Betrayed: Powerful Stories of Kick-Ass Crime Survivors Read online

  Betrayed

  A Short Story Anthology

  Powerful Stories of Kick-Ass Crime Survivors

  Copyright © 2017 Authors on the Air Press,

  a division of Authors on the Air Global Radio Network, LLC

  Legal Aid Copyright © 2017 Terri Lynn Coop

  Soap Copyright © 2017 Wendy Tyson

  Smokehouse Copyright © 2017 Shane Gericke

  How to Not Find Somebody in Houston Copyright © 2017 Liam Sweeny

  14 Days Copyright © 2017 Ava Mallory

  When the Music Stops Copyright © 2017 James L'Etoile

  The Sound of a Wound Copyright © 2017 D.V. Bennett

  The Birthmark and the Brand Copyright © 2017 Warren Moore

  Intrepid Woman Copyright © 2017 Kathryn Jane

  Jay Cee Copyright © 2017 Leland Dirks

  The Things My Mom Taught Me Copyright © 2017 Chris Philbrook

  The Other Wife Copyright © 2017 Kate Pilarcik

  Grow Up and Get Over It Copyright © 2017 Stephen Cody

  The Fire Within Copyright © 2017 Elle J Rossi

  Through the Tears of Love Copyright © 2017 DB Jones

  My Father's Ashes Copyright © 2017 Laura Moe

  Hope After Pain Copyright © 2017 Brenda Kennedy

  No One Heard Copyright © 2017 Bill Baber

  Ending the Nightmares Copyright © 2017 Pat Gibbons

  The Second Shot Copyright © 2017 Elizabeth Heiter

  Mirror, Mirror Copyright © 2017 Allison Brennan

  A Survivor Story: Leading a Double Life Copyright © 2017 Jeanmarie Collins

  This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations, places, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real or actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for a review.

  Published in the United States of America by Authors on the Air Press

  Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication data available upon request.

  ISBN (ePub): 978-0-9994565-0-7

  Cover design by Elle J Rossi (www.ejrdigitalart.com)

  Copyeditor: Amy Eye - The Eyes for Editing (http://theeyesforediting.com)

  Published by Authors on the Air Press (https://www.authorsontheair.com/aota-press)

  a division of Authors on the Air Global Radio, LLC (https://www.authorsontheair.com)

  First Edition: October 2017

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  eBooks created by www.ebookconversion.com

  DEDICATION

  This anthology is dedicated to the victims of crime who survived through inner strength and in memory of those who are no longer with us.

  “To those who abuse: the sin is yours, the crime is yours, and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpetrators: blaming the victims only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.”

  ― Flora Jessop, Church of Lies

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  About

  Acknowledgments

  Author Biographies

  Stories

  Legal Aid by Terri Lynn Coop

  Soap by Wendy Tyson

  Smokehouse by Shane Gericke

  How to Not Find Somebody in Houston by Liam Sweeny

  14 Days by Ava Mallory

  When the Music Stops by James L’Etoile

  The Sound of a Wound by D.V. Bennett

  The Birthmark and the Brand by Warren Moore

  Intrepid Woman by Kathryn Jane

  Jay Cee by Leland Dirks

  The Things My Mom Taught Me by Chris Philbrook

  The Other Wife by Kate Pilarcik

  Grow Up and Get Over It by Stephen Cody

  The Fire Within by Elle J Rossi

  Through the Tears of Love by DB Jones

  My Father’s Ashes by Laura Moe

  Hope After Pain by Brenda Kennedy

  No One Heard by Bill Baber

  Ending the Nightmares by Pat Gibbons

  The Second Shot by Elizabeth Heiter

  Mirror, Mirror by Allison Brennan

  A Survivor Story: Leading a Double Life by Jeanmarie Collins

  Resources

  ABOUT BETRAYED

  “Some anthologies are too important not to be published. Betrayed is one of them. It’s about the enemy among us. In the house next to you. At the desk next to you. Maybe much closer. It’s about darkness. It’s about outrage. It’s about hope.”

