by Angie Sandro
The moon lets in faint light through the treetops. I allow my eyes to adjust, then lead my group toward the crime scene. Sheriff Keyes, the parish coroner Dr. James Rathbone, Detective Bessie Caine, and two crime scene technicians with their large flashlights and bags of equipment follow like the pack of stampeding buffalo that caused the traffic accident.
Damn. I’m sick of this crawling, choking feeling of dread. It smothers me with each step. My breaths quicken. I desperately try to take my mind off of seeing Lainey again. I really, really don’t want to go back. But I owe it to George to suck it up. Only a selfish loser would abandon him when he’s waiting for me. Plus it’s part of the job description.
Sheriff Keyes pats my shoulder, and I flinch. “Are you doing okay?” he asks.
My voice cracks, but I manage a shaky smile as I say, “Well, sir, stumbling across that girl’s body tonight certainly put some gray hairs on my head. I’ll look as stately as you soon enough, if I’m not careful.”
He runs his fingers through his silver hair. “I’ve seen a lot of untimely deaths in my life, and it’s never easy or kind on the living.”
My head drops as I sigh. “No, it’s not.”
“All things considered, you handled a difficult situation like a professional.”
Joy rushes through me. I squeeze my hands together and hold in my squeal. It won’t do to act like a dippy-brained teenager after getting such a high compliment from my hero. The sheriff doesn’t know it, but he’s the closest thing I have to a father figure. I’ve idolized him ever since I was a little tot, hanging onto Mama’s skirt and trying not to cry as she was carted off to jail. He teases me to make me feel normal. And I tease him back to feel strong. He’ll never admit it to me, but he likes my spunk. I overheard him tell Bessie so.
Keep it cool, Mala. “I hope you’ll remember you said that when I apply for deputy next year and not all the silly things I’ve done since you’ve known me, Sheriff.”
He gives me a weary smile. “I don’t think that will be a problem. Ah, Bessie’s coming. I’ll let the two of you take point.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the chief detective reaches me, I wrap my arm around her waist. “Hey, Bessie, konmen to yê?”
“Çé bon, mèsi,” Detective Bessie Caine says, squeezing me so tight that I almost trip. When she loosens her grip enough for me to step aside, I see her solemn expression, but I also detect a bit of a twinkle in her dark eyes. She’s always been nice to me. Hell, to be honest, she raised me. At least once a week, when Mama got too drunk to drive home, Bessie dragged her out of the bar and dropped her off at the house. She even stayed a bit to make sure I had something to eat since Mama tended to forget that a growing girl needed food.
Bessie sighs. “So, tell me what happened.”
I shrug and pull from the safety of her arms. “Pretty much what I told Ms. Dixie. I found the girl—Lainey Prince—floating in the bayou…”
Bessie places her hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “You didn’t mention a name when you called, Malaise. How do you know her?”
“I don’t. Georgie recognized her. Speaking of, maybe we can move a little faster ’cause he’s all alone and kind of freaked about the gators.”
Sheriff Keyes chuckles from behind. “Oh, is he?”
Instant regret stabs a hole in my chest. I didn’t realize he’d be able to overhear our conversation. Why did I open my big mouth? Not wanting to make George look bad, I say, “George secured the crime scene, and he’s protecting it from gators. I also saw tracks this morning for Mamalama. She’s the biggest razorback we’ve got in these parts. It’s lucky I found Lainey before that old boar came for water and smelled her, or the boar might’ve eaten her.”
Sheriff Keyes points the flashlight directly at my face. “That’s a gory thought.”
Blinking, I shrug and pick up my pace. “I like to watch mob movies. Pigs eat anything. I’ve heard the best way to dispose of a body is to throw it in a pigpen. Not that I’ve been researching body disposal for a specific reason or anything.” Oh God, Mala shut up.
Bessie’s shoulders twitch, her version of a knee-slapping guffaw.
