3rd September 1995

By Anthony Francis

Second chances don’t come by often and no one knows that better than Michael Smith who, after being disgraced is barely making ends meet as a journalist-reporter. That is until Christopher Blake, a wealthy business owner, makes him an offer that he can’t refuse; a large paycheck, a chance to redeem himself professionally and a murder mystery that has spanned over an entire generation. 

As Smith dives dangerously deep into secrets unseen for over 2 decades he quickly realizes that he may be out of his depth. But, when his path crosses with a talented but unpredictable P.I. that is harboring her own sequence of events, the two realize that this case is more critical than either of them could have imagined as they unearth the heinous truth behind Julia Blake’s murder. 

                     ****

Michael Smith will learn the hard way that second chances often come at a price...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthony Francis
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386018155

Book preview

PROLOGUE

3rd September, 1995 .

The couple’s giggling and laughter could be heard mixed with the silent tune of the starless night. The surrounding melancholy quietly dragged by as they both groped each other in the dark. She slithered on the hood of their car as her partner finally took off her leather jacket. She shivered lightly as the night seemed to welcome her exposed arms with chilly fingers. They seemed to make a game of him trying to grasp her while she kept slipping out of his hands. Finally he had her in his arms and their lips locked tightly once again. They kissed for some seconds until a sound in the woods caught her attention.

What is it? he asked.

She was silent for a fraction of a second, listening and wondering what the intruding sound was, but she couldn’t quite place it or if she had heard it. The hair at the back of her neck had risen in anticipation like evil lurked around but she could not pin point it all. She did a quick scan of their surrounding but she neither saw nor heard anything else.

I thought I heard something, like someone in the woods. She murmured half dazed.

He simply smiled and nuzzled her neck playfully again.

There is no one here but us Suzie. He allowed his lips to continue roaming. He kissed her eyebrows, her lids, and her nose until he planted a firm wet kiss on her lips.

Mark, are you sure there is no one here? I don’t feel right.

Mark scoffed, Or maybe you are just scared of the dark now.

That got her attention. She was always one for a challenge and Mark never passed up an opportunity to goad her. She pushed him backwards and got of the car hood with a dangerous smirk on her face.

If you want a taste of this she said as she slowly caressed her body, Come get it in the woods she added as she took off in a run.

Oh yeah! he responded excitedly as he followed her trail. She was a few feet in front of him and he ran at a slower pace than necessary to make it all fun, after all, what is life without fun he thought to himself. It was easy for them both to pick their way as there was a full moon. He watched as she disappeared between the trees, meandering her way through each obstacle. She was as familiar with the forest as much as he was. They had lived her all their lives in this small town and this ground was theirs. He had slowed into a walk now he was in the wood. He had just taken less than three steps in when he heard the deafening scream from Suzie. He immediately began to run in the direction of her voice when he heard her scream again. Oh my God he was thinking, blood pounding in his ears. Let no one try to hurt her. When he got to where she was, he found her frozen and staring at nothing. The trees had given way into a small opening before a fresh canopy of trees started again. He tried shaking her back to reality.

Suzie, it’s me. What the hell happened?

And then like one lost in time she slowly raised her hand pointing to a spot right in front of her. Lying not more than ten feet away was a pale body in the moonlight. From what Mark could see, it was a female body with her neck twisted the other way and all he could think about was how the hell she had gotten there.

CHAPTER 1 

3rd of September, 2015

The buzzing vibrating sound of his phone slowly brought Michael back to the world.  He tried to reach for it knocking over cans of beer on the table. Finally, he grabbed the thing and automatically answered. He wasn’t surprised to hear his boss and landlady screaming down his ears. As usual, he was late again and she too was up and about with her usual threats. He groaned dropping his cell as he heard the click sound of the line disconnecting. He noticed he was on the couch and knew he must have been so drunk to have passed out on the couch again.  Damn he cussed silently and he really needed a bath. He tried raising himself but felt a light weight pinning him down and then the events of the night began to pierce his foggy mind. He looked down to see a naked blonde sprawled on his chest with her mouth slightly open as she slept. He grinned at the funny pose of this woman on his chest whom he still had a hard time remembering. At least she was beautiful he said to himself as he wondered how much booze he had downed last night to have forgotten he picked up a hot girl.  He gently shook her shoulders and to his surprise she almost jumped out of her skin. This is funny he thought and wished he had a camera. She had a blank look on her face as she darted her glance between his stupid smile and their naked bodies. He could see the wheels turning slowly in her mind and waited until she could catch up with reality.

Did we... she started out but then stopped as she began to shake her head from side to side.

"I pretty