Above all, they required discretion.
Madame Bouchard had been a shrewd woman.
She had known my bakery team was made of street-smart, skilled trafficked survivors who knew a lot more than how to bake an award-winning cake.
We’d banded together in our youths to battle the criminals who’d come to hunt us and enslave us. Together, we knew how to fight a good fight, pick the right weapon, fire a clean shot, blow up a building and hack into their accounts, and expose their dirty deeds to the world.
We’d been on the radar of Interpol and the CIA and had escaped across four continents.
Madame Bouchard had known our pasts. She’d used us and our skills when she was alive, just like she was using us after her death.
She’d sealed the deal by promising our anti-trafficking non-profit a sizable donation from her estate every time I took a call from one of her friends. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Even when the risks were great.
What I didn’t tell my fiancé, David, my best friend, Katy, or anyone else in my found family was that I looked forward to these cases. Eagerly.
The lure of solving an impossible problem, of unraveling a mystery no one else could, wasn’t just intellectually stimulating, it was an irresistible challenge.
There was also only so much I could take, catering to demanding, self-entitled socialites at my upscale bakery.
If I had to be honest with myself, I missed the lure of adventure of my youth. Even the worries whirling in my head now paled in comparison to the anticipation of what we’d find on that island.
Tetyana and David had wanted to join us, but they were held by contract to offer kickboxing classes for a Manhattan corporation’s wellness program till Saturday.
I had promised David a quiet camping trip next week. Just me and him for once. But he and I both knew these cases never ended when I thought they would.
“There goes my romantic getaway with David,” I said with a resigned sigh. “He’s not going to be a happy puppy.”
“Didn’t he want to shut classes down and come?” asked Katy.
“We need the money to pay rent. It’s not like Harlem’s cheap anymore. Besides, we can’t keep closing business every time Madame Bouchard’s friends call us like this.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little freaky?” said Katy, pulling her woolen hat over her ears. “We keep talking like she’s alive, when she died eight months ago.”
“Whatever her game, we can’t say no to a million-dollar donation for the orphanage. There’s so much we can do. A new school, more nurses, and teachers for the kids in NOLA. None of that comes cheap.”
“It feels like she’s still around,” said Katy with a shudder, “the way she pulls on our strings. She always liked to play games.”
“It was her plan, but it’s her lawyer who’s pulling our strings now. She made it clear in her will.” I thought of the generous retainer that had arrived in our bank account this week. “Besides, this time, the client’s paying us a tidy sum too.”
“Oi!” shouted a panicked male voice. “Oi! Wait up!”
I whirled around, wondering who was joining us.
MERCILESS GAMES - CHAPTER THREE
A pale, thin man in a brown beret was running up the pier, a rucksack on his shoulders.
“Ahoy!” he yelled at the ferry captain. “Wait for me!”
“How did he get here?” said Katy, squinting at the figure. “I didn’t hear a car. Did you?”
“Probably ran down from the village.”
“Looks a little too sickly for a ride on these waves.”
“That’s one down,” I said, scanning the horizon. “One more and we should be on our way.”
We stood at the end of the pier, ignoring the ocean spray splashing against our pants, watching the man stumble uncertainly onto the boat.
Mike didn’t even bother to welcome the newcomer.
He was crouched in the far corner of his boat, puttering around the engine. We’d heard the engine start and sputter for some time now, solidifying Katy’s fears of us drowning in the middle of the ferry ride.
The new passenger turned his back to the driver. Choosing the corner of the deck with the most cover, he threw his rucksack down and huddled on the bench. He wrapped his arms around him and shuddered. I was sure he felt as miserable as he looked.
“I expected Ian Fleming in a tuxedo,” said Katy. “This guy looks like he crawled out of a bat cave. So disappointing.”
“He could be one of those flip-flop-wearing millionaire artists.”
“These writers are crazy,” said Katy, shaking her head, as the man retreated even farther into his corner. “Why do they torture themselves like this?”
“Maybe it’s what makes their muse come alive.”
Not wanting to stare, we turned back toward the ocean to watch the waves roll in, getting bigger and bigger as the wind gust turned into a small gale.
A ping came from my pocket, and I pulled my phone out. It was David. I texted him back saying we’d arrived fine and were just ready to get on the boat.
“Tetyana can run the dojo and I can join you after today’s class ends,” he replied.
I typed back.
“Sweetie, we’re fine. Our phones will work on the island, so we can talk anytime. Stop worrying.”
I paused and sent another note before he could object.
“It’s great here. Lots of fresh air and the sea. Love you, babe. XXXX.”
The sound of car tires crunching on the gravel made me turn around.
“The second guest,” I whispered as a young man struggled out of the cab with an extra-large suitcase. He was wearing a pair of worn cargo pants and a camouflage jacket.
“Are all novelists this scrawny?” asked Katy. “They look like they haven’t eaten for weeks or seen the sun in months.”
