Dead and Gone to Bell Read online

  Dead and Gone to Bell

  A Samantha Bell Mystery Thriller

  Jeremy Waldron

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright © 2019 Jeremy Waldron

  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 permission in writing from the author and/or publisher. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the writer’s imagination and/or have been used fictitiously in such a fashion it is not meant to serve the reader as actual fact and should not be considered as actual fact. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  [email protected]

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  AUTHOR NOTE:

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  He sat in the corner chair next to the dim light. It was all he needed. Just enough to keep the darkness from spooking his imagination.

  The room was silent except for the sound of his faint breath.

  Covering his mouth, he yawned then turned to look out the large window to his left.

  The city lights twinkled against a black backdrop. Sounds of sirens and the weekend parties echoed off the tall buildings, reminding him that there was a life outside of this small single-queen motel room. A life waiting for him to return to.

  His fingers drummed on his swinging knee. He was excited to get on with his night, disappear back into society and act like nothing had happened.

  He checked the time on his digital wristwatch. Rolling his neck, his bones popped before he extended his arm and took his glass between his fingers. Sipping his Tom Collins, the lemon juice puckered his lips and the carbonation caused him to hiccup. It was the night cap that would close out his day. The last call before the real work began.

  A smirk pulled his lips up.

  The alcohol made his head spin. Adrenaline had his heart pounding.

  Closing his eyes, he slumped further into the chair, threading his fingers together over his stomach. Inside his mind, he could see the beautiful woman he’d picked up earlier dancing and twirling around him. He could feel her pulse tick against his fingers as he held her close. He could still see the look in her eye after their first kiss. The scent of her perfume clinging to his clothes.

  He reached to his crotch, adjusting his manhood as it grew hard.

  Just thinking about her curvy figure was enough to destroy a man. A vixen—his trophy—the woman whose luck ran out.

  He inhaled a deep breath, filling his lungs with pride.

  Picking up women wasn’t always this easy for him. Once, not long ago, he was the awkward gangly teenager who blushed every time a beautiful woman looked his way. Now, their cheeks bloomed a rosy red when he stared at them.

  The bed sheets rustled. He casually opened his eyes, rolling his gaze to the motel bed. The woman dug her face deeper into the pillow and mewed a sexy sound. He watched her struggle to open her eyes, her lids heavy from the sedative he’d slipped into her drink.

  He spread his knees further apart, the blood pumping hard and fast in his groin. Tipping his body forward, he rested his sharp elbows on his knees and stared for a moment before unclasping his cufflinks and setting them on the end table next to his chair.

  The woman whimpered, sending his heart into a flutter.

  Rubbing his moistened palms together, his gaze traveled over her smooth legs, across her tight bare stomach before stopping on her firm, perky breasts. His lips parted as he licked them. She was gorgeous. Young and beautiful. Glancing to her face, he found himself staring into her almond round eyes. They glistened with fear and he swore he heard the moment she stopped breathing.

  He took one step closer—his confidence increasing by the second.

  Her head turned as she jerked her arms against the binds. The restraints tightened around her wrists as her body flapped like a fish out of water. She glanced to her feet, her ankles bound in the same fashion as her arms. The whites of her eyes grew into large discs as panic set in. “What did you do to me?”

  His heartrate ticked up a notch as excitement flushed through his body. He continued inching his way closer to the bed, rolling up his sleeves along the way. Tilting his head to the side, he soaked in her innocence in one deep inhale.

  She was incredibly attractive. A shame she was so naïve to trust him, he had thought. She never saw it coming. Just another night out. Another fast hookup with a complete stranger. Little did she know that a monster lay hidden beneath the charming good looks she lusted after. She should have known better.

  “Nothing yet,” he said with a grin.

  The woman held his glare. Terror flashed across her eyes, tightening her face into something ugly and unattractive. “Who are you?” Her voice cracked.

  He chuckled and moved closer. His knees touched the side of the bed and he extended his fingers straight so he could rake them up her legs. Her stomach quivered as she breathed harder. Then he touched her mound and she screamed.

