”

Loki chuckled. “Because Grandpa loved our mother so much that when she married our father, he changed the name of the farm. Sometimes I think he did it just to piss off Grandfather Redmond.”

“There’s something evil about Grandfather Redmond, Loki. Don’t trust him.”

“I didn’t before, and I’m not going to now.” She studied Jules’s face, looking for clues about what was truly behind his pain. “If there’s something you know about what’s going on at the reservation, you should tell me.”

“Have you ever known something was wrong but you didn’t know what it was or how to stop it?”

Loki dropped to the ground, hugged her knees to her chest, and patted the spot beside her. “You know how my visions work. I get images or feelings, and it’s always after something horrible has happened. I can never stop it.”

Jules finally sat beside her. “Some of the spirits are angry. Some are very sad. They say innocent blood has been shed, and the blood of more innocents will be shed in the coming days.”

“Have you talked to Grace about this?”

“She feels the same thing. I think she knows more, but she’s not ready to share it yet.”

“Do you know when this is supposed to happen?”

“Today.”

Loki shuddered. She and Dadron were leaving for the reservation first thing this morning. The sun began to rise, but it did nothing to dispel the chill sinking into her bones and encompassing her. “Does this have anything to do with Grandfather?”

 Jules stood, brushed off his jeans, and walked toward the forest. His voice was sad and filled with pain. “No, but you should tell Jake you love him before you leave.”

CHAPTER ONE

The early morning sun blazed down on the small ravine as Jake Savior knelt beside Jules Redmond and studied the ground. In a few more hours the heat would be unbearable. “Anything at all?” Jake asked.

“Nothing.” Jules stood and wiped the sweat from his brow. “A child couldn’t have gone into that brush pile without leaving some trace.”

Jake removed his neckerchief and wiped his face. “So I guess it was a spirit or ghost or whatever it is you guys see that the rest of us don’t.”

“Loki doesn’t see spirits.”

“Well, she certainly saw something, and it’s happened three times now.” Jake started the slow climb to the road. It had been a long shot, bringing Jules here, but Jake felt helpless when it came to the things Loki experienced. This one had upset her more than usual.

“Maybe it was a vision.” Jules followed close on Jake’s heels.

 “Water or beer?” Jake lifted the hatch on the Highlander and pulled out the cooler. “Is it always this hot here in April? It’s not even eight o’clock yet.”

“Water. It’s too early for beer.” Jules took the bottle, splashed half of it on his face, and drank the rest. “The winter was strangely cold, and no, it isn’t normally this hot in April. Doesn’t bode well for the summer months.”

Jake popped the top on a can of beer and took a long drink, his eyes scanning the terrain. “There aren’t any houses anywhere near here in either direction. If this is a vision of something destined to happen in the future, where would a child come from?”

Jules shrugged and grabbed another bottle of water. “Loki’s visions usually come after something has already happened.” He pointed at the ravine. “But there are no spirits here. We could have Grace search the computer databases and see if there were any car wrecks where a family was injured or died and a young girl survived and ran away. ”

“Sounds like a plan.” Jake slammed the hatch. “It’s too hot to stay out here any longer, and I’m hungry. You want to drive?”

The young boy’s face lit up. “Really?”

Jake tossed him the keys. “You’ve got your permit, and you have to learn sometime.” He held up the beer and grinned. “And I’ve been drinking before breakfast.”

Jules adjusted the seat and mirrors, waited for Jake to buckle up, and started the car. “So what exactly did Loki see?”

“A young girl, maybe five or six years old, running across the road. Loki thinks she was Choctaw, but she can’t be sure.”

“And you didn’t see her?”

“Nope. The first time she screamed stop, I almost flipped the car in the ditch. Loki ran after her, but she disappeared into that cluster of brush we just searched.”

“And is it always the same time of day?” Jules’s eyes locked on the road in front of him.

“I never really thought about it, but yeah, it was close to the same time all three evenings. Dark enough to have the lights on but not totally dark,” Jake said.

