DEAD OF NIGHT
The Blood Curse Chronicles
by James Agee Jr.
DEAD OF NIGHT The Blood Curse Chronicles by James Agee Jr.
Month: September 2017
12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS Genre: Holiday Mystery
12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Genre: Holiday Mystery Continue reading “12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS Genre: Holiday Mystery”
The Nostradamus Code
Patrick Temple Hickey has written for TV shows on BBC and Ireland’s RTE. He contributes editorial and single panel cartoons to various newspapers and magazines all over the world and has graphic stories published in independent anthologies such as Slambang, The Shiznit and Don’t Touch Me. His first YA SCi FI novel, The Nostradamus Code, was published with Double Dragon Publishing in July 2017.
YA Sci-Fi Thriller
Published: July 19, 2017
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
On a settlement planet far into the future the worldwide economic crash has turned New Stockton into a city broken by political corruption and pervasive organized crime. Scotland Murrow’s journalist father has gone missing while investigating a twelve year old murder case. The victim was found with an encrypted file, known as the Nostradamus Code, imbedded in his thumbnail leading Scotland to believe that the file contains the secret to his father’s fate. Aided by his reformed junkie friend and a journalist who may have her own secret agenda Scotland scours the city’s seedy underbelly, traverses the unchartered outlands and breaches a fortified Citadel as he peels away layer upon layer of the Nostradamus Code to confront his biggest fears and uncover a plot to bring down the most powerful man on the planet.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
Publisher: Double Dragon-ebooks.com
Back 2 School Special: Sci-Fi & all its sub-genres
REJOICE! The children are back in school.
For those who live to read…here are some awesome books provided by the incredible authors who wrote them. All in celebration of the new school year.
While a few of these books might be oldies, but goodies…others could be new and fresh off the presses.
Relax and find your new favorite author.
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SCI-FI
Science Fiction in traditional literary terms is a literary or cinematic genre in which fantasy, typically based on speculative scientific discoveries or developments,environmental changes, space travel, or life on other planets,forms part of the plot or background.
Please enjoy these books that focus on sci-fi and all its sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.
Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win an Amazon Giftcard.
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Burn District by Suzanne Jenkins
Sci-Fi
What do you do when the world as you know it ends? Run! A perfect life slides into despair when a trusting neighbor whispers a warning, and Mike and Laura Davis’s world crumbles. Dreams and goals come to an abrupt end, but a new existence waits in the future. Survival depends on the ingenuity of family and friends. First, they must hide in a safe place.
King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Kim Headlee
Sci-Fi/Time Travel
Are you sick of US politics? Afraid of what will become of America because your chosen candidate didn’t prevail? Do you believe the world is doomed now that King Donald has claimed the Oval Office throne?
Refresh your spirit and allay your fears by laughing along with what Mark Twain might have written about today’s political falderal.
“Entertaining.” –Publishers Weekly.
WINNER 2016 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Science Fiction & Fantasy.
Morgan le Fay, sixth-century Queen of Gore and the only major character not killed off by Mark Twain in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, vows revenge upon the Yankee Hank Morgan. She casts a spell to take her to 1879 Connecticut so she may waylay Sir Boss before he can travel back in time to destroy her world. But the spell misses by 300 miles and 200 years, landing her in the Washington, DC, of 2079, replete with flying limousines, hovering office buildings, virtual-reality television, and sundry other technological marvels.
Whatever is a time-displaced queen of magic and minions to do? Why, rebuild her kingdom, of course—two kingdoms, in fact: as Campaign Boss for the reelection of American President Malory Beckham Hinton, and as owner of the London Knights world-champion baseball franchise.
Written as though by the old master himself, King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee offers laughs, love, and a candid look at American society, popular culture, politics, baseball… and the human heart.
Memory of the Color Yellow by Suzanne Jenkins
Sci-Fi
In a world ruled with military precision, a misspoken word has the power to generate enough rage to turn life upside down in the story of a post apocalyptic world on the brink. Steve Manos and his family live in Europe Town, a segregated area where people of European descent live in the Coalition; formerly the United States. The necessities of life are minimally met by the government and everyone works for the good of the leadership. Life for the people is almost intolerable, but that is when change happens.