  ~ David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Protector

  “An impressive collection of stories about crime survivors who’ve been up against the wall, survived, and triumphed over people and forces who wanted to crush them. What really moved me, aside from the great writing, was the absence of self-pity and victimhood. Each story is clear-eyed, nuanced, and captivating. Do yourself a favor and make time to read Betrayed.”

  ~ Libby Fischer Hellmann, Award-winning author and Editor of Chicago Blues.

  “Spanning from heartbreaking to heartwarming, Betrayed shines a bright light on the beauty and strength of the human spirit. Prepare yourself for deep emotions and stories that will stay with you long after you leave the pages.”

  ~ K.J. Howe, author of The Freedom Broker

  “I read this gritty and well-crafted collection in one sitting because I couldn't turn away. These stories, as much about courage and strength as about betrayal, explore the darkest corners of the human heart, leaving room for the transformative power of love and hope. Highly recommended.”

  ~ Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author

  “Betrayed reveals the truth of crime violence through well-crafted fiction. Tough, tender, and moving. The stories that never make headlines, but need to be told. Betrayed will make you think, make you feel, and make you remember. An important read.”

  ~ Matt Coyle, author of the Anthony Award-winning Rick Cahill crime series

  21 Crime Thrillers by bestselling, award-winning, and critically acclaimed authors!

  What happens when the person you trust the most betrays you? That’s the question posed in Betrayed, a powerful collection of stories about love, violence, and survival. The characters in these pages may suffer and bleed, but they fight back. They are survivors — not victims.

  In Terri Lynn Coop’s Legal Aid, an overworked lawyer takes on a complex divorce case that just may get her fired ... or killed.

  An invalid who believes his neighbor is tormenting his young wife takes matters into his own hands in Wendy Tyson’s Soap.

  When a private investigator is hired to find someone who appears to have disappeared from the face of the earth, he questions whether some people should be found in How Not to Find Someone in Houston by Liam Sweeney.

  And in Elizabeth Heiter’s The Second Shot a teenage girl is convicted of murdering her abusive father ... but is she really guilty?

  As a bonus, New York Times bestseller Allison Brennan contributed the novella, Mirror, Mirror, about what happens when a police detective suspects her sister is hi
ding a dark secret ... a secret that just may get them both killed.

  These stories and more fill the pages of the first anthology published by Authors on the Air. Victims become victors and – hopefully – justice is served.

  Every author has donated their time and stories. Profits from this anthology are being donated to programs and organizations that help victims of domestic violence reclaim their lives.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Betrayed is the collaborative effort of twenty-two incredible writers who took a concept, an idea, a dream and turned it into a reality. Please stop by their websites and social media pages and thank them for their stories.

  Pulling double duty to make this book possible were Elle J. Rossi, writer and graphic artist; David Ivester, Author-Guide, publicist and editing; Amy Eye, The Eyes for Editing, for copyediting; and the incredible Allison Brennan, who not only jumped on board for this project, but threw her whole heart into it with a novella, editing, and coordinating the stories. I can never thank you enough for being such a brilliant author and a dear friend.

  To our advance readers and the authors who provided quotes, we are grateful for your support.

  The proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit The Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples, Florida, which not only has a excellent rating by Charity Navigator but continues to serve the community through the ravages of Hurricane Irma.

  Pam Stack, publisher

  Authors on the Air Press, a division of Authors on the Air Global Radio Network LLC

  Meet the BETRAYED Authors

  (in order of appearance)

  Terri Lynn Coop is a recovering lawyer who writes and sells antiques. Her first novel, Devil’s Deal, is available through Amazon. Her short fiction has appeared in various anthologies, including, Just to Watch Them Die - Stories Based on the Music of Johnny Cash. She is host of The Blue Plate Special Podcast, part of the Authors on the Air Radio Network LLC. You can reach her at: readinrittinrhetoric.blogspot.com.

