CHAPTER 1
Something was wrong. The spirit of the place—it felt menacing…unsettled.
Rosa Martinez scanned the basilica with growing unease.
Ten minutes earlier, she had shuffled through the entrance of the ornate Catholic edifice. Years of hard labor as a nightshift janitor for the new office buildings in Guadalajara’s business district had ground her down. Now, the simple act of walking the full length of the church’s main aisle required substantial effort. Following the habit of decades, though, she had made her way to the front pew and kneeled in reverence.
Working the nightshift conferred one benefit. At 3:00 A.M., no one else occupied the sanctuary—no screaming children or noisy tourists snapping photos. Just her and the holy silence. As she did most nights, she had retreated to the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan to rest and draw strength from her faith before returning to her tiny apartment a block away.
Tonight, the silence had been broken. But from where? And by what?
Under the cupola, the depiction of Jesus on the cross sat undisturbed, as did the centuries-old wood carving of the Virgin Mary. The faint aroma of candles and incense filled the sanctuary as always.
Rosa swiveled her head to inspect the rows behind her. No living being had entered the building. Her apprehension grew. She knew this church like one of her children…knew how it was supposed to sound. What was causing—?
There! In the corner, a hiss and tendril of steam rose from a spot where stone floors met walls covered in tapestries and statues. But what could cause this? In all her many years, she had never seen such a thing.
The hiss of released heat grew louder. A tremor passed through Rosa. Or had it passed through the building? In her panic, she couldn’t be sure.
A stronger seismic wave rippled through the building.
Wooden pews rattled on the marble floor like the thundering hooves of a cavalry charge. A brass cross and the instruments of communion toppled from the altar, while jagged cracks zigzagged through the ancient structure’s plaster walls.
“Dios mío!” cried Rosa. She pulled herself to her feet and hobbled back up the aisle, hoping to reach the entrance before the entire building collapsed.
As if anticipating this end, a great roar erupted from the front of the church—the sound of wood and stone tumbling into tangled piles.
Rosa didn’t turn. If only her swollen knees would carry her faster.
As quickly as the catastrophe began, it ended. All trembling ceased—in the building if not in Rosa herself.
The sound of settling rubble echoed throughout the structure, and a thick cloud of dust enveloped the interior, sending the musty odor of centuries to every corner of the church.
Feeling heartsick, Rosa turned back to look. Surely the tremblor had thrown this magnificent structure, Zapopan’s crown jewel of four centuries, into ruin and disarray.
But the settling of dust revealed damage less severe than she would have imagined. The walls and ceiling stood intact, leaving the flow of electricity to the building’s dim lights uninterrupted. Most of the floor had survived the earthquake—with the exception of a gaping hole in front of the communion table’s kneeling rail. Steam billowed from the empty space.
Rosa knew the Basilica’s structure must be unstable, but a surge of curiosity propelled her back to the heart of the sanctuary. Studying the cracked walls and ceiling with a sense of dread, she picked her way around fallen pews and chunks of plaster to return to the front.
She reached the hole and peered into the gloomy abyss. At first, only piles of debris could be discerned in the faint light. But seconds later, a different sight—a more profound one—greeted her fearful gaze.
She clasped shaking hands over her mouth. For the second time in a half-dozen minutes, she exclaimed, “Dios mío!”
PURCHASE OTHER BOOKS IN ALTON AND MALLORY’S “BLACKWELL FILES” SERIES NOW!
(Books 1 – 3 combined: Nefarious, Ruthless, and T Wave Boxed Set)
Book 1: Nefarious
Book 2: Ruthless
Book 3: T Wave
Book 4: Havoc
Book 5: The Devil’s Due
Book 6: The Evolution of Evil
Book 7: Tears of God
Book 8: When the Killing Starts
Book 9: Coming in 2017. See below for notification when available.
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Like your thrillers more intense? Author Steven F. Freeman also writes under the name Malcolm Pierce.
Blood Passage
Maintenance supervisor Brian Francisco goes to sleep for the night in his Midwest apartment and awakes to find himself a prisoner aboard an oil tanker at sea.
“An Unforgettable ride” Readers’ Favorite five-star review
Interested in a stand-alone short story? This 30-minute read (not part of The Blackwell Files) makes a perfect bedtime story:
Coming Home
*****
Have you heard the one about the thriller/mystery writer who wrote a children’s book about a dog?
It’s true! In Paw Prints: The True Story of a Three-Pawed Dog, Nicky the three-pawed Maltese wants a forever home but can't seem to find one. Follow his adventures as he encounters rescue workers, foster families, and a collection of other dogs. Some of the humans he meets are nice, but will he ever find a loving home of his own?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author Steve Freeman is a former member of the US Army's Signal Corps, a twenty-nine year employee of a large American technology company, and an avid traveler who has visited every continent but Antarctica. The novels of The Blackwell Files draw from his firsthand knowledge of military service, the tech industry, and the diverse cultures of our world.
He currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.
Visit www.SteveFreemanWriter.com for a complete list of his titles.
When the Killing Starts (The Blackwell Files Book 8) Page 25