Only the Dead Don’t Die by A.D. Popovich
Sci-Fi/Dystopian/Horror
Scarlett Lewis doesn’t realize the United States is succumbing to a horrific pandemic. Until Scarlett begins to notice the bizarre events occurring around her . . . Travel with Scarlett on her perilous journey as she discovers the dark fate of the human race. Along the way, she meets other survivors who may not have her best interests at heart. With hope as her last weapon of defense, Scarlett must learn how to survive in this creeper-infested world without sacrificing her own humanity.
Public Secrets by Liza O’Connor
Sci-Fi
Carla Simon is a best-selling novelist besieged by death threats and lawsuits because her stories keep turning out to be true. She is considered an extraordinary researcher, uncovering facts unknown by field experts.
Scavenger’s Mission by Liza O’Connor
Sci-Fi
In a single month, Alisha Kane has gone from a wealthy debutante to street girl to scavenger. While testing her new flying skills in the Cully Canyon, Alisha incurs a near-death crash landing. She’s “rescued” by a colonel of the SkyRyders and her life changes forever.
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Parshu-raam by Vineet Aggarwal
He was the guru of Bhishma Pitamah… An avatar of Vishnu but a disciple of Shiva…And he shall be the martial guru of Kalki, the last Avatar in this Yuga!When the Chandravanshi emperor Arjun begins expanding his empire to cover the entire world, the Asuras hit back with an insidious plan. Caught in the crossfire is Raam, the son of rishi Yamdagni and scion of the Bhargava clan.Will the machinations of Asura, Naga and Urag tribes affect the Brahmin boy and his family? Will the political intrigues of Nabhi-varsh let Bhargava Raam find his destiny or push him towards a future he never envisioned?This is the story of a man who rose to the level of divinity to establish a fair and just society; the story of the making of a legend…
DEAR DIARY, by Susan Horsnell
INK ME MORE
Back 2 School
REJOICE! The children are back in school.
For those who live to read…here are some awesome books provided by the incredible authors who wrote them. All in celebration of the new school year.
While a few of these books might be oldies, but goodies…others could be new and fresh off the presses.
Relax and find your new favorite author.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
ROMANCE
Romance in traditional literary terms is a narration of the extraordinary exploits of heroes, often in exotic or mysterious settings. The term romance has also been used for stories of mysterious adventures, not necessarily of heroes. These adventure romances usually are set in distant places.
Please enjoy these books that focus on romance and all their sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.
Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win an Amazon Giftcard.
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A Journey Home by Angela Scavone
Contemporary Romance
Air Force Captain Stephanie Tyler’s sole duty is to fly overseas to war torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage. But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie’s surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain Douglas ‘DA’ Aston. From the moment DA enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while she and DA were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with DA even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension. Then, Stephanie’s cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and DA must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive.
Beside Still Waters by Ryan Jo Summers
Contemporary Christian Romance
Top Journalist and corporate climber McKayla Buchanan is sent to a remote California mountain camp for inner-city, at-risk teens. Accustomed to political and high-society assignments, she is suddenly a fish out of water. At Camp In As Much, she meets eight hostile and distrustful teens, assorted volunteers, rescued horses—and Clay.
Clay Michaels is the man who founded Camp In As Much and made it the success it is now. His hope for the highly recommended journalist is to come and write a feature to send seeds out to form other camps like his nationwide one. He never considered the reporter would turn out to be a lovely woman, or for him to have such an attraction to her.
Between McKayla’s worldly experience and Clay’s strong faith, they form a partnership to help with the endless challenges of the kids.
While McKayla’s assignment is supposed to be temporary, it isn’t long before she and Clay are each wishing it could last longer. A serious situation will force McKayla to decide if she can give up her worldly ways and place her faith in the same higher source that Clay does.
Betting on Love in Vegas by Stacy Hoff
Romance
Catherine “Cat” Warner has problems. The profits from her inns are down. The pressure from her parents is up. Her love life is non-existent. But Cat did manage to get the attention of tough, powerful, gorgeous hotel magnate Ty Orland. Unfortunately, his interest in her is for all the wrong reasons. Instead of wanting Cat, this debonair CEO only wants her land—a parcel he desperately needs for his next big development deal. Too bad, it’s not for sale. A people pleaser by nature, Cat knows to stand strong. If she caves in to the demands of this sexy, alluring man, it will be her own neck on the line.
