Crashing Waves by C J Baty

Author:C J Baty [Baty, C J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Six Months Later

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This was not the time to be leaving Atlanta, but he had promised Justin he’d be home for the re-opening of the Warfield. Three days ago another dead body had been found along the I-75 highway, not far from one of the Atlanta exit ramps. White male, approximately twenty-four, reddish blond hair, blue eyes, and brutally beaten. Purple and blue marks covered his back, buttocks and legs. The burn marks, possibly from a cigar, were there but not nearly as many knife slashes as in the previous bodies. He couldn’t get the images out of his mind. It probably explained why he hadn’t been sleeping very well lately, and the ongoing argument with Justin that he shouldn’t be on the case hadn’t helped either.

Their relationship had come a long way since the summer before last. Justin was learning to ease up and not be so protective. Marcus was learning that the Justin he knew now was so much more than the one he had dreamed up in his head. Together they were working out the rough spots. If Justin would let up about Marcus giving up his job in Atlanta, things would be damned near perfect.

Other things had fallen into place as well. Peter had moved Sally and her mother into the manor after Beulah was finally released from the hospital in Knoxville. She could take her radiation and chemotherapy treatments at the cancer clinic in Beaufort. Justin had returned to the hotel as soon as his new suite was available a month ago. That was where he and Marcus would live when they were in town. Marcus still had his apartment above the office where he worked from when he was in Atlanta. They’d bought some new furniture and a larger bed for the apartment too. It wasn’t a perfect arrangement, but it was working for them at the moment.

Daisy (Marshall) Lee, Richard Brooks, and Alexander had finally come to an understanding and were working on building a family together. Alexander was back in school and nearly caught up, thanks to Daisy’s tutoring skills.

Richard’s mother was still in the sanatorium but getting better every day.

Marcus’s phone rang, and he pulled over to the side of the road so he could answer it.

“Marcus? Where are you man?” Brace’s voice sounded anxious and annoyed.

He could only think of one reason Brace would be calling him, and he was pretty sure he didn’t want to hear what his friend had to say.

“What is it, Brace?”

“They found another one.”

“Damn. Already? That’s a lot sooner than the usual time span between victims.” Marcus didn’t want this news right now. He hadn’t been home in over three weeks. If he had to cut his time at the Warfield short, Justin was not going to be happy.

“Yes. This one was south of Atlanta, still along the highway and . . .”

“What?” Marcus held his breath.

“This one’s alive. Just barely. They think he somehow escaped.”

The air rushed out of Marcus’s lungs, and his chest heaved with a sigh.

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