"Deceptions"

by Jamie D'Antoni

Copyright ©2002
ISBN: 0-87714-704-3 eBook edition
ISBN: 0-87714-800-7 PB edition

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

THE AUTHOR

Jamie D'Antoni, a horror/mystery writer, was born in Grays Harbor, Washington. She has been writing freelance articles and short stories for thirteen years. Beyond The Call is her third full-length novel. D'Antoni has one previously published novel entitled Molly (Spectrum Press, 1996). She now lives in Central California where she is an accomplished newspaper reporter/journalist.

THE BOOK

"Deceptions" is the story of politics and intrigue. Johni and Molly don't want to see their friend Ricki get married to someone she barely knows but out of loyalty they join their friend in Guam for her wedding.

Shortly after they arrive on the island Ricki turns up dead. Did the new bride do it? Johni and Molly launch into a search for Ricki's killer that take them into the world of politics. Someone for the past ten years has been killing lesbians and gays who have come to the island to marry. Up until now the murders have appeared to be suicide but Johni and Molly discover that there are more sinister forces at work here.

The local police ask Johni and Molly to become involved in their investigation and much to Johni's dismay, Molly is all for the idea. Things begin to happen and suddenly Molly is in danger. Will Johni save Molly's life? Is Molly in way over her head? Who is murdering newlyweds?

Deceptions takes the reader on a ride through the back alleys of the political underbelly of the fight for lesbian and gay marriages. Based in beautiful Guam, "Deceptions" is a story that promises to entertain and inform while taking the reader on a ride through the dangers of politics and murder.

Johni didn't want to see her best friend marry a woman she barely knew in the island paradise of Guam but out of loyalty she concedes to go and stand up for Ricki. After only a week on the island a murder is committed that propels Johni and her friend Molly into the harsh reality that is politics and murder. Someone is on a killing spree in the island paradise and the sentence is passed with the words "I do". Follow Johni and Molly as they try to solve a decades worth of murders and not become victims themselves.

Sample Read

They rounded the last outcropping and the first thing both of them noticed was a small crowd of people at the base of the next cliff.

"That's strange." Johni said, a bewildered look on her face. "There aren't usually many people out here. Molly looked up and noticed that there were people looking over the edge of the cliffs above as well. She pointed this out to Johni.

"What do you think they are all interested in?" Molly asked heading to the crowd. Johni hesitated and then followed her. She had an idea but didn't want to believe it. As they approached the crowd they both picked up words here and there. By the time they reached the crowd Johni's worse fear was confirmed. Someone had jumped. How bizarre, she thought, that she would be telling Molly the story only to come up here and find and example. She reached out and grabbed Molly's arm.

"Doc, you don't want to go up there." Johni said looking up ahead to a smaller crowd gathered in the rocks.

"Someone jumped." Molly whispered astounded.

"It looks like it." Johni confirmed. She started back the way they'd come when she realized that Molly wasn't in tow. "Molly…." She started but Molly was already heading for the rocks. Damn, Johni thought and then followed her. Molly had a morbid fascination with things of this nature. She always had this battle with herself about whether or not she really wanted to see only to lose to her own curiosity. Later, when she had nightmares she'd wish she hadn't come up. As they reached the place where the smaller crowd had gathered Molly noted that there were ropes coming down the face of the cliff. A carrier, like those the coast guard used, was leaning up against the face of the cliff. They must have to bring the body out that way, Molly surmised. For the first time she saw several people in uniform. They were trying to shoo the crowd away but the onlookers weren't having it. Molly edged her way up to the place in the rocks that had everyone so interested. She felt Johni right behind her. She knew she shouldn't be up here. She knew she shouldn't look but something compelled her to do it anyway. They reached a point where they could see the body and Molly braced herself and looked over into the small crevice in which the body lay. She gasped and threw her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. She heard Johni behind her and knew that she should turn around but she couldn't. Some uncontrollable force held her there. She heard Johni let out a small cry and suddenly she was in front of Molly gazing down at the twisted mangled body.

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