Ty Orland has a lot of things going for him. Success. Power. Respect. Unfortunately, he’s also got an old chip on his shoulder and a new financial nightmare. His development deal is going down in flames—and fast. His only way out is if Cat sells him her strategically located parcel. But romancing the land from her is not easy when love gets in the way. The woman is as beautiful as she is beguiling. And Ty no longer knows which prize is more valuable.
Desperately Seeking Sixty-Nine by J.D. Frettier
Romantic Comedy
The year is 1969. Though there is war and unrest in the world, on August 15th, on a farm in upstate New York, a little concert will go down in history as the most famous music festival of our time: Woodstock.
It also happens to be the day Bonnie McMillan and Peter Hampton meet and begin their free-spirited love-filled journey with each other. What happens at Woodstock stays at Woodstock, right? Nope!
Fast forward forty-seven years. Bonnie unexpectedly passes after a night of hot sex and is whisked up to Purgatory, ‘The Green Room’ as they call it. Bonnie’s best friend meets her at the pearly green gates and the fun begins, from body sculpting to channeling.
Follow Bonnie on her erotically incorrect quest to re-connect with the love of her life. Or at the very least, make sure the sex toys are hidden before the kids start sorting through her things!
Everything I’ve Dreamed Of by Norah Bennett
Contemporary Romance
Kate Willowbrook dreamed of a life filled with beauty –– a man who loves her, friends, and a home. At eighteen, Kate’s dreams were replaced by nightmares when she witnessed a crime. Kate fled, never settling down and never trusting anyone until at the age of the thirty, she discovers the small town of Lakes Crossing and CEO, Noah Reed. When Noah’s wife was killed in an accident, his world exploded. Noah settled for an empty, loveless life until the day he met Kate. When he learns about Kate’s past and finds she is still in danger, Noah takes over, becoming over-protective—to the point Kate feels stifled and controlled. As Noah and Kate struggle to put the past behind them and find a balance that fulfills both their needs, they learn that there are no guarantees in life, but in Lakes Crossing they have been given a second chance at love.
New Adult Romance
As the bassist for the band Caged, the last three years have been one, long non-stop party. Sure, I’ve had some regrets. Everyone does. But getting trapped in a relationship isn’t one of them. I know good and well what happens when the attraction fades. I’ve seen it first hand. Love is a zero sum game, so why play? As long as I’m upfront about my feelings, no one gets hurt. Besides, I’m never in one place long enough to worry about tomorrow.
That is, until the band decided to take an extended hiatus in our hometown. That’s when I met Melody Sullivan. She’s the full-package. Whip smart and beautiful, with enough determination to take on anything life has in store. And the best part? Melody shares my philosophy on the fleeting nature of attraction. She doesn’t buy into the whole “happily ever after” crap anymore than I do. We’re perfect for each other. For now. And now is all I want.
With the expectations off the table, I can let my guard down and enjoy her company until the spark dies. And we both know it will. In a week, or a month. But until then, we’ll just keep having fun. The good kind, with lots of sex and no strings attached. And when it’s time to move on, we will. No drawn out goodbyes and no remorse.
That’s the plan, at least.
Find My Way Home by Michele Summers
Contemporary Romance
She’s just the kind of drama…
Interior designer Bertie Anderson has big dreams for her career, and they don’t include being stuck in her hometown of Harmony, North Carolina. One last client, and Bertie is packing up her high heels and heading for her dream job in Atlanta. But her plans are derailed by the gorgeous new owner of that big old Victorian she’s always wanted to renovate…
He’s vowed to avoid…
For retired tennis pro Keith Morgan, Harmony is a far cry from fast-paced Miami-which is exactly the point. Keith is starting a new life for himself and his daughter Maddie, and he’s left the bright lights and hot women far behind. Bertie’s exactly the kind of curvaceous temptation he doesn’t need, and Keith refuses to let their sizzling attraction distract him from his goals. Keith and Bertie both have to learn that there’s more than one kind of escape, and it takes more than wallpaper to turn a house into a home.
