My novel, WOLVES OF VENGEANCE, is part of the Terrify Your Tablet promotional event. It’s FREE on Amazon! Grab it! My newest novel, YEAR OF THE DEMON, is $4.99 on Amazon.
Wolves of Vengeance – FREE – Terrify your Tablet!
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Tag Archives: Novels
2025 Accomplishments: Inspiring Progress in Writing, Martial Arts, and Life!
Each year, I create a list of goals for every area of my life. Throughout the year, I work on my goals, track my progress, and commit to posting my top accomplishments (and some smaller ones). I hope to inspire others to do the same.
Writing Goals
Novels/Novellas
- My action horror novel, YEAR OF THE DEMON, was published by Crossroad Press in print, ebook, and audio.
- Joined International Thriller Writers (ITW) as an active member after YOTD was published this year.
- Magic Moment: many martial arts friends supported my writing by purchasing my novel.
- Signed my first novel to a martial arts friend and sifu.
- Worked with voice actor and narrator Michael Cottam to produce audiobook. I reviewed each chapter.
- Submitted YOTD audio to ITW Awards.
- Signed up for NetGalley through the Victory Editing Co-Op and managed my title.
- Sent out press releases.
- My hometown newspaper ran an article on me and YOTD
- I received my author copies of YOTD from Crossroad Press.
- I received my first royalties from Crossroad Press for YOTD sales.
- I sent my ghost-haunting domestic crime thriller hybrid novel to three open-call markets.
- I began writing a creature SF horror novel.
- I returned to an older horror crime noir novel manuscript and began a rewrite.
- I wrote a poem on a whim and sent it to a poetry contest. I also joined the poetry association.
- Interviewed by Alan R. Warren on the House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC about YOTD. The interview was the top 5 most downloaded interview in March.
- Began a Substack to create a mailing list so I can stay in touch with readers.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-161471115?source=queue
- I produced videos on Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok to advertise YOTD.
- Signed up for Terrify Your Tablet to promote WOLVES OF VENGENCE and YEAR OF THE DEMON.
- WOLVES OF VENGEANCE reached #15 on Amazon Free Occult Horror.
- Praise for WOLVES OF VENGEANCE
- Praise for my fantasy novella BLADE OF THE VAGABOND: HEAVEN, EARTH, & WOMAN
- Submitted BOTV to an audiobook open call.
- Continued to send short stories to markets.
Martial Arts: Shedding my Martial Arts Past in the Year of the Snake
Seminars
- Attended Sifu Fong seminar with my gung fu brother Jim at Nubreed Martial Arts in Queens, NY.
- Attended Drowning in Kali at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
- Attended Drowning in JKD at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
- Attended weekend Big 3 FMA Origins Seminar (12 hours) with Guro Raffi Derderian (Inosanto Blend), Guro Hock Hochheim (Modern Arnis), and Tuhon Bill McGrath (Pekiti Tersia). 10/25-26/2025
Ranking (Level Up!)
- Earned Kali Level Three at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts
- Earned JKD Level Four at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
- Another year of training is complete. Hard work but a great time with great people!
- Trained Kali with Jim in his backyard, where we prepared for our next test.
- I appear in a Tuhon Bill McGrath (Pekiti Tersia) video segment as his uke (training partner/receiver of the technique).
- Celebrated 38 Years of martial arts training!
- Magic Moment: A viewer on YouTube thanked me for helping him pass his white belt test.
Broadcasting & Podcasting
- I’m listed as co-hosting twenty-five shows in 2025 between the various podcasts, including House of Mystery on IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16649941/
- Altogether, from 2021-2025, I co-hosted over 400 episodes.
- I resigned from House of Mystery and the other podcasts this year because of time constraints. I also shelved my movie reviews for the time being.
YouTube and Social Media
- Created and published 5 long form YouTube videos on my main channel and 2 on my secondary.
- Created and published 17 short form YouTube videos on my main channel and 1 on my secondary.
- Published short videos on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
- https://www.youtube.com/@davidnorth-martino
- https://www.youtube.com/@hdavemi6667
Family
- Bought my Dad to many appointments this year, including a blood transfusion, catscan, and two surgeries, requiring overnight trips and driving into Boston on multiple occasions. We made the best of it!