I blush and duck my head, wishing I could rewind the last few minutes. Great. I protected George’s reputation by making myself look like a blithering idiot.
The report of a gunshot fills the air and, with it, a shout.
“Georgie!” I yell, and lurch forward. I never should’ve left him alone.
Acknowledgments
To the readers of the Dark Paradise series, thank you. If these novels allowed you to escape for a single second from the troubles of your daily life, then I truly have attained my dream. To receive news about my upcoming releases, exclusive excerpts, and giveaways, sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/9xH8X
The Dark Paradise series was a labor of love, and I am grateful to the many people who have helped me along the way. Without your support, I would not be seeing a lifelong dream come true. My love and gratitude goes to my family, whose unwavering support inspired me. Nate, my soul mate, thank you for talking me off the ledge whenever I wanted to quit and for keeping me supplied with chocolate and peach tea. Kierstan and Maxwell, Mama could not have done this without your patience and love. You inspire me every day. Dreams are attainable when your loved ones believe in you. Never give up. To my parents and, later, my in-laws, you cultivated a love of reading and writing in your children and grandchildren. Thank you for that gift. To my supportive siblings, I love you.
To my amazing agent, Kathleen Rushall, you are my champion, a friend, and the Ned Stark of my heart. You never gave up hope and found us the perfect home at Grand Central Publishing. To my amazing editor, Alex Logan, I appreciate the opportunity that you have given me. You amaze me with your questions, your insight, and your willingness to push me to be the best that I can be. My gratitude to Madeleine Colavita, Penina Lopez, Fareeda Bullert, Jodi Rosoff, Siri Silleck, and the rest of the extraordinary Grand Central team who work so hard behind the scenes to make their authors feel special and wonderful.
Thank you to my amazing critique partners. Carla Rehse, Sarah Gagnon, and Martha Mayberry, my writing sisters, you mean the world to me. Thanks for reading my rough first chapters and making them shine. Donald McFatridge, King of Echoes, thanks for getting my twisted sense of humor by being even more twisted. You’re the funniest man I know. Michelle Hauck, Queen of Plotholes, thank you for catching my dangling threads. Without you nothing in this story would make a lick of sense.
Thank you Joyce Alton, Jennifer Troemner, Diana Robicheaux, Jason Peridon, Kierstan Sandro, Bessie Slaton, Jonathan Allen, Christine Berman, Lyndsay McCreery, Dena Neva, and Margaret Fortune. You all rock! I couldn’t have done this without you.
To my wonderful friends and coworkers at BCP, thank you for listening to my crazy ideas. You supported me when I only thought of this as an unattainable dream. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Also by Angie Sandro
Dark Paradise
Dark Sacrifice
Dark Redemption
Dark Embrace
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.
Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father’s family in Louisiana inspired this story.
Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador.
Learn more at:
http://anjeasandro.blogspot.com/
TWITTER:
@AngieSandro
FACEBOOK:
http://facebook.com/pages/Angie-Sandro/253044268078356
Don’t miss any of the titles in this series.
&nbs
p; “A vivid and entertaining storyteller, Sandro is an exciting new writer to watch.”
—J. A. Redmerksi, New York Times bestselling author
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
CHAPTER 1: Bessie
CHAPTER 2: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 3: Bessie
CHAPTER 4: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 5: Bessie
CHAPTER 6: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 7: Bessie
CHAPTER 8: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 9: Bessie
CHAPTER 10: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 11: Bessie
CHAPTER 12: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 13: Bessie
CHAPTER 14: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 15: Bessie
CHAPTER 16: Ferdinand
CHAPTER 17: Bessie
An Excerpt from DARK PARADISE
Acknowledgments
Also by Angie Sandro
About the Author
Don’t miss any of the titles in this series.
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Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Angie Sandro
Excerpt from the Dark Paradise © 2014 by Angie Sandro
Cover design by Rebecca Lown
Cover copyright © 2016 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First ebook edition: February 2016
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ISBN 978-1-4555-3766-2
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