Romance
Justine Montgomery, daughter of a divorced beauty queen and TV magnate, is a tabloid disaster after her infamous sex tape. She’s so desperate to help save her family’s home she turns to her deal-making dad. Can she prove to him she’s cut out for a career in television or will she lose it all?
Sawyer has his own past and a successful career is his only goal. Seeing Justine fail would mean the promotion of a lifetime, but things get complicated when he develops feelings for her. Suddenly, the lines between work, life, sex, and love are blurry.
They will have to overcome the bitterness of a rejected ex, the controlling actions of her father, and the half-truths they’re telling one another to forge a lasting partnership both on the job and off the clock.
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Dead Cold
Crime Thriller
Date Published: July 2, 2017
Publisher: JEC Press
Every Emily Stone Thriller is a stand-along novel.
From the multi-award winning series:
What happens when one California community has a disturbing spike in homicides? It catapults cops into a deadly game of murder. Frozen human body parts hideously displayed at the crime scenes offers a horrifying interpretation that only a sadistic serial killer could design—and execute.
On the hunt for a complex serial killer, vigilante detective Emily Stone must face her most daring case yet. Stone’s proven top-notch profiling skills and forensic expertise may not be enough this time.
Young and ambitious, Detective Danny Starr, catches the homicide cases and discovers that it will test everything he knows about police work and the criminal mind. Can he handle these escalating cases or will the police department have to call in reinforcements—the FBI.
Emily Stone’s covert team pushes with extreme urgency to unravel the grisly clues, while keeping their identities hidden from the police. With one last-ditch effort, Stone dangles someone she loves as bait to draw out the killer. She then forces the killer out of their comfort zone with her partner Rick Lopez, and with help from a longtime friend Jordan Smith. A revelation of the serial killer’s identity leaves the team with volatile emotions that could destroy them.
The killer continues to taunt and expertly manipulate the police, as well as Stone’s team, and as they run out of time—they leave behind everyone and everything—in Dead Cold.
Excerpt
Life is not worth living if you cannot make a difference—right a wrong, save an innocent life, or catch a serial killer. ~ Emily Stone
PROLOGUE
ESCAPE WAS IMPOSSIBLE. TEARS STREAMED down her face as she sat in the darkness and waited for the man to return. There was no other choice—but to wait.
She hadn’t eaten anything in three days and had only a limited amount of water—her strength continued to fade with every hour. With her wrists and ankles secured with duct tape, her skin stung with pain every time she struggled to move. At least the man had peeled the tape from her eyes and mouth so that she could see something besides pitch-blackness.
Even if she could escape, the only way to safety was jumping into the frigid water, but she could not swim and would drown before ever reaching the shore.
The only thing thirteen-year-old Kayla Swanson thought about was home. Fond memories flashed through her mind of her parents, her little brother, and her dog Charlie. She was never going to see them again. Their smiling faces were forever etched in Kayla’s mind, and she constantly held them close to her heart.
The boat rocked, and seemed to sway more violently as the tide flooded in and out of the harbor. Kayla could hear a consistent clanking noise above her as the boat rolled back and forth. The sound had a hypnotic quality, and kept her mind on something else besides when the man would return and what he would do next.
Her lips were dry and cracked as she bordered on dehydration. Even her tears dried on her cheeks, leaving her skin stiff and drawn. Her body began to shake, not only from fear, but also because of the extreme exhaustion and the constant dampness all around her.
The boat rocked more, but this time it shifted from the opposite sides. Kayla heard soft footsteps above, which she knew wasn’t her captor’s heavy walk. She strained her eyes in the darkness and thought she saw a thin shadow stealthily move along the upper deck.
Was it a ghost?
Kayla remembered a television series where a team of people hunted ghosts and they had said that ghosts could occupy any type of space, house, property, and even a boat.
She blinked her eyes several times and hoped that she could catch a glimpse of the ghost again. With every ounce of declining strength, Kayla scooted her body closer to the narrow stairs leading to the upper deck.
Painfully craning her neck, she strained to see something up in the darkness.