- Called my mom and Dad 2x per week on average.
- Brought Patty to her second hand surgery.
- Bought a family member to multiple appointments, including daily appointments for a full month.
- Attended my Niece’s wedding.
- Celebrated our 33rd anniversary of our first date and our 30th wedding anniversary.
- Brought Diesel to all vet appointments. Added fluoride to his water. Treated for a skin issue with meds. Switched him to oral flea medication.
****
In Memoriam
- My Uncle Freddy passed away this year at 89.
- My second cousin, William “Thorny” H. Thorndike Jr., passed away this year at the age of 101. He was an avid martial artist, a teacher, mentor, and inspiration to our family.
Health
- Two appointments for a crown at dentist.
- Eye doctor appointment
- Switched to mail-order eye drops
- Dental cleaning appointments
- Had a cavity filled.
- Had a mouthguard made by my dentist for martial arts sparring.
- Shingles Vaccination (two shots)
- Annual Physical. Lost 3 pounds since my last physical. I am the picture of health! Haha!
Friends
- Traveled to Queens NY with Jim for a seminar
- Ate at the Empire Buffet with Jim.
- Celebrated passing our tests in Kali with my DAMA family at the Bon Asian Bistro & Hibachi Grill in Johnston, RI.
- Continued a great friendship with Al Warren.
- Celebrated Thanksgiving with Patty. I made a meal, and we watched Rocky II and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles as is our tradition.
- Kept in contact with my college English professor through email and social media.
- Kept in contact with writer friends.
- Kept in contact with martial arts friends and buyu.
- Send Off to 2025 Get-Together for Derderian Academy of Martial Arts.
Cars
- Patty’s car – Inspection, oil and filter change. install gap fillers between the seats.
- My car – Jump car, drive 100 miles (Foxwoods), pass inspection, oil change and filter.
Travel/Fun
- Attended Def Leppard Concert at Mohegan Sun. Stayed overnight. Met up with martial arts friends. Ate at Summer Shack. Had breakfast at Hash House A-go-go. A really great concert, they sounded fantastic!
- Attended the Lita Ford concert with special guests Dee Snider and Firehouse at the Great Cedar Showroom at Foxwoods. A great night of music. Stayed overnight at the Great Cedar Hotel and had dinner at Walburgers.
- Went to the B-Town Diner in Bellingham, a fun 50’s style restaurant, for breakfast.
- Went to the Dragon 88 Chinese Restaurant in West Boylston with my mom. I hear they have strong Mai Tais. I couldn’t drink that day, but I want to try one eventually
- Went to Sol De Mexico Bar & Grill in Milford, MA. Big portions and margaritas.
- We began grilling outside again this summer.
- Went to see A Christmas Carol at the Stadium Theater in Woonsocket, RI, with my Sister-in-Law, our nephew, and his girlfriend.
House
- I disassembled our dining nook, placing one bench into the mudroom/foyer and the other in the garage dojo.
- We had a whiskey barrel table installed where the dining nook used to be.
- I put together a coffee bar, placing a Kuerig and a kettle on top and filling it with coffee, tea, and accouterments.
- I put together a pantry to more easily store canned goods, etc.
- I installed a coatrack for more efficient storage
- I repurposed an older TV and hung it on the wall of the dining area to complete the pub-like feel of the space.
- Attended shred day at local bank and got rid of a lot of paper that needed shredding.
- Assembled another cat tree for Diesel.
- Installed Perfect Pushup Bar in a doorway.
- Put together a new office chair for Patty.
- Began a cleanout of the garage to create home dojo and gym for supplemental solo training.
- Cleaned out the media room. Put up two shelves and filled them with physical media and collectables. Removed podcasting bench and set up dorm fridge again. Installed TV and soundbar to transform room from a podcasting studio into a hybrid home cinema media room.
- That’s all I can remember for 2025. See you in 2026!
Another Five-Star Review of ‘YEAR OF THE DEMON’ From NetGalley!
Here’s another amazing five-star review of my supernatural martial arts thriller, YEAR OF THE DEMON, from a NetGalley reviewer. https://www.netgalley.com/book/729579/review/142279
Get YEAR OF THE DEMON here: https://a.co/d/7KAnyh4
Description:
To his Taekwondo students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.
