December Release for A Walk on the Strange Side

It looks like my new book, a Walk on the Strange Side will be released in December. The book collects the four Sheriff Kelly Dain strange mysteries with two more selected stories. From alien abduction to ghosts to strange creatures....it's a paranormal cornucopia. Here's a brief excerpt:

A Walk on the Strange Side

Ruth Somerville glanced over at her husband Bobby,asleep in the recliner. His head lay back, his small mouth open, and the buzz of a chainsaw filled the living room. He should really get checked for sleep apnea, she thought. She shoved off the sofa and went into their bedroom where she changed into her nursing scrubs. She put on a short black leather jacket and took her purse.

Outside the crisp October air chilled her and she hustled to the pickup. She started the engine and turned on the headlights. The winding two-lane roller coaster of a road that led down the mountain to Watertown scared her a bit when driving at night. It was dark and this was Elk season. Hitting an animal meant instant death, perhaps even plunging over a cliff and into the river. Maybe soon they’d be able to move into the larger town, but not now. Not when they were just getting back on their feet, paying off their bills.

Ruth pulled out of the driveway and headed down the highway. Above her loomed the mountains in shadow and a host of twinkling stars, one uncommonly bright.

Chapter One

Morning sunlight filtered through the restaurant blinds and onto Sheriff Kelly Dane’s chiseled face. Around him was the clatter of cutlery and dishes as others, mostly seniors, ate. The smell of bacon and eggs and coffee permeate the room. His blue eyes peered through reading glasses at the newspaper spread out on the wooden table. He read about a meth lab bust that had taken place in an abandoned commercial building on Main Street. At least the reporter, Mel Gunther had gotten the facts right. And Dane knew it. After all, he’d been there.

He glanced at his watch. A frown crossed his tanned face. His order had gone in twenty-five minutes ago. It didn’t take that long to cook up three eggs over easy, hash browns and toast. He lifted his dark blonde head and looked around for Stella, the waitress. “Stella, where’s my order?”

Stella Baron was standing by the till. She turned her dark head. Stella was a twenty-five-year-old high school dropout of average build with dark brown hair tied in a ponytail. “Sorry, I guess Claudia’s a bit out-of-sorts this morning. Your order is comin’ right up. Can I get you some more coffee?”

“Sure.” Dane leaned back in his chair and watched as Stella grabbed the stainless-steel coffee pot from the top of the coffeemaker and sashayed over. He waited as she refilled his cup, and said, “Thanks.”

Stella’s brown eyes glanced at the newspaper article about a drug bust. “That sure was some excitement yesterday afternoon.”

“Guess some people might think it so,” replied Dane. It had almost turned deadly. Thankfully it hadn’t.

Officer Rupert Sloane had been keeping an eye on James Little. Little was a local pain-in-the-ass reprobate. Dane knew that Little had hitched up with Mark Tyler, a biker and member of the Road Rebels, a local biker gang. Watertown was a small university community. Students spent the weekend looking for a good time, and with the stresses of being students, it was a good place to sell drugs.

Sloane, at a local tavern, had overheard Little talking to a guy. After reporting back, Sloane and another deputy kept Little under surveillance; that allowed local law enforcement to organize a raid. Late yesterday afternoon police charged in. Shots had been fired, but thankfully nothing had hit or ignited any of the chemical compounds. Little and another guy, Rollo Kirby were arrested.

Stella placed the plate in front of Dane, breaking his reverie. “Thanks Stella.”

“When you’re done, you might have a word with Claudia.”

“What’s wrong?” “Her sister never made it to work last night.” “Did she talk to Chief Josh Beale in Russetville? Or

call our office and report it?” “Yeah, she phoned your office but Curtis said there

was nothing you could do because her sister hadn’t been missing twenty-four hours.”

“Well Curtis is technically right. We can’t formally consider anyone missing prior to that; but then again, Curtis is an asshole.”

Stella giggled.

Curtis Powell had been a senior in high school and two years older than Stella. After high school, he took a police enforcement course at a nearby community college in Dubois. Dane hadn’t wanted to hire Curtis. He was a pompous, overbearing individual who followed technical procedure to the hilt, but had little ability to empathize or

use common sense. Unfortunately, his father was a city counselor and likely to be the next Mayor. He’d pulled strings to get Curtis on the force.

“I’ll talk to Claudia before I go, and see what I can do, Stella.”