INK: Vanishing Point (Book 2) (33 page)

Still my brain won’t turn off.
It’s running a hundred miles an hour just trying to catch up
with Shay Baynes. Tomorrow we’ll have the results from the
blood evidence, and I’m betting we have enough to pick her up.
There’s no doubt in my mind that she killed Aiden Roth, and
while we can’t nail her for the other murders, we’ll get
her for this one.

I bring my plate into the kitchen and
rinse it and put it in the dishwasher, then wash my hands. A light in
the back yard catches my eye. In the back corner of the yard, the
lights are on in the tool shed.
That’s
strange.

After putting my shoes on and drawing my
service weapon, I quietly go out the back door to the shed. Listening
outside for any sounds, I can hear some shuffling. When I burst in
the door, gun at the ready, I’m pushed back by what I find.
There are what appear to be human organs hanging from the ceiling,
creating pools of blood on the floor.

“
Your handiwork
.”
There’s a whisper in my ear. I look around to find the source
of the voice when movement catches my eye.

In the back corner there’s someone
on the floor on her knees. She’s beaten up and languishing in
her own blood and urine. Her hair is straggly and her clothes are
soaked in blood. She’s blindfolded and gagged. I’m
paralyzed by the horror of what I’m seeing. I’ve seen a
lot of shit, but this is… “You!” It rides out on a
whisper of realization that the one thing I’ve been chasing for
months is right here. “Shayleigh Baynes, as I live and
breathe.” I’m not sure whether to untie her feet or retie
her hands.

“You are the one with the power
now. She’s exactly where you want her –
vulnerable, weak, captured.
Wrapped up special just for you, Glass, you just have to decide what
you’re going to do.” The voice permeates my being. I’m
not sure if I can hear it in my head or if it’s external.

She looks in the direction of my voice
and makes muffled sounds through the gag. I take two steps backward.
What do I do?

“Put your mark on her. Besides,
you can admire your previous efforts.” The voice urges me
closer to her.

The gun feels heavy in my hand, and I
look down to find a box cutter in my other hand.
Maybe
go for her pretty face that makes her so untouchable.

“That’s the spirit, Glass.
Get creative.” The voice cheers for me, making me feel
powerful.

I take two tentative steps toward her;
she’s still feeling around the floor like a blind animal trying
to find its way. Her ankles are still bound to the chair by ropes.
She’ll never defy me again.

“Yes, she did defy you, didn’t
she?” the voice reminds me. “She’s made a fool of
you at every turn.”

I lean back against the workbench,
looking at the box cutter, then her. After thinking for a good long
while, my next actions are clear. I know it like I know my name.

She’s struggling to get the
blindfold off. She manages to get it off and sees me coming toward
her. Something in her stare stops me in my tracks, maybe the
recognition in her eyes. Frantically she starts working on the
restraints on her ankles. Trying to untie the swollen rope is
impossible with her hands so torn up from trying to escape. Terror is
seeping from her eyes. She sees me. She sees what I’m doing. I
have to stop her.

Her screaming, though muffled by the
gag, gets louder the closer I get.

“Yes, yes detective.” The
sound of the voice is overwhelming in my head and my vision is
blurred. I can’t see her anymore, but I try to stumble forward
to her. There is nothing but darkness, as though the lights have been
put out. I can still hear her muffled screams, but they sound further
and further away until I can see and feel nothing.

There’s a faint whisper before
darkness completely overcomes me. “Glass.”

To
Be Continued…

INK: Abstraction (Book 3)
Coming in the spring of 2014
Please sign up for my mailing list to get the latest news on all of my releases and announcements!
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While you wait for INK: Abstraction, consider reading
INK: Sketches
.
The events leading up to the start of the series.

Bringing the INK Series to life has been an amazing journey for me and I’m so glad you decided to come along with me. I hope you have enjoyed delving into the lives of Shay, Aiden and Eli as much as I have.

There is so much more in store for our favorite characters including a special announcement about McNab coming soon. To stay current with all of my news and get the skinny first please join my mailing list. I promise I’ll only send email when I have big news and you’ll be the first to know. Sign up here.

Also, please consider leaving an honest review for INK: Vanishing Point at your point of purchase and Goodreads. Reviews are often instrumental in helping other readers find stories they will enjoy. Reviews are also very important to indie authors; we really do listen and appreciate every review.

If you would like to keep up with me and my day to day madness I’m very active on
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and would love for you to join the discussion!

Attending author/reader events is one of my favorite parts of being a writer. I’m in complete awe of my readers and getting to meet you face to face is incredibly exciting! To find out if I’ll be coming to a city near you please visit
my event page
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[email protected]
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Thank you again for taking the time to enter my madness! I hope you continue to enjoy reading the series as much as I’m enjoying writing it!

• INK: Sketches (Book 0)
  
• INK: Fine Lines (Book 1)
  
• INK: Vanishing Point (Book 2)
  
• INK: Abstraction (Book 3)
  Coming spring of 2014
  

To my readers, you amaze me
beyond belief! So many of you have taken a chance on this new series
and have given me such wonderful feedback. Getting to know so many of
you through social media has been one of the best parts of writing
for me. So thank you so much for all of your amazing support!

Thanks my amazing street
team captain and number 1 cheerleader! She’s kept me going
through the dark times. To “The Bros” who inspired and
continue to encourage me and make me feel like the coolest old lady
ever. To one of my dearest friends Chris Marks who is a pillar of
strength when all else feels lost. To Ellen, we-are-one-body, who
continues to cheer me on. To Misha, who never leaves my side, who
still tolerates me running over her tail more times than I can count,
Alli who is just really freakin’ cool and has been so helpful.
Thanks to Sarra Cannon who inspires and helps me along the way and
all of the amazing authors I’ve met over the last year online
and in person at events. You guys ROCK!

Special thanks to an
incredible lady who I will forever consider the “Waterer of
Dreams” Addison Moore who unknowingly sent me my “sign”
when disaster stopped me in my tracks. This book and any other book I
ever write were made possible by her. Addison’s encouragement
and support is what kept me going when all hope was lost. “Thank
You” feels so insignificant in comparison to what you’ve
done for me. You are an angel!

Bella Roccaforte grew up near Cape Cod, Massachusetts where her brother, sister and wonderful nieces and nephews live, but has lived all over the country. She currently calls Atlanta, GA home with her husband, five children and her stalwart dog Misha.

She loves to answer emails and interact with readers!
Contact her anytime
[email protected]
.
 
For more information please visit her website
BellaWrites.com
.