I shrugged. I was a baker, not a writer, and had little insight into the minds of eccentric story spinners. Besides, it was Mike who was worrying me now.
We could hear the boat come to life and die repeatedly as he kept pulling levers and pushing buttons. The smell of diesel was overpowering and made me wonder if we’d get to the island today.
Suddenly, the engine roared to life. Mike wiped his hands and stood up, hands on his hips, a satisfied look on his face.
“Time to head back,” I said, nudging Katy.
We ambled over to the boat, trying not to breathe in the diesel smoke.
The man who’d just arrived was huffing his way across the pier, dragging his oversized suitcase behind him. It was a good thing his luggage had wheels. I wondered why he’d packed so much for just a weekend retreat.
“He’s a kid,” I said in a low voice, as we got within thirty feet from him. “Just a teen.”
“Don’t think so,” said Katy, “malnourished maybe, but not a kid.”
As we got closer, I realized she was right. He was in his mid-twenties at the most. Just as I was about to walk up and offer to help with his suitcase, he wobbled.
He was teetering too close to the edge of the jetty.
“Watch out!” I called out.
But it was too late. He fell into the water with a splash.
“Oh, my god!” cried Katy, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Man overboard!” I yelled, racing toward him.
He was flailing, apparently unable to swim. I looked around desperately for a life vest or a ring buoy to throw at him, but there was nothing around us.
“Help!” I shouted. But Mike had his head down next to the roaring engine, absorbed in his task, not hearing a thing anymore.
The first writer in the boat simply stared, his face pale.
What is wrong with these people?
Katy and I dashed to the edge of the pier and leaned over the dock. We extended our arms to the drowning man.
“Here!” I yelled. “Grab us!”
“Come this way!” shouted Katy.
But he seemed disoriented. Then, suddenly,
he dipped under the water and disappeared from sight.
“Oi!” hollered Katy, jumping up and waving her arms at the boat. “We need a life vest! Someone help!”
But there was no time.
My heart pounding, I pulled off my jacket and shook my boots off.
Taking a quick breath in, I dove off the pier into the frigid water.
CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE!
The next book in the Merciless Murder Mystery Thriller series is MERCILESS GAMES.
GET THE BOOK HERE TO find out what Asha and Katy confront next: www.TikiriHerath.com/Mysteries
SEVEN STRANGERS ARE invited to an exclusive writers’ retreat on a remote island off the coast of Oregon.
Their stay will be at a hundred-year-old lighthouse revamped into a luxury ocean-front getaway for the discerning and wealthy literati who shy from publicity.
Asha arrives on the island, believing her job is to cater to this sagacious celebrity party.
But before the weekend is over, an unseen killer will attempt to murder them, one by one.
With their phones taken away and their only connection to the mainland cut off, panic sets in on the island. Everyone suspects each other and a chilling realization dawns on them.
They are all connected by one horrific incident in the past they’d rather forget.
The mysterious killer has only one stipulation—delivered by an anonymous message on a bathroom wall. If Asha can identify the true motivation for these assassinations, the remaining guests will be spared.
Knowing there is now a target on her back as well, Asha races against the clock to crack the killer’s code before more innocents die.
But are these seven guests as innocent as they make out to be?
Can you identify the killer before Asha does?
GET BOOK HERE: www.TikiriHerath.com/Mysteries
Deleted Scene!
A writer’s life isn’t easy.
A lot of hair-pulling, gut-wrenching, brain-hurting, solitary hours go into writing a novel. But some story scenes don’t always make it into the final edition.
If you’d like to read the extra scenes that didn’t go into the published book, you can download them right here. If you’re especially new to Asha and the Red Heeled Rebels team, you’ll enjoy learning more about their quirks and backgrounds.
DELETED SCENE FOR MERCILESS Legacy: Mrs. Robinson’s Dilemma.
Enjoy the read! But shh... please don’t tell my editor.
The Merciless Murder Mystery Series
www.TikiriHerath.com/mysteries
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO for a million-dollar payout?
A private investigator gets a million dollars from an eccentric client’s estate every time she solves a cold case.
Asha accepts this bizarre challenge, but what she doesn’t bargain for is to be drawn into the dark underworld of her past again.
The only thing that propels her forward now is a burning desire for justice.
TRYING TO ESCAPE HER troubled past, Asha Kade starts a new life in New York as a celebrity baker for the city’s socialites.
Business is booming. Her high-society clients love her creations. She's engaged to the love of her life, and she's surrounded by her closest and most loyal friends.
Things are looking up.
Finally.
Until one day, an unusual bequest from a former wealthy client draws her back into the dark underworld of murders, kidnappings, and the haunting crimes of her youth.
For every cold case she will solve, her client’s estate will award her a million dollars. But this reward comes with a twist. It must all go to a charity registered to help trafficked and orphaned children.
Asha has no choice.
She is compelled to fulfill the dying woman’s last wish. Especially as the benefactors of her work will be those who have endured horrors much like she had in her youth.