After thwarting a seemingly random robbery and the kidnapping attempt of a wealthy future heiress, Vance finds himself employed as her bodyguard by the young woman’s father, a mysterious businessman who holds the lineage of the last remaining esoteric school of ancient Japanese ninja fighting arts.
Vance is taught the deadly techniques of Japan’s invisible assassins, and finds the mythology behind these dark teachings is just as real, pulling him into a world of crime, deception, seduction, and vice, where nothing is quite as it seems.
Now, he must battle tengu and oni, along with the forces of organized crime and police corruption, to survive the…
YEAR OF THE DEMON
Get YEAR OF THE DEMON here: https://a.co/d/8R29F6a
Five-Star Review of ‘YEAR OF THE DEMON’ from NetGalley
Here’s an amazing five-star review of my supernatural thriller, YEAR OF THE DEMON, from a librarian and reviewer on NetGalley. https://www.netgalley.com/book/729579/review/613923
https://www.netgalley.com/publisher/title/729579
To his Taekwondo students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.
After thwarting a seemingly random robbery and the kidnapping attempt of a wealthy future heiress, Vance finds himself employed as her bodyguard by the young woman’s father, a mysterious businessman who holds the lineage of the last remaining esoteric school of ancient Japanese ninja fighting arts.
Vance is taught the deadly techniques of Japan’s invisible assassins, and finds the mythology behind these dark teachings is just as real, pulling him into a world of crime, deception, seduction, and vice, where nothing is quite as it seems.
Now, he must battle tengu and oni, along with the forces of organized crime and police corruption, to survive the…
YEAR OF THE DEMON
Wolves of Vengeance FREE Terrify your Tablet Promotion!
My novel, WOLVES OF VENGEANCE, is part of the Terrify Your Tablet promotional event. It’s FREE on Amazon! Go grab it! My newest novel, YEAR OF THE DEMON, is $4.99 on Amazon. https://a.co/d/ed9qpaS
https://www.horrorsmithpublishing.com/pages/terrify-your-tablet
YEAR OF THE DEMON: Now Open for Reviews on NetGalley
My novel, YEAR OF THE DEMON, is now available on NetGalley for reviewers for a limited time. https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/729579
Books to Die For Radio Show and Podcast
Beginning Thursday, April 25 @ 3:30 p.m. PST on Alternative Talk 1150 KKNW or Streaming from https://www.alanrwarren.com/house-of-mystery-radioshow?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1bomFXmsNIsS-IdsXb7J_8BTt0M2-ekB0UrGrZWKwMr9kyYxFpgEVbQDI_aem_Ac0Saqcp_rp4KEpnONwpDHjjYfVMIKLbZjUCnyb2XtazIfeo-dX5DrFejyPxSYbukzDF7LILc_DV1ZZzgrQAjqgI
“Books to Die for” a gripping podcast delving into the minds behind the most thrilling crime literature, both fiction and non-fiction. Join us as we sit down with bestselling authors, exploring the dark alleys of mystery, the the intricate webs of suspense, and the chilling narratives that keep readers on the edge of their seats From classic whodunits to modern psychological thrillers, each episode offers exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and discussions on the art of crafting compelling crime narratives. Whether you’re a seasoned sleuth or a newcomer to the genre, “Books to Die For” is your ultimate guide to the thrilling world of crime literature.
Year in Review: 2023
Each year I create a list of goals for every area of my life. Throughout the year I work my goals, track my progress, and commit to posting my top accomplishments. I hope to inspire others to do the same.
Writing
Novels
- Signed publishing contract! I signed a contract with a publishing house and I’ll have a new novel out sometime next year. Top goal!!! More info once I’m allowed to publicly announce.
- Wolves of Vengeance became a #9 Best Seller in free Occult Horror Top 100 Free Kindle Books. https://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Vengeance-David-North-Martino-ebook/dp/B00F3GU182/ Top 10, baby!
- Participated in the 1st annual Terrify your Tablet/Spook your Kindle promotion.
- Another one of my novels made it through 1st cuts and the full manuscript was requested.