  He lunged forward and covered her mouth with his hand. Bucking her hips, she thrashed against the bed. The binds only tightened around her limbs and his erection grew harder.

  Reaching behind him, he grabbed the silicone ball gag and worked it into her mouth before clasping the
strap around her head. She fought, nipping at his hand with her teeth. He was too strong; there was nothing she could do to stop him.

  He leaned close to her face. “I told you,” his hot, alcohol-filled breath swirled into her ear, “they call me The Lady Killer.”

  Chapter Two

  A chill worked its way up my collar and sent a shiver down my spine.

  Outside, a cold autumn wind blew. The leaves that had already fallen gathered against the curb and swirled in puddles left over from last night’s rain. The black pavement glistened from the street lights when I glanced to the dashboard clock—6:53AM.

  I turned my head and flicked my gaze out my window.

  Nothing about today felt right. The sun should have lifted over the eastern horizon by now. And it would have on most days. But today wasn’t beginning like most days. Not only did the weather make me feel off, I was still without a story. No copy to hand in to my editor. Nothing to show for my efforts except this cheap coffee and tired eyes.

  I zipped up my jacket tighter. It was an unusually gray for Denver, and the low hanging clouds threatened to spit out more rain before the storm broke. We needed the rain, especially after the scorching summer that had left the state in a drought, but I wished it would have come another night, a night I was tucked peacefully inside my bed, sleeping.

  Curling my lips over the rim of my gas station to-go coffee, I was already missing the sunshine. I welcomed both the warmth and the caffeine the dark roast offered as I took a moment to appreciate the change of seasons—a brief reprieve from the darker reality I was both hoping to discover, yet praying to keep astray.

  Turning my head back to the motel entrance, I knew this was where my next story would begin. I’d caught word of it unfolding on my police scanner just as I was tucking myself into bed for the night, and though I hadn’t wanted to leave my son home alone—again—I knew I didn’t have much choice.

  My gaze darted to my mirrors between glancing toward the clock. Twisting my silver rings over my knuckles, I kept expecting other members of the media to arrive any minute. I flipped between websites on my phone. One was my personal blog, the other The Colorado Times—my current employer. A constant anxiety kept me on edge as I wondered which one would be my future with the paper’s survival looking bleak.

  I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and I lifted my gaze over the dash.

  The chaos from a few hours ago was too big to pass up. Police cruisers filled the parking lot and I watched as the medical examiner came and went, wheeling out a body on a gurney.

  I drummed my feet on the car floor unable to control my excitement. I knew it was a strange response to death—maybe even murder—but without it, I would be planning my own funeral for the death of my career.

  Someone had died—perhaps was even killed—and I wanted to be the first to break the story.

  I inhaled a deep breath of air and blew out a heavy sigh of anxiety.

  There were still a few uniformed officers hanging on, and a couple detectives lingering beside them. I watched, deciding who to take my chances with first—the cops or the motel staff? The crime scene investigators were still inside and, from my experience, I suspected they would be finished soon. A single body had rolled out; how bad could it be?

  Adrenaline rushed through me and I could feel the coffee beginning to perk me up.

  When my feet stopped tapping, I drummed the wheel, keeping an eye open for other reporters. I couldn’t believe I was still alone. Maybe it was the weather, or perhaps I was just that lucky.

  I finished my coffee just as the detectives got in their vehicle and finally left the scene. It was almost time. I pulled myself up in my seat, keeping a close eye on the motel entrance. The last members of the CSI team followed shortly after and I gathered my hair in my hands, tying it off in a ponytail before leaving my car and braving the chill.

  Scampering into the motel front lobby, I pulled my hands out of my jacket pockets and greeted the young manager working the desk. “One night of rain and I’m already over it.”

  He gave me a knowing look. His eyes were still bugged and rattled by whatever happened here last night. The young man was looking through me as he stared. I was thankful for it. It made my job easier as I befriended those I needed to give me the story I wanted.