  Wendy Tyson’s background in law and psychology has provided inspiration for her mysteries and thrillers. Wendy’s short fiction has appeared in literary journals, and she’s a contributing editor and columnist for The Big Thrill and The Thrill Begins, International Thriller Writers’ online magazines. Wendy is the author of the Allison Campbell Mystery Series and the bestselling Greenhouse Mystery Series. Find Wendy at www.WATyson.com.

  Shane Gericke is the bestselling author of The Fury, the Thriller Award-finalist, Torn Apart, and other crime novels. He was chairman of ITW’s ThrillerFest literary conference, and before that spent 25 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, primarily at the Chicago Sun-Times. Find more about the Chicago native at www.shanegericke.com.

  Liam Sweeny is a writer and graphic designer from the Capital District of New York. His work has appeared in many publications, both online and in print. His latest novel, Welcome Back, Jack, is available through most retailers from Down and Out Books. Find out more at www.liamsweeny.com.

  Ava Mallory is a former hospice nurse turned multi-genre author. When not chasing bad guys, solving mysteries or delving deep into the minds of fictional characters, she can be found pestering her ‘adoring’ children. Learn more about Ava here: www.writeravamallory.wixsite.com

  James L’Etoile brings his twenty-nine years of law enforcement experience into his writing. The Acclaim Film Awards and the Creative World Awards have recognized his crime stories. A former Associate Warden and hostage negotiator, James is the author of At What Cost, Bury the Past and Little River. For more information, please check my website at www.jamesletoile.com

  D.V. Bennett is an author with a day job and still insists happily that writing is the thing that keeps him up nights. You can find out more about him and what he writes at www.dvbennett.com

  Warren Moore is Professor of English at Newberry College in Newberry, SC. His novel, Broken Glass Waltzes, will be published by Down & Out Books in Fall 2017, and his short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and small magazines. His short story “Bowery Station, 3:15 A.M.” was named a distinguished story in Otto Penzler’s Best American Mystery Stories 2016. Moore blogs at profmondo.wordpress.com and also can be found at www.facebook.com/warren.moore3.

  Kathryn Jane’s background as an emergency dispatcher, racehorse trainer, and feral cat rescue volunteer, sets her up beautifully to write fiction filled with action, adventure, reality, and incredible empathy. With novels and short stories published in multiple genres, Kat loves entertaining adults and children alike.

  Leland Dirks lives in an off-grid home in the middle of nowhere with Angelo the Border Collie and Maggie the Black Lab. He writes fiction about the same little miracles that find him in real life. You can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LelandDirks.

  Chris Philbrook is the creator and author of Adrian’s Undead Diary, The Reemergence, and the fantasy world of Elmoryn. Chris has authored eight novels in the horror/post-apocalyptic series Adrian’s Undead Diary, as well as two urban fantasy novels in The Reemergence series, and three dark fantasy novels in The Kinless Trilogy. His first science fiction novel Colony Lost is due out soon. He has also edited two anthologies, and has had numerous short stories and novellas published in the horror world. Reach him on Twitter at: @PhilbrookAuthor. Reach him on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/PhilbrookAuthor Or you can visit his main site and signup for his newsletter here: www.thechrisphilbrook.com

  Kate Pilarcik, suspense author | intrigue promoter (as Absolutely*Kate), has moxie. The World needs more moxie. The Damp Fedora shoots off Detective Nelle Callahan’s 1940’s noirvella series — Gal gumshoe with gumption, OSS illusion flair, history’s last laugh — rat-a-tat-tat with literary sleight of hand. Keep a private eye peeled for Magic Spy. Noir crime thrillers in jazzy lit-prose, legends and lore spark Kate’s wordsmithery from Ohio roots to Connecticut / Rhode Island shores. Media, PR and advertising acclaim render promotional force via her author-presentation sites, crime ezines, and international collaboratives of intrigue/noir and fantasy/pulp-fiction. Kate is founder of ARM ~ Author Reach Marketing, brand ambassador for Noir Nation, and promotions-marketing director for Authors On The Air Global Radio Network. Sleuth Kate through shadows at www.katepilarciksuspense.com.