Short Stories
- Earned two Honorable Mentions in the Writers of the Future Contest (see above). The top 10% of entrants get Honorable Mentions. https://www.writersofthefuture.com
- I edited “Tracer” from a rejection with comments to an Honorable Mention.
Sharpen the Saw
- Attended: The Novel: From First Draft to Bookshelf Workshop with Jonathan Maberry.
- Attended: Writing and Selling Short Stories Workshop with Jonathan Maberry.
Martial Arts
Rank Promotions
- Promoted to PAC-FMA Level 3 Instructor under Guro W. Hock Hochheim 2023 (See Above).
- Listed as a Level 3 Instructor on Website. ForceNecessary.com
- Began official ranking in Bruce Lee’s Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do Concepts in the Sifu/Guro Inosanto Lineage.
- Promoted to Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do (JKD) Level 1 under Sifu Raffi Derderian.
Seminars
Martial Arts Classes
- Began formal Jeet Kune Do classes at Derderian Academy. https://derderian-academy.com/jeet-kune-do/
- Began formal Filipino Kali classes at Derderian Academy. https://derderian-academy.com/kali/
Martial Arts Home Training
- Began training Patty in JKD at home.
- Continued solo home training utilizing Mook Jong, wife as training partner, Bas Thai Boxing workout, and free-weights.
Co-Host: The House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC
- As heard on NBC News Radio in Los Angeles/Riverside/San Bernardino/Palm. Springs/Seattle/Tacoma/Salt Lake City/Phoenix and online podcasts. https://www.alanrwarren.com/house-of-mystery-radioshow
- Interviewed James Patterson. 309,672 podcast plays/downloads, 30k Youtube views.
- Interviewed Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child – 5th most popular interview in 2023! 173,000 plays/downloads/airing with a 2.1 ratings marketshare in L.A. (252,000 estimated listeners)!
- Co-hosted over 100 new episodes.
Martino Movie Reviews on NBC
- Continued to write and publish movie reviews for the House of Mystery Website. https://www.alanrwarren.com/martino-movie-reviews.
- Began recording audio movie reviews that appeared on the House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC.
Youtube & Social Media
Interviews
Interviewed by Dominick Izzo on Them’s fightin’ Words! podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSDjS5a3Csw&t=1920s
My Martial Arts Channel & HDaveMI
- Continued to make long form and short form martial arts instruction videos on Youtube channel and also on Reelz, Instagram, and Tiktok. https://www.youtube.com/@davidnorth-martino/videos
- Began HDaveMI movie review and physical media channel.
- Earned top 5% in Facebook rising creators.
Podcasts
- Published 3 episodes of the Live Martial Podcast.
- Had martial arts teachers reach out who want to be on the show. I hope to expand the show next year.
Family & Friends
- Mother’s Day at North End Diner.
- Helped family member move into new apartment.
- Celebrated 28th Wedding Anniversary with dinner at Ted’s Montana Grill.
- Visited In-Laws for get-together.
- Father’s Day at North End Diner.
- Celebrated 31st Anniversary of our first date.
- Cat-sat for our neighbor’s cats.
- Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving takeout.
- Continued friendship with Alan R. Warren.
- Continued friendship through email and social media with my former English professor.
- Kept up friendships with writer friends, martial arts friends, high school & college. friends on social media.
- Made new writing and martial arts friends.
Health
- Annual Physical – besides an increase in weight (it’s all muscle) everything looks good!
- Eye doctor appointments -everything stable.
- Cleanings with hygienist and X-rays A+.
- Two appointments for crown installation.
Cars
- Patty’s car – inspection, oil change, tire rotation.
- My car towed Breaks, rotters, oil change, fluids, new battery.
- Installed Cover Craft Dashboard cover on my car.
- Drove 100 miles to reset computer in my car after battery died.
House
- Get new bedroom air cleaner replaced through warranty service.
- New chair for Diesel.
- Replaced aging recliners.
- Installed nest Protect Smokes and CO2 Alarms.
- Installed throw rug with mat in living room.
- Replaced patio door handle in living room.
- Troubleshoot dishwasher wasn’t draining. Hose clogged. Cleared out and draining again.
Movies at Theater
- IMAX: Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part 1.
- IMAX: Oppenheimer 15/70 70mm film.
- 50th Anniversary of Enter the Dragon at the Bellingham Regal Cinema.