The dark shadowed areas played tricks on her eyes—it was there, then it wasn’t.
She waited for several minutes.
Nothing appeared.
The only sounds she heard were the usual boat noises she had grown accustomed to hearing. Whatever she thought she heard was gone now. It was most likely her imagination trying to give her some hope and a few moments break from her dire circumstances.
As she relaxed her shoulders and leaned back against the wall, the reality of her world pressing down hard. Tears streamed down her face. She tasted the saltiness that settled around her mouth. Her last moments were approaching, and there was nothing she could do.
Kayla felt her pulse relax and a strange peacefulness overcame her—even if it was for only a moment. It was an overwhelming calm that gave her strength for what was next.
He was coming back.
She closed her eyes, but the only thing that came to mind was the man who had grabbed her.
His dark eyes.
His hefty strength groping at her body.
His horrible sour breath.
He fixated on everything about Kayla. She had the feeling that he had watched her for some time. There was a familiarity in his words as he secured her. The violent struggle that ensued ultimately led to the helplessness she now felt waiting in the darkness.
A light swishing noise made Kayla quickly open her eyes and look up.
There it was again, something darting around the boat. It was the ghost she saw earlier of what appeared to be a small, slim body moving swiftly around the upper deck.
It was not her captor, because he was heavyset and moved differently. He would not care if Kayla heard him or not. This apparition seemed to move with caution and ease.
Guardian angel came to Kayla’s mind. She had always seen pretty paintings and movies with angels as beautiful feminine creatures.
Was that her guardian angel?
Kayla would soon get her answer.
“Kayla,” whispered a woman’s voice. There was almost a musical quality to it.
The girl sat stunned, not moving, and unable to respond at first.
Again, “Kayla?” the voice asked softly.
She opened her mouth and tried to speak, but nothing came out. Kayla hadn’t realized that she hadn’t spoken for two days, and it was difficult to make a sound.
“Yes—” she barely replied.
A concerned woman’s face appeared at the top of the steps. She was beautiful with wet, shoulder-length blonde hair and dark eyes. Dressed in a dark wetsuit, she moved like a Ninja with grace and purpose. She wore some type of earpiece like the Secret Service who protect the president.
“Kayla, are you okay?” she asked with concern.
“I—I think so.”
“Let’s get you out of here,” the woman said and then spoke quietly into her small microphone, “I’ve got her, and she’s okay.”
She easily jumped down into the cabin and began to free Kayla from her restraints. It took some manipulation to tear away layers of duct tape.
“Who are you?” Kayla asked.
“I’m here to rescue you,” she said. “Don’t worry everything is going to be okay now.”
Kayla didn’t hear any other voices or cops moving around above. It was just this woman. She was confused, but curious by her unknown rescuer.
“Who are you?” Kayla asked again.
“It’s not important.”
“Yes, yes, it is to me,” she insisted.
The woman finally freed Kayla’s hands and ankles, and then looked directly at her.
Kayla saw more depth in her eyes than anyone she had ever met. There was a determination and fierceness reflected in a strong presence of the woman. It was something that Kayla had never experienced before with any of the adults that she knew.
“I’m Emily,” the woman reluctantly answered. “Can you walk?”
Kayla nodded.
Emily helped the girl up and guided her to move up the ladder, then quickly followed.
Kayla stood on the deck as the boat bobbed and weaved. She could see that it was docked at the very end of the outer harbor and close to the shore. The thought of being in the water made her shiver as the wind picked up speed, battering her face and body.
Emily turned to Kayla. “We’re going to get you to the dock area and the police will meet you there and take you home.”
Kayla fiercely shook her head.
“It’s okay, honey. I’ll be with you, and it’s only a short distance away.”
“No, no, I can’t swim,” Kayla pleaded, but her words seemed to disappear in the wind.
The tide picked up the intensity of the wind blowing harder against the boat. The fog encroached over the dim lighting of the harbor, which made any nighttime visibility disappear and reappear in strange increments.
The boat rocked and Kayla had a difficult time keeping her footing. Both Emily and Kayla fought to keep their balance and not catapult head first into the water.
Kayla turned her head and saw the heavyset man climb aboard from a dingy at the other side of the boat.