Fighting her own past demons, Asha gets drawn further and further into a new life of investigating cold cases no one else can crack. Cases someone would rather she not solve.
But there is no turning back for Asha now.
PICK UP THIS BRAND new murder mystery series for a pulse-pounding, bone-chilling adventure from the comfort and warmth of your favorite reading chair at home.
Can you find the killer before Asha does?
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT this exciting new series, go to www.TikiriHerath.com/mysteries.
THE Merciless Murder Mystery Thrillers
Merciless Legacy
Merciless Games
Merciless Crimes
Merciless Lies
Merciless Past
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT this exciting new series, go to www.TikiriHerath.com/mysteries.
Sign up to read the first chapters of Merciless Legacy for free!
The Red Heeled Rebels Thriller Series
www.RedHeeledRebels.com
In a world where justice no longer prevails, six iron-willed women rally together to seek vengeance on those who stole their humanity.
This is a story where the thrill of Kill Bill meets the wrath of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
If you like gripping thrillers with flawed but gutsy heroines, vigilante action in exotic locales and twists that leave you at the edge of your seat, you’ll love these books by multiple award-winning Canadian novelist, Tikiri Herath.
Pick up the Red Heeled Rebels books for a heart-pounding international adventure without having to get a passport or even buy an airline ticket!
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING on Amazon and Goodreads:
• “Fast-paced and exciting!”
• “An exciting and thought-provoking book.”
• “A wonderful story! I didn’t want to leave the characters.”
• “I couldn't put down this exciting road trip adventure with a powerful message.”
• “Another award-worthy adventure novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
• “A heart-stopping adventure. I just couldn’t put the book down till I finished reading it.”
• “Kept me mesmerized and captivated with the rich descriptions which made me feel like I was actually inside the story.”
• “This is a fantastic read that will have you traveling the globe. I absolutely loved this book. You won't be able to put it down!”
• “A real page-turner and international thriller. Reminds me of why I’ve always loved to read. Because I can visit worlds and places, I wouldn’t ordinarily get to see.”
To learn more about this addictive series, go to www.RedHeeledRebels.com
PREQUEL: THE GIRL WHO Crossed the Line
BOOK ONE: The Girl Who Ran Away
BOOK TWO: The Girl Who Made Them Pay
BOOK THREE: The Girl Who Fought to Kill
BOOK FOUR: The Girl Who Broke Free
BOOK FIVE: The Girl Who Knew Their Names
BOOK SIX: The Girl Who Never Forgot
AWARDS & PRAISE FOR The Red Heeled Rebels books:
• Grand Prize Award Finalist - 2019 Eric Hoffer Award, USA
• First Horizon Award Finalist - 2019 Eric Hoffer Award, USA
• Honorable Mention General Fiction - 2019 Eric Hoffer Award, USA
• Winner First-In-Category - 2019 Chanticleer Somerset Award, USA
• Semi-Finalist - 2020 Chanticleer Somerset Award, USA
• Winner in 2019 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, USA
• Winner of 2019 Silver Medal - Excellence E-Lit Award, USA
• Winner in Suspense Category - 2018 New York Big Book Award, USA
• Finalist in Suspense Category - 2018 & 2019 Silver Falchion Awards, USA
• Honorable Mention - 2018-19 Reader Views Literary Classics Award, USA
• Publisher's Weekly Booklife Prize - 2018, USA
Acknowledgments
To my amazing, talented, superstar editor, Stephanie Parent, thank you, as always, for coming on this literary journey with me and for helping make these books the best they can be.
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TO MY FANTASTIC INTERNATIONAL team of beta readers who helped me through this adventure, who cheered me on as I toiled, and who gave me their frank feedback, thank you. In alphabetical order of first name:
• Blessmore Chikwakwa, Zimbabwe
• Carolyn Pennett-Staresinic, Canada
• Cyndi Wannamaker, Canada
• Laura Edwards, USA
• Michele Kapugi, USA
• Natasja Smith, South Africa
• Stephie Smith, USA
TO ALL THE KIND AND generous readers who take the time to review my novels and share their frank feedback, thank you so much. Your support is invaluable.
I’m immensely grateful to you all for your kind and generous support, and would love to invite you for a glass of British Columbian wine or a cup of Ceylon tea with chocolates when you come to Vancouver next!
About the Author
Tikiri Herath is the multiple-award-winning Canadian author of international thriller and mystery novels and the Rebel Diva self-empowerment books.
For eighteen years, she worked in risk management in the intelligence and defense sectors, including in the Canadian Federal Government and at NATO. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and a master's degree from the Solvay Business School in Brussels.
Tikiri's an adrenaline junkie who has rock climbed, bungee jumped, rode on the back of a motorcycle across Quebec, flown in an acrobatic airplane upside down, and parachuted solo.
Merciless Legacy: Merciless Murder - A Thrilling Closed Circle Mystery Series Page 30