  Stephen Cody is an author of thrillers and YA fiction (Lying in State, Soulless, and The Peasant Prince) who also writes and illustrates children’s stories using 3D computer technology (ABCs of the Universe, There’s an Elephant Following Me, Santa’s New Home, The Pixie Sisters’ ABCs, Little Red Riding Hoodie, and the series, My Secret Superpower!). Originally from the Boston area, he moved to Miami before the accent could take hold.

  Elle J Rossi is an author of dark fiction, a graphic designer, and a self-proclaimed gypsy whose motto is to always wonder and ever wander. She’s a complex contradiction who enjoys all things macabre equally as much as laughter and light. Find her at: www.ellejrossi.com.

  DB Jones is a best-selling author of Mystery and Crime Drama, including the Madison Hart Mystery Series, Nights of Autumn and Storms of Winter. She also writes for young adults and the young at heart through her vivid fantasy worlds, which include the Willow Trilogy. DB writes in several genres, Young Adult/Fantasy, Mystery/Crime Drama and Romance with an occasional twist of the paranormal spun through some of her mysteries.

  Laura Moe is a radio host and author who spent most of her working life as a librarian and English teacher in central and Southeastern Ohio, but has recently moved to Seattle where she writes full-time. Moe is the author of YA novels Parallel Lines (Fat Cats, 2015) and Breakfast with Neruda (Merit Press, 2016,) named by the New York Public Library as one the Best Books for Teens in 2016 and a Top Pick for VOYA. She is owned by a spoiled white cat and is working on a sequel to Breakfast with Neruda. www.lauramoebooks.com.

  Brenda Kennedy, is the author of the award-winning book, Forever Country (The Rose Farm Trilogy Book 1). She has been dubbed “The Queen of Cliffhangers” by her adoring readers because h
er books always have a cliffhanger ending. Brenda has been a struggling single mom, a survivor of domestic abuse, waitress, corrections officer, hostage negotiator and a corrections nurse. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. Even though her life was not always rainbows and butterflies, she is a survivor and believes her struggles have made her the person she is today.

  Bill Baber has had over fifty short stories published and his stories have recently appeared in Rogue from Near to the Knuckle, Hardboiled Crime Scene from Dead Guns Press and Locked & Loaded from One Eye Press. He has also had a number of poems published online and in the occasional literary journal. His crime writing has earned Derringer Prize and best of the Net consideration. A book of his poetry, Where the Wind Comes to Play, was published by Berberis Press in 2011. He lives in Tucson with his wife and a spoiled dog and has been known to cross the border for a cold beer. He is working on his first novel and can be found on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=179319911.

  Pat Gibbons is an author of two novels and a book of creative nonfiction, as well as short stories. Pat, a resident of Seattle, is completing a memoir about recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Pat has three sons and a hairless cat that is the alpha female of the household.

  Elizabeth Heiter is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author who likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her novels have been published in more than a dozen countries and translated into eight languages; they’ve also been shortlisted for the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne Du Maurier award, the National Readers’ Choice award and the Booksellers’ Best award and won the RT Reviewers’ Choice award. Learn more at www.elizabethheiter.com.

  Allison Brennan believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison is now a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of more than three dozen thrillers and numerous short stories. Reviewers have called her “a master of suspense” and RT Book Reviews said her books are “mesmerizing” and “complex.” She’s been nominated for multiple awards, including the Thriller, RWA’s Best Romantic Suspense (five times), and twice won the Daphne du Maurier award. She currently writes two series—the Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan thrillers and the Maxine Revere cold case mysteries. Visit her at www.allisonbrennan.com.