Before Another Dies (36 page)

“Well.” He shifted, then seemed to find his cold heart. “It's just that with all the trouble the city has had with these horrible murders and their connection to the mayor . . . I just wanted you to know that we at Howard Enterprises want to help you regain your good name. If you are able to proceed with the eminent domain process, we can bring a viable and popular business to the blighted property. Of course, we could keep it all out of the courts if you'll just see the wisdom in what we propose. Already some of your colleagues have committed to—”

“I've had enough,” Tess snapped.

I knew the tone. I knew the look. This was going to be good.

“The only colleague you've made headway with is Councilman Overstreet. You approached him at one the worst times in his life and the report you gave him was a bundle of lies and fabrications. I spoke with Titus this morning. He's not ready to run with you or anyone from your organization. The property is not blighted. The business on that corner has been passed down through several generations. I see no reason to change that.”

He laughed. “You seem a little defensive. Well, then, if you won't take the reasonable approach we'll just have to bring in the courts.”

“I've been thinking about the courts a lot lately,” I said. “I've been talking to the city attorney, to the district attorney. I've got a few more people on my list. They're interested in the bribe—I mean the bundled contributions—you offered. I also have a call in to Mr. Rutger Howard.”

He blanched. “About what?”

“You remember that photo you had taken of us. The candid shot taken by a man pretending to be a stringer for the
Register
. Turns out he killed four people that we know about and physically attacked me, the mayor of this city, and a friend of mine. He held a gun on a police officer, disarmed him, and used him to gain entrance to a home where he shot two people. I was wondering how Mr. Howard felt about one of his employees hanging with a serial killer. Do you think that might tarnish his good name?”

“I didn't know he was a killer. I just met him on the pier. He said he was a reporter. I promised him a story. That's the only dealing I had with him.”

Tess leaned close to him. “Do you think that will make any difference? He was there because he was stalking Mayor Glenn. Your encounter may have been accidental, but no one is going to believe it.” She stood erect again. “Go away, Mr. Wentworth. Go away now.”

He did.

As Tess started to leave I stopped her. “Tess, when we have some time, I'd really like to see some of your other paintings.”

Then something surprising happened. She smiled.

I
was back in the home that I never thought I'd see again. Upstairs, I took a seat and Robby Hood put earphones on my head and adjusted the microphone to my mouth. He smiled as he sat on a heavily padded stool, one stiff leg hanging to the side. He had weeks of therapy to get back in shape, but he had been a lucky man. The bullet just grazed his pelvis instead of shattering it.

He looked at his computer monitor, then his clock. He cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone. “Greetings to my fellow denizens in the darkness, you who prefer moon to sun, and a walk on the weird side to the safety of television and popcorn. As you know, the strange story is my bread and butter, and folks, we have a story that I'm having trouble believing myself—and I lived it. Stay tuned because tonight's guest is the mayor of Santa Rita and candidate for congress, the Honorable Madison Glenn. She has my vote and after you hear her story, she'll have yours, too. Welcome, Mayor.”

The hour passed before I knew it, and Katie walked me down the stairs to the deck that overlooked the city and the ocean. Waiting for me was Jerry Thomas.

“Ready?” he said.

“Absolutely.” He took my hand, led me to the door, and then to his car.

Politics Is Rough—for Madison Glenn It's Deadly

The Incumbent

Alton Gansky

An abduction ... a trail of disturbing clues ...
Politics are about to become deadly.

As the controversial mayor of the beautiful coastal community of Santa Rita, Madison “Maddy” Glenn likes to face things head-on. But nothing can prepare her for a hostile visit from the chief of police—or his terrible news. Lisa Truccoli, Maddy's friend and the treasurer of her last campaign, has been kidnapped. All that remains at the crime scene is a shocking clue . .. with Maddy's name on it.

The ensuing hunt for answers only turns up more sinister clues in a terrifying game the abductor wants to play . . . with Maddy. Caught between a haunting past and a dangerous present, Maddy finds the walls that keep her from faith beginning to crumble.

The stakes turn lethal with a second abduction and a clue that reveals inside information about Maddy's run for Congress—a decision she has not made yet. Someone is going to dangerous lengths to make the choice for her ... but is it a choice she'll survive?

Softcover: 0-310-24958-9

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J. D. Stanton Mysteries

Out of Time

Alton Gansky

The fog released more of the ship. As he
watched the bow slowly emerge, Stanton
saw something that made his gut twist.
“This can't be.” Stanton stared at the gray-white
battleship. “It's a Dreadnought.”

But that kind of ship ceased sailing
three-quarters of a century ago.

It starts as a trip to help five troubled teens, courtesy of a new Navy youth program. With retired submarine commander J. D. Stanton serving as captain and two young naval officers heading the expedition, the state-of-the-art catamaran leaves port. It's a routine voyage . . . until a mysterious storm pulls Stanton and his crew into an eerie world of swirling mist and silence.

There is no sun, no moon or stars, no way to take a bearing. Electrical appliances fail. The diesel engine is sullen and unresponsive. And then, out of the mist, a ship slowly appears—HMS
Archer
, a pre-WW I Dreadnought.

A ship missing since 1913.

The antique vessel holds disturbing surprises: a ghostly crew . . . evidence of a mass murder . . . and a thousand questions. Now J. D. Stanton and his untried team must discover the answers—before this ship out of time leads them to their destruction.

Softcover: 0-310-24959-7

Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!

About the Publisher

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