AV/Tech
- Apple Store Providence Place Mall. Replaced Patty’s Airpods Pro under limited warranty.
- Upgraded to iPhone 14 pro.
- Upgrade to Panasonic 4k blu-ray player.
- Increased our collection of 4k and blu-ray discs.
That’s all I can remember for now. It’s been a fantastic year of personal and professional accomplishment! See you in 2024!
The Scribe’s Arcanum: Anatomy of an Indie Novel—Wolves of Vengeance Part 2
As an organic writer, I firmly believe in letting the characters dictate the narrative within the plot structure. To that end, I created the first three main characters.
Jack Amon
Jack, much like his real-life counterpart, was a former bully in high school, a drug user, and a problem drinker. Turning his life around, he moves out of the fictional Wellington, Massachusetts, and gets a job in construction in the equally fictional Farmington, MA. When he hears about his old friends dying from wild animal attacks, he remembers the curse Michael Matheson put on all of them. A curse they had laughed off. He returns to Wellington to attend a funeral and to investigate the real reasons his old classmates are dying. Writers often use the name Jack for the quintessential hero, but I also had another reason. As I mentioned in part 1, I received partial inspiration from Flatliners (1988), and Kiefer Sunderland’s character in the film. The TV show 24 made me think of Sunderland as Jack Bauer. I decided Jack would be a good first name. In high school, I loved King Diamond’s horror concept albums and took Jack’s surname from the house (Amon) in the albums, Them and Conspiracy.
Michael Matheson
Michael was bullied which eventually led to him attending Gold’s Tae Kwon Do to protect himself. But Michael had a dark side, dabbling in black magic and the occult. Finding a spell in an old grimoire, he performed a ritual to awaken the Wolves of Vengeance, a corporal curse to attack his bullies. After performing the ritual, nothing happened. Michael chalked it up as a failure. Twenty-something years later the Wolves finally arrive and begin killing their marks. Michael never left Wellington and took over the school when Gold retired. Michael comes from my middle name and Matheson as an homage to Richard Matheson, the author of such works as I am Legend. Like Jack, he’s a composite character, drawn from more than one person, but he’s somewhat based on me.
Katty LaRocque
Katty was an aspiring musician in high school (a guitarist to be exact) and a self-described rocker chick. She, like Jack, has a problem with alcohol. Unlike Jack, she’s a full-blown alcoholic. Her pet name derives from her high school persona (catty) and Andy LaRoche’s (King Diamond guitarist) last name. She’s based on various musicians I knew in high school and a real-life rocker chick from my high school.
Welcome to Hell: A working Guide for the Beginning Writer
I had read Tom Piccirilli’s Welcome to Hell: A Working Guide for the Beginning Writer. Pic suggested newer novelists lightly outline the first half of their novels. I took his advice. Once the outline was complete, I realized the manuscript would only reach novella length. Needing to beef up the manuscript, I asked myself this question:
What characters do I need to tell this story?
Police involvement was a given. Adding a detective made sense.
The only thing I worried about was voluminous research. What experience did I have that I could transfer to the character to make him believable? Turns out, I had more than I thought.
I had worked a decade in private security, part of the criminal justice field. First, as a patrol officer, then as a security manager, and finally as a human resources recruiter. Security work put me in regular contact with police, fire, and EMS. As a security manager, I had performed investigations and later worked for a security and investigations firm, picking up interesting information directly from private investigators.
My dad had also worked in private investigations, safety & security, special police, and fire, along with being one of the first EMTs in Massachusetts. He had been in charge of makeup and effects for emergency response training. When I was a kid he’d sometime practice the makeup effects on me. I grew up with this stuff!
I had also recently visited my local PD to renew a license and got the nickel tour. I used my hometown police station as a model for the one in the book.
The Writer’s Digest Howdunit series filled in many of the gaps.
Police Procedural: a Writers Guide to the Police and how they work
With the research and experience in mind, I set about creating Detective Adrian Callahan. Originally, he was nothing more than a generic Irish cop. My wife would later express an idea that would help flesh out his character. More on that later.
All in all, I consider my detective a success. I had a former law enforcement officer say as much. He felt my detective was accurate and believable. You can’t get much better than that.
