Hughes, though, seemed too eager to be led and Morales thought Ariel may have been keeping her new partner on too short a leash. While he hadn’t underestimated Ariel’s ability to solve cases, as a mentor she might be lacking. Something he would have to keep an eye on. With a challenging case maybe […]
Read more "10 – Morales Chastises Thea"Estefan Morales was yawning when there was a knock on the wafer-thin door of his so-called office. He stifled the yawn and told Ariel and Thea to take a seat. With only one chair in the office Thea, closest to the door, went for another. That he had an office might be considered by most […]
Read more "9 – Chapter 2, Intro to Morales"In the car Ariel was going to turn the ignition when Thea stopped her. “We gotta talk,” Thea said. “Morales wants to see us,” Ariel said. “We talk … then we see Morales.” “This about your friend back there?” Ariel said, sounding impatient. “This is about my tiptoeing around you, being Tonto to your Lone […]
Read more "8 – Ariel’s versus Thea’s Approach"In the cases she and Ariel had worked before, the body itself held little relevance. This time it was different. If the body didn’t hold the key, it offered clues and Thea had no intention of getting her information second-hand from Ariel. “Notice the nail …” Silver said then stopped when Thea crouched down next […]
Read more "7 – The Butterfly Tattoo"Though in her mid-twenties, Thea was acutely aware she looked far younger. She wore her detective’s shield on a chain around her neck so she wouldn’t be mistaken for a high school student. Her curly, thick auburn hair was pulled back in a ponytail with a rubber band, loose strands making their way down […]
Read more "6 – The homicide scene"Thea was acutely aware the two of them were bumping into one another, figuratively speaking, because of their lack of communication. There was bumbling and fumbling, working at cross-purposes and duplication of efforts. It was to be expected initially when two people were paired with one another. Successful partners worked like Abbott and Costello, Laurel […]
Read more "5 – Chapter 1: Thea meets Ariel"Thomas should have been revolted, but he watched, fascinated, as his lover bled to death. He had seen death before. His mother, up close and personal; his father; the students in the bus. But here he saw Yvette’s very essence fading, and despite himself he desperately wanted to get to his easel, his pallet, […]
Read more "4 – Thomas Reacts to Seeing Yvette Die"Thomas opened his eyes and the car was careening off the road toward a steep embankment that bordered the drive. He jerked the steering wheel to his left, but like an obstinate child the car refused to heed him and skidded off the road plunging downward through a maze of trees, finally crashing sixty feet […]
Read more "3 – The Car Crash"Yvette had denied herself pleasures of the flesh her entire life to break the chains of fear and poverty that had clung to her like a second skin, but once he broke through her defenses those parts of her were unleashed in a torrent. She had become wonderfully unpredictable and impulsive. A thought struck her […]
Read more "2 – The Sexual Distraction"She smiled at him and his heart froze. They’d been driving aimlessly, as they often did, windows down though it was a chilly March evening. Thomas drove a bit too fast for Lincoln Drive’s hairpin turns, but both he and Yvette savored the wind whipping their faces. In ten, fifteen minutes tops they’d be at […]
Read more "1 – Prologue, The Drive Along the Road"
The Philly Grind 