“Emily!” Kayla screamed.
It gave Emily just enough time to push the girl to safety and ready herself for the assault. Kayla landed hard on her backside but managed to push herself into a small crevice to keep from sliding back and forth.
Kayla could do nothing except watch as Emily received a powerful blow from her captor. She went down and slid several feet but wasn’t deterred as she readied herself for the next attack. Amazingly, Emily stood her ground, hands ready, and pushed the man backward. The instant that the kidnapper was off balance, Emily went in for the attack, punching and kicking him in the stomach and groin areas. The heavy man went down hard. He lay moaning on the deck. She couldn’t hear what he said because of the gusts of wind, but his expression was extreme anger and his mouth made ugly shapes as he spoke.
Kayla had never seen anything like it before. Everything going on around her felt more like a nightmare than real life—except for the blonde-haired woman who had come to her rescue. She watched as Emily quickly wrapped some type of plastic ties around the man’s ankles and feet. After making sure that he was secured, Emily turned to Kayla.
Emily gestured for Kayla to join her. She said something, but Kayla couldn’t hear her. Emily grabbed a life preserver from a wooden compartment along the deck.
“C’mon,” she said.
The boat seemed to buck and fight against the tide, water splashing onto the deck.
Emily moved carefully making her way to Kayla. “C’mon, we have to go.” She slipped the girl’s arms through life preserver and fastened it across her chest. Turning away, Emily said into her microphone, “We’re on our way. ETA five minutes.”
Kayla watched the water slosh and churn all around the boat. It made her legs even weaker and her mouth dryer. She glanced at the bad man still lying on his side struggling to release himself from the ties and spitting out seawater. He still frightened her even though he couldn’t get to her.
Kayla stood on the deck paralyzed with fear, hypnotized by the unpredictable water.
Emily took her hand. “I won’t let go. I promise.”
A large splash of water slapped Kayla’s face. It brought her into a more terrified state and a mental paralysis gripped her body. Her knees locked and her feet glued themselves to the deck. Kayla couldn’t jump into the water. She would rather wait for a boat to rescue her, but she knew that it wasn’t possible. Something about Emily’s face told her that it was the only way—and she didn’t want to ask questions to why.
Emily kneeled, took Kayla’s shoulders and said, “You can do this. I’m with you every step of the way.”
Kayla knew that Emily told her the truth, but her body didn’t want to cooperate. “I can’t!” she yelled.
“You can do it!” Emily insisted.
Kayla looked back at the bad man and remembered everything he had done to her—the terror, the threats, and the disgusting abuse.
She looked down at the water and hesitated.
Emily took a couple of steps down the ladder into the water. “C’mon, Kayla,” she urged.
Kayla moved slowly and felt the boat rock sharply. She caught herself before falling and held her breath. Looking at the boat docks through the fog, she knew that she had to jump into the frigid water to make it to shore.
Emily took another step down toward the water, then another and submerged herself. She held to the last rung of the ladder waiting for Kayla.
“I’m right here. You can do this, Kayla,” she urged. “C’mon.”
Kayla knew that she didn’t want to be on the boat anymore and wanted to put the entire terrifying experience behind her. She trusted Emily even though she wasn’t completely sure why.
She moved closer to the ladder and slowly put her foot onto the next rung. Water continued to splash into her face. She shivered from the cold, but knew that it was only a little bit farther to freedom.
“That’s it—keep going,” Emily coaxed.
Kayla took a deep breath, let it out, and eased herself into the water.
The temperature was shocking to her body. She thrashed for a moment with the anxiety of drowning, but the life vest held her head above the water.
“It’s okay, you’re fine,” Emily insisted. “Put your arms around my neck.”
Kayla clung to Emily as they slowly swam away from the boat. Kayla glanced back expecting to see the heavyset man coming after them, but no one appeared. She thought it looked like a ghost ship in the fog.
Turning her focus back to Emily, she concentrated on the dock as they eased closer. The numbness in her legs and back outweighed her fear of drowning. She knew that she was finally safe.
Several consecutive waves smacked their faces, but Emily kept a strong steady pace.