With the decision to include a detective, I then decided that the military in some form might also be involved. I thought about adding a grizzled military captain but not wanting to include another generic character, I cast a woman as my military captain. At that moment, Captain Amanda Rann was born.
Next time, I’ll discuss how Callahan’s changes made him a controversial character, and how Rann becomes a driving force in the novel.
Get Wolves of Vengeance here!
Black Magic Bullets: Chapter 17
I have finally returned to Black Magic Bullets. This chapter is very short, but after so long a wait, I wanted to post something. I’m sorry for the delay. Before I present this next chapter, let me explain what led up to the previous chapter.
I had no idea what would happen when Kenzi and Harrison entered the basement. Usually, I’d just write out of order and go to a scene a little further along in the narrative, but since I’m posting the first draft publicly, I didn’t want to leave the audience hanging. By moving on, the next scene usually tells me what needs to come before. In that way, I can become unstuck and move on. Since I wasn’t going to do that, I had reached an impasse. Luckily, an idea arrived quickly.
Everything I read, watch, and experience tends to inform how the story develops. Black Magic Bullets is no exception.
Interestingly enough, we ended up putting on Bright with Will Smith on Netflix one night. Not a great movie, even when just streaming in the background.
Bright reminded me of Alienation meets Lord of the Rings in an Urban Fantasy world. I thought it interesting how close the orcs and elves were to J.R.R. Tolkien’s creations. After the movie ended, I realized I wanted to put orcs in the basement level of the building in Black Magic Bullets. I was intrigued but didn’t want my story to be derivative of Tolkien’s world.
Then I remembered Ogre, Ogre by Piers Anthony, a novel set in his Xanth series. I hadn’t thought of that novel since the mid-80s. Using an ogre appealed to me more since they’re derived directly from world mythology. And that’s how ogre’s ended up in my manuscript.
Now, without further ado, here’s the 1st draft of Chapter Seventeen.
BLACK MAGIC BULLETS
An Urban Fantasy
by
David North-Martino
Working as an Inhuman Resources Recruiter is no walk through the cemetery, especially when you’ve been cursed and your head is filled with stollen secrets from one of the most powerful occult groups in Boston. To survive, you might just need a few…
BLACK MAGIC BULLETS
Chapter Seventeen
The next location went much the same way as the first, this time—thankfully— with no ogres. That was a relief. But all this searching was eating up time.
Cyber contacted us not long after we dejectedly left the second abandoned structure. She had an idea for a place to check out that I would never have imagined. I supposed that was why Dreadstone employed her. She had thought through the situation and trusted her, but I still didn’t have much hope of finding Dedra’s body.
When we arrived at the maze of small buildings, the sun had reached its zenith.
“Take another hit,” Kenzi said.
I already hated this part of the job. I couldn’t wait until my mystical abilities matured.
I took the hit of the gas and stepped out of the BMW.
Entering the maze, we snaked our way through squat metal buildings. Kenzi followed my lead. Each unit painted blue reminding me of the identical prefab houses in the culdesacs of the middle-class and the ubiquitous brick government housing of the underprivileged.
Then I saw the signature and told Kenzi as much. I wish I hadn’t.
The storage locker looked the same as any other, but this one was different. Would the locker contain Dedra’s body? I didn’t want to know.
Kenzi stepped in front of the locker, raising a crowbar.
Metal struck metal. Once, twice, a third time. Finally, the padlock gave way. Plucking from its resting place, Kenzi tossed it. The padlock bounced once off concrete and came to rest.
Squatting, Kenzi lifted the gate and immediately turned her head.
Foul air escaped the confines. Now I knew the odor of the dead.
Kenzi turned her head as if slapped. I suspected once we found the body, I’d turn green and throw up. Unlike the male body in the basement, this one had succumbed to heat and cold and was generally worse for wear.
Although I felt queasy, my stomach didn’t betray me. I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was to lose my cookies in front of Kenzi.
“If this is her,” Kenzi said, examining the body. “We won’t be needing that shovel.”
“How will we know?”
Kenzi grabbed a body bag from the trunk and then returned.
“The body’s female,” she said. “We bring her back to Dreadstone.”
“And if it is her?” I asked.
“Then we have a murderer to find.”
To be continued…
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