Jake leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. In the past year, he’d accepted Loki’s visions, as well as the fact that Jules and Grace saw things no one else could. For Loki, the visions were simply part of her Choctaw heritage. Grace’s ability was brought on by trauma and loneliness during the years she was held captive by a madman and his crazy mother. Jules’s abilities were probably a combination of his Choctaw heritage and trauma. Jake had learned firsthand what trauma and grief could do to the human psyche. His friends’ abilities might be preferable to the insanity that had seized him after his wife’s murder. His heart still ached for Cara at times, but with Loki’s love, he was healing a little more each day and building a new life in Mississippi.

“Have you heard from Loki and Dadron?”

“She called to say they had arrived. I don’t expect to hear anything else until later. Cell service out there isn’t the best in the world. She said she’d call if they were staying overnight.” Jake shot a glance at Loki’s younger brother. Worry lines wrinkled Jules’s forehead, replacing the earlier gleeful face, and he gripped the wheel tightly. “Something bothering you, Jules?”

“Grace says the spirits are restless, and something terrible is about to happen. She doesn’t know what, but it has something to do with innocent blood.”

“And you think that has something to do with what’s going on on the reservation, or the kid Loki keeps seeing?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but there are those in the tribe who love and respect Loki, and those who hate and fear her.” Jules’s voice faltered for a moment. “The hate is because of me.”

“She only promised to listen to what her grandfather had to say. Besides, Dadron is with her. He’s not going to let anything happen to her.”

“I still don’t think she should have gone there.” Jules turned in to the driveway leading to the farm. “This is not her fight, and she doesn’t owe Grandfather anything.” He parked in front of the house, turned off the motor, and handed the keys to Jake. “Thank you. Tell Grace not to set a place for me.”

“Where are you going?” Jake exited the vehicle quickly, but Jules was already disappearing into the forest behind the house.

The door to the farmhouse opened, and Grace came out on the landing. “Let him go, Jake.”

“Any idea where he’s headed?”

“He built a sweat lodge yesterday. He’s gone there to fast and pray for those who are about to die.”

~ ~ ~

Loki Redmond grabbed the door handle and held on tight as the vehicle hit a pothole. “With all the money pouring in from the casinos, can’t they do something about this section?”

Tim “Bearclaw” Whitefeather jerked the wheel to avoid another hole. “Politics.”

Loki glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting Dadron’s angry gaze. She understood his anger as they passed another section of clapboard houses, the yards littered with empty liquor bottles and piles of trash. They’d left the more prominent sections of the reservation over an hour ago and were now traveling through the parts hidden from tourists. She also understood Tim’s comment about politics. Even here, miles from what was referred to as civilization, the rich got richer and the poor continued to suffer. 

Tim pulled into a section of trees and parked. “The basin is about a half mile through the forest. We’ll walk from here.”

Loki motioned for Dadron to hang back as she rushed to catch up with Tim. “Why did Grandfather want to meet out here?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

Grabbing Tim’s arm, she turned him to face her. “I’m asking you. You haven’t said ten words to us since we got here. We were friends once. And you know how Grandfather feels about us. Please, tell me what this is about.”

“Nalusa Falaya.”

“You can’t be serious.” Loki laughed and shook her head. “Nalusa Falaya is a myth. Like the boogeyman, something made up by parents to keep the children inside after dark.”

“We have two missing hunters, Loki.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. If they’re unfamiliar with the area, they probably just got lost out here.”

“We found the third hunter.”

Dadron joined them. “Dead or alive?”

Tim’s jaw set in a hard line, and his eyes darkened. “Mostly dead. We’re wasting time, and your Grandfather doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Loki hung back to walk with Dadron. She really didn’t care what her grandfather liked or didn’t like. Tim had been her cousin Harry’s best friend all through childhood. They’d gone through the police academy together, and Tim had joined the tribal police when Harry had moved to Corpus Christi and joined the police department there. Living on the reservation kept some of the old myths and culture alive, but no one believed in Nalusa Falaya. “What do you think he means by ‘mostly dead’?”

“Grandfather asked you to bring Jules with you, didn’t he?” Dadron asked.

“Maybe.” Loki watched Tim’s back as he stalked away from them. Grandfather hadn’t asked her to bring Jules, he’d demanded she bring Jules. He’d wanted all three of them here. “Don’t worry, Dadron. It will be a cold day in hell before they get their hands on Jules again.”