by Paris Morgan
Street Team:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1442476186066361/
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/paris-morgan
Paris Morgan
Leo
Murders of the Zodiac
Book #7
Copyright © 2019 Alathia Paris Morgan writing as A. P. Morgan
Leo-Murders of the Zodiac Book 7
This is a work of fiction and in no way is meant to portray actual people, names, places, events or situations. The ideas were from the author’s own imagination and any resemblance to people living or dead is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission, except in the case of quotations for articles and reviews.
Editing by: Rebel Edit & Design
Book cover: Widget Wyvern Studios
Interior formatting: That Formatting Lady
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
A Note from the Author
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all of my team and the amount of my procrastination they deal with on a daily basis. Thank you.
More from Paris Morgan
Murders of the Zodiac
Aquarius Book 1
Pisces Book 2
Aries Book 3
Taurus Book 4
Gemini Book 5
Cancer Book 6
Leo Book 7
Virgo Book 8
Libra Book 9
Scorpio Book 10
Sagittarius Book 11
Capricorn Book 12
Surviving Death
Witness Protection Book 1
Writing as Alathia Morgan
Against Zombies Series
Moms Against Zombies Book 1
Military Against Zombies Book 2
Co-Eds Against Zombies Book 3
Churches Against Zombies Book 4
Geeks Against Zombies Book 5
Governments Against Zombies Book 6
Infected History Series
Infected Waters: A Titanic Disaster
Infected Poppy Fields: A WWI Disaster
Infected Storm Troopers: A WWII Disaster
Writing Romance as Pepper Paris:
Summer of Love
Carter: Summers of Love 1
Kelly: Summers of Love 2
Wade: Summers of Love 3
Jay: Summers of Love 4
Prologue
Leo’s Killer
I stood there looking into the glass case, longing to hold and feel the weight of the pistol resting inside the display case. That wasn’t the reason I had come into the shop today, though. I had a mission, and if it went well, I would be able to buy what I wanted instead of what he’d planned for me.
“Can I help you?” the man behind the counter offered helpfully.
“I’m supposed to pick up a package ordered by Mr. James.” I wanted to hide from the imposing man standing across from me, but if I couldn’t handle a simple pickup, then I was doomed.
“Ah, yes. Code word?” He eyed me thoughtfully.
“Leo the Lion,” I whispered. I cleared my throat before trying again, saying it louder, “Leo the Lion.”
“Hmph,” he grunted, disappearing into the back room. Moments later, he came out with a large box, with a smaller one on top.
“Here are the keys for the range. Only use it during the hours of 3-5 a.m., and make sure to collect all of your empty casings.” He shook his head, leaving the keys as he went to help a tattooed man checking out the automatic rifles.
Sliding the keys into my pocket, I pulled the boxes into my arms, almost dropping them because they weighed more than I’d expected.
Juggling them to get a good grip, I approached the door just in time for someone entering to hold it open. I nodded my thanks and continued out to my car, setting them on the hood so I could open the trunk. The last thing I needed was for the police to pull me over and ask to search the car.
I’d have to leave the larger box in the trunk when I returned to my apartment. With my recyclable bag holding a small box of shells, along with the small box, I made my way inside, away from the prying eyes of my neighbors.
Like a kid at Christmas, I ripped open the box that held my new Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm with a silencer.
I picked it up, enjoying the feel of the grip in my hand.
He’d given me about a week to become proficient before starting my assignment. I had to be stronger and learn how to make this work, because there were several people on my list who were going to be my test subjects.
A smile curved the edges of my lips. “It’s time for the mouse to become a lion.”
***
Flora
I’d been having trouble for the past few months because sleep would elude me whenever my head touched the pillow. Images, or visions, would float across the room, distorting the real from the potential real dreams I was having.
The problem was that I couldn’t tell what was important to the case I’d been helping Leslie Boxe and Ryan Fox on for the past six months.
Never a fan of the loud noises on the 4th of July, I’d taken a double dose of a PM sleeping medication. While I certainly could appreciate the want or need to celebrate the birth of my country, the sounds triggered emotions from those who’d been to war. Images that I never wanted to see would run in movie form until the sounds stopped, and the terror felt from those reliving their war experiences ended.
Using the only method I’d been able to find that could stop things was to ‘overdose’, or use more than was recommended, but it also meant that I was completely vulnerable while I was asleep.
I shouldn’t have been able to hear the knock at my door in my unconscious state, but it became amplified, like an echo, and I could see the man standing on my porch.
“Flora, you need to answer the door. You’re in danger. He’s coming for you.”
“I’m coming,” I called out, trying to sit up. Panic set in as I realized that I couldn’t move.
With a view of my body lying there, unmoving, I grew concerned that the feeling of urgency calling me was an urgent, immediate warning.
Normally, I would have sent Leslie a message, hoping that she could read what I told her, but her psychic abilities had slowed to almost nothing. So I reached out to the only person I knew who was on our side in this battle against the Zodiac Master—Adam Dalca.
“Help, Adam, something’s wrong! I took sleeping pills, but I got a warning that I’m in danger and I can’t wake up!”
“Flora?” His voice responded curiously. “You’re fuzzy. What’s going on?”
I wanted to scream as I felt the danger moving closer. Something, or someone, was trying to block my calls for help.
“Adam, please, help me! He’s coming!” I screamed and pushed it outside of my personal bubble with all of my energy. I fell back into my body as an evil laugh filled the air.
“You’re mine,” an eerie voice proclaimed through the darkness.
***
Adam
When I’d heard Flora’s voice calling to me, I hadn’t known at first who it was. Having a psychic connection to someone was unusual, but not impossible. My brother and I had that ability with each other.
I hadn’t met her yet, but our paths were about to cross now.
Racing through the living room, I jumped when a head appeared from the other side of the couch.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” My brother Galen rubbed the sleep from his eyes before looking at the clock in the kitchen. “It’s three in the morning.”
“Flora reached out to me and is
in danger. I’m headed over there to see what’s wrong.” I hastily strapped on my ankle gun and slid my normal Sig into my side holster.
“Whoa, hold on. Why are you going armed?” Galen slid his legs off the couch and into his slippers.
“Flora thought she was in enough danger to reach out to me, someone she only knows of through mutual friends, to help her. It must be urgent.”
“If she reached out psychically, then how do you know that she’s in danger now?”
“I don’t. With all that we’ve gone through the past few months, we can’t take anything for granted.”
Galen pulled a shirt over his head, muffling his remark.
“What?”
“I said, ‘This is certainly one way to get a girl to ask you over.’ Maybe next time, she can just call you. You know, the normal way,” he smirked.
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll text you when I know what the situation is.” I stood at the door, prepared to leave. “Keep an eye out for unusual events, both psychic and physical. Something’s off.”
“All right, I’ll see what I can figure out.” Galen glanced down the hall to where his son was sleeping. “I don’t want anything to happen now that I’ve gotten him somewhat adjusted.”
“Understood. Let’s hope it’s just a feeling and not something real.” I ran out to the car and started driving toward her side of the metroplex. It would take a while to reach her, I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
***
The address listed in the database was completely dark, as were the other houses on the street.
Unsure if there was a real threat, I reached out and let my senses feel if there were any issues in the area. Nothing seemed amiss, and the entire street appeared to be quiet. Actually, the normal street sounds were missing now that I thought about it.
I eased out of the car and kept an eye on my surroundings as I approached the door.
Not wanting to use a loud knock, I tapped lightly, hoping that I had the right house.
The mail in her box by the front door said Flora Martin. Breaking down her door was something that I would only use in times of extreme measures. What if she was simply sleeping and I busted through her door? Not a good way to introduce myself to someone by breaking into her house.
Maybe there was another way inside. I pulled out a few tools that would let me bypass her fairly simple locks.
The silence was deafening. I was used to relying on psychic impressions, and this was a huge void around her house. It could be chalked up to shields, but I felt that it was a more ominous warning about what I would find inside.
It was hard to see in the dark, but I didn’t want to alert anyone that was inside spotlighting my presence, so I crept forward, closing the door behind me gently.
There wasn’t anyone in the front room or the kitchen, and the back door was locked. If someone had made it inside, they’d had a key. Hopefully, Flora was still alive.
With a growing sense of dread, I pushed open the first bedroom door to a completely made bed and empty room.
Taking a deep breath, I glanced in the bathroom and moved on to the last closed door in her small place with my gun drawn. I eased the door open slowly.
Flora was lying on the bed, covered by a sheet or thin blanket. Her body moved with each breath, so I knew that she was alive. I gently shook her shoulder, but there was no response.
“Hey, Flora, I’m here. You’re safe.” I spoke quietly, but it sounded so loud in the silent house.
Walking back out to the other room, I still held my gun loosely in case I’d missed something, but all was exactly as it had been the first time I’d walked through.
There weren’t many ways to keep someone from breaking in like I had, but I placed a kitchen chair under the doorknobs so that it would make enough noise to alert me from Flora’s room.
Even though the other room held an unused bed, I wasn’t going to leave Flora’s side until the sun rose. I did grab the pillows and a light blanket to make a pallet on the floor next to her bed, though.
It would take a while for the adrenaline to calm before I could attempt to sleep, so I sent Galen a text.
Adam: I’m here. She’s unconscious at the moment. There was no one here, so I’m going to stay until she wakes up.
Galen: That’s going to be an interesting conversation. Hey, I broke in to watch you sleep. I was certain that you called me on our psychic connection.
Adam: You know, I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t asked. Besides, I’m not going to lose someone because it would be an awkward conversation if it keeps them alive.
Galen: It’s your funeral, ha-ha. I’m going back to sleep. I did some exercises, and other than the dark cloud that’s been on the horizon for months, nothing else seemed to pop.
Adam: I’ll inform Ryan and Leslie when it’s a decent hour. I’m not sensing that she has any shields up, so I’m going to set a few that should hold until morning.
Galen: Would be a wise decision considering the circumstances.
Adam: Get some sleep. Sorry for waking you up.
Galen: Hey, I’m just curious to meet this lady that has you hurrying to her side to protect her when you’ve never met her.
I didn’t answer, because he was just going to continue to make jokes about the situation. The hairs on my arms weren’t standing on end anymore, but that didn’t mean we were clear of danger.
Flora’s face had a peaceful expression made ethereal by the moon shining into the room.
“Crap,” I whispered. “I’m falling for her, and I’ve never even met her, not yet.”
With a shake of my head, I closed my eyes as I tried to get comfortable, leaning against the pillow and the wall, my gun sitting on my lap.
Galen was right. This would look completely insane from her point of view. At least she knew who I was, but that wasn’t going to explain what I was doing on the floor of her bedroom with a gun in my hand.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Flora, I hope you’ll forgive me.”
***
Chapter 1
Mr. Anderson
My day started out ordinary, but I should have known when I read today’s horoscope that it wasn’t going to be a good one. It told me to schedule a meeting with my boss and ask for a promotion or raise.
That was the dumbest thing I could have done. Instead of promoting me, he asked what I was doing for the company, and to give him a fifty-page report before the weekend. On top of my regular duties, I wouldn’t have a chance to work on it during office hours, and would be spending my birthday week here every night. I might as well just move into the office because I wasn’t going to see my home in the near future.
“Hey, Anderson, how’s it going?” Bill, the brownnoser of our office, asked on the way back to my cubicle.
“Great, Bill. I’ve got to get going on those reports for the boss.” Excusing myself was easier said than done when Bill took notice of you.
“Sure, Anderson.” He gave me a wink. “Those reports are going to get you a promotion one of these days.”
Horrified, I shook my head and walked back to my desk. I leaned back in my chair to see if he was still looking in my direction.
“Was Bill listening in on my conversation with Mr. Griffin?”
Sherry glanced toward the glass that separated us from the boss. “Bill says he can read lips. He knows that you deserve a promotion, but he wants to get it instead of you.
“I thought I had a good chance, which is why I relied on my horoscope today. It let me down.” I was about to tell her all about it when I noticed Mr. Griffin looking out the window.
“Crap, I’d better get started on doing those reports,” I muttered to myself.
With a tight deadline looming, I ordered food to be delivered shortly before the main office closed so that the delivery guy could get there in time. It would be a while before I had enough time to actually eat, but it could be reheated. The last thing I wanted to do when I got home after ten tonig
ht was cook.
Compiling the numbers from the data sheet, I tried not to let Bill bother me as he walked by my cubicle.
“Have a great night, Anderson. Don’t burn the oil too low or you won’t be able to make the cut tomorrow either.” He laughed like he’d told the greatest joke ever.
Ignoring him was difficult when I’d never seen him stay late to make sure that a project was done on time. This was supposed to be a week-long celebration of my birthday, and all I felt was old.
Every night was a repeat of the one before, and the one before that, and so on. I’d finish up my regular workload and get started on my report while watching Bill leave, always with a snide remark thrown my way.
I threw all of my anger into doing a good job so I could have Saturday off, and enjoy just a smidgen of my birthday week. I’d find out on Monday what the verdict was on all of my hard work.
***
Desperate times called for desperate measures, and I was going to reclaim today with all of the lion of my Leo sign as possible. I called my friend, Sam, to get things going right.
“I’m on my way over to pick you up. We need a day to go out and have some fun. How does breakfast sound? Then we can head over to the movies and catch that new flick we missed last week.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to it.” Sam’s voice was filled with just the shot of excitement I needed to make this day awesome.
It had been a while since we’d gotten a chance to hang out with nothing going on to cause drama.
“What did you think of that movie?” I knew I’d enjoy it, but Sam hadn’t seemed as thrilled with the remake as I was.
“Eh, it was okay. I’ve just had a lot going on with my family. It took my mind off things for a little while.”