  “I’d like to check out a room,” I said.

  He blinked and he was suddenly somewhere else. Recognition flashed over his pupils and I held my breath, hoping he didn’t recognize me from my crime and court column. I glanced to his desk and saw his cellphone. I doubted he read newspapers. He seemed more like a social media addict than a print kind of guy. But who really read newspapers anymore, anyway?

  “A room?” He blinked.

  I nodded.

  “For the night?” he asked as he brought his fingers to the computer keyboard.

  “I’d like to check out a particular room.” His eyes lifted and he cocked his head to the side. I paused and stared for a moment before saying, “The room the police were just inside of.”

  His left hand started to fidget when he frowned. “I… uh…” he stuttered.

  Reaching to my back pocket, I pulled out my media badge and told him I was with The Colorado Times. “Just a quick look around. That’s all.”

  He barely glanced at my credentials. “I’m sorry. That room is unavailable.” His young age was really beginning to show.

  I brought my hands to the counter and leaned against it. “Then maybe you can tell me what happened here last night?” I smiled.

  The young man glanced to the front double doors as if longing for the police to come back and save him from me. He wasn’t going to get off that easy—especially since I had chosen him to speak with first. It was always a gamble, but the cops were generally assholes in the beginning stages of their investigations. They never told me anything. At least not when it mattered.

  “I can’t afford bad press,” the young man stammered.

  His answer surprised me and I had to give him a little bit of credit for connecting the dots.

  “I understand.” My voice was sincere. “It’s bad for business.”

  His innocent eyes stared as he nodded in agreement.

  I dropped my gaze to his nametag. “Brian, let me tell you what’s really bad for business.” He swallowed hard. “Hiding the fact that a murder took place on your watch.” Calling the death a murder was another gamble but, in doing so, I hoped he would confirm it for me.

  His face paled. “I wasn’t working. My shift didn’t start until five.”

  I rubbed at an eyebrow.

  “I swear.”

  Then I turned to face the opposite wall and said, “I could always write about how this motel in particular is a favorite spot for sex workers to take clients.” Swiveling my head back around to face Brian, I continued, “And, of course, I would have to mention your name since you were the manager I spoke with.”

  “Fine. I’ll let you inside the room.” He reached beneath his desk and came up with a room key. “But you can’t mention to anyone that I gave you this. The cops told me I couldn’t say anything to anybody.”

  “You can trust me.” I smiled and took the key into my hand. My brows pinched. “Does this place have surveillance cameras?”

  “The cops already took it.”

  “What else did they take?”

  His shoulders rounded. “The guest register and a list of potential witnesses. That’s all I know. Like I said, I wasn’t here when the murder happened.”

  A knowing smirk pulled at my lips. Bingo. That was all I needed to hear. Someone was murdered. Just as I suspected. An all too familiar numbness wrapped around my heart like a cocoon. “Do you know the deceased’s name?”

  He drew back, making himself appear smaller. Then he nodded his head once. “Mallory Madison.”

  “Thank you, Brian. I’ll return the key when I’m finished.”

  Chapter Three

  Every great story had a strange begin
ning and a tragic end.

  I told those stories. Better than anybody. It was how I’d made a name for myself and the reason I was first on scene today. My instinct brought me here, and this was what I loved most about my job. The chance to play detective. Uncover that story hidden in the rubble. Brush it off, give it life, and provide enough detail and narration to get people invested in knowing more.

  A tingle rolled down my arm. My heart beat faster and every sense in my body was now on high alert. Feeling my eyes narrow and my lips curve upward, I lowered my chin and marched toward the stairs with a lengthening stride.

  There was something about walking in the footsteps of evil that made you feel alive. It was like stepping into a haunted house on Halloween, your nerves jumping and anticipating when a monster or ghost would reach out and scare you. It could happen around the next bend, or never happen at all. You never knew and always had to be ready.

  When I reached the staircase, I began climbing to the top, moving closer to my next story. I listened to my heels click-clack up the two flights before landing on the carpeted second floor hall.