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Alcatraz!

Page 15

by Dakota Chase


  Ash nodded. “I guess so. Does the book tell you?”

  “Yeah. It’s kind of depressing, though. Turns out, Al had syphilis. Like, real bad. Back then, if you didn’t catch it in time, it was deadly.”

  “Oh man. Are you telling me Al died from a venereal disease?”

  “Yuppers. It’s not funny. Says in the book that he suffered and lost his mind. When he got really sick, they transferred him off Alcatraz to a prison hospital, so at least he didn’t die on the Rock.”

  “That’s sucky, dude.”

  “Yeah.”

  “What about Hocks and Billy Ray?”

  “There’s no mention of Hocks. I’m thinking Johnston found the drugs Hocks had hidden in his locker and had him arrested. At least that’s what I’d like to believe.”

  “Wait a minute. How do you know Hocks had drugs in his locker?”

  “Oh, well, while you were playing shoemaker elf with Billy Ray, I was spying on Hocks for Johnston. Turns out, Hocks was buying opium from Kearney and selling it to prisoners.”

  “Whoa. Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. Hocks was a dick.”

  “True dat. And as far as Billy Ray goes, he never escaped. I checked—nobody escaped from Alcatraz in 1936. Either he never got to use his bar spreader, or Gus found him before he could get off the island.”

  “Good. I was hoping he’d get caught. He was a jackass too.”

  “Yeah.” Grant set the book aside, sat up, and looked at Ash. “Want to hear something totally sappy?”

  “Sure. Shoot.”

  “It could’ve been us for real.”

  Ash tilted his head and looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

  “In prison. Not at Alcatraz, of course—it closed for good in 1963—but in some other prison. It could’ve been us in those cells for real. That’s where we were both headed before we came to Stanton’s.”

  Ash grunted. “I didn’t think of that. You’re right. Man, for sure I’m scared straight now. I don’t ever want to even visit a prison let alone live in one again.”

  “Yeah. I wasn’t even a prisoner and I feel the same way.”

  “You’re right. That was sappy.” He smiled and snapped the towel at Grant again, laughing when Grant swore and tried to roll away from it. “Come on. The cafeteria is still open, and I think I hear a pizza calling my name.”

  “Oh, pizza! Yes! I missed pizza.”

  “We were only gone a few days!”

  Grant laughed. “Yeah, but it felt like a lifetime.”

  “The food wasn’t really bad there, though, all things considered.”

  “No, but it wasn’t pizza.”

  “Well, you got me there. And nobody here keeps trying to shove coffee down your throat with every meal, either.”

  “Ugh. I know! That stuff was awful. Like drinking tar.”

  “Oh, drink much tar, do you?”

  “Shut up, you ass.”

  “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

  More from Dakota Chase

  Repeating History: Book One

  What happens when two teenaged delinquents accidentally destroy their teacher’s prized collection of historical artifacts?

  For Aston and Grant, this is more than just a rhetorical question. They’ve made a huge mistake, one that might cost them everything. Adding to their misery, their history teacher is Merlin. Yes, that Merlin. The answer to their dilemma is deceptively simple according to the old wizard: go back in time to replace the items they destroyed!

  Aston and Grant find themselves in ancient Egypt, where their first task is to find and retrieve the Eye of Ra, a golden amulet owned by none other than King Tut, the boy king of Egypt. Neither of them is all that versed in history, so they have to play it cool and learn as they go. It’s not just the amulet causing them trouble either. They soon become friends with Tut and want to help him out. Surrounded by enemies, needing to survive in a primitive world, Aston and Grant quickly learn one basic truth: history isn’t dead when you’re living it.

  Repeating History: Book Two

  History isn’t dead when you’re living it.

  Aston and Grant made a serious mistake a while back when they set fire to their teacher’s office—a teacher who is secretly the legendary wizard Merlin. Now they must travel back in time to retrieve the artifacts they destroyed—and they’re about to find out how the Dark Ages earned its name.

  They’re on a mission to acquire the Malleus Maleficarum, the book used by the Inquisition to arrest, torture, and execute witches. In medieval Germany, they’ll be surrounded by danger in a time when anyone could be accused and face horrible prison conditions and an awful death. Will they be able to avoid the watchful eyes of the Inquisitors, retrieve the book, and return to their own time?

  Repeating History: Book Three

  In what might be their most dangerous adventure so far, Grant and Ash are sent back in time ten thousand years to recover a mammoth talisman for their teacher, Merlin. Life is a struggle in the Stone Age, and if they want to eat, they’ll have to learn to use spears, track animals, and build fires without the benefit of matches.