Kayla coughed and choked on the water that flooded into her mouth. Her face stung like tiny needles piercing her cheeks. She kept her arms tightly around Emily’s neck and could feel Emily’s heavy breathing as she pulled them closer to safety.
The thick fog continued to float across the harbor. It blanketed most of the boats and made the masts invisible.
A tall figure stood on the dock about six feet from the entrance. He had something in his arms. Kayla shook with fear, her imagination reeling her back to her captor.
The man moved quickly forward and helped them out of the water. He then wrapped Kayla in a warm thick blanket. His eyes were kind, his face stern, and he reminded Kayla of a police officer she once met in her neighborhood.
Breathless, Emily said, “Kayla, wait right here. The police are coming and they will take you home. Okay?”
“But—” her teeth chattered. “But—what about you?”
Emily smiled. “Don’t worry about me. You were very brave. I told you that you could do it.”
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
Both Emily and the man looked in the distance where red lights flashed—cars approaching fast.
“Why can’t you take me home?” Kayla asked.
Emily let out a sigh. “The police will be here in minutes. It’s their job to make sure that you’re okay, and they will take you home.”
The couple turned to leave. Kayla knew that they were like secret agents or undercover superheroes, and they had to leave because they didn’t want anyone to know their identities.
“Wait,” Kayla said.
Emily turned and looked at her.
“Thank you, Emily. I’ll never forget you,” she said, wanting to remember the details of Emily’s face.
She smiled and then hurried away.
Kayla stood on the dock and watched the couple disappear into the fog until she couldn’t see them anymore.
The sirens approached at high speed.
Three police cars turned down the street leading through the harbor entrance. Their headlights focused on Kayla shivering, wet, and waiting for them.
About the Author
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning author and consulting criminologist. She has authored eight crime fiction novels, including the multiple award-winning Emily Stone thriller series along with a screenwriting workbook.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor degree in police forensics and a Master’s degree in criminology. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.
Contact Links
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Vera King
Science Fiction, Mystery
Date Published: 7-30-2017
Cold and alone, Jeffrey Kenneth awakens in a bizarre hospital-like room in the basement of an empty house on an isolated island. After a daring escape he is rescued by a passing cargo vessel and brought into the care of security expert Vera King. Mysteries continue to unfold as they search for his captors.
Excerpt
“Excuse me, miss.” A mousey, brown haired nurse in pink floral scrubs looked up from her clipboard and sunk back in speechless horror from the figure towering in front of her. “Sorry to bother you, but I can’t seem to find room number 214.” She shook her head slightly; the corners of her lips nervously twitched upward as she forced a smile, “Of course, sir. It’s right down that hall to the left.” The large man leaned over and used his right (and only) eye to follow along her finger, “Thank you.” Gripping the clipboard tightly to her chest, the nurse gawked at the near seven foot, barrel chested man in black as he strutted away revealing a large, grotesque scar wrapped around the back of his bald head that ended at a missing left ear.
As he reached for the knob of the door labeled ‘214’, it turned on its own and opened; out walked Doctor Ashlan briskly, nearly colliding with the immense individual. “Oh, sorry sir,” the man said, “I didn’t mean to startle you.” Ashlan collected himself and flashed a quick smile, “That’s not a problem at all.” The stranger stepped aside and held out his hand signalling for the doctor to pass. With one last look up and down the daunting gentleman, Ashlan nodded and continued along his way -Must be one of Vera’s men.
Once again the man reached for the knob and entered. Immediately he locked his eye with those of a curly haired woman in a red coat sitting next to an unconscious patient. “Vera King?” he asked. She raised her eyebrow and hesitantly replied, “Yes?” The frightening energy from the new arrival had her instinctively reaching under her jacket.
The man smiled, revealing rows of crooked and missing teeth, then thrust his hand behind his back. To his left, faintly out of view, Martin exited the bathroom just in time to see the silver glint of the gun as the man lifted the back of his shirt.
About the Author
C.S. Warner grew up with a love of the horror and science fiction genres – as evident in her writing. Because of that passion, she has worked on ghost tours and as a paranormal investigator to give her stories life. Using her experience as a foundation for her writing, Warner creates worlds for her readers to get lost in.
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M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧ 