Iceage (a novel): Chapter 5. Return

A work in progress.
Chapters will be posted
as they are written.

Vic opened a closet and pulled out a heavy coat and a pair of boots. “You’ll need these.”
    I stepped outside and found there was a world of difference between wearing that coat and my suit. The wind bit at my face and hands. I quickly jammed my hands into my coat pockets.
    Three huts down, Vic pushed me toward a door. Inside we were welcomed by nice, warm heat. We removed our coats and hung them by the door. Then we walked down the hall. He stopped at a door and knocked.

Iceage (a novel): Chapter 4. Russians’ Camp

A work in progress.
Chapters will be posted
as they are written.

While I was packing, Mary came into our quarters with Anna, who ran up and wrapped her arms around my leg. Coming nearer, Mary asked, “You going someplace?”
    I picked Anna up and gave her a kiss. “Go play now. Mama and daddy need to talk.” I placed her on the floor and she took off like a bullet to her room.
    Pushing two pairs of socks into the side pocket of my pack, I said, “I have to go to the Russians’ Camp. They killed one of our locals, and if I can’t work it out with them, there’ll be a war and we’ll be right in the middle of it.”

Iceage (a novel): Chapter 3. Deep Freeze

A work in progress.
Chapters will be posted
as they are written.

The first year of the freeze wasn’t that bad. The wild game were still close enough that we had plenty of meat, and the crops were doing very well. The Balkars were a gift from God. They had hunted animals on the mountain for years. They knew every trail and hiding place. We came across a wide, grass-covered area in the middle of the ice field where the magnum from the volcano was close to the surface. It was like a green oasis. It gave us hope that some of the game would stay close to that food. But for that to happen, the other predators would have to go.

Iceage (a novel): Chapter 2. The Beginning

A work in progress.
Chapters will be posted
as they are written.

The wind was out of the North as we stepped from the barracks where that the Russians had housed us. We now faced what would be our new existence; Russia was an unforgiving place. The people had existed under the rule of the Tsar and communism. But the weather was the real test and they had survived even that. Now it was our turn.
    You can mistrust or even hate a government, but that is not the people. We were welcomed with warmth and friendship as the helicopter landed. Over a hundred people waited on the ground for our arrival. We brought business and much-needed money, but they could have been there even without a warm welcome, that was just special to us. I turned to Professor Upwight and asked, “Who are these people? Are they Russian?”

Iceage (a novel): Chapter 1. The End

A work in progress.
Chapters will be posted
as they are written.

I’m not sure how long I have before the lava moves this way. Two days ago the Earth corrected itself, making the entire Caucasus mountain range shake and rumble. We have been at the base of Elbrus Volcano buried in an ice hell for nineteen years, after the Earth turned two degrees on its axis, which set off an ice-age event and trapped us here. From the beginning, we have fought to survive, but this looks like the end. While this project may terminate in failure, there were moments of glory and success.
    Let me start at the beginning, seeing as how I believe I may be the last one alive on this mountain. What was left of the team tried to escape to the south, but I fear the eruption a few minutes ago may have killed them.
    I met Professor Eugene Upwight, from the University of Washington, in Seattle. He was looking for a Security Specialist. I had spent five tours in Afghanistan leading a great bunch of Special Forces guys. But, upon leaving the Army, I found my skill set was of little use in the real world. A friend had set up the interview with the Professor for me.

Moristotle is slowing down

Siegfried slowed down
too . . . before the end

And doesn’t
expect to
speed back up

By Moristotle

You may not have noticed that we have not published something literally every day this month, perhaps because we almost did. But the truth is, from here on out, there will be more and more days without a posting. I just don’t have the energy any more.
    But I continue to get a lot of submissions, which actually helps me, because working with Moristotle & Co.’s fine writers helps energize me and keep me going.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 53. Homecoming

Click image to
access installments

Blake was in his SUV. “Peter, we have him. He’s a teacher at Aline High School. I don’t have a first name but his last name is Thacher, T-H-A-C-H-E-R. Get me all the information in the world you can find on this guy. I’m moving my people to the high school; we’ll use it as our staging location. Oh! Let June know what’s going on. I’ll need warrants, both search and arrest – and ASAP.”
    He made a group call and had everybody assemble in a parking lot of the high school. A large oak tree provided shade as they awaited Peter’s call. Wayne asked, “Are you sure this is our guy? Is it possible the kid could be wrong?”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 52. Last Tango

Click image to
access installments

On Monday afternoon, with the artist’s sketch in their phones, Blake, Tony, and Wayne headed to Cary to join Shelley and Taylor. June had chartered a small jet to fly them, because time was running out, and they needed to get to Cary before the killer. Blake wanted to find out who he was and where he lived before he learned they were in town looking for him.
    But there was a potential problem. Taylor had posed a question that had been in the back of his mind: “What if the killer ran for home after the encounter in Dallas? That would mean he is already at home, or packed and gone.” Blake had no answer.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 51. MIA

Click image to
access installments

Blake called June as his bus pulled away from its next stop, but it went to voicemail. He told her to call him back. He still hadn’t heard from her at the next stop, so he got off and called her phone again – three times in a row, but no luck.
    He called Peter. “June is missing in action. I need you to track her location.”
    Peter hit a few keys on the computer. “Blake, I’m getting a signal almost two bus stops back from you. The signal is stationary, not moving.”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 50. Killer’s Back

Click image to
access installments

It had been a long ride from North Carolina and a longer winter, but it was the beginning of his hunting season and he was nervous and excited at the same time. He made his way off the bus in Dallas, a town he was looking forward to exploring. After all, it wasn’t just about the hunting – he was on vacation!
    The number of people on the ground around the buses doubled as another bus began to unload. He fought his way inside the station only to be pushed against the wall. It was then that he saw her across the way, over the heads of the other passengers. He knew her face but couldn’t place it at first.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 49. Killer in Town

Click image to
access installments

Saturday morning came and June and Blake were at the Dallas bus station at 5:15, in the waiting room sipping coffee from paper cups. Blake caught himself touching his gun more times than was necessary – he was nervous. He knew that plans on paper could look great, but in real time, shit could go wrong very fast. June also knew what was at stake, and she reached over and gripped his hand every so often.
    The station had been empty when they arrived, but as the 6 o’clock hour approached, two lines began to form at the ticket counter, and a few of the seats were taken by folks waiting for their people to get off incoming buses. A loud bang from behind them caused them both to jump. It was a man opening one of the little shops. Blake thought about going to the bathroom and checked his watch. It was 5 minutes to 6, so his bathroom break would have to wait.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 48. Surprise

Click image to
access installments

After the video conference, Tony got with Wayne, Shelley got with Taylor, and Blake got with himself to begin pulling up their assigned maps on their computers and phones. Every one of the five jumped at the sound of a knock on the front door. It was the first time anyone had come calling.
    Blake hollered at Wayne, who was closest to the door, “See who that is, would you? Probably some drunk who thinks this is still a bar.”
    Wayne walked to the door and looked through the peephole. “Blake, it’s a woman with short auburn hair. You want me to let her in?”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 47. The Hunt Begins

Click image to
access installments

The party on the lake hadn’t been planned, and Blake was at first put out by the invasion. But the team needed the weekend to bring them back together, and their bonding strengthened as the evening wore on. Blake was happy to see them laughing and joking with each other. He broke out his two big camping tents and everybody crashed for the night.
    On Saturday morning, the very hungover but smiling crew, including Tony, packed up and went home. Blake spent the day drinking beer, fishing, and eating leftovers. On Monday morning, refreshed after a restful Sunday and a good night’s sleep, he parked outside the Hideaway next to Taylor’s car.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 46. Countdown

Click image to
access installments

The FBI plane had a bar, and Wayne and Tony toasted a lot in flight. They were in a much better mood as they drove back to the Hideaway, Wayne in his car and Tony on his 1942 Indian Flathead motorcycle.
    A meeting was in process as they walked in. Blake, Taylor, Shelley, Peter, and Mary were gathered around the big screen. Tony shouted, “What, no welcome for the returning heroes?”
    Blake stood and walked toward them. “Glad you’re back! I guess we can put another case to bed.”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 45. Shelley Saves the Day

Click image to
access installments

It was late at night by the time they parked at Wayne’s apartment. They had had a good, wild time in Destin Beach. Now they both crashed and didn’t move until their cell phones went off around 8:00 the next morning. Wayne headed to the shower and hollered at Tony on the couch, “Roll out! Blake wants us at the Hideaway ASAP, with our go-bags. Looks like our vacation is over.”
    They parked in front of the Hideaway at 9:40. Taylor was pouring coffee behind the bar. “Do you two want a cup?”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 44. Louisiana Blues

Click image to
access installments

It took Wayne and Tony two weeks to cover all of the shifts at the truck shops east of Baton Rouge on I-10. It was time-consuming work. They were able to cover only a few miles of interstate highway in a day, what with having to check three shifts at each of the truck stops. Then they had to backtrack to check the weekend crew. The frustrating thing about the slow progress was that outside of the one girl – Tammy – no one knew anything.
    After that they went all of the way to Sulfur, Louisiana, and began to work their way back to Baton Rouge. Tony was happier now that it was April. The rains still came but it was warm rain, and flowers were coming up everywhere. Tony estimated that at the rate they were going it would be into May before they would have hit all the shifts along the freeway.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 43. More Killers

Click image to
access installments

Taylor and Wayne dropped their rental cars off in Memphis and picked up their own cars. By the time they reached the Hideaway – Blake had decided the bar didn’t need his name on it – Rainbow’s 1942 motorcycle was parked outside. Wayne and Taylor pulled in beside it.
    Inside, at the big table, were Peter, Blake, and Tony, aka Rainbow. They all had beers and were laughing. Taylor jokingly shouted, “So this is what goes on when I’m not here!”
    Blake hollered back, “Get a beer from behind the bar and join us. We were just talking about your latest case.”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 42. Crosshairs

Click image to
access installments

Rainbow flew down the road on his way back to the mill. His job, now that the killer was caught, would be to protect his cover story, and the sooner he warned Kirk, packed his clothes, and hit the road, the better off he would be.
    When Kirk saw Rainbow race through the gates and on to the shed, he looked back down the road to see who was chasing him. No one was to be seen there, but when Rainbow hurriedly jumped off the motorcycle, Kirk rushed to join him.
    Rainbow threw open the half-closed doors of the shed, hoping to find a tarp to throw over the motorcycle. He grabbed one that was spread across the work table next to where the bike had been parked for years. The tarp dragged a couple of shoe boxes and a hammer off the table, and they fell onto the dirt floor.

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 41. Confusion

Click image to
access installments

Rainbow managed to complete the framework for the new boathouse, but he was having a hard time keeping his mind on the job. It kept popping into his head that he was riding the getaway vehicle used in a double murder. He felt like a pawn on a chess board. He believed that one of the two sons was the serial killer, but what kind of game was the killer playing? Kirk Johnson had to know that when Ted Banks saw that motorcycle there would be a reaction from him. Banks’ telling Rainbow to paint the bike meant that he knew the danger of having the motorcycle show up again on the streets. So why did Kirk give the bike to him in the first place?
    He was deep in thought when a car pull into the drive. The sheriff got out and hollered, “Send the Mexicans home and come to the house. I need your help with something.”

BODY COUNT: Killers (a novel): Chapter 40. Taylor on Site

Click image to
access installments

Taylor checked into the Roadway Inn at 3:15 the same afternoon. He called Wayne as soon as he got to his room, and 10 minutes later there was a knock on his door. “Man, I’m glad to see you!” Wayne said.
    Taylor went back to the bed and got a file from his suitcase. “Here’s everything we have on Banks, but there’s nothing that says serial killer.”
    Wayne sat down at the table by the window and quickly perused the file. “It’s the only lead I have,” he said. “Nobody will talk to me here, black or white. The one and the only person who has spoken to me about the murders is a drunk, but I believe him when he said Banks picked up his friend that night.”