  Most importantly, they must recover the artifact so they can get back to their own time, but it won’t be easy. They’ll need to reunite two warring tribes, help a boy around their age prove his worth, and demonstrate their own courage on a deadly mammoth hunt. In this harsh and unforgiving world, hate and suspicion are as prevalent as they are in modern times, but understanding and acceptance can also be found if they know where to look.

  Jamie doesn’t know how he’d face life without his best friend, Billy, even though they don’t seem to have much in common. Billy is out and proud while Jamie is still in the closet. Billy’s family has plenty of money to keep him outfitted in the latest styles, while Jamie has a jerk of a stepfather and a miserable home life. Billy goes on glamorous dates with sexy older guys, while Jamie is lonely and secretly pining for one of his high school’s star athletes.

  Just as he expected, Jamie is lost when Billy starts keeping secrets from him. Jamie’s reached his limit at home, where his stepfather’s abuse is getting worse. At school he’s roped into tutoring his crush, Dylan, in English, but Jamie has no idea how to talk to the hot track runner. Just when he most needs Billy to lean on, Jamie discovers Billy is bug chasing—trying to catch HIV. The knowledge not only destroys their friendship, but forces Jamie to reassess his entire life. It’s up to him to protect Billy, stay on top of things at school, deal with his first relationship with another boy, and put a stop to his stepdad’s mistreatment for good.

  This trip down the rabbit hole will reveal a very different Wonderland.

  Alice’s younger brother, Henry, is sent to a bizarre world he never really believed existed. His best chance to get home is the Mad Hatter, who is a remarkably stranger, if more handsome, fellow than Henry expects. Hatter’s only goal is to keep his head firmly attached to his body, and his best chance for doing it is to bring “Boy Alice” to the Red Queen as ordered. It’s dislike at first sight for Henry and Hatter, but since circumstances force them to remain together, they try to abide each other.

  During their travels and adventures through Wonderland, they grudgingly forge a friendship that tests their values and established beliefs. Learning to tolerate each other and then to compromise, offers them a chance for something more when they reach the end of their journey—if they can survive the obstacles along the way.

  Readers love the Repeating History series by Dakota Chase

  The Eye of Ra

  “This was truly an exciting read. There is action, adventure, mystery, and so much more involved in this book.”

  —Gay Book Reviews

  “…an entertaining, funny, and suspenseful action/adventure…. I definitely enjoyed it.”

  —Rainbow Book Reviews

  Hammer of the Witch

  “I loved going back in time with these two amazing characters and seeing the witch trials through their eyes.” />
  —Diverse Reader

  “Chase’s merging of historical fantasy and modern perspectives is interesting…. If you’re looking for an interesting meld of historical fantasy and modern teenagers, this series is something I’d probably recommend.”

  —The Skiff and Fanty Show

  Mammoth!

  “This story, this series and these two young men have me totally hooked. I can’t wait to see where Merlin sends them next.”

  —Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

  “Young adult it may be, but I am one older reader who is loving Ash and Grant’s adventures and lessons they are learning along the way!”

  —Joyfully Jay

  DAKOTA CHASE writes stories of the fantastical, of ghosts and monsters, and time travel. She lives right on the border of Normal, and has been known to take quick trips into the next town over, Crazy, although she usually finds her way home again without little trouble. She shares her home with Nibbles, her Shar-Pei/Labrador mixed breed that may or may not be a werewolf in disguise, and a husband who definitely isn’t a werewolf even though he’s been known to be shaggy and howl from time to time. She has four grown children, one of whom has spawned, resulting in two grandchildren whom she adores. When she isn’t writing, Dakota likes to crochet odd things, like killer shark slippers and skull dolls. She loves sushi, spicy foods, and grapes, but is highly allergic to any form of math.

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/dakota.chase.1840

  Website: www.dakotachase.com

  Twitter: @dakotachase

  Email: dakotachase@tampabay.rr.com

  By Dakota Chase

  Changing Jamie

  Mad About the Hatter

  REPEATING HISTORY

  The Eye of Ra

  Hammer of the Witch

  Mammoth!

  Alcatraz!

  Published by HARMONY INK PRESS

  www.harmonyinkpress.com

  Published by

  HARMONY INK PRESS

  5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA

  publisher@harmonyinkpress.com • harmonyinkpress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Alcatraz!

  © 2019 Dakota Chase.

  Cover Art

  © 2019 Tiferet Design.

  http://www.tiferetdesign.com/

  Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Harmony Ink Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or publisher@harmonyinkpress.com.

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-184-9

  Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64405-185-6

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018912379

  Digital published May 2019

  v. 1.0

  Printed in the United States of America

